Surah Aş-Şāffāt (Those who set the Ranks) in English

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1. والصافات صفا

   1

   By the [angels] ranged in ranks,

   wa-ṣ-ṣāffāti ṣaffan

2. فالزاجرات زجرا

   2

   by the ones who drive [the clouds] vigorously,

   fa-z-zājirāti zajran

3. فالتاليات ذكرا

   3

   by the ones who recite the reminder:

   fa-t-tāliyāti dhikran

4. إن إلهكم لواحد

   4

   indeed your God is certainly One,

   ʾinna ʾilāhakum la-wāḥidun

5. رب السماوات والأرض وما بينهما ورب المشارق

   5

   the Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and the Lord of the easts.

   rabbu s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-mā baynahumā wa-rabbu l-mashāriqi

6. إنا زينا السماء الدنيا بزينة الكواكب

   6

   Indeed We have adorned the lowest heaven with the finery of the stars,

   ʾinnā zayyannā s-samāʾa d-dunyā bi-zīnatin-i l-kawākibi

7. وحفظا من كل شيطان مارد

   7

   and to guard from any froward devil.

   wa-ḥifẓan min kulli shayṭānin māridin

8. لا يسمعون إلى الملإ الأعلى ويقذفون من كل جانب

   8

   They do not eavesdrop on the Supernal Elite—they are shot at from every side,

   lā yassammaʿūna ʾilā l-malaʾi l-ʾaʿlā wa-yuqdhafūna min kulli jānibin

9. دحورا ولهم عذاب واصب

   9

   to drive them away, and there is a perpetual punishment for them—

   duḥūran wa-lahum ʿadhābun wāṣibun

10. إلا من خطف الخطفة فأتبعه شهاب ثاقب

    10

    except any who snatches a snatch, whereat a piercing flame pursues him.

    ʾillā man khaṭifa l-khaṭfata fa-ʾatbaʿahū shihābun thāqibun

11. فاستفتهم أهم أشد خلقا أم من خلقنا إنا خلقناهم من طين لازب

    11

    Ask them, is their creation more prodigious or [that of other creatures] that We have created? Indeed, We created them from a viscous clay.

    fa-staftihim ʾa-hum ʾashaddu khalqan ʾam man khalaqnā ʾinnā khalaqnāhum min ṭīnin lāzibin

12. بل عجبت ويسخرون

    12

    Indeed you wonder, while they engage in ridicule,

    bal ʿajibta wa-yaskharūna

13. وإذا ذكروا لا يذكرون

    13

    and [even] when admonished do not take admonition,

    wa-ʾidhā dhukkirū lā yadhkurūna

14. وإذا رأوا آية يستسخرون

    14

    and when they see a sign they make it an object of ridicule,

    wa-ʾidhā raʾaw ʾāyatan yastaskhirūna

15. وقالوا إن هذا إلا سحر مبين

    15

    and say, ‘This is nothing but plain magic!’

    wa-qālū ʾin hādhā ʾillā siḥrun mubīnun

16. أإذا متنا وكنا ترابا وعظاما أإنا لمبعوثون

    16

    ‘What! When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we be resurrected?

    ʾa-ʾidhā mitnā wa-kunnā turāban wa-ʿiẓāman ʾa-ʾinnā la-mabʿūthūna

17. أوآباؤنا الأولون

    17

    And our forefathers too?!’

    ʾa-wa-ʾābāʾunā l-ʾawwalūna

18. قل نعم وأنتم داخرون

    18

    Say, ‘Yes! And you will be utterly humble.’

    qul naʿam wa-ʾantum dākhirūna

19. فإنما هي زجرة واحدة فإذا هم ينظرون

    19

    It will be only a single shout and, behold, they will look on,

    fa-ʾinnamā hiya zajratun wāḥidatun fa-ʾidhā hum yanẓurūna

20. وقالوا يا ويلنا هذا يوم الدين

    20

    and say, ‘Woe to us! This is the Day of Retribution!’

    wa-qālū yā-waylanā hādhā yawmu d-dīni

21. هذا يوم الفصل الذي كنتم به تكذبون

    21

    ‘This is the Day of Judgement that you used to deny!’

    hādhā yawmu l-faṣli lladhī kuntum bihī tukadhdhibūna

22. احشروا الذين ظلموا وأزواجهم وما كانوا يعبدون

    22

    ‘Muster the wrongdoers and their mates and what they used to worship

    uḥshurū lladhīna ẓalamū wa-ʾazwājahum wa-mā kānū yaʿbudūna

23. من دون الله فاهدوهم إلى صراط الجحيم

    23

    besides Allah, and show them the way to hell!

    min dūni llāhi fa-hdūhum ʾilā ṣirāṭi l-jaḥīmi

24. وقفوهم إنهم مسئولون

    24

    [But first] stop them! For they must be questioned.’

    wa-qifūhum ʾinnahum masʾūlūna