بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى عِزَّةٍۢ وَشِقَاقٍۢ
Those who disbelieve are steeped in arrogance and defiance.
كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍۢ فَنَادَوا۟ وَّلَاتَ حِينَ مَنَاصٍۢ
How many generations have We destroyed before them? They cried out when it was too late to escape.
وَعَجِبُوٓا۟ أَن جَآءَهُم مُّنذِرٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ هَـٰذَا سَـٰحِرٌۭ كَذَّابٌ
And they marveled that a warner has come to them from among them. The disbelievers said, “This is a lying magician.”
أَجَعَلَ ٱلْـَٔالِهَةَ إِلَـٰهًۭا وَٰحِدًا ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عُجَابٌۭ
“Did he turn all the gods into one God? This is something strange.”
وَٱنطَلَقَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِنْهُمْ أَنِ ٱمْشُوا۟ وَٱصْبِرُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ ءَالِهَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىْءٌۭ يُرَادُ
The notables among them announced: “Go on, and hold fast to your gods. This is something planned.
مَا سَمِعْنَا بِهَـٰذَا فِى ٱلْمِلَّةِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا ٱخْتِلَـٰقٌ
We never heard of this in the former faith. This is nothing but a fabrication.
أَءُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلذِّكْرُ مِنۢ بَيْنِنَا ۚ بَلْ هُمْ فِى شَكٍّۢ مِّن ذِكْرِى ۖ بَل لَّمَّا يَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِ
Was the message sent down to him, out of all of us?” In fact, they are doubtful of My warning. In fact, they have not yet tasted My punishment.
أَمْ عِندَهُمْ خَزَآئِنُ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْوَهَّابِ
Or do they possess the treasuries of the mercy of your Lord—the Majestic, the Giver?
أَمْ لَهُم مُّلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ فَلْيَرْتَقُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَسْبَـٰبِ
Or do they possess the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and what is between them? Then let them ascend the ropes.
جُندٌۭ مَّا هُنَالِكَ مَهْزُومٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ
An army of confederates with be defeated there.
كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍۢ وَعَادٌۭ وَفِرْعَوْنُ ذُو ٱلْأَوْتَادِ
Before them the people of Noah denied the truth; as did Aad, and Pharaoh of the Stakes.
وَثَمُودُ وَقَوْمُ لُوطٍۢ وَأَصْحَـٰبُ لْـَٔيْكَةِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلْأَحْزَابُ
And Thamood, and the people of Lot, and the dwellers of the Woods—these were the confederates.
إِن كُلٌّ إِلَّا كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ عِقَابِ
None of them but denied the messengers, so My retribution was deserved.
وَمَا يَنظُرُ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِلَّا صَيْحَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ مَّا لَهَا مِن فَوَاقٍۢ
These can expect only a single scream, from which there is no recovery.
وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا عَجِّل لَّنَا قِطَّنَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ ٱلْحِسَابِ
And they say, “Our Lord, hasten Your writ upon us, before the Day of Account.”
ٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا دَاوُۥدَ ذَا ٱلْأَيْدِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ
Be patient in the face of what they say, and mention Our servant David, the resourceful. He was obedient.
إِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا ٱلْجِبَالَ مَعَهُۥ يُسَبِّحْنَ بِٱلْعَشِىِّ وَٱلْإِشْرَاقِ
We committed the mountains to glorify with him, in the evening and at daybreak.
وَٱلطَّيْرَ مَحْشُورَةًۭ ۖ كُلٌّۭ لَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌۭ
And the birds, gathered together. All obedient to him.
وَشَدَدْنَا مُلْكَهُۥ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَفَصْلَ ٱلْخِطَابِ
And We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and decisive speech.
۞ وَهَلْ أَتَىٰكَ نَبَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَصْمِ إِذْ تَسَوَّرُوا۟ ٱلْمِحْرَابَ
Has the story of the two disputants reached you? When they scaled the sanctuary?
إِذْ دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ دَاوُۥدَ فَفَزِعَ مِنْهُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ ۖ خَصْمَانِ بَغَىٰ بَعْضُنَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا تُشْطِطْ وَٱهْدِنَآ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ
When they entered upon David, and he was startled by them. They said, “Do not fear. Two disputants; one of us has wronged the other; so judge between us fairly, and do not be biased, and guide us to the straight way.”
إِنَّ هَـٰذَآ أَخِى لَهُۥ تِسْعٌۭ وَتِسْعُونَ نَعْجَةًۭ وَلِىَ نَعْجَةٌۭ وَٰحِدَةٌۭ فَقَالَ أَكْفِلْنِيهَا وَعَزَّنِى فِى ٱلْخِطَابِ
“This brother of mine has ninety nine ewes, and I have one ewe, and he said, ‘Entrust it to me,’ and he pressured me with words.”
قَالَ لَقَدْ ظَلَمَكَ بِسُؤَالِ نَعْجَتِكَ إِلَىٰ نِعَاجِهِۦ ۖ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْخُلَطَآءِ لَيَبْغِى بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَقَلِيلٌۭ مَّا هُمْ ۗ وَظَنَّ دَاوُۥدُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّـٰهُ فَٱسْتَغْفَرَ رَبَّهُۥ وَخَرَّ رَاكِعًۭا وَأَنَابَ ۩
He said, “He has done you wrong by asking your ewe in addition to his ewes. Many partners take advantage of one another, except those who believe and do good deeds, but these are so few.” David realized that We were testing him, so he sought forgiveness from his Lord, and fell down to his knees, and repented.
فَغَفَرْنَا لَهُۥ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَهُۥ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَىٰ وَحُسْنَ مَـَٔابٍۢ
So We forgave him that. And for him is nearness to Us, and a good place of return.
يَـٰدَاوُۥدُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـٰكَ خَلِيفَةًۭ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ ٱلْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌۭ شَدِيدٌۢ بِمَا نَسُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْحِسَابِ
“O David, We made you a ruler in the land, so judge between the people with justice, and do not follow desire, lest it diverts you from God’s path. Those who stray from God’s path will have a painful punishment, for having ignored the Day of Account.”
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَـٰطِلًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ظَنُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ فَوَيْلٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ
We did not create the heaven and the earth and everything between them in vain. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve—so woe to those who disbelieve because of the Fire.
أَمْ نَجْعَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ كَٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ نَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ كَٱلْفُجَّارِ
Or are We to treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like those who make trouble on earth? Or are We to treat the pious like the shameless?
كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَـٰرَكٌۭ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوٓا۟ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
A blessed Book that We sent down to you, that they may ponder its Verses, and for those with intelligence to take heed.
وَوَهَبْنَا لِدَاوُۥدَ سُلَيْمَـٰنَ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ
And We granted David, Solomon, an excellent servant. He was penitent.
إِذْ عُرِضَ عَلَيْهِ بِٱلْعَشِىِّ ٱلصَّـٰفِنَـٰتُ ٱلْجِيَادُ
When the beautiful horses were paraded before him in the evening.
فَقَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ ٱلْخَيْرِ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّى حَتَّىٰ تَوَارَتْ بِٱلْحِجَابِ
He said, “I have preferred the love of niceties to the remembrance of my Lord—until it disappeared behind the veil.
رُدُّوهَا عَلَىَّ ۖ فَطَفِقَ مَسْحًۢا بِٱلسُّوقِ وَٱلْأَعْنَاقِ
Bring them back to me.” And he began caressing their legs and necks.
وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا سُلَيْمَـٰنَ وَأَلْقَيْنَا عَلَىٰ كُرْسِيِّهِۦ جَسَدًۭا ثُمَّ أَنَابَ
We tested Solomon, and placed a body on his throne; then he repented.
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَهَبْ لِى مُلْكًۭا لَّا يَنۢبَغِى لِأَحَدٍۢ مِّنۢ بَعْدِىٓ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ
He said, “My Lord, forgive me, and grant me a kingdom never to be attained by anyone after me. You are the Giver.”
فَسَخَّرْنَا لَهُ ٱلرِّيحَ تَجْرِى بِأَمْرِهِۦ رُخَآءً حَيْثُ أَصَابَ
So We placed the wind at his service, blowing gently by his command, wherever he directed.
وَٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ كُلَّ بَنَّآءٍۢ وَغَوَّاصٍۢ
And the demons—every builder and diver.
هَـٰذَا عَطَآؤُنَا فَٱمْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍۢ
“This is Our gift; so give generously, or withhold; without account.”
وَإِنَّ لَهُۥ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَىٰ وَحُسْنَ مَـَٔابٍۢ
For him is nearness to Us, and a beautiful resort.
وَٱذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَآ أَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ بِنُصْبٍۢ وَعَذَابٍ
And mention Our servant Job, when he called out to his Lord, “Satan has afflicted me with hardship and pain.”
ٱرْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ ۖ هَـٰذَا مُغْتَسَلٌۢ بَارِدٌۭ وَشَرَابٌۭ
“Stamp with your foot—here is cool water to wash with, and to drink.”
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ أَهْلَهُۥ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ رَحْمَةًۭ مِّنَّا وَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
And We restored his family for him, and their like with them; as a mercy from Us, and a lesson for those who possess insight.
وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًۭا فَٱضْرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَـٰهُ صَابِرًۭا ۚ نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌۭ
“Take with your hand a bundle, and strike with it, and do not break your oath.” We found him patient. What an excellent servant! He was obedient.
وَٱذْكُرْ عِبَـٰدَنَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ أُو۟لِى ٱلْأَيْدِى وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
And mention Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—endowed with ability and vision.
إِنَّآ أَخْلَصْنَـٰهُم بِخَالِصَةٍۢ ذِكْرَى ٱلدَّارِ
We distinguished them with a distinct quality: the remembrance of the Home.
وَإِنَّهُمْ عِندَنَا لَمِنَ ٱلْمُصْطَفَيْنَ ٱلْأَخْيَارِ
To Us they are among the chosen, the outstanding.
وَٱذْكُرْ إِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَٱلْيَسَعَ وَذَا ٱلْكِفْلِ ۖ وَكُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَخْيَارِ
And mention Ishmael, Elisha, and Ezekiel; all are among the outstanding.
هَـٰذَا ذِكْرٌۭ ۚ وَإِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ لَحُسْنَ مَـَٔابٍۢ
This is a reminder. The devout will have a good place of return.
جَنَّـٰتِ عَدْنٍۢ مُّفَتَّحَةًۭ لَّهُمُ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبُ
The Gardens of Eden, with their doors wide-open for them.
مُتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِفَـٰكِهَةٍۢ كَثِيرَةٍۢ وَشَرَابٍۢ
Relaxing therein, and calling for abundant fruit and beverage.
۞ وَعِندَهُمْ قَـٰصِرَٰتُ ٱلطَّرْفِ أَتْرَابٌ
With them will be attendants with modest gaze, of same age.
هَـٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِيَوْمِ ٱلْحِسَابِ
This is what you are promised for the Day of Account.
إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَرِزْقُنَا مَا لَهُۥ مِن نَّفَادٍ
Such is Our bounty, inexhaustible.
هَـٰذَا ۚ وَإِنَّ لِلطَّـٰغِينَ لَشَرَّ مَـَٔابٍۢ
All This. But the transgressors will have a miserable return.
جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ
Hell; in which they will roast; what a miserable abode!
هَـٰذَا فَلْيَذُوقُوهُ حَمِيمٌۭ وَغَسَّاقٌۭ
All this. Let them taste it—boiling and bitter cold.
هَـٰذَا فَوْجٌۭ مُّقْتَحِمٌۭ مَّعَكُمْ ۖ لَا مَرْحَبًۢا بِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ صَالُوا۟ ٱلنَّارِ
“This is a crowd rushing headlong with you.” There is no welcome for them. They will be scorched by the Fire.
قَالُوا۟ بَلْ أَنتُمْ لَا مَرْحَبًۢا بِكُمْ ۖ أَنتُمْ قَدَّمْتُمُوهُ لَنَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ ٱلْقَرَارُ
They will say, “But it is you! There is no welcome for you! It is you who brought it upon us! What a miserable end!”
قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا مَن قَدَّمَ لَنَا هَـٰذَا فَزِدْهُ عَذَابًۭا ضِعْفًۭا فِى ٱلنَّارِ
They will say, “Our Lord, whoever brought this upon us, give him double torment in the Fire.”
وَقَالُوا۟ مَا لَنَا لَا نَرَىٰ رِجَالًۭا كُنَّا نَعُدُّهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَشْرَارِ
And they will say, “What is it with us that we do not see men we used to count among the wicked?
أَتَّخَذْنَـٰهُمْ سِخْرِيًّا أَمْ زَاغَتْ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ
Did we take them for mockery, or have our eyes swerved from them?
إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَحَقٌّۭ تَخَاصُمُ أَهْلِ ٱلنَّارِ
This is certainly true—the feuding of the people of the Fire.
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ مُنذِرٌۭ ۖ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ
Say, “I am only a warner, and there is no god except God—the One, the Conqueror.
رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفَّـٰرُ
The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them; the Mighty, the Forgiver.”
مَا كَانَ لِىَ مِنْ عِلْمٍۭ بِٱلْمَلَإِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰٓ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ
I have no knowledge of the Highest Assembly as they dispute.
إِن يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ إِلَّآ أَنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌ
It is only revealed to me that I am a clear warner.”
إِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى خَـٰلِقٌۢ بَشَرًۭا مِّن طِينٍۢ
Your Lord said to the angels, “I am creating a human being from clay.
فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُۥ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِى فَقَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ سَـٰجِدِينَ
When I have formed him, and breathed into him of My spirit, fall prostrate before him.
فَسَجَدَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ
So the angels fell prostrate, all of them.
إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ ٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Except for Satan. He was too proud, and one of the faithless.
قَالَ يَـٰٓإِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَىَّ ۖ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْعَالِينَ
He said, “O Satan, what prevented you from prostrating before what I created with My Own hands? Are you too proud, or were you one of the exalted?”
قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْهُ ۖ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍۢ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍۢ
He said, “I am better than he; You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.”
قَالَ فَٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِيمٌۭ
He said, “Then get out of here! You are an outcast!
وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ لَعْنَتِىٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ
And My curse will be upon you until the Day of Judgment.”
قَالَ رَبِّ فَأَنظِرْنِىٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
He said, “Lord, defer me until the Day they are resurrected.”
قَالَ فَبِعِزَّتِكَ لَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
He said, “By Your majesty, I will seduce them all.
إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ
Except for your loyal servants among them.”
قَالَ فَٱلْحَقُّ وَٱلْحَقَّ أَقُولُ
He said, “The truth is, and I say the truth.
لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكَ وَمِمَّن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
I will fill Hell with you, and with every one of them who follows you.”
قُلْ مَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍۢ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ
Say, “I ask of you no wage for this, and I am not a pretender.
Summarized notes on Surah Saad
The disbelievers stay strong in rejection, seeking to hasten the promised punishment on them. Like Dawood/David (PBUH) - who was also a king/leader - repent and be just. The believers and disbelievers are not equal. Use Quran to ponder and reflect. Like Sulaiman/Solomon (PBUH), Ayyub/Job (PBUH), Ibrahim/Abraham (PBUH), Ishaaq/Isaac (PBUH), Yaqub/Jacob (PBUH), Ismail/Ishmael (PBUH), Al-Yasa/Elisha (PBUH), and Dhul-Kifl (PBUH), [who were Prophets of God] seek forgiveness and stay steadfast.
For believers is Paradise. For disbelievers is Hell. They will blame their leaders - ultimately led by Iblis/Satan - who challenged God at the time of creation of Adam (PBUH) to lead humans astray, except God's sincere servants.
Notes from website author
Quran text and . Mr. Talal Itani version of English Translation from Tanzil.net
Quran Audio from alquran.cloud. Recitation by Sheikh Mishary bin Rashid Alafasy
The Quran is clearly revelation from the One God, Who created all. The word Quran means recitation. Read about its compilation here - Islamweb.net. ExploreQuran.org displays Quran chapters in both, the actual compilation order (in printed copies), as well as a revelation order which might provide a different approach for exploring the Holy Quran.