Al-Anbya 21:3

surah021
ﲪﲫﲮﲴ
21:1
ٱقۡتَرَبَ
iq'taraba
(Has) approached
لِلنَّاسِ
lilnnasi
for [the] mankind
حِسَابُهُمۡ
hisabuhum
their account
وَهُمۡ
wahum
while they
فِي
fi
(are) in
غَفۡلَةٖ
ghaflatin
heedlessness
مُّعۡرِضُونَ
mu'riduna
turning away
١

Ever closer to people draws their reckoning, while they turn away, heedless

Translation 1260

21:2
مَا
ma
Not
يَأۡتِيهِم
yatihim
comes to them
مِّن
min
of
ذِكۡرٖ
dhik'rin
a Reminder
مِّن
min
from
رَّبِّهِم
rabbihim
their Lord
مُّحۡدَثٍ
muh'dathin
anew
إِلَّا
illa
except
ٱسۡتَمَعُوهُ
is'tama'uhu
they listen to it
وَهُمۡ
wahum
while they
يَلۡعَبُونَ
yal'abuna
(are at) play
٢

Whenever any fresh revelation comes to them from their Lord, they listen to it playfully

Translation 1260

21:3
لَاهِيَةٗ
lahiyatan
Distracted
قُلُوبُهُمۡۗ
qulubuhum
their hearts
وَأَسَرُّواْ
wa-asarru
And they conceal
ٱلنَّجۡوَى
al-najwa
the private conversation
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhina
those who
ظَلَمُواْ
zalamu
[they] wronged
هَلۡ
hal
Is
هَٰذَآ
hadha
this
إِلَّا
illa
except
بَشَرٞ
basharun
a human being
مِّثۡلُكُمۡۖ
mith'lukum
like you
أَفَتَأۡتُونَ
afatatuna
So would you approach
ٱلسِّحۡرَ
al-sih'ra
the magic
وَأَنتُمۡ
wa-antum
while you
تُبۡصِرُونَ
tub'siruna
see (it)
٣

with frivolous hearts. The evildoers conferred in secret: ‘Is this man anything but a mortal like yourselves? Are you going to fall under his spell with your eyes wide open?’

Translation 1260

21:4
قَالَ
qala
He said
رَبِّي
rabbi
My Lord
يَعۡلَمُ
ya'lamu
knows
ٱلۡقَوۡلَ
al-qawla
the word
فِي
fi
in
ٱلسَّمَآءِ
al-samai
the heavens
وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ
wal-ardi
and the earth
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
And He
ٱلسَّمِيعُ
al-sami'u
(is) the All-Hearer
ٱلۡعَلِيمُ
al-'alimu
the All-Knower
٤

He said, ‘My Lord knows everything that is said in the heavens and the earth: He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing.’

Translation 1260

21:5
بَلۡ
bal
Nay
قَالُوٓاْ
qalu
they say
أَضۡغَٰثُ
adghathu
Muddled
أَحۡلَٰمِۭ
ahlamin
dreams
بَلِ
bali
nay
ٱفۡتَرَىٰهُ
if'tarahu
he (has) invented it
بَلۡ
bal
nay
هُوَ
huwa
he
شَاعِرٞ
sha'irun
(is) a poet
فَلۡيَأۡتِنَا
falyatina
So let him bring us
بِـَٔايَةٖ
biayatin
a sign
كَمَآ
kama
like what
أُرۡسِلَ
ur'sila
was sent
ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ
al-awaluna
(to) the former
٥

Some say, ‘Muddled dreams’; others, ‘He made it up’; yet others, ‘He is just a poet, let him show us a sign as previous messengers did.’

Translation 1260

21:6
مَآ
ma
Not
ءَامَنَتۡ
amanat
believed
قَبۡلَهُم
qablahum
before them
مِّن
min
any
قَرۡيَةٍ
qaryatin
town
أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهَآۖ
ahlaknaha
which We destroyed
أَفَهُمۡ
afahum
so will they
يُؤۡمِنُونَ
yu'minuna
believe
٦

But of the communities We destroyed before them not a single one believed. Will these now believe

Translation 1260

21:7
وَمَآ
wama
And not
أَرۡسَلۡنَا
arsalna
We sent
قَبۡلَكَ
qablaka
before you
إِلَّا
illa
except
رِجَالٗا
rijalan
men
نُّوحِيٓ
nuhi
We revealed
إِلَيۡهِمۡۖ
ilayhim
to them
فَسۡـَٔلُوٓاْ
fasalu
So ask
أَهۡلَ
ahla
(the) people
ٱلذِّكۡرِ
al-dhik'ri
(of) the Reminder
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمۡ
kuntum
you
لَا
la
(do) not
تَعۡلَمُونَ
ta'lamuna
know
٧

And even before your time [Prophet], all the messengers We sent were only men We inspired–– if you [disbelievers] do not know, ask people who know the Scripture––

Translation 1260

21:8
وَمَا
wama
And not
جَعَلۡنَٰهُمۡ
ja'alnahum
We made them
جَسَدٗا
jasadan
bodies
لَّا
la
not
يَأۡكُلُونَ
yakuluna
eating
ٱلطَّعَامَ
al-ta'ama
the food
وَمَا
wama
and not
كَانُواْ
kanu
they were
خَٰلِدِينَ
khalidina
immortals
٨

We did not give them bodies that ate no food, nor were they immortal

Translation 1260

21:9
ثُمَّ
thumma
Then
صَدَقۡنَٰهُمُ
sadaqnahumu
We fulfilled (for) them
ٱلۡوَعۡدَ
al-wa'da
the promise
فَأَنجَيۡنَٰهُمۡ
fa-anjaynahum
and We saved them
وَمَن
waman
and whom
نَّشَآءُ
nashau
We willed
وَأَهۡلَكۡنَا
wa-ahlakna
and We destroyed
ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ
al-mus'rifina
the transgressors
٩

We fulfilled Our promise to them in the end: We saved them and those We wished to save, and We destroyed those who exceeded all bounds

Translation 1260

21:10
لَقَدۡ
laqad
Indeed
أَنزَلۡنَآ
anzalna
We (have) sent down
إِلَيۡكُمۡ
ilaykum
to you
كِتَٰبٗا
kitaban
a Book
فِيهِ
fihi
in it
ذِكۡرُكُمۡۚ
dhik'rukum
(is) your mention
أَفَلَا
afala
Then will not
تَعۡقِلُونَ
ta'qiluna
you use reason
١٠

And now We have sent down to you [people] a Scripture to remind you. Will you not use your reason

Translation 1260

Page 323
21:11
وَكَمۡ
wakam
And how many
قَصَمۡنَا
qasamna
We (have) shattered
مِن
min
of
قَرۡيَةٖ
qaryatin
a town
كَانَتۡ
kanat
(that) was
ظَالِمَةٗ
zalimatan
unjust
وَأَنشَأۡنَا
wa-anshana
and We produced
بَعۡدَهَا
ba'daha
after them
قَوۡمًا
qawman
another people
ءَاخَرِينَ
akharina
another people
١١

How many communities of evildoers We have destroyed! How many others We have raised up in their places

Translation 1260

21:12
فَلَمَّآ
falamma
Then when
أَحَسُّواْ
ahassu
they perceived
بَأۡسَنَآ
basana
Our torment
إِذَا
idha
behold
هُم
hum
they
مِّنۡهَا
min'ha
from it
يَرۡكُضُونَ
yarkuduna
were fleeing
١٢

When they felt Our might coming upon them, see how they tried to escape it

Translation 1260

21:13
لَا
la
Flee not
تَرۡكُضُواْ
tarkudu
Flee not
وَٱرۡجِعُوٓاْ
wa-ir'ji'u
but return
إِلَىٰ
ila
to
مَآ
ma
what
أُتۡرِفۡتُمۡ
ut'rif'tum
you were given luxury
فِيهِ
fihi
in it
وَمَسَٰكِنِكُمۡ
wamasakinikum
and to your homes
لَعَلَّكُمۡ
la'allakum
so that you may
تُسۡـَٔلُونَ
tus'aluna
be questioned
١٣

‘Do not try to escape. Go back to your homes and the pleasure you revelled in: you may be questioned.’

Translation 1260

21:14
قَالُواْ
qalu
They said
يَٰوَيۡلَنَآ
yawaylana
O woe to us
إِنَّا
inna
Indeed [we]
كُنَّا
kunna
we were
ظَٰلِمِينَ
zalimina
wrongdoers
١٤

They said, ‘Woe to us! We were wrong!’

Translation 1260

21:15
فَمَا
fama
Then not
زَالَت
zalat
ceased
تِّلۡكَ
til'ka
[this]
دَعۡوَىٰهُمۡ
da'wahum
their cry
حَتَّىٰ
hatta
until
جَعَلۡنَٰهُمۡ
ja'alnahum
We made them
حَصِيدًا
hasidan
reaped
خَٰمِدِينَ
khamidina
extinct
١٥

and that cry of theirs did not cease until We made them burnt-offstubble

Translation 1260

21:16
وَمَا
wama
And not
خَلَقۡنَا
khalaqna
We created
ٱلسَّمَآءَ
al-samaa
the heavens
وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ
wal-arda
and the earth
وَمَا
wama
and what
بَيۡنَهُمَا
baynahuma
(is) between them
لَٰعِبِينَ
la'ibina
(for) playing
١٦

We did not create the heavens and the earth and everything between them playfully

Translation 1260

21:17
لَوۡ
law
If
أَرَدۡنَآ
aradna
We intended
أَن
an
that
نَّتَّخِذَ
nattakhidha
We take
لَهۡوٗا
lahwan
a pastime
لَّٱتَّخَذۡنَٰهُ
la-ittakhadhnahu
surely We (could have) taken it
مِن
min
from
لَّدُنَّآ
ladunna
Us
إِن
in
if
كُنَّا
kunna
We were
فَٰعِلِينَ
fa'ilina
doers
١٧

If We had wished for a pastime, We could have found it within Us- if We had wished for any such thing

Translation 1260

21:18
بَلۡ
bal
Nay
نَقۡذِفُ
naqdhifu
We hurl
بِٱلۡحَقِّ
bil-haqi
the truth
عَلَى
ala
against
ٱلۡبَٰطِلِ
al-batili
[the] falsehood
فَيَدۡمَغُهُۥ
fayadmaghuhu
and it breaks its head
فَإِذَا
fa-idha
behold
هُوَ
huwa
it (is)
زَاهِقٞۚ
zahiqun
vanishing
وَلَكُمُ
walakumu
And for you
ٱلۡوَيۡلُ
al-waylu
(is) destruction
مِمَّا
mimma
for what
تَصِفُونَ
tasifuna
you ascribe
١٨

No! We hurl the truth against falsehood, and truth obliterates it- see how falsehood vanishes away! Woe to you [people] for the way you describe God

Translation 1260

21:19
وَلَهُۥ
walahu
And to Him (belongs)
مَن
man
whoever
فِي
fi
(is) in
ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ
al-samawati
the heavens
وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ
wal-ardi
and the earth
وَمَنۡ
waman
And (those) who
عِندَهُۥ
indahu
(are) near Him
لَا
la
not
يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ
yastakbiruna
they are arrogant
عَنۡ
an
to
عِبَادَتِهِۦ
ibadatihi
worship Him
وَلَا
wala
and not
يَسۡتَحۡسِرُونَ
yastahsiruna
they tire
١٩

Everyone in the heavens and earth belongs to Him, and those that are with Him are never too proud to worship Him, nor do they grow weary

Translation 1260

21:20
يُسَبِّحُونَ
yusabbihuna
They glorify (Him)
ٱلَّيۡلَ
al-layla
[the] night
وَٱلنَّهَارَ
wal-nahara
and [the] day
لَا
la
not
يَفۡتُرُونَ
yafturuna
they slacken
٢٠

they glorify Him tirelessly night and day

Translation 1260

21:21
أَمِ
ami
Or
ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ
ittakhadhu
(have) they taken
ءَالِهَةٗ
alihatan
gods
مِّنَ
mina
from
ٱلۡأَرۡضِ
al-ardi
the earth
هُمۡ
hum
they
يُنشِرُونَ
yunshiruna
raise (the dead)
٢١

Have they chosen any gods from the earth who can give life to the dead

Translation 1260

21:22
لَوۡ
law
If
كَانَ
kana
(there) were
فِيهِمَآ
fihima
in both of them
ءَالِهَةٌ
alihatun
gods
إِلَّا
illa
besides
ٱللَّهُ
al-lahu
Allah
لَفَسَدَتَاۚ
lafasadata
surely they (would) have been ruined
فَسُبۡحَٰنَ
fasub'hana
So glorified
ٱللَّهِ
al-lahi
(is) Allah
رَبِّ
rabbi
Lord
ٱلۡعَرۡشِ
al-'arshi
(of) the Throne
عَمَّا
amma
(above) what
يَصِفُونَ
yasifuna
they attribute
٢٢

If there had been in the heavens or earth any gods but Him, both heavens and earth would be in ruins: God, Lord of the Throne, is far above the things they say

Translation 1260

21:23
لَا
la
Not
يُسۡـَٔلُ
yus'alu
He (can) be questioned
عَمَّا
amma
about what
يَفۡعَلُ
yaf 'alu
He does
وَهُمۡ
wahum
but they
يُسۡـَٔلُونَ
yus'aluna
will be questioned
٢٣

He cannot be called to account for anything He does, whereas they will be called to account

Translation 1260

21:24
أَمِ
ami
Or
ٱتَّخَذُواْ
ittakhadhu
(have) they taken
مِن
min
besides Him
دُونِهِۦٓ
dunihi
besides Him
ءَالِهَةٗۖ
alihatan
gods
قُلۡ
qul
Say
هَاتُواْ
hatu
Bring
بُرۡهَٰنَكُمۡۖ
bur'hanakum
your proof
هَٰذَا
hadha
This
ذِكۡرُ
dhik'ru
(is) a Reminder
مَن
man
(for those) who
مَّعِيَ
ma'iya
(are) with me
وَذِكۡرُ
wadhik'ru
and a Reminder
مَن
man
(for those) who
قَبۡلِيۚ
qabli
(were) before me
بَلۡ
bal
But
أَكۡثَرُهُمۡ
aktharuhum
most of them
لَا
la
(do) not
يَعۡلَمُونَ
ya'lamuna
know
ٱلۡحَقَّۖ
al-haqa
the truth
فَهُم
fahum
so they
مُّعۡرِضُونَ
mu'riduna
(are) averse
٢٤

Have they chosen to worship other gods instead of Him? Say, ‘Bring your proof. This is the Scripture for those who are with me and the Scripture for those who went before me.’ But most of them do not recognize the truth, so they pay no heed

Translation 1260

Page 324
21:25
وَمَآ
wama
And not
أَرۡسَلۡنَا
arsalna
We sent
مِن
min
before you
قَبۡلِكَ
qablika
before you
مِن
min
any
رَّسُولٍ
rasulin
Messenger
إِلَّا
illa
but
نُوحِيٓ
nuhi
We reveal(ed)
إِلَيۡهِ
ilayhi
to him
أَنَّهُۥ
annahu
that [He]
لَآ
la
(There is) no
إِلَٰهَ
ilaha
god
إِلَّآ
illa
except
أَنَا۠
ana
Me
فَٱعۡبُدُونِ
fa-u'buduni
so worship Me
٢٥

We never sent any messenger before you [Muhammad] without revealing to him: ‘There is no god but Me, so serve Me.’

Translation 1260