57. The Iron

Whatever is in the heavens and onearth,- let it declare the Praises and Glory of Allah. for He is the Exaltedin Might, the Wise.

To Him belongs the dominion of theheavens and the earth: It is He Who gives Life and Death; and He has Powerover all things.

He is the First and the Last, theEvident and the Immanent: and He has full knowledge of all things.

He it is Who created the heavens and theearth in Six Days, and is moreover firmly established on the Throne (ofAuthority). He knows what enters within the earth and what comes forth outof it, what comes down from heaven and what mounts up to it. And He is withyou wheresoever ye may be. And Allah sees well all that ye do.

To Him belongs the dominion of theheavens and the earth: and all affairs are referred back to Allah.

He merges Night into Day, and He mergesDay into Night; and He has full knowledge of the secrets of (all) hearts.

Believe in Allah and His apostle, andspend (in charity) out of the (substance) whereof He has made you heirs.For, those of you who believe and spend (in charity),- for them is a greatReward.

What cause have ye why ye should notbelieve in Allah.- and the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord,and has indeed taken your Covenant, if ye are men of Faith.

He is the One Who sends to His ServantManifest Signs, that He may lead you from the depths of Darkness into theLight and verily Allah is to you most kind and Merciful.

And what cause have ye why ye should notspend in the cause of Allah.- For to Allah belongs the heritage of theheavens and the earth. Not equal among you are those who spent (freely) andfought, before the Victory, (with those who did so later). Those are higherin rank than those who spent (freely) and fought afterwards. But to all hasAllah promised a goodly (reward). And Allah is well acquainted with all thatye do.

Who is he that will Loan to Allah abeautiful loan? for ((Allah)) will increase it manifold to his credit, andhe will have (besides) a liberal Reward.

One Day shalt thou see the believing menand the believing women- how their Light runs forward before them and bytheir right hands: (their greeting will be): “Good News for you this Day!Gardens beneath which flow rivers! to dwell therein for aye! This is indeedthe highest Achievement!”

One Day will the Hypocrites- men andwomen – say to the Believers: “Wait for us! Let us borrow (a Light) fromyour Light!” It will be said: “Turn ye back to your rear! then seek a Light(where ye can)!” So a wall will be put up betwixt them, with a gate therein.Within it will be Mercy throughout, and without it, all alongside, will be(Wrath and) Punishment!

(Those without) will call out, “Were wenot with you?” (The others) will reply, “True! but ye led yourselves intotemptation; ye looked forward (to our ruin); ye doubted ((Allah)’s Promise);and (your false) desires deceived you; until there issued the Command ofAllah. And the Deceiver deceived you in respect of Allah.

“This Day shall no ransom be accepted ofyou, nor of those who rejected Allah.” Your abode is the Fire: that is theproper place to claim you: and an evil refuge it is!”

Has not the Time arrived for theBelievers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembranceof Allah and of the Truth which has been revealed (to them), and that theyshould not become like those to whom was given Revelation aforetime, butlong ages passed over them and their hearts grew hard? For many among themare rebellious transgressors.

Know ye (all) that Allah giveth life tothe earth after its death! already have We shown the Signs plainly to you,that ye may learn wisdom.

For those who give in Charity, men andwomen, and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan, it shall be increased manifold(to their credit), and they shall have (besides) a liberal reward.

And those who believe in Allah and Hisapostles- they are the Sincere (lovers of Truth), and the witnesses (whotestify), in the eyes of their Lord: They shall have their Reward and theirLight. But those who reject Allah and deny Our Signs,- they are theCompanions of Hell-Fire.

Know ye (all), that the life of thisworld is but play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting and multiplying,(in rivalry) among yourselves, riches and children. Here is a similitude:How rain and the growth which it brings forth, delight (the hearts of) thetillers; soon it withers; thou wilt see it grow yellow; then it becomes dryand crumbles away. But in the Hereafter is a Penalty severe (for thedevotees of wrong). And Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (forthe devotees of Allah.. And what is the life of this world, but goods andchattels of deception?

Be ye foremost (in seeking) Forgivenessfrom your Lord, and a Garden (of Bliss), the width whereof is as the widthof heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and Hisapostles: that is the Grace of Allah, which He bestows on whom he pleases:and Allah is the Lord of Grace abounding.

No misfortune can happen on earth or inyour souls but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence:That is truly easy for Allah.

In order that ye may not despair overmatters that pass you by, nor exult over favours bestowed upon you. ForAllah loveth not any vainglorious boaster,-

Such persons as are covetous and commendcovetousness to men. And if any turn back (from Allah.s Way), verily Allahis Free of all Needs, Worthy of all Praise.

We sent aforetime our apostles withClear Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance (of Right andWrong), that men may stand forth in justice; and We sent down Iron, in whichis (material for) mighty war, as well as many benefits for mankind, thatAllah may test who it is that will help, Unseen, Him and His apostles: ForAllah is Full of Strength, Exalted in Might (and able to enforce His Will).

And We sent Noah and Abraham, andestablished in their line Prophethood and Revelation: and some of them wereon right guidance. But many of them became rebellious transgressors.

Then, in their wake, We followed them upwith (others of) Our apostles: We sent after them Jesus the son of Mary, andbestowed on him the Gospel; and We ordained in the hearts of those whofollowed him Compassion and Mercy. But the Monasticism which they inventedfor themselves, We did not prescribe for them: (We commanded) only theseeking for the Good Pleasure of Allah. but that they did not foster as theyshould have done. Yet We bestowed, on those among them who believed, their(due) reward, but many of them are rebellious transgressors.

O ye that believe! Fear Allah, andbelieve in His Messenger, and He will bestow on you a double portion of HisMercy: He will provide for you a Light by which ye shall walk (straight inyour path), and He will forgive you (your past): for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

That the People of the Book may knowthat they have no power whatever over the Grace of Allah, that (His) Graceis (entirely) in His Hand, to bestow it on whomsoever He wills. For Allah isthe Lord of Grace abounding.