CHAPTER 27.  THE ANTS                                                                   SECTION 1.  PART XIX

IN THE NAME OF GOD
THE MOST GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL GOD

1  BENIGNANT, HEARING GOD

THESE ARE THE VERSES 
OF THE QURAN THAT MAKES MANIFEST

2  A GUIDANCE AND GOOD NEWS FOR THE BELIEVERS

3  WHO GIVE REGULAR CHARITY AND ESTABLISH REGULAR PRAYERS
AND ALSO HAVE FULL ASSURANCE OF THE HEREAFTER

4  AS TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE NOT IN THE HEREAFTER
WE MAKE THEIR DEEDS PLEASING TO THEM SO THEY BLINDLY WANDER 

5  THOSE ARE THEY FOR WHOM WILL BE FOR SURE
A GRIEVOUS PENALTY AND IN THE HEREAFTER 
THEY WILL BE THE GREATEST LOSERS

6  THIS QURAN IS BESTOWED UPON YOU FROM THE PRESENCE OF ONE
WHO IS WISE AND ALL KNOWING OF ALL THINGS IN CREATION

7  MOSES SAID TO HIS FAMILY, I DO PERCEIVE A FIRE
AND I WILL BRING YOU SOME INFORMATION FROM THERE

OR I WILL BRING A BURNING BRAND TO YOU 
TO LIGHT OUR FUEL AND TO WARM YOU 

8  BUT A VOICE SAID WHEN HE CAME TO THE FIRE 
BLESSED IS HE WHO IS IN SEARCH OF FIRE 
AND GLORY TO GOD, THE CREATOR 

9  OH MOSES, I AM GOD, THE WISE, THE MIGHTY

10  THROW YOUR ROD, AND WHEN HE SAW IT MOVE INDEPENDENTLY 
AS IF IT HAD BEEN A SNAKE, HE TURNED BACK IN RETREAT 
AND RETRACED NOT HIS STEPS AND IT WAS DECREED
OH MOSES, DO NOT FEAR AND TAKE HEED 
THOSE I CALL AS MESSENGERS HAVE NO FEAR INDEED

11  BUT IF ANY HAVE DONE EVIL
AND HAVE SUBSTITUTED GOOD TO TAKE THE PLACE OF EVIL 
THEN TO THEM I AM SURELY MOST FORGIVING AND MERCIFUL

12  NOW PUT YOUR HAND INTO YOUR BOSOM 
IT WILL COME FORTH WHITE AND WITHOUT IMPERFECTION  

THESE ARE AMONG NINE SIGNS TO TAKE TO PHARAOH AND HIS PEOPLE 
FOR THEY ARE A REBELLIOUS TRANSGRESSING PEOPLE

13  WHEN OUR SIGNS CAME TO THEM THAT SHOULD HAVE CLEARLY 
OPENED THEIR EYES THEY SAID, THIS IS MANIFEST SORCERY

14  THEY REJECTED THOSE SIGNS IN ARROGANCE AND INIQUITY 
ALTHOUGH THEIR SOULS WERE CONVINCED CLEARLY
SO SEE WHAT WAS THE END OF THOSE WHO ACTED CORRUPTLY?

360
CHAPTER 27.  THE ANTS                                                                    SECTION 2.  PART XIX

15  TO DAVID AND SOLOMON WE GAVE KNOWLEDGE CLEARLY
AND THEY BOTH SAID, TO GOD ALL PRAISES BE 
WHO HAS FAVORED US ABOVE MANY 
OF HIS SERVANTS WHO BELIEVE

16  AND SOLOMON WAS DAVID'S INHERITOR
HE SAID, MY PEOPLE WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THE SPEECH OF BIRDS
ON US HAS BEEN BESTOWED FROM OUR LORD AND CHERISHER
A LITTLE OF ALL THINGS, THIS IS GRACE FROM OUR MAKER 

17  AND BEFORE SOLOMON WERE GATHERED 
HIS ARMY OF DEMONS AND MEN AND BIRDS 
AND THEY WERE ALL KEPT IN BATTLE ORDER 

18  AT LENGTH WHEN THEY CAME TO A VALLEY OF ANTS 
ONE OF THE ANTS SAID, OH YOU ANTS 
GET INTO YOUR HABITANTS 

LEST SOLOMON AND HIS COMPANY 
CRUSH YOU UNDERFOOT UNKNOWINGLY

19  SO HE SMILED AMUSED AT HER SPEECH
AND HE SAID, OH MY LORD, ORDER ME PLEASE
THAT I MAY BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR BOUNTIES
WHICH YOU HAVE BESTOWED ON ME AND MY FAMILY
AND THAT I MAY BE OF THOSE WHO ACT RIGHTEOUSLY
THAT YOU MAY BE PLEASED AND BY YOUR GRACE ADMIT ME
IN TO THE RANKS OF YOUR SERVANTS WHO ACT RIGHTEOUSLY 

20  AND HE INSPECTED THE BIRDS IN HIS ARMY
AND SAID, WHY DO I NOT SEE THE HOOPOE 
OR IS HE AMONG THE ABSENTEES?

21  I WILL CERTAINLY PUNISH HIM WITH A SEVERE PENALTY 
OR EXECUTE HIM UNLESS HE BRINGS TO ME 
A CLEAR REASON FOR HIS ABSENTEE

22  BUT NOT FAR AWAY WAS THE HOOPOE
HE SAID, I HAVE COMPASSED TERRITORY 

WHICH HAS NOT BEEN COMPASSED BY YOU
AND I HAVE COME TO YOU FROM SHEBA WITH GOOD NEWS

23  I FOUND THERE A WOMAN RULING OVER THEM ALONE
SHE HAS EVERYTHING AND A MAGNIFICENT THRONE

24  I FOUND HER AND HER PEOPLE WORSHIPPING THE SUN
INSTEAD OF GOD, THE BENEFICENT ONE
AND SATAN, THE EVIL ONE
HAS MADE FAIRSEEMING THEIR REBELLION
AND HAS KEPT THEM AWAY FROM THE RIGHT DIRECTION
SO OF RIGHT GUIDANCE THEY HAVE NONE

25  THEY WORSHIP NOT GOD WHO BRINGS FORTH WHAT IS HIDDEN 
ALL THAT IS IN THE EARTH AND IN THE HEAVENS 
AND KNOWS WHAT IS HIDDEN AND OPEN 

26  GOD, THERE IS NO GOD BUT HE 
LORD OF THE THRONE OF AUTHORITY

361
CHAPTER 27.  THE ANTS                                                  SECTION 2 (CONT'D). PART XIX

27  SOLOMON SAID, SOON WILL WE SEE WHETHER YOU 
HAVE LIED OR IF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS TRUE

28  GO WITH THIS LETTER OF MINE AND DELIVER IT TO THEM 
THEN DRAW BACK AWAY FROM THEM 
AND WAIT TO SEE WHAT ANSWER RETURNS FROM THEM

29  THE QUEEN SAID, OH YOU CHIEFS, HERE IS DELIVERED TO ME 
A LETTER TO BE TREATED RESPECTFULLY

30 IT IS FROM SOLOMON AND IS IN THE NAME OF GOD
THE MOST GRACIOUS AND MOST MERCIFUL GOD

31  BE NOT AMONG THE ARROGANT ONES
BUT COME TO ME IN SUBMISSION 
TO THE TRUE RELIGION

362
CHAPTER 27.  THE ANTS                                                                   SECTION 3.  PART XIX

32  SHE SAID, OH YOU CHIEFS, ADVISE ME IN THIS MY AFFAIR 
I  DECIDE NOT OUTSIDE OF YOUR PRESENCE ANY AFFAIR

33  THEY SAID, GREAT STRENGTH HAVE WE
AND FOR WAR GREAT ABILITY 

BUT WITH YOU IS THE COMMAND 
SO CONSIDER WHAT YOU WILL COMMAND 

34  SHE SAID, KINGS WHEN THEY ENTER A COUNTRY DESPOIL IT 
AND MAKE THE NOBLEST OF ITS PEOPLE ITS WEAKEST 
THEY HAVE SURELY BEEN KNOWN TO DO IT

35  BUT I AM GOING TO SEND HIM A GIFT OF GRANDEUR
AND I WILL WAIT TO SEE WITH WHAT ANSWER 
RETURNS WITH MY AMBASSADORS

36  WHEN THE EMBASSY CAME TO SOLOMON
HE SAID, WILL YOU GIVE ME WEALTH AND POSSESSIONS?  

BUT GOD HAS GIVEN ME MORE THAN YOU
NO, THE ONE WHO REJOICES IN YOUR GIFT IS YOU

37  GO BACK AND TELL THEM THAT WE WILL COME TO THEM 
WITH AN ARMY THAT WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED BY THEM
AND WE WILL UTTERLY DISGRACE AND EXPEL THEM 
AND WE WILL COMPLETELY HUMBLE THEM

38  HE SAID TO HIS OWN MEN, OH YOU CHIEFS OF YOU WHICH ONE  
CAN BRING ME HER THRONE BEFORE SHE COMES IN SUBMISSION?

39  ONE AUDACIOUS AMONG THE DEMONS SAID, I WILL 
BRING IT TO YOU BEFORE YOU RISE FROM YOUR COUNCIL

I HAVE FULL STRENGTH FOR THE DUTY
AND I AM ONE WHO IS TRUSTWORTHY

40  ONE WHO HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE BOOK SAID, I 
WILL BRING IT TO YOU WITHIN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE 

THEN WHEN SOLOMON SAW IT PLACED BEFORE HIM FIRMLY
HE SAID, THIS IS BY THE GRACE OF MY LORD TO TEST ME 
WHETHER I ACT GRATEFUL OR UNGRATEFULLY
AND IF ANY ACT GRATEFUL HIS ACTING GRATEFULLY
IS A GAIN FOR HIS OWN SOUL, BUT IF ANY ACT UNGRATEFULLY
MY LORD IS SUPREME IN HONOR AND FREE OF ALL NEEDS 

41  HE SAID, TRANSFORM HER THRONE OUT OF ALL RECOGNITION 
LET US SEE WHETHER SHE IS GUIDED TO TRUTH AND REASON
OR IF SHE IS ONE WHO OF GUIDANCE RECEIVE NONE

363
CHAPTER 27.  THE ANTS                                                  SECTION 3 (CONT'D). PART XIX

42  WHEN SHE ARRIVED HE WAS ASKED, WAS YOUR THRONE LIKE THIS? 
AND SHE ANSWERED AND SAID, IT WAS JUST LIKE THIS 
AND KNOWLEDGE WAS BESTOWED ON US IN ADVANCE OF THIS 
AND WE HAVE SUBMITTED TO GOD AND WE BEAR WITNESS

43  HE DIVERTED HER FROM THE WORSHIP OF OTHERS 
FOR SHE AND HER PEOPLE WERE DISBELIEVERS

44  SHE CAME TO THE LOFTY PALACE TO ENTER 
WHEN SHE SAW IT SHE THOUGHT IT WAS A LAKE OF WATER

SHE TUCKED UP HER SKIRT UNCOVERING HER LEGS OPENLY
HE SAID, THIS PALACE HAS SLABS OF GLASS PAVED SMOOTHLY  
AND SHE SAID, OH MY LORD, I HAVE WRONGED MY SOUL UNJUSTLY
I SUBMIT WITH SOLOMON TO THE LORD OF THE WORLDS COMPLETELY

364
CHAPTER 27.  THE ANTS                                                                    SECTION 4.  PART XIX

45  WE SENT TO THE THAMUD, SALIH THEIR BROTHER SAYING 
SERVE GOD, BUT THEY BECAME TWO FACTIONS QUARRELING  

46  HE SAID, OH MY PEOPLE, WHY ASK FOR EVIL HASTILY
IN PREFERENCE TO THE GOOD FOR IF YOU WOULD HUMBLY 
ASK GOD FOR FORGIVENESS YOU MAY HOPE TO RECEIVE MERCY

47  THEY SAID, ILL OMEN DO WE AUGUR FROM YOU 
AND FROM THOSE THAT ARE WITH YOU 

HE SAID, WITH GOD IS YOUR OMEN OF ILL 
AND YOU ARE A PEOPLE UNDER TRIAL

48  THERE WAS IN THE CITY
NINE MEN OF A FAMILY 

WHO MADE MISCHIEF IN THE LAND 
AND WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND

49  THEY SAID, LET US SWEAR BY OUR LORD AN OATH THAT IS MUTUAL  
THAT WE WILL MAKE A NIGHT ATTACK ON HIM AND ON HIS PEOPLE
AND WE WILL SAY TO HIS HEIR WHEN HE BECOMES REVENGEFUL 
THAT WE WERE NOT THERE AT THE SLAUGHTER OF HIS PEOPLE
AND THAT WE ARE SURELY BEING TRUTHFUL 

50  SO THEY PLOTTED AND PLANNED 
BUT WHILE THEY PERCEIVED IT NOT WE TOO PLANNED

51  THE END OF THEIR PLOT WAS THAT WE DESTROYED THEM 
AND THEIR PEOPLE, ALL OF THEM

52  THEIR HOUSES WERE RUINED UTTERLY 
BECAUSE THEY PRACTICED INDECENCY 
IN THIS IS A SIGN FOR PEOPLE OF INIQUITY

53  WE SAVED THOSE WHO BELIEVED AND ACTED RIGHTEOUSLY

54  WE ALSO SENT LOT AS AN APOSTLE  
AND HE SAID TO HIS PEOPLE 

DO YOU ACT SHAMEFULLY
THOUGH YOU SEE ITS INIQUITY?

55  DO YOU APPROACH MEN LUSTFULLY
RATHER THAN WOMEN REALLY
YOU ARE PEOPLE GROSSLY 
STEEPED IN INIQUITY

56  BUT HIS PEOPLE GAVE THIS ANSWER ONLY
THEY SAID, DRIVE OUT LOT'S FOLLOWERS FROM YOUR CITY 
THESE ARE INDEED MEN WHO ASCRIBE TO PURITY

57  BUT WE SAVED HIM AND HIS FAMILY 
EXCEPT HIS WIFE FOR SHE LAGGED BELATEDLY

58  WE RAINED DOWN ON THEM A SHOWER OF BRIMSTONES
AND EVIL WAS THE SHOWER UPON THE ONES
WHO REFUSE TO RECEIVE ADMONITION 

365
CHAPTER 27.  THE ANTS                                                                   SECTION 5.  PART XIX

59  SAY, PRAISE BE TO GOD
AND PEACE BE ON THE SERVANTS OF GOD 
WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO RECEIVE THE MESSAGE OF GOD
AND WHO IS BETTER TO SERVE, GOD 
OR THE FALSE GODS THEY ASSOCIATE WITH GOD?

PART  XX

60  HE IT IS WHO CREATED THE EARTH AND THE HEAVENS 
AND SENDS DOWN RAIN TO YOU FROM THE HEAVENS 

AND WE CAUSE TO GROW WITH IT ORCHARDS
FULL OF BEAUTY AND DELIGHT WELL NURTURED
TO CAUSE THE GROWTH OF TREES IS NOT IN YOUR POWER 
BESIDES GOD CAN THERE BE ANOTHER? 
NO, THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRANSGRESSORS

61  WHO IS IT THAT HAS MADE THE EARTH FIRM AND LIVEABLE
AND MADE RIVERS IN IT AND MOUNTAINS IMMOVABLE? 

AND MADE A SEPARATING BARRIER
BETWEEN THE TWO BODIES OF FLOWING WATER 
THEN A GOD BESIDES GOD CAN THERE BE ANOTHER? 
DEFINITELY NOT BUT MOST OF THEM ARE DISBELIEVERS

62  OR WHO LISTENS TO THE SOUL DISTRESSED 
WHEN IT CALLS ON HIM AND WHO RELIEVES ITS STRESS? 

AND OF THE EARTH MAKES YOU THE INHERITORS 
BESIDES GOD CAN THERE BE ANOTHER?
LITTLE IT IS THAT YOU CONSIDER

63  WHO GUIDES YOU THROUGH THE DARKNESS ON LAND AND SEA
AND WHO SENDS THE WINDS GOING BEFORE HIS MERCY?  

CAN THERE BE ANOTHER GOD BESIDES GOD?  
HIGH IS GOD ABOVE WHAT THEY ASSOCIATE WITH GOD

64  OR WHO ORIGINATES, THEN REPEATS CREATION 
AND WHO GIVES YOU SUSTENANCE FROM EARTH AND HEAVEN 
CAN THERE BE ANOTHER LORD OF CREATION?

SAY, BRING FORTH YOUR PROOF
IF YOU ARE TELLING THE TRUTH

65  SAY, NONE IN THE EARTH OR THE HEAVENS 
EXCEPT GOD KNOWS WHAT IS HIDDEN 
NEITHER CAN THEY PERCEIVE WHEN
THAT THEY WILL BE RAISED AGAIN

NOR CAN KNOWLEDGE OF THEIRS 
COMPREHEND THE HEREAFTER 

66  NO, THEY ARE IN DOUBT ABOUT IT
AND IN UNCERTAINTY ABOUT IT 
NO, THEY ARE BLIND TO IT

366
CHAPTER 27.  THE ANTS                                                                     SECTION 6.  PART XX

67  THE DISBELIEVERS SAY, WHEN WE 
BECOME DUST, WE AND OUR FATHERS, WILL WE
THEN BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD REALLY?

68  THIS WAS PROMISED TO US
AND WAS PROMISED TO OUR FATHERS BEFORE US 
THESE ARE NOTHING BUT TALES OF THE ANCIENTS TO US

69  SAY, GO THROUGH THE EARTH AND SEE WHAT HAS BEEN 
THE END OF THOSE GUILTY OF SIN

70  BUT GRIEVE NOT OVER THEM AND DO NOT
DISTRESS YOURSELF BECAUSE OF THEIR PLOTS

71  AND THEY ALSO WILL SAY 
WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN IF IT IS TRUE WHAT YOU SAY?

72  SAY, IT MAY BE THAT SOME OF THE EVENTS WHICH YOU 
WISH TO HASTEN ON MAY BE CLOSE UPON YOU

73  BUT SURELY YOUR LORD TO MANKIND IS GRACEFUL 
YET MOST OF THEM ARE UNGRATEFUL

74  GOD KNOWS ALL THAT THEIR HEARTS CONCEAL 
AS WELL AS ALL THAT THEIR HEARTS REVEAL

75  NOR IS THERE ANYTHING HIDDEN
IN THE EARTH OR IN HEAVEN
BUT IS IN A BOOK CLEARLY WRITTEN 

76  THIS QURAN EXPLAINS TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CLEARLY 
MOST OF THE MATTERS IN WHICH THEY DISAGREE

77  AND IT CERTAINLY 
IS A GUIDE AND A MERCY 
TO ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE

78  YOUR LORD WILL DECIDE BETWEEN THEM BY HIS DECREE 
AND EXALTED IN MIGHT AND ALL KNOWING IS HE

79  SO PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD COMPLETELY
FOR YOU ARE ON THE PATH OF TRUTH MANIFESTLY 

80  YOU CANNOT CAUSE THE DEAD TO HEAR
AND YOU CAN NOT CAUSE THE DEAF TO HEAR  
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY TURN BACK DECLINING TO HEAR

81  NOR CAN YOU BE A GUIDE TO THE BLIND
PREVENTING THEM FROM IGNORING OUR SIGNS 
FOR ONLY THOSE WILL LISTEN AMONG MANKIND
WHO BOW IN SUBMISSION AND BELIEVE IN OUR SIGNS

82  AND WHEN THE WORD IS FULFILLED AGAINST THEM 
WE WILL PRODUCE FROM THE EARTH A BEAST TO FACE THEM 
AND HE WILL SPEAK TO THEM 
FOR OUR SIGNS MANKIND DID NOT BELIEVE IN THEM

367
CHAPTER 27.  THE ANTS                                                                    SECTION 7.  PART XX

83  ONE DAY WE WILL GATHER FROM EVERY PEOPLE A TROOP 
THOSE WHO REJECT OUR SIGNS WILL BE IN GROUPS

84  WHEN THEY COME BEFORE US TO RECEIVE JUSTICE
GOD WILL SAY, DID YOU REJECT MY MESSAGES 
THOUGH YOU COMPREHENDED THEM NOT IN KNOWLEDGE 
OR WHAT EXACTLY WAS IT THAT YOU DID?

85  THE WORD WILL BE FULFILLED AGAINST THEM COMPLETELY
BECAUSE OF THEIR CONSISTENTLY ACTING WRONGFULLY 
AND THEY WILL BE UNABLE TO MAKE A PLEA

86  SEE THEY NOT THAT WE HAVE MADE THE NIGHT 
FOR THEM TO REST IN AND THE DAY TO GIVE THEM LIGHT? 
IN THIS ARE SIGNS INDEED FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGHT

87  THE DAY THE TRUMPET WILL BE SOUNDED ALL WILL BE SMITTEN 
WITH TERROR WHO ARE ON EARTH AND IN THE HEAVENS 
EXCEPT THOSE WHO GOD PLEASES TO GIVE EXEMPTION 
AND ALL WILL COME TO HIM IN SUBMISSION

88  YOU SEE THE MOUNTAINS AND THINK THAT THEY
ARE FIRMLY FIXED BUT THEY WILL PASS AWAY 
AS DO THE CLOUDS PASS AWAY

SUCH IS THE ARTISTRY OF GOD WHO DISPOSES OF ALL THINGS 
FOR HE IS WELL ACQUAINTED WITH ALL THINGS

89  IF ANY DO GOOD, GOOD WILL ACCRUE TO THEM FROM IT 
AND THE TERROR THAT DAY, THEY WILL BE SECURE FROM IT

90  AND IF ANY DO EVIL THEIR FACES WILL BE
THROWN HEADLONG INTO THE FIRE, DO YOU RECEIVE 
A REWARD OTHER THAN THAT WHICH YOU EARN BY YOUR DEEDS? 

91  FOR ME I HAVE BEEN COMMANDED 
TO SERVE THE LORD OF THIS CITY WHO HAS SANCTIFIED IT 
AND TO WHOM BELONG ALL THINGS AND I AM COMMANDED 
TO BE THE FIRST OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUBMITTED

92  AND TO RECITE THE QURAN IN THE BEST MANNER
WHOEVER ACCEPTS GUIDANCE DOES IT FOR HIS OWN ENDEAVOR 
AND TO WHOEVER GOES ASTRAY - SAY, I AM ONLY A PLAIN WARNER 

93  AND SAY, PRAISE BE TO GOD, WHOSE SIGNS HE WILL SHOW YOU 
SO THAT THEY WILL CLEARLY BE MADE KNOWN TO YOU
AND GOD IS NOT UNMINDFUL OF WHAT YOU DO

368