QAF (THE LETTER QAF)


In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

050.001
YUSUFALI: Qaf: By the Glorious Qur'an (Thou art Allah's Messenger).
PICKTHAL: Qaf. By the Glorious Qur'an,
SHAKIR: Qaf. I swear by the glorious Quran (that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)

050.002
YUSUFALI: But they wonder that there has come to them a Warner from among themselves. So the Unbelievers say: "This is a wonderful thing!
PICKTHAL: Nay, but they marvel that a warner of their own hath come unto them; and the disbelievers say: This is a strange thing:
SHAKIR: Nay! they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, so the unbelievers say: This is a wonderful thing:

050.003
YUSUFALI: "What! When we die and become dust, (shall we live again?) That is a (sort of) return far (from our understanding)."
PICKTHAL: When we are dead and have become dust (shall we be brought back again)? That would be a far return!
SHAKIR: What! when we are dead and have become dust? That is afar (from probable) return.

050.004
YUSUFALI: We already know how much of them the earth takes away: With Us is a record guarding (the full account).
PICKTHAL: We know that which the earth taketh of them, and with Us is a recording Book.
SHAKIR: We know indeed what the earth diminishes of them, and with Us is a writing that preserves.

050.005
YUSUFALI: But they deny the Truth when it comes to them: so they are in a confused state.
PICKTHAL: Nay, but they have denied the truth when it came unto them, therefor they are now in troubled case.
SHAKIR: Nay, they rejected the truth when it came to them, so they are (now) in a state of confusion.

050.006
YUSUFALI: Do they not look at the sky above them?- How We have made it and adorned it, and there are no flaws in it?
PICKTHAL: Have they not then observed the sky above them, how We have constructed it and beautified it, and how there are no rifts therein?
SHAKIR: Do they not then look up to heaven above them how We have made it and adorned it and it has no gaps?

050.007
YUSUFALI: And the earth- We have spread it out, and set thereon mountains standing firm, and produced therein every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs)-
PICKTHAL: And the earth have We spread out, and have flung firm hills therein, and have caused of every lovely kind to grow thereon,
SHAKIR: And the earth, We have made it plain and cast in it mountains and We have made to grow therein of all beautiful kinds,

050.008
YUSUFALI: To be observed and commemorated by every devotee turning (to Allah).
PICKTHAL: A vision and a reminder for every penitent slave.
SHAKIR: To give sight and as a reminder to every servant who turns frequently (to Allah).

050.009
YUSUFALI: And We send down from the sky rain charted with blessing, and We produce therewith gardens and Grain for harvests;
PICKTHAL: And We send down from the sky blessed water whereby We give growth unto gardens and the grain of crops,
SHAKIR: And We send down from the cloud water abounding in good, then We cause to grow thereby gardens and the grain that is reaped,

050.010
YUSUFALI: And tall (and stately) palm-trees, with shoots of fruit-stalks, piled one over another;-
PICKTHAL: And lofty date-palms with ranged clusters,
SHAKIR: And the tall palm-trees having spadices closely set one above another,

050.011
YUSUFALI: As sustenance for (Allah's) Servants;- and We give (new) life therewith to land that is dead: Thus will be the Resurrection.
PICKTHAL: Provision (made) for men; and therewith We quicken a dead land. Even so will be the resurrection of the dead.
SHAKIR: A sustenance for the servants, and We give life thereby to a dead land; thus is the rising.

050.012
YUSUFALI: Before them was denied (the Hereafter) by the People of Noah, the Companions of the Rass, the Thamud,
PICKTHAL: The folk of Noah denied (the truth) before them, and (so did) the dwellers at Ar-Rass and (the tribe of) Thamud,
SHAKIR: (Others) before them rejected (prophets): the people of Nuh and the dwellers of Ar-Rass and Samood,

050.013
YUSUFALI: The 'Ad, Pharaoh, the brethren of Lut,
PICKTHAL: And (the tribe of) A'ad, and Pharaoh, and the brethren of Lot,
SHAKIR: And Ad and Firon and Lut's brethren,

050.014
YUSUFALI: The Companions of the Wood, and the People of Tubba'; each one (of them) rejected the messengers, and My warning was duly fulfilled (in them).
PICKTHAL: And the dwellers in the wood, and the folk of Tubb'a: every one denied their messengers, therefor My threat took effect.
SHAKIR: And the dwellers of the grove and the people of Tuba; all rejected the messengers, so My threat came to pass.

050.015
YUSUFALI: Were We then weary with the first Creation, that they should be in confused doubt about a new Creation?
PICKTHAL: Were We then worn out by the first creation? Yet they are in doubt about a new creation.
SHAKIR: Were We then fatigued with the first creation? Yet are they in doubt with regard to a new creation.

050.016
YUSUFALI: It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein.
PICKTHAL: We verily created man and We know what his soul whispereth to him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.
SHAKIR: And certainly We created man, and We know what his mind suggests to him, and We are nearer to him than his life-vein.

050.017
YUSUFALI: Behold, two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his doings) learn (and noted them), one sitting on the right and one on the left.
PICKTHAL: When the two Receivers receive (him), seated on the right hand and on the left,
SHAKIR: When the two receivers receive, sitting on the right and on the left.

050.018
YUSUFALI: Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him, ready (to note it).
PICKTHAL: He uttereth no word but there is with him an observer ready.
SHAKIR: He utters not a word but there is by him a watcher at hand.

050.019
YUSUFALI: And the stupor of death will bring Truth (before his eyes): "This was the thing which thou wast trying to escape!"
PICKTHAL: And the agony of death cometh in truth. (And it is said unto him): This is that which thou wast wont to shun.
SHAKIR: And the stupor of death will come in truth; that is what you were trying to escape.

050.020
YUSUFALI: And the Trumpet shall be blown: that will be the Day whereof Warning (had been given).
PICKTHAL: And the trumpet is blown. This is the threatened Day.
SHAKIR: And the trumpet shall be blown; that is the day of the threatening.

050.021
YUSUFALI: And there will come forth every soul: with each will be an (angel) to drive, and an (angel) to bear witness.
PICKTHAL: And every soul cometh, along with it a driver and a witness.
SHAKIR: And every soul shall come, with it a driver and a witness.

050.022
YUSUFALI: (It will be said:) "Thou wast heedless of this; now have We removed thy veil, and sharp is thy sight this Day!"
PICKTHAL: (And unto the evil-doer it is said): Thou wast in heedlessness of this. Now We have removed from thee thy covering, and piercing is thy sight this day.
SHAKIR: Certainly you were heedless of it, but now We have removed from you your veil, so your sight today is sharp.

050.023
YUSUFALI: And his Companion will say: "Here is (his Record) ready with me!"
PICKTHAL: And (unto the evil-doer) his comrade saith: This is that which I have ready (as testimony).
SHAKIR: And his companions shall say: This is what is ready with me.

050.024
YUSUFALI: (The sentence will be:) "Throw, throw into Hell every contumacious Rejecter (of Allah)!-
PICKTHAL: (And it is said): Do ye twain hurl to hell each rebel ingrate,
SHAKIR: Do cast into hell every ungrateful, rebellious one,

050.025
YUSUFALI: "Who forbade what was good, transgressed all bounds, cast doubts and suspicions;
PICKTHAL: Hinderer of good, transgressor, doubter,
SHAKIR: Forbidder of good, exceeder of limits, doubter,

050.026
YUSUFALI: "Who set up another god beside Allah: Throw him into a severe penalty."
PICKTHAL: Who setteth up another god along with Allah. Do ye twain hurl him to the dreadful doom.
SHAKIR: Who sets up another god with Allah, so do cast him into severe chastisement.

050.027
YUSUFALI: His Companion will say: "Our Lord! I did not make him transgress, but he was (himself) far astray."
PICKTHAL: His comrade saith: Our Lord! I did not cause him to rebel, but he was (himself) far gone in error.
SHAKIR: His companion will say: Our Lord! I did not lead him into inordinacy but he himself was in a great error.

050.028
YUSUFALI: He will say: "Dispute not with each other in My Presence: I had already in advance sent you Warning.
PICKTHAL: He saith: Contend not in My presence, when I had already proffered unto you the warning.
SHAKIR: He will say: Do not quarrel in My presence, and indeed I gave you the threatening beforehand:

050.029
YUSUFALI: "The Word changes not before Me, and I do not the least injustice to My Servants."
PICKTHAL: The sentence that cometh from Me cannot be changed, and I am in no wise a tyrant unto the slaves.
SHAKIR: My word shall not be changed, nor am I in the least unjust to the servants.

050.030
YUSUFALI: One Day We will ask Hell, "Art thou filled to the full?" It will say, "Are there any more (to come)?"
PICKTHAL: On the day when We say unto hell: Art thou filled? and it saith: Can there be more to come?
SHAKIR: On the day that We will say to hell: Are you filled up? And it will say: Are there any more?

050.031
YUSUFALI: And the Garden will be brought nigh to the Righteous,- no more a thing distant.
PICKTHAL: And the Garden is brought nigh for those who kept from evil, no longer distant.
SHAKIR: And the garden shall be brought near to those who guard (against evil), not far off:

050.032
YUSUFALI: (A voice will say:) "This is what was promised for you,- for every one who turned (to Allah) in sincere repentance, who kept (His Law),
PICKTHAL: (And it is said): This is that which ye were promised. (It is) for every penitent and heedful one,
SHAKIR: This is what you were promised, (it is) for every one who turns frequently (to Allah), keeps (His limits);

050.033
YUSUFALI: "Who feared (Allah) Most Gracious Unseen, and brought a heart turned in devotion (to Him):
PICKTHAL: Who feareth the Beneficent in secret and cometh with a contrite heart.
SHAKIR: Who fears the Beneficent Allah in secret and comes with a penitent heart:

050.034
YUSUFALI: "Enter ye therein in Peace and Security; this is a Day of Eternal Life!"
PICKTHAL: Enter it in peace. This is the day of immortality.
SHAKIR: Enter it in peace, that is the day of abiding.

050.035
YUSUFALI: There will be for them therein all that they wish,- and more besides in Our Presence.
PICKTHAL: There they have all that they desire, and there is more with Us.
SHAKIR: They have therein what they wish and with Us is more yet.

050.036
YUSUFALI: But how many generations before them did We destroy (for their sins),- stronger in power than they? Then did they wander through the land: was there any place of escape (for them)?
PICKTHAL: And how many a generation We destroyed before them, who were mightier than these in prowess so that they overran the lands! Had they any place of refuge (when the judgment came)?
SHAKIR: And how many a generation did We destroy before them who were mightier in prowess than they, so they went about and about in the lands. Is there a place of refuge?

050.037
YUSUFALI: Verily in this is a Message for any that has a heart and understanding or who gives ear and earnestly witnesses (the truth).
PICKTHAL: Lo! therein verily is a reminder for him who hath a heart, or giveth ear with full intelligence.
SHAKIR: Most surely there is a reminder in this for him who has a heart or he gives ear and is a witness.

050.038
YUSUFALI: We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in Six Days, nor did any sense of weariness touch Us.
PICKTHAL: And verily We created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, in six Days, and naught of weariness touched Us.
SHAKIR: And certainly We created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six periods and there touched Us not any fatigue.

050.039
YUSUFALI: Bear, then, with patience, all that they say, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting.
PICKTHAL: Therefor (O Muhammad) bear with what they say, and hymn the praise of thy Lord before the rising and before the setting of the sun;
SHAKIR: Therefore be patient of what they say, and sing the praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before the setting.

050.040
YUSUFALI: And during part of the night, (also,) celebrate His praises, and (so likewise) after the postures of adoration.
PICKTHAL: And in the night-time hymn His praise, and after the (prescribed) prostrations.
SHAKIR: And glorify Him in the night and after the prayers.

050.041
YUSUFALI: And listen for the Day when the Caller will call out from a place quiet near,-
PICKTHAL: And listen on the day when the crier crieth from a near place,
SHAKIR: And listen on the day when the crier shall cry from a near place

050.042
YUSUFALI: The Day when they will hear a (mighty) Blast in (very) truth: that will be the Day of Resurrection.
PICKTHAL: The day when they will hear the (Awful) Cry in truth. That is the day of coming forth (from the graves).
SHAKIR: The day when they shall hear the cry in truth; that is the day of coming forth.

050.043
YUSUFALI: Verily it is We Who give Life and Death; and to Us is the Final Goal-
PICKTHAL: Lo! We it is Who quicken and give death, and unto Us is the journeying.
SHAKIR: Surely We give life and cause to die, and to Us is the eventual coming;

050.044
YUSUFALI: The Day when the Earth will be rent asunder, from (men) hurrying out: that will be a gathering together,- quite easy for Us.
PICKTHAL: On the day when the earth splitteth asunder from them, hastening forth (they come). That is a gathering easy for Us (to make).
SHAKIR: The day on which the earth shall cleave asunder under them, they will make haste; that is a gathering together easy to Us.

050.045
YUSUFALI: We know best what they say; and thou art not one to overawe them by force. So admonish with the Qur'an such as fear My Warning!
PICKTHAL: We are Best Aware of what they say, and thou (O Muhammad) art in no wise a compeller over them. But warn by the Qur'an him who feareth My threat.
SHAKIR: We know best what they say, and you are not one to compel them; therefore remind him by means of the Quran who fears My threat.