Surah 21: The Prophets (Al-Anbiya')

اقتَرَبَ لِلنّاسِ حِسابُهُم وَهُم فى غَفلَةٍ مُعرِضونَ

Fast approaching is the reckoning for the people, but they are oblivious, averse.

ما يَأتيهِم مِن ذِكرٍ مِن رَبِّهِم مُحدَثٍ إِلَّا استَمَعوهُ وَهُم يَلعَبونَ

When a proof comes to them from their Lord, that is new, they listen to it heedlessly.

لاهِيَةً قُلوبُهُم وَأَسَرُّوا النَّجوَى الَّذينَ ظَلَموا هَل هٰذا إِلّا بَشَرٌ مِثلُكُم أَفَتَأتونَ السِّحرَ وَأَنتُم تُبصِرونَ

Their minds are heedless. And the transgressors confer secretly: "Is he not just a human being like you? Would you accept the magic that is presented to you?"*

*21:3 Although the Bible (Malachi 3:1) and the Quran (3:81) prophesy the advent of God's Messenger of the Covenant, when he did appear, supported by `one of the greatest miracles' (74:30-35), he was met with heedlessness and opposition. The divine assertion that every `new' proof is opposed has been proven by the Arabs' opposition to the Quran's miracle. (App. 1 & 2).

قالَ رَبّى يَعلَمُ القَولَ فِى السَّماءِ وَالأَرضِ وَهُوَ السَّميعُ العَليمُ

He said, "My Lord knows every thought in the heaven and the earth. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient."

بَل قالوا أَضغٰثُ أَحلٰمٍ بَلِ افتَرىٰهُ بَل هُوَ شاعِرٌ فَليَأتِنا بِـٔايَةٍ كَما أُرسِلَ الأَوَّلونَ

They even said, "Hallucinations," "He made it up," and, "He is a poet. Let him show us a miracle like those of the previous messengers."

ما ءامَنَت قَبلَهُم مِن قَريَةٍ أَهلَكنٰها أَفَهُم يُؤمِنونَ

We never annihilated a believing community in the past. Are these people believers?

وَما أَرسَلنا قَبلَكَ إِلّا رِجالًا نوحى إِلَيهِم فَسـَٔلوا أَهلَ الذِّكرِ إِن كُنتُم لا تَعلَمونَ

We did not send before you except men whom we inspired. Ask those who know the scripture, if you do not know.

وَما جَعَلنٰهُم جَسَدًا لا يَأكُلونَ الطَّعامَ وَما كانوا خٰلِدينَ

We did not give them bodies that did not eat, nor were they immortal.

ثُمَّ صَدَقنٰهُمُ الوَعدَ فَأَنجَينٰهُم وَمَن نَشاءُ وَأَهلَكنَا المُسرِفينَ

We fulfilled our promise to them; we saved them together with whomever we willed, and annihilated the transgressors.

لَقَد أَنزَلنا إِلَيكُم كِتٰبًا فيهِ ذِكرُكُم أَفَلا تَعقِلونَ

We have sent down to you a scripture containing your message. Do you not understand?

وَكَم قَصَمنا مِن قَريَةٍ كانَت ظالِمَةً وَأَنشَأنا بَعدَها قَومًا ءاخَرينَ

Many a community we terminated because of their transgression, and we substituted other people in their place.

فَلَمّا أَحَسّوا بَأسَنا إِذا هُم مِنها يَركُضونَ

When our requital came to pass, they started to run.

لا تَركُضوا وَارجِعوا إِلىٰ ما أُترِفتُم فيهِ وَمَسٰكِنِكُم لَعَلَّكُم تُسـَٔلونَ

Do not run, and come back to your luxuries and your mansions, for you must be held accountable.

قالوا يٰوَيلَنا إِنّا كُنّا ظٰلِمينَ

They said, "Woe to us. We were really wicked."

فَما زالَت تِلكَ دَعوىٰهُم حَتّىٰ جَعَلنٰهُم حَصيدًا خٰمِدينَ

This continued to be their proclamation, until we completely wiped them out.

وَما خَلَقنَا السَّماءَ وَالأَرضَ وَما بَينَهُما لٰعِبينَ

We did not create the heavens and the earth, and everything between them just for amusement.

لَو أَرَدنا أَن نَتَّخِذَ لَهوًا لَاتَّخَذنٰهُ مِن لَدُنّا إِن كُنّا فٰعِلينَ

If we needed amusement, we could have initiated it without any of this, if that is what we wanted to do.

بَل نَقذِفُ بِالحَقِّ عَلَى البٰطِلِ فَيَدمَغُهُ فَإِذا هُوَ زاهِقٌ وَلَكُمُ الوَيلُ مِمّا تَصِفونَ

Instead, it is our plan to support the truth against falsehood, in order to defeat it. Woe to you for the utterances you utter.

وَلَهُ مَن فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ وَمَن عِندَهُ لا يَستَكبِرونَ عَن عِبادَتِهِ وَلا يَستَحسِرونَ

To Him belongs everyone in the heavens and the earth, and those at Him are never too arrogant to worship Him, nor do they ever waver.

يُسَبِّحونَ الَّيلَ وَالنَّهارَ لا يَفتُرونَ

They glorify night and day, without ever tiring.

أَمِ اتَّخَذوا ءالِهَةً مِنَ الأَرضِ هُم يُنشِرونَ

Have they found gods on earth who can create?

لَو كانَ فيهِما ءالِهَةٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتا فَسُبحٰنَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ العَرشِ عَمّا يَصِفونَ

If there were in them (the heavens and the earth) other gods beside God, there would have been chaos. Glory be to God; the Lord with absolute authority. He is high above their claims.

لا يُسـَٔلُ عَمّا يَفعَلُ وَهُم يُسـَٔلونَ

He is never to be asked about anything He does, while all others are questioned.

أَمِ اتَّخَذوا مِن دونِهِ ءالِهَةً قُل هاتوا بُرهٰنَكُم هٰذا ذِكرُ مَن مَعِىَ وَذِكرُ مَن قَبلى بَل أَكثَرُهُم لا يَعلَمونَ الحَقَّ فَهُم مُعرِضونَ

Have they found other gods beside Him? Say, "Show me your proof. This is the message to my generation, consummating all previous messages." Indeed, most of them do not recognize the truth; this is why they are so hostile.

وَما أَرسَلنا مِن قَبلِكَ مِن رَسولٍ إِلّا نوحى إِلَيهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلٰهَ إِلّا أَنا۠ فَاعبُدونِ

We did not send any messenger before you except with the inspiration: "There is no god except Me; you shall worship Me alone."

وَقالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحمٰنُ وَلَدًا سُبحٰنَهُ بَل عِبادٌ مُكرَمونَ

Yet, they said, "The Most Gracious has begotten a son!" Glory be to Him. All (messengers) are (His) honored servants.

لا يَسبِقونَهُ بِالقَولِ وَهُم بِأَمرِهِ يَعمَلونَ

They never speak on their own, and they strictly follow His commands.

يَعلَمُ ما بَينَ أَيديهِم وَما خَلفَهُم وَلا يَشفَعونَ إِلّا لِمَنِ ارتَضىٰ وَهُم مِن خَشيَتِهِ مُشفِقونَ

He knows their future and their past. They do not intercede, except for those already accepted by Him, and they are worried about their own necks.*

*21:28 The myth of intercession is Satan's most effective bait (see Appendix 8).

وَمَن يَقُل مِنهُم إِنّى إِلٰهٌ مِن دونِهِ فَذٰلِكَ نَجزيهِ جَهَنَّمَ كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِى الظّٰلِمينَ

If any of them claims to be a god beside Him, we requite him with Hell; we thus requite the wicked.

أَوَلَم يَرَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا أَنَّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضَ كانَتا رَتقًا فَفَتَقنٰهُما وَجَعَلنا مِنَ الماءِ كُلَّ شَىءٍ حَىٍّ أَفَلا يُؤمِنونَ

Do the unbelievers not realize that the heaven and the earth used to be one solid mass that we exploded into existence? And from water we made all living things. Would they believe?

*21:30 The Big Bang Theory is now supported by the Creator's infallible mathematical code (Appendix 1). Thus, it is no longer a theory; it is a law, a proven fact.

وَجَعَلنا فِى الأَرضِ رَوٰسِىَ أَن تَميدَ بِهِم وَجَعَلنا فيها فِجاجًا سُبُلًا لَعَلَّهُم يَهتَدونَ

And we placed on earth stabilizers, lest it tumbles with them, and we placed straight roads therein, that they may be guided.

وَجَعَلنَا السَّماءَ سَقفًا مَحفوظًا وَهُم عَن ءايٰتِها مُعرِضونَ

And we rendered the sky a guarded ceiling. Yet, they are totally oblivious to all the portents therein.

وَهُوَ الَّذى خَلَقَ الَّيلَ وَالنَّهارَ وَالشَّمسَ وَالقَمَرَ كُلٌّ فى فَلَكٍ يَسبَحونَ

And He is the One who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon; each floating in its own orbit.

وَما جَعَلنا لِبَشَرٍ مِن قَبلِكَ الخُلدَ أَفَإِي۟ن مِتَّ فَهُمُ الخٰلِدونَ

We never decreed immortality for anyone before you; should you die, are they immortal?

كُلُّ نَفسٍ ذائِقَةُ المَوتِ وَنَبلوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالخَيرِ فِتنَةً وَإِلَينا تُرجَعونَ

Every person will taste death, after we put you to the test through adversity and prosperity, then to us you ultimately return.

وَإِذا رَءاكَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا إِن يَتَّخِذونَكَ إِلّا هُزُوًا أَهٰذَا الَّذى يَذكُرُ ءالِهَتَكُم وَهُم بِذِكرِ الرَّحمٰنِ هُم كٰفِرونَ

When those who disbelieve see you, they ridicule you: "Is this the one who challenges your gods?" Meanwhile, they remain totally heedless of the message from the Most Gracious.

خُلِقَ الإِنسٰنُ مِن عَجَلٍ سَأُو۟ريكُم ءايٰتى فَلا تَستَعجِلونِ

The human being is impatient by nature. I will inevitably show you My signs; do not be in such a hurry.

وَيَقولونَ مَتىٰ هٰذَا الوَعدُ إِن كُنتُم صٰدِقينَ

They challenge: "Where is that (retribution), if you are truthful?"

لَو يَعلَمُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا حينَ لا يَكُفّونَ عَن وُجوهِهِمُ النّارَ وَلا عَن ظُهورِهِم وَلا هُم يُنصَرونَ

If only those who disbelieve could envision themselves when they try to ward off the fire; off their faces and their backs! No one will help them then.

بَل تَأتيهِم بَغتَةً فَتَبهَتُهُم فَلا يَستَطيعونَ رَدَّها وَلا هُم يُنظَرونَ

Indeed, it will come to them suddenly, and they will be utterly stunned. They can neither avoid it, nor can they receive any respite.

وَلَقَدِ استُهزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِن قَبلِكَ فَحاقَ بِالَّذينَ سَخِروا مِنهُم ما كانوا بِهِ يَستَهزِءونَ

Messengers before you have been ridiculed, and, consequently, those who ridiculed them incurred the retribution for their ridiculing.

قُل مَن يَكلَؤُكُم بِالَّيلِ وَالنَّهارِ مِنَ الرَّحمٰنِ بَل هُم عَن ذِكرِ رَبِّهِم مُعرِضونَ

Say, "Who can protect you from the Most Gracious during the night or during the day?" Indeed, they are totally oblivious to the message of their Lord.

أَم لَهُم ءالِهَةٌ تَمنَعُهُم مِن دونِنا لا يَستَطيعونَ نَصرَ أَنفُسِهِم وَلا هُم مِنّا يُصحَبونَ

Do they have gods who can protect them from us? They cannot even help themselves. Nor can they accompany one another when they are summoned to face us.

بَل مَتَّعنا هٰؤُلاءِ وَءاباءَهُم حَتّىٰ طالَ عَلَيهِمُ العُمُرُ أَفَلا يَرَونَ أَنّا نَأتِى الأَرضَ نَنقُصُها مِن أَطرافِها أَفَهُمُ الغٰلِبونَ

We have provided for these people and their ancestors, up until an old age. Do they not see that every day on earth brings them closer to the end? Can they reverse this process?

قُل إِنَّما أُنذِرُكُم بِالوَحىِ وَلا يَسمَعُ الصُّمُّ الدُّعاءَ إِذا ما يُنذَرونَ

Say, "I am warning you in accordance with divine inspiration." However, the deaf cannot hear the call, when they are warned.

وَلَئِن مَسَّتهُم نَفحَةٌ مِن عَذابِ رَبِّكَ لَيَقولُنَّ يٰوَيلَنا إِنّا كُنّا ظٰلِمينَ

When a sample of your Lord's retribution afflicts them, they readily say, "We were indeed wicked."

وَنَضَعُ المَوٰزينَ القِسطَ لِيَومِ القِيٰمَةِ فَلا تُظلَمُ نَفسٌ شَيـًٔا وَإِن كانَ مِثقالَ حَبَّةٍ مِن خَردَلٍ أَتَينا بِها وَكَفىٰ بِنا حٰسِبينَ

We will establish the scales of justice on the Day of Resurrection. No soul will suffer the least injustice. Even the equivalent of a mustard seed will be accounted for. We are the most efficient reckoners.

وَلَقَد ءاتَينا موسىٰ وَهٰرونَ الفُرقانَ وَضِياءً وَذِكرًا لِلمُتَّقينَ

We gave Moses and Aaron the Statute Book, a beacon, and a reminder for the righteous.

الَّذينَ يَخشَونَ رَبَّهُم بِالغَيبِ وَهُم مِنَ السّاعَةِ مُشفِقونَ

The ones who reverence their Lord, even when alone in their privacy, and they worry about the Hour.

وَهٰذا ذِكرٌ مُبارَكٌ أَنزَلنٰهُ أَفَأَنتُم لَهُ مُنكِرونَ

This too is a blessed reminder that we sent down. Are you denying it?

وَلَقَد ءاتَينا إِبرٰهيمَ رُشدَهُ مِن قَبلُ وَكُنّا بِهِ عٰلِمينَ

Before that, we granted Abraham his guidance and understanding, for we were fully aware of him.*

*21:51 Was Abraham so smart as to discover God, or, did God grant him the intelligence because He knew that he deserved to be saved? As it turns out, this whole world was created to redeem those among us who deserve redemption. When the angels suggested that all the rebels, humans and jinns, must be banished out of God's kingdom, He said, `I know what you do not know' (2:30). At the same time, this world proves Satan's incompetence as a god (App. 7).

إِذ قالَ لِأَبيهِ وَقَومِهِ ما هٰذِهِ التَّماثيلُ الَّتى أَنتُم لَها عٰكِفونَ

He said to his father and his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoting yourselves?"

قالوا وَجَدنا ءاباءَنا لَها عٰبِدينَ

They said, "We found our parents worshiping them."

قالَ لَقَد كُنتُم أَنتُم وَءاباؤُكُم فى ضَلٰلٍ مُبينٍ

He said, "Indeed, you and your parents have gone totally astray."

قالوا أَجِئتَنا بِالحَقِّ أَم أَنتَ مِنَ اللّٰعِبينَ

They said, "Are you telling us the truth, or are you playing?"

قالَ بَل رَبُّكُم رَبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ الَّذى فَطَرَهُنَّ وَأَنا۠ عَلىٰ ذٰلِكُم مِنَ الشّٰهِدينَ

He said, "Your only Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, who created them. This is the testimony to which I bear witness.

وَتَاللَّهِ لَأَكيدَنَّ أَصنٰمَكُم بَعدَ أَن تُوَلّوا مُدبِرينَ

"I swear by God, I have a plan to deal with your statues, as soon as you leave."

فَجَعَلَهُم جُذٰذًا إِلّا كَبيرًا لَهُم لَعَلَّهُم إِلَيهِ يَرجِعونَ

He broke them into pieces, except for a big one, that they may refer to it.

قالوا مَن فَعَلَ هٰذا بِـٔالِهَتِنا إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الظّٰلِمينَ

They said, "Whoever did this to our gods is really a transgressor."

قالوا سَمِعنا فَتًى يَذكُرُهُم يُقالُ لَهُ إِبرٰهيمُ

They said, "We heard a youth threaten them; he is called Abraham."

قالوا فَأتوا بِهِ عَلىٰ أَعيُنِ النّاسِ لَعَلَّهُم يَشهَدونَ

They said, "Bring him before the eyes of all the people, that they may bear witness."

قالوا ءَأَنتَ فَعَلتَ هٰذا بِـٔالِهَتِنا يٰإِبرٰهيمُ

They said, "Did you do this to our gods, O Abraham?"

قالَ بَل فَعَلَهُ كَبيرُهُم هٰذا فَسـَٔلوهُم إِن كانوا يَنطِقونَ

He said, "It is that big one who did it. Go ask them, if they can speak."

فَرَجَعوا إِلىٰ أَنفُسِهِم فَقالوا إِنَّكُم أَنتُمُ الظّٰلِمونَ

They were taken aback, and said to themselves, "Indeed, you are the ones who have been transgressing."

ثُمَّ نُكِسوا عَلىٰ رُءوسِهِم لَقَد عَلِمتَ ما هٰؤُلاءِ يَنطِقونَ

Yet, they reverted to their old ideas: "You know full well that these cannot speak."

قالَ أَفَتَعبُدونَ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ ما لا يَنفَعُكُم شَيـًٔا وَلا يَضُرُّكُم

He said, "Do you then worship besides God what possesses no power to benefit you or harm you?

أُفٍّ لَكُم وَلِما تَعبُدونَ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ أَفَلا تَعقِلونَ

"You have incurred shame by worshiping idols beside God. Do you not understand?"

قالوا حَرِّقوهُ وَانصُروا ءالِهَتَكُم إِن كُنتُم فٰعِلينَ

They said, "Burn him and support your gods, if this is what you decide to do."

قُلنا يٰنارُ كونى بَردًا وَسَلٰمًا عَلىٰ إِبرٰهيمَ

We said, "O fire, be cool and safe for Abraham."*

*21:69 "Cool," without "and safe" would have caused Abraham to freeze.

وَأَرادوا بِهِ كَيدًا فَجَعَلنٰهُمُ الأَخسَرينَ

Thus, they schemed against him, but we made them the losers.

وَنَجَّينٰهُ وَلوطًا إِلَى الأَرضِ الَّتى بٰرَكنا فيها لِلعٰلَمينَ

We saved him, and we saved Lot, to the land that we blessed for all the people.

وَوَهَبنا لَهُ إِسحٰقَ وَيَعقوبَ نافِلَةً وَكُلًّا جَعَلنا صٰلِحينَ

And we granted him Isaac and Jacob as a gift, and we made them both righteous.

وَجَعَلنٰهُم أَئِمَّةً يَهدونَ بِأَمرِنا وَأَوحَينا إِلَيهِم فِعلَ الخَيرٰتِ وَإِقامَ الصَّلوٰةِ وَإيتاءَ الزَّكوٰةِ وَكانوا لَنا عٰبِدينَ

We made them imams who guided in accordance with our commandments, and we taught them how to work righteousness, and how to observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and the obligatory charity (Zakat).* To us, they were devoted worshipers.

*21:73 When the Quran was revealed, all religious duties were already established through Abraham (2:128, 16:123, 22:78).

وَلوطًا ءاتَينٰهُ حُكمًا وَعِلمًا وَنَجَّينٰهُ مِنَ القَريَةِ الَّتى كانَت تَعمَلُ الخَبٰئِثَ إِنَّهُم كانوا قَومَ سَوءٍ فٰسِقينَ

As for Lot, we granted him wisdom and knowledge, and we saved him from the community that practiced abominations; they were wicked and evil people.

وَأَدخَلنٰهُ فى رَحمَتِنا إِنَّهُ مِنَ الصّٰلِحينَ

We admitted him into our mercy, for he was righteous.

وَنوحًا إِذ نادىٰ مِن قَبلُ فَاستَجَبنا لَهُ فَنَجَّينٰهُ وَأَهلَهُ مِنَ الكَربِ العَظيمِ

And, before that, Noah called and we responded to him. We saved him and his family from the great disaster.

وَنَصَرنٰهُ مِنَ القَومِ الَّذينَ كَذَّبوا بِـٔايٰتِنا إِنَّهُم كانوا قَومَ سَوءٍ فَأَغرَقنٰهُم أَجمَعينَ

We supported him against the people who rejected our revelations. They were evil people, so we drowned them all.

وَداوۥدَ وَسُلَيمٰنَ إِذ يَحكُمانِ فِى الحَرثِ إِذ نَفَشَت فيهِ غَنَمُ القَومِ وَكُنّا لِحُكمِهِم شٰهِدينَ

And David and Solomon, when they once ruled with regard to someone's crop that was destroyed by another's sheep, we witnessed their judgment.

فَفَهَّمنٰها سُلَيمٰنَ وَكُلًّا ءاتَينا حُكمًا وَعِلمًا وَسَخَّرنا مَعَ داوۥدَ الجِبالَ يُسَبِّحنَ وَالطَّيرَ وَكُنّا فٰعِلينَ

We granted Solomon the correct understanding, though we endowed both of them with wisdom and knowledge. We committed the mountains to serve David in glorifying (God), as well as the birds. This is what we did.

وَعَلَّمنٰهُ صَنعَةَ لَبوسٍ لَكُم لِتُحصِنَكُم مِن بَأسِكُم فَهَل أَنتُم شٰكِرونَ

And we taught him the skill of making shields to protect you in war. Are you then thankful?

وَلِسُلَيمٰنَ الرّيحَ عاصِفَةً تَجرى بِأَمرِهِ إِلَى الأَرضِ الَّتى بٰرَكنا فيها وَكُنّا بِكُلِّ شَىءٍ عٰلِمينَ

For Solomon, we committed the wind gusting and blowing at his disposal. He could direct it as he wished, to whatever land he chose, and we blessed such land for him. We are fully aware of all things.

وَمِنَ الشَّيٰطينِ مَن يَغوصونَ لَهُ وَيَعمَلونَ عَمَلًا دونَ ذٰلِكَ وَكُنّا لَهُم حٰفِظينَ

And of the devils there were those who would dive for him (to harvest the sea), or do whatever else he commanded them to do. We committed them in his service.

وَأَيّوبَ إِذ نادىٰ رَبَّهُ أَنّى مَسَّنِىَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرحَمُ الرّٰحِمينَ

And Job implored his Lord: "Adversity has befallen me, and, of all the merciful ones, You are the Most Merciful."

فَاستَجَبنا لَهُ فَكَشَفنا ما بِهِ مِن ضُرٍّ وَءاتَينٰهُ أَهلَهُ وَمِثلَهُم مَعَهُم رَحمَةً مِن عِندِنا وَذِكرىٰ لِلعٰبِدينَ

We responded to him, relieved his adversity, and restored his family for him, even twice as much. That was a mercy from us, and a reminder for the worshipers.

وَإِسمٰعيلَ وَإِدريسَ وَذَا الكِفلِ كُلٌّ مِنَ الصّٰبِرينَ

Also, Ismail, Idris, Zal-Kifl; all were steadfast, patient.

وَأَدخَلنٰهُم فى رَحمَتِنا إِنَّهُم مِنَ الصّٰلِحينَ

We admitted them into our mercy, for they were righteous.

وَذَا النّونِ إِذ ذَهَبَ مُغٰضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَن نَقدِرَ عَلَيهِ فَنادىٰ فِى الظُّلُمٰتِ أَن لا إِلٰهَ إِلّا أَنتَ سُبحٰنَكَ إِنّى كُنتُ مِنَ الظّٰلِمينَ

And Zan-Noon (Jonah, "the one with an `N' in his name"), abandoned his mission in protest, thinking that we could not control him. He ended up imploring from the darkness (of the big fish's belly): "There is no god other than You. Be You glorified. I have committed a gross sin."

فَاستَجَبنا لَهُ وَنَجَّينٰهُ مِنَ الغَمِّ وَكَذٰلِكَ نُۨجِى المُؤمِنينَ

We responded to him, and saved him from the crisis; we thus save the believers.

وَزَكَرِيّا إِذ نادىٰ رَبَّهُ رَبِّ لا تَذَرنى فَردًا وَأَنتَ خَيرُ الوٰرِثينَ

And Zachariah implored his Lord: "My Lord, do not keep me without an heir, though You are the best inheritor."

فَاستَجَبنا لَهُ وَوَهَبنا لَهُ يَحيىٰ وَأَصلَحنا لَهُ زَوجَهُ إِنَّهُم كانوا يُسٰرِعونَ فِى الخَيرٰتِ وَيَدعونَنا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا وَكانوا لَنا خٰشِعينَ

We* responded to him and granted him John; we fixed his wife for him. That is because they used to hasten to work righteousness, and implored us in situations of joy, as well as fear. To us, they were reverent.

*21:90 The use of the plural tense throughout the Quran indicates participation of the angels. It is clear from 3:39 and from the Bible that the angels dealt with Zachariah extensively, as they gave him the good news about John. See Appendix 10.

وَالَّتى أَحصَنَت فَرجَها فَنَفَخنا فيها مِن روحِنا وَجَعَلنٰها وَابنَها ءايَةً لِلعٰلَمينَ

As for the one who maintained her virginity, we blew into her from our spirit, and thus, we made her and her son a portent for the whole world.

إِنَّ هٰذِهِ أُمَّتُكُم أُمَّةً وٰحِدَةً وَأَنا۠ رَبُّكُم فَاعبُدونِ

Your congregation is but one congregation, and I alone am your Lord; you shall worship Me alone.

وَتَقَطَّعوا أَمرَهُم بَينَهُم كُلٌّ إِلَينا رٰجِعونَ

However, they divided themselves into disputing religions. All of them will come back to us (for judgment).

فَمَن يَعمَل مِنَ الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَهُوَ مُؤمِنٌ فَلا كُفرانَ لِسَعيِهِ وَإِنّا لَهُ كٰتِبونَ

As for those who work righteousness, while believing, their work will not go to waste; we are recording it.

وَحَرٰمٌ عَلىٰ قَريَةٍ أَهلَكنٰها أَنَّهُم لا يَرجِعونَ

It is forbidden for any community we had annihilated to return.

حَتّىٰ إِذا فُتِحَت يَأجوجُ وَمَأجوجُ وَهُم مِن كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنسِلونَ

Not until Gog and Magog reappear, will they then return - they will come from every direction.

*21:96 By the year 2270 AD, thanks to God's mathematical miracle in the Quran (Appendix 1), America will be the heart of Islam, and billions around the globe will have believed in the Quran (9:33, 41:53, 48:28, 61:9). Gog and Magog (allegorical names of villainous communities), will be the only bastions of heathenism, and they will attack the submitters. That is when the world will end (15:87, 18:94, Appendix 25). Gog and Magog are mentioned in 18:94 & 21:96, 17 verses before the end of each sura; this may indicate the time of their appearance.

وَاقتَرَبَ الوَعدُ الحَقُّ فَإِذا هِىَ شٰخِصَةٌ أَبصٰرُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا يٰوَيلَنا قَد كُنّا فى غَفلَةٍ مِن هٰذا بَل كُنّا ظٰلِمينَ

That is when the inevitable prophecy will come to pass, and the disbelievers will stare in horror: "Woe to us; we have been oblivious. Indeed, we have been wicked."

إِنَّكُم وَما تَعبُدونَ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنتُم لَها وٰرِدونَ

You and the idols you worship besides God will be fuel for Hell; this is your inevitable destiny.

لَو كانَ هٰؤُلاءِ ءالِهَةً ما وَرَدوها وَكُلٌّ فيها خٰلِدونَ

If those were gods, they would not have ended up in Hell. All its inhabitants abide in it forever.

لَهُم فيها زَفيرٌ وَهُم فيها لا يَسمَعونَ

They will sigh and groan therein, and they will have no access to any news.

إِنَّ الَّذينَ سَبَقَت لَهُم مِنَّا الحُسنىٰ أُولٰئِكَ عَنها مُبعَدونَ

As for those who deserved our magnificent rewards, they will be protected from it.

لا يَسمَعونَ حَسيسَها وَهُم فى مَا اشتَهَت أَنفُسُهُم خٰلِدونَ

They will not hear its hissing. They will enjoy an abode where they can get everything they desire, forever.

لا يَحزُنُهُمُ الفَزَعُ الأَكبَرُ وَتَتَلَقّىٰهُمُ المَلٰئِكَةُ هٰذا يَومُكُمُ الَّذى كُنتُم توعَدونَ

The great horror will not worry them, and the angels will receive them joyfully: "This is your day, that has been promised to you."

يَومَ نَطوِى السَّماءَ كَطَىِّ السِّجِلِّ لِلكُتُبِ كَما بَدَأنا أَوَّلَ خَلقٍ نُعيدُهُ وَعدًا عَلَينا إِنّا كُنّا فٰعِلينَ

On that day, we will fold the heaven, like the folding of a book. Just as we initiated the first creation, we will repeat it. This is our promise; we will certainly carry it out.

وَلَقَد كَتَبنا فِى الزَّبورِ مِن بَعدِ الذِّكرِ أَنَّ الأَرضَ يَرِثُها عِبادِىَ الصّٰلِحونَ

We have decreed in the Psalms, as well as in other scriptures, that the earth shall be inherited by My righteous worshipers.

إِنَّ فى هٰذا لَبَلٰغًا لِقَومٍ عٰبِدينَ

This is a proclamation for people who are worshipers.

وَما أَرسَلنٰكَ إِلّا رَحمَةً لِلعٰلَمينَ

We have sent you out of mercy from us towards the whole world.

قُل إِنَّما يوحىٰ إِلَىَّ أَنَّما إِلٰهُكُم إِلٰهٌ وٰحِدٌ فَهَل أَنتُم مُسلِمونَ

Proclaim, "I have been given divine inspiration that your god is one god. Will you then submit?"

فَإِن تَوَلَّوا فَقُل ءاذَنتُكُم عَلىٰ سَواءٍ وَإِن أَدرى أَقَريبٌ أَم بَعيدٌ ما توعَدونَ

If they turn away, then say, "I have warned you sufficiently, and I have no idea how soon or late (the retribution) will come to you.

إِنَّهُ يَعلَمُ الجَهرَ مِنَ القَولِ وَيَعلَمُ ما تَكتُمونَ

"He is fully aware of your public utterances, and He is fully aware of everything you conceal.

وَإِن أَدرى لَعَلَّهُ فِتنَةٌ لَكُم وَمَتٰعٌ إِلىٰ حينٍ

"For all that I know, this world is a test for you, and a temporary enjoyment."

قٰلَ رَبِّ احكُم بِالحَقِّ وَرَبُّنَا الرَّحمٰنُ المُستَعانُ عَلىٰ ما تَصِفونَ

Say, "My Lord, Your judgment is the absolute justice. Our Lord is the Most Gracious; only His help is sought in the face of your claims."