Gold Ornaments (Az-Zukhruf)

In the name of Allah, Gracious, Merciful.

¹H. M.

²By the book that makes things clear.

³We have made it a Qur’an in Arabic that you may be able to understand.

⁴And verily, it is in the mother of the book, in Our presence high in dignity, full of wisdom.

⁵Shall We then take away the message from you and repel you for that you are a people transgressing beyond bounds?

⁶But how many were the prophets We sent among the peoples of old?

⁷And never came there a prophet to them but they mocked him.

⁸So We destroyed them, stronger in power than these, and thus has passed on the parable of the peoples of old.

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

¹Ha mim

²Wal kitabil mubin

³Inna jaalnahu quranan arabi yalla allakum taqilun

⁴Wa innahu fi ummil kitabi ladaina laali yun hakim

⁵Afanadribu ankumuz zikra safhan an kuntum qaumam musrifin

⁶Wa kam arsalna min nabiyin fil awalin

⁷Wa ma yatihim min nabiyyin illa kanu bihi yastahzi un

⁸Fa ahlakna asyad da minhum basawa mada matsalul awalin

[Commentary continues below.]

⁹If you were to question them about who created the heavens and the earth? They would be sure to reply `They were created by Him, the exalted in power, full of knowledge.

¹⁰He has made for you the earth, spread out and has made for you roads, therein in order that you may find guidance;

¹¹And that sends down from time to time rain from the sky in due measure; and We raise to life therewith a land that is dead; even so will you be raised from the dead.

¹²That has created pairs in all things and has made for you ships and cattle on which you ride.

⁹Wa la insa altahum man halaqa samawati walarda layaqulun na halaqahun nal azizul alim

¹⁰Allazi jaala lakumul arda mahdaw wa jaala lakum fiha subulal la al lakum tahtadun

¹¹Wal lazi nazala minas samai ma an biqadar fa ansarna bihi baldatam maita kazalika tukrajun

¹²Wal lazi halaqal azwaja kullaha wa ja ala lakum minal fulki wal an ami ma tarkabun

[Commentary continues below.]

¹³In order that you may sit firm and square on their backs and when so seated you may celebrate the kind favor of your Lord and say “Glory to Him Who has subjected these to our use, for We could never have accomplished this by ourselves.

¹⁴“And to Our Lord surely must we return!”

¹⁵Yet they attribute to some of His servants a share with Him in His godhead! Truly is man a blasphemous ingrate avowed!

¹⁶What! Has He taken daughters out of what He Himself creates and granted to you sons for choice?

¹⁷When news is brought to one of them of the birth of what he sets up as a likeness to Allah, most gracious, his face darkens and he is filled with inward grief!

¹⁸Is then one brought up among trinkets and unable to give a clear account in a dispute to be associated with Allah?

¹³Litastawu ala zuhurihi summa tazkuru nimata rabbikum izas tawaitum alaihi wa taqulu subnanal lazi sak kara lana haza wa man kunna lahu muqrinin.

¹⁴Wa inna ila rabbina lamunqalibun.

¹⁵Wa jaalu lahu min ibadihi juz a innal insana lakafurum mubin !

¹⁶Ami takaza mimma yakluqu banati wa asfakum bil banin.

¹⁷Wa iza busira ahaduhum bima daraba li rahmani matsalan zal la wajuhu muswad dawa huwa kazim.

¹⁸Awa ma yunas sa u fil hilyati wa huwa fil hisami gairu mubin.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁹And they make into females angels who themselves serve Allah. Did they witness their creation? Their evidence will be recorded and they will be called to account!

²⁰And they say “If it had been the will of Allah, most gracious, We should not have worshiped such!” Of that they have no knowledge! They do nothing but lie!

²¹What! have We given them a book before this, to which they are holding fast?

²²No! they say: “We found Our fathers following a certain religion and We do guide ourselves by their footsteps.”

¹⁹Wa jaalul malaikatal lazina hum ibadur rahmani inasa asyahidu halqahum satuktabu sahadatuhum wa yus alun.

²⁰Wa qalu lau sa ar rahmanu ma abadnahum ma lahum bizalika min ilmin inhum illa yakrusun.

²¹Am atainahum kitabam min qablihi fahum bihi mustamsikun.

²²Bal qalu inna wajadna aba ana ala umatiw wa inna ala asarihim muhtadun.

[Commentary continues below.]

²³Just in the same way whenever We sent a warner before you to any people, the wealthy ones among them said: “We found Our fathers following a certain religion and We will certainly follow in their footsteps.”

²⁴He said: “What! even if I brought you better guidance than that which you found your fathers following?” They said: “For us We deny that you are sent on a mission at all.”

²⁵So We exacted retribution from them: now see what was the end of those who rejected truth!

²⁶And behold! Abraham said to his father and his people: “I do indeed clear myself of what you worship:

²⁷“I worship only Him who made me and He will certainly guide me.”

²⁸And he left it as a word to endure among those who came after him, that they may turn back to Allah.

²⁹Yes, I have given the good things of this life to these men and their fathers until the truth has come to them and an apostle making things clear.

³⁰But when the truth came to them they said: “This is sorcery and We do reject it.”

³¹Also they say: “Why is not this Qur’an sent down to some leading man in either of the two chief cities?”

²³Wa kazalika ma arsalna min qablika fi qaryatim min nazirin illa qala mutrafuha inna wa jadna aba ana ala ummatiw wa inna ala asarihim muqtadun.

²⁴Qala awalau jitukum bi ahda mim ma wajatum alihi aba akum qalu inna bima ursiltum bihi kafirun.

²⁵Fantaqamna minhum fanzur kaifa kana aqibatul muka zibin.

²⁶Wa iz qala Ibrahimu li abihi wa qaumihi innani bara ummim ma tabudun.

²⁷Illal lazi fatarani fa innahu sayahdin.

²⁸Wa jaalaha kalimatan baqiyatan fi aqibihi la allahum yarjiun.

²⁹Bal matatu ha ulai wa aba ahum hata ja ahumul haqqu wa rasulum mibin.

³⁰Wa lam ma ja ahumul haqqu qalu haza sihru wa inna bihi kafirun.

³¹Wa qalu lau la nuz zila hazal quranu ala rajulim minal qaryataini azim

[Commentary continues below.]

³²Is it they who would portion out the mercy of your Lord? It is We who portion out between them their livelihood in the life of this world: and We raise some of them above others in ranks so that some may command work from others. But the mercy of your Lord is better than the wealth which they amass.

³³And were it not that men might become of one way of life, We would provide for everyone that blasphemes against the most gracious, silver roofs for their houses, and stair ways on which to go up.

³⁴And doors to their houses, and thrones on which they could recline.

³⁵And also adornments of gold. But all this were nothing but conveniences of the present life: the hereafter in the sight of your Lord is for the righteous.

³⁶If anyone withdraws himself from remembrance of the most gracious, We appoint for him an evil one to be an intimate companion to him.

³²Ahum yaqsimuna rahmata rabbika nahnu qasamna bainahum maisyatahum fil hayatid dunya wa rafana badahum fauqa badin darajatil liya takhiza baduhum badan sukri ya wa rahmatu rabbika khairum mim ma yajmaun

³³Wa lau la ayyakunan nasu umata wahidatal lajaalna lima yakfuru bi rahmani libuyutihim suqufam min fidati wa maarija alaiha yazharun

34Wa libuyutihim abwaba wa sururan alaiha ya taki un

³⁵Wa zukrufa wa inkullu zalika lamma mataul hayatid dunya wal akhiratu inda rabbika lilmut taqin

³⁶Wa ma yasu an zikrir rahmani nuqa yid lahu syaitanan fahuwa lahu qarin.

[Commentary continues below.]

³⁷And such evil ones really hinder them from the path, but they think that they are being guided aright!

³⁸At length when such a one comes to Us, he says: “Would that between me and you were the distance of East and West!” And evil is the companion indeed!

³⁹And when you have done wrong, it will avail you nothing that day that you shall be partners in punishment!

⁴⁰Can you then make the deaf to hear, or give direction to the blind, or to such as wander in manifest error?

⁴¹Even if We take you away, We shall be sure to exact retribution from them.

⁴²Or We shall show you that which We have promised them: for verily, We shall prevail over them.

³⁷Wa innahum layasud dunahum anis sabili wa yahsabuna an nahum muhtadun.

³⁸Hata iza ja ana qala yalaita baini wa bainaka budal masriqaini fabisal qarin.

³⁹Wa la yanfakumul yauma izalamtum an nakum fil azabi mustarikun.

⁴⁰Afa anta tusmius summa au tahdil umya wa man kana fi dalalim mubin.

⁴¹Fa imma nazaban na bika fa inna minhum muntaqimun.

⁴²Au nuriyan nakal lazi wa adnahum fa inna alaihim muqtadirun.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴³So hold fast to the revelation sent down to you: verily, you are on a straight way.

⁴⁴And this is indeed the message for you and for your people; and soon you shall all be brought to account.

⁴⁵And question Our apostles whom We sent before you; did We appoint any deities other than Allah, most gracious to be worshiped?¹

⁴⁶We did send Moses before with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs: he said “I am an apostle of the Lord of the worlds.”

⁴⁷But when he came to them with Our signs, behold they ridiculed them.

⁴⁸And We showed them sign after sign each greater then its fellow and We seized them with punishment in order that they might turn to Us.

⁴³Fastamsik bil lazi uhiya ilaik innaka ala sirati mustaqim

⁴⁴Wa innahu lazikrul laka wa laqaumika wa saufa tus alun.

⁴⁵Was al man arsalna min qablika mi rusulina ajaalna min duni rahmani alihata yubadun.

⁴⁶Wa laqad arsalna Musa bi ayatina ila Firauna wamala ihi faqalain ni rasulu rabbil alamin.

⁴⁷Falam ma ja ahum bi ayatina iza hum minha yadhakun.

⁴⁸Wa ma nurihim min ayatin illa hiya akbaru min ukhtiha wa akhaz nahum bil azabi laal lahum yarjiun

1. Who appoints deities and Allah? God Almighty was before the foundation of the world and would be when this life or age ends. He does not answer to anyone because He was not appointed by anyone. Allah on the other hand was appointed by someone else.

⁴⁹And they said “O sorcerer! invoke your Lord for us according to His covenant with you; for We shall truly accept guidance.”

⁵⁰But when We removed the penalty from them, behold they broke their word.

⁵¹And Pharaoh proclaimed among his people saying: “O my people! does not the dominion of Egypt belong to me, these streams flowing underneath my palace? What! see you not then?

⁵²“Am I not better than this Moses who is a contemptible wretch and can scarcely express himself clearly?

⁵³“Then why are not gold bracelets bestowed on him or why come not with him angels accompanying him in procession?”

⁵⁴Thus did he make fools of his people and they obeyed him: Truly were they a people rebellious against Allah.

⁴⁹Wa qalu ya ayyuha sahirudu lana rabbaka bima ahida indak innana lamuhtadun

⁵⁰Falam ma kasyafna anhumul azaba iza hum yankusun

⁵¹Wa nada Firaunu fi qaumihi qala ya qaumi alaisa li mulku misra wa hazihil anharu tajri min tahti afala tubsirun

⁵²Am anakhairum min hazal lazi huwa mahinuw wa la yakadu yubin

⁵³Falau la ulqiya alaihi aswiratum min zahabin au ja a maahul malaikatu muqtarinin.

⁵⁴Fastakhaf fa qaumahu fa atauh innahum kanu qauman fasiqin

[Commentary continues below.]

⁵⁵When at length they provoked Us, We exacted retribution from them and We drowned them all.

⁵⁶And We made them of the past and an example to later ages.

⁵⁷And when the son of Mary is held up as an example, behold your people raise a clamor thereat.

⁵⁸And they say “ Are Our gods best or He?” This they set forth to you only by way of disputation: yes they are a contentious people.

⁵⁹He was no more than a servant: We granted Our favor to him and We made him an example to the Children of Israel.²

⁶⁰And if it were Our will We could make angels from among you, succeeding each other on the earth.

⁶¹And Jesus shall be a sign for the coming of the hour, therefore have no doubt about it but follow me,: this is a straight way.³

⁵⁵Falam ma asafunan taqamna minhum fa agraqnahum ajmain

⁵⁶Fajaalnahum salafa wa matsalal lil akhirina

⁵⁷Wa lam ma duribabnu Maryama matsalan iza qaumuka minhu yasidun

⁵⁸Wa qalu a alihatuna khairun am hu ma darabuhu laka illa jadala bal hum qaumun khasimun

⁵⁹Inhuwa illa abdun an amna alaihi wa jaalnahu matsalal libani Israil

⁶⁰Wa lau nasyau lajaalna minkum malaikatan filardi yakhlufun

⁶¹Wa innahu la ilmul li saati fala tamtarun na biha wa tabiun haza siratu mustaqim

2. Jesus is more than a servant of God, He is the Word of God Almighty according to Qur’an 3:45, born of the Spirit of God Almighty and consequently the Son of the Most High God according to Luke 1:35. In the face of even this in-exhaustive reference, the proof is very clear, that it is almost blasphemous to refer to Jesus as a servant. See further notes on the second coming of Christ at the end of the chapter.

3. This is the Qur’an’s allusion to the second coming of Christ Jesus. He shall be a Sign of the hour of Judgment, that means that before the hour of Judgment, Jesus will come again.

Muhammad made mention of this many times.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.657 narrated by Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, surely (Jesus,) the son of Mary will soon descend amongst you and will judge mankind justly (as a Just Ruler)."

Sahih Muslim Hadith 293 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: A section of my people will not cease fighting for the Truth and will prevail till the Day of Resurrection.

He said: Jesus son of Mary would then descend and their (Muslims’) commander would invite him to come and lead them in prayer, but he would say: No, some amongst you are commanders over some (amongst you). This is the honour from Allah for this Ummah. Sahih Muslim Hadith 6931: Narrated by Hudhayfah ibn Usayd Ghifari; Allah’s Apostle (peace be upon him) came to us all of a sudden as we were (busy in a discussion) He said: What do you discuss about? [The Companions] said: We are discussing about the Last Hour. Thereupon he said: It will not come until you see ten signs before and (in this connection) he made a mention of the smoke, Dajjal, the beast, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of Jesus son of Mary (Allah be pleased with him), Gog and Magog, and landslides in three places, one in the east, one in the west and one in Arabia at the end of which fire would burn forth from the Yemen, and would drive people to the place of their assembly.

⁶²And let not the evil one hinder you: for he is to you an open enemy.

⁶³When Jesus came with clear signs he said: “Now have I come to you with wisdom and in order to make clear to you some of the points on which you dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me.⁴

⁶⁴“For Allah; He is my Lord and your Lord: so worship Him: this is a straight way.”⁵

⁶⁵But sects from among themselves fell into disagreement: then woe to the wrongdoers from the penalty of a grievous day!

⁶⁶Do they only wait for the hour, that it should come on them all of a sudden, while they perceive not?

⁶⁷Friends on that day will be foes one to another except the righteous.

⁶²Wa la yasu dan nakumus syaitan innahu lakum adu wum mubin

⁶³Wa lam ma ja a Isa bil bayinati qala qad jitukum bilhikmati wa li ubayina lakum badal lazi taktalifuna fih fat taqul laha wa atiun

⁶⁴Innal laha huwa rabbi wa rabbukum fabuduh haza siratu mustaqim

⁶⁵Faktalafal ahzabu min bainihim fa wailul lillazina zalamu min azabi yaumin alim

⁶⁶Hal yansuruna illa saata an tatiyahum bagtataw wa hum la yasurun

⁶⁷Alakhil la u yauma izim baduhum libadin aduw wun il lal mutaqin

4. This verse is in connection with his first coming.

5. Please refer to verse 64. Though Jesus taught about the worship of God Almighty, He never mentioned the worship of Allah because the two are not the same. God Almighty is the Creator of the world, Allah is the creation of man, therefore Jesus would never have recommended the worship of Allah. (Please refer to Qur’an 112 for more information).

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶⁸My devotees! no fear shall be on you that day nor shall you grieve

⁶⁹Those who have believed in Our signs and bowed in Islam.

⁷⁰Enter the garden, you and your wives in rejoicing.⁶

⁷¹To them will be passed round dishes and goblets of gold: there will be all that their souls could desire, all that the eyes could delight in: and you shall abide therein.

⁷²Such will be the garden of which you are made heirs for your good deeds in life.

⁷³Ye shall have therein abundance of fruit from which you shall have satisfaction.

⁷⁴The sinners will be in the punishment of hell to dwell therein:

⁶⁸Ya ibadi la kaufun alikumul yauma wa la antum tahzanun

⁶⁹Allazina amanu bi ayatina wa kanu muslimin

⁷⁰Udkhulul jannata antum wa azwajukum tuhbarun

⁷¹Yuthafu alaihim bisihafim min zahabiw wa akwab wa fiha ma tastahihil anfusu wa talaz zul ayun wa antum fiha khalidun

⁷²Wa tikal jannatul lati uritsumuha bima kuntum tamalun

⁷³Lakum fiha fakihatun katsiratum minha takulun

⁷⁴Innal mujrimina fi azabi jahanama khalidun

6. Please refer to verse 70. There shall be no marriage in heaven. Over there we shall be like the angels. Matthew 22:30: For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁷⁵Nowise will it be lightened for them, and in despair will they be there overwhelmed.

⁷⁶And nowise shall We be unjust to them: but it is they who have been unjust themselves.

⁷⁷And they will cry: “O Malik! would that your Lord put an end to us!” He will say “No, but you shall abide!”

⁷⁸Verily, We have brought the truth to you: but most of you have a hatred for truth.

⁷⁹What! have they settled some plan? But it is We who settle things.

⁸⁰Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private counsels? Indeed Our messengers are by them to record.⁷

⁸¹Say: “If the most gracious had a son, I would be the first to worship.”

⁷⁵La yufat taru anhum wa hum fihi mublisun

⁷⁶Wa ma zalamnahum wa lakin kanu humu zalimin

⁷⁷Wa nadau ya Maliku liyaqdi alaina rabbuk qala innakum makisun

⁷⁸Laqad jinakum bil haqqi wa lakina aksarakum lilhaqqi karihun

⁷⁹Am abramu amran fa inna mubrimun

⁸⁰Am yahsabuna anna la nasmau si rahum wa najwahum bala wa rusuluna ladaihim yaktubun

⁸¹Qul inkana li rahmani waladun fa ana aw walul abiding

7. God is Omniscient, He is everywhere and He sees everything. He does not send angels to spy on His creation and to report back to Him. On the other hand, Satan is not omniscient, there are numerous books written to show that he uses imps and devils to spy on humankind and to report back to him. Such books as Screw Tape Letters by C. S. Lewis, Challenge of Missions by Oswald J. Smith among others tell about the Satanic plots to thwart human plans and attempt to frustrate the master plan of God. He succeeded with Adam, but he failed with Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God.

⁸²Glory to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the throne of authority! He is free from the things they attribute to Him!

⁸³So leave them to babble and play, until they meet that day of theirs which they have been promised.

⁸⁴And it is He who is Allah in heaven and Allah on earth; and He is full of wisdom and knowledge.

⁸⁵And blessed is He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all between them: with Him is the knowledge of the hour: And to Him shall you be brought back.

⁸⁶And those whom they invoke besides Allah have no power of intercession; only he who bears witness to the truth and they know him.

⁸²Subhana rabbis samawati walardi rabbil arsi amma yasifun

⁸³Fazarhum yakhudu wa yal abu hata yulaqu yauma humul lazi yuadun

⁸⁴Wa huwal lazi fi samai ilahuw wa filardi ilah wa huwal hakimul alim

⁸⁵Wa tabarakal lazi lahu mulku samawati walardi wa ma bainahuma wa indahu ilmu saah wa ilaihi turjaun

⁸⁶Wa la yamlikul lazina yaduna min dunihi safaata illa man sahida bilhaqqi wa hum yalamun

⁸⁷And if you ask them Who created them, they will certainly say Allah: how then are they deluded away from the truth?

⁸⁸Allah has knowledge of the prophet’s cry “O my Lord! truly these are a people who will not believe!”

⁸⁹But turn away from them and say “Peace!” but soon shall they know!

⁸⁷Wa la insa altahum man khalaqahum layaqulun nal lahu fa anna yufakun

⁸⁸Wa qilihi ya rabbi inna ha ula I qaumul la yuminun

⁸⁹Fasfah anhum wa qul salamun fa saufa yalamun