# Sura 26 - The Poets *Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.* --- > SURA XXVI (26) - THE POETS (Mecca - 228 Verses) (LVI - 103) > > In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful > > Ta. Sin Mim. These are the signs of the lucid Book. > > Haply thou wearest thyself away with grief because they will not > believe. > > Were it our will we could send down to them a sign from Heaven, before > which they would humbly bow. > > But from each fresh warning that cometh to them from the God of Mercy > they have only turned aside, > > And treated it as a lie: But tidings shall reach them which they shall > not laugh to scorn. > > Have they not beheld the earth - how we have caused every kind of noble > plant to spring up therein? > > Verily, in this is a sign: but most of them believe not. > > And assuredly, thy Lord! - He is the Mighty, the Merciful. > > And remember when thy Lord called to Moses, "Go to the wicked people, > > 26:10 The people of Pharoah. What! will they not fear me?" > > He said, "My Lord, in sooth I fear lest they treat me as a liar: > > And my breast is straitened, and I am slow of speech: send therefore to > Aaron to be my helpmate. > > For they have a charge against me, and I fear lest they put me to > death." > > He said, "Surely not. Go ye therefore with our signs: we will be with > you and will hearken. > > And go to Pharaoh and say: 'Verily we are the messengers of the Lord of > the words - > > Send forth with us the children of Israel.'" > > He said, "Did we not rear thee among us when a a child? And hast thou > not passed years of thy life among us? > > And yet what a deed is that which thou hast done! Thou art one of the > ungrateful." > > He said, "I did it indeed, and I was one of those who erred: > > 26:20 And I fled from you because I feared you; but my Lord hath given me > wisdom and hath made me one of his Apostles. > > And is this the favour thou has conferred on me, that thou hast enslaved > the children of Israel?" > > Said Pharaoh, "Who then is the Lord of the Worlds?" > > He said, "The Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth and of all that is > between them, if only ye believe it." > > Said Pharaoh to those around him, "Hear ye this?" > > "Your Lord," said Moses, "and the Lord of your sires of old." > > "In sooth, your Apostle whom He hath sent to you, " said Pharaoh, "is > certainly possessed." > > He said, "Lord is He of the East and of the West, and of all that is > between them, if ye can understand." > > He said, "If ye take any God beside me, I will surely put thee in ward." > > Said Moses, "What! if I shew thee that which shall be a proof of my > mission?" > > 26:30 He said, "Forth with it then, if thou speakest truth." > > Then threw he down his staff, and lo! and undoubted serpent: > > And he drew out his hand, and lo! if was white to the beholders, > > He said to his nobles around him, "This truly is a right cunning > sorcerer: > > Fain would he drive you out of your land by his sorcery. But what do ye > suggest?" > > They said, "Put him and his brother off awhile, and send summoners to > all the cities, > > Who shall bring to thee every cunning magician." > > So the magicians were mustered at a set time, on a solemn day: > > And it was said ot the people, "Are ye all assembled?" > > - "Yes! and we will follow the magicians if they gain the day." > > 26:40 And when the magicians were arrived they said to Pharaoh, "Shall we > have a reward if we gain the day?" > > He said, "Yes. And verily in that case ye shall be of those who are > near my person." > > Moses said to them, "Throw down what ye have to throw." > > So they cast down their ropes and rods, and said, "By Pharaoh's might we > shall surely win." > > Then Moses threw down his rod, and lo! it swallowed up their cheating > wonders. > > Then the magicians threw themselves down in worship: > > They said, "We believe on the Lord of the Worlds, > > The Lord of Moses and of Aaron." > > Said Pharaoh, "Have ye then believe on him ere I gave you leave? He > truly is your master who hath taught you magic. But bye and bye ye shall > surely know my power. > > I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will have > you all crucified." > > 26:50 They said, "It cannot harm us, for to our Lord shall we return: > > Assuredly we trust that our Lord will forgive us our sins, since we are > of the first who believe." > > Then revealed we this order to Moses: "Go forth by night with my > servants, for ye will be pursued." > > And Pharaoh sent summoners through the cities: - > > "These Israelites," said they, "are a scanty band; > > Yet are they enraged against us - > > But we truly are numerous, wary." > > Thus we caused them to quit gardens and fountains, > > And treasures and splendid dwellings; > > So was it; and we gave them to the children of Israel for an heritage. > > 26:60 Then at sunrise the Egyptians followed them: > > And when the hosts came in view of one another, the comrades of Moses > said, "We are surely overtaken." > > He said, "By no means: - for my Lord is with me - He will guide me." > > And we revealed this order to Moses, "Strike the sea with thy rod." And > it clave asunder, and each part became like a huge mountain. > > Then made we the others to draw on; > > And we saved Moses, and those who were with him, all; > > But we drowned the others. > > Truly in this was a sign; but most of them did not believe. > > But verily thy Lord, - He is the Mighty, the Merciful! > > And recite to them the story of Abraham > > 26:70 When he said to his Father and to his people, "What worship ye?" > > They said, "We worship idols, and constant is our devotion to them." > > He said, "Can they hear you when ye cry to them? > > Or help you or do you harm?" > > They said, "But we found our Fathers do the like." > > He said, "How think ye? Them whom ye worship, > > Ye and your fathers of early days, > > Are my foes: not not so the Lord of the Worlds, > > Who hath created me, and guideth me, > > Who giveth me food and drink; > > 26:80 And when I am sick, he healeth me, > > And who will cause me to die and again quicken me, > > And who, I hope, will forgive me my sins in the day of reckoning. > > My Lord! bestow on me wisdom and join me to the just, > > And give me a good name among posterity, > > And make we one of the heirs of the garden of delight, > > And forgive my father, for he was one of the erring, > > And put me not to shame on the day when mankind shall be raised up, > > The day when neither wealth nor children shall avail, > > Save to him who shall come to God with a sound heart: > > 26:90 When Paradise shall be brought near the pious, > > And Hell shall lay open for those who have gone astray. > > And it shall be said to them, 'Where are they whom ye worshipped > > Beside God? Can they harm you or help themselves?' > > And they shall be cast into it - the seducers and the seduced, > > And all the host of Eblis. > > They shall say, as they wrangle therein together, > > 'By God, we were in a plain error, > > When we equalled you with the Lord of the Words: > > And none misled us by the wicked, > > 26:100 And we have none to plead for us, > > Nor friend who careth for us. > > Could we but return, we would be of the believers'" > > Verily, in this was a sign: but most of them believed not. > > And truly thy Lord! - He is the Mighty, the Merciful! > > The people of Noah gainsaid the Apostles, > > When their brother Noah said to hem, "Will ye not fear God? > > Of a truth am I your faithful Apostle; > > Fear God then and obey me. > > I ask of you no reward for this, for my reward is of the Lord of the > Worlds alone: > > 26:110 Fear God then and obey me." > > They said, "Shall we believe on thee when the meanest only are thy > followers?" > > He said, "But I have no knowledge of that they did:P > > To my Lord only must their account be given: would that ye understood > this! > > And I will not thrust away those who believe, > > For I am only one charged with plain warnings." > > They said, "Now unless thou desist, O Noah, one of the stoned shalt thou > surely be." > > He said, "Lord! my people treat me as a liar: > > Decide thou therefore a decision between me and them, and rescue me and > the faithful who are with me." > > So we saved him and those who were with him in the fully-laden ark, > > 26:120 And afterwards we drowned the rest. > > Herein truly was a sign, but most of them believed not. > > But thy Lord! - He is the Mighty, the Merciful. > > The Adites treated their Apostles as liars, > > When their brother Houd said to them, "Will ye not fear God? > > I am your Apostle, worthy of all credit; > > Fear God then and obey me: > > I ask for no reward for this; for my reward is of the Lord of the World > alone. > > What! built ye landmarks on all heights in mere pastime? > > And raise ye structures to be your lasting abodes? > > 26:130 And when ye put forth your power do ye put it forth with harshness? > > Fear ye God then and obey me; > > And fear ye Him who hath plenteously bestowed on you ye well know what: > > Plenteously bestowed on you flocks and children, > > And gardens and fountains; > > Indeed I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous day." > > They said, "It is the same to us whether thou warn or warn us not. > > This is but a tale of the ancients, > > And we are not they who shall be punished." > > And they charged him with imposture; and we destroyed them. In this was > a sign: but most of them believed not. > > 26:140 But thy Lord! - He is the Mighty, the Merciful! > > The Themoudites also treated their Apostles as liars, > > When their brother Saleh said to them, "Will ye not fear God? > > I am your Apostle worthy of all credit: > > Fear God, then, and obey me. > > I ask of you no reward for this: my reward is of the Lord of the Worlds > alone. > > She ye be left secure amid these things here? > > Amid gardens and fountains, > > And corn-fields and palm-trees, with flower-sheating branches? > > And, insolent that ye are, will ye hew out your dwellings in the > mountains? > > 26:150 But fear God and obey me, > > And obey not the bidding of those who commit excess, > > Who act disorderly on the earth and reform it not." > > They said, "Certainly thou art a person bewitched; > > Thou art only a man like us: produce now a sign if thou art a man of > truth." > > He said, "This she-camel, then - drink shall there be for her, and drink > shall there be for you, on a several day for each. > > But harm her not, lest the punishment of a tremendous day overtake you." > > But they ham-strung her, and repented of it on the morrow; > > For the punishment overtook them. In this truly was a sign, but most of > them believed not. > > But thy Lord! - He is the Powerful, the Merciful! > > 26:160 The people of Lot treated their apostles as lairs, > > When their brother Lot said to them, "Will ye not fear God? > > I am your Apostle worthy of all credit: > > Fear God, then, and obey me. > > For this I ask you no reward: my reward is of the Lord of the worlds > alone. > > What! with men, of all creatures, will ye have commerce? > > And leave ye your wives whom your Lord hath created for you? Ah! ye are > an erring people!" > > They said, "O Lot, if thou desist not, one of the banished shalt thou > surely be." > > He said, "I utterly abhor your doings: > > My Lord! deliver me and my family from what they do." > > 26:170 So we delivered him and his whole family - > > Save an aged one among those who tarried - > > Then we destroyed the rest - > > And we rained down a rain upon them, and fatal was the rain to those > whom we had warned. > > In this truly was a sign; but most of them did not believe. > > But thy Lord! He is the Powerful, the Merciful! > > The dwellers in the forest of Madian treated the Apostles as liars. > > When Shoaib their brother said to them, "Will ye not fear God? > > I truly ma your trustworthy Apostle. > > Fear God, then, and obey me: > > 26:180 No reward ask I of you for this: my reward is of the Lord of the > Worlds alone. > > Fill the measure, and be not of those who minish: > > Weigh with exact balance: > > And defraud not men in their substance, and do no wrong on the earth by > deeds of license; > > And fear Him who made you and the races of old? > > Then said, "Certainly thou art a person bewitched. > > Thou art but a man like us, and we deem thee liar - > > Make now a part of the heaven to fall down upon us, if thou art a man of > truth." > > He said, "My Lord best knoweth your doings." > > And when they treated him as a liar, the chastisement of the day of > cloud overtook them. This truly was the chastisement of a dreadful day! > > 26:190 In this was a sign, but most of them believed not. > > But thy Lord! - He is the Mighty, the Mercilful! > > Verily from the Lord of the Worlds hath this Book come down; > > The faithful spirit hath come down with it > > Upon thy heart, that thou mightest become a warner - > > In the clear Arabic tongue: > > And truly it is foretold in the Scriptures of them of yore. > > Was it not a sign to them that the learned among the children of Israel > recognised it? > > If we had sent it down unto any foreigner, > > And he had recited it to them, they had not believed. > > 26:200 In such sort have we influenced the heart of the wicked ones, > > That they will not believe it till they see the grievous chastisement? > > And it shall come upon them on a sudden when they look not for it: > > And they will say, "Can we be respited?" > > What! will they seek to hasten on our chastisement? > > How thinkest thou? If after we have given them their fill for years, > > That with which they are menaced come upon them at last, > > Of what avail will their enjoyments be to them? > > We never destroyed a city which had not first its warners > > With admonition; nor did we deal unjustly. > > 26:210 The Satans were not sent down with this Koran: > > It beseemed them not, and they had not the power, > > For they are far removed from hearing it. > > Call not thou on any other god but God, lest thou be of those consigned > to torment: > > But warn thy relatives of nearer kind, > > And kindly lower thy wing over the faithful who follow thee. > > And if they disobey thee, then say: "I will not be answerable for your > doings;" - > > And put thy trust in Him that is the Mighty, the Merciful, > > Who seeth thee when thou standest in prayer, > > And thy demeanour amongst those who worship; > > 26:220 For He heareth, knoweth all. > > Shall I tell you on whom Satan descend? > > They descend on every lying, wicked person: > > They impart what they have heard; - but most of them are liars, > > It is the poets whom the erring follow: > > See thou not how they rove distraught in every valley? > > And that they say that which they do not? > > Save those who believe and do good works, and oft remember God; > > And who defend themselves when unjustly treated. But they who treat > them unjustly shall find out what a lot awaiteth them. > > — *Sura 26 - The Poets*