IZQ

011

Hood

By the Name

God

the Fount-of-All-Mercy
the Ever-Merciful

Alif Lam Ra

a Book with Signs set clear

and then explained

from One
All-Wise
All-Aware

serve no-one but God

I am a warner to you
from Hu

and I bring good news

ask your Liege for forgiveness
and turn in sorrow to Hu

and Hu will let you
enjoy a good life
until a set time

and Hu will give
of Hu's bounty
to everyone
who deserves it

but if you turn away
I fear for you
the punishment
of a terrible day

to God you will return

Hu can do anything

see how
they wrap themselves up
to try to hide from Hu

see how even though
they wrap themselves
in clothing

Hu knows
what they keep secret
as well as
what they say out loud

surely Hu knows
all the thoughts
within the breast

there is no creature
moving on the earth
that does not rely on God
for all its needs

Hu knows where it lives
and where it rests
after it dies

all is in a Clear Book

and it is Hu created
the heavens and the earth
in six days

and Hu's command
spread over the waters

so Hu might try you
as to which of you
is the best
in the good
you have done

and if you say

"You will surely be
raised up after death"

those who are ungrateful
say

"That is nothing but
obvious sorcery"

and if We delay
their punishment
until a certain time
they will say

"What is keeping it back?"

surely
on the day it comes to them
it will not be
turned aside from them

and they will be surrounded
by what they made fun of

and if We let humans
taste mercy from Us

and then We take it
away from them

they lose hope
and are ungrateful

but if We let them
taste blessings

after the hard times
that have visited them

they say

"My troubles
have gone away"

see how they are
joyful and boastful

except those who are patient
and do good deeds

for them is waiting
forgiveness
and a great reward

perhaps you are
leaving aside part of
what is revealed to you

and your breast is
choked up by this

because they say

"Why has a treasure
not been sent down to him

or an Angel come with him?"

you are only a warner
and God is
Guardian
over everything

or do they say

"He has made it up"?

say

"Then you bring
ten Suras
made up like it

and call upon
whoever you can
apart from God
if you speak the truth"

then
if they do not answer you

know that
it has been sent down
with God's knowledge

and that there is no god
except Hu

so have you surrendered?

whoever wants
the present life
and all its finery

We will pay them in full
for what they do there

and they will not have
less than they deserve

those are the ones
for whom
in the world to come
there is only the Fire

what they did
will have failed

their actions
come to
nothing

can they be compared to
those who have
clear proof
from their Liege

and a witness
from Hu
to speak it

and before it came
the Book of Moses
for an example
and a mercy?

those believe in it

but those who are
ungrateful
and join together
to support each other

their promised land
is the Fire
be in no doubt about it

it is the truth from your Liege
but most people
do not believe

and who does a worse thing
than someone
who makes up
a lie against God?

they will be presented
before their Liege

and the witnesses will say

"Those are the ones
who made up lies
against their Liege"

surely God rejects
those who are unjust

who try to keep people
from God's Way

wanting to make it crooked

they do not believe
in the world to come

they cannot avoid Hu
on earth

and they have no one
to protect them
apart from God

for them
the punishment
will be doubled

they did not hear
and they could not see

those are the ones
that have lost their souls

and what they invented
has left them

without doubt
they will be

the greatest losers
in the world to come

but those who believe
and do good deeds
and have no pride
before their Liege

they will be
the ones who live
in the Garden

living there forever

the two groups
are like two people

one blind and deaf
and one who sees and hears

are they
the same as each other?

will you not remember?

We sent Noah to his people
saying

"I am for you
a clear warner

serve no-one except God

I am afraid you will feel
the punishment
of a painful day"

then the ruling circle
of those who were
ungrateful
said

"As far as we can see
you are nothing but
a mortal like ourselves

and we do not see anyone
following you

except for the very lowest
and they do that mindlessly

we do not see that you are
any better than us

on the contrary
we think you are liars"

he said

"My people

what do you think?

if I was to have
clear evidence
from my Liege

and Hu had given me
mercy from Hu
but you are blind to it

could we force it on you
if you were unwilling?

my people

I do not ask you
for any wealth from this

my reward will come
from God alone

I will not drive away
those who believe

they will surely
meet their Liege

but I see you are
an ignorant people

my people

who would help me
against God
if I drive you away?

will you not remember?

I do not tell you
that I have God's treasures

I do not know
what is hidden

I do not say
I am an Angel

nor do I say
about those
you look down on
that God will not give them
any good

God knows best
what is in their hearts

so if I said that
I would be among
those who are unjust"

they said

"Noah
you have argued with us
and argued often
and at length

so bring us what you promise
if you are speaking the truth"

he said

"God will bring it to you

if Hu wills
you cannot stop Hu

my best advice
will be of no use to you

as much as I wish I could
give you good advice

if God wishes
to lead you into error

Hu is your Liege
and to Hu
you will be returned"

or do they say

"He has made it up"?

say

"If I have made it up
I am responsible
for what I have done

but I am not responsible
for any of the wrongs
that you do"

and it was revealed to Noah

"None of your people
will believe
except those
who already believe

so do not be upset
at what they do

make the Ark
as We look down
in the way that We tell you

and do not talk to Me
about those who
have done wrong

they shall be drowned"

so while he was
building the Ark

whenever any nobles
of his people
passed by him
they would
make fun of him

he said

"If you laugh at us now
we will surely
laugh at you

in just the way
that you are laughing

and you will soon know
to whom will come
a punishment

shaming them

and on them will fall
an everlasting punishment"

and then
Our command came
and the oven boiled

and We said

"Load into it
two of every kind

and your family

except for him
against whom the Word has
already been spoken

and whoever believes"

but those who
believed with him
were just a few

he said

"Get on board it

in God's Name
will be the direction
of its journey

and the place
where it comes
to land

surely my Liege is
Most-Forgiving
Ever-Merciful"

and so it ran with them
through waves
like mountains

and Noah called out
to his son
who was standing apart

"My son
get on board with us

do not be with
those who are
ungrateful"

he said

"I will take shelter
on a mountain

that will save me
from the water"

he said

"Today there is no defender
from God's command

apart from those
on whom Hu has mercy"

and the waves
came between them

and he was among
the drowned

and it was said

"Earth
swallow up your waters

and heaven
hold back your rain"

and the waters went down

and the command
was satisfied

and the Ark came to land
on al-Judi

and it was said

"Away with those people
who choose to do wrong"

and Noah called out
to his Liege
and said

"My Liege
my son is of my family
and Your promise
is surely the truth

You are
the most just of judges"

Hu said

"Noah
he is not of your family

his actions were not good

do not ask Me for what
you know nothing about

I warn you
in case you become
one of the ignorant"

he said

"My Liege
I ask Your protection

to keep me from asking
for anything from You
without knowledge

for if You do not
forgive me
and do not
have mercy on me
I shall be one of the losers"

it was said

"Noah
go down
in peace from Us

and blessings upon you
and on the communities
who will come from
those with you

and We will give
other communities
enjoyment

but after that
they will receive from Us
a painful punishment"

that is the news of the unseen
which We reveal to you

you did not know it before this
nor did your people

so be patient

truly the final end
is for those who are
Mindful of God

and to Ad We sent
their brother Hood

he said

"My people
serve God

you have no god
apart from Hu

you are making things up

my people

I do not ask
for any reward
from you
for this

my reward
depends only
on my Creator

will you not understand?

my people

ask for
forgiveness
from your Liege

and turn to Hu in sorrow

and Hu will send
from heaven
plentiful rain for you

and Hu will make you
stronger and stronger

so do not turn away
with those who do wrong"

they said

"Hood

you have not brought us
a Clear Sign

we will not leave our gods
for what you say

we do not believe you

we only say
that one of our gods
has caused
this wrong inside you"

he said

"I call on God to witness
and you to witness

that I have
nothing more to do with
the partner-gods
you set up

alongside Hu

so plot against me
all together
and give me no rest

truly
I have put my trust
in God

my Liege
and your Liege

there is no
creature that crawls
but Hu takes it
by the forehead

surely
my Liege
is on a straight path

but if you turn your backs
I have delivered
to you
what I was sent with
for you

and my Liege will bring
another people
in your place

you will not hurt Hu
in any way

my Liege is
Guardian
over everything"

and when
Our command came
We saved Hood

and those who believed
with him
by a mercy from Us

and We saved them from
a harsh punishment

that was Ad

they said that
the Signs of their Liege
were lies

and disobeyed
Hu's Messengers

and followed the command
of every arrogant tyrant

and they were followed
by a curse in this life
and on the Day of Rising

surely
Ad were ungrateful
to their Liege

so away with Ad
the people of Hood

and to Thamood
their brother Salih said

"My people
serve God
you have no god
apart from Hu

it is Hu produced you
from the earth
and has given you
all you need
to live there

so ask Hu for
forgiveness
and turn to Hu
in sorrow

surely my Liege is close
and answers prayer"

they said

"Salih
we had great hopes in you
before this happened

do you want us
to stop serving
what our
families before us served?

truly we have serious doubts
about what you are
asking us to do

we are concerned"

he said

"My people
what do you think?

if I stand by
the Clear Sign
I have received
from my Liege

and Hu has given me
mercy from Hu

who will help me
against God
if I rebel against Hu?

you could do
nothing to help me
only to help
increase my loss

my people

this she-camel
belongs to God
she is a Sign for you

leave her free
to eat on God's earth

and do not do her harm
and cause a
close punishment
to take you"

but they crippled her

and he said

"Enjoy yourselves
where you live
for three days

this promise
can be relied on"

and when
Our command came

We saved Salih
and those who believed
with him

by a mercy from Us

from the disgrace
of that day

your Liege is
Tireless
Powerful

then a great blast
took hold of
those who did wrong

and the morning found them
crushed flat
beneath their homes

as if they had
never lived there

surely
Thamood were ungrateful
to their Liege

so away with
Thamood

Our messengers
came to Abraham
with the good news

they said

"Peace"

and he said

"Peace"

and after a little while
he brought them
a roasted calf

and when he saw that
their hands
did not reach for the food

he was suspicious of them

and became afraid of them

but they said

"Do not be afraid

we have been sent
to the people of Lot"

and his wife
was standing close by
and she laughed

so We gave her
the good news
of Isaac

and after Isaac
Jacob

she said

"Woe is me
how can I have a child
when I am an old woman

and my husband
is an old man?

that would be a
very strange thing"

they said

"Do you marvel
at God's command?

the mercy of God
and Hu's blessings
be upon you
people of the House

surely Hu is
All-Praiseworthy
Splendid"

so when the fear
left Abraham

and the good news
reached him

he argued with Us
on behalf of
the people of Lot

Abraham was
tolerant

merciful

asking for forgiveness

"Abraham
turn away from this

the order of your Liege
has surely come about

and there is falling on them
a punishment
that will not be turned back"

and when Our messengers
came to Lot

he was very upset
and worried for them

and said

"This is a dreadful day"

and his people came to him
running towards him

they were long used to
doing many wrong things

he said

"My people
these are my daughters
they would be
more pure for you

be Mindful of God
and do not shame me
with my guests

is there not among you
one person
of good intentions?"

they said

"You know
we have no right
to your daughters

and you well know
what it is we want"

he said

"If only I had
the strength to stop you

or could rely on
strong support
for safety"

they said

"Lot
we are messengers
from your Liege

they will not reach you

so set off with your family
in the middle of the night

and do not let anyone
turn around
except your wife

what strikes them
will strike her as well

their promised time
is in the morning

is the morning not
almost here?"

when Our command came
We turned their town
upside down

and rained on it
stones of baked clay

one upon another

marked by your Liege

never far from
those who do wrong

and to Midian
their brother Shuaib
said

"My people
serve God
you have no god
apart from Hu

and do not give
short measure
and short weight

I see you are getting rich
and I am afraid
that you will meet
the punishment of
an overwhelming day

my people

fill up the measure
and the balance
with justice

and do not take from
what is owned by
other people

and do not go
about the earth
spreading sickness

what God leaves
is better for you
if you believe

I am not
a guardian over you"

they said

"Shuaib
does your prayer tell you
that we should
stop worshipping
what our families
worshipped before us

or doing what we want
with what we own?

you are a tolerant
and sensible man"

he said

"My people

what do you think?

if I stand by
the Clear Sign
I have received
from my Liege

and Hu has
provided well for me

I would clearly
not want to go
behind your backs
to do what I have
forbidden to you

I only want
to set things right
as far as I am able

my success
depends only on God

in Hu I have put my trust
and to Hu I turn in sorrow

my people

do not let
your split with me
push you into doing wrong

so you are struck down
by what struck
the people of Noah

or the people of Hood
or the people of Salih

and the people of Lot
are not far away from you

and ask for
forgiveness
from your Liege

then turn to Hu
in sorrow

surely
my Liege is
Ever-Merciful
All-Loving"

they said

"Shuaib
we do not understand
much of what you say

and we see you as weak

if it were not for your clan
we would have stoned you
for you are not strong
against us"

he said

"My People

is my clan
stronger against you
than God?

have you taken Hu
as something to be
thrown away behind you?

my Liege
surrounds
everything you do

my people
do as you think best

that is what I am doing

and certainly
you will know those
to whom the punishment
will come

shaming them

and whoever is a liar

so be on your watch
I shall be with you
watching"

and when
Our command came

We saved Shuaib
and those who believed
with him
by a mercy from Us

then a great blast
took hold of
those who did wrong

and the morning found them
crushed flat
beneath their homes

as if they had
never lived there

so away with Midian
just like Thamood

and We sent Moses
with Our Signs

and a clear authority

to Pharaoh
and his ruling circle

but they followed
Pharaoh's orders

and Pharaoh's orders
were misguided

he shall go
before his people
on the Day of Rising

and will lead them down
into the Fire

what a disgusting
drinking place
to be led down to

and a curse
followed them
in this world

and remains
on the Day of Rising

what a foul gift
to be offered

that is some of the story
of the cities
that We tell to you

some are still standing
and some are only stubble

and We did not
do them wrong

they did wrong
to themselves

their gods
that they called on
apart from God
did not help them
in any way
when the command came
from your Liege

they only helped them
towards greater ruin

such is the fierce grip
of your Liege
when Hu seizes
the cities that do wrong

surely Hu's grip is painful
terrible

surely in that is a Sign
for anyone who is afraid of
the punishment
of the world to come

that is a day
when humankind
are to be gathered

a day to witness

and We will not
postpone it
beyond a certain time

on the day that it comes
no soul will speak
except by Hu's permission

and some will be
joyless
and some will be
happy

as for the joyless

they will be in the Fire
sobbing and groaning

living there forever
for as long as
the heavens and the earth
exist

unless your Liege
wills otherwise

surely your Liege achieves
whatever Hu wills

and as for the happy

they shall be in Paradise

living there forever
for as long as
the heavens and the earth
exist

unless your Liege
wills otherwise

a gift that will not be broken

so do not be in any doubt
about what
these people worship

they only worship in the way
their families worshipped
long before

and We will surely pay them
what they have earned
in full

it will not be reduced

We gave Moses the Book
and people
disagreed about it

and had it not been for
a Word from your Liege
that came before
it would already have been
decided between them

and they are
in doubt about it
suspicious

surely your Liege will pay
each one of them
in full for their actions

Hu is aware of
the things they do

so go straight
as you have been told

along with those
who turn to God with you

and do not go
beyond the limits

surely Hu sees
the things you do

and do not rely on
those who do wrong
or the Fire may touch you

then you will have
no protector
other than God

and you will not
be helped

and make the Sala
at the two ends of the day
and the start of the night

surely good deeds
will drive away
bad deeds

that is a reminder
for those who
pay attention

and be patient

God will not let
the reward
of those who do good
go to waste

if only there had been
more people
in the generations
before you

with enough sense left
to forbid
spreading sickness
on the earth

other than
the few among them
that We saved

those
who were wicked
happily followed
the life of ease and luxury
they had been given

proud to be among
those who do wrong

but your Liege would never
destroy cities unjustly

while their people
were still trying
to put things right

if your Liege had willed
Hu would have made
humankind
one people

but they continue
arguing their differences

except those on whom
your Liege has mercy

that is what
Hu created them for

so the Word of
your Liege
can come to pass

"I will surely fill Hell
with jinn and humankind
all together"

and all that We tell you
from the stories of
the Messengers

is so that We can
strengthen your heart
in them

there has come to you
the truth

and lessons
and a Reminder
to those who believe

and say to those
who do not believe

"Do whatever you can
we are doing what we can"

and
watch and wait

We also
watch and wait

to God belongs
the unseen
in the heavens and the earth

all that exists
will return to Hu

so worship Hu
and put your trust in Hu

your Liege
does not ignore
the things you do

IZQ < - > Joseph