Surah An-Naml — Word by Word
النمل
The Ant
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
tta-seen til'ka āyātu l-qur'āni wakitābin mubīnin
Ṭā, Seen. These are the verses of the Qur’ān [i.e., recitation] and a clear Book
hudan wabush'rā lil'mu'minīna
As guidance and good tidings for the believers
alladhīna yuqīmūna l-ṣalata wayu'tūna l-zakata wahum bil-ākhirati hum yūqinūna
Who establish prayer and give zakāh, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith].
inna alladhīna lā yu'minūna bil-ākhirati zayyannā lahum aʿmālahum fahum yaʿmahūna
Indeed, for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have made pleasing to them their deeds, so they wander blindly.
ulāika alladhīna lahum sūu l-ʿadhābi wahum fī l-ākhirati humu l-akhsarūna
Those are the ones for whom there will be the worst of punishment, and in the Hereafter they are the greatest losers.
wa-innaka latulaqqā l-qur'āna min ladun ḥakīmin ʿalīmin
And indeed, [O Muḥammad], you receive the Qur’ān from one Wise and Knowing.
idh qāla mūsā li-ahlihi innī ānastu nāran saātīkum min'hā bikhabarin aw ātīkum bishihābin qabasin laʿallakum taṣṭalūna
[Mention] when Moses said to his family, "Indeed, I have perceived a fire. I will bring you from there information or will bring you a burning torch that you may warm yourselves."
falammā jāahā nūdiya an būrika man fī l-nāri waman ḥawlahā wasub'ḥāna l-lahi rabbi l-ʿālamīna
But when he came to it, he was called, "Blessed is whoever is at the fire and whoever is around it. And exalted is Allāh, Lord of the worlds.
yāmūsā innahu anā l-lahu l-ʿazīzu l-ḥakīmu
O Moses, indeed it is I - Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Wise."
wa-alqi ʿaṣāka falammā raāhā tahtazzu ka-annahā jānnun wallā mud'biran walam yuʿaqqib yāmūsā lā takhaf innī lā yakhāfu ladayya l-mur'salūna
And [he was told], "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it writhing as if it were a snake, he turned in flight and did not return. [Allāh said], "O Moses, fear not. Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear.
illā man ẓalama thumma baddala ḥus'nan baʿda sūin fa-innī ghafūrun raḥīmun
Otherwise, he who wrongs, then substitutes good after evil - indeed, I am Forgiving and Merciful.
wa-adkhil yadaka fī jaybika takhruj bayḍāa min ghayri sūin fī tis'ʿi āyātin ilā fir'ʿawna waqawmihi innahum kānū qawman fāsiqīna
And put your hand into the opening of your garment [at the breast]; it will come out white without disease. [These are] among the nine signs [you will take] to Pharaoh and his people. Indeed, they have been a people defiantly disobedient."
falammā jāathum āyātunā mub'ṣiratan qālū hādhā siḥ'run mubīnun
But when there came to them Our visible signs, they said, "This is obvious magic."
wajaḥadū bihā wa-is'tayqanathā anfusuhum ẓul'man waʿuluwwan fa-unẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-muf'sidīna
And they rejected them, while their [inner] selves were convinced thereof, out of injustice and haughtiness. So see how was the end of the corrupters.
walaqad ātaynā dāwūda wasulaymāna ʿil'man waqālā l-ḥamdu lillahi alladhī faḍḍalanā ʿalā kathīrin min ʿibādihi l-mu'minīna
And We had certainly given to David and Solomon knowledge, and they said, "Praise [is due] to Allāh, who has favored us over many of His believing servants."
wawaritha sulaymānu dāwūda waqāla yāayyuhā l-nāsu ʿullim'nā manṭiqa l-ṭayri waūtīnā min kulli shayin inna hādhā lahuwa l-faḍlu l-mubīnu
And Solomon inherited David. He said, "O people, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from all things. Indeed, this is evident bounty."
waḥushira lisulaymāna junūduhu mina l-jini wal-insi wal-ṭayri fahum yūzaʿūna
And gathered for Solomon were his soldiers of the jinn and men and birds, and they were [marching] in rows
ḥattā idhā ataw ʿalā wādi l-namli qālat namlatun yāayyuhā l-namlu ud'khulū masākinakum lā yaḥṭimannakum sulaymānu wajunūduhu wahum lā yashʿurūna
Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, "O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they perceive not."
fatabassama ḍāḥikan min qawlihā waqāla rabbi awziʿ'nī an ashkura niʿ'mataka allatī anʿamta ʿalayya waʿalā wālidayya wa-an aʿmala ṣāliḥan tarḍāhu wa-adkhil'nī biraḥmatika fī ʿibādika l-ṣāliḥīna
So [Solomon] smiled, amused at her speech, and said, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants."
watafaqqada l-ṭayra faqāla mā liya lā arā l-hud'huda am kāna mina l-ghāibīna
And he took attendance of the birds and said, "Why do I not see the hoopoe - or is he among the absent?
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