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

1. يقول أإنك لمن المصدقين

   52

   who used to say, ‘‘Are you really among those who affirm

   yaqūlu ʾa-ʾinnaka la-mina l-muṣaddiqīna

2. أإذا متنا وكنا ترابا وعظاما أإنا لمدينون

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   that when we have died and become dust and bones, we shall be brought to retribution?’’ ’

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

3. قال هل أنتم مطلعون

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   He will say, ‘Will you have a look?’

   qāla hal ʾantum muṭṭaliʿūna

4. فاطلع فرآه في سواء الجحيم

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   Then he will take a look and sight him in the middle of hell.

   fa-ṭṭalaʿa fa-raʾāhu fī sawāʾi l-jaḥīmi

5. قال تالله إن كدت لتردين

   56

   He will say, ‘By Allah, you had almost ruined me!

   qāla ta-llāhi ʾin kidta la-turdīni

6. ولولا نعمة ربي لكنت من المحضرين

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   Had it not been for my Lord’s blessing, I too would have been among those mustered [in hell]!’

   wa-law-lā niʿmatu rabbī la-kuntu mina l-muḥḍarīna

7. أفما نحن بميتين

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   ‘Is it [true] that we shall not die [anymore],

   ʾa-fa-mā naḥnu bi-mayyitīna

8. إلا موتتنا الأولى وما نحن بمعذبين

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   aside from our earlier death, and that we shall not be punished?

   ʾillā mawtatanā l-ʾūlā wa-mā naḥnu bi-muʿadhdhabīna

9. إن هذا لهو الفوز العظيم

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   This is indeed the supreme triumph!’

   ʾinna hādhā la-huwa l-fawzu l-ʿaẓīmu

10. لمثل هذا فليعمل العاملون

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    Let all workers work for the like of this!

    li-mithli hādhā fa-l-yaʿmali l-ʿāmilūna

11. أذلك خير نزلا أم شجرة الزقوم

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    Is this a better reception, or the Zaqqum tree?

    ʾa-dhālika khayrun nuzulan ʾam shajaratu z-zaqqūmi

12. إنا جعلناها فتنة للظالمين

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    Indeed We have made it a punishment for the wrongdoers.

    ʾinnā jaʿalnāhā fitnatan li-ẓ-ẓālimīna

13. إنها شجرة تخرج في أصل الجحيم

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    It is a tree that rises from the depths of hell.

    ʾinnahā shajaratun takhruju fī ʾaṣli l-jaḥīmi

14. طلعها كأنه رءوس الشياطين

    65

    Its spathes are as if they were devils’ heads.

    ṭalʿuhā ka-ʾannahū ruʾūsu sh-shayāṭīni

15. فإنهم لآكلون منها فمالئون منها البطون

    66

    They will eat from it and gorge with it their bellies.

    fa-ʾinnahum la-ʾākilūna minhā fa-māliʾūna minhā l-buṭūna

16. ثم إن لهم عليها لشوبا من حميم

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    On top of that they will take a solution of scalding water.

    thumma ʾinna lahum ʿalayhā la-shawban min ḥamīmin

17. ثم إن مرجعهم لإلى الجحيم

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    Then their retreat will be toward hell.

    thumma ʾinna marjiʿahum la-ʾilā l-jaḥīmi

18. إنهم ألفوا آباءهم ضالين

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    They had found their fathers astray,

    ʾinnahum ʾalfaw ʾābāʾahum ḍāllīna

19. فهم على آثارهم يهرعون

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    yet they press onwards in their footsteps.

    fa-hum ʿalā ʾāthārihim yuhraʿūna

20. ولقد ضل قبلهم أكثر الأولين

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    Most of the former peoples went astray before them,

    wa-la-qad ḍalla qablahum ʾaktharu l-ʾawwalīna

21. ولقد أرسلنا فيهم منذرين

    72

    and We had certainly sent warners among them.

    wa-la-qad ʾarsalnā fīhim mundhirīna

22. فانظر كيف كان عاقبة المنذرين

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    So observe how was the fate of those who were warned

    fa-nẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-mundharīna

23. إلا عباد الله المخلصين

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    —[all] except Allah’s exclusive servants!

    ʾillā ʿibāda llāhi l-mukhlaṣīna

24. ولقد نادانا نوح فلنعم المجيبون

    75

    Certainly Noah called out to Us, and how well did We respond!

    wa-la-qad nādānā nūḥun fa-la-niʿma l-mujībūna

25. ونجيناه وأهله من الكرب العظيم

    76

    We delivered him and his family from their great distress,

    wa-najjaynāhu wa-ʾahlahū mina l-karbi l-ʿaẓīmi