An-Nahl 16:18

surah016
ﲪﲫﲮﲴ
16:1
أَتَىٰٓ
ata
Will come
أَمۡرُ
amru
(the) command of Allah
ٱللَّهِ
al-lahi
(the) command of Allah
فَلَا
fala
so (do) not
تَسۡتَعۡجِلُوهُۚ
tasta'jiluhu
(be) impatient for it
سُبۡحَٰنَهُۥ
sub'hanahu
Glorified is He
وَتَعَٰلَىٰ
wata'ala
and Exalted (is) He
عَمَّا
amma
above what
يُشۡرِكُونَ
yush'rikuna
they associate
١

God’s Judgement is coming, so do not ask to bring it on sooner. Glory be to Him! He is far above anything they join with Him

Translation 1260

16:2
يُنَزِّلُ
yunazzilu
He sends down
ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ
al-malaikata
the Angels
بِٱلرُّوحِ
bil-ruhi
with the inspiration
مِنۡ
min
of
أَمۡرِهِۦ
amrihi
His Command
عَلَىٰ
ala
upon
مَن
man
whom
يَشَآءُ
yashau
He wills
مِنۡ
min
of
عِبَادِهِۦٓ
ibadihi
His slaves
أَنۡ
an
that
أَنذِرُوٓاْ
andhiru
Warn
أَنَّهُۥ
annahu
that [He]
لَآ
la
(there is) no
إِلَٰهَ
ilaha
god
إِلَّآ
illa
except
أَنَا۠
ana
Me
فَٱتَّقُونِ
fa-ittaquni
so fear Me
٢

He sends down angels with inspiration at His command, to whichever of His servants He chooses, to give [His] warning: ‘There is no god but Me, so beware of Me.’

Translation 1260

16:3
خَلَقَ
khalaqa
He created
ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ
al-samawati
the heavens
وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ
wal-arda
and the earth
بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ
bil-haqi
in truth
تَعَٰلَىٰ
ta'ala
Exalted is He
عَمَّا
amma
above what
يُشۡرِكُونَ
yush'rikuna
they associate
٣

He created the heavens and earth for a true purpose, and He is far above whatever they join with Him

Translation 1260

16:4
خَلَقَ
khalaqa
He created
ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ
al-insana
the human kind
مِن
min
from
نُّطۡفَةٖ
nut'fatin
a minute quantity of semen
فَإِذَا
fa-idha
then behold
هُوَ
huwa
he
خَصِيمٞ
khasimun
(is) an opponent
مُّبِينٞ
mubinun
clear
٤

He created man from a drop of fluid, and yet man openly challenges Him

Translation 1260

16:5
وَٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمَ
wal-an'ama
And the cattle
خَلَقَهَاۖ
khalaqaha
He created them
لَكُمۡ
lakum
for you
فِيهَا
fiha
in them
دِفۡءٞ
dif'on
(is) warmth
وَمَنَٰفِعُ
wamanafi'u
and benefits
وَمِنۡهَا
wamin'ha
and from them
تَأۡكُلُونَ
takuluna
you eat
٥

And livestock––He created them too. You derive warmth and other benefits from them: you get food from them

Translation 1260

16:6
وَلَكُمۡ
walakum
And for you
فِيهَا
fiha
in them
جَمَالٌ
jamalun
(is) beauty
حِينَ
hina
when
تُرِيحُونَ
turihuna
you bring them in
وَحِينَ
wahina
and when
تَسۡرَحُونَ
tasrahuna
you take them out
٦

you find beauty in them when you bring them home to rest and when you drive them out to pasture

Translation 1260

Page 268
16:7
وَتَحۡمِلُ
watahmilu
And they carry
أَثۡقَالَكُمۡ
athqalakum
your loads
إِلَىٰ
ila
to
بَلَدٖ
baladin
a land
لَّمۡ
lam
not
تَكُونُواْ
takunu
you could
بَٰلِغِيهِ
balighihi
reach it
إِلَّا
illa
except
بِشِقِّ
bishiqqi
with great trouble
ٱلۡأَنفُسِۚ
al-anfusi
(to) yourselves
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
رَبَّكُمۡ
rabbakum
your Lord
لَرَءُوفٞ
laraufun
surely is Most Kind
رَّحِيمٞ
rahimun
Most Merciful
٧

They carry your loads to lands you yourselves could not reach without great hardship––truly your Lord is kind and merciful––

Translation 1260

16:8
وَٱلۡخَيۡلَ
wal-khayla
And horses
وَٱلۡبِغَالَ
wal-bighala
and mules
وَٱلۡحَمِيرَ
wal-hamira
and donkeys
لِتَرۡكَبُوهَا
litarkabuha
for you to ride them
وَزِينَةٗۚ
wazinatan
and (as) adornment
وَيَخۡلُقُ
wayakhluqu
And He creates
مَا
ma
what
لَا
la
not
تَعۡلَمُونَ
ta'lamuna
you know
٨

horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and use for show, and other things you know nothing about

Translation 1260

16:9
وَعَلَى
wa'ala
And upon
ٱللَّهِ
al-lahi
Allah
قَصۡدُ
qasdu
(is) the direction
ٱلسَّبِيلِ
al-sabili
(of) the way
وَمِنۡهَا
wamin'ha
and among them
جَآئِرٞۚ
jairun
(are) crooked
وَلَوۡ
walaw
And if
شَآءَ
shaa
He willed
لَهَدَىٰكُمۡ
lahadakum
surely He would have guided you
أَجۡمَعِينَ
ajma'ina
all
٩

God points out the right path, for some paths lead the wrong way: if He wished, He could guide you all

Translation 1260

16:10
هُوَ
huwa
He
ٱلَّذِيٓ
alladhi
(is) the One Who
أَنزَلَ
anzala
sends down
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱلسَّمَآءِ
al-samai
the sky
مَآءٗۖ
maan
water
لَّكُم
lakum
for you
مِّنۡهُ
min'hu
of it
شَرَابٞ
sharabun
(is) drink
وَمِنۡهُ
wamin'hu
and from it
شَجَرٞ
shajarun
(grows) vegetation
فِيهِ
fihi
in which
تُسِيمُونَ
tusimuna
you pasture your cattle
١٠

It is He who sends down water for you from the sky, from which comes a drink for you, and the shrubs that you feed to your animals

Translation 1260

16:11
يُنۢبِتُ
yunbitu
He causes to grow
لَكُم
lakum
for you
بِهِ
bihi
with it
ٱلزَّرۡعَ
al-zar'a
the crops
وَٱلزَّيۡتُونَ
wal-zaytuna
and the olives
وَٱلنَّخِيلَ
wal-nakhila
and the date-palms
وَٱلۡأَعۡنَٰبَ
wal-a'naba
and the grapes
وَمِن
wamin
and of
كُلِّ
kulli
every kind
ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِۚ
al-thamarati
(of) fruits
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
فِي
fi
in
ذَٰلِكَ
dhalika
that
لَأٓيَةٗ
laayatan
surely (is) a sign
لِّقَوۡمٖ
liqawmin
for a people
يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
yatafakkaruna
who reflect
١١

With it He grows for you grain, olives, palms, vines, and all kinds of other crops. There truly is a sign in this for those who reflect

Translation 1260

16:12
وَسَخَّرَ
wasakhara
And He has subjected
لَكُمُ
lakumu
for you
ٱلَّيۡلَ
al-layla
the night
وَٱلنَّهَارَ
wal-nahara
and the day
وَٱلشَّمۡسَ
wal-shamsa
and the sun
وَٱلۡقَمَرَۖ
wal-qamara
and the moon
وَٱلنُّجُومُ
wal-nujumu
and the stars
مُسَخَّرَٰتُۢ
musakharatun
(are) subjected
بِأَمۡرِهِۦٓۚ
bi-amrihi
by His command
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
فِي
fi
in
ذَٰلِكَ
dhalika
that
لَأٓيَٰتٖ
laayatin
surely (are) signs
لِّقَوۡمٖ
liqawmin
for a people
يَعۡقِلُونَ
ya'qiluna
who use reason
١٢

By His command He has made the night and day, the sun, moon, and stars all of benefit to you. There truly are signs in this for those who use their reason

Translation 1260

16:13
وَمَا
wama
And whatever
ذَرَأَ
dhara-a
He multiplied
لَكُمۡ
lakum
for you
فِي
fi
in
ٱلۡأَرۡضِ
al-ardi
the earth
مُخۡتَلِفًا
mukh'talifan
(of) varying
أَلۡوَٰنُهُۥٓۚ
alwanuhu
colors
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
فِي
fi
in
ذَٰلِكَ
dhalika
that
لَأٓيَةٗ
laayatan
surely (is) a sign
لِّقَوۡمٖ
liqawmin
for a people
يَذَّكَّرُونَ
yadhakkaruna
who remember
١٣

He has made of benefit to you the many-coloured things He has multiplied on the earth. There truly are signs in this for those who take it to heart

Translation 1260

16:14
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
And He
ٱلَّذِي
alladhi
(is) the One Who
سَخَّرَ
sakhara
subjected
ٱلۡبَحۡرَ
al-bahra
the sea
لِتَأۡكُلُواْ
litakulu
for you to eat
مِنۡهُ
min'hu
from it
لَحۡمٗا
lahman
meat
طَرِيّٗا
tariyyan
fresh
وَتَسۡتَخۡرِجُواْ
watastakhriju
and that you bring forth
مِنۡهُ
min'hu
from it
حِلۡيَةٗ
hil'yatan
ornaments
تَلۡبَسُونَهَاۖ
talbasunaha
(that) you wear them
وَتَرَى
watara
And you see
ٱلۡفُلۡكَ
al-ful'ka
the ships
مَوَاخِرَ
mawakhira
ploughing
فِيهِ
fihi
through it
وَلِتَبۡتَغُواْ
walitabtaghu
and that you may seek
مِن
min
of
فَضۡلِهِۦ
fadlihi
His Bounty
وَلَعَلَّكُمۡ
wala'allakum
and that you may
تَشۡكُرُونَ
tashkuruna
(be) grateful
١٤

It is He who made the sea of benefit to you: you eat fresh fish from it and bring out jewellery to wear; you see the ships cutting through its waves so that you may go in search of His bounty and give thanks

Translation 1260

Page 269
16:15
وَأَلۡقَىٰ
wa-alqa
And He has cast
فِي
fi
in
ٱلۡأَرۡضِ
al-ardi
the earth
رَوَٰسِيَ
rawasiya
firm mountains
أَن
an
lest
تَمِيدَ
tamida
it should shake
بِكُمۡ
bikum
with you
وَأَنۡهَٰرٗا
wa-anharan
and rivers
وَسُبُلٗا
wasubulan
and roads
لَّعَلَّكُمۡ
la'allakum
so that you may
تَهۡتَدُونَ
tahtaduna
be guided
١٥

He has made mountains stand firm on the earth, to prevent it shaking under you, and rivers and paths so that you may find your way

Translation 1260

16:16
وَعَلَٰمَٰتٖۚ
wa'alamatin
And landmarks
وَبِٱلنَّجۡمِ
wabil-najmi
And by the stars
هُمۡ
hum
they
يَهۡتَدُونَ
yahtaduna
guide themselves
١٦

and landmarks and stars to guide people

Translation 1260

16:17
أَفَمَن
afaman
Then is He Who
يَخۡلُقُ
yakhluqu
creates
كَمَن
kaman
like one who
لَّا
la
(does) not
يَخۡلُقُۚ
yakhluqu
create
أَفَلَا
afala
Then will you not
تَذَكَّرُونَ
tadhakkaruna
remember
١٧

Can He who creates be compared to one who cannot create? Why do you not take heed

Translation 1260

16:18
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
تَعُدُّواْ
ta'uddu
you should count
نِعۡمَةَ
ni'mata
the Favors of Allah
ٱللَّهِ
al-lahi
the Favors of Allah
لَا
la
not
تُحۡصُوهَآۗ
tuh'suha
you could enumerate them
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
al-laha
Allah
لَغَفُورٞ
laghafurun
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٞ
rahimun
Most Merciful
١٨

If you tried to count God’s blessings, you could never take them all in: He is truly most forgiving and most merciful

Translation 1260

16:19
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
يَعۡلَمُ
ya'lamu
knows
مَا
ma
what
تُسِرُّونَ
tusirruna
you conceal
وَمَا
wama
and what
تُعۡلِنُونَ
tu'linuna
you reveal
١٩

He knows what you conceal and what you reveal

Translation 1260

16:20
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhina
And those whom
يَدۡعُونَ
yad'una
they invoke
مِن
min
besides
دُونِ
duni
besides
ٱللَّهِ
al-lahi
Allah
لَا
la
not
يَخۡلُقُونَ
yakhluquna
they create
شَيۡـٔٗا
shayan
anything
وَهُمۡ
wahum
but (are) themselves
يُخۡلَقُونَ
yukh'laquna
created
٢٠

Those they invoke beside God create nothing; they are themselves created

Translation 1260

16:21
أَمۡوَٰتٌ
amwatun
(They are) dead
غَيۡرُ
ghayru
not alive
أَحۡيَآءٖۖ
ahyain
not alive
وَمَا
wama
And not
يَشۡعُرُونَ
yash'uruna
they perceive
أَيَّانَ
ayyana
when
يُبۡعَثُونَ
yub'athuna
they will be resurrected
٢١

They are dead, not living. They do not know when they will be raised up

Translation 1260

16:22
إِلَٰهُكُمۡ
ilahukum
Your god
إِلَٰهٞ
ilahun
(is) God
وَٰحِدٞۚ
wahidun
One
فَٱلَّذِينَ
fa-alladhina
But those who
لَا
la
(do) not
يُؤۡمِنُونَ
yu'minuna
believe
بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ
bil-akhirati
in the Hereafter
قُلُوبُهُم
qulubuhum
their hearts
مُّنكِرَةٞ
munkiratun
refuse
وَهُم
wahum
and they
مُّسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ
mus'takbiruna
(are) arrogant
٢٢

Your God is the One God. As for those who deny the life to come, their hearts refuse to admit the truth and they are arrogant

Translation 1260

16:23
لَا
la
No doubt
جَرَمَ
jarama
No doubt
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱللَّهَ
al-laha
Allah
يَعۡلَمُ
ya'lamu
knows
مَا
ma
what
يُسِرُّونَ
yusirruna
they conceal
وَمَا
wama
and what
يُعۡلِنُونَۚ
yu'linuna
they reveal
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed He
لَا
la
(does) not
يُحِبُّ
yuhibbu
love
ٱلۡمُسۡتَكۡبِرِينَ
al-mus'takbirina
the arrogant ones
٢٣

There is no doubt that God knows what they conceal and what they reveal. He does not love the arrogant

Translation 1260

16:24
وَإِذَا
wa-idha
And when
قِيلَ
qila
it is said
لَهُم
lahum
to them
مَّاذَآ
madha
What
أَنزَلَ
anzala
has your Lord sent down
رَبُّكُمۡ
rabbukum
has your Lord sent down
قَالُوٓاْ
qalu
They say
أَسَٰطِيرُ
asatiru
Tales
ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ
al-awalina
(of) the ancient
٢٤

When they are asked, ‘What has your Lord sent down?’ they say, ‘Ancient fables.’

Translation 1260

16:25
لِيَحۡمِلُوٓاْ
liyahmilu
That they may bear
أَوۡزَارَهُمۡ
awzarahum
their own burdens
كَامِلَةٗ
kamilatan
(in) full
يَوۡمَ
yawma
on (the) Day
ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ
al-qiyamati
(of) the Resurrection
وَمِنۡ
wamin
and of
أَوۡزَارِ
awzari
the burdens
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhina
(of) those whom
يُضِلُّونَهُم
yudillunahum
they misled [them]
بِغَيۡرِ
bighayri
without
عِلۡمٍۗ
il'min
knowledge
أَلَا
ala
Unquestionably
سَآءَ
saa
evil
مَا
ma
(is) what
يَزِرُونَ
yaziruna
they will bear
٢٥

On the Day of Resurrection they will bear the full weight of their own burden, as well as some of the burden of those they misled with no true knowledge. How terrible their burden will be

Translation 1260