Surah Sad

Ta'awwudh · Seeking Refuge

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytani ar-rajim. I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

The Name · Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

✦

The Surah · Sad

﴾١﴿ صٓ ۚ وَٱلْقُرْءَانِ ذِى ٱلذِّكْرِ

Sad, wal-Qur'ani dhi adh-dhikr

Sad. By the Quran, holder of the reminder.

﴾٢﴿ بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى عِزَّةٍۢ وَشِقَاقٍۢ

Bal alladhina kafaru fi 'izzatin wa shiqaq

Rather, those who disbelieve are in a sense of self importance and in opposition.

﴾٣﴿ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍۢ فَنَادَوا۟ وَّلَاتَ حِينَ مَنَاصٍۢ

Kam ahlakna min qablihim min qarnin fanadaw wa lata hina manas

How many generations We destroyed before them. They called out when the time to escape had passed.

﴾٤﴿ وَعَجِبُوٓا۟ أَن جَآءَهُم مُّنذِرٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا سَٰحِرٌۭ كَذَّابٌ

Wa 'ajibu an ja'ahum mundhirun minhum, wa qala al-kafiruna hadha sahirun kadhdhab

They wondered that a warner came to them from among themselves, and the disbelievers said: this is a magician, a liar.

﴾٥﴿ أَجَعَلَ ٱلْءَالِهَةَ إِلَٰهًۭا وَٰحِدًا ۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عُجَابٌۭ

Aja'ala al-alihata ilahan wahidan, inna hadha lashay'un 'ujab

Has he made the gods into one God? This is an astonishing thing.

﴾٦﴿ وَٱنطَلَقَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِنْهُمْ أَنِ ٱمْشُوا۟ وَٱصْبِرُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ ءَالِهَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَىْءٌۭ يُرَادُ

Wantalaqa al-mala'u minhum ani imshu wasbiru 'ala alihatikum, inna hadha lashay'un yurad

The chiefs among them walked off: walk on, and be steadfast upon your gods. This is something intended.

﴾٧﴿ مَا سَمِعْنَا بِهَٰذَا فِى ٱلْمِلَّةِ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا ٱخْتِلَٰقٌ

Ma sami'na bihadha fi al-millati al-akhirah, in hadha illa ikhtilaq

We have not heard of this in the latest religion. This is nothing but a fabrication.

﴾٨﴿ أَءُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلذِّكْرُ مِنۢ بَيْنِنَا ۚ بَلْ هُمْ فِى شَكٍّۢ مِّن ذِكْرِى ۖ بَل لَّمَّا يَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِ

A unzila 'alayhi adh-dhikru min bayinina, bal hum fi shakkin min dhikri, bal lamma yadhuqu 'adhab

Was the reminder sent down to him out of all of us? Rather, they are in doubt about My message. Rather, they have not yet tasted My punishment.

﴾٩﴿ أَمْ عِندَهُمْ خَزَآئِنُ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْوَهَّابِ

Am 'indahum khaza'inu rahmati Rabbika al-'Azizi al-Wahhab

Or do they hold the treasuries of the mercy of your Lord, the Exalted in Might, the Bestower?

﴾١٠﴿ أَمْ لَهُم مُّلْكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ فَلْيَرْتَقُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَسْبَٰبِ

Am lahum mulku as-samawati wal-ardi wa ma baynahuma, falyartaqu fi al-asbab

Or do they own the dominion of the heavens and the earth and what is between them? Then let them climb up by the ropes.

﴾١١﴿ جُندٌۭ مَّا هُنَالِكَ مَهْزُومٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ

Jundun ma hunalika mahzumun mina al-ahzab

A defeated army there, one of the factions.

﴾١٢﴿ كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍۢ وَعَادٌۭ وَفِرْعَوْنُ ذُو ٱلْأَوْتَادِ

Kadhdhabat qablahum qawmu Nuhin wa 'Adun wa Fir'awnu dhu al-awtad

Before them the people of Nuh denied, and Ad, and Pharaoh, owner of the stakes.

﴾١٣﴿ وَثَمُودُ وَقَوْمُ لُوطٍۢ وَأَصْحَٰبُ لْـَٔيْكَةِ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلْأَحْزَابُ

Wa Thamudu wa qawmu Lutin wa ashabu al-aykah, ula'ika al-ahzab

And Thamud, and the people of Lut, and the companions of the thicket. Those were the factions.

﴾١٤﴿ إِن كُلٌّ إِلَّا كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ عِقَابِ

In kullun illa kadhdhaba ar-rusula fahaqqa 'iqab

Every one of them denied the messengers, so My punishment was justified.

﴾١٥﴿ وَمَا يَنظُرُ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِلَّا صَيْحَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ مَّا لَهَا مِن فَوَاقٍۢ

Wa ma yanzuru ha'ula'i illa sayhatan wahidatan ma laha min fawaq

These are waiting for nothing but a single blast that has no pause in it.

﴾١٦﴿ وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا عَجِّل لَّنَا قِطَّنَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ ٱلْحِسَابِ

Wa qalu Rabbana 'ajjil lana qittana qabla yawmi al-hisab

They said: our Lord, hurry our share to us before the Day of Account.

﴾١٧﴿ ٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا دَاوُۥدَ ذَا ٱلْأَيْدِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ

Isbir 'ala ma yaquluna wadhkur 'abdana Dawuda dha al-ayd, innahu awwab

Be patient with what they say, and remember Our servant Dawud, the possessor of strength. He was one who repeatedly turned back.

﴾١٨﴿ إِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا ٱلْجِبَالَ مَعَهُۥ يُسَبِّحْنَ بِٱلْعَشِىِّ وَٱلْإِشْرَاقِ

Inna sakhkharna al-jibala ma'ahu yusabbihna bil-'ashiyyi wal-ishraq

We subjected the mountains with him, glorifying in the evening and at sunrise.

﴾١٩﴿ وَٱلطَّيْرَ مَحْشُورَةًۭ ۖ كُلٌّۭ لَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌۭ

Wat-tayra mahshurah, kullun lahu awwab

And the birds gathered together, every one of them turning back to Him.

﴾٢٠﴿ وَشَدَدْنَا مُلْكَهُۥ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ ٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَفَصْلَ ٱلْخِطَابِ

Wa shadadna mulkahu wa ataynahu al-hikmata wa fasla al-khitab

We strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and decisive speech.

﴾٢١﴿ ۞ وَهَلْ أَتَىٰكَ نَبَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَصْمِ إِذْ تَسَوَّرُوا۟ ٱلْمِحْرَابَ

Wa hal ataka naba'u al-khasm, idh tasawwaru al-mihrab

Has the news of the litigants reached you, when they climbed the wall of the private chamber?

﴾٢٢﴿ إِذْ دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ دَاوُۥدَ فَفَزِعَ مِنْهُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ ۖ خَصْمَانِ بَغَىٰ بَعْضُنَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا تُشْطِطْ وَٱهْدِنَآ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ

Idh dakhalu 'ala Dawuda fafazi'a minhum, qalu la takhaf, khasmani bagha ba'duna 'ala ba'd, fahkum baynana bil-haqqi wa la tushtit wahdina ila sawa'i as-sirat

When they entered upon Dawud he was startled by them. They said: do not fear. Two litigants, one of us has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth, do not be unfair, and guide us to the even path.

﴾٢٣﴿ إِنَّ هَٰذَآ أَخِى لَهُۥ تِسْعٌۭ وَتِسْعُونَ نَعْجَةًۭ وَلِىَ نَعْجَةٌۭ وَٰحِدَةٌۭ فَقَالَ أَكْفِلْنِيهَا وَعَزَّنِى فِى ٱلْخِطَابِ

Inna hadha akhi lahu tis'un wa tis'una na'jatan wa liya na'jatun wahidah, faqala akfilniha wa 'azzani fi al-khitab

This is my brother. He has ninety nine ewes and I have one ewe, and he said give her into my keeping, and he overpowered me in speech.

﴾٢٤﴿ قَالَ لَقَدْ ظَلَمَكَ بِسُؤَالِ نَعْجَتِكَ إِلَىٰ نِعَاجِهِۦ ۖ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْخُلَطَآءِ لَيَبْغِى بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَقَلِيلٌۭ مَّا هُمْ ۗ وَظَنَّ دَاوُۥدُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّٰهُ فَٱسْتَغْفَرَ رَبَّهُۥ وَخَرَّ رَاكِعًۭا وَأَنَابَ ۩

Qala laqad zalamaka bisu'ali na'jatika ila ni'ajih, wa inna kathiran mina al-khulata'i layabghi ba'duhum 'ala ba'din illa alladhina amanu wa 'amilu as-salihati wa qalilun ma hum, wa zanna Dawudu annama fatannahu fastaghfara Rabbahu wa kharra raki'an wa anab

He said: he has wronged you by asking for your ewe to add to his own. Many partners wrong one another, except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and they are few. Then Dawud realized that We had tested him, so he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing, and turned in repentance.

﴾٢٥﴿ فَغَفَرْنَا لَهُۥ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَهُۥ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَىٰ وَحُسْنَ مَـَٔابٍۢ

Faghafarna lahu dhalik, wa inna lahu 'indana lazulfa wa husna ma'ab

So We forgave him that. With Us he has nearness and a good place of return.

﴾٢٦﴿ يَٰدَاوُۥدُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَٰكَ خَلِيفَةًۭ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ ٱلْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌۭ شَدِيدٌۢ بِمَا نَسُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْحِسَابِ

Ya Dawudu inna ja'alnaka khalifatan fi al-ardi fahkum bayna an-nasi bil-haqqi wa la tattabi'i al-hawa fayudillaka 'an sabili Allah, inna alladhina yadilluna 'an sabili Allahi lahum 'adhabun shadidun bima nasu yawma al-hisab

Dawud, We made you a successor on the earth, so judge between people with truth and do not follow desire, for it will lead you astray from the path of Allah. Those who stray from the path of Allah have a severe punishment for forgetting the Day of Account.

﴾٢٧﴿ وَمَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَٰطِلًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ظَنُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ فَوَيْلٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ

Wa ma khalaqna as-sama'a wal-arda wa ma baynahuma batila, dhalika zannu alladhina kafaru, fawaylun lilladhina kafaru mina an-nar

We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between them without purpose. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve. So woe to those who disbelieve, from the Fire.

﴾٢٨﴿ أَمْ نَجْعَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ كَٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ نَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ كَٱلْفُجَّارِ

Am naj'alu alladhina amanu wa 'amilu as-salihati kal-mufsidina fi al-ardi am naj'alu al-muttaqina kal-fujjar

Should We treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like those who spread corruption on the earth? Should We treat the God-conscious like the wicked?

﴾٢٩﴿ كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَٰرَكٌۭ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوٓا۟ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

Kitabun anzalnahu ilayka mubarakun liyaddabbaru ayatihi wa liyatadhakkara ulu al-albab

A Book We sent down to you, blessed, so that they may reflect on its verses and so that people of understanding may take heed.

﴾٣٠﴿ وَوَهَبْنَا لِدَاوُۥدَ سُلَيْمَٰنَ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ

Wa wahabna li-Dawuda Sulayman, ni'ma al-'abd, innahu awwab

We gave Dawud Sulayman. What an excellent servant. He was one who turned back.

﴾٣١﴿ إِذْ عُرِضَ عَلَيْهِ بِٱلْعَشِىِّ ٱلصَّٰفِنَٰتُ ٱلْجِيَادُ

Idh 'urida 'alayhi bil-'ashiyyi as-safinatu al-jiyad

When the standing horses, swift of foot, were displayed before him in the evening.

﴾٣٢﴿ فَقَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ ٱلْخَيْرِ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّى حَتَّىٰ تَوَارَتْ بِٱلْحِجَابِ

Faqala inni ahbabtu hubba al-khayri 'an dhikri Rabbi hatta tawarat bil-hijab

He said: I have loved the love of good things over the remembrance of my Lord, until it disappeared behind the veil.

﴾٣٣﴿ رُدُّوهَا عَلَىَّ ۖ فَطَفِقَ مَسْحًۢا بِٱلسُّوقِ وَٱلْأَعْنَاقِ

Rudduha 'alayy, fatafiqa mashan bis-suqi wal-a'naq

Bring them back to me. Then he began to pass his hand over the legs and the necks.

﴾٣٤﴿ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا سُلَيْمَٰنَ وَأَلْقَيْنَا عَلَىٰ كُرْسِيِّهِۦ جَسَدًۭا ثُمَّ أَنَابَ

Wa laqad fatanna Sulaymana wa alqayna 'ala kursiyyihi jasadan thumma anab

We tested Sulayman and placed a body on his throne, then he turned back.

﴾٣٥﴿ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَهَبْ لِى مُلْكًۭا لَّا يَنۢبَغِى لِأَحَدٍۢ مِّنۢ بَعْدِىٓ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ

Qala Rabbi ighfir li wa hab li mulkan la yanbaghi li-ahadin min ba'di, innaka Anta al-Wahhab

He said: my Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom that will not suit anyone after me. You are the Bestower.

﴾٣٦﴿ فَسَخَّرْنَا لَهُ ٱلرِّيحَ تَجْرِى بِأَمْرِهِۦ رُخَآءً حَيْثُ أَصَابَ

Fasakhkharna lahu ar-riha tajri bi-amrihi rukha'an haythu asab

So We subjected the wind to him, running gently by his command wherever he directed.

﴾٣٧﴿ وَٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ كُلَّ بَنَّآءٍۢ وَغَوَّاصٍۢ

Wash-shayatina kulla banna'in wa ghawwas

And the devils, every builder and diver.

﴾٣٨﴿ وَءَاخَرِينَ مُقَرَّنِينَ فِى ٱلْأَصْفَادِ

Wa akharina muqarranina fi al-asfad

And others bound together in chains.

﴾٣٩﴿ هَٰذَا عَطَآؤُنَا فَٱمْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍۢ

Hadha 'ata'una famnun aw amsik bighayri hisab

This is Our gift, so give or withhold, without account.

﴾٤٠﴿ وَإِنَّ لَهُۥ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَىٰ وَحُسْنَ مَـَٔابٍۢ

Wa inna lahu 'indana lazulfa wa husna ma'ab

With Us he has nearness and a good place of return.

﴾٤١﴿ وَٱذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَآ أَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ بِنُصْبٍۢ وَعَذَابٍ

Wadhkur 'abdana Ayyub, idh nada Rabbahu anni massaniya ash-shaytanu binusbin wa 'adhab

And remember Our servant Ayyub, when he called to his Lord: Shaytan has touched me with hardship and torment.

﴾٤٢﴿ ٱرْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ ۖ هَٰذَا مُغْتَسَلٌۢ بَارِدٌۭ وَشَرَابٌۭ

Urkud birijlik, hadha mughtasalun baridun wa sharab

Strike with your foot. This is a cool bath and a drink.

﴾٤٣﴿ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ أَهْلَهُۥ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ رَحْمَةًۭ مِّنَّا وَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

Wa wahabna lahu ahlahu wa mithlahum ma'ahum rahmatan minna wa dhikra li-uli al-albab

We gave him back his family and the like of them with them, as a mercy from Us and a reminder for people of understanding.

﴾٤٤﴿ وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًۭا فَٱضْرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَٰهُ صَابِرًۭا ۚ نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌۭ

Wa khudh biyadika dighthan fadrib bihi wa la tahnath, inna wajadnahu sabira, ni'ma al-'abd, innahu awwab

Take in your hand a bundle of grass and strike with it, and do not break your oath. We found him patient. What an excellent servant. He was one who turned back.

﴾٤٥﴿ وَٱذْكُرْ عِبَٰدَنَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ أُو۟لِى ٱلْأَيْدِى وَٱلْأَبْصَٰرِ

Wadhkur 'ibadana Ibrahima wa Ishaqa wa Ya'quba uli al-aydi wal-absar

And remember Our servants Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya'qub, possessors of strength and vision.

﴾٤٦﴿ إِنَّآ أَخْلَصْنَٰهُم بِخَالِصَةٍۢ ذِكْرَى ٱلدَّارِ

Inna akhlasnahum bikhalisatin dhikra ad-dar

We chose them for an exclusive quality, the remembrance of the Home.

﴾٤٧﴿ وَإِنَّهُمْ عِندَنَا لَمِنَ ٱلْمُصْطَفَيْنَ ٱلْأَخْيَارِ

Wa innahum 'indana lamina al-mustafayna al-akhyar

With Us they are among the chosen, the best.

﴾٤٨﴿ وَٱذْكُرْ إِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَٱلْيَسَعَ وَذَا ٱلْكِفْلِ ۖ وَكُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَخْيَارِ

Wadhkur Isma'ila wal-Yasa'a wa Dha al-Kifl, wa kullun mina al-akhyar

And remember Isma'il, Al-Yasa, and Dhu al-Kifl. Each one of the best.

﴾٤٩﴿ هَٰذَا ذِكْرٌۭ ۚ وَإِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ لَحُسْنَ مَـَٔابٍۢ

Hadha dhikr, wa inna lil-muttaqina lahusna ma'ab

This is a reminder. The God-conscious have a good place of return.

﴾٥٠﴿ جَنَّٰتِ عَدْنٍۢ مُّفَتَّحَةًۭ لَّهُمُ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبُ

Jannati 'adnin mufattahatan lahumu al-abwab

Gardens of perpetual residence, their gates opened for them.

﴾٥١﴿ مُتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِفَٰكِهَةٍۢ كَثِيرَةٍۢ وَشَرَابٍۢ

Muttaki'ina fiha yad'una fiha bifakihatin kathiratin wa sharab

Reclining in them, calling for abundant fruit and drink.

﴾٥٢﴿ ۞ وَعِندَهُمْ قَٰصِرَٰتُ ٱلطَّرْفِ أَتْرَابٌ

Wa 'indahum qasiratu at-tarfi atrab

With them are companions of modest gaze, matched in age.

﴾٥٣﴿ هَٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِيَوْمِ ٱلْحِسَابِ

Hadha ma tu'aduna liyawmi al-hisab

This is what you are promised for the Day of Account.

﴾٥٤﴿ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَرِزْقُنَا مَا لَهُۥ مِن نَّفَادٍ

Inna hadha larizquna ma lahu min nafad

This is Our provision. It has no end.

﴾٥٥﴿ هَٰذَا ۚ وَإِنَّ لِلطَّٰغِينَ لَشَرَّ مَـَٔابٍۢ

Hadha, wa inna lit-taghina lasharra ma'ab

So it is. The transgressors have the worst place of return.

﴾٥٦﴿ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ

Jahannama yaslawnaha fabi'sa al-mihad

Hell, which they enter. A wretched resting place.

﴾٥٧﴿ هَٰذَا فَلْيَذُوقُوهُ حَمِيمٌۭ وَغَسَّاقٌۭ

Hadha falyadhuquhu hamimun wa ghassaq

So it is. Let them taste it: scalding water and pus.

﴾٥٨﴿ وَءَاخَرُ مِن شَكْلِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجٌ

Wa akharu min shaklihi azwaj

And other punishments of its kind, in pairs.

﴾٥٩﴿ هَٰذَا فَوْجٌۭ مُّقْتَحِمٌۭ مَّعَكُمْ ۖ لَا مَرْحَبًۢا بِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ صَالُوا۟ ٱلنَّارِ

Hadha fawjun muqtahimun ma'akum, la marhaban bihim, innahum salu an-nar

This is a crowd rushing in with you. No welcome for them. They are entering the Fire.

﴾٦٠﴿ قَالُوا۟ بَلْ أَنتُمْ لَا مَرْحَبًۢا بِكُمْ ۖ أَنتُمْ قَدَّمْتُمُوهُ لَنَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ ٱلْقَرَارُ

Qalu bal antum la marhaban bikum, antum qaddamtumuhu lana, fabi'sa al-qarar

They say: rather, no welcome to you. You brought this on us. A wretched place to settle.

﴾٦١﴿ قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا مَن قَدَّمَ لَنَا هَٰذَا فَزِدْهُ عَذَابًۭا ضِعْفًۭا فِى ٱلنَّارِ

Qalu Rabbana man qaddama lana hadha fazidhu 'adhaban di'fan fi an-nar

They say: our Lord, whoever brought this on us, add to him a double punishment in the Fire.

﴾٦٢﴿ وَقَالُوا۟ مَا لَنَا لَا نَرَىٰ رِجَالًۭا كُنَّا نَعُدُّهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَشْرَارِ

Wa qalu ma lana la nara rijalan kunna na'udduhum mina al-ashrar

They say: why do we not see men we used to count among the worst?

﴾٦٣﴿ أَتَّخَذْنَٰهُمْ سِخْرِيًّا أَمْ زَاغَتْ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ

Attakhadhnahum sikhriyyan am zaghat 'anhumu al-absar

Did we take them for mockery, or have our eyes missed them?

﴾٦٤﴿ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَحَقٌّۭ تَخَاصُمُ أَهْلِ ٱلنَّارِ

Inna dhalika lahaqqun takhasumu ahli an-nar

That is true: the disputing of the people of the Fire.

﴾٦٥﴿ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ مُنذِرٌۭ ۖ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَٰهٍ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ

Qul innama ana mundhir, wa ma min ilahin illa Allahu al-Wahidu al-Qahhar

Say: I am only a warner. There is no god but Allah, the One, the Subduer.

﴾٦٦﴿ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفَّٰرُ

Rabbu as-samawati wal-ardi wa ma baynahuma al-'Azizu al-Ghaffar

Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, the Exalted in Might, the Repeatedly Forgiving.

﴾٦٧﴿ قُلْ هُوَ نَبَؤٌا۟ عَظِيمٌ

Qul huwa naba'un 'azim

Say: it is great news.

﴾٦٨﴿ أَنتُمْ عَنْهُ مُعْرِضُونَ

Antum 'anhu mu'ridun

You are turning away from it.

﴾٦٩﴿ مَا كَانَ لِىَ مِنْ عِلْمٍۭ بِٱلْمَلَإِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰٓ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ

Ma kana liya min 'ilmin bil-mala'i al-a'la idh yakhtasimun

I had no knowledge of the highest assembly when they were disputing.

﴾٧٠﴿ إِن يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ إِلَّآ أَنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌ

In yuha ilayya illa annama ana nadhirun mubin

It is only revealed to me that I am a clear warner.

﴾٧١﴿ إِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى خَٰلِقٌۢ بَشَرًۭا مِّن طِينٍۢ

Idh qala Rabbuka lil-mala'ikati inni khaliqun basharan min tin

When your Lord said to the angels: I am creating a human being from clay.

﴾٧٢﴿ فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُۥ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِى فَقَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ سَٰجِدِينَ

Fa-idha sawwaytuhu wa nafakhtu fihi min ruhi faqa'u lahu sajidin

So when I have formed him and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down before him in prostration.

﴾٧٣﴿ فَسَجَدَ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ

Fasajada al-mala'ikatu kulluhum ajma'un

So the angels prostrated, all of them together.

﴾٧٤﴿ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ ٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Illa Iblis, istakbara wa kana mina al-kafirin

Except Iblis. He was arrogant and became one of the disbelievers.

﴾٧٥﴿ قَالَ يَٰٓإِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَىَّ ۖ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْعَالِينَ

Qala ya Iblisu ma mana'aka an tasjuda lima khalaqtu biyadayy, astakbarta am kunta mina al-'alin

He said: Iblis, what prevented you from prostrating to what I created with My hands? Were you arrogant, or were you of the exalted?

﴾٧٦﴿ قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْهُ ۖ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍۢ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍۢ

Qala ana khayrun minhu, khalaqtani min narin wa khalaqtahu min tin

He said: I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.

﴾٧٧﴿ قَالَ فَٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِيمٌۭ

Qala fakhruj minha fa-innaka rajim

He said: then get out of it. You are expelled.

﴾٧٨﴿ وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ لَعْنَتِىٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ

Wa inna 'alayka la'nati ila yawmi ad-din

My curse is on you until the Day of Judgment.

﴾٧٩﴿ قَالَ رَبِّ فَأَنظِرْنِىٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

Qala Rabbi fa-anzirni ila yawmi yub'athun

He said: my Lord, then give me respite until the day they are raised.

﴾٨٠﴿ قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنظَرِينَ

Qala fa-innaka mina al-munzarin

He said: you are of those given respite.

﴾٨١﴿ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْوَقْتِ ٱلْمَعْلُومِ

Ila yawmi al-waqti al-ma'lum

Until the day of the known time.

﴾٨٢﴿ قَالَ فَبِعِزَّتِكَ لَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

Qala fabi'izzatika la-ughwiyannahum ajma'in

He said: by Your might, I will surely mislead them all.

﴾٨٣﴿ إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ

Illa 'ibadaka minhumu al-mukhlasin

Except Your chosen servants among them.

﴾٨٤﴿ قَالَ فَٱلْحَقُّ وَٱلْحَقَّ أَقُولُ

Qala falhaqq, wal-haqqa aqul

He said: the truth, and the truth I speak.

﴾٨٥﴿ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكَ وَمِمَّن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

La-amla'anna jahannama minka wa mimman tabi'aka minhum ajma'in

I will fill Hell with you and with all of them who follow you.

﴾٨٦﴿ قُلْ مَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍۢ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ

Qul ma as'alukum 'alayhi min ajrin wa ma ana mina al-mutakallifin

Say: I ask you no payment for it, and I am not one to pretend.

﴾٨٧﴿ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌۭ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ

In huwa illa dhikrun lil-'alamin

It is only a reminder to all the worlds.

﴾٨٨﴿ وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهُۥ بَعْدَ حِينٍۭ

Wa lata'lamunna naba'ahu ba'da hin

You will know its news after a time.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What The Surah Means

Overview

Surah Sad is eighty-eight verses, chapter 38, Makki. It opens by naming the actual obstacle. Not ignorance, not evidence. Izzah and shiqaq, a sense of self importance and a taste for opposition.

The body of the surah is a set of case studies in power. Dawud with a kingdom and a judgment to make, Sulayman with wealth and horses, Ayyub with everything taken, and Iblis with a rank he would not risk. Four men who held something, and what each of them did when tested on it.

Rather, those who disbelieve are in a sense of self importance and in opposition.

Verses 1–14 · Self Importance and Opposition

Bal alladhina kafaru fi 'izzatin wa shiqaq.

Bal alladhina kafaru fi 'izzatin wa shiqaq: 'izzah here is the inflated sense of one's own standing, and shiqaq is being on the opposing side as a settled position. The Quran names the two things and does not argue with the content of their objection.

Wa 'ajibu an ja'ahum mundhirun minhum: they wondered that a warner came to them from among themselves. The scandal was the familiarity.

Wantalaqa al-mala'u minhum ani imshu wasbiru 'ala alihatikum: the chiefs walked off saying, walk on, and be steadfast upon your gods. Inna hadha lashay'un yurad. This is something intended. They read the message as a play for position, which is what men who hold position assume about anyone who speaks.

Ma sami'na bihadha fi al-millati al-akhirah in hadha illa ikhtilaq: we have not heard of this in the latest religion. This is nothing but a fabrication. Novelty is the charge, and the surah answers it later by listing the prophets who preceded.

A unzila 'alayhi adh-dhikru min bayninna: was the reminder sent down to him out of all of us. Bal hum fi shakkin min dhikri, bal lamma yadhuqu 'adhab. Rather, they are in doubt about My message. Rather, they have not yet tasted My punishment.

Walk on and hold to your gods. They heard a claim about God and assessed it as a move on their standing.

Verses 17–40 · Dawud, and Sulayman

And remember Our servant Dawud, the possessor of strength. He was one who repeatedly turned back.

Dha al-ayd, the possessor of strength, and awwab, one who returns constantly. Strength and returning are named together as one description.

The two litigants climb the wall of his private chamber and he is startled. One says, this is my brother who has ninety nine ewes and I have one, and he says give her to me, and he overpowered me in speech.

Qala laqad zalamaka bisu'ali na'jatika ila ni'ajih: he judges immediately, before hearing the second man. Wa zanna Dawudu annama fatannahu fastaghfara Rabbahu wa kharra raki'an wa anab. Then Dawud realized that We had tested him, so he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing, and turned in repentance. This verse contains a prostration in the recitation.

The test was not about the ewes. It was about ruling on half the case.

Ya Dawudu inna ja'alnaka khalifatan fi al-ardi fahkum bayna an-nasi bil-haqqi wa la tattabi'i al-hawa fayudillaka 'an sabili Allah: judge between people with truth and do not follow desire, for it will lead you astray from the path of Allah. The instruction to a ruler names the specific mechanism of corruption, and it is not bribery. It is preference.

Sulayman is then given, with the horses that made him forget the remembrance until the sun set, and the body placed on his throne, and his prayer for a kingdom that would not suit anyone after him. Ni'ma al-'abd innahu awwab. What an excellent servant. He was one who turned back.

He ruled on half the case and understood in the same moment that the case was about him.

Verses 41–88 · Ayyub, the Men of Vision, and the Refusal

And remember Our servant Ayyub, when he called to his Lord: Shaytan has touched me with hardship and torment.

Urkud birijlik, hadha mughtasalun baridun wa sharab: strike with your foot. This is a cool bath and a drink. The relief arrives through an instruction to move his own body, which is worth noticing in a passage about a man who could not.

Inna wajadnahu sabiran, ni'ma al-'abd, innahu awwab: We found him patient. What an excellent servant. He was one who turned back. The same praise given to Dawud and Sulayman, given to a man who had lost everything, in the same words.

Wadhkur 'ibadana Ibrahima wa Ishaqa wa Ya'quba uli al-aydi wal-absar: remember Our servants, possessors of strength and vision. Ayd is capability and absar is insight. The Quran names the pair as one qualification.

Inna akhlasnahum bikhalisatin dhikra ad-dar: We chose them for an exclusive quality, the remembrance of the Home. Their distinguishing trait is what occupied their attention.

Then Iblis. Ana khayrun minhu khalaqtani min narin wa khalaqtahu min tin: I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay. The refusal is argued from origin, and the Quran preserves the argument in full so that its shape can be recognized when it appears in a man.

Qala fabi'izzatika la-ughwiyannahum ajma'in: by Your might, I will surely mislead them all. He swears by an attribute of the One he is defying. Illa 'ibadaka minhumu al-mukhlasin. Except Your chosen servants among them. The exemption is named by him.

I am better than him. The first refusal in history was an argument about pedigree.

Structural Summary

Eighty-Eight Verses. Do Not Follow Desire.

Verses 1–11The ObstacleSelf importance and opposition, chiefs walking off, and a message read as a move on their position.

Verses 12–16The PrecedentThe parties that denied before them, each one seizing the messengers, and My punishment was justified.

Verses 17–26DawudStrength and constant returning, two litigants, a judgment made on half a case, and a command not to follow desire.

Verses 30–40SulaymanHorses that occupied him until sunset, a body placed on his throne, and a kingdom asked for that would suit no one after.

Verses 41–48AyyubStruck, then told to strike the ground with his foot. Found patient, and named an excellent servant.

Verses 49–66The Two EndsA reminder, gardens with gates opened for them, and the disputing of the people of the Fire.

Verses 67–88The RefusalThe spirit breathed, the prostration commanded, and one who said I am better than him.

Why This Surah Is For You

Verse 26 is the verse for any man who decides things for other people. Judge with truth and do not follow hawa, because it will take you off the path. The corruption named is not money. It is preference, which is invisible to the man holding it and obvious to everyone else.

Dawud is not corrected for a wrong verdict. He is corrected for ruling before the second man spoke. The test was the procedure, and he understood it in the same moment he finished the sentence. That is the standard for anyone who is quick and usually right.

Verse 45 pairs ayd with absar, strength with vision, as one qualification for the men He chose. Capability without insight is not what is being praised, and neither is insight that cannot move anything.

Verse 76 is the oldest argument in existence and it is one sentence. I am better than him, and here is my origin. Any refusal you have ever made that traced back to who you are rather than to what is true has that shape.

The Practice · Daily Integration

Eighty-Eight Verses. Hear the Second Man.

Do not rule before the other party speaks, even when the first account is obviously true. That is the whole of the Dawud passage.

Check one decision this week for hawa. Not bribery. Preference. Whose side did you want to win before the facts arrived.

Build both halves of verse 45. Strength that can move something, and the vision to know where.

When you catch yourself refusing on the basis of who you are, name it. Verse 76 is what it sounds like from the outside.

He judged on half the case, and understood at once that the case was about him.

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 / 176

The Verse

صٓ ۚ وَٱلْقُرْءَانِ ذِى ٱلذِّكْرِ

Sad, wal-Qur'ani dhi adh-dhikr

What does verse 1 say?