Sura 39

Surah 39. The Troops, Throngs, The Crowds

39:1. The revelation of this Book is from "I AM", the Exalted in Power, Full of Wisdom.
39:2. Verily it is We Who have revealed the Book to thee in Truth: so serve "I AM", offering Him sincere devotion.
39:3. Is it not to "I AM" that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors other than "I AM" (say): "We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to "I AM"." Truly "I AM" will judge between them in that wherein they differ. But "I AM" guides not such as are false and ungrateful.
39:4. Had "I AM" wished to take to Himself a human son, He could have chosen whom He pleased out of those whom He doth create: but Glory be to Him! (He is above such things.) He is "I AM", the One, the Irresistible.
39:5. He created the heavens and the Earth in true (proportions): He makes the Night overlap the Day, and the Day overlap the Night: He has subjected the Sun and the Moon (to His Law): each one follows a course for a time appointed. Is not He the Exalted in Power - He Who forgives again and again?
39:6. He created you (all) from a single source: then created, of like nature, his mate and He sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs: He makes you, in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness. Such is "I AM", your Lord and Cherisher: to Him belongs (all) Dominion. There is no God but He: then how are ye turned away (from your true Centre)?
39:7. If ye reject ("I AM"), Truly "I AM" hath no need of you; but He liketh not ingratitude from His servants: if ye are grateful, He is pleased with you. No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. In the end, to your Lord is your Return, when He will tell you the truth of all that ye did (in this life). For He knoweth well all that is in (men's) hearts.
39:8. When some trouble toucheth man, he crieth unto his Lord, turning to Him in repentance: but when He bestoweth a favour upon him as from Himself, (man) doth forget what he cried and prayed for before, and he doth set up rivals unto "I AM", thus misleading others from "I AM"'s Way. Say, "Enjoy thy blasphemy for a little while: verily thou art (one) of the Companions of The Fire!"
39:9. Is one who worships devoutly during the hours of the night prostrating himself or standing (in adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his hope in the Mercy of his Lord - (like one who does not)? Say: "Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are given Understanding that accept warning."
39:10. Say: "O ye My servants who believe! Fear your Lord, good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world. Spacious is "I AM"'s Earth! Those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward beyond measure!"
39:11. Say: "Verily, I am commanded to serve "I AM" with sincere devotion;
39:12. And I am commanded to be the first of those who yield their wills to "I AM"'s Will."
39:13. Say: "I would, if I disobeyed my Lord, indeed have fear of The Penalty of a Mighty Day."
39:14. Say: "It is "I AM" I serve, with my sincere (and EXCLUSIVE - Mark 12:30) devotion:
39:15. Serve ye what ye will besides Him." Say: "Truly, those in loss are those who lose their own souls and their People on The Day of Judgment: Ah! that is indeed the (real and) obvious Loss!
39:16. They shall have Layers of Fire above them, and Layers (of Fire) below them: with this doth "I AM" caution His Servants: "O My Servants! (If ye are My Servants) then serve ye ONLY Me (Mark 12:30)!"
39:17. Those who shun Evil,- and fall not into its worship,- and turn to "I AM" (in repentance),- for them is Good News: so announce the Good News to My Servants,-
39:18. Those who listen to the Word, and follow the best (meaning) in it: those are the ones whom "I AM" has guided, and those are the ones given Understanding.
39:19. Is, then, one against whom the decree of Punishment is justly due (equal to one who shuns Evil)? Wouldst thou, then, deliver one (who is) in The Fire?
39:20. But it is for those who fear their Lord, that lofty mansions (John 14:2), one above another, have been built: beneath them flow Rivers (of delight): (such is) the Promise of "I AM": never doth "I AM" fail in (His) promise.
39:21. Seest thou not that "I AM" sends down rain from the sky, and leads it through springs in the earth? Then He causes to grow, therewith, produce of various colours: then it withers; thou wilt see it grow yellow; then He makes it dry up and crumble away. Truly, in this, is a Message worthy of remembrance to men of Understanding.
39:22. Is one whose heart "I AM" has opened to His Will, so that he has received Enlightenment from "I AM", (no better than one who is hard-hearted)? Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against celebrating the praises of "I AM"! They are manifestly wandering (in error)!
39:23. "I AM" has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, CONSISTENT WITH ITSELF, (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of "I AM"'s praises (Prov. 1:7; 9:10). Such is the Guidance from "I AM": He guides therewith whom He pleases, but such as "I AM" leaves to stray, can have none to guide.
39:24. Is, then, one who has to fear the brunt of the Penalty on The Day of Judgment (and receive it) on his face, (like one guarded therefrom)? It will be said to the wrong-doers: "Taste ye (the fruits of) what ye earned!"
39:25. Those before them (also) rejected (revelation), and so the Punishment came to them from directions they did not perceive.
39:26. So "I AM" gave them a taste of humiliation in the present life, but greater is the Punishment of the Hereafter, if they only knew!
39:27. We have put forth for men, in this Koran every kind of Parable, in order that they may accept warning.
39:28. (It is) an invitation (Matt. 22:1-14) in the Arabian tongue, without any crookedness (therein): in order that they may guard against Evil.
39:29. "I AM" puts forth a Parable- a man belonging to many partners at variance with each other, and a man belonging entirely to one master*: are those two equal in comparison? Praise be to "I AM"! But most of them have no knowledge. *(Matthew 6:24)
39:30. Truly thou wilt die (one day), and truly they (too) will die (one day).
39:31. In the End will ye (all), on The Day of Judgment, settle your disputes, in the presence of your Lord.
39:32. Who, then, doeth more wrong than one who utters a lie concerning "I AM", and rejects the Truth when it comes to him! Is there not in Hell-Fire an abode for blasphemers?
39:33. And he who brings the Truth and he who confirms (and supports) it - such are the men who do right.
39:34. They shall have all that they wish for, in the presence of their Lord: such is the reward of those who do good:
39:35. So that "I AM" will turn off from them (even) the worst in their deeds and give them their reward according to the best of what they have done.
39:36. Is not "I AM" enough for His Servant? But they try to frighten thee with other (gods) besides Him! For such as "I AM" leaves to stray, there can be no guide.
39:37. And such as "I AM" doth guide there can be none to lead astray. Is not "I AM" Exalted in Power, (Able to enforce His Will), Lord of Retribution?
39:38. If indeed thou ask them who it is that created the heavens and the Earth, they would be sure to say, "("I AM")". Say: "See ye then? The things that ye invoke besides "I AM",- can they, if "I AM" wills some Penalty for me, remove His Penalty?- Or if He wills some Grace for me, can they keep back His Grace?" Say: "Sufficient is "I AM" for me! In Him trust those who truly have Faith."
39:39. Say: "O my People! Do whatever ye can: I will do (my part): but soon will ye know-
39:40. Who it is to whom comes a Penalty of disgrace, and on whom descends a Penalty that abides."
39:41. Verily We have revealed the Book to thee in Truth, for (instructing) mankind. He, then, that receives Guidance benefits his own soul: but he that strays injures his own soul. Nor art thou set over them to dispose of their affairs.
39:42. It is "I AM" that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life), but the rest He sends (to their new bodies) for a term appointed. Verily in this are Signs for those who reflect.
39:43. What! Do they take for intercessors others besides "I AM"? Say: "Even if they have no power whatever and no intelligence?"
39:44. Say: "To "I AM" belongs exclusively (the right to grant) Intercession: to Him belongs the Dominion of the heavens and the Earth: in The End, it is to Him that ye shall be brought back."
39:45. When "I AM", the One and Only, is mentioned, the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are filled with disgust and horror; but when (gods) other than Him are mentioned, behold, they are filled with joy!
39:46. Say: "O "I AM"! Creator of the heavens and the Earth! Knower of all that is hidden and open! It is Thou that wilt judge between Thy Servants in those matters about which they have differed."
39:47. Even if the wrong-doers had all that there is on Earth, and as much more, (in vain) would they offer it for ransom from the pain of The Penalty on The Day of Judgment (Matt. 16:26): but something will confront them from "I AM", which they could never have counted upon!
39:48. For the evils of their Deeds will confront them, and they will be (completely) surrounded by that at which they used to mock!
39:49. Now, when trouble touches man, he cries to Us: but when We bestow a favour upon him as from Ourselves, he says, "This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge (I have)!" Nay, but this is only a trial, but most of them understand not!
39:50. Thus did the (generations) before them say! But all that they did was of no profit to them.
39:51. Nay, the evil results of their deeds overtook them. And the wrong-doers of this (generation)- the evil results of their deeds will soon overtake them (too), and they will never be able to frustrate (Our Plan)!
39:52. Know they not that "I AM" enlarges the provision or restricts it, for any He pleases? Verily, in this are Signs for those who believe!
39:53. Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of "I AM": for "I AM" forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
39:54. Turn ye to our Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before The Penalty comes on you: because after that ye can not be helped.
39:55. And follow the Best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before The Penalty comes on you - of a sudden while ye perceive not!-
39:56. Lest the soul (Being) should (then) say: 'Ah! Woe is me!- In that I neglected (my Duty) towards "I AM", and was only among those who mocked!'-
39:57. Or (lest) it should say: 'If only "I AM" had guided me, I should certainly have been among the righteous!'
39:58. Or (lest) it should say when it (actually) sees the Penalty: 'If only I had another chance, I should certainly be among those who do good!'
39:59. (The reply will be:) 'Nay, but there came to thee My Signs, and thou didst reject them: thou wast haughty, and became one of those who reject faith'!"
39:60. On The Day of Judgment wilt thou see those who told lies against "I AM";- their faces will be turned black; is there not in Hell-Fire an abode for the Haughty?
39:61. But "I AM" will deliver the righteous to their place of salvation: no evil shall touch them, nor shall they grieve.
39:62. "I AM" is the Creator of all things, and He is the Guardian and Disposer of all affairs.
39:63. To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the Earth: and those who reject the Signs of "I AM",- it is they who will be in loss (Rev. 1:18).
39:64. Say: "Is it some one other than "I AM" that ye order me to worship, O ye un-enlightened (heathen) ones?"
39:65. But it has already been revealed to thee,- as it was to those before thee,- "If thou wert to join (gods with "I AM"), truly fruitless will be thy work (in life), and thou wilt surely be in the ranks of those who lose (all spiritual good)".
39:66. Nay, worship only "I AM", and be one of those who are grateful.
39:67. No just estimate have they made of "I AM", such as is due to Him: on The Day of Judgment the whole of the Earth will be only His handful, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand: Glory to Him! High is He above the Partners they attribute to Him!
39:68. The Trumpet will (just) be sounded, when all that are in the heavens and on Earth will swoon, except such as it will please "I AM" (to exempt). Then will a second one be sounded, when, behold, they will be standing and looking on!
39:69. And the Earth will shine with the Glory of its Lord: the Record (of Deeds) will be placed (open); the Prophets and the Witnesses will be brought forward (Rev. 4:4-10; 11:16; 19:4); and a just decision pronounced between them; and they will not be wronged (in the least).
39:70. And to every soul will be paid in full (the fruit) of its deeds; and ("I AM") knoweth best all that they do (Revelation 11:18).
39:71. The Unbelievers will be led to The Fire in a crowd: until, when they arrive there, its gates will be opened. And its Keepers will say, "Did not Apostles come to you from among yourselves, rehearsing to you the Signs of your Lord, and warning you of the Meeting of This Day of yours?" The Witnesses answer will be: "True: but the (Original) Decree of Punishment (the death-sentence - Matt. 8:22) has been proved to be the correct one for the Unbelievers!"
39:72. (To them) will be said: "Enter ye the gates of Hell-Fire, to dwell therein: and evil is (this) Abode of the Arrogant!"
39:73. And those who feared their Lord will be led to The Garden in crowds: until behold, they arrive there; its gates will be opened; and its keepers will say: "Peace be upon you! Ye have done well! Enter ye here, to dwell therein."
39:74. They will say: "Praise be to "I AM", Who has truly fulfilled His Promise (Revelation 10:7) to us, and has given us (this) land in heritage: We can dwell in The Garden as we will: how excellent a reward for those who work (righteousness)!"
39:75. And thou wilt see the angels surrounding the Throne (Divine) on all sides (Revelation 5:11), singing Glory and Praise to their Lord. The Decision between them (at Judgment) will be in (Perfect) Justice, and the cry (on all sides) will be, "Praise be to "I AM", the Lord of the Worlds!"

JAH