A Meccan sura named after the Arabic letter that opens it. It's themes cover, creation, the Resurrection and Day of Judgement. Reference is made to previous generations of disbelievers (verses 12–14), both to warn the disbelievers in Mecca and to reassure the Prophet. Creation is cited as an indication of God’s ability to bring the dead to life again (verses 3–11), and emphasis is placed on the powerlessness of man on the Day of Resurrection (verses 20–30).
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
Polytheists Deny Resurrection
1 Qaf
By the glorious Quran! [a] 2 But the disbelievers are amazed that a warner has come from among them and they say, ‘How strange! 3 To come back [to life] after we have died and become dust? That is too far-fetched.’ 4 We know very well what the earth takes away from them: We keep a comprehensive record. 5 But the disbelievers deny the truth when it comes to them; they are in a state of confusion. 6 Do they not see the sky above them––how We have built and adorned it, with no rifts in it; 7 how We spread out the earth and put solid mountains on it, and caused every kind of joyous plant to grow in it, 8 as a lesson and reminder for every servant who turns to God; 9 and how We send blessed water down from the sky and grow with it gardens, the harvest grain, 10 and tall palm trees laden with clusters of dates, 11 as a provision for everyone; how with water We give [new] life to a land that is dead? This is how the dead will emerge [from their graves]. 12 The people of Noah disbelieved long before these disbelievers, as did the people of Rass, Thamud, 13 'Ad, Pharaoh, Lot, 14 the Forest-Dwellers, Tubba': all of these people disbelieved their messengers, and so My warning was realized.
15 So were We incapable of the first creation? No indeed! Yet they doubt a second creation. 16 We created man––We know what his soul whispers to him: We are closer to him than his jugular vein–– 17 with two receptors [b] set to record, one on his right side and one on his left: 18 he does not utter a single word without an ever-present watcher. 19 The trance of death will bring the Truth with it: ‘This is what you tried to escape.’
20 The Trumpet will be sounded: ‘This is the Day [you were] warned of.’ 21 Each person will arrive attended by an [angel] to drive him on and another to bear witness: 22 ‘You paid no attention to this [Day]; but today We have removed your veil and your sight is sharp.’ 23 The person’s attendant will say, ‘Here is what I have prepared’– 24 ‘Hurl [c] every obstinate disbeliever into Hell, 25 everyone who hindered good, was aggressive, caused others to doubt, 26 and set up other gods alongside God. Hurl him into severe punishment!’– 27 and his [evil] [d] companion will say, ‘Lord, I did not make him transgress; he had already gone far astray himself.’ 28 God will say, ‘Do not argue in My presence. I sent you a warning 29 and My word cannot be changed: I am not unjust to any creature.’ 30 We shall say to Hell on that day, ‘Are you full?’ and it will reply, ‘Are there no more?’ 31 But Paradise will be brought close to the righteous and will no longer be distant: 32 ‘This is what you were promised––this is for everyone who turned often to God and kept Him in mind, 33 who held the Most Gracious in awe, though He is unseen, who comes before Him with a heart turned to Him in devotion– 34 so enter it in peace. This is the Day of everlasting Life.’ 35 They will have all that they wish for there, and We have more for them.
Directions to the Messenger
36 We have destroyed even mightier generations before these disbelievers, who travelled through [many] lands– was there any escape? 37 There truly is a reminder in this for whoever has a heart, whoever listens attentively. 38 We created the heavens, the earth, and everything between, in six Days without tiring. 39 So [Prophet], bear everything they say with patience; celebrate the praise of your Lord before the rising and setting of the sun; 40 proclaim His praise in the night and at the end of every prayer; [e] 41 listen out for the Day when the caller will call from a nearby place. 42 They will come out [from their graves] on that Day, the Day when they hear the mighty blast in reality. 43 It is We who give life and death; the final return will be to Us 44 on the Day when the earth will be torn apart, letting them rush out– that gathering will be easy for Us. 45 We know best what the disbelievers say. You [Prophet] are not there to force them, so remind, with this Quran, those who fear My warning.
Footnotes
a. That which is sworn––that mankind will be raised from the dead––is omitted but is evident from the verses that follow (cf. 37: 1; 89: 1–4).
b. Usually taken to mean ‘recording angels’.
c. This verb is in the dual, taken to be addressed either to both recording angels, or to two of the angels who guard Hell.
d. Cf. 4: 38; 41: 25.
e. Literally ‘prostration’, sujud. This is a figure of speech in which the part stands for the whole.
The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
The Qur'an / a new translation by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem, copyright © 2004 Oxford World's Classics (Oxford University Press). Used by permission. All rights reserved.