A Meccan sura named after Abraham (verses 35–41), who prays to God that Mecca may be made prosperous so that its people may be thankful and continue to worship God. The ungrateful are condemned, and the grateful commended, throughout the sura. Abraham also asks that he and his descendants may be protected from idol-worship. This serves to remind the Meccans that they should shun the worship of idols.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
The Message
1 Alif Lam Ra
This is a Scripture which We have sent down to you [Prophet] so that, with their Lord’s permission, you may bring people from the depths of darkness into light, to the path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy One, 2 God, to whom everything in the heavens and earth belongs. How terrible will be the torment of those who ignore [Him], 3 those who prefer the life of this world over the life to come, who turn others from God’s way, trying to make it crooked: such people have gone far astray. 4 We have never sent a messenger who did not use his own people’s language to make things clear for them. But still God leaves whoever He will to stray, and guides whoever He will: He is the Almighty, the All Wise.
5 We sent Moses with Our signs: ‘Bring out your people from the depths of darkness into light. Remind them of the Days of God: [a] there truly are signs in this for every steadfast, thankful person.’ 6 And so Moses said to his people, ‘Remember God’s blessing on you when He saved you from Pharaoh’s people, who were inflicting terrible suffering on you, slaughtering your sons and sparing only your women––that was a severe test from your Lord! 7 Remember that He promised, “If you are thankful, I will give you more, but if you are thankless, My punishment is terrible indeed.” ’ 8 And Moses said, ‘Even if you, together with everybody else on earth, are thankless, God is self-sufficient, worthy of all praise.’
9 Have you not heard about those who went before you, the people of Noah, Ad, Thamud, and those who lived after them, known only to God? Their messengers came to them with clear proof, but they tried to silence them, [b] saying, ‘We do not believe the message with which you were sent. We have disturbing doubts about what you are asking us to do.’ 10 Their messengers answered, ‘Can there be any doubt about God, the Creator of the heavens and earth? He calls you to Him in order to forgive you your sins and let you enjoy your life until the appointed hour.’ But they said, ‘You are only men like us. You want to turn us away from what our forefathers used to worship. Bring us clear proof then, [if you can].’ 11 Their messengers answered, ‘True, we are only men like you, but God favors whichever of His servants He chooses. We cannot bring you any proof unless God permits it, so let the believers put all their trust in Him– 12 why should we not put our trust in God when it is He who has guided us to this way we follow? We shall certainly bear steadfastly whatever harm you do to us. Let anyone who trusts, trust in God.’
Satan Rejects His Followers
13 The disbelievers said to their messengers, ‘We shall expel you from our land unless you return to our religion.’ But their Lord inspired the messengers: ‘We shall destroy the evildoers, 14 and leave you to dwell in the land after them. This reward is for those who are in awe of meeting Me, and of My warnings.’ 15 They asked God to decide, and every obstinate tyrant failed– 16 Hell awaits each one; he will be given foul water to drink, 17 which he will try to gulp but scarcely be able to swallow; death will encroach on him from every side, but he will not die; more intense suffering will lie ahead of him. 18 The deeds of those who reject their Lord are like ashes that the wind blows furiously on a stormy day: they have no power over anything they have gained. This is to stray far, far away.
19 [Prophet], do you not see that God created the heavens and the earth for a purpose? He could remove all of you and replace you with a new creation if He wished to: 20 that is not difficult for God. 21 When they all appear before Him, the weak will say to the power seekers, ‘We were your followers. Can you protect us from any of God’s punishment?’ They will reply, ‘If God had guided us, we would have guided you. It makes no difference now whether we rage or endure with patience: there is no escape.’ 22 When everything has been decided, Satan will say, ‘God gave you a true promise. I too made promises but they were false ones: I had no power over you except to call you, and you responded to my call, so do not blame me; blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I reject the way you associated me with God before.’ A bitter torment awaits such wrongdoers, 23 but those who believed and did good deeds will be brought into Gardens graced with flowing streams, there to remain with their Lord’s permission: their greeting there is ‘Peace’.
Footnotes
a. The times when God singled them out for special favor or tribulation (cf. 2: 30–61).
b. Literally ‘they pushed their hands into the prophets’ mouths’.
The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
The Qur'an / a new translation by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem, copyright © 2004 Oxford World's Classics (Oxford University Press). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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