7. The Elevated Place

Alif. Lam. Mim, Sad.

A Book revealed unto thee,- So let thy heartbe oppressed no more by any difficulty on that account,- that withit thou mightest warn (the erring), and a reminder to the Believers.

Follow (O men!) the revelation given unto youfrom your Lord, and follow not, as friends or protectors, other thanHim. Little it is ye remember of admonition.

How many towns have We destroyed (for theirsins)? Our punishment took them on a sudden by night or while theyslept for their afternoon rest.

When (thus) Our punishment took them, no crydid they utter but this: “Indeed we did wrong.”

Then shall we question those to whom OurMessage was sent and those by whom We sent it.

And verily, We shall recount their wholestory with knowledge, for We were never absent (at any time orplace).

The balance that day will be true (to anicety): those whose scale (of good) will be heavy, will prosper:

Those whose scale will be light, will findtheir souls in perdition, for that they wrongfully treated OurSigns.

It is We Who have placed you with authorityon earth, and provided you therein with means for the fulfillment ofyour life: small are the thanks that ye give!

It is We Who created you and gave you shape;then We bade the angels prostrate to Adam, and they prostrated; notso Iblis; He refused to be of those who bow down.

(Allah) said: “What prevented thee frombowing down when I commanded thee?” He said: “I am better than he:Thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay.”

(Allah) said: “Get thee down from it (theGarden): it is not for thee to be arrogant here: get out, for thouart of the meanest (of creatures).”

He said: “Give me respite till the day theyare raised up.”

(Allah) said: “Be thou among those who haverespite.”

He said: “Because thou hast thrown me out (ofthe Way), lo! I will lie in wait for them on Thy Straight Way:

“Then will I assault them from before themand behind them, from their right and their left: Nor wilt Thoufind, in most of them, gratitude (for Thy mercies).”

(Allah) said: “Get out from this, disgracedand expelled. If any of them follow thee,- Hell will I fill with youall.

“O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in theGarden, and enjoy (its good things) as ye wish: but approach notthis tree, lest you become of the unjust.”

Then began Satan to whisper suggestions tothem, in order to reveal to them their shame that was hidden fromthem (before): he said: “Your Lord only forbade you this tree, lestye should become angels or such beings as live for ever.”

And he swore to them both, that he was theirsincere adviser.

So by deceit he brought about their fall:when they tasted of the tree, their shame parts became manifest tothem, and they began to sew together the leaves of the Garden overtheir bodies. And their Lord called unto them: “Did I not forbid youthat tree, and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy unto you?”

They said: “Our Lord! We have wronged our ownsouls: If Thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, weshall certainly be lost.”

(Allah) said: “Get ye down. With enmitybetween yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and yourmeans of livelihood,- for a time.”

He said: “Therein shall ye live, and thereinshall ye die; but from it shall ye be taken out (at last).”

O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowedraiment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornmentto you. But the raiment of righteousness,- that is the best. Suchare among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition!

O ye Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduceyou, in the same manner as he got your parents out of the Garden,stripping them of their raiment, to expose their shame: for he andhis tribe watch you from a position where ye cannot see them: Wemade the Satans friends (only) to those without faith.

When they commit ab Indecency, they say: “Wefound our fathers doing so”; and “Allah commanded us thus”: Say:”Nay, Allah never command what is Indecent: do ye say of Allah whatye know not?”

Say: “My Lord hath commanded justice; andthat ye set your whole selves (to Him) at every time and place ofprayer, and call upon Him, making your devotion sincere: such as Hecreated you in the beginning, so shall ye return.”

Some He hath guided: Others have deserved theloss of their way; in that they took the Satans ones, in preferenceto Allah, for their friends and protectors, and think that theyreceive guidance.

O Children of Adam! wear your beautifulapparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: But wastenot by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters.

Say: Who hath forbidden the beautiful (gifts)of Allah, which He hath produced for His servants, and the things,clean and pure, (which He hath provided) for sustenance? Say: Theyare, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) purelyfor them on the Day of Judgment. Thus do We explain the Signs indetail for those who know.

Say: the things that my Lord hath indeedforbidden are: Indecent deeds, whether open or secret; sins andtrespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah,for which He hath given no authority; and saying things about Allahof which ye have no knowledge.

To every People is a term appointed: whentheir term is reached, not an hour can they cause delay, nor (anhour) can they advance (it in anticipation).

O ye Children of Adam! whenever there come toyou messengers from amongst you, rehearsing My Signs unto you,-those who are righteous and mend (their lives),- on them shall be nofear nor shall they grieve.

But those who reject Our Signs and treat themwith arrogance,- they are companions of the Fire, to dwell therein(for ever).

Who is more unjust than one who invents a lieagainst Allah or rejects His Signs? For such, their portionappointed must reach them from the Book (of Decrees): until, whenOur messengers (of death) arrive and take their souls, they say:”Where are the things that ye used to invoke besides Allah.” Theywill reply, “They have left us in the lurch,” And they will bearwitness against themselves, that they had rejected Allah.

He will say: “Enter ye in the company of thePeoples who passed away before you – men and Jinns, – into theFire.” Every time a new People enters, it curses its sister-People(that went before), until they follow each other, all into the Fire.Saith the last about the first: “Our Lord! it is these that misledus: so give them a double punishment in the Fire.” He will say:”Doubled for all” : but this ye do not know.

Then the first will say to the last: “Seethen! No advantage have ye over us; so taste ye of the Chastisementfor all that ye did !”

To those who reject Our Signs and treat themwith arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of heaven, norwill they enter the Garden, until the camel can pass through the eyeof the needle: Such is Our reward for those in sin.

For them there is Hell, as a couch (below)and folds and folds of covering above: such is Our requital of thosewho do wrong.

But those who believe and workrighteousness,- no burden do We place on any soul, but that which itcan bear,- they will be Companions of the Garden, therein to dwell(for ever).

And We shall remove from their hearts anyrancor;- beneath them will be rivers flowing;- and they shall say:”Praise be to Allah, who hath guided us to this (felicity): nevercould we have found guidance, had it not been for the guidance ofAllah. indeed it was the truth, that the messengers of our Lordbrought unto us.” And they shall hear the cry: “Behold! the Gardenbefore you! Ye have been made its inheritors, for your deeds (ofrighteousness).”

The Companions of the Garden will call out tothe Companions of the Fire: “We have indeed found the promises ofour Lord to us true: Have you also found Your Lord’s promises true?”They shall say, “Yes”; but a crier shall proclaim between them: “TheCurse of Allah is on the wrong-doers;-

“Those who would hinder (men) from the pathof Allah and would seek in it something crooked: they were those whodenied the Hereafter.”

Between them shall be a veil, and on theHeights will be men who would know every one by his marks: they willcall out to the Companions of the Garden, “Peace on you”: they havenot entered it, but still hoped to (enter it).

When their eyes shall be turned towards theCompanions of the Fire, they will say: “Our Lord! send us not to thecompany of the wrong-doers.”

The men on the Heights will call to certainmen whom they will know from their marks, saying: “Of what profit toyou were your hoards and your arrogant ways?

“Behold! are these not the men whom you sworethat Allah with His Mercy would never bless? Enter ye the Garden: nofear shall be on you, nor shall ye grieve.”

The Companions of the Fire will call to theCompanions of the Garden: “Pour down to us water or anything thatAllah doth provide for your sustenance.” They will say: “Both thesethings hath Allah forbidden to those who rejected Him.”

“Such as took their religion to be mereamusement and play, and were deceived by the life of the world.”That day shall We forget them as they forgot the meeting of this dayof theirs, and as they were wont to reject Our Signs.

For We had certainly sent unto them a Book,based on knowledge, which We explained in detail,- a guide and amercy to all who believe.

Are they waiting for its fulfillment? On theday it is fulfilled, those who disregarded it before will say: “Themessengers of our Lord did indeed bring true (tidings). Have we nointercessors now to intercede on our behalf? Or could we be sentback? then should we behave differently from our behavior in thepast.” In fact they will have lost their souls, and the things theyforged will leave them in the lurch.

Your Guardian Lord is Allah, Who created theheavens and the earth in six days, then He settled Himself on theThrone: He draweth the night as a veil o’er the day, each seekingthe other in rapid succession: and the sun, the moon, and the stars,(all) are subservient by His Command. Verily, His are the Creationand the Command. Blessed be Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer ofthe Worlds!

Call on your Lord with humility and inprivate: for Allah loveth not those who trespass beyond bounds.

Do no mischief on the earth, after it hathbeen set in order, but call on Him with fear and longing (in yourhearts): for the Mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who dogood.

It is He Who sendeth the winds like heraldsof glad tidings, going before His mercy: when they have carried theheavy-laden clouds, We drive them to a land that is dead, make rainto descend thereon, and produce every kind of harvest therewith:thus shall We raise up the dead: perchance ye may remember.

From the land that is clean and good, by theWill of its Cherisher, springs up produce, (rich) after its kind:but from the land that is bad, springs up nothing but that which isscanty. Thus do we explain the Signs by various (symbols) to thosewho are grateful.

We sent Noah to his people. He said: “O mypeople! worship Allah! ye have no other god but Him. I fear for youthe Punishment of a dreadful Day!

The leaders of his people said: “Ah! we seethee in evident error.”

He said: “O my people! No wandering is therein my (mind): on the contrary I am a messenger from the Lord andCherisher of the Worlds!

“I but convey to you the Message of my Lord:Sincere is my advice to you, and I know from Allah something that yeknow not.

“Do ye wonder that there hath come to you aremainder from your Lord, through a man of your own people, to warnyou,- so that ye may fear Allah and haply receive His Mercy?”

But they rejected him, and We delivered him,and those with him, in the Ark: but We overwhelmed in the Floodthose who rejected Our Signs. They were indeed a blind people!

To the �d people, (We sent) H�d, one of their(own) brethren: He said: “O my people! Worship Allah: ye have noother god but Him. Will ye not fear (Allah)?”

The leaders of the unbelievers among hispeople said: “Ah! we see thou art a folly!”, and “We think thou arta liar!”

He said: “O my people! there is no folly inme, but (I am) a messenger from the Lord and Cherisher of theWorlds!

“I but convey to you the Message of my Lord:I am to you a sincere and trustworthy adviser.”

“Do ye wonder that there hath come to you amessage from your Lord through a man of your own people, to warnyou? Call in remembrance that He made you inheritors after thepeople of Noah, and gave you a stature tall among the nations. Callin remembrance the benefits (ye have received) from Allah. that soye may prosper.”

They said: “Comest thou to us, that we mayworship Allah alone, and give up that which our fathers used toworship? bring us what thou threatenest us with, if so be that thoutellest the truth!”

He said: “Punishment and wrath have alreadycome upon you from your Lord: dispute ye with me over names which yehave devised – ye and your fathers,- without authority from Allah?Then wait: I am amongst you, also waiting.”

We saved him and those who adhered to him, byOur Mercy, and We cut off the roots of those who rejected Our Signsand did not believe.

To the Tham�d people (We sent) S�lih, one oftheir own brethren: He said: “O my people! worship Allah. ye have noother god but Him. Now hath come unto you a clear (Sign) from yourLord! This she-camel of Allah is a Sign unto you: So leave her tograze in Allah’s earth, and let her come to no harm, or ye shall beseized with a grievous punishment.

“And remember how He made you inheritorsafter the �d people and gave you habitations in the land: ye buildfor yourselves palaces and castles in (open) plains, and carve outhomes in the mountains; so bring to remembrance the benefits (yehave received) from Allah, and refrain from evil and mischief on theearth.”

The leaders of the arrogant party among hispeople said to those who were reckoned powerless – those among themwho believed: “Know ye indeed that S�lih is a messenger from hisLord?” They said: “We do indeed believe in the revelation which hathbeen sent through him.”

The Arrogant party said: “For our part, wereject what ye believe in.”

Then they ham-strung the she-camel, andinsolently defied the order of their Lord, saying: “O S�lih! bringabout thy threats, if thou art a messenger (of Allah)!”

So the earthquake took them unawares, andthey lay prostrate in their homes in the morning!

So S�lih left them, saying: “O my people! Idid indeed convey to you the message for which I was sent by myLord: I gave you good counsel, but ye love not good counselors!”

We also (sent) L�t: He said to his people:”Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever)committed before you?

“For ye practice your lusts on men inpreference to women : ye are indeed a people transgressing beyondbounds.”

And his people gave no answer but this: theysaid, “Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want tobe clean and pure!”

But we saved him and his family, except hiswife: she was of those who legged behind.

And we rained down on them a shower (ofbrimstone): Then see what was the end of those who indulged in sinand crime!

To the Madyan people We sent Shu�ib, one oftheir own brethren: he said: “O my people! worship Allah. Ye have noother god but Him. Now hath come unto you a clear (Sign) from yourLord! Give just measure and weight, nor withhold from the people thethings that are their due; and do no mischief on the earth after ithas been set in order: that will be best for you, if ye have Faith.

“And squat not on every road, breathingthreats, hindering from the path of Allah those who believe in Him,and seeking in it something crooked; But remember how ye werelittle, and He gave you increase. And see what was the end of thosewho did mischief.

“And if there is a party among you whobelieves in the Message with which I have been sent, and a partywhich does not believe, hold yourselves in patience until Allah dothdecide between us: for He is the best to decide.”

The leaders, the arrogant party among hispeople, said: “O Shu�ib! we shall certainly drive thee out of ourcity – (thee) and those who believe with thee; or else ye (thou andthey) shall have to return to our religion.” He said: “What! eventhough we do detest (them)?

“We should indeed forge a lie against Allah,if we returned to your religion after Allah hath rescued ustherefrom; nor could we by any manner of means return thereto unlessit be as in the will of Allah, Our Lord. Our Lord comprehend allthings in His knowledge. In Allah is our trust. Our Lord! decideThou between us and our people in truth, for Thou art the best todecide.”

The leaders, the unbelievers among hispeople, said: “If ye follow Shu�ib, be sure then ye are ruined!”

But the earthquake took them unawares, andthey lay prostrate in their homes before the morning!

The men who reject Shu�ib became as if theyhad never been in the homes where they had flourished: the men whorejected Shu�ib – it was they who were ruined!

So Shu�ib left them, saying: “O my people! Idid indeed convey to you the Messages for which I was sent by myLord: I gave you good counsel, but how shall I lament over a peoplewho refuse to believe!”

Whenever We sent a prophet to a town, We tookup its people in suffering and adversity, in order that they mightcall in humility.

Then We changed their suffering intoprosperity, until they grew and multiplied, and began to say: “Ourfathers (too) were touched by suffering and affluence” … Behold!We called them to account of a sudden, while they realized not(their peril).

If the people of the towns had but believedand feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them (Allkinds of) blessings from heaven and earth; but they rejected (thetruth), and We brought them to book for their misdeeds.

Did the people of the towns feel secureagainst the coming of Our wrath by night while they were asleep?

Or else did they feel secure against itscoming in broad daylight while they played about (care-free)?

Did they then feel secure against Allah’sdevising – but no one can feel secure from the Plan of Allah, exceptthose (doomed) to ruin!

To those who inherit the earth in successionto its (previous) possessors, is it not a guiding, (lesson) that, ifWe so willed, We could punish them (too) for their sins, and seal uptheir hearts so that they could not hear?

Such were the towns whose story We (thus)relate unto thee: There came indeed to them their messengers withclear (Signs): But they would not believe what they had rejectedbefore. Thus doth Allah seal up the hearts of those who rejectfaith.

Most of them We found not men (true) to theircovenant: but most of them We found rebellious and disobedient.

Then after them We sent Moses with Our Signsto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they wrongfully rejected them: So seewhat was the end of those who made mischief.

Moses said: “O Pharaoh! I am a messenger fromthe Lord of the Worlds,-

One for whom it is right to say nothing buttruth about Allah. Now have I come unto you (people), from yourLord, with a clear (Sign): So let the Children of Israel departalong with me.”

(Pharaoh) said: “If indeed thou hast comewith a Sign, show it forth,- if thou tellest the truth.”

Then (Moses) threw his rod, and behold! itwas a serpent, plain (for all to see)!

And he drew out his hand, and behold! it waswhite to all beholders!

Said the Chiefs of the people of Pharaoh:”This is indeed a sorcerer well- versed.

“His plan is to get you out of your land:then what is it ye counsel?”

They said: “Keep him and his brother insuspense (for a while); and send to the cities men to collect-

“And bring up to thee all (our) sorcererswell-versed.”

So there came the sorcerers to Pharaoh: Theysaid, “of course we shall have a (suitable) reward if we win!”

He said: “Yea, (and more),- for ye shall inthat case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person).”

They said: “O Moses! wilt thou throw (first),or shall we have the (first) throw?”

Said Moses: “Throw ye (first).” So when theythrew, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror intothem: for they showed a great (feat of) magic.

We revealed to Moses: “Throw (now) thy rod”:and behold! it swallows up all the falsehoods which they fake!

Thus truth was confirmed, and all that theydid was made of no effect.

So they were vanquished there and then, andturned about humiliated.

But the sorcerers fell down prostrate inadoration.

Saying: “We believe in the Lord of theWorlds,-

“The Lord of Moses and Aaron.”

Said Pharaoh: “Believe ye in Him before Igive you permission? Surely this is a trick which ye have planned inthe city to drive out its people: but soon shall ye know (theconsequences).

“Be sure I will cut off your hands and yourfeet on apposite sides, and I will crucify you all.”

They said: “For us, We are but sent back untoour Lord:

“But thou dost wreak thy vengeance on ussimply because we believed in the Signs of our Lord when theyreached us! Our Lord! pour out on us patience and constancy, andtake our souls unto Thee as Muslims (who bow to Thy Will)!”

Said the chiefs of Pharaoh’s people: “Wiltthou leave Moses and his people, to spread mischief in the land, andto abandon thee and thy gods?” He said: “Their male children will weslay; (only) their females will we save alive; and we have over them(power) irresistible.”

Said Moses to his people: “Pray for help fromAllah, and (wait) in patience and constancy: for the earth isAllah’s, to give as a heritage to such of His servants as Hepleaseth; and the end is (best) for the righteous.”

They said: “We have had (nothing but)trouble, both before and after thou camest to us.” He said: “It maybe that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you inheritors inthe earth; that so He may see how you act.”

We punished the people of Pharaoh with years(of droughts) and shortness of crops; that they might receiveadmonition.

But when good (times) came, they said, “Thisis due to us;” When gripped by calamity, they ascribed it to evilomens connected with Moses and those with him! Behold! in truth theomens of evil are theirs in Allah’s sight, but most of them do notunderstand!

They said (to Moses): “Whatever be the Signsthou bringest, to work therewith thy sorcery on us, we shall neverbelieve in thee.”

So We sent on them: Wholesale Death, Locusts,Lice, Frogs, And Blood: Signs openly self-explained: but they weresteeped in arrogance,- a people given to sin.

And when the plague fell on them, they said:”O Moses! on our behalf call on thy Lord in virtue of his promise tothee: If thou wilt remove the Plague from us, we shall truly believein thee, and we shall send away the Children of Israel with thee.”

But every time We removed the Plague fromthem according to a fixed term which they had to fulfill,- Behold!they broke their word!

So We exacted retribution from them: Wedrowned them in the sea, because they rejected Our Signs and failedto take warning from them.

And We made a people, considered weak (and ofno account), inheritors of lands in both East and West, – landswhereon We sent down Our blessings. The fair promise of thy Lord wasfulfilled for the Children of Israel, because they had patience andconstancy, and We leveled to the ground the great works and finebuildings which Pharaoh and his people erected (with such pride).

We took the Children of Israel (with safety)across the sea. They came upon a people devoted entirely to someidols they had. They said: “O Moses! fashion for us a god like untothe gods they have.” He said: “Surely ye are a people withoutknowledge.

“As to these folk,- the cult they are in isbound to destruction, and vain is the (worship) which theypractice.”

He said: “Shall I seek for you a god otherthan Allah, when it is Allah Who hath endowed you with gifts abovethe nations?”

And remember We rescued you from Pharaoh’speople, who afflicted you with the worst of punishments, who slewyour male children and saved alive your females: in that was amomentous trial from your Lord.

We appointed for Moses thirty nights, andcompleted (the period) with ten (more): thus was completed the termwith his Lord, forty nights. And Moses had charged his brother Aaron(before he went up): “Act for me amongst my people: Do right, andfollow not the way of those who do mischief.”

When Moses came to the place appointed by Us,and his Lord addressed him, He said: “O my Lord! show (Thyself) tome, that I may look upon Thee.” Allah said: “By no means canst thousee Me (direct); But look upon the mount; if it abide in its place,then shalt thou see Me.” When his Lord manifested Himself to theMount, He made it as dust. And Moses fell down in a swoon. When herecovered his senses he said: “Glory be to Thee! to Thee I turn inrepentance, and I am the first to believe.”

(Allah) said: “O Moses! I have chosen theeabove (other) men, by the messages I (have given thee) and the wordsI (have spoken to thee): take then the (revelation) which I givethee, and be of those who give thanks.”

And We ordained for him in the Tablets in allmatters, admonition and explanation of all things, (and said): “Takeand hold these with firmness, and enjoin thy people to hold fast bythe best in the precepts: soon shall I show you the homes of thewicked,- (how they lie desolate).”

Those who behave arrogantly on the earth indefiance of right – them will I turn away from My Signs: Even ifthey see all the Signs, they will not believe in them; and if theysee the way of right conduct, they will not adopt it as the way; butif they see the way of error, that is the way they will adopt. Forthey have rejected Our Signs, and failed to take warning from them.

Those who reject Our Signs and the meeting inthe Hereafter,- vain are their deeds: Can they expect to be rewardedexcept as they have wrought?

The people of Moses made, in his absence, outof their ornaments, the body of a calf, (for worship): having lowingsound: did they not see that it could neither speak to them, norshow them the Way? They took it for worship and they did wrong.

When they repented, and saw that they haderred, they said: “If our Lord have not mercy upon us and forgiveus, we shall indeed be among the losers.”

When Moses came back to his people, angry andgrieved, he said: “Evil it is that ye have done in my place in myabsence: did ye make haste to bring on the judgment of your Lord?”He put down the Tablets, seized his brother by (the hair of) hishead, and dragged him to him. Aaron said: “Son of my mother! thepeople did indeed reckon me as naught, and went near to slaying me!Make not the enemies rejoice over my misfortune, nor count thou meamongst the people of sin.”

Moses prayed: “O my Lord! forgive me and mybrother! admit us to Thy mercy! for Thou art the Most Merciful ofthose who show mercy!”

Those who took the calf (for worship) willindeed be overwhelmed with wrath from their Lord, and with shame inthis life: thus do We recompense those who invent (falsehoods).

But those who do wrong but repent thereafterand (truly) believe,- verily thy Lord is thereafter Oft-Forgiving,Most Merciful.

When the anger of Moses was appeased, he tookup the Tablets: in the writing thereon was Guidance and Mercy forsuch as fear their Lord.

And Moses chose seventy of his people for Ourplace of meeting: when they were seized with violent quaking, heprayed: “O my Lord! if it had been Thy will Thou couldst havedestroyed, long before, both them and me: wouldst Thou destroy usfor the deeds of the foolish ones among us? this is no more than Thytrial: by it Thou causest whom Thou wilt stray, and Thou leadestwhom Thou wilt into the right path. Thou art our Protector: soforgive us and give us Thy mercy; for Thou art the Best of those whoforgive.

“And ordain for us that which is good, inthis life and in the Hereafter: for we have turned unto Thee.” Hesaid: “I afflict on whom I will; but My mercy extendeth to allthings. That (mercy) I shall ordain for those who do right, and payZakat, and those who believe in Our signs;-

“Those who follow the messenger, theunlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own(scriptures),- in the Law and the Gospel;- for he commands them whatis just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful whatis good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure);He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes thatare upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honor him, helphim, and follow the Light which is sent down with him,- it is theywho will prosper.”

Say: “O men! I am sent unto you all, as theMessenger of Allah, to Whom belongeth the dominion of the heavensand the earth: there is no god but He: it is He that giveth bothlife and death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, theUnlettered Prophet, who believeth in Allah and His Words: follow himthat (so) ye may be guided.”

Of the people of Moses there is a section whoguide and do justice in the light of truth.

We divided them into twelve tribes ornations. We directed Moses by inspiration, when his (thirsty) peopleasked him for water: “Strike the rock with thy staff”: out of itthere gushed forth twelve springs: Each group knew its own place forwater. We gave them the shade of clouds, and sent down to them mannaand quails, (saying): “Eat of the good things We have provided foryou”: (but they rebelled); to Us they did no harm, but they harmedtheir own souls.

And remember it was said to them: “Dwell inthis town and eat therein as ye wish, but say the word of humilityand enter the gate in a posture of humility: We shall forgive youyour faults; We shall increase (the portion of) those who do good.”

But the transgressors among them changed theword from that which had been given them so we sent on them a plaguefrom heaven. For that they repeatedly transgressed.

Ask them concerning the town standing closeby the sea. Behold! they transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath.For on the day of their Sabbath their fish did come to them, openlyholding up their heads, but on the day they had no Sabbath, theycame not: thus did We make a trial of them, for they were given totransgression.

When some of them said: “Why do ye preach toa people whom Allah will destroy or visit with a terriblepunishment?”- said the preachers:” To discharge our duty to yourLord, and perchance they may fear Him.”

When they disregarded the warnings that hadbeen given them, We rescued those who forbade Evil; but We visitedthe wrong-doers with a grievous punishment because they were givento transgression.

When in their insolence they transgressed(all) prohibitions, We said to them: “Be ye apes, despised andrejected.”

Behold! thy Lord did declare that He wouldsend against them, to the Day of Judgment, those who would afflictthem with grievous chastisement. Thy Lord is quick in retribution,but He is also Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

We broke them up into sections on this earth.There are among them some that are the righteous, and some that arethe opposite. We have tried them with both prosperity and adversity:In order that they might turn (to Us).

After them succeeded an (evil) generation:They inherited the Book, but they chose (for themselves) thevanities of this world, saying (for excuse): “(Everything) will beforgiven us.” (Even so), if similar vanities came their way, theywould (again) seize them. Was not the covenant of the Book takenfrom them, that they would not ascribe to Allah anything but thetruth? and they study what is in the Book. But best for therighteous is the Home in the Hereafter. Will ye not understand?

As to those who hold fast by the Book andestablish regular prayer,- never shall We suffer the reward of therighteous to perish.

When We raised the Mount over them, as if ithad been a canopy, and they thought it was going to fall on them (Wesaid): “Hold firmly to what We have given you, and bring (ever) toremembrance what is therein; perchance ye may fear Allah.”

When thy Lord drew forth from the Children ofAdam – from their loins – their descendants, and made them testifyconcerning themselves, (saying): “Am I not your Lord (Who cherishesand sustains you)?”- They said: “Yea! We do testify!” (This), lestye should say on the Day of Judgment: “Of this we were nevermindful”:

Or lest ye should say: “Our fathers before ustook false gods, but we are (their) descendants after them: wiltThou then destroy us because of the deeds of men who were followedfalsehood?”

Thus do We explain the Signs in detail; andperchance they may turn (unto Us).

Relate to them the story of the man to whomWe sent Our Signs, but he passed them by: so Satan followed him up,and he went astray.

If it had been Our Will, We should haveelevated him with Our Signs; but he inclined to the earth, andfollowed his own vain desires. His similitude is that of a dog: ifyou attack him, he lolls out his tongue, or if you leave him alone,he (still) lolls out his tongue. That is the similitude of those whoreject Our Signs; so relate the story; perchance they may reflect.

Evil as an example are people who reject OurSigns and wrong their own souls.

Whom Allah doth guide,- he is on the rightpath: whom He rejects from His guidance,- such are the persons wholose.

Many are the Jinns and men we have made forHell: They have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewiththey see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are likecattle,- nay more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning).

The most beautiful names belong to Allah: socall on him by them; but shun such men as distort His names: forwhat they do, they will soon be requited.

Of those We have created are people whodirect (others) with truth. And dispense justice therewith.

Those who reject Our Signs, We shall leadthem gradually to ruin, while they known not;

Respite will I grant unto them: for My schemeis strong (and unfailing).

Do they not reflect? Their companion is notseized with madness: he is but a perspicuous warner.

Do they see nothing in the kingdom of theheavens and the earth and all that Allah hath created? (Do they notsee) that it may well be that their terms is nigh drawing to an end?In what message after this will they then believe?

To such as Allah rejects from His guidance,there can be no guide: He will leave them in their trespasses,wandering in distraction.

They ask thee about the (final) Hour – whenwill be its appointed time? Say: “The knowledge thereof is with myLord (alone): None but He can reveal as to when it will occur. Heavywere its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only, all of asudden will it come to you.” They ask thee as if thou wert eager insearch thereof: Say: “The knowledge thereof is with Allah (alone),but most men know not.”

Say: “I have no power over any good or harmto myself except as Allah willeth. If I had knowledge of the unseen,I should have multiplied all good, and no evil should have touchedme: I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings to those whohave faith.”

It is He Who created you from a singleperson, and made his mate of like nature, in order that he mightdwell with her (in love). When they are united, she bears a lightburden and carries it about (unnoticed). When she grows heavy, theyboth pray to Allah their Lord, (saying): “If Thou givest us a goodlychild, we vow we shall (ever) be grateful.”

But when He giveth them a goodly child, theyascribe to others a share in the gift they have received: but Allahis exalted high above the partners they ascribe to Him.

Do they indeed ascribe to Him as partnersthings that can create nothing, but are themselves created?

No aid can they give them, nor can they aidthemselves!

If ye call them to guidance, they will notobey: For you it is the same whether ye call them or ye keep silent!

Verily those whom ye call upon besides Allahare servants like unto you: Call upon them, and let them listen toyour prayer, if ye are (indeed) truthful!

Have they feet to walk with? Or hands to layhold with? Or eyes to see with? Or ears to hear with? Say: “Callyour ‘god-partners’, scheme (your worst) against me, and give me norespite!

“For my Protector is Allah, Who revealed theBook (from time to time), and He will befriend the righteous.

“But those ye call upon besides Him, areunable to help you, and indeed to help themselves.”

If thou callest them to guidance, they hearnot. Thou wilt see them looking at thee, but they see not.

Hold to forgiveness; command what is right;But turn away from the ignorant.

If a suggestion from Satan assail thy (mind),seek refuge with Allah; for He heareth and knoweth (all things).

Those who fear Allah, when a thought of evilfrom Satan assaults them, bring Allah to remembrance, when lo! theysee (aright)!

But their brethren (the evil ones) plungethem deeper into error, and never relax (their efforts).

If thou bring them not a revelation, theysay: “Why hast thou not got it together?” Say: “I but follow what isrevealed to me from my Lord: this is (nothing but) Lights from yourLord, and Guidance, and Mercy, for any who have faith.”

When the Quran is read, listen to it withattention, and hold your peace: that ye may receive Mercy.

And do thou (O reader!) Bring thy Lord toremembrance in thy (very) soul, with humility, and remember withoutloudness in words, in the mornings and evenings; and be not thou ofthose who are unheedful.

Those who are near to thy Lord, disdain notto worship Him: They glorify Him, and prostrate before Him.