In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
37:1The arrangers in columns.
37:2The blamers of those to be blamed.
37:3The reciters of the messages.
37:4Your god is only one.
37:5The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them, and Lord of the easts.*
Footnote 37:5
*37:5 Every heavenly body rises on the planet earth, and sets. Every rise is called “east.”
37:6We have adorned the lowest heaven with adorning planets.*
Footnote 37:6
*37:6 We live in the innermost and smallest universe. The jinns are confined to this universe.
37:7We guarded it from every evil devil.
37:8They cannot spy on the High Society; they get bombarded from every side.
37:9They have been condemned; they have incurred an eternal retribution.
37:10If any of them ventures to charge the outer limits, he gets struck with a fierce projectile.
37:11Ask them, “Are they more difficult to create, or the other creations?” We created them from wet mud.
37:12While you are awed, they mock.
37:13When reminded, they take no heed.
37:14When they see proof, they ridicule it.
37:15They say, “This is obviously magic!
37:16“After we die and become dust and bones, do we get resurrected?
37:17“Even our ancient ancestors?”
37:18Say, “Yes, you will be forcibly summoned.”
37:19All it takes is one nudge, whereupon they (stand up) looking.
37:20They will say, “Woe to us; this is the Day of Judgment.”
37:21This is the day of decision that you used to disbelieve in.
37:22Summon the transgressors, and their spouses, and the idols they worshiped
37:23beside GOD, and guide them to the path of Hell.
37:24Stop them, and ask them:
37:25“Why do you not help one another?”
37:26They will be, on that day, totally submitting.
Mutual Blaming
37:27They will come to each other, questioning and blaming one another.
37:28They will say (to their leaders), “You used to come to us from the right side.”
37:29They will respond, “It is you who were not believers.
37:30“We never had any power over you; it is you who were wicked.
37:31“We justly incurred our Lord’s judgment; now we have to suffer.
37:32“We misled you, only because we were astray.”
37:33Thus, together they will all partake of the retribution on that day.
37:34This is how we requite the guilty.
The First Commandment
37:35When they were told, “Laa Elaaha Ella Allah [There is no other god beside GOD],” they turned arrogant.
37:36They said, “Shall we leave our gods for the sake of a crazy poet?”
37:37In fact, he has brought the truth, and has confirmed the messengers.
37:38Most assuredly, you will taste the most painful retribution.
37:39You are requited only for what you have done.
37:40Only GOD’s servants who are absolutely devoted to Him alone (will be saved).
37:41They have deserved provisions that are reserved specifically for them.
37:42All kinds of fruits. They will be honored.
37:43In the gardens of bliss.
37:44On furnishings close to one another.
37:45Cups of pure drinks will be offered to them.
37:46Clear and delicious for the drinkers.
37:47Never polluted, and never exhausted.
37:48With them will be wonderful companions.
37:49Protected like fragile eggs.
The Dwellers of Heaven Visit the Dwellers of Hell
37:50They will come to each other, and confer with one another.
37:51One of them will say, “I used to have a friend.
37:52“He used to mock: `Do you believe all this?
37:53” `After we die and turn into dust and bones, do we get called to account?’ “
37:54He will say, “Just take a look!”
37:55When he looks, he will see his friend in the heart of Hell.*
Footnote 37:55
*37:55 People who make it to Heaven will be able to visit their relatives and friends in Hell, without adverse consequences. In the Hereafter, anyone can move downward, but not upward beyond a certain limit. The limit is decided by one’s degree of growth and development (App. 5).
37:56He (will go to him and) say, “By GOD, you almost ruined me.
37:57“If it were not for my Lord’s blessing, I would have been with you now.
37:58“(Do you still believe) that we die,
37:59“only the first death, and we never receive any requital?”
Redemption: The Greatest Triumph
37:60Such is the greatest triumph.
37:61This is what every worker should work for.
37:62Is this a better destiny, or the tree of bitterness?
37:63We have rendered it a punishment for the transgressors.
37:64It is a tree that grows in the heart of Hell.
37:65Its flowers look like the devils’ heads.
37:66They will eat from it until their bellies are filled up.
37:67Then they will top it with a hellish drink.
37:68Then they will return to Hell.
They Followed Their Parents Blindly
37:69They found their parents astray.
37:70And they blindly followed in their footsteps.
Victory for the Messengers Guaranteed
37:71Most of the previous generations have strayed in the same manner.
37:72We have sent to them warners.
37:73Note the consequences for those who have been warned.
37:74Only GOD’s servants who are absolutely devoted to Him alone (are saved).
Noah
37:75Thus, Noah called upon us, and we were the best responders.
37:76We saved him and his family from the great disaster.
37:77We made his companions the survivors.
37:78And we preserved his history for subsequent generations.
37:79Peace be upon Noah among the peoples.
37:80We thus reward the righteous.
37:81He is one of our believing servants.
37:82We drowned all the others.
Abraham
37:83Among his followers was Abraham.
37:84He came to his Lord wholeheartedly.
37:85He said to his father and his people, “What are you worshiping?
37:86“Is it these fabricated gods, instead of GOD, that you want?
37:87“What do you think of the Lord of the universe?”
37:88He looked carefully at the stars.
37:89Then he gave up and said, “I am tired of this!”
37:90They turned away from him.
37:91He then turned on their idols, saying, “Would you like to eat?
37:92“Why do you not speak?”
37:93He then destroyed them.
37:94They went to him in a great rage.
37:95He said, “How can you worship what you carve?
37:96“When GOD has created you, and everything you make!”
37:97They said, “Let us build a great fire, and throw him into it.”
37:98They schemed against him, but we made them the losers.
37:99He said, “I am going to my Lord; He will guide me.”
37:100“My Lord, grant me righteous children.”
37:101We gave him good news of a good child.
Satanic Dream*
37:102When he grew enough to work with him, he said, “My son, I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you. What do you think?” He said, “O my father, do what you are commanded to do. You will find me, GOD willing, patient.”
Footnote 37:102
*37:102 The Most Merciful never advocates evil (7:28). As with Job, Satan claimed that Abraham loved his son too much, and was permitted to put Abraham to that severe test.
37:103They both submitted, and he put his forehead down (to sacrifice him).
God Intervenes to Save Abraham and Ismail
37:104We called him: “O Abraham.
37:105“You have believed the dream.” We thus reward the righteous.
37:106That was an exacting test indeed.
37:107We ransomed (Ismail) by substituting an animal sacrifice.
37:108And we preserved his history for subsequent generations.
37:109Peace be upon Abraham.
37:110We thus reward the righteous.
37:111He is one of our believing servants.
Birth of Isaac
37:112Then we gave him the good news about the birth of Isaac, to be one of the righteous prophets.
37:113We blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants, some are righteous, and some are wicked transgressors.
Moses and Aaron
37:114We also blessed Moses and Aaron.
37:115We delivered them and their people from the great disaster.
37:116We supported them, until they became the winners.
37:117We gave both of them the profound scripture.
37:118We guided them in the right path.
37:119We preserved their history for subsequent generations.
37:120Peace be upon Moses and Aaron.
37:121We thus reward the righteous.
37:122Both of them were among our righteous servants.
Elias
37:123Elias was one of the messengers.
37:124He said to his people, “Would you not work righteousness?
37:125“Do you worship a statue, instead of the Supreme Creator?
37:126“GOD; your Lord, and the Lord of your forefathers!”
37:127They disbelieved him. Consequently, they had to be called to account.
37:128Only GOD’s servants who are absolutely devoted to Him alone (are saved).
37:129We preserved his history for subsequent generations.
37:130Peace be upon Elias, and all those like Elias.
37:131We thus reward the righteous.
37:132He was one of our believing servants.
Lot
37:133Lot was one of the messengers.
37:134We saved him and all his family.
37:135Only the old woman was doomed.
37:136We annihilated all the others.
37:137You still pass by their ruins by day.
37:138And by night. Would you understand?
Jonah
37:139Jonah was one of the messengers.
37:140He escaped to the loaded ship.
37:141He rebelled and thus, he joined the losers.
37:142Consequently, the fish swallowed him, and he was the one to blame.
37:143If it were not that he resorted to meditation (on God),
37:144he would have stayed in its belly until the Day of Resurrection.
37:145We had him thrown up into the desert, exhausted.
37:146We had a tree of edible fruit grown for him.
37:147Then we sent him to a hundred thousand,* or more.
Footnote 37:147
*37:147 The Quran mentions 30 numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 99, 100, 200, 300, 1000, 2000, 3000, 5000, 50000, and 100000. The sum of these numbers is 162146, or 19×8534 (see Appendix 1).
37:148They did believe, and we let them enjoy this life.
37:149Ask them if your Lord have daughters, while they have sons!
37:150Did we create the angels to be females? Did they witness that?
37:151Indeed, they grossly blaspheme when they say –
37:152“GOD has begotten a son.” Indeed, they are liars.
37:153Did He choose the girls over the boys?
37:154What is wrong with your logic?
Addressing the Disbelievers
37:155Why do you not take heed?
37:156Do you have any proof?
37:157Show us your book, if you are truthful.
37:158They even invented a special relationship between Him and the jinns. The jinns themselves know that they are subservient.
37:159GOD be glorified; far above their claims.
37:160Only GOD’s servants who are devoted to Him alone (are saved).
37:161Indeed, you and what you worship.
37:162Cannot impose anything on Him.
37:163Only you will burn in Hell.
The Angels
37:164Each one of us has a specific job.
37:165We are the arrangers.
37:166We have duly glorified (our Lord).
Following The Parents Blindly
37:167They used to say,
37:168“Had we received the correct instructions from our parents,
37:169“we would have been worshipers; devoted to GOD alone.”
37:170But they disbelieved, and they will surely find out.
37:171Our decision is already decreed for our servants the messengers.
37:172They are surely the victors.
37:173Our soldiers are the winners.
37:174So disregard them for awhile.
37:175Watch them; they too will watch.
37:176Do they challenge our retribution?
37:177When it hits them one day, it will be a miserable day; they have been sufficiently warned.
37:178Disregard them for awhile.
37:179Watch them; they too will watch.
37:180Glory be to your Lord, the great Lord; far above their claims.
37:181Peace be upon the messengers.
37:182Praise be to GOD, Lord of the universe.