51 Mention too, in the Quran, the story of Moses. He was specially chosen, a messenger and a prophet: 52 We called to him from the right-hand side of the mountain and brought him close to Us in secret communion; 53 out of Our grace We granted him his brother Aaron as a prophet. 54 Mention too, in the Quran, the story of Ishmael. He was true to his promise, a messenger and a prophet. 55 He commanded his household to pray and give alms, and his Lord was well pleased with him.
Characteristics of Idris
56 Mention too, in the Quran, the story of Idris. He was a man of truth, a prophet. 57 We raised him to a high position.
Other Descendants of Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Israel
58 These were the prophets God blessed– from the seed of Adam, of those We carried in the Ark with Noah, from the seed of Abraham and Israel– and those We guided and chose. When the revelations of the Lord of Mercy were recited to them, they fell to their knees and wept, 59 but there came after them generations who neglected prayer and were driven by their own desires. These will come face to face with their evil, 60 but those who repent, who believe, who do righteous deeds, will enter Paradise. They will not be wronged in the least: 61 they will enter the Gardens of Lasting Bliss, promised by the Lord of Mercy to His servants– it is not yet seen but truly His promise will be fulfilled. 62 There they will hear only peaceful talk, nothing bad; there they will be given provision morning and evening. 63 That is the Garden We shall give as their own to those of Our servants who were devout.
64 [Gabriel said], [a] ‘We only descend [with revelation] at your Lord’s command––everything before us, everything behind us, everything in between, all belongs to Him––your Lord is never forgetful. 65 He is Lord of the heavens and earth and everything in between so worship Him: be steadfast in worshipping Him. Do you know of anyone equal to Him?’
Deniers of Resurrection, Their Punishment, and Attitudes
66 Man says, ‘What? Once I am dead, will I be brought back to life?’ 67 but does man not remember that We created him when he was nothing before? 68 By your Lord [Prophet] We shall gather them and the devils together and set them on their knees around Hell; 69 We shall seize out of each group those who were most disobedient towards the Lord of Mercy– 70 We know best who most deserves to burn in Hell– 71 but every single one of you [b] will approach it, a decree from your Lord which must be fulfilled. 72 We shall save the devout and leave the evildoers there on their knees.
73 When Our revelations are recited to them in all their clarity, [all that] the disbelievers say to the believers [is], ‘Which side is better situated? Which side has the better following?’ 74 We have destroyed many a generation before them who surpassed them in riches and outward glitter! 75 Say [Prophet], ‘The Lord of Mercy lengthens [the lives] of the misguided, until, when they are confronted with what they have been warned about– either the punishment [in this life] or the Hour [of Judgement]– they realize who is worse situated and who has the weakest forces.’ 76 But God gives more guidance to those who are guided, and good deeds of lasting merit are best and most rewarding in your Lord’s sight. 77 Have you considered the man who rejects Our revelation, who says, ‘I will certainly be given wealth and children’? 78 Has he penetrated the unknown or received a pledge to that effect from the Lord of Mercy? 79 No! We shall certainly record what he says and prolong his punishment: 80 We shall inherit from him all that he speaks of and he will come to Us all alone.
81 They have taken other gods beside God to give them strength, 82 but these gods will reject their worship and will even turn against them. 83 Have you [Prophet] not seen how We send devils to incite the disbelievers to sin? 84 There is no need for you to be impatient concerning them: We are counting down their [allotted] time. 85 On the Day We gather the righteous as an honored company before the Lord of Mercy 86 and drive the sinful like a thirsty herd into Hell, 87 no one will have power to intercede except for those who have permission [c] from the Lord of Mercy.
88 The disbelievers say, ‘The Lord of Mercy has offspring.’ [d] 89How terrible is this thing you assert: 90 it almost causes the heavens to be torn apart, the earth to split asunder, the mountains to crumble to pieces, 91 that they attribute offspring to the Lord of Mercy. 92 It does not befit the Lord of Mercy [to have offspring]: 93 there is no one in the heavens or earth who will not come to the Lord of Mercy as a servant– 94 He has counted them all: He has numbered them exactly– 95 and they will each return to Him on the Day of Resurrection all alone.
Conclusion
96 But the Lord of Mercy will give love to those who believe and do righteous deeds: 97 We have made it [e] easy, in your own language [Prophet], so that you may bring glad news to the righteous and warnings to a stubborn people. 98 How many generations We have destroyed before them! Do you perceive a single one of them now, or hear as much as a whisper?
Footnotes
a. This is a response from Gabriel to the Prophet’s request for more frequent visits (see Bukhari, Sahih, Book of Tafsir, Sura 19).
b. This is taken to refer either to the disbelievers mentioned here, or to all humanity.
c. For the meaning of 'ahd as idhn ‘permission’ see Baydawi. Cf. 10: 3; 78: 38.
d. Many translators say ‘a son’ here, not realizing that walad in classical Arabic means ‘child’ or ‘children’. The discussion here is about the pagans of Mecca, who said that the angels were daughters of God.
e. Either what is said in this sura or the whole Quran.
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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