Surah 67: Kingship (Al-Mulk)

تَبٰرَكَ الَّذى بِيَدِهِ المُلكُ وَهُوَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَىءٍ قَديرٌ

Most exalted is the One in whose hands is all kingship, and He is Omnipotent.

الَّذى خَلَقَ المَوتَ وَالحَيوٰةَ لِيَبلُوَكُم أَيُّكُم أَحسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ العَزيزُ الغَفورُ

The One who created death and life for the purpose of distinguishing those among you who would do better. He is the Almighty, the Forgiving.

*67:2 See the Introduction and Appendix 7 for details of the purpose behind this world.

الَّذى خَلَقَ سَبعَ سَمٰوٰتٍ طِباقًا ما تَرىٰ فى خَلقِ الرَّحمٰنِ مِن تَفٰوُتٍ فَارجِعِ البَصَرَ هَل تَرىٰ مِن فُطورٍ

He created seven universes in layers. You do not see any imperfection in the creation by the Most Gracious. Keep looking; do you see any flaw?

ثُمَّ ارجِعِ البَصَرَ كَرَّتَينِ يَنقَلِب إِلَيكَ البَصَرُ خاسِئًا وَهُوَ حَسيرٌ

Look again and again; your eyes will come back stumped and conquered.

وَلَقَد زَيَّنَّا السَّماءَ الدُّنيا بِمَصٰبيحَ وَجَعَلنٰها رُجومًا لِلشَّيٰطينِ وَأَعتَدنا لَهُم عَذابَ السَّعيرِ

We adorned the lowest universe with lamps, and guarded its borders with projectiles against the devils; we prepared for them a retribution in Hell.

وَلِلَّذينَ كَفَروا بِرَبِّهِم عَذابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَبِئسَ المَصيرُ

For those who disbelieved in their Lord, the retribution of Gehenna. What a miserable destiny.

إِذا أُلقوا فيها سَمِعوا لَها شَهيقًا وَهِىَ تَفورُ

When they get thrown therein, they hear its furor as it fumes.

تَكادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ الغَيظِ كُلَّما أُلقِىَ فيها فَوجٌ سَأَلَهُم خَزَنَتُها أَلَم يَأتِكُم نَذيرٌ

It almost explodes from rage. Whenever a group is thrown therein, its guards would ask them, "Did you not receive a warner?"

قالوا بَلىٰ قَد جاءَنا نَذيرٌ فَكَذَّبنا وَقُلنا ما نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ مِن شَىءٍ إِن أَنتُم إِلّا فى ضَلٰلٍ كَبيرٍ

They would answer, "Yes indeed; a warner did come to us, but we disbelieved and said, `God did not reveal anything. You are totally astray.' "

وَقالوا لَو كُنّا نَسمَعُ أَو نَعقِلُ ما كُنّا فى أَصحٰبِ السَّعيرِ

They also say, "If we heard or understood, we would not be among the dwellers of Hell!"

فَاعتَرَفوا بِذَنبِهِم فَسُحقًا لِأَصحٰبِ السَّعيرِ

Thus, they confessed their sins. Woe to the dwellers of Hell.

إِنَّ الَّذينَ يَخشَونَ رَبَّهُم بِالغَيبِ لَهُم مَغفِرَةٌ وَأَجرٌ كَبيرٌ

As for those who reverence their Lord, when alone in their privacy, they have attained forgiveness and a great recompense.

وَأَسِرّوا قَولَكُم أَوِ اجهَروا بِهِ إِنَّهُ عَليمٌ بِذاتِ الصُّدورِ

Whether you keep your utterances secret, or declare them, He is fully aware of the innermost thoughts.

أَلا يَعلَمُ مَن خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطيفُ الخَبيرُ

Should He not know what He created? He is the Sublime, Most Cognizant.

هُوَ الَّذى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الأَرضَ ذَلولًا فَامشوا فى مَناكِبِها وَكُلوا مِن رِزقِهِ وَإِلَيهِ النُّشورُ

He is the One who put the Earth at your service. Roam its corners, and eat from His provisions. To Him is the final summoning.

ءَأَمِنتُم مَن فِى السَّماءِ أَن يَخسِفَ بِكُمُ الأَرضَ فَإِذا هِىَ تَمورُ

Have you guaranteed that the One in heaven will not strike the earth and cause it to tumble?

أَم أَمِنتُم مَن فِى السَّماءِ أَن يُرسِلَ عَلَيكُم حاصِبًا فَسَتَعلَمونَ كَيفَ نَذيرِ

Have you guaranteed that the One in heaven will not send upon you a violent storm? Will you then appreciate the value of My warning?

وَلَقَد كَذَّبَ الَّذينَ مِن قَبلِهِم فَكَيفَ كانَ نَكيرِ

Others before them have disbelieved; how terrible was My requital!

أَوَلَم يَرَوا إِلَى الطَّيرِ فَوقَهُم صٰفّٰتٍ وَيَقبِضنَ ما يُمسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا الرَّحمٰنُ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىءٍ بَصيرٌ

Have they not seen the birds above them lined up in columns and spreading their wings? The Most Gracious is the One who holds them in the air. He is Seer of all things.

أَمَّن هٰذَا الَّذى هُوَ جُندٌ لَكُم يَنصُرُكُم مِن دونِ الرَّحمٰنِ إِنِ الكٰفِرونَ إِلّا فى غُرورٍ

Where are those soldiers who can help you against the Most Gracious? Indeed, the disbelievers are deceived.

أَمَّن هٰذَا الَّذى يَرزُقُكُم إِن أَمسَكَ رِزقَهُ بَل لَجّوا فى عُتُوٍّ وَنُفورٍ

Who is there to provide for you, if He withholds His provisions? Indeed, they have plunged deep into transgression and aversion.

أَفَمَن يَمشى مُكِبًّا عَلىٰ وَجهِهِ أَهدىٰ أَمَّن يَمشى سَوِيًّا عَلىٰ صِرٰطٍ مُستَقيمٍ

Is one who walks while slumped over on his face better guided, or one who walks straight on the right path?

قُل هُوَ الَّذى أَنشَأَكُم وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمعَ وَالأَبصٰرَ وَالأَفـِٔدَةَ قَليلًا ما تَشكُرونَ

Say, "He is the One who initiated you, and granted you the hearing, the eyes, and the brains. Rarely are you appreciative."

قُل هُوَ الَّذى ذَرَأَكُم فِى الأَرضِ وَإِلَيهِ تُحشَرونَ

Say, "He is the One who placed you on earth, and before Him you will be summoned."

وَيَقولونَ مَتىٰ هٰذَا الوَعدُ إِن كُنتُم صٰدِقينَ

They challenge: "When will that prophecy come to pass, if you are truthful?"

قُل إِنَّمَا العِلمُ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّما أَنا۠ نَذيرٌ مُبينٌ

Say, "Such knowledge is with God; I am no more than a manifest warner."

فَلَمّا رَأَوهُ زُلفَةً سيـَٔت وُجوهُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا وَقيلَ هٰذَا الَّذى كُنتُم بِهِ تَدَّعونَ

When they see it happening, the faces of those who disbelieved will turn miserable, and it will be proclaimed: "This is what you used to mock."

قُل أَرَءَيتُم إِن أَهلَكَنِىَ اللَّهُ وَمَن مَعِىَ أَو رَحِمَنا فَمَن يُجيرُ الكٰفِرينَ مِن عَذابٍ أَليمٍ

Say, "Whether God decides to annihilate me and those with me, or to shower us with His mercy, who is there to protect the disbelievers from a painful retribution?"

قُل هُوَ الرَّحمٰنُ ءامَنّا بِهِ وَعَلَيهِ تَوَكَّلنا فَسَتَعلَمونَ مَن هُوَ فى ضَلٰلٍ مُبينٍ

Say, "He is the Most Gracious; we believe in Him, and we trust in Him. You will surely find out who is really far astray."

قُل أَرَءَيتُم إِن أَصبَحَ ماؤُكُم غَورًا فَمَن يَأتيكُم بِماءٍ مَعينٍ

Say, "What if your water sinks away, who will provide you with pure water?"