30. Sura ar-Rūm with Urdu Translation

Sura 30. ar-Rūm (the Roman Empire):

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

1. Alif, Lam, Mim. (Only Allah and the Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) know the real meaning.)

2. The Romans have been overpowered (by Persia),

3. In the land nearby. And after their defeat they will soon gain victory,

4. In a few years (i.e. in less than a decade). The Command is but Allah’s both before (in the Persian dominance) and afterwards too (in the Roman dominance). And the believers will rejoice on that day,

5. With the help of Allah. He helps whom He wills and He is Almighty, Ever-Merciful.

6. (This) is the Promise of Allah. Allah does not go against His promise but most people do not know.

7. They know only the visible worldly life and they are neglectful and unaware of (the real life of) the Hereafter.

8. Have they not meditated within themselves that Allah has not created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between the two except with (a system of) Truth and for (a span of) fixed term? And surely most of the people do not believe in the meeting with their Lord.

9. Have they not travelled in the earth and seen what was the end of those before them? They were more powerful than them. And they cultivated the earth and inhabited it far more than these people have done. Then their Messengers came to them with clear Signs. So Allah would not wrong them but they wronged their souls themselves.

10. Then much evil came to be the end of those who did evil because they used to belie the Revelations of Allah and used to ridicule them.

11. Allah generates creation the first time, then (He is the One Who) will create it the second time, then to Him you will be returned.

12. And the Day when the Last Hour is established, the evildoers will lose hope.

13. And none of their (self-made) partners will intercede for them, and (ultimately) they will deny their very same partners.

14. And the Day when the Last Hour will be established, people will separate from one another (in personal agony).

15. So those who believe and always do pious deeds will be pleased and delighted in the Gardens of Paradise.

16. And those who disbelieve and belie Our Revelations and the Meeting of the Last Day, it is they who will be brought forth to the torment.

17. So glorify Allah when you enter the evening (Maghrib and ‘Isha’ times) and when you enter the morning (Fajr time).

18. And all praise in the heavens and the earth be to Him alone and (glorify Him) in the afternoon (‘Asr time) and at noon (Zuhr time) as well.

19. He is the One Who brings forth the living from the dead and brings forth the dead from the living and enlivens and freshens the earth after its death and you (too) will be brought forth (from the graves) the same way.

20. And of His Signs is that He created you from dust, then now you are human beings spread around (all over the globe).

21. And (also) of His Signs is that He created for you mates of your own kind so that you acquire peace from them, and He created between you love and mercy. Verily in this (system of creation) there are Signs for those who meditate.

22. And of His Signs (too) is the creation of the heavens and the earth and (also) the diversity of your tongues and colours. Verily in that are Signs for the men of knowledge (and research).

23. And (also) of His Signs is your sleep by night and by day and your looking for His Bounty (sustenance). Verily there are Signs in it for the (active) listeners.

24. And among His Signs (as well) is that He shows you lightning to make you fear and hope and pours (rain) water from the sky. Then with that He brings the earth back to life and liveliness after it dies. Verily there are Signs in it for those who put their mind to work.

25. And (also) of His Signs is that the heavens and the earth stand firm by His (system of) Command. Then when He will give you one call to come (forth) from the earth, at once you will come (forth).

26. And whatever is in the heavens and the earth (all) belongs to Him alone. All are obedient and submissive to Him alone .

27. And He is the One Who originates creation, then will regenerate it and this (recreation) is very easy for Him. His is the highest Glory in the heavens and the earth and He is Almighty, Most Wise.

28. (To bring home the point of the Oneness of God) He has illustrated an example for you from your personal lives: Are those (slaves/slave girls), whom you possess, your partners in the wealth which We have given you, that you (all) become equal sharers (owners? Moreover, do) you fear them as you fear one another? (No,) We explain the Signs expressly in the same way for those who possess wisdom (that there is no partner of Allah also in His Creation).

29. But those who have done injustice follow the desires of their (ill-commanding) selves without any knowledge (and guidance). So who can guide him whom Allah has held astray? And there are no helpers for them.

30. So set your face with absolute concentration (and single-minded devotion) to the obedience of Allah. The nature (made) by Allah is (Islam) on which He has created mankind; (Adopt it. The instinct) created by Allah will never be changed. This Din (Religion) is straight but most people do not know (these realities).

31. Have your mind set in turning towards Him alone in repentance and remorse and fear Him and establish Prayer and be not of the polytheists.

32. (Be not also) of those (Jews and Christians) who disintegrated their religion and became sects and subsects—every sect rejoices over what is with them.

33. And when suffering afflicts people they call upon their Lord turning towards Him, but when He delights them with the taste of Mercy from Him then some of them straight away start setting up partners with their Lord,

34. To show ingratitude for the Bounty which We have given them. So enjoy benefits (of a few days’ life), then soon you will know (your end).

35. Have We sent down to them any (such) authority that speaks as a witness in favour of these idols they associate as partners with Allah?

36. And when We delight people with the taste of Mercy they cheer up with that, and when some suffering touches them due to the sins they have already perpetrated they lose hope at once.

37. Have they not seen that Allah releases sustenance in abundance for whom He wills and restrains it (for whom He likes)? Surely there are Signs in it for those who believe.

38. So keep giving to the close relative his due and to the needy and the wayfarers (their due). That is best for those who seek the pleasure of Allah and it is they who will achieve the goal.

39. And the money that you lend at usury so that (your wealth) may increase through mingling with other people’s money will not increase with Allah, but the money that you give as Zakat ((the obligatory Alms-due) and charity donations), seeking (solely) Allah’s pleasure—so it is they who multiply (their money with Allah) manifold.

40. Allah is the One Who created you, then granted you sustenance, then causes you to die and then will bring you back to life. Is there any of your (self-made) partners who may do any of these (works)? Holy is He (Allah) the Glorious, the Transcendent, far above these things which they associate as partners (with Him).

41. Corruption and disorder has spread over land and sea on account of (the sins) which people have earned with their hands so that Allah may make them taste the outcome of some of their (evil) deeds that they have committed in order that they may desist.

42. Say: ‘Travel in the land then see how (alarming) was the end of the people before you. Most of them were polytheists.’

43. So set your (radiant) face to the straight Din (Religion) before that Day comes from Allah which will not avert (at all). On that Day people will separate from one another.

44. Whoever disbelieves will himself face the (evil consequences) of disbelief, while those who act piously are setting aright for themselves the places of rest (in Paradise),

45. So that Allah rewards out of His Bounty those who believe and do good deeds. Surely He does not take the disbelievers for friends.

46. And (also) of His Signs it is that He sends winds that bring glad tidings (of rain), so that He may bless you with His Mercy (in the shape of the results of rain) and that the ships may (also) sail with His Command (by means of these winds). And (all this) is because you may seek His bounty (in the form of agriculture and business) and you may (thus) become thankful.

47. And in fact We sent before you Prophets to their respective peoples and they came to them with clear Signs. Then We took revenge on the wicked (who belied and disbelieved), and to help the believers was (and is) a binding obligation upon Our Grace.

48. Allah is the One Who sends the winds and they raise the clouds. Then He spreads this (cloud) in the atmosphere in the sky as He likes. Then He breaks it up into (various) pieces (layer upon layer). Then you see the rain pouring down from its midst. Then, when He sends it to those of His servants whom He pleases, they become instantly cheerful,

49. Although they were in despair before the rainfall upon them.

50. So see the effects of Allah’s Mercy how He gives life to the earth after its death. Surely He will bring the dead (also) back to life (in the same way) and He is All-Powerful over everything.

51. And if We send a dry wind and they see (their) crops turning yellow, then after this they will start denying (all the earlier favours).

52. (O Beloved!) Surely you neither make the dead (i.e. the disbelievers deprived of the vitality of faith) hear your call nor the deaf (i.e. deprived of hearing the call of Truth) while they are getting away (from you) turning their backs.

53. Nor can you turn (these) blind (wanting in insight) from misguidance to the path of guidance. You recite (with the essential understanding and competence of acceptability) only to those people who believe in Our Revelations. So it is they who are Muslims. (You recite to none except them.)

54. Allah is the One Who created you from a weak thing (i.e. a sperm drop). Then after weakness He generated strength (of youth). Then after strength He produced debility and senility. He creates what He wills; and He is All-Knowing, All-Powerful.

55. And the Day when the Last Hour is established, the evildoers will swear they did not stay (in the world) for more than an hour. They used to turn back (from Truth) in the same manner (in the world as well).

56. And those blessed with knowledge and faith will say (to them): ‘Indeed, according to the Book of Allah, you have stayed till the Day of Resurrection (instead of one hour). So this is the Day of Resurrection but you did not know it.’

57. So on that Day the excuse of the wrongdoers will not be of any benefit to them, nor will they be asked to please (Allah).

58. And in truth We have elucidated every type of example in this Qur’an for the people (to make them understand). And if you bring to them some (visible) Sign even then these disbelieving people will certainly say: ‘You are doing only falsehood and fraud.’

59. That is how Allah seals the hearts of the people who do not know (the Truth).

60. So be steadfast. Verily the Promise of Allah is true. Let not those who lack certitude of faith enfeeble you (on account of the grief over their straying and discomfort for their guidance. O life of the universe, let not their disbelief become a grief consuming your soul).