Turning away from faith (3)

نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ

It is We Who have created you: why will ye not witness the Truth?

أَفَبِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ

Is it such a Message that ye would hold in light esteem?

تَرْجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

Call back the soul, if ye are true (in the claim of independence)?

وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ ۙ وَٱلرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَٰقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

What cause have ye why ye should not believe in Allah?- and the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord, and has indeed taken your Covenant, if ye are men of Faith.

يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَٱرْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ ٱلْأَمَانِىُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ

(Those without) will call out, "Were we not with you?" (The others) will reply, "True! but ye led yourselves into temptation; ye looked forward (to our ruin); ye doubted (Allah's Promise); and (your false) desires deceived you; until there issued the Command of Allah. And the Deceiver deceived you in respect of Allah.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحَآدُّونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ كُبِتُوا۟ كَمَا كُبِتَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ وَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ ءَايَٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَٰتٍۢ ۚ وَلِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌۭ مُّهِينٌۭ

Those who resist Allah and His Messenger will be humbled to dust, as were those before them: for We have already sent down Clear Signs. And the Unbelievers (will have) a humiliating Penalty,-

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُۥ كَانَت تَّأْتِيهِمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ فَقَالُوٓا۟ أَبَشَرٌۭ يَهْدُونَنَا فَكَفَرُوا۟ وَتَوَلَّوا۟ ۚ وَّٱسْتَغْنَى ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌۭ

That was because there came to them messengers with Clear Signs, but they said: "Shall (mere) human beings direct us?" So they rejected (the Message) and turned away. But Allah can do without (them): and Allah is free of all needs, worthy of all praise.

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ

But those who reject Faith and treat Our Signs as falsehoods, they will be Companions of the Fire, to dwell therein for aye: and evil is that Goal.

قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌۭ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ كَبِيرٍۢ

They will say: "Yes indeed; a Warner did come to us, but we rejected him and said, 'Allah never sent down any (Message): ye are nothing but an egregious delusion!'"

وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

They will further say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we should not (now) be among the Companions of the Blazing Fire!"

وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ

But indeed men before them rejected (My warning): then how (terrible) was My rejection (of them)?

أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌۭ لَّكُمْ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ

Nay, who is there that can help you, (even as) an army, besides (Allah) Most Merciful? In nothing but delusion are the Unbelievers.

أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهُۥ ۚ بَل لَّجُّوا۟ فِى عُتُوٍّۢ وَنُفُورٍ

Or who is there that can provide you with Sustenance if He were to withhold His provision? Nay, they obstinately persist in insolent impiety and flight (from the Truth).

وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ

Their desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.

إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

When to him are rehearsed Our Signs, "Tales of the ancients", he cries!

أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَٰبٌۭ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ

Or have ye a book through which ye learn-

إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ

That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?

أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ

Or have ye Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment, (providing) that ye shall have whatever ye shall demand?

سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ

Ask thou of them, which of them will stand surety for that!

أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَٰدِقِينَ

Or have they some "Partners" (in Allahhead)? Then let them produce their "partners", if they are truthful!

خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌۭ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَٰلِمُونَ

Their eyes will be cast down,- ignominy will cover them; seeing that they had been summoned aforetime to bow in adoration, while they were whole, (and had refused).

أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًۭا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍۢ مُّثْقَلُونَ

Or is it that thou dost ask them for a reward, so that they are burdened with a load of debt?-

أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ

Or that the Unseen is in their hands, so that they can write it down?

كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ وَعَادٌۢ بِٱلْقَارِعَةِ

The Thamud and the 'Ad People (branded) as false the Stunning Calamity!

وَجَآءَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَن قَبْلَهُۥ وَٱلْمُؤْتَفِكَٰتُ بِٱلْخَاطِئَةِ

And Pharaoh, and those before him, and the Cities Overthrown, committed habitual Sin.

فَعَصَوْا۟ رَسُولَ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَذَهُمْ أَخْذَةًۭ رَّابِيَةً

And disobeyed (each) the messenger of their Lord; so He punished them with an abundant Penalty.

إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

"This was he that would not believe in Allah Most High.

وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَاعِرٍۢ ۚ قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تُؤْمِنُونَ

It is not the word of a poet: little it is ye believe!

فَمَالِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِينَ

Now what is the matter with the Unbelievers that they rush madly before thee-

عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ عِزِينَ

From the right and from the left, in crowds?

فَلَمْ يَزِدْهُمْ دُعَآءِىٓ إِلَّا فِرَارًۭا

"But my call only increases (their) flight (from the Right).

وَإِنِّى كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوٓا۟ أَصَٰبِعَهُمْ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَٱسْتَغْشَوْا۟ ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ ٱسْتِكْبَارًۭا

"And every time I have called to them, that Thou mightest forgive them, they have (only) thrust their fingers into their ears, covered themselves up with their garments, grown obstinate, and given themselves up to arrogance.

قَالَ نُوحٌۭ رَّبِّ إِنَّهُمْ عَصَوْنِى وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ مَن لَّمْ يَزِدْهُ مَالُهُۥ وَوَلَدُهُۥٓ إِلَّا خَسَارًۭا

Noah said: "O my Lord! They have disobeyed me, but they follow (men) whose wealth and children give them no increase but only Loss.

وَمَكَرُوا۟ مَكْرًۭا كُبَّارًۭا

"And they have devised a tremendous Plot.

وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَذَرُنَّ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّۭا وَلَا سُوَاعًۭا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًۭا

"And they have said (to each other), 'Abandon not your gods: Abandon neither Wadd nor Suwa', neither Yaguth nor Ya'uq, nor Nasr';-

وَقَدْ أَضَلُّوا۟ كَثِيرًۭا ۖ وَلَا تَزِدِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا ضَلَٰلًۭا

"They have already misled many; and grant Thou no increase to the wrong-doers but in straying (from their mark)."

ثُمَّ يَطْمَعُ أَنْ أَزِيدَ

Yet is he greedy-that I should add (yet more);-

كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ لِءَايَٰتِنَا عَنِيدًۭا

By no means! For to Our Signs he has been refractory!

إِنَّهُۥ فَكَّرَ وَقَدَّرَ

For he thought and he plotted;-

ثُمَّ قُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ

Yea, Woe to him; How he plotted!-

ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ وَٱسْتَكْبَرَ

Then he turned back and was haughty;

فَقَالَ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌۭ يُؤْثَرُ

Then said he: "This is nothing but magic, derived from of old;

إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا قَوْلُ ٱلْبَشَرِ

"This is nothing but the word of a mortal!"

وَمَا جَعَلْنَآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ إِلَّا مَلَٰٓئِكَةًۭ ۙ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةًۭ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَيَزْدَادَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِيمَٰنًۭا ۙ وَلَا يَرْتَابَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۙ وَلِيَقُولَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌۭ وَٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًۭا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَمَا هِىَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْبَشَرِ

And We have set none but angels as Guardians of the Fire; and We have fixed their number only as a trial for Unbelievers,- in order that the People of the Book may arrive at certainty, and the Believers may increase in Faith,- and that no doubts may be left for the People of the Book and the Believers, and that those in whose hearts is a disease and the Unbelievers may say, "What symbol doth Allah intend by this?" Thus doth Allah leave to stray whom He pleaseth, and guide whom He pleaseth: and none can know the forces of thy Lord, except He and this is no other than a warning to mankind.

فَمَا لَهُمْ عَنِ ٱلتَّذْكِرَةِ مُعْرِضِينَ

Then what is the matter with them that they turn away from admonition?-

كَأَنَّهُمْ حُمُرٌۭ مُّسْتَنفِرَةٌۭ

As if they were affrighted asses,

فَرَّتْ مِن قَسْوَرَةٍۭ

Fleeing from a lion!

بَلْ يُرِيدُ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُؤْتَىٰ صُحُفًۭا مُّنَشَّرَةًۭ

Forsooth, each one of them wants to be given scrolls (of revelation) spread out!

بَلْ يُرِيدُ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ لِيَفْجُرَ أَمَامَهُۥ

But man wishes to do wrong (even) in the time in front of him.

يَسْـَٔلُ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ

He questions: "When is the Day of Resurrection?"

فَلَا صَدَّقَ وَلَا صَلَّىٰ

So he gave nothing in charity, nor did he pray!-

وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

But on the contrary, he rejected Truth and turned away!

ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ يَتَمَطَّىٰٓ

Then did he stalk to his family in full conceit!

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱرْكَعُوا۟ لَا يَرْكَعُونَ

And when it is said to them, "Prostrate yourselves!" they do not so.

فَبِأَىِّ حَدِيثٍۭ بَعْدَهُۥ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Then what Message, after that, will they believe in?

وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا كِذَّابًۭا

But they (impudently) treated Our Signs as false.

فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ

But (Pharaoh) rejected it and disobeyed (guidance);

ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَىٰ

Further, he turned his back, striving hard (against Allah).

قُتِلَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ مَآ أَكْفَرَهُۥ

Woe to man! What hath made him reject Allah;

فَأَيْنَ تَذْهَبُونَ

When whither go ye?

كَلَّا بَلْ تُكَذِّبُونَ بِٱلدِّينِ

Nay! But ye do reject Right and Judgment!

إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

When Our Signs are rehearsed to him, he says, "Tales of the ancients!"

فَمَا لَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

What then is the matter with them, that they believe not?-

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ لَا يَسْجُدُونَ ۩

And when the Qur'an is read to them, they fall not prostrate,

بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُكَذِّبُونَ

But on the contrary the Unbelievers reject (it).

بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى تَكْذِيبٍۢ

And yet the Unbelievers (persist) in rejecting (the Truth)!

إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًۭا

As for them, they are but plotting a scheme,

إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ

But if any turn away and reject Allah,-

كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِطَغْوَىٰهَآ

The Thamud (people) rejected (their prophet) through their inordinate wrong-doing,

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَدَمْدَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسَوَّىٰهَا

Then they rejected him (as a false prophet), and they hamstrung her. So their Lord, on account of their crime, obliterated their traces and made them equal (in destruction, high and low)!

وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ

And gives the lie to the best,-

ٱلَّذِى كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

Who give the lie to Truth and turn their backs.

فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعْدُ بِٱلدِّينِ

Then what can, after this, contradict thee, as to the judgment (to come)?

كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ

Day, but man doth transgress all bounds,

أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ

In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient.

أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

Seest thou if he denies (Truth) and turns away?

أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ

Knoweth he not that Allah doth see?

كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ

Let him beware! If he desist not, We will drag him by the forelock,-