An-Naml

طس ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْقُرْآنِ وَكِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ ١

Ta, Sin. (Only Allah and the Messenger [blessings and peace be upon him] know the real meaning.) These are the Verses of the (Holy) Qur’an and an enlightening Book—

هُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٢

A guidance and good news for (those) believers,

الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ٣

Who establish prayer and pay Zakat (the Alms-due), and it is they who believe in the Hereafter (as well).

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ زَيَّنَّا لَهُمْ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَهُمْ يَعْمَهُونَ ٤

Surely, those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have made their (evil) deeds appear fascinating (to them). So they wander distracted (in error).

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَهُمْ سُوءُ الْعَذَابِ وَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ هُمُ الْأَخْسَرُونَ ٥

It is they for whom there is an evil punishment, and it is they who are (the greatest) losers in the Hereafter.

وَإِنَّكَ لَتُلَقَّى الْقُرْآنَ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ عَلِيمٍ ٦

And surely, you are being taught (this) Qur’an from the All-Wise, All-Knowing (Lord).

إِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَهْلِهِ إِنِّي آنَسْتُ نَارًا سَآتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ آتِيكُم بِشِهَابٍ قَبَسٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ ٧

(Recall that incident) when Musa (Moses) said to his wife: ‘I have seen a fire (or I have perceived a flash of love and liking in the fire). Soon I shall bring you some news from it (for which we have been wandering in deserts and forests since long), or I shall bring (you also from there) some burning brand so that you (too) may feel the burn (of its heat).’

فَلَمَّا جَاءَهَا نُودِيَ أَن بُورِكَ مَن فِي النَّارِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ٨

So when he neared it, a call was given: ‘Blessed is He Who is (luminously unveiling His veil of Light) in this fire, and (also) he who is around it (in the reflection of the theophanies of Allah’s Light). And Allah is Holy (and Glorified, High above any resemblance and physical manifestation), the Lord of all the worlds.

يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّهُ أَنَا اللَّهُ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ ٩

O Musa (Moses)! It is I, Allah (Unveiling My Light), Almighty, All-Wise.

وَأَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَآهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَانٌّ وَلَّىٰ مُدْبِرًا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ ۚ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَا تَخَفْ إِنِّي لَا يَخَافُ لَدَيَّ الْمُرْسَلُونَ ١٠

And, (O Musa [Moses],) cast your staff (on the ground).’ So when (Musa (Moses) after casting the staff on the ground) saw it moving fast as if it were a serpent, he (reacting naturally) turned back running and did not (even) look back. (Allah said:) ‘O Musa (Moses), do not fear. Surely, the Messengers do not fear in My presence.

إِلَّا مَن ظَلَمَ ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حُسْنًا بَعْدَ سُوءٍ فَإِنِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ١١

But whoever wrongs, then after doing evil replaces (it) with good, then I am indeed Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.

وَأَدْخِلْ يَدَكَ فِي جَيْبِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ ۖ فِي تِسْعِ آيَاتٍ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَقَوْمِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ ١٢

And put your hand into the opening of your collar. It will come out radiant white without any ill. (Both these are) of the nine signs (of Allah). Go (with them) to Pharaoh and his people. Surely, they are a disobedient people.’

فَلَمَّا جَاءَتْهُمْ آيَاتُنَا مُبْصِرَةً قَالُوا هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ ١٣

But when Our clear and sight-giving signs reached them, they said: ‘This is plain magic.’

وَجَحَدُوا بِهَا وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَا أَنفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَعُلُوًّا ۚ فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ١٤

And out of vanity and wickedness, they rejected them straight away whilst their hearts had accepted these (signs as true). So see how (evil) was the end of the evildoers!

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ عِلْمًا ۖ وَقَالَا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ١٥

And indeed, We bestowed upon Dawud (David) and Sulayman ([Solomon] extraordinary knowledge) and both said: ‘All praise be to Allah, Who has exalted us above many of His believing servants.’

وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَانُ دَاوُودَ ۖ وَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ ۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْمُبِينُ ١٦

And Sulayman (Solomon) succeeded Dawud (David) and said: ‘O people, we have been taught the speech of birds (as well) and we have been granted everything. No doubt, this is the most obvious Grace (of Allah).’

وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيْمَانَ جُنُودُهُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ وَالطَّيْرِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ ١٧

And armies for Sulayman (Solomon) were collected from amongst (all species of) the jinn, human beings and birds. So they were held on (in his service) for discipline and training.

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَتَوْا عَلَىٰ وَادِ النَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَسَاكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَانُ وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ ١٨

Until when these (troops) reached an open field of ants, one ant said: ‘O ants, enter your dwellings, lest Sulayman (Solomon) and his troops crush you whilst they remain just unaware.’

فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ ١٩

So he (Sulayman [Solomon]) smiled, feeling amused at the ant’s words, and submitted: ‘O Lord, keep me by Your bestowal firm on it that I remain ever-thankful for Your favour You have conferred on me and on my parents, and I do such pious deeds as You are pleased with, and admit me by Your mercy amongst Your pious slaves enjoying exceptional nearness to You.’

وَتَفَقَّدَ الطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِيَ لَا أَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنَ الْغَائِبِينَ ٢٠

And Sulayman (Solomon) inspected the birds and said: ‘How is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Or has he (really) vanished?