67. The Kingdom

Blessed be He in Whose hands isDominion; and He over all things hath Power;-

He Who created Death and Life, that Hemay try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might,Oft-Forgiving;-

He Who created the seven heavens oneabove another: No want of proportion wilt thou see in the Creation of((Allah)) Most Gracious. So turn thy vision again: seest thou any flaw?

Again turn thy vision a second time:(thy) vision will come back to thee dull and discomfited, in a state wornout.

And we have, (from of old), adorned thelowest heaven with Lamps, and We have made such (Lamps) (as) missiles todrive away the Evil Ones, and have prepared for them the Penalty of theBlazing Fire.

For those who reject their Lord (andCherisher) is the Penalty of Hell: and evil is (such), Destination.

When they are cast therein, they willhear the (terrible) drawing in of its breath even as it blazes forth,

Almost bursting with fury: Every time aGroup is cast therein, its Keepers will ask, “Did no Warner come to you?”

They will say: “Yes indeed; a Warner didcome to us, but we rejected him and said, ‘(Allah) never sent down any(Message): ye are nothing but an egregious delusion!'”

They will further say: “Had we butlistened or used our intelligence, we should not (now) be among theCompanions of the Blazing Fire!”

They will then confess their sins: butfar will be (Forgiveness) from the Companions of the Blazing Fire!

As for those who fear their Lord unseen,for them is Forgiveness and a great Reward.

And whether ye hide your word or publishit, He certainly has (full) knowledge, of the secrets of (all) hearts.

Should He not know,- He that created?and He is the One that understands the finest mysteries (and) iswell-acquainted (with them).

It is He Who has made the earthmanageable for you, so traverse ye through its tracts and enjoy of theSustenance which He furnishes: but unto Him is the Resurrection.

Do ye feel secure that He Who is inheaven will not cause you to be swallowed up by the earth when it shakes (asin an earthquake)?

Or do ye feel secure that He Who is inHeaven will not send against you a violent tornado (with showers of stones),so that ye shall know how (terrible) was My warning?

But indeed men before them rejected (Mywarning): then how (terrible) was My rejection (of them)?

Do they not observe the birds abovethem, spreading their wings and folding them in? None can uphold them except((Allah)) Most Gracious: Truly ((Allah)) Most Gracious: Truly it is He thatwatches over all things.

Nay, who is there that can help you,(even as) an army, besides ((Allah)) Most Merciful? In nothing but delusionare the Unbelievers.

Or who is there that can provide youwith Sustenance if He were to withhold His provision? Nay, they obstinatelypersist in insolent impiety and flight (from the Truth).

Is then one who walks headlong, with hisface grovelling, better guided,- or one who walks evenly on a Straight Way?

Say: “It is He Who has created you (andmade you grow), and made for you the faculties of hearing, seeing, feelingand understanding: little thanks it is ye give.

Say: “It is He Who has multiplied youthrough the earth, and to Him shall ye be gathered together.”

They ask: When will this promise be(fulfilled)? – If ye are telling the truth.

Say: “As to the knowledge of the time,it is with Allah alone: I am (sent) only to warn plainly in public.”

At length, when they see it close athand, grieved will be the faces of the Unbelievers, and it will be said (tothem): “This is (the promise fulfilled), which ye were calling for!”

Say: “See ye?- If Allah were to destroyme, and those with me, or if He bestows His Mercy on us,- yet who candeliver the Unbelievers from a grievous Penalty?”

Say: “He is ((Allah)) Most Gracious: Wehave believed in Him, and on Him have we put our trust: So, soon will yeknow which (of us) it is that is in manifest error.”

Say: “See ye?- If your stream be somemorning lost (in the underground earth), who then can supply you withclear-flowing water?”