Surah 26. Ash-Shuara

and do her no harm, lest suffering befall you on an awesome day!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Do not touch her with evil, lest the punishment of a dreadful Day may overtake you."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And touch her not with ill lest there come on you the retribution of an awful day.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But they cruelly slaughtered her - and then they had cause to regret it:⁶⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "they became regretful". For my rendering of 'aqaruha as "they cruelly slaughtered her", see note [61] on 7:77 .

Yet they hamstrung her, then became full of regrets;

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

But they hamstrung her, and then were penitent.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

for the suffering [predicted by Salih] befell them [then and there]. In this [story], behold, there is a message [unto men], even though most of them will not believe [in it].⁶⁹

  - Mohammad Asad

In my opinion, the specific message alluded to here relates, in the first instance, to the individual person's emotional reluctance to visualize the limited, transitory character of his own life on earth (hinted at in verses {146-149} above) and, hence, the judgment that awaits everyone in the life to come; and, secondly, to the element of compassion for all other living beings as a basis of true morality.

so the punishment overtook them. Surely in this story there is a great lesson, but most of these people do not learn a lesson and become believers.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So the retribution came on them. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But, verily, thy Sustainer - He alone -is almighty, a dispenser of grace!

  - Mohammad Asad

The fact is that your Rabb is the Mighty as well as the Merciful.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[AND] the people of Lot⁷⁰ gave the lie to [one of God's] message-bearers

  - Mohammad Asad

The story of Lot and the sinful people among whom he lived is narrated in greater detail in {11:69-83}.

The people of Lut (Lot), also, disbelieved their Rasools.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The folk of Lot denied the messengers (of Allah),

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

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

  - Mohammad Asad

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

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

When their brother Lot 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

"Must you, of all people, [lustfully] approach men,

  - Mohammad Asad

Will you fornicate with males from among the creatures of the worlds

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

What! Of all creatures do ye come unto the males,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

keeping yourselves aloof from all the [lawful] spouses whom your Sustainer has created for you? Nay, but you are people who transgress all bounds of what is right!"

  - Mohammad Asad

and leave those whom your Rabb has created for you to be your mates? Nay! You are a people who have transgressed all limits."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are froward folk.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Said they: "Indeed, if thou desist not, O Lot, thou wilt most certainly be expelled [from this township]!"

  - Mohammad Asad

They replied: "If you do not stop, O Lut, you shall become one of the expelled."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They said: If thou cease not, O Lot, thou wilt soon be of the outcast.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[Lot] exclaimed: "Behold, I am one of those who utterly abhor your doings!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Lut said: "I am certainly one of those who abhor your actions.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

He said: I am in truth of those who hate your conduct.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[And then he prayed:] "O my Sustainer! Save me and my household from all that they are doing!"

  - Mohammad Asad

O Rabb! Deliver me and my family from their wicked deeds."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

My Lord! Save me and my household from what they do.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Thereupon We saved him and all his household -

  - Mohammad Asad

So We delivered him and all his family

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So We saved him and his household, every one,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall