Surah 77 of 114 · Makki · 50 ayat
Al-Mursalat المرسلات
The Emissaries
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلْمُرْسَلَٰتِ عُرْفًا
PickthallBy the emissary winds, (sent) one after another
Yusuf AliBy the (Winds) sent forth one after another (to man's profit);
The agreed readingBy those sent forth in succession — the commentaries take the oaths of these opening verses on the winds and on the angels, following one another as they are sent.
فَٱلْعَٰصِفَٰتِ عَصْفًا
PickthallBy the raging hurricanes,
Yusuf AliWhich then blow violently in tempestuous Gusts,
The agreed readingand those that blow a tempest — driving hard, the commentaries gloss, as a storm wind drives.
وَٱلنَّٰشِرَٰتِ نَشْرًا
PickthallBy those which cause earth's vegetation to revive;
Yusuf AliAnd scatter (things) far and wide;
The agreed readingand those that scatter far and wide — spreading the rain out over the land, the commentaries agree.
فَٱلْفَٰرِقَٰتِ فَرْقًا
PickthallBy those who winnow with a winnowing,
Yusuf AliThen separate them, one from another,
The agreed readingand those that separate decisively — separating, the commentaries agree, the true from the false and the permitted from the forbidden.
فَٱلْمُلْقِيَٰتِ ذِكْرًا
PickthallBy those who bring down the Reminder,
Yusuf AliThen spread abroad a Message,
The agreed readingand those that deliver a reminder — the angels, the commentaries agree, bringing revelation down to the prophets.
عُذْرًا أَوْ نُذْرًا
PickthallTo excuse or to warn,
Yusuf AliWhether of Justification or of Warning;-
The agreed readingas a clearing of excuse or as a warning. The commentaries agree the delivering is of revelation brought down to the messengers, and that it leaves no excuse and gives fair warning.
إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَوَٰقِعٌ
PickthallSurely that which ye are promised will befall.
Yusuf AliAssuredly, what ye are promised must come to pass.
The agreed readingWhat you are promised is going to happen. The commentaries mark this as the thing all the oaths were sworn to.
فَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ طُمِسَتْ
PickthallSo when the stars are put out,
Yusuf AliThen when the stars become dim;
The agreed readingSo when the stars are blotted out — their light gone out of them, the commentaries gloss.
وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ فُرِجَتْ
PickthallAnd when the sky is riven asunder,
Yusuf AliWhen the heaven is cleft asunder;
The agreed readingand when the sky is split open — parted and torn, the commentaries gloss, its firmness gone.
وَإِذَا ٱلْجِبَالُ نُسِفَتْ
PickthallAnd when the mountains are blown away,
Yusuf AliWhen the mountains are scattered (to the winds) as dust;
The agreed readingand when the mountains are blown to dust — broken up and carried off, the commentaries agree, so that no place stays where it was.
وَإِذَا ٱلرُّسُلُ أُقِّتَتْ
PickthallAnd when the messengers are brought unto their time appointed -
Yusuf AliAnd when the messengers are (all) appointed a time (to collect);-
The agreed readingand when the messengers are brought to their appointed time — gathered, the commentaries agree, at the hour set for them.
لِأَىِّ يَوْمٍ أُجِّلَتْ
PickthallFor what day is the time appointed?
Yusuf AliFor what Day are these (portents) deferred?
The agreed readingfor what day has it been set? The commentaries agree the appointment is for them to bear witness about the peoples they were sent to.
لِيَوْمِ ٱلْفَصْلِ
PickthallFor the Day of Decision.
Yusuf AliFor the Day of Sorting out.
The agreed readingFor the Day of Decision — the Day, the commentaries agree, on which everything between the creatures is settled.
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا يَوْمُ ٱلْفَصْلِ
PickthallAnd what will convey unto thee what the Day of Decision is! -
Yusuf AliAnd what will explain to thee what is the Day of Sorting out?
The agreed readingAnd what will make you know what the Day of Decision is? The commentaries read the question as magnifying it rather than asking about it.
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
PickthallWoe unto the repudiators on that day!
Yusuf AliAh woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth!
The agreed readingWoe that Day to the deniers — the first fall of the refrain, and it lands on the Day just named.
أَلَمْ نُهْلِكِ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
PickthallDestroyed We not the former folk,
Yusuf AliDid We not destroy the men of old (for their evil)?
The agreed readingDid We not destroy the earlier peoples — destroyed, the commentaries agree, for the denying they did and would not leave.
ثُمَّ نُتْبِعُهُمُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِينَ
PickthallThen caused the latter folk to follow after?
Yusuf AliSo shall We make later (generations) follow them.
The agreed readingthen send the later ones after them? The commentaries agree the earlier are the nations destroyed for denying, and the later are those doing the same again.
كَذَٰلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
PickthallThus deal We ever with the guilty.
Yusuf AliThus do We deal with men of sin.
The agreed readingThat is how We deal with the guilty — with any who do the same, the commentaries agree, and not only with those already gone.
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
PickthallWoe unto the repudiators on that day!
Yusuf AliAh woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth!
The agreed readingWoe that Day to the deniers — falling here on the pattern just shown: it happened before, and it holds.
أَلَمْ نَخْلُقكُّم مِّن مَّآءٍ مَّهِينٍ
PickthallDid We not create you from a base fluid
Yusuf AliHave We not created you from a fluid (held) despicable?-
The agreed readingDid We not create you from a lowly fluid — a fluid of no account, the commentaries gloss, which is where every one of them began.
فَجَعَلْنَٰهُ فِى قَرَارٍ مَّكِينٍ
PickthallWhich We laid up in a safe abode
Yusuf AliThe which We placed in a place of rest, firmly fixed,
The agreed readingthen place it in a secure lodging — a place, the commentaries gloss, kept safe while what is in it is formed.
إِلَىٰ قَدَرٍ مَّعْلُومٍ
PickthallFor a known term?
Yusuf AliFor a period (of gestation), determined (according to need)?
The agreed readingfor a known term? The commentaries agree the lodging is the womb and the known term is the time of birth.
فَقَدَرْنَا فَنِعْمَ ٱلْقَٰدِرُونَ
PickthallThus We arranged. How excellent is Our arranging!
Yusuf AliFor We do determine (according to need); for We are the best to determine (things).
The agreed readingSo We determined — and how well We determine. The commentaries take the measuring as extending to every stage of it, none of it left to chance.
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
PickthallWoe unto the repudiators on that day!
Yusuf AliAh woe, that Day! to the Rejecters of Truth!
The agreed readingWoe that Day to the deniers — falling here on their own making, which they can neither deny nor account for.
أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ ٱلْأَرْضَ كِفَاتًا
PickthallHave We not made the earth a receptacle
Yusuf AliHave We not made the earth (as a place) to draw together.
The agreed readingDid We not make the earth a gatherer — a thing that draws in and holds, the commentaries gloss, whatever is put on it or in it.
أَحْيَآءً وَأَمْوَٰتًا
PickthallBoth for the living and the dead,
Yusuf AliThe living and the dead,
The agreed readingof the living and the dead? The commentaries agree it holds the living on its back and the dead in its body.
وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ شَٰمِخَٰتٍ وَأَسْقَيْنَٰكُم مَّآءً فُرَاتًا
PickthallAnd placed therein high mountains and given you to drink sweet water therein?
Yusuf AliAnd made therein mountains standing firm, lofty (in stature); and provided for you water sweet (and wholesome)?
The agreed readingAnd set in it firm towering peaks, and given you sweet water to drink? Fresh water, the commentaries note, brought up through springs and rivers made in it.
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
PickthallWoe unto the repudiators on that day!
Yusuf AliAh woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth!
The agreed readingWoe that Day to the deniers — falling here on favours of this kind, counted out and not acknowledged.
ٱنطَلِقُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَا كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ
Pickthall(It will be said unto them:) Depart unto that (doom) which ye used to deny;
Yusuf Ali(It will be said:) "Depart ye to that which ye used to reject as false!
The agreed readingGo off to what you used to deny — to the punishment itself, the commentaries agree, named by the denial that earned it.
ٱنطَلِقُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ ظِلٍّ ذِى ثَلَٰثِ شُعَبٍ
PickthallDepart unto the shadow falling threefold,
Yusuf Ali"Depart ye to a Shadow (of smoke ascending) in three columns,
The agreed readingGo off to a shadow of three columns — the smoke of the Fire, the commentaries agree, which parts into three as it rises for its sheer size.
لَّا ظَلِيلٍ وَلَا يُغْنِى مِنَ ٱللَّهَبِ
Pickthall(Which yet is) no relief nor shelter from the flame.
Yusuf Ali"(Which yields) no shade of coolness, and is of no use against the fierce Blaze.
The agreed readingno shade at all, and no use against the flame. The commentaries mark the irony: it is called a shadow and gives none of what a shadow gives.
إِنَّهَا تَرْمِى بِشَرَرٍ كَٱلْقَصْرِ
PickthallLo! it throweth up sparks like the castles,
Yusuf Ali"Indeed it throws about sparks (huge) as Forts,
The agreed readingIt throws up sparks like a fortress — sparks that size, the commentaries gloss, in their bulk and in their height.
كَأَنَّهُۥ جِمَٰلَتٌ صُفْرٌ
Pickthall(Or) as it might be camels of bright yellow hue.
Yusuf Ali"As if there were (a string of) yellow camels (marching swiftly)."
The agreed readingas though they were yellow camels — a herd of them, the commentaries agree, in their look and in their colour.
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
PickthallWoe unto the repudiators on that day!
Yusuf AliAh woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth!
The agreed readingWoe that Day to the deniers — falling here on the thing they are being sent towards.
هَٰذَا يَوْمُ لَا يَنطِقُونَ
PickthallThis is a day wherein they speak not,
Yusuf AliThat will be a Day when they shall not be able to speak.
The agreed readingThis is a Day on which they do not speak — struck dumb, the commentaries gloss, by the sheer bewilderment of it.
وَلَا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُمْ فَيَعْتَذِرُونَ
PickthallNor are they suffered to put forth excuses.
Yusuf AliNor will it be open to them to put forth pleas.
The agreed readingand they are not permitted to, so as to make excuses. The commentaries agree the silence is of the mouth stopped by terror, and that no excuse is invited because none exists.
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
PickthallWoe unto the repudiators on that day!
Yusuf AliAh woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth!
The agreed readingWoe that Day to the deniers — falling here on a silence that answers nothing back.
هَٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلْفَصْلِ جَمَعْنَٰكُمْ وَٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
PickthallThis is the Day of Decision, We have brought you and the men of old together.
Yusuf AliThat will be a Day of Sorting out! We shall gather you together and those before (you)!
The agreed readingThis is the Day of Decision; We have gathered you and the earlier ones. The commentaries agree the gathering is of all the deniers together, this people with those before them.
فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ كَيْدٌ فَكِيدُونِ
PickthallIf now ye have any wit, outwit Me.
Yusuf AliNow, if ye have a trick (or plot), use it against Me!
The agreed readingSo if you have a scheme, then scheme against Me. The commentaries take it as showing them their helplessness, after all their scheming in the world.
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
PickthallWoe unto the repudiators on that day!
Yusuf AliAh woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth!
The agreed readingWoe that Day to the deniers — falling here on a challenge they cannot take up, having schemed freely in the life before it.
إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى ظِلَٰلٍ وَعُيُونٍ
PickthallLo! those who kept their duty are amid shade and fountains,
Yusuf AliAs to the Righteous, they shall be amidst (cool) shades and springs (of water).
The agreed readingThose who guarded themselves are amid shade and springs — shade, the commentaries note, of thick trees, where there is no sun to need shade from.
وَفَوَٰكِهَ مِمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ
PickthallAnd fruits such as they desire.
Yusuf AliAnd (they shall have) fruits,- all they desire.
The agreed readingand fruits of whatever they desire. The commentaries note the difference from this world: there, what a man finds; here, what he wants.
كُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ هَنِيٓـًٔۢا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Pickthall(Unto them it is said:) Eat, drink and welcome, O ye blessed, in return for what ye did.
Yusuf Ali"Eat ye and drink ye to your heart's content: for that ye worked (Righteousness).
The agreed readingEat and drink with relish, for what you used to do — for the obedience, the commentaries agree, and it is named as the reason.
إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
PickthallThus do We reward the good.
Yusuf AliThus do We certainly reward the Doers of Good.
The agreed readingThat is how We reward those who do well — the same wording as the warning that preceded it, turned the other way.
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
PickthallWoe unto the repudiators on that day!
Yusuf AliAh woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth!
The agreed readingWoe that Day to the deniers — falling here, for the first time, on what the other side is being given.
كُلُوا۟ وَتَمَتَّعُوا۟ قَلِيلًا إِنَّكُم مُّجْرِمُونَ
PickthallEat and take your ease (on earth) a little. Lo! ye are guilty.
Yusuf Ali(O ye unjust!) Eat ye and enjoy yourselves (but) a little while, for that ye are Sinners.
The agreed readingEat and enjoy yourselves a little; you are guilty. The commentaries read the permission as a threat: a little means until death, and no further.
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
PickthallWoe unto the repudiators on that day!
Yusuf AliAh woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth!
The agreed readingWoe that Day to the deniers — falling here on a short enjoyment bought at that price.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱرْكَعُوا۟ لَا يَرْكَعُونَ
PickthallWhen it is said unto them: Bow down, they bow not down!
Yusuf AliAnd when it is said to them, "Prostrate yourselves!" they do not so.
The agreed readingAnd when it is said to them: bow — they do not bow. The commentaries agree the bowing meant is the prayer, refused when they were called to it.
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
PickthallWoe unto the repudiators on that day!
Yusuf AliAh woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth!
The agreed readingWoe that Day to the deniers — the last fall of the refrain, and it lands on a refusal to worship at all.
فَبِأَىِّ حَدِيثٍۭ بَعْدَهُۥ يُؤْمِنُونَ
PickthallIn what statement, after this, will they believe?
Yusuf AliThen what Message, after that, will they believe in?
The agreed readingSo in what discourse after this will they believe? The commentaries close the sūrah with the question: if this is refused, nothing else is left to be offered.