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.