Surah Ar-Rum: The Romans | Quran Study Guide

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The Surah · Ar-Rum

﴾١﴿ الٓمٓ

Alif-Laaam-Mim

Alif Lam Mim.

﴾٢﴿ غُلِبَتِ ٱلرُّومُ

Ghulibatir Rum

The Romans have been defeated

﴾٣﴿ فِىٓ أَدْنَى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ غَلَبِهِمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ

Fi adnal ardi wa hummim ba'di ghalabihim sa ya ghlibun

in the nearest land, and after their defeat they will be victorious

﴾٤﴿ فِى بِضْعِ سِنِينَ ۗ لِلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْرُ مِن قَبْلُ وَمِنۢ بَعْدُ ۚ وَيَوْمَئِذٍۢ يَفْرَحُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ

Fi bid'i sinin; lillaahil amru min qablu wa mim ba'd; wa yawma'iziny yafrahul mu'minun

within a few years. The command belongs to Allah before and after. On that day the believers will rejoice

﴾٥﴿ بِنَصْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ يَنصُرُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Binasril laa; yansuru mai yashaaa'u wa Huwal 'Azizur Rahim

at the help of Allah. He helps whom He wills. He is the Mighty, the Merciful.

﴾٦﴿ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱللَّهُ وَعْدَهُۥ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Wa'dal laahi laa yukhliful laahu wa'dahu wa laakin na aksaran naasi laa ya'lamun

It is the promise of Allah. Allah does not break His promise, but most people do not know.

﴾٧﴿ يَعْلَمُونَ ظَٰهِرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ هُمْ غَٰفِلُونَ

Ya'lamuna zaahiram minal hayaatid dunya wa hum 'anil Aakhirati hum ghaafilun

They know an outward part of the life of this world, and of the hereafter they are unaware.

﴾٨﴿ أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِم ۗ مَّا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِلِقَآئِ رَبِّهِمْ لَكَٰفِرُونَ

Awalam yatafakkaru fi anfusihim; maa khalaqal laahus samaawaati wal arda wa maa bainahumaaa illaa bil haqqi wa ajalim musammaa; wa inna kasiram minan naasi biliqaaa'i Rabbihim lakaafirun

Have they not reflected within themselves? Allah created the heavens and the earth and what is between them only in truth and for a stated term. Yet many people deny the meeting with their Lord.

﴾٩﴿ أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةًۭ وَأَثَارُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَآ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا وَجَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

Awalm yasiru fil ardi fa-yanzuru kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul lazina min qablihim; kaanu ashadda minhhum quwwatanw wa asaarul arda wa 'amaruhaaa aksara mimmaa 'amaruhaa wa jaaa'athum Rusuluhum bil baiyinaati famaa kaanal laahu liyazli mahum wa laakin kaanu anfusahum yazlimun

Have they not traveled the earth and seen how those before them ended? They were greater than these in strength. They plowed the earth and built it up more than these have built it, and their messengers came to them with clear proofs. Allah would not wrong them, but they wronged themselves.

﴾١٠﴿ ثُمَّ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَٰٓـُٔوا۟ ٱلسُّوٓأَىٰٓ أَن كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَانُوا۟ بِهَا يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ

Summa kaana'aaqibatal lazina asaaa'us su aaa an kazzabu bi aayaatil laahi wa kaanu bihaa yastahzi'un

Then the end of those who did evil was evil, because they denied the verses of Allah and used to mock them.

﴾١١﴿ ٱللَّهُ يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

Allaahu yabda'ul khalqa summa yu'iduhu summa ilaihi turja'un

Allah begins creation, then repeats it, then to Him you will be returned.

﴾١٢﴿ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يُبْلِسُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ

Wa yawma taqumus Saa'atu yublisul mujrimun

On the Day the Hour arrives, the criminals will despair.

﴾١٣﴿ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُم مِّن شُرَكَآئِهِمْ شُفَعَٰٓؤُا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ كَٰفِرِينَ

Wa lam yakul lahum min shurakaaa'ihim shufa'aaa'u wa kaanu bishurakaaa'ihim kaafirin

They will have no intercessors among those they associated, and they will reject the ones they associated.

﴾١٤﴿ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ يَتَفَرَّقُونَ

Wa Yawma taqumus Saa'atu Yawma'iziny yatafarraqun

On the Day the Hour arrives, on that Day they will be separated.

﴾١٥﴿ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَهُمْ فِى رَوْضَةٍۢ يُحْبَرُونَ

Fa ammal lazina aamanu wa 'amilus saalihaati fahum fi rawdatiny yuhbarun

As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, they will be in a garden, delighted.

﴾١٦﴿ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَلِقَآئِ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ مُحْضَرُونَ

Wa ammal lazina kafaru wa kazzabu bi-Aayaatinaa wa liqaaa'il Aakhirati faulaaa'ika fil'azaabi muhdarun

As for those who disbelieved and denied Our verses and the meeting of the hereafter, they will be brought into the punishment.

﴾١٧﴿ فَسُبْحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ حِينَ تُمْسُونَ وَحِينَ تُصْبِحُونَ

Fa Subhaanal laahi hina tumsuna wa hina tusbihun

So glory to Allah when you reach the evening and when you reach the morning.

﴾١٨﴿ وَلَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَعَشِيًّۭا وَحِينَ تُظْهِرُونَ

Wa lahul hamdu fis samaawaati wal ardi wa 'ashiyyanw wa hina tuzhirun

To Him belongs praise in the heavens and the earth, and in the late afternoon, and when you reach midday.

﴾١٩﴿ يُخْرِجُ ٱلْحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلْحَىِّ وَيُحْىِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ تُخْرَجُونَ

Yukhrijul haiya minal maiyiti wa yukhrijul maiyita minal haiyi wa yuhyil arda ba'da mawtihaa; wa kazaalika tukhrajun

He brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living, and He gives life to the earth after its death. In the same way you will be brought out.

﴾٢٠﴿ وَمِنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍۢ ثُمَّ إِذَآ أَنتُم بَشَرٌۭ تَنتَشِرُونَ

Wa min Aayaatihi an khalaqakum min turaabin summa izaaa antum basharun tantashirun

Among His signs is that He created you from dust, and then you are human beings spreading out.

﴾٢١﴿ وَمِنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةًۭ وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Wa min Aayaatihi an khalaqa lakum min anfusikum azwaajal litaskunu ilaihaa wa ja'ala bainakum mawad datanw wa rahmah; inna fi zaalika la Aayaatil liqawminy yatafakkarun

Among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves, so that you may find rest in them, and He placed between you affection and mercy. In that are signs for a people who reflect.

﴾٢٢﴿ وَمِنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ خَلْقُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَٰفُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَٰنِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّلْعَٰلِمِينَ

Wa min Aayaatihi khalqus samaawaati wal aardi wakhtilaafu alsinatikum wa alwaanikum; inna fi zaalika la Aayaatil lil'aalimin

Among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your tongues and your colors. In that are signs for those who know.

﴾٢٣﴿ وَمِنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ مَنَامُكُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱبْتِغَآؤُكُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَسْمَعُونَ

Wa min Aayaatihi manaamukum bil laili wannahaari wabtighaaa'ukum min fadlih; inna fi zaalika la Aayaatil liqawminy yasma'un

Among His signs is your sleep by night and by day, and your seeking of His bounty. In that are signs for a people who listen.

﴾٢٤﴿ وَمِنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ يُرِيكُمُ ٱلْبَرْقَ خَوْفًۭا وَطَمَعًۭا وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَيُحْىِۦ بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَعْقِلُونَ

Wa min Aayaatihi yurikumul barqa khawfanw wa tama'anw wa yunazzilu minas samaaa'i maaa'an fa yuhyi bihil arda ba'da mawtihaaa inna fi zaalika la Aayaatil liqawminy ya'qilun

Among His signs is that He shows you the lightning, causing fear and hope, and sends down water from the sky, giving life to the earth after its death. In that are signs for a people who reason.

﴾٢٥﴿ وَمِنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَن تَقُومَ ٱلسَّمَآءُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ بِأَمْرِهِۦ ۚ ثُمَّ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ دَعْوَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ إِذَآ أَنتُمْ تَخْرُجُونَ

Wa min Aayaatihi an taqumas samaaa'u wal ardu bi-amrih; summa izaa da'aakum da'watam minal ardi izaaa antum takhrujun

Among His signs is that the heaven and the earth stand by His command. Then when He calls you with a single call from the earth, you will come out.

﴾٢٦﴿ وَلَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ كُلٌّۭ لَّهُۥ قَٰنِتُونَ

Wa lahu man fissamaawaati wal ardi kullul lahu qaanitun

To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. All are devoutly obedient to Him.

﴾٢٧﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ ۚ وَلَهُ ٱلْمَثَلُ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

Wa Huwal lazi yabda'ul khalqa summa yu'iduhu wa huwa ahwanu 'alaih; wa lahul masalul la'laa fissamaawaati wal-ard; wa Huwal 'Azizul Hakim

He is the One who begins creation, then repeats it, and that is easier for Him. To Him belongs the highest description in the heavens and the earth. He is the Mighty, the Wise.

﴾٢٨﴿ ضَرَبَ لَكُم مَّثَلًۭا مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ هَل لَّكُم مِّن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُم مِّن شُرَكَآءَ فِى مَا رَزَقْنَٰكُمْ فَأَنتُمْ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌۭ تَخَافُونَهُمْ كَخِيفَتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لِقَوْمٍۢ يَعْقِلُونَ

Daraba lakum masalam min anfusikum hal lakum mimmaa malakat aymaanukum min shurakaaa'a fi maa razaqnaakum fa antum fihi sawaaa'un takhaafunahum kakhifa tikum anfusakum; kazaalika nufassilul Aayaati liqawminy ya'qilun

He presents to you an example from yourselves. Do you have, among those your right hands possess, partners in what We have provided you, so that you are equal in it, and you fear them as you fear one another? This is how We explain the verses for a people who reason.

﴾٢٩﴿ بَلِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍۢ ۖ فَمَن يَهْدِى مَنْ أَضَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّٰصِرِينَ

Balit taba'al lazina zalamu ahwaaa'ahum bighairi 'ilmin famai yahdi man adallal laahu wa maa lahum min naasirin

Rather, those who wrong follow their own desires without knowledge. Who can guide the one Allah has left astray? They will have no helpers.

﴾٣٠﴿ فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًۭا ۚ فِطْرَتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى فَطَرَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Fa aqim wajhaka liddini Hanifaa; fitratal laahil lati fataran naasa 'alaihaa; laa taabdila likhalqil laah; zaalikad dinul qaiyimu wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa ya'lamun

So set your face to the religion, upright, the natural disposition of Allah upon which He originated people. There is no changing the creation of Allah. That is the upright religion, but most people do not know.

﴾٣١﴿ ۞ مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ وَٱتَّقُوهُ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

Munibina ilaihi wattaquhu wa aqimus Salaata wa laa takunu minal mushrikin

Turning to Him. Be mindful of Him, establish the prayer, and do not be among those who associate others with Him,

﴾٣٢﴿ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا۟ دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا۟ شِيَعًۭا ۖ كُلُّ حِزْبٍۭ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ

Minal lazina farraqu dinahum wa kaanu shiya'an kullu hizbim bimaa ladaihim farihun

among those who divided their religion and became sects, each party rejoicing in what it has.

﴾٣٣﴿ وَإِذَا مَسَّ ٱلنَّاسَ ضُرٌّۭ دَعَوْا۟ رَبَّهُم مُّنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ إِذَآ أَذَاقَهُم مِّنْهُ رَحْمَةً إِذَا فَرِيقٌۭ مِّنْهُم بِرَبِّهِمْ يُشْرِكُونَ

Wa izaa massan naasa durrun da'aw Rabbahum munibina ilaihi summa izaaa azaqahum minhu rahmatan izaa fariqum minhum be Rabbihim yushrikun

When harm touches people, they call upon their Lord, turning to Him. Then when He gives them a taste of mercy from Himself, a party of them associates others with their Lord,

﴾٣٤﴿ لِيَكْفُرُوا۟ بِمَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُمْ ۚ فَتَمَتَّعُوا۟ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

Li yakfuru bimaaa aatainaahum; fatamatta'u fasawfa ta'lamun

so as to deny what We have given them. Enjoy yourselves, for you are going to know.

﴾٣٥﴿ أَمْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَٰنًۭا فَهُوَ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يُشْرِكُونَ

Am anzalnaa 'alaihim sultaanan fahuwa yatakallamu bimaa kaanu bihi yushrikun

Or have We sent down to them an authority that speaks of what they associate with Him?

﴾٣٦﴿ وَإِذَآ أَذَقْنَا ٱلنَّاسَ رَحْمَةًۭ فَرِحُوا۟ بِهَا ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ إِذَا هُمْ يَقْنَطُونَ

Wa izaaa azaqnan naasa rahmatan farihu bihaa wa in tusibhum sayyi'atum bimaa qaddamat aydihim izaa hum yaqnatun

When We give people a taste of mercy, they rejoice in it. If evil strikes them for what their own hands sent forth, they despair.

﴾٣٧﴿ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Awalam yaraw annal laaha yabsutur rizqa limai yashaaa'u wa yaqdir; inna fi zaalika la Aayaatil liqawminy yu'minun

Have they not seen that Allah extends provision for whom He wills and restricts it? In that are signs for a people who believe.

﴾٣٨﴿ فَـَٔاتِ ذَا ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُۥ وَٱلْمِسْكِينَ وَٱبْنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ

Fa aati zal qurbaa haqqahu walmiskina wabnassabil; zaalika khairul lil lazina yuriduna Wajhal laahi wa ulaaa'ika humul muflihun

So give the relative his right, and the poor, and the traveler. That is better for those who want the Face of Allah, and they are the successful.

﴾٣٩﴿ وَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُم مِّن رِّبًۭا لِّيَرْبُوَا۟ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُوا۟ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُم مِّن زَكَوٰةٍۢ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُضْعِفُونَ

Wa maaa aataitum mir ribal li yarbuwa fi amwaalin naasi falaa yarbu 'indal laahi wa maaa aataitum min zaakaatin turiduna wajhal laahi fa ulaaa'ika humul mud'ifun

Whatever you give in interest to increase within the wealth of people does not increase with Allah. Whatever you give in zakat, seeking the Face of Allah, those are the ones who receive many times over.

﴾٤٠﴿ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ رَزَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ هَلْ مِن شُرَكَآئِكُم مَّن يَفْعَلُ مِن ذَٰلِكُم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

Allaahul lazi khalaqa kum summa razaqakm summa yumitukum summa yuhyikum hal min shurakaaa'ikum mai yaf'alu min zaalikum min shai'; Sub haanahu wa Ta'aalaa 'ammaa yushrikun

Allah is the One who created you, then provided for you, then causes you to die, then gives you life. Is there any among those you associate who does any of that? Glory to Him, above what they associate.

﴾٤١﴿ ظَهَرَ ٱلْفَسَادُ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِى ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى عَمِلُوا۟ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

Zaharal fasaadu fil barri wal bahri bimaa kasabat aydinnaasi li yuziqahum ba'dal lazi 'amilu la'allahum yarji'un

Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of people have earned, so that He may make them taste part of what they did, so that they may return.

﴾٤٢﴿ قُلْ سِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّشْرِكِينَ

Qul siru fil ardi fanzuru kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul lazina min qabl; kaana aksaruhum mushrikin

Say, "Travel the earth and see how those before you ended. Most of them were people who associated others with Allah."

﴾٤٣﴿ فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ ٱلْقَيِّمِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌۭ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ يَصَّدَّعُونَ

Fa aqim wajhaka lid dinil qaiyimi min qabli any yaatiya Yawmul laa maradda lahu minal laahi Yawma'iziny yassadda'un

So set your face to the upright religion before a Day comes from Allah that cannot be turned back. On that Day they will be divided.

﴾٤٤﴿ مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُۥ ۖ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحًۭا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ

Man kafara fa'alaihi kufruhu wa man 'amila saalihan fali anfusihim yamhadun

Whoever disbelieves, his disbelief is against him. Whoever does righteous work, they are preparing for themselves,

﴾٤٥﴿ لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Li yajziyal lazina aamanu wa 'amilus saalihaati min fadlih; innahu laa yuhibbul kaafirin

so that He may reward from His bounty those who believed and did righteous deeds. He does not love the disbelievers.

﴾٤٦﴿ وَمِنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَن يُرْسِلَ ٱلرِّيَاحَ مُبَشِّرَٰتٍۢ وَلِيُذِيقَكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَلِتَجْرِىَ ٱلْفُلْكُ بِأَمْرِهِۦ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Wa min Aayaatihi anyyursilar riyaaha mubashshi raatinw wa li yuziqakum mir rahmatihi wa litajriyal fulku bi amrihi wa litabtaghu min fadlihi wa la'allakum tashkurun

Among His signs is that He sends the winds bearing good news, to give you a taste of His mercy, so that the ships may sail by His command, and so that you may seek of His bounty and be grateful.

﴾٤٧﴿ وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ رُسُلًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِمْ فَجَآءُوهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ فَٱنتَقَمْنَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا۟ ۖ وَكَانَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نَصْرُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Wa laqad arsalnaa min qablika Rusulan ilaa qawmihim fajaaa'uhum bil baiyinaati fantaqamnaa minal lazina ajramu wa kaana haqqan 'alainaa nasrul mu'minin

We sent messengers before you to their people, and they came to them with clear proofs. We took retribution from those who committed crimes, and it was a duty upon Us to help the believers.

﴾٤٨﴿ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى يُرْسِلُ ٱلرِّيَٰحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابًۭا فَيَبْسُطُهُۥ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ وَيَجْعَلُهُۥ كِسَفًۭا فَتَرَى ٱلْوَدْقَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ خِلَٰلِهِۦ ۖ فَإِذَآ أَصَابَ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦٓ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ

Allaahul lazi yursilur riyaaha fatusiru sahaaban fa yabsutuhu fis samaaa'i kaifa yashaaa'u wa yaj'aluhu kisafan fataral wadqa yakhruju min khilaalihi fa izaaa asaaba bihi mai yashaaa'u min 'ibaadihi izaa hum yastabshirun

Allah is the One who sends the winds, and they stir clouds, and He spreads them in the sky as He wills, and breaks them into fragments, and you see the rain emerging from within them. When He causes it to fall upon whom He wills of His servants, they rejoice,

﴾٤٩﴿ وَإِن كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمُبْلِسِينَ

Wa in kaanu min qabli any yunazzala 'alaihim min qablihi lamublisin

though before it was sent down upon them, before that, they were in despair.

﴾٥٠﴿ فَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِ رَحْمَتِ ٱللَّهِ كَيْفَ يُحْىِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ

Fanzur ilaaa aasaari rahmatil laahi kaifa yuhyil arda ba'da mawtihaa; inna zaalika lamuhyil mawtaa wa Huwa 'alaa kulli shai'in Qadir

So look at the effects of the mercy of Allah, how He gives life to the earth after its death. That One is the giver of life to the dead. He has power over all things.

﴾٥١﴿ وَلَئِنْ أَرْسَلْنَا رِيحًۭا فَرَأَوْهُ مُصْفَرًّۭا لَّظَلُّوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ يَكْفُرُونَ

Wa la'in arsalnaa rihan fara awhu musfarral lazallu mim ba'dihi yakfurun

If We sent a wind and they saw the crop turn yellow, they would remain after that in disbelief.

﴾٥٢﴿ فَإِنَّكَ لَا تُسْمِعُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَلَا تُسْمِعُ ٱلصُّمَّ ٱلدُّعَآءَ إِذَا وَلَّوْا۟ مُدْبِرِينَ

Fa innaka laa tusmi'ul mawtaa wa laa tusmi'us summad du'aaa'a izaa wallaw mudbirin

You cannot make the dead hear, and you cannot make the deaf hear the call when they turn away in retreat.

﴾٥٣﴿ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِهَٰدِ ٱلْعُمْىِ عَن ضَلَٰلَتِهِمْ ۖ إِن تُسْمِعُ إِلَّا مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا فَهُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

Wa maa anta bihaadil 'umyi 'an dalaalatihim in tusmi'u illaa mai yuminu bi aayaatinaa fahum muslimun

You cannot guide the blind out of their error. You can make none hear except those who believe in Our verses, so they submit.

﴾٥٤﴿ ۞ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن ضَعْفٍۢ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍۢ قُوَّةًۭ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍۢ ضَعْفًۭا وَشَيْبَةًۭ ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْقَدِيرُ

Allahul lazi khalaqa kum min du'fin summa ja'ala mim ba'di du'fin quwwatan summa ja'ala mim ba'di quwwatin du'fanw wa shaibah; yakhluqu maa yashaaa'u wa Huwal 'Alimul Qadir

Allah is the One who created you from weakness, then made strength after weakness, then made weakness and grey hair after strength. He creates what He wills. He is the Knowing, the Powerful.

﴾٥٥﴿ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يُقْسِمُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ مَا لَبِثُوا۟ غَيْرَ سَاعَةٍۢ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كَانُوا۟ يُؤْفَكُونَ

Wa Yawma taqumus Saa'atu yuqsimul mujrimuna maa labisu ghaira saa'ah; kazaalika kaanu yu'fakun

On the Day the Hour arrives, the criminals will swear that they stayed no more than an hour. That is how they were deluded.

﴾٥٦﴿ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَٱلْإِيمَٰنَ لَقَدْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْبَعْثِ ۖ فَهَٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلْبَعْثِ وَلَٰكِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Wa qaalal lazina utul 'ilma wal imaana laqad labistum fi kitaabil laahi ilaa yawmil ba'si fahaazaa yawmul ba'si wa laakinnakum kuntum laa ta'lamun

Those given knowledge and faith will say, "You stayed, in the decree of Allah, until the Day of Resurrection. This is the Day of Resurrection, but you did not know."

﴾٥٧﴿ فَيَوْمَئِذٍۢ لَّا يَنفَعُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُسْتَعْتَبُونَ

Fa Yawma'izil laa yanfa'ul lazina zalamu ma'ziratu hum wa laa hum yusta'tabun

On that Day the excuses of those who wronged will not benefit them, and they will not be asked to make amends.

﴾٥٨﴿ وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِى هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍۢ ۚ وَلَئِن جِئْتَهُم بِـَٔايَةٍۢ لَّيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا مُبْطِلُونَ

Wa laqad darabnaa linnaasi fi haazal Quraani min kulli masal; wa la'in ji'tahum bi aayatil la yaqulannal lazina kafaru in antum illaa mubtilun

We have presented to people in this Quran every kind of example. If you brought them a sign, those who disbelieve would say, "You are only falsifiers."

﴾٥٩﴿ كَذَٰلِكَ يَطْبَعُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Kazaalika yatba'ul laahu 'alaa qulubil lazina laa ya'lamun

That is how Allah seals the hearts of those who do not know.

﴾٦٠﴿ فَٱصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّۭ ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَخِفَّنَّكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُوقِنُونَ

Fasbir inna wa'dal laahi haqqunw wa laa yastakhif fannakal lazina laa yuqinun

So be patient. The promise of Allah is true. And do not let those who lack certainty unsettle you.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What The Surah Means

Overview

A Prediction Made in Public.

Ar-Rum opens with something no other surah does. It makes a checkable claim about an event that had not happened yet. The Romans have been defeated, and after their defeat they will be victorious, within a few years. This was said in Makkah, to an audience that would live long enough to see whether it held. The surah then spends fifty-five verses on the reason a man cannot read the world correctly on his own. Verse 7 gives the diagnosis in one line. They know an outward part of the life of this world, and of the hereafter they are unaware. Zahiran, the surface layer. Not wrong information. Incomplete information, treated as complete. Everything after that is the surah supplying the missing layer: the signs in verses 20 through 25, the fitrah in verse 30, the two kinds of increase in verse 39, and the arc of a man's own body in verse 54.

Verses 1 to 19

An Outward Part.

Verse 7 is the sentence to keep. A man who knows only the surface is not described as ignorant. He is described as knowledgeable about one layer, and unaware there is another. That is a harder condition to correct, because it does not feel like a gap. Verse 8 gives the fix and it is not a book. Have they not reflected within themselves. Awalam yatafakkaru fi anfusihim. The instrument is already in his possession. Verse 9 sends him outside to check the same conclusion against the record. They were greater than these in strength, they plowed the earth and built it up more than these have built it. The surah is willing to grant the previous civilizations their superiority in every measurable category, because the measurable categories were never the argument. Verses 17 and 18 sit strangely in the middle of the argument, and that is the point. So glory to Allah when you reach the evening and when you reach the morning, and in the late afternoon, and when you reach midday. Four times of day are named. The response to an argument about time and outcome is a practice attached to the hours. Verse 19 gives the pattern the whole surah runs on: He brings the living out of the dead and the dead out of the living, and gives life to the earth after its death. Reversal is the normal operation.

Verses 20 to 29

Among His Signs.

Six verses, each opening with the same phrase, wa min ayatihi. Dust becoming men who spread out. Mates made from yourselves so that you find rest in them, with affection and mercy placed between you. Heavens and earth, and the difference of tongues and colors. Sleep by night and day, and the seeking of bounty. Lightning that produces fear and hope at once. Heaven and earth standing by His command. Then read the closing clause of each one, because they are not the same. Verse 21 ends with a people who reflect. Verse 22, those who know. Verse 23, a people who listen. Verse 24, a people who reason. Four different faculties, one for each sign, which means no single mode of attention catches all of it. Verse 21 deserves its own reading. He created for you mates from among yourselves so that you may find rest in them, litaskunu ilayha, and He placed between you mawaddah and rahmah. Affection and mercy, placed there, not generated by the two people. A marriage is described as an installed sign, and the rest a man is looking for is named as its purpose. Verse 27 then states something easy to miss. He begins creation, then repeats it, and that is easier for Him. Not easier in reality, since nothing is difficult for Him, but stated in the terms a man reasons with, so that his objection to resurrection collapses on his own logic. Verse 28 finishes the argument with an example taken from the reader's own life. Do you have, among those your right hands possess, partners in what We have provided you, so that you are equal in it, and you fear them as you fear one another? No man would accept in his own household the arrangement he assigns to Allah.

Verses 30 to 45

The Face Set, and the Two Kinds of Increase.

Verse 30 is one of the most consequential verses in the Quran for how a man understands himself. So set your face to the religion, upright, the fitrah of Allah upon which He originated people. There is no changing the creation of Allah. The claim is that submission is not an addition to a man. It is his original specification, and everything else layered on top is the deviation. That reframes the whole effort. A man is not becoming something foreign. He is returning to factory condition. Verse 31 and verse 32 then name the two failures that follow: associating others with Him, and dividing the religion into parties, each one pleased with what it holds. Verse 33 and verse 36 are the same man measured twice. In harm he calls upon his Lord, turning to Him fully. In relief a party of them associates. Given mercy they rejoice, struck by consequence they despair. The surah is describing emotional weather governing a man's creed, which is exactly what verse 30 says the fitrah is meant to replace. Verse 39 is the financial verse of the surah and it is precise. Whatever you give in interest to increase within the wealth of people does not increase with Allah. Whatever you give in zakat, seeking the Face of Allah, those are the ones who receive many times over. Two mechanisms are named, both marketed as increase, and the surah says one of them only moves numbers between people while the other multiplies. Verse 38 gives the order of recipients before it: the relative, the poor, the traveler. The nearest claim is settled first. Verse 41 then names a law that reads as contemporary as anything written this century. Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of people have earned, so that He may make them taste part of what they did, so that they may return. Part of it, not all of it, and the stated purpose is return, not ruin.

Verses 46 to 60

Weakness, Strength, Weakness.

Verses 48 and 49 describe rain arriving to men who had been in despair a moment before, and the surah notes both states without softening either. Verse 50 turns it into the argument. Look at the effects of the mercy of Allah, how He gives life to the earth after its death. That One is the giver of life to the dead. Then verse 51 delivers the correction to anyone who thinks evidence settles hearts. If We sent a wind and they saw the crop turn yellow, they would remain after that in disbelief. One bad season would undo it. Verses 52 and 53 then relieve the Prophet, peace be upon him, of a burden no one can carry. You cannot make the dead hear. You cannot guide the blind out of their error. Verse 54 is the verse to sit with longest. Allah is the One who created you from weakness, then made strength after weakness, then made weakness and grey hair after strength. Three stages, and the man reading it is somewhere on that line. The strength in the middle is real, it is given, and it is bracketed on both sides by the same condition. A man who builds his identity on the middle stage has built on the only part of the sequence that does not last. Verse 55 shows the criminals swearing they stayed no more than an hour, which is what the whole of a life feels like from the far side of it. The surah closes in verse 60 with an instruction addressed to whoever is holding a truth that has not yet been vindicated. So be patient. The promise of Allah is true. And do not let those who lack certainty unsettle you. That is the same discipline the opening verses demonstrated. A prediction was made, and the men who believed it had to hold it for years while nothing visible confirmed it.

Structural Summary

Sixty Verses. Set Your Face to the Fitrah.

The surah stakes a public prediction and then explains why men misread the world: they know the surface and treat it as the whole. It lists six signs, each closing on a different faculty, and names marriage as an installed one. It defines submission as the original specification of a human being rather than an addition to him, separates the increase that moves numbers from the increase that multiplies, names corruption on land and sea as a consequence meant to bring men back, and traces a life through weakness, strength and weakness again. It closes by telling the one holding an unvindicated truth to be patient and not be unsettled.

The Practice · Daily Integration

Sixty Verses. Return to the Original Specification.

Verse 17 and verse 18. Attach one line of tasbih to each of the four times named: morning, midday, late afternoon, evening. Keep it for seven days.

Verse 39. Look at your last month of money. Separate what moved numbers from what was given for the Face of Allah. Adjust one line item this week.

Verse 54. Write down where you are on the three stages and one thing you are building that will still hold in the third.

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 71 / 12

The Verse

What does verse 7 say about what people know?