وَجَعَلناهُم أَئِمَّةً يَدعونَ إِلَى النّارِ ۖ وَيَومَ القِيامَةِ لا يُنصَرونَ

And We appointed them leaders who call to the Fire, and on Resurrection Day, they won’t be helped.

وَأَتبَعناهُم في هـٰذِهِ الدُّنيا لَعنَةً ۖ وَيَومَ القِيامَةِ هُم مِنَ المَقبوحينَ

And We followed them in this world with a curse, and they will be among the despised on Resurrection Day.

وَلَقَد آتَينا موسَى الكِتابَ مِن بَعدِ ما أَهلَكنَا القُرونَ الأولىٰ بَصائِرَ لِلنّاسِ وَهُدًى وَرَحمَةً لَعَلَّهُم يَتَذَكَّرونَ

And We gave Moses the Scripture, after We had destroyed the former generations, as a beacon of light for humanity, offering guidance and mercy, so they might reflect.

وَما كُنتَ بِجانِبِ الغَربِيِّ إِذ قَضَينا إِلىٰ موسَى الأَمرَ وَما كُنتَ مِنَ الشّاهِدينَ

You weren’t on the western side when We decreed the commandment to Moses, nor were you among the witnesses.

وَلـٰكِنّا أَنشَأنا قُرونًا فَتَطاوَلَ عَلَيهِمُ العُمُرُ ۚ وَما كُنتَ ثاوِيًا في أَهلِ مَديَنَ تَتلو عَلَيهِم آياتِنا وَلـٰكِنّا كُنّا مُرسِلينَ

Yet, We raised numerous generations and extended their lifespans. You were not among the people of Midian, delivering Our verses to them. But, We have always sent messengers.

وَلَولا أَن تُصيبَهُم مُصيبَةٌ بِما قَدَّمَت أَيديهِم فَيَقولوا رَبَّنا لَولا أَرسَلتَ إِلَينا رَسولًا فَنَتَّبِعَ آياتِكَ وَنَكونَ مِنَ المُؤمِنينَ

Thus, if a calamity befalls them due to their actions, they can’t say, “Our Lord, if only You had sent us a messenger, we would’ve followed Your guidance and been among the believers.”

فَلَمّا جاءَهُمُ الحَقُّ مِن عِندِنا قالوا لَولا أوتِيَ مِثلَ ما أوتِيَ موسىٰ ۚ أَوَلَم يَكفُروا بِما أوتِيَ موسىٰ مِن قَبلُ ۖ قالوا سِحرانِ تَظاهَرا وَقالوا إِنّا بِكُلٍّ كافِرونَ

Now, when the truth has come to them from Us, they argue, “Why wasn’t he given something similar to what Moses received?” Didn’t they reject what was previously given to Moses? And they say, “These two are mixed-up magic spells, and we reject both.”

قُل فَأتوا بِكِتابٍ مِن عِندِ اللَّهِ هُوَ أَهدىٰ مِنهُما أَتَّبِعهُ إِن كُنتُم صادِقينَ

Say, “Then produce a scripture from God that offers superior guidance than these two, and I will follow it, if you are truthful.”

فَإِن لَم يَستَجيبوا لَكَ فَاعلَم أَنَّما يَتَّبِعونَ أَهواءَهُم ۚ وَمَن أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ اتَّبَعَ هَواهُ بِغَيرِ هُدًى مِنَ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهدِي القَومَ الظّالِمينَ

If they fail to respond to you, know that they are merely following their desires. And who is more astray than one who follows his desires without guidance from God? God does not guide the wrongdoers.

وَلَقَد وَصَّلنا لَهُمُ القَولَ لَعَلَّهُم يَتَذَكَّرونَ

We’ve conveyed the Word to them, so they may remember.