Surah Ghafir, Ayah 41-60 — Word by Word
غافر
The Forgiver
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
wayāqawmi mā lī adʿūkum ilā l-najati watadʿūnanī ilā l-nāri
And O my people, how is it that I invite you to salvation while you invite me to the Fire?
tadʿūnanī li-akfura bil-lahi wa-ush'rika bihi mā laysa lī bihi ʿil'mun wa-anā adʿūkum ilā l-ʿazīzi l-ghafāri
You invite me to disbelieve in Allāh and associate with Him that of which I have no knowledge, and I invite you to the Exalted in Might, the Perpetual Forgiver.
lā jarama annamā tadʿūnanī ilayhi laysa lahu daʿwatun fī l-dun'yā walā fī l-ākhirati wa-anna maraddanā ilā l-lahi wa-anna l-mus'rifīna hum aṣḥābu l-nāri
Assuredly, that to which you invite me has no [response to a] supplication in this world or in the Hereafter; and indeed, our return is to Allāh, and indeed, the transgressors will be companions of the Fire.
fasatadhkurūna mā aqūlu lakum wa-ufawwiḍu amrī ilā l-lahi inna l-laha baṣīrun bil-ʿibādi
And you will remember what I [now] say to you, and I entrust my affair to Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Seeing of [His] servants."
fawaqāhu l-lahu sayyiāti mā makarū waḥāqa biāli fir'ʿawna sūu l-ʿadhābi
So Allāh protected him from the evils they plotted, and the people of Pharaoh were enveloped by the worst of punishment -
al-nāru yuʿ'raḍūna ʿalayhā ghuduwwan waʿashiyyan wayawma taqūmu l-sāʿatu adkhilū āla fir'ʿawna ashadda l-ʿadhābi
The Fire; they are exposed to it morning and evening. And the Day the Hour appears [it will be said], "Make the people of Pharaoh enter the severest punishment."
wa-idh yataḥājjūna fī l-nāri fayaqūlu l-ḍuʿafāu lilladhīna is'takbarū innā kunnā lakum tabaʿan fahal antum mugh'nūna ʿannā naṣīban mina l-nāri
And [mention] when they will argue within the Fire, and the weak will say to those who had been arrogant, "Indeed, we were [only] your followers, so will you relieve us of a share of the Fire?"
qāla alladhīna is'takbarū innā kullun fīhā inna l-laha qad ḥakama bayna l-ʿibādi
Those who had been arrogant will say, "Indeed, all [of us] are in it. Indeed, Allāh has judged between the servants."
waqāla alladhīna fī l-nāri likhazanati jahannama id'ʿū rabbakum yukhaffif ʿannā yawman mina l-ʿadhābi
And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, "Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us a day from the punishment."
qālū awalam taku tatīkum rusulukum bil-bayināti qālū balā qālū fa-id'ʿū wamā duʿāu l-kāfirīna illā fī ḍalālin
They will say, "Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?" They will say, "Yes." They will reply, "Then supplicate [yourselves], but the supplication of the disbelievers is not except in error [i.e., futility]."
innā lananṣuru rusulanā wa-alladhīna āmanū fī l-ḥayati l-dun'yā wayawma yaqūmu l-ashhādu
Indeed, We will support Our messengers and those who believe during the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand -
yawma lā yanfaʿu l-ẓālimīna maʿdhiratuhum walahumu l-laʿnatu walahum sūu l-dāri
The Day their excuse will not benefit the wrongdoers, and they will have the curse, and they will have the worst home [i.e., Hell].
walaqad ātaynā mūsā l-hudā wa-awrathnā banī is'rāīla l-kitāba
And We had certainly given Moses guidance, and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit the Scripture
hudan wadhik'rā li-ulī l-albābi
As guidance and a reminder for those of understanding.
fa-iṣ'bir inna waʿda l-lahi ḥaqqun wa-is'taghfir lidhanbika wasabbiḥ biḥamdi rabbika bil-ʿashiyi wal-ib'kāri
So be patient, [O Muḥammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin and exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning.
inna alladhīna yujādilūna fī āyāti l-lahi bighayri sul'ṭānin atāhum in fī ṣudūrihim illā kib'run mā hum bibālighīhi fa-is'taʿidh bil-lahi innahu huwa l-samīʿu l-baṣīru
Indeed, those who dispute concerning the signs of Allāh without [any] evidence having come to them - there is not within their breasts except pride, [the extent of] which they cannot reach. So seek refuge in Allāh. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Seeing.
lakhalqu l-samāwāti wal-arḍi akbaru min khalqi l-nāsi walākinna akthara l-nāsi lā yaʿlamūna
The creation of the heavens and earth is greater than the creation of mankind, but most of the people do not know.
wamā yastawī l-aʿmā wal-baṣīru wa-alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti walā l-musīu qalīlan mā tatadhakkarūna
And not equal are the blind and the seeing, nor are those who believe and do righteous deeds and the evildoer. Little do you remember.
inna l-sāʿata laātiyatun lā rayba fīhā walākinna akthara l-nāsi lā yu'minūna
Indeed, the Hour is coming - no doubt about it - but most of the people do not believe.
waqāla rabbukumu id'ʿūnī astajib lakum inna alladhīna yastakbirūna ʿan ʿibādatī sayadkhulūna jahannama dākhirīna
And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.