Surah Ibrahim: If You Are Grateful | Quran Study Guide

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The Surah · Ibrahim

﴾١﴿ الٓر ۚ كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ

Alif-Laam-Ra; Kitabun anzalnahu ilaika litukhrijan-nasa minaz zulumati ilan nuri bi-izni Rabbihim ila siratil 'Azizil Hamid

Alif Lam Ra. A Book We have sent down to you, so that you may bring people out of the darknesses into the light, by the permission of their Lord, to the path of the Mighty, the Praiseworthy,

﴾٢﴿ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَوَيْلٌۭ لِّلْكَٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍۢ شَدِيدٍ

Allahil lazi lahu ma fis samawati wa ma fill ard; wa wailul lilkafirina min 'azabin shadid

Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. And woe to the disbelievers from a severe punishment,

﴾٣﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَحِبُّونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا عَلَى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۭ بَعِيدٍۢ

Allazina yastahibbu nal hayatad dunya 'alal akhirati wa yasudduna 'ansabilil lahi wa yabghunaha 'iwaja; ulaa 'ika fi dalalim ba'id

those who prefer the life of this world to the hereafter, and turn others from the way of Allah, and want it crooked. Those are in far error.

﴾٤﴿ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِۦ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ ۖ فَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

Wa maa arsalna mir Rasulin illa bilisani qawmihi liyubaiyina lahum faiudillul lahu mai yashaa'u wa yahde mai yashaa'; wa Huwal 'Azizul Hakim

And We sent no messenger except in the language of his people, so that he could make things clear to them. Then Allah leaves astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. He is the Mighty, the Wise.

﴾٥﴿ وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ أَنْ أَخْرِجْ قَوْمَكَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَذَكِّرْهُم بِأَيَّىٰمِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍۢ شَكُورٍۢ

Wa laqad arsalna Musa bi Aayatina an akhrij qawmaka minaz zulumati ilan nuri wa zak kirhum bi ayyamil lah; inna fi zalika la ayatil likulli sabbarin shakur

And We sent Musa with Our signs: bring your people out of the darknesses into the light, and remind them of the days of Allah. In that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.

﴾٦﴿ وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ أَنجَىٰكُم مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ وَيُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌۭ

Wa iz qala Musa liqawmihiz kuru ni'matal lahi 'alaikum iz anjakum min Aali Fir'awna yasumu nakum suo'al 'azabi wa yuzabbihuna abnaa'akum wa yastahyuna nisaa'akum; wa fi zalikum balaa'um mir Rabbikum 'azim

And when Musa said to his people, “Remember the favor of Allah upon you, when He saved you from the people of Pharaoh, who were inflicting on you the worst punishment, slaughtering your sons and sparing your women. In that was a great trial from your Lord.

﴾٧﴿ وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌۭ

Wa iz ta azzana Rabbukum la'in shakartum la azidannakum wa la'in kafartum inn'azabi lashadid

And when your Lord announced: if you are grateful, I will increase you, and if you are ungrateful, My punishment is severe.”

﴾٨﴿ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِن تَكْفُرُوٓا۟ أَنتُمْ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًۭا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ

Wa qala Musaa in takfuruo antum wa man fil ardi jami'an fa innal laha la Ghaniyyun Hamid

And Musa said, “If you disbelieve, you and everyone on the earth together, then Allah is Rich, Praiseworthy.”

﴾٩﴿ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَبَؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍۢ وَعَادٍۢ وَثَمُودَ ۛ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ۛ لَا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۚ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ فَرَدُّوٓا۟ أَيْدِيَهُمْ فِىٓ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ وَإِنَّا لَفِى شَكٍّۢ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَنَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍۢ

Alam yatikum naba'ul lazina min qablikum qawmi Nuhinw wa 'Aadinw wa Samud, wallazina mim ba'dihim; la ya'lamuhum illallah; jaa'at hum Rusuluhum bilbaiyinati faradduo aydiyahum fie afwahihim wa qaluo inna kafarna bimaa ursiltum bihi wa inna lafi shakkim mimma tad'unanaa ilaihi murib

Has the news not reached you of those before you, the people of Nuh, and Ad, and Thamud, and those after them, whom no one knows but Allah? Their messengers came to them with clear proofs, but they put their hands in their mouths and said, “We reject what you have been sent with, and we are in doubt about what you call us to, causing unease.”

﴾١٠﴿ ۞ قَالَتْ رُسُلُهُمْ أَفِى ٱللَّهِ شَكٌّۭ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌۭ مِّثْلُنَا تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَٰنٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

Qalat Rusuluhum afillahi shakkun fatiris samawati wal ardi yad'ukum liyaghfira lakum min zunubikum wa yu'akhkhirakum ilaa ajalim musam ma; qalu in antum illa basharum misluna turiduna an tasudduna 'amma kana ya'budu abaa'una fatuna bisul tanim mubin

Their messengers said, “Is there doubt about Allah, Originator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you so that He may forgive you your sins and delay you until a stated term.” They said, “You are only human beings like us. You want to turn us from what our fathers used to worship. So bring us a clear authority.”

﴾١١﴿ قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِن نَّحْنُ إِلَّا بَشَرٌۭ مِّثْلُكُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نَّأْتِيَكُم بِسُلْطَٰنٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ

Qalat lahum Rusuluhum in nahnu illa basharum mislukum wa lakinnal laha yamunnu 'ala mai yashaa'u min 'ibadihi wa ma kana lanaa an natiyakum bisul tanin illa bi iznil lah; wa 'alal lahi falyatawakkalil mu'minonn

Their messengers said to them, “We are only human beings like you, but Allah favors whom He wills of His servants. And it is not for us to bring you an authority except by the permission of Allah. And upon Allah let the believers rely.

﴾١٢﴿ وَمَا لَنَآ أَلَّا نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَىٰنَا سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاذَيْتُمُونَا ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ

Wa ma lana alla natawakkala 'alal lahi wa qad hadana subulana; wa lanasbiranna 'ala maa azaitumuna; wa 'alal lahi falyatawakkalil mutawakkilun

And why should we not rely upon Allah, when He has guided us to our ways? And we will be patient over the harm you cause us. And upon Allah let those who rely, rely.”

﴾١٣﴿ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِرُسُلِهِمْ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِى مِلَّتِنَا ۖ فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Wa qalal lazina kafaru li Rusulihim lanukhrijanna kum min ardinaa aw lata'u dunna fi millatina fa awhaa ilaihim Rabbuhum lanuhlikannaz zalimin

And those who disbelieved said to their messengers, “We will drive you out of our land, or you will return to our religion.” So their Lord revealed to them: We will destroy the wrongdoers,

﴾١٤﴿ وَلَنُسْكِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامِى وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ

Wa lanuskinan nakumul arda mim ba'dihim; zalika liman khafa maqami wa khafa wa'id

and We will settle you in the land after them. That is for whoever fears standing before Me and fears My warning.

﴾١٥﴿ وَٱسْتَفْتَحُوا۟ وَخَابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍۢ

Wastaftahu wa khaba kullu jabbarin 'anid

And they sought victory, and every stubborn tyrant failed,

﴾١٦﴿ مِّن وَرَآئِهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ وَيُسْقَىٰ مِن مَّآءٍۢ صَدِيدٍۢ

Minw waraa'ihi jahannamu wa yusqa mim maa'in sadid

with Hell before him, and he is given foul water to drink.

﴾١٧﴿ يَتَجَرَّعُهُۥ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُسِيغُهُۥ وَيَأْتِيهِ ٱلْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍۢ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٍۢ ۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِۦ عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٌۭ

Yatajarra'uhu wa la yakadu yusighuhu wa yatihil mawtu min kulli makaninw wa ma huwa bimaiyitinw wa minw waraa'ihi 'azabun ghaliz

He gulps it and can hardly swallow it, and death comes to him from every direction, but he does not die, and beyond him is a harsh punishment.

﴾١٨﴿ مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ ۖ أَعْمَٰلُهُمْ كَرَمَادٍ ٱشْتَدَّتْ بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِى يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍۢ ۖ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَٰلُ ٱلْبَعِيدُ

Masalul lazina kafaru bi Rabbihim a'maluhum karamadinish taddat bihir rihu fi yawmin 'asif; la yaqdiruna mimma kasabu 'ala shai'; zalika huwad dalalul ba'id

The likeness of those who disbelieved in their Lord: their deeds are like ashes on which the wind blows hard on a stormy day. They have no power over anything they earned. That is the far error.

﴾١٩﴿ أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍۢ جَدِيدٍۢ

Alam tara annal laha khalaqas samawati wal arda bilhaqq; iny yasha yuzhibkum wa yati bikhalqin jadid

Do you not see that Allah created the heavens and the earth in truth? If He wills, He can remove you and bring a new creation.

﴾٢٠﴿ وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍۢ

Wa ma zalika 'alal lahi bi 'aziz

And that is not difficult for Allah.

﴾٢١﴿ وَبَرَزُوا۟ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًۭا فَقَالَ ٱلضُّعَفَٰٓؤُا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًۭا فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَيْنَٰكُمْ ۖ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْنَآ أَجَزِعْنَآ أَمْ صَبَرْنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيصٍۢ

Wa barazu lillahi jami'an faqalad du'afaa'u lillazinas takbaruo inna kunna lakum taba'an fahal antum mughnuna 'anna min 'azabil lahi min shai'; qalu law hadanal lahu lahadai nakum sawaa'un 'alainaa ajazi'na am sabarna ma lana mim mahis

And they will come out before Allah, all of them, and the weak will say to those who were arrogant, “We were your followers, so can you protect us from anything of the punishment of Allah?” They will say, “If Allah had guided us, we would have guided you. It is the same for us whether we are anxious or patient. We have no place of escape.”

﴾٢٢﴿ وَقَالَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ لَمَّا قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمْ وَعْدَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُكُمْ ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِىَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَٰنٍ إِلَّآ أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَٱسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِى ۖ فَلَا تَلُومُونِى وَلُومُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُم ۖ مَّآ أَنَا۠ بِمُصْرِخِكُمْ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُصْرِخِىَّ ۖ إِنِّى كَفَرْتُ بِمَآ أَشْرَكْتُمُونِ مِن قَبْلُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ

Wa qalash Shaitanu lamma qudiyal amru innal laha wa'adakum wa'dal haqqi wa wa'attukum fakhlaftukum wa ma kana liya 'alaikum min sultanin illaa an da'awtukum fastajabtum li fala talumuni wa lumuo anfusakum maa ana bimusrikhikum wa maa antum bimusrikhiyya inni kafartu bimaa ashraktumuni min qabl; innaz zalimina lahum azabun alim

And Satan will say, when the matter has been decided, “Allah promised you a true promise, and I promised you and failed you. I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you responded to me. So do not blame me. Blame yourselves. I cannot help you and you cannot help me. I reject your having associated me before.” The wrongdoers will have a painful punishment.

﴾٢٣﴿ وَأُدْخِلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ جَنَّٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ ۖ تَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَٰمٌ

Wa udkhilal lazina amanu wa 'amilus salihati Jannatin tajri min tahtihal anharu khalidina fiha bi izni Rabbihim tahiyyatuhum fiha salam

And those who believed and did righteous deeds will be admitted to gardens beneath which rivers flow, remaining in them by the permission of their Lord. Their greeting in them is peace.

﴾٢٤﴿ أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا كَلِمَةًۭ طَيِّبَةًۭ كَشَجَرَةٍۢ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌۭ وَفَرْعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ

Alam tara kaifa darabal lahu masalan kalimatan taiyibatan kashajaratin taiyibatin asluha sabitunw wa far'uha fis samaa'

Do you not see how Allah presents an example, a good word like a good tree, whose root is firm and whose branches are in the sky,

﴾٢٥﴿ تُؤْتِىٓ أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍۭ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا ۗ وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

Tu'tie ukulaha kulla hinim bi izni Rabbiha; wa yadribul lahul amsala linnasi la'allahum yatazak karun

giving its fruit every season by the permission of its Lord. And Allah presents examples for people, so that they may remember.

﴾٢٦﴿ وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍۢ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ ٱجْتُثَّتْ مِن فَوْقِ ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٍۢ

Wa masalu kalimatin khabisatin kashajaratin khabi satinij tussat min fawqil ardi ma laha min qarar

And the likeness of a corrupt word is like a corrupt tree, uprooted from the surface of the earth, with no stability.

﴾٢٧﴿ يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْقَوْلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۖ وَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ۚ وَيَفْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ

Yusabbitul lahul lazina amanu bilqawlis sabiti fil hayatid dunya wa fil Aakhirati wa yudillul lahuz zalimin; wa yaf'alul lahu ma yashaa'

Allah makes firm those who believe with the firm word in the life of this world and in the hereafter. And Allah leaves the wrongdoers astray, and Allah does what He wills.

﴾٢٨﴿ ۞ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ بَدَّلُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ كُفْرًۭا وَأَحَلُّوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ دَارَ ٱلْبَوَارِ

Alam tara ilal lazina baddalu ni'matal lahi kufranw wa ahallu qawmahum daral bawar

Do you not see those who exchanged the favor of Allah for ingratitude and settled their people in the home of ruin,

﴾٢٩﴿ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْقَرَارُ

Jahannama yaslawnaha wa bi'sal qarar

Hell, which they will enter. What an evil place to settle.

﴾٣٠﴿ وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًۭا لِّيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۗ قُلْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ فَإِنَّ مَصِيرَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ

Wa ja'alu lillahi andadal liyudillu 'an sabilih; qul tamatta'u fa inna masirakum ilan Nar

And they set up equals to Allah, to lead others from His way. Say, “Enjoy yourselves. Your destination is the Fire.”

﴾٣١﴿ قُل لِّعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَٰهُمْ سِرًّۭا وَعَلَانِيَةًۭ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌۭ لَّا بَيْعٌۭ فِيهِ وَلَا خِلَٰلٌ

Qul li'ibadiyal lazina amanu yuqimus Salata wa yunfiqu mimma razaqnahum sirranw wa 'alaniyatam min qabli any yatiya Yawmul la bai'un fihi wa la khilal

Say to My servants who believe: establish the prayer, and spend from what We have provided them, secretly and openly, before a Day comes in which there is no trade and no friendship.

﴾٣٢﴿ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزْقًۭا لَّكُمْ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِىَ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِۦ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَنْهَٰرَ

Allahul lazi khalaqas samawati wal arda wa anzala minas samaa'i maa'an fakhraja bihi minas samarati rizqal lakum wa sakhkhara lakumul fulka litajriya fil bahri bi amrihi wa sakhkhara lakumul anhar

Allah is the One who created the heavens and the earth, and sent down water from the sky, and brought out with it fruits as provision for you. And He made the ships subject to you, to run through the sea by His command, and He made the rivers subject to you.

﴾٣٣﴿ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ دَآئِبَيْنِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ

Wa sakhkhara lakumush shamsa walqamara daa'ibaini wa sakhkhara lakumul laila wannahar

And He made the sun and the moon subject to you, both constant, and He made the night and the day subject to you.

﴾٣٤﴿ وَءَاتَىٰكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَظَلُومٌۭ كَفَّارٌۭ

Wa atakum min kulli ma sa altumuh; wa in ta'uddu ni'matal lahi la tuhsuha; innal insana lazalu mun kaffar

And He gave you from all that you asked Him. And if you tried to count the favors of Allah, you could not number them. The human being is a great wrongdoer, ungrateful.

﴾٣٥﴿ وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدَ ءَامِنًۭا وَٱجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِىَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ ٱلْأَصْنَامَ

Wa iz qala Ibrahimu Rabbij 'al hazal balada aminanw wajnubni wa baniyya an na'budal asnam

And when Ibrahim said, “My Lord, make this land secure, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.

﴾٣٦﴿ رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۖ فَمَن تَبِعَنِى فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنِّى ۖ وَمَنْ عَصَانِى فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Rabbi innahunna adlalna kasiram minan nasi faman tabi'ani fa innahu minni wa man 'asani fa innaka Ghafurur Rahim

My Lord, they have led many people astray. So whoever follows me is of me, and whoever disobeys me, then You are Forgiving, Merciful.

﴾٣٧﴿ رَّبَّنَآ إِنِّىٓ أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِى بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِى زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ ٱلْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱجْعَلْ أَفْـِٔدَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ تَهْوِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ وَٱرْزُقْهُم مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ

Rabbanaa innie askantu min zurriyyati biwadin ghairi zi zar'in 'inda Baitikal Muharrami Rabbana liyuqimus Salata faj'al af'idatam minan nasi tahwie ilaihim warzuqhum minas samarati la'allahum yashkurun

Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in a valley with no cultivation, near Your sacred House, our Lord, so that they may establish the prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them, and provide them with fruits, so that they may be grateful.

﴾٣٨﴿ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِى وَمَا نُعْلِنُ ۗ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ

Rabbanaa innaka ta'lamu ma nukhfi wa ma nu'lin; wa ma yakhfa 'alal lahi min shai'in fil ardi wa la fis samaa'

Our Lord, You know what we conceal and what we declare. Nothing is hidden from Allah on the earth or in the sky.

﴾٣٩﴿ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى وَهَبَ لِى عَلَى ٱلْكِبَرِ إِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَسَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ

Alhamdu lillahil lazi wahaba li 'alal kibari Isma'ila wa Ishaq; inna Rabbi lasami'ud du'aa

Praise belongs to Allah, who granted me, in old age, Isma'il and Ishaq. My Lord is the Hearer of the call.

﴾٤٠﴿ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ

Rabbij 'alni muqimas Salati wa min zurriyyati Rabbana wa taqabbal du'aa'

My Lord, make me an establisher of the prayer, and from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my call.

﴾٤١﴿ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَابُ

Rabbanagh fir li wa liwalidaiya wa lilmu'minina Yawma yaqumul hisab

Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day the account is established.”

﴾٤٢﴿ وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَٰفِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍۢ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ

Wa la tahsabannal laha ghafilan 'amma ya'maluz zalimun; innama yu'akh khiruhum li Yawmin tashkhasu fihil absar

And do not think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them for a Day on which the eyes will stare,

﴾٤٣﴿ مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِى رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ ۖ وَأَفْـِٔدَتُهُمْ هَوَآءٌۭ

Muhti'ina muqni'i ru'usihim la yartaddu ilaihim tarfuhum wa af'idatuhum hawaa'

rushing forward, their heads raised, their gaze not returning to them, and their hearts empty.

﴾٤٤﴿ وَأَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَخِّرْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ قَرِيبٍۢ نُّجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ ٱلرُّسُلَ ۗ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَقْسَمْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُم مِّن زَوَالٍۢ

Wa anzirin nasa Yawma yatihimul 'azabu fa yaqulul lazina zalamu Rabbanaa akhkhirnaa ilaa ajalin qaribin nujib da'wataka wa nattabi 'ir Rusul; awalam takunuo aqsamtum min qablu ma lakum min zawal

And warn people of a Day when the punishment will come to them, and those who wronged will say, “Our Lord, delay us for a short term. We will answer Your call and follow the messengers.” Did you not swear before that you would have no end?

﴾٤٥﴿ وَسَكَنتُمْ فِى مَسَٰكِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ كَيْفَ فَعَلْنَا بِهِمْ وَضَرَبْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ

Wa sakantum fi masakinil lazina zalamuo anfusahum wa tabaiyana lakum kaifa fa'alna bihim wa darabna lakumul amsal

And you dwelt in the dwellings of those who wronged themselves, and it became clear to you how We dealt with them, and We presented examples for you.

﴾٤٦﴿ وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا۟ مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ ٱلْجِبَالُ

Wa qad makaru makrahum wa 'indal lahi makruhum wa in kana makruhum litazula minhul jibal

And they had plotted their plot, and their plot is with Allah, even if their plot were such that the mountains would be moved by it.

﴾٤٧﴿ فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِهِۦ رُسُلَهُۥٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌۭ ذُو ٱنتِقَامٍۢ

Fala tahsabannal laha mukhlifa wa'dihi Rusulah; innal laha 'azizun zuntiqam

So do not think that Allah will fail His promise to His messengers. Allah is Mighty, Owner of retribution.

﴾٤٨﴿ يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ ٱلْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ ۖ وَبَرَزُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلْوَٰحِدِ ٱلْقَهَّارِ

Yawma tubaddalul ardu ghairal ardi wassamawatu wa barazu lillahil Wahidil Qahhar

On the Day the earth is replaced by another earth, and the heavens as well, and they come out before Allah, the One, the Dominant.

﴾٤٩﴿ وَتَرَى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ مُّقَرَّنِينَ فِى ٱلْأَصْفَادِ

Wa taral mujrimina Yawma 'izim muqarranina filasfad

And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in chains,

﴾٥٠﴿ سَرَابِيلُهُم مِّن قَطِرَانٍۢ وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ

Sarabiluhum min qatiraninw wa taghsha wujuhahumun Nar

their garments of tar, and the Fire covering their faces,

﴾٥١﴿ لِيَجْزِىَ ٱللَّهُ كُلَّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ

Liyajziyal lahu kulla nafsim ma kasabat; innal laha sari'ul hisab

so that Allah may repay every soul for what it earned. Allah is swift in reckoning.

﴾٥٢﴿ هَٰذَا بَلَٰغٌۭ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَلِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

Haza balaghul linnasi wa liyunzaru bihi wa liya'lamuo annama Huwa Illahunw Wahidunw wa liyaz zakkara ulul albab

This is a message for people, so that they may be warned by it, and so that they may know that He is one God, and so that those of understanding may remember.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What The Surah Means

Overview

If You Are Grateful, I Will Increase You.

This surah holds one of the shortest and most consequential sentences in the Book. Verse 7. If you are grateful, I will increase you, and if you are ungrateful, My punishment is severe. Read the two halves carefully, because they are not symmetrical. Gratitude is answered with increase, stated plainly. Ingratitude is answered with a warning about punishment, not with a statement that the thing will be taken. The verse leaves the mechanism of loss unspecified, and men have been discovering it in their own lives ever since. Around that sentence the surah sets the good word like a rooted tree, the deeds of the ungrateful like ashes in a gale, and the prayers of a man who left his family in an empty valley and asked for the right thing.

Verses 1 to 17

In the Language of His People.

Verse 1 gives the purpose of the whole Book in one clause: so that you may bring people out of the darknesses into the light. Note the plural on one side and the singular on the other. Darknesses, many, because there are countless ways to be lost. Light, one. Verse 4 then states a principle of communication that should govern anyone who teaches. We sent no messenger except in the language of his people, so that he could make things clear to them. The obligation to be understood sits on the sender. A man delivering truth in a register his audience cannot receive has not delivered it. Verse 5 tells Musa to remind them of the days of Allah, and then names who benefits: everyone patient and grateful. Sabbar shakur, the same pairing this Book uses whenever it wants to describe a complete man. Verse 7 is the center. Verse 8 immediately guards it from misreading: if you disbelieve, you and everyone on the earth together, then Allah is Rich, Praiseworthy. The increase in verse 7 is entirely for the man receiving it. Nothing is added to Allah by his gratitude and nothing subtracted by his refusal. Verse 10 records the messengers' question, and it is the shortest form of the argument. Is there doubt about Allah, Originator of the heavens and the earth? And verse 12 gives the answer of men under threat of exile, which is a sentence worth memorizing. Why should we not rely upon Allah, when He has guided us to our ways? They reason forward from what has already happened. He guided us before, so the reliance is not a leap.

Verses 18 to 27

Ashes, and a Tree With Roots.

Verse 18 gives the image for a life of work with nothing under it. Their deeds are like ashes on which the wind blows hard on a stormy day. Not a small pile in still air. Ashes in a gale. And the verse names the exact failure: they have no power over anything they earned. The work was done and the man cannot hold on to any of it. Verse 22 is the speech Satan gives after the verdict, and it is the most honest thing he ever says. Allah promised you a true promise, and I promised you and failed you. I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you responded to me. So do not blame me. Blame yourselves. Every claim men make about being overpowered is withdrawn by the one they blame. He had a voice and an invitation and nothing else, and he says so on the record. Then verses 24 through 26, the two trees. A good word is like a good tree, its root firm, its branches in the sky, giving fruit every season by the permission of its Lord. Three properties, and each one is a test a man can run on anything he is building. Is the root fixed. Does it reach upward. Does it produce in every season, not only the favorable ones. And the corrupt word is a corrupt tree, uprooted from the surface of the earth, with no stability. Note the phrase: from the surface. It never went down in the first place, so removing it took nothing. Verse 27 then states what the good word does for the man holding it. Allah makes firm those who believe with the firm word, in this life and in the hereafter. The firmness is applied to him, not generated by him, and it is applied in both places.

Verses 28 to 41

The Prayers of a Man Who Built Something.

Verse 31 gives the two instructions for a believer with means, and the deadline attached to them. Establish the prayer, and spend from what We have provided them, secretly and openly, before a Day comes in which there is no trade and no friendship. Both channels of giving are named, and the Day is defined by the absence of the two things a wealthy man relies on most: the deal, and the relationship. Verse 34 then delivers a sentence that stops most readers cold. He gave you from all that you asked Him. And if you tried to count the favors of Allah, you could not number them. And then, without a pause, the verdict on the recipient: the human being is a great wrongdoer, ungrateful. Zalum, kaffar. The two clauses are placed together deliberately. Then the prayers, verses 35 through 41, and they are the most instructive sequence in the surah for a man building something for his family. He does not ask for wealth or expansion. Verse 35, make this land secure, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols. He asks for protection from an internal failure, for himself and for the next generation, and he asks it as a father who knows the danger runs in a line. Verse 37 is the one to sit with. I have settled some of my descendants in a valley with no cultivation, near Your sacred House, so that they may establish the prayer. He states the hardship plainly, no crops, nothing growing, and then gives the reason he did it anyway: so that they may establish the prayer. And what he asks for is exact. Make hearts among the people incline toward them, and provide them with fruits. Hearts first, then provision, because a household in an empty valley needs people to come before anything else arrives. Verse 40 asks for something a successful man rarely thinks to request. Make me an establisher of the prayer, and from my descendants. Not make my descendants wealthy or safe. Make them people who pray. And verse 41 closes it by widening past his own line: forgive me and my parents and the believers.

Verses 42 to 52

He Is Not Unaware.

Verse 42 is written for anyone who has watched a wrongdoer prosper for years. Do not think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them. The delay is named as delay, not as absence of attention, and verse 43 describes what the delay was leading to: eyes staring, heads raised, gaze not returning, and hearts empty. Af'idatuhum hawa', hollowed out. Verse 44 records the request they make, and it is the same one refused everywhere in this Book. Our Lord, delay us for a short term. We will answer Your call and follow the messengers. And the answer is a question about their own record: did you not swear before that you would have no end? Verse 45 then turns to the living. And you dwelt in the dwellings of those who wronged themselves. Men live in the houses of the people they read about in warnings. Verse 46 concedes the scale of what the plotters attempted and reduces it in one clause. Their plot is with Allah, even if their plot were such that the mountains would be moved by it. The plan is not called small. It is called held. Verse 48 gives the image for the end. On the Day the earth is replaced by another earth, and the heavens as well. Not repaired. Replaced. And verse 52 states the purpose of the whole surah in three clauses: so that people may be warned, so that they may know He is one God, and so that those of understanding may remember.

Fifty-Two Verses. If You Are Grateful, I Will Increase You.

The surah sets the purpose of revelation as bringing people out of many darknesses into one light, and puts the obligation to be understood on the sender. At its center is a promise of increase attached to gratitude and a warning attached to its absence, guarded immediately by the reminder that nothing is added to Allah either way. It shows a life of work turned to ashes in a gale, gives the speech in which the enemy withdraws every excuse men make about him, and sets a rooted tree that fruits in every season against one that was never rooted at all. Then a father in an empty valley asks for hearts to incline and for his descendants to pray. And it closes by naming the delay a wrongdoer enjoys as delay, and nothing else.

The Practice

Take It Into the Week

Verse 7. Name one favor you have been receiving without acknowledging. Say the shukr for it out loud, and watch the verse.

Verses 24 and 25. Run the three tests on the main thing you are building. Is the root fixed. Does it reach upward. Does it produce in a bad season.

Verse 40. Make the request Ibrahim made for his line. Not wealth for them. Prayer.

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 / 12

The Verse

What purpose is given for the Book in verse 1?