In the name
of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
1. Blessed be He in Whose hands is Dominion; and He over all
things hath Power;-
2. He Who created Death
and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and
He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving;-
3. He Who created the
seven heavens one above another: No want of proportion wilt
thou see in the Creation of ((Allah)) Most Gracious. So turn
thy vision again: seest thou any flaw?
4. Again turn thy vision
a second time: (thy) vision will come back to thee dull and
discomfited, in a state worn out.
5. And we have, (from
of old), adorned the lowest heaven with Lamps, and We have made
such (Lamps) (as) missiles to drive away the Evil Ones, and
have prepared for them the Penalty of the Blazing Fire.
6. For those who reject
their Lord (and Cherisher) is the Penalty of Hell: and evil
is (such), Destination.
7. When they are cast
therein, they will hear the (terrible) drawing in of its breath
even as it blazes forth,
8. Almost bursting
with fury: Every time a Group is cast therein, its Keepers will
ask, "Did no Warner come to you?"
9. They will say: "Yes
indeed; a Warner did come to us, but we rejected him and said,
'(Allah) never sent down any (Message): ye are nothing but an
egregious delusion!'"
10. They will further
say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we
should not (now) be among the Companions of the Blazing Fire!"
11. They will then
confess their sins: but far will be (Forgiveness) from the Companions
of the Blazing Fire!
12. As for those who
fear their Lord unseen, for them is Forgiveness and a great
Reward.
13. And whether ye
hide your word or publish it, He certainly has (full) knowledge,
of the secrets of (all) hearts.
14. Should He not know,-
He that created? and He is the One that understands the finest
mysteries (and) is well-acquainted (with them).
15. It is He Who has
made the earth manageable for you, so traverse ye through its
tracts and enjoy of the Sustenance which He furnishes: but unto
Him is the Resurrection.
16. Do ye feel secure
that He Who is in heaven will not cause you to be swallowed
up by the earth when it shakes (as in an earthquake)?
17. Or do ye feel secure
that He Who is in Heaven will not send against you a violent
tornado (with showers of stones), so that ye shall know how
(terrible) was My warning?
18. But indeed men
before them rejected (My warning): then how (terrible) was My
rejection (of them)?
19. Do they not observe
the birds above them, spreading their wings and folding them
in? None can uphold them except ((Allah)) Most Gracious: Truly
((Allah)) Most Gracious: Truly it is He that watches over all
things.
20. Nay, who is there
that can help you, (even as) an army, besides ((Allah)) Most
Merciful? In nothing but delusion are the Unbelievers.
21. Or who is there
that can provide you with Sustenance if He were to withhold
His provision? Nay, they obstinately persist in insolent impiety
and flight (from the Truth).
22. Is then one who
walks headlong, with his face grovelling, better guided,- or
one who walks evenly on a Straight Way?
23. Say: "It is
He Who has created you (and made you grow), and made for you
the faculties of hearing, seeing, feeling and understanding:
little thanks it is ye give.
24. Say: "It is
He Who has multiplied you through the earth, and to Him shall
ye be gathered together."
25. They ask: When
will this promise be (fulfilled)? - If ye are telling the truth.
26. Say: "As to
the knowledge of the time, it is with Allah alone: I am (sent)
only to warn plainly in public."
27. At length, when
they see it close at hand, grieved will be the faces of the
Unbelievers, and it will be said (to them): "This is (the
promise fulfilled), which ye were calling for!"
28. Say: "See
ye?- If Allah were to destroy me, and those with me, or if He
bestows His Mercy on us,- yet who can deliver the Unbelievers
from a grievous Penalty?"
29. Say: "He is
((Allah)) Most Gracious: We have believed in Him, and on Him
have we put our trust: So, soon will ye know which (of us) it
is that is in manifest error."
30. Say: "See
ye?- If your stream be some morning lost (in the underground
earth), who then can supply you with clear-flowing water?"