The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

36. YA SIN
A Meccan sura that emphasizes the divine source of the Quran and defends it
from the charge of being poetry made by man (verses 5–6, 69–70). It warns of
the fate of men who are stubborn and always mock God’s revelations. They are
reminded of the punishment that befell earlier generations, and of God’s power
as shown in His Creation. The end of the sura gives strong arguments for the
reality of the Resurrection.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 Ya Sin
2 By the wise a Quran, 3 you [Muhammad] are truly one of the messengers
sent 4 on a straight path, 5 with a revelation from the
Almighty, the Lord of Mercy, 6 to warn a people whose forefathers
were not warned, and so they are unaware. 7 The verdict has been
passed against most of them, for they refuse to believe. 8 [It is as if]
We had placed [iron] collars around their necks, right up to their
chins so that their heads are forced up 9 and set barriers before and
behind them, blocking their vision: they cannot see. 10 It is all the
same to them whether you warn them or not: they will not believe.
11 You can warn only those who will follow the Quran and hold the
Merciful One in awe, though they cannot see Him: give such people
the glad news of forgiveness and a noble reward. 12 We shall certainly
bring the dead back to life, and We record what they send ahead of
them as well as what they leave behind: We keep an account of
everything in a clear Record.
13 Give them the example of the people to whose town messengers
came. 14 We sent two messengers but they rejected both. Then We
reinforced them with a third. 15 They said, ‘Truly, we are messengers
to you,’ 16 but they answered, ‘You are only men like ourselves. The
Lord of Mercy has sent nothing; you are just lying.’ They said,
‘Our Lord knows that we have been sent to you. 17 Our duty is only to
deliver the message to you,’ 18 but they answered, ‘We think you are
a See note to 10: 1.