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The Qur'an, 18. al-Kahf

18. al-Kahf: The Cave

1 Praise be to Allah Who hath revealed the Scripture unto His slave, and hath not placed therein any crookedness,
2 (But hath made it) straight, to give warning of stern punishment from Him, and to bring unto the believers who do good works the news that theirs will be a fair reward,
3 Wherein they will abide for ever;
4 And to warn those who say: Allah hath chosen a son,
5 (A thing) whereof they have no knowledge, nor (had) their fathers, Dreadful is the word that cometh out of their mouths. They speak naught but a lie.
6 Yet it may be, if they believe not in this statement, that thou (Muhammad) wilt torment thy soul with grief over their footsteps.
7 Lo! We have placed all that is on the earth as an ornament thereof that We may try them: which of them is best in conduct.
8 And lo! We shall make all that is thereon a barren mound.
9 Or deemest thou that the People of the Cave and the Inscription are a wonder among Our portents ?
10 When the young men fled for refuge to the Cave and said: Our Lord! Give us mercy from Thy presence, and shape for us right conduct in our plight.
11 Then We sealed up their hearing in the Cave for a number of years.
12 And afterward We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties would best calculate the time that they had tarried.
13 We narrate unto thee their story with truth. Lo! they were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.
14 And We made firm their hearts when they stood forth and said: Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We cry unto no God beside Him, for then should we utter an enormity.
15 These, our people, have chosen (other) gods beside Him though they bring no clear warrant (vouchsafed) to them. And who doth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie concerning Allah ?
16 And when ye withdraw from them and that which they worship except Allah, then seek refuge in the Cave; your Lord will spread for you of His mercy and will prepare for you a pillow in your plight.
17 And thou mightest have seen the sun when it rose move away from their cave to the right, and when it set go past them on the left, and they were in the cleft thereof. That was (one) of the portents of Allah. He whom Allah guideth, he indeed is led aright, and he whom He sendeth astray, for him thou wilt not find a guiding friend.
18 And thou wouldst have deemed them waking though they were asleep, and We caused them to turn over to the right and the left, and their dog stretching out his paws on the threshold. If thou hadst observed them closely thou hadst assuredly turned away from them in flight, and hadst been filled with awe of them.
19 And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried ? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you.
20 For they, if they should come to know of you, will stone you or turn you back to their religion; then ye will never prosper.
21 And in like manner We disclosed them (to the people of the city) that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When (the people of the city) disputed of their case among themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth best concerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a place of worship over them.
22 (Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them.
23 And say not of anything: Lo! I shall do that tomorrow,
24 Except if Allah will. And remember thy Lord when thou forgettest, and say: It may be that my Lord guideth me unto a nearer way of truth than this.
25 And (it is said) they tarried in their Cave three hundred years and add nine.
26 Say: Allah is Best Aware how long they tarried. His is the Invisible of the heavens and the earth. How clear of sight is He and keen of hearing! They have no protecting friend beside Him, and He maketh none to share in His government.
27 And recite that which hath been revealed unto thee of the Scripture of thy Lord. There is none who can change His words, and thou wilt find no refuge beside Him.
28 Restrain thyself along with those who cry unto their Lord at morn and evening, seeking His Countenance; and let not thine eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who followeth his own lust and whose case hath been abandoned.
29 Say: (It is) the truth from the Lord of you (all). Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers Fire. Its tent encloseth them. If they ask for showers, they will be showered with water like to molten lead which burneth the faces. Calamitous the drink and ill the resting-place!
30 Lo! as for those who believe and do good works - Lo! We suffer not the reward of one whose work is goodly to be lost.
31 As for such, theirs will be Gardens of Eden, wherein rivers flow beneath them; therein they will be given armlets of gold and will wear green robes of finest silk and gold embroidery, reclining upon throne therein. Blest the reward, and fair the resting-place!
32 Coin for them a similitude: Two men, unto one of whom We had assigned two gardens of grapes, and We had surrounded both with date-palms and had put between them tillage.
33 Each of the gardens gave its fruit and withheld naught thereof. And We caused a river to gush forth therein.
34 And he had fruit. And he said unto his comrade, when he spake with him: I am more than thee in wealth, and stronger in respect of men.
35 And he went into his garden, while he (thus) wronged himself. He said: I think not that all this will ever perish.
36 I think not that the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back unto my Lord I surely shall find better than this as a resort.
37 His comrade, when he (thus) spake with him, exclaimed: Disbelievest thou in Him Who created thee of dust, then of a drop (of seed), and then fashioned thee a man ?
38 But He is Allah, my Lord, and I ascribe unto my Lord no partner.
39 If only, when thou enteredst thy garden, thou hadst said: That which Allah willeth (will come to pass)! There is no strength save in Allah! Though thou seest me as less than thee in wealth and children,
40 Yet it may be that my Lord will give me better than thy garden, and will send on it a bolt from heaven, and some morning it will be a smooth hillside,
41 Or some morning the water thereof will be lost in the earth so that thou canst not make search for it.
42 And his fruit was beset (with destruction). Then began he to wring his hands for all that he had spent upon it, when (now) it was all ruined on its trellises, and to say: Would that I had ascribed no partner to my Lord!
43 And he had no troop of men to help him as against Allah, nor could he save himself.
44 In this case is protection only from Allah, the True, He is Best for reward, and best for consequence.
45 And coin for them the similitude of the life of the world as water which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingleth with it and then becometh dry twigs that the winds scatter. Allah is able to do all things.
46 Wealth and children are an ornament of the life of the world. But the good deeds which endure are better in thy Lord's sight for reward, and better in respect of hope.
47 And (bethink you of) the Day when we remove the hills and ye see the earth emerging, and We gather them together so as to leave not one of them behind.
48 And they are set before thy Lord in ranks (and it is said unto them): Now verily have ye come unto Us as We created you at the first. But ye thought that We had set no tryst for you.
49 And the Book is placed, and thou seest the guilty fearful of that which is therein, and they say: What kind of a Book is this that leaveth not a small thing nor a great thing but hath counted it! And they find all that they did confronting them, and thy Lord wrongeth no-one.
50 And (remember) when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He was of the jinn, so he rebelled against his Lord's command. Will ye choose him and his seed for your protecting friends instead of Me, when they are an enemy unto you ? Calamitous is the exchange for evil-doers.
51 I made them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor their own creation; nor choose I misleaders for (My) helpers.
52 And (be mindful of) the Day when He will say: Call those partners of Mine whom ye pretended. Then they will cry unto them, but they will not hear their prayer, and We shall set a gulf of doom between them.
53 And the guilty behold the Fire and know that they are about to fall therein, and they find no way of escape thence.
54 And verily We have displayed for mankind in this Qur'an all manner of similitudes, but man is more than anything contentious.
55 And naught hindereth mankind from believing when the guidance cometh unto them, and from asking forgiveness of their Lord unless (it be that they wish) that the judgment of the men of old should come upon them or (that) they should be confronted with the Doom.
56 We send not the messengers save as bearers of good news and warners. Those who disbelieve contend with falsehood in order to refute the Truth thereby. And they take Our revelations and that wherewith they are threatened as a jest.
57 And who doth greater wrong than he who hath been reminded of the revelations of his Lord, yet turneth away from them and forgetteth what his hands send forward (to the Judgment) ? Lo! on their hearts We have placed coverings so that they understand not, and in their ears a deafness. And though thou call them to the guidance, in that case they can never be led aright.
58 Thy Lord is the Forgiver, Full of Mercy. If He took them to task (now) for what they earn, He would hasten on the doom for them; but theirs is an appointed term from which they will find no escape.
59 And (all) those townships! We destroyed them when they did wrong, and We appointed a fixed time for their destruction.
60 And when Moses said unto his servant: I will not give up until I reach the point where the two rivers meet, though I march on for ages.
61 And when they reached the point where the two met, they forgot their fish, and it took its way into the waters, being free.
62 And when they had gone further, he said unto his servant: Bring us our breakfast. Verily we have found fatigue in this our journey.
63 He said: Didst thou see, when we took refuge on the rock, and I forgot the fish - and none but Satan caused me to forget to mention it - it took its way into the waters by a marvel.
64 He said: This is that which we have been seeking. So they retraced their steps again.
65 Then found they one of Our slaves, unto whom We had given mercy from Us, and had taught him knowledge from Our presence.
66 Moses said unto him: May I follow thee, to the end that thou mayst teach me right conduct of that which thou hast been taught ?
67 He said: Lo! thou canst not bear with me.
68 How canst thou bear with that whereof thou canst not compass any knowledge ?
69 He said: Allah willing, thou shalt find me patient and I shall not in aught gainsay thee.
70 He said: Well, if thou go with me, ask me not concerning aught till I myself make mention of it unto thee.
71 So they twain set out till, when they were in the ship, he made a hole therein. (Moses) said: Hast thou made a hole therein to drown the folk thereof ? Thou verily hast done a dreadful thing.
72 He said: Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not bear with me ?
73 (Moses) said: Be not wroth with me that I forgot, and be not hard upon me for my fault.
74 So they twain journeyed on till, when they met a lad, he slew him. (Moses) said: What! Hast thou slain an innocent soul who hath slain no man ? Verily thou hast done a horrid thing.
75 He said: Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not bear with me ?
76 (Moses) said: If I ask thee after this concerning aught, keep not company with me. Thou hast received an excuse from me.
77 So they twain journeyed on till, when they came unto the folk of a certain township, they asked its folk for food, but they refused to make them guests. And they found therein a wall upon the point of falling into ruin, and he repaired it. (Moses) said: If thou hadst wished, thou couldst have taken payment for it.
78 He said: This is the parting between thee and me! I will announce unto thee the interpretation of that thou couldst not bear with patience.
79 As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working on the river, and I wished to mar it, for there was a king behind them who is taking every ship by force.
80 And as for the lad, his parents were believers and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief.
81 And we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in purity and nearer to mercy.
82 And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure belonging to them, and their father had been righteous, and thy Lord intended that they should come to their full strength and should bring forth their treasure as a mercy from their Lord; and I did it not upon my own command. Such is the interpretation of that wherewith thou couldst not bear.
83 They will ask thee of Dhu'l-Qarneyn. Say: I shall recite unto you a remembrance of him.
84 Lo! We made him strong in the land and gave him unto every thing a road.
85 And he followed a road
86 Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness.
87 He said: As for him who doeth wrong, we shall punish him, and then he will be brought back unto his Lord, Who will punish him with awful punishment!
88 But as for him who believeth and doeth right, good will be his reward, and We shall speak unto him a mild command.
89 Then he followed a road
90 Till, when he reached the rising-place of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had appointed no shelter therefrom.
91 So (it was). And We knew all concerning him.
92 Then he followed a road
93 Till, when he came between the two mountains, he found upon their hither side a folk that scarce could understand a saying.
94 They said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Lo! Gog and Magog are spoiling the land. So may we pay thee tribute on condition that thou set a barrier between us and them ?
95 He said: That wherein my Lord hath established me is better (than your tribute). Do but help me with strength (of men), I will set between you and them a bank.
96 Give me pieces of iron - till, when he had levelled up (the gap) between the cliffs, he said: Blow! - till, when he had made it a fire, he said: Bring me molten copper to pour thereon.
97 And (Gog and Magog) were not able to surmount, nor could they pierce (it).
98 He said: This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord cometh to pass, He will lay it low, for the promise of my Lord is true.
99 And on that day we shall let some of them surge against others, and the Trumpet will be blown. Then We shall gather them together in one gathering.
100 On that day we shall present hell to the disbelievers, plain to view,
101 Those whose eyes were hoodwinked from My reminder, and who could not bear to hear.
102 Do the disbelievers reckon that they can choose My bondmen as protecting friends beside Me ? Lo! We have prepared hell as a welcome for the disbelievers.
103 Say: Shall We inform you who will be the greatest losers by their works ?
104 Those whose effort goeth astray in the life of the world, and yet they reckon that they do good work.
105 Those are they who disbelieve in the revelations of their Lord and in the meeting with Him. Therefor their works are vain, and on the Day of Resurrection We assign no weight to them.
106 That is their reward: hell, because they disbelieved, and made a jest of Our revelations and Our messengers.
107 Lo! those who believe and do good works, theirs are the Gardens of Paradise for welcome,
108 Wherein they will abide, with no desire to be removed from thence.
109 Say: Though the sea became ink for the Words of my Lord, verily the sea would be used up before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even though We brought the like thereof to help.
110 Say: I am only a mortal like you. My Lord inspireth in me that your God is only One God. And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord.

The Qur'an, 17. bani Isra'il

17. bani Isra'il: The Israelites

1 Glorified be He Who carried His servant by night from the Inviolable Place of Worship to the Far distant place of worship the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, that We might show him of Our tokens! Lo! He, only He, is the Hearer, the Seer.
2 We gave unto Moses the Scripture, and We appointed it a guidance for the children of Israel, saying: Choose no guardian beside Me.
3 (They were) the seed of those whom We carried (in the ship) along with Noah. Lo! he was a grateful slave.
4 And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Scripture: Ye verily will work corruption in the earth twice, and ye will become great tyrants.
5 So when the time for the first of the two came, We roused against you slaves of Ours of great might who ravaged (your) country, and it was a threat performed.
6 Then we gave you once again your turn against them, and We aided you with wealth and children and made you more in soldiery.
7 (Saying): If ye do good, ye do good for your own souls, and if ye do evil, it is for them (in like manner). So, when the time for the second (of the judgments) came (We roused against you others of Our slaves) to ravage you, and to enter the Temple even as they entered it the first time, and to lay waste all that they conquered with an utter wasting.
8 It may be that your Lord will have mercy on you, but if ye repeat (the crime) We shall repeat (the punishment), and We have appointed hell a dungeon for the disbelievers.
9 Lo! this Qur'an guideth unto that which is straightest, and giveth tidings unto the believers who do good works that theirs will be a great reward.
10 And that those who believe not in the Hereafter, for them We have prepared a painful doom.
11 Man prayeth for evil as he prayeth for good; for man was ever hasty.
12 And We appoint the night and the day two portents. Then We make dark the portent of the night, and We make the portent of the day sight-giving, that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the computation of the years, and the reckoning; and everything have We expounded with a clear expounding.
13 And every man's augury have We fastened to his own neck, and We shall bring forth for him on the Day of Resurrection a book which he will find wide open.
14 (And it will be said unto him): Read thy Book. Thy soul sufficeth as reckoner against thee this day.
15 Whosoever goeth right, it is only for (the good of) his own soul that he goeth right, and whosoever erreth, erreth only to its hurt. No laden soul can bear another's load, We never punish until we have sent a messenger.
16 And when We would destroy a township We send commandment to its folk who live at ease, and afterward they commit abomination therein, and so the Word (of doom) hath effect for it, and we annihilate it with complete annihilation.
17 How many generations have We destroyed since Noah! And Allah sufficeth as Knower and Beholder of the sins of His slaves.
18 Whoso desireth that (life) which hasteneth away, We hasten for him therein what We will for whom We please. And afterward We have appointed for him hell; he will endure the heat thereof, condemned, rejected.
19 And whoso desireth the Hereafter and striveth for it with the effort necessary, being a believer; for such, their effort findeth favour (with their Lord).
20 Each do We supply, both these and those, from the bounty of thy Lord. And the bounty of thy Lord can never be walled up.
21 See how We prefer one of them above another, and verily the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment.
22 Set not up with Allah any other god (O man) lest thou sit down reproved, forsaken.
23 Thy Lord hath decreed, that ye worship none save Him, and (that ye show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee, say not "Fie" unto them nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word.
24 And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say: My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was little.
25 Your Lord is Best Aware of what is in your minds. If ye are righteous, then lo! He was ever Forgiving unto those who turn (unto Him).
26 Give the kinsman his due, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and squander not (thy wealth) in wantonness.
27 Lo! the squanderers were ever brothers of the devils, and the devil was ever an ingrate to his Lord.
28 But if thou turn away from them, seeking mercy from thy Lord, for which thou hopest, then speak unto them a reasonable word.
29 And let not thy hand be chained to thy neck nor open it with a complete opening, lest thou sit down rebuked, denuded.
30 Lo! thy Lord enlargeth the provision for whom He will, and straiteneth (it for whom He will). Lo, He was ever Knower, Seer of His slaves.
31 Slay not your children, fearing a fall to poverty, We shall provide for them and for you. Lo! the slaying of them is great sin.
32 And come not near unto adultery. Lo! it is an abomination and an evil way.
33 And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right. Whoso is slain wrongfully, We have given power unto his heir, but let him not commit excess in slaying. Lo! he will be helped.
34 Come not near the wealth of the orphan save with that which is better till he come to strength; and keep the covenant. Lo! of the covenant it will be asked.
35 Fill the measure when ye measure, and weigh with a right balance; that is meet, and better in the end.
36 (O man), follow not that whereof thou hast no knowledge. Lo! the hearing and the sight and the heart - of each of these it will be asked.
37 And walk not in the earth exultant. Lo! thou canst not rend the earth, nor canst thou stretch to the height of the hills.
38 The evil of all that is hateful in the sight of thy Lord.
39 This is (part) of that wisdom wherewith thy Lord hath inspired thee (O Muhammad). And set not up with Allah any other god, lest thou be cast into hell, reproved, abandoned.
40 Hath your Lord then distinguished you (O men of Makka) by giving you sons, and hath chosen for Himself females from among the angels ? Lo! verily ye speak an awful word!
41 We verily have displayed (Our warnings) in this Qur'an that they may take heed, but it increaseth them in naught save aversion.
42 Say (O Muhammad, to the disbelievers): If there were other gods along with Him, as they say, then had they sought a way against the Lord of the Throne.
43 Glorified is He, and High Exalted above what they say!
44 The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein praise Him, and there is not a thing but hymneth His praise; but ye understand not their praise. Lo! He is ever Clement, Forgiving.
45 And when thou recitest the Qur'an we place between thee and those who believe not in the Hereafter a hidden barrier;
46 And We place upon their hearts veils lest they should understand it, and in their ears a deafness; and when thou makest mention of thy Lord alone in the Qur'an, they turn their backs in aversion.
47 We are Best Aware of what they wish to hear when they give ear to thee and when they take secret counsel, when the evil-doers say: Ye follow but a man bewitched.
48 See what similitudes they coin for thee, and thus are all astray, and cannot find a road!
49 And they say: When we are bones and fragments, shall we forsooth, be raised up as a new creation ?
50 Say: Be ye stones or iron
51 Or some created thing that is yet greater in your thoughts! Then they will say: Who shall bring us back (to life). Say: He Who created you at the first. Then will they shake their heads at thee, and say: When will it be ? Say: It will perhaps be soon;
52 A day when He will call you and ye will answer with His praise, and ye will think that ye have tarried but a little while.
53 Tell My bondmen to speak that which is kindlier. Lo! the devil soweth discord among them. Lo! the devil is for man an open foe.
54 Your Lord is Best Aware of you. If He will, He will have mercy on you, or if He will, He will punish you. We have not sent thee (O Muhammad) as a warden over them.
55 And thy Lord is Best Aware of all who are in the heavens and the earth. And we preferred some of the prophets above others, and unto David We gave the Psalms.
56 Say: Cry unto those (saints and angels) whom ye assume (to be gods) beside Him, yet they have no power to rid you of misfortune nor to change.
57 Those unto whom they cry seek the way of approach to their Lord, which of them shall be the nearest; they hope for His mercy and they fear His doom. Lo! the doom of thy Lord is to be shunned.
58 There is not a township but We shall destroy it ere the Day of Resurrection, or punish it with dire punishment. That is set forth in the Book (of Our decrees).
59 Naught hindereth Us from sending portents save that the folk of old denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel - a clear portent save to warn.
60 And (it was a warning) when we told thee: Lo! thy Lord encompasseth mankind, and We appointed the sight which We showed thee as an ordeal for mankind, and (likewise) the Accursed Tree in the Qur'an. We warn them, but it increaseth them in naught save gross impiety.
61 And when We said unto the angels: Fall down prostrate before Adam and they fell prostrate all save Iblis, he said: Shall I fall prostrate before that which Thou hast created of clay ?
62 He said: Seest Thou this (creature) whom Thou hast honoured above me, if Thou give me grace until the Day of Resurrection I verily will seize his seed, save but a few.
63 He said: Go, and whosoever of them followeth thee - lo! hell will be your payment, ample payment.
64 And excite any of them whom thou canst with thy voice, and urge thy horse and foot against them, and be a partner in their wealth and children, and promise them. Satan promiseth them only to deceive.
65 Lo! My (faithful) bondmen - over them thou hast no power, and thy Lord sufficeth as (their) guardian.
66 (O mankind), your Lord is He Who driveth for you the ship upon the sea that ye may seek of His bounty. Lo! He was ever Merciful toward you.
67 And when harm toucheth you upon the sea, all unto whom ye cry (for succour) fail save Him (alone), but when He bringeth you safe to land, ye turn away, for man was ever thankless.
68 Feel ye then secure that He will not cause a slope of the land to engulf you, or send a sand-storm upon you, and then ye will find that ye have no protector ?
69 Or feel ye secure that He will not return you to that (plight) a second time, and send against you a hurricane of wind and drown you for your thanklessness, and then ye will not find therein that ye have any avenger against Us ?
70 Verily we have honoured the Children of Adam. We carry them on the land and the sea, and have made provision of good things for them, and have preferred them above many of those whom We created with a marked preferment.
71 On the day when We shall summon all men with their record, whoso is given his book in his right hand - such will read their book and they will not be wronged a shred.
72 Whoso is blind here will be blind in the Hereafter, and yet further from the road.
73 And they indeed strove hard to beguile thee (Muhammad) away from that wherewith We have inspired thee, that thou shouldst invent other than it against Us; and then would they have accepted thee as a friend.
74 And if We had not made thee wholly firm thou mightest almost have inclined unto them a little.
75 Then had we made thee taste a double (punishment) of living and a double (punishment) of dying, then hadst thou found no helper against Us.
76 And they indeed wished to scare thee from the land that they might drive thee forth from thence, and then they would have stayed (there) but a little after thee.
77 (Such was Our) method in the case of those whom We sent before thee (to mankind), and thou wilt not find for Our method aught of power to change.
78 Establish worship at the going down of the sun until the dark of night, and (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn is ever witnessed.
79 And some part of the night awake for it, a largess for thee. It may be that thy Lord will raise thee to a praised estate.
80 And say: My Lord! Cause me to come in with a firm incoming and to go out with a firm outgoing. And give me from Thy presence a sustaining Power.
81 And say: Truth hath come and falsehood hath vanished away. Lo! falsehood is ever bound to vanish.
82 And We reveal of the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy for believers though it increase the evil-doers in naught save ruin.
83 And when We make life pleasant unto man, he turneth away and is averse; and when ill toucheth him he is in despair.
84 Say: Each one doth according to his rule of conduct, and thy Lord is Best Aware of him whose way is right.
85 They are asking thee concerning the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is by command of my Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little.
86 And if We willed We could withdraw that which We have revealed unto thee, then wouldst thou find no guardian for thee against Us in respect thereof.
87 (It is naught) save mercy from thy Lord. Lo! His kindness unto thee was ever great.
88 Say: Verily, though mankind and the jinn should assemble to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof though they were helpers one of another.
89 And verily We have displayed for mankind in this Qur'an all kind of similitudes, but most of mankind refuse aught save disbelief.
90 And they say: We will not put faith in thee till thou cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us;
91 Or thou have a garden of date-palms and grapes, and cause rivers to gush forth therein abundantly;
92 Or thou cause the heaven to fall upon us piecemeal, as thou hast pretended, or bring Allah and the angels as a warrant;
93 Or thou have a house of gold; or thou ascend up into heaven, and even then we will put no faith in thine ascension till thou bring down for us a book that we can read. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord be Glorified! Am I aught save a mortal messenger ?
94 And naught prevented mankind from believing when the guidance came unto them save that they said: Hath Allah sent a mortal as (His) messenger ?
95 Say: If there were in the earth angels walking secure, We had sent down for them from heaven an angel as messenger.
96 Say: Allah sufficeth for a witness between me and you. Lo! He is Knower, Seer of His slaves.
97 And he whom Allah guideth, he is led aright; while, as for him whom He sendeth astray, for them thou wilt find no protecting friends beside Him, and We shall assemble them on the Day of Resurrection on their faces, blind, dumb and deaf; their habitation will be hell; whenever it abateth, We increase the flame for them.
98 That is their reward because they disbelieved Our revelations and said: When we are bones and fragments shall we, forsooth, be raised up as a new creation ?
99 Have they not seen that Allah Who created the heavens and the earth is Able to create the like of them, and hath appointed for them an end whereof there is no doubt ? But the wrong-doers refuse aught save disbelief.
100 Say (unto them): If ye possessed the treasures of the mercy of my Lord, ye would surely hold them back for fear of spending, for man was ever grudging.
101 And verily We gave unto Moses nine tokens, clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty). Do but ask the Children of Israel how he came unto them, then Pharaoh said unto him: Lo! I deem thee one bewitched, O Moses.
102 He said: In truth thou knowest that none sent down these (portents) save the Lord of the heavens and the earth as proofs, and lo! (for my part) I deem thee lost, O Pharaoh.
103 And he wished to scare them from the land, but We drowned him and those with him, all together.
104 And We said unto the Children of Israel after him: Dwell in the land; but when the promise of the Hereafter cometh to pass We shall bring you as a crowd gathered out of various nations.
105 With truth have We sent it down, and with truth hath it descended. And We have sent thee as naught else save a bearer of good tidings and a warner.
106 And (it is) a Qur'an that We have divided, that thou mayst recite it unto mankind at intervals, and We have revealed it by (successive) revelation.
107 Say: Believe therein or believe not, lo! those who were given knowledge before it, when it is read unto them, fall down prostrate on their faces, adoring,
108 Saying: Glory to our Lord! Verily the promise of our Lord must be fulfilled.
109 They fall down on their faces, weeping, and it increaseth humility in them.
110 Say (unto mankind): Cry unto Allah, or cry unto the Beneficent, unto whichsoever ye cry (it is the same). His are the most beautiful names. And thou (Muhammad), be not loud-voiced in thy worship nor yet silent therein, but follow a way between.
111 And say: Praise be to Allah, Who hath not taken unto Himself a son, and Who hath no partner in the Sovereignty, nor hath He any protecting friend through dependence. And magnify Him with all magnificence.

The Qur'an, 16. an-Nahl

16. an-Nahl: The Bee

1 The commandment of Allah will come to pass, so seek not ye to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate (with Him).
2 He sendeth down the angels with the Spirit of His command unto whom He will of His bondmen, (saying): Warn mankind that there is no God save Me, so keep your duty unto Me.
3 He hath created the heavens and the earth with truth. High be He Exalted above all that they associate (with Him).
4 He hath created man from a drop of fluid, yet behold! he is an open opponent.
5 And the cattle hath He created, whence ye have warm clothing and uses, and whereof ye eat;
6 And wherein is beauty for you, when ye bring them home, and when ye take them out to pasture.
7 And they bear your loads for you unto a land ye could not reach save with great trouble to yourselves. Lo! your Lord is Full of Pity, Merciful.
8 And horses and mules and asses (hath He created) that ye may ride them, and for ornament. And He createth that which ye know not.
9 And Allah's is the direction of the way, and some (roads) go not straight. And had He willed He would have led you all aright.
10 He it is Who sendeth down water from the sky, whence ye have drink, and whence are trees on which ye send your beasts to pasture.
11 Therewith He causeth crops to grow for you, and the olive and the date-palm and grapes and all kinds of fruit. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people who reflect.
12 And He hath constrained the night and the day and the sun and the moon to be of service unto you, and the stars are made subservient by His command. Lo! herein indeed are portents for people who have sense.
13 And whatsoever He hath created for you in the earth of divers hues, lo! therein is indeed a portent for people who take heed.
14 And He it is Who hath constrained the sea to be of service that ye eat fresh meat from thence, and bring forth from thence ornaments which ye wear. And thou seest the ships ploughing it that ye (mankind) may seek of His bounty and that haply ye may give thanks.
15 And He hath cast into the earth firm hills that it quake not with you, and streams and roads that ye may find a way.
16 And landmarks (too), and by the star they find a way.
17 Is He then Who createth as him who createth not ? Will ye not then remember ?
18 And if ye would count the favour of Allah ye cannot reckon it. Lo! Allah is indeed Forgiving, Merciful.
19 And Allah knoweth that which ye keep hidden and that which ye proclaim.
20 Those unto whom they cry beside Allah created naught, but are themselves created.
21 (They are) dead, not living. And they know not when they will be raised.
22 Your God is One God. But as for those who believe not in the Hereafter their hearts refuse to know, for they are proud.
23 Assuredly Allah knoweth that which they keep hidden and that which they proclaim. Lo! He loveth not the proud.
24 And when it is said unto them: What hath your Lord revealed ? they say: (Mere) fables of the men of old,
25 That they may bear their burdens undiminished on the Day of Resurrection, with somewhat of the burdens of those whom they mislead without knowledge. Ah! evil is that which they bear!
26 Those before them plotted, so Allah struck at the foundations of their building, and then the roof fell down upon them from above them, and the doom came on them whence they knew not;
27 Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them and will say: Where are My partners, for whose sake ye opposed (My guidance) ? Those who have been given knowledge will say: Disgrace this day and evil are upon the disbelievers,
28 Whom the angels cause to die while they are wronging themselves. Then will they make full submission (saying): We used not to do any wrong. Nay! Surely Allah is Knower of what ye used to do.
29 So enter the gates of hell, to dwell therein for ever. Woeful indeed will be the lodging of the arrogant.
30 And it is said unto those who ward off (evil): What hath your Lord revealed ? They say: Good. For those who do good in this world there is a good (reward) and the home of the Hereafter will be better. Pleasant indeed will be the home of those who ward off (evil) -
31 Gardens of Eden which they enter, underneath which rivers flow, wherein they have what they will. Thus Allah repayeth those who ward off (evil),
32 Those whom the angels cause to die (when they are) good. They say: Peace be unto you! Enter the Garden because of what ye used to do.
33 Await they aught say that the angels should come unto them or thy Lord's command should come to pass ? Even so did those before them. Allah wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves,
34 So that the evils of what they did smote them, and that which they used to mock surrounded them.
35 And the idolaters say: Had Allah willed, we had not worshipped aught beside Him, we and our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught without (command from) Him. Even so did those before them. Are the messengers charged with aught save plain conveyance (of the message) ?
36 And verily We have raised in every nation a messenger, (proclaiming): Serve Allah and shun false gods. Then some of them (there were) whom Allah guided, and some of them (there were) upon whom error had just hold. Do but travel in the land and see the nature of the consequence for the deniers!
37 Even if thou (O Muhammad) desirest their right guidance, still Allah assuredly will not guide him who misleadeth. Such have no helpers.
38 And they swear by Allah their most binding oaths (that) Allah will not raise up him who dieth. Nay, but it is a promise (binding) upon Him in truth, but most of mankind know not,
39 That He may explain unto them that wherein they differ, and that those who disbelieved may know that they were liars.
40 And Our word unto a thing, when We intend it, is only that We say unto it: Be! and it is.
41 And those who became fugitives for the cause of Allah after they had been oppressed, We verily shall give them goodly lodging in the world, and surely the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if they but knew;
42 Such as are steadfast and put their trust in Allah.
43 And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men whom We inspired - Ask the followers of the Remembrance if ye know not! -
44 With clear proofs and writings; and We have revealed unto thee the Remembrance that thou mayst explain to mankind that which hath been revealed for them, and that haply they may reflect.
45 Are they who plan ill-deeds then secure that Allah will not cause the earth to swallow them, or that the doom will not come on them whence they know not ?
46 Or that He will not seize them in their going to and fro so that there be no escape for them ?
47 Or that He will not seize them with a gradual wasting ? Lo! thy Lord is indeed Full of Pity, Merciful.
48 Have they not observed all things that Allah hath created, how their shadows incline to the right and to the left, making prostration unto Allah, and they are lowly ?
49 And unto Allah maketh prostration whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth of living creatures, and the angels (also) and they are not proud.
50 They fear their Lord above them, and do what they are bidden.
51 Allah hath said: Choose not two gods. There is only One God. So of Me, Me only, be in awe.
52 Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth, and religion is His for ever. Will ye then fear any other than Allah ?
53 And whatever of comfort ye enjoy, it is from Allah. Then, when misfortune reacheth you, unto Him ye cry for help.
54 And afterward, when He hath rid you of the misfortune, behold! a set of you attribute partners to their Lord,
55 So as to deny that which We have given them. Then enjoy life (while ye may), for ye will come to know.
56 And they assign a portion of that which We have given them unto what they know not. By Allah! but ye will indeed be asked concerning (all) that ye used to invent.
57 And they assign unto Allah daughters - Be He Glorified! - and unto themselves what they desire;
58 When if one of them receiveth tidings of the birth of a female, his face remaineth darkened, and he is wroth inwardly.
59 He hideth himself from the folk because of the evil of that whereof he hath had tidings, (asking himself): Shall he keep it in contempt, or bury it beneath the dust. Verily evil is their judgment.
60 For those who believe not in the Hereafter is an evil similitude, and Allah's is the Sublime Similitude. He is the Mighty, the Wise.
61 If Allah were to take mankind to task for their wrong-doing, he would not leave hereon a living creature, but He reprieveth them to an appointed term, and when their term cometh they cannot put (it) off an hour nor (yet) advance (it).
62 And they assign unto Allah that which they (themselves) dislike, and their tongues expound the lie that the better portion will be theirs. Assuredly theirs will be the Fire, and they will be abandoned.
63 By Allah, We verily sent messengers unto the nations before thee, but the devil made their deeds fairseeming unto them. So he is their patron this day, and theirs will be a painful doom.
64 And We have revealed the Scripture unto thee only that thou mayst explain unto them that wherein they differ, and (as) a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.
65 Allah sendeth down water from the sky and therewith reviveth the earth after her death. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for a folk who hear.
66 And lo! in the cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, from betwixt the refuse and the blood, pure milk palatable to the drinkers.
67 And of the fruits of the date-palm, and grapes, whence ye derive strong drink and (also) good nourishment. Lo! therein is indeed a portent for people who have sense.
68 And thy Lord inspired the bee, saying: Choose thou habitations in the hills and in the trees and in that which they thatch;
69 Then eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of thy Lord, made smooth (for thee). There cometh forth from their bellies a drink divers of hues, wherein is healing for mankind. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people who reflect.
70 And Allah createth you, then causeth you to die, and among you is he who is brought back to the most abject stage of life, so that he knoweth nothing after (having had) knowledge. Lo! Allah is Knower, Powerful.
71 And Allah hath favoured some of you above others in provision. Now those who are more favoured will by no means hand over their provision to those (slaves) whom their right hands possess, so that they may be equal with them in respect thereof. Is it then the grace of Allah that they deny ?
72 And Allah hath given you wives of your own kind, and hath given you, from your wives, sons and grandsons, and hath made provision of good things for you. Is it then in vanity that they believe and in the grace of Allah that they disbelieve ?
73 And they worship beside Allah that which owneth no provision whatsoever for them from the heavens or the earth, nor have they (whom they worship) any power.
74 So coin not similitudes for Allah. Lo! Allah knoweth; ye know not.
75 Allah coineth a similitude: (on the one hand) a (mere) chattel slave, who hath control of nothing, and (on the other hand) one on whom we have bestowed a fair provision from Us, and he spendeth thereof secretly and openly. Are they equal ? Praise be to Allah! But most of them know not.
76 And Allah coineth a similitude: Two men, one of them dumb, having control of nothing, and he is a burden on his owner; whithersoever he directeth him to go, he bringeth no good. Is he equal with one who enjoineth justice and followeth a straight path (of conduct) ?
77 And unto Allah belongeth the Unseen of the heavens and the earth, and the matter of the Hour (of Doom) is but as a twinkling of the eye, or it is nearer still. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.
78 And Allah brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers knowing nothing, and gave you hearing and sight and hearts that haply ye might give thanks.
79 Have they not seen the birds obedient in mid-air ? None holdeth them save Allah. Lo! herein, verily, are portents for a people who believe.
80 And Allah hath given you in your houses an abode, and hath given you (also), of the hides of cattle, houses which ye find light (to carry) on the day of migration and on the day of pitching camp; and of their wool and their fur and their hair, caparison and comfort for a while.
81 And Allah hath given you, of that which He hath created, shelter from the sun; and hath given you places of refuge in the mountains, and hath given you coats to ward off the heat from you, and coats (of armour) to save you from your own foolhardiness. Thus doth He perfect His favour unto you, in order that ye may surrender (unto Him).
82 Then, if they turn away, thy duty (O Muhammad) is but plain conveyance (of the message).
83 They know the favour of Allah and then deny it. Most of them are ingrates.
84 And (bethink you of) the day when we raise up of every nation a witness, then there is no leave for disbelievers, nor are they allowed to make amends.
85 And when those who did wrong behold the doom, it will not be made light for them, nor will they be reprieved.
86 And when those who ascribed partners to Allah behold those partners of theirs, they will say: Our Lord! these are our partners unto whom we used to cry instead of Thee. But they will fling to them the saying: Lo! ye verily are liars!
87 And they proffer unto Allah submission on that day, and all that they used to invent hath failed them.
88 For those who disbelieve and debar (men) from the way of Allah, We add doom to doom because they wrought corruption,
89 And (bethink you of) the day when We raise in every nation a witness against them of their own folk, and We bring thee (Muhammad) as a witness against these. And We reveal the Scripture unto thee as an exposition of all things, and a guidance and a mercy and good tidings for those who have surrendered (to Allah).
90 Lo! Allah enjoineth justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbiddeth lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth you in order that ye may take heed.
91 Fulfil the covenant of Allah when ye have covenanted, and break not your oaths after the asseveration of them, and after ye have made Allah surety over you. Lo! Allah knoweth what ye do.
92 And be not like unto her who unravelleth the thread, after she hath made it strong, to thin filaments, making your oaths a deceit between you because of a nation being more numerous than (another) nation. Allah only trieth you thereby, and He verily will explain to you on the Day of Resurrection that wherein ye differed.
93 Had Allah willed He could have made you (all) one nation, but He sendeth whom He will astray and guideth whom He will, and ye will indeed be asked of what ye used to do.
94 Make not your oaths a deceit between you, lest a foot should slip after being firmly planted and ye should taste evil forasmuch as ye debarred (men) from the way of Allah, and yours should be an awful doom.
95 And purchase not a small gain at the price of Allah's covenant. Lo! that which Allah hath is better for you, if ye did but know.
96 That which ye have wasteth away, and that which Allah hath remaineth. And verily We shall pay those who are steadfast a recompense in proportion to the best of what they used to do.
97 Whosoever doeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, him verily we shall quicken with good life, and We shall pay them a recompense in proportion to the best of what they used to do.
98 And when thou recitest the Qur'an, seek refuge in Allah from Satan the outcast.
99 Lo! he hath no power over those who believe and put trust in their Lord.
100 His power is only over those who make a friend of him, and those who ascribe partners unto Him (Allah).
101 And when We put a revelation in place of (another) revelation, - and Allah knoweth best what He revealeth - they say: Lo! thou art but inventing. Most of them know not.
102 Say: The holy Spirit hath delivered it from thy Lord with truth, that it may confirm (the faith of) those who believe, and as guidance and good tidings for those who have surrendered (to Allah).
103 And We know well that they say: Only a man teacheth him. The speech of him at whom they falsely hint is outlandish, and this is clear Arabic speech.
104 Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, Allah guideth them not and theirs will be a painful doom.
105 Only they invent falsehood who believe not Allah's revelations, and (only) they are the liars.
106 Whoso disbelieveth in Allah after his belief - save him who is forced thereto and whose heart is still content with the Faith - but whoso findeth ease in disbelief: On them is wrath from Allah. Theirs will be an awful doom.
107 That is because they have chosen the life of the world rather than the Hereafter, and because Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk.
108 Such are they whose hearts and ears and eyes Allah hath sealed. And such are the heedless.
109 Assuredly in the Hereafter they are the losers.
110 Then lo! thy Lord - for those who became fugitives after they had been persecuted, and then fought and were steadfast - lo! thy Lord afterward is (for them) indeed Forgiving, Merciful.
111 On the Day when every soul will come pleading for itself, and every soul will be repaid what it did, and they will not be wronged.
112 Allah coineth a similitude: a township that dwelt secure and well content, its provision coming to it in abundance from every side, but it disbelieved in Allah's favours, so Allah made it experience the garb of dearth and fear because of what they used to do.
113 And verily there had come unto them a messenger from among them, but they had denied him, and so the torment seized them while they were wrong-doers.
114 So eat of the lawful and good food which Allah hath provided for you, and thank the bounty of your Lord if it is Him ye serve.
115 He hath forbidden for you only carrion and blood and swineflesh and that which hath been immolated in the name of any other than Allah; but he who is driven thereto, neither craving nor transgressing, lo! then Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
116 And speak not, concerning that which your own tongues qualify (as clean or unclean), the falsehood: "This is lawful, and this is forbidden," so that ye invent a lie against Allah. Lo! those who invent a lie against Allah will not succeed.
117 A brief enjoyment (will be theirs); and theirs a painful doom.
118 And unto those who are Jews We have forbidden that which We have already related unto thee. And We wronged them not, but they were wont to wrong themselves.
119 Then lo! thy Lord - for those who do evil in ignorance and afterward repent and amend - lo! (for them) thy Lord is afterward indeed Forgiving, Merciful.
120 Lo! Abraham was a nation obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the idolaters;
121 Thankful for His bounties; He chose him and He guided him unto a straight path.
122 And We gave him good in the world, and in the Hereafter he is among the righteous.
123 And afterward We inspired thee (Muhammad, saying): Follow the religion of Abraham, as one by nature upright. He was not of the idolaters.
124 The Sabbath was appointed only for those who differed concerning it, and lo! thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they used to differ.
125 Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the better way. Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who go aright.
126 If ye punish, then punish with the like of that wherewith ye were afflicted. But if ye endure patiently, verily it is better for the patient.
127 Endure thou patiently (O Muhammad). Thine endurance is only by (the help of) Allah. Grieve not for them, and be not in distress because of that which they devise.
128 Lo! Allah is with those who keep their duty unto Him and those who are doers of good.

The Qur'an, 15. al-Hijr

15. al-Hijr: The Rock

1 Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verses of the Scripture and a plain Reading.
2 It may be that those who disbelieve wish ardently that they were Muslims.
3 Let them eat and enjoy life, and let (false) hope beguile them. They will come to know!
4 And We destroyed no township but there was a known decree for it.
5 No nation can outstrip its term nor can they lag behind.
6 And they say: O thou unto whom the Reminder is revealed, lo! thou art indeed a madman!
7 Why bringest thou not angels unto us, if thou art of the truthful ?
8 We send not down the angels save with the Fact, and in that case (the disbelievers) would not be tolerated.
9 Lo! We, even We, reveal the Reminder, and lo! We verily are its Guardian.
10 We verily sent (messengers) before thee among the factions of the men of old.
11 And never came there unto them a messenger but they did mock him.
12 Thus do We make it traverse the hearts of the guilty:
13 They believe not therein, though the example of the men of old hath gone before.
14 And even if We opened unto them a gate of heaven and they kept mounting through it,
15 They would say: Our sight is wrong - nay, but we are folk bewitched.
16 And verily in the heaven we have set mansions of the stars, and We have beautified it for beholders.
17 And We have guarded it from every outcast devil,
18 Save him who stealeth the hearing, and them doth a clear flame pursue.
19 And the earth have We spread out, and placed therein firm hills, and caused each seemly thing to grow therein.
20 And we have given unto you livelihoods therein, and unto those for whom ye provide not.
21 And there is not a thing but with Us are the stores thereof. And we send it not down save in appointed measure.
22 And We send the winds fertilising, and cause water to descend from the sky, and give it you to drink. It is not ye who are the holders of the store thereof.
23 Lo! and it is We, even We, Who quicken and give death, and We are the Inheritor.
24 And verily We know the eager among you and verily We know the laggards.
25 Lo! thy Lord will gather them together. Lo! He is Wise, Aware.
26 Verily We created man of potter's clay of black mud altered,
27 And the jinn did We create aforetime of essential fire.
28 And (remember) when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am creating a mortal out of potter's clay of black mud altered,
29 So, when I have made him and have breathed into him of My Spirit, do ye fall down, prostrating yourselves unto him.
30 So the angels fell prostrate, all of them together
31 Save Iblis. He refused to be among the prostrate.
32 He said: O Iblis! What aileth thee that thou art not among the prostrate ?
33 He said: I am not one to prostrate myself unto a mortal whom Thou hast created out of potter's clay of black mud altered!
34 He said: Then go thou forth from hence, for lo! thou art outcast.
35 And lo! the curse shall be upon thee till the Day of Judgment.
36 He said: My Lord! Reprieve me till the day when they are raised.
37 He said: Then lo! thou art of those reprieved
38 Till the Day of appointed time.
39 He said: My Lord! Because Thou hast sent me astray, I verily shall adorn the path of error for them in the earth, and shall mislead them every one,
40 Save such of them as are Thy perfectly devoted slaves.
41 He said: This is a right course incumbent upon Me:
42 Lo! as for My slaves, thou hast no power over any of them save such of the froward as follow thee,
43 And lo! for all such, hell will be the promised place.
44 It hath seven gates, and each gate hath an appointed portion.
45 Lo! those who ward off (evil) are among gardens and watersprings.
46 (And it is said unto them): Enter them in peace, secure.
47 And We remove whatever rancour may be in their breasts. As brethren, face to face, (they rest) on couches raised.
48 Toil cometh not unto them there, nor will they be expelled from thence.
49 Announce, (O Muhammad) unto My slaves that verily I am the Forgiving, the Merciful,
50 And that My doom is the dolorous doom.
51 And tell them of Abraham's guests,
52 (How) when they came in unto him, and said: Peace. He said: Lo! we are afraid of you.
53 They said: Be not afraid! Lo! we bring thee good tidings of a boy possessing wisdom.
54 He said: Bring ye me good tidings (of a son) when old age hath overtaken me ? Of what then can ye bring good tidings ?
55 They said: We bring thee good tidings in truth. So be not thou of the despairing.
56 He said: And who despaireth of the mercy of his Lord save those who are astray ?
57 He said: And afterward what is your business, O ye messengers (of Allah) ?
58 They said: We have been sent unto a guilty folk,
59 (All) save the family of Lot. Them we shall deliver every one,
60 Except his wife, of whom We had decreed that she should be of those who stay behind.
61 And when the messengers came unto the family of Lot,
62 He said: Lo! ye are folk unknown (to me).
63 They said: Nay, but we bring thee that concerning which they keep disputing,
64 And bring thee the Truth, and lo! we are truth-tellers.
65 So travel with thy household in a portion of the night, and follow thou their backs. Let none of you turn round, but go whither ye are commanded.
66 And We made plain the case to him, that the root of them (who did wrong) was to be cut at early morn.
67 And the people of the city came, rejoicing at the news (of new arrivals).
68 He said: Lo! they are my guests. Affront me not!
69 And keep your duty to Allah, and shame me not!
70 They said; Have we not forbidden you from (entertaining) anyone ?
71 He said: Here are my daughters, if ye must be doing (so).
72 By thy life (O Muhammad) they moved blindly in the frenzy of approaching death.
73 Then the (Awful) Cry overtook them at the sunrise.
74 And We utterly confounded them, and We rained upon them stones of heated clay.
75 Lo! therein verily are portents for those who read the signs.
76 And lo! it is upon a road still uneffaced.
77 Lo! therein is indeed a portent for believers.
78 And the dwellers in the wood indeed were evil-doers.
79 So we took vengeance on them; and lo! they both are on a high-road plain to see.
80 And the dwellers in Al-Hijr denied (Our) messengers.
81 And we gave them Our revelations, but they were averse to them.
82 And they used to hew out dwellings from the hills, (wherein they dwelt) secure.
83 But the (Awful) Cry overtook them at the morning hour,
84 And that which they were wont to count as gain availed them not.
85 We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them save with truth, and lo! the Hour is surely coming. So forgive, (O Muhammad), with a gracious forgiveness.
86 Lo! Thy Lord! He is the All-Wise Creator.
87 We have given thee seven of the oft-repeated (verses) and the great Qur'an.
88 Strain not thine eyes toward that which We cause some wedded pairs among them to enjoin, and be not grieved on their account, and lower thy wing (in tenderness) for the believers.
89 And say: Lo! I, even I, am a plain warner,
90 Such as We send down for those who make division,
91 Those who break the Qur'an into parts.
92 Them, by thy Lord, We shall question, every one,
93 Of what they used to do.
94 So proclaim that which thou art commanded, and withdraw from the idolaters.
95 Lo! We defend thee from the scoffers,
96 Who set some other god along with Allah. But they will come to know.
97 Well know We that thy bosom is oppressed by what they say,
98 But hymn the praise of thy Lord, and be of those who make prostration (unto Him).
99 And serve thy Lord till the Inevitable cometh unto thee.

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