قُتِلَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡأُخۡدُودِ
Destroyed [i.e., cursed] were the companions of the trench[1]
1- Or "May they be destroyed" or "cursed." The "companions of the trench" (or ditch) were agents of a tyrannical king who refused to allow his people to believe in AllŒh. Their evil deed in obedience to their ruler earned for them the curse of AllŒh (subúŒnahu wa taÔŒlŒ).
ٱلنَّارِ ذَاتِ ٱلۡوَقُودِ
[Containing] the fire full of fuel,
إِذۡ هُمۡ عَلَيۡهَا قُعُودٞ
When they were sitting near it.
وَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَا يَفۡعَلُونَ بِٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ شُهُودٞ
And they, to what they were doing against the believers, were witnesses. [1]
1- After casting the believers into a trench filled with fire, they sat at its edge, watching them burn to death. This event occurred before the time of Prophet Muúammad ().
وَمَا نَقَمُواْ مِنۡهُمۡ إِلَّآ أَن يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَمِيدِ
And they resented them not except because they believed in AllŒh, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy,
ٱلَّذِي لَهُۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ شَهِيدٌ
To whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And AllŒh, over all things, is Witness.[1]
1- See footnote to 4:79
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَتَنُواْ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمۡ يَتُوبُواْ فَلَهُمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابُ ٱلۡحَرِيقِ
Indeed, those who have tortured[1] the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire.
1- Or, in this instance, the literal meaning of "burned" is also appropriate.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ لَهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتٞ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡكَبِيرُ
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. That is the great attainment.
إِنَّ بَطۡشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ
Indeed, the assault [i.e., vengeance] of your Lord is severe.
إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ يُبۡدِئُ وَيُعِيدُ
Indeed, it is He who originates [creation] and repeats.
وَهُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلۡوَدُودُ
And He is the Forgiving, the Affectionate,
ذُو ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱلۡمَجِيدُ
Honorable Owner of the Throne,
فَعَّالٞ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ
Effecter of what He intends.
هَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلۡجُنُودِ
Has there reached you the story of the soldiers –
فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَثَمُودَ
[Those of] Pharaoh and Tham´d?
بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِي تَكۡذِيبٖ
But they who disbelieve are in [persistent] denial,
وَٱللَّهُ مِن وَرَآئِهِم مُّحِيطُۢ
While AllŒh encompasses them from behind.[1]
1- See footnote to 2:19
بَلۡ هُوَ قُرۡءَانٞ مَّجِيدٞ
But this is an honored QurÕŒn
فِي لَوۡحٖ مَّحۡفُوظِۭ
[Inscribed] in a Preserved Slate.
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ
By the sky and the night comer
وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ
And what can make you know what is the night comer?
ٱلنَّجۡمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ
It is the piercing star[1]
1- Whose light pierces through the darkness.
إِن كُلُّ نَفۡسٖ لَّمَّا عَلَيۡهَا حَافِظٞ
There is no soul but that it has over it a protector.
فَلۡيَنظُرِ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ
So let man observe from what he was created.
خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٖ دَافِقٖ
He was created from a fluid, ejected,
يَخۡرُجُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِ ٱلصُّلۡبِ وَٱلتَّرَآئِبِ
Emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.
إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَجۡعِهِۦ لَقَادِرٞ
Indeed, He [i.e., AllŒh], to return him [to life], is Able.
يَوۡمَ تُبۡلَى ٱلسَّرَآئِرُ
The Day when secrets will be put on trial,[1]
1- i.e., exposed, examined and judged.
فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن قُوَّةٖ وَلَا نَاصِرٖ
Then he [i.e., man] will have no power or any helper.
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلرَّجۡعِ
By the sky which sends back[1]
1- Rain, heat, sound waves, etc.
Fehlermeldung