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Mankind! Have fear of your Lord. The violent convulsion at the Last Hour will be awesome indeed.
On the Day when it comes, every suckling mother will utterly forget her nursling, and every woman heavy with child will cast her burden; and it will seem to you that all mankind are drunk, although they are not drunk. But severe indeed will be God’s punishment.
Yet some people argue about God without having any knowledge, and follow every rebellious devil.
It is decreed for whoever entrusts himself to any [such devil] that he will lead him astray and guide him towards the suffering of the blazing flame.
Mankind! If you are in doubt as to the resurrection, remember that We have created you out of dust, then out of a gamete, then out of a clinging cell mass, then out of an organised and unorganised embryo, so that We might make things clear to you. We cause to rest in the [mothers’] wombs whatever We please for an appointed term, and then We bring you forth as infants, that you may grow up and attain your prime. Some of you die young, and some live on to abject old age when all that they once knew they know no more. You can see the earth dry and barren; and [suddenly,] when We send down water upon it, it stirs and swells and puts forth every kind of radiant bloom.
That is because God alone is the Ultimate Truth; and He alone brings the dead to life; and He has the power to will anything.
And that the Last Hour is certain to come, beyond any doubt; and that God will certainly resurrect all who are in their graves.
Yet some people argue about God without having any knowledge, without guidance, and without any light-giving revelations.
They turn away in scorn so as to lead others astray from the path of God. Disgrace is in store for them in this world, and on the Day of Resurrection We shall make them taste suffering through fire.
[They shall be told:] ‘This is the outcome of what your own hands have wrought. Never does God do the least wrong to His creatures’.
Some people worship God on the border-line [of faith]. If good befalls such a person, he is content; but if a trial assails him, he turns away utterly; thus losing this world and the life to come. This is, indeed, a loss beyond compare.
He invokes, instead of God, something that can neither harm nor benefit him. This is the utmost that one can go astray.
Indeed he invokes one that is far more likely to cause harm than benefit. Vile indeed is such a patron, and vile the friend.
God will certainly admit those who believe and do righteous deeds into gardens through which running waters flow. God certainly does whatever He wills.
If anyone thinks that God will not succour him in this world and in the life to come, let him stretch out a rope to the sky and then cut himself off; and then let him see whether his scheme will remove that which has enraged him.
Thus have we bestowed from on high this [Qur'an] in clear verses. God guides him who wills [to be guided].
As for the believers, the Jews, the Sabians, the Christians, the Magians, and those who associate partners with God, God will decide between them on the Day of Judgement. God is witness to everything.
Are you not aware that to God bow down in worship all those who are in the heavens and on earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees and the beasts, and a great number of human beings? But a great number also will inevitably have to suffer punishment. He whom God shall disgrace will have none who could bestow honour on him. God certainly does what He wills.
These two adversaries have become engrossed in contention about their Lord. For the unbelievers garments of fire shall be cut out; and scalding water will be poured over their heads,
melting all that is in their bellies and their skin.
In addition, there will be grips of iron for them.
Whenever, in their anguish, they try to get out, they are returned there, and will be told: ‘Taste the torment of fire’.
God will certainly admit those who believe and do righteous deeds into gardens through which running waters flow, wherein they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and where silk will be their raiment.
For they were guided to the best of words; and so they were guided to the way that leads to the One to whom all praise is due.
The unbelievers who debar others from the path of God and the Sacred Mosque which We have set up for all people alike, both those who dwell there and those who come from abroad… Anyone who seeks to profane it by wrongdoing We shall cause to taste painful suffering.
When We assigned to Abraham the site of the [Sacred] House, [We said], ‘Do not associate anything as partner with Me. Purify My House for those who will walk around it, and those who will stand before it, and those who will bow down and prostrate themselves in prayer’.
‘Proclaim to all people the duty of pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every kind of fast mount. They will come from every far-away quarter,
so that they might experience much that shall be of benefit to them, and that they might extol the name of God on the days appointed [for sacrifice], over whatever heads of cattle He may have provided for them. Eat, then, of such [sacrificed cattle] and feed the unfortunate poor.
‘Thereafter let them complete the rites prescribed for them, fulfil their vows, and again walk around the Ancient House’.
All this [is ordained by God]. Whoever honours God’s sanctities, it will be better for him with his Lord. All kinds of cattle have been made lawful to you, except for what is specified to you [as forbidden]. Turn away, then, from the loathsome evil of idolatrous beliefs and practices; and turn away from every word that is untrue.
Be absolutely true to God, associating no partners with Him. For he who associates partners with God is like one who is hurling down from the skies; whereupon he is snatched by the birds, or blown away by the wind to a far-off place.
This is [to be borne in mind]. Anyone who honours the symbols set up by God [shows evidence of] God-fearingness in people’s hearts.
You have benefit in them for a term appointed; and in the end their place of sacrifice is near the Ancient House.
For every community We have appointed [sacrifice as] an act of worship, so that they might extol the name of God over whatever heads of cattle He may have provided for them. Your God is the One and Only God. Hence, surrender yourselves to Him. Give good news to those who are humble,
whose hearts tremble with awe whenever God is mentioned, and who patiently bear whatever befalls them, attend regularly to their prayer and spend in charity out of what We provide for them.
The sacrifice of camels We have ordained for you as one of the symbols set up by God, in which there is much good for you. Hence, extol the name of God over them when they are lined up [for sacrifice]; and after they have fallen lifeless to the ground, eat of their meat, and feed the poor who is contented with his lot, as well as the one who is forced to beg. It is to this end that We have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might have cause to be grateful.
Never does their meat or their blood reach God; it is your piety that reaches Him. It is to this end that He has made them subservient to your needs, so that you might glorify God for all the guidance with which He has graced you. Give good news to those who do good.
God will certainly defend those who believe. For certain, God does not love anyone who betrays his trust and is bereft of gratitude.
Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is waged, because they have been wronged. Most certainly, God has the power to grant them victory.
These are the ones who have been driven from their homelands against all right for no other reason than their saying, ‘Our Lord is God!’ Were it not that God repels some people by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques – in all of which God’s name is abundantly extolled – would surely have been destroyed. God will most certainly succour him who succours God’s cause. God is certainly most-powerful, almighty.
They are those who, if We firmly establish them on earth, attend regularly to their prayers, give in charity, enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong. With God rests the final outcome of all events.
If they accuse you of falsehood, before their time, the people of Noah, [Ad and Thamud similarly accused [their prophets] of falsehood,
as did the people of Abraham and the people of Lot,
and the dwellers of Madyan; and so too was Moses accused of falsehood. [In every case] I gave rein, for a while, to the unbelievers, but then I took them to task. How awesome was the way I rejected them.
How many a township have We destroyed because it had been immersed in wrongdoing. Now they lie in desolate ruin. How many a well lies abandoned, and how many a proud palace lies empty.
Have they never journeyed through the lands, letting their hearts gain wisdom, and their ears hear? It is not eyes that go blind; but blind indeed become the hearts that are in people’s breasts.
They challenge you to hasten the coming upon them of God’s punishment; but God never fails to fulfil His promise. Well, in your Lord’s sight a day is like a thousand years of your reckoning.
To how many a township that was immersed in wrongdoing have I given rein for a while! But then I took it to task. With Me is the end of all journeys.
Say: ‘Mankind, I am but a plain warner, sent to you!’
Those who believe and do righteous deeds shall be granted forgiveness of sins and a most excellent sustenance;
whereas those who strive against Our revelations, seeking to defeat their purpose, are destined for the blazing Fire.
Whenever We sent forth a messenger or a prophet before you, and he was hoping for something, Satan would throw some aspersion on his wishes. But God renders null and void whatever aspersion Satan may cast; and God makes His messages clear in and by themselves. God is all-knowing, wise.
He may cause whatever aspersion Satan may cast to become a trial for all in whose hearts is disease and all whose hearts are hardened. Indeed, all who are thus sinning are most deeply in the wrong.
And those who are endowed with knowledge may realise that this [Qur'an] is the truth from your Lord, and thus they may believe in it, and their hearts may humbly submit to Him. God will surely guide those who believe to a straight path.
Yet the unbelievers will not cease to be in doubt about Him until the Last Hour comes suddenly upon them, or suffering befalls them on a Day with no more [days] to follow.
On that Day, all dominion shall belong to God. He shall judge between them. Thus, all who believe and do righteous deeds shall find themselves in gardens of bliss,
whereas for the unbelievers who have denied Our revelations there shall be shameful suffering in store.
As for those who leave their homes to serve God’s cause, and are then slain or die, God will most certainly grant them a goodly provision. God is indeed the most munificent provider.
He will most certainly admit them to a place with which they shall be well pleased. God is surely all-knowing, clement.
Thus shall it be. If one retaliates only to the extent of the injury he has received, and then is wronged again, God will certainly succour him. God is certainly the One who absolves sin, who is much-forgiving.
Thus it is, because God causes the night to pass into the day, and the day to pass into the night; and because God hears all and sees all.
Thus it is, because God alone is the Ultimate Truth, and all that people invoke beside Him is sheer falsehood, and because God alone is the One Most High, Great.
Are you not aware that God sends down water from the skies, whereupon the earth becomes green? God is unfathomable in His wisdom, all aware.
To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth. God alone is indeed free of all want, worthy of all praise.
Do you not see that God has made subservient to you all that is on earth, and the ships that sail the sea at His bidding? He it is who holds the celestial bodies, so that they may not fall upon the earth except by His leave. Most compassionate is God, and ever-merciful to mankind.
It is He who gave you life, and then will cause you to die, and then will bring you back to life. Bereft of all gratitude is man.
To every community We have appointed ways of worship, which they should observe. Let them not draw you into disputes on this score, but call [them all] to your Lord. You are indeed on the right way.
Should they argue with you, say: ‘God knows best what you are doing’.
God will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection with regard to all on which you dispute.
Do you not know that God knows all that occurs in heaven as well as on earth? Indeed it is all in a record. All this is easy for God.
And yet they worship beside God something for which He has never bestowed any warrant from on high, and of which they cannot have any knowledge. The wrongdoers shall have none to help them.
As it is, whenever Our revelations are recited to them in all their clarity, you can perceive utter repugnance in the faces of unbelievers. They would almost assault those who recite Our revelations to them. Say: ‘Shall I tell you of something worse than that? It is the Fire which God has promised to those who deny Him. How vile an end!’
Mankind! An aphorism is set forth; hearken, then, to it. Those beings whom you invoke instead of God cannot create a fly, even though they were to join all their forces to that end. If a fly robs them of anything, they cannot rescue it from him! Weak indeed is the seeker, and weak the sought!
No true understanding of God have they. God is certainly most-powerful, almighty.
God chooses message bearers from among the angels and from among men. God hears all and sees all.
He knows all that lies open before them and all that is hidden from them. To God all things shall return.
Believers! Bow down and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord alone, and do good, so that you might be successful.
And strive hard in God’s cause as you ought to strive. It is He who has chosen you, and has laid no hardship on you in [anything that pertains to] religion; the creed of your forefather Abraham. It is He who has named you Muslims, in bygone times and in this [Book], so that the Messenger might bear witness for you, and that you might bear witness for all mankind. Thus, attend regularly to your prayer, and pay out your zakat, and hold fast to God. He is your Guardian: the best of guardians and the best to give support.