Surah 26. Ash-Shuara

keeping yourselves aloof from all the [lawful] spouses whom your Sustainer has created for you? Nay, but you are people who transgress all bounds of what is right!"

  - Mohammad Asad

and leave those whom your Rabb has created for you to be your mates? Nay! You are a people who have transgressed all limits."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are froward folk.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Said they: "Indeed, if thou desist not, O Lot, thou wilt most certainly be expelled [from this township]!"

  - Mohammad Asad

They replied: "If you do not stop, O Lut, you shall become one of the expelled."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They said: If thou cease not, O Lot, thou wilt soon be of the outcast.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[Lot] exclaimed: "Behold, I am one of those who utterly abhor your doings!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Lut said: "I am certainly one of those who abhor your actions.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

He said: I am in truth of those who hate your conduct.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[And then he prayed:] "O my Sustainer! Save me and my household from all that they are doing!"

  - Mohammad Asad

O Rabb! Deliver me and my family from their wicked deeds."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

My Lord! Save me and my household from what they do.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Thereupon We saved him and all his household -

  - Mohammad Asad

So We delivered him and all his family

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So We saved him and his household, every one,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

all but an old woman, who was among those that stayed behind;⁷¹

  - Mohammad Asad

As is evident from 7:83 , 11:81 , 27:57 and {29:32-33}, the old woman was Lots' wife - a native of Sodom - who chose to remain with her own people instead of accompanying her husband, whom she thus betrayed (cf. also 66:10 ).

except an old woman who was left among those who remained behind.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Save an old woman among those who stayed behind.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and then We utterly destroyed the others,

  - Mohammad Asad

Then We utterly destroyed the rest.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then afterward We destroyed the others.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and rained down upon them a rain [of destruction]:⁷² and dire is such rain upon all who let themselves be warned [to no avail]!⁷³

  - Mohammad Asad

See 11:82 and the corresponding note [114].

Or, in the past tense: "dire was the rain upon those who had been warned" - in which case this sentence would refer specifically to the sinful people of Sodom and Gomorrah. However, it is much more probable that its purport is general (see note [115] on the last sentence of 11:83 ). Zamakhshari's interpretation of the above sentence is analogous to mine.

We rained down on them the rain of brimstones: and evil was the rain which fell on those who were forewarned.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And We rained on them a rain. And dreadful is the rain of those who have been warned.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

In this [story], behold, there is a message [unto men], even though most of them will not be-lieve [in it].

  - Mohammad Asad

Surely in this story there is a great lesson, but most of these people do not learn a lesson and become believers.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But, verily, thy Sustainer- He alone - is almighty, a dispenser of grace!

  - Mohammad Asad

The fact is that your Rabb is the Mighty as well as the Merciful.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And lo! thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[AND] the dwellers of the wooded dales [of Madyan] gave the lie to [one of God's] message-bearers

  - Mohammad Asad

The people of Aiykah, also, disbelieved their Rasools.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The dwellers in the wood (of Midian) denied the messengers (of Allah),

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

when their brother Shutayb⁷⁴ said unto them: "Will you not be conscious of God?

  - Mohammad Asad

See note [67] on the first sentence of 7:85 . The story of Shu'ayb and the people of Madyan (the "wooded dales") is given in greater detail in {11:84-95}.

Remember Shu'aib asked them: "Have you no fear of Allah?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

When Shueyb said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Behold, I am an apostle [sent by Him] to you, [and therefore] worthy of your trust:

  - Mohammad Asad

Rest assured that I am a trustworthy Rasool of Allah towards you.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

be, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me!

  - Mohammad Asad

So fear Allah and obey me.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"And no reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward rests with none but the Sustainer of all the worlds.

  - Mohammad Asad

I do not ask you any reward for my services, for my reward will be given by the Rabb of the Worlds.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And I ask of you no wage for it; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall