The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

38. SAD
This Meccan sura mentions previous prophets in support and encouragement for
Muhammad, and makes a clear link between the arrogance displayed by
the disbelievers of Mecca, previous generations, and Iblis, the original rebel.
The first and last verses assert the truth and nobility of the Quran.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 Sad
By the Quran with its reminding . . .! a 2 Yet the disbelievers are
steeped in arrogance and hostility. 3 How many generations We have
destroyed before them! They all cried out, once it was too late, for
escape. 4 The disbelievers think it strange that a prophet of their own
people has come to warn them: they say, ‘He is just a lying sorcerer.
5 How can he claim that all the gods are but one God? What an
astonishing thing [to claim]!’ 6 Their leaders depart, saying, ‘Walk
away! Stay faithful to your gods! That is what you must do. 7 We did
not hear any such claim in the last religion: b it is all an invention.
8 Was the message sent only to him out of all of us?’
In fact they doubt My warning; in fact they have not tasted My
punishment yet. 9 Do they possess the treasures of your Lord’s
bounty, the Mighty, the All Giving? 10 Do they control the heavens
and earth and everything between? Let them climb their ropes: c
11 their armed alliance is weak and will be crushed. 12 The people of
Noah, Ad, and firmly-supported d Pharaoh rejected their prophets
before them. 13 Thamud, the people of Lot, and the Forest-Dwellers
each formed opposition [against theirs]. 14 They all rejected the messengers
and they were deservedly struck by My punishment: 15 all
the disbelievers here are waiting for is a single blast that cannot be
a The complement of this oath is understood to be ‘There is only one God’ (see 50:
1–2).
b An allusion to the Christian Trinity.
c Cf. note to 22: 15.
d Dhu’l-awtad literally means ‘with his pegs’, but is understood here metaphorically,
to indicate something firmly fixed; cf. its use with reference to mountains in 78: 7.