38:1  Saad* - By oath of the renowned Qur’an, (Alphabet of the Arabic language; Allah and to whomever He reveals, know their precise meanings.

38:2  In fact, the disbelievers are in false pride and opposition

38:3  Many a generation We did destroy before them – thereupon they cried out whereas it is not the time to escape

38:4  And they were surprised that a Herald of Warning came to them from among themselves; and the disbelievers said, “He is a magician, a great liar!”

38:5  “Has he made all the gods into One God? This is really something very strange!”

38:6  And their leaders went about, “Leave him and cling steadfastly to your gods! Indeed he has a hidden objective in this!”

38:7  “We never heard of this even in Christianity, the latest religion; this is clearly a newly fabricated matter.”

38:8  “Is the Qur’an which is sent to him, among us?” In fact they are in a doubt concerning My Book; in fact, they have not yet tasted My punishment

38:9  Or do they hold the treasures of the mercy of your Lord, the Almighty, the Great Bestower

38:10  Is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, for them? So would they not just ascend using ropes

38:11  This is just one of the disgraced armies, that will be routed there and then

38:12  Before them, the people of Nooh had denied, and the tribe of A’ad, and Firaun who used to crucify

38:13  And the tribe of Thamud, and the people of Lut, and the People of the Woods; these are the groups

38:14  None of them was such that it did not deny the Noble Messengers, therefore My punishment became inevitable

38:15  They await just one Scream, which no one can avert

38:16  And they said, “Our Lord! Give us our share quickly, before the Day of Reckoning.”

38:17  Have patience upon what they say, and remember Our bondman Dawud, the one blessed with favours; he is indeed most inclined (towards His Lord)

38:18  Indeed We subjected the hills to say the praise with him, at night and at morn

38:19  And birds gathered together; they were all obedient to him

38:20  And We strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and just speech

38:21  And did the news of the two disputants reach you? When they scaled over the wall into Dawud’s mosque

38:22  When they entered upon David, so he feared them - they said, “Do not fear! We are two disputants, one of whom has wronged the other, therefore judge fairly between us and do not judge unjustly - and show us the right way.”

38:23  “This is my brother; he has ninety nine ewes and I have one ewe; and he now says ‘Give that one also to me’ - and he is very demanding in speech.”

38:24  Said Dawud, “He is indeed being unjust to you in that he demands to add your ewe to his ewes; and indeed most partners wrong one another, except those who believe and do good deeds - and they are very few!” Thereupon Dawud realised that We had tested him, so he sought forgiveness from his Lord, and fell prostrate and inclined (towards his Lord).

38:25  We therefore forgave him this; and indeed for him in Our presence are, surely, proximity and an excellent abode

38:26  “O Dawud! We have indeed appointed you as a Viceroy in the earth, therefore judge between mankind with the truth, and do not follow desire for it will lead you astray from Allah’s path; indeed for those who stray away from Allah’s path is a severe punishment, because they forgot the Day of Reckoning.”

38:27  And We have not created the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose; this is what the disbelievers assume; therefore ruin is for the disbelievers, by the fire

38:28  Shall We make those who believe and do good deeds equal to those who spread turmoil in the earth? Or shall We equate the pious with the disobedient

38:29  This is a Book which We have sent down upon you, a blessed Book, for them to ponder upon its verses, and for men of intellect to accept advice

38:30  And We bestowed Sulaiman to Dawud; what an excellent bondman! He is indeed most inclined

38:31  When fast footed steeds were presented to him at evening

38:32  Therefore Sulaiman said, “I cherish the love of these horses *, out of remembrance of my Lord”; he then ordered them to be raced until they vanished in a curtain out of sight. (To be used in holy war.

38:33  He then ordered, “Bring them back to me”; and he began caressing their shins and necks

38:34  And We indeed tested Sulaiman, and placed a dead body on his throne – he therefore inclined towards His Lord

38:35  He said, “My Lord! Forgive me and bestow upon me a kingdom, which shall not befit anyone after me; indeed only You are the Great Bestower.”

38:36  We therefore gave the wind under his control, moving steadily by his command wherever he wished

38:37  And made the demons subservient to him, all builders and divers

38:38  And other demons bound in chains

38:39  “This is Our bestowal - you may therefore bestow favours or withhold them – you will not be questioned.”

38:40  And indeed for him in Our presence are, surely, proximity and an excellent abode

38:41  And remember Our bondman Ayyub (Job); when he cried out * to his Lord, “The devil has struck me with hardship and pain.” (After seven years of patience.

38:42  We said to him, “Strike the earth with your foot; this cool spring is for bathing and drinking.” (A spring of gushed forth when he struck the earth – this was a miracle.

38:43  And We bestowed his household to him and one more similar to it – as a mercy from Us, and as a remembrance for the people of intellect

38:44  And We said, “Take a broom in your hand and strike her with it, and do not break your vow”; We indeed found him patiently enduring; what an excellent bondman! He is indeed most inclined

38:45  And remember Our bondmen Ibrahim, and Ishaq, and Yaqub – the men of power and knowledge

38:46  We indeed gave them distinction with a genuine affair – the remembrance of the (everlasting) abode

38:47  And in Our sight, they are indeed the chosen ones, the beloved

38:48  And remember Ismail and Yasa’a (Elisha) and Zul-Kifl; and they are all excellent

38:49  This is an advice; and indeed for the pious is an excellent abode

38:50  Everlasting Gardens - all its gates are open for them

38:51  Reclining on pillows, in it they ask for fruits and drinks in plenty

38:52  And with them are the pure spouses, who do not set gaze upon men except their husbands, of single age

38:53  This is the promise being given to you, for the Day of Reckoning

38:54  Indeed this is Our sustenance, which will never end

38:55  This is for the virtuous; and indeed for the rebellious is a wretched destination

38:56  Hell; which they shall enter; what an evil resting-place

38:57  This is for the criminals – so that they may taste it - boiling hot water and pus

38:58  And similar other punishments in pairs

38:59  “Here is another group that was with you, falling along with you”; they will answer, “Do not give them plenty of open space; they surely have to enter the fire – let them also be confined!”

38:60  The followers will say, “In fact, for you! May you not get open space! It is you who brought this calamity upon us!” So what a wretched destination

38:61  They say, “Our Lord! Whoever has brought this calamity upon us - double the punishment of the fire for him!”

38:62  And they say, “What is the matter with us that we do not see the men whom we thought were evil?”

38:63  “Did we mock at them or did our eyes turn away from them?”

38:64  Indeed this is really true – the people of the hell quarrelling among themselves

38:65  Proclaim (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), “I am purely a Herald of Warning - and there is no God except Allah, the One, the All Dominant.”

38:66  “Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them - the Almighty, the Oft Forgiving.”

38:67  Say, “That is a great tidings.”

38:68  “You are neglectful of it!”

38:69  “What did I know of the heavenly world, when the angels had disputed.”

38:70  “I receive only the divine revelations, that I am purely a clear Herald of Warning.”

38:71  (Remember) When your Lord said to the angels, “I will create a human from clay.”

38:72  “So when I have perfected him and breathed into him a spirit from Myself, (you all) fall down before him in prostration.”

38:73  So all the angels prostrated, every one, without exception

38:74  Except Iblis; he was proud and was, from the beginning, a disbeliever

38:75  Said Allah, “O Iblis! What prevented you from prostrating before one whom I have created with My hands*? Have you become proud or were you haughty from the beginning?” (Used as a metaphor)

38:76  Said Iblis, “I am better than him; You made me from fire, and You have created him from clay!”

38:77  He said, “Therefore exit from heaven, for you have been outcast.” (To disrespect the Prophets – peace and blessings be upon them – is blasphemy.

38:78  “And indeed My curse is upon you till the Day of Judgement.”

38:79  He said, “My Lord! Therefore give me respite till the day when all will be raised.”

38:80  Said Allah, “You are therefore among those given respite.”

38:81  “Until the time of the known day.”

38:82  He said, “Therefore, by oath of Your honour, I will surely mislead all of them.”

38:83  “Except Your chosen bondmen among them.”

38:84  Said Allah, “So this is the truth; and I speak only the truth.”

38:85  “That I will fill hell with you and with those among them who follow you, all together.”

38:86  Say (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) “I do not ask any fee from you for the Qur’an, and I am not a fabricator.”

38:87  “It is not but an advice for the entire world.”

38:88  “And you will come to know of its tidings, after a while.”