النمل

TA SIN. THESE are the verses of the Qur'an, and collection of explicit laws,

A guidance and good tidings for the believers,

Who fulfil their devotional obligations, pay the zakat, and believe with certainty in the life to come.

We make their deeds attractive to those who do not believe in the Hereafter, so that they may wander in perplexity.

They are those who will suffer the worst chastisement in this life, and will be the greatest losers in the life to come.

You have been conveyed the Qur'an from One all-wise and all-knowing.

(Remember) when Moses said to his family: "I see a fire. I shall bring you news from it, or bring an ember that you may warm yourselves."

But when he reached it, a voice called out: "Blessed is He who is in the fire and all around it. Praised be God, the Lord of all the worlds.

O Moses, I am that God, the mighty and all-wise.

Throw down your staff." When he saw it wriggling like a serpent he turned his back and fled without turning (to look). "O Moses," (said the voice), "be not fearful. Surely those sent as messengers do not fear in My presence,

Except those who do some wrong but afterwards do good to make up for the wrong. And I am forgiving and merciful.

Put your hand in the bosom of your shirt; it will come out white without any blemish. This will be one of nine tokens for the Pharaoh and his people, who are a wicked lot indeed."

And when Our signs came as distinct proofs, they said: "This is only magic."

And they denied them out of malice and pride, though in their hearts they believed that they were true. So see how was the end of evil-doers!

We gave David and Solomon knowledge; and they said: "All praise be to God who has favoured us over many of His creatures who believe."

Solomon was heir to David, and he said: "O people, we have been taught the language of Tair, and have been given of everything. This is a clear favour indeed."

His armies of jinns and men and Tair assembled, formed into ranks, (and marched)

Till they reached the Valley of Naml. Said the lady of Naml: "O Naml, go into your dwellings lest Solomon and his hordes should crush you unawares."

(Solomon) smiled, amused at her speech, and said: "O Lord grant me that I should be grateful for the favours You have bestowed on me and my parents, and do good things of Your pleasing; and admit me among Your righteous devotees by Your grace."

When he reviewed the Tair, he said: "How is it I do not see Hud-hud? Is he absent?

I will punish him severely, or cut his throat, unless he bring a valid excuse."

But he was not long in coming, and reported: "I have been around where you have not been. I come from Saba with positive news.

I found a woman reigning over them, and she has been favoured with everything; and she has a throne that is magnificent.

I found that she and her people worship the sun in place of God, for Satan has made their deeds look attractive to them and has turned them away from the Path, so they do not find the way

To worship God who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and is cognisant of what you hide and what you disclose.

God: There is no god but He, the Lord of the glorious throne."

(Solomon) said: 'We shall see if you speak the truth or you are a liar.

Take this letter from me, and deliver it to them and withdraw, then see what reply they give in return."

(The Queen said): "O nobles, a venerable letter has been delivered to me.

It is from Solomon, and (says): 'In the name of Allah, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim.

Do not rise against me, but come to me in submission.'

." Advise me, O nobles," she said "in this matter. I do not decide any thing until you concur."

They said: "We are men of valour, and brave fighters. It is for you to decide. So consider what you should command."

She said: "Surely when kings enter a city they destroy it and despoil the honour of its nobility. So will they do (to us).

But I will send them a gift and see what the envoys bring back (in return)."

So, when the envoys came to Solomon he said: "Do you wish to increase my wealth? Yet what God has given me is better than what He has given you. No. Be gratified in your present.

Go back to them. We shall soon come with our armies which they will not be able to face. We shall drive them out of (the land) with ignominy, and they will be humbled."

He (then) said (to his courtiers): "O you nobles, is there any one who can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?"

A crafty jinn said: "I will bring it before you rise from your seat, for I am strong and trustworthy."

But one who had knowledge of the letter, said: "I will bring it to you in the twinkling of an eye." When Solomon saw it before him, (he said): "This is by the grace of my Lord that He may test me whether I am grateful or I am thankless. Yet if one is grateful, he is grateful for himself, and if one is thankless, then surely my Lord is unconcerned and magnanimous."

(Turning to his nobles) he said: "Change the appearance of her throne. Let us see if she is rightly guided, or is not guided at all."

When she arrived, they asked her: "Is your throne like this?" She said: "As though this is it. We had come to have knowledge and already submitted."

She was (in fact) turned away by what she worshipped other than God, for she came of an unbelieving people.

She was invited to enter the court. When she saw it, she took it for a sheet of water, and (pulling up her skirts) uncovered her legs. (Solomon) told her: "This is paved with tiles of glass." "O Lord," she said, "I have wronged myself, and I submit to the Lord of all the worlds with Solomon."

We sent to Thamud their brother Saleh (who said): "Worship God." But they were divided into two groups disputing with one another.

(Saleh) said: "O people, why do you wish to hasten evil rather than good? Why not ask for God's forgiveness? You may well be forgiven."

They said: "You betoken evil, and those with you." (Saleh) replied: "The evil you presage can only come from God. In reality you are a people under trial (for your own inauspiciousness)."

There were in that city nine persons who spread disorder in the land, and did not reform.

They said: "Let us swear by God that we will attack Saleh and his family at night, and later tell his heirs: 'We did not see his family destroyed, and we speak the truth.'"

They hatched up the plot; We also planned without their knowledge.

Now see the end of their machinations: We destroyed them and their entire people.

So these their habitations lie deserted now because of their iniquities. Verily there is a sign in this for those who understand.

We deliver those who believe and take heed for themselves.

(Remember) Lot, when he said to his people: "Why do you indulge in obscenities when you know (it is evil)?

You lust after men in place of women. You are indeed a stolid people."