قالوا سُبحانَ رَبِّنا إِنّا كُنّا ظالِمينَ

They replied, “Glory be to our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers.”

فَأَقبَلَ بَعضُهُم عَلىٰ بَعضٍ يَتَلاوَمونَ

Then they turned to one another, blaming each other.

قالوا يا وَيلَنا إِنّا كُنّا طاغينَ

They lamented, “Woe to us! We were domineering.

عَسىٰ رَبُّنا أَن يُبدِلَنا خَيرًا مِنها إِنّا إِلىٰ رَبِّنا راغِبونَ

Our Lord may give us a better substitute. We turn to our Lord in hope.”

كَذٰلِكَ العَذابُ ۖ وَلَعَذابُ الآخِرَةِ أَكبَرُ ۚ لَو كانوا يَعلَمونَ

Such is the suffering, yet the suffering of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.

أَفَنَجعَلُ المُسلِمينَ كَالمُجرِمينَ

Should We treat the submitters like the criminals?

ما لَكُم كَيفَ تَحكُمونَ

What’s the matter with you? How do you judge?

أَم لَكُم كِتابٌ فيهِ تَدرُسونَ

Or do you have a book in which you study?

إِنَّ لَكُم فيهِ لَما تَخَيَّرونَ

In it, you have whatever you prefer?

أَم لَكُم أَيمانٌ عَلَينا بالِغَةٌ إِلىٰ يَومِ القِيامَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُم لَما تَحكُمونَ

Or do you have guarantees from Us, reaching until Resurrection Day, that you will get whatever you judge?