الصافات
Those who set the Ranks
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
wal-ṣāfāti ṣaffan
By those [angels] lined up in rows
fal-zājirāti zajran
And those who drive [the clouds]
fal-tāliyāti dhik'ran
And those who recite the message,
inna ilāhakum lawāḥidun
Indeed, your God is One,
rabbu l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wamā baynahumā warabbu l-mashāriqi
Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them and Lord of the sunrises.
innā zayyannā l-samāa l-dun'yā bizīnatin l-kawākibi
Indeed, We have adorned the nearest heaven with an adornment of stars
waḥif'ẓan min kulli shayṭānin māridin
And as protection against every rebellious devil
lā yassammaʿūna ilā l-mala-i l-aʿlā wayuq'dhafūna min kulli jānibin
[So] they may not listen to the exalted assembly [of angels] and are pelted from every side,
duḥūran walahum ʿadhābun wāṣibun
Repelled; and for them is a constant punishment,
illā man khaṭifa l-khaṭfata fa-atbaʿahu shihābun thāqibun
Except one who snatches [some words] by theft, but they are pursued by a burning flame, piercing [in brightness].
fa-is'taftihim ahum ashaddu khalqan am man khalaqnā innā khalaqnāhum min ṭīnin lāzibin
Then inquire of them, [O Muḥammad], "Are they a stronger [or more difficult] creation or those [others] We have created?" Indeed, We created them [i.e., men] from sticky clay.
bal ʿajib'ta wayaskharūna
But you wonder, while they mock,
wa-idhā dhukkirū lā yadhkurūna
And when they are reminded, they remember not.
wa-idhā ra-aw āyatan yastaskhirūna
And when they see a sign, they ridicule.
waqālū in hādhā illā siḥ'run mubīnun
And say, "This is not but obvious magic.
a-idhā mit'nā wakunnā turāban waʿiẓāman a-innā lamabʿūthūna
When we have died and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?
awaābāunā l-awalūna
And our forefathers [as well]?"
qul naʿam wa-antum dākhirūna
Say, "Yes, and you will be [rendered] contemptible."
fa-innamā hiya zajratun wāḥidatun fa-idhā hum yanẓurūna
It will be only one shout, and at once they will be observing.
waqālū yāwaylanā hādhā yawmu l-dīni
They will say, "O woe to us! This is the Day of Recompense."
Loading verses...