37. Al-Saffat/The Rows

I/We begin by the Blessed Name of Allah

The Immensely Merciful to all, The Infinitely Compassionate to everyone.

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a. By those lining up in rows,

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a. and those drivers, driving away,

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a. and those reciting the Reminder – The Divine Qur’an.

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a. Indeed, your Allah is the One and Only Allah of everyone.
b. HE has no parents, no partners, no siblings, no sons, and no daughters.

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a. Allah is Rabb - The Lord of the celestial realm and the terrestrial world and whatever is
within and between them, and,
b. Allah is also Rabb - The Lord of the vast expanse of the East and the West.

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a. Indeed, WE adorned the sky of the terrestrial world with splendor of the glittering stars.

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a. And secured them with meteors against every defiant Satan.

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a. So that they, who seek to know the unknowable, may not be able to eavesdrop on the Exalted Assembly of angels,
b. for they will be pelted with meteors from every side -

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a. – and driven off,
b. for them will be a constant and perpetual punishment.

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a. Except for the one, who is able to eavesdrop and snatch a word of such knowledge,
b. he is instantaneously pursued by flaming fireballs.

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a. So ask them:
b. ‘Are they more difficult to be created, or those WE created others than them?
c. In fact, WE created them – the human species - out of mere sticky clay!

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a. But you are amazed at Allah’s Creative Power while they just ridicule that you believe it.

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a. And even when they are reminded, they pay no attention.

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a. And whenever they see a Message, they gather around to make fun of it.

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a. And they say:
b. ‘This is nothing but a clear deception!’

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a. What!
b. ‘When we have died and become mere dust and bones, are we then really going to be resurrected’ to a new dimension of existence?

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a. ‘And our forefathers too who died long time ago?’

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a. Tell them:
b. ‘Yes, indeed!
c. You are going to be resurrected after death.
d. And, then you will be disgraced!’

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a. As for The Resurrection, all it takes is just one single blast, and
b. then they will begin to see the reality of truth.

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a. And they will cry out:
b. Oh ‘we are doomed!
c. This is actually the Time of Final Judgment!’

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a. A voice would pronounce:
b. ‘This is the Time of Final Judgment that you used to deny and belie.’

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a. The angels will then be commanded:
b. ‘Gather those who have done evil, and
c. their companions enticing them to evil, and
d. all those entities they used to worship ….

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a. …. instead of Allah.
b. And lead them on to the way leading to Blazing Fire.

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a. ‘But stop them.
b. In fact, they are to be questioned:

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a. ‘Why is it that now you – worshipful entities and their worshipers - are not helping each other’ particularly as you are in dire need of every help?

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a. No!
b. For this Time they will surrender to their fate.

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a. And some of them will be turning to each other, blaming each other for their fate,

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a. saying:
b. ‘Indeed, it were you - you used to come to influence us from position of power.’

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a. They will react by saying:
b. ‘No!
c. Rather, you, yourselves were not believers.’

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a. ‘Moreover, we never had any authority over you to influence you to follow us.
b. In fact, you were a rebellious group of people.’

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a. ‘So now the Word/Verdict of our Rabb - The Lord has been carried out against us.
b. Thus, we are all going to experience’ it.

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a. ‘Anyway, if we had led you astray, it was only because we too had been led astray’ by our forefather.

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a. Then, indeed, at this Time, they will all be sharing in the punishment – all together.

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a. Certainly, this is how WE deal with the criminals - guilty of disbelief, a life full of sin.

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a. Indeed, whenever they were told to profess the true faith that:
b. ‘There is no entity of worship except Allah.’
c. They become arrogantly scornful.

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a. And they will say:
b. What!
c. ‘Should we give up our worshipful entities for a poet, possessed?’

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a. No! No way!
b. Instead, he has come with the truth,
c. confirming the Message of the earlier Messengers.

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a. If you will not accept this truth, then each one of you will indeed experience an awful punishment.

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a. And you will not be rewarded for anything but for what you used to do,

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a. - except for the sincere servants of Allah.

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a. Those - for them are going to be the known heavenly provisions in Paradise -

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a. of fruits,
b. and they will be honored -

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a. in Gardens of Bliss – Paradise,

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a. on couches, facing each other,

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a. and a cup filled from a flowing stream will be passed around them -

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a. – white, a delight to those who drink it -

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a. neither will it have any sickening effect,
b. nor will it intoxicate them.

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a. And by them will be those restraining their glances, wide-eyed,

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a. as if they were well preserved pearls.

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a. And, then, some of them will turn to one another, inquiring about each other’s past worldly lives.

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a. Someone among them will say:
b. ‘Indeed, I used to have a close friend’ in the world.

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a. ‘Who would ask me in amazement:
b. ‘Are you of those who really believe in this Resurrection after death and its correlatives?’

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a. That ‘when we have died and become mere dust and bones, are we really going to be
resurrected to a new dimension of existence, called to account and rewarded?’

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a. Another will say:
b. ‘Will you look’ around for your friend and find out about his state?

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a. So, then, he will look and to his surprise he see his old friend right in middle of the Blazing Fire.

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a. Seeing him in his suffering, he will say:
b. ‘By Allah!
c. You had almost ruined me’ too,
d. otherwise, I could have been in the same state as yours.

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a. ‘And if it was not for the Graciousness of my Rabb - The Lord,
b. I too would surely have been among those brought there’ with you.

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a. Then turning to his companions around him, he will say:
b. ‘So then, are we never going to die’ any more,

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a. ‘except for our first death, and
b. that we will never be called to account and punished’ again?

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a. Then this is, certainly, the greatest success of all!

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a. For the reward like of this, then let those who strive,’ strive for this!

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a. Is that endless bliss in Paradise a better place or the Tree of Zaqqum/Bitterness in the depth of Hell?

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a. Truly, WE have made this tree as a trial for the unjust/evildoers.

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a. Indeed, this is a tree that grows out of the depth of the Hell.

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a. Its fruits are like as the heads of the satans.

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a. Indeed, they will be made to eat of it, and fill their bellies with it.

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a. Then, in addition, they will have a drink of boiling liquid - mixture made of filthy muck.

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a. Then, once again, their place of return will definitely be to the Blazing Fire.

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a. Indeed, they found their forefathers astray from the Right Path,

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a. yet they rushed along their footprints without thinking or reflection.
b. Thus, they will also end up rushing toward the Blazing Fire.

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a. And, indeed, most of the people before them had also strayed from the Right Path,

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a. even though WE had assigned for them Warners among them.

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a. Look, then, at the fate of those who were warned but did not obey the Messengers and their Messages,

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a. except for Allah’s sincere servants.

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a. And, indeed, Noah called out to US praying not to leave a single disbeliever on the land,
b. so WE responded to his call by destroying his people, for WE were the Best to respond to the call.

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a. And WE saved him and his family – those of whom who followed him in faith - from the great tragedy, while all the rest were drowned.

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a. And WE made his descendants/sons - Shem, Ham, and Japheth - the only survivors.

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a. And WE left a blessing upon him among the later generations.

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a. Peace be upon Noah throughout the worlds.

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a. Indeed, thus do WE reward the virtuous like Noah.

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a. Surely, Noah was among OUR devout servants.

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a. Then WE drowned the rest of his disbelieving people in the great flood.

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a. And, indeed, one of those who later followed him in faith was Abraham.

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a. When he - Abraham- came to his Rabb - The Lord with a devoutly sincere heart.

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a. When he said to his father, Azar, and his people - who were idol worshipers:
b. ‘What is it that you worship?’

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a. ‘Is it a falsehood of worshipful entities – instead of Allah – that you are choosing?’

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a. ‘So what, then, do you think of Rabb - The Lord of all existence?’

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a. And when they invited Abraham to attend festivities of their New Year.
b. He pretended to glance a glance at the stars.

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a. And he said:
b. ‘In fact, I feel weary.’

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a. So they turned away from him and left.

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a. Then he went quietly to their worshipful entities in the temple and asked:
b. ‘Will you not eat’ of the offerings set before you?
c. But they did not respond.

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a. ‘What is the matter with you that you do not even speak?’
b. But still, he received no response.

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a. So he turned upon them, striking them with the right hand.

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a. Then they came running back to him - outraged and agitated.
b. They accused him of gravely sinful conduct.

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a. He – Abraham - said:
b. ‘How can you worship objects that you craft’ with your own hands?

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a. ‘While it is only Allah, WHO created you as well as that which you craft.’

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a. They consulted among themselves and said:
b. ‘Build for him a furnace-like structure,
c. then hurl him into its blazing fire!’

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a. So they intended a trap to destroy him, but WE foiled their trap and made them the losers.
b. And WE made Abraham come out of the trap unharmed.

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a. And Abraham said:
b. ‘I am leaving - ‘Ur, my homeland - going to my Rabb - The Lord.
c. And HE will definitely guide me’ to a land where I can worship HIM freely.

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a. And in later years Abraham made a plea:
b. ‘O My Rabb – The Lord !
c. Grant me a son one of the righteous.’

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a. Thereupon, WE gave him the good news of a forbearing and righteous boy, named Ishmael.

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a. So the boy, Ishmael, was born, and when he was old enough to work along with him and understand his faith and mission,
b. Abraham said:
c. ‘O my dear son Ishmael!
d. I am certain to have been seeing you for a while in my dream that I am offering you as a
sacrifice in the Name of Allah.
e. So consider – what do you think?’
f. Ishmael, considering that dream was a Divine Order, said unhesitantly:
g. ‘O my dear father!
h. Do as you are ordered to do.
i. You will find me, by Allah’s Will, of the patient.’

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a. But as soon as both of them had submitted themselves to the Will of Allah, and
b. Abraham had laid him – Ishmael – face down.

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a. Just at that point, WE called out to him, saying:
b. ‘O Abraham!

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a. ‘You have undoubtedly made the purpose of your dream come true.
b. Surely, thus WE reward those who seek excellence in virtue.’

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a. Surely this – this was clearly a grave trial – a difficult ordeal.

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a. Then WE substituted him – Ishmael - with a great sacrifice of a ram.

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a. And WE left a blessing upon him among the later generations.

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a. Peace be upon Abraham!

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a. Thus WE reward those who seek excellence in virtue.

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a. Indeed, he - Abraham - was definitely of OUR believing servants.

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a. And, some years later, WE also gave him the good news of the coming of a second son
Isaac, a would-be Prophet, one of the righteous.

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a. And WE blessed both him and Isaac.
b. However, from among their descendants, some sought excellence in virtue while some
others clearly wronged themselves.

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a. And, indeed, WE also conferred OUR Favors upon Moses and his elder brother Aaron,

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a. and WE salvaged both of them and their people from the terrible suffering of persecution and bondage in Egypt.

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a. And WE helped them against the Egyptians, so ultimately they triumphed.

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a. WE gave to both of them the Clear Scripture – The Torah,

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a. and WE guided both of them along the Right Path.

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a. And WE left a blessing upon both of them among the later generations.

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a. So peace be upon Moses and Aaron.

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a. Indeed, thus WE reward the virtuous.

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a. Surely they both were of OUR believing servants.

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a. And, indeed, Elijah too was of the Messengers.

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a. When he said to his people:
b. ‘Will you not be mindful of your duty to Allah?’
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a. ‘Will you continue to call upon Ba’al,
b. and abandon Allah - the Best of all creators?’
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a. Will you abandon ‘Allah - your Rabb - The Lord and Rabb - The Lord of your forefathers.’
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a. However, they denied and belied him - Elijah.
b. And thus they will definitely be called to account and brought forward to punishment,
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a. - all except the sincere servants of Allah among them.
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a. And WE left a blessing upon him among the later generations.
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a. So peace be upon Elijah.
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a. Indeed, thus WE reward the seekers of excellence in virtue.
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a. Indeed, he was of OUR believing servants.
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a. And, certainly, Lot was also of the Messengers.
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a. Recall when WE decreed the doom of the sinful settlements- but WE saved him and his family, all together -
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a. except for his wife, an old woman, who was among those left behind for punishment.
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a. Then, WE completely destroyed the rest of his people.
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a. And, indeed, to this time as you pass by them - ruins of their domain - by the day time,
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a. and by the night time.
b. Will you not, then, reflect and learn lessons from the fate of those who were immersed in lust and sodomy?
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a. And, indeed, Jonah was of the Messengers as well, assigned to the People of Nineveh.
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a. When he ran away from his mission to a loaded ship.

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a. The ship ran into a storm and was about to sink.
b. The mariners said: Come and let us cast lots so that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us, a procedure to which everyone agreed.
c. And when they cast lots, and he – Jonah – was of the losers.

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a. The lot fell against him and he was thrown overboard.
b. Then, a huge fish swallowed him whole, while he was blaming himself with strong feelings of guilt for disobeying his Rabb - The Lord.

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a. And had it not been that he was of those who glorified US unceasingly while being inside
the fish,

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a. he would have certainly remained in its belly till the Time of Resurrection: i.e., time to
infinity.

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a. However, WE caused him to be tossed out on a deserted shore, while he was ailing, weary and unclad.

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a. And WE caused a gourd vine grow over him to provide him with cover, nourishment, and energy.

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a. And when he had recovered, WE sent him back on his assigned Mission to a hundred thousand people, or even more.

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a. And this time they believed,
b. so WE gave them enjoyment of life for a while.

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a. So ask them:
b. ‘Are there the daughters for your Rabb - The Lord whereas for them are the sons?

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a. Or is it that WE created the angels as females while they were watching that act of creation?

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a. No! Be careful!
b. They slander and allege by asserting:

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a. ‘Allah is a parent’ of angels who are HIS daughters.
b. Surely, they are liars indeed!

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a. And they are lying when they assert:
b. ‘Has HE chosen the daughters over the sons?’

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a. What is the matter with you?
b. How do you make such a judgment?

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a. Will you not even reflect?

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a. Or do you have a clear authority/evidence for your false assertions?

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a. Bring, then, your Scripture wherein this is mentioned, if you are honest.

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a. And – worst still - they have fabricated a lineage between HIM and the jinn.
b. But even the jinn know that they will be brought forward to HIM for judgment.

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a. Glory be to Allah!
b. HE is absolutely free from what they falsely allege against HIM.

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a. None will be saved from the punishment, except for Allah’s sincere servants.

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a. So, indeed, neither you – idol worshipers - nor those entities you worship -

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a. can cause anyone to be lured away from HIM,

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a. except for those who choose to race towards the Hell by their own choice.

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a. And there is not one among us – angels - but has a position or function assigned by HIM.

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a. And, indeed, we – we, angels, are surely lined up to stand in rows before HIM in awe, piety, and worship.

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a. And, indeed, we - we are surely those who are glorifying Allah’s Praise all the time.

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a. And indeed they - who deny The Divine Qur’an – used to say:

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a. ‘If only we had a Reminder of the like those who lived before us,

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a. we would have surely been the most sincere servants of Allah - practicing HIS Religion in its entirety and diligently.

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a. And yet now that The Qur’an has been presented to them, they deny and belie its Divine origin.
b. Anyhow, they will soon know the reality and its consequences.

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a. And, indeed, OUR Word/Verdict has already been passed along OUR servants, the Messengers.

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a. Surely they - they will definitely be helped.

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a. And, of course, it is OUR Forces of devout and faithful believers – they will indeed succeed
in the end.

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a. So leave them for a while and do not care for what they say.

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a. Just watch them -
b. for they will soon see what they cannot visualize now.

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a. Do they really want to hasten OUR Punishment?

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a. Oh - but when it descends before them in their own vicinity,
b. how terrible will be that morning for those who were forewarned by their Messengers!

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a. So leave them for a while and do not care for what they say.

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a. Just watch them.
b. They will soon see what they cannot visualize now.

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a. Glory be to your Rabb - The Lord -
b. Rabb - The Lord of Majesty.
c. HE is far above what they ascribe to HIM.

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a. And peace be upon all the Messengers.

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a. And the Praise and Gratitude be to Allah.
b. Allah - Rabb - The Lord of all existence.