Sūrat al-Jāthiya
سورۃ الجاثیہ
Sūrat al-Jāthiya was revealed in Mecca. It contains 37 verses and 4 sections (rukūʿ).
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhi l-Raḥmāni l-Raḥīm.
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
Verse 1 — The Muqaṭṭaʿāt
حم
Ḥā Mīm.
This is a full verse. Some scholars write that Allah the Exalted knows the meaning — and some say that by it His beloved Muḥammad ﷺ is intended — and Allah knows best.
Verse 2
تَنزِيلُ الْكِتَابِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ
Tanzīlu al-kitābi min Allāhi al-ʿazīzi al-ḥakīm.
"The sending down of the Book is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise." (al-Jāthiya 45:2)
Tanzīlu al-kitāb — the sending down of the Book — tanzīl is the verbal noun (maṣdar) with the object (mafʿūl) intended — i.e. the Book that has been sent down — min Allāhi al-ʿazīz al-ḥakīm — from Allah, Who is the master of power and wisdom.
Translation: — This Book was sent down from Allah the All-Mighty and All-Wise.
Verse 3
إِنَّ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Inna fī al-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi la-āyātin li-l-muʾminīn.
"Indeed, in the heavens and the earth are signs for the believers." (al-Jāthiya 45:3)
Translation: — Indeed, in the heavens and the earth there are certainly signs for the believers.
Verse 4
وَفِي خَلْقِكُمْ وَمَا يَبُثُّ مِن دَابَّةٍ آيَاتٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
Wa-fī khalqikum wa-mā yabuthhu min dābbatin āyātun li-qawmin yūqinūn.
"And in your creation and what He disperses of moving creatures are signs for a people of certainty." (al-Jāthiya 45:4)
Wa-fī khalqikum — and in your creation — wa-mā yabuthhu — and in what He spreads and propagates — min dābbatin — of living creatures — āyāt — signs — li-qawmin yūqinūn — for the people who hold certainty and maintain certainty.
Translation: — And in your creation and in how He spreads creatures throughout the earth are signs for those who hold certainty.
Verse 5
وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِن رِّزْقٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ آيَاتٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
Wa-khtilāfi al-layli wa-l-nahāri wa-mā anzala Allāhu min al-samāʾi min rizqin fa-aḥyā bihi al-arḍa baʿda mawtihā wa-taṣrīfi al-riyāḥi āyātun li-qawmin yaʿqilūn.
"And in the alternation of night and day, and what Allah sends down from the sky of provision — reviving thereby the earth after its death — and in the changing of the winds are signs for a people who reason." (al-Jāthiya 45:5)
Wa-khtilāfi al-layl wa-l-nahār — and the alternation of night and day — the coming and going of night and day — wa-mā anzala Allāhu min al-samāʾ min rizq — and what Allah sent down from the sky — rain — provision — fa-aḥyā bihi al-arḍ — then revived the earth through it — brought the earth back to life from death — restored it to fresh life after death — wa-taṣrīfi al-riyāḥ — and the changing of the winds — the shifting of the winds — āyāt — signs — li-qawmin yaʿqilūn — for the people who reflect and use their intellect.
Translation: — And in the alternation of night and day and what Allah sent down from the sky (rain) through which He revives the earth after its death — and in the changing of the winds — these are all signs for those who use their intellect and reflect.
Verse 6
تِلْكَ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِالْحَقِّ فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثٍ بَعْدَ اللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Tilka āyātu Allāhi natlūhā ʿalayka bi-l-ḥaqqi fa-bi-ayyi ḥadīthin baʿda Allāhi wa-āyātihi yuʾminūn.
"These are the signs of Allah which We recite to you in truth. So in what discourse, after Allah and His signs, will they believe?" (al-Jāthiya 45:6)
Tilka āyātu Allāh — these are the signs of Allah — natlūhā ʿalayka — We recite them to you — in the most correct manner — bi-l-ḥaqq — truly and accurately — fa-bi-ayyi ḥadīth baʿda Allāh — then in what other discourse besides Allah — wa-āyātihi yuʾminūn — and His signs and His verses — will they believe? They will not believe in any other thing.
Translation: — These are Allah's signs (signs) which We recite to you truthfully — so after Allah and His signs, in what other discourse will they believe?
Verse 7
وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ
Waylun li-kulli affākin athīm.
"Woe to every sinful liar!" (al-Jāthiya 45:7)
Waylun li-kulli affāk — woe to every great liar, every fabricator — athīm — the deeply sinful — the criminal — the disbeliever. Every liar's wickedness is ruinous.
Translation: — Woe to every great lying sinner and criminal.
Verse 8
يَسْمَعُ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يُصِرُّ مُسْتَكْبِرًا كَأَن لَّمْ يَسْمَعْهَا فَبَشِّرْهُ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
Yasmaʿu āyāti Allāhi tutlā ʿalayhi thumma yuṣirru mustakbiran ka-an lam yasmaʿhā fa-bashshirhu bi-ʿadhābin alīm.
"He hears the signs of Allah being recited to him, then persists arrogantly as though he had not heard them — so give him tidings of a painful torment." (al-Jāthiya 45:8)
Yasmaʿu āyāti Allāh — he who hears the signs of Allah — the recitation is performed before him — thumma yuṣirr — then he persists in his rejection — insists — mustakbiran — with arrogance — ka-an lam yasmaʿhā — as though he has not heard these signs — fa-bashshirhu bi-ʿadhābin alīm — so give him tidings of a painful torment — this is irony (istʿāra takhyīliyya).
Translation: — He who hears the recitation of Allah's signs, then continues arrogantly insisting — as though he has heard nothing — so give this person tidings of a painful torment.
Verse 9
وَإِذَا عَلِمَ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا شَيْئًا اتَّخَذَهَا هُزُوًا أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
Wa-idhā ʿalima min āyātinā shay'an ittakhadhahā huzuwan ulāʾika lahum ʿadhābun muhīn.
"And when he learns anything of Our signs, he takes them in mockery — for such people there is a humiliating torment." (al-Jāthiya 45:9)
Wa-idhā ʿalima min āyātinā — and when someone comes to know any of Our signs — any knowledge — ittakhadhahā — he takes it — huzuwan — as a joke — he makes a mockery of it — ulāʾika lahum ʿadhābun muhīn — for these people there is a humiliating and degrading torment.
Translation: — And when someone comes to know any of Our signs — he makes a mockery of it — for such people there is a humiliating torment.
Verse 10
مِّن وَرَائِهِمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَلَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُم مَّا كَسَبُوا شَيْئًا وَلَا مَا اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Min warāʾihim jahannamu wa-lā yughnī ʿanhum mā kasabū shay'an wa-lā mā ittakhadhū min dūni Allāhi awliyāʾa wa-lahum ʿadhābun ʿaẓīm.
"Before them is Hell, and what they earned will not avail them at all, nor will what they took as protectors besides Allah — and theirs is a tremendous torment." (al-Jāthiya 45:10)
Min warāʾihim jahannam — ahead of them is Hellfire — it is their destination — wa-lā yughnī ʿanhum mā kasabū shay'an — and whatever they earned will be of no use to them — nothing will come to their aid — whatever they acquired — wa-lā mā ittakhadhū — and neither what they set up — min dūni Allāhi awliyāʾ — the guardians whom they adopted instead of Allah — wa-lahum ʿadhābun ʿaẓīm — and for them is a tremendous torment.
Translation: — Ahead of them is Hellfire and their gains will be of no use to them, and neither will the guardians they adopted instead of Allah — a tremendous torment awaits them.
Verse 11 — The Guidance
هَذَا هُدًى وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مِّن رِّجْزٍ أَلِيمٌ
Hādhā hudā wa-lladhīna kafarū bi-āyāti rabbihim lahum ʿadhābun min rijzin alīm.
"This is a guidance, and those who disbelieve in the signs of their Lord — for them is a painful torment of the most severe kind." (al-Jāthiya 45:11)
Hādhā hudā — this (the Qur'an) is guidance — wa-lladhīna kafarū — and those who disbelieve — bi-āyāti rabbihim — in the signs of their Lord — lahum ʿadhābun min rijzin alīm — for them is a torment of the most severe and painful kind.
Translation: — This is guidance and those who refuse to accept the signs of their Lord — for them is the most severe painful torment.
Verse 12
اللَّهُ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْبَحْرَ لِتَجْرِيَ الْفُلْكُ فِيهِ بِأَمْرِهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Allāhu alladhī sakhkhara lakumu al-baḥra li-tajriya al-fulku fīhi bi-amrihi wa-li-tabtaghū min faḍlihi wa-laʿallakum tashkurūn.
"Allah is He who subjected the sea for you so that ships may sail through it by His command — that you may seek of His bounty and that you may be grateful." (al-Jāthiya 45:12)
Allāhu alladhī sakhkhara lakum — it is Allah alone who subjected for you — subjected and made the sea a vehicle for you — the sea — li-tajriya al-fulk — so that the ship may sail — by Allah's command — wa-li-tabtaghū — and so that you may seek — so that you may seek and obtain — min faḍlihi — from Allah's grace — the provision given by Allah — wa-laʿallakum tashkurūn — so that you may give thanks — perform gratitude — express thanks.
Translation: — It is Allah alone who made the sea your vehicle so that ships sail through it by His command — and so that you seek His grace and bounty and give thanks for it.
Verse 13
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مِّنْهُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Wa-sakhkhara lakum mā fī al-samāwāti wa-mā fī al-arḍi jamīʿan minhu inna fī dhālika la-āyātun li-qawmin yatafakkarūn.
"And He has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth — all from Him — indeed in that are signs for a people who reflect." (al-Jāthiya 45:13)
Wa-sakhkhara lakum — and He subjected for you — mā fī al-samāwāt wa-mā fī al-arḍ — all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth — jamīʿan — all of it — He made it serve you — minhu — all from His side — inna fī dhālika la-āyāt — without doubt in this there are certainly signs — li-qawmin yatafakkarūn — for those who reflect and think deeply.
Translation: — And (Allah) has certainly subjected for you all that is in the heavens and on the earth — all from His side — and indeed in this there are signs for those who reflect.
Verse 14
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يَغْفِرُوا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ أَيَّامَ اللَّهِ لِيَجْزِيَ قَوْمًا بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
Qul li-lladhīna āmanū yaghfirū li-lladhīna lā yarjūna ayyāma Allāhi li-yajziya qawman bi-mā kānū yaksibūn.
"Say to those who believe to forgive those who do not hope for the days of Allah — so that He may recompense a people for what they used to earn." (al-Jāthiya 45:14)
Qul — O Prophet, tell — li-lladhīna āmanū — the believers — yaghfirū li-lladhīna lā yarjūn — to forgive those from whom they have no hope — ayyāma Allāh — the days of Allah — the situations that Allah the Exalted creates — li-yajziya qawman — so that a group of people receives recompense — bi-mā kānū yaksibūn — for what they used to earn — the evil deeds they used to commit — to recompense them for it.
Translation: — (O Prophet!) Tell the believers to overlook those who have no hope — so that Allah gives to those people the recompense of their misdeeds.
Verse 15
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ أَسَاءَ فَعَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ
Man ʿamila ṣāliḥan fa-li-nafsihi wa-man asāʾa fa-ʿalayhā thumma ilā rabbikum turjaʿūn.
"Whoever does righteous deeds — it is for his own soul, and whoever does evil — it is against it; then to your Lord you will be returned." (al-Jāthiya 45:15)
Man ʿamila ṣāliḥan — whoever performs good deeds — the benefit of it belongs to him — wa-man asāʾa fa-ʿalayhā — and whoever does evil deeds — that is a woe upon him — thumma ilā rabbikum turjaʿūn — then to your Lord you will all return — you are to be returned to His court.
Translation: — Whoever does good deeds, the benefit of it is his — and whoever does evil, the woe of it is upon him — then you all return to your Lord's court.
Verse 16
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ
Wa-laqad ātaynā banī isrāʾīla al-kitāba wa-l-ḥukma wa-l-nubuwwata wa-razaqnāhum mina al-ṭayyibāti wa-faḍḍalnāhum ʿalā al-ʿālamīn.
"And We certainly gave the Children of Israel the Book and wisdom and prophethood, and We provided them with good things, and We preferred them above the worlds (of their time)." (al-Jāthiya 45:16)
Wa-laqad ātaynā banī isrāʾīl — and We certainly gave the Children of Israel — al-kitāb — the Book — the Torah — wa-l-ḥukm — and wisdom — wa-l-nubuwwa — and prophethood — and We gave them good things to eat — wa-faḍḍalnāhum ʿalā al-ʿālamīn — and We gave them preference above all people of that era — this "al-ʿālamīn" is of the era — it refers to the people of that specific time. When Banī Isrāʾīl accepted the Sharīʿa of Mūsā and had not yet abandoned their nobility.
Translation: — And We certainly gave the Children of Israel the Book, wisdom and prophethood, and gave them good things to eat and gave them preference over all the people of their time.
Verse 17
وَآتَيْنَاهُم بَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْرِ فَمَا اخْتَلَفُوا إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِي بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
Wa-ātaynāhum bayyinātin mina al-amri fa-mā khtalafū illā min baʿdi mā jāʾahumu al-ʿilmu baghyan baynahum inna rabbaka yaqḍī baynahum yawma al-qiyāmati fī-mā kānū fīhi yakhtalifūn.
"And We gave them clear proofs of the matter — and they did not differ except after knowledge had come to them, out of envy among themselves — indeed, your Lord will decide between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that in which they used to differ." (al-Jāthiya 45:17)
Wa-ātaynāhum bayyinātim mina al-amr — and We gave them clear proofs regarding the religion — manifest evidence — fa-mā khtalafū illā min baʿdi mā jāʾahumu al-ʿilm — but these people did not differ except after knowledge had come to them and reached them — yet they continued to differ — baghyan baynahum — out of mutual enmity — inna rabbaka yaqḍī baynahum yawma al-qiyāmati — indeed your Lord will decide between them on the Day of Resurrection — in those disputes in which they used to differ.
Translation: — And We gave them clear proofs of the religion — and after all this knowledge had reached them, they still differed — this was all due to their mutual enmity — indeed, your Lord will give the verdict on the Day of Resurrection regarding those disputes.
Verse 18
ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَى شَرِيعَةٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Thumma jaʿalnāka ʿalā sharīʿatin mina al-amri fa-ttabiʿhā wa-lā tattabiʿ ahwāʾa alladhīna lā yaʿlamūn.
"Then We set you on a clear path of the matter — so follow it and do not follow the desires of those who do not know." (al-Jāthiya 45:18)
Thumma jaʿalnāka ʿalā sharīʿa — then We set you upon a clearly defined path — a straight path — mina al-amr — from the religion — fa-ttabiʿhā — so follow it — follow it — wa-lā tattabiʿ ahwāʾa alladhīna — and do not follow the desires and whims of those people — lā yaʿlamūn — who have no knowledge — they are ignorant.
Translation: — Then We established you upon a straight path of the true religion — follow it — and do not follow the desires and whims of those who are ignorant.
Verses 19–20
إِنَّهُمْ لَن يُغْنُوا عَنكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَإِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ وَاللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ
Innahum lan yughnū ʿanka mina Allāhi shay'an wa-inna al-ẓālimīna baʿḍuhum awliyāʾu baʿḍin wa-Allāhu waliyyu al-muttaqīn.
"Indeed, they will never avail you against Allah at all, and indeed the wrongdoers are allies of one another — and Allah is the Protector of the God-fearing." (al-Jāthiya 45:19)
Innahum lan yughnū ʿanka — indeed these people will never bring you any benefit — they will not avail you in the slightest — mina Allāhi shay'an — in Allah's presence — nothing will they avail — wa-inna al-ẓālimīna baʿḍuhum awliyāʾu baʿḍ — and indeed the wrongdoers are friends and allies of one another — wa-Allāhu waliyyu al-muttaqīn — and Allah is the Protector and Friend of the God-fearing.
Translation: — These people will certainly be of no avail against Allah — these wrongdoers are friends of one another — and Allah is the Protector of the God-fearing.
هَذَا بَصَائِرُ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
Hādhā baṣāʾiru li-l-nāsi wa-hudā wa-raḥmatun li-qawmin yūqinūn.
"This is enlightenment for the people, and guidance and mercy for a people who are certain (in faith)." (al-Jāthiya 45:20)
Hādhā baṣāʾiru — this (the Qur'an) is enlightenment — these are things that expand insight — li-l-nās — for the people — wa-hudā wa-raḥma — and guidance and mercy — li-qawmin yūqinūn — for those who hold certainty.
Translation: — This (Qur'an) is an enlightenment for the people and guidance and mercy for those who hold certainty.
Verse 21
أَمْ حَسِبَ الَّذِينَ اجْتَرَحُوا السَّيِّئَاتِ أَن نَّجْعَلَهُمْ كَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَوَاءً مَّحْيَاهُمْ وَمَمَاتُهُمْ سَاءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ
Am ḥasiba alladhīna jtaraḥū al-sayyiʾāti an najʿalahum ka-lladhīna āmanū wa-ʿamilū al-ṣāliḥāti sawāʾan maḥyāhum wa-mamātuhum sāʾa mā yaḥkumūn.
"Or do those who commit evil deeds think that We will treat them as equal to those who believe and do righteous deeds — equal in their life and their death? Evil is what they judge." (al-Jāthiya 45:21)
Am ḥasiba alladhīna — have these people imagined — those who ajtaraḥū al-sayyiʾāt — have been committing evil deeds — their own wickedness — an najʿalahum ka-lladhīna āmanū — that We will treat them like the people who have faith — who are believers and do good deeds — sawāʾan maḥyāhum wa-mamātuhum — equal in their life and their death — sāʾa mā yaḥkumūn — evil is the judgment they make — what a wrong judgment they are making.
Translation: — Do the wrongdoers imagine that We will make them equal to those who have faith and do good deeds — equal in their life and death — (from gain or loss) — what a wrong and corrupt judgment they make.
Verse 22
وَخَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ وَلِتُجْزَى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
Wa-khalaqa Allāhu al-samāwāti wa-l-arḍa bi-l-ḥaqqi wa-li-tujzā kullu nafsin bi-mā kasabat wa-hum lā yuẓlamūn.
"And Allah created the heavens and the earth in truth — and so that every soul may be recompensed for what it has earned — and they will not be wronged." (al-Jāthiya 45:22)
Wa-khalaqa Allāhu al-samāwāt wa-l-arḍ — and Allah created the heavens and the earth — bi-l-ḥaqq — with rightfulness — in the most perfectly appropriate manner — wa-li-tujzā kullu nafs — and so that every person may be recompensed — bi-mā kasabat — for what they earned — their own deeds — wa-hum lā yuẓlamūn — and people are not wronged.
Translation: — Allah created the heavens and the earth with rightfulness — so that every person may receive the recompense of their deeds — and no wrong is done to anyone.
Verse 23
أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَهَهُ هَوَاهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَى سَمْعِهِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَجَعَلَ عَلَى بَصَرِهِ غِشَاوَةً فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ اللَّهِ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
A-fa-ra'ayta man ittakhadha ilāhahu hawāhu wa-aḍallahu Allāhu ʿalā ʿilmin wa-khatama ʿalā samʿihi wa-qalbihi wa-jaʿala ʿalā baṣarihi ghishāwatan fa-man yahdīhi min baʿdi Allāhi a-fa-lā tadhakkarūn.
"Have you considered one who has taken his own desire as his god — and Allah has led him astray with full knowledge, and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart, and placed a covering over his sight — so who will guide him after Allah? Will you not then take heed?" (al-Jāthiya 45:23)
A-fa-ra'ayta — have you not seen — do you not think about it — man ittakhadha ilāhahu hawāhu — the one who has made his own desires his god — the one who has made his own whims and desires his deity — and Allah has misled him — wa-aḍallahu Allāhu ʿalā ʿilm — despite His knowing — because Allah has known from the demand of the fitrat (primordial nature) — wa-khatama ʿalā samʿihi wa-qalbihi — and He has set a seal upon his ears and upon his heart too — wa-jaʿala ʿalā baṣarihi ghishāwatan — and placed a veil upon his eyes — fa-man yahdīhi min baʿdi Allāh — so who other than Allah can guide him — a-fa-lā tadhakkarūn — then do you take no admonition — will you not take heed — will you not think?
Translation: — Have you considered the one who has made his whims and desires his own god — Allah has set him upon misguidance despite His knowing — He has set a seal on his ears and heart and placed a covering on his eyes — after this, besides Allah, who can guide him — will you not take heed?
Verse 24
وَقَالُوا مَا هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا يُهْلِكُنَا إِلَّا الدَّهْرُ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ
Wa-qālū mā hiya illā ḥayātunā al-dunyā namūtu wa-naḥyā wa-mā yuhlikunā illā al-dahru wa-mā lahum bi-dhālika min ʿilmin in hum illā yaẓunnūn.
"And they say: 'There is nothing but our worldly life — we die and we live, and nothing destroys us but time' — but they have no knowledge of that, they only speculate." (al-Jāthiya 45:24)
Wa-qālū — and the materialists said — this is the statement of the dahriyya (atheistic naturalists) — mā hiya illā ḥayātunā al-dunyā — there is nothing but this worldly life — we are born and we live — namūtu wa-naḥyā — we die and we live — and time kills us — wa-mā yuhlikunā illā al-dahr — nothing destroys us but time — wa-mā lahum bi-dhālika min ʿilm — but they have no real knowledge of this claim — in hum illā yaẓunnūn — they only speculate and surmise — this is all their imagination and conjecture.
Translation: — (The materialists) say: there is only this worldly life — we die and we live and it is only time that destroys us — they have no real knowledge of this claim — it is all their imagination and conjecture.
Verse 25
وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ مَّا كَانَ حُجَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا أَن قَالُوا ائْتُوا بِآبَائِنَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
Wa-idhā tutlā ʿalayhim āyātunā bayyinātin mā kāna ḥujjatahum illā an qālū i'tū bi-ābāʾinā in kuntum ṣādiqīn.
"And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, their argument is nothing but to say: 'Bring back our forefathers, if you are truthful.'" (al-Jāthiya 45:25)
Wa-idhā tutlā ʿalayhim — and when Our clear and manifest verses are recited to them — mā kāna ḥujjatahum illā — their only argument — they had no genuine argument — an qālū i'tū bi-ābāʾinā — except to say: bring back our dead ancestors — in kuntum ṣādiqīn — if you are truthful.
Translation: — And when Our manifest verses are recited to them, they have nothing to say in response save only: bring back our dead ancestors and fathers, if you are truthful.
Verse 26
قُلِ اللَّهُ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يَجْمَعُكُمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Quli Allāhu yuḥyīkum thumma yumītukum thumma yajmaʿukum ilā yawmi al-qiyāmati lā rayba fīhi wa-lākinna akthara al-nāsi lā yaʿlamūn.
"Say: 'Allah gives you life, then causes you to die — then He will gather you on the Day of Resurrection, of which there is no doubt — but most people do not know.'" (al-Jāthiya 45:26)
Qul — O Prophet, tell — Allāhu yuḥyīkum — it is Allah Who gives you life — He is the One Who keeps life going — thumma yumītukum — He then causes you to die — He will cause you to die — thumma yajmaʿukum ilā yawmi al-qiyāma — and He will gather you together on the Day of Resurrection — lā rayba fīhi — in which there is no shadow of doubt — this is not doubtful — wa-lākinna akthara al-nās lā yaʿlamūn — but most people are unaware — they are without knowledge and without certainty.
Translation: — Tell them: It is Allah Who gives you life — He causes you to die — and He will gather you together on the Day of Resurrection in which there is no doubt whatsoever — but most people are unaware and without certainty.
Verse 27
وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يَخْسَرُ الْمُبْطِلُونَ
Wa-li-llāhi mulku al-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi wa-yawma taqūmu al-sāʿatu yakhsaru al-mubṭilūn.
"And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth — and on the Day the Hour is established, on that Day the falsifiers will suffer loss." (al-Jāthiya 45:27)
Wa-li-llāhi mulku al-samāwāt wa-l-arḍ — and it is Allah's sovereignty — He is the sovereign of the heavens and the earth — He is the King everywhere — wa-yawma taqūmu al-sāʿa — and when the Day of Resurrection will be established — yakhsaru al-mubṭilūn — the people of falsehood and the adherents of false doctrine will suffer enormous losses — the falsifiers will kneel in loss.
Translation: — The sovereignty of the heavens and earth belongs to Allah — and when the Day of Resurrection comes, those who adhere to falsehood will suffer great loss.
Verse 28
وَتَرَى كُلَّ أُمَّةٍ جَاثِيَةً كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ تُدْعَى إِلَى كِتَابِهَا الْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Wa-tarā kulla ummatin jāthiyatan kullu ummatin tudʿā ilā kitābihā al-yawma tujzawna mā kuntum taʿmalūn.
"And you will see every nation kneeling — every nation will be summoned to its record: 'Today you are recompensed for what you used to do.'" (al-Jāthiya 45:28)
Wa-tarā — and (O addressee!) you will see — kulla ummatin jāthiyatan — every group — every sect — every community — every nation — kneeling in prostration — down on its knees — jāthiya — sitting on one's knees — kullu ummatin — every nation — tudʿā ilā kitābihā — each group will be summoned to its record — every group is called — to its record — every group — its record — al-yawma tujzawna mā kuntum taʿmalūn — today you will be recompensed for what you used to do — the deeds you used to perform — you will be brought to account.
Translation: — And (O Prophet!) you will see every group kneeling — every group will be summoned to its record of deeds — today you will receive the recompense for your deeds.
Verse 29
هَذَا كِتَابُنَا يَنطِقُ عَلَيْكُم بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّا كُنَّا نَسْتَنسِخُ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Hādhā kitābunā yanṭiqu ʿalaykum bi-l-ḥaqqi innā kunnā nastansikhu mā kuntum taʿmalūn.
"This is Our record which speaks about you in truth — indeed, We were having transcribed all that you used to do." (al-Jāthiya 45:29)
Hādhā kitābunā — this is Our record and book — yanṭiqu ʿalaykum bi-l-ḥaqq — it speaks truthfully before you — it states the true facts — innā kunnā nastansikh — indeed We have been transcribing — naskh — to write — istinsākh — to copy — to have written — mansūkh — a ruling that has been abrogated — nāsikh — the abrogating text — and here the meaning is: the order that was stopped — stopped because it was written — and mā kuntum taʿmalūn — all the deeds you used to perform.
Translation: — This is Our record which states the true facts about you — We have been recording all the deeds you used to perform from before.
Verse 30
فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَيُدْخِلُهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ فِي رَحْمَتِهِ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْمُبِينُ
Fa-ammā alladhīna āmanū wa-ʿamilū al-ṣāliḥāti fa-yudkhiluhum rabbuhum fī raḥmatihi dhālika huwa al-fawzu al-mubīn.
"As for those who believed and did righteous deeds — their Lord will admit them into His mercy — that is the manifest success." (al-Jāthiya 45:30)
Fa-ammā alladhīna āmanū — then those people who brought faith — wa-ʿamilū al-ṣāliḥāt — and performed righteous deeds — doing good deeds — repeatedly — fa-yudkhiluhum rabbuhum fī raḥmatihi — their Lord will admit them into His mercy — dhālika huwa al-fawzu al-mubīn — that is the manifest and clear success — this is what is clearly meant by fawz al-mubīn (manifest success) — it is deliverance — salvation.
Translation: — Then those who had faith and did good deeds — their Lord will admit them into His mercy — this is the manifest and great success.
Verse 31
وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَفَلَمْ تَكُنْ آيَاتِي تُتْلَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ وَكُنتُمْ قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ
Wa-ammā alladhīna kafarū a-fa-lam takun āyātī tutlā ʿalaykum fa-stakbartum wa-kuntum qawman mujrimīn.
"And as for those who disbelieved: 'Were My verses not being recited to you, but you were arrogant and you were a criminal people?'" (al-Jāthiya 45:31)
Wa-ammā alladhīna kafarū — and as for those who denied and rejected — it will be said to them — a-fa-lam takun āyātī tutlā ʿalaykum — did you not hear My verses recited to you? — fa-stakbartum — but you were arrogant — you considered yourself great — you behaved with pride — wa-kuntum qawman mujrimīn — and you were a criminal people — sinners — wrongdoers.
Translation: — And as for the disbelievers (it will be said to them): were My verses not recited to you — and you were arrogant and you were criminal people.
Verse 32
وَإِذَا قِيلَ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَالسَّاعَةُ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا قُلْتُم مَّا نَدْرِي مَا السَّاعَةُ إِن نَّظُنُّ إِلَّا ظَنًّا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُسْتَيْقِنِينَ
Wa-idhā qīla inna waʿda Allāhi ḥaqqun wa-l-sāʿatu lā rayba fīhā qultum mā nadrī mā al-sāʿatu in naẓunnu illā ẓannan wa-mā naḥnu bi-mustayqinīn.
"And when it was said: 'Indeed the promise of Allah is true and the Hour — there is no doubt in it' — you would say: 'We do not know what the Hour is; we only think conjecturally and we are not at all certain.'" (al-Jāthiya 45:32)
Wa-idhā qīla — and when they are told — inna waʿda Allāhi ḥaqq — indeed Allah's promise is true — wa-l-sāʿatu lā rayba fīhā — and the Hour of Resurrection is without any doubt — qultum mā nadrī mā al-sāʿa — you say: we do not know — what is the Resurrection? — in naẓunnu illā ẓannan — we only have a little conjecture — something of a guess — wa-mā naḥnu bi-mustayqinīn — and we do not have any certainty — certainty will never come to us.
Translation: — And when they were told that Allah's promise is true and the Resurrection is without doubt — they said: we have no knowledge of what the Resurrection is — we have only a little conjecture — certainty will never come to us.
Verse 33
وَبَدَا لَهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُ مَا عَمِلُوا وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ
Wa-badā lahum sayyiʾātu mā ʿamilū wa-ḥāqa bihim mā kānū bihi yastahziʾūn.
"And the evil consequences of what they did will become manifest to them, and they will be surrounded by what they used to mock." (al-Jāthiya 45:33)
Wa-badā lahum — and their evil deeds will become manifest — their misdeeds will become apparent — sayyiʾātu mā ʿamilū — the evil deeds they committed — wa-ḥāqa bihim — and they will be encompassed — surrounded — mā kānū bihi yastahziʾūn — by what they used to mock — that torment which they used to mock — which they used to belittle and ridicule.
Translation: — And their evil deeds will become manifest to them and the torment which they used to mock will surround them.
Verse 34
وَقِيلَ الْيَوْمَ نَنسَاكُمْ كَمَا نَسِيتُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا وَمَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ
Wa-qīla al-yawma nansākum kamā nasītum liqāʾa yawmikum hādhā wa-maʾwākumu al-nāru wa-mā lakum min nāṣirīn.
"And it will be said: 'Today We forget you as you forgot the meeting of this Day of yours — and your refuge is the Fire, and you have no helpers.'" (al-Jāthiya 45:34)
Wa-qīla — and they will be told — al-yawma nansākum — today We forget you — We will pay no attention to you — kamā nasītum liqāʾa yawmikum hādhā — just as you forgot the meeting of this Day of yours — wa-maʾwākumu al-nār — and your dwelling is the Fire — your resting place is Hell — wa-mā lakum min nāṣirīn — and you have no helper or aid.
Translation: — And they will be told: today We too will forget you, just as you forgot the coming of this Day and kept ignoring it — your abode is Hell and you have no helper.
Verse 35
ذَلِكُم بِأَنَّكُمُ اتَّخَذْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ هُزُوًا وَغَرَّتْكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فَالْيَوْمَ لَا يُخْرَجُونَ مِنْهَا وَلَا هُمْ يُسْتَعْتَبُونَ
Dhālikum bi-annakumu ittakhadhtum āyāti Allāhi huzuwan wa-gharratkumu al-ḥayātu al-dunyā fa-al-yawma lā yukhrujūna minhā wa-lā hum yustāʿtabūn.
"That is because you took the signs of Allah in mockery and the worldly life deceived you — so today they will not be removed from it, nor will their excuses be accepted." (al-Jāthiya 45:35)
Dhālikum — this torment — bi-annakumu ittakhadhtum — is because of what you did — āyāti Allāh — Allah's signs — His words — His tokens — you made mockery of them — wa-gharratkumu al-ḥayātu al-dunyā — and the worldly life put you in delusion — it deceived you and you fell into pride and deception — fa-al-yawma lā yukhrajūna minhā — then today they will not be removed from Hell — today no one will be taken out of Hell — wa-lā hum yustāʿtabūn — and neither will any excuse of theirs or repentance be accepted.
Translation: — Because of this — that you made mockery of Allah's signs and the worldly life put you in delusion — today no one will be removed from Hell and their excuse will not be accepted.
Verse 36
فَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبِّ الْأَرْضِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Fa-li-llāhi al-ḥamdu rabbi al-samāwāti wa-rabbi al-arḍi rabbi al-ʿālamīn.
"So all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, Lord of the worlds." (al-Jāthiya 45:36)
Fa-li-llāhi al-ḥamd — therefore all praise belongs to Allah — rabbi al-samāwāt wa-l-arḍ — who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth — He is the sovereign of both — rabbi al-ʿālamīn — He is the Lord of all the worlds — the Sustainer of all creation everywhere — all creation's Lord is He.
Translation: — Therefore all praise belongs to Allah Who is the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earth — the Lord of all the worlds.
Verse 37 — Closing Verse of Sūrat al-Jāthiya
وَلَهُ الْكِبْرِيَاءُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Wa-lahu al-kibriyāʾu fī al-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi wa-huwa al-ʿazīzu al-ḥakīm.
"And to Him belongs all grandeur in the heavens and the earth — and He is the Mighty, the Wise." (al-Jāthiya 45:37)
Wa-lahu al-kibriyāʾu — and His is the grandeur — it is His attribute — fī al-samāwāt wa-l-arḍ — in the heavens and the earth — in the heavens and the earth He is the grandeur — wa-huwa al-ʿazīz al-ḥakīm — and He is All-Mighty and All-Powerful — He is the All-Dominant — the Master of Wisdom — and without doubt He is Mighty and Wise.
Translation: — And His grandeur is established in the heavens and the earth — and He is Mighty and Wise.