Surah An-Nahl Part One: Verses 1 to 64 | Quran Study Guide

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The Surah · Verses 1 to 64

﴾١﴿ أَتَىٰٓ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَسْتَعْجِلُوهُ ۚ سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

Ataaa amrullaahi falaa tasta'jilooh; Subhaanahoo wa Ta'aalaa 'ammaa yushrikoon

The command of Allah is coming, so do not seek to hasten it. Glory to Him, and He is far above what they associate.

﴾٢﴿ يُنَزِّلُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ بِٱلرُّوحِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦٓ أَنْ أَنذِرُوٓا۟ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱتَّقُونِ

Yunazzilul malaaa 'ikata birroohi min amrihee 'alaa mai yashaaa'u min 'ibaadiheee an anzirooo annahoo laaa ilaaha illaaa ana fattaqoon

He sends down the angels with the spirit of His command upon whom He wills of His servants: warn that there is no god but Me, so be mindful of Me.

﴾٣﴿ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ تَعَٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

Khalaqas samaawaati wal arda bilhaqq; Ta'aalaa 'ammaa yushrikoon

He created the heavens and the earth in truth. He is far above what they associate.

﴾٤﴿ خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

Khalaqal insaana min nutfatin fa izaa huwa khaseemum mubeen

He created the human being from a drop, and then he is a clear disputant.

﴾٥﴿ وَٱلْأَنْعَٰمَ خَلَقَهَا ۗ لَكُمْ فِيهَا دِفْءٌۭ وَمَنَٰفِعُ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ

Wal an 'amaa khalaqahaa; lakum feehaa dif'unw wa manaafi'u wa minhaa taakuloon

And the cattle He created for you. In them is warmth and benefits, and from them you eat.

﴾٦﴿ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا جَمَالٌ حِينَ تُرِيحُونَ وَحِينَ تَسْرَحُونَ

Wa lakum feehaa jamaalun heena tureehoona wa heena tasrahoon

And you have beauty in them, when you bring them in for the evening and when you drive them out to pasture.

﴾٧﴿ وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَالَكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍۢ لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ بَٰلِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ ٱلْأَنفُسِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Wa tahmilu asqaalakum ilaa baladil lam takoonoo baaligheehi illaa bishiqqil anfus; inna Rabbakum la Ra'oofur Raheem

And they carry your loads to a land you would not have reached without great hardship. Your Lord is Kind, Merciful.

﴾٨﴿ وَٱلْخَيْلَ وَٱلْبِغَالَ وَٱلْحَمِيرَ لِتَرْكَبُوهَا وَزِينَةًۭ ۚ وَيَخْلُقُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Walkhaila wal bighaala wal hameera litarkaboohaa wa zeenah; wa yakhluqu maa laa ta'lamoon

And horses, mules and donkeys, for you to ride and as adornment. And He creates what you do not know.

﴾٩﴿ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ قَصْدُ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمِنْهَا جَآئِرٌۭ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَىٰكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

Wa 'alal laahi qasdus sabeeli wa minhaa jaaa'ir; wa law shaaa'a lahadaakum ajma'een

And upon Allah is the direction of the way, and some of it deviates. Had He willed, He would have guided all of you.

﴾١٠﴿ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ ۖ لَّكُم مِّنْهُ شَرَابٌۭ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌۭ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ

Huwal lazeee anzala minas samaaa'i maaa'al lakum minhu sharaabunw wa minhu shajarun feehi tuseemoon

He is the One who sends down water from the sky. From it you drink, and from it grow trees in which you pasture.

﴾١١﴿ يُنۢبِتُ لَكُم بِهِ ٱلزَّرْعَ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلنَّخِيلَ وَٱلْأَعْنَٰبَ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Yumbitu lakum bihiz zar'a wazzaitoona wanna kheela wal-a'naaba wa min kullis samaraat, inna fee zaalika la Aayatal liqawminy yatafakkaroon

With it He grows for you crops, olives, palms, grapes, and fruits of every kind. In that is a sign for a people who reflect.

﴾١٢﴿ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ وَٱلنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَٰتٌۢ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَعْقِلُونَ

Wa sakkhkhara lakumul laila wannahaara wash shamsa walqamara wannujoomu musakhkharaatum bi amrih; inna fee zaalika la Aayaatil liqawminy ya'qiloon

And He made the night and the day subject to you, and the sun and the moon, and the stars are subject by His command. In that are signs for a people who reason.

﴾١٣﴿ وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَذَّكَّرُونَ

Wa maa zara a lakum fil ardi mukhtalifan alwaanuh; inna fee zaalika la Aayatal liqawminy yazakkaroon

And what He multiplied for you in the earth, of varying colors. In that is a sign for a people who remember.

﴾١٤﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ ٱلْبَحْرَ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنْهُ لَحْمًۭا طَرِيًّۭا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهُ حِلْيَةًۭ تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Wa Huwal lazee sakhkharal bahra litaakuloo minhu lahman tariyyanw wa tastakhrijoo minhu hilyatan talbasoonahaa wa taral fulka mawaakhira feehi wa litabtaghoo min fadlihee wa la'allakum tashkuroon

And He is the One who made the sea subject, so that you may eat fresh meat from it and bring out from it ornaments you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, so that you may seek of His bounty and be grateful.

﴾١٥﴿ وَأَلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَأَنْهَٰرًۭا وَسُبُلًۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

Wa alqaa fil ardi rawaasiya an tameeda bikum wa anhaaranw wa sublulal la 'allakum tahtadoon

And He cast into the earth firm mountains, so that it would not shift with you, and rivers and paths, so that you may find your way,

﴾١٦﴿ وَعَلَٰمَٰتٍۢ ۚ وَبِٱلنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ

Wa 'alaamaat; wa bin najmi hum yahtadoon

and landmarks. And by the star they find direction.

﴾١٧﴿ أَفَمَن يَخْلُقُ كَمَن لَّا يَخْلُقُ ۗ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

Afamany yakhluqu kamallaa yakhluq; afalaa tazak karoon

Is the One who creates like one who does not create? Will you not remember?

﴾١٨﴿ وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Wa in ta'uddoo ni'matal laahi laa tuhsoohaa; innal laaha la Ghafoorur Raheem

And if you tried to count the favors of Allah, you could not number them. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

﴾١٩﴿ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ

Wallaahu ya'lamu maa tusirroona wa maa tu'linoon

And Allah knows what you conceal and what you declare.

﴾٢٠﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ

Wallazeena yad'oona min doonil laahi laa yakhluqoona shai'anw wa hum yukhlaqoon

And those they call upon besides Allah create nothing, and are themselves created.

﴾٢١﴿ أَمْوَٰتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَآءٍۢ ۖ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ

Amwaatun ghairu ahyaaa'inw wa maa yash'uroona aiyaana yub'asoon

Dead, not alive, and they do not perceive when they will be raised.

﴾٢٢﴿ إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مُّنكِرَةٌۭ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ

Illahukum Ilaahunw Waahid; fallazeena laa yu'minoona bil Aakhirati quloobuhum munkiratunw wa hum mustakbiroon

Your God is one God. Those who do not believe in the hereafter, their hearts are in denial and they are arrogant.

﴾٢٣﴿ لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ

Laa jarama annal laaha ya'lamu maa yusirrona wa ma yu'linoon; innahoo laa yuhibbul mustakbireen

Without doubt, Allah knows what they conceal and what they declare. He does not love the arrogant.

﴾٢٤﴿ وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُم مَّاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۙ قَالُوٓا۟ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Wa izaa qeela lahum maazaaa anzala Rabbukum qaaloo asaateerul awwaleen

And when it is said to them, "What has your Lord sent down?" they say, "Tales of the ancients,"

﴾٢٥﴿ لِيَحْمِلُوٓا۟ أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةًۭ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۙ وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ

Liyahmilooo awzaarahum kaamilatany Yawmal Qiyaamati wa min awzaaril lazeena yudilloonahum bighairi 'ilm; alaa saaa'a maa yaziroon

so that they may carry their own burdens in full on the Day of Resurrection, and some of the burdens of those they misled without knowledge. Evil is what they carry.

﴾٢٦﴿ قَدْ مَكَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنْيَٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّقْفُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَأَتَىٰهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

Qad makaral lazeena min qablihim fa atal laahu bunyaa nahum minal qawaa'idi fakharra 'alaihimus saqfu min fawqihim wa ataahumul 'azaabu min haisu laa yash'uroon

Those before them plotted, and Allah came at their building from the foundations, and the roof fell upon them from above them, and the punishment came at them from where they did not perceive.

﴾٢٧﴿ ثُمَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ يُخْزِيهِمْ وَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تُشَٰٓقُّونَ فِيهِمْ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ إِنَّ ٱلْخِزْىَ ٱلْيَوْمَ وَٱلسُّوٓءَ عَلَى ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Summa Yawmal Qiyaamati yukhzeehim wa yaqoolu aina shurakaaa'iyal lazeena kuntum tushaaaqqoona feehim; qaalal lazeena ootul 'ilma innal khizyal Yawma wassooo'a 'alal kaafireen

Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them and say, "Where are My partners for whose sake you used to oppose?" Those given knowledge will say, "Disgrace today and evil are upon the disbelievers,"

﴾٢٨﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ فَأَلْقَوُا۟ ٱلسَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوٓءٍۭ ۚ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

Allazeena tatawaf faahu mul malaaa'ikatu zaalimeee anfusihim fa alqawus salama maa kunnaa na'malu min sooo'; balaaa innal laaha 'aleemum bimaa kuntum ta'maloon

those whom the angels take while they are wronging themselves. Then they offer submission: "We were not doing any evil." Yes. Allah is Knowing of what you used to do.

﴾٢٩﴿ فَٱدْخُلُوٓا۟ أَبْوَٰبَ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ فَلَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ

Fadkhulooo abwaaba jahannama khaalideena feeha falabi'sa maswal mutakab bireen

So enter the gates of Hell, remaining in it. Evil is the dwelling of the arrogant.

﴾٣٠﴿ ۞ وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ مَاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۚ قَالُوا۟ خَيْرًۭا ۗ لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ فِى هَٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌۭ ۚ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌۭ ۚ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

Wa qeela lillazeenat taqaw maazaaa anzala Rabbukum; qaaloo khairaa; lillazeena ahsanoo fee haazihid dunyaa hasanah; wa la Daarul Aakhirati khair; wa lani'ma daarul muttaqeen

And it is said to those who were mindful of Allah, "What has your Lord sent down?" They say, "Good." For those who did good in this world is good, and the home of the hereafter is better. Excellent is the home of those mindful of Allah,

﴾٣١﴿ جَنَّٰتُ عَدْنٍۢ يَدْخُلُونَهَا تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ ۖ لَهُمْ فِيهَا مَا يَشَآءُونَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَجْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

Jannaatu 'Adniny yadkhuloonahaa tajree min tahtihal anhaaru lahum feehaa maa yashaaa'oon; kazaalika yajzil laahul muttaqeen

gardens of perpetual residence which they enter, beneath which rivers flow. In them they have whatever they wish. That is how Allah rewards the mindful,

﴾٣٢﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ ۙ يَقُولُونَ سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

Allazeena tatawaf faahumul malaaa'ikatu taiyibeena yaqooloona salaamun 'alai kumud khulul Jannata bimaa kuntum ta'maloon

those whom the angels take while they are good, saying, "Peace be upon you. Enter the Garden for what you used to do."

﴾٣٣﴿ هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّآ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ أَوْ يَأْتِىَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ فَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ وَمَا ظَلَمَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

Hal yanzuroona illaaa an taatiyahumul malaaa'ikatu aw yaatiya amru Rabbik; kazaalika fa'alal lazeena min qablihim; wa maa zalamahumul laahu wa laakin kaanoo anfusahum yazlimoon

Are they waiting for anything but the angels to come to them, or the command of your Lord to come? That is what those before them did. Allah did not wrong them, but they were wronging themselves.

﴾٣٤﴿ فَأَصَابَهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ

Fa asaabahum saiyi aatu maa 'amiloo wa haaqa bihim maa kaano bihee yastahzi'oon

So the evils of what they did struck them, and what they used to mock surrounded them.

﴾٣٥﴿ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا عَبَدْنَا مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَىْءٍۢ نَّحْنُ وَلَآ ءَابَآؤُنَا وَلَا حَرَّمْنَا مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ فَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ فَهَلْ عَلَى ٱلرُّسُلِ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ

Wa qaalal lazeena ashrakoo law shaaa'al laahu ma 'abadnaa min doonihee min shai'in nahnu wa laaa aabaaa'unaa wa laa harramnaa min doonihee min shai'; kazaalika fa'alal lazeena min qablihim fahal 'alar Rusuli illal balaaghul mubeen

And those who associated others said, "If Allah had willed, we would not have worshipped anything besides Him, we and our fathers, and we would not have forbidden anything without Him." That is what those before them did. Is there anything upon the messengers except clear delivery?

﴾٣٦﴿ وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍۢ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ ٱلضَّلَٰلَةُ ۚ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Wa laqad ba'asnaa fee kulli ummatir Rasoolan ani'budul laaha wajtanibut Taaghoota faminhum man hadal laahu wa minhum man haqqat 'alaihid dalaalah; faseeroo fil ardi fanzuroo kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul mukazzibeen

And We raised in every nation a messenger: worship Allah and avoid false powers. Among them were those Allah guided, and among them were those upon whom error was justified. So travel the earth and see how the deniers ended.

﴾٣٧﴿ إِن تَحْرِصْ عَلَىٰ هُدَىٰهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى مَن يُضِلُّ ۖ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّٰصِرِينَ

In tahris 'alaa hudaahum fa innal laaha laa yahdee mai yudillu wa maa lahum min naasireen

If you are eager for their guidance, Allah does not guide those He leaves astray, and they will have no helpers.

﴾٣٨﴿ وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَٰنِهِمْ ۙ لَا يَبْعَثُ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَمُوتُ ۚ بَلَىٰ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّۭا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Wa aqsamoo billaahi jahda aimaanihim laa yab'asul laahu mai yamoot; balaa wa'dan 'alaihi haqqanw wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa ya'lamoon

And they swore by Allah their strongest oaths that Allah will not raise one who dies. Yes, it is a promise binding upon Him in truth, but most people do not know,

﴾٣٩﴿ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ كَٰذِبِينَ

Liyubaiyina lahumul lazee yakhtalifoona feehi wa liya'lamal lazeena kafarooo annahum kaanoo kaazibeen

so that He may make clear to them what they differed about, and so that those who disbelieved may know that they were liars.

﴾٤٠﴿ إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَىْءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدْنَٰهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ

Innamaa qawlunaa lisha y'in izaa aradnaahu an naqoola lahoo kun fa yakoon

Our word to a thing, when We intend it, is only that We say to it, "Be," and it is.

﴾٤١﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ فِى ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا۟ لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ ۖ وَلَأَجْرُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ

Wallazeena haajaroo fil laahi mim ba'di maa zulimoo lanubawwi' annahum fiddunyaa hasanatanw wa la ajrul Aakhirati akbar; law kaanoo ya'lamoon

And those who emigrated for Allah after they were wronged, We will settle them well in this world, and the reward of the hereafter is greater, if they only knew,

﴾٤٢﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

Allazeena sabaroo wa 'alaa Rabbihim yatawak kaloon

those who were patient and who rely upon their Lord.

﴾٤٣﴿ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًۭا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Wa maaa arsalnaa min qablika illaa rijaalan nooheee ilaihim; fas'alooo ahlaz zikri in kuntum laa ta'lamoon

And We sent none before you except men to whom We revealed. So ask the people of the reminder, if you do not know,

﴾٤٤﴿ بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَٱلزُّبُرِ ۗ وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Bilbaiyinaati waz Zubur; wa anzalnaaa ilaikaz Zikra litubaiyina linnaasi maa nuzzila ilaihim wa la'allahum yatafakkaroon

with clear proofs and scriptures. And We sent down to you the reminder, so that you may make clear to people what was sent down to them, and so that they may reflect.

﴾٤٥﴿ أَفَأَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَكَرُوا۟ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن يَخْسِفَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

Afa aminal lazeena makarus saiyi aati ai yakhsifal laahu bihimul arda aw yaaa tiyahumul 'azaabu min haisu laa yash'uroon

Do those who plotted evil deeds feel secure that Allah will not cause the earth to swallow them, or that the punishment will not come to them from where they do not perceive,

﴾٤٦﴿ أَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ فِى تَقَلُّبِهِمْ فَمَا هُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ

Aw yaakhuzahum fee taqallubihim famaa hum bi mu'jizeen

or that He will not seize them in the midst of their going about, and they cannot escape,

﴾٤٧﴿ أَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ عَلَىٰ تَخَوُّفٍۢ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ

Aw yaakhuzahum 'alaa takhawwuf; fa inna Rabbakum la Ra'oofur Raheem

or that He will not seize them with a gradual wasting? Your Lord is Kind, Merciful.

﴾٤٨﴿ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍۢ يَتَفَيَّؤُا۟ ظِلَٰلُهُۥ عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَٱلشَّمَآئِلِ سُجَّدًۭا لِّلَّهِ وَهُمْ دَٰخِرُونَ

Awa lam yaraw ilaa maa khalaqal laahu min shai'iny-yatafaiya'u zilaaluhoo 'anil yameeni washshamaaa' ili sujjadal lillaahi wa hum daakhiroon

Have they not looked at what Allah created of things, their shadows inclining to the right and the left, prostrating to Allah, while they are humbled?

﴾٤٩﴿ وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِن دَآبَّةٍۢ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

Wa lillaahi yasjudu maa fis samaawaati wa maa fil ardi min daaabbatinw walma laaa'ikatu wa hum laa yastakbiroon

And to Allah prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth of creatures, and the angels, and they are not arrogant.

﴾٥٠﴿ يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ۩

Yakhaafoona Rabbahum min fawqihim wa yaf'aloona maa yu'maroon

They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.

✦

A prostration is made here in recitation.

﴾٥١﴿ ۞ وَقَالَ ٱللَّهُ لَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ إِلَٰهَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۖ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ ۖ فَإِيَّٰىَ فَٱرْهَبُونِ

Wa qaalal laahu laa tatta khizooo ilaahainis naini innamaa Huwa Ilaahunw Waahid; fa iyyaaya farhaboon

And Allah said, "Do not take two gods. He is only one God. So fear Me alone."

﴾٥٢﴿ وَلَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَهُ ٱلدِّينُ وَاصِبًا ۚ أَفَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ تَتَّقُونَ

Wa lahoo maa fis samaawaati wal ardi wa lahud deenu waasibaa; afaghairal laahi tattaqoon

And to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and to Him belongs the religion, permanently. Will you then be mindful of other than Allah?

﴾٥٣﴿ وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍۢ فَمِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِذَا مَسَّكُمُ ٱلضُّرُّ فَإِلَيْهِ تَجْـَٔرُونَ

Wa maa bikum minni'matin faminal laahi summa izaa massakumud durru fa ilaihi taj'aroon

And whatever favor you have is from Allah. Then when harm touches you, it is to Him that you cry for help.

﴾٥٤﴿ ثُمَّ إِذَا كَشَفَ ٱلضُّرَّ عَنكُمْ إِذَا فَرِيقٌۭ مِّنكُم بِرَبِّهِمْ يُشْرِكُونَ

Summaa izaa kashafad durra 'ankum izaa fareequm minkum bi Rabbihim yushrikoon

Then when He removes the harm from you, a party of you associates others with their Lord,

﴾٥٥﴿ لِيَكْفُرُوا۟ بِمَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُمْ ۚ فَتَمَتَّعُوا۟ ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

Liyakfuroo bimaa aatainaahum; fatamatta'oo, faswfa ta'lamoon

so as to deny what We gave them. So enjoy yourselves. You are going to know.

﴾٥٦﴿ وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ نَصِيبًۭا مِّمَّا رَزَقْنَٰهُمْ ۗ تَٱللَّهِ لَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَفْتَرُونَ

Wa yaj'aloona limaa laa ya'lamoona naseebam mimmaa razaqnnaahum; tallaahi latus'alunaa 'ammaa kuntum taftaroon

And they assign a share of what We provided them to what they do not know. By Allah, you will be asked about what you used to invent.

﴾٥٧﴿ وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِلَّهِ ٱلْبَنَٰتِ سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ ۙ وَلَهُم مَّا يَشْتَهُونَ

Wa yaj'aloona lillaahil banaati Subhaanahoo wa lahum maa yashtahoon

And they assign daughters to Allah. Glory to Him. And for themselves, what they desire.

﴾٥٨﴿ وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِٱلْأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُۥ مُسْوَدًّۭا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌۭ

Wa izaa bushshira ahaduhum bil unsaa zalla wajhuhoo muswaddanw wa huwa kazeem

And when one of them is given news of a female, his face darkens and he is filled with grief.

﴾٥٩﴿ يَتَوَٰرَىٰ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ مِن سُوٓءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ أَيُمْسِكُهُۥ عَلَىٰ هُونٍ أَمْ يَدُسُّهُۥ فِى ٱلتُّرَابِ ۗ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ

Yatawaaraa minal qawmimin sooo'i maa bushshira bih; a-yumsikuhoo 'alaa hoonin am yadussuhoo fit turaab; alaa saaa'a maa yahkumoon

He hides from the people because of the bad news he was given. Shall he keep her in humiliation, or bury her in the dust? Evil is what they judge.

﴾٦٠﴿ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ مَثَلُ ٱلسَّوْءِ ۖ وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْمَثَلُ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

Lillazeena laa yu'minoona bil Aakhirati masalus saw'i wa lillaahil masalul a'laa; wa Huwal 'Azeezul Hakeem

For those who do not believe in the hereafter is the evil description, and to Allah belongs the highest description. He is the Mighty, the Wise.

﴾٦١﴿ وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِم مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍۢ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةًۭ ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ

Wa law yu'aakhizul laahun naasa bizulminhim maa taraka 'alaihaa min daaabbatinw wa laakiny yu'akhkhiruhum ilaaa ajalim musamman fa izaa jaaa'a ajaluhum laa yastaakhiroona saa'atanw wa laa yastaqdimoon

And if Allah were to take people to task for their wrongdoing, He would not leave upon it a single creature. But He delays them for a stated term. When their term comes, they will not delay it by an hour, nor bring it forward.

﴾٦٢﴿ وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِلَّهِ مَا يَكْرَهُونَ وَتَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُهُمُ ٱلْكَذِبَ أَنَّ لَهُمُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّارَ وَأَنَّهُم مُّفْرَطُونَ

Wa yaj'aloona lillaahi maa yakrahoona wa tasifu alsinatuhumul kaziba anna lahumul husnaa laa jarama anna lahumun Naara wa annahum mufratoon

And they assign to Allah what they dislike, and their tongues describe the lie that they will have the best. Without doubt, for them is the Fire, and they will be abandoned to it.

﴾٦٣﴿ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَمٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَعْمَٰلَهُمْ فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ

Tallaahi laqad arsalnaaa ilaaa umamim min qablika fazayyana lahumush Shaitaanu a'maalahum fahuwa waliyyuhumul yawma wa lahum 'azaabun aleem

By Allah, We sent messengers to nations before you, but Satan made their deeds attractive to them. So he is their ally today, and for them is a painful punishment.

﴾٦٤﴿ وَمَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ إِلَّا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۙ وَهُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Wa maaa anzalnaa 'alaikal Kitaaba illaa litubaiyina lahumul lazikh talafoo feehi wa hudanw wa rahmatal liqawminy yu'minoon

And We sent down the Book to you only so that you may make clear to them what they differed about, and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What This Part Means

Overview

The Surah of Favors.

Verse 4 gives the entire arc of a human life in nine words. He created the human being from a drop, and then he is a clear disputant. From a drop to a man arguing with his Maker, and the surah puts almost nothing between those two clauses, because almost nothing is between them. What follows is a list. Cattle. Water. Crops. The sea. Mountains and rivers and paths and landmarks and stars. The listing goes on long enough that the length becomes the point, and then verse 18 closes it: if you tried to count the favors of Allah, you could not number them. Part One is that list, followed by the same question put to two different kinds of men, and their two answers.

Verses 1 to 21

Count Them If You Can.

Verse 5 begins the inventory practically. In the cattle is warmth and benefits, and from them you eat. Then verse 6 adds something no strictly practical list would include. And you have beauty in them, when you bring them in for the evening and when you drive them out to pasture. Jamal. Beauty, named as a favor in its own right, at the specific hour when a man stands and watches his animals come home. The verse notices the hour. Verse 7 then names what animals did for the ancient world: they carry your loads to a land you would not have reached without great hardship. And verse 8, after listing horses, mules and donkeys, adds one clause that has aged remarkably. And He creates what you do not know. The list of transport is left deliberately open. Verse 12 subjects the night, the day, the sun, the moon and the stars, and verse 16 gives one of their uses in four words: by the star they find direction. Then verse 17 asks the question the whole inventory was building toward. Is the One who creates like one who does not create? And verse 18 delivers the line the surah is known for. If you tried to count the favors of Allah, you could not number them. Read the clause that follows it, because it is not the one anyone expects. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Forgiveness, immediately after favors. The connection is the point. No man can discharge the gratitude he owes, the account cannot be settled, and the verse names forgiveness as the reason he is not crushed by the arithmetic.

Verses 22 to 47

One Question, Two Answers.

The surah asks the same question twice, of two different groups, and lets the answers do the work. Verse 24: when it is said to them, what has your Lord sent down, they say, tales of the ancients. Verse 30: it is said to those who were mindful of Allah, what has your Lord sent down, they say, good. Khayran. One word. Two men are handed the identical question and their entire orientation comes out in the reply. Verse 25 then states what the first group carries: their own burdens in full, and some of the burdens of those they misled. Note that nothing is subtracted from the followers. The misleader takes on additional weight without lightening anyone. Verse 26 gives the most unsettling image of collapse in the Quran. Allah came at their building from the foundations, and the roof fell upon them from above them. Not a siege from outside. The structure taken at the base, so that the thing they built came down on their own heads. Verses 28 and 32 then place two death scenes side by side for comparison, and the difference is in the first sentence each group hears. The first are taken while wronging themselves, and they immediately begin negotiating: we were not doing any evil. The second are taken while good, and are greeted with salamun alaykum, enter the Garden for what you used to do. Same moment, two different rooms. Verse 35 records the oldest excuse there is, and it is a theological one. If Allah had willed, we would not have worshipped anything besides Him. Predestination used as a defense, and the answer given is not a debate but a job description: is there anything upon the messengers except clear delivery? Verse 47 then names a way of being seized that most men never consider. Or that He will not seize them with a gradual wasting. Takhawwuf, a slow erosion rather than a sudden blow, and the verse follows it immediately with your Lord is Kind, Merciful, because the slow version is the one that leaves time to turn.

Verses 48 to 64

Whatever Favor You Have.

Verse 48 asks a man to look at something he has seen every day of his life and never read. Have they not looked at what Allah created of things, their shadows inclining to the right and the left, prostrating to Allah, while they are humbled? A shadow moves all day and it never moves on its own. Verse 53 states the accounting in one clause that leaves nothing outside it. And whatever favor you have is from Allah. Ma bikum min ni'matin faminallah. Every single one, without exception, including the ones a man is certain he built. And then the same verse names what he does with that: then when harm touches you, it is to Him that you cry for help. Verse 54 finishes the cycle. Then when He removes the harm from you, a party of you associates others with their Lord. Verses 58 and 59 then hold up a practice of that society and do not blink. When one of them is given news of a female, his face darkens and he is filled with grief. He hides from the people. Shall he keep her in humiliation, or bury her in the dust? The Quran describes the shame on the face, the hiding, and the calculation, and then delivers four words on all of it: evil is what they judge. Verse 61 closes the section with the reason anyone is still standing. If Allah were to take people to task for their wrongdoing, He would not leave upon it a single creature. Not a single one. And verse 64 states the purpose of the whole Book in one line: so that you may make clear to them what they differed about, and as guidance and mercy.

Structural Summary

Verses One to Sixty-Four. If You Tried to Count Them, You Could Not.

The surah opens on a man made from a drop who ends up arguing with his Maker, and then lists what he was handed until the list itself becomes the argument, including beauty at the hour the animals come home and a clause left open for transport not yet invented. It states that the favors cannot be counted and pairs that with forgiveness, because the debt cannot be settled. It asks two men the same question and lets one word from each sort them. It shows a building taken at the foundations, two deaths in the same moment and two different greetings, and a slow wasting named as a mercy. And it states without exception that every favor a man holds came from one place.

The Practice

Take It Into the Week

Verse 18. Try to count them for ten minutes on paper. The exercise is the point, and so is failing it.

Verse 30. The next time someone asks you what your religion actually says, answer in one word first, the way the mindful did. Good.

Verse 53. Take the favor you are most convinced you built yourself, and say where it came from out loud.

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 41 / 12

The Verse

What arc does verse 4 describe in a single line?