Part 24 of 30

Who does greater wrong than he who tells a lie against God, and denies the truth when it has come to him? Is there no place for unbelievers in Hell?

He who brings the truth and verifies it, -- such are the people who are God-fearing.

They shall have what they wish from their Lord. This is the recompense for the good,

That God may absolve them of their sins and reward them for the best that they had done.

Is not God sufficient for His devotee? Still they frighten you with others apart from Him. Whoever God allows to go astray has none to show him the way.

And none can lead him astray who has been guided by God. Is not God all-mighty, the lord of retribution?

If you ask them, "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they will answer: "God." Say: "Then just think. Can those whom you worship apart from God remove the distress God is pleased to visit upon me, or withhold a blessing God is pleased to favour me with?' Say: "God is all-sufficient for me. The trusting place their trust in Him."

Say: "O people, act as best you can on your part, I am acting too. You will come to know in time

Who suffers the shameful punishment, and on whom falls the everlasting torment.

We have Sent down this Book to you with the truth for all mankind. So, he who comes to guidance does so for himself, and he who goes astray does so for his own loss; on you does not lie their guardianship.

God gathers up the souls of those who die, and of those who do not die, in their sleep; then He keeps back those ordained for death, and sends the others back for an appointed term. Surely there are signs in this for those who reflect.

Have they appointed intercessors other than God? Say: "Even though they have no power in the least, nor do they understand?"

Say: "God's is the intercession entirely; His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth; then to Him you will return."

When God alone is mentioned the hearts of those who do not believe in the life to come, are filled with resentment. But when others are mentioned apart from God, they begin to rejoice.

Say: "O God, the originator of the heavens and the earth, the knower of the unknown and the known, You alone will judge between Your creatures for things they differed about."

Even if the sinners possessed whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and as much more, they would offer it to ransom themselves from the torment of the Day of Resurrection; yet what they did not even imagine would appear to them from God;

And the evil of what they had earned would become visible to them; and what they used to mock would surround them from all sides.

When a man is in trouble, he prays to God; but when We bestow a favour on him he says: "It has come to me through my acumen." In fact, this is an illusion, but most men do not know.

Those before them had also said so, and yet nothing of what they did availed them in the least.

Then the worst of what they had done overtook them. So will the evil deeds of those who are sinners among them recoil back on them. They cannot get the better (of Us).

Do they not know that God enhances or restricts the provision of any one He will. Surely there are signs in this for people who believe.

Say: "O creatures of God, those of you who have acted against your own interests should not be disheartened of the mercy of God. Surely God forgives all sins. He is all-forgiving and all-merciful.

Turn towards your Lord and obey Him before the punishment comes upon you when you will not be helped.

Follow the best of what has been revealed to you by your Lord before the punishment overtakes you suddenly and you are caught unawares,

Lest a soul should say: "Alas, I was heedless of God and only laughed;"

Or say: "If only God had guided me I would have been a man of fear and piety;"

Or say on seeing the punishment: "If I could only return I would be among the good."

Why, My revelations had come to you, but you denied them and were filled with pride, and were among the disbelievers.

If you see those who had imputed lies to God on the Day of Resurrection, black would be their faces (with disgrace). Is there not a place in Hell for the arrogant?

God would rescue those who fear Him (and guide them) to places of safety. Neither will evil touch them nor regret.

God is the creator of all things, and He is the guarantor of all things.

He has the keys of the heavens and the earth; and those who deny the revelations of God will be losers.

Say: "O you ignorant people, do you bid me to worship someone other than God?

Surely you have been commanded, as those before you were: "If you associate (any one with God), wasted will be all your deeds, arid you will perish."

So, you should worship only God, arid be among the grateful.

They do not esteem God as is rightly due to Him. The whole earth would be a fistful of His on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens would be rolled up in His right hand. Too immaculate is He and too high for what they associate with Him!

When the trumpet blast is sounded whoever is in the heavens and the earth will swoon away, except those God please. When the blast is sounded the second time, they will stand up all expectant.

The earth will light up with the effulgence of her Lord; and the ledger (of account) will be placed (in each man's hand), and the apostles and the witnesses will be called, and judgement passed between them equitably, and no wrong will be done to them.

Each soul will be paid in full for what it had done. He is cognisant of what you do.

The unbelievers will be driven into Hell in groups till, when they reach it and its doors are opened up, its keepers will say to them: "Did not apostles of your own come to you reciting your Lord's revelations, warning you of this your day of Doom?" They will answer: "Yes;" but the sentence of punishment was justified against the unbelievers.

"Enter the gates of Hell," they will be told, "and there abide for ever." How grievous a destination for the haughty!

Those who were mindful of their duty to their Lord will be driven in groups to Paradise, till they reach it and its gates are opened, and its keepers say to them: "Peace be on you; you are the joyous. So enter here to live for ever."

They will say: "All praise be to God Who has fulfilled the promise He had made to us, and bequeathed to us this land for dwelling in the garden wheresoever we like." How excellent the recompense for those who act!

You will see the angels hover round the Throne, singing the praises of their Lord; and justice will be done between them equitably, and it would be said: "All praise to God the Lord of all the worlds."

HA MIM.

The revelation of this Book is from God the all-mighty and all-knowing,

Forgiver of trespasses, acceptor of repentance, severe of retribution, lord of power. There is no god but He. Towards Him is your destination.

Only the unbelievers dispute the revelations of God. So do not let their activities in the land deceive you.

The people of Noah had denied before them, and many factions after them. Every nation has intrigued against its apostle and afflicted him, and argued with false arguments to condemn the truth. Then I seized them. How was then My retribution!

In this way the sentence of your Lord against the infidels that they would be the inmates of Hell, was justified.

The bearers of the Throne, and those around it, sing the praises of their Lord and believe in Him, and seek forgiveness for those who believe: "O our Lord, Your mercy and knowledge embrace everything; so forgive those who turn to You in repentance and follow Your path; and preserve them from the torment of Hell.

Admit them, O Lord, to the garden of Eden which You promised them, and those of their fathers, spouses and progeny who are upright. You are truly all-mighty and all-wise.

Protect them from evil; and whosoever You preserve from evil on that Day shall have surely received Your mercy. This will be the great triumph."

Those who disbelieve will certainly be told: "God's displeasure was greater than your disgust of your selves when you were called to belief and refused to believe."

They say: "O Lord, twice You made us die, and twice You made us live. We admit our sins. Is there still a way out for us?"

This has come upon you because when God alone was invoked you disbelieved; but when partners were associated with Him, you believed. But judgement belongs to God, the all-high and supreme.

It is He who shows you His signs, and sends you food from the heavens. Yet none takes a warning except him who turns to Him.

So call on God with exclusive obedience, howsoever the unbelievers may dislike it.

Most exalted of position, Lord of power, He directs inspiration by His command to any of His creatures as He will, to warn (men) of the Day of Meeting,

The day when they will come out (of their graves), with nothing of them hidden from God. Whose then will be the kingdom? -- God's, the one, the omnipotent.

Each soul will be recompensed that Day for what it had earned. There will be no depriving on that Day. Surely God is swift at reckoning.

Warn them of the coming day inevitable, when hearts would jump to the throats, filling them with anguish. The sinners will have neither friend nor intercessor whose (word) will be heeded.

Known to Him is the treachery of the eye, and what the breasts conceal.

God decides with justice. But those they call apart from Him can not adjudge in the least. Verily God is all-hearing, all-perceiving.

Have they not travelled on the earth that they could see what happened to those before them? They were greater in strength than they, and have left behind them traces on the earth. Yet they were seized by God for their sins, and had none to protect them against God.

This was so because their apostles came with clear proofs to them, but they refused to believe. So they were seized by God. Surely God is powerful, unrelenting in retribution.

We sent Moses with Our signs and clear authority

To Pharaoh, Haman and Qarun. But they said: "He is only a deceiving sorcerer."

And when he brought the truth to them from Us, they said: "Slay the sons of those who believe with him, and spare their women." But the unbelievers' stratagem is bound to fail.

"Let me kill Moses," the Pharaoh said, "and let him call to his Lord. I fear that he will change your faith and spread corruption in the land."

Moses said: "I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every insolent imposter who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning."

A believer from the House of Pharaoh who had kept his faith to himself, said: "Will you kill a man because he says: 'My Lord is God,' when he has brought clear signs from his Lord to you? If he is a liar his lie will recoil back on him; but in case he speaks the truth, then what he predicts will befall you. Surely God does not show the way to the shameful liar.

O my people, authority is yours today being the most powerful in the land; but who will save us from the scourge of God if it fall upon us?" "I show you," said the Pharaoh, "only what I see (is right), and guide you but to the right path."

But the man of belief said: "O my people, what I fear for you is the like of what befell the communities (of old).

Like the people of Noah, 'Ad and Thamud, and those that came after them. God does not want to be unjust to His creatures.

O my people, what I fear for you is the day of gathering, crying and calling,

The day you will turn your backs and flee, with none to defend you against God. Whoever God allows to go astray has none to show him the way.

Joseph had indeed come to you before with clear proofs, but you did not cease to doubt what he had brought until he died, when you said: 'God will not send a prophet after him.' That is how God leads the waster, the sceptic astray.

Those who dispute God's revelations, with no authority having come to them, (are) greatly odious in the sight of God, and the sight of those who believe. That is how God seals every proud and perverse heart."

The Pharaoh said: "O Haman, build me a lofty tower that I may perhaps find the means

Of reaching the tracts of heaven and look at the god of Moses, though I think that he is a liar." Thus were the evil deeds of Pharaoh made to look attractive to him, and he was hindered from the path. So the stratagem of Pharaoh was bound to perish.

The man who believed said: "O my people, follow me; I will guide you to the right path.

O people, the life of this world is ephemeral; but enduring is the abode of the Hereafter.

Whoever does evil will be requited in accordance with it; but whoever does right, whether man or woman, and is a believer, will enter Paradise, where they will have provision in abundance.

O my people, what is wrong with me that I am calling you to preservation, while you invite me to the Fire!

You are asking me to disbelieve in God, and to associate with Him that of which I have no knowledge, yet I invite you to the all-mighty, all-forgiving.

What you are calling me to is surely not worth the calling in this world or in the next, because our returning is to God; and because the transgressors will be inmates of Hell.

You will remember what I say in time to come; I submit my case to the judgement of God. Surely God keeps an eye on His creatures."

So God preserved him from the evil they were planning; and a dreadful doom encompassed the people of Pharaoh:

Fire, to which they are exposed morning and evening. The day the Hour is proclaimed (it will be said:) "Admit the people of Pharaoh to the severest punishment,"

As they will noisily argue in the Fire, the weaker ones will say to the arrogant: "We were your followers, so will you take over some of our share of the fire?"

The arrogant will answer: "All of us are in it. Surely God has judged between His creatures."

Those in the Fire will say to the warders of Hell: "Ask your Lord to reduce the punishment by a day for us."

They will say: "Did not your apostles come to you with clear proofs?" They will answer: "Indeed, they did." "Then pray," will (the warders) say. But the praying of unbelievers will be all in vain.

We will certainly help Our messengers and those who believe, in this world, and on the day the witnesses take their stand,

The day upon which their excuses will not benefit the evil-doers, and the condemnation and evil abode will be theirs.

Verily We showed Moses the way, and bequeathed the Book to the children of Israel,

A guidance and reminder for men of wisdom.

So persevere; the promise of God is true; and seek forgiveness for your sins, and chant the praises of your Lord evening and morning.

Verily those who argue in the matter of God's revelations, without authority having reached them, have nothing but pride in their hearts, and they will not achieve their end. So take refuge in God: Surely He is all-hearing and all-seeing.

The creation of the heavens and the earth is indeed of greater magnitude than the creation of mankind; but most men do not understand.

The blind and the seeing are surely not alike, nor those who believe and act rightly and those who do evil. Little do you reflect!

The Hour will certainly come; there is no mystery about it; but most men do not believe.

Your Lord has said: "Call to Me that I may answer your call. Surely those who disdain worshipping Me will enter Hell, disgraced."

It is God who made the night for you to rest, the day to make things visible. Indeed God is gracious to men, but most men are not grateful.

He is God your Lord, creator of everything. There is no god but He. How then do you turn away (from Him)?

Only they are turned away thus who deny the signs of God.

It is God who made the earth a dwelling for you, and the sky a vaulted roof, who fashioned you and gave you excellent form and provided you with clean and wholesome things. He is God, your Lord. So blessed be God, the Lord of all the worlds.

He is the living. There is no god but He. Therefore pray to Him with obedience all-exclusive. Praise be to God, the Lord of all the worlds.

Say: "I am forbidden to worship those you call apart from God, since clear signs have come to me from my Lord, and I am commanded to submit to the Lord of all the worlds."

It is He who created you from dust, then a drop of semen, then the embryo; afterwards He brings you forth as a child; then you attain the age of manhood, and then reach old age. But some of you die before you reach the appointed term that you may haply understand.

It is He who gives you life and death. When He creates a thing, He has only to say: "Be," and it is.

Have you not seen how those who dispute the signs of God are turned away?

Those who deny the Book and what We have sent down with Our apostles, will soon come to know

When, with (iron) collars and chains around their necks, they will be dragged

Through boiling water, and then burnt in the Fire.

They will then be asked: "Where are they you took as partners

Apart from God?" They will answer: "They have left us in the lurch and fled. In fact it was nothing that we prayed to before." That is how God sends the unbelievers astray.

"This is so because you went about exulting wrongfully in the land," (will they be told), "and you were insolent.

So enter the gates of Hell to abide in it for ever." How evil the abode of the arrogant!

So you persevere with patience (in your mission). The promise of God is true. Whether We show you some of the punishment We have promised them, or gather you up in death, they have to come back to Us.

Surely We have sent apostles before you, some of whose account We have related to you, and that of some We have not told you. But no apostle was given a miracle unless God dispensed. But when the decree of God comes the sentence is passed with justice; and the lovers of vice and vanity will then come to grief.

It is God who made the cattle for you so that some you ride and some you eat.

There are advantages for you in them, so that you may satisfy your needs through them, and may be borne upon them and on ships.

He shows His signs. How many of God's signs will you then deny?

Have they not travelled in the land and seen how was the end of those before them who were far more numerous than they and more strong, and have left behind them traces on the earth. And yet nothing of what they did profited them.

For when Our apostles came to them with clear proofs, they boasted and exulted at the knowledge they possessed; but what they used to mock recoiled back on them,

So that when they saw Our might, they said: "We believe in God the one and single, and reject those we associated (with Him)." --

But then their affirming served them nothing after they had seen Our torment. This is the law of God that has prevailed among His creatures, Then the unbelievers went to rack and ruin.

HA MIM.

A revelation from the most benevolent, ever-merciful,

A Book whose verses have been distinguished and explained, a lucid discourse for people who understand,

Announcing happy news and warnings. And yet most of them are averse and do not listen,

And say: "Our hearts are immured against what you call us to. There is a deafness in our ears, and a veil lies between us and you. So act (your way), we are acting (ours)."

Say: "I am a man like you, (but) it is revealed to me that your God is one God, so take the straight path to Him, and ask Him to forgive your sins. Woe to the idolaters

Who do not give a due share of their wealth for the welfare of others, and do not believe in the Hereafter.

But those who believe and do the right, will have a continuing reward.

Say: "Do you refuse to believe in Him who created the earth in two spans of time, and set up compeers to Him, the Lord of all the worlds?

He placed firm stabilisers rising above its surface, blessed it with plenty and growth, and ingrained the means of growing its food within it, sufficient for all seekers, in four spans.

Then He turned to the heavens, and it was smoke. So He said to it and the earth: "Come with willing obedience or perforce." They said: "We come willingly."

Then He created several skies in two spans, and ingrained in each sky its function, decking the nearest heaven with lamps, and guarded it. This has been determined by the mighty and all-knowing.

If even then they turn away, tell them: "I forewarn you of a terrible punishment like the thunderbolt that fell upon the 'Ad and Thamud."

Their apostles came to them one after the other (saying): "Do not worship any one but God." They said: "If our Lord had pleased He would have sent the angels down. We reject what is sent with you."

So those who were 'Ad turned insolent unjustly in the land, and said: "Who is stronger than us?" Did they not see that God who created them was greater far in power than they? Yet they refused to believe Our signs.

So We let loose on them a violent wind for several days of distress to make them taste a most disgraceful punishment here in this world, and far more shameful will be the punishment in the Hereafter, and there will be no succour for them.

As for the (tribe of) Thamud, We tried to guide them, but they preferred blindness to guidance; then they were seized by the torment of a humiliating punishment as requital for their misdeeds;

But We saved those who believed and took heed for themselves.

The day the enemies of God will be gathered at the Fire and the records of their deeds will be distributed,

So that when they reach it their ears and eyes and persons will testify to what they did.

And they will say to their bodies: "Why did you testify against us?" They will answer: "God, who gave all things power of articulation, made us speak. It is He who created you the first time, and to Him you will return.

You did not hide your (doings) so that your ears or eyes or persons should not testify against you. In fact you thought that God did not know the things you used to do.

It is this notion you had of your Lord that caused your ruin, and you are lost."

Even if they are patient, their abode is Hell; and if they beg for favour, none will favour them.

We had assigned to them close companions who made their past and present look attractive to them; and the fate that had once befallen the communities of jinns and men before them was justified upon them. They were indeed bound to perish.

The disbelievers say: "Do not listen to this Qur'an, and shout away (its reading); you may haply prevail."

We shall make the disbelievers taste the severest punishment, and retribute them for the worst that they had done.

This is the requital for God's enemies: Hell, where they will have their lasting home, as punishment for denying Our revelations.

Those who disbelieve will say: "O Lord, show us those among the jinns and men who had led us astray that we may trample them underfoot and make them wholly abject."

Surely the angels will come down to those who say, 'Our Lord is God' and then remain steadfast, saying: "You should have neither fear nor regret, but rejoice in the happy news of Paradise that has been promised you.

We are your friends in this life and in the Hereafter where you will get whatever your hearts desire, and have whatsoever you ask for,

As a gift from the forgiving, ever-merciful (God)."

Whose word is better than his who calls to God and does the right, and says: "I am of the obedient?"

Good and evil are not alike. Repel evil with what is good. Then you will find your erstwhile enemy like a close. affectionate friend.

Only they attain it who forbear, and only a man of great good fortune can achieve it.

If the Devil incite you to evil, seek refuge in God. He is all-hearing and all-knowing.

The night and day and the sun and moon are (only) some of His signs. So do not bow before the sun and the moon, but bow in homage to God who created them, if you truly worship Him.

But if they become haughty (then remember) that those who are close to your Lord sing His praises night and day and do not grow weary of (doing so).

It is among His signs that the earth you see all barren and desolate begins to stir and sprout when We send down rain upon it. Surely He who gives it life will also give life to the dead. Indeed He has power over everything.

Surely those who slander Our signs are not hidden from Us. Then, is he better who will be cast into Hell, or he who will come out safe on the Day of Resurrection? Do whatever you will, He sees whatsoever you do.

Those who reject the Reminder when it has come to them (should know) that it is a Book inviolate.

Falsehood cannot enter it from any side: It's a revelation from the all-wise and praiseworthy (God).

Nothing is said to you which had not been said to other apostles before you. Surely your Lord is the lord of forgiveness, but also the lord of severe retribution.

If We had made it a discourse in an obscure tongue, they would have said: "Why were its revelations not expounded distinctly? A foreign tongue and an Arab (audience)?" Say: "For those who believe it is a guidance and a healing; but for those who do not believe it is a deafness in the ears, and a blindness. They are those one calls to from far away.

Verily We gave Moses the Book; but they began to differ about it. If the Word of your Lord had not preceded it the matter would have been settled between them. They are still in doubt about it and uneasy.

Whoever does good does so for himself, and whoever does wrong bears the guilt thereof. Your Lord does no wrong to His creatures.