Surah Saba: Sheba | Quran Study Guide

✦

The Surah · Saba

﴾١﴿ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ

Alhamdu lillahil lazi lahu ma fis samawati wa ma fil ardi wa lahul hamdu fil akhirah; wa Huwal Hakimul Khabir

Praise belongs to Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and to Him belongs praise in the hereafter. He is the Wise, the Aware.

﴾٢﴿ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٱلْغَفُورُ

Ya'lamu ma yaliju fil ardi wa ma yakhruju minha wa ma yanzilu minas samaa'i wa ma ya'ruju fiha; wa Huwar Rahimul Ghafur

He knows what enters the earth and what comes out of it, what descends from the sky and what ascends into it. He is the Merciful, the Forgiving.

﴾٣﴿ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَا تَأْتِينَا ٱلسَّاعَةُ ۖ قُلْ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّى لَتَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ عَٰلِمِ ٱلْغَيْبِ ۖ لَا يَعْزُبُ عَنْهُ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍۢ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَآ أَصْغَرُ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَآ أَكْبَرُ إِلَّا فِى كِتَٰبٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

Wa qalal lazina kafaru la tatinas Sa'ah; qul bala wa Rabbi latatiyannakum 'Alimul Ghaib; la ya'zubu 'anhu misqalu zarratin fis samawati wa la fil ardi wa laa asgharu min zalika wa laa akbaru illa fi kitabim mubin

Those who disbelieve say, "The Hour will not come to us." Say, "Yes, by my Lord, it will surely come to you. He is the Knower of the unseen." Not an atom's weight escapes Him in the heavens or in the earth, nor anything smaller than that or greater, except that it is in a clear record,

﴾٤﴿ لِّيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌۭ وَرِزْقٌۭ كَرِيمٌۭ

Liyajziyal lazina amanu wa 'amilus salihat; ulaa'ika lahum maghfiratunw wa rizqun karim

so that He may reward those who believed and did righteous deeds. For them is forgiveness and generous provision.

﴾٥﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ سَعَوْ فِىٓ ءَايَٰتِنَا مُعَٰجِزِينَ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌۭ مِّن رِّجْزٍ أَلِيمٌۭ

Wallazina sa'aw fie ayatina mu'ajizina ulaa 'ika lahum 'azabum mir irjzin alim

Those who strove against Our verses, seeking to escape, will have a punishment of painful torment.

﴾٦﴿ وَيَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقَّ وَيَهْدِىٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ

Wa yaral lazina utul 'Ilmal lazie unzila ilaika mir Rabbika huwal haqqa wa yahdie ilaa siratil 'Azizil Hamid

Those who have been given knowledge see that what was revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, and that it guides to the path of the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

﴾٧﴿ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ هَلْ نَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍۢ يُنَبِّئُكُمْ إِذَا مُزِّقْتُمْ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ إِنَّكُمْ لَفِى خَلْقٍۢ جَدِيدٍ

Wa qalal lazina kafaru hal nadullukum 'ala rajuliny yanabbi 'ukum iza muzziqtum kulla mumazzaqin innakum lafi khalqin jadid

Those who disbelieve say, "Shall we point you to a man who tells you that when you are utterly torn apart, you will be in a new creation?

﴾٨﴿ أَفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَم بِهِۦ جِنَّةٌۢ ۗ بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ وَٱلضَّلَٰلِ ٱلْبَعِيدِ

Aftara 'alal lahi kaziban am bihi jinnah; balil lazina la yu'minuna bil Akhirati fil'azabi waddad lalil ba'id

Has he invented a lie about Allah, or is there madness in him?" Rather, those who do not believe in the hereafter are in the punishment and in far error.

﴾٩﴿ أَفَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِن نَّشَأْ نَخْسِفْ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ أَوْ نُسْقِطْ عَلَيْهِمْ كِسَفًۭا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَةًۭ لِّكُلِّ عَبْدٍۢ مُّنِيبٍۢ

Afalam yaraw ila ma baina aydihim wa ma khalfahum minas samaa'i wal ard; in nashad nakhsif bihimul arda aw nusqit 'alaihim kisafam minas samaa'; inna fi zalika la Ayatal likulli 'abdim munib

Have they not looked at what is before them and behind them of the sky and the earth? If We willed, We could cause the earth to swallow them, or drop upon them fragments from the sky. In that is a sign for every servant who turns back to Allah.

﴾١٠﴿ ۞ وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ مِنَّا فَضْلًۭا ۖ يَٰجِبَالُ أَوِّبِى مَعَهُۥ وَٱلطَّيْرَ ۖ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ ٱلْحَدِيدَ

Wa laqad ataina Dawuda minna fadlany ya jibalu awwibi ma'ahu wattaira wa alanna lahul hadid

We gave Dawud bounty from Us. Mountains, echo with him, and birds. And We softened iron for him.

﴾١١﴿ أَنِ ٱعْمَلْ سَٰبِغَٰتٍۢ وَقَدِّرْ فِى ٱلسَّرْدِ ۖ وَٱعْمَلُوا۟ صَٰلِحًا ۖ إِنِّى بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ

Ani'mal sabighatinw wa qaddir fis sardi wa'malu salihan inni bima ta'maluna Basir

Make full coats of mail and measure the links precisely. And do righteous work. I see what you do.

﴾١٢﴿ وَلِسُلَيْمَٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌۭ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌۭ ۖ وَأَسَلْنَا لَهُۥ عَيْنَ ٱلْقِطْرِ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ مَن يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِۦ ۖ وَمَن يَزِغْ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ أَمْرِنَا نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

Wa li-Sulaimanar riha ghuduwwuha shahrunw wa ra-wahuha shahrunw wa asalna lahu 'ainal qitr; wa minal jinni mai ya'malu baina yadaihi bi izni Rabbih; wa mai yazigh minhum 'an amrina nuziqhu min 'azabis sa'ir

And to Sulayman the wind, its morning course a month and its evening course a month. And We made a spring of molten copper flow for him. Among the jinn were those who worked before him by the permission of his Lord. Whoever among them deviated from Our command, We made him taste the punishment of the blaze.

﴾١٣﴿ يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُۥ مَا يَشَآءُ مِن مَّحَٰرِيبَ وَتَمَٰثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍۢ كَٱلْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍۢ رَّاسِيَٰتٍ ۚ ٱعْمَلُوٓا۟ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكْرًۭا ۚ وَقَلِيلٌۭ مِّنْ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ

Ya'maluna lahu ma yashaa'u mim mahariba wa tamasila wa jifanin kaljawabi wa qudurir rasiyat; i'malu ala Dawuda shukra; wa qalilum min 'ibadiyash shakur

They made for him what he willed of sanctuaries, statues, basins like reservoirs, and cauldrons fixed in place. Work, family of Dawud, in gratitude. Few of My servants are grateful.

﴾١٤﴿ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ ٱلْمَوْتَ مَا دَلَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَوْتِهِۦٓ إِلَّا دَآبَّةُ ٱلْأَرْضِ تَأْكُلُ مِنسَأَتَهُۥ ۖ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَيَّنَتِ ٱلْجِنُّ أَن لَّوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ ٱلْغَيْبَ مَا لَبِثُوا۟ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْمُهِينِ

Falamma qadaina 'alaihil mawta ma dallahum 'ala mawtihie illa daabbatul ardi takulu minsa atahu falamma kharra tabaiyanatil jinnu al law kanu ya'lamunal ghaiba ma labisu fil 'azabil muhin

When We decreed death for him, nothing showed them his death except a creature of the earth eating his staff. When he fell, it became clear to the jinn that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in the humiliating punishment.

﴾١٥﴿ لَقَدْ كَانَ لِسَبَإٍۢ فِى مَسْكَنِهِمْ ءَايَةٌۭ ۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَن يَمِينٍۢ وَشِمَالٍۢ ۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِ رَبِّكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لَهُۥ ۚ بَلْدَةٌۭ طَيِّبَةٌۭ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٌۭ

Laqad kana li Saba-in fi maskanihim Ayatun jannatani 'ai yamininw wa shimalin kulu mir rizq Rabbikum washkurulah; baldatun taiyibatunw wa Rabbun Ghafur

There was a sign for Saba in their dwelling place: two gardens, on the right and on the left. Eat from the provision of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land, and a forgiving Lord.

﴾١٦﴿ فَأَعْرَضُوا۟ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ سَيْلَ ٱلْعَرِمِ وَبَدَّلْنَٰهُم بِجَنَّتَيْهِمْ جَنَّتَيْنِ ذَوَاتَىْ أُكُلٍ خَمْطٍۢ وَأَثْلٍۢ وَشَىْءٍۢ مِّن سِدْرٍۢ قَلِيلٍۢ

Fa-a''radu fa-arsalna 'alaihim Sailal 'Arimi wa baddalnahum bijannataihim jannataini azwatai ukulin khamtinw wa aslinw wa shai'im min sidrin qalil

They turned away, so We sent upon them the flood of the dam, and We exchanged their two gardens for two gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisk, and a few lote trees.

﴾١٧﴿ ذَٰلِكَ جَزَيْنَٰهُم بِمَا كَفَرُوا۟ ۖ وَهَلْ نُجَٰزِىٓ إِلَّا ٱلْكَفُورَ

Zalika jazainahum bima kafaru wa hal nujazie illal kafur

That is how We repaid them for their ingratitude. Do We repay anyone in this way except the ungrateful?

﴾١٨﴿ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ ٱلْقُرَى ٱلَّتِى بَٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا قُرًۭى ظَٰهِرَةًۭ وَقَدَّرْنَا فِيهَا ٱلسَّيْرَ ۖ سِيرُوا۟ فِيهَا لَيَالِىَ وَأَيَّامًا ءَامِنِينَ

Wa ja'alna bainahum wa bainal qural lati barakna fiha quran zahiratanw wa qaddama fihas sayr; siru fiha la yalirya wa aiyaman aminin

We had placed between them and the towns We blessed visible towns, and We measured the journey between them. Travel between them in safety, by night and by day.

﴾١٩﴿ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا بَٰعِدْ بَيْنَ أَسْفَارِنَا وَظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَجَعَلْنَٰهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ وَمَزَّقْنَٰهُمْ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍۢ شَكُورٍۢ

Faqalu Rabbana ba'id baina asfarina wa zalamuo anfusahum faja'alnahum ahadisa wa mazzaq nahum kulla mumazzaq; inna fi zalika la Ayatil likulli sabbarin shakur

They said, "Our Lord, lengthen the distance between our journeys," and they wronged themselves. So We made them tales, and scattered them completely. In that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.

﴾٢٠﴿ وَلَقَدْ صَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِبْلِيسُ ظَنَّهُۥ فَٱتَّبَعُوهُ إِلَّا فَرِيقًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Wa laqad saddaq 'alaihim Iblisu zannnabhu fattaba'uhu illa fariqam minal mu'minin

Iblis proved his assumption about them true, and they followed him, except a group of the believers.

﴾٢١﴿ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ عَلَيْهِم مِّن سُلْطَٰنٍ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِى شَكٍّۢ ۗ وَرَبُّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفِيظٌۭ

Wa ma kana lahu 'alaihim min sultanin illa lina'lama mai yu minu bil Akhirati mimman huwa minha fi shakk; wa Rabbuka 'ala kulli shai'in Hafiz

He had no authority over them, except that We might make evident who believes in the hereafter from who is in doubt about it. Your Lord is Guardian over all things.

﴾٢٢﴿ قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍۢ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرْكٍۢ وَمَا لَهُۥ مِنْهُم مِّن ظَهِيرٍۢ

Qulid 'ul lazina za'amtum min dunil lahi la yamlikuna misqala zarratin fissamawati wa la fil ardi wa ma lahum fihima min shirkinw wa ma lahu minhum min zahir

Say, "Call upon those you claim besides Allah. They do not own an atom's weight in the heavens or in the earth. They have no share in either, and He has no helper from among them."

﴾٢٣﴿ وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُۥ ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْكَبِيرُ

Wa la tanfa'ush shafa'atu 'indahuo illa liman azina lah; hattaa iza fuzzi'a 'an qulubihim qalu maza qala Rabbukum; qalul haqq, wa Huwal 'Aliyul Kabir

Intercession with Him is of no benefit except for one He permits. When terror is removed from their hearts, they say, "What did your Lord say?" They say, "The truth." He is the Most High, the Great.

﴾٢٤﴿ ۞ قُلْ مَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَإِنَّآ أَوْ إِيَّاكُمْ لَعَلَىٰ هُدًى أَوْ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

Qul mai yarzuqukum minas samawati wal ardi qulil lahu wa innaa aw iyyakum la'ala hudan aw fi dalalim mubin

Say, "Who provides for you from the heavens and the earth?" Say, "Allah. And either we or you are upon guidance or in clear error."

﴾٢٥﴿ قُل لَّا تُسْـَٔلُونَ عَمَّآ أَجْرَمْنَا وَلَا نُسْـَٔلُ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

Qul la tus'aluna 'ammaa ajramna wa la nus'alu 'amma ta'malun

Say, "You will not be asked about the crimes we committed, and we will not be asked about what you do."

﴾٢٦﴿ قُلْ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا رَبُّنَا ثُمَّ يَفْتَحُ بَيْنَنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَهُوَ ٱلْفَتَّاحُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

Qul yajma'u bainana Rabbuna summa yaftahu bainana bilhaqq; wa Huwal Fattahul 'Alim

Say, "Our Lord will gather us together, then judge between us in truth. He is the Opener, the Knowing."

﴾٢٧﴿ قُلْ أَرُونِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَلْحَقْتُم بِهِۦ شُرَكَآءَ ۖ كَلَّا ۚ بَلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

Qul aruniyal lazina alhaqtum bihi shurakaa'a kalla; bal Huwal Lahul 'Azizul Hakim

Say, "Show me those you have joined to Him as partners. No. He is Allah, the Mighty, the Wise."

﴾٢٨﴿ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَٰكَ إِلَّا كَآفَّةًۭ لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًۭا وَنَذِيرًۭا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Wa maa arsalnaka illa kaffatal linnasi bashiranw wa naziranw wa lakinna aksaran nasi la ya'lamun

We sent you only to all people together, as a bringer of good news and a warner, but most people do not know.

﴾٢٩﴿ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

Wa yaquluna mata hazal wa'du in kuntum sadiqin

They say, "When is this promise, if you are truthful?"

﴾٣٠﴿ قُل لَّكُم مِّيعَادُ يَوْمٍۢ لَّا تَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ عَنْهُ سَاعَةًۭ وَلَا تَسْتَقْدِمُونَ

Qul lakum mi'adu Yawmil la tastakhiruna 'anhu sa'atanw wa la tastaqdimun

Say, "You have an appointed Day which you cannot delay by an hour, nor bring forward."

﴾٣١﴿ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ وَلَا بِٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ۗ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ مَوْقُوفُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يَرْجِعُ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ٱلْقَوْلَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أَنتُمْ لَكُنَّا مُؤْمِنِينَ

Wa qalal lazina kafaru lan nu'mina bihazal Qurani wa la billazi baina yadayh; wa law taraa iziz zalimuna mawqufuna 'inda Rabbihim yarji'u ba'duhum ila ba'dinil qawla yaqulul lazinas tud'ifu lillazinas takbaru law laa antum lakunna mu'minin

Those who disbelieve say, "We will never believe in this Quran, nor in what came before it." If you could see the wrongdoers when they are made to stand before their Lord, throwing words back at one another. Those who were oppressed will say to those who were arrogant, "If not for you, we would have been believers."

﴾٣٢﴿ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوٓا۟ أَنَحْنُ صَدَدْنَٰكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْهُدَىٰ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَآءَكُم ۖ بَلْ كُنتُم مُّجْرِمِينَ

Qalal lazinas takbaru lillazinas tud'ifuo anahnu sadadnakum 'anil huda ba'da iz jaa'akum bal kuntum mujrimin

Those who were arrogant will say to those who were oppressed, "Did we turn you away from guidance after it came to you? Rather, you were criminals."

﴾٣٣﴿ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ بَلْ مَكْرُ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذْ تَأْمُرُونَنَآ أَن نَّكْفُرَ بِٱللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادًۭا ۚ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلْأَغْلَٰلَ فِىٓ أَعْنَاقِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

Wa qalal lazinastud'ifu lillazinas takbaru bal makrul laili wannahari iz tamurunanaa an nakfura billahi wa naj'ala lahuo andada; wa asarrun nadamata lamma ra awul 'azab; wa ja'alnal aghlala fie a'naqil lazina kafaru; hal yujzawna illa ma kanu ya'malun

Those who were oppressed will say to those who were arrogant, "It was the plotting of night and day, when you ordered us to disbelieve in Allah and to set up equals to Him." They will conceal their regret when they see the punishment, and We will put shackles on the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they repaid for anything except what they used to do?

﴾٣٤﴿ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا فِى قَرْيَةٍۢ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ كَٰفِرُونَ

Wa maa arsalna' fi qaryatim min nazirin illa qala mutrafua inna bimaa ursiltum bihi kafirun

We never sent a warner into a town except that its affluent said, "We reject what you have been sent with."

﴾٣٥﴿ وَقَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أَكْثَرُ أَمْوَٰلًۭا وَأَوْلَٰدًۭا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ

Wa qalu nahnu aksaru amwalanw wa awladanw wa ma nahnu bimu 'azzabin

And they said, "We have more wealth and children, and we will not be punished."

﴾٣٦﴿ قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّى يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Qul inna Rabbi yabsutur rizqa limai yashaa'u wa yaqdiru wa lakinna aksaran nasi la ya'lamun

Say, "My Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts it, but most people do not know."

﴾٣٧﴿ وَمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَٰدُكُم بِٱلَّتِى تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِندَنَا زُلْفَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحًۭا فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَزَآءُ ٱلضِّعْفِ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَهُمْ فِى ٱلْغُرُفَٰتِ ءَامِنُونَ

Wa maa amwalukum wa laa awladukum billati tuqarribukum 'indana zulfaa illa man amana wa 'amila salihan fa ulaa'ika lahum jazaa'ud di'fi bima 'amilu wa hum fil ghurufati aminun

It is not your wealth or your children that bring you near to Us in standing, but whoever believes and does righteous work. For them is a double reward for what they did, and they are secure in the high chambers.

﴾٣٨﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَسْعَوْنَ فِىٓ ءَايَٰتِنَا مُعَٰجِزِينَ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ مُحْضَرُونَ

Wallazina yas'awna fie Ayatina mu'ajizina ulaa'ika fil'azabi muhdarun

Those who strive against Our verses, seeking to escape, will be brought into the punishment.

﴾٣٩﴿ قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّى يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُۥ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ

Qul inna Rabbi yabsutur rizqa limai yashaa'u min 'ibadihi wa yaqdiru lah; wa maa anfaqtum min shai'in fahuwa yukhlifuhu wa Huwa khairur raziqin

Say, "My Lord extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts it for him. Whatever you spend, He will replace it. He is the best of providers."

﴾٤٠﴿ وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًۭا ثُمَّ يَقُولُ لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ أَهَٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِيَّاكُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْبُدُونَ

Wa yawma yahshuruhum jami'an summa yaqulu lilmalaa'ikati a-haa'ulaa'i iyyakum kanu ya'budun

On the Day He gathers them all, then says to the angels, "Was it you these were worshipping?"

﴾٤١﴿ قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَكَ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا مِن دُونِهِم ۖ بَلْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْبُدُونَ ٱلْجِنَّ ۖ أَكْثَرُهُم بِهِم مُّؤْمِنُونَ

Qalu Subhanaka Anta waliyyuna min dunihim bal kanu ya'budunal jinna aksaruhum bihim mu'minun

They will say, "Glory to You. You are our protector, not them. Rather, they were worshipping the jinn. Most of them believed in them."

﴾٤٢﴿ فَٱلْيَوْمَ لَا يَمْلِكُ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍۢ نَّفْعًۭا وَلَا ضَرًّۭا وَنَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ

Fal Yawma la yamliku ba'dukum liba'din naf'anw wa la darra; wa naqulu lilzina zalamu zuqu 'azaban Naril lati kuntum biha tukazzibun

So today none of you holds benefit or harm for another. We will say to those who wronged, "Taste the punishment of the fire which you used to deny."

﴾٤٣﴿ وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَٰتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتٍۢ قَالُوا۟ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّا رَجُلٌۭ يُرِيدُ أَن يَصُدَّكُمْ عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَقَالُوا۟ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ إِفْكٌۭ مُّفْتَرًۭى ۚ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

Wa iza tutla 'alaihim Ayatuna baiyinatin qalu ma haza illa rajuluny yuridu ai-yasuddakum 'amma kana ya'budu abaa'ukum wa qalu ma hazaa illaa ifkum muftara; wa qalal lazina kafaru lilhaqqi lamma jaa'ahum in hazaa illa sihrum mubin

When Our clear verses are recited to them, they say, "This is only a man who wants to turn you away from what your fathers worshipped." And they say, "This is only an invented lie." Those who disbelieve say of the truth when it comes to them, "This is only clear magic."

﴾٤٤﴿ وَمَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُم مِّن كُتُبٍۢ يَدْرُسُونَهَا ۖ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهِمْ قَبْلَكَ مِن نَّذِيرٍۢ

Wa maa atainahum min Kutubiny yadrusunaha wa maa arsalnaa ilaihim qablaka min nazir

We had not given them any books to study, nor sent them any warner before you.

﴾٤٥﴿ وَكَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَمَا بَلَغُوا۟ مِعْشَارَ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُمْ فَكَذَّبُوا۟ رُسُلِى ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ

Wa kazzabal lazina min qablihim wa ma balaghu mi'shara maa atainahum fakazzabu Rusuli; fakaifa kana nakir

Those before them denied, and these have not attained a tenth of what We gave them. They denied My messengers, so how was My rejection of them?

﴾٤٦﴿ ۞ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَعِظُكُم بِوَٰحِدَةٍ ۖ أَن تَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ مَثْنَىٰ وَفُرَٰدَىٰ ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُوا۟ ۚ مَا بِصَاحِبِكُم مِّن جِنَّةٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌۭ لَّكُم بَيْنَ يَدَىْ عَذَابٍۢ شَدِيدٍۢ

Qul innamaa a'izukum biwahidatin an taqumu lillahi masna wa furada summa tatafakkaru; ma bisahibikum min jinnah; in huwa illa nazirul lakum baina yadai 'azabin shadid

Say, "I advise you one thing only. That you stand for Allah, in twos and singly, then reflect. There is no madness in your companion. He is only a warner to you before a severe punishment."

﴾٤٧﴿ قُلْ مَا سَأَلْتُكُم مِّنْ أَجْرٍۢ فَهُوَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ شَهِيدٌۭ

Qul ma sa-altukum min ajrin fahuwa lakum in ajriya illa 'alal lahi wa Huwa 'ala kullin shai-in Shahid

Say, "Whatever reward I have asked of you is yours. My reward is only from Allah, and He is Witness over all things."

﴾٤٨﴿ قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّى يَقْذِفُ بِٱلْحَقِّ عَلَّٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ

Qul inna Rabbi yaqzifu bilhaqq 'Allamul Ghuyub

Say, "My Lord casts the truth. He is the Knower of all that is unseen."

﴾٤٩﴿ قُلْ جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَمَا يُبْدِئُ ٱلْبَٰطِلُ وَمَا يُعِيدُ

Qul jaa'al haqqu wa ma yubdi'ul batilu wa ma yu'id

Say, "The truth has come. Falsehood cannot begin anything, and it cannot bring anything back."

﴾٥٠﴿ قُلْ إِن ضَلَلْتُ فَإِنَّمَآ أَضِلُّ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِى ۖ وَإِنِ ٱهْتَدَيْتُ فَبِمَا يُوحِىٓ إِلَىَّ رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ سَمِيعٌۭ قَرِيبٌۭ

Qul in dalaltu fainnamaa adillu 'ala nafsi wa inih-tadaitu fabima yuhi ilaiya Rabbi; innahu Sami'un Qarib

Say, "If I go astray, I go astray only against myself. If I am guided, it is by what my Lord reveals to me. He is Hearing, Near."

﴾٥١﴿ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ فَزِعُوا۟ فَلَا فَوْتَ وَأُخِذُوا۟ مِن مَّكَانٍۢ قَرِيبٍۢ

Wa law taraa iz fazi'u fala fawta wa ukhizu mim makanin qarib

If you could see when they are terrified, with no escape, and are seized from a place near.

﴾٥٢﴿ وَقَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلتَّنَاوُشُ مِن مَّكَانٍۭ بَعِيدٍۢ

Wa qalu amanna bihi wa anna lahumut tanawushu mim makanim ba'id

They will say, "We believe in it," but how can they attain it from a place so far?

﴾٥٣﴿ وَقَدْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَيَقْذِفُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ مِن مَّكَانٍۭ بَعِيدٍۢ

Wa qad kafaru bihi min qablu wa yaqzifuna bilghaibi mim makanim ba'id

They rejected it before, and they used to hurl guesses about the unseen from a place far off.

﴾٥٤﴿ وَحِيلَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ مَا يَشْتَهُونَ كَمَا فُعِلَ بِأَشْيَاعِهِم مِّن قَبْلُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ فِى شَكٍّۢ مُّرِيبٍۭ

Wa hila bainahum wa baina ma yashtahuna kama fu'ila bi-ashya'ihim min qabl; innahum kanu fi shakkim murib

A barrier is placed between them and what they desire, as was done with their kind before. They were in doubt that left them uncertain.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What The Surah Means

Overview

The Surah of Gratitude, and the Dam That Broke

Saba is built around one word and one warning. The word is shukr. The warning is what happens to a people who have everything and stop being grateful for it. Verse 13 states the count plainly. Few of My servants are grateful. What follows in verses 15 through 19 is a case study: a nation with two gardens, safe roads and short journeys, who asked for the distance between their stops to be lengthened. The surah then turns to the people in front of it, who were making the same trade with different property. Verse 35 is their sentence. We have more wealth and children, and we will not be punished. Saba answers that in verse 37, and then closes with the single instruction in verse 46 that a man can act on today: stand for Allah, in twos and singly, then reflect.

Verses 1 to 14

Given Iron, Given Wind

Verse 3 is the security clause under everything else in the surah. Not an atom’s weight escapes Him in the heavens or in the earth, nor anything smaller than that or greater, except that it is in a clear record. Nothing is too small to be counted and nothing is too large to be held. Then two men who were given more than almost anyone. Dawud in verse 10 and verse 11. The mountains echo with him, the birds join him, and iron is softened in his hands. What is the instruction attached to that gift? Make full coats of mail, and measure the links precisely. Make it correctly. A man given supernatural capacity is told to pay attention to craftsmanship, and then told, I see what you do. Sulayman in verse 12 gets the wind covering a month in a morning and a month in an evening, molten copper, and a workforce of jinn. Verse 13 lists what they built for him and then interrupts the list with the command the whole surah rests on. Work, family of Dawud, in gratitude. Gratitude here is not a feeling. It is the word amal, work, put in the imperative. Then verse 14, which should be read slowly by anyone impressed with his own position. Sulayman dies standing, leaning on his staff, and nobody notices. The jinn keep working. A creature of the earth eats through the staff, and he falls, and only then does the whole arrangement become visible for what it was. The verse says it clearly: if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in the humiliating punishment. Authority a man cannot see through is not knowledge.

Verses 15 to 21

Two Gardens, and What Replaced Them

Verse 15 gives the whole gift in one line. Two gardens, on the right and on the left. Then the terms: eat from the provision of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land, and a forgiving Lord. Nothing was demanded of them but the acknowledgment. Verse 16 is what happened. They turned away, so We sent upon them the flood of the dam. Verse 17 names the mechanism without decoration. That is how We repaid them for their ingratitude. Then comes the detail that turns this from a story about weather into a story about people. Verse 18 says the towns between them and the blessed land were visible, one from the next, with the journey measured out and safe by night and by day. Verse 19 says they asked for that to be taken away. Our Lord, lengthen the distance between our journeys. They asked for the difficulty back. Ease had become invisible to them because it was uninterrupted, and an invisible blessing feels like nothing at all. The verse adds and they wronged themselves. Nobody did it to them. The result is in the same verse: We made them tales, and scattered them completely. A people who had gardens on both sides became a story other people tell. Verse 19 ends by naming who benefits from that story: everyone patient and grateful, sabbar shakur, the two words together. Verse 20 then names who was working the other side of it. Iblis proved his assumption about them true. Verse 21 says he was given no authority at all. The assumption was the whole weapon.

Verses 22 to 39

Wealth Is Not Standing

Verse 22 measures the competition. They do not own an atom’s weight in the heavens or in the earth, no share in either, and He has no helper from among them. Three exclusions in one verse, closing ownership, partnership and assistance. Verse 24 is the cleanest example of argument in the Quran. Who provides for you from the heavens and the earth? Say, Allah. And either we or you are upon guidance or in clear error. He does not claim the verdict for himself in the sentence. He puts both parties on the table and lets the truth do the sorting, which is what a man does when he is not afraid of the answer. Verses 31 through 33 are the argument in the fire, the same scene the reader met in As-Saffat. The followers blame the leaders, the leaders answer, and the followers name the actual mechanism in verse 33: it was the plotting of night and day. Not one command. A long steady pressure applied at every hour. Verse 34 states the pattern that never changes. We never sent a warner into a town except that its affluent, its mutrafin, said, we reject what you have been sent with. Comfort is the reliable opposition. Verse 35 gives their reasoning out loud. We have more wealth and children, and we will not be punished. They read prosperity as verdict. Verse 36 separates the two: provision is extended and restricted by His will, and most people do not know that. Verse 37 is the correction. It is not your wealth or your children that bring you near to Us in standing. Then the exception, which is the only door: whoever believes and does righteous work. Verse 39 turns the whole thing around on spending. Whatever you spend, He will replace it. The man holding on is protecting something that was already guaranteed.

Verses 40 to 54

Stand for Allah, in Twos and Singly

Verse 40 and verse 41 open a scene worth imagining fully. The angels are asked directly whether these people were worshipping them, and they disown it completely. Glory to You. You are our protector, not them. Nobody a man attaches himself to will accept the attachment on that Day. Verse 42 states it flatly. Today none of you holds benefit or harm for another. Verse 43 catalogs the three things they said about the message: he wants to turn you from your fathers, this is an invented lie, this is clear magic. Three different accusations that do not agree with each other, which is what happens when men reach for reasons after the position is already fixed. Verse 46 is the center of the surah for anyone reading it as instruction. I advise you one thing only. That you stand for Allah, in twos and singly, then reflect. One advice, and it has three parts. Stand up, which means leave the crowd’s posture. Do it in twos or alone, which means outside the volume of the group where a man can actually hear himself. Then reflect, tafakkur, applied to the specific question in front of him. The Quraysh could not think about the claim while standing inside their own assembly. Neither can anyone else. Verse 49 gives the closing measurement. The truth has come. Falsehood cannot begin anything, and it cannot bring anything back. Falsehood has no origination and no restoration, which is exactly what was said about Allah at the start of the Book of creation. Verse 51 and verse 52 close the door on the late arrival. They are seized from a place near, and they say we believe in it, from a place too far. The distance is not geography. It is timing.

The Structure · At A Glance

Fifty-Four Verses. Work, Family of Dawud, in Gratitude.

The surah gives two men more than anyone was given and attaches one instruction to it, then shows a nation that received the same abundance and asked for its ease to be removed. It measures the idols at nothing, separates provision from approval, and refuses to let wealth or children count as standing. It ends with one piece of advice a man can act on alone: stand for Allah, away from the crowd, and think.

The Practice · Daily Integration

Fifty-Four Verses. Work, Family of Dawud, in Gratitude.

Verse 46. Take twenty minutes alone this week, no phone, and think through one claim you have been accepting because the people around you accept it.

Verse 19. Name one thing that has been easy for so long you no longer see it. Say the shukr for it out loud once today.

Verse 39. Give something this week that you would ordinarily hold, and read verse 39 immediately after you give it.

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 31 / 10

The Verse

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَا تَأْتِينَا ٱلسَّاعَةُ

Wa qalal lazina kafaru la tatinas

What does verse 3 say about an atom's weight?