40. The Believer

Ha Mim

The revelation of this Book is fromAllah, Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge,-

Who forgiveth sin, accepteth repentance,is strict in punishment, and hath a long reach (in all things). there is nogod but He: to Him is the final goal.

None can dispute about the Signs ofAllah but the Unbelievers. Let not, then, their strutting about through theland deceive thee!

But (there were people) before them, whodenied (the Signs),- the People of Noah, and the Confederates (of Evil)after them; and every People plotted against their prophet, to seize him,and disputed by means of vanities, therewith to condemn the Truth; but itwas I that seized them! and how (terrible) was My Requital!

Thus was the Decree of thy Lord provedtrue against the Unbelievers; that truly they are Companions of the Fire!

Those who sustain the Throne (of Allah.and those around it Sing Glory and Praise to their Lord; believe in Him; andimplore Forgiveness for those who believe: “Our Lord! Thy Reach is over allthings, in Mercy and Knowledge. Forgive, then, those who turn in Repentance,and follow Thy Path; and preserve them from the Penalty of the Blazing Fire!

“And grant, our Lord! that they enterthe Gardens of Eternity, which Thou hast promised to them, and to therighteous among their fathers, their wives, and their posterity! For Thouart (He), the Exalted in Might, Full of Wisdom.

“And preserve them from (all) ills; andany whom Thou dost preserve from ills that Day,- on them wilt Thou havebestowed Mercy indeed: and that will be truly (for them) the highestAchievement”.

The Unbelievers will be addressed:”Greater was the aversion of Allah to you than (is) your aversion toyourselves, seeing that ye were called to the Faith and ye used to refuse.”

They will say: “Our Lord! twice hastThou made us without life, and twice hast Thou given us Life! Now have werecognised our sins: Is there any way out (of this)?”

(The answer will be:) “This is because,when Allah was invoked as the Only (object of worship), ye did reject Faith,but when partners were joined to Him, ye believed! the Command is withAllah, Most High, Most Great!”

He it is Who showeth you his Signs, andsendeth down sustenance for you from the sky: but only those receiveadmonition who turn (to Allah..

Call ye, then, upon Allah with sinceredevotion to Him, even though the Unbelievers may detest it.

Raised high above ranks (or degrees),(He is) the Lord of the Throne (of Authority): by His Command doth He sendthe Spirit (of inspiration) to any of His servants he pleases, that it maywarn (men) of the Day of Mutual Meeting,-

The Day whereon they will (all) comeforth: not a single thing concerning them is hidden from Allah. Whose willbe the dominion that Day?” That of Allah, the One the Irresistible!

That Day will every soul be requited forwhat it earned; no injustice will there be that Day, for Allah is Swift intaking account.

Warn them of the Day that is (ever)drawing near, when the hearts will (come) right up to the throats to choke(them); No intimate friend nor intercessor will the wrong-doers have, whocould be listened to.

((Allah)) knows of (the tricks) thatdeceive with the eyes, and all that the hearts (of men) conceal.

And Allah will judge with (justice and)Truth: but those whom (men) invoke besides Him, will not (be in a position)to judge at all. Verily it is Allah (alone) Who hears and sees (all things).

Do they not travel through the earth andsee what was the End of those before them? They were even superior to themin strength, and in the traces (they have left) in the land: but Allah didcall them to account for their sins, and none had they to defend themagainst Allah.

That was because there came to themtheir apostles with Clear (Signs), but they rejected them: So Allah calledthem to account: for He is Full of Strength, Strict in Punishment.

Of old We sent Moses, with Our Signs andan authority manifest,

To Pharaoh, Haman, and Qarun; but theycalled (him)” a sorcerer telling lies!”…

Now, when he came to them in Truth, fromUs, they said, “Slay the sons of those who believe with him, and keep alivetheir females,” but the plots of Unbelievers (end) in nothing but errors(and delusions)!…

Said Pharaoh: “Leave me to slay Moses;and let him call on his Lord! What I fear is lest he should change yourreligion, or lest he should cause mischief to appear in the land!”

Moses said: “I have indeed called uponmy Lord and your Lord (for protection) from every arrogant one who believesnot in the Day of Account!”

A believer, a man from among the peopleof Pharaoh, who had concealed his faith, said: “Will ye slay a man becausehe says, ‘My Lord is Allah.?- when he has indeed come to you with Clear(Signs) from your Lord? and if he be a liar, on him is (the sin of) his lie:but, if he is telling the Truth, then will fall on you something of the(calamity) of which he warns you: Truly Allah guides not one whotransgresses and lies!

“O my People! Yours is the dominion thisday: Ye have the upper hand in the land: but who will help us from thePunishment of Allah, should it befall us?” Pharaoh said: “I but point out toyou that which I see (myself); Nor do I guide you but to the Path of Right!”

Then said the man who believed: “O mypeople! Truly I do fear for you something like the Day (of disaster) of theConfederates (in sin)!-

“Something like the fate of the Peopleof Noah, the ‘Ad, and the Thamud, and those who came after them: but Allahnever wishes injustice to his Servants.

“And O my people! I fear for you a Daywhen there will be Mutual calling (and wailing),-

“A Day when ye shall turn your backs andflee: No defender shall ye have from Allah. Any whom Allah leaves to stray,there is none to guide…

“And to you there came Joseph in timesgone by, with Clear Signs, but ye ceased not to doubt of the (Mission) forwhich he had come: At length, when he died, ye said: ‘No apostle will Allahsend after him.’ thus doth Allah leave to stray such as transgress and livein doubt,-

“(Such) as dispute about the Signs ofAllah, without any authority that hath reached them, grievous and odious (issuch conduct) in the sight of Allah and of the Believers. Thus doth Allah,seal up every heart – of arrogant and obstinate Transgressors.”

Pharaoh said: “O Haman! Build me a loftypalace, that I may attain the ways and means-

“The ways and means of (reaching) theheavens, and that I may mount up to the Allah of Moses: But as far as I amconcerned, I think (Moses) is a liar!” Thus was made alluring, in Pharaoh’seyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the Path; and the plotof Pharaoh led to nothing but perdition (for him).

The man who believed said further: “O mypeople! Follow me: I will lead you to the Path of Right.

“O my people! This life of the presentis nothing but (temporary) convenience: It is the Hereafter that is the Homethat will last.

“He that works evil will not be requitedbut by the like thereof: and he that works a righteous deed – whether man orwoman – and is a Believer- such will enter the Garden (of Bliss): Thereinwill they have abundance without measure.

“And O my people! How (strange) it isfor me to call you to Salvation while ye call me to the Fire!

“Ye do call upon me to blaspheme againstAllah, and to join with Him partners of whom I have no knowledge; and I callyou to the Exalted in Power, Who forgives again and again!”

“Without doubt ye do call me to one whois not fit to be called to, whether in this world, or in the Hereafter; ourreturn will be to Allah. and the Transgressors will be Companions of theFire!

“Soon will ye remember what I say to you(now), My (own) affair I commit to Allah. for Allah (ever) watches over HisServants.”

Then Allah saved him from (every) illthat they plotted (against him), but the burnt of the Penalty encompassed onall sides the People of Pharaoh.

In front of the Fire will they bebrought, morning and evening: And (the sentence will be) on the Day thatJudgment will be established: “Cast ye the People of Pharaoh into theseverest Penalty!”

Behold, they will dispute with eachother in the Fire! The weak ones (who followed) will say to those who hadbeen arrogant, “We but followed you: Can ye then take (on yourselves) fromus some share of the Fire?

Those who had been arrogant will say:”We are all in this (Fire)! Truly, Allah has judged between (his) Servants!”

Those in the Fire will say to theKeepers of Hell: “Pray to your Lord to lighten us the Penalty for a day (atleast)!”

They will say: “Did there not come toyou your apostles with Clear Signs?” They will say, “Yes”. They will reply,”Then pray (as ye like)! But the prayer of those without Faith is nothingbut (futile wandering) in (mazes of) error!”

We will, without doubt, help ourapostles and those who believe, (both) in this world’s life and on the Daywhen the Witnesses will stand forth,-

The Day when no profit will it be toWrong-doers to present their excuses, but they will (only) have the Curseand the Home of Misery.

We did aforetime give Moses the (Bookof) Guidance, and We gave the book in inheritance to the Children ofIsrael,-

A Guide and a Message to men ofUnderstanding.

Patiently, then, persevere: for thePromise of Allah is true: and ask forgiveness for thy fault, and celebratethe Praises of thy Lord in the evening and in the morning.

Those who dispute about the signs ofAllah without any authority bestowed on them,- there is nothing in theirbreasts but (the quest of) greatness, which they shall never attain to: seekrefuge, then, in Allah. It is He Who hears and sees (all things).

Assuredly the creation of the heavensand the earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of men: Yet most menunderstand not.

Not equal are the blind and those who(clearly) see: Nor are (equal) those who believe and work deeds ofrighteousness, and those who do evil. Little do ye learn by admonition!

The Hour will certainly come: Therein isno doubt: Yet most men believe not.

And your Lord says: “Call on Me; I willanswer your (Prayer): but those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surelyfind themselves in Hell – in humiliation!”

It is Allah Who has made the Night foryou, that ye may rest therein, and the days as that which helps (you) tosee. Verily Allah is full of Grace and Bounty to men: yet most men give nothanks.

Such is Allah, your Lord, the Creator ofall things, there is no god but He: Then how ye are deluded away from theTruth!

Thus are deluded those who are wont toreject the Signs of Allah.

It is Allah Who has made for you theearth as a resting place, and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape-and made your shapes beautiful,- and has provided for you Sustenance, ofthings pure and good;- such is Allah your Lord. So Glory to Allah, the Lordof the Worlds!

He is the Living (One): There is no godbut He: Call upon Him, giving Him sincere devotion. Praise be to Allah, Lordof the Worlds!

Say: “I have been forbidden to invokethose whom ye invoke besides Allah,- seeing that the Clear Sings have cometo me from my Lord; and I have been commanded to bow (in Islam) to the Lordof the Worlds.”

It is He Who has created you from dustthen from a sperm-drop, then from a leech-like clot; then does he get youout (into the light) as a child: then lets you (grow and) reach your age offull strength; then lets you become old,- though of you there are some whodie before;- and lets you reach a Term appointed; in order that ye may learnwisdom.

It is He Who gives Life and Death; andwhen He decides upon an affair, He says to it, “Be”, and it is.

Seest thou not those that disputeconcerning the Sings of Allah. How are they turned away (from Reality)?-

Those who reject the Book and the(revelations) with which We sent our apostles: but soon shall they know,-

When the yokes (shall be) round theirnecks, and the chains; they shall be dragged along-

In the boiling fetid fluid: then in theFire shall they be burned;

Then shall it be said to them: “Whereare the (deities) to which ye gave part- worship-

“In derogation of Allah.” They willreply: “They have left us in the lurch: Nay, we invoked not, of old,anything (that had real existence).” Thus does Allah leave the Unbelieversto stray.

“That was because ye were wont torejoice on the earth in things other than the Truth, and that ye were wontto be insolent.

“Enter ye the gates of Hell, to dwelltherein: and evil is (this) abode of the arrogant!”

So persevere in patience; for thePromise of Allah is true: and whether We show thee (in this life) some partof what We promise them,- or We take thy soul (to Our Mercy) (beforethat),-(in any case) it is to Us that they shall (all) return.

We did aforetime send apostles beforethee: of them there are some whose story We have related to thee, and somewhose story We have not related to thee. It was not (possible) for anyapostle to bring a sign except by the leave of Allah. but when the Commandof Allah issued, the matter was decided in truth and justice, and thereperished, there and then those who stood on Falsehoods.

It is Allah Who made cattle for you,that ye may use some for riding and some for food;

And there are (other) advantages in themfor you (besides); that ye may through them attain to any need (there maybe) in your hearts; and on them and on ships ye are carried.

And He shows you (always) His Signs:then which of the Signs of Allah will ye deny?

Do they not travel through the earth andsee what was the End of those before them? They were more numerous thanthese and superior in strength and in the traces (they have left) in theland: Yet all that they accomplished was of no profit to them.

For when their apostles came to themwith Clear Signs, they exulted in such knowledge (and skill) as they had;but that very (Wrath) at which they were wont to scoff hemmed them in.

But when they saw Our Punishment, theysaid: “We believe in Allah,- the one Allah – and we reject the partners weused to join with Him.”

But their professing the Faith when they(actually) saw Our Punishment was not going to profit them. (Such has been)Allah.s Way of dealing with His Servants (from the most ancient times). Andeven thus did the Rejecters of Allah perish (utterly)!