The Letter “S” (Sâd)

In the name of Allah, Gracious, Merciful.

¹Sua. By the Qur’an full of Admonition:

²But the unbelievers are steeped in self glory and separatism.

³How many generations before them did We destroy? In the end they cried when there was no longer time for being saved!

⁴And so they wonder that a warner has come to them from among themselves! And the unbelievers say “This is a sorcerer telling lies!

⁵“Has he made all the gods into one Allah? Truly this is a wonderful thing!”¹

⁶And the leaders among them go away saying “Walk away and remain constant to your gods! For this is truly a thing designed!

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

¹Sua wal quranizil dikir

²Balil lazina kafaru fi izzatiwwa siqaq

³Kam ahlakna minqablihim minqarnin fanada wa latahina manas

⁴Wa ajibu an ja ahum munzirum manhum wa qalal kafiruna haza sahirun kazab

⁵Aja alal alihata ilaha wahida inna haza lasyai ujab

⁶Wantalaqal mala uminhum anim su wasbiru ala alihatikum inna haza lasyai uyurad

1. This statement may be truer than you think, in the sense that, the gods of the Kaabah (bait allah-the house of Allah) which numbered about 365 were referred to as Allahs, Muhammad from the family who were the custodians of the Kaabah, came, destroyed the allahs and gave them Allah. So if they accuse him of making an Allah out of their allahs, this is where they are coming from.

⁷“We never heard of this among the people of these latter days: this is nothing but a made up tale!

⁸“What! Has the message been sent to him of all persons among us?” But they are in doubt concerning My message! No, they have not yet tasted My punishment!

⁹Or have they the treasures of the mercy of your Lord, the exalted in power, the grantor of bounties without measure!

¹⁰Or have they the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all between? If so, let them mount up with the ropes and means to reach that end!

¹¹But there will be put to flight even a host of confederates.

¹²Before them the people of Noah and `Ad, and Pharaoh, the Lord of Stakes rejected apostles.

¹³And Thamud, and the people of Lut, and the companions of the Wood; such were the confederates.²

⁷Ma samina bihaza fil millatil akhirah inhaza illak tilaq

⁸Aunzila alaihi zikru minbainina bal hum fi sak kim minzikri bal lam ma yazuqu

⁹Am indahum khaza inu rahmati rabbikal azizil wahab

¹⁰Am lahum mulkus samawati walardi wa ma bainahuma fal yartaqu fil asbab

¹¹Jundum ma hunalika mahzumum mina l ahzab

¹²Ka zabat qablahum qaumu Nuhiw wa Aduw wa Firaunu zul autad

¹³Wa Samudu wa qaumu Luti wa ashabul aikah ulaikal ahzab

2. The companions of the wood, according to the Editors of the Noble Qur’an and Yusuf Ali are the people of Midian or the people of Shua’ib (Qur’an 15:78).

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁴Not one of them but rejected the apostles, but My punishment came justly and inevitably.

¹⁵These only wait for a single mighty blast, which will brook no delay.

¹⁶They say: “Our Lord! Hasten to us our sentence before the day of account!”

¹⁷Have patience at what they say and remember Our servant David, the man of strength: for he ever turned.

¹⁸It was We that made the hills declare in unison with him Our praises at eventide, and at break of day.

¹⁹And the birds gathered: all with him did turn to Allah.

²⁰And We strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and sound judgment in speech and decision.

²¹Has the story of the disputants reached you? Behold they climbed over the wall of the private chamber;

¹⁴Inkullun illa ka zaba rusula fahaq qa iqab

¹⁵Wa ma yanzuru ha ulaI illa saihata wahidatam ma laha minfawaq

¹⁶Wa qalu rabbana ajjil lana qitana qabla yaumil hisab

¹⁷Isbir ala ma yaquluna waz kur abdana Dawuda zal aid innahu aw wab

¹⁸Inna sa karnal jibala maahu yusab bihna bil asyiyi wal israq

¹⁹Wa taira mahsurah kullullahu aw wab

²⁰Wa sadadna mulkahu wa atainahul hikmata wa faslal khitab

²¹Wa hal ataka naba ul hasmi iz ta sa warul mihrab

[Commentary continues below.]

²²When they entered the presence of David and he was terrified of them, they said: “Fear not: We are two disputants one of whom has wronged the other: decide now between us with truth and treat us not with injustice but guide us to the even path.

²³“This man is my brother; he has nine and ninety ewes and I have one: Yet he says `Commit her to my care’ and is harsh to me in speech.”

²²Iz dakalu ala Dawuda fafazia minhum qalu la takhal hasmani baga baduna ala badin fahkum bainana bil haqqi wa la tustit wahdina ila sawa is sirat

²³Inna haza akhi lahu tisu wa tisuna najataw waliya najatuw wa hidah fa qala akfilniha wa az zani fil khitab

[Commentary continues below.]

²⁴He said: “He has undoubtedly wronged you in demanding your ewe to be added to his flock of ewes: truly, many are the partners who wrong each other: not so do those who believe and work deeds of righteousness and how few are they?” And David gathered that We had tried him: he asked forgiveness of his Lord, fell down bowing and turned to Allah in repentance.³

²⁵So We forgave him this lapse: he enjoyed indeed a near approach to Us and a beautiful place of return.

²⁶O David! We did indeed make you a vicegerent on earth: so judge between men in truth: nor follow the lusts of thy heart for they will mislead you from the path of Allah: for those who wander astray from the path of Allah is a penalty grievous for that they forget the day of account.

²⁷And Not without purpose did We create heaven and earth and all between! That were the thought of unbelievers! But woe to the unbelievers because of the fire!

²⁴Qala laqad zalamaka bisu ali najatika ila niajih wainna katsiram minal hulatai layabgi baduhum ala badin illal lazina amanu wa amilu salihati wa qalilum ma hum wa zan na Dawudu annama fatan nahufastagfara rabbahu wa khar ra raki aw wa anah

²⁵Faghafarna lahu zalik wa innalahu indana lazulfa wa husna ma ab

²⁶Ya Dawudu inna jaalnaka kalifatan fil ardi fahkum bainan nasi bil haqqi wa la tatabi il hawa fayudil laka an sabilil lah innal lazina yadil luna an sabilil lahi lahum azabun sadidun bima nasu yaumal hisab

²⁷Wa ma khalaqna sama a walarda wa ma bainahuma batila zalika zannul lazina kafaru fawailul lil lazina kafaru minan nar

3. This story starts from verse 21-24, and the narration is different from the account in the Bible. The story is found in 2 Samuel 12:1-7:

And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‛I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.’”

The story in the Qur’an does not give information as though it is something that the prophet of God went to tell David. It starts off by saying that two disputants went to David’s chamber, leaving out any reference to the background of the story as you read in chapter of 2 Samuel chapter 11. The Qur’an ignores that and claims two disputers went into the chamber of David.

²⁸Shall We treat those who believe and work deeds of righteousness the same as those who do mischief on earth? Shall We treat those who guard against evil the same as those who turn aside from the right?

²⁹A book which We have sent down unto you full of blessings that they may meditate on its signs and that men of understanding may receive admonition.

³⁰And to David We gave Solomon, how excellent in Our service! Ever did he turn to Us!

³¹Behold, there were brought before him at eventide coursers of the highest breeding; and swift of foot;

³²And he said “Truly do I love the love of good with a view to the glory of my Lord” until the sun was hidden in the veil of night:

³³“Bring them back to me.” Then began he to pass his hand over their legs and their necks.

²⁸Am najalul lazina amanu wa amilu salihati kal mufsidina filard am najalul mutaqina kal fujar

²⁹Kitabun anzalnahu ilaika mubarakul liyad dabbaru ayatihi wa liyatazak kara ulul albab

³⁰Wa wahabna liDawuda Sulaiman nimal abd innahu awwab

³¹Iz urida alaihi bil asyiy yi safinatul jiyad

³²Faqala inni ahbabtu hubal khairi an zikri rabbi hata tawarat bil hijab

³³Ruduha alay fatafiqa mas ham bisuqi wal anaq

[Commentary continues below.]

³⁴And We did try Solomon: We placed on his throne a body: but he did turn to Us in true devotion:⁴

³⁵He said “O my Lord! Forgive me and grant me a kingdom which suits not another after me: for You are the grantor of bounties.”

³⁶Then We subjected the wind to his power to flow gently to his order whithersoever he willed.

³⁷And the evil ones including every kind of builder and diver.

³⁸And others bound together in fetters.

³⁹“Such are Our bounties: whether you bestow them or withhold them, no account will be asked.”

⁴⁰And he enjoyed indeed a near approach to Us and a beautiful place of final return.

³⁴Wa laqad fatan na Sulaimana wa al qaina ala kursi yihi jasadan summa anab

³⁵Qala rabbigfir li wa hab li mulkal layan bagi li ahadim min badi innaka antal wah hab

³⁶Fasa karna lahu riha tajri bi am rihi ruka an haisu ashab

³⁷Wa sayatina kulla banna iwa gawas

³⁸Wa akhirina muqar ranina fil asfad

³⁹Haza ata una famnun au amsik bigairi hisab

⁴⁰Wa inna lahu indana lazulfa wa husna maab

4. According to George Sale, the story is from a Talmudic origin (Vide Talm. En Jacob, part ii. Et Yalkut in lib.Reg. P. 182) here the story is that Solomon, having taken Sidon, and slain the king of the city, brought away his daughter Jerada, who became his favourite; and because she ceased not to lament the her father’s loss, he ordered the devils to make an image of him for her consolation: which being done, and placed in her chamber, she and her maids worshipped it morning and evening, according to their custom.... Muhammad Ali is of the opinion that Jeroboam or Rehoboam could be this dead body mentioned here because in comparison to Solomon who was a real hero to the people of Israel. In any case, there is no clear acceptable explanation for the Qur’anic claim.

⁴¹Commemorate Our servant Job, behold, he cried to his Lord: “The evil one has afflicted me with distress and suffering”!

⁴²“Strike with your foot: here is water wherein to wash, cool and refreshing and water to drink.”

⁴³And We gave him back his people and doubled their number as a grace from Ourselves and a thing for commemoration for all who have understanding.

⁴⁴“And take in your hand a little grass and strike therewith: and break not.” Truly We found him full of patience and constancy: how excellent in Our service! Ever did he turn to Us!

⁴⁵And commemorate Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, possessors of power and vision.

⁴⁶Verily, We did chose them for a special purpose, proclaiming the message of the hereafter.

⁴¹Wazkur abdana Ayyub iz nada rabbahu anni mas saniyas syaitanu binusbiw wa azab

42Urkud birijlik haza mugtasalun bariduw wa sarab

⁴³Wa wahabna lahu ahlahu wa mitslahum maahum rahmatam min na wa zikra liulil albab

⁴⁴Wa kuz biyadika digsan fadrib bihi wa la takhnats inna wajadnahu sabira nimal abdu innahu aw wab

⁴⁵Wazkur ibadana Ibrahima wa Ishaq wa Yaquba ulil aidi wal absar

⁴⁶Inna akhlasnahum bikhalisatin zikrad dar

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴⁷And they were in Our sight truly of the company of the elect and the good.

⁴⁸And commemorate Ismail, Elisha, and Zul-Kifl: each of them was of the company of the good.⁵

⁴⁹This is a message of admonition: and verily, for the righteous is a beautiful place of return.

⁵⁰Gardens of eternity whose doors will be open to them;

⁵¹Therein will they recline; therein can they call for fruits in abundance and drink;

⁵²And beside them will be chaste women restraining their glances, companions of equal age.

⁵³Such is the promise made to you for the day of account!

⁵⁴Truly such will be Our bounty; it will never fail

⁵⁵Yes, such! But for the wrongdoers will be an evil place of return!

⁴⁷Wa innahum indana laminal mustafainal akhyar

⁴⁸Wazkur Ismaila waLyasaa wa Zalkif wa kul lum minal akhyar

⁴⁹Haza zikr wa inna lilmu taqina lahusnu maab

⁵⁰Jannati adnim mufa tahatal lahumul abwab

⁵¹Mutakina fiha yaduna fiha bifakihatin katsirati wa sarab

⁵²Wa indahum qasiratut tarfi atrab

⁵³Haza ma tuaduna liyaumi hisab

⁵⁴Inna haza larizquna ma lahu min nafad

⁵⁵Haza wa inna litaghina lasa ra maab

5. The translators of the Noble Qur’an refers to Zulkifl as Isaiah.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁵⁶Hell! They will burn therein, an evil bed indeed to lie on.

⁵⁷Yes such! Then shall they taste it a boiling fluid and a fluid dark, murky, and intensely cold!

⁵⁸And other penalties of a similar kind to match them!

⁵⁹Here is a troop rushing headlong with you! No welcome for them! Truly they shall burn in the fire!

⁶⁰Not you! No welcome for you! It is you who have brought this upon us! Now evil is this place to stay in!”

⁶¹They will say: “Our Lord! Whoever brought this upon us add to him a double penalty in the fire!”

⁶²And they will say: “What has happened to us that we see not men whom we used to number among the bad ones?

⁶³“Did we treat them in ridicule or have our eyes failed to perceive them?”

⁵⁶Jahannam yaslaunaha fabisal mihad

⁵⁷Haza falyazuquhu hamimuw wa ga saq

⁵⁸Wa akharu min saklihi azwaj

⁵⁹Haza faijum muqtahimum maakum la marhaban bihim innahum salun nar

⁶⁰Qalu bal antum la marhaban bikum antum qad damtumuhu lana fabisal qarar

⁶¹Qalu rabbana man qadama lana haza fazid hu azaban difan fin nar

⁶²Wa qalu ma lana nara rijalan kunna naudduhum minal asrar

⁶³Atakaznahum sikri yan am zagat anhumul absar

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶⁴Truly that is just and fitting the mutual recriminations of the people of the fire!

⁶⁵Say: “Truly am I a warner: no god is there but the one Allah, supreme and irresistible

⁶⁶“The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all between, exalted in might, able to enforce His will, forgiving again and again.”

⁶⁷Say: “That is a message supreme.

⁶⁸“From which you do turn away!

⁶⁹“No knowledge have I of the chiefs on high when they discuss among themselves.⁶

⁷⁰“Only this has been revealed to me: that I am to give warning plainly and publicly.”

⁷¹Behold your Lord said to the angels: “I am about to create man from clay:

⁷²“When I have fashioned him, and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down in obeisance unto him.”

⁷³So the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together;

⁶⁴Inna zalika lahaqqun takashumu ahlin nar

⁶⁵Qul innama anna munziru wa ma min ilahin illal lahul wahidul qahar

⁶⁶Rabbu samawati walardi wa ma bainahumal azizul gafar

⁶⁷Qul huwa naba un azim

⁶⁸Antum anhu muridun

⁶⁹Ma kana liya min ilmin bil mala il ala iz yahtasimun

⁷⁰Iyuha ila ya illa annama anna nazirum mubin

⁷¹Iz qala rab uka lilmalaikati inni khaliqun basyaram mintin

⁷²Fa iza sawaituhu wa nafaktu fihi mi ruhi faqau lahu sajidin

⁷³Fasajadal malaikatu kulluhum ajmaun

6. It is very interesting that Allah would say that he has no knowledge of what the Chiefs on high discuss among themselves. The God of the Bible is all knowing and all seeing meaning that nothing escapes his sight.

⁷⁴Not so Iblis: he was haughty and became one of those who reject faith.

⁷⁵Allah said: “O Iblis! what prevents you from prostrating yourself to one whom I have created with My hands? Are you haughty? Or are you one of the high ones?”

⁷⁶Iblis said: “I am better than he: You created me from fire and him You created from clay.”

⁷⁷Allah said: “Then get you out from here: for you are rejected, accursed.

⁷⁸“And My curse shall be on thee till the day of judgment.”

⁷⁹Iblis said: “O my Lord! give me then respite till the day they are raised.”

⁸⁰Allah said: “Respite then is granted you.

⁸¹“Till the day of the time appointed.”

⁷⁴Illa iblis istakbara wa kana minal kafirin      

⁷⁵Qala ya iblisu ma manaaka an tasjuda lima khalaqtu biyada ya astakbarta am kunta minal alin

⁷⁶Qala anna khairum minhu khalaqtani minnari wa khalaqtahu mintin

⁷⁷Qala fakruj minha fa innaka rajim

⁷⁸Wa inna alaika lanati ila yaumiddin

⁷⁹Qala rabbi fa anirni ila yaumi yub asun

⁸⁰Qala fa innaka minal munzarin

⁸¹Ila yaumil waqtil malum

⁸²Iblis said: “Then by Your power I will put them all in the wrong.

⁸³“Except Your servants among them, sincere and purified.”

⁸⁴Allah said: “Then it is just and fitting and I say what is just and fitting

⁸⁵“That I will certainly fill hell with you and those that follow you.”

⁸⁶Say: “No reward do I ask of you for this Qur’an nor am I a pretender.

⁸⁷“This is no less than a message to all the worlds.

⁸⁸“And you shall certainly know the truth of it after a while.”

⁸²Qala fabiiz zatika la ugwiyan nahum ajmain

⁸³Illa ibadaka minhumul muklasin

⁸⁴Qala fal haqqu wal haqqa aqul

⁸⁵La amla anna jahannama minka wa mimman tabiaka minhum ajmain

⁸⁶Qul ma as alukum alaihi min ajri wa ma anna minal mutakal lifin

⁸⁷In huwa illa zikrul lil alamin

⁸⁸Wa latalamun na naba ahu bada hin