30. The Romans

A. L. M.

The Roman Empire has been defeated-

In a land close by; but they, (even)after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious-

Within a few years. With Allah is theDecision, in the past and in the Future: on that Day shall the Believersrejoice-

With the help of Allah. He helps whom Hewill, and He is exalted in might, most merciful.

(It is) the promise of Allah. Never doesAllah depart from His promise: but most men understand not.

They know but the outer (things) in thelife of this world: but of the End of things they are heedless.

Do they not reflect in their own minds?Not but for just ends and for a term appointed, did Allah create the heavensand the earth, and all between them: yet are there truly many among men whodeny the meeting with their Lord (at the Resurrection)!

Do they not travel through the earth,and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them instrength: they tilled the soil and populated it in greater numbers thanthese have done: there came to them their apostles with Clear (Signs).(Which they rejected, to their own destruction): It was not Allah Whowronged them, but they wronged their own souls.

In the long run evil in the extreme willbe the End of those who do evil; for that they rejected the Signs of Allah,and held them up to ridicule.

It is Allah Who begins (the process of)creation; then repeats it; then shall ye be brought back to Him.

On the Day that the Hour will beestablished, the guilty will be struck dumb with despair.

No intercessor will they have amongtheir “Partners” and they will (themselves) reject their “Partners”.

On the Day that the Hour will beestablished,- that Day shall (all men) be sorted out.

Then those who have believed and workedrighteous deeds, shall be made happy in a Mead of Delight.

And those who have rejected Faith andfalsely denied our Signs and the meeting of the Hereafter,- such shall bebrought forth to Punishment.

So (give) glory to Allah, when ye reacheventide and when ye rise in the morning;

Yea, to Him be praise, in the heavensand on earth; and in the late afternoon and when the day begins to decline.

It is He Who brings out the living fromthe dead, and brings out the dead from the living, and Who gives life to theearth after it is dead: and thus shall ye be brought out (from the dead).

Among His Signs in this, that He createdyou from dust; and then,- behold, ye are men scattered (far and wide)!

And among His Signs is this, that Hecreated for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell intranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts):verily in that are Signs for those who reflect.

And among His Signs is the creation ofthe heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and yourcolours: verily in that are Signs for those who know.

And among His Signs is the sleep that yetake by night and by day, and the quest that ye (make for livelihood) out ofHis Bounty: verily in that are signs for those who hearken.

And among His Signs, He shows you thelightning, by way both of fear and of hope, and He sends down rain from thesky and with it gives life to the earth after it is dead: verily in that areSigns for those who are wise.

And among His Signs is this, that heavenand earth stand by His Command: then when He calls you, by a single call,from the earth, behold, ye (straightway) come forth.

To Him belongs every being that is inthe heavens and on earth: all are devoutly obedient to Him.

It is He Who begins (the process of)creation; then repeats it; and for Him it is most easy. To Him belongs theloftiest similitude (we can think of) in the heavens and the earth: for Heis Exalted in Might, full of wisdom.

He does propound to you a similitudefrom your own (experience): do ye have partners among those whom your righthands possess, to share as equals in the wealth We have bestowed on you? Doye fear them as ye fear each other? Thus do we explain the Signs in detailto a people that understand.

Nay, the wrong-doers (merely) followtheir own lusts, being devoid of knowledge. But who will guide those whomAllah leaves astray? To them there will be no helpers.

So set thou thy face steadily and trulyto the Faith: (establish) Allah.s handiwork according to the pattern onwhich He has made mankind: no change (let there be) in the work (wrought) byAllah. that is the standard Religion: but most among mankind understand not.

Turn ye back in repentance to Him, andfear Him: establish regular prayers, and be not ye among those who join godswith Allah,-

Those who split up their Religion, andbecome (mere) Sects,- each party rejoicing in that which is with itself!

When trouble touches men, they cry totheir Lord, turning back to Him in repentance: but when He gives them ataste of Mercy as from Himself, behold, some of them pay part-worship toother god’s besides their Lord,-

(As if) to show their ingratitude forthe (favours) We have bestowed on them! Then enjoy (your brief day); butsoon will ye know (your folly).

Or have We sent down authority to them,which points out to them the things to which they pay part-worship?

When We give men a taste of Mercy, theyexult thereat: and when some evil afflicts them because of what their (own)hands have sent forth, behold, they are in despair!

See they not that Allah enlarges theprovision and restricts it, to whomsoever He pleases? Verily in that areSigns for those who believe.

So give what is due to kindred, theneedy, and the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek the Countenance, ofAllah, and it is they who will prosper.

That which ye lay out for increasethrough the property of (other) people, will have no increase with Allah.but that which ye lay out for charity, seeking the Countenance of Allah,(will increase): it is these who will get a recompense multiplied.

It is Allah Who has created you:further, He has provided for your sustenance; then He will cause you to die;and again He will give you life. Are there any of your (false) “Partners”who can do any single one of these things? Glory to Him! and high is Heabove the partners they attribute (to him)!

Mischief has appeared on land and seabecause of (the meed) that the hands of men have earned, that ((Allah)) maygive them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back(from Evil).

Say: “Travel through the earth and seewhat was the end of those before (you): Most of them worshipped othersbesides Allah.”

But set thou thy face to the rightReligion before there come from Allah the Day which there is no chance ofaverting: on that Day shall men be divided (in two).

Those who reject Faith will suffer fromthat rejection: and those who work righteousness will spread their couch (ofrepose) for themselves (in heaven):

That He may reward those who believe andwork righteous deeds, out of his Bounty. For He loves not those who rejectFaith.

Among His Signs is this, that He sendsthe Winds, as heralds of Glad Tidings, giving you a taste of His (Grace and)Mercy,- that the ships may sail (majestically) by His Command and that yemay seek of His Bounty: in order that ye may be grateful.

We did indeed send, before thee,apostles to their (respective) peoples, and they came to them with ClearSigns: then, to those who transgressed, We meted out Retribution: and it wasdue from Us to aid those who believed.

It is Allah Who sends the Winds, andthey raise the Clouds: then does He spread them in the sky as He wills, andbreak them into fragments, until thou seest rain-drops issue from the midstthereof: then when He has made them reach such of his servants as He willsbehold, they do rejoice!-

Even though, before they received (therain) – just before this – they were dumb with despair!

Then contemplate (O man!) the memorialsof Allah.s Mercy!- how He gives life to the earth after its death: verilythe same will give life to the men who are dead: for He has power over allthings.

And if We (but) send a Wind from whichthey see (their tilth) turn yellow,- behold, they become, thereafter,Ungrateful (Unbelievers)!

So verily thou canst not make the deadto hear, nor canst thou make the deaf to hear the call, when they show theirbacks and turn away.

Nor canst thou lead back the blind fromtheir straying: only those wilt thou make to hear, who believe in Our signsand submit (their wills in Islam).

It is Allah Who created you in a stateof (helpless) weakness, then gave (you) strength after weakness, then, afterstrength, gave (you weakness and a hoary head: He creates as He wills, andit is He Who has all knowledge and power.

On the Day that the Hour (of Reckoning)will be established, the transgressors will swear that they tarried not butan hour: thus were they used to being deluded!

But those endued with knowledge andfaith will say: “Indeed ye did tarry, within Allah.s Decree, to the Day ofResurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection: but ye – ye were notaware!”

So on that Day no excuse of theirs willavail the transgressors, nor will they be invited (then) to seek grace (byrepentance).

Verily We havepropounded for men, in this Qur’an every kind of Parable: But if thou bringto them any Sign, the Unbelievers are sure to say, “Ye do nothing but talkvanities.”

Thus does Allah seal up the hearts ofthose who understand not.

So patiently persevere: for verily thepromise of Allah is true: nor let those shake thy firmness, who have(themselves) no certainty of faith.