19 0 In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful 1 Kaf. Ha. Ya. 'Ain. Saad. 2 (This is) a recital of the Mercy of your Lord to His servant Zakariya. 3 Behold! he cried to his Lord in secret, 4 Praying: ''O my Lord! Infirm indeed are my bones, and the hair of my head glistens with grey: but never am I unblest, O my Lord, in my prayer to You! 5 ''Now I fear (what) my relatives (and colleagues) (will do) after me: but my wife is barren: so give me an heir as from Yourself, - 6 ''(One that) will (truly) represent me, and represent the posterity of Jacob; and make him, O my Lord! one with whom You are well-pleased!'' 7 (His prayer was answered): ''O Zakariya! We give you good news of a son: his name shall be Yahya: on none by that name We have conferred distinction before.'' 8 He said: ''O my Lord! how shall I have a son, when my wife is barren and I have grown quite decrepit from old age?'' 9 He said: ''So (it will be): your Lord says, `That is easy for Me: I indeed created you before, when you had been nothing!''' 10 (Zakariya) said: ''O my Lord! give me a Sign.'' ''Your Sign,'' was the answer, ''shall be that you shall speak to no man for three nights, although you are not dumb.'' 11 So Zakariya came out to his people from his chamber: he told them by signs to celebrate Allah's praises in the morning and in the evening. 12 (To his son came the command): ''O Yahya! take hold of the Book with might'': and We gave him Wisdom even as a youth, 13 And pity (for all creatures) as from Us, and purity: he was devout, 14 And kind to his parents, and he was not overbearing or rebellious. 15 So Peace on him the day he was born, the day that he dies, and the day that he will be raised up to life (again)! 16 Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East. 17 She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. 18 She said: ''I seek refuge from you to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if you fear Allah.'' 19 He said: ''Nay, I am only a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a holy son.'' 20 She said: ''How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?'' 21 He said: ''So (it will be): your Lord says, `That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign to men and a Mercy from Us': it is a matter (so) decreed.'' 22 So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place. 23 And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she cried (in her anguish): ''Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!'' 24 But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): ''Do not grieve! for your Lord has provided a rivulet beneath you; 25 ''And shake toward yourself the trunk of the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon you. 26 ''So eat and drink and cool (your) eye. And if you see any man, say, `I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day I will not enter into any talk with any human being.''' 27 At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said: ''O Mary! truly an amazing thing you have brought! 28 ''O sister of Aaron! your father was not a man of evil, nor your mother an unchaste woman!'' 29 But she pointed to the babe. They said: ''How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?'' 30 He said: ''I am indeed a servant of Allah: He has given me Revelation and made me a prophet; 31 ''And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; 32 ''(He) has made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable; 33 ''So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)''! 34 Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute. 35 It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, ''Be'', and it is. 36 Verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord: you, therefore serve Him: this is a Way that is straight. 37 But the sects differ among themselves: and woe to the Unbelievers because of the (coming) Judgment of a momentous Day! 38 How plainly will they see and hear, the Day that they will appear before Us! But the unjust to-day are in manifest error! 39 But warn them of the Day of Distress, when the matter will be determined: for (behold,) they are negligent and they do not believe! 40 It is We Who will inherit the earth, and all beings thereon: to Us will they all be returned. 41 (Also) mention in the Book (the story of) Abraham: he was a man of Truth, a prophet. 42 Behold, he said to his father: ''O my father! why worship that which does not hear and does not see, and can profit you nothing? 43 ''O my father! to me has come knowledge which has not reached you: so follow me: I will guide you to a Way that is even and straight. 44 ''O my father! do not serve Satan: for Satan is a rebel against (Allah) Most Gracious. 45 ''O my father! I fear lest a Penalty afflict you from (Allah) Most Gracious, so that you become a friend to Satan.'' 46 (The father) replied: ''Do you hate my gods, O Abraham? If you do not forbear, I will indeed stone you: now get away from me for a good long while!'' 47 Abraham said: ''Peace be on you: I will pray to my Lord for your forgiveness: for He is to me Most Gracious. 48 ''And I will turn away from you (all) and from those whom you invoke besides Allah: I will call on my Lord: perhaps, by my prayer to my Lord, I shall be not unblest.'' 49 When he had turned away from them and from those whom they worshipped besides Allah, We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and each one of them We made a prophet. 50 And We bestowed of Our Mercy on them, and We granted them lofty honor on the tongue of truth. 51 Also mention in the Book (the story of) Moses: for he was specially chosen, and he was a Messenger (and) a prophet. 52 And We called him from the right side of Mount (Sinai), and made him draw near to Us, for mystic (converse). 53 And, out of Our Mercy, We gave him his brother Aaron, (also) a prophet. 54 Also mention in the Book (the story of) Isma'il: he was (strictly) true to what he promised, and he was a Messenger (and) a prophet. 55 He used to enjoin on his people Prayer and Charity, and he was most acceptable in the sight of his Lord. 56 Also mention in the Book the case of Idris: he was a man of truth (and sincerity), (and) a prophet; 57 And We raised him to a lofty station. 58 Those were some of the prophets on whom Allah bestowed His Grace, - of the posterity of Adam, and of those whom We carried (in the Ark) with Noah, and of the posterity of Abraham and Israel - of those whom We guided and chose. Whenever the Signs of (Allah) Most Gracious were rehearsed to them, they would fall down in prostrate adoration and in tears. 59 But after them there followed a posterity who missed prayers and followed after lusts; soon, then, they will face Destruction, - 60 Except those who repent and believe, and work righteousness: for these will enter the Garden and will not be wronged in the least, - 61 Gardens of Eternity, those which (Allah) Most Gracious has promised to His servants in the Unseen: for His promise must (necessarily) come to pass. 62 They will not hear any vain discourse there, but only salutations of Peace: and therein they will have their sustenance, morning and evening. 63 Such is the Garden which We give as an inheritance to those of Our servants who guard against evil. 64 (The angels say:) ''We do not descend but by command of your Lord: to Him belongs what is before us and what is behind us, and what is between: and your Lord never forgets, - 65 ''Lord of the heavens and of the earth, and of all that is between them: so worship Him, and be constant and patient in His worship. Do you know of any who is worthy of the same Name as He?'' 66 Man says: ''What! When I am dead, shall I then be raised up alive?'' 67 But does not man call to mind that We created him before, out of nothing? 68 So, by your Lord, without doubt, We shall gather them together, and (also) the Evil Ones (with them); then We shall bring them forth on their knees round about Hell: 69 Then We shall certainly drag out from every sect all those who were worst in obstinate rebellion against (Allah) Most Gracious. 70 And certainly We know best those who are most worthy of being burned therein. 71 Not one of you but will pass over it: this is, with your Lord, a Decree which must be accomplished. 72 But We shall save those who guarded against evil, and We shall leave the wrong-doers therein, (humbled) to their knees. 73 When Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them, the Unbelievers say to those who believe, ''Which of the two sides is best in point of position? which makes the best show in Council?'' 74 But how many (countless) generations before them We have destroyed, who were even better in equipment and in glitter to the eye? 75 Say: ''If any men go astray, (Allah) Most Gracious extends (the rope) to them, until, when they see the warning of Allah (being fulfillled) - either in punishment or in (the approach of) the Hour, - they will at length realise who is worst in position, and (who) weakest in forces! 76 ''And Allah advances those in guidance who seek guidance: and the things that endure, Good Deeds, are best in the sight of your Lord, as rewards, and best in respect of (their) eventual returns.'' 77 Have you then seen the (sort of) man who rejects Our Signs, yet says: ''I shall certainly be given wealth and children.'' 78 Has he penetrated to the Unseen, or has he taken a contract with (Allah) Most Gracious? 79 Nay! We shall record what he says, and We shall add and add to his punishment. 80 To Us shall return all that he talks of, and he shall appear before Us bare and alone. 81 And they have taken (for worship) gods other than Allah, to give them power and glory! 82 Instead, they shall reject their worship, and become adversaries against them. 83 Don't you see that We have set the Evil Ones on against the Unbelievers, to incite them with fury? 84 So make no haste against them, for We but count out to them a (limited) number (of days). 85 The day We shall gather the righteous to (Allah) Most Gracious, like a band presented before a king for honors. 86 And We shall drive the sinners to hell, like thirsty cattle driven down to water, - 87 None shall have the power of intercession, but such a one as has received permission (or promise) from (Allah) Most Gracious. 88 They say: ''(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten a son!'' 89 Indeed you have put forth a thing most monstrous! 90 At it the skies are ready to burst, the earth to split asunder, and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin. 91 That they should invoke a son for (Allah) Most Gracious. 92 For it is not consonant with the majesty of (Allah) Most Gracious that He should beget a son. 93 Not one of the beings in the heavens and the earth but must come to (Allah) Most Gracious as a servant. 94 He takes an account of them (all), and has numbered them (all) exactly. 95 And everyone of them will come to Him singly on the Day of Judgment. 96 On those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, (Allah) Most Gracious will bestow Love. 97 So We have made the (Qur'an) easy in your own tongue, that with it you may give glad tidings to the righteous, and warnings to people given to contention. 98 But how many (countless) generations before them We have destroyed? Can you find a single one of them (now) or hear (so much as) a whisper of them?

The Qur'an (by Abudallah Yusuf Ali) © 2005/2007 Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, Inc.