Surah As-Saffat, Ayah 161-180 — Word by Word
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.
fa-innakum wamā taʿbudūna
So indeed, you [disbelievers] and whatever you worship,
mā antum ʿalayhi bifātinīna
You cannot tempt [anyone] away from Him
illā man huwa ṣāli l-jaḥīmi
Except he who is to [enter and] burn in the Hellfire.
wamā minnā illā lahu maqāmun maʿlūmun
[The angels say], "There is not among us any except that he has a known position.
wa-innā lanaḥnu l-ṣāfūna
And indeed, we are those who line up [for prayer].
wa-innā lanaḥnu l-musabiḥūna
And indeed, we are those who exalt Allāh."
wa-in kānū layaqūlūna
And indeed, they [i.e., the disbelievers] used to say,
law anna ʿindanā dhik'ran mina l-awalīna
"If we had a message from [those of] the former peoples,
lakunnā ʿibāda l-lahi l-mukh'laṣīna
We would have been the chosen servants of Allāh."
fakafarū bihi fasawfa yaʿlamūna
But they disbelieved in it, so they are going to know.
walaqad sabaqat kalimatunā liʿibādinā l-mur'salīna
And Our word [i.e., decree] has already preceded for Our servants, the messengers,
innahum lahumu l-manṣūrūna
[That] indeed, they would be those given victory
wa-inna jundanā lahumu l-ghālibūna
And [that] indeed, Our soldiers [i.e., the believers] will be those who overcome.
fatawalla ʿanhum ḥattā ḥīnin
So, [O Muḥammad], leave them for a time.
wa-abṣir'hum fasawfa yub'ṣirūna
And see [what will befall] them, for they are going to see.
afabiʿadhābinā yastaʿjilūna
Then for Our punishment are they impatient?
fa-idhā nazala bisāḥatihim fasāa ṣabāḥu l-mundharīna
But when it descends in their territory, then evil is the morning of those who were warned.
watawalla ʿanhum ḥattā ḥīnin
And leave them for a time.
wa-abṣir fasawfa yub'ṣirūna
And see, for they are going to see.
sub'ḥāna rabbika rabbi l-ʿizati ʿammā yaṣifūna
Exalted is your Lord, the Lord of might, above what they describe.