Surah An-Nahl Recitation, Translation, and Tafseer - The Holy Quran

16:41

وَ الَّذِیْنَ هَاجَرُوْا فِی اللّٰهِ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوْا لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُمْ فِی الدُّنْیَا حَسَنَةًؕ-وَ لَاَجْرُ الْاٰخِرَةِ اَكْبَرُۘ-لَوْ كَانُوْا یَعْلَمُوْنَۙ(۴۱)

Those who left their homes in the cause of God after having been oppressed, will be given by Us a better place in the world, and if they knew, the guerdon of the next would be greater

And those that emigrated in God's cause after they were wronged -- We shall surely lodge them in this world in a goodly lodging, and the wage of the world to come is greater, did they but know;

16:42

الَّذِیْنَ صَبَرُوْا وَ عَلٰى رَبِّهِمْ یَتَوَكَّلُوْنَ(۴۲)

(For) those who persevere and place their trust in their Lord.

even such men as are patient, and put their trust in their Lord.

16:43

وَ مَاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ اِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوْحِیْۤ اِلَیْهِمْ فَسْــٴَـلُوْۤا اَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَۙ(۴۳)

We sent before you none (as apostles) but men, to whom We sent revelations. In case you are unaware, enquire of those who are keepers of the Oracles of God.

We sent not any before thee, except men to whom We revealed: 'Question the people of the Remembrance, if it should be that you do not know --

16:44

بِالْبَیِّنٰتِ وَ الزُّبُرِؕ-وَ اَنْزَلْنَاۤ اِلَیْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَیِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ اِلَیْهِمْ وَ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَتَفَكَّرُوْنَ(۴۴)

We had Sent them with miracles and Books; and We have sent to you this Reminder so that you may explain distinctly to men what was sent down to them: They may haply reflect.

with the clear signs, and the Psalms; and We have sent down to thee the Remembrance that thou mayest make clear to mankind what was sent down to them; and so haply they will reflect.

16:45

اَفَاَمِنَ الَّذِیْنَ مَكَرُوا السَّیِّاٰتِ اَنْ یَّخْسِفَ اللّٰهُ بِهِمُ الْاَرْضَ اَوْ یَاْتِیَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَیْثُ لَا یَشْعُرُوْنَۙ(۴۵)

Have the plotters of mischief become unafraid that God will not split the earth to swallow them, or that punishment will not fall upon them from somewhere they do not (even) suspect?

Do they feel secure, those who devise evil things, that God will not cause the earth to swallow them, or that the chastisement will not come upon them, from whence they are not aware?

16:46

اَوْ یَاْخُذَهُمْ فِیْ تَقَلُّبِهِمْ فَمَا هُمْ بِمُعْجِزِیْنَۙ(۴۶)

Or that He will not seize them as they move about, and they will not be able to elude (His grasp);

Or that He will not seize them in their going to and fro, and they will not be able to frustrate Him?

16:47

اَوْ یَاْخُذَهُمْ عَلٰى تَخَوُّفٍؕ-فَاِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوْفٌ رَّحِیْمٌ(۴۷)

Or He may seize them by diminishing their portion. Yet your Lord is compassionate and kind.

Or that He will not seize them, little by little destroying them? Surely thy Lord is All-clement, All-compassionate.

16:48

اَوَ لَمْ یَرَوْا اِلٰى مَا خَلَقَ اللّٰهُ مِنْ شَیْءٍ یَّتَفَیَّؤُا ظِلٰلُهٗ عَنِ الْیَمِیْنِ وَ الشَّمَآىٕلِ سُجَّدًا لِّلّٰهِ وَ هُمْ دٰخِرُوْنَ(۴۸)

Do they not see the shadows of all things God has created incline to the right and the left, bowing in obeisance to God?

Have they not regarded all things that God has created casting their shadows to the right and to the left, bowing themselves before God in all lowliness?

16:49

وَ لِلّٰهِ یَسْجُدُ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِی الْاَرْضِ مِنْ دَآبَّةٍ وَّ الْمَلٰٓىٕكَةُ وَ هُمْ لَا یَسْتَكْبِرُوْنَ(۴۹)

All things that move on the earth and in the heavens, and the angels, bow in homage to God, and do not behave with pride.

To God bows everything in the heavens, and every creature crawling on the earth, and the angels. They have not waxed proud;

16:50

یَخَافُوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ مِّنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَ یَفْعَلُوْنَ مَا یُؤْمَرُوْنَ۠۩(۵۰)

They have fear of God for His power over them, and act as commanded.

they fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.

16:51

وَ قَالَ اللّٰهُ لَا تَتَّخِذُوْۤا اِلٰهَیْنِ اثْنَیْنِۚ-اِنَّمَا هُوَ اِلٰهٌ وَّاحِدٌۚ-فَاِیَّایَ فَارْهَبُوْنِ(۵۱)

God says: "Do not take to two gods, for there is only one God. So fear Me."

God says: 'Take not to you two gods. He is only One God; so have awe of Me.'

16:52

وَ لَهٗ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ وَ لَهُ الدِّیْنُ وَاصِبًاؕ-اَفَغَیْرَ اللّٰهِ تَتَّقُوْنَ(۵۲)

Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him, and His the judgement for ever. So will you fear any other than God?

To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and earth; His is the religion for ever. Then will you fear other than God?

16:53

وَ مَا بِكُمْ مِّنْ نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللّٰهِ ثُمَّ اِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فَاِلَیْهِ تَجْــٴَـرُوْنَۚ(۵۳)

Whatsoever the blessings you enjoy are surely from God, and when in trouble you turn to Him in supplication.

Whatsoever blessing you have, it comes from God; then when affliction visits you it is unto Him that you groan.

16:54

ثُمَّ اِذَا كَشَفَ الضُّرَّ عَنْكُمْ اِذَا فَرِیْقٌ مِّنْكُمْ بِرَبِّهِمْ یُشْرِكُوْنَۙ(۵۴)

Yet when He has delivered you from affliction, some of you ascribe companions to your Lord

Then, when He removes the affliction from you, lo, a party of you assign associates to their Lord,

16:55

لِیَكْفُرُوْا بِمَاۤ اٰتَیْنٰهُمْؕ-فَتَمَتَّعُوْا- فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُوْنَ(۵۵)

So as to deny what We have bestowed on them. Well, enjoy yourselves, you will come to know soon.

that they may show unthankfulness for that We have given them. So take your joy; certainly you will soon know!

16:56

وَ یَجْعَلُوْنَ لِمَا لَا یَعْلَمُوْنَ نَصِیْبًا مِّمَّا رَزَقْنٰهُمْؕ-تَاللّٰهِ لَتُسْــٴَـلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنْتُمْ تَفْتَرُوْنَ(۵۶)

They set aside a portion of the food We have given them for those they do not know. By God, you will surely have to answer for all you contrive!

And they appoint a share of that We have provided them to what they know not. By God, you shall be questioned as to that you forged.

16:57

وَ یَجْعَلُوْنَ لِلّٰهِ الْبَنٰتِ سُبْحٰنَهٗۙ-وَ لَهُمْ مَّا یَشْتَهُوْنَ(۵۷)

They attribute daughters to God, the glorious, but for themselves whatsoever they please.

And they assign to God daughters; glory be to Him! -- and they have their desire;

16:58

وَ اِذَا بُشِّرَ اَحَدُهُمْ بِالْاُنْثٰى ظَلَّ وَجْهُهٗ مُسْوَدًّا وَّ هُوَ كَظِیْمٌۚ(۵۸)

Yet when news of the birth of a daughter reaches one of them, his face is darkened, and he is overwhelmed with silent grief,

and when any of them is given the good tidings of a girl, his face is darkened and he chokes inwardly,

16:59

یَتَوَارٰى مِنَ الْقَوْمِ مِنْ سُوْٓءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهٖؕ-اَیُمْسِكُهٗ عَلٰى هُوْنٍ اَمْ یَدُسُّهٗ فِی التُّرَابِؕ-اَلَا سَآءَ مَا یَحْكُمُوْنَ(۵۹)

And hides from people for shame at the news, (at a loss) whether he should keep her with shame, or bury her in the ground. How bad is the judgement that they make!

as he hides him from the people because of the evil of the good tidings that have been given unto him, whether he shall preserve it in humiliation, or trample it; into the dust. Ah, evil is that they judge!

16:60

لِلَّذِیْنَ لَا یُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِالْاٰخِرَةِ مَثَلُ السَّوْءِۚ-وَ لِلّٰهِ الْمَثَلُ الْاَعْلٰىؕ-وَ هُوَ الْعَزِیْزُ الْحَكِیْمُ۠(۶۰)

The semblance of those who believe not in the life to come is that of the meanest; but the semblance of God is the most sublime, for He is all-mighty and all-wise.

Those who believe not in the world to come, theirs is the evil likeness; God's is the loftiest likeness; He is the All-mighty, the All-wise.

16:61

وَ لَوْ یُؤَاخِذُ اللّٰهُ النَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِمْ مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَیْهَا مِنْ دَآبَّةٍ وَّ لٰكِنْ یُّؤَخِّرُهُمْ اِلٰۤى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّىۚ-فَاِذَا جَآءَ اَجَلُهُمْ لَا یَسْتَاْخِرُوْنَ سَاعَةً وَّ لَا یَسْتَقْدِمُوْنَ(۶۱)

If God were to punish men for their inequity He would not leave a single moving thing on earth. Yet He gives them latitude for a time ordained. When that time is come, there will not be a moment´s delay nor a moment´s haste.

If God should take men to task for their evildoing, He would not leave on the earth one creature that crawls; but He is deferring them to a term stated; and when their term is come they shall not put it back by a single hour nor put it forward.

16:62

وَ یَجْعَلُوْنَ لِلّٰهِ مَا یَكْرَهُوْنَ وَ تَصِفُ اَلْسِنَتُهُمُ الْكَذِبَ اَنَّ لَهُمُ الْحُسْنٰىؕ-لَا جَرَمَ اَنَّ لَهُمُ النَّارَ وَ اَنَّهُمْ مُّفْرَطُوْنَ(۶۲)

Yet they attribute to God what they find detestable; and their tongues assert the lie that for them is only good. On the contrary, there is Fire for them, and they will be thrown into it.

They assign to God that they themselves dislike; and their tongues describe falsehood, that the reward most fair shall be theirs. Without any doubt theirs shall be the Fire, and they are hastened in.

16:63

تَاللّٰهِ لَقَدْ اَرْسَلْنَاۤ اِلٰۤى اُمَمٍ مِّنْ قَبْلِكَ فَزَیَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّیْطٰنُ اَعْمَالَهُمْ فَهُوَ وَلِیُّهُمُ الْیَوْمَ وَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِیْمٌ(۶۳)

By God, We sent apostles to many a people before you, but Satan made their acts seem attractive to them, and he is their friend this day, and a painful torment awaits them.

By God, assuredly We sent Messengers to nations before thee, but Satan decked out fair to them their deeds; he is their protector today, and there yet awaits them a painful chastisement.

16:64

وَ مَاۤ اَنْزَلْنَا عَلَیْكَ الْكِتٰبَ اِلَّا لِتُبَیِّنَ لَهُمُ الَّذِی اخْتَلَفُوْا فِیْهِۙ-وَ هُدًى وَّ رَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ یُّؤْمِنُوْنَ(۶۴)

We have sent down this Book to you that you may explain to them what it is that they are differing about, and as guidance and a grace for those who believe.

And We have not sent down upon thee the Book except that thou mayest make clear to them that whereon they were at variance, and as a guidance and as a mercy to a people who believe.

16:65

وَ اللّٰهُ اَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَاَحْیَا بِهِ الْاَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَاؕ-اِنَّ فِیْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰیَةً لِّقَوْمٍ یَّسْمَعُوْنَ۠(۶۵)

God sends down water from the skies and quickens the dead earth to a new birth. Here is a sign for those who listen.

And it is God who sends down out of heaven water, and therewith revives the earth after it is dead. Surely in that is a sign for a people who have ears.

16:66

وَ اِنَّ لَكُمْ فِی الْاَنْعَامِ لَعِبْرَةًؕ-نُسْقِیْكُمْ مِّمَّا فِیْ بُطُوْنِهٖ مِنْۢ بَیْنِ فَرْثٍ وَّ دَمٍ لَّبَنًا خَالِصًا سَآىٕغًا لِّلشّٰرِبِیْنَ(۶۶)

And surely in cattle there is a lesson for you: We give you a drink from the extract of food in their bellies and blood-purest milk so delicious to drink;

And surely in the cattle there is a lesson for you; We give you to drink of what is in their bellies, between filth and blood, pure milk, sweet to drinkers.

16:67

وَ مِنْ ثَمَرٰتِ النَّخِیْلِ وَ الْاَعْنَابِ تَتَّخِذُوْنَ مِنْهُ سَكَرًا وَّ رِزْقًا حَسَنًاؕ-اِنَّ فِیْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰیَةً لِّقَوْمٍ یَّعْقِلُوْنَ(۶۷)

And in fruits of the date-palm and the vine, from which you obtain inebriating drinks and excellent food. In this indeed are signs for those who understand.

And of the fruits of the palms and the vines, you take therefrom an intoxicant and a provision fair. Surely in that is a sign for a people who understand.

16:68

وَ اَوْحٰى رَبُّكَ اِلَى النَّحْلِ اَنِ اتَّخِذِیْ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُیُوْتًا وَّ مِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَ مِمَّا یَعْرِشُوْنَۙ(۶۸)

Your Lord predisposed the bees to make their hives in mountains, trees and trellices,

And thy Lord revealed unto the bees, saying: 'Take unto yourselves, of the mountains, houses, and of the trees, and of what they are building.

16:69

ثُمَّ كُلِیْ مِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرٰتِ فَاسْلُكِیْ سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًاؕ-یَخْرُ جُ مِنْۢ بُطُوْنِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ اَلْوَانُهٗ فِیْهِ شِفَآءٌ لِّلنَّاسِؕ-اِنَّ فِیْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰیَةً لِّقَوْمٍ یَّتَفَكَّرُوْنَ(۶۹)

And suck from all fruits and flit about the unrestricted paths of their Lord. A drink of various hues comes out of their bellies which contains medicine for men. In this is a sign for those who reflect.

Then eat of all manner of fruit, and follow the ways of your Lord easy to go upon.' Then comes there forth out of their bellies a drink of diverse hues wherein is healing for men. Surely in that is a sign for a people who reflect.

16:70

وَ اللّٰهُ خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ یَتَوَفّٰىكُمْ ﳜ وَ مِنْكُمْ مَّنْ یُّرَدُّ اِلٰۤى اَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ لِكَیْ لَا یَعْلَمَ بَعْدَ عِلْمٍ شَیْــٴًـاؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِیْمٌ قَدِیْرٌ۠(۷۰)

It is God who creates you, then makes you die; and some reach the age of dotage when they forget what they had known before. God is indeed all-knowing and all-powerful.

God created you; then He will gather you to Him; and some of you will be kept back unto the vilest state of life, that after knowing somewhat, they may know nothing; God is All-knowing, All-powerful.

16:71

وَ اللّٰهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلٰى بَعْضٍ فِی الرِّزْقِۚ-فَمَا الَّذِیْنَ فُضِّلُوْا بِرَآدِّیْ رِزْقِهِمْ عَلٰى مَا مَلَكَتْ اَیْمَانُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِیْهِ سَوَآءٌؕ-اَفَبِنِعْمَةِ اللّٰهِ یَجْحَدُوْنَ(۷۱)

God has favoured some of you over others in the means of subsistence. But those who have been favoured with more do not give of their means to their dependents so that they may become equal with them. Do they then deny God´s beneficence?

And God has preferred some of you over others in provision;, but those that were preferred shall not give over their provision to that their right hands possess, so that they may be equal therein. What, and do they deny God's blessing?

16:72

وَ اللّٰهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنْ اَنْفُسِكُمْ اَزْوَاجًا وَّ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنْ اَزْوَاجِكُمْ بَنِیْنَ وَ حَفَدَةً وَّ رَزَقَكُمْ مِّنَ الطَّیِّبٰتِؕ-اَفَبِالْبَاطِلِ یُؤْمِنُوْنَ وَ بِنِعْمَتِ اللّٰهِ هُمْ یَكْفُرُوْنَۙ(۷۲)

God has provided mates for you of your own kind, and has bestowed on you sons and daughters from your mates, and has given you good things for food. Will they even then believe in the false and deny God´s grace?

God has appointed for you of yourselves wives, and He has appointed for you of your wives sons and grandsons, and He has provided you of the good things. What, do they believe in vanity, and do they disbelieve in God's blessing?

16:73

وَ یَعْبُدُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ مَا لَا یَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ رِزْقًا مِّنَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ شَیْــٴًـا وَّ لَا یَسْتَطِیْعُوْنَۚ(۷۳)

Yet they worship those apart from God who cannot provide for them any sustenance from the heavens or the earth, nor will they have power to do so.

And do they serve, apart from God, that which has no power to provide them anything from the heavens and the earth and can do nothing?

16:74

فَلَا تَضْرِبُوْا لِلّٰهِ الْاَمْثَالَؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ یَعْلَمُ وَ اَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ(۷۴)

So do not invent similitudes for God. Indeed God knows, and you do not know.

So strike not any similitudes for God; surely God knows, and you know not.

16:75

ضَرَبَ اللّٰهُ مَثَلًا عَبْدًا مَّمْلُوْكًا لَّا یَقْدِرُ عَلٰى شَیْءٍ وَّ مَنْ رَّزَقْنٰهُ مِنَّا رِزْقًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ یُنْفِقُ مِنْهُ سِرًّا وَّ جَهْرًاؕ-هَلْ یَسْتَوٗنَؕ-اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِؕ-بَلْ اَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا یَعْلَمُوْنَ(۷۵)

God presents the example of a man who is a hired servant with no power over anything, and another on whom We have bestowed a handsome fortune, who spends from it in private and in public: Can they be equal? Praised be God! But most men do not understand.

God has struck a similitude: a servant possessed by his master, having no power over anything, and one whom We have provided of Ourselves with a provision fair, and he expends of it secretly and openly. Are they equal? Praise belongs to God! Nay, most of them know not.

16:76

وَ ضَرَبَ اللّٰهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَیْنِ اَحَدُهُمَاۤ اَبْكَمُ لَا یَقْدِرُ عَلٰى شَیْءٍ وَّ هُوَ كَلٌّ عَلٰى مَوْلٰىهُۙ-اَیْنَمَا یُوَجِّهْهُّ لَا یَاْتِ بِخَیْرٍؕ-هَلْ یَسْتَوِیْ هُوَۙ-وَ مَنْ یَّاْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِۙ-وَ هُوَ عَلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِیْمٍ۠(۷۶)

God presents another example of two men, one dumb and unable to do a thing and is a burden on his master. Wherever he is sent he returns without any good (result). Could he be equal to one who enjoins what is just, and follows the right path?

God has struck a similitude: two men, one of them dumb, having no power over anything, and he is a burden upon his master -- wherever he despatches him, he brings no good. Is he equal to him who bids to justice, and is on a straight path?

16:77

وَ لِلّٰهِ غَیْبُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِؕ-وَ مَاۤ اَمْرُ السَّاعَةِ اِلَّا كَلَمْحِ الْبَصَرِ اَوْ هُوَ اَقْرَبُؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَیْءٍ قَدِیْرٌ(۷۷)

To God belong the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and the Hour of Doom is a matter of the winking of an eye, even less, for God has certainly power over all things.

To God belongs the Unseen in the heavens and in the earth. And the matter of the Hour is as a twinkling of the eye, or nearer. Surely God is powerful over everything.

16:78

وَ اللّٰهُ اَخْرَجَكُمْ مِّنْۢ بُطُوْنِ اُمَّهٰتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ شَیْــٴًـاۙ-وَّ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَ الْاَبْصَارَ وَ الْاَفْـٕدَةَۙ-لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُوْنَ(۷۸)

God produced you from your mothers´ wombs knowing nothing, but gave you ears and eyes and hearts so that you may be grateful.

And it is God who brought you forth from your mothers' wombs, and He appointed for you hearing, and sight, and hearts, that haply so you will be thankful.

16:79

اَلَمْ یَرَوْا اِلَى الطَّیْرِ مُسَخَّرٰتٍ فِیْ جَوِّ السَّمَآءِؕ-مَا یُمْسِكُهُنَّ اِلَّا اللّٰهُؕ-اِنَّ فِیْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ یُّؤْمِنُوْنَ(۷۹)

Do you not see the birds held high between the heavens and the earth? Nothing holds them (aloft) but God. There are verily signs in this for those who believe.

Have they not regarded the birds, that are subjected in the air of heaven? Naught holds them but God; surely in that are signs for' a people who believe.

16:80

وَ اللّٰهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنْۢ بُیُوْتِكُمْ سَكَنًا وَّ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنْ جُلُوْدِ الْاَنْعَامِ بُیُوْتًا تَسْتَخِفُّوْنَهَا یَوْمَ ظَعْنِكُمْ وَ یَوْمَ اِقَامَتِكُمْۙ-وَ مِنْ اَصْوَافِهَا وَ اَوْبَارِهَا وَ اَشْعَارِهَاۤ اَثَاثًا وَّ مَتَاعًا اِلٰى حِیْنٍ(۸۰)

God has given you homes to live in, and tents (made) from the hides of cattle convenient for days of travelling and halting; and from their wool and fur and hair you make domestic articles and goods that last a certain time.

And it is God who has appointed a place of rest for you of your houses, and He has appointed for you of the skins of the cattle houses you find light on the day that you journey, and on the day you abide, and of their wool, and of their fur, and of their hair furnishing and an enjoyment for a while.