The Dunes

حمٓ ١

H. M.

تَنزِيلُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ مِنَ ٱللهِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ ٢

The revelation of this scripture is from ALLAH, the Almighty, Most Wise.

مَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ۬ مُّسَمًّ۬ى‌ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَمَّآ أُنذِرُواْ مُعۡرِضُونَ ٣

We did not create the Heavens and the Earth, and everything between them except for a specific purpose, and for a finite interim. Those who disbelieve are totally oblivious to the warnings given to them.

قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللهِ أَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شِرۡكٌ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ‌ۖ ٱئۡتُونِى بِكِتَـٰبٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِ هَـٰذَآ أَوۡ أَثَـٰرَةٍ۬ مِّنۡ عِلۡمٍ إِن ڪُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ ٤

Say, "Consider the idols you have set up beside ALLAH. Show me what on Earth did they create? Do they own part of the Heavens? Show me any other scripture before this one, or any piece of established knowledge (that supports your idolatry), if you are truthful."

وَمَنۡ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدۡعُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللهِ مَن لَّا يَسۡتَجِيبُ لَهُ ۥۤ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ وَهُمۡ عَن دُعَآٮِٕهِمۡ غَـٰفِلُونَ ٥

Who is farther astray than those who idolize beside ALLAH idols that can never respond to them until the Day of Resurrection, and are totally unaware of their imploring?

وَإِذَا حُشِرَ ٱلنَّاسُ كَانُواْ لَهُمۡ أَعۡدَآءً۬ وَكَانُواْ بِعِبَادَتِہِمۡ كَـٰفِرِينَ ٦

And when the people are summoned (on the Day of Judgment), their idols will become their enemies, and will denounce their idolatry.

وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ءَايَـٰتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ۬ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ هَـٰذَا سِحۡرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ ٧

When our revelations were recited to them, perfectly clear, those who disbelieved said of the truth that came to them, "This is obviously magic!"

أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ ٱفۡتَرَٮٰهُ‌ۖ قُلۡ إِنِ ٱفۡتَرَيۡتُهُ ۥ فَلَا تَمۡلِكُونَ لِى مِنَ ٱللهِ شَيۡـًٔا‌ۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ‌ۖ كَفَىٰ بِهِۦ شَہِيدَۢا بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَكُمۡ‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٨

When they say, "He fabricated this," say, "If I fabricated this, then you cannot protect me from ALLAH. He is fully aware of everything you scheme. He suffices as a witness between me and you. He is the Forgiver, Most Merciful."

قُلۡ مَا كُنتُ بِدۡعً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَمَآ أَدۡرِى مَا يُفۡعَلُ بِى وَلَا بِكُمۡ‌ۖ إِنۡ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۟ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ ٩

Say, "I am not different from other messengers. I have no idea what will happen to me or to you. I only follow what is revealed to me. I am no more than a profound warner."

قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللهِ وَكَفَرۡتُم بِهِۦ وَشَہِدَ شَاهِدٌ۬ مِّنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ مِثۡلِهِۦ فَـَٔامَنَ وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرۡتُمۡ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ١٠

Say, "What if it is from ALLAH and you disbelieved in it? A witness from the Children of Israel has borne witness to a similar phenomenon, and he has believed, while you have turned arrogant. Surely, ALLAH does not guide the wicked people."

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوۡ كَانَ خَيۡرً۬ا مَّا سَبَقُونَآ إِلَيۡهِ‌ۚ وَإِذۡ لَمۡ يَهۡتَدُواْ بِهِۦ فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَـٰذَآ إِفۡكٌ۬ قَدِيمٌ۬ ١١

Those who disbelieved said about those who believed, "If it were anything good, they would not have accepted it before us." Because they were not guided to it, they said, "This is an old fabrication!"

وَمِن قَبۡلِهِۦ كِتَـٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِمَامً۬ا وَرَحۡمَةً۬‌ۚ وَهَـٰذَا كِتَـٰبٌ۬ مُّصَدِّقٌ۬ لِّسَانًا عَرَبِيًّ۬ا لِّيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ وَبُشۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ١٢

Before this, the book of Moses provided guidance and mercy. This too is a scripture that confirms, in Arabic, to warn those who transgressed, and to give good news to the righteous.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَـٰمُواْ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ ١٣

Surely, those who say, "Our Lord is ALLAH," then lead a righteous life, will have no fear, nor will they grieve.

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيہَا جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ١٤

They have deserved Paradise, where they abide forever; a reward for their works.

وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَـٰنًا‌ۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُ ۥ كُرۡهً۬ا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهً۬ا‌ۖ وَحَمۡلُهُ ۥ وَفِصَـٰلُهُ ۥ ثَلَـٰثُونَ شَہۡرًا‌ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةً۬ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِىٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٲلِدَىَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا تَرۡضَٮٰهُ وَأَصۡلِحۡ لِى فِى ذُرِّيَّتِىٓ‌ۖ إِنِّى تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِنِّى مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ ١٥

We enjoined the human being to honor his parents. His mother bore him arduously, gave birth to him arduously, and took intimate care of him for thirty months. When he reaches maturity, and reaches the age of forty, he should say, "My Lord, direct me to appreciate the blessings You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do the righteous works that please You. Let my children be righteous as well. I have repented to You; I am a submitter.”

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنۡہُمۡ أَحۡسَنَ مَا عَمِلُواْ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّـَٔاتِہِمۡ فِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ‌ۖ وَعۡدَ ٱلصِّدۡقِ ٱلَّذِى كَانُواْ يُوعَدُونَ ١٦

It is from these that we accept the righteous works, and overlook their sins. They have deserved Paradise. This is the truthful promise that is promised to them.

وَٱلَّذِى قَالَ لِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ أُفٍّ۬ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِىٓ أَنۡ أُخۡرَجَ وَقَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلۡقُرُونُ مِن قَبۡلِى وَهُمَا يَسۡتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيۡلَكَ ءَامِنۡ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللهِ حَقٌّ۬ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ١٧

Then there is the one who says to his parents, "Woe to you; are you telling me that (after death) I will come back (to life)? How come those who died before us never come back?" They (the parents) would cry for ALLAH’s help, "Woe to you; please believe! ALLAH’s promise is the truth." He would say, "This is nothing but tales from the past!"

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ فِىٓ أُمَمٍ۬ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ ڪَانُواْ خَـٰسِرِينَ ١٨

Such are the ones stamped as disbelievers among every generation of jinns and humans; they are losers.

وَلِڪُلٍّ۬ دَرَجَـٰتٌ۬ مِّمَّا عَمِلُواْ‌ۖ وَلِيُوَفِّيَہُمۡ أَعۡمَـٰلَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ ١٩

They all attain the ranks they have deserved, in accordance with their works. He will pay them for their works, without the least injustice.

وَيَوۡمَ يُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَذۡهَبۡتُمۡ طَيِّبَـٰتِكُمۡ فِى حَيَاتِكُمُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱسۡتَمۡتَعۡتُم بِہَا فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ تُجۡزَوۡنَ عَذَابَ ٱلۡهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَفۡسُقُونَ ٢٠

The day will come when those who disbelieved will be introduced to the hellfire: "You have wasted the good chances given to you during your worldly life, and you rejoiced in them. Consequently, today you incur a shameful retribution as a requital for the arrogance you committed on Earth without any basis, and for your evil works."

وَٱذۡكُرۡ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذۡ أَنذَرَ قَوۡمَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡأَحۡقَافِ وَقَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلنُّذُرُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِۦۤ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٍ۬ ٢١

Recall that the brother of `Aad warned his people at the dunes – numerous warnings were also delivered before him and after him: "You shall not worship except ALLAH. I fear for you the retribution of a great day."

قَالُوٓاْ أَجِئۡتَنَا لِتَأۡفِكَنَا عَنۡ ءَالِهَتِنَا فَأۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ ٢٢

They said, "Did you come to divert us from our gods? We challenge you to bring (the retribution) you threaten, if you are truthful."

قَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللهِ وَأُبَلِّغُكُم مَّآ أُرۡسِلۡتُ بِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِنِّىٓ أَرَٮٰكُمۡ قَوۡمً۬ا تَجۡهَلُونَ ٢٣

He said, "The knowledge about this is with ALLAH; I only deliver to you what I was sent to deliver. However, I see that you people are ignorant."

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ عَارِضً۬ا مُّسۡتَقۡبِلَ أَوۡدِيَتِہِمۡ قَالُواْ هَـٰذَا عَارِضٌ۬ مُّمۡطِرُنَا‌ۚ بَلۡ هُوَ مَا ٱسۡتَعۡجَلۡتُم بِهِۦ‌ۖ رِيحٌ۬ فِيہَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬ ٢٤

When they saw the storm heading their way, they said, "This storm will bring to us much needed rain." Instead, this is what you challenged (Hud) to bring; violent wind wherein there is painful retribution.

تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَىۡءِۭ بِأَمۡرِ رَبِّہَا فَأَصۡبَحُواْ لَا يُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَسَـٰكِنُہُمۡ‌ۚ كَذَٲلِكَ نَجۡزِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ ٢٥

It destroyed everything, as commanded by its Lord. By morning, nothing was standing except their homes. We thus requite the guilty people.

وَلَقَدۡ مَكَّنَّـٰهُمۡ فِيمَآ إِن مَّكَّنَّـٰكُمۡ فِيهِ وَجَعَلۡنَا لَهُمۡ سَمۡعً۬ا وَأَبۡصَـٰرً۬ا وَأَفۡـِٔدَةً۬ فَمَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡہُمۡ سَمۡعُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَبۡصَـٰرُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَفۡـِٔدَتُہُم مِّن شَىۡءٍ إِذۡ كَانُواْ يَجۡحَدُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللهِ وَحَاقَ بِہِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ ٢٦

We had established them in the same way as we established you, and provided them with hearing, eyes, and minds. But their hearing, eyes, and minds did not help them at all. This is because they decided to disregard ALLAH’s revelations. Thus, the prophecies and warnings which they had ridiculed have caused their doom.

وَلَقَدۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مَا حَوۡلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ وَصَرَّفۡنَا ٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ ٢٧

We have annihilated many communities around you, after we had explained the proofs, that they might repent.

فَلَوۡلَا نَصَرَهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللهِ قُرۡبَانًا ءَالِهَةَۢ‌ۖ بَلۡ ضَلُّواْ عَنۡهُمۡ‌ۚ وَذَٲلِكَ إِفۡكُهُمۡ وَمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡتَرُونَ ٢٨

Why then did the idols they set up to bring them closer to ALLAH fail to help them? Instead, they abandoned them. Such were the false gods they idolized; such were the innovations they fabricated.

وَإِذۡ صَرَفۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ نَفَرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ يَسۡتَمِعُونَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوٓاْ أَنصِتُواْ‌ۖ فَلَمَّا قُضِىَ وَلَّوۡاْ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ ٢٩

Recall that we directed a number of jinns to you, in order to let them hear the Quran. When they got there, they said, "Listen." As soon as it was over, they rushed to their people, warning.

قَالُواْ يَـٰقَوۡمَنَآ إِنَّا سَمِعۡنَا ڪِتَـٰبًا أُنزِلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقً۬ا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ يَہۡدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِلَىٰ طَرِيقٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ ٣٠

They said, "O our people, we have heard a book that was revealed after Moses, and confirms the previous scriptures. It guides to the truth; to the right path.

يَـٰقَوۡمَنَآ أَجِيبُواْ دَاعِىَ ٱللهِ وَءَامِنُواْ بِهِۦ يَغۡفِرۡ لَڪُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمۡ وَيُجِرۡكُم مِّنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ۬ ٣١

"O our people, respond to the call of ALLAH, and believe in Him. He will then forgive your sins, and spare you a painful retribution."

وَمَن لَّا يُجِبۡ دَاعِىَ ٱللهِ فَلَيۡسَ بِمُعۡجِزٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَيۡسَ لَهُ ۥ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ أَوۡلِيَآءُ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ ٣٢

Those who fail to respond to ALLAH’s call cannot escape from Earth, and will have no Lord other than Him; they have gone far astray.

أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَلَمۡ يَعۡىَ بِخَلۡقِهِنَّ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧىَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ‌ۚ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ۬ ٣٣

Do they not realize that ALLAH, who created the Heavens and the Earth without the least effort in their creation, is able to revive the dead? Yes indeed; He is Omnipotent over all things and matters.

وَيَوۡمَ يُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَلَيۡسَ هَـٰذَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۖ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا‌ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡفُرُونَ ٣٤

The day the disbelievers are introduced to the Hellfire, they will be asked, "Is this not the truth?" They will answer, "Yes indeed, by our Lord." He will say, "Then suffer the retribution for your disbelief."

فَٱصۡبِرۡ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعَزۡمِ مِنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِل لَّهُمۡ‌ۚ كَأَنَّہُمۡ يَوۡمَ يَرَوۡنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا سَاعَةً۬ مِّن نَّہَارِۭ‌ۚ بَلَـٰغٌ۬‌ۚ فَهَلۡ يُهۡلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡفَـٰسِقُونَ ٣٥

Therefore, be patient like the messengers before you who possessed strength and resorted to patience. Do not be in a hurry to see the retribution (that will inevitably come to them). The day they see what was promised to them, it will seem as if they lasted one hour of the day (in this life). This is a proclamation: Is it not the wicked who are consistently annihilated?