An-Naml

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (Ta. Sin.): '(Ta. Sin.) He says: the (Ta) stands for His might (tawluh) and the (Sin) stands for His majesty (sana'uh); it is also said that it is an oath by which Allah swore. (These are revelations of the Qur'an and a Scripture that maketh plain) this surah consists of verses of the Qur'an and it is a Book that makes plain the lawful and the unlawful;

(A guidance) from error (and good tidings) that they will gain Paradise (for believers) who are true in their faith.

Allah then showed the attributes of these true believers, saying: (Who establish worship) those who complete the five daily prayers along with their necessary ritual ablution, bowing, prostrating and all that which is obligated in their due times (and pay the poor-due) from their wealth (and are sure of) they believe in (the Hereafter) resurrection after death, Paradise and hell.

(Lo! as for those who believe not in the Hereafter) those who do not believe in resurrection after death: Abu Jahl and his host, (We have made their works fair-seeming unto them) in their state of disbelief (so that they are all astray) so they proceed blindly, unable to see.

(Those) who have this attribute (are they for whom is the worst of punishment) a severe chastisement in the Fire, (and in the Hereafter) on the Day of Judgement (they will be the greatest losers) they will loose Paradise and enter the Fire.

(Lo! as for thee) O Muhammad, (thou verily receivest the Qur'an) He says: Gabriel comes down to you with the Qur'an (from the presence of One Wise) in His command and judgement, (Aware) of His created beings.

((Remember) when Moses said unto his household) when he became unsure about the way: (Lo! I spy afar off a fire) on the left side of the road; stay here (I will bring you tidings thence) news about the right way to take, (or bring to you a borrowed flame that ye may warm yourselves) because this happened in a cold winter.

(But when he reached it, he was called, saying: Blessed is whosoever is in the Fire) blessed is the Fire (and whosoever is round about it) of angels! This is the reading of Ubayy and 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud; it is also said that this means: blessed is He Who lightened this light; and it also said that this means: blessed is he who is seeking, i.e. Moses and whoever is around him of angels, (And glorified be Allah) He exonerated Himself, (the Lord of the Worlds!) the Master of the jinn and human beings.

(O Moses! Lo! it is I) Who is calling you, (Allah, the Mighty) in retribution against those who do not believe in Me, (the Wise) in My command and judgement, I command that none should be worshipped besides Me.

(And throw down thy staff) from your hand! And he threw it, (But when he saw it writhing) moving (as it were a demon) like a serpent which is neither big nor small, (he turned to flee headlong) from it and did not look back out of fear; but Allah said to him: (O Moses! Fear not! Lo! the emissaries fear not in My presence,

Save him who hath done wrong and afterward hath changed evil for good. And lo! I am Forgiving) I forgive the one who repents, (Merciful) I show mercy towards he who dies in a state of repentance.

(And put thy hand into the bosom of thy robe) in your armpit, (it will come forth white but unhurt) without having contracted leprosy. Go! ((This will be one) among nine tokens) go with nine signs (unto Pharaoh and his people) the Copts. (Lo! they were ever evil-living folk) they were disbelievers.

(But when Our tokens came unto them) when Moses went with our tokens to them, (plain to see) demonstrating, one after the other, (they said: This is mere magic) what you have brought us, O Moses, is a manifest lie,

(And they denied them) they denied the tokens, (though their souls acknowledged them) after being accepted by their souls that they were from Allah, (for spite) out of opposition and enmity (and arrogance) and haughtiness and pride. (Then see) O Muhammad (the nature of the consequence for the wrong-doers) how was the end result of the idolaters, Pharaoh and his people, how We destroyed them in the sea!

(And We verily gave knowledge) and understanding through prophethood and judgeship (unto David) the son of Jesse (and Solomon) the son of David, (and they said) both of them: (Praise be to Allah) thanks and gratitude to Allah, (Who hath preferred us) through knowledge and prophethood (above many of His believing slaves!

And Solomon was David's heir) as king instead of all the other sons of David who were 19 in number. (And he said) Solomon said: (O mankind! Lo! we have been taught) we were given the understanding of (the language of birds, and have been given (abundance) of all things) and we were given the knowledge of everything in my kingdom. (This surely is evident favour) this is surely a great blessing from Allah.

(And there were gathered together) and made subservient (unto Solomon his armies of the jinn and humankind, and of the birds, and they were set in battle order) they were all retained from the first to the last until they were gathered together;

(Till, when they reached the Valley of the Ants) in Historic Syria, (an ant exclaimed: O ants! Enter your dwellings lest Solomon and his armies crush you) step on you, (unperceiving) unaware of you.

(And (Solomon) smiled, laughing) in amazement (at her speech) because he heard her speech while his army did not, (and said: My Lord, arouse me) inspire in me (to be thankful for Thy favour wherewith Thou hast favoured me) you have blessed me with the profession of Allah's divine Oneness (and my parents) whom you also blessed with the profession of Allah's divine Oneness, (and to do good) in all sincerity (that shall be pleasing unto Thee) that you would accept (and include me in (the number of) Thy righteous slaves) and include me with Your righteous slaves in Paradise.

(And he sought among the birds) he inspected the birds (and said) when he could not see the hoopoe among them: (How is it that I see not the hoopoe) in his place, (or is he among the absent?)

He said: if he is among the absent, then (I verily will punish him with hard punishment) I will pluck out his feathers; such was the punishment of the birds, (or I verily will slay him, or he verily shall bring me a plain excuse) an acceptable excuse.

(But he was not long in coming, and he said: I have found out (a thing) that thou apprehendest not) O king! I reached a place that you have not reached and have come to know that which you do not, (and I come unto thee from Sheba) the city of Sheba (with sure tidings) with an amazing, true information.

(Lo! I found a woman ruling over them) whose name is Balqis, (and she hath been given (abundance) of all things) she has been given the knowledge of all things in her country, (and hers is a mighty throne) adorned with gems, pearls, gold and silver.

(I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of Allah; and Satan maketh their works) their worship of the sun (fair-seeming unto them, and debarreth them from the way (of Truth)) the devil has barred them from the way of Truth and guidance, (so that they go not aright) to the way of truth and guidance:

(So that they worship not Allah) and I said to them: �O you, prostrate to Allah� it is also said that it is Solomon who said: �why do they not prostrate to Allah?� (Who bringeth forth the hidden in the heavens) the rain (and the earth) vegetation, (and knoweth what ye hide) of good and evil (and what ye proclaim) of good and evil,

(Allah; there is no God save Him, the Lord of the tremendous Throne.

(Solomon) said) to the hoopoe: (We shall see whether thou speakest truth or whether thou art of the liars.

Go with this my letter and throw it down unto them; then turn away) then move away such that they do not see you (and see what (answer) they return) when they read my letter,

He did as Solomon commanded, and Balqis took the letter and went to meet her entourage. ((The Queen of Sheba) said: O chieftains! Lo! there hath been thrown unto me a noble letter) a sealed letter.

(Lo! it is from Solomon, and lo! it is) the first line of it is: (In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful;

Exalt not yourselves against me) feel not too haughty towards me, (but come unto me as those who surrender) and seek peace; as well as demanding other things which were mentioned in the letter.

(She said: O chieftains! Pronounce for me in my case) inform me about what I should do; it is also said that this means: advise me about what to do. (I decide no case) I will not do anything (till ye are present with me) and advise me.

(They said: We are lords of might) we have weapons (and lords of great prowess) in war, (but it is for thee to command) we shall follow your command; (so consider what thou wilt command) and we will do it.

Then she pronounced words of wisdom. (She said: Lo! Kings) worldly kings, (when they enter a township) by force in instances of war and fighting, (ruin it) destroy it (and make the honour of its people shame) by beating, killing and exposing them to other things. (Thus will they do) Allah said: this is how worldly kings behave because of arrogance.

(But lo! I am going to send a present unto them) to Solomon, (and to see with what (answer) the messengers return.

So when (the envoy) came unto Solomon) when her envoy went to Solomon, ((the King) said: What! Would ye help me with wealth) with a gift? (But that which Allah hath given me) of prophethood and kingship (is better than that which He hath given you) of wealth. (Nay it is ye (and not I) who exult in your gift) if it were to be returned to you.

(Return unto them) with their gift. (We verily shall come unto them with hosts) armies (that they cannot resist) which they have no power to stop, (and we shall drive them out from thence) from Sheba (with shame) with their hands tied to their necks, (and they will be abased) humiliated.

(He said) Solomon said: (O chiefs! Which of you will bring me her throne before they come unto me, surrendering) and seeking peace?

(A) mighty (stalwart of the jinn) called 'Amr (said: I will bring it thee before thou canst rise from your place) before you leave your seat of judgement, for he used to sit for judgements until noon. (Lo! I verily am strong and trusty for such work) even though it is adorned with gems, pearls, gold and silver.

Solomon said: I want it even quicker than that. (One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture) one who knew Allah's greatest name, O Living, O Subsistent, who was called Asaf Ibn Barkhiyya (said: I will bring it thee before thy gaze returneth unto thee) before that thing which you see from far reaches you. (And when he saw it set in his presence) i.e. when he saw her throne next to his, (Solomon said) to Asaf: (This is of the bounty of my Lord) this is of the favour of my Lord, (that He may try me whether I give thanks) for his blessings (or am ungrateful) or whether I abstain from being grateful for His blessings. (Whosoever giveth thanks) for Allah's blessings (he only giveth thanks for (the good of) his own soul) for the reward of his Lord: (and whosoever is ungrateful) for the blessing of His Lord, he harms only his soul. (For lo! my Lord is Absolute in independence) of his gratitude, (Bountiful) He forgives whoever repents, and He does not hasten his punishment.

(He said: Disguise her throne for her) add to her throne and take away from it (that we may see whether she will go aright) whether she will know (or be of those not rightly guided) or whether she will not know.

(So, when she came, it was said (unto her)) Solomon said to her: (Is thy throne like this? She said: (It is) as though it were the very one. And (Solomon said): We were given the knowledge before her) Allah has given me [knowledge], by changing her throne and bringing to me, even before she arrived, (and we had surrendered (to Allah)) and we were sincere before she arrived.

(And (all) that she was wont to worship) the sun (instead of Allah hindered her) Solomon stopped her; it is also said that this means: Allah stopped her, (for she came of disbelieving folk) her folk were Zoroastrians.

(It was said unto her: Enter the hall) enter the castle. (And when she saw it she deemed it a pool and bared her legs) she lifted her dress above her legs. ((Solomon) said: Lo! it is a hall, made smooth, of glass) beneath which there is water, so do not be afraid of getting wet. (She said: My Lord! Lo! I have wronged myself) by worshipping the sun, (and I surrender with Solomon) at the hand of Solomon (unto Allah, the Lord of the Worlds) the master of the jinn and human beings.

(And We verily sent until Thamud their brother) their Prophet (Salih, saying: Worship Allah) that you should say to them: profess Allah's divine Oneness, and repent to Him from disbelief and idolatry. (And lo! they (then) became two parties) one believing and the other disbelieving, (quarrelling) regarding Religion.

(He said) Salih said to the disbelieving party: (O my people! Why will ye hasten on the evil) the torment (rather than the good) rather than well-being and mercy? (Why will ye not ask pardon of Allah) why do you not repent of idolatry and denial and profess Allah's divine Oneness, (that ye may receive mercy) and escape the torment.

(They said: We augur evil of thee and those with thee) they meant: the hardship that we face is due to your evil omen and the evil omen of those who believed in you. (He said) Salih said: (Your evil augury) your hardship as well as your comfort (is with Allah) are from Allah. (Nay, but ye are folk that are being tested) by hardship and comfort; it is also said that this means: you are forsaken rather than being given success.

(And there were in the city nine persons) nine sinful people among the sons of their chieftains: Qaddar Ibn Salif, Masda' Ibn Dahw and their host (who made mischief in the land) through their transgressions (and reformed not) they did not enjoy righteousness nor practised it.

(They said: Swear one to another by Allah that we verily will attack him and his household by night) and kill them all, (and afterward we will surely say unto his friend) to his inheritors and relatives: (We witnessed not the destruction of his household) we did not witness the killing of Salih and his household. (And lo! we are truth tellers) they will believe us and no one will reject what we say.

(So they plotted a plot) they planned to kill Salih and all those who believed with him: (and We plotted a plot) and We wanted to kill them, (while they perceived not) Our plotting; it is also said that this means: the angels killed them in the house of Salih by hailing stones at them without them perceiving it.

(Then see) O Muhammad (the nature of the consequence of their plotting) the punishment for their plan to kill Salih, (for lo! We destroyed them) through raining stones on them (and their people, every one) and We destroyed every one of their people.

(See, yonder are their dwellings empty and in ruins because they did wrong) because of their idolatry. (Lo! Herein) in that which We did to them (is indeed a portent) a sign and an admonition (for a people who have knowledge) who believe in that which was done to them.

(And we saved those who believed) in Salih (and used to ward off (evil)) and used to ward off disbelief, idolatry and indecencies.

(And Lot!) We sent him to his people (when he said unto his folk: will you commit abomination) sodomy (knowingly) while knowing it to be an abomination?

(Must ye needs lust after men instead of women? Nay, but ye are folk who act senselessly) you are folk who ignore Allah's command.

(But the answer of his folk was naught save that they said: Expel the household of Lot) Lot and his two daughters: Za'ura and Raytha (from your township) Sodom, (for they (forsooth) are folk who would keep clean) they exonerate themselves from sodomy!

(Then we saved him and his household) his daughters (save his wife) the hypocrite; (We destined her to be of those who stayed behind) We decreed that she would stay behind to be destroyed.

(And We rained a rain) stones (upon them) upon their sodomites and travellers. (Dreadful) evil (is the rain of those who have been warned) by Lot but did not believe in him.

(Say) O Muhammad: (Praise be to Allah) thanks and gratitude to Allah for their destruction, (and peace) happiness and safety (be on His slaves whom He hath chosen!) whom He selected for prophethood; it is also said that this means: Allah selected them for Islam, and these are the community of Muhammad (pbuh) (Is Allah best) say, O Muhammad, to the people of Mecca: is the worship of Allah better, (or (all) that ye ascribe as partners (unto Him)) or the worship of the idols which they associate with Allah?

(Is not He (best) who created the heavens and the earth, and sendeth down for you water) rain (from the sky wherewith) by means of the rain (We cause to spring forth joyous) seemly (orchards) that which surrounds them of palm-trees and trees, (whose trees it never hath been yours to cause to grow) you never had the power to grow its trees. (Is there any God beside Allah) who has done this? (Nay, but they are folk who ascribe equals (unto Him)) they make the idols as equals to Him!

(Is not He (best) Who made the earth a fixed abode, and placed rivers in the folds thereof) in the middle thereof, (and placed firm hills therein) on earth, (and hath set a barrier) preventing mixture (between the two seas) the sweet and salty seas? (Is there any God beside Allah) who has done this? (Nay, but most of them know not) most of them believe not!

(Is not He (best) who answereth the wronged one) in his distress (when he crieth unto Him) to drive away his misfortune (and removeth the evil) by removing misfortunes, (and hath made you vicegerents of the earth) the dwellers of the earth after the destruction of its people? (Is there any God beside Allah) who did this? (Little do they reflect!) they derive no admonition at all from this.

(Is not He (best) Who guideth you) Who saves you (in the darkness of the land and the sea) from the turmoil of the land and the sea when you travel, (He Who sendeth the winds as heralds of His mercy) announcing the rain? (Is there any God beside Allah) who does this? (High exalted be Allah) Allah absolves Himself (from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him)) of idols!

(Is not He (best), Who produceth creation) He Who begins creation from a sperm drop, (then reproduceth it) after death, (and Who provideth for you from the heaven) through rain (and the earth) through vegetation? (Is there any God beside Allah) who has done this? (Say: Bring your proof, if ye are truthful) that there is any other god beside Allah!

(Say) O Muhammad, to the people of Mecca: (None in the heavens) among angels (and the earth) among created beings (knoweth the Unseen) the appointed time for the advent of the Hour and descent of torment (save Allah; and they know not) and created beings know not (when they will be raised (again)) from the graves.

(Nay, but doth their knowledge reach to the Hereafter) their knowledge is in consensus that there is no Hereafter? (Nay, for they are in doubt concerning it) concerning the coming of the Hour. (Nay, for they cannot see it) they are blind, unable to see.

(Yet those who disbelieve) the disbelievers of Mecca (say: when we have become) scattered (dust like our fathers) before us, (shall we verily be brought forth (again)) given life again and brought out of the graves?

(We were promised this) which you are promising us, (forsooth, we and our fathers) before us. ((All) this) which you are promising us, O Muhammad, (is naught but fables) tales (of the men of old.

Say) O Muhammad, to the people of Mecca: (Travel in the land and see) and take admonition from (the nature of the sequel for the guilty) how was the end of the idolaters!

(And grieve thou not) O Muhammad (for them) if they do not believe; it is also said that this means: do not grieve for their destruction, (nor be in distress because of what they plot (against you)) and do not be grieved because of what they do and say against you.

(And they say: When (will) this promise (be fulfilled)) when will come this promise that you so often promised us, (if ye are truthful) that the torment is coming?

(Say) to them, O Muhammad: (It may be) and �may be� when it comes from Allah denotes necessity (that a part of that which ye would hasten on) of punishment at the Day of Badr (is close behind you) is coming soon.

(Lo! thy Lord) O Muhammad (is full of bounty for mankind) for deferring His punishment, (but most of them do not give thanks) for the deferment of punishment.

(Lo! thy Lord) O Muhammad (knoweth surely all that their bosoms hide) of hatred and enmity, (and all that they proclaim) and all that they display of disbelief, idolatry and aggression.

(And there is nothing hidden) secret (in the heaven or the earth) from the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth (but it is in a clear Record) recorded in the Preserved or Guarded Tablet.

(Lo! this Qur'an) which you recite to them, O Muhammad, (narrateth unto the Children of Israel) explains to Jews and Christians (most of that concerning which they differ) most of that which they oppose concerning Religion.

(And lo! It) i.e. the Qur'an (is a guidance) from error (and a mercy) shielding from the torment (for believers) in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur'an.

(Lo! thy Lord will judge between them) between the Jews and Christians (of His wisdom) by His judgement and decree on the Day of Judgement, (and He is the Mighty) in retribution against them, (the Knower) He knows them and knows their punishment.

(Therefore) O Muhammad (put thy trust in Allah, for thou (standest) on the plain Truth) Islam.

(Lo! thou canst not) O Muhammad (make the dead) of hearts; and it is said: those who are like the dead, (to hear, nor canst thou make the deaf) those whose hearts are dead; it is also said that this means: those who pretend to be deaf (to hear the call) your call to the Truth and guidance (when they have turned) turn away (to flee) from the Truth and guidance;

(Nor canst thou) O Muhammad (lead the blind out of their error) to guidance. (Thou canst make none to hear) your call, (save those who believe Our revelations) Our Scripture and Messenger (and who have surrendered) and are sincere in their worship and profession of Allah's divine Oneness.

(And when the word) bringing curse and torment upon them (is fulfilled concerning them, We shall bring forth a beast of the earth) between the Safa and al-Marwah, and this is the staff of Moses; it is also said that this beast will come with the staff of Moses (to speak unto them because mankind had not faith) they did not believe (in Our revelations) i.e. in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an; and it is also said that this means: they did not believe in the advent of the beast.