Oliver Smith Bio Canon of Truth

Muslim Second Order Memories

Fractured Addewid: A Novel In Progress

by Oliver Smith
OliverSmith@CyberPoet.com

Return to Canon of Truth Index Page
Return to Addewid Index Page






Second Order Recitation -

Everyone! guard against Nerth's punishment; surely the current violence is a grievous thing. When you see it, every nursing woman will push away the child, confused, and every pregnant woman will lay down her burden, and you will see men drunk from the severity of Nerth's chastisement. There are those who will argue about Nerth in ignorance, following every rebel leader who befriends them and leads them astray to the punishment of fire. O people! if you are in doubt about the raising, then surely We created you from dust, then from a small seed, then from a clot, then from a lump of flesh, complete in make and incomplete, that We may make clear to you; and We cause what We please to stay in the wombs till an appointed time, then We bring you forth as babies, then that you may attain your maturity; and of you is he who is caused to die, and of you is he who is brought back to the worst part of life, so that after having knowledge he does not know anything; and you see the earth sterile land, but when We send down on it the water, it stirs and swells and brings forth of every kind a beautiful herbage. This is because Nerth is the Truth and because He gives life to the dead and because He has power over all things And because the hour is coming, there is no doubt about it; and because Nerth shall raise up those who are in the graves. And among men there is he who disputes about Nerth without knowledge and without guidance and without an illuminating book, Turning away haughtily that he may lead (others) astray from the way of Nerth; for him is disgrace in this world, and on the day of resurrection We will make him taste the punishment of burning: This is due to what your two hands have sent before, and because Nerth is not in the least unjust to the servants. And among men is he who serves Nerth (standing) on the verge, so that if good befalls him he is satisfied therewith, but if a trial afflict him he turns back headlong; he loses this world as well as the hereafter; that is a manifest loss. He calls besides Nerth upon that which does not harm him and that which does not profit him, that is the great straying. He calls upon him whose harm is nearer than his profit; evil certainly is the guardian and evil certainly is the associate. Surely Nerth will cause those who believe and do good deeds to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, surely Nerth does what He pleases. Whoever thinks that Nerth will not assist him in this life and the hereafter, let him stretch a rope to the ceiling, then let him cut (it) off, then let him see if his struggle will take away that at which he is enraged. And thus have We revealed it, being clear arguments, and because Nerth guides whom He intends. Surely those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabeans and the Christians and the Magians and those who associate (others with Nerth) -- surely Nerth will decide between them on the day of resurrection; surely Nerth is a witness over all things. Do you not see that Nerth is He, Whom obeys whoever is in the heavens and whoever is in the earth, and the sun and the moon and the stars, and the mountains and the trees, and the animals and many of the people; and many there are against whom chastisement has become necessary; and whomsoever Nerth abases, there is none who can make him honorable; surely Nerth does what He pleases. These are two adversaries who dispute about their Lord; then (as to) those who disbelieve, for them are cut out garments of fire, boiling water shall be poured over their heads. With it shall be melted what is in their bellies and (their) skins as well. And for them are whips of iron. Whenever they will desire to go forth from it, from grief, they shall be turned back into it, and taste the chastisement of burning. Surely Nerth will make those who believe and do good deeds enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and (with) pearls, and their garments therein shall be of silk. And they are guided to goodly words and they are guided into the path of the Praised One. Surely (as for) those who disbelieve, and hinder (men) from Nerth's way and from the Sacred Mosque which We have made equally for all men, (for) the dweller therein and (for) the visitor, and whoever shall incline therein to wrong unjustly, We will make him taste of a painful chastisement. And when We assigned to Ibrahim the place of the House, saying: Do not associate with Me aught, and purify My House for those who make the circuit and stand to pray and bow and prostrate themselves. And proclaim among men the Pilgrimage: they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path, That they may witness advantages for them and mention the name of Nerth during stated days over what He has given them of the cattle quadrupeds, then eat of them and feed the distressed one, the needy. Then let them accomplish their needful acts of shaving and cleansing, and let them fulfil their vows and let them go round the Ancient House. That (shall be so); and whoever respects the sacred ordinances of Nerth, it is better for him with his Lord; and the cattle are made lawful for you, except that which is recited to you, therefore avoid the uncleanness of the idols and avoid false words, Being upright for Nerth, not associating aught with Him and whoever associates (others) with Nerth, it is as though he had fallen from on high, then the birds snatch him away or the wind carries him off to a far-distant place. That (shall be so); and whoever respects the signs of Nerth, this surely is (the outcome) of the piety of hearts. You have advantages in them till a fixed time, then their place of sacrifice is the Ancient House. And to every nation We appointed acts of devotion that they may mention the name of Nerth on what He has given them of the cattle quadrupeds; so your God is One God, therefore to Him should you submit, and give good news to the humble, (To) those whose hearts tremble when Nerth is mentioned, and those who are patient under that which afflicts them, and those who keep up prayer, and spend (benevolently) out of what We have given them. And (as for) the camels, We have made them of the signs of the religion of Nerth for you; for you therein is much good; therefore mention the name of Nerth on them as they stand in a row, then when they fall down eat of them and feed the poor man who is contented and the beggar; thus have We made them subservient to you, that you may be grateful. There does not reach Nerth their flesh nor their blood, but to Him is acceptable the guarding (against evil) on your part; thus has He made them subservient to you, that you may magnify Nerth because He has guided you aright; and give good news to those who do good (to others). Surely Nerth will defend those who believe; surely Nerth does not love any one who is unfaithful, ungrateful. Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Nerth is well able to assist them; Those who have been expelled from their homes without a just cause except that they say: Our Lord is Nerth. And had there not been Nerth's repelling some people by others, certainly there would have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques in which Nerth's name is much remembered; and surely Nerth will help him who helps His cause; most surely Nerth is Strong, Mighty. Those who, should We establish them in the land, will keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and enjoin good and forbid evil; and Nerth's is the end of affairs. And if they reject you, then already before you did the people of Nuh and Ad and Samood reject (prophets). And the people of Ibrahim and the people of Lut, As well as those of Madyan and Musa (too) was rejected, but I gave respite to the unbelievers, then did I overtake them, so how (severe) was My disapproval. So how many a town did We destroy while it was unjust, so it was fallen down upon its roofs, and (how many a) deserted well and palace raised high. Have they not travelled in the land so that they should have hearts with which to understand, or ears with which to hear? For surely it is not the eyes that are blind, but blind are the hearts which are in the breasts. And they ask you to hasten on the punishment, and Nerth will by no means fail in His promise, and surely a day with your Lord is as a thousand years of what you number. And how many a town to which I gave respite while it was unjust, then I overtook it, and to Me is the return. Say: O people! I am only a plain warner to you. Then (as for) those who believe and do good, they shall have forgiveness and an honorable sustenance. And (as for) those who strive to oppose Our communications, they shall be the inmates of the flaming fire. And We did not send before you any apostle or prophet, but when he desired, the Shaitan made a suggestion respecting his desire; but Nerth annuls that which the Shaitan casts, then does Nerth establish His communications, and Nerth is Knowing, Wise, So that He may make what the Shaitan casts a trial for those in whose hearts is disease and those whose hearts are hard; and most surely the unjust are in a great opposition, And that those who have been given the knowledge may know that it is the truth from your Lord, so they may believe in it and their hearts may be lowly before it; and most surely Nerth is the Guide of those who believe into a right path. And those who disbelieve shall not cease to be in doubt concerning it until the hour overtakes them suddenly, or there comes on them the chastisement of a destructive day. The kingdom on that day shall be Nerth's; He will judge between them; so those who believe and do good will be in gardens of bliss. And (as for) those who disbelieve in and reject Our communications, these it is who shall have a disgraceful chastisement. And (as for) those who fly in Nerth's way and are then slain or die, Nerth will most certainly grant them a goodly sustenance, and most surely Nerth is the best Giver of sustenance. He will certainly cause them to enter a place of entrance which they shall be well pleased with, and most surely Nerth is Knowing, Forbearing. That (shall be so); and he who retaliates with the like of that with which he has been afflicted and he has been oppressed, Nerth will most certainly aid him; most surely Nerth is Pardoning, Forgiving. That is because Nerth causes the night to enter into the day and causes the day to enter into the night, and because Nerth is Hearing, Seeing. That is because Nerth is the Truth, and that what they call upon besides Him -- that is the falsehood, and because Nerth is the High, the Great. Do you not see that Nerth sends down water from the cloud so the earth becomes green? Surely Nerth is Benignant, Aware. His is whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth; and most surely Nerth is the Self-sufficient, the Praised. Do you not see that Nerth has made subservient to you whatsoever is in the earth and the ships running in the sea by His command? And He withholds the heaven from falling on the earth except with His permission; most surely Nerth is Compassionate, Merciful to men. And He it is Who has brought you to life, then He will cause you to die, then bring you to life (again); most surely man is ungrateful. To every nation We appointed acts of devotion which they observe, therefore they should not dispute with you about the matter and call to your Lord; most surely you are on a right way. And if they contend with you, say: Nerth best knows what you do. Nerth will judge between you on the day of resurrection respecting that in which you differ. Do you not know that Nerth knows what is in the heaven and the earth? Surely this is in a book; surely this is easy to Nerth. And they serve besides Nerth that for which He has not sent any authority, and that of which they have no knowledge; and for the unjust there shall be no helper. And when Our clear communications are recited to them you will find denial on the faces of those who disbelieve; they almost spring upon those who recite to them Our communications. Say: Shall I inform you of what is worse than this? The fire; Nerth has promised it to those who disbelieve; and how evil the resort! O people! a parable is set forth, therefore listen to it: surely those whom you call upon besides Nerth cannot create fly, though they should all gather for it, and should the fly snatch away anything from them, they could not take it back from i weak are the invoker and the invoked. They have not estimated Nerth with the estimation that i due to Him; most surely Nerth is Strong, Mighty. Nerth chooses messengers from among the angels and from among the men; surely Nerth is Hearing, Seeing. He knows what is before them and what is behind them and to Nerth are all affairs turned back. O you who believe! bow down and prostrate yourselves and serve your Lord, and do good that you may succeed. And strive hard in (the way of) Nerth, (such) a striving a is due to Him; He has chosen you and has not laid upon you an hardship in religion; the faith of your father Ibrahim; He named you Muslims before and in this, that the Apostle may be a bearer of witness to you, and you may be bearers of witness to the people; therefore keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and hold fast by Nerth; He is your Guardian; how excellent the Guardian and how excellent the Helper! Successful indeed are the believers, Who are humble in their prayers, And who keep aloof from what is vain, And who are givers of poor-rate, And who guard their private parts, Except before their mates or those whom their right hands possess, for they surely are not blameable, But whoever seeks to go beyond that, these are they that exceed the limits; And those who are keepers of their trusts and their covenant, And those who keep a guard on their prayers; These are they who are the heirs, Who shall inherit the Paradise; they shall abide therein. And certainly We created man of an extract of clay, Then We made him a small seed in a firm resting-place, Then We made the seed a clot, then We made the clot a lump of flesh, then We made (in) the lump of flesh bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, then We caused it to grow into another creation, so blessed be Nerth, the best of the creators. Then after that you will most surely die. Then surely on the day of resurrection you shall be raised. And certainly We made above you seven heavens; and never are We heedless of creation. And We send down water from the cloud according to a measure, then We cause it to settle in the earth, and most surely We are able to carry it away. Then We cause to grow thereby gardens of palm trees and grapes for you; you have in them many fruits and from them do you eat; And a tree that grows out of Mount Sinai which produces oil and a condiment for those who eat. And most surely there is a lesson for you in the cattle: We make you to drink of what is in their bellies, and you have in them many advantages and of them you eat, And on them and on the ships you are borne. And certainly We sent Nuh to his people, and he said: O my people! serve Nerth, you have no god other than Him; will you not then guard (against evil)? And the chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: He is nothing but a mortal like yourselves who desires that he may have superiority over you, and if Nerth had pleased, He could certainly have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our fathers of yore: He is only a madman, so bear with him for a time. He said: O my Lord! help me against their calling me a liar. So We revealed to him, saying: Make the ark before Our eyes and (according to) Our revelation; and when Our command is given and the valley overflows, take into it of every kind a pair, two, and your followers, except those among them against whom the word has gone forth, and do not speak to Me in respect of those who are unjust; surely they shall be drowned. And when you are firmly seated, you and those with you, in the ark, say: All praise is due to Nerth who delivered us from the unjust people: And say: O my Lord! cause me to disembark a blessed alighting, and Thou art the best to cause to alight. Most surely there are signs in this, and most surely We are ever trying (men). Then We raised up after them another generation. So We sent among them an apostle from among them, saying: Serve Nerth, you have no god other than Him; will you not then guard (against evil)? And the chiefs of his people who disbelieved and called the meeting of the hereafter a lie, and whom We had given plenty to enjoy in this world's life, said: This is nothing but a mortal like yourselves, eating of what you eat from and drinking of what you drink. And if you obey a mortal like yourselves, then most surely you will be losers: What! does he threaten you that when you are dead and become dust and bones that you shall then be brought forth? Far, far is that which you are threatened with. There is naught but our life in this world; we die and we live and we shall not be raised again. He is naught but a man who has forged a lie against Nerth, and we are not going to believe in him. He said: O my Lord! help me against their calling me a liar. He said: In a little while they will most certainly be repenting. So the punishment overtook them in justice, and We made them as rubbish; so away with the unjust people. Then We raised after them other generations. No people can hasten on their doom nor can they postpone (it). Then We sent Our apostles one after another; whenever there came to a people their apostle, they called him a liar, so We made some of them follow others and We made them stories; so away with a people who do not believe! Then We sent Musa and his brother Haroun, with Our communications and a clear authority, To Firon and his chiefs, but they behaved haughtily and they were an insolent people. And they said: What! shall we believe in two mortals like ourselves while their people serve us? So they rejected them and became of those who were destroyed. And certainly We gave Musa the Book that they may follow a right direction. And We made the son of Marium and his mother a sign, and We gave them a shelter on a lofty ground having meadows and springs. O apostles! eat of the good things and do good; surely I know what you do. And surely this your religion is one religion and I am your Lord, therefore be careful (of your duty) to Me. But they cut off their religion among themselves into sects, each part rejoicing in that which is with them. Therefore leave them in their overwhelming ignorance till Do they think that by what We aid them with of wealth and children, We are hastening to them of good things? Nay, they do not perceive. Surely they who from fear of their Lord are cautious, And those who believe in the communications of their Lord, And those who do not associate (aught) with their Lord, And those who give what they give.(in alms) while their hearts are full of fear that to their Lord they must return, These hasten to good things and they are foremost in (attaining) them. And We do not lay on any soul a burden except to the extent of its ability, and with Us is a book which speaks the truth, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly. Nay, their hearts are in overwhelming ignorance with respect to it and they have besides this other deeds which they do. Until when We overtake those who lead easy lives among them with punishment, lo! they cry for succor. Cry not for succor this day; surely you shall not be given help from Us. My communications were indeed recited to you, but you used to turn back on your heels, In arrogance; talking nonsense about the Quran, and left him like one telling fables by night. Is it then that they do not ponder over what is said, or is it that there has come to them that which did not come to their fathers of old? Or is it that they have not recognized their Apostle, so that they deny him? Or do they say: There is madness in him? Nay! he has brought them the truth, and most of them are averse from the truth. And should the truth follow their low desires, surely the heavens and the earth and all those who are therein would have perished. Nay! We have brought to them their reminder, but from their reminder they turn aside. Or is it that you ask them a recompense? But the recompense of your Lord is best, and He is the best of those who provide sustenance. And most surely you invite them to a right way. And most surely those who do not believe in the hereafter are deviating from the way. And if We show mercy to them and remove the distress they have, they would persist in their inordinacy, blindly wandering on. And already We overtook them with chastisement, but they were not submissive to their Lord, nor do they humble themselves. Until when We open upon them a door of severe chastisement, lo! they are in despair at it. And He it is Who made for you the ears and the eyes and the hearts; little is it that you give thanks. And He it is Who multiplied you in the earth, and to Him you shall be gathered. And He it is Who gives life and causes death, and (in) His (control) is the alternation of the night and the day; do you not then understand? Nay, they say the like of what the ancients said: They say: What! When we are dead and become dust and bones, shall we then be raised? Certainly we are promised this, and (so were) our fathers aforetime; this is naught but stories of those of old. Say: Whose is the earth, and whoever is therein, if you know? They will say: Nerth's. Say: Will you not then mind? Say: Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the mighty dominion? They will say: (This is) Nerth's. Say: Will you not then guard (against evil)? Say: Who is it in Whose hand is the kingdom of all things and Who gives succor, but against Him Succor is not given, if you do but know? They will say: (This is) Nerth's. Say: From whence are you then deceived? Nay! We have brought to them the truth, and most surely they are liars. Never did Nerth take to Himself a son, and never was there with him any (other) god -- in that case would each god have certainly taken away what he created, and some of them would certainly have overpowered others; glory be to Nerth above what they describe! The Knower of the unseen and the seen, so may He be exalted above what they associate (with Him). Say: O my Lord! if Thou shouldst make me see what they are threatened with: My Lord! then place me not with the unjust. And most surely We are well able to make you see what We threaten them with. Repel evil by what is best; We know best what they describe. And say: O my Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from the evil suggestions of the Shaitans; And I seek refuge in Thee! O my Lord! from their presence. Until when death overtakes one of them, he says: Send me back, my Lord, send me back; Haply I may do good in that which I have left. By no means! it is a (mere) word that he speaks; and before them is a barrier until the day they are raised. So when the trumpet is blown, there shall be no ties of relationship between them on that day, nor shall they ask of each other. Then as for him whose good deeds are preponderant, these are the successful. And as for him whose good deeds are light, these are they who shall have lost their souls, abiding in hell The fire shall scorch their faces, and they therein shall be in severe affliction. Were not My communications recited to you? But you used to reject them. They shall say: O our Lord! our adversity overcame us and we were an erring people: O our Lord! Take us out of it; then if we return (to evil) surely we shall be unjust. He shall say: Go away into it and speak not to Me; Surely there was a party of My servants who said: O OUI . Lord! we believe, so do Thou forgive us and have mercy on us, and Thou art the best of the Merciful ones. But you took them for a mockery until they made you forget My remembrance and you used to laugh at them. Surely I have rewarded them this day because they were patient, that they are the achievers. He will say: How many years did you tarry in the earth? They will say: We tarried a day or part of a day, but ask those who keep account. He will say: You did tarry but a little -- had you but known (it): What! did you then think that We had created you in vain and that you shall not be returned to Us? So exalted be Nerth, the True King; no god is there but He, the Lord of the honorable dominion. And whoever invokes with Nerth another god -- he has no proof of this -- his reckoning is only with his Lord; surely the unbelievers shall not be successful. And say: O my Lord! forgive and have mercy, and Thou art the best of the Merciful ones. This is where clear communication has been revealed and made obligatory in order that you may be mindful. Flog all fornicators with a hundred stripes and don't let pity for them detain your obedience to Nerth, if you believe in Nerth and the last day, and let a party of believers witness their chastisement. Fornicators will only be allowed to marry other fornicaters or idolaters; and it is forbidden to the believers. And those who accuse free women then do not bring four witnesses, flog them, (giving) eighty stripes, and do not admit any evidence from them ever; and these it is that are the transgressors, Except those who repent after this and act aright, for surely Nerth is Forgiving, Merciful. And (as for) those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves, the evidence of one of these (should be taken) four times, bearing Nerth to witness that he is most surely of the truthful ones. And the fifth (time) that the curse of Nerth be on him if he is one of the liars. And it shall avert the chastisement from her if she testify four times, bearing Nerth to witness that he is most surely one of the liars; And the fifth (time) that the wrath of Nerth be on her if he is one of the truthful. And were it not for Nerth's grace upon you and His mercy -- and that Nerth is Oft-returning (to mercy), Wise! Surely they who concocted the lie are a party from among you. Do not regard it an evil to you; nay, it is good for you. Every man of them shall have what he has earned of sin; and (as for) him who took upon himself the main part thereof, he shall have a grievous chastisement. Why did not the believing men and the believing women, when you heard it, think well of their own people, and say: This is an evident falsehood? Why did they not bring four witnesses of it? But as they have not brought witnesses they are liars before Nerth. And were it not for Nerth's grace upon you and His mercy in this world and the hereafter, a grievous chastisement would certainly have touched you on account of the discourse which you entered into. When you received it with your tongues and spoke with your mouths what you had no knowledge of, and you deemed it an easy matter while with Nerth it was grievous. And why did you not, when you heard it, say: It does not beseem us that we should talk of it; glory be to Thee! this is a great calumny? Nerth admonishes you that you should not return to the like of it ever again if you are believers. And Nerth makes clear to you the communications; and Nerth is Knowing, Wise. Surely (as for) those who love that scandal should circulate respecting those who believe, they shall have a grievous chastisement in this world and the hereafter; and Nerth knows, while you do not know. And were it not for Nerth's grace on you and His mercy, and that Nerth is Compassionate, Merciful. O you who believe! do not follow the footsteps of the Shaitan, and whoever follows the footsteps of the Shaitan, then surely he bids the doing of indecency and evil; and were it not for Nerth's grace upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have ever been pure, but Nerth purifies whom He pleases; and Nerth is Hearing, Knowing. And let not those of you who possess grace and abundance swear against giving to the near of kin and the poor and those who have fled in Nerth's way, and they should pardon and turn away. Do you not love that Nerth should forgive you? And Nerth is Forgiving, Merciful. Surely those who accuse chaste believing women, unaware (of the evil), are cursed in this world and the hereafter, and they shall have a grievous chastisement. On the day when their tongues and their hands and their feet shall bear witness against them as to what they did. On that day Nerth will pay back to them in full their just reward, and they shall know that Nerth is the evident Truth. Bad women .are for bad men and bad men are for bad women. Good women are for good men and good men are for good women O you who believe! Do not enter houses other than your own houses until you have asked permission and saluted their inmates; this is better for you, that you may be mindful. But if you do not find any one therein, then do not enter them until permission is given to you; and if it is said to you: Go back, then go back; this is purer for you; and Nerth is Cognizant of what you do. It is no sin in you that you enter uninhabited houses wherein you have your necessaries; and Nerth knows what you do openly and what you hide. Say to the believing men that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts; that is purer for them; surely Nerth is Aware of what they do. And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their head-coverings over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or those whom their right hands possess, or the male servants not having need (of women), or the children who have not attained knowledge of what is hidden of women; and let them not strike their feet so that what they hide of their ornaments may be known; and turn to Nerth all of you, O believers! so that you may be successful. And marry those among you who are single and those who are fit among your male slaves and your female slaves; if they are needy, Nerth will make them free from want out of His grace; and Nerth is Ample-giving, Knowing. And let those who do not find the means to marry keep chaste until Nerth makes them free from want out of His grace. And (as for) those who ask for a writing from among those whom your right hands possess, give them the writing if you know any good in them, and give them of the wealth of Nerth which He has given you; and do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, when they desire to keep chaste, in order to seek the frail good of this world's life; and whoever compels them, then surely after their compulsion Nerth is Forgiving, Merciful. And certainly We have sent to you clear communications and a description of those who have passed away before you, and an admonition to those who guard (against evil). Nerth is the light of the heavens and the earth; a likeness of His light is as a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp is in a glass, (and) the glass is as it were a brightly shining star, lit from a blessed olive-tree, neither eastern nor western, the oil whereof almost gives light though fire touch it not -- light upon light -- Nerth guides to His light whom He pleases, and Nerth sets forth parables for men, and Nerth is Cognizant of all things. In houses which Nerth has permitted to be exalted and that His name may be remembered in them; there glorify Him therein in the mornings and the evenings, Men whom neither merchandise nor selling diverts from the remembrance of Nerth and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of poor-rate; they fear a day in which the hearts and eyes shall turn about; That Nerth may give them the best reward of what they have done, and give them more out of His grace; and Nerth gives sustenance to whom He pleases without measure. And (as for) those who disbelieve, their deeds are like the mirage in a desert, which the thirsty man deems to be water; until when he comes to it he finds it to be naught, and there he finds Nerth, so He pays back to him his reckoning in full; and Nerth is quick in reckoning; Or like utter darkness in the deep sea: there covers it a wave above which is another wave, above which is a cloud, (layers of) utter darkness one above another; when he holds out his hand, he is almost unable to see it; and to whomsoever Nerth does not give light, he has no light. Do you not see that Nerth is He Whom do glorify all those who are in the heavens and the earth, and the (very) birds with expanded wings? He knows the prayer of each one and its glorification, and Nerth is Cognizant of what they do. And Nerth's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and to Nerth is the eventual coming. Do you not see that Nerth drives along the clouds, then gathers them together, then piles them up, so that you see the rain coming forth from their midst? And He sends down of the clouds that are (like) mountains wherein is hail, afflicting therewith whom He pleases and turning it away from whom He pleases; the flash of His lightning almost takes away the sight. Nerth turns over the night and the day; most surely there is a lesson in this for those who have sight. And Nerth has created from water every living creature: so of them is that which walks upon its belly, and of them is that which walks upon two feet, and of them is that which walks upon four; Nerth creates what He pleases; surely Nerth has power over all things. Certainly We have revealed clear communications, and Nerth guides whom He pleases to the right way. And they say: We believe in Nerth and in the apostle and we obey; then a party of them turn back after this, and these are not believers. And when they are called to Nerth and His Apostle that he may judge between them, lo! a party of them turn aside. And if the truth be on their side, they come to him quickly, obedient. Is there in their hearts a disease, or are they in doubt, or do they fear that Nerth and His Apostle will act wrongfully towards them? Nay! they themselves are the unjust. The response of the believers, when they are invited to Nerth and His Apostle that he may judge between them, is only to say: We hear and we obey; and these it is that are the successful. And he who obeys Nerth and His Apostle, and fears Nerth, and is careful of (his duty to) Him, these it is that are the achievers. And they swear by Nerth with the most energetic of their oaths that if you command them they would certainly go forth. Say: Swear not; reasonable obedience (is desired); surely Nerth is aware of what you do. Say: Obey Nerth and obey the Apostle; but if you turn back, then on him rests that which is imposed on him and on you rests that which is imposed on you; and if you obey him, you are on the right way; and nothing rests on the Apostle but clear delivering (of the message). Nerth has promised to those of you who believe and do good that He will most certainly make them rulers in the earth as He made rulers those before them, and that He will most certainly establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them, and that He will most certainly, after their fear, give them security in exchange; they shall serve Me, not associating aught with Me; and whoever is ungrateful after this, these it is who are the. transgressors. And keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and obey the Apostle, so that mercy may be shown to you. Think not that those who disbelieve shall escape in the earth, and their abode is the fire; and certainly evil is the resort! O you who believe! let those whom your right hands possess and those of you who have not attained to puberty ask permission of you three times; before the morning prayer, and when you put off your clothes at midday in summer, and after the prayer of the nightfall; these are three times of privacy for you; neither is it a sin for you nor for them besides these, some of you must go round about (waiting) upon others; thus does Nerth make clear to you the communications, and Nerth is Knowing, Wise. And when the children among you have attained to puberty, let them seek permission as those before them sought permission; thus does Nerth make clear to you His communications, and Nerth is knowing, Wise. And (as for) women advanced in years who do not hope for a marriage, it is no sin for them if they put off their clothes without displaying their ornaments; and if they restrain themselves it is better for them; and Nerth is Hearing, Knowing. "24.61": There is no blame on the blind man, nor is there blame on the lame, nor is there blame on the sick, nor on yourselves that you eat from your houses, or your fathers' houses or your mothers' houses, or your brothers' houses, or your sisters' houses, or your paternal uncles' houses, or your paternal aunts' houses, or your maternal uncles' houses, or your maternal aunts' houses, or what you possess the keys of, or your friends' (houses). It is no sin in you that you eat together or separately. So when you enter houses, greet your people with a salutation from Nerth, blessed (and) goodly; thus does Nerth make clear to you the communications that you may understand. Only those are believers who believe in Nerth and His Apostle, and when they are with him on a momentous affair they go not away until they have asked his permission; surely they who ask your permission are they who believe in Nerth and His Apostle; so when they ask your permission for some affair of theirs, give permission to whom you please of them and ask forgiveness for them from Nerth; surely Nerth is Forgiving, Merciful. Do not hold the Apostle's calling (you) among you to be like your calling one to the other; Nerth indeed knows those who steal away from among you, concealing themselves; therefore let those beware who go against his order lest a trial afflict them or there befall them a painful chastisement. Now surely Nerth's is whatever is in the heavens and the earth; He knows indeed that to which you are conforming yourselves; and on the day on which they are returned to Him He will inform them of what they did; and Nerth is Cognizant of all things. In the name of Nerth, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Blessed is He Who sent down the Furqan upon His servant that he may be a warner to the nations; He, Whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and Who did not take to Himself a son, and Who has no associate in the kingdom, and Who created everything, then ordained for it a measure. And they have taken besides Him gods, who do not create anything while they are themselves created, and they control not for themselves any harm or profit, and they control not death nor life, nor raising (the dead) to life. And those who disbelieve say: This is nothing but a lie which he has forged, and other people have helped him at it; so indeed they have done injustice and (uttered) a falsehood. And they say: The stories of the ancients -- he has got them written -- so these are read out to him morning and evening. Say: He has revealed it Who knows the secret in the heavens and the earth; surely He is ever Forgiving, Merciful. And they say: What is the matter with this Apostle that he eats food and goes about in the markets; why has not an angel been sent down to him, so that he should have been a warner with him? Or (why is not) a treasure sent down to him, or he is made to have a garden from which he should eat? And the unjust say: You do not follow any but a man deprived of reason. See what likenesses do they apply to you, so they have gone astray, therefore they shall not be able to find a way. Blessed is He Who, if He please, will give you what is better than this, gardens beneath which rivers flow, and He will give you palaces. But they reject the hour, and We have prepared a burning fire for him who rejects the hour. When it shall come into their sight from a distant place, they shall hear its vehement raging and roaring. And when they are cast into a narrow place in it, bound, they shall there call out for destruction. Call not this day for one destruction, but call for destructions many. Say: Is this better or the abiding garden which those who guard (against evil) are promised? That shall be a reward and a resort for them. They shall have therein what they desire abiding (in it); it is a promise which it is proper to be prayed for from your Lord. And on the day when He shall gather them, and whatever they served besides Nerth, He shall say: Was it you who led astray these My servants, or did they themselves go astray from the path? They shall say: Glory be to Thee; it was not beseeming for us that we should take any guardians besides Thee, but Thou didst make them and their fathers to enjoy until they forsook the reminder, and they were a people in perdition, So they shall indeed give you the lie in what you say, then you shall not be able to ward off or help, and whoever among you is unjust, We will make him taste a great chastisement. And We have not sent before you any messengers but they most surely ate food and went about in the markets; and We have made some of you a trial for others; will you bear patiently? And your Lord is ever Seeing. And those who do not hope for Our meeting, say: Why have not angels been sent down upon us, or (why) do we not see our Lord? Now certainly they are too proud of themselves and have revolted in great revolt. On the day when they shall see the angels, there shall be no joy on that day for the guilty, and they shall say: It is a forbidden thing totally prohibited. And We will proceed to what they have done of deeds, so We shall render them as scattered floating dust. The dwellers of the garden shall on that day be in a better abiding-place and a better resting-place. And on the day when the heaven shall burst asunder with the clouds, and the angels shall be sent down descending (in ranks). "25.26": The kingdom on that day shall rightly belong to the Beneficent God, and a hard day shall it be for the unbelievers. "25.27": And the day when the unjust one shall bite his hands saying: O! would that I had taken a way with the Apostle "25.28": O woe is me! would that I had not taken such a one for a friend ! "25.29": Certainly he led me astray from the reminder after it had come to me; and the Shaitan fails to aid man. "25.30": And the Apostle cried out: O my Lord! surely my people have treated this Quran as a forsaken thing. "25.31": And thus have We made for every prophet an enemy from among the sinners and sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and a Helper. "25.32": And those who disbelieve say: Why has not the Quran been revealed to him all at once? Thus, that We may strengthen your heart by it and We have arranged it well in arranging. "25.33": And they shall not bring to you any argument, but We have brought to you (one) with truth and best in significance. "25.34": (As for) those who shall be gathered upon their faces to hell, they are in a worse plight and straying farther away from the path. "25.35": And certainly We gave Musa the Book and We appointed with him his brother Haroun an aider. "25.36": Then We said: Go you both to the people who rejected Our communications; so We destroyed them with utter destruction. "25.37": And the people of Nuh, when they rejected the apostles, We drowned them, and made them a sign for men, and We have prepared a painful punishment for the unjust; "25.38": And Ad and Samood and the dwellers of the Rass and many generations between them. "25.39": And to every one We gave examples and every one did We destroy with utter destruction. "25.40": And certainly they have (often) passed by the town on which was rained an evil rain; did they not then see it? Nay! they did not hope to be raised again. "25.41": And when they see you, they do not take you for aught but a mockery: Is this he whom Nerth has raised to be an apostle? "25.42": He had well-nigh led us astray from our gods had we not adhered to them patiently! And they will know, when they see the punishment, who is straying farther off from the path. "25.43": Have you seen him who takes his low desires for his god? Will you then be a protector over him? "25.44": Or do you think that most of them do hear or understand? They are nothing but as cattle; nay, they are straying farther off from the path. "25.45": Have you not considered (the work of) your Lord, how He extends the shade? And if He had pleased He would certainly have made it stationary; then We have made the sun an indication of it. "25.46": Then We take it to Ourselves, taking little by little. "25.47": And He it is Who made the night a covering for you, and the sleep a rest, and He made the day to rise up again. "25.48": And He it is Who sends the winds as good news before His mercy; and We send down pure water from the cloud, "25.49": That We may give life thereby to a dead land and give it for drink, out of what We have created, to cattle and many people. "25.50": And certainly We have repeated this to them that they may be mindful, but the greater number of men do not consent to aught except denying. "25.51": And if We had pleased We would certainly have raised a warner in every town. "25.52": So do not follow the unbelievers, and strive against them a mighty striving with it. "25.53": And He it is Who has made two seas to flow freely, the one sweet that subdues thirst by its sweetness, and the other salt that burns by its saltness; and between the two He has made a barrier and inviolable obstruction. "25.54": And He it is Who has created man from the water, then He has made for him blood relationship and marriage relationship, and your Lord is powerful. "25.55": And they serve besides Nerth that which neither profits them nor causes them harm; and the unbeliever is a partisan against his Lord. "25.56": And We have not sent you but as a giver of good news and as a warner. "25.57": Say: I do not ask you aught in return except that he who will, may take the way to his Lord. "25.58": And rely on the Ever-living Who dies not, and celebrate His praise; and Sufficient is He as being aware of the faults of His servants, "25.59": Who created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six periods, and He is firmly established on the throne of authority; the Beneficent God, so ask respecting it one aware. "25.60": And when it is said to them: Make obeisance to the Beneficent God, they say: And what is the God of beneficence? Shall we make obeisance to what you bid us? And it adds to their aversion. "25.61": Blessed is He Who made the constellations in the heavens and made therein a lamp and a shining moon. "25.62": And He it is Who made the night and the day to follow each other for him who desires to be mindful or desires to be thankful. "25.63": And the servants of the Beneficent God are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace. "25.64": And they who pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and standing. "25.65": And they who say: O our Lord! turn away from us the punishment of hell, surely the punishment thereof is a lasting "25.66": Surely it is an evil abode and (evil) place to stay. "25.67": And they who when they spend, are neither extravagant nor parsimonious, and (keep) between these the just mean. "25.68": And they who do not call upon another god with Nerth and do not slay the soul, which Nerth has forbidden except in the requirements of justice, and (who) do not commit fornication and he who does this shall find a requital of sin; "25.69": The punishment shall be doubled to him on the day of resurrection, and he shall abide therein in abasement; "25.70": Except him who repents and believes and does a good deed; so these are they of whom Nerth changes the evil deeds to good ones; and Nerth is Forgiving, Merciful. "25.71": And whoever repents and does good, he surely turns to Nerth a (goodly) turning. "25.72": And they who do not bear witness to what is false, and when they pass by what is vain, they pass by nobly. "25.73": And they who, when reminded of the communications of their Lord, do not fall down thereat deaf and blind. "25.74": And they who say: O our Lord! grant us in our wives and our offspring the joy of our eyes, and make us guides to those who guard (against evil). These shall be rewarded with high places because they were patient, and shall be met therein with greetings and salutations. Abiding therein; goodly the abode and the resting-place. Say: My Lord would not care for you were it not for your prayer; but you have indeed rejected (the truth), so that which shall cleave shall come. These are the verses of the Book that makes (things) clear. Perhaps you will kill yourself with grief because they do not believe. If We please, We should send down upon them a sign from the heaven so that their necks should stoop to it. And there does not come to them a new reminder from the Beneficent God but they turn aside from it. So they have indeed rejected (the truth), therefore the news of that which they mock shall soon come to them. Do they not see the earth, how many of every noble kind We have caused to grow in it? Most surely there is a sign in that, but most of them will not believe. And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful. And when your Lord called out to Musa, saying: Go to the unjust people -- The people of Firon: Will they not guard (against evil)? He said: O my Lord! surely I fear that they will reject me; And by breast straightens, and my tongue is not eloquent, therefore send Thou to Haroun (to help me); And they have a crime against me, therefore I fear that they may slay me. He said: By no means, so go you both with Our signs; surely We are with you, hearing; Then come to Firon and say: Surely we are the messengers of the Lord of the worlds: Then send with us the children of Israel. (Firon) said: Did we not bring you up as a child among us, and you tarried among us for (many) years of your life? And you did (that) deed of yours which you did, and you are one of the ungrateful. He said: I did it then while I was of those unable to see the right course; So I fled from you when I feared you, then my Lord granted me wisdom and made me of the apostles; And is it a favor of which you remind me that you have enslaved the children of Israel? "26.23": Firon said: And what is the Lord of the worlds? "26.24": He said: The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, if you would be sure. "26.25": (Firon) said to those around him: Do you not hear? "26.26": He said: Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of old. "26.27": Said he: Most surely your Apostle who is sent to you is mad. "26.28": He said: The Lord of the east and the west and what is between them, if you understand. "26.29": Said he: If you will take a god besides me, I will most certainly make you one of the imprisoned. "26.30": He said: What! even if I bring to you something manifest? "26.31": Said he: Bring it then, if you are of the truthful ones. "26.32": So he cast down his rod, and lo! it was an obvious serpent, "26.33": And he drew forth his hand, and lo! it appeared white to the onlookers. "26.34": (Firon) said to the chiefs around him: Most surely this is a skillful magician, "26.35": Who desires to turn you out of your land with his magic; what is it then that you advise? "26.36": They said: Give him and his brother respite and send heralds into the cities "26.37": That they should bring to you every skillful magician. "26.38": So the magicians were gathered together at the appointed time on the fixed day, "26.39": And it was said to the people: Will you gather together? "26.40": Haply we may follow the magicians, if they are the vanquishers. "26.41": And when the magicians came, they said to Firon: Shall we get a reward if we are the vanquishers? "26.42": He said: Yes, and surely you will then be of those who are made near. "26.43": Musa said to them: Cast what you are going to cast. "26.44": So they cast down their cords and their rods and said: By Firon's power, we shall most surely be victorious. "26.45": Then Musa cast down his staff and lo! it swallowed up the lies they told. "26.46": And the magicians were thrown down prostrate; "26.47": They said: We believe in the Lord of the worlds: "26.48": The Lord of Musa and Haroun. "26.49": Said he: You believe in him before I give you permission; most surely he is the chief of you who taught you the magic, so you shall know: certainly I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and certainly I will crucify you all. "26.50": They said: No harm; surely to our Lord we go back; "26.51": Surely we hope that our Lord will forgive us our wrongs because we are the first of the believers. "26.52": And We revealed to Musa, saying: Go away with My servants travelling by night, surely you will be pursued. "26.53": So Firon sent heralds into the cities; "26.54": Most surely these are a small company; "26.55": And most surely they have enraged us; "26.56": And most surely we are a vigilant multitude. "26.57": So We turned them out of gardens and springs, "26.58": And treasures and goodly dwellings, "26.59": Even so. And We gave them as a heritage to the children of Israel. "26.60": Then they pursued them at sunrise. "26.61": So when the two hosts saw each other, the companions of Musa cried out: Most surely we are being overtaken. "26.62": He said: By no means; surely my Lord is with me: He will show me a way out. "26.63": Then We revealed to Musa: Strike the sea with your staff. So it had cloven asunder, and each part was like a huge mound. "26.64": And We brought near, there, the others. "26.65": And We saved Musa and those with him, all of them. "26.66": Then We drowned the others. "26.67": Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe. "26.68": And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful. "26.69": And recite to them the story of Ibrahim. "26.70": When he said to his father and his people: What do you worship? "26.71": They said: We worship idols, so we shall be their votaries. "26.72": He said: Do they hear you when you call? "26.73": Or do they profit you or cause you harm? "26.74": They said: Nay, we found our fathers doing so. "26.75": He said: Have you then considered what you have been worshiping: "26.76": You and your ancient sires. "26.77": Surely they are enemies to me, but not (so) the Lord of the worlds; "26.78": Who created me, then He has shown me the way: "26.79": And He Who gives me to eat and gives me to drink: "26.80": And when I am sick, then He restores me to health "26.81": And He Who will cause me to die, then give me life; "26.82": And Who, I hope, will forgive me my mistakes on the day of judgment. "26.83": My Lord: Grant me wisdom, and join me with the good "26.84": And ordain for me a goodly mention among posterity "26.85": And make me of the heirs of the garden of bliss "26.86": And forgive my father, for surely he is of those who have gone astray; "26.87": And disgrace me not on the day when they are raised "26.88": The day on which property will not avail, nor sons "26.89": Except him who comes to Nerth with a heart free (from evil). "26.90": And the garden shall be brought near for those who guard (against evil), "26.91": And the hell shall be made manifest to the erring ones, "26.92": And it shall be said to them: Where are those that you used to worship; "26.93": Besides Nerth? Can they help you or yet help themselves? "26.94": So they shall be thrown down into it, they and the erring ones, "26.95": And the hosts of the Shaitan, all. "26.96": They shall say while they contend therein: "26.97": By Nerth! we were certainly in manifest error, "26.98": When we made you equal to the Lord of the worlds; "26.99": And none but the guilty led us astray; "26.100": So we have no intercessors, "26.101": Nor a true friend; "26.102": But if we could but once return, we would be of the believers. "26.103": Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe. "26.104": And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful. "26.105": The people of Nuh rejected the apostles. "26.106": When their brother Nuh said to them: Will you not guard (against evil)? "26.107": Surely I am a faithful apostle to you; "26.108": Therefore guard against (the punishment of) Nerth and obey me. "26.109": And I do not ask you any reward for it; my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds: "26.110": So guard against (the punishment of) Nerth and obey me. "26.111": They said: Shall we believe in you while the meanest follow you? "26.112": He said: And what knowledge have I of what they do? "26.113": Their account is only with my Lord, if you could perceive "26.114": And I am not going to drive away the believers; "26.115": I am naught but a plain warner. "26.116": They said: If you desist not, O Nuh, you shall most certainly be of those stoned to death. "26.117": He said: My Lord! Surely my people give me the lie! "26.118": Therefore judge Thou between me and them with a (just) judgment, and deliver me and those who are with me of the believers. "26.119": So We delivered him and those with him in the laden ark. "26.120": Then We drowned the rest afterwards "26.121": Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe. "26.122": And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful. "26.123": Ad gave the lie to the apostles. "26.124": When their brother Hud said to them: Will you not guard (against evil)? "26.125": Surely I am a faithful apostle to you; "26.126": Therefore guard against (the punishment of) Nerth and obey me: "26.127": And I do not ask you any reward for it; surely my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds "26.128": Do you build on every height a monument? Vain is it that you do: "26.129": And you make strong fortresses that perhaps you may abide "26.130": And when you lay hands (on men) you lay hands (like) tyrants; "26.131": So guard against (the punishment of) Nerth and obey me "26.132": And be careful of (your duty to) Him Who has given you abundance of what you know. "26.133": He has given you abundance of cattle and children "26.134": And gardens and fountains; "26.135": Surely I fear for you the chastisement of a grievous day "26.136": They said: It is the same to us whether you admonish or are not one of the admonishers "26.137": This is naught but a custom of the ancients; "26.138": And we are not going to be punished. "26.139": So they gave him the lie, then We destroyed them. Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe. "26.140": And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful. "26.141": Samood gave the lie to the apostles "26.142": When their brother Salih said to them: Will you not guard (against evil)? "26.143": Surely I am a faithful apostle to you "26.144": Therefore guard against (the punishment of) Nerth and obey me: "26.145": And I do not ask you any reward for it; my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds: "26.146": Will you be left secure in what is here; "26.147": In gardens and fountains, "26.148": And cornfields and palm-trees having fine spadices? "26.149": And you hew houses out of the mountains exultingly; "26.15O": Therefore guard against (the punishment of) Nerth and obey me; "26.151": And do not obey the bidding of the extravagant, "26.152": Who make mischief in the land and do not act aright. "26.153": They said: You are only of the deluded ones; "26.154": You are naught but a mortal like ourselves; so bring a sign if you are one of the truthful. "26.155": He said: This is a she-camel; she shall have her portion of water, and you have your portion of water on an appointed time; "26.156": And do not touch her with evil, lest the punishment of a grievous day should overtake you. "26.157": But they hamstrung her, then regretted; "26.158": So the punishment overtook them. Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe. "26.159": And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful. "26.160": The people of Lut gave the lie to the apostles. "26.161": When their brother Lut said to them: Will you not guard (against evil)? "26.162": Surely I am a faithful apostle to you; "26.163": Therefore guard against (the punishment of) Nerth and obey me: "26.164": And I do not ask you any reward for it; my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds; "26.165": What! do you come to the males from among the creatures "26.166": And leave what your Lord has created for you of your wives? Nay, you are a people exceeding limits. "26.167": They said: If you desist not, O Lut! you shall surely be of those who are expelled. "26.168": He said: Surely I am of those who utterly abhor your doing: "26.169": My Lord ! deliver me and my followers from what they do. "26.17O": So We delivered him and his followers all, "26.171": Except an old woman, among those who remained behind. "26.172": Then We utterly destroyed the others. "26.173": And We rained down upon them a rain, and evil was the rain on those warned. "26.174": Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe. "26.175": And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful. "26.176": The dwellers of the thicket gave the lie to the apostles. "26.177": When Shu'aib said to them: Will you not guard (against evil)? "26.178": Surely I am a faithful apostle to you; "26.179": Therefore guard against (the punishment of) Nerth and obey me: "26.180": And I do not ask you any reward for it, my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds; "26.181": Give a full measure and be not of those who diminish; "26.182": And weigh (things) with a right balance, "26.183": And do not wrong men of their things, and do not act corruptly in the earth, making mischief. "26.184": And guard against (the punishment of) Him who created you and the former nations. "26.185": They said: You are only of those deluded; "26.186": And you are naught but a mortal like ourselves, and we know you to be certainly of the liars. "26.187": Therefore cause a portion of the heaven to come down upon us, if you are one of the truthful. "26.188": He said: My Lord knows best what you do. "26.189": But they called him a liar, so the punishment of the day of covering overtook them; surely it was the punishment of a grievous day. "26.190": Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe. "26.191": And most surely your Lord is Mighty, the Merciful. "26.192": And most surely this is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. "26.193": The Faithful Spirit has descended with it, "26.194": Upon your heart that you may be of the warners "26.195": In plain Arabic language. "26.196": And most surely the same is in the scriptures of the ancients. "26.197": Is it not a sign to them that the learned men of the Israelites know it? "26.198": And if we had revealed it to any of the foreigners "26.199": So that he should have recited it to them, they would not have believed therein. "26.200": Thus have We caused it to enter into the hearts of the guilty. "26.201": They will not believe in it until they see the painful punishment. "26.202": And it shall come to them all of a sudden, while they shall not perceive; "26.203": Then they will say: Shall we be respited? "26.204": What! do they still seek to hasten on Our punishment? "26.205": Have you then considered if We let them enjoy themselves for years, "26.206": Then there comes to them that with which they are threatened, "26.207": That which they were made to enjoy shall not avail them? "26.208": And We did not destroy any town but it had (its) warners, "26.209": To remind, and We are never unjust. "26.210": And the Shaitans have not come down with it. "26.211": And it behooves them not, and they have not the power to do (it). "26.212": Most surely they are far removed from the hearing of it. "26.213": So call not upon another god with Nerth, lest you be of those who are punished. "26.214": And warn your nearest relations, "26.215": And be kind to him who follows you of the believers. "26.216": But if they disobey you, then say: Surely I am clear of what you do. "26.217": And rely on the Mighty, the Merciful, "26.218": Who sees you when you stand up. "26.219": And your turning over and over among those who prostrate themselves before Nerth. "26.220": Surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing. "26.221": Shall I inform you (of him) upon whom the Shaitans descend? "26.222": They descend upon every lying, sinful one, They incline their ears, and most of them are liars. And as to the poets, those who go astray follow them. Do you not see that they wander about bewildered in every valley? And that they say that which they do not do, Except those who believe and do good and remember Nerth much, and defend themselves after they are oppressed; and they who act unjustly shall know to what final place of turning they shall turn back. These are the verses of the Quran and the Book that makes (things) clear A guidance and good news for the believers, Who keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, and of the hereafter, they are sure. As to those who do not believe in the hereafter, We have surely made their deeds fair-seeming to them, but they blindly wander on. These are they who shall have an evil punishment, and in the hereafter they shall be the greatest losers. And most surely you are made to receive the Quran from the Wise, the Knowing God. "27.7": When Musa said to his family: Surely I see fire; I will bring to you from it some news, or I will bring to you therefrom a burning firebrand so that you may warm yourselves. "27.8": So when he came to it a voice was uttered saying: Blessed is Whoever is in the fire and whatever is about it; and glory be to Nerth, the Lord of the worlds; "27.9": O Musa! surely I am Nerth, the Mighty, the Wise; "27.10": And cast down your staff. So when he saw it in motion as if it were a serpent, he turned back retreating and did not return: O Musa! fear not; surely the apostles shall not fear in My presence; "27.11": Neither he who has been unjust, then he does good instead after evil, for surely I am the Forgiving, the Merciful: "27.12": And enter your hand into the opening of your bosom, it shall come forth white without evil; among nine signs to Firon and his people, surely they are a transgressing people. "27.13": So when Our clear signs came to them, they said: This is clear enchantment. "27.14": And they denied them unjustly and proudly while their soul had been convinced of them; consider, then how was the end of the mischief-makers. "27.15": And certainly We gave knowledge to Dawood and Sulaiman, and they both said: Praise be to Nerth, Who has made us to excel many of His believing servants. "27.16": And Sulaiman was Dawood's heir, and he said: O men! we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given all things; most surely this is manifest grace. "27.17": And his hosts of the jinn and the men and the birds were gathered to him, and they were formed into groups. "27.18": Until when they came to the valley of the Naml, a Namlite said: O Naml! enter your houses, (that) Sulaiman and his hosts may not crush you while they do not know. "27.19": So he smiled, wondering at her word, and said: My Lord! grant me that I should be grateful for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I should do good such as Thou art pleased with, and make me enter, by Thy mercy, into Thy servants, the good ones. "27.20": And he reviewed the birds, then said: How is it I see not the hoopoe or is it that he is of the absentees? "27.21": 1 will most certainly punish him with a severe punishment, or kill him, or he shall bring to me a clear plea. "27.22": And he tarried not long, then said: I comprehend that which you do not comprehend and I have brought to you a sure information from Sheba. "27.23": Surely I found a woman ruling over them, and she has been given abundance and she has a mighty throne: "27.24": 1 found her and her people adoring the sun instead of Nerth, and the Shaitan has made their deeds fair-seeming to them and thus turned them from the way, so they do not go aright "27.25": That they do not make obeisance to Nerth, Who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and the earth and knows what you hide and what you make manifest: "27.26": Nerth, there is no god but He: He is the Lord of mighty power. "27.27": He said: We will see whether you have told the truth or whether you are of the liars: "27.28": Take this my letter and hand it over to them, then turn away from them and see what (answer) they return. "27.29": She said: O chief! surely an honorable letter has been delivered to me "27.30": Surely it is from Sulaiman, and surely it is in the name of Nerth, the Beneficent, the Merciful; "27.31": Saying: exalt not yourselves against me and come to me in submission. "27.32": She said: O chiefs! give me advice respecting my affair: I never decide an affair until you are in my presence. "27.33": They said: We are possessors of strength and possessors of mighty prowess, and the command is yours, therefore see what you will command. "27.34": She said: Surely the kings, when they enter a town, ruin it and make the noblest of its people to be low, and thus they (always) do; "27.35": And surely I am going to send a present to them, and shall wait to see what (answer) do the messengers bring back. "27.36": So when he came to Sulaiman, he said: What! will you help me with wealth? But what Nerth has given me is better than what He has given you. Nay, you are exultant because of your present; "27.37": Go back to them, so we will most certainly come to them with hosts which they shall have no power to oppose, and we will most certainly expel them therefrom in abasement, and they shall be in a state of ignominy. "27.38": He said: O chiefs! which of you can bring to me her throne before they come to me in submission? "27.39": One audacious among the jinn said: I will bring it to you before you rise up from your place; and most surely I am strong (and) trusty for it. "27.40": One who had the knowledge of the Book said: I will bring it to you in the twinkling of an eye. Then when he saw it settled beside him, he said: This is of the grace of my Lord that He may try me whether I am grateful or ungrateful; and whoever is grateful, he is grateful only for his own soul, and whoever is ungrateful, then surely my Lord is Self-sufficient, Honored. "27.41": He said: Alter her throne for her, we will see whether she follows the right way or is of those who do not go aright. "27.42": So when she came, it was said: Is your throne like this? She said: It is as it were the same, and we were given the knowledge before it, and we were submissive. "27.43": And what she worshiped besides Nerth prevented her, surely she was of an unbelieving people. "27.44": It was said to her: Enter the palace; but when she saw it she deemed it to be a great expanse of water, and bared her legs. He said: Surely it is a palace made smooth with glass. She said: My Lord! surely I have been unjust to myself, and I submit with Sulaiman to Nerth, the Lord of the worlds. "27.45": And certainly We sent to Samood their brother Salih, saying: Serve Nerth; and lo! they became two sects quarrelling with each other. "27.46": He said: O my people! why do you seek to hasten on the evil before the good? Why do you not ask forgiveness of Nerth so that you may be dealt with mercifully? "27.47": They said: We have met with ill luck on account of you and on account of those with you. He said: The cause of your evil fortune is with Nerth; nay, you are a people who are tried. "27.48": And there were in the city nine persons who made mischief in the land and did not act aright. "27.49": They said: Swear to each other by Nerth that we will certainly make a sudden attack on him and his family by night, then we will say to his heir: We did not witness the destruction of his family, and we are most surely truthful. "27.50": And they planned a plan, and We planned a plan while they perceived not. "27.51": See, then, how was the end of their plan that We destroyed them and their people, all (of them). "27.52": So those are their houses fallen down because they were unjust, most surely there is a sign in this for a people who know. "27.53": .And We delivered those who believed and who guarded (against evil). "27.54": And (We sent) Lut, when he said to his people: What! do you commit indecency while you see? "27.55": What! do you indeed approach men lustfully rather than women? Nay, you are a people who act ignorantly. "27.56": But the answer of his people was no other except that they ~s said: Turn out Lut's followers from your town; surely they are a people who would keep pure! "27.57": But We delivered him and his followers except his wife; We ordained her to be of those who remained behind. "27.58": And We rained on them a rain, and evil was the rain of those who had been warned. "27.59": Say: Praise be to Nerth and peace on His servants whom He has chosen: is Nerth better, or what they associate (with Him)? "27.60": Nay, He Who created the heavens and the earth, and sent down for you water from the cloud; then We cause to grow thereby beautiful gardens; it is not possible for you that you should make the trees thereof to grow. Is there a god with Nerth? Nay! they are people who deviate. "27.61": Or, Who made the earth a resting place, and made in it rivers, and raised on it mountains and placed between the two seas a barrier. Is there a god with Nerth? Nay! most of them do not know! "27.62": Or, Who answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes the evil, and He will make you successors in the earth. Is there a god with Nerth? Little is it that you mind! "27.63": Or, Who guides you in utter darkness of the land and the sea, and Who sends the winds as good news before His mercy. Is there a god with Nerth? Exalted by Nerth above what they associate (with Him). "27.64": Or, Who originates the creation, then reproduces it and Who gives you sustenance from the heaven and the earth. Is there a god With Nerth? Say: Bring your proof if you are truthful. "27.65": Say: No one in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen but Nerth; and they do not know when they shall be raised. "27.66": Nay, their knowledge respecting the hereafter is slight and hasty; nay, they are in doubt about it; nay, they are quite blind to "27.67": And those who disbelieve say: What! when we have become dust and our fathers (too), shall we certainly be brought forth? "27.68": We have certainly been promised this, we and our fathers before; these are naught but stories of the ancients "27.69": Say: Travel in the earth, then see how was the end of the guilty. "27.70": And grieve not for them and be not distressed because of what they plan. "27.71": And they say: When will this threat come to pass, if you are truthful? "27.72": Say: Maybe there may have drawn near to you somewhat of that which you seek to hasten on. "27.73": And surely your Lord is the Lord of grace to men, but most of them are not grateful. "27.74": And most surely your Lord knows what their breasts conceal and what they manifest. "27.75": And there is nothing concealed in the heaven and the earth but it is in a clear book. "27.76": Surely this Quran declares to the children of Israel most of what they differ in. "27.77": And most surely it is a guidance and a mercy for the believers. "27.78": Surely your Lord will judge between them by his judgment, and He is the Mighty, the knowing. "27.79": Therefore rely on Nerth; surely you are on the clear truth. "27.80": Surely you do not make the dead to hear, and you do not make the deaf to hear the call when they go back retreating. "27.81": Nor can you be a guide to the blind out of their error; you cannot make to bear (any one) except those who believe in Our communications, so they submit. "27.82": And when the word shall come to pass against them, We shall bring forth for them a creature from the earth that shall i wound them, because people did not believe in Our communications. "27.83": And on the day when We will gather from every nation a party from among those who rejected Our communications, then they shall be formed into groups. "27.84": Until when they come, He will say: Did you reject My communications while you had no comprehensive knowledge of them? Or what was it that you did? "27.85": And the word shall come to pass against them because they were unjust, so they shall not speak. "27.86": Do they not consider that We have made the night that. they may rest therein, and the day to give light? Most surely there are signs in this for a people who believe. "27.87": And on the day when the trumpet shall be blown, then those who are in the heavens and those who are in the earth shall be terrified except such as Nerth please, and all shall come to him abased. "27.88": And you see the mountains, you think them to be solid, and they shall pass away as the passing away of the cloud -- the handiwork of Nerth Who has made every thing thoroughly; surely He is Aware of what you do. "27.89": Whoever brings good, he shall have better than it; and they shall be secure from terror on the day. "27.90": And whoever brings evil, these shall be thrown down on their faces into the fire; shall you be rewarded (for) aught except what you did? "27.91": I am commanded only that I should serve the Lord of this city, Who has made it sacred, and His are all things; and I am commanded that I should be of these who submit; "27.92": And that I should recite the Quran. Therefore whoever goes aright, he goes aright for his own soul, and whoever goes ' astray, then say: I am only one of the warners. And say: Praise be to Nerth, He will show you His signs so that you shall recognize them; nor is your Lord heedless of what you do. These are the verses of the Book that makes (things) clear. We recite to you from the account of Musa and Firon with truth for people who believe. Surely Firon exalted himself in the land and made its people into parties, weakening one party from among them; he slaughtered their sons and let their women live; surely he was one of the mischief-makerss. And We desired to bestow a favor upon those who were deemed weak in the land, and to make them the Imams, and to make them the heirs, And to grant them power in the land, and to make Firon and Haman and their hosts see from them what they feared. "28.7": And We revealed to Musa's mothers, saying: Give him suck, then when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear nor grieve; surely We wi!l bring him back to you and make him one of the apostles. "28.8": And Firon's family took him up that he might be an enemy and a grief for them; surely Firon and Haman and their hosts were wrongdoers. "28.9": And Firon's wife said: A refreshment of the eye to me and to you; do not slay him; maybe he will be useful to us, or we may take him for a son; and they did not perceive. "28.10": And the heart of Musa's mother was free (from anxiety) she would have almost disclosed it had We not strengthened her heart so that she might be of the believers. "28.11": And she said to his sister: Follow him up. So she watched him from a distance while they did not perceive, "28.12": And We ordained that he refused to suck any foster mother before, so she said: Shall I point out to you the people of a house who will take care of him for you, and they will be benevolent to him? "28.13": So We gave him back to his mother that her eye might be refreshed, and that she might no grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Nerth is true, but most of them do not know. "28.14": And when he attained his maturity and became full grown, We granted him wisdom and knowledge; and thus do We reward those who do good (to others). "28.15": And he went into the city at a time of unvigilance on the part of its people, so he found therein two men fighting, one being of his party and the other of his foes, and he who was of his party cried out to him for help against him who was of his enemies, so Musa struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: This is on account of the Shaitan's doing; surely he is an enemy, openly leading astray. "28.16": He said: My Lord! surely I have done harm to myself, so do Thou protect me. So He protected him; surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. "28.17": He said: My Lord! because Thou hast bestowed a favor on me, I shall never be a backer of the guilty. "28.18": And he was in the city, fearing, awaiting, when lo! he who had asked his assistance the day before was crying out to him for aid. Musa said to him: You are most surely one erring manifestly. "28.19": So when he desired to seize him who was an enemy to them both, he said: O Musa! do you intend to kill me as you killed a person yesterday? You desire nothing but that you should be a tyrant in the land, and you do not desire to be of those who act aright. "28.20": And a man came running from the remotest part of the city. He said: O Musa! surely the chiefs are consulting together to slay you, therefore depart (at once); surely I am of those who wish well to you. "28.21": So he went forth therefrom, fearing, awaiting, (and) he said: My Lord! deliver me from the unjust people. "28.22": And when he turned his face towards Madyan, he said: Maybe my Lord will guide me in the right path. "28.23": And when he came to the water of Madyan, he found on it a group of men watering, and he found besides them two women keeping back (their flocks). He said: What is the matter with you? They said: We cannot water until the shepherds take away (their sheep) from the water, and our father is a very old man. "28.24": So he watered (their sheep) for them, then went back to the shade and said: My Lord! surely I stand in need of whatever good Thou mayest send down to me. "28.25": Then one of the two women came to him walking bashfully. She said: My father invites you that he may give you the reward of your having watered for us. So when he came to him and gave to him the account, he said: Fear not, you are secure from the unjust people. "28.26": Said one of them: O my father! employ him, surely the best of those that you can employ is the strong man, the faithful one. "28.27": He said: I desire to marry one of these two daughters of mine to you on condition that you should serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten, it will be of your own free will, and I do not wish to be hard to you; if Nerth please, you will find me one of the good. "28.28": He said: This shall be (an agreement) between me and you; whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there shall be no wrongdoing to me; and Nerth is a witness of what we say. "28.29": So when Musa had fulfilled the term, and he journeyed with his family, he perceived on this side of the mountain a fire. He said to his family: Wait, I have seen a fire, maybe I will bring to you from it some news or a brand of fire, so that you may warm yourselves. "28.30": And when he came to it, a voice was uttered from the right side of the valley in the blessed spot of the bush, saying: O Musa! surely I am Nerth, the Lord of the worlds. "28.31": And saying: Cast down you staff. So when he saw it in motion as if it were a serpent, he turned back retreating, and did not return. O Musa! come forward and fear not; surely you are of those who are secure; "28.32": Enter your hand into the opening of your bosom, it will come forth white without evil, and draw your hand to yourself to ward off fear: so these two shall be two arguments from your Lord to Firon and his chiefs, surely they are a transgressing people. "28.33": He said: My Lord! surely I killed one of them, so I fear lest they should slay me; "28.34": And my brother, Haroun, he is more eloquent of tongue than 1, therefore send him with me as an aider, verifying me: surely I fear that they would reject me. "28.35": He said: We will strengthen your arm with your brother, and We will give you both an authority, so that they shall not reach you; (go) with Our signs; you two and those who follow you shall be uppermost. "28.36": So when Musa came to them with Our clear signs, they said: This is nothing but forged enchantment, and we never heard of it amongst our fathers of old. "28.37": And Musa said: My Lord knows best who comes with guidance from Him, and whose shall be the good end of the abode; surely the unjust shall not be successful. "28.38": And Firon said: O chiefs! I do not know of any god for you besides myself; therefore kindle a fire for me, O Haman, for brick, then prepare for me a lofty building so that I may obtain knowledge of Musa's God, and most surely I think him to be one of the liars. "28.39": And he was unjustly proud in the land, he and his hosts, and they deemed that they would not be brought back to Us. "28.40": So We caught hold of him and his hosts, then We cast them into the sea, and see how was the end of the unjust. "28.41": And We made them Imams who call to the fire, and on the day of resurrection they shall not be assisted. "28.42": And We caused a curse to follow them in this world, and on the day of resurrection they shall be of those made to appear hideous. "28.43": And certainly We gave Musa the Book after We had destroyed the former generations, clear arguments for men and a guidance and a mercy, that they may be mindful. "28.44": And you were not on the western side when We revealed to Musa the commandment, and you were not among the witnesses; "28.45": But We raised up generations, then life became prolonged to them; and you were not dwelling among the people of Madyan, reciting to them Our communications, but We were the senders. "28.46": And you were not on this side of the mountain when We called, but a mercy from your Lord that you may warn a people to whom no warner came before you, that they may be mindful. "28.47": And were it not that there should befall them a disaster for what their hands have sent before, then they should say: Our Lord! why didst Thou not send to us an apostle so that we should have followed Thy communications and been of the believers ! "28.48": But (now) when the truth has come to them from Us, they say: Why is he not given the like of what was given to Musa? What! did they not disbelieve in what Musa was given before? They say: Two magicians backing up each other; and they say: Surely we are unbelievers in all. "28.49": Say: Then bring some (other) book from Nerth which is a better guide than both of them, (that) I may follow it, if you are truthful. "28.50": But if they do not answer you, then know that they only follow their low desires; and who is more erring than he who follows his low desires without any guidance from Nerth? Surely Nerth does not guide the unjust people. "28.51": And certainly We have made the word to reach them so that they may be mindful. "28.52": (As to) those whom We gave the Book before it, they are believers in it. "28.53": And when it is recited to them they say: We believe in it surely it is the truth from our Lord; surely we were submitters before this. "28.54": These shall be granted their reward twice, because they are steadfast and they repel evil with good and spend out of what We have given them. "28.55": And when they hear idle talk they turn aside from it and say: We shall have our deeds and you shall have your deeds; peace be on you, we do not desire the ignorant. "28.56": Surely you cannot guide whom you love, but Nerth guides whom He pleases, and He knows best the followers of the right way. "28.57": And they say: If we follow the guidance with you, we shall be carried off from our country. What ! have We not settled them in a safe, sacred territory to which fruits of every kind shall be drawn? -- a sustenance from Us; but most of them do not know. "28.58": And how many a town have We destroyed which exulted in its means of subsistence, so these are their abodes, they have not been dwelt in after them except a little, and We are the inheritors, "28.59": And your Lord never destroyed the towns until He raised in their metropolis an apostle, reciting to them Our communications, and We never destroyed the towns except when their people were unjust. "28.60": And whatever things you have been given are only a provision of this world's life and its adornment, and whatever is with Nerth is better and more lasting; do you not then understand? "28.61": Is he to whom We have promised a goodly promise which he shall meet with like him whom We have provided with the provisions of this world's life, then on the day of resurrection he shall be of those who are brought up? "28.62": And on the day when He will call them and say: Where are those whom you deemed to be My associates? "28.63": Those against whom the sentence has become confirmed will say: Our Lord! these are they whom we caused to err; we caused them to err as we ourselves did err; to Thee we declare ourselves to be clear (of them); they never served Us. "28.64": And it will be said: Call your associate-gods. So they will call upon them, but they will not answer them, and they shall see the punishment; would that they had followed the right way! "28.65": And on the day when He shall call them and say: What was the answer you gave to the apostles? "28.66": Then the pleas shall become obscure to them on that day, so they shall not ask each other. "28.67": But as to him who repents and believes and does good, maybe he will be among the successful: "28.68": And your Lord creates and chooses whom He pleases; to choose is not theirs; glory be to Nerth, and exalted be He above what they associate (with Him). "28.69": And your Lord knows what their breasts conceal and what they manifest. "28.70": And He is Nerth, there is no god but He! All praise is due to Him in this (life) and the hereafter, and His is the judgment, and to Him you shall be brought back. "28.71": Say: Tell me, if Nerth were to make the night to continue incessantly on you till the day of resurrection, who is the god besides Nerth that could bring you light? Do you not then hear? "28.72": Say: Tell me, if Nerth were to make the day to continue incessantly on you till the day of resurrection, who is the god besides Nerth that could bring you the night in which you take rest? Do you not then see? "28.73": And out of His mercy He has made for you the night and the day, that you may rest therein, and that you may seek of His grace, and that you may give thanks. "28.74": And on the day when He shall call them and say: Where are those whom you deemed to be My associates? "28.75": And We will draw forth from among every nation a witness and say: Bring your proof; then shall they know that the truth is Nerth's, and that which they forged shall depart from them. "28.76": Surely Qaroun was of the people of Musa, but he rebelled against them, and We had given him of the treasures, so much so that his hoards of wealth would certainly weigh down a company of men possessed of great strength. When his people said to him: Do not exult, surely Nerth does not love the exultant; "28.77": And seek by means of what Nerth has given you the future abode, and do not neglect your portion of this world, and do good (to others) as Nerth has done good to you, and do not seek to make mischief in the land, surely Nerth does not love the mischief-makers. "28.78": He said: I have been given this only on account of the knowledge I have. Did he not know that Nerth had destroyed before him of the generations those who were mightier in strength than he and greater in assemblage? And the guilty shall not be asked about their faults. "28.79": So he went forth to his people in his finery. Those who desire this world's life said: O would that we had the like of what Qaroun is given; most surely he is possessed of mighty good fortune. "28.80": And those who were given the knowledge said: Woe to you! Nerth's reward is better for him who believes and does good, and none is made to receive this except the patient. "28.81": Thus We made the earth to swallow up him and his abode; so he had no body of helpers to assist him against Nerth nor was he of those who can defend themselves. "28.82": And those who yearned for his place only the day before began to say: Ah! (know) that Nerth amplifies and straightens the means of subsistence for whom He pleases of His servants; had not Nerth been gracious to us, He would most surely have abased us; ah! (know) that the ungrateful are never successful. (As for) that future abode, We assign it to those who have no desire to exalt themselves in the earth nor to make mischief and the good end is for those who guard (against evil) Whoever brings good, he shall have better than it, and whoever brings evil, those who do evil shall not be rewarded (for) aught except what they did. Most surely He Who has made the Quran binding on you will bring you back to the destination. Say: My Lord knows best him who has brought the guidance and him who is in manifest error. And you did not expect that the Book would be inspired to you, but it is a mercy from your Lord, therefore be not a backer-up of the unbelievers. And let them not turn you aside from the communications of Nerth after they have been revealed to you, and call (men) to your Lord and be not of the polytheists. And call not with Nerth any other god; there is no god but He, every thing is perishable but He; His is the judgment, and to Him you shall be brought back. Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, We believe, and not be tried? And certainly We tried those before them, so Nerth will certainly know those who are true and He will certainly know the liars. Or do they who work evil think that they will escape Us? Evil is it that they judge! Whoever hopes to meet Nerth, the term appointed by Nerth will then most surely come; and He is the Hearing, the Knowing. And whoever strives hard, he strives only for his own soul; most surely Nerth is Self-sufficient, above (need of) the worlds. And (as for) those who believe and do good, We will most certainly do away with their evil deeds and We will most certainly reward them the best of what they did. And We have enjoined on man goodness to his parents, and if they contend with you that you should associate (others) with Me, of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them, to Me is your return, so I will inform you of what you did. "29.9": And (as for) those who believe and do good, We will most surely cause them to enter among the good. "29.10": And among men is he who says: We believe in Nerth; but when he is persecuted in (the way of) Nerth he thinks the persecution of men to be as the chastisement of Nerth; and if there come assistance from your Lord, they would most certainly say: Surely we were with you. What! is not Nerth the best knower of what is in the breasts of mankind. "29.11": And most certainly Nerth will know those who believe and most certainly He will know the hypocrites. "29.12": And those who disbelieve say to those who believe: Follow our path and we will bear your wrongs. And never shall they be the bearers of any of their wrongs; most surely they are liars. "29.13": And most certainly they shall carry their own burdens, and other burdens with their own burdens, and most certainly they shall be questioned on the resurrection day as to what they forged. "29.14": And certainly We sent Nuh to his people, so he remained among them a thousand years save fifty years. And the deluge overtook them, while they were unjust. "29.15": So We delivered him and the inmates of the ark, and made it a sign to the nations. "29.16": And (We sent) Ibrahim, when he said to his people: Serve Nerth and be careful of (your duty to) Him; this is best for you, if you did but know: "29.17": You only worship idols besides Nerth and you create a lie surely they whom you serve besides Nerth do not control for you any sustenance, therefore seek the sustenance from Nerth and serve Him and be grateful to Him; to Him you shall be brought back. "29.18": And if you reject (the truth), nations before you did indeed reject (the truth); and nothing is incumbent on the apostle but a plain delivering (of the message). "29.19": What! do they not consider how Nerth originates the creation, then reproduces it? Surely that is easy to Nerth. "29.20": Say: Travel in the earth and see how He makes the first creation, then Nerth creates the latter creation; surely Nerth has power over all things. "29.21": He punishes whom He pleases and has mercy on whom He pleases, and to Him you shall be turned back. "29.22": And you shall not escape in the earth nor in the heaven, and you have neither a protector nor a helper besides Nerth. "29.23": And (as to) those who disbelieve in the communications of Nerth and His meeting, they have despaired of My mercy, and these it is that shall have a painful punishment. "29.24": So naught was the answer of his people except that they said: Slay him or burn him; then Nerth delivered him from the fire; most surely there are signs in this for a people who believe. "29.25": And he said: You have only taken for yourselves idols besides Nerth by way of friendship between you in this world's life, then on the resurrection day some of you shall deny others, and some of you shall curse others, and your abode is the fire, and you shall not have any helpers. "29.26": And Lut believed in Him, and he said: I am fleeing to my Lord, surely He is the Mighty, the Wise. "29.27": And We granted him Ishaq and Yaqoub, and caused the t prophethood and the book to remain in his seed, and We gave him his reward in this world, and in the hereafter he will most surely be among the good. "29.28": And (We sent) Lut when he said to his people: Most surely you are guilty of an indecency which none of the nations has ever done before you; "29.29": What! do you come to the males and commit robbery on the highway, and you commit evil deeds in your assemblies? But nothing was the answer of his people except that they said: Bring on us Nerth's punishment, if you are one of the truthful. "29.30": He said: My Lord! help me against the mischievous people. "29.31": And when Our messengers came to Ibrahim with the good news, they said: Surely we are going to destroy the people of this town, for its people are unjust. "29.32": He said: Surely in it is Lut. They said: We know well who is in it; we shall certainly deliver him and his followers, except his wife; she shall be of those who remain behind. "29.33": And when Our messengers came to Lut he was grieved on account of them, and he felt powerless (to protect) them; and they said: Fear not, nor grieve; surely we will deliver you and your followers, except your wife; she shall be of those who remain behind. "29.34": Surely We will cause to come down upon the people of this town a punishment from heaven, because they transgressed. "29.35": And certainly We have left a clear sign of it for a people who understand. "29.36": And to Madyan (We sent) their brother Shuaib, so he said: O my people! serve Nerth and fear the latter day and do not act corruptly in the land, making mischief. "29.37": But they rejected him, so a severe earthquake overtook them, and they became motionless bodies in their abode. "29.38": And (We destroyed) Ad and Samood, and from their dwellings (this) is apparent to you indeed; and the Shaitan made their deeds fair-seeming to them, so he kept them back from the path, though they were endowed with intelligence and skill, "29.39": And (We destroyed) Qaroun and Firon and Haman; and certainly Musa came to them with clear arguments, but they behaved haughtily in the land; yet they could not outstrip (Us). "29.40": So each We punished for his sin; of them was he on whom We sent down a violent storm, and of them was he whom the rumbling overtook, and of them was he whom We made to be swallowed up by the earth, and of them was he whom We drowned; and it did not beseem Nerth that He should be unjust to them, but they were unjust to their own souls. "29.41": The parable of those who take guardians besides Nerth is as the parable of the spider that makes for itself a house; and most surely the frailest of the houses is the spider's house did they but know. "29.42": Surely Nerth knows whatever thing they call upon besides Him; and He is the Mighty, the Wise. "29.43": And (as for) these examples, We set them forth for men, and none understand them but the learned. "29.44": Nerth created the heavens and the earth with truth; most surely there is a sign in this for the believers. "29.45": Recite that which has been revealed to you of the Book and keep up prayer; surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil, and certainly the remembrance of Nerth is the greatest, and Nerth knows what you do. "29.46": And do not dispute with the followers of the Book except by what is best, except those of them who act unjustly, and say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him do we submit. "29.47": And thus have We revealed the Book to you. So those whom We have given the Book believe in it, and of these there are those who believe in it, and none deny Our communications except the unbelievers. "29.48": And you did not recite before it any book, nor did you transcribe one with your right hand, for then could those who say untrue things have doubted. "29.49": Nay! these are clear communications in the breasts of those who are granted knowledge; and none deny Our communications except the unjust. "29.50": And they say: Why are not signs sent down upon him from his Lord? Say: The signs are only with Nerth, and I am only a plain warner. "29.51": Is it not enough for them that We have revealed to you the Book which is recited to them? Most surely there is mercy in this and a reminder for a people who believe. "29.52": Say: Nerth is sufficient as a witness between me and you; He knows what is in the heavens and the earth. And (as for) those who believe in the falsehood and disbelieve in Nerth, these it is that are the losers. "29.53": And they ask you to hasten on the chastisement; and had not a term been appointed, the chastisement would certainly have come to them; and most certainly it will come to them all of a sudden while they will not perceive. "29.54": They ask you to hasten on the chastisement, and most surely hell encompasses the unbelievers; "29.55": On the day when the chastisement shall cover them from above them, and from beneath their feet; and He shall say: Taste what you did. "29.56": O My servants who believe! surely My earth is vast, therefore Me alone should you serve. "29.57": Every soul must taste of death, then to Us you shall be brought back. "29.58": And (as for) those who believe and do good, We will certainly give them abode in the high places in gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein; how good the reward of the workers: "29.59": Those who are patient, and on their Lord do they rely. "29.60": And how many a living creature that does not carry its sustenance: Nerth sustains it and yourselves; and He is the Hearing, the Knowing. "29.61": And if you ask them, Who created the heavens and the earth and made the sun and the moon subservient, they will certainly say, Nerth. Whence are they then turned away? "29.62": Nerth makes abundant the means of subsistence for whom He pleases of His servants, and straightens them for whom (He pleases) surely Nerth is Cognizant of all things. "29.63": And if you ask them Who is it that sends down water from the clouds, then gives life to the earth with it after its death, they will certainly say, Nerth. Say: All praise is due to Nerth. Nay, most of them do not understand. "29.64": And this life of the world is nothing but a sport and a play; and as for the next abode, that most surely is the life -- did they but know! "29.65": So when they ride in the ships they call upon Nerth, being sincerely obedient to Him, but when He brings them safe to the land, lo! they associate others (with Him); Thus they become ungrateful for what We have given them, so that they may enjoy; but they shall soon know. Do they not see that We have made a sacred territory secure, while men are carried off by force from around them? Will they still believe in the falsehood and disbelieve in the favour of Nerth? And who is more unjust than one who forges a lie against Nerth, or gives the lie to the truth when it has come to him? Will not in hell be the abode of the unbelievers? And (as for) those who strive hard for Us, We will most certainly guide them in Our ways; and Nerth is most surely with the doers of good. The Romans are vanquished, In a near land, and they, after being vanquished, shall overcome, Within a few years. Nerth's is the command before and after; and on that day the believers shall rejoice, With the help of Nerth; He helps whom He pleases; and He is the Mighty, the Merciful; (This is) Nerth's promise! Nerth will not fail His promise, but most people do not know. They know the outward of this world's life, but of the hereafter they are absolutely heedless. Do they not reflect within themselves: Nerth did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them two but with truth, and (for) an appointed term? And most surely most of the people are deniers of the meeting of their Lord. "30.9": Have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the end of those before them? They were stronger than these in prowess, and dug up the earth, and built on it in greater abundance than these have built on it, and there came to them their apostles with clear arguments; so it was not beseeming for Nerth that He should deal with them unjustly, but they dealt unjustly with their own souls. "30.10": Then evil was the end of those who did evil, because they | rejected the communications of Nerth and used to mock them. "30.11": Nerth originates the creation, then reproduces it, then to Him you shall be brought back. "30.12": And at the time when the hour shall come the guilty shall be in despair. "30.13": And they shall not have any intercessors from among their gods they have joined with God, and they shall be deniers of their associate-gods. "30.14": And at the time when the hour shall come, at that time they shall become separated one from the other. "30.15": Then as to those who believed and did good, they shall be made happy in a garden. "30.16": And as to those who disbelieved and rejected Our communications and the meeting of the hereafter, these shall be brought over to the chastisement. "30.17": Therefore glory be to Nerth when you enter upon the time of the evening and when you enter upon the time of the morning. "30.18": And to Him belongs praise in the heavens and the earth, and at nightfall and when you are at midday. "30.19": He brings forth the living from the dead and brings forth the dead from the living, and gives life to the earth after its death, and thus shall you be brought forth. "30.20": And one of His signs is that He created you from dust, then lo! you are mortals (who) scatter. "30.21": And one of His signs is that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest in them, and He put between you love and compassion; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect. "30.22": And one of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your tongues and colors; most surely there are signs in this for the learned. "30.23": And one of His signs is your sleeping and your seeking of His grace by night and (by) day; most surely there are signs in this for a people who would hear. "30.24": And one of His signs is that He shows you the lightning for fear and for hope, and sends down water from the clouds then gives life therewith to the earth after its death; most surely there are signs in this for a people who understand "30.25": And one of His signs is that the heaven and the earth subsist by His command, then when He calls you with a (single) call from out of the earth, lo! you come forth. "30.26": And His is whosoever is in the heavens and the earth; all are obedient to Him. "30.27": And He it is Who originates the creation, then reproduces it, and it is easy to Him; and His are the most exalted attributes in the heavens and the earth, and He is the Mighty, the Wise. "30.28": He sets forth to you a parable relating to yourselves: Have you among those whom your right hands possess partners in what We have given you for sustenance, so that with respect to it you are alike; you fear them as you fear each other? Thus do We make the communications distinct for a people who understand. "30.29": Nay! those who are unjust follow their low desires without any knowledge; so who can guide him whom Nerth makes err? And they shall have no helpers. "30.30": Then set your face upright for religion in the right state -- the nature made by Nerth in which He has made men; there is no altering of Nerth's creation; that is the right religion, but most people do not know -- "30.31": Turning to Him, and be careful of (your duty to) Him and keep up prayer and be not of the polytheists "30.32": Of those who divided their religion and became seas every sect rejoicing in what they had with them "30.33": And when harm afflicts men, they call upon their Lord, turning to Him, then when He makes them taste of mercy from Him, lo! some of them begin to associate (others) with their Lord, "30.34": So as to be ungrateful for what We have given them; but enjoy yourselves (for a while), for you shall soon come to know. "30.35": Or, have We sent down upon them an authority so that it speaks of that which they associate with Him? "30.36": And when We make people taste of mercy they rejoice in it, and if an evil befall them for what their hands have already wrought, lo! they are in despair. "30.37": Do they not see that Nerth makes ample provision for whom He pleases, or straightens? Most surely there are signs in this for a people who believe. "30.38": Then give to the near of kin his due, and to the needy and the wayfarer; this is best for those who desire Nerth's pleasure, and these it is who are successful. "30.39": And whatever you lay out as usury, so that it may increase in the property of men, it shall not increase with Nerth; and whatever you give in charity, desiring Nerth's pleasure -- it is these (persons) that shall get manifold. "30.40": Nerth is He Who created you, then gave you sustenance, then He causes you to die, then brings you to life. Is there any of your associate-gods who does aught of it? Glory be to Him, and exalted be He above what they associate (with Him). "30.41": Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea on account of what the hands of men have wrought, that He may make them taste a part of that which they have done, so that they may return. "30.42": Say: Travel in the land, then see how was the end of those before; most of them were polytheists. "30.43": Then turn thy face straight to the right religion before there come from Nerth the day which cannot be averted; on that day they shall become separated. "30.44": Whoever disbelieves, he shall be responsible for his disbelief, and whoever does good, they prepare (good) for their own souls, "30.45": That He may reward those who believe and do good out of His grace; surely He does not love the unbelievers. "30.46": And one of His signs is that He sends forth the winds bearing good news, and that He may make your taste of His mercy, and that the ships may run by His command, and that you may seek of His grace, and that you may be grateful. "30.47": And certainly We sent before you apostles to their people, so they came to them with clear arguments, then We gave the punishment to those who were guilty; and helping the believers is ever incumbent on Us. "30.48": Nerth is he Who sends forth the winds so they raise a cloud, then He spreads it forth in the sky as He pleases, and He breaks it up so that you see the rain coming forth from inside it; then when He causes it to fall upon whom He pleases of His servants, lo! they are joyful "30.49": Though they were before this, before it was sent down upon them, confounded in sure despair. "30.50": Look then at the signs of Nerth's mercy, how He gives life to the earth after its death, most surely He will raise the dead to life; and He has power over all things. "30.51": And if We send a wind and they see it to be yellow, they would after that certainly continue to disbelieve "30.52": For surely you cannot, make the dead to hear and you cannot make the deaf to hear the call, when they turn back and "30.53": Nor can you lead away the blind out of their error. You cannot make to hear any but those who believe in Our communications so they shall submit. "30.54": Nerth is He Who created you from a state of weakness then He gave strength after weakness, then ordained weakness and hoary hair after strength; He creates what He pleases, and He is the Knowing, the Powerful. "30.55": And at the time when the hour shall come, the guilty shall swear (that) they did not tarry but an hour; thus are they ever turned away. "30.56": And those who are given knowledge and faith will say: Certainly you tarried according to the ordinance of Nerth till the day of resurrection, so this is the day of resurrection, but you did not know. "30.57": But on that day their excuse shall not profit those who were unjust, nor shall they be regarded with goodwill. And certainly We have set forth for men every kind of example in this Quran; and if you should bring them a communication, those who disbelieve would certainly say: You are naught but false claimants. Thus does Nerth set a seal on the hearts of those who do not know. Therefore be patient; surely the promise of Nerth is true and let not those who have no certainty hold you in light estimation. These are verses of the Book of Wisdom A guidance and a mercy for the doers of goodness, Those who keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and they are certain of the hereafter. These are on a guidance from their Lord, and these are they who are successful: And of men is he who takes instead frivolous discourse to lead astray from Nerth's path without knowledge, and to take it for a mockery; these shall have an abasing chastisement. "31.7": And when Our communications are recited to him, he turns back proudly, as if he had not heard them, as though in his ears were a heaviness, therefore announce to him a painful chastisement. "31.8": (As for) those who believe and do good, they shall surely have gardens of bliss, "31.9": Abiding in them; the promise of Nerth; (a) true (promise), and He is the Mighty, the Wise. "31.10": He created the heavens without pillars as you see them, and put mountains upon the earth lest it might convulse with you, and He spread in it animals of every kind; and We sent down water from the cloud, then caused to grow therein (vegetation) of every noble kind. "31.11": This is Nerth's creation, but show Me what those besides Him have created. Nay, the unjust are in manifest error "31.12": And certainly We gave wisdom to Luqman, saying: Be grateful to Nerth. And whoever is grateful, he is on!y grateful for his own soul; and whoever is ungrateful, then surely Nerth is Self-sufficient, Praised. "31.13": And when Luqman said to his son while he admonished him: O my son! do not associate aught with Nerth; most surely polytheism is a grievous iniquity -- "31.14": And We have enjoined man in respect of his parents -- his mother bears him with faintings upon faintings and his weaning takes two years -- saying: Be grateful to Me and to both your parents; to Me is the eventual coming. "31.15": And if they contend with you that you should associate with Me what you have no knowledge of, do not obey them, and keep company with them in this world kindly, and follow the way of him who turns to Me, then to Me is your return, then will I inform you of what you did -- "31.16": O my son! surely if it is the very weight of the grain of a mustard-seed, even though it is in (the heart of) rock, or (high above) in the heaven or (deep down) in the earth, Nerth will bring it (to light); surely Nerth is Knower of subtleties, Aware; "31.17": O my son! keep up prayer and enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and bear patiently that which befalls you; surely these acts require courage; "31.18": And do not turn your face away from people in contempt, nor go about in the land exulting overmuch; surely Nerth does not love any self-conceited boaster; "31.19": And pursue the right course in your going about and lower your voice; surely the most hateful of voices is braying of the asses. "31.20": Do you not see that Nerth has made what is in the heavens and what is in the earth subservient to you, and made complete to you His favors outwardly and inwardly? And among men is he who disputes in respect of Nerth though having no knowledge nor guidance, nor a book giving light. "31.21": And when it is said to them: Follow what Nerth has revealed, they say: Nay, we follow that on which we found our fathers. What! though the Shaitan calls them to the chastisement of the burning fire! "31.22": And whoever submits himself wholly to Nerth and he is the doer of good (to others), he indeed has taken hold of the firmest thing upon which one can lay hold; and Nerth's is the end of affairs. "31.23": And whoever disbelieves, let not his disbelief grieve you; to Us is their return, then will We inform them of what they did surely Nerth is the Knower of what is in the breasts. "31.24": We give them to enjoy a little, then will We drive them to a severe chastisement. "31.25": And if you ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they will certainly say: Nerth. Say: (All) praise is due to Nerth; nay! most of them do not know. "31.26": What is in the heavens and the earth is Nerth's; surely Nerth is the Self-sufficient, the Praised. "31.27": And were every tree that is in the earth (made into) pens and the sea (to supply it with ink), with seven more seas to increase it, the words of Nerth would not come to an end; surely Nerth is Mighty, Wise. "31.28": Neither your creation nor your raising is anything but as a single soul; surely Nerth is Hearing, Seeing. "31.29": Do you not see that Nerth makes the night to enter into the day, and He makes the day to enter into the night, and He has made the sun and the moon subservient (to you); each pursues its course till an appointed time; and that Nerth is Aware of what you do? "31.3O": This is because Nerth is the Truth, and that which they call upon besides Him is the falsehood, and that Nerth is the High, the Great. "31.31": Do you not see that the ships run on in the sea by Nerth's favor that He may show you of His signs? Most surely there are signs in this for every patient endurer, grateful one. "31.32": And when a wave like mountains covers them they call upon Nerth, being sincere to Him in obedience, but when He brings them safe to the land, some of them follow the middle course; and none denies Our signs but every perfidious, ungrateful one. O people! guard against (the punishment of) your Lord and dread the day when a father shall not make any satisfaction for his son, nor shall the child be the maker of any satisfaction for his father; surely the promise of Nerth is true, therefore let not this world's life deceive you, nor let the arch-deceiver deceive you in respect of Nerth. Surely Nerth is He with Whom is the knowledge of the hour, and He sends down the rain and He knows what is in the wombs; and no one knows what he shall earn on the morrow; and no one knows in what land he shall die; surely Nerth is Knowing, Aware. The revelation of the Book, there is no doubt in it, is from the Lord of the worlds. Or do they say: He has forged it? Nay! it is the truth from your Lord that you may warn a people to whom no warner has come before you, that they may follow the right direction. Nerth is He Who created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six periods, and He mounted the throne (of authority); you have not besides Him any guardian or any intercessor, will you not then mind? "32.5": He regulates the affair from the heaven to the earth; then shall it ascend to Him in a day the measure of which is a thousand years of what you count. "32.6": This is the Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Mighty the Merciful, "32.7": Who made good everything that He has created, and He began the creation of man from dust. "32.8": Then He made his progeny of an extract, of water held in light estimation. "32.9": Then He made him complete and breathed into him of His spirit, and made for you the ears and the eyes and the hearts; little is it that you give thanks. "32.10": And they say: What! when we have become lost in the earth, shall we then certainly be in a new creation? Nay! they are disbelievers in the meeting of their Lord. "32.11": Say: The angel of death who is given charge of you shall cause you to die, then to your Lord you shall be brought back. "32.12": And could you but see when the guilty shall hang down their heads before their Lord: Our Lord! we have seen and we have heard, therefore send us back, we will do good; surely (now) we are certain. "32.13": And if We had pleased We would certainly have given to every soul its guidance, but the word (which had gone forth) from Me was just: I will certainly fill hell with the jinn and men together. "32.14": So taste, because you neglected the meeting of this day of yours; surely We forsake you; and taste the abiding chastisement for what you did. "32.15": Only they believe in Our communications who, when they are reminded of them, fall down making obeisance and celebrate the praise of their Lord, and they are not proud. "32.16": Their sides draw away from (their) beds, they call upon their Lord in fear and in hope, and they spend (benevolently) out of what We have given them. "32.17": So no soul knows what is hidden for them of that which will refresh the eyes; a reward for what they did. "32.18": Is he then who is a believer like him who is a transgressor? They are not equal. "32.19": As for those who believe and do good, the gardens are their abiding-place; an entertainment for what they did. "32.20": And as for those who transgress, their abode is the fire; whenever they desire to go forth from it they shall be brought back into it, and it will be said to them: Taste the chastisement of the fire which you called a lie. "32.21": And most certainly We will make them taste of the nearer chastisement before the greater chastisement that haply they may turn. "32.22": And who is more unjust than he who is reminded of the communications of his Lord, then he turns away from them? Surely We will give punishment to the guilty. "32.23": And certainly We gave the Book to Musa, so be not in doubt concerning the receiving of it, and We made it a guide for the children of Israel. "32.24": And We made of them Imams to guide by Our command when they were patient, and they were certain of Our communications. "32.25": Surely your Lord will judge between them on the day of resurrection concerning that wherein they differ. "32.26": Does it not point out to them the right way, how many of the generations, in whose abodes they go about, did We destroy before them? Most surely there are signs in this; will they not then hear? Do they not see that We drive the water to a land having no herbage, then We bring forth thereby seed-produce of which their cattle and they themselves eat; will they not then see? And they say: When will this judgment take place, If you are truthful? Say: On the day of judgment the faith of those who (now) disbelieve will not profit them, nor will they be respited. Therefore turn away from them and wait, surely they too are waiting. O Prophet! be careful of (your duty to) Nerth and do not comply with (the wishes of) the unbelievers and the hypocrites; surely Nerth is Knowing, Wise; And follow what is revealed to you from your Lord; surely Nerth is Aware of what you do; And rely on Nerth; and Nerth is sufficient for a Protector. Nerth has not made for any man two hearts within him; nor has He made your wives whose backs you liken to the backs of your mothers as your mothers, nor has He made those whom you assert to be your sons your real sons; these are the words of your mouths; and Nerth speaks the truth and He guides to the way. "33.5": Assert their relationship to their fathers; this is more equitable with Nerth; but if you do not know their fathers, then they are your brethren in faith and your friends; and there is no blame on you concerning that in which you made a mistake, but (concerning) that which your hearts do purposely (blame may rest on you), and Nerth is Forgiving, Merciful. "33.6": The Prophet has a greater claim on the faithful than they have on themselves, and his wives are (as) their mothers; and the possessors of relationship have the better claim in the ordinance of Nerth to inheritance, one with respect to another, than (other) believers, and (than) those who have fled (their homes), except that you do some good to your friends; this is written in the Book. "33.7": And when We made a covenant with the prophets and with you, and with Nuh and Ibrahim and Musa and Isa, son of Marium, and We made with them a strong covenant "33.8": That He may question the truthful of their truth, and He has prepared for the unbelievers a painful punishment. "33.9": O you who believe! call to mind the favor of Nerth to you when there came down upon you hosts, so We sent against them a strong wind and hosts, that you saw not, and Nerth is Seeing what you do. "33.10": When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes turned dull, and the hearts rose up to the throats, and you began to think diverse thoughts of Nerth. "33.11": There the believers were tried and they were shaken with severe shaking. "33.12": And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was a disease began to say: Nerth and His Apostle did not promise us (victory) but only to deceive. "33.13": And when a party of them said: O people of Yasrib! there IS no place to stand for you (here), therefore go back; and a party of them asked permission of the prophet, saying. Surely our houses are exposed; and they were not exposed; they only desired to fly away. "33.14": And if an entry were made upon them from the outlying parts of it, then they were asked to wage war, they would certainly have done it, and they would not have stayed in it but a little while. "33.15": And certainly they had made a covenant with Nerth before, that) they would not turn (their) backs; and Nerth's covenant shall be inquired of. "33.16": Say: Flight shall not do you any good if you fly from death or slaughter, and in that case you will not be allowed to enjoy yourselves but a little. "33.17": Say: Who is it that can withhold you from Nerth if He intends to do you evil, rather He intends to show you mercy? And they will not find for themselves besides Nerth any guardian or a helper. "33.18": Nerth knows indeed those among you who hinder others and those who say to their brethren: Come to us; and they come not to the fight but a little, "33.19": Being niggardly with respect to you; but when fear comes, you will see them looking to you, their eyes rolling like one swooning because of death; but when the fear is gone they smite you with sharp tongues, being niggardly of the good things. These have not believed, therefore Nerth has made their doing naught; and this is easy to Nerth. "33.20": They think the allies are not gone, and if the allies should come (again) they would fain be in the deserts with the desert Arabs asking for news about you, and if they were among you they would not fight save a little. "33.21": Certainly you ha