46. Sura al-Ahqaf with Urdu Translation

Sura 46. al-Ahqaf (the Sand-dunes):

In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Ever-Merciful.

1. Ha-Mim. (Only Allah and the Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) know the real meaning.)

2. The revelation of this Book is from Allah, Almighty, Most Wise.

3. And We have not created the heavens and the earth and (the Creation) that is between them but with wisdom and (fixing of) the appointed term. And those who have disbelieved turn away from what they have been warned of.

4. Say: ‘Tell me of the (idols) you worship instead of Allah; show me what they have created in the earth, or (bring it forth if) they have a partnership in (the creation of) the heavens. Bring me (as a proof) any Book (revealed) before this (Qur’an) or some remnant of knowledge (of the bygone people in transit down the line), if you are truthful.’

5. And who can be more in error than someone who worships such (idols) apart from Allah as cannot answer (his question) till the Day of Resurrection? And those (idols) have no consciousness of their (very) prayer and worship.

6. And when mankind shall be gathered (on the Day of Resurrection) those (false gods) will be their enemies and will deny their worship (for their own absolution).

7. And when Our clear Verses are recited to them (then) the disbelievers say about the Truth (the Qur’an) while it has come to them: ‘This is obvious magic.’

8. Do they say that (the Messenger) has fabricated it (the Qur’an)? Say: ‘If I have concocted it then you have no authority to save me from (the torment of) Allah. And He knows best the (words) you utter about this (Qur’an) as mockery. He (Allah) is Sufficient as witness between me and you. And He is Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.’

9. Say: ‘I am not the first Messenger (towards mankind that no precedent of Messengership exists before me). Nor do I know of my own accord (i.e. purely by means of my own mental faculty and self-application) what will be done to me or what will be done to you. (My knowledge is nothing except that) I follow that Revelation alone which is sent to me. (It is this that provides me knowledge about everything.) And I am simply a clear Warner (on the basis of this knowledge obtained through Revelation).

10. Say: ‘Tell me, if this (Qur’an) is from Allah and you deny it and a witness from the Children of Israel (also) bears testimony to the mention of (the revelation of) such a Book (in the Revealed Books revealed earlier), then he believes (in it as well) but (despite that) you show arrogance, (then what will be your fate?) Surely Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.’

11. And the disbelievers said to the believers: ‘Had it (Din of Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him)) been (a) better (religion), these people would not have advanced towards it taking lead over us. (We would have accepted it before anyone else.)’ And when they (the disbelievers) have not taken guidance from it (themselves) now they say: ‘This is an old lie (and a fabrication).’

12. And before it was the Book of Musa (Moses (the Torah)), a Guide and Mercy. And this Book confirms that. It is in the Arabic language to warn the wrongdoers and give good news to the pious.

13. Surely those who say: ‘Allah is our Lord,’ then hold fast (to it) have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve.

14. They it is, the people of Paradise, who will live in it forever. This is the reward of the deeds they used to do.

15. And We have commanded man to be benevolent towards his parents. His mother bears him (in the womb) with pain and gives birth to him with pain. And bearing him (in the womb) and weaning of him (i.e. the period of pregnancy and feeding) is (spread over) thirty months. Till, when he attains to manhood and then reaches (the fully mature age of) forty years, he says: ‘O my Lord, bestow on me the ability to give You thanks for the favour which You have done to me and my parents, and that I may do such deeds as may please You, and endow me and my children with virtue and piousness. Assuredly I turn to You, and certainly I am of those who obey You in submissiveness.’

16. It is they whose good works We accept and overlook their omissions. (It is) they (who) are the people of Paradise. This is the True Promise which is being made to them.

17. And he who says to his parents: ‘Fie on you! Do you promise me that I shall be brought forth (from the grave and given life once more) when generations have passed away before me?’ Now both (the parents) pray to Allah for help (and say to the son:) ‘Woe to you, (O son!) Accept faith. Surely Allah’s promise is true.’ But he says (in reply): ‘These (words) are nothing but fiction of the bygone people.’

18. It is they against whom the Command of Allah’s (torment) has proved true among generations that have passed of the jinn as well as mankind. Surely they (all) were the losers.

19. And the ranks (in Paradise and Hell) are allocated for all (separately) according to the (good and evil) deeds which they do, so that (Allah) pays them back in full for their actions and they shall not be wronged at all.

20. And the Day when the disbelievers will be brought before the Fire of Hell (it will be said to them:) ‘You received your favourite and tasteful luxuries in the life of the world and exacted from them (maximum) benefit. So, Today you will be rewarded punishment of humiliation because you lived on earth with arrogance unjustly and (also) because you used to disobey.’

21. And, (O Beloved,) remember (Hud), the kinship brother of the people of ‘Ad, when he warned his people (of the dire consequences of their evil deeds) in al-Ahqaf, (the Sand-Dunes (a valley in Yemen, between Uman (Oman) and Mahra)) although (a number of) Warners (Messengers) had passed before and after him, (saying:) ‘Worship no one but Allah. I fear for you the punishment of a (Terrible) Day.’

22. They said: ‘Have you come to us to turn us away from our gods? So bring us that (torment) you are threatening us with, if you are of those who speak the truth.’

23. He said: ‘The knowledge (of the Hour of the torment) is with Allah alone. And I am only transmitting to you the injunctions which I have been sent with. But I can see that you are an ignorant people.’

24. So when they saw that (torment) advancing on their valleys like a cloud, they said: ‘This is the cloud that is going to rain upon us.’ (No, not so;) this (cloud) is rather that (torment) which you were restlessly seeking to hasten. (This) is the storm in which is (approaching) a grievous punishment.

25. (That) will destroy everything by the command of its Lord. They were (destroyed) in such a way that nothing could be seen except their (ruined) houses. That is how We punish the evildoers.

26. (O people of Makka!) In fact We had given them power and ability in those fields of activity in which We have not granted you potential. And We blessed them with hearing and sight and (invaluable qualities of) head and heart. But neither their ears nor their eyes, nor their heads and hearts were of any use to them since they kept denying the Signs of Allah. And (at last) that (torment) besieged them which they used to laugh at.

27. And, (O people of Makka,) indeed We destroyed many a town around you, and displayed Our Signs time and again so that they might turn (back to them from disbelief).

28. Then why did those (idols) not come to their aid which they had taken as gods besides Allah for attaining (His) nearness? But in fact they (false gods) were lost from them. And this (setting up false gods) was their lie. And (it was) this fabrication that they used to weave.

29. And, when (O Beloved,) We diverted a group of jinn who listened to the Qur’an with active attention to attend to you (and) when they came there (i.e. before the Holy Presence of the Messenger) they said (to one another): ‘Keep silent.’ And when (the recitation) was over they went back grown into warners to their people (i.e. the callers to the Truth).

30. They said: ‘O our people (O community of jinn), indeed we have heard such a Book that has been revealed after (the Torah of) Musa (Moses. It) confirms (the Books) that came before it and guides to the true (Din (Religion)) and the straight road.

31. O our people! Accept the call of the Caller (the Holy Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him)) to Allah and believe in him. Allah will, then, forgive your sins and save you from a painful punishment.

32. And he who does not accept the call of the Caller (the Holy Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him)) to Allah, cannot thwart Allah (by running away) on earth. Nor will there be any helpers for him except Allah. It is they who are in open error.’

33. Do they not know that Allah Who created the heavens and the earth and was not tired by creating them has (also) the power to bring the dead back to life (again)? Yes, of course, He has power over everything.

34. And the Day when the disbelievers will be brought to the Fire (it will be said to them:) ‘Is this (punishment) not based on the truth?’ They will say: ‘Yes, of course! By our Lord (it is true).’ (Allah) will say: ‘Then taste the punishment you used to deny.’

35. (O Beloved!) So be steadfast as (other) Messengers with unwavering determination too were steadfast and do not hasten (to seek the torment) for these (deniers). The Day they will see this (punishment in the Hereafter) which they are being promised, (they will think) as though they did not stay (in the world) for more than an hour. (This is but) the communication of the Message (from Allah). The people other than the disobedient ones will not be destroyed.