ῌā‘ mīm
By the veritable Book
We revealed it¹ on a blessed night, intending to give warning
on a night when every wise commandment was expounde
as a commandment from Ourself
We it was who sent it down as a blessing from your Lord: surely He it is who hears all and knows all
the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them. Mark this, if you are true believers
There is no god but Him. He ordains life and death; He is your God, and the God of your forefathers
Yet they divert themselves with doubts
Watch for the day when the sky will pour down palpable smoke
enveloping mankind: a woeful scourge
Then will they say: ‘Lord, lift the scourge from us. We are now believers.‘
But how will their remembrance help them, when a true apostle did come to the
and they denied him, and said: ‘A well taught madman!‘
Yet if We but slightly ease your torment, you will return to unbelief
On the day We bring down the supreme scourge. We will surely be avenged
Before them, We tested Pharaoh‘s people. A gracious apostle had come to them
saying: ‘Hand over to me God‘s servants. I am an honest emissary
And do not hold yourselves above God. I bring you clear authority
I adjure you by Him who is my Lord and your Lord not to stone me
If you have no faith in me, leave me well alone.‘
Then he cried out to his Lord, saying: ‘Surely these are a sinful people.‘
Set forth with My servants in the night, for you will be pursued
Leave the sea at rest behind you. They are warriors doomed to be drowned.‘
How many gardens and fountains they left behind them
Cornfields, and noble palaces
and good things in which they took delight
All this We gave to others to inherit
Neither heaven nor earth shed tears for them; nor were they reprieved
We saved the Israelites from the degrading scourge
from Pharaoh, who surely was a tyrant and a transgressor
and chose them knowingly above the nations
We showed them such miracles as manifestly tested them
Yet there are those who say
We shall die but one death, nor shall we ever be raised to life again
Bring back to us our forefathers, if what you say be true.‘
Are they better than the people of Tubba‘¹ and those who thrived before them? We destroyed them all, for they too were wicked men
It was not in jest that We created the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them.
We created them both only to reveal the Truth. But of this the larger part of them have no knowledge
The Day of Judgement is the appointed time for them all
On that day no friend shall help a friend; none shall be helped
save those to whom God shows mercy. He is the Mighty One, the Compassionate
The Zaqqūm tree
shall provide the sinner‘s food
Like dregs of oil
like scalding water, it shall simmer in his belly
Seize him and drag him into the depths of Hell
Then pour out the scourge of scalding water over his head:
"Taste this, you illustrious and honourable man
This is the very fate you always doubted."‘
Surely the righteous shall be lodged in a mansion secure
amid gardens and fountains face to face
arrayed in rich silks and fine brocade
Even thus; and We shall wed them to dark-eyed houris
Secure against all ills, they shall call for every kind of fruit
and, having died once, they shall never die again. Your Lord will in His mercy shield them from the scourge of Hell
That will be the supreme triumph
We have made it easy in your own tongue, that they may remember
Wait, then; they too are waiting