16. An-Nahl

وَلَوْAnd ifيُؤَاخِذُAllah were to seizeٱللَّهُAllah were to seizeٱلنَّاسَthe mankindبِظُلْمِهِمfor their wrongdoingمَّاnotتَرَكَHe (would) have leftعَلَيْهَاupon itمِنanyدَآبَّةٍmoving creatureوَلَٰكِنbutيُؤَخِّرُهُمْHe defers themإِلَىٰٓforأَجَلٍa termمُّسَمًّىappointedفَإِذَاThen whenجَآءَcomesأَجَلُهُمْtheir termsلَاnotيَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَthey (will) remain behindسَاعَةًan hourوَلَاand notيَسْتَقْدِمُونَthey can advance (it)﴿٦١﴾

And if Allah were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon the earth any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it]

وَيَجْعَلُونَAnd they assignلِلَّهِto Allahمَاwhatيَكْرَهُونَthey dislikeوَتَصِفُand assertأَلْسِنَتُهُمُtheir tonguesٱلْكَذِبَthe lieأَنَّthatلَهُمُfor themٱلْحُسْنَىٰ(is) the bestلَاNoجَرَمَdoubtأَنَّthatلَهُمُfor themٱلنَّارَ(is) the Fireوَأَنَّهُمand that theyمُّفْرَطُونَ(will) be abandoned﴿٦٢﴾

And they attribute to Allah that which they dislike, and their tongues assert the lie that they will have the best [from Him]. Assuredly, they will have the Fire, and they will be [therein] neglected

تَٱللَّهِBy AllahلَقَدْcertainlyأَرْسَلْنَآWe have sentإِلَىٰٓtoأُمَمٍnationsمِّنbefore youقَبْلِكَbefore youفَزَيَّنَbut made fair-seemingلَهُمُto themٱلشَّيْطَٰنُthe Shaitaanأَعْمَٰلَهُمْtheir deedsفَهُوَSo heوَلِيُّهُمُ(is) their allyٱلْيَوْمَtodayوَلَهُمْand for themعَذَابٌ(is) a punishmentأَلِيمٌpainful﴿٦٣﴾

By Allah, We did certainly send [messengers] to nations before you, but Satan made their deeds attractive to them. And he is the disbelievers' ally today [as well], and they will have a painful punishment

وَمَآAnd notأَنزَلْنَاWe revealedعَلَيْكَto youٱلْكِتَٰبَthe Bookإِلَّاexceptلِتُبَيِّنَthat you make clearلَهُمُto themٱلَّذِىthat whichٱخْتَلَفُوا۟they differedفِيهِin itوَهُدًىand (as) a guidanceوَرَحْمَةًand mercyلِّقَوْمٍfor a peopleيُؤْمِنُونَwho believe﴿٦٤﴾

And We have not revealed to you the Book, [O Muhammad], except for you to make clear to them that wherein they have differed and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe

وَٱللَّهُAnd Allahأَنزَلَhas sent downمِنَfromٱلسَّمَآءِthe skyمَآءًwaterفَأَحْيَاthen gives lifeبِهِby itٱلْأَرْضَ(to) the earthبَعْدَafterمَوْتِهَآits deathإِنَّIndeedفِىinذَٰلِكَthatلَءَايَةً(is) surely a Signلِّقَوْمٍfor a peopleيَسْمَعُونَwho listen﴿٦٥﴾

And Allah has sent down rain from the sky and given life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who listen

وَإِنَّAnd indeedلَكُمْfor youفِىinٱلْأَنْعَٰمِthe cattleلَعِبْرَةً(is) a lessonنُّسْقِيكُمWe give you to drinkمِّمَّاfrom whatفِى(is) inبُطُونِهِۦtheir belliesمِنۢfromبَيْنِbetweenفَرْثٍbowelsوَدَمٍand bloodلَّبَنًاmilkخَالِصًاpureسَآئِغًاpalatableلِّلشَّٰرِبِينَto the drinkers﴿٦٦﴾

And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their bellies - between excretion and blood - pure milk, palatable to drinkers

وَمِنAnd fromثَمَرَٰتِfruitsٱلنَّخِيلِthe date-palmوَٱلْأَعْنَٰبِand the grapesتَتَّخِذُونَyou takeمِنْهُfrom itسَكَرًاintoxicantوَرِزْقًاand a provisionحَسَنًاgoodإِنَّIndeedفِىinذَٰلِكَthatلَءَايَةً(is) surely a Signلِّقَوْمٍfor a peopleيَعْقِلُونَwho use reason﴿٦٧﴾

And from the fruits of the palm trees and grapevines you take intoxicant and good provision. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who reason

وَأَوْحَىٰAnd inspiredرَبُّكَyour Lordإِلَىtoٱلنَّحْلِthe beeأَنِ[that]ٱتَّخِذِىTakeمِنَamongٱلْجِبَالِthe mountainsبُيُوتًاhousesوَمِنَand amongٱلشَّجَرِthe treesوَمِمَّاand in whatيَعْرِشُونَthey construct﴿٦٨﴾

And your Lord inspired to the bee, "Take for yourself among the mountains, houses, and among the trees and [in] that which they construct

ثُمَّThenكُلِىeatمِنfromكُلِّallٱلثَّمَرَٰتِthe fruitsفَٱسْلُكِىand followسُبُلَ(the) waysرَبِّكِ(of) your Lordذُلُلًاmade smoothيَخْرُجُComes forthمِنۢfromبُطُونِهَاtheir belliesشَرَابٌa drinkمُّخْتَلِفٌ(of) varyingأَلْوَٰنُهُۥcolorsفِيهِin itشِفَآءٌ(is) a healingلِّلنَّاسِfor the mankindإِنَّIndeedفِىinذَٰلِكَthatلَءَايَةً(is) surely a Signلِّقَوْمٍfor a peopleيَتَفَكَّرُونَwho reflect﴿٦٩﴾

Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down [for you]." There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought

وَٱللَّهُAnd Allahخَلَقَكُمْcreated youثُمَّthenيَتَوَفَّىٰكُمْwill cause you to dieوَمِنكُمAnd among youمَّن(is one) whoيُرَدُّis sent backإِلَىٰٓtoأَرْذَلِthe worstٱلْعُمُرِ(of) the ageلِكَىْso thatلَاnotيَعْلَمَhe will knowبَعْدَafterعِلْمٍknowledgeشَيْـًٔاa thingإِنَّIndeedٱللَّهَAllahعَلِيمٌ(is) All-KnowingقَدِيرٌAll-Powerful﴿٧٠﴾

And Allah created you; then He will take you in death. And among you is he who is reversed to the most decrepit [old] age so that he will not know, after [having had] knowledge, a thing. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Competent

وَٱللَّهُAnd Allahفَضَّلَhas favoredبَعْضَكُمْsome of youعَلَىٰoverبَعْضٍothersفِىinٱلرِّزْقِ[the] provisionفَمَاBut notٱلَّذِينَthose whoفُضِّلُوا۟were favoredبِرَآدِّىwould hand overرِزْقِهِمْtheir provisionعَلَىٰtoمَاwhomمَلَكَتْpossessأَيْمَٰنُهُمْtheir right handsفَهُمْso (that) theyفِيهِ(are) in itسَوَآءٌequalأَفَبِنِعْمَةِThen is it the Favorٱللَّهِof Allahيَجْحَدُونَthey reject﴿٧١﴾

And Allah has favored some of you over others in provision. But those who were favored would not hand over their provision to those whom their right hands possess so they would be equal to them therein. Then is it the favor of Allah they reject

وَٱللَّهُAnd Allahجَعَلَ(has) madeلَكُمfor youمِّنْfromأَنفُسِكُمْyourselvesأَزْوَٰجًاspousesوَجَعَلَand has madeلَكُمfor youمِّنْfromأَزْوَٰجِكُمyour spousesبَنِينَsonsوَحَفَدَةًand grandsonsوَرَزَقَكُمand has provided for youمِّنَfromٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِthe good thingsأَفَبِٱلْبَٰطِلِThen in falsehood doيُؤْمِنُونَthey believeوَبِنِعْمَتِand the Favorٱللَّهِof Allahهُمْtheyيَكْفُرُونَdisbelieve﴿٧٢﴾

And Allah has made for you from yourselves mates and has made for you from your mates sons and grandchildren and has provided for you from the good things. Then in falsehood do they believe and in the favor of Allah they disbelieve

وَيَعْبُدُونَAnd they worshipمِنother thanدُونِother thanٱللَّهِAllahمَاwhichلَاnotيَمْلِكُpossessesلَهُمْfor themرِزْقًاany provisionمِّنَfromٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِthe heavensوَٱلْأَرْضِand the earthشَيْـًٔا[anything]وَلَاand notيَسْتَطِيعُونَthey are able﴿٧٣﴾

And they worship besides Allah that which does not possess for them [the power of] provision from the heavens and the earth at all, and [in fact], they are unable

فَلَاSo (do) notتَضْرِبُوا۟put forthلِلَّهِfor Allahٱلْأَمْثَالَthe similitudeإِنَّIndeedٱللَّهَAllahيَعْلَمُknowsوَأَنتُمْand youلَا(do) notتَعْلَمُونَknow﴿٧٤﴾

So do not assert similarities to Allah. Indeed, Allah knows and you do not know

ضَرَبَAllah sets forthٱللَّهُAllah sets forthمَثَلًاthe exampleعَبْدًا(of) a slaveمَّمْلُوكًا(who is) ownedلَّاnotيَقْدِرُhe has powerعَلَىٰonشَىْءٍanythingوَمَنand (one) whomرَّزَقْنَٰهُWe provided himمِنَّاfrom Usرِزْقًاa provisionحَسَنًاgoodفَهُوَso heيُنفِقُspendsمِنْهُfrom itسِرًّاsecretlyوَجَهْرًاand publiclyهَلْCanيَسْتَوُۥنَthey be equalٱلْحَمْدُAll praiseلِلَّهِ(is) for AllahبَلْNayأَكْثَرُهُمْbut most of themلَا(do) notيَعْلَمُونَknow﴿٧٥﴾

Allah presents an example: a slave [who is] owned and unable to do a thing and he to whom We have provided from Us good provision, so he spends from it secretly and publicly. Can they be equal? Praise to Allah! But most of them do not know

وَضَرَبَAnd Allah sets forthٱللَّهُAnd Allah sets forthمَثَلًاan exampleرَّجُلَيْنِ(of) two menأَحَدُهُمَآone of themأَبْكَمُ(is) dumbلَاnotيَقْدِرُhe has powerعَلَىٰonشَىْءٍanythingوَهُوَwhile heكَلٌّ(is) a burdenعَلَىٰonمَوْلَىٰهُhis masterأَيْنَمَاWhereverيُوَجِّههُّhe directs himلَاnotيَأْتِhe comesبِخَيْرٍwith any goodهَلْIsيَسْتَوِىequalهُوَheوَمَنand (the one) whoيَأْمُرُcommandsبِٱلْعَدْلِ[of] justiceوَهُوَand heعَلَىٰ(is) onصِرَٰطٍa pathمُّسْتَقِيمٍstraight﴿٧٦﴾

And Allah presents an example of two men, one of them dumb and unable to do a thing, while he is a burden to his guardian. Wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal to one who commands justice, while he is on a straight path

وَلِلَّهِAnd to Allah (belongs)غَيْبُ(the) unseenٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ(of) the heavensوَٱلْأَرْضِand the earthوَمَآAnd notأَمْرُ(is the) matterٱلسَّاعَةِ(of) the Hourإِلَّاbutكَلَمْحِas a twinklingٱلْبَصَرِ(of) the eyeأَوْorهُوَitأَقْرَبُ(is) nearerإِنَّIndeedٱللَّهَAllahعَلَىٰonكُلِّeveryشَىْءٍthingقَدِيرٌ(is) All-Powerful﴿٧٧﴾

And to Allah belongs the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth. And the command for the Hour is not but as a glance of the eye or even nearer. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent

وَٱللَّهُAnd Allahأَخْرَجَكُمbrought you forthمِّنۢfromبُطُونِthe wombsأُمَّهَٰتِكُمْ(of) your mothersلَاnotتَعْلَمُونَknowingشَيْـًٔاanythingوَجَعَلَand madeلَكُمُfor youٱلسَّمْعَthe hearingوَٱلْأَبْصَٰرَand the sightوَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَand the heartsلَعَلَّكُمْso that you mayتَشْكُرُونَgive thanks﴿٧٨﴾

And Allah has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and intellect that perhaps you would be grateful

أَلَمْDo notيَرَوْا۟they seeإِلَىtowardsٱلطَّيْرِthe birdsمُسَخَّرَٰتٍcontrolledفِىinجَوِّthe midstٱلسَّمَآءِ(of) the skyمَاNoneيُمْسِكُهُنَّholds them upإِلَّاexceptٱللَّهُAllahإِنَّIndeedفِىinذَٰلِكَthatلَءَايَٰتٍ(are) Signsلِّقَوْمٍfor a peopleيُؤْمِنُونَwho believe﴿٧٩﴾

Do they not see the birds controlled in the atmosphere of the sky? None holds them up except Allah. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe

وَٱللَّهُAnd Allahجَعَلَ(has) madeلَكُمfor youمِّنۢ[from]بُيُوتِكُمْyour homesسَكَنًاa resting placeوَجَعَلَand madeلَكُمfor youمِّنfromجُلُودِthe hidesٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ(of) the cattleبُيُوتًاtentsتَسْتَخِفُّونَهَاwhich you find lightيَوْمَ(on) the dayظَعْنِكُمْ(of) your travelوَيَوْمَand the dayإِقَامَتِكُمْ(of) your encampmentوَمِنْand fromأَصْوَافِهَاtheir woolوَأَوْبَارِهَاand their furوَأَشْعَارِهَآand their hairأَثَٰثًا(is) furnishingوَمَتَٰعًاand a provisionإِلَىٰforحِينٍa time﴿٨٠﴾

And Allah has made for you from your homes a place of rest and made for you from the hides of the animals tents which you find light on your day of travel and your day of encampment; and from their wool, fur and hair is furnishing and enjoyment for a time