| | N J Dawood (2014) rendition of Surah The Rock, Stoneland, Rock City(al-Hijr)
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| 15:1 | | ALIF lām rā. These are the revelations of the Book, and a veritable Koran |
| 15:2 | | The day will surely come when those who disbelieve will wish that they were Muslims |
| 15:3 | | Let them feast and make merry; and let their hopes beguile them. They shall learn |
| 15:4 | | Never have We destroyed a city whose term of life was not ordained and known beforehand |
| 15:5 | | Communities cannot forestall their doom, nor can they retard it |
| 15:6 | | They say: ‘You to whom the Admonition was revealed, you are surely possessed |
| 15:7 | | Bring down to us the angels, if what you say be true.&lsquo |
| 15:8 | | We shall send down the angels only with the Truth. Then shall they never be reprieved |
| 15:9 | | It was We that revealed the Admonition, and shall Ourself preserve it |
| 15:10 | | We have sent forth apostles before you to the older nations |
| 15:11 | | but they scoffed at each apostle We sent them |
| 15:12 | | Thus do We put doubt into the hearts of the guilty |
| 15:13 | | they deny him, despite the example of the ancients |
| 15:14 | | If We opened for them a gate in heaven and they ascended through it higher and higher |
| 15:15 | | still would they say: ‘Our eyes were dazzled: truly, we must have been bewitched.&lsquo |
| 15:16 | | And We have decked the sky with constellations and made them lovely to behold |
| 15:17 | | And We have guarded them from every cursed demon |
| 15:18 | | Eavesdroppers are pursued by fiery comets |
| 15:19 | | We have spread out the earth and set upon it immovable mountains |
| 15:20 | | We have planted it with every seasonable fruit, providing sustenance for yourselves and for those you do not provide for |
| 15:21 | | We hold the store of every blessing and send it down only in appropriate measure |
| 15:22 | | We let loose the fertilizing winds and bring down water from the sky for you to drink; its stores are beyond your reach |
| 15:23 | | It is surely We who ordain life and death; We are the Heir of all things |
| 15:24 | | We surely know those who have gone before you, as we surely know those who will come hereafter |
| 15:25 | | and it is your Lord who shall herd them all together. He is wise and all-knowing |
| 15:26 | | We created man from dry clay, from black moulded loam |
| 15:27 | | and before him Satan from smokeless fire |
| 15:28 | | Your Lord said to the angels: ‘I am creating man from dry clay, from black moulded loam. |
| 15:29 | | When I have fashioned him and breathed My spirit into him, kneel down and prostrate yourselves before him.&lsquo |
| 15:30 | | The angels, one and all, prostrated themselves |
| 15:31 | | except Satan: he refused to be with those who prostrated themselves |
| 15:32 | | He said: ‘Satan, how is it that you are not with those who prostrated themselves?&lsquo |
| 15:33 | | He said: ‘I was not to bow to a mortal whom You created of dry clay, of black moulded loam.&lsquo |
| 15:34 | | Get you hence,‘ said He, ‘you are accursed |
| 15:35 | | And the curse shall be on you till Judgement-day.&lsquo |
| 15:36 | | Lord,‘ he said, ‘reprieve me till the Day of Resurrection.&lsquo |
| 15:37 | | He said: ‘You are reprieve |
| 15:38 | | till the Appointed Day.&lsquo |
| 15:39 | | Lord,‘ said Satan, ‘since You have thus tempted me, I will seduce those on earth |
| 15:40 | | I will surely tempt them all, except those among them who are Your faithful servants.&lsquo |
| 15:41 | | He said: ‘This is My straight path |
| 15:42 | | You shall have no power over My servants, only the sinners who follow you |
| 15:43 | | they are all destined for Hell |
| 15:44 | | It has seven gates, and through each gate they shall come in separate bands |
| 15:45 | | The righteous shall dwell among gardens and fountains |
| 15:46 | | in peace and safety shall they enter them |
| 15:47 | | We shall remove all rancour from their hearts, and they shall take their ease on couches face to face, a band of brothers |
| 15:48 | | Toil shall not weary them, nor shall they ever be driven out |
| 15:49 | | Tell My servants that I alone am the Forgiving One, the Compassionate |
| 15:50 | | and that My scourge is the woeful scourge |
| 15:51 | | And tell them of Abraham‘s guests |
| 15:52 | | When they went in to him and said: ‘Peace,‘ he said: ‘We fear your intent.&lsquo |
| 15:53 | | Have no fear,‘ they said. ‘We come to you with joyful tidings. You shall have a son endowed with knowledge.&lsquo |
| 15:54 | | He said: ‘Do you bring me such joyful tidings in my old age? What joyful tidings can you bring me?&lsquo |
| 15:55 | | They said: ‘We do gladden you with the Truth. Do not despair.&lsquo |
| 15:56 | | He said: ‘Who but the lost would despair of God‘s mercy |
| 15:57 | | Envoys,‘ he said, ‘what is your errand?&lsquo |
| 15:58 | | They said: ‘We are sent forth to a sinful people |
| 15:59 | | The house of Lot alone we shall deliver |
| 15:60 | | except his wife.‘ We had decreed that she should stay with those who were to stay behind |
| 15:61 | | And when the envoys came to the house of Lot |
| 15:62 | | he said: ‘No one knows you.&lsquo |
| 15:63 | | No,‘ they said. ‘We bring you news of that concerning which they are in doubt |
| 15:64 | | We bring you Truth, and what we say is true |
| 15:65 | | Go with your kin in the dead of night; walk in their rear and let none turn round: go where you are commanded.&lsquo |
| 15:66 | | Such was the command We gave him; those were to be obliterated next morning |
| 15:67 | | And the townsfolk came to him rejoicing |
| 15:68 | | He said: ‘These are my guests; do not disgrace me |
| 15:69 | | Fear God and do not shame me.&lsquo |
| 15:70 | | They said: ‘Did we not forbid you to entertain strangers?&lsquo |
| 15:71 | | He said: ‘These are my daughters: take them, if you are bent on doing the deed.&lsquo |
| 15:72 | | By your life, they were reeling in their frenzy |
| 15:73 | | At sunrise the Cry took them |
| 15:74 | | We turned their city upside down and let loose a shower of clay-stones upon them |
| 15:75 | | Surely in this there are signs for prudent people |
| 15:76 | | The road on which it stood is trodden still |
| 15:77 | | Surely in this there is a sign for true believers |
| 15:78 | | Surely the dwellers of the Forest¹ also did wrong |
| 15:79 | | On them, too, We took vengeance, and made of both a manifest example |
| 15:80 | | The people of Hijr² also denied the apostles |
| 15:81 | | We gave them Our signs, but they ignored them |
| 15:82 | | They hewed their dwellings out of the mountains and led their lives in safety |
| 15:83 | | But one morning the Cry took them |
| 15:84 | | Nothing did their gains avail them |
| 15:85 | | It was but to reveal the Truth that We created the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them. The Hour is sure to come: bear with them nobly |
| 15:86 | | It is your Lord who is the all-knowing Creator |
| 15:87 | | We have given you the seven oft-repeated verses³ and the Glorious Koran |
| 15:88 | | Do not eye with envy what We have given some among them to enjoy, nor grieve on their account. Show kindness to the faithful |
| 15:89 | | and say: ‘I am he that gives veritable warning.&lsquo |
| 15:90 | | As surely will We punish the schismatics, those who have broken up |
| 15:91 | | the Koran into bits and pieces.⁴ |
| 15:92 | | By the Lord, We will question the |
| 15:93 | | all about their doings |
| 15:94 | | Proclaim, then, what you are bidden and let the idolaters be |
| 15:95 | | We will Ourself sustain you against those that mock yo |
| 15:96 | | and serve other deities besides God. They shall learn |
| 15:97 | | We know you are distressed by what they say |
| 15:98 | | Give glory in praise of your Lord and prostrate yourself |
| 15:99 | | Worship your Lord till the inevitable overtakes you |
