Surah Ash-Shu`arā (The Poets) in English

1. ما أغنى عنهم ما كانوا يمتعون

   207

   of what avail to them will be that which they were given to enjoy?

   mā ʾaghnā ʿanhum mā kānū yumattaʿūna

2. وما أهلكنا من قرية إلا لها منذرون

   208

   We have not destroyed any town without its having warners,

   wa-mā ʾahlaknā min qaryatin ʾillā lahā mundhirūna

3. ذكرى وما كنا ظالمين

   209

   for the sake of admonition, and We were not unjust.

   dhikrā wa-mā kunnā ẓālimīna

4. وما تنزلت به الشياطين

   210

   It has not been brought down by the devils.

   wa-mā tanazzalat bihi sh-shayāṭīnu

5. وما ينبغي لهم وما يستطيعون

   211

   Neither does it behoove them, nor are they capable [of doing that].

   wa-mā yanbaghī lahum wa-mā yastaṭīʿūna

6. إنهم عن السمع لمعزولون

   212

   Indeed, they are kept at bay [even] from hearing it.

   ʾinnahum ʿani s-samʿi la-maʿzūlūna

7. فلا تدع مع الله إلها آخر فتكون من المعذبين

   213

   So do not invoke any god besides Allah, lest you should be among the punished.

   fa-lā tadʿu maʿa llāhi ʾilāhan ʾākhara fa-takūna mina l-muʿadhdhabīna

8. وأنذر عشيرتك الأقربين

   214

   Warn the nearest of your kinsfolk,

   wa-ʾandhir ʿashīrataka l-ʾaqrabīna

9. واخفض جناحك لمن اتبعك من المؤمنين

   215

   and lower your wing to the faithful who follow you.

   wa-khfiḍ janāḥaka li-mani ttabaʿaka mina l-muʾminīna

10. فإن عصوك فقل إني بريء مما تعملون

    216

    But if they disobey you, say, ‘I am absolved of what you do.’

    fa-ʾin ʿaṣawka fa-qul ʾinnī barīʾun mimmā taʿmalūna

11. وتوكل على العزيز الرحيم

    217

    And put your trust in the All-mighty, the All-merciful,

    wa-tawakkal ʿalā l-ʿazīzi r-raḥīmi

12. الذي يراك حين تقوم

    218

    who sees you when you stand [for prayer],

    alladhī yarāka ḥīna taqūmu

13. وتقلبك في الساجدين

    219

    and your going about among those who prostrate.

    wa-taqallubaka fī s-sājidīna

14. إنه هو السميع العليم

    220

    Indeed He is the All-hearing, the All-knowing.

    ʾinnahū huwa s-samīʿu l-ʿalīmu

15. هل أنبئكم على من تنزل الشياطين

    221

    Should I inform you on whom the devils descend?

    hal ʾunabbiʾukum ʿalā man tanazzalu sh-shayāṭīnu

16. تنزل على كل أفاك أثيم

    222

    They descend on every sinful liar.

    tanazzalu ʿalā kulli ʾaffākin ʾathīmin

17. يلقون السمع وأكثرهم كاذبون

    223

    They eavesdrop, and most of them are liars.

    yulqūna s-samʿa wa-ʾaktharuhum kādhibūna

18. والشعراء يتبعهم الغاوون

    224

    As for the poets, [only] the perverse follow them.

    wa-sh-shuʿarāʾu yattabiʿuhumu l-ghāwūna

19. ألم تر أنهم في كل واد يهيمون

    225

    Have you not regarded that they rove in every valley,

    ʾa-lam tara ʾannahum fī kulli wādin yahīmūna

20. وأنهم يقولون ما لا يفعلون

    226

    and that they say what they do not do?

    wa-ʾannahum yaqūlūna mā lā yafʿalūna

21. إلا الذين آمنوا وعملوا الصالحات وذكروا الله كثيرا وانتصروا من بعد ما ظلموا وسيعلم الذين ظلموا أي منقلب ينقلبون

    227

    Barring those who have faith, do righteous deeds, and remember Allah much often, and vindicate themselves after they have been wronged. And the wrongdoers will soon know at what goal they will end up.

    ʾillā lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-ʿamilū ṣ-ṣāliḥāti wa-dhakarū llāha kathīran wa-ntaṣarū min baʿdi mā ẓulimū wa-sa-yaʿlamu lladhīna ẓalamū ʾayya munqalabin yanqalibūna