Surah Az-Zukhruf · Quran Study Guide

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

✦

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The Surah · Az-Zukhruf

﴾١﴿ حمٓ

Ha Meem

Ha Meem.

﴾٢﴿ وَٱلْكِتَٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ

Wal-kitabi al-mubin

By the clear Book.

﴾٣﴿ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَٰهُ قُرْءَٰنًا عَرَبِيًّۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

Inna ja'alnahu Qur'anan 'Arabiyyan la'allakum ta'qilun

We made it a Quran in Arabic so that you might use your minds.

﴾٤﴿ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِىٓ أُمِّ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ

Wa innahu fi Ummi al-Kitabi ladayna la'aliyyun hakim

It is in the Mother of the Book with Us, exalted and full of wisdom.

﴾٥﴿ أَفَنَضْرِبُ عَنكُمُ ٱلذِّكْرَ صَفْحًا أَن كُنتُمْ قَوْمًۭا مُّسْرِفِينَ

Afanadribu 'ankumu adh-dhikra safhan an kuntum qawman musrifin

Should We withhold the reminder from you because you are a people who go past every limit?

﴾٦﴿ وَكَمْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن نَّبِىٍّۢ فِى ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Wa kam arsalna min nabiyyin fi al-awwalin

How many a prophet We sent among the earlier peoples.

﴾٧﴿ وَمَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن نَّبِىٍّ إِلَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ

Wa ma ya'tihim min nabiyyin illa kanu bihi yastahzi'un

No prophet came to them without their mocking him.

﴾٨﴿ فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًۭا وَمَضَىٰ مَثَلُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Fa ahlakna ashadda minhum batshan wa mada mathalu al-awwalin

So We destroyed men stronger than these in force, and the example of the earlier peoples has passed.

﴾٩﴿ وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ خَلَقَهُنَّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

Wa la'in sa'altahum man khalaqa as-samawati wal-arda layaqulunna khalaqahunna al-'Azizu al-'Alim

If you ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they will say: the Exalted in Might, the Knowing created them.

﴾١٠﴿ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًۭا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

Alladhi ja'ala lakumu al-arda mahdan wa ja'ala lakum fiha subulan la'allakum tahtadun

He who made the earth a bed for you and put roads in it for you, so that you might find your way.

﴾١١﴿ وَٱلَّذِى نَزَّلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۢ بِقَدَرٍۢ فَأَنشَرْنَا بِهِۦ بَلْدَةًۭ مَّيْتًۭا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ تُخْرَجُونَ

Walladhi nazzala mina as-sama'i ma'an biqadarin fa ansharna bihi baldatan maytan, kadhalika tukhrajun

And who sent down water from the sky in measure, and We revived a dead land with it. In the same way you will be brought out.

﴾١٢﴿ وَٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْأَزْوَٰجَ كُلَّهَا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْفُلْكِ وَٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ مَا تَرْكَبُونَ

Walladhi khalaqa al-azwaja kullaha wa ja'ala lakum mina al-fulki wal-an'ami ma tarkabun

And who created the pairs, all of them, and made for you ships and livestock to ride,

﴾١٣﴿ لِتَسْتَوُۥا۟ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِۦ ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ إِذَا ٱسْتَوَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَتَقُولُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُۥ مُقْرِنِينَ

Litastawu 'ala zuhurihi thumma tadhkuru ni'mata Rabbikum idha istawaytum 'alayhi wa taqulu subhana alladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin

so that you may settle on their backs, then remember the favor of your Lord when you are settled on them, and say: glory to Him who put this in our service. We could never have matched it.

﴾١٤﴿ وَإِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ

Wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun

And to our Lord we are returning.

﴾١٥﴿ وَجَعَلُوا۟ لَهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ جُزْءًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَكَفُورٌۭ مُّبِينٌ

Wa ja'alu lahu min 'ibadihi juz'an, inna al-insana lakafurun mubin

They assigned to Him a portion from His own servants. Man is plainly ungrateful.

﴾١٦﴿ أَمِ ٱتَّخَذَ مِمَّا يَخْلُقُ بَنَاتٍۢ وَأَصْفَىٰكُم بِٱلْبَنِينَ

Ami ittakhadha mimma yakhluqu banatin wa asfakum bil-banin

Has He taken daughters from what He creates and chosen sons for you?

﴾١٧﴿ وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِمَا ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ مَثَلًۭا ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُۥ مُسْوَدًّۭا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

Wa idha bushshira ahaduhum bima daraba lir-Rahmani mathalan zalla wajhuhu muswaddan wa huwa kazim

When one of them is given news of what he ascribes to the Most Merciful, his face darkens and he is filled with grief.

﴾١٨﴿ أَوَمَن يُنَشَّؤُا۟ فِى ٱلْحِلْيَةِ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلْخِصَامِ غَيْرُ مُبِينٍۢ

Awa man yunashsha'u fi al-hilyati wa huwa fi al-khisami ghayru mubin

One raised among ornaments, unable to make a case plainly?

﴾١٩﴿ وَجَعَلُوا۟ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عِبَٰدُ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ إِنَٰثًا ۚ أَشَهِدُوا۟ خَلْقَهُمْ ۚ سَتُكْتَبُ شَهَٰدَتُهُمْ وَيُسْـَٔلُونَ

Wa ja'alu al-mala'ikata alladhina hum 'ibadu ar-Rahmani inatha, a shahidu khalqahum, satuktabu shahadatuhum wa yus'alun

They made the angels, who are servants of the Most Merciful, female. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be written down and they will be questioned.

﴾٢٠﴿ وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ مَا عَبَدْنَٰهُم ۗ مَّا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ

Wa qalu law sha'a ar-Rahmanu ma 'abadnahum, ma lahum bidhalika min 'ilmin, in hum illa yakhrusun

They said: had the Most Merciful willed, we would not have worshipped them. They have no knowledge of that. They are only guessing.

﴾٢١﴿ أَمْ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُمْ كِتَٰبًۭا مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ فَهُم بِهِۦ مُسْتَمْسِكُونَ

Am ataynahum kitaban min qablihi fahum bihi mustamsikun

Or did We give them a Book before this that they are holding to?

﴾٢٢﴿ بَلْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍۢ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِم مُّهْتَدُونَ

Bal qalu inna wajadna aba'ana 'ala ummatin wa inna 'ala atharihim muhtadun

Rather they said: we found our fathers upon a way, and we are guided by their footsteps.

﴾٢٣﴿ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ فِى قَرْيَةٍۢ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍۢ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِم مُّقْتَدُونَ

Wa kadhalika ma arsalna min qablika fi qaryatin min nadhirin illa qala mutrafuha inna wajadna aba'ana 'ala ummatin wa inna 'ala atharihim muqtadun

And so it was. We sent no warner to a town before you without its affluent saying: we found our fathers upon a way, and we are following their footsteps.

﴾٢٤﴿ ۞ قَٰلَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكُم بِأَهْدَىٰ مِمَّا وَجَدتُّمْ عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ كَٰفِرُونَ

Qala awalaw ji'tukum bi-ahda mimma wajadtum 'alayhi aba'akum, qalu inna bima ursiltum bihi kafirun

He said: even if I brought you better guidance than what you found your fathers upon? They said: we reject what you were sent with.

﴾٢٥﴿ فَٱنتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ ۖ فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Fantaqamna minhum, fanzur kayfa kana 'aqibatu al-mukadhdhibin

So We took retribution from them. Look at how the deniers ended.

﴾٢٦﴿ وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّنِى بَرَآءٌۭ مِّمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ

Wa idh qala Ibrahimu li-abihi wa qawmihi innani bara'un mimma ta'budun

When Ibrahim said to his father and his people: I am free of what you worship,

﴾٢٧﴿ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنِى فَإِنَّهُۥ سَيَهْدِينِ

Illa alladhi fatarani fa innahu sayahdin

except the One who made me. He will guide me.

﴾٢٨﴿ وَجَعَلَهَا كَلِمَةًۢ بَاقِيَةًۭ فِى عَقِبِهِۦ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

Wa ja'alaha kalimatan baqiyatan fi 'aqibihi la'allahum yarji'un

He made it a word that remained among those who came after him, so that they might return.

﴾٢٩﴿ بَلْ مَتَّعْتُ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ وَءَابَآءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ وَرَسُولٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

Bal matta'tu ha'ula'i wa aba'ahum hatta ja'ahumu al-haqqu wa rasulun mubin

Rather, I let these men and their fathers enjoy themselves until the truth came to them, and a clear messenger.

﴾٣٠﴿ وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ قَالُوا۟ هَٰذَا سِحْرٌۭ وَإِنَّا بِهِۦ كَٰفِرُونَ

Wa lamma ja'ahumu al-haqqu qalu hadha sihrun wa inna bihi kafirun

When the truth came to them they said: this is magic, and we reject it.

﴾٣١﴿ وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانُ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْقَرْيَتَيْنِ عَظِيمٍ

Wa qalu lawla nuzzila hadha al-Qur'anu 'ala rajulin mina al-qaryatayni 'azim

They said: why was this Quran not sent down to a great man from one of the two cities?

﴾٣٢﴿ أَهُمْ يَقْسِمُونَ رَحْمَتَ رَبِّكَ ۚ نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُم مَّعِيشَتَهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍۢ دَرَجَٰتٍۢ لِّيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُم بَعْضًۭا سُخْرِيًّۭا ۗ وَرَحْمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌۭ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ

Ahum yaqsimuna rahmata Rabbik, nahnu qasamna baynahum ma'ishatahum fi al-hayati ad-dunya, wa rafa'na ba'dahum fawqa ba'din darajatin liyattakhidha ba'duhum ba'dan sukhriyya, wa rahmatu Rabbika khayrun mimma yajma'un

Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? We distributed among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and We raised some of them above others in ranks so that some may take others in service. The mercy of your Lord is better than what they gather.

﴾٣٣﴿ وَلَوْلَآ أَن يَكُونَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ لَّجَعَلْنَا لِمَن يَكْفُرُ بِٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ لِبُيُوتِهِمْ سُقُفًۭا مِّن فِضَّةٍۢ وَمَعَارِجَ عَلَيْهَا يَظْهَرُونَ

Wa lawla an yakuna an-nasu ummatan wahidatan laja'alna liman yakfuru bir-Rahmani libuyutihim suqufan min fiddatin wa ma'arija 'alayha yazharun

Were it not that people would become one class, We would have given those who deny the Most Merciful silver roofs for their houses and stairways to climb,

﴾٣٤﴿ وَلِبُيُوتِهِمْ أَبْوَٰبًۭا وَسُرُرًا عَلَيْهَا يَتَّكِـُٔونَ

Wa libuyutihim abwaban wa sururan 'alayha yattaki'un

and doors for their houses, and couches to recline on,

﴾٣٥﴿ وَزُخْرُفًۭا ۚ وَإِن كُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَّا مَتَٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَٱلْءَاخِرَةُ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

Wa zukhrufa, wa in kullu dhalika lamma mata'u al-hayati ad-dunya, wal-akhiratu 'inda Rabbika lil-muttaqin

and gold ornament. All of that is only the enjoyment of the life of this world. The Hereafter with your Lord is for those who guard against evil.

﴾٣٦﴿ وَمَن يَعْشُ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُۥ شَيْطَٰنًۭا فَهُوَ لَهُۥ قَرِينٌۭ

Wa man ya'shu 'an dhikri ar-Rahmani nuqayyid lahu shaytanan fahuwa lahu qarin

Whoever turns blind to the remembrance of the Most Merciful, We assign to him a devil who becomes his companion.

﴾٣٧﴿ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَصُدُّونَهُمْ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ

Wa innahum layasuddunahum 'ani as-sabili wa yahsabuna annahum muhtadun

They turn them away from the path while they think they are guided.

﴾٣٨﴿ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَنَا قَالَ يَٰلَيْتَ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكَ بُعْدَ ٱلْمَشْرِقَيْنِ فَبِئْسَ ٱلْقَرِينُ

Hatta idha ja'ana qala ya layta bayni wa baynaka bu'da al-mashriqayni fabi'sa al-qarin

Until, when he comes to Us, he says: I wish there were between me and you the distance of the two easts. What a wretched companion.

﴾٣٩﴿ وَلَن يَنفَعَكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ إِذ ظَّلَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ

Wa lan yanfa'akumu al-yawma idh zalamtum annakum fi al-'adhabi mushtarikun

It will not help you today, since you did wrong, that you share in the punishment.

﴾٤٠﴿ أَفَأَنتَ تُسْمِعُ ٱلصُّمَّ أَوْ تَهْدِى ٱلْعُمْىَ وَمَن كَانَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

Afa anta tusmi'u as-summa aw tahdi al-'umya wa man kana fi dalalin mubin

Can you make the deaf hear, or guide the blind and the one in plain error?

﴾٤١﴿ فَإِمَّا نَذْهَبَنَّ بِكَ فَإِنَّا مِنْهُم مُّنتَقِمُونَ

Fa imma nadhhabanna bika fa inna minhum muntaqimun

Whether We take you away, We will exact retribution from them,

﴾٤٢﴿ أَوْ نُرِيَنَّكَ ٱلَّذِى وَعَدْنَٰهُمْ فَإِنَّا عَلَيْهِم مُّقْتَدِرُونَ

Aw nuriyannaka alladhi wa'adnahum fa inna 'alayhim muqtadirun

or We show you what We promised them. We have full power over them.

﴾٤٣﴿ فَٱسْتَمْسِكْ بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ

Fastamsik billadhi uhiya ilayk, innaka 'ala siratin mustaqim

So hold to what has been revealed to you. You are on a straight path.

﴾٤٤﴿ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذِكْرٌۭ لَّكَ وَلِقَوْمِكَ ۖ وَسَوْفَ تُسْـَٔلُونَ

Wa innahu ladhikrun laka wa liqawmik, wa sawfa tus'alun

It is a reminder for you and your people, and you will be questioned.

﴾٤٥﴿ وَسْـَٔلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَآ أَجَعَلْنَا مِن دُونِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ءَالِهَةًۭ يُعْبَدُونَ

Was'al man arsalna min qablika min rusulina aja'alna min duni ar-Rahmani alihatan yu'badun

Ask those of Our messengers We sent before you: did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Most Merciful?

﴾٤٦﴿ وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَإِي۟هِۦ فَقَالَ إِنِّى رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

Wa laqad arsalna Musa bi-ayatina ila Fir'awna wa mala'ihi faqala inni rasulu Rabbi al-'alamin

We sent Musa with Our signs to Pharaoh and his assembly, and he said: I am a messenger of the Lord of the worlds.

﴾٤٧﴿ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ إِذَا هُم مِّنْهَا يَضْحَكُونَ

Falamma ja'ahum bi-ayatina idha hum minha yadhakun

When he came to them with Our signs, they laughed at them.

﴾٤٨﴿ وَمَا نُرِيهِم مِّنْ ءَايَةٍ إِلَّا هِىَ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أُخْتِهَا ۖ وَأَخَذْنَٰهُم بِٱلْعَذَابِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

Wa ma nurihim min ayatin illa hiya akbaru min ukhtiha wa akhadhnahum bil-'adhabi la'allahum yarji'un

Every sign We showed them was greater than the one before it, and We seized them with punishment so that they might return.

﴾٤٩﴿ وَقَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَيُّهَ ٱلسَّاحِرُ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَ إِنَّنَا لَمُهْتَدُونَ

Wa qalu ya ayyuha as-sahiru ud'u lana Rabbaka bima 'ahida 'indaka innana lamuhtadun

They said: magician, call on your Lord for us by the covenant He made with you. We will be guided.

﴾٥٠﴿ فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ إِذَا هُمْ يَنكُثُونَ

Falamma kashafna 'anhumu al-'adhaba idha hum yankuthun

When We removed the punishment from them, they broke their word.

﴾٥١﴿ وَنَادَىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ فِى قَوْمِهِۦ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ أَلَيْسَ لِى مُلْكُ مِصْرَ وَهَٰذِهِ ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِىٓ ۖ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ

Wa nada Fir'awnu fi qawmihi qala ya qawmi alaysa li mulku Misra wa hadhihi al-anharu tajri min tahti, afala tubsirun

Pharaoh called out among his people. He said: my people, is the kingdom of Egypt not mine, and these rivers running beneath me? Do you not see?

﴾٥٢﴿ أَمْ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ مَهِينٌۭ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُبِينُ

Am ana khayrun min hadha alladhi huwa mahinun wa la yakadu yubin

Or am I not better than this one who is lowly and can hardly make himself clear?

﴾٥٣﴿ فَلَوْلَآ أُلْقِىَ عَلَيْهِ أَسْوِرَةٌۭ مِّن ذَهَبٍ أَوْ جَآءَ مَعَهُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ مُقْتَرِنِينَ

Falawla ulqiya 'alayhi aswiratun min dhahabin aw ja'a ma'ahu al-mala'ikatu muqtarinin

Why has he not been given bracelets of gold, or angels come with him in ranks?

﴾٥٤﴿ فَٱسْتَخَفَّ قَوْمَهُۥ فَأَطَاعُوهُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًۭا فَٰسِقِينَ

Fastakhaffa qawmahu fa ata'uh, innahum kanu qawman fasiqin

So he made his people light, and they obeyed him. They were a people who had broken out of obedience.

﴾٥٥﴿ فَلَمَّآ ءَاسَفُونَا ٱنتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرَقْنَٰهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

Falamma asafuna intaqamna minhum fa aghraqnahum ajma'in

When they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all.

﴾٥٦﴿ فَجَعَلْنَٰهُمْ سَلَفًۭا وَمَثَلًۭا لِّلْءَاخِرِينَ

Faja'alnahum salafan wa mathalan lil-akhirin

We made them a precedent and an example for those who came after.

﴾٥٧﴿ ۞ وَلَمَّا ضُرِبَ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ مَثَلًا إِذَا قَوْمُكَ مِنْهُ يَصِدُّونَ

Wa lamma duriba ibnu Maryama mathalan idha qawmuka minhu yasiddun

When the son of Maryam was presented as an example, your people turned away from it in noise.

﴾٥٨﴿ وَقَالُوٓا۟ ءَأَٰلِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هُوَ ۚ مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلَّا جَدَلًۢا ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ

Wa qalu a-alihatuna khayrun am huwa, ma daraboohu laka illa jadala, bal hum qawmun khasimun

They said: are our gods better, or is he? They raised him to you only to argue. They are a quarrelsome people.

﴾٥٩﴿ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلْنَٰهُ مَثَلًۭا لِّبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ

In huwa illa 'abdun an'amna 'alayhi wa ja'alnahu mathalan li Bani Isra'il

He was only a servant on whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.

﴾٦٠﴿ وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَا مِنكُم مَّلَٰٓئِكَةًۭ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَخْلُفُونَ

Wa law nasha'u laja'alna minkum mala'ikatan fi al-ardi yakhlufun

Had We willed, We could have made angels from among you to succeed one another on the earth.

﴾٦١﴿ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَعِلْمٌۭ لِّلسَّاعَةِ فَلَا تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا وَٱتَّبِعُونِ ۚ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطٌۭ مُّسْتَقِيمٌۭ

Wa innahu la'ilmun lis-sa'ati fala tamtarunna biha wattabi'un, hadha siratun mustaqim

He is a sign of the Hour, so do not doubt it, and follow Me. This is a straight path.

﴾٦٢﴿ وَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

Wa la yasuddannakumu ash-shaytanu innahu lakum 'aduwwun mubin

Do not let Satan turn you away. He is a clear enemy to you.

﴾٦٣﴿ وَلَمَّا جَآءَ عِيسَىٰ بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ قَالَ قَدْ جِئْتُكُم بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَلِأُبَيِّنَ لَكُم بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى تَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

Wa lamma ja'a 'Isa bil-bayyinati qala qad ji'tukum bil-hikmati wa li-ubayyina lakum ba'da alladhi takhtalifuna fihi, fattaqu Allaha wa ati'un

When Isa came with the clear proofs he said: I have come to you with wisdom, and to make clear to you some of what you differ about. So guard against Allah and obey me.

﴾٦٤﴿ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ رَبِّى وَرَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطٌۭ مُّسْتَقِيمٌۭ

Inna Allaha huwa Rabbi wa Rabbukum fa'buduh, hadha siratun mustaqim

Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is a straight path.

﴾٦٥﴿ فَٱخْتَلَفَ ٱلْأَحْزَابُ مِنۢ بَيْنِهِمْ ۖ فَوَيْلٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ

Fakhtalafa al-ahzabu min baynihim, fawaylun lilladhina zalamu min 'adhabi yawmin alim

The factions differed among themselves. Woe to those who did wrong from the punishment of a painful Day.

﴾٦٦﴿ هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا ٱلسَّاعَةَ أَن تَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةًۭ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

Hal yanzuruna illa as-sa'ata an ta'tiyahum baghtatan wa hum la yash'urun

Are they waiting for anything but the Hour to come upon them suddenly, while they do not feel it?

﴾٦٧﴿ ٱلْأَخِلَّآءُ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

Al-akhilla'u yawma'idhin ba'duhum liba'din 'aduwwun illa al-muttaqin

Close friends that Day will be enemies to one another, except those who guard against evil.

﴾٦٨﴿ يَٰعِبَادِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ وَلَآ أَنتُمْ تَحْزَنُونَ

Ya 'ibadi la khawfun 'alaykumu al-yawma wa la antum tahzanun

My servants, there is no fear upon you today, and you will not grieve.

﴾٦٩﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَكَانُوا۟ مُسْلِمِينَ

Alladhina amanu bi-ayatina wa kanu muslimin

Those who believed in Our signs and submitted.

﴾٧٠﴿ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ أَنتُمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُكُمْ تُحْبَرُونَ

Udkhulu al-jannata antum wa azwajukum tuhbarun

Enter the Garden, you and your spouses, made glad.

﴾٧١﴿ يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِصِحَافٍۢ مِّن ذَهَبٍۢ وَأَكْوَابٍۢ ۖ وَفِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِيهِ ٱلْأَنفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ ٱلْأَعْيُنُ ۖ وَأَنتُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ

Yutafu 'alayhim bisihafin min dhahabin wa akwab, wa fiha ma tashtahihi al-anfusu wa taladhdhu al-a'yunu wa antum fiha khalidun

Plates of gold and cups are passed around them, and in it is whatever the souls desire and the eyes delight in, and you will remain in it forever.

﴾٧٢﴿ وَتِلْكَ ٱلْجَنَّةُ ٱلَّتِىٓ أُورِثْتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

Wa tilka al-jannatu allati urithtumuha bima kuntum ta'malun

That is the Garden you were made to inherit for what you used to do.

﴾٧٣﴿ لَكُمْ فِيهَا فَٰكِهَةٌۭ كَثِيرَةٌۭ مِّنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ

Lakum fiha fakihatun kathiratun minha ta'kulun

In it is abundant fruit for you, from which you will eat.

﴾٧٤﴿ إِنَّ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ فِى عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدُونَ

Inna al-mujrimina fi 'adhabi jahannama khalidun

The criminals will remain in the punishment of Hell.

﴾٧٥﴿ لَا يُفَتَّرُ عَنْهُمْ وَهُمْ فِيهِ مُبْلِسُونَ

La yufattaru 'anhum wa hum fihi mublisun

It will not be lightened for them, and in it they are in despair.

﴾٧٦﴿ وَمَا ظَلَمْنَٰهُمْ وَلَٰكِن كَانُوا۟ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Wa ma zalamnahum wa lakin kanu humu az-zalimin

We did not wrong them. They were the wrongdoers.

﴾٧٧﴿ وَنَادَوْا۟ يَٰمَٰلِكُ لِيَقْضِ عَلَيْنَا رَبُّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّكُم مَّٰكِثُونَ

Wa nadaw ya Maliku liyaqdi 'alayna Rabbuk, qala innakum makithun

They will call out: Malik, let your Lord finish us. He says: you will remain.

﴾٧٨﴿ لَقَدْ جِئْنَٰكُم بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَكُمْ لِلْحَقِّ كَٰرِهُونَ

Laqad ji'nakum bil-haqqi wa lakinna aktharakum lil-haqqi karihun

We brought you the truth, but most of you were averse to the truth.

﴾٧٩﴿ أَمْ أَبْرَمُوٓا۟ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّا مُبْرِمُونَ

Am abramu amran fa inna mubrimun

Or have they settled on a plan? We too are settling one.

﴾٨٠﴿ أَمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّا لَا نَسْمَعُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَىٰهُم ۚ بَلَىٰ وَرُسُلُنَا لَدَيْهِمْ يَكْتُبُونَ

Am yahsabuna anna la nasma'u sirrahum wa najwahum, bala wa rusuluna ladayhim yaktubun

Or do they think We do not hear their secrets and their private talk? We do, and Our messengers are with them writing.

﴾٨١﴿ قُلْ إِن كَانَ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ وَلَدٌۭ فَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْعَٰبِدِينَ

Qul in kana lir-Rahmani waladun fa ana awwalu al-'abidin

Say: if the Most Merciful had a son, I would be the first of the worshippers.

﴾٨٢﴿ سُبْحَٰنَ رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

Subhana Rabbi as-samawati wal-ardi Rabbi al-'Arshi 'amma yasifun

Glory to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.

﴾٨٣﴿ فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا۟ وَيَلْعَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يُلَٰقُوا۟ يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ

Fadharhum yakhudu wa yal'abu hatta yulaqu yawmahumu alladhi yu'adun

So leave them to their idle talk and their play until they meet the Day they are promised.

﴾٨٤﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ إِلَٰهٌۭ وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَٰهٌۭ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

Wa huwa alladhi fi as-sama'i ilahun wa fi al-ardi ilah, wa huwa al-Hakimu al-'Alim

He is the One who is God in the heaven and God on the earth. He is the Wise, the Knowing.

﴾٨٥﴿ وَتَبَارَكَ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَعِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

Wa tabaraka alladhi lahu mulku as-samawati wal-ardi wa ma baynahuma wa 'indahu 'ilmu as-sa'ati wa ilayhi turja'un

Blessed is the One who holds the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them. With Him is the knowledge of the Hour, and to Him you will be returned.

﴾٨٦﴿ وَلَا يَمْلِكُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةَ إِلَّا مَن شَهِدَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

Wa la yamliku alladhina yad'una min dunihi ash-shafa'ata illa man shahida bil-haqqi wa hum ya'lamun

Those they call on besides Him hold no power of intercession, except those who testify to the truth and know.

﴾٨٧﴿ وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ

Wa la'in sa'altahum man khalaqahum layaqulunna Allah, fa anna yu'fakun

If you ask them who created them, they will say Allah. So how are they turned away?

﴾٨٨﴿ وَقِيلِهِۦ يَٰرَبِّ إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوْمٌۭ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Wa qilihi ya Rabbi inna ha'ula'i qawmun la yu'minun

And his saying: my Lord, these are a people who do not believe.

﴾٨٩﴿ فَٱصْفَحْ عَنْهُمْ وَقُلْ سَلَٰمٌۭ ۚ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ

Fasfah 'anhum wa qul salam, fasawfa ya'lamun

So turn away from them and say: peace. They are going to know.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What The Surah Means

Overview

Surah Az-Zukhruf is eighty-nine verses, chapter 43, Makki. It is named after decoration. Gold ornament, silver roofs, the surfaces of a life that looks like it is going well.

The argument of the surah is that wealth is not evidence. It is handed out by a distribution the recipients do not run, and the men who refused every messenger in history refused with the same sentence, quoted in verse 23 and delivered by the same class of person every time.

The affluent of every town said the same thing. We found our fathers on a way, and we are following their footsteps.

Verses 22–36 · The Sentence the Affluent Always Say

We found our fathers upon a religion, and we are guided by their footsteps.

Inna wajadna aba'ana 'ala ummatin wa inna 'ala atharihim muhtadun: the position is inherited and the word for guidance is used to describe following a track already worn.

Wa kadhalika ma arsalna min qablika fi qaryatin min nadhirin illa qala mutrafuha: and thus, We sent no warner to a town before you except that its affluent said. The Quran names the class, not the individual. The objection has one social address in every era.

A qala awalaw ji'tukum bi-ahda mimma wajadtum 'alayhi aba'akum: even if I brought you better guidance than what you found your fathers upon. The answer they give is quoted: we reject what you were sent with.

Wa qalu lawla nuzzila hadha al-Qur'anu 'ala rajulin mina al-qaryatayni 'azim: why was this Quran not sent down to a great man from one of the two cities. They accepted revelation in principle and rejected the delivery mechanism because it did not route through the men with the most money.

A hum yaqsimuna rahmata Rabbik, nahnu qasamna baynahum ma'ishatahum fi al-hayati ad-dunya: do they distribute the mercy of your Lord. We distributed among them their livelihood in this life. The verse answers a religious objection with an economic fact.

Wa rafa'na ba'dahum fawqa ba'din darajatin liyattakhidha ba'duhum ba'dan sukhriyya: We raised some above others in degrees so that they may take one another in service. The differential is described as the design of an economy rather than as a scoreboard of merit.

Wa lawla an yakuna an-nasu ummatan wahidah laja'alna liman yakfuru bir-Rahmani libuyutihim suqufan min fiddah: were it not that people would become one class, We would have given the deniers silver roofs and stairways to ascend. Wealth is described as something withheld from them partly so it is not mistaken for approval.

Wa man ya'shu 'an dhikri ar-Rahmani nuqayyid lahu shaytanan fahuwa lahu qarin: whoever turns blind to the remembrance, We assign to him a devil who becomes his companion. The consequence of turning away is described as company rather than as punishment.

They wanted the message routed through the richest man in town. The reply was that He hands out the livelihood Himself.

Verses 51–56 · Pharaoh Reads His Balance Sheet

Is not the kingdom of Egypt mine, and these rivers flowing beneath me?

Wa nada Fir'awnu fi qawmihi qala ya qawmi alaysa li mulku Misra wa hadhihi al-anharu tajri min tahti, afala tubsirun: he made the argument publicly, and the argument was his portfolio. The kingdom, and the rivers underneath it. Do you not see.

Am ana khayrun min hadha alladhi huwa mahinun wa la yakadu yubin: or am I not better than this one who is lowly and can hardly express himself. The comparison offered is between a man's assets and another man's speech impediment.

Falawla ulqiya 'alayhi aswiratun min dhahab: why has he not been given bracelets of gold. The demand for a credential is specifically for gold. Ornament as proof of authority, which is the theme the surah is named after.

Fastakhaffa qawmahu fa ata'uh: so he made his people light, and they obeyed him. Istakhaffa is to render weightless, to make a people frivolous enough to be moved. The Quran locates the failure in the audience as much as in the ruler.

Faja'alnahum salafan wa mathalan lil-akhirin: We made them a precedent and an example for those who came after.

He asked why the messenger had no gold bracelets, and the people found the question persuasive.

Verses 67–89 · Friends That Turn

Close friends, on that Day, will be enemies to one another, except the God-conscious.

Al-akhilla'u yawma'idhin ba'duhum liba'din 'aduwwun illa al-muttaqin: khalil is the innermost circle of friendship, and the verse says every such bond turns hostile that Day, with one exception. The exception is not defined by loyalty. It is defined by God-consciousness.

Wa fiha ma tashtahihi al-anfusu wa taladhdhu al-a'yun: in it is whatever the souls desire and the eyes delight in. The reward is described in terms of appetite and sight, the two things the surah has been warning about being fed by ornament.

The passage then gives the exchange with the deniers, and the request from the Fire, ya Malik liyaqdi 'alayna Rabbuk, and the answer, innakum makithun. You will remain.

Laqad ji'nakum bil-haqqi wa lakinna aktharakum lil-haqqi karihun: We brought you the truth, but most of you were averse to the truth. The disagreement is located in aversion rather than in evidence, which is where the whole surah has been placing it.

Qul in kana lir-Rahmani waladun fa ana awwalu al-'abidin: say, if the Most Merciful had a son, I would be the first of the worshippers. The willingness is stated to close the argument, and then the negation follows.

Fa dhar-hum yakhudu wa yal'abu hatta yulaqu yawmahumu alladhi yu'adun: leave them to their idle talk and play until they meet their Day. Wa qul salam, fasawfa ya'lamun. And say, peace. They are going to know.

Every closest friendship turns that Day, except one kind. And the last instruction is to say peace and walk.

Structural Summary

Eighty-Nine Verses. Gold Is Not Evidence.

Verses 1–14The SendingA Book in clear Arabic, and a reminder that they were asked who created the heavens and named Him themselves.

Verses 15–25The InheritanceWe found our fathers on a way. The affluent of every town have said it to every warner.

Verses 26–35The DistributionIbrahim's disavowal, and the answer that He distributes the livelihood and raises some in rank by design.

Verses 36–45The CompanionA devil assigned as company to the one who turns blind to the remembrance, until he wishes for the distance of the two easts.

Verses 46–56PharaohThe kingdom, the rivers, the demand for gold bracelets, and a people made weightless enough to obey.

Verses 57–65IsaPresented as an example and a servant, and a warning against differing among factions.

Verses 66–89The TurningFriends becoming enemies except the God-conscious, whatever the souls desire, and a closing instruction to say peace.

Why This Surah Is For You

Verse 23 identifies who resists a message, and it is not a temperament. It is a position. The mutraf, the affluent, in every town, in every era, using the same sentence. Notice that they are not accused of being stupid. They are accused of being invested.

Verse 32 is the answer to anyone who reads his own success as a verdict. He distributed the livelihood, and He raised some above others so that people would need each other. The differential is infrastructure, not a scoreboard.

Verse 35 is the verse that should stop a man mid sentence. He would have given the deniers silver roofs if it were not for the risk that people would take wealth as evidence of approval. The abundance is deliberately restrained so it is not misread.

Verse 67 says every innermost friendship turns hostile that Day except among the God-conscious. That is a filter for your circle. Not who is loyal to you now. Who is oriented in a way that survives that Day.

The Practice · Daily Integration

Eighty-Nine Verses. Say Peace.

Test any inherited position this month against verse 22. Are you holding it because it is true, or because you found your people upon it.

Read verse 32 on a good quarter, before you read your own numbers.

Audit the innermost circle against verse 67. Not loyalty. Orientation.

Practice the closing instruction. Leave the argument and say peace, and let them come to know.

Gold roofs were withheld so nobody would mistake them for approval. Say peace, and keep walking.

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 / 178

The Verse

حمٓ

Ha Meem

What does verse 1 say?