Abraham said, ‘What is your errand, messengers?’

They said, ‘We are sent to a people lost in sin

to bring down rocks of clay

marked by your Lord for those who exceed all bounds.’

We brought out such believers as were there

We found only one household devoted to God

and left the town to be a sign for those who fear the painful punishment

There is another sign in Moses: We sent him to Pharaoh with clear authority

Pharaoh turned away with his supporters, saying, ‘This is a sorcerer, or maybe a madman,’

so We seized him and his forces and threw them into the sea: he was to blame

There is another sign in the Ad: We sent the life-destroying wind against them

and it reduced everything it came up against to shreds

And also in the Thamud: it was said to them, ‘Make the most of your lives for a while,’

but they rebelled against their Lord’s command, so the blast took them. They looked on helplessly

they could not even remain standing, let alone defend themselves

Before that We destroyed the people of Noah. They were a truly sinful people

We built the heavens with Our power and made them vast

We spread out the earth- how well We smoothed it out

and We created pairs of all things so that you [people] might take note

[So, say to them, Prophet], ‘Quickly, turn to God- I am sent by Him to give you clear warning

and do not set up any other god alongside Him. I am sent by Him to give you clear warning!’

Every previous people to whom a messenger was sent also said, ‘A sor-cerer, or maybe a madman!’

Did they tell one another to do this? No! They are a people who exceed all bounds

so ignore them [Prophet]- you are not to blame

and go on reminding [people], it is good for those who believe to be reminded

I created jinn and mankind only to worship Me

I want no provision from them, nor do I want them to feed Me

God is the Provider, the Lord of Power, the Ever Mighty

The evildoers, like their predecessors, will have a share of punishment- they need not ask Me to hasten it

and woe betide those who deny the truth on the Day they have been promised

By the mountain

by a Scripture inscribed

in unrolled parch-ment

by the much-visited House

by the raised canopy

by the ocean ever filled

[Prophet], your Lord’s punishment is coming––

it cannot be put off––

on the Day when the sky sways back and forth

and the mountains float away

Woe on that Day to those who deny the Truth

who amuse themselves with idle chatter

on that Day they will be thrust into the Fire of Hell

‘This is the Fire you used to deny

So is this sorcery? Do you still not see it

Burn in it––it makes no difference whether you bear it patiently or not–– you are only being repaid for what you have done.’

Those who were mindful of God are in Gardens and in bliss

rejoicing in their Lord’s gifts: He has saved them from the torment of the Blaze

‘Eat and drink with healthy enjoyment as a reward for what you have done.’

They are comfortably seated on couches arranged in rows; We pair them with beautiful-eyed maidens

We unite the believers with their offspring who followed them in faith–– We do not deny them any of the rewards for their deeds: each person is in pledge for his own deeds––

We provide them with any fruit or meat they desire

They pass around a cup which does not lead to any idle talk or sin

Devoted youths like hidden pearls wait on them

They turn to one another and say

‘When we were still with our families [on earth] we used to live in fear––

God has been gracious to us and saved us from the torment of intense heat

We used to pray to Him: He is the Good, the Merciful One.’

So [Prophet] remind [people]. By the grace of your Lord [Prophet], you are neither oracle nor madman

If they say, ‘He is only a poet: we shall await his fate,’

say, ‘Wait if you wish; I too am waiting’

does their reason really tell them to do this, or are they simply insolent people

If they say, ‘He has made it up himself’- they certainly do not believe

let them produce one like it, if what they say is true

Were they created without any agent? Were they the creators

Did they create the heavens and the earth? No! They do not have faith

Do they possess your Lord’s treasures or have control over them

Do they have a ladder to climb, in order to eavesdrop [on Heaven’s secrets]? Let their eavesdropper produce clear proof

Does God have daughters while you have sons

Do you [Prophet] demand a payment from them that would burden them with debt

Do they have [access to] the unseen? Could they write it down

Do they think they can ensnare you? It is the disbelievers who have been ensnared

Do they really have another god besides God? God is far above anything they set alongside Him

Even if they saw a piece of heaven falling down on them, they would say, ‘Just a heap of clouds,’

so leave them, Prophet, until they face the Day when they will be thunderstruck

the Day when their snares will be of no use to them, when they will get no help

Another punishment awaits the evildoers, though most of them do not realize it

Wait patiently [Prophet] for your Lord’s judgement: you are under Our watchful eye. Celebrate the praise of your Lord when you rise

Glorify Him at night and at the fading of the stars

By the star when it sets

Your companion has not strayed; he is not deluded

he does not speak from his own desire

The Quran is nothing less than a revelation that is sent to him

It was taught to him by [an angel] with mighty powers

and great strength, who stood

on the highest horizon

and then approached––coming down

until he was two bow-lengths away or even closer––

and revealed to God’s servant what He revealed

[The Prophet’s] own heart did not distort what he saw

Are you going to dispute with him what he saw with his own eyes

A second time he saw him

by the lote tree beyond which none may pass

near the Garden of Restfulness

when the tree was covered in nameless [splendour]

His sight never wavered, nor was it too bold

and he saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord

[Disbelievers], consider al-Lat and al-Uzza

and the third one, Manat––

are you to have the male and He the female

That would be a most unjust distribution!––

these are nothing but names you have invented yourselves, you and your forefathers. God has sent no authority for them. These people merely follow guesswork and the whims of their souls, even though guidance has come to them from their Lord

Is man to have everything he wishes for

when the present life and the life to come belong only to God

There are many angels in heaven whose intercession will be of no use until God gives permission to those He will, whose words He will accept

Those who deny the life to come give the angels female names

They have no knowledge to base this on: they merely follow guesswork. Guesswork is of no value against the Truth

So [Prophet] ignore those who turn away from Our revelation, who want only the life of this world

Their knowledge does not go beyond that. Your Lord knows best who strays from His path and who follows guidance

Everything in the heavens and earth belongs to God. He will repay those who do evil according to their deeds, and reward, with what is best, those who do good

As for those who avoid grave sins and foul acts, though they may commit small sins, your Lord is ample in forgiveness. He has been aware of you from the time He produced you from the earth and from your hiding places in your mothers’ wombs, so do not assert your own goodness:He knows best who is mindful of Him

[Prophet], consider that man who turned away

he only gave a little and then he stopped

Does he have knowledge of the Unseen? Can he see [the Hereafter]

Has he not been told what was written in the Scriptures of Moses

and of Abraham, who fulfilled his duty

that no soul shall bear the burden of another

that man will only have what he has worked towards

that his labour will be seen

and that in the end he will be repaid in full for it

that the final goal is your Lord

that it is He who makes people laugh and weep

that it is He who gives death and life

that He Himself created the two sexes, male and female

from an ejected drop of sperm

that He will undertake the second Creation

that it is He who gives wealth and possessions

that He is the Lord of Sirius

that it was He who destroyed, in their entirety, ancient 'Ad

and Thamud

and before them the people of Noah who were even more unjust and insolent

that it was He who brought down the ruined cities

and enveloped them in the punishment He ordained for them

Which then of your Lord’s blessings do you deny

This is a warning just like the warnings sent in former times

The imminent Hour draws near

and only God can disclose it

Do you [people] marvel at this

Why do you laugh instead of weeping

Why do you pay no heed

Bow down before God and worship

The Hour draws near; the moon is split in two

Whenever the disbelievers see a sign, they turn away and say, ‘Same old sorcery!’

They reject the truth and follow their own desires––everything is recorded––

although warning tales that should have restrained them have come down to them––

farreaching wisdom––but these warnings do not help

so [Prophet] turn away from them. On the Day the Summoner will summon them to a horrific event

eyes downcast, they will come out of their graves like swarming locusts

rushing towards the Summoner. The disbelievers will cry, ‘This is a stern day!’

The people of Noah rejected the truth before them: they rejected Our servant, saying, ‘He is mad!’ Noah was rebuked

and so he called upon his Lord, ‘I am defeated: help me!’

So We opened the gates of the sky with torrential water

burst the earth with gushing springs: the waters met for a preordained purpose

We carried him along on a vessel of planks and nails

that floated under Our watchful eye, a reward for the one who had been rejected

We have left this as a sign: will anyone take heed

How [terrible] was My punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings

We have made it easy to learn lessons from the Quran: will anyone take heed

The people of 'Ad also rejected the truth. How [terrible] was My punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings

We released a howling wind against them on a day of terrible disaster

it swept people away like uprooted palm trunks

How [terrible] was My punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings

We have made it easy to learn lessons from the Quran: will anyone take heed

The people of Thamud also rejected the warnings

they said, ‘What? A man? Why should we follow a lone man from amongst ourselves? That would be misguided; quite insane

Would a mes-sage be given to him alone out of all of us? No, he is an insolent liar!’

‘Tomorrow they will know who is the insolent liar

for We shall send them a she-camel to test them: so watch them [Salih] and be patient

Tell them the water is to be shared between them: each one should drink in turn.’

But they called their companion, who took a sword and hamstrung the camel

How [terrible] was My punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings

We released a single mighty blast against them and they ended up like a fencemaker’s dry sticks

We have made it easy to learn lessons from the Quran: will anyone take heed

The people of Lot rejected the warnings

We released a stonebearing wind against them, all except the family of Lot. We saved them before dawn

as a favour from Us: this is how We reward the thankful

He warned them of Our onslaught, but they dismissed the warning

they even demanded his guests from him- so We sealed their eyes- ‘ Taste My [terrible] punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings!’

and early in the morning a punishment seized them that still remains

‘Taste My [terrible] punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings!’

We have made it easy to learn lessons from the Quran: will anyone take heed

The people of Pharaoh also received warnings

They rejected all Our signs so We seized them with all Our might and power

‘Are your disbelievers any better than these? Were you given an exemption in the Scripture?’

Do they perhaps say, ‘We are a great army and we shall be victorious’

Their forces will be routed and they will turn tail and flee

But the Hour is their appointed time- the Hour is more severe and bitter

truly the wicked are misguided and quite insane––

on the Day when they are dragged on their faces in Hell. ‘Feel the touch of Hell.’

We have created all things in due measure

when We ordain something it happens at once, in the blink of an eye

We have destroyed the likes of you in the past. Will anyone take heed

Everything they do is noted in their records

every action, great or small, is recorded

The righteous will live securely among Gardens and rivers

secure in the presence of an all-powerful Sovereign

It is the Lord of Mercy

who taught the Quran

He created man

and taught him to communicate

The sun and the moon follow their calculated courses

the plants and the trees submit to His designs

He has raised up the sky. He has set the balance

so that you may not exceed in the balance

weigh with justice and do not fall short in the balance

He set down the Earth for His creatures

with its fruits, its palm trees with sheathed clusters

its husked grain, its fragrant plants

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

He created mankind out of dried clay, like pottery

the jinn out of smokeless fire

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

He is Lord of the two risings and Lord of the two settings

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

He released the two bodies of [fresh and salt] water. They meet

yet there is a barrier between them they do not cross

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

Pearls come forth from them: large ones, and small, brilliant ones

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

His are the moving ships that float, high as mountains, on the sea

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

Everyone on earth perishes

all that remains is the Face of your Lord, full of majesty, bestowing honour

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

Everyone in heaven and earth entreats Him; every day He is at work

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

We shall attend to you two huge armies [of jinn and mankind]

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

Jinn and mankind, if you can pass beyond the regions of heaven and earth, then do so: you will not pass without Our authority

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

A flash of fire and smoke will be released upon you and no one will come to your aid

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

When the sky is torn apart and turns crimson, like red hide

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

On that Day neither mankind nor jinn will be asked about their sins

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

The guilty will be known by their mark and will be seized by their foreheads and their feet

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

This is the Hell the guilty deny

but they will go round between its flames and scalding water

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

For those who fear [the time when they will] stand before their Lord there are two gardens

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

With shading branches

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

With a pair of flowing springs

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

With every kind of fruit in pairs

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

They will sit on couches upholstered with brocade, the fruit of both gardens within easy reach

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

There will be maidens restraining their glances, untouched beforehand by man or jinn

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

Like rubies and brilliant pearls

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

Shall the reward of good be anything but good

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

There are two other gardens below these two

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

Both of deepest green

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

With a pair of gushing springs

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

With fruits- date palms and pomegranate trees

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

There are good-natured, beautiful maidens

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

Dark-eyed, sheltered in pavilions

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

Untouched beforehand by man or jinn

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

They will all sit on green cushions and fine carpets

Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny

Blessed is the name of your Lord, full of majesty, bestowing honour

When that which is coming arrives

no one will be able to deny it has come

bringing low and raising high

When the earth is shaken violently

and the mountains are ground to powder

and turn to scattered dust

then you will be sorted into three classes

Those on the Right––what people they are

Those on the Left––what people they are

And those in front––ahead indeed

For these will be the ones brought nearest to God

in Gardens of Bliss

many from the past

and a few from later generations

On couches of well-woven cloth

they will sit facing each other

everlasting youths will go round among them

with glasses, flagons, and cups of a pure drink

that causes no headache or intoxication

[there will be] any fruit they choose

the meat of any bird they like

and beautiful companions

like hidden pearls

a reward for what they used to do

They will hear no idle or sinful talk there

only clean and wholesome speech

Those on the Right, what people they are

They will dwell amid thornless lote trees

and clustered acacia

with spreading shade

constantly flowing water

abundant fruits

unfailing, unforbidden

with incomparable companions

We have specially created––

virginal

loving, of matching age––

for those on the Right

many from the past

and many from later generations

But those on the Left, what people they are

They will dwell amid scorching wind and scalding water

in the shadow of black smoke

neither cool nor refreshing

Before, they overindulged in luxury

and persisted in great sin

always saying, ‘What? When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then be raised up

And our earliest forefathers too?’

Say [Prophet], ‘The earliest and latest generations

will all be gathered on a predetermined Day

and you who have gone astray and denied the truth

will eat from the bitter tree of Zaqqum

filling your bellies with it

and drink scalding water

lapping it like thirsty camels.’

This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgement

It was We who created you: will you not believe

Consider [the semen] you eject

do you create it yourselves or are We the Creator

We ordained death to be among you. Nothing could stop Us

if We intended to change you and recreate you in a way unknown to you

You have learned how you were first created: will you not reflect

Consider the seeds you sow in the ground

is it you who make them grow or We

If We wished, We could turn your harvest into chaff and leave you to wail

‘We are burdened with debt

we are bereft.’

Consider the water you drink

was it you who brought it down from the rain-cloud or We

If We wanted, We could make it bitter: will you not be thankful

Consider the fire you kindle

is it you who make the wood for it grow or We

We made it a reminder, and useful to those who kindle it

so [Prophet] glorify the name of your Lord, the Supreme

I swear by the positions of the stars

a mighty oath, if you only knew

that this is truly a noble Quran

in a protected Record

that only the purified can touch

sent down from the Lord of all being

How can you scorn this statement

And how, in return for the livelihood you are given, can you deny it

When the soul of a dying man comes up to his throat

while you gaze on

We are nearer to him than you, though you do not see Us

why, if you are not to be judged

do you not restore his soul to him, if what you say is true

If that dying person is one of those who will be brought near to God

he will have rest, ease, and a Garden of Bliss

if he is one of those on the Right

[he will hear], ‘Peace be on you,’ from his companions on the Right

but if he is one of those who denied the truth and went astray

he will be welcomed with scalding water

He will burn in Hell

This is the certain truth

[Prophet], glorify the name of your Lord the Supreme

Everything in the heavens and earth glorifies God––He is the Almighty, the Wise

Control of the heavens and earth belongs to Him; He gives life and death; He has power over all things

He is the First and the Last; the Outer and the Inner; He has knowledge of all things

It was He who created the heavens and earth in six Days and then established Himself on the throne. He knows what enters the earth and what comes out of it; what descends from the sky and what ascends to it. He is with you wherever you are; He sees all that you do

control of the heavens and earth belongs to Him. Everything is brought back to God

He makes night merge into day and day into night. He knows what is in every heart

Believe in God and His Messenger, and give out of what He has made pass down to you: those of you who believe and give will have a great reward

Why should you not believe in God when the Mes-senger calls you to believe in your Lord, and He has already made a pledge with you, if you have faith

It is He who has sent down clear revelations to His Servant, so that He may bring you from the depths of darkness into light; God is truly kind and merciful to you

Why should you not give for God’s cause when God alone will inherit what is in the heavens and earth? Those who gave and fought before the triumph are not like others: they are greater in rank than those who gave and fought afterwards. But God has promised a good reward to all of them: God is fully aware of all that you do

Who will make God a good loan? He will double it for him and reward him generously

On the Day when you [Prophet] see the believers, both men and women, with their light streaming out ahead of them and to their right, [they will be told], ‘The good news for you today is that there are Gardens graced with flowing streams where you will stay: that is truly the supreme triumph!’

On the same Day, the hypocrites, both men and women, will say to the believers, ‘Wait for us! Let us have some of your light!’ They will be told, ‘Go back and look for a light.’ A wall with a door will be erected between them: inside it lies mercy, outside lies torment

The hypocrites will call out to the believers, ‘Were we not with you?’ They will reply, ‘Yes. But you allowed yourselves to be tempted, you were hesitant, doubtful, deceived by false hopes until God’s command came- the Deceiver tricked you about God

Today no ransom will be accepted from you or from the disbelievers: your home is the Fire- that is where you belong––a miserable destination!’

Is it not time for believers to humble their hearts to the remembrance of God and the Truth that has been revealed, and not to be like those who received the Scripture before them, whose time was extended but whose hearts hardened and many of whom were lawbreakers

Remember that God revives the earth after it dies; We have made Our revelation clear to you so that you may use your reason

Charitable men and women who make a good loan to God will have it doubled and have a generous reward

Those who believe in God and His messengers are the truthful ones who will bear witness before their Lord: they will have their reward and their light. But those who disbelieve and deny Our revelations are the inhabitants of Hell

Bear in mind that the present life is just a game, a diversion, an attraction, a cause of boasting among you, of rivalry in wealth and children. It is like plants that spring up after the rain: their growth at first delights the sowers, but then you see them wither away, turn yellow, and become stubble. There is terrible punishment in the next life as well as forgiveness and approval from God; the life of this world is only an illusory pleasure

So race for your Lord’s forgiveness and a Garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believe in God and His messengers: that is God’s bounty, which He bestows on whoever He pleases. God’s bounty is infinite

No misfortune can happen, either in the earth or in yourselves, that was not set down in writing before We brought it into being- that is easy for God

so you need not grieve for what you miss or gloat over what you gain

God does not love the conceited, the boastful, those who are miserly, and who tell other people to be miserly. If anyone turns away, remember that God is self-sufficient and worthy of praise

We sent Our messengers with clear signs, the Scripture and the Balance, so that people could uphold justice: We also sent iron, with its mighty strength and many uses for mankind, so that God could mark out those who would help Him and His messengers though they cannot see Him. Truly God is powerful, almighty

We sent Noah and Abraham, and gave prophethood and scripture to their offspring: among them there were some who were rightly guided, but many were lawbreakers

We sent other messengers to follow in their footsteps. After those We sent Jesus, son of Mary: We gave him the Gospel and put compassion and mercy into the hearts of his followers. But monasticism was something they invented- We did not ordain it for them- only to seek God’s pleasure, and even so, they did not observe it properly. So We gave a reward to those of them who believed, but many of them were lawbreakers

Believers, be mindful of God and have faith in His Messenger: He will give you a double share of His mercy; He will provide a light to help you walk; He will forgive you- God is most forgiving, most merciful

The People of the Book should know that they have no power over any of God’s grace and that grace is in the hand of God alone: He gives it to whoever He will. God’s grace is truly immense