Quran chapter: Chapter 30: The Romans (Al-Room)

A. L. M.*

الم

Alif-Laaam-Meeem

*30:1 See Appendix 1 for the detailed explanation of these previously mysterious initials.

Certainly, the Romans will be defeated.

غُلِبَتِ الرّومُ

ghulibatir Room

In the nearest land. After their defeat, they will rise again and win.

فى أَدنَى الأَرضِ وَهُم مِن بَعدِ غَلَبِهِم سَيَغلِبونَ

feee adnal ardi wa hummim ba’di ghalabihim sa-yaghliboon

Within several years. Such is God’s decision, both in the first prophecy, and the second. On that day, the believers shall rejoice

فى بِضعِ سِنينَ لِلَّهِ الأَمرُ مِن قَبلُ وَمِن بَعدُ وَيَومَئِذٍ يَفرَحُ المُؤمِنونَ

fee bid’i sineen; lillaahil amru min qablu wa mim ba’d; wa yawma’iziny yafrahul mu’minoon

in God’s victory. He grants victory to whomever He wills. He is the Almighty, Most Merciful.

بِنَصرِ اللَّهِ يَنصُرُ مَن يَشاءُ وَهُوَ العَزيزُ الرَّحيمُ

binasril laa; yansuru mai yashaaa’u wa Huwal ‘Azeezur Raheem

(Preoccupation With the Wrong Life)

Such is God’s promise – and God never breaks His promise – but most people do not know.

وَعدَ اللَّهِ لا يُخلِفُ اللَّهُ وَعدَهُ وَلٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَ النّاسِ لا يَعلَمونَ

wa’dal laahi laa yukhliful laahu wa’dahoo wa laakin na aksaran naasi laa ya’lamoon

They care only about things of this world that are visible to them, while being totally oblivious to the Hereafter.

يَعلَمونَ ظٰهِرًا مِنَ الحَيوٰةِ الدُّنيا وَهُم عَنِ الـٔاخِرَةِ هُم غٰفِلونَ

ya’lamoona zaahiram minal hayaatid dunya wa hum ‘anil Aakhirati hum ghaafiloon

Why do they not reflect on themselves? God did not create the heavens and the earth, and everything between them, except for a specific purpose, and for a specific life span. However, most people, with regard to meeting their Lord, are disbelievers.

أَوَلَم يَتَفَكَّروا فى أَنفُسِهِم ما خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضَ وَما بَينَهُما إِلّا بِالحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى وَإِنَّ كَثيرًا مِنَ النّاسِ بِلِقائِ رَبِّهِم لَكٰفِرونَ

awalam yatafakkaroo feee anfusihim; maa khalaqal laahus samaawaati wal arda wa maa bainahumaaa illaa bil haqqi wa ajalim musammaa; wa inna kaseeram minan naasi biliqaaa’i Rabbihim lakaafiroon

Have they not roamed the earth and noted the consequences for those who preceded them? They used to be more powerful, more prosperous, and more productive on earth. Their messengers went to them with clear signs. Consequently, God was not the One who wronged them, they are the ones who wronged their own souls.

أَوَلَم يَسيروا فِى الأَرضِ فَيَنظُروا كَيفَ كانَ عٰقِبَةُ الَّذينَ مِن قَبلِهِم كانوا أَشَدَّ مِنهُم قُوَّةً وَأَثارُوا الأَرضَ وَعَمَروها أَكثَرَ مِمّا عَمَروها وَجاءَتهُم رُسُلُهُم بِالبَيِّنٰتِ فَما كانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظلِمَهُم وَلٰكِن كانوا أَنفُسَهُم يَظلِمونَ

awalam yaseeroo fil ardi fa-yanzuroo kaifa kaana ‘aaqibatul lazeena min qablihim; kaanooo ashadda minhhum quwwatanw wa asaarul arda wa ‘amaroohaaa aksara mimmaa ‘amaroohaa wa jaaa’athum Rusuluhum bil baiyinaati famaa kaanal laahu liyazli mahum wa laakin kaanooo anfusahum yazlimoon

The consequences for those who committed evil had to be evil. That is because they rejected God’s revelations, and ridiculed them.

ثُمَّ كانَ عٰقِبَةَ الَّذينَ أَسٰـُٔوا السّوأىٰ أَن كَذَّبوا بِـٔايٰتِ اللَّهِ وَكانوا بِها يَستَهزِءونَ

summa kaana’aaqibatal lazeena asaaa’us sooo aaa an kazzaboo bi aayaatil laahi wa kaanoo bihaa yastahzi’oon