English - Chapter 14

Alif Lam Ra, a Book which We have sent down to you in order that you might, with your Lord's permission, bring people out of dark ignorance into enlightenment, onto the path that leads to the Almighty, the Praiseworthy

God, to Whom all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth belongs. And woe to the unbelievers, for a severe punishment

awaits those who love the life of this world, preferring it to the life to come. They turn others away from the path of God and make it seem irrelevant. These people have gone far astray

Every messenger whom We have sent used his own people's language, so that he might make [the Truth] clear to them, but God lets whoever wants to stray, go astray, and guides whoever wants [to be guided]. He alone is almighty, and The Wise

We sent Moses with Our messages: "Lead your people out of dark ignorance into enlightenment, and remind them of the Days of God." In this there are messages for all who are patient and grateful

Moses said to his people, "Remember the grace which God gave you when He saved you from Pharaoh's people who afflicted you with cruel suffering, and slaughtered your sons, and spared [only] your women, which was a severe test from your Lord

[Remember the time] when your Lord promised, "If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more and more, but if you are ungrateful, My punishment will definitely be severe

Moses added, "[Even] if you, and whoever else lives on earth, [ever] deny the truth, God is rich beyond need, worthy of all praise

Have you not heard of the stories of those who lived before you, the people of Noah, and of [the tribes of] Aad and Thamud, and of those who came after them, known only to God? A messenger came to them with all the evidence of the truth, but they covered their mouths with their hands and said, "We refuse to believe in the message with which you [claim to] have been entrusted, and we deeply suspect [the substance of] your call to us

Their messengers answered, "Can there be any doubt about God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth? It is He who calls you, so that He may forgive you some of your sins and lets you enjoy your life until the appointed time." They said, "You are only mortal men like us. You want to turn us away from what our forefathers worshipped, well, then, bring us clear proof [that you are God's Messengers]

Their messengers answered, "True, we are nothing but mortal men like you, but God favors whoever of His worshipers He chooses. It is not within our power to bring you proof, unless God permits it [so] let the believers place all of their trust in God

How could we not place our trust in God, when it is He who has shown us our ways [to enlightenment]. "We will be steadfast however much you harm us, for those who trust must place their trust in God

The unbelievers said to their messengers, 'We will expel you from our land unless you return to our ways. But their Lord revealed to His Messengers, "We will destroy the unjust

and We will let you dwell on earth [long] after they have passed away. This is [My promise] to all who are in awe of My presence, and stand in awe of My warning

They prayed [to God for help] and each stubborn enemy of the truth failed

with Hell awaiting him. [There] he will be made to drink the water of most bitter distress

gulping it, little by little, but hardly able to swallow it. Death will creep in on him from every side, but he will not die, for more severe suffering lies ahead of him

The example of those who insist on denying their Lord is that all their works are like ashes which blow about in a fierce wind on a stormy day: they have no power over anything they have gained. This is the farthest one can go astray

Are not you aware that God has created the heavens and the earth in accordance with Truth? He can, if He so wills, do away with you and bring forth a new creation

That is not difficult for God

All [people] will appear before God [on the Day of Judgment]; the weak will say to those who had gloried in their arrogance, "We were your followers. Can you protect us from any of God's punishment? " They will say "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 for us

And when everything had been decided, Satan will say: "God promised you the Truth. I also made promises to you, but I deceived you. I had no power at all over you, but I called you, and you responded to me. Hence, do not blame me, blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you come to mine. I have [always] rejected the way you associated me with God." A grave suffering awaits all the unjust

Those who believe and have done righteous deeds will be brought into Gardens through which running waters flow, where they will remain forever with their Lord's permission, and will be welcomed with the greeting, "Peace

Do you not see how God likens a good word to a good tree, firmly rooted, [reaching out] with its branches towards heaven

yielding its fruit at all times by its Lord's permission? God gives such examples for people, so that they may reflect on them

While the metaphor of a corrupt word is that of a rotten tree, uprooted from the face of the earth, unable to stand

God gives steadfastness to those who believe through the unshakable word, both here and in the Hereafter. But He lets the unjust go astray: for God does whatever He wills

Do you not see those who, in exchange for God's favor, offer only ingratitude and make their people end up in the home of ruin

Hell, where they will roast? What an evil place to be in

They claimed that there are powers that could rival God, and so they strayed from His path. Say, "Enjoy yourselves, for your destination is the Fire

Tell My worshipers who believe that they should perform the prayer and give secretly and openly, out of what We provide for them as sustenance. There will come a Day when there will be no bargaining, and no friendship

It is God Who has created the heavens and the earth, and Who sends down water from the sky and brings forth fruit for your sustenance. He has made the ships useful to you, so that you may sail though the sea at His command and has made the rivers useful to you

He has made the sun and the moon-- both of them constant in their courses-- useful to you and has made the night and the day useful to you

He has given you some of everything for which you asked Him for. If you tried to count God's blessings, you could never do it. Human beings are most persistent in wrongdoing and in their rejection of the truth

Recall that Abraham said, "My Lord, make this land secure, and keep me and my children from ever worshipping idols

because, my Lord, they have led my people astray. Hence, anyone who follows me is with me, but, for anyone who disobeys me, You are surely forgiving and Merciful-to-all

Lord I have settled some of my children in an uncultivated valley, close to Your Sacred Sanctuary so that, oh our Lord, they might devote themselves to prayer. Make some people's hearts drawn towards them, and provide them with sustenance, so that they may be grateful

Our Lord, You truly know all that we may hide [in our hearts], as well as all that we bring into the open: for nothing, on earth or in heaven, remains hidden from God

All praise is due to God, who has granted me Ishmael and Isaac in my old age. My Lord hears all prayer

Lord, grant that I may perform prayer, and so may my children. "Lord accept my supplication

Grant Your forgiveness to me, and my parents, and all the believers, on the Day of Reckoning

Do not think [Prophet] that God is unaware of what the unjust do; He only gives them respite until the Day when eyes will stare in horror

They run around confusedly, with their heads up, unable to look away, their hearts a gaping void

Warn people of the Day when this suffering may befall them, and when the unjust will say, "Our Lord, grant us respite for a little more time, so that we might respond to Your call and follow the Messengers." [God will say,] "Did you not swear in the past that your power would have no end

You have lived in the same places as those who wronged themselves, and it had become clear to you how We dealt with them and We gave you many examples

They planned their schemes, but God was aware of their scheming, even when their schemes were such as to make mountains vanish

Do not ever think that God will fail to fulfill His promise to His Messengers. God is Almighty, Exactor of Revenge

[It will be fulfilled] on the Day when the earth is changed to other than the earth, and the heavens too, and they all appear before God, the One, the All-Conquering

For on that Day, you will see all those who force others to reject God's messages linked together in chains

clothed in garments of tar, with fire veiling their faces

[All will be judged on that Day], so that God may reward every soul for what it earned: God is swift in His reckoning

This is a message to all people, so that they will be warned, and so they will know that He is One God. Let those of understanding be reminded