Surah Az-Zukhruf, Ayah 21-40 — Word by Word
الزخرف
The Ornaments of Gold
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
am ātaynāhum kitāban min qablihi fahum bihi mus'tamsikūna
Or have We given them a book before it [i.e., the Qur’ān] to which they are adhering?
bal qālū innā wajadnā ābāanā ʿalā ummatin wa-innā ʿalā āthārihim muh'tadūna
Rather, they say, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are in their footsteps [rightly] guided."
wakadhālika mā arsalnā min qablika fī qaryatin min nadhīrin illā qāla mut'rafūhā innā wajadnā ābāanā ʿalā ummatin wa-innā ʿalā āthārihim muq'tadūna
And similarly, We did not send before you any warner into a city except that its affluent said, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are, in their footsteps, following."
qāla awalaw ji'tukum bi-ahdā mimmā wajadttum ʿalayhi ābāakum qālū innā bimā ur'sil'tum bihi kāfirūna
[Each warner] said, "Even if I brought you better guidance than that [religion] upon which you found your fathers?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers."
fa-intaqamnā min'hum fa-unẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-mukadhibīna
So We took retribution from them; then see how was the end of the deniers.
wa-idh qāla ib'rāhīmu li-abīhi waqawmihi innanī barāon mimmā taʿbudūna
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Abraham said to his father and his people, "Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship
illā alladhī faṭaranī fa-innahu sayahdīni
Except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me."
wajaʿalahā kalimatan bāqiyatan fī ʿaqibihi laʿallahum yarjiʿūna
And he made it a word remaining among his descendants that they might return [to it].
bal mattaʿtu hāulāi waābāahum ḥattā jāahumu l-ḥaqu warasūlun mubīnun
However, I gave enjoyment to these [people of Makkah] and their fathers until there came to them the truth and a clear Messenger.
walammā jāahumu l-ḥaqu qālū hādhā siḥ'run wa-innā bihi kāfirūna
But when the truth came to them, they said, "This is magic, and indeed we are, concerning it, disbelievers."
waqālū lawlā nuzzila hādhā l-qur'ānu ʿalā rajulin mina l-qaryatayni ʿaẓīmin
And they said, "Why was this Qur’ān not sent down upon a great man from [one of] the two cities?"
ahum yaqsimūna raḥmata rabbika naḥnu qasamnā baynahum maʿīshatahum fī l-ḥayati l-dun'yā warafaʿnā baʿḍahum fawqa baʿḍin darajātin liyattakhidha baʿḍuhum baʿḍan sukh'riyyan waraḥmatu rabbika khayrun mimmā yajmaʿūna
Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate.
walawlā an yakūna l-nāsu ummatan wāḥidatan lajaʿalnā liman yakfuru bil-raḥmāni libuyūtihim suqufan min fiḍḍatin wamaʿārija ʿalayhā yaẓharūna
And if it were not that the people would become one community [of disbelievers], We would have made for those who disbelieve in the Most Merciful - for their houses - ceilings and stairways of silver upon which to mount.
walibuyūtihim abwāban wasururan ʿalayhā yattakiūna
And for their houses - doors and couches [of silver] upon which to recline
wazukh'rufan wa-in kullu dhālika lammā matāʿu l-ḥayati l-dun'yā wal-ākhiratu ʿinda rabbika lil'muttaqīna
And gold ornament. But all that is not but the enjoyment of worldly life. And the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous.
waman yaʿshu ʿan dhik'ri l-raḥmāni nuqayyiḍ lahu shayṭānan fahuwa lahu qarīnun
And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful - We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion.
wa-innahum layaṣuddūnahum ʿani l-sabīli wayaḥsabūna annahum muh'tadūna
And indeed, they [i.e., the devils] avert them from the way [of guidance] while they think that they are [rightly] guided
ḥattā idhā jāanā qāla yālayta baynī wabaynaka buʿ'da l-mashriqayni fabi'sa l-qarīnu
Until, when he comes to Us [at Judgement], he says [to his companion], "How I wish there was between me and you the distance between the east and west; and what a wretched companion."
walan yanfaʿakumu l-yawma idh ẓalamtum annakum fī l-ʿadhābi mush'tarikūna
And never will it benefit you that Day, when you have wronged, that you are [all] sharing in the punishment.
afa-anta tus'miʿu l-ṣuma aw tahdī l-ʿum'ya waman kāna fī ḍalālin mubīnin
Then will you make the deaf hear, [O Muḥammad], or guide the blind or he who is in clear error?