16An-NaḥlالنحلVerse 1 of 128

The Bee16. An-Naḥlالنحل

An-Naḥl

Al Naḥl

The Bee

Meccan128 verses16 / 114

16

Page 267

ʾatā ʾamru llāhi fa-lā tastaʿjilūhu subḥānahū wa-taʿālā ʿammā yushrikūna

Allah’s edict is coming! So do not seek to hasten it. Immaculate is He and exalted above [having] any partners that they ascribe [to Him].

— Ali Quli Qarai

yunazzilu l-malāʾikata bi-r-rūḥi min ʾamrihī ʿalā man yashāʾu min ʿibādihī ʾan ʾandhirū ʾannahū lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾana fa-ttaqūni

He sends down the angels with the spirit of His command to whomever He wishes of His servants: ‘Warn [the people] that there is no god except Me; so be wary of Me.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

khalaqa s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍa bi-l-ḥaqqi taʿālā ʿammā yushrikūna

He created the heavens and the earth with consummate wisdom. He is above having any partners that they ascribe [to Him].

— Ali Quli Qarai

khalaqa l-ʾinsāna min nuṭfatin fa-ʾidhā huwa khaṣīmun mubīnun

He created man from a drop of [seminal] fluid, and, behold, he is an open contender!

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-l-ʾanʿāma khalaqahā lakum fīhā difʾun wa-manāfiʿu wa-minhā taʾkulūna

He created the cattle, in which there is warmth for you and [other] uses, and some of them you eat.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lakum fīhā jamālun ḥīna turīḥūna wa-ḥīna tasraḥūna

There is in them a beauty for you when you bring them home for rest and when you drive them forth to pasture.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 268

wa-taḥmilu ʾathqālakum ʾilā baladin lam takūnū bālighīhi ʾillā bi-shiqqi l-ʾanfusi ʾinna rabbakum la-raʾūfun raḥīmun

And they bear your burdens to towns, which you could not reach except by straining yourselves. Indeed your Lord is most kind and merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-l-khayla wa-l-bighāla wa-l-ḥamīra li-tarkabūhā wa-zīnatan wa-yakhluqu mā lā taʿlamūna

And horses, mules and asses, for you to ride them, and for pomp, and He creates what you do not know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʿalā llāhi qaṣdu s-sabīli wa-minhā jāʾirun wa-law shāʾa la-hadākum ʾajmaʿīna

With Allah rests guidance to the straight path, and some of the paths are devious, and had He wished He would have guided you all.

— Ali Quli Qarai

huwa lladhī ʾanzala mina s-samāʾi māʾan lakum minhu sharābun wa-minhu shajarun fīhi tusīmūna

It is He who sends down water from the sky: from it you get your drink and with it are [sustained] the plants wherein you pasture your herds.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yunbitu lakum bihi z-zarʿa wa-z-zaytūna wa-n-nakhīla wa-l-ʾaʿnāba wa-min kulli th-thamarāti ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyatan li-qawmin yatafakkarūna

For you He makes the crops grow with it and olives, date palms, vines, and fruits of all kinds. There is indeed a sign in that for a people who reflect.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-sakhkhara lakumu l-layla wa-n-nahāra wa-sh-shamsa wa-l-qamara wa-n-nujūmu musakhkharātun bi-ʾamrihī ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyātin li-qawmin yaʿqilūna

He disposed the night and the day for you, and the sun, the moon and the stars are disposed by His command. There are indeed signs in that for people who exercise their reason.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-mā dharaʾa lakum fī l-ʾarḍi mukhtalifan ʾalwānuhū ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyatan li-qawmin yadhdhakkarūna

And [He disposed for your benefit] whatever He has created for you in the earth of diverse hues—there is indeed a sign in that for a people who take admonition.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-huwa lladhī sakhkhara l-baḥra li-taʾkulū minhu laḥman ṭariyyan wa-tastakhrijū minhu ḥilyatan talbasūnahā wa-tarā l-fulka mawākhira fīhi wa-li-tabtaghū min faḍlihī wa-laʿallakum tashkurūna

It is He who disposed the sea [for your benefit] that you may eat from it fresh meat, and obtain from it ornaments which you wear, and you see the ships plowing through it, that you may seek His bounty and that you may give thanks.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 269

wa-ʾalqā fī l-ʾarḍi rawāsiya ʾan tamīda bikum wa-ʾanhāran wa-subulan laʿallakum tahtadūna

He cast firm mountains in the earth lest it should shake with you, and [made] streams and ways, so that you may be guided

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʿalāmātin wa-bi-n-najmi hum yahtadūna

—and the landmarks [as well]—and by the stars they are guided.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-fa-man yakhluqu ka-man lā yakhluqu ʾa-fa-lā tadhakkarūna

Is He who creates like one who does not create? Will you not then take admonition?

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾin taʿuddū niʿmata llāhi lā tuḥṣūhā ʾinna llāha la-ghafūrun raḥīmun

If you enumerate Allah’s blessings, you will not be able to count them. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful,

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-llāhu yaʿlamu mā tusirrūna wa-mā tuʿlinūna

and Allah knows whatever you hide and whatever you disclose.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lladhīna yadʿūna min dūni llāhi lā yakhluqūna shayʾan wa-hum yukhlaqūna

Those whom they invoke besides Allah do not create anything and are themselves created.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾamwātun ghayru ʾaḥyāʾin wa-mā yashʿurūna ʾayyāna yubʿathūna

They are dead and lifeless, and are not aware when they will be resurrected.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾilāhukum ʾilāhun wāḥidun fa-lladhīna lā yuʾminūna bi-l-ʾākhirati qulūbuhum munkiratun wa-hum mustakbirūna

Your God is the One God. Those who do not believe in the Hereafter, their hearts are in denial [of the truth], and they are arrogant.

— Ali Quli Qarai

lā jarama ʾanna llāha yaʿlamu mā yusirrūna wa-mā yuʿlinūna ʾinnahū lā yuḥibbu l-mustakbirīna

Undoubtedly, Allah knows whatever they hide and whatever they disclose. Indeed, He does not like the arrogant.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā qīla lahum mādhā ʾanzala rabbukum qālū ʾasāṭīru l-ʾawwalīna

When they are asked, ‘What is it that your Lord has sent down?’ They say, ‘Myths of the ancients,’

— Ali Quli Qarai

li-yaḥmilū ʾawzārahum kāmilatan yawma l-qiyāmati wa-min ʾawzāri lladhīna yuḍillūnahum bi-ghayri ʿilmin ʾa-lā sāʾa mā yazirūna

[with the result] that they will bear the full weight of their own burden on the Day of Resurrection, along with part of the burden of those whom they mislead without any knowledge. Behold! Evil is what they bear!

— Ali Quli Qarai

qad makara lladhīna min qablihim fa-ʾatā llāhu bunyānahum mina l-qawāʿidi fa-kharra ʿalayhimu s-saqfu min fawqihim wa-ʾatāhumu l-ʿadhābu min ḥaythu lā yashʿurūna

Those who were before them [had also] schemed. Then Allah came at their edifice from the foundations and the roof fell down upon them from above and the punishment overtook them whence they were not aware.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 270

thumma yawma l-qiyāmati yukhzīhim wa-yaqūlu ʾayna shurakāʾiya lladhīna kuntum tushāqqūna fīhim qāla lladhīna ʾūtū l-ʿilma ʾinna l-khizya l-yawma wa-s-sūʾa ʿalā l-kāfirīna

Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace them, and say, ‘Where are My “partners” for whose sake you used to defy [Allah]?’ Those who were given knowledge will say, ‘Indeed today disgrace and distress pursue the faithless.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

alladhīna tatawaffāhumu l-malāʾikatu ẓālimī ʾanfusihim fa-ʾalqawu s-salama mā kunnā naʿmalu min sūʾin balā ʾinna llāha ʿalīmun bi-mā kuntum taʿmalūna

—Those whom the angels take away while they were wronging themselves. Thereat they submit: ‘We were not doing any evil!’ ‘Yes, [the angels say to them,] indeed Allah knows best what you used to do!

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-dkhulū ʾabwāba jahannama khālidīna fīhā fa-la-biʾsa mathwā l-mutakabbirīna

Enter the gates of hell to remain in it [forever]. Evil is the [final] abode of the arrogant.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qīla li-lladhīna ttaqaw mādhā ʾanzala rabbukum qālū khayran li-lladhīna ʾaḥsanū fī hādhihi d-dunyā ḥasanatun wa-la-dāru l-ʾākhirati khayrun wa-la-niʿma dāru l-muttaqīna

But those who were Godwary will be asked, ‘What is it that your Lord has sent down?’ They will say, ‘Good.’ For those who do good in this world there will be a good [reward], and the abode of the Hereafter is better, and the abode of the Godwary is surely excellent:

— Ali Quli Qarai

jannātu ʿadnin yadkhulūnahā tajrī min taḥtihā l-ʾanhāru lahum fīhā mā yashāʾūna ka-dhālika yajzī llāhu l-muttaqīna

the Gardens of Eden, which they will enter, with streams running in them. There they will have whatever they wish, and thus does Allah reward the Godwary

— Ali Quli Qarai

alladhīna tatawaffāhumu l-malāʾikatu ṭayyibīna yaqūlūna salāmun ʿalaykumu dkhulū l-jannata bi-mā kuntum taʿmalūna

—those whom the angels take away while they are pure. They say [to them], ‘Peace be to you! Enter paradise because of what you used to do.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

hal yanẓurūna ʾillā ʾan taʾtiyahumu l-malāʾikatu ʾaw yaʾtiya ʾamru rabbika ka-dhālika faʿala lladhīna min qablihim wa-mā ẓalamahumu llāhu wa-lākin kānū ʾanfusahum yaẓlimūna

Do they not consider that the angels may come to them, or your Lord’s edict may come? Those who were before them had acted likewise; Allah did not wrong them, but they used to wrong themselves.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-ʾaṣābahum sayyiʾātu mā ʿamilū wa-ḥāqa bihim mā kānū bihī yastahziʾūna

So the evils of what they had earned visited them, and they were besieged by what they used to deride.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 271

wa-qāla lladhīna ʾashrakū law shāʾa llāhu mā ʿabadnā min dūnihī min shayʾin naḥnu wa-lā ʾābāʾunā wa-lā ḥarramnā min dūnihī min shayʾin ka-dhālika faʿala lladhīna min qablihim fa-hal ʿalā r-rusuli ʾillā l-balāghu l-mubīnu

The polytheists say, ‘Had Allah wished, we would not have worshiped anything besides Him—neither we, nor our fathers—nor we would have forbidden anything without His sanction.’ Those who were before them had acted likewise. Is the apostles’ duty anything but to communicate in clear terms?

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-la-qad baʿathnā fī kulli ʾummatin rasūlan ʾani ʿbudū llāha wa-jtanibū ṭ-ṭāghūta fa-minhum man hadā llāhu wa-minhum man ḥaqqat ʿalayhi ḍ-ḍalālatu fa-sīrū fī l-ʾarḍi fa-nẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-mukadhdhibīna

Certainly We raised an apostle in every nation [to preach:] ‘Worship Allah, and shun fake deities.’ Among them were some whom Allah guided, and among them were some who deserved to be in error. So travel over the land and observe how was the fate of the deniers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾin taḥriṣ ʿalā hudāhum fa-ʾinna llāha lā yahdī man yuḍillu wa-mā lahum min nāṣirīna

Even if you are eager for them to be guided, indeed Allah does not guide those who mislead [others], and they will have no helpers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾaqsamū bi-llāhi jahda ʾaymānihim lā yabʿathu llāhu man yamūtu balā waʿdan ʿalayhi ḥaqqan wa-lākinna ʾakthara n-nāsi lā yaʿlamūna

They swear by Allah with solemn oaths that Allah will not resurrect those who die. Yes indeed [He will], it is a promise binding upon Him, but most people do not know,

— Ali Quli Qarai

li-yubayyina lahumu lladhī yakhtalifūna fīhi wa-li-yaʿlama lladhīna kafarū ʾannahum kānū kādhibīna

so that He may clarify for them what they differ about, and that the faithless may know that they were liars.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinnamā qawlunā li-shayʾin ʾidhā ʾaradnāhu ʾan naqūla lahū kun fa-yakūnu

All that We say to a thing, when We will it, is to say to it ‘Be!’ and it is.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lladhīna hājarū fī llāhi min baʿdi mā ẓulimū la-nubawwiʾannahum fī d-dunyā ḥasanatan wa-la-ʾajru l-ʾākhirati ʾakbaru law kānū yaʿlamūna

Those who migrate for the sake of Allah after they have been wronged, We will surely settle them in a good place in the world, and the reward of the Hereafter is surely greater, had they known

— Ali Quli Qarai

alladhīna ṣabarū wa-ʿalā rabbihim yatawakkalūna

—those who are patient and who put their trust in their Lord.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 272

wa-mā ʾarsalnā min qablika ʾillā rijālan nūḥī ʾilayhim fa-sʾalū ʾahla dh-dhikri ʾin kuntum lā taʿlamūna

We did not send [any apostles] before you except as men to whom We revealed. Ask the People of the Reminder if you do not know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

bi-l-bayyināti wa-z-zuburi wa-ʾanzalnā ʾilayka dh-dhikra li-tubayyina li-n-nāsi mā nuzzila ʾilayhim wa-laʿallahum yatafakkarūna

[We sent them] with manifest proofs and scriptures. We have sent down the reminder to you so that you may clarify for the people that which has been sent down to them, so that they may reflect.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-fa-ʾamina lladhīna makarū s-sayyiʾāti ʾan yakhsifa llāhu bihimu l-ʾarḍa ʾaw yaʾtiyahumu l-ʿadhābu min ḥaythu lā yashʿurūna

Do those who devise evil schemes feel secure that Allah will not make the earth swallow them, or the punishment will not overtake them whence they are not aware?

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾaw yaʾkhudhahum fī taqallubihim fa-mā hum bi-muʿjizīna

Or that He will not seize them in the midst of their bustle, whereupon they will not be able to frustrate [Him]?

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾaw yaʾkhudhahum ʿalā takhawwufin fa-ʾinna rabbakum la-raʾūfun raḥīmun

Or that He will not visit them with attrition? Indeed your Lord is most kind and merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-wa-lam yaraw ʾilā mā khalaqa llāhu min shayʾin yatafayyaʾu ẓilāluhū ʿani l-yamīni wa-sh-shamāʾili sujjadan li-llāhi wa-hum dākhirūna

Have they not regarded that whatever thing Allah has created casts its shadow to the right and to the left, prostrating to Allah in utter humility?

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-li-llāhi yasjudu mā fī s-samāwāti wa-mā fī l-ʾarḍi min dābbatin wa-l-malāʾikatu wa-hum lā yastakbirūna

To Allah prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, including animals and angels, and they are not arrogant.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yakhāfūna rabbahum min fawqihim wa-yafʿalūna mā yuʾmarūna

They fear their Lord above them, and do what they are commanded.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qāla llāhu lā tattakhidhū ʾilāhayni thnayni ʾinnamā huwa ʾilāhun wāḥidun fa-ʾiyyāya fa-rhabūni

Allah has said, ‘Do not worship two gods. Indeed He is the One God, so be in awe of Me [alone].’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lahū mā fī s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-lahu d-dīnu wāṣiban ʾa-fa-ghayra llāhi tattaqūna

To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and to Him belongs the enduring religion. Will you, then, be wary of other than Allah?

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-mā bikum min niʿmatin fa-mina llāhi thumma ʾidhā massakumu ḍ-ḍurru fa-ʾilayhi tajʾarūna

Whatever blessing you have is from Allah, and when a distress befalls you, you make entreaties to Him.

— Ali Quli Qarai

thumma ʾidhā kashafa ḍ-ḍurra ʿankum ʾidhā farīqun minkum bi-rabbihim yushrikūna

Then, when He removes the distress from you—behold, a part of them ascribe partners to their Lord,

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 273

li-yakfurū bi-mā ʾātaynāhum fa-tamattaʿū fa-sawfa taʿlamūna

being unthankful for what We have given them. So let them enjoy. Soon they shall know!

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-yajʿalūna li-mā lā yaʿlamūna naṣīban mimmā razaqnāhum ta-llāhi la-tusʾalunna ʿammā kuntum taftarūna

They assign a share in what We have provided them to what they do not know. By Allah, you will surely be questioned concerning what you used to fabricate.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-yajʿalūna li-llāhi l-banāti subḥānahū wa-lahum mā yashtahūna

And they attribute daughters to Allah—immaculate is He—while they will have what they desire!

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā bushshira ʾaḥaduhum bi-l-ʾunthā ẓalla wajhuhū muswaddan wa-huwa kaẓīmun

When one of them is brought the news of a female [newborn], his face becomes darkened, and he chokes with suppressed agony.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yatawārā mina l-qawmi min sūʾi mā bushshira bihī ʾa-yumsikuhū ʿalā hūnin ʾam yadussuhū fī t-turābi ʾa-lā sāʾa mā yaḥkumūna

He hides from the people out of distress at the news he has been brought: shall he retain it in humiliation, or bury it in the ground! Behold! Evil is the judgement that they make.

— Ali Quli Qarai

li-lladhīna lā yuʾminūna bi-l-ʾākhirati mathalu s-sawʾi wa-li-llāhi l-mathalu l-ʾaʿlā wa-huwa l-ʿazīzu l-ḥakīmu

There is an evil description for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, and the loftiest description belongs to Allah, and He is the All-mighty, the All-wise.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-law yuʾākhidhu llāhu n-nāsa bi-ẓulmihim mā taraka ʿalayhā min dābbatin wa-lākin yuʾakhkhiruhum ʾilā ʾajalin musamman fa-ʾidhā jāʾa ʾajaluhum lā yastaʾkhirūna sāʿatan wa-lā yastaqdimūna

Were Allah to take mankind to task for their wrongdoing, He would not leave any living being upon it. But He respites them until a specified time; so when their time comes they shall not defer it by a single hour nor shall they advance it.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-yajʿalūna li-llāhi mā yakrahūna wa-taṣifu ʾalsinatuhumu l-kadhiba ʾanna lahumu l-ḥusnā lā jarama ʾanna lahumu n-nāra wa-ʾannahum mufraṭūna

They attribute to Allah what they dislike [for themselves], and their tongues assert the lie that the best of rewards [in the Hereafter] will be theirs. Undoubtedly, the Fire shall be their lot and they will be foremost [in entering it].

— Ali Quli Qarai

ta-llāhi la-qad ʾarsalnā ʾilā ʾumamin min qablika fa-zayyana lahumu sh-shayṭānu ʾaʿmālahum fa-huwa waliyyuhumu l-yawma wa-lahum ʿadhābun ʾalīmun

By Allah, We have certainly sent [apostles] to nations before you. But Satan made their deeds seem decorous to them. So he is their master today and there is a painful punishment for them.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-mā ʾanzalnā ʿalayka l-kitāba ʾillā li-tubayyina lahumu lladhī khtalafū fīhi wa-hudan wa-raḥmatan li-qawmin yuʾminūna

We did not send down the Book to you except [for the purpose] that you may clarify for them what they differ about, and as a guidance and mercy for a people who have faith.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 274

wa-llāhu ʾanzala mina s-samāʾi māʾan fa-ʾaḥyā bihi l-ʾarḍa baʿda mawtihā ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyatan li-qawmin yasmaʿūna

Allah sends down water from the sky with which He revives the earth after its death. There is indeed a sign in that for a people who listen.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾinna lakum fī l-ʾanʿāmi la-ʿibratan nusqīkum mimmā fī buṭūnihī min bayni farthin wa-damin labanan khāliṣan sāʾighan li-sh-shāribīna

There is indeed a lesson for you in the cattle: We give you a drink pleasant to those who drink, pure milk, which is in their bellies, between [intestinal] waste and blood.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-min thamarāti n-nakhīli wa-l-ʾaʿnābi tattakhidhūna minhu sakaran wa-rizqan ḥasanan ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyatan li-qawmin yaʿqilūna

From the fruits of date palms and vines you draw wine and goodly provision. There are indeed signs in that for people who exercise their reason.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾawḥā rabbuka ʾilā n-naḥli ʾani ttakhidhī mina l-jibāli buyūtan wa-mina sh-shajari wa-mimmā yaʿrishūna

And your Lord inspired the bee [saying]: ‘Make your home in the mountains, and on the trees and the trellises that they erect.

— Ali Quli Qarai

thumma kulī min kulli th-thamarāti fa-slukī subula rabbiki dhululan yakhruju min buṭūnihā sharābun mukhtalifun ʾalwānuhū fīhi shifāʾun li-n-nāsi ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyatan li-qawmin yatafakkarūna

Then eat from every [kind of] fruit and follow meekly the ways of your Lord.’ There issues from its belly a juice of diverse hues, in which there is a cure for the people. There is indeed a sign in that for a people who reflect.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-llāhu khalaqakum thumma yatawaffākum wa-minkum man yuraddu ʾilā ʾardhali l-ʿumuri li-kay lā yaʿlama baʿda ʿilmin shayʾan ʾinna llāha ʿalīmun qadīrun

Allah has created you, then He takes you away, and there are some among you who are relegated to the nethermost age so that he knows nothing after [having possessed] some knowledge. Indeed Allah is all-knowing, all-powerful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-llāhu faḍḍala baʿḍakum ʿalā baʿḍin fī r-rizqi fa-mā lladhīna fuḍḍilū bi-rāddī rizqihim ʿalā mā malakat ʾaymānuhum fa-hum fīhi sawāʾun ʾa-fa-bi-niʿmati llāhi yajḥadūna

Allah has granted some of you an advantage over others in [respect of] provision. Those who have been granted an advantage do not give over their provision to their slaves so that they become equal in its respect. What, do they deny the blessing of Allah?

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-llāhu jaʿala lakum min ʾanfusikum ʾazwājan wa-jaʿala lakum min ʾazwājikum banīna wa-ḥafadatan wa-razaqakum mina ṭ-ṭayyibāti ʾa-fa-bi-l-bāṭili yuʾminūna wa-bi-niʿmati llāhi hum yakfurūna

Allah made for you mates from your own selves and appointed for you children and grandchildren from your mates, and We provided you with all the good things. What, do they believe in falsehood while they deny the blessing of Allah?

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 275

wa-yaʿbudūna min dūni llāhi mā lā yamliku lahum rizqan mina s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi shayʾan wa-lā yastaṭīʿūna

They worship besides Allah what has no power to provide them with anything from the heavens and the earth, nor are they capable [of anything].

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-lā taḍribū li-llāhi l-ʾamthāla ʾinna llāha yaʿlamu wa-ʾantum lā taʿlamūna

So do not draw comparisons for Allah: indeed Allah knows and you do not know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ḍaraba llāhu mathalan ʿabdan mamlūkan lā yaqdiru ʿalā shayʾin wa-man razaqnāhu minnā rizqan ḥasanan fa-huwa yunfiqu minhu sirran wa-jahran hal yastawūna l-ḥamdu li-llāhi bal ʾaktharuhum lā yaʿlamūna

Allah draws a parable: a slave owned [by his master] who has no power over anything, and another one [a free man] whom We have provided a goodly provision and who spends out of it secretly and openly. Are they equal? All praise belongs to Allah. But most of them do not know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ḍaraba llāhu mathalan rajulayni ʾaḥaduhumā ʾabkamu lā yaqdiru ʿalā shayʾin wa-huwa kallun ʿalā mawlāhu ʾaynamā yuwajjihhu lā yaʾti bi-khayrin hal yastawī huwa wa-man yaʾmuru bi-l-ʿadli wa-huwa ʿalā ṣirāṭin mustaqīmin

Allah draws [another] parable: Two men, one of whom is dumb, having no power over anything and who is a liability to his master: wherever he directs him he does not bring any good. Is he equal to someone who enjoins justice and is [steady] on a straight path?

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-li-llāhi ghaybu s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-mā ʾamru s-sāʿati ʾillā ka-lamḥi l-baṣari ʾaw huwa ʾaqrabu ʾinna llāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīrun

To Allah belongs the Unseen of the heavens and the earth. The matter of the Hour is just like the twinkling of an eye, or [even] swifter. Indeed Allah has power over all things.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-llāhu ʾakhrajakum min buṭūni ʾummahātikum lā taʿlamūna shayʾan wa-jaʿala lakumu s-samʿa wa-l-ʾabṣāra wa-l-ʾafʾidata laʿallakum tashkurūna

Allah has brought you forth from the bellies of your mothers while you did not know anything. He made for you hearing, eyesight, and hearts so that you may give thanks.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-lam yaraw ʾilā ṭ-ṭayri musakhkharātin fī jawwi s-samāʾi mā yumsikuhunna ʾillā llāhu ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyātin li-qawmin yuʾminūna

Have they not regarded the birds disposed in the air of the sky: no one sustains them except Allah. There are indeed signs in that for a people who have faith.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 276

wa-llāhu jaʿala lakum min buyūtikum sakanan wa-jaʿala lakum min julūdi l-ʾanʿāmi buyūtan tastakhiffūnahā yawma ẓaʿnikum wa-yawma ʾiqāmatikum wa-min ʾaṣwāfihā wa-ʾawbārihā wa-ʾashʿārihā ʾathāthan wa-matāʿan ʾilā ḥīnin

It is Allah who has made your homes as a place of rest for you and He made for you homes out of the skins of the cattle which you find portable on the day of your shifting and on the day of your halt, and out of their wool, fur and hair [He has appointed] furniture and wares [enduring] for a while.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-llāhu jaʿala lakum mimmā khalaqa ẓilālan wa-jaʿala lakum mina l-jibāli ʾaknānan wa-jaʿala lakum sarābīla taqīkumu l-ḥarra wa-sarābīla taqīkum baʾsakum ka-dhālika yutimmu niʿmatahū ʿalaykum laʿallakum tuslimūna

It is Allah who made for you the shade from what He has created, and made for you retreats in the mountains, and made for you garments that protect you from heat, and garments that protect you from your [mutual] violence. That is how He completes His blessing upon you so that you may submit [to Him].

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-ʾin tawallaw fa-ʾinnamā ʿalayka l-balāghu l-mubīnu

But if they turn their backs [on you], your duty is only to communicate in clear terms.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yaʿrifūna niʿmata llāhi thumma yunkirūnahā wa-ʾaktharuhumu l-kāfirūna

They recognize the blessing of Allah and then deny it, and most of them are faithless.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-yawma nabʿathu min kulli ʾummatin shahīdan thumma lā yuʾdhanu li-lladhīna kafarū wa-lā hum yustaʿtabūna

The day We shall raise a witness from every nation, the faithless will not be permitted [to speak], nor will they be asked to propitiate [Allah].

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā raʾā lladhīna ẓalamū l-ʿadhāba fa-lā yukhaffafu ʿanhum wa-lā hum yunẓarūna

And when the wrongdoers sight the punishment, it shall not be lightened for them, nor will they be granted any respite.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā raʾā lladhīna ʾashrakū shurakāʾahum qālū rabbanā hāʾulāʾi shurakāʾunā lladhīna kunnā nadʿū min dūnika fa-ʾalqaw ʾilayhimu l-qawla ʾinnakum la-kādhibūna

When the polytheists sight their partners, they will say, ‘Our Lord! These are our partners whom we used to invoke besides You.’ But they will retort to them, ‘You are indeed liars!’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾalqaw ʾilā llāhi yawmaʾidhin-i s-salama wa-ḍalla ʿanhum mā kānū yaftarūna

They will submit to Allah on that day, and what they used to fabricate will forsake them.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 277

alladhīna kafarū wa-ṣaddū ʿan sabīli llāhi zidnāhum ʿadhāban fawqa l-ʿadhābi bi-mā kānū yufsidūna

Those who are faithless and bar from the way of Allah—We shall add punishment to their punishment because of the corruption they used to cause.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-yawma nabʿathu fī kulli ʾummatin shahīdan ʿalayhim min ʾanfusihim wa-jiʾnā bika shahīdan ʿalā hāʾulāʾi wa-nazzalnā ʿalayka l-kitāba tibyānan li-kulli shayʾin wa-hudan wa-raḥmatan wa-bushrā li-l-muslimīna

The day We raise in every nation a witness against them from among themselves, We shall bring you as a witness against these. We have sent down the Book to you as a clarification of all things and as guidance, mercy and good news for the Muslims.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinna llāha yaʾmuru bi-l-ʿadli wa-l-ʾiḥsāni wa-ʾītāʾi dhī l-qurbā wa-yanhā ʿani l-faḥshāʾi wa-l-munkari wa-l-baghyi yaʿiẓukum laʿallakum tadhakkarūna

Indeed Allah enjoins justice and kindness, and generosity towards relatives, and He forbids indecency, wrongdoing, and aggression. He advises you, so that you may take admonition.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾawfū bi-ʿahdi llāhi ʾidhā ʿāhadtum wa-lā tanquḍū l-ʾaymāna baʿda tawkīdihā wa-qad jaʿaltumu llāha ʿalaykum kafīlan ʾinna llāha yaʿlamu mā tafʿalūna

Fulfill Allah’s covenant when you pledge, and do not break [your] oaths, after pledging them solemnly and having made Allah a witness over yourselves. Indeed Allah knows what you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lā takūnū ka-llatī naqaḍat ghazlahā min baʿdi quwwatin ʾankāthan tattakhidhūna ʾaymānakum dakhalan baynakum ʾan takūna ʾummatun hiya ʾarbā min ʾummatin ʾinnamā yablūkumu llāhu bihī wa-la-yubayyinanna lakum yawma l-qiyāmati mā kuntum fīhi takhtalifūna

Do not be like her who would undo her yarn, breaking it up after [spinning it to] strength, by making your oaths a means of [mutual] deceit among yourselves, so that one community may become more affluent than another community. Indeed Allah tests you thereby, and He will surely clarify for you on the Day of Resurrection what you used to differ about.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-law shāʾa llāhu la-jaʿalakum ʾummatan wāḥidatan wa-lākin yuḍillu man yashāʾu wa-yahdī man yashāʾu wa-la-tusʾalunna ʿammā kuntum taʿmalūna

Had Allah wished, He would have made you one community, but He leads astray whomever He wishes and guides whomever He wishes, and you will surely be questioned concerning what you used to do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 278

wa-lā tattakhidhū ʾaymānakum dakhalan baynakum fa-tazilla qadamun baʿda thubūtihā wa-tadhūqū s-sūʾa bi-mā ṣadadtum ʿan sabīli llāhi wa-lakum ʿadhābun ʿaẓīmun

Do not make your oaths a means of [mutual] deceit among yourselves, lest feet should stumble after being steady and [lest] you suffer ill for barring from the way of Allah and face a great punishment.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lā tashtarū bi-ʿahdi llāhi thamanan qalīlan ʾinnamā ʿinda llāhi huwa khayrun lakum ʾin kuntum taʿlamūna

Do not sell Allah’s covenants for a paltry gain. Indeed, what is with Allah is better for you, should you know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

mā ʿindakum yanfadu wa-mā ʿinda llāhi bāqin wa-la-najziyanna lladhīna ṣabarū ʾajrahum bi-ʾaḥsani mā kānū yaʿmalūna

That which is with you will be spent [and gone], but what is with Allah shall last, and We will surely pay the patient their reward by the best of what they used to do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

man ʿamila ṣāliḥan min dhakarin ʾaw ʾunthā wa-huwa muʾminun fa-la-nuḥyiyannahū ḥayātan ṭayyibatan wa-la-najziyannahum ʾajrahum bi-ʾaḥsani mā kānū yaʿmalūna

Whoever acts righteously, [whether] male or female, should he be faithful, We shall revive him with a good life and pay them their reward by the best of what they used to do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-ʾidhā qaraʾta l-qurʿāna fa-staʿidh bi-llāhi mina sh-shayṭāni r-rajīmi

When you recite the Quran, seek the protection of Allah against the outcast Satan.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinnahū laysa lahū sulṭānun ʿalā lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-ʿalā rabbihim yatawakkalūna

Indeed he does not have any authority over those who have faith and put their trust in their Lord.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinnamā sulṭānuhū ʿalā lladhīna yatawallawnahū wa-lladhīna hum bihī mushrikūna

His authority is only over those who befriend him and those who make him a partner [of Allah].

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā baddalnā ʾāyatan makāna ʾāyatin wa-llāhu ʾaʿlamu bi-mā yunazzilu qālū ʾinnamā ʾanta muftarin bal ʾaktharuhum lā yaʿlamūna

When We change a sign for another in its stead—and Allah knows best what He sends down—they say, ‘You are indeed a fabricator.’ Indeed, most of them do not know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

qul nazzalahū rūḥu l-qudusi min rabbika bi-l-ḥaqqi li-yuthabbita lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-hudan wa-bushrā li-l-muslimīna

Say, the Holy Spirit has brought it down duly from your Lord to fortify those who have faith and as guidance and good news for the Muslims.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 279

wa-la-qad naʿlamu ʾannahum yaqūlūna ʾinnamā yuʿallimuhū basharun lisānu lladhī yulḥidūna ʾilayhi ʾaʿjamiyyun wa-hādhā lisānun ʿarabiyyun mubīnun

We certainly know that they say, ‘It is only a human that instructs him.’ The language of him to whom they refer is non-Arabic, while this is a clear Arabic language.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinna lladhīna lā yuʾminūna bi-ʾāyāti llāhi lā yahdīhimu llāhu wa-lahum ʿadhābun ʾalīmun

Indeed those who do not believe in the signs of Allah—Allah shall not guide them and there is a painful punishment for them.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinnamā yaftarī l-kadhiba lladhīna lā yuʾminūna bi-ʾāyāti llāhi wa-ʾulāʾika humu l-kādhibūna

Only those fabricate lies who do not believe in the signs of Allah, and it is they who are the liars.

— Ali Quli Qarai

man kafara bi-llāhi min baʿdi ʾīmānihī ʾillā man ʾukriha wa-qalbuhū muṭmaʾinnun bi-l-ʾīmāni wa-lākin man sharaḥa bi-l-kufri ṣadran fa-ʿalayhim ghaḍabun mina llāhi wa-lahum ʿadhābun ʿaẓīmun

Excepting someone who is compelled [to recant his faith] while his heart is at rest in it, those who disbelieve in Allah after [affirming] their faith and open up their breasts to unfaith, Allah’s wrath shall be upon them and there is a great punishment for them.

— Ali Quli Qarai

dhālika bi-ʾannahumu staḥabbū l-ḥayāta d-dunyā ʿalā l-ʾākhirati wa-ʾanna llāha lā yahdī l-qawma l-kāfirīna

That, because they preferred the life of the world to the Hereafter and that Allah does not guide the faithless lot.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾulāʾika lladhīna ṭabaʿa llāhu ʿalā qulūbihim wa-samʿihim wa-ʾabṣārihim wa-ʾulāʾika humu l-ghāfilūna

They are the ones Allah has set a seal on their hearts, their hearing and their sight, and it is they who are the heedless.

— Ali Quli Qarai

lā jarama ʾannahum fī l-ʾākhirati humu l-khāsirūna

Undoubtedly, they are the ones who will be the losers in the Hereafter.

— Ali Quli Qarai

thumma ʾinna rabbaka li-lladhīna hājarū min baʿdi mā futinū thumma jāhadū wa-ṣabarū ʾinna rabbaka min baʿdihā la-ghafūrun raḥīmun

Thereafter your Lord will indeed be forgiving and merciful to those who migrated after they were persecuted, waged jihad and remained steadfast.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 280

yawma taʾtī kullu nafsin tujādilu ʿan nafsihā wa-tuwaffā kullu nafsin mā ʿamilat wa-hum lā yuẓlamūna

The day [will come] when every soul will come pleading for itself and every soul will be recompensed fully for what it has done, and they will not be wronged.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ḍaraba llāhu mathalan qaryatan kānat ʾāminatan muṭmaʾinnatan yaʾtīhā rizquhā raghadan min kulli makānin fa-kafarat bi-ʾanʿumi llāhi fa-ʾadhāqahā llāhu libāsa l-jūʿi wa-l-khawfi bi-mā kānū yaṣnaʿūna

Allah draws a parable: There was a town secure and peaceful, its provision coming abundantly from every place. But it was ungrateful toward Allah’s blessings. So Allah made it taste hunger and fear because of what they used to do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-la-qad jāʾahum rasūlun minhum fa-kadhdhabūhu fa-ʾakhadhahumu l-ʿadhābu wa-hum ẓālimūna

Certainly there had come to them an apostle from among themselves, but they impugned him. So the punishment seized them while they were doing wrong.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-kulū mimmā razaqakumu llāhu ḥalālan ṭayyiban wa-shkurū niʿmata llāhi ʾin kuntum ʾiyyāhu taʿbudūna

So eat out of what Allah has provided you as lawful and good, and give thanks for Allah’s blessing, if it is Him that you worship.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinnamā ḥarrama ʿalaykumu l-maytata wa-d-dama wa-laḥma l-khinzīri wa-mā ʾuhilla li-ghayri llāhi bihī fa-mani ḍṭurra ghayra bāghin wa-lā ʿādin fa-ʾinna llāha ghafūrun raḥīmun

He has forbidden you only carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been offered to other than Allah. But if someone is compelled [to eat any of that], without being rebellious or aggressive, indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lā taqūlū li-mā taṣifu ʾalsinatukumu l-kadhiba hādhā ḥalālun wa-hādhā ḥarāmun li-taftarū ʿalā llāhi l-kadhiba ʾinna lladhīna yaftarūna ʿalā llāhi l-kadhiba lā yufliḥūna

Do not say, asserting falsely with your tongues, ‘This is lawful, and that is unlawful,’ attributing lies to Allah. Indeed those who attribute lies to Allah will not be felicitous.

— Ali Quli Qarai

matāʿun qalīlun wa-lahum ʿadhābun ʾalīmun

[Their share of the present life is] a trifling enjoyment, and there will be a painful punishment for them.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʿalā lladhīna hādū ḥarramnā mā qaṣaṣnā ʿalayka min qablu wa-mā ẓalamnāhum wa-lākin kānū ʾanfusahum yaẓlimūna

We forbade to the Jews what We have recounted to you earlier, and We did not wrong them, but they used to wrong themselves.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 281

thumma ʾinna rabbaka li-lladhīna ʿamilū s-sūʾa bi-jahālatin thumma tābū min baʿdi dhālika wa-ʾaṣlaḥū ʾinna rabbaka min baʿdihā la-ghafūrun raḥīmun

Moreover, your Lord will indeed be forgiving and merciful to those who repent after they having committed evil out of ignorance and reform themselves.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinna ʾibrāhīma kāna ʾummatan qānitan li-llāhi ḥanīfan wa-lam yaku mina l-mushrikīna

Indeed Abraham was a nation [all by himself], obedient to Allah, a Hanif, and he was not a polytheist.

— Ali Quli Qarai

shākiran li-ʾanʿumihi jtabāhu wa-hadāhu ʾilā ṣirāṭin mustaqīmin

Grateful [as he was] for His blessings, He chose him and guided him to a straight path.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾātaynāhu fī d-dunyā ḥasanatan wa-ʾinnahū fī l-ʾākhirati la-mina ṣ-ṣāliḥīna

We gave him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he will indeed be among the Righteous.

— Ali Quli Qarai

thumma ʾawḥaynā ʾilayka ʾani ttabiʿ millata ʾibrāhīma ḥanīfan wa-mā kāna mina l-mushrikīna

Thereafter We revealed to you [saying], ‘Follow the creed of Abraham, a Hanif, who was not a polytheist.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinnamā juʿila s-sabtu ʿalā lladhīna khtalafū fīhi wa-ʾinna rabbaka la-yaḥkumu baynahum yawma l-qiyāmati fī-mā kānū fīhi yakhtalifūna

The Sabbath was only prescribed for those who differed about it. Your Lord will indeed judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that about which they differ.

— Ali Quli Qarai

udʿu ʾilā sabīli rabbika bi-l-ḥikmati wa-l-mawʿiẓati l-ḥasanati wa-jādilhum bi-llatī hiya ʾaḥsanu ʾinna rabbaka huwa ʾaʿlamu bi-man ḍalla ʿan sabīlihī wa-huwa ʾaʿlamu bi-l-muhtadīna

Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice and dispute with them in a manner that is best. Indeed your Lord knows best those who stray from His way, and He knows best those who are guided.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾin ʿāqabtum fa-ʿāqibū bi-mithli mā ʿūqibtum bihī wa-la-ʾin ṣabartum la-huwa khayrun li-ṣ-ṣābirīna

Should you retaliate, retaliate with the like of what you have been made to suffer, but if you are patient that is surely better for the steadfast.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ṣbir wa-mā ṣabruka ʾillā bi-llāhi wa-lā taḥzan ʿalayhim wa-lā taku fī ḍayqin mimmā yamkurūna

So be steadfast, and you cannot be steadfast except with Allah [’s help]. And do not grieve for them, nor be upset by their guile.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinna llāha maʿa lladhīna ttaqaw wa-lladhīna hum muḥsinūna

Indeed Allah is with those who are Godwary and those who are virtuous.

— Ali Quli Qarai