سورة الصافات   

Surah Name: As-Saffaat Meaning: The Ranks

  • Revealed at Makkah
  • Total Number of Rukū / Sections 5
  • Total Number of Āyāt / Parts 182
  • Sūrah / Chapter number 37
  • Rukū / Section 2 contains Āyāt / Parts 53
  • Siparah / Volume 23

bismillah

احْشُرُوا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا وَأَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ

Ohshuroo allatheena thalamoo waazwajahum wama kanoo yaAAbudoon(a)

Assemble together those who did wrong and their companions, and what they used to worship.

(37:22)

مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَاهْدُوهُمْ إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْجَحِيمِ 

Min dooni Allahi fa(i)hdoohum ila sirati aljaheem(i)

Beside Allah-SWT , and lead them on to the path of Flaming Fire.

(37:23)

وَقِفُوهُمْ إِنَّهُم مَّسْئُولُونَ 

Waqifoohum innahum masooloon(a)

And stop them; verily they are to be questioned.

(37:24)

مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَنَاصَرُونَ 

Ma lakum la tanasaroon(a)

What is the matter with you that you do not succour one another?

(37:25)

بَلْ هُمُ الْيَوْمَ مُسْتَسْلِمُونَ 

Bal humu alyawma mustaslimoon(a)

Nay! On that Day they will be entirely submissive.

(37:26)

وَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ يَتَسَاءلُونَ 

Waaqbala baAAduhum AAala baAAdin yatasaaloon(a)

And they will advance towards each other mutually questioning.

(37:27)

قَالُوا إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَأْتُونَنَا عَنِ الْيَمِينِ 

Qaloo innakum kuntum tatoonana AAani alyameen(i)

They will say: Verily you! You used to come to us imposing.

(37:28)

قَالُوا بَل لَّمْ تَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ 

Qaloo bal lam takoonoo mumineen(a)

They will say: Nay! You yourselves were unbelievers.

(37:29)

وَمَا كَانَ لَنَا عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَانٍ بَلْ كُنتُمْ قَوْمًا طَاغِينَ 

Wama kana lana AAalaykum min sultanin bal kuntum qawman tagheen(a)

And we had over you no authority, but you were a people exorbitant.

(37:30)

فَحَقَّ عَلَيْنَا قَوْلُ رَبِّنَا إِنَّا لَذَائِقُونَ 

Fahaqqa AAalayna qawlu rabbina inna lathaiqoon(a)

So on us h-AS been justified the sentence of our Rabb-SWT : surely we are to t-ASte.

(37:31)

فَأَغْوَيْنَاكُمْ إِنَّا كُنَّا غَاوِينَ 

Faaghwaynakum inna kunna ghaween(a)

We seduced you astray; verily we were ourselves the seduced ones.

(37:32)

فَإِنَّهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ فِي الْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ 

Fainnahum yawmaithin fee alAAathabi mushtarikoon(a)

So on the Day they all will be sharers in the torment.

(37:33)

إِنَّا كَذَلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِالْمُجْرِمِينَ 

Inna kathalika nafAAalu bi(a)lmujrimeen(a)

Verily We-SWT , We-SWT in this way deal with the culprits.

(37:34)

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

Innahum kanoo itha qeela lahum la ilaha illa Allahu yastakbiroon(a)

Of a surety, when it was said to them: There is none worthy of worship but Allah-SWT , they grew stiff-necked.

(37:35)

وَيَقُولُونَ أَئِنَّا لَتَارِكُوا آلِهَتِنَا لِشَاعِرٍ مَّجْنُونٍ 

Wayaqooloona ainna latarikoo alihatina lishaAAirin majnoon(in)

And said: Are we going to abandon our gods on account of a poet distracted?

(37:36)

بَلْ جَاء بِالْحَقِّ وَصَدَّقَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ 

Bal jaa bi(a)lhaqqi wasaddaqa almursaleen(a)

Aye! He-SWT has come with the truth and he confirms the sent ones.

(37:37)

إِنَّكُمْ لَذَائِقُو الْعَذَابِ الْأَلِيمِ 

Innakum lathaiqoo alAAathabi alaleem(i)

Verily you are going to taste a torment afflictive.

(37:38)

وَمَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ 

Wama tujzawna illa ma kuntum taAAmaloon(a)

And you shall be requited not except for what you have been working.

(37:39)

إِلَّا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ 

Illa AAibada Allahi almukhlaseen(a)

But the bondmen of Allah-SWT , the sincere ones.

(37:40)

أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمْ رِزْقٌ مَّعْلُومٌ 

Olaika lahum rizqun maAAloom(un)

Those! Theirs shall be a provision known.

(37:41)

فَوَاكِهُ وَهُم مُّكْرَمُونَ 

Fawakihu wahum mukramoon(a)

Fruits; and they shall be honoured.

(37:42)

فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ 

Fee jannati a(l)nnaAAeem(i)

In Gardens of delight.

(37:43)

عَلَى سُرُرٍ مُّتَقَابِلِينَ 

AAala sururin mutaqabileen(a)

On couches, facing one another.

(37:44)

يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِكَأْسٍ مِن مَّعِينٍ 

Yutafu AAalayhim bikasin min maAAeen(in)

Round shall be p-ASsed a cup unto them, filled with limpid drink.

(37:45)

بَيْضَاء لَذَّةٍ لِّلشَّارِبِينَ 

Baydaa laththatin li(l)shsharibeen(a)

White; delicious to the drinkers.

(37:46)

لَا فِيهَا غَوْلٌ وَلَا هُمْ عَنْهَا يُنزَفُونَ 

La feeha ghawlun wala hum AAanha yunzafoon(a)

No headiness there shall be in it nor shall they be inebriated with it.

(37:47)

وَعِنْدَهُمْ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ عِينٌ 

WaAAindahum qasiratu a(l)ttarfi AAeen(un)

And with them shall be damsels of refraining looks large-eyed.

(37:48)

كَأَنَّهُنَّ بَيْضٌ مَّكْنُونٌ 

Kaannahunna baydun maknoon(un)

as though they were eggs preserved.

(37:49)

فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ يَتَسَاءلُونَ 

Faaqbala baAAduhum AAala baAAdin yatasaaloon(a)

Then they will advance towards one another, mutually questioning.

(37:50)

قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ إِنِّي كَانَ لِي قَرِينٌ 

Qala qailun minhum innee kana lee qareen(un)

And a speaker from among them will say: Verily there was a mate of mine.

(37: 51)

يَقُولُ أَئِنَّكَ لَمِنْ الْمُصَدِّقِينَ 

Yaqoolu ainnaka lamina almusaddiqeen(a)

Who said: Are you of them who confess to the doctrine of Resurrection.

(37:52)

أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَامًا أَئِنَّا لَمَدِينُونَ 

Aitha mitna wakunna turaban waAAithaman ainna lamadeenoon(a)

Are we, when we are dead and have become dust and bones, going to be requited?

(37:53)

قَالَ هَلْ أَنتُم مُّطَّلِعُونَ 

Qala hal antum muttaliAAoon(a)

Allah-SWT will say: Will you look down?

(37:54)

فَاطَّلَعَ فَرَآهُ فِي سَوَاء الْجَحِيمِ 

Fa(i)ttalaAAa faraahu fee saw ai aljaheem(i)

Then he will look down and see him in the midst of the Flaming Fire.

(37:55)

قَالَ تَاللَّهِ إِنْ كِدتَّ لَتُرْدِينِ 

Qala ta(A)llahi in kidta laturdeen(i)

And he will say: By Allah-SWT , you have what caused me to perish.

(37:56)

وَلَوْلَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّي لَكُنتُ مِنَ الْمُحْضَرِينَ 

Walawla niAAmatu rabbee lakuntu mina almuhdareen(a)

And but for the favour of my Rabb-SWT , I would have been of those brought forward.

(37:57)

أَفَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَيِّتِينَ 

Afama nahnu bimayyiteen(a)

Are we then not to die anymore?

(37:58)

إِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا الْأُولَى وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ 

Illa mawtatana aloola wama nahnu bimuAAaththabeen(a)

Save our first death, and are we not to be chastised?

(37:59)

إِنَّ هَذَا لَهُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ 

Inna hatha lahuwa alfawzu alAAatheem(u)

Verily this! That is the supreme achievement.

(37:60)

لِمِثْلِ هَذَا فَلْيَعْمَلْ الْعَامِلُونَ 

Limithli hatha falyaAAmali alAAamiloon(a)

For the like of it let the workers work.

(37:61)

أَذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ نُّزُلًا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُّومِ 

Athalika khayrun nuzulan am shajaratu a(l)zzaqqoom(i)

Is this better as an entertainment or the tree of Zaqum?

(37:62)

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهَا فِتْنَةً لِّلظَّالِمِينَ 

Inna jaAAalnaha fitnatan li(l)ththalimeen(a)

Verily We-SWT ! We-SWT have made it a temptation for the ungodly.

(37:63)

إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌ تَخْرُجُ فِي أَصْلِ الْجَحِيمِ 

Innaha shajaratun takhruju fee asli aljaheem(i)

Verily it is a tree that springs forth in the bottom of Flaming Fire.

(37:64)

طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُ رُؤُوسُ الشَّيَاطِينِ

TalAAuha kaannahu ruoosu a(l)shshayateen(i)

The fruit of it is as though it were the hoods of the serpents.

(37:65)

فَإِنَّهُمْ لَآكِلُونَ مِنْهَا فَمَالِؤُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ 

Fainnahum laakiloona minha famalioona minha albutoon(a)

And verily they must eat of it and must fill their bellies from it.

(37:66)

ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا لَشَوْبًا مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ 

Thumma inna lahum AAalayha lashawban min hameem(in)

And on the top of it thereafter they shall have a drink of boiling water.

(37:67)

ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرْجِعَهُمْ لَإِلَى الْجَحِيمِ 

Thumma inna marjiAAahum laila aljaheem(i)

And thereafter their return is verily to the Flaming Fire.

(37:68)

إِنَّهُمْ أَلْفَوْا آبَاءهُمْ ضَالِّينَ 

Innahum alfaw abaahum dalleen(a)

Verily they found their fathers gone astray.

(37:69)

فَهُمْ عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ يُهْرَعُونَ 

Fahum AAala atharihim yuhraAAoon(a)

So they are rushing in their footsteps.

(37:70)

وَلَقَدْ ضَلَّ قَبْلَهُمْ أَكْثَرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ 

Walaqad dalla qablahum aktharu alawwaleen(a)

And assuredly many of the ancients went astray before them.

(37:71)

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا فِيهِم مُّنذِرِينَ 

Walaqad arsalna feehim munthireen(a)

And assuredly We-SWT sent warners among them.

(37:72)

فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُنذَرِينَ 

Fa(o)nthur kayfa kana AAaqibatu almunthareen(a)

So behold what has been the end of those who had been warned.

(37:73)

إِلَّا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ 

Illa AAibada Allahi almukhlaseen(a)

Save the sincere bondmen of Allah-SWT .

(37:74)

In The Name of Allah-SWT the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
SECRETS OF REVELATION:

It will be announced that the transgressors be gathered alongwith their comrades; their accomplices in polytheism and denial in the world so that they may all be awarded a similar punishment. And the devils be also gathered whom they had obeyed throughout their lives in Allah-SWT ’s disobedience, and all be shown the way to Hell, the destiny of their life long journey.  But first they must be asked the reason why they had abandoned Allah-SWT and pinned their hopes on one another all their lives, and why they were not helping each other now? They will have no answer, and will stand with their heads lowered in shame; for they would certainly not be able to explain their misconduct.

 

The seduced will, however, ask their seducers that they used to make very tall claims in the world in order to prevent them from accepting the Truth, so what did they have to say now? They will accuse them, in turn, that it was their own ungodliness and reluctance to accept the Truth all along and they could not possibly have forced them to denial. It was indeed they who were always ready to rebel and defy. All of them will then jointly confess that any discussion now was futile. Allah-SWT ’s Word had been fulfilled and they will have to bear the brunt of their misdeeds. The seducers will confess that they were themselves on the wrong and could not obviously guide others to the right path.

 

The Basic Quality of a Shaikh

A Shaikh must be very staunch in his faith and beliefs. If a person with weak faith or heretic beliefs is taken as a Shaikh, he will lead his disciples astray too.

 

On the Day of Reckoning all the defiant will be collectively surrounded by the Doom, this being the fruit of their evil deeds. They were the people who, when invited to Allah-SWT ’s Unity and Magnificence, had outrightly rejected it and displayed extreme arrogance. They had pledged that they could not abandon their gods at the behest of insane persons' poetic fantasies.

 

To Measure a Prophet--AS‘s Word with a Yardstick of Worldly Means

When the infidels compared the Message of the Holy Prophet-SW with the systems and ground realities, they-SW the whole world engulfed in denial. The rulers, the Governments and the people in every walk of life had polytheism rooted deep in their souls, and had lined up against the truth. Under such conditions they considered the Holy Prophet-SW to be an insane person, who had dared antagonize the entire world. And when the Holy Prophet-SW would convey the tidings of the ultimate dominance of the Truth, they would dismiss it as an effusion of a poet, a mere imagination that could never materialize. They failed to appreciate that he was Allah-SWT 's Prophet-SW who had been raised with the Truth, and history bore witness to the fact that the Prophets-AS of Allah-SWT had always conveyed the Truth! The deniers will, therefore, have to bear a painful doom in requital. May Allah-SWT make the Muslims understand this reality today!

 

The believers who were sincere, free of false pride and arrogance, and who did not fabricate or indulge in any form of heresy under the cover of faith in order to establish their own importance, will have no fear of any punishment. Rather, they will be permanently relieved of all worries, including those for the provisions, as they will receive an eternal supply of Allah-SWT ’s bounties. In fact they will no longer be dependant on food, as it will not be the sustainer of life in Jannah but only a source of pleasure. And they will be given great honour and respect. Surrounded in the blessings of Jannah, they will be seated on couches facing one another. They will be served with a delicious limpid drink in beautiful goblets that would neither cause any drunkenness nor insanity. They will also be blessed with the companionship of handsome spouses, gifted with beautiful eyes and modest gazes. These heavenly maidens will be gorgeous like an egg retrieved from under the feathers where it lay completely protected and guarded. The dwellers of Jannah will converse with one another. One of them will suddenly recollect that he had a colleague in the world who used to ask him why did he believe in resurrection after being reduced to ashes, and whether there was a life of the Hereafter at all? He would be told that he could see him if he wanted to.

 

The Sight of the Residents of Jannah

Even though Hell would be far off, yet the residents of Jannah will look out to spot that man burning in the Hell. In other words, after death the dwellers of Jannah will have far reaching sights. If this quality is acquired in this life because of devotion to the Holy Prophet-SW and the company of an accomplished Wali, such a beholding is termed as Kashf or intrinsic observation. He-SW will then have a word with his colleague in Hell and say: "By Allah-SWT ! You were about to drag me to destruction. Had it not been for Allaah-SWT ’s Mercy, I too would have been doomed along with the culprits today." May Allah-SWT protect us against the friendship and company of an evil-doer as it gradually drives one to destruction!

 

Better Stay Away from Evil Company

Continuing their chat, the dwellers of Jannah would acknowledge Allah-SWT ’s favour that they no longer feared death, a milestone on the road to Akhirah that had gone past. And upon admission to Jannah there was no longer a threat of ever being afflicted by a doom, a great achievement by itself. When it is inevitable for man to toil through life, it is proper to make efforts in such a way that he may attain this eternal success, otherwise steps in the wrong direction earn chastisement. Are not the bounties of Jannah better than the doom of Hell where Zaqum is served as food?

 

Zaqum is a tree of Hell, a Divine trial for the transgressors. Those who were bold enough at sinning may now summon courage to eat it. It is a tree that grows indigenously in Hell and its fruit is horrifying like the heads of devils. Its bitterness aside the very appearance is hideous. But they will have to consume it in punishment.  And not only will they eat it but will do so to their hearts fill.

 

Over and above, they will be served boiling water to drink, which will burn the abscesses caused by the Zaqum in their intestines. And then they will retire amidst stocks of fiery flames. This is the sequel to their conformity to the infidel ancestors, who had themselves opted for waywardness earlier. It was by Allah-SWT 's Clemency and Munificence that He-SWT had given them the opportunity to become guided by sending His-SWT Prophets-AS and forewarning them of this painful sequel. But they had denied guidance. And in the same milieu and at the same time, the sincere and devoted servants of Allah-SWT will enjoy protection on the Day of Reckoning against any such turmoil.

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