19:1  KAAF. HA. YA. AIN. SAAD.

19:2  A reminder of the mercy of your Rabb: HIS devotee, Zachariah

19:3  When he called out to his Rabb—an inner call.

19:4  He said, “My Rabb, truly, my frame has grown feeble, and my head exudes grey. And never have I been left wanting by asking for YOUR help, my Rabb.

19:5  I fear the ones who will take over after me, and my wife has been sterile. So, bestow on me a gift of a successor, from YOUR divine domain,

19:6  one who will inherit from me and from the lineage of Jacob. And my Rabb, make him one always under YOUR assent.

19:7  O Zacharia, WE give you tidings of a son— his name will be Yahya. WE have not issued this name before.

19:8  He said, “My Rabb, how and where am I to have a son when my wife is sterile, and I have gone past infirmity from the grand old age?”

19:9  He [the angel] said, “Thus it is. Your Rabb has said, ‘That is insignificant to ME. I have in fact created you before, while you were not anything.’”

19:10  He said, “My Rabb, appoint a sign for me.” He [the angel] said, “Your sign is that, while perfectly sound, you will not speak to people for three nights.”

19:11  So, he came out of the sanctum to his people and imparted unto them that they exalt the limitless glory of their Rabb, at the day’s start and into the night.

19:12  [It was said], “O Yahya take the timeless Book with strength.” And WE gave him wisdom when he was still a child,

19:13  and [gave him] compassion and purity from OUR divine domain. And he was ever conscious of US,

19:14  and [gave him] dutifulness towards his parents. And not was he one to force his own will on others, [nor] rebellious.

19:15  Peace [Salaam] upon him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he is to be raised alive.

19:16  Remember Mary in the timeless Book when she withdrew from her family to an easterly setting—

19:17  So, she adopted seclusion from them. Then, WE sent to her OUR Spirit— who took for her the shape of a perfectly sound mortal.

19:18  She said, “Surely, I seek refuge, against you, with Al Raḥmān—if you are God-fearing.”

19:19  He said, “I am only a messenger from your Rabb— that I gift an immaculate son to you.”

19:20  She said, “How is there to be a son for me, when no mortal has ever touched me, nor have I been unchaste?”

19:21  He said, “That is so. Your Rabb has said, ‘That is insignificant to ME, and that WE may make him a sign for humankind and a mercy from US. And it is a decreed matter.’”

19:22  So, she came to carry him, and then she withdrew with him to a remote setting.

19:23  Then the pain of labor drove her to the trunk of a date palm. Said she, “O would that I had died before this and [would that] I was forgotten, cast into oblivion.

19:24  Thereupon he called to her from beneath her: “Do not grieve. Your Rabb has appointed a stream in subservience to you.

19:25  Tug the trunk of the date palm toward you; it will drop ripe, ready-to-pluck dates upon you.

19:26  Eat and drink and savor the sight. And when you do see a mortal, say, “I have vowed a fast unto Al Raḥmān; so today, I am not to speak to another human.”

19:27  Then she came to her people carrying him. They said, “O Mary, you have come with something unprecedented.

19:28  O sister of Aaron, your father was not a person of ill character, and neither was your mother unchaste.”

19:29  [In return] she pointed to him. Said they, “How can we speak to one who is a child in the cradle?”

19:30  He said, “Surely, I am a devotee of Allah. HE has given me the timeless words and rendered me a prophet.

19:31  HE has made me blessed wherever I may be. HE has enjoined upon me prayer and Zakat, for as long as I am alive.

19:32  And [HE has made me] dutiful toward my mother, and HE has rendered me not to be one to force his own will on others, [nor] wanting.

19:33  Peace [Salaam] upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive.”

19:34  That is Jesus, son of Mary—a statement of the truth— the one in which they entertain doubt.

19:35  It is not ever for Allah that HE takes a son. Limitless and unfathomable is HIS BEING and glory. When HE decrees a matter, HE merely says to it, “BE” and it is.

19:36  [Jesus, son of Mary, had ever said], “Lo! Allah is my Rabb and your Rabb. So, worship HIM. This is a straight path.”

19:37  Yet the contrarian groups between them have chosen to differ. Woe awaits the ones who have disbelieved, from the advent of a transcendent day.

19:38  How well they will hear and how well they will see on the day when they shall come to US. But today the wrongdoers are in brazen error.

19:39  Warn them of the Day of the [real] regret when the matter will have been decided. While they [now] are in a state of heedlessness, and do not believe.

19:40  Surely, it is WE Who shall inherit the earth and whosoever is upon it, and unto US they are being returned.

19:41  Reflect on Abraham in the timeless Book. Surely, he was ever an honest validator of the truth, a Prophet:

19:42  When he said to his father, “O my papa, why do you worship what cannot hear or see, and cannot avail you in any way?

19:43  O my papa, truly, some knowledge has come to me which has not reached you. So, follow me. I will guide you to a perfectly sound path.

19:44  O my papa, do not serve Satan. Verily, Satan is a rebel unto the Source of Mercy [Al Raḥmān].

19:45  O my papa, I fear that an affliction from Al Raḥmān may befall you— such that you become an ally of Satan.”

19:46  He said, “Do you have a disinclination toward my gods, O Abraham? If you do not desist, I shall pelt you with stones. Be gone from me for good.”

19:47  He said, “Peace upon you. I will be seeking forgiveness for you from my Rabb. HE has been graciously considerate with me.

19:48  I detach myself from you all and what you invoke short of Allah and invoke my Rabb. I have hope that through prayer to my Rabb I am not to be left wanting.”

19:49  So then, when he had detached from them and what they were worshipping short of Allah, WE gifted unto him Isaac and Jacob, and WE made each of them a prophet.

19:50  WE gifted to them from OUR mercy and appointed for them an eminent discourse of truth.

19:51  Reflect on Moses in the timeless Book. He indeed was purified, and was a messenger, and a prophet.

19:52  WE called him from the right side of the Mount and WE drew him near in intimate conversation.

19:53  And WE bestowed on him from OUR mercy the gift of his brother Aaron as a prophet.

19:54  And reflect on Ishmael in the timeless Book. He was indeed ever true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.

19:55  And he ever did bid his family to Prayer and Zakat. And ever was he worthy of assent in the sight of HIS Rabb.

19:56  Reflect on Idris in the timeless Book. He was indeed ever an honest validator of the truth, a prophet.

19:57  And WE exalted him to a lofty station.

19:58  Those are the ones, from among the Prophets, upon whom Allah bestowed HIS blessings—of the children of Adam, and of those WE carried with Noah, and of the children of Abraham and Israel, and of those whom WE guided and designated [for their respective roles]. When the verses of Al Raḥmān, were recited unto them, they fell down, prostrating and weeping. ۩

19:59  Then, they were succeeded by successors who neglected the Prayer and followed the lusts [of their times]. So, they shall soon experience transgression.

19:60  Except one who had repented and embraced Faith and had done the right deeds. For those will enter the Garden and they will not be wronged in the least—

19:61  Gardens of Eden, which were promised by Al Raḥmān to HIS devotees, in the unseeable Realm. Surely, HIS promise is set of place and time.

19:62  They will not hear therein anything meaningless—only peace [Salaam]. And therein will be sustenance for them, day-in and day-out.

19:63  That is the Garden which WE will make some of OUR devotees inherit— the ones who were conscientious.

19:64  [The heavenly messengers attest]: We do not stream down, except with the command of your Rabb. To HIM belongs what is with us and what is beyond us and that which is in between. Not is your Rabb ever remiss.

19:65  Rabb of the Heavens and the earth and whatsoever is between them. So, worship HIM and stay committed to HIS worship. Do you know for HIM a namesake!

19:66  Man says, “What! When I am dead, thereafter, shall I be brought forth alive?”

19:67  Does man not reflect that it is WE Who created him aforetime, when he was nonexistent?”

19:68  So, by your Rabb, WE shall indeed assemble them and the satanic entities, then WE shall bring them to the vicinity of Jahannam —down on their knees.

19:69  And then WE shall pluck from every sect, the ones amongst them most unbending against Al Raḥmān.

19:70  Furthermore, WE surely do know best, the ones most deserving of burning by it.

19:71  There is none of you except he shall necessarily approach it. Ever incumbent on your Rabb is a decreed finality.

19:72  Further to that, WE will deliver the ones who were God-conscious, and WE will leave the wrongdoers therein, down on their knees.

19:73  Though [here in their earthly lives] whenever OUR verses are recited to them as telling proofs, those who have disbelieved say to the ones who have believed, “Which of the two parties is in better standing and has the most acclaim?”

19:74  How many a generation have WE destroyed before them who were grander of assets and grander to behold?

19:75  Say, “Whoever is in the error [of disbelief]— Al Raḥmān does extend an [opportune] extension, until they have seen either the chastisement which was promised to them or the Hour itself. They shall then come to know who is in a worse standing and weaker resource-wise.”

19:76  Allah amplifies guidance for those who follow guidance. And the righteous imperishable deeds are better in merit with your Rabb and better in terms of payback.

19:77  Have you then considered this one who has disbelieved in OUR signs and has said, “Of course, I will surely be given wealth and children?”

19:78  Has he obtained information of the unseeable Realm, or has he extracted a promise from Al Raḥmān?”

19:79  No way! WE shall record what he says, and extend, particularly, from the punishment for him.

19:80  WE will inherit what he claims, and he will come to US— in person, alone.

19:81  They take gods besides Allah, so they may be a source of honor and power for them.

19:82  No way! [Their gods] shall declare their worship false and stand against them as opponents.

19:83  Have you considered how WE have sent the satanic entities upon the disbelievers; they [i.e., satanic entities] simmer them to a boil?

19:84  Do not therefore be in haste about them. WE are counting down a count for them.

19:85  On the day WE will assemble the God-conscious unto Al Raḥmān, as honored delegates.

19:86  And drive the flouters of divine guidance to Jahannam, thirsty.

19:87  They have no power of intercession, except one who has secured a pledge from Al Raḥmān.

19:88  And they have said, Al Raḥmān has taken a son.

19:89  You produced a reprehensible notion.

19:90  The heavens are almost ruptured by it, and the earth in pieces and the mountains collapsing, crumbled,

19:91  that they have claimed for Al Raḥmān, a son!

19:92  And not is it fitting for Al Raḥmān that HE takes a son!

19:93  Everything in the heavens and the earth is nothing but Al Raḥmān’s summoned slave.

19:94  Of certain, ever has HE counted them and numbered each of them.

19:95  And each of them is HIS summoned one on the Day of Resurrection—in person, alone.

19:96  Surely, those who have embraced Faith and have done the right deeds, for them, Al Raḥmān shall engender love.

19:97  WE have made this [Quran], in your own language, easy [to access and understand], only so that you may convey through it, divine tidings to the God-conscious and warn a violently disputing people.

19:98  How many a generation before them have WE destroyed! Do you sense any one of them or do you hear a squeak from them?