16. Surah An-Nahl, English Translation

He sends down the angels with revelation by His command to whoever He wills of His servants, ˹stating:˺ “Warn ˹humanity˺ that there is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Me, so be mindful of Me ˹alone˺.”

He created the heavens and the earth for a purpose. Exalted is He above what they associate with Him ˹in worship˺!

He created humans from a sperm-drop, then—behold!—they openly challenge ˹Him˺.

And He created the cattle for you as a source of warmth, food, and ˹many other˺ benefits.

They are also pleasing to you when you bring them home and when you take them out to graze.

And they carry your loads to ˹distant˺ lands which you could not otherwise reach without great hardship. Surely your Lord is Ever Gracious, Most Merciful.

˹He also created˺ horses, mules, and donkeys for your transportation and adornment. And He creates what you do not know.

It is upon Allah ˹alone˺ to ˹clearly˺ show the Straight Way. Other ways are deviant. Had He willed, He would have easily imposed guidance upon all of you.

He is the One Who sends down rain from the sky, from which you drink and by which plants grow for your cattle to graze.

With it He produces for you ˹various˺ crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and every type of fruit. Surely in this is a sign for those who reflect.

And He has subjected for your benefit the day and the night, the sun and the moon. And the stars have been subjected by His command. Surely in this are signs for those who understand.

And ˹He subjected˺ for you whatever He has created on earth of varying colours.¹ Surely in this is a sign for those who are mindful.

And He is the One Who has subjected the sea, so from it you may eat tender seafood and extract ornaments to wear. And you see the ships ploughing their way through it, so you may seek His bounty and give thanks ˹to Him˺.

He has placed into the earth firm mountains, so it does not shake with you, as well as rivers, and pathways so you may find your way.

Also by landmarks and stars do people find their way.

Can the One Who creates be equal to those who do not? Will you not then be mindful?

If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you would never be able to number them. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

And Allah knows what you conceal and what you reveal.

But those ˹idols˺ they invoke besides Allah cannot create anything—they themselves are created.

They are dead, not alive—not even knowing when their followers will be resurrected.

Your God is ˹only˺ One God. As for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, their hearts are in denial, and they are too proud.

Without a doubt, Allah knows what they conceal and what they reveal. He certainly does not like those who are too proud.

And when it is said to them, “What has your Lord revealed?” They say, “Ancient fables!”

Let them bear their burdens in full on the Day of Judgment as well as some of the burdens of those they mislead without knowledge. Evil indeed is what they will bear!

Indeed, those before them had plotted, but Allah struck at the ˹very˺ foundation of their structure, so the roof collapsed on top of them, and the torment came upon them from where they did not expect.¹

Then on the Day of Judgment He will humiliate them and say, “Where are My ˹so-called˺ associate-gods for whose sake you used to oppose ˹the believers˺?” Those gifted with knowledge will say, “Surely disgrace and misery today are upon the disbelievers.”

Those whose souls the angels seize while they wrong themselves will then offer ˹full˺ submission ˹and say falsely,˺ “We did not do any evil.” ˹The angels will say,˺ “No! Surely Allah fully knows what you used to do.

So enter the gates of Hell, to stay there forever. Indeed, what an evil home for the arrogant!”

And ˹when˺ it is said to those mindful ˹of Allah˺, “What has your Lord revealed?” They say, “All the best!” For those who do good in this world, there is goodness. But far better is the ˹eternal˺ Home of the Hereafter. How excellent indeed is the home of the righteous:

the Gardens of Eternity which they will enter, under which rivers flow. In it they will have whatever they desire. This is how Allah rewards the righteous—

those whose souls the angels take while they are virtuous, saying ˹to them˺, “Peace be upon you! Enter Paradise for what you used to do.”

Are they only awaiting the coming of the angels or the command of your Lord ˹O Prophet˺? So were those before them. And Allah never wronged them, but it was they who wronged themselves.

Then the evil ˹consequences˺ of their deeds overtook them, and they were overwhelmed by what they used to ridicule.

The polytheists argue, “Had Allah willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have worshipped anything other than Him, nor prohibited anything without His command.” So did those before them. Is not the messengers’ duty only to deliver ˹the message˺ clearly?

We surely sent a messenger to every community, saying, “Worship Allah and shun false gods.” But some of them were guided by Allah, while others were destined to stray. So travel throughout the land and see the fate of the deniers!

Even though you ˹O Prophet˺ are keen on their guidance, Allah certainly does not guide those He leaves to stray, and they will have no helpers.

They swear by Allah their most solemn oaths that Allah will never raise the dead to life. Yes ˹He will˺! It is a true promise binding on Him, but most people do not know.

˹He will do that˺ to make clear to them what they disagreed on, and for the disbelievers to know that they were liars.

If We ever will something ˹to exist˺, all We say is: “Be!” And it is!

As for those who emigrated in ˹the cause of˺ Allah after being persecuted, We will surely bless them with a good home in this world. But the reward of the Hereafter is far better, if only they knew.