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Surah As-Saffat (Those Who Set the Ranks, الصافات) is the 37th surah of the Noble Quran — a Meccan surah of 182 verses. Read it below in Arabic with the English translation of Marmaduke Pickthall, and listen verse by verse to famous Egyptian reciters.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَرَبُّ ٱلْمَشَٰرِقِ ٥
Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all that is between them, and Lord of the sun's risings.
إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلْكَوَاكِبِ ٦
Lo! We have adorned the lowest heaven with an ornament, the planets;
لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلَإِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ وَيُقْذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٍۢ ٨
They cannot listen to the Highest Chiefs for they are pelted from every side,
إِلَّا مَنْ خَطِفَ ٱلْخَطْفَةَ فَأَتْبَعَهُۥ شِهَابٌۭ ثَاقِبٌۭ ١٠
Save him who snatcheth a fragment, and there pursueth him a piercing flame.
فَٱسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَهُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَم مَّنْ خَلَقْنَآ ۚ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰهُم مِّن طِينٍۢ لَّازِبٍۭ ١١
Then ask them (O Muhammad): Are they stronger as a creation, or those (others) whom we have created? Lo! We created them of plastic clay.
أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًۭا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ ١٦
When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised (again)?
قُلْ نَعَمْ وَأَنتُمْ دَٰخِرُونَ ١٨
Say (O Muhammad): Ye, in truth; and ye will be brought low.
فَإِنَّمَا هِىَ زَجْرَةٌۭ وَٰحِدَةٌۭ فَإِذَا هُمْ يَنظُرُونَ ١٩
There is but one Shout, and lo! they behold,
وَقَالُوا۟ يَٰوَيْلَنَا هَٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ ٢٠
And say: Ah, woe for us! This is the Day of Judgment.
هَٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلْفَصْلِ ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ ٢١
This is the Day of Separation, which ye used to deny.
۞ ٱحْشُرُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ وَأَزْوَٰجَهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْبُدُونَ ٢٢
(And it is said unto the angels): Assemble those who did wrong, together with their wives and what they used to worship
مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَٱهْدُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ ٢٣
Instead of Allah, and lead them to the path to hell;
وَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ ٢٧
And some of them draw near unto others, mutually questioning.
قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَأْتُونَنَا عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ ٢٨
They say: Lo! ye used to come unto us, imposing, (swearing that ye spoke the truth).
قَالُوا۟ بَل لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ ٢٩
They answer: Nay, but ye (yourselves) were not believers.
وَمَا كَانَ لَنَا عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَٰنٍۭ ۖ بَلْ كُنتُمْ قَوْمًۭا طَٰغِينَ ٣٠
We had no power over you, but ye were wayward folk.
فَحَقَّ عَلَيْنَا قَوْلُ رَبِّنَآ ۖ إِنَّا لَذَآئِقُونَ ٣١
Now the Word of our Lord hath been fulfilled concerning us. Lo! we are about to taste (the doom).
فَأَغْوَيْنَٰكُمْ إِنَّا كُنَّا غَٰوِينَ ٣٢
Thus we misled you. Lo! we were (ourselves) astray.
فَإِنَّهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ ٣٣
Then lo! this day they (both) are sharers in the doom.
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ٣٥
For when it was said unto them, There is no Allah save Allah, they were scornful
وَيَقُولُونَ أَئِنَّا لَتَارِكُوٓا۟ ءَالِهَتِنَا لِشَاعِرٍۢ مَّجْنُونٍۭ ٣٦
And said: Shall we forsake our gods for a mad poet?
بَلْ جَآءَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَصَدَّقَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ ٣٧
Nay, but he brought the Truth, and he confirmed those sent (before him).
يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِكَأْسٍۢ مِّن مَّعِينٍۭ ٤٥
A cup from a gushing spring is brought round for them,
لَا فِيهَا غَوْلٌۭ وَلَا هُمْ عَنْهَا يُنزَفُونَ ٤٧
Wherein there is no headache nor are they made mad thereby.
وَعِندَهُمْ قَٰصِرَٰتُ ٱلطَّرْفِ عِينٌۭ ٤٨
And with them are those of modest gaze, with lovely eyes,
فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ ٥٠
And some of them draw near unto others, mutually questioning.
قَالَ قَآئِلٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ إِنِّى كَانَ لِى قَرِينٌۭ ٥١
A speaker of them saith: Lo! I had a comrade
يَقُولُ أَءِنَّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُصَدِّقِينَ ٥٢
Who used to say: Art thou in truth of those who put faith (in his words)?
أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًۭا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَدِينُونَ ٥٣
Can we, when we are dead and have become mere dust and bones - can we (then) verily be brought to book?
فَٱطَّلَعَ فَرَءَاهُ فِى سَوَآءِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ ٥٥
Then looketh he and seeth him in the depth of hell.
قَالَ تَٱللَّهِ إِن كِدتَّ لَتُرْدِينِ ٥٦
He saith: By Allah, thou verily didst all but cause my ruin,
وَلَوْلَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّى لَكُنتُ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْضَرِينَ ٥٧
And had it not been for the favour of my Lord, I too had been of those haled forth (to doom).
إِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ ٥٩
Saving our former death, and are we not to be punished?
لِمِثْلِ هَٰذَا فَلْيَعْمَلِ ٱلْعَٰمِلُونَ ٦١
For the like of this, then, let the workers work.
أَذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌۭ نُّزُلًا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ ٱلزَّقُّومِ ٦٢
Is this better as a welcome, or the tree of Zaqqum?
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَٰهَا فِتْنَةًۭ لِّلظَّٰلِمِينَ ٦٣
Lo! We have appointed it a torment for wrong-doers.
إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌۭ تَخْرُجُ فِىٓ أَصْلِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ ٦٤
Lo! it is a tree that springeth in the heart of hell.
فَإِنَّهُمْ لَءَاكِلُونَ مِنْهَا فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنْهَا ٱلْبُطُونَ ٦٦
And lo! they verily must eat thereof, and fill (their) bellies therewith.
ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا لَشَوْبًۭا مِّنْ حَمِيمٍۢ ٦٧
And afterward, lo! thereupon they have a drink of boiling water
ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرْجِعَهُمْ لَإِلَى ٱلْجَحِيمِ ٦٨
And afterward, lo! their return is surely unto hell.
فَهُمْ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِمْ يُهْرَعُونَ ٧٠
But they make haste (to follow) in their footsteps.
وَلَقَدْ ضَلَّ قَبْلَهُمْ أَكْثَرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ٧١
And verily most of the men of old went astray before them,
فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ ٧٣
Then see the nature of the consequence for those warned,
وَلَقَدْ نَادَىٰنَا نُوحٌۭ فَلَنِعْمَ ٱلْمُجِيبُونَ ٧٥
And Noah verily prayed unto Us, and gracious was the Hearer of his prayer
وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْكَرْبِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ٧٦
And We saved him and his household from the great distress,
وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ ٧٨
And left for him among the later folk (the salutation):
إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِۦ مَاذَا تَعْبُدُونَ ٨٥
When he said unto his father and his folk: What is it that ye worship?
أَئِفْكًا ءَالِهَةًۭ دُونَ ٱللَّهِ تُرِيدُونَ ٨٦
Is it a falsehood - gods beside Allah - that ye desire?
فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ ءَالِهَتِهِمْ فَقَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ ٩١
Then turned he to their gods and said: Will ye not eat?
فَرَاغَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضَرْبًۢا بِٱلْيَمِينِ ٩٣
Then he attacked them, striking with his right hand.
قَالُوا۟ ٱبْنُوا۟ لَهُۥ بُنْيَٰنًۭا فَأَلْقُوهُ فِى ٱلْجَحِيمِ ٩٧
They said: Build for him a building and fling him in the red-hotfire.
فَأَرَادُوا۟ بِهِۦ كَيْدًۭا فَجَعَلْنَٰهُمُ ٱلْأَسْفَلِينَ ٩٨
And they designed a snare for him, but We made them the undermost.
وَقَالَ إِنِّى ذَاهِبٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ ٩٩
And he said: Lo! I am going unto my Lord Who will guide me.
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ ٱلسَّعْىَ قَالَ يَٰبُنَىَّ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ فِى ٱلْمَنَامِ أَنِّىٓ أَذْبَحُكَ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ ١٠٢
And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast.
فَلَمَّآ أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُۥ لِلْجَبِينِ ١٠٣
Then, when they had both surrendered (to Allah), and he had flung him down upon his face,
قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ ٱلرُّءْيَآ ۚ إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ١٠٥
Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We reward the good.
وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ ١٠٨
And We left for him among the later folk (the salutation):
وَبَشَّرْنَٰهُ بِإِسْحَٰقَ نَبِيًّۭا مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ١١٢
And we gave him tidings of the birth of Isaac, a prophet of the righteous.
وَبَٰرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَىٰٓ إِسْحَٰقَ ۚ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا مُحْسِنٌۭ وَظَالِمٌۭ لِّنَفْسِهِۦ مُبِينٌۭ ١١٣
And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their seed are some who do good, and some who plainly wrong themselves.
وَلَقَدْ مَنَنَّا عَلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ وَهَٰرُونَ ١١٤
And We verily gave grace unto Moses and Aaron,
وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُمَا وَقَوْمَهُمَا مِنَ ٱلْكَرْبِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ١١٥
And saved them and their people from the great distress,
وَنَصَرْنَٰهُمْ فَكَانُوا۟ هُمُ ٱلْغَٰلِبِينَ ١١٦
And helped them so that they became the victors.
وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِمَا فِى ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ ١١٩
And We left for them among the later folk (the salutation):
إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ١٢٤
When he said unto his folk: Will ye not ward off (evil)?
أَتَدْعُونَ بَعْلًۭا وَتَذَرُونَ أَحْسَنَ ٱلْخَٰلِقِينَ ١٢٥
Will ye cry unto Baal and forsake the Best of creators,
ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ وَرَبَّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ١٢٦
Allah, your Lord and Lord of your forefathers?
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُونَ ١٢٧
But they denied him, so they surely will be haled forth (to the doom)
وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ ١٢٩
And we left for him among the later folk (the salutation):
إِذْ نَجَّيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ أَجْمَعِينَ ١٣٤
When We saved him and his household, every one,
وَإِنَّكُمْ لَتَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهِم مُّصْبِحِينَ ١٣٧
And lo! ye verily pass by (the ruin of) them in the morning
فَٱلْتَقَمَهُ ٱلْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌۭ ١٤٢
And the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy;
فَلَوْلَآ أَنَّهُۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسَبِّحِينَ ١٤٣
And had he not been one of those who glorify (Allah)
لَلَبِثَ فِى بَطْنِهِۦٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ ١٤٤
He would have tarried in its belly till the day when they are raised;
۞ فَنَبَذْنَٰهُ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌۭ ١٤٥
Then We cast him on a desert shore while he was sick;
وَأَنۢبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةًۭ مِّن يَقْطِينٍۢ ١٤٦
And We caused a tree of gourd to grow above him;
وَأَرْسَلْنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ مِا۟ئَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ ١٤٧
And We sent him to a hundred thousand (folk) or more
فَـَٔامَنُوا۟ فَمَتَّعْنَٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍۢ ١٤٨
And they believed, therefor We gave them comfort for a while.
فَٱسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَلِرَبِّكَ ٱلْبَنَاتُ وَلَهُمُ ٱلْبَنُونَ ١٤٩
Now ask them (O Muhammad): Hath thy Lord daughters whereas they have sons?
أَمْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ إِنَٰثًۭا وَهُمْ شَٰهِدُونَ ١٥٠
Or created We the angels females while they were present?
أَلَآ إِنَّهُم مِّنْ إِفْكِهِمْ لَيَقُولُونَ ١٥١
Lo! it is of their falsehood that they say:
وَلَدَ ٱللَّهُ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَٰذِبُونَ ١٥٢
Allah hath begotten. Allah! verily they tell a lie.
أَصْطَفَى ٱلْبَنَاتِ عَلَى ٱلْبَنِينَ ١٥٣
(And again of their falsehood): He hath preferred daughters to sons.
فَأْتُوا۟ بِكِتَٰبِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ ١٥٧
Then produce your writ, if ye are truthful.
وَجَعَلُوا۟ بَيْنَهُۥ وَبَيْنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ نَسَبًۭا ۚ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمَتِ ٱلْجِنَّةُ إِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُونَ ١٥٨
And they imagine kinship between him and the jinn, whereas the jinn know well that they will be brought before (Him).
سُبْحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ ١٥٩
Glorified be Allah from that which they attribute (unto Him),
وَمَا مِنَّآ إِلَّا لَهُۥ مَقَامٌۭ مَّعْلُومٌۭ ١٦٤
There is not one of us but hath his known position.
لَوْ أَنَّ عِندَنَا ذِكْرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ١٦٨
If we had but a reminder from the men of old
فَكَفَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ ١٧٠
Yet (now that it is come) they disbelieve therein; but they will come to know.
وَلَقَدْ سَبَقَتْ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ ١٧١
And verily Our word went forth of old unto Our bondmen sent (to warn)
وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ ٱلْغَٰلِبُونَ ١٧٣
And that Our host, they verily would be the victors.
فَإِذَا نَزَلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ فَسَآءَ صَبَاحُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ ١٧٧
But when it cometh home to them, then it will be a hapless morn for those who have been warned.
سُبْحَٰنَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ ٱلْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ ١٨٠
Glorified be thy Lord, the Lord of Majesty, from that which they attribute (unto Him)
Arabic text: Tanzil Project (tanzil.net) · English translation: M. M. Pickthall · Recitations: mp3quran.net
As-Saffat