النمل
The Ant
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
la-uʿadhibannahu ʿadhāban shadīdan aw laādh'baḥannahu aw layatiyannī bisul'ṭānin mubīnin
I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization."
famakatha ghayra baʿīdin faqāla aḥaṭtu bimā lam tuḥiṭ bihi waji'tuka min saba-in binaba-in yaqīnin
But he [i.e., the hoopoe] stayed not long and said, "I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news.
innī wajadttu im'ra-atan tamlikuhum waūtiyat min kulli shayin walahā ʿarshun ʿaẓīmun
Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne.
wajadttuhā waqawmahā yasjudūna lilshamsi min dūni l-lahi wazayyana lahumu l-shayṭānu aʿmālahum faṣaddahum ʿani l-sabīli fahum lā yahtadūna
I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allāh, and Satan has made their deeds pleasing to them and averted them from [His] way, so they are not guided,
allā yasjudū lillahi alladhī yukh'riju l-khaba-a fī l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wayaʿlamu mā tukh'fūna wamā tuʿ'linūna
[And] so they do not prostrate to Allāh, who brings forth what is hidden within the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare -
al-lahu lā ilāha illā huwa rabbu l-ʿarshi l-ʿaẓīmi
Allāh - there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne."
qāla sananẓuru aṣadaqta am kunta mina l-kādhibīna
[Solomon] said, "We will see whether you were truthful or were of the liars.
idh'hab bikitābī hādhā fa-alqih ilayhim thumma tawalla ʿanhum fa-unẓur mādhā yarjiʿūna
Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them. Then leave them and see what [answer] they will return."
qālat yāayyuhā l-mala-u innī ul'qiya ilayya kitābun karīmun
She said, "O eminent ones, indeed, to me has been delivered a noble letter.
innahu min sulaymāna wa-innahu bis'mi l-lahi l-raḥmāni l-raḥīmi
Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed, it is [i.e., reads]: 'In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
allā taʿlū ʿalayya watūnī mus'limīna
Be not haughty with me but come to me in submission [as Muslims].'"
qālat yāayyuhā l-mala-u aftūnī fī amrī mā kuntu qāṭiʿatan amran ḥattā tashhadūni
She said, "O eminent ones, advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness [for] me."
qālū naḥnu ulū quwwatin wa-ulū basin shadīdin wal-amru ilayki fa-unẓurī mādhā tamurīna
They said, "We are men of strength and of great military might, but the command is yours, so see what you will command."
qālat inna l-mulūka idhā dakhalū qaryatan afsadūhā wajaʿalū aʿizzata ahlihā adhillatan wakadhālika yafʿalūna
She said, "Indeed kings - when they enter a city, they ruin it and render the honored of its people humbled. And thus do they do.
wa-innī mur'silatun ilayhim bihadiyyatin fanāẓiratun bima yarjiʿu l-mur'salūna
But indeed, I will send to them a gift and see with what [reply] the messengers will return."
falammā jāa sulaymāna qāla atumiddūnani bimālin famā ātāniya l-lahu khayrun mimmā ātākum bal antum bihadiyyatikum tafraḥūna
So when they came to Solomon, he said, "Do you provide me with wealth? But what Allāh has given me is better than what He has given you. Rather, it is you who rejoice in your gift.
ir'jiʿ ilayhim falanatiyannahum bijunūdin lā qibala lahum bihā walanukh'rijannahum min'hā adhillatan wahum ṣāghirūna
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."
qāla yāayyuhā l-mala-u ayyukum yatīnī biʿarshihā qabla an yatūnī mus'limīna
[Solomon] said, "O assembly [of jinn], which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?"
qāla ʿif'rītun mina l-jini anā ātīka bihi qabla an taqūma min maqāmika wa-innī ʿalayhi laqawiyyun amīnun
A powerful one from among the jinn said, "I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this [task] strong and trustworthy."
qāla alladhī ʿindahu ʿil'mun mina l-kitābi anā ātīka bihi qabla an yartadda ilayka ṭarfuka falammā raāhu mus'taqirran ʿindahu qāla hādhā min faḍli rabbī liyabluwanī a-ashkuru am akfuru waman shakara fa-innamā yashkuru linafsihi waman kafara fa-inna rabbī ghaniyyun karīmun
Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "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 whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful - his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous."