41 Those who take protectors other than God can be compared to spiders building themselves houses– the spider’s is the frailest of all houses– if only they could understand. 42 God knows what things they call upon beside Him: He is the Mighty, the Wise. 43 Such are the comparisons We draw for people, though only the wise can grasp them. 44 God has created the heavens and earth for a true purpose. There truly is a sign in this for those who believe.
45 [Prophet], recite what has been revealed to you of the Scripture; keep up the prayer: prayer restrains outrageous and unacceptable behavior. Remembering God is greater: God knows everything you are doing. 46 [Believers], argue only in the best way with the People of the Book, except with those of them who act unjustly. Say, ‘We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you; our God and your God are one [and the same]; we are devoted to Him.’ 47 This is the way We sent the Scripture to you [Muhammad]. Those to whom We had already given Scripture a believe in [the Quran] and so do some of these people. No one refuses to acknowledge Our revelations but the defiant.
48 You never recited any Scripture before We revealed this one to you; you never wrote one down with your hand. If you had done so, those who follow falsehood might have had cause to doubt. 49 But no, [this Quran] is a revelation that is clear to the hearts of those endowed with knowledge. No one refuses to acknowledge Our revelations but the evildoers. 50 They say, ‘Why have no miracles been sent to him by his Lord?’ Say, ‘Miracles lie in God’s hands; I am simply here to warn you plainly.’ 51 Do they not think it is enough that We have sent down to you the Scripture that is recited to them? There is a mercy in this and a lesson for believing people. 52 Say, ‘God is sufficient witness between me and you: He knows what is in the heavens and earth. Those who believe in false deities and deny God will be the losers.’
53 They challenge you to hasten the punishment: they would already have received a punishment if God had not set a time for it, and indeed it will come to them suddenly and catch them unawares. 54 They challenge you to hasten the punishment: Hell will encompass all those who deny the truth, 55 on the Day when punishment overwhelms them from above and from below their very feet, and they will be told, ‘Now taste the punishment for what you used to do.’
56 My believing servants! My earth is vast, so worship Me and Me alone. 57 Every soul will taste death, then it is to Us that you will be returned. 58 We shall lodge those who believed and did good deeds in lofty dwellings, in the Garden graced with flowing streams, there to remain. How excellent is the reward of those who labor, 59 those who are steadfast, those who put their trust in their Lord!
The Signs That Make Things Clear
60 How many are the creatures who do not store their sustenance! God sustains them and you: He alone is the All Hearing, the All Knowing. 61 If you ask the disbelievers who created the heavens and earth and who harnessed the sun and moon, they are sure to say, ‘God.’ Then why do they turn away from Him? 62 It is God who gives abundantly to whichever of His servants He will, and sparingly to whichever He will: He has full knowledge of everything. 63 If you ask them, ‘Who sends water down from the sky and gives life with it to the earth after it has died?’ they are sure to say, ‘God.’ Say, ‘Praise belongs to God!’ Truly, most of them do not use their reason.
64 The life of this world is merely an amusement and a diversion; the true life is in the Hereafter, if only they knew. 65 Whenever they go on board a ship they call on God, and dedicate their faith to Him alone, but once He has delivered them safely back to land, see how they ascribe partners to Him! 66 Let them show their ingratitude for what We have given them; let them take their enjoyment– soon they will know. 67 Can they not see that We have made [them] a secure sanctuary [c] though all around them people are snatched away? Then how can they believe in what is false and deny God’s blessing? 68 Who could be more wicked than the person who invents lies about God, or denies the truth when it comes to him? Is Hell not the home for the disbelievers? 69 But We shall be sure to guide to Our ways those who strive hard for Our cause: God is with those who do good.
Footnotes
a. Cf. e.g. 51: 28.
b. According to some commentators this refers to those Jews and Christians at the time of the Prophet who believed in him.
c. Mecca.
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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