Ta-Seen
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
• Divine Source and the Criteria of Belief
[1] Ta-Seen (ṭ-s; disjointed letters); these are verses (ayat; ʾ-y-y, signs) of the Quran (qurʾan; q-r-ʾ, recitation) and a clear Book (kitab; k-t-b, scripture), [2] a guidance (huda; h-d-y, direction) and glad tidings (bushra; b-sh-r, good news) for the believers. [3] Those who establish prayer (salah; ṣ-l-w, connection), give purifying alms (zakah; z-k-w, growth/purification), and possess certainty (yuqinun; y-q-n, absolute conviction) in the Hereafter. [4] As for those who disbelieve in the Hereafter, We have made their deeds appear pleasing (zayyanna; z-y-n, adorned) to them, so they wander blindly (yaʿmahun; ʿ-m-h, confusion/blindness). [5] It is they for whom is the worst suffering (suʾu al-adhab; ʿ-dh-b, torment), and in the Hereafter, they are the greatest losers. [6] Indeed, you receive the Quran from the presence of One All-Wise (Hakim; ḥ-k-m, wise/judicious), All-Knowing (ʿAlim; ʿ-l-m, omniscient).
• Moses: The Sacred Fire and Divine Signs
[7] Recall when Moses (Musa) said to his family, “Indeed, I have perceived a fire (nar; n-w-r, fire/light); I will bring you news from it or bring you a burning brand (shihab; sh-h-b, flame) that you may warm yourselves.” [8] When he came to it, he was called: “Blessed (burika; b-r-k, blessed/sanctified) is whoever is in the fire and whoever is around it, and glory be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.” [9] “O Moses, indeed it is I, Allah, the Exalted in Might (al-ʿAziz; ʿ-z-z, invincible), the Wise.” [10] “And throw down your staff.” But when he saw it writhing as if it were a snake (jann; j-n-n, serpent/jinn), he turned in flight and did not return; Allah said, “O Moses, fear not. Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear, [11] except one who has wronged but then substituted good after evil; indeed, I am Forgiving, Merciful.” [12] “And put your hand into your bosom; it will come out white without disease—among nine signs to Pharaoh (Firʿawn) and his people; indeed, they have been a defiantly disobedient people (fasiqin; f-s-q, corrupt).” [13] But when Our signs came to them clearly visible (mubsiratan; b-ṣ-r, giving sight), they said, “This is clear magic (sihr; s-ḥ-r, sorcery).” [14] And they rejected them, though their souls were convinced of them, out of injustice (zulm; ẓ-l-m, wrong/darkness) and arrogance (uluww; ʿ-l-w, haughtiness); so see how was the end of the corrupters.
• David and Solomon: The Logic of Birds and the Valley of Ants
[15] We certainly gave David (Dawud) and Solomon (Sulayman) knowledge (ilm; ʿ-l-m), and they said, “Praise (hamd; ḥ-m-d, laudation) to Allah, who has favored us over many of His believing servants.” [16] Solomon inherited David and said, “O people, we have been taught the speech of birds (mantiq al-tayr; n-ṭ-q, logic/speech) and have been given from all things; indeed, this is the clear bounty.” [17] Gathered for Solomon were his soldiers (junud; j-n-d, armies) of jinn, men, and birds, and they were set in rows. [18] Until, when they came upon the Valley of the Ants (wadi al-naml; n-m-l, ants), an ant said, “O ants, enter your dwellings lest Solomon and his soldiers crush you while they perceive not.” [19] So he smiled (tabassama; b-s-m, smiled), amused at her speech, and said, “My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve, and admit me by Your mercy into the ranks of Your righteous servants.”
• The Absent Hoopoe and the Kingdom of Sheba
[20] He inspected the birds and said, “Why do I not see the hoopoe (hudhud; h-d-h-d), or is he among the absent?” [21] “I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization.” [22] But the hoopoe stayed not long and said, “I have encompassed (ahattu; ḥ-w-ṭ, surrounded/comprehended) that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba (Sabaʾ) with certain news (nabaʾ; n-b-ʾ, tidings).” [23] “Indeed, I found a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne (arsh; ʿ-r-sh, seat of power).” [24] “I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah, and Satan (al-Shaytan; sh-ṭ-n, adversary) has made their deeds pleasing to them and averted them from the path, so they are not guided,” [25] “so they do not prostrate to Allah, who brings forth what is hidden (khabʾ; kh-b-ʾ, hidden contents) in the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare.” [26] “Allah—there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne.” [27] Solomon said, “We will see whether you were truthful or were of the liars.” [28] “Go with this letter of mine and deliver it to them; then turn away from them and see what they return.”
• Diplomacy, Gifts, and the Superiority of Prophetic Power
[29] She said, “O eminent ones (malaʾ; m-l-ʾ, chiefs), indeed, to me has been delivered a noble letter (kitab karim).” [30] “Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed, it reads: ‘In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful (Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim), [31] Be not haughty with me but come to me in submission (muslimin; s-l-m, submitting/Muslims).’” [32] She said, “O eminent ones, advise me in my affair; I would not decide a matter until you witness it.” [33] They said, “We are men of strength and great military might, but the command is yours, so see what you will command.” [34] She said, “Indeed kings, when they enter a city, corrupt it and make the honored of its people humbled; and thus do they do.” [35] “But indeed, I will send to them a gift and see with what the messengers return.” [36] So when they came to Solomon, he said, “Do you aid me with wealth? But what Allah has given me is better than what He has given you; rather, it is you who rejoice in your gift.” [37] “Return to them, for we will surely come to them with soldiers that they will be powerless to encounter, and we will surely expel them therefrom in humiliation, and they will be debased.”
• The Transport of the Throne and the Palace of Glass
[38] He said, “O eminent ones, which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?” [39] A powerful one (ifrit; ʿ-f-r, strong/cunning) from among the jinn said, “I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this strong and trustworthy.” [40] Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture (ilm min al-kitab), “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” And when Solomon saw it placed before him, he said, “This is from the favor of my Lord to test me (yabluwani; b-l-w, trial) whether I will be grateful or ungrateful; and whoever is grateful, his gratitude is for his own soul, and whoever is ungrateful—then indeed, my Lord is Free of need (Ghaniyy; gh-n-y, rich/independent) and Generous.” [41] He said, “Disguise for her her throne; we will see whether she will be guided or will be of those who are not guided.” [42] So when sh1e arrived, it was said, “Is your throne like this?” She said, “It is as though it were it.” [Solomon noted], “And we were given knowledge before her, and we have been Muslims.” [43] And that which she was worshipping other than Allah had averted her; indeed, she was from a disbelieving people. [44] It was said to her, “Enter the palace (sarh; ṣ-r-ḥ, paved court/high tower).” But when she saw it, she thought it was a deep body of water and uncovered her shins. He said, “Indeed, it is a palace made smooth with glass (qawarir; q-r-r, crystal/flasks).” She said, “My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Solomon to Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
• Salih and the Plot of the Nine Corrupters
[45] And We certainly sent to Thamud their brother Salih, saying, “Worship Allah,” and at once they became two parties quarreling. [46] He said, “O my people, why do you hasten evil before good? Why do you not ask forgiveness of Allah that you may receive mercy?” [47] They said, “We consider you a bad omen (tayyarna; ṭ-y-r, augury/bird omen), you and those with you.” He said, “Your omen is with Allah; rather, you are a people being tested (tuftanun; f-t-n, trial).” [48] And there were in the city nine family heads causing corruption in the land and not amending. [49] They said, “Take a mutual oath by Allah that we will kill him by night, he and his family; then we will say to his executor, ‘We did not witness the destruction of his family, and indeed, we are truthful.’” [50] And they planned a plan (makaru makran; m-k-r, plot), and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. [51] Then look how was the outcome of their plan—that We destroyed them and their people, all. [52] So those are their houses, desolate (khawiyah; kh-w-y, empty/fallen) because of the wrong they did. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who know. [53] And We saved those who believed and used to fear Allah.
• Lot: The Rejection of Purity
[54] And Lot (Lut), when he said to his people, “Do you commit immorality while you are seeing?” [55] “Do you indeed approach men with desire instead of women? Rather, you are a people behaving ignorantly.” [56] But the answer of his people was not except that they said, “Expel the family of Lot from your city; indeed, they are people who keep themselves pure (yatatahharun; ṭ-h-r, cleanse).” [57] So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; We destined her to be of those who remained behind. [58] And We rained upon them a rain (matar; m-ṭ-r, sho2wer of stones), and evil was the rain of those who were warned.
• Cosmic Interrogations: Establishing Divine Exclusivity
[59] Say, “Praise be to Allah, and peace upon His servants whom He has chosen. Is Allah better, or what they associate with Him?” [60] Is He [not best] who created the heavens and the earth and sent down for you rain from the sky, causing to grow thereby gardens of joyful beauty which you could not [otherwise] have grown the trees thereof? Is there a deity with Allah? No, but they are a people who ascribe equals (yaʿdilun; ʿ-d-l, deviate/equate). [61] Is He [not best] who made the earth a stable ground (qarar; q-r-r, settlement) and placed within it rivers and made for it firm mountains and placed between the two seas a barrier? Is there a deity with Allah? No, but most of them do not know. [62] Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one (mudtarr; ḍ-r-r, distressed/compelled) when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah? Little do you remember. [63] Is He [not best] who guides you through the darknesses of the land and sea and who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy? Is there a deity with Allah? High is Allah above what they associate with Him. [64] Is He [not best] who begins creation and then repeats it and who provides for you from the heaven and earth? Is there a deity with Allah? Say, “Produce your proof (burhan; b-r-h-n, evidential proof), if you should be truthful.”
• The Knowledge of the Unseen and the Reality of Resurrection
[65] Say, “None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen (ghayb; gh-y-b, absent/hidden) except Allah, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.” [66] Rather, their knowledge is arrested concerning the Hereafter; rather, they are in doubt about it; rather, they are, concerning it, blind (amin; ʿ-m-y, blind). [67] And those who disbelieve say, “When we have become dust as well as our fathers, will we indeed be brought out?” [68] “We have been promised this, we and our forefathers, before; this is not but legends of the former peoples.” [69] Say, “Travel through the land and observe how was the end of the criminals.” [70] And grieve not over them and be not in distress over what they conspire. [71] And they say, “When is this promise, if you should be truthful?” [72] Say, “Perhaps it is close behind you—some of that which you would hasten.” [73] And indeed, your Lord is full of bounty for the people, but most of them are not grateful. [74] And indeed, your Lord knows what their breasts conceal (tukinn; k-n-n, hide/cover) and what they declare. [75] And there is nothing concealed in the heaven and the earth except that it is in a clear Book.
• The Quran’s Function and the Prophet’s Consolation
[76] Indeed, this Quran relates to the Children of Israel most of that over which they disagree. [77] And indeed, it is guidance and mercy for the believers. [78] Indeed, your Lord will judge between them by His wisdom, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Knowing. [79] So rely (tawakkal; w-k-l, trust/delegate) upon Allah; indeed, you are upon the clear truth. [80] Indeed, you will not make the dead hear, nor will you make the deaf hear the call when they turn their backs, retreating. [813] And you cannot guide the blind away from their error. You will only make hear those who believe in Our verses so they are Muslims (submitting).
• Signs of the Hour and the Cosmic Terror
[82] And when the word befalls them, We will bring forth for them a creature (dabbah; d-b-b, moving creature) from the earth speaking to them, because the people were not of Our verses convinced. [83] And [warn of] the Day when We will gather from every nation a company of those who deny Our signs, and they will be driven in rows. [84] Until, when they arrive, He will say, “Did you deny My signs while you encompassed them not in knowledge, or what was it you were doing?” [85] And the decree will befall them for the wrong they did, and they will n4ot speak. [86] Do they not see that We made 5the night that they may rest therein and the day giving visibility? Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe. [87] And the Day the Horn (sur; ṣ-w-r, trumpet) is blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will be terrified, except whom Allah wills. And all will come to Him humbled (dakhirin; d-kh-r, submissive). [88] And you see the mountains, thinking them rigid (jamidah; j-m-d, solid/frozen), while they will pass as the passing of clouds. [It is] the work (sunʿa; ṣ-n-ʿ, artistry/manufacture) of Allah, who perfected all things. Indeed, He is Acquainted with what you do.6
• Final Reward, Warning, and Command7
[89] Whoever comes with a good deed will have bette8r than it, and they, from the terror of that Day, will be safe. [90] And whoever comes with an evil deed—their faces will be overturned into the Fire: “Are you recompensed except for what you used to do?” [91] [Say], “I have only been commanded to worship the Lord of this city (Makkah), who made it sacred and to whom belongs all things, and I am commanded to be of the Muslims,” [92] “And to recite the Quran.” And whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul; and whoever strays, say, “I am only of the warners.” [93] And say, “Praise to Allah; He will show you His signs, and you will recognize them.” And your Lord is not unaware of what you do.