Surah 26. Ash-Shuara

[AND the tribe of] Thamud gave the lie to [one of God's] message-bearers

  - Mohammad Asad

The people of Thamud also disbelieved their Rasools.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

(The tribe of) Thamud denied the messengers (of Allah)

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

when their brother Salih⁶² said unto them: "Will you not be conscious of God?

  - Mohammad Asad

For the story of Salih and the tribe of Thamud, see 7:73 and the corresponding note [56]; also, the version appearing in {11:61-68}.

Remember when their brother Saleh asked them: "Have you no fear of Allah?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

When their brother Salih said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Behold, I am an apostle [sent by Him] to you, [and therefore] worthy of your trust:

  - Mohammad Asad

Rest assured that I am a trustworthy Rasool of Allah towards you.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

be, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me!

  - Mohammad Asad

So fear Allah and obey me.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"And no reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward rests with none but the Sustainer of all the worlds.

  - Mohammad Asad

I do not ask you any reward for my services, for my reward will be given by the Rabb of the Worlds.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Do you think that you will be left secure [forever] in the midst of what you have here and now?⁶³ -

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "of what is here", i.e., on earth. In the original, this question has a direct form, thus: "Will you be left secure...?", etc. (See also note [69] below.)

Will you be left in peace to enjoy all that you have here forever?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Will ye be left secure in that which is here before us,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

amidst [these] gardens and springs

  - Mohammad Asad

Gardens and fountains,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

In gardens and watersprings

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and fields, and [these] palm-trees with slender spathes?-

  - Mohammad Asad

cornfields and palm-trees laden with juicy fruit,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And tilled fields and heavy sheathed palm trees,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and that you will [always be able to] hew dwellings out of the mountains with [the same] great skill?⁶⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

See note [59] on 7:74 .

carving your dwellings in the mountains and leading a happy life?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Though ye hew out dwellings in the mountain, being skilful?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Be, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me,

  - Mohammad Asad

Have fear of Allah and obey me.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Therefor keep your duty to Allah and obey me,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and pay no heed to the counsel of those who are given to excesses-

  - Mohammad Asad

Do not follow the bidding of extravagant,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And obey not the command of the prodigal,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

those who spread corruption on earth instead of setting things to rights!"

  - Mohammad Asad

who create corruption in the land and reform nothing."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Who spread corruption in the earth, and reform not.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Said they: "Thou art but one of the bewitched!

  - Mohammad Asad

They replied: "You are but one of the bewitched!

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They said: Thou art but one of the bewitched;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Thou art nothing but a mortal like ourselves! Come, then, forward with a token [of thy mission]⁶⁵ if thou art a man of truth!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Tabari: "...that is to say, 'with an indication (dalalah) and a proof that thou art to be trusted as regards thy claim that thou hast been sent to us by God'."

You are no more than a human being like us. Bring forth a sign if you are one of the truthful."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Thou art but a mortal like us. So bring some token if thou art of the truthful.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Replied he: "This she-camel⁶⁶ shall have a share of water, and you shall have a share of water, on the days appointed [therefor];⁶⁷

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. the second paragraph of 7:73 - "This she-camel belonging to God shall be a token for you" - and the corresponding note [57], which explains that the "token" spoken of by Salih was to consist in the manner in which the tribe would treat the animal.

Lit., "on a day appointed", which may mean either "each on a day appointed" (i.e., by turns), or, more probably - because more in consonance with the tribal customs of ancient Arabia - "on the days appointed for the watering of camels": implying that on those days the ownerless she-camel should receive a full share of water side by side with the herds and flocks belonging to the tribe.

Saleh said: "Well, here is the she-camel (the sign that you asked for). She shall have her share of water as you all have yours, each drinking on an alternate appointed day.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

He said: (Behold) this she-camel. She hath the right to drink (at the well), and ye have the right to drink, (each) on an appointed day.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall