The Koran Part 108

Verily, this present life is like the water which we send down from Heaven, and the produce of the earth, of which men and cattle eat, is mingled with it, till the earth hath received its golden raiment, and is decked out: and they who dwell on it deem that they have power over it! but, Our behest cometh to it by night or by day, and we make it as if it had been mown, as if it had not teemed only yesterday! Thus make we our signs clear to those who consider.

And G.o.d calleth to the abode of peace;5 and He guideth whom He will into the right way.

Goodness6 itself and an increase of it for those who do good! neither blackness nor shame shall cover their faces! These shall be the inmates of Paradise, therein shall they abide for ever.

And as for those who have wrought out evil, their recompense shall be evil of like degree, and shame shall cover them-no protector shall they have against G.o.d: as though their faces were darkened with deep murk of night! These shall be inmates of the fire: therein they shall abide for ever.

And on that day will we gather them all together: then will we say to those who added G.o.ds to G.o.d, "To your place, ye and those added G.o.ds of yours!"

Then we will separate between them: and those their G.o.ds shall say, "Ye served us not:7

And G.o.d is a sufficient witness between us and you: we cared not aught for your worship."

There shall every soul make proof of what itself shall have sent on before, and they shall be brought back to G.o.d, their true lord, and the deities of their own devising shall vanish from them.

SAY: Who supplieth you from the Heaven and the Earth? Who hath power over hearing and sight? And who bringeth forth the living from the dead, and bringeth forth the dead from the living? And who ruleth all things? They will surely say, "G.o.d:" then SAY: "What! will ye not therefore fear him?

This G.o.d then is your true Lord: and when the truth is gone, what remaineth but error? How then are ye so perverted?

Thus is the word of thy Lord made good on the wicked, that they shall not believe.

SAY: Is there any of the G.o.ds whom ye add to G.o.d who produceth a creature, then causeth it to return to him? SAY: G.o.d produceth a creature, then causeth it to return to Him: How therefore are ye turned aside?

SAY: Is there any of the G.o.ds ye add to G.o.d who guideth into the truth? SAY: G.o.d guideth into the truth. Is He then who guideth into the truth the more worthy to be followed, or he who guideth not unless he be himself guided?

What then hath befallen you that ye so judge?

And most of them follow only a conceit:-But a conceit attaineth to nought of truth! Verily G.o.d knoweth what they say.

Moreover this Koran could not have been devised by any but G.o.d: but it confirmeth what was revealed before it, and is a clearing up of the Scriptures-there is no doubt thereof-from the Lord of all creatures.

Do they say, "He hath devised it himself?" SAY: Then bring a Sura like it; and call on whom ye can beside G.o.d, if ye speak truth.

But that which they embrace not in their knowledge have they charged with falsehood, though the explanation of it had not yet been given them. So those who were before them brought charges of imposture: But see what was the end of the unjust!

And some of them believe in it, and some of them believe not in it. But thy Lord well knoweth the transgressors.

And if they charge thee with imposture, then SAY: My work for me, and your work for you! Ye are clear of that which I do, and I am clear of that which ye do.

And some of them lend a ready ear to thee: But wilt thou make the deaf to hear even though they understand not?

And some of them look at thee: But wilt thou guide the blind even though they see not?

Verily, G.o.d will not wrong men in aught, but men will wrong themselves.

Moreover, on that day, He will gather them all together: They shall seem as though they had waited but an hour of the day! They shall recognise one another! Now perish they who denied the meeting with G.o.d, and were not guided aright!

Whether we cause thee to see some of our menaces against them fulfilled, or whether we first take thee to Ourself,8 to us do they return. Then shall G.o.d bear witness of what they do.

And every people hath had its apostle.9 And when their apostle came, a rightful decision took place between them, and they were not wronged.

Yet they say, "When will this menace be made good? Tell us if ye speak truly."

SAY: I have no power over my own weal or woe, but as G.o.d pleaseth. Every people hath its time: when their time is come, they shall neither r.e.t.a.r.d nor advance it an hour.

SAY: How think ye? if G.o.d's punishment came on you by night or by day, what portion of it would the wicked desire to hasten on?

When it falleth on you, will ye believe it then? Yes! ye will believe it then. Yet did ye challenge its speedy coming.

Then shall it be said to the transgressors, "Taste ye the punishment of eternity! Shall ye be rewarded but as ye have wrought?"

They will desire thee to inform them whether this be true? SAY: Yes! by my Lord it is the truth: and it is not ye who can weaken Him.

And every soul that hath sinned, if it possessed all that is on earth, would a.s.suredly ransom itself therewith; and they will proclaim their repentance when they have seen the punishment: and there shall be a rightful decision between them, and they shall not be unjustly dealt with.

Is not whatever is in the Heavens and the Earth G.o.d's? Is not then the promise of G.o.d true? Yet most of them know it not.

He maketh alive and He causeth to die, and to Him shall ye return.

O men! now hath a warning come to you from your Lord, and a medicine for what is in your b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and a guidance and a mercy to believers.

SAY: Through the grace of G.o.d and his mercy! and in this therefore let them rejoice: better is this than all ye ama.s.s.

SAY: What think ye? of what G.o.d hath sent down to you for food, have ye made unlawful and lawful? SAY: Hath G.o.d permitted you? or invent ye on the part of G.o.d?

But what on the day of Resurrection will be the thought of those who invent a lie on the part of G.o.d? Truly G.o.d is full of bounties to man; but most of them give not thanks.

Thou shalt not be employed in affairs, nor shalt thou read a text out of the Koran, nor shall ye work any work, but we will be witnesses over you when ye are engaged therein: and not the weight of an atom on Earth or in Heaven escapeth thy Lord; nor is there aught that is less than this or greater, but it is in the perspicuous Book.

Are not the friends of G.o.d, those on whom no fear shall come, nor shall they be put to grief?

They who believe and fear G.o.d-

For them are good tidings in this life, and in the next! There is no change in the words of G.o.d! This, the great felicity!

And let not their discourse grieve thee: for all might is G.o.d's: the Hearer, the Knower, He!

Is not whoever is in the Heavens and the Earth subject to G.o.d? What then do they follow who, beside G.o.d, call upon deities they have joined with Him?

They follow but a conceit, and they are but liars!

It is He who hath ordained for you the night wherein to rest, and the lightsome day. Verily in this are signs for those who hearken.

They say, "G.o.d hath begotten children." No! by his glory! He is the self- sufficient. All that is in the Heavens and all that is in the Earth is His!

Have ye warranty for that a.s.sertion? What! speak ye of G.o.d that which ye know not?

SAY: Verily, they who devise this lie concerning G.o.d shall fare ill.

A portion have they in this world! Then to us they return! Then make we them to taste the vehement torment, for that they were unbelievers.

Recite to them the history of Noah,10 when he said to his people,-If, O my people! my abode with you, and my reminding you of the signs of G.o.d, be grievous to you, yet in G.o.d is my trust: Muster, therefore, your designs and your false G.o.ds, and let not your design be carried on by you in the dark: then come to some decision about me, and delay not.