Category: Chapters / Surah

But when our Signs came to them that should have opened their eyes they said: “This is obvious magic.”

They were convinced in their hearts about the truth of those miracles, they still denied them wrongfully and arrogantly. So you see, what was the end of those transgressors.
Meaning:-
Transgressor: to violate a law, command, moral code, etc.; offend; sin.

Indeed, We granted knowledge to Dawood (David) and Solomon (Sulaiman). They both said: “Praise be to Allah Who has privileged us above many of His believing servants.”
Meaning:-
Privilege: a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor

Sulaiman succeeded Dawood. He said: “O people! We have been taught the language of birds, and been given everything ˹we need˺. This is indeed a great blessing from Allah.”
Meaning:-
Succeed: take over a throne.

Solomon’s forces of jinn, humans, and birds were rallied for him, and they were [marching] in rows.
Meaning:-
Rallied: a large gathering of people for a common purpose.

Once in an expedition he was marching with his army when they came across a valley of ants, one of the ants said: “O ants! Go quickly into your homes so Solomon and his armies do not crush you, unknowingly.”
Meaning:-
Expedition: a journey or voyage undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose,

So Solomon smiled in Amusement at her ‘ant” words, and prayed, “My Lord! Inspire me to ˹always˺ be thankful for Your favours which You have blessed me and my parents with, and to do good deeds that please you. Admit me, by Your mercy, into ˹the company of˺ Your righteous servants.”
Meaning:-
Amusement: experience of finding something funny.

˹One day˺ he inspected the birds, and wondered, “Why is it that I cannot see the hoopoe? Or could he be absent?
Meaning:-
Hoopoe: a salmon-pink Eurasian bird with a long down-curved bill, a large erectile crest, and black and white wings and tail.

“I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he bring me a clear reason (for absence).”

The hoopoe, who did not take long in coming, said: I have just found out that which you do not know. I have brought you reliable information about the people of Sheba.
Meaning:-
Hoopoe: a salmon-pink Eurasian bird with a long down-curved bill, a large erectile crest, and black and white wings and tail.
Sheba: Saba may reasonably be identified with the Biblical Sheba (I Kings x. 1-10). It is further referred to in the Sura called after its name: xxxiv. 15-20. It was a city in Yemen, said to have been three days’ journey (say 50 miles) from the city of San’a. A recent German explorer, Dr. Hans Helfritz, claims to have located it in what is now Hadhramaut territory. The famous dam of Maarib made the country very prosperous, and enabled it to attain a high degree of civilization (“provided with every requisite” in the next verse). The Queen of Sheba therefore rightly held up her head high until she beheld the glories of Solomon.

Indeed, I found a woman ruling over them, who has been given everything ˹she needs˺, and who has a magnificent throne.
Meaning:-
a woman: The Queen of Sheba is known in Islamic tradition as Bilkis. The Queen of Sheba (by name Bilqis in Arabian tradition) came apparently from Yemen, but she had affinities with Abyssinia and possibly ruled over Abyssinia also. The Habasha tribe (after whom Abyssinia was named) came from Yemen. Between the southern coast of Yemen and the north-eastern coast of Abyssinia there are only the Straits of Bab-al-Mandab, barely twenty miles across. In the 10th or llth century B.C. there were frequent invasions of Abyssinia from Arabia, and Solomon’s reign of 40 years is usually synchronised with B.C. 992 to 952. The Sabaean and Himyarite alphabets in which we find the south Arabian pre-Islamic inscriptions, passed into Ethiopic, the language of Abyssinia. The Abyssinians possess a traditional history called “The Book of the Glory of Kings” (Kebra Nagast), which has been translated from Ethiopic into English by Sir E.A. Wallis Budge (Oxford, 1932). It gives an account of the Queen of Sheba and her only son Menyelek I, as founders of the Abyssinian dynasty.

Further I found that she and her people prostrate themselves before the sun instead of Allah. Shaitan has made their deeds fair-seeming to them and thus turned them away from the Right Way, so that they may not be guided
Meaning:-
She: The Queen of Sheba is known in Islamic tradition as Bilkis.
Prostrate: lying stretched out on the ground with one’s face downward, especially in reverence or submission

[And] so they do not prostrate to Allah , who brings forth what is hidden within the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare –
Meaning:-
Prostrate: lying stretched out on the ground with one’s face downward, especially in reverence or submission
Conceal: to hide, to keep secret, to prevent or avoid disclosing, keep secret.

Allah! There is no god but Him. He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.”

Sulaiman said: “Soon we shall find out whether what you say is true or false.

Go and deliver to them this letter of mine, then turn aside and wait for their answer.”

She said: O chief! surely an honorable letter has been delivered to me

it is from Sulaiman (Solomon), and it begins with the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

It reads: Do not be arrogant against me and come to me in complete submission (as a Muslim).”

She said, “O chiefs! Advise me in this matter of mine, for I would never make any decision without you.”

They responded, “We are a people of strength and great ˹military˺ might, but the decision is yours, so decide what you will command.”

The queen said: “When the kings invade a town, they ruin it and debase its honorable people; and thus they always do.
Meaning:-
Invade: to enter a country by force with large numbers of soldiers in order to take possession of it.
Ruin: destroy completely, severely damage, collapsed, or decayed.
Debase: to lower in rank, dignity, or significance, to reduce in quality or value; adulterate:

But indeed, I will send to them a gift and see with what [reply] the messengers will return.”

When the chief-envoy came to him, Solomon said, “Do you offer me wealth? What Allah has granted me is far greater than what He has granted you. No! It is you who rejoice in ˹receiving˺ gifts.
Meaning:-
Envoy: government official ranking below ambassador, representative, a diplomatic agent.
Rejoice: happiness, pleasure, joy, gladness, delight.

[Then Sulaiman (Solomon) said to the chief-envoy who brought the present]: Go back to your people: if your people do not submit, we will march against them with such an army of which they shall never be able to face, and we shall drive them out of their land humbled and disgraced.”
Meaning:-
Envoy: government official ranking below ambassador, representative, a diplomatic agent.
Humbled: decisively defeat.
Disgraced: the loss of respect, honor, or esteem; ignominy; shame

Later on when Sulaiman (Solomon) heard that the Queen of Sheba was coming in submission, [Solomon] said, “O assembly [of jinn], Which of you can bring to me her throne before they come to me in submission?”

A powerful one from among the jinn said, “I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this [task] strong and trustworthy.”

But the one who had knowledge of the Scripture said, “I can bring it to you in the blink of an eye.” So when Solomon saw it placed before him, he exclaimed, “This is by the grace of my Lord to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful, it is only for their own good. But whoever is ungrateful, surely my Lord is Self-Sufficient, Most Generous.
Meaning:-
Exclaimed: speak suddenly and vehemently, as in surprise, strong emotion.

˹Then˺ Solomon said, “Disguise her throne for her so we may see whether she will recognize ˹it˺ or she will not be able to.”
Meaning:-
Disguise: to give a new appearance, esp. in order to hide its true form.

So when the queen arrived, it was said ˹to her˺, “Is your throne like this?” She replied, “It looks to be the same. We had come to know that Sulaiman is not only a king but also a Prophet, therefore we have already become Muslims.”

– Other deities whom she worshiped besides Allah had prevented her from believing, for she was indeed from a disbelieving people.
Meaning:-
Deities: Fake Gods, God; Supreme Being, like a god or goddess.

– Then she was asked to enter the palace. When she saw its floor, she thought that there was pool of water, so she tucked up her skirts uncovering her legs. Sulaiman said. “This is just a glossy paving of this palace.” At this she exclaimed: “O my Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul, now I submit myself in Islam with Sulaiman to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.”
Meaning:-
Tuck: fold
Glossy: shiny and smooth.
Paving: flat blocks of stone, marble, title or concrete covering an area
Exclaimed: speak suddenly and vehemently, as in surprise, strong emotion.

And indeed We sent to Thamud their brother Salih (Saleh), saying: “Worship Allah (Alone and none else). Then look! They became two parties (believers and disbelievers) quarreling with each other.”
Meaning:-
Quarreling: arguing, disagreeing or disputing.

Saleh said: “O my people! Why do you wish to hasten towards evil rather than good? Why do you not ask forgiveness of Allah so that you may be shown mercy?”

They said: “We consider you and your companions a sign of bad luck.” He said: “Your luck is with Allah; in fact, you are a people under trial.”

There were nine ringleaders in the city who created mischief in the land and reformed nothing.

They said to one another: “Let us pledge on oath by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his family, then we shall tell his guardian that we were not even present at the time his family was killed, and that we are telling the truth.”

And ˹so˺ they made a plan, but We too made a plan, while they were unaware.

Then see what was the end of their plot!- this, that We destroyed them and their people all together.

So their homes are there, ˹but completely˺ ruined because of their wrongdoing. Surely in this story there is a lesson for those people who use their common sense.
Meaning:-
Ruined: destroyed completely, severely damaged, collapsed, or decayed.

And We saved those who believed, and used to fear Allah, and keep their duty to Him.

And ˹remember˺ Lot, when he said to his people, “Do you commit that shameful deed while you can see ˹one another˺?

Do you approach men for your sexual desires instead women? In fact, you are ˹only˺ a people acting ignorantly.”

But his people gave no other answer but this: they said, “Drive out the followers of Lut from your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!”

Thereupon We saved him and his household – except his wife, whom We willed to be among those that stayed behind

And We rained down on them a rain (of stones). How evil was the rain of those who had been warned!

Say, [O Muhammad], “Praise be to Allah , and peace upon His servants whom He has chosen. Is Allah better or what they associate with Him?”

Is not He (better than your gods) Who created the heavens and the earth, and sends down for you water (rain) from the sky, whereby We cause to grow wonderful gardens full of beauty and delight? It is not in your ability to cause the growth of their trees. Was it another god besides Allah?” Absolutely not! But they are a people who set up equals ˹to Allah˺!

Just think who has made the earth a place for your residence, caused rivers to flow through it, placed firm mountains upon it, and set a barrier between ˹fresh and salt˺ bodies of water (between the two seas)? Was it another god besides Allah?” Absolutely not! But most of them have no knowledge.
Meaning:-
Barrier between ˹fresh and salt˺: See 25:53 and the corresponding notes [41] and [42].
Please go to this YouTube link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRClKxzJX9A & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U93QRMcQU5Y

Just think who responds to the distressed when they cry to Him, relieving ˹their˺ affliction, and ˹Who˺ makes you successors in the earth? Is it another god besides Allah? Yet you are hardly mindful!”
Meaning:-
Distressed: suffering from anxiety, sorrow, or pain.
Affliction: something that causes pain or suffering, a state of pain, distress, or grief.

Just think who guides you in the darkness of the land and sea, and sends the winds ushering in His mercy? Is it another god besides Allah? Exalted is Allah above what they associate ˹with Him˺!

Just think who originates creation and then repeats its production, and who gives you sustenance from the heavens and the earth? Is there another god besides Allah? Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Show ˹me˺ your proof if you are telling the truth!”

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “None in the heavens and the earth has knowledge of the unseen except Allah. Nor ‘their gods’ do not know when they shall be raised to life again.

Their knowledge does not grasp the Hereafter. In fact, they are in doubt about it. In truth, they are ˹totally˺ blind to it.

The unbelievers say: “What! When we and our fathers have become dust, shall we really be raised from the dead?

“Indeed we were promised this, we and our forefathers before, Verily, these are nothing but tales of ancients.”

Say to them (O Muhammad) “Travel in the land and see how has been the end of the criminals (those who denied Allah’s Messengers and disobeyed Allah).”

O Prophet, do not worry about them nor feel distressed because of their plots.
Meaning:-
Distressed: sorrow, or pain.

They ask ˹the believers˺, “When will this promise be fulfilled if what you say be true?”

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Perhaps that which you wish to hasten on, may be close behind you.
Meaning:-
Hasten: make something happen sooner or more quickly

The fact is that your Lord is very gracious to mankind: yet most of them are ungrateful.

And indeed, your Lord knows what their breasts conceal and what they reveal.
Meaning:-
Conceal: to hide, to keep secret, to prevent or avoid disclosing, keep secret.

And there is nothing concealed in the heaven and the earth but it is in a clear book.
Meaning:-
Concealed: kept secret; hidden.

In fact, this Qur’an clarifies for the Children of Israel most of those matters in which they differ.
Meaning:-
Differ: disagree.

It is certainly a guide and blessing to true believers.

Indeed, your Lord will judge between them by His [wise] judgement. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.

So put your trust in Allah, for you are surely upon the ˹Path of˺ clear truth.

The fact is that you cannot make the dead hear you ˹the truth˺, nor can you make the deaf hear the call especially when they turn their backs and pay no heed,

Nor can you lead the blind out of their misguidance. You can make none hear ˹the truth˺ except those who believe in Our revelations, ˹fully˺ submitting ˹to Allah˺.

And when the Word is fulfilled against them (the unjust), we shall produce from the earth a beast to (face) them: He will speak to them, for that mankind did not believe with assurance in Our verses.
Meaning:-
Beast: an animal, especially a large or dangerous four-footed one.
Brief description: The beast is believed to be one of the major signs of the Day of Judgment. No further details are given in reliable resources about this beast.

And [warn of] the Day when We will gather from every nation a company of those who deny Our verses, and they will be [driven] in rows

When they ˹finally˺ come before their Lord, He will ask ˹them˺, “Did you deny My revelations ‘verses’ without ˹even˺ comprehending them? Or what ˹exactly˺ did you do?”
Meaning:-
Comprehending: to understand completely, grasp mentally; understand.

The sentence will be carried out against them for the consequence of their wrongdoings and they will not be able to utter a word ‘speechless’.
Meaning:-
Consequence: a result of a particular action or situation, often one that is bad or not convenient.
Utter: complete; absolute.

Do they not see that We have made the night for them to rest in, and the day to give them light? Surely there are signs in this for the true believers.

And ˹beware of˺ the Day the Trumpet will be blown, and all those in the heavens and all those on the earth will be horrified ˹to the point of death˺ except those Allah wills ˹to spare˺. And all will come before Him, fully humbled.
Meaning.
Horrified: extremely shocked, fearful.

Now you see the mountains, thinking they are firmly fixed, but they are travelling ˹just˺ like clouds. ˹That is˺ the design of Allah, Who has perfected everything. Surely He is All-Aware of what you do.
Meaning:-
Firmly: without moving; definitely.

Those who have done good deeds shall be rewarded with what is better and shall be secure from the terror of that Day.

And whoever comes with an evil deed – their faces will be overturned into the Fire, [and it will be said], Are you rewarded except for what you used to do?

O Muhammad, say to them: “I have been commanded to worship the Lord of this city (Makkah), the One Who has made it sacred and Who is the Owner of all things; and I am commanded to be of those who are Muslims,

and that I should recite The Qur’an. Now, whoever follows this guidance will be guided for his own good, and to him who goes astray, say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “I am only a warner.”
Meaning:-
Astray: away from the correct path or direction, into error, into sin