الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ وَقُرْآنٍ مُبِينٍ1
(1) Alif, Lām, Rā.[668] These are the verses of the Book and a clear Qur’ān [i.e., recitation].
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[668]- See footnote to 2:1.
رُبَمَا يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْ كَانُوا مُسْلِمِينَ2
(2) Perhaps those who disbelieve will wish[669] that they had been Muslims.
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[669]- On the Day of Judgement or at the time of death.
ذَرْهُمْ يَأْكُلُوا وَيَتَمَتَّعُوا وَيُلْهِهِمُ الْأَمَلُ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ3
(3) Let them eat and enjoy themselves and be diverted by [false] hope, for they are going to know.
وَمَا أَهْلَكْنَا مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا وَلَهَا كِتَابٌ مَعْلُومٌ4
(4) And We did not destroy any city but that for it was a known decree.
مَا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ5
(5) No nation will precede its term, nor will they remain thereafter.
وَقَالُوا يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِي نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ الذِّكْرُ إِنَّكَ لَمَجْنُونٌ6
(6) And they say, "O you upon whom the message has been sent down, indeed you are mad.[670]
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[670]- Literally, "possessed by jinn."
لَوْ مَا تَأْتِينَا بِالْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ7
(7) Why do you not bring us the angels, if you should be among the truthful?"
مَا نُنَزِّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَمَا كَانُوا إِذًا مُنْظَرِينَ8
(8) We do not send down the angels except with truth;[671] and they [i.e., the disbelievers] would not then be reprieved.
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[671]- i.e., with a message or, as the conclusion of the verse suggests, to carry out a promised punishment.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ9
(9) Indeed, it is We who sent down the message [i.e., the Qur’ān], and indeed, We will be its guardian.
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فِي شِيَعِ الْأَوَّلِينَ10
(10) And We had certainly sent [messengers] before you, [O Muḥammad], among the sects of the former peoples.
وَمَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ11
(11) And no messenger would come to them except that they ridiculed him.
كَذَٰلِكَ نَسْلُكُهُ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ12
(12) Thus do We insert it [i.e., denial] into the hearts of the criminals.
لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ ۖ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ سُنَّةُ الْأَوَّلِينَ13
(13) They will not believe in it, while there has already occurred the precedent of the former peoples.
وَلَوْ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَابًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَظَلُّوا فِيهِ يَعْرُجُونَ14
(14) And [even] if We opened to them a gate from the heaven and they continued therein to ascend,
لَقَالُوا إِنَّمَا سُكِّرَتْ أَبْصَارُنَا بَلْ نَحْنُ قَوْمٌ مَسْحُورُونَ15
(15) They would say, "Our eyes have only been dazzled. Rather, we are a people affected by magic."
وَلَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا فِي السَّمَاءِ بُرُوجًا وَزَيَّنَّاهَا لِلنَّاظِرِينَ16
(16) And We have placed within the heaven great stars and have beautified it for the observers.
وَحَفِظْنَاهَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ رَجِيمٍ17
(17) And We have protected it from every devil expelled [from the mercy of Allāh]
إِلَّا مَنِ اسْتَرَقَ السَّمْعَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ مُبِينٌ18
(18) Except one who steals a hearing and is pursued by a clear burning flame.
وَالْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَاهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنْبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَوْزُونٍ19
(19) And the earth - We have spread it and cast therein firmly set mountains and caused to grow therein [something] of every well-balanced thing.
وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَايِشَ وَمَنْ لَسْتُمْ لَهُ بِرَازِقِينَ20
(20) And We have made for you therein means of living and [for] those for whom you are not providers.[672]
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[672]- Allāh has put at your service other men and animals for which He provides. An additional meaning is that Allāh provides means for your living and for all other creatures as well.
وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا عِنْدَنَا خَزَائِنُهُ وَمَا نُنَزِّلُهُ إِلَّا بِقَدَرٍ مَعْلُومٍ21
(21) And there is not a thing but that with Us are its depositories, and We do not send it down except according to a known [i.e., specified] measure.
وَأَرْسَلْنَا الرِّيَاحَ لَوَاقِحَ فَأَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَسْقَيْنَاكُمُوهُ وَمَا أَنْتُمْ لَهُ بِخَازِنِينَ22
(22) And We have sent the fertilizing winds[673] and sent down water from the sky and given you drink from it. And you are not its retainers.
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[673]- Causing precipitation in rainclouds or carrying pollen. Another meaning is "pregnant winds," i.e., those carrying rainclouds.
وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ نُحْيِي وَنُمِيتُ وَنَحْنُ الْوَارِثُونَ23
(23) And indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritor.[674]
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[674]- Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) remains after all creation has passed away.
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنْكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ24
(24) And We have already known the preceding [generations] among you, and We have already known the later [ones to come].
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ25
(25) And indeed, your Lord will gather them; indeed, He is Wise and Knowing.
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ مِنْ حَمَإٍ مَسْنُونٍ26
(26) And We did certainly create man out of clay from an altered black mud.
وَالْجَانَّ خَلَقْنَاهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ مِنْ نَارِ السَّمُومِ27
(27) And the jinn We created before from scorching fire.
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي خَالِقٌ بَشَرًا مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ مِنْ حَمَإٍ مَسْنُونٍ28
(28) And [mention, O Muḥammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud.
فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ29
(29) And when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul,[675] then fall down to him in prostration."
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[675]- The element of life and soul which Allāh created for that body, not His own spirit or part of Himself (as some mistakenly believe).
فَسَجَدَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ30
(30) So the angels prostrated - all of them entirely,
إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَعَ السَّاجِدِينَ31
(31) Except Iblees;[676] he refused to be with those who prostrated.
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[676]- Who was of the jinn. See 18:50.
قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا لَكَ أَلَّا تَكُونَ مَعَ السَّاجِدِينَ32
(32) [Allāh] said, "O Iblees, what is [the matter] with you that you are not with those who prostrate?"
قَالَ لَمْ أَكُنْ لِأَسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَهُ مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ مِنْ حَمَإٍ مَسْنُونٍ33
(33) He said, "Never would I prostrate to a human whom You created out of clay from an altered black mud."
قَالَ فَاخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِيمٌ34
(34) [Allāh] said, "Then depart from it,[677] for indeed, you are expelled.
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[677]- Your position in the heavens.
وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ اللَّعْنَةَ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ35
(35) And indeed, upon you is the curse until the Day of Recompense."
قَالَ رَبِّ فَأَنْظِرْنِي إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ36
(36) He said, "My Lord, then reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected."
قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنْظَرِينَ37
(37) [Allāh] said, "So indeed, you are of those reprieved
إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُومِ38
(38) Until the Day of the time well-known."
قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ39
(39) [Iblees] said, "My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them [i.e., mankind] on earth, and I will mislead them all
إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ40
(40) Except, among them, Your chosen servants."
قَالَ هَٰذَا صِرَاطٌ عَلَيَّ مُسْتَقِيمٌ41
(41) [Allāh] said, "This is a path [of return] to Me [that is] straight.
إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ42
(42) Indeed, My servants - no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators.
وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوْعِدُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ43
(43) And indeed, Hell is the promised place for them all.
لَهَا سَبْعَةُ أَبْوَابٍ لِكُلِّ بَابٍ مِنْهُمْ جُزْءٌ مَقْسُومٌ44
(44) It has seven gates; for every gate is of them [i.e., Satan's followers] a portion designated."
إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ45
(45) Indeed, the righteous will be within gardens and springs,
ادْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَامٍ آمِنِينَ46
(46) [Having been told], "Enter it in peace, safe [and secure]."
وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِمْ مِنْ غِلٍّ إِخْوَانًا عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مُتَقَابِلِينَ47
(47) And We will remove whatever is in their breasts of resentment,[678] [so they will be] brothers, on thrones facing each other.
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[678]- See footnote to 7:43.
لَا يَمَسُّهُمْ فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَمَا هُمْ مِنْهَا بِمُخْرَجِينَ48
(48) No fatigue will touch them therein, nor from it will they [ever] be removed.
۞ نَبِّئْ عِبَادِي أَنِّي أَنَا الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ49
(49) [O Muḥammad], inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful,
وَأَنَّ عَذَابِي هُوَ الْعَذَابُ الْأَلِيمُ50
(50) And that it is My punishment which is the painful punishment.
وَنَبِّئْهُمْ عَنْ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ51
(51) And inform them about the guests of Abraham,
إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا قَالَ إِنَّا مِنْكُمْ وَجِلُونَ52
(52) When they entered upon him and said, "Peace." [Abraham] said, "Indeed, we are fearful [i.e., apprehensive] of you."
قَالُوا لَا تَوْجَلْ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ53
(53) [The angels] said, "Fear not. Indeed, we give you good tidings of a learned boy."
قَالَ أَبَشَّرْتُمُونِي عَلَىٰ أَنْ مَسَّنِيَ الْكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُونَ54
(54) He said, "Have you given me good tidings although old age has come upon me? Then of what [wonder] do you inform?"
قَالُوا بَشَّرْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُنْ مِنَ الْقَانِطِينَ55
(55) They said, "We have given you good tidings in truth, so do not be of the despairing."
قَالَ وَمَنْ يَقْنَطُ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّهِ إِلَّا الضَّالُّونَ56
(56) He said, "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?"
قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ57
(57) [Abraham] said, "Then what is your business [here], O messengers?"
قَالُوا إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ مُجْرِمِينَ58
(58) They said, "Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals,
إِلَّا آلَ لُوطٍ إِنَّا لَمُنَجُّوهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ59
(59) Except the family of Lot; indeed, we will save them all
إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ قَدَّرْنَا ۙ إِنَّهَا لَمِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ60
(60) Except his wife." We [i.e., Allāh] decreed that she is of those who remain behind.[679]
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[679]- For having collaborated with the evildoers.
فَلَمَّا جَاءَ آلَ لُوطٍ الْمُرْسَلُونَ61
(61) And when the messengers came to the family of Lot,
قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ مُنْكَرُونَ62
(62) He said, "Indeed, you are people unknown."
قَالُوا بَلْ جِئْنَاكَ بِمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ63
(63) They said, "But we have come to you with that about which they were disputing,
وَأَتَيْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ64
(64) And we have come to you with truth, and indeed, we are truthful.
فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وَاتَّبِعْ أَدْبَارَهُمْ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنْكُمْ أَحَدٌ وَامْضُوا حَيْثُ تُؤْمَرُونَ65
(65) So set out with your family during a portion of the night and follow behind them and let not anyone among you look back and continue on to where you are commanded."
وَقَضَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ ذَٰلِكَ الْأَمْرَ أَنَّ دَابِرَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ مَقْطُوعٌ مُصْبِحِينَ66
(66) And We conveyed to him [the decree] of that matter: that those [sinners] would be eliminated by early morning.
وَجَاءَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ67
(67) And the people of the city came rejoicing.[680]
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[680]- At the news of Lot's visitors.
قَالَ إِنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ ضَيْفِي فَلَا تَفْضَحُونِ68
(68) [Lot] said, "Indeed, these are my guests, so do not shame me.
وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ69
(69) And fear Allāh and do not disgrace me."
قَالُوا أَوَلَمْ نَنْهَكَ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ70
(70) They said, "Have we not forbidden you from [protecting] people?"
قَالَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي إِنْ كُنْتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ71
(71) [Lot] said, "These are my daughters[681] - if you would be doers [of lawful marriage]."
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[681]- i.e., the women of his community who were lawful for marriage.
لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِي سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ72
(72) By your life, [O Muḥammad], indeed they were, in their intoxication, wandering blindly.
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ مُشْرِقِينَ73
(73) So the shriek[682] seized them at sunrise.
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[682]- See footnote to 11:67.
فَجَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِنْ سِجِّيلٍ74
(74) And We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of hard clay.
إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ75
(75) Indeed in that are signs for those who discern.
وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٍ مُقِيمٍ76
(76) And indeed, they [i.e., those cities] are [situated] on an established road.
إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ77
(77) Indeed in that is a sign for the believers.
وَإِنْ كَانَ أَصْحَابُ الْأَيْكَةِ لَظَالِمِينَ78
(78) And the companions of the thicket [i.e., the people of Madyan] were [also] wrongdoers,
فَانْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمَا لَبِإِمَامٍ مُبِينٍ79
(79) So We took retribution from them, and indeed, both [cities] are on a clear highway.
وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ أَصْحَابُ الْحِجْرِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ80
(80) And certainly did the companions of al-Ḥijr[683] [i.e., the Thamūd] deny the messengers.
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[683]- The valley of stone.
وَآتَيْنَاهُمْ آيَاتِنَا فَكَانُوا عَنْهَا مُعْرِضِينَ81
(81) And We gave them Our signs, but from them they were turning away.
وَكَانُوا يَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا آمِنِينَ82
(82) And they used to carve from the mountains, houses, feeling secure.
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ مُصْبِحِينَ83
(83) But the shriek seized them at early morning,
فَمَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ84
(84) So nothing availed them [from] what they used to earn.
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ۗ وَإِنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَآتِيَةٌ ۖ فَاصْفَحِ الصَّفْحَ الْجَمِيلَ85
(85) And We have not created the heavens and earth and that between them except in truth. And indeed, the Hour is coming; so forgive with gracious forgiveness.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ86
(86) Indeed, your Lord - He is the Knowing Creator.
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَاكَ سَبْعًا مِنَ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنَ الْعَظِيمَ87
(87) And We have certainly given you, [O Muḥammad], seven of the often repeated [verses][684] and the great Qur’ān.
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[684]- Referring to Sūrah al-Fātiḥah.
لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِنْهُمْ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَاخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ88
(88) Do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [certain] categories of them [i.e., the disbelievers], and do not grieve over them. And lower your wing [i.e., show kindness] to the believers.
وَقُلْ إِنِّي أَنَا النَّذِيرُ الْمُبِينُ89
(89) And say, "Indeed, I am the clear warner" -
كَمَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَى الْمُقْتَسِمِينَ90
(90) Just as We had revealed [scriptures] to the separators[685]
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[685]- Those who separated from the teachings of their prophets. Another meaning is "As We sent down [punishment] on the sworn opponents [to Allāh's message]."
الَّذِينَ جَعَلُوا الْقُرْآنَ عِضِينَ91
(91) Who have made the Qur’ān into portions.[686]
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[686]- Accepting part and rejecting part according to their own inclinations.
فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسْأَلَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ92
(92) So by your Lord, We will surely question them all
عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ93
(93) About what they used to do.
فَاصْدَعْ بِمَا تُؤْمَرُ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ94
(94) Then declare what you are commanded[687] and turn away from the polytheists.[688]
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[687]- The implication is "Thereby you will distinguish or separate the disbelievers from the believers."
[688]- Any who persist in association of others with Allāh.
إِنَّا كَفَيْنَاكَ الْمُسْتَهْزِئِينَ95
(95) Indeed, We are sufficient for you against the mockers
الَّذِينَ يَجْعَلُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ ۚ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ96
(96) Who make [equal] with Allāh another deity. But they are going to know.
وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ97
(97) And We already know that your breast is constrained by what they say.
فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُنْ مِنَ السَّاجِدِينَ98
(98) So exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord and be of those who prostrate [to Him].
وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ99
(99) And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty [i.e., death].
