CHAPTER 21.  THE PROPHETS                                                      SECTION 1.  PART  XVII

PART XVII

IN THE NAME OF GOD
THE MOST GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL GOD

1  CLOSER TO MANKIND COMES THEIR RECKONING
YET THEY HEED NOT AND TURN AWAY REJECTING

2  NEVER COMES ANYTHING OF A RENEWED MESSAGE TO THEM 
BUT IT IS LISTENED TO IN JEST BY THEM

3  THEIR HEARTS TOYING AS WITH TRIFLES 
THE WRONG DOERS CONCEAL THEIR PRIVATE COUNSELS 

SAYING, IS THIS ONE MORE THAN A MAN LIKE YOU?
YOU GO TO WITCHCRAFT WITH YOUR EYES OPEN IN FRONT OF YOU

4  SAY, MY LORD KNOWS EVERY WORD SPOKEN 
BOTH ON THE EARTH AND IN THE HEAVENS
HE KNOWS ALL THINGS IN CREATION

5  THEY SAY OF THE MESSAGE WHEN THEY HEAR IT
THESE ARE MEDLEYS OF DREAMS, HE FORGED IT, HE IS BUT A POET  
SO LET HIM BRING US A SIGN LIKE THOSE SENT TO FORMER  PROPHETS

6  THOSE WHOM WE DESTROYED PREVIOUSLY 
NOT ONE OF THE POPULATIONS BELIEVED 
SO WILL THESE THEN BELIEVE?

7  BEFORE YOU ALSO THE MESSENGERS WE SENT WERE MEN 
TO WHOM WE GRANTED KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM AND INSPIRATION 
IF YOU REALIZE THIS NOT ASK THOSE WHO HAVE THE REVELATIONS 

8  NOR DID WE GIVE THEM BODIES EXEMPT FROM EATING
NOR WERE THEY EXEMPT FROM DYING

9  IN THE END WE FULFILLED OUR PROMISE TO THEM 
AND THOSE WHOM WE PLEASED WE SAVED THEM
THE TRANSGRESSORS WE DESTROYED THEM

10  WE HAVE REVEALED THE BOOK TO YOU 
IN WHICH THERE IS A MESSAGE FOR YOU 
IS THIS NOT UNDERSTOOD BY YOU? 

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CHAPTER 21.  THE PROPHETS                                                      SECTION 2.  PART  XVII

11  HOW MANY WERE THE POPULATIONS 
WE DESTROYED FOR THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS
AND SET UP OTHER PEOPLE IN THEIR HABITATIONS?

12  YET WHEN THEY FELT OUR PUNISHMENT COMING 
THEN THEY TRIED FLEEING AND HIDING

13  FLEE NOT BUT RETURN TO THE GOOD THINGS 
WHICH WERE GIVEN YOU AND TO YOUR DWELLINGS
IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY BE CALLED FOR QUESTIONING

14  THEN THEY SAID, WOE TO US 
SURELY WE WERE UNJUST

15  AND THAT CRY OF THEIRS DID NOT CEASE 
UNTIL WE MADE THEM AS ASHES QUENCHED SILENTLY  

16  BUT THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND ALL BETWEEN THEM 
NOT FOR IDLE SPORT DID WE CREATE THEM

17  HAD WE WISHED TO TAKE JUST A PASTIME OF THINGS
WE WOULD SURELY HAVE TAKEN IT FROM THE THINGS 
NEAREST TO US IF WE WOULD DO SUCH A THING

18  WE HURL THE TRUTH AGAINST FALSEHOOD 
AND IT KNOCKS OUT THE BRAINS OF FALSEHOOD

AND FALSEHOOD DOES PERISH AND WOE BE TO YOU 
FOR THE FALSE THINGS ASCRIBED TO US BY YOU

19  ALL CREATURES EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY BELONG TO HIM
AND THOSE WHO ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF HIM
EVEN THEY ARE NOT TOO PROUD TO SERVE HIM 
NOR DO THEY EVER WEARY OF SERVING HIM

20  THEY CELEBRATE HIS PRAISES NIGHT AND DAY 
NOR DO THEY SLACKEN IN ANY WAY

21  OR HAVE THEY TAKEN FOR WORSHIP INSTEAD
GODS FROM THE EARTH WHO CAN RAISE THE DEAD?

22  IF THERE WERE IN HEAVEN AND EARTH BESIDES GOD OTHER DIETIES 
THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN CONFUSION IN BOTH OF THESE
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY 
HE IS THE LORD OF THE THRONE OF AUTHORITY
AND HIGH ABOVE WHAT THEY ATTRIBUTE TO HIM IS HE

23  HE CANNOT BE QUESTIONED FOR HIS ACTS 
BUT THEY WILL BE QUESTIONED FOR THEIR ACTS

24  HAVE THEY TAKEN OTHER GODS BESIDES HIM IN DIETY?  
THEN SAY, BRING YOUR CONVINCING TESTIMONY
FOR THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF THOSE WITH ME
AND THE MESSAGE OF THOSE BEFORE ME
BUT MOST OF THEM HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE INDEED
SO THEY TURN AWAY AND DO NOT TAKE HEED

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CHAPTER 21.  THE PROPHETS                                     SECTION 2 (CONT'D). PART  XVII

25  NOT A MESSENGER DID WE SEND BEFORE YOU PREVIOUSLY
WITHOUT THIS INSPIRATION THAT THERE IS NO GOD BUT ME 
THEREFORE WORSHIP AND SERVE ONLY ME

26  GOD HAS BEGOTTEN OFFSPRING, THEY DECREE
NO, BUT TO HIM AND HIM ALONE BE THE GLORY 
THEY ARE BUT SERVANTS RAISED HONORABLY

27  THEY DO NOT SPEAK PRIOR TO HIS SPEAKING 
AND THEY ACT IN ALL THINGS BY HIS ORDERING

28  HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEFORE THEM 
AND WHAT IS BEHIND THEM 

THEY INTERCEDE NOT EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO ARE ACCEPTABLE 
AND IN FEAR OF HIM THEY TREMBLE

29  AND IF ANY OF THEM SHOULD SAY, I AM A GOD BESIDES HIM
THEN WE WOULD WITHOUT DOUBT REWARD HELL TO HIM 
HE WHO ACTS WRONG THIS IS HOW WE REWARD HIM

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CHAPTER 21.  THE PROPHETS                                                      SECTION 3.  PART  XVII

30  DO NOT THE DISBELIEVERS 
SEE THAT THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WERE JOINED TOGETHER 
AS ONE UNIT OF CREATION BEFORE WE CLOVED THEM ASUNDER   
AND THAT EVERY LIVING THING WE MADE FROM WATER
WILL THEY NOT THEN BE BELIEVERS?

31  WE SET ON THE EARTH FIRM STANDING MOUNTAINS   
LEST IT WOULD SHAKE WITH THEM AND BE IN CONVULSION 
WE HAVE MADE IN IT BROAD HIGHWAYS BETWEEN MOUNTAINS 
FOR THEM TO PASS THROUGH THAT THEY MAY RECEIVE DIRECTION

32  WE HAVE MADE THE HEAVENS AS A GUARDED CANOPY 
YET THEY TURN AWAY FROM ITS SIGNS IGNORANTLY

33  THE NIGHT AND THE DAY HE CREATED IT
AND THE SUN AND THE MOON ALSO HE CREATED IT 
AND ALL THE CELESTIAL BODIES TO SWIM ALONG EACH IN ITS 
ROUNDED COURSE AND IN ITS OWN INDIVIDUAL ORBITS

34  WE GRANTED NOT TO ANY MAN BEFORE TO LIVE PERMANENTLY 
IF THEN YOU SHOULD DIE WOULD THEY LIVE PERMANENTLY?

35  EVERY SOUL WILL HAVE A TASTE OF DEATH AND WE IN TURN
TEST YOU BY EVIL AND TO US IS YOUR RETURN 

36  THE DISBELIEVERS RIDICULE YOU ABOUT GOD  
THEY SAY, IS THIS THE ONE WHO TALKS OF YOUR GODS? 
AND THEY BLASPHEME AT THE MENTION OF THE BENEFICENT GOD 

37  MAN IS A CREATURE OF HASTE, BUT THEN
SOON WILL I SHOW YOU MY SIGNS AND THEN 
YOU WILL NOT ASK FOR THEM TO BE HASTENED 

38  THEY SAY, WHEN WILL THIS PROMISE COME TRUE
IF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS TRUE

39  IF IT WAS ONLY  KNOWN TO THE DISBELIEVERS 
WHEN THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WARD OFF THE FIRE 
FROM THEIR FACES AND BACKS AND THEY WILL HAVE NO HELPER

40  AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WILL SEE IT 
NO POWER WILL THEY HAVE TO AVERT IT 
NOR WILL THEY BE RESPITED

41  MANY MESSENGERS BEFORE YOU WERE MOCKED
THEIR SCOFFERS WERE HEMMED IN BY THE THING THEY MOCKED

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CHAPTER 21.  THE PROPHETS                                                      SECTION 4.  PART  XVII

42  SAY, WHO CAN GUARD YOU FROM THE WRATH OF GOD? 
YET THEY TURN AWAY FROM THE MENTION OF GOD

43  OR HAVE THEY GODS THAT CAN GUARD THEM FROM US? 
THEY HAVE NO POWER TO AID THEMSELVES AGAINST US
NOR CAN THEY BE DEFENDED FROM US

44  WE GAVE THE GOOD THINGS OF THIS LIFE TO THEM
AND THEIR FATHERS UNTIL THE PERIOD GREW LONG FOR THEM 
SEE THEY NOT THAT WE REDUCE THE CONTROL OF THE LAND FROM THEM 
FROM ITS OUTLYING BORDERS?  WHO THEN WILL WIN, US OR THEM?

45  SAY, I DO BUT WARN YOU ACCORDING TO REVELATION
BUT THE DEAF WILL NOT HEAR THE CALL EVEN AFTER ADMONITION

46  IF THEY WERE TOUCHED BY A BLAST OF GOD'S PENALTY  
THEY WOULD SAY, WOE TO US, ASTRAY WERE WE

47  WE WILL SET UP SCALES OF JUSTICE FOR JUDGMENT DAY 
SO THAT NOT A SOUL WILL BE DEALT WITH IN ANY UNJUST WAY 

IF THERE BE NO MORE THAN THE WEIGHT OF A MUSTARD SEED 
WE WILL COUNT IT AND WE COUNT ACCURATELY INDEED  

48  TO MOSES AND AARON WE GAVE THE CRITERION 
FOR JUDGMENT AND A LIGHT OF DISCRETION
AND A MESSAGE FOR THOSE WHO WOULD RECEIVE ADMONITION

49  THOSE WHO FEAR THEIR LORD IN SECRET AND IN WONDERMENT
DO THEY HOLD THE HOUR OF JUDGMENT 

50  THIS WHICH WE HAVE SENT DOWN IS A BLESSED REMINDER 
WILL YOU THEN BE OF THE DENIERS?

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CHAPTER 21.  THE PROPHETS                                                      SECTION 5.  PART  XVII

51  ON ABRAHAM WE BESTOWED HIS VIRTUE OF CONDUCT UPON HIM  
AND WELL ACQUAINTED WERE WE WITH HIM 

52  HE SAID TO HIS FATHER AND TO HIS PEOPLE
WHAT ARE THESE IMAGES TO WHICH YOU ARE SO FAITHFUL?

53  THEY SAID, WE FOUND THEM BEING SERVED BY OUR FATHERS 

54  HE SAID, YOU AND YOUR FATHERS
HAVE BEEN IN MANIFEST ERROR

55  THEY SAID, HAVE YOU BROUGHT US THE TRUTH
OR ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE WHO ARE JESTING TOO?

56  HE SAID, THE LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH CREATED THIS 
FROM NOTHING AND TO THIS TRUTH I AM A WITNESS 

57  AND BY GOD I HAVE A PLAN FOR YOUR IDOLS TODAY
AFTER YOU TURN YOUR BACKS AND GO AWAY

58  SO HE BROKE THEM TO PIECES ALL BUT THE BIGGEST ONE
THAT THEY MIGHT TURN AND ADDRESS THEMSELVES TO THAT ONE

59  THEY SAID, WHO HAS DONE THIS TO OUR DEITIES
HE  MUST INDEED BE SOME MAN OF IMPIETY 

60  THEY SAID, WE HEARD A YOUTH TALK OF THEM 
HE IS CALLED BY THE NAME OF ABRAHAM

61  THEY SAID, THEN BRING HIM BEFORE THE PEOPLE'S EYES 
THAT THEY MAY SEE HIM AND TESTIFY

62  THEY SAID, ARE YOU OH ABRAHAM, THE ONE 
THAT TO OUR IDOLS THIS HAS BEEN DONE? 

63  HE SAID, THIS WAS DONE BY THIS THEIR BIGGEST ONE 
ASK THEM IF THAT THEY CAN SPEAK AS INTELLIGENT ONES

64  SO THEY TURNED TO THEMSELVES AND SAID, SURELY 
YOU ARE THE ONES ACTING WRONGFULLY

65  THEN WERE THEY CONFOUNDED AND SAID SHAMEFULLY
YOU KNOW FULL WELL THAT THESE IDOLS DO NOT SPEAK

66  HE SAID, THEN ARE THINGS WORSHIPPED BY YOU
BESIDES GOD THAT DO NO GOOD NOR HARM TO YOU?

67  SHAME ON YOU AND ON WHAT YOU 
SERVE BESIDES GOD, IS THERE NO SENSE IN YOU?

68  THEY SAID, BURN HIM AND YOUR GOD'S PROTECT THEM ALL
THAT IS IF YOU WOULD DO ANYTHING AT ALL

69  WE SAID, OH FIRE BE COOL AND BE
A MEANS OF ABRAHAM'S SAFETY

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CHAPTER 21.  THE PROPHETS                           SECTION 5 (CONT'D).           PART  XVII

70  THEN THEY SOUGHT AGAINST HIM A STRATAGEM 
BUT WE MADE TO BE THE ONES TO LOOSE TO BE THEM

71  BUT WE DELIVERED HIM AND LOT AND GAVE THEM DIRECTIONS   
TO THE LAND WHICH WE HAVE BLESSED FOR THE NATIONS

72  AND WE BESTOWED ON HIM ISAAC AND JACOB A GRANDSON
AND WE MADE RIGHTEOUS MEN OF THEM EACH ONE 

73  WE MADE THEM LEADERS GUIDING MEN BY OUR LEAD
AND WE SENT THEM INSPIRATION TO DO GOOD DEEDS 
AND TO ESTABLISH REGULAR PRAYERS AND CHARITY 
AND THEY CONSTANTLY SERVED US AND US ONLY

74  AND TO LOT ALSO WE GAVE JUDGMENT AND INSTRUCTION
WE SAVED HIM FROM THE TOWN WHICH PRACTICED ABOMINATIONS 
FOR THEY WERE PEOPLE ADDICTED TO EVIL AND REBELLION  

75  AND WE ADMITTED HIM TO OUR MERCY
FOR HE WAS ONE WHO ACTED RIGHTEOUSLY

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CHAPTER 21.  THE PROPHETS                                                       SECTION 6.  PART  XVII

76  REMEMBER NOAH WHEN HE CRIED TO US PREVIOUSLY
WE LISTENED AND DELIVERED HIM AND HIS FAMILY 
FROM A GREAT DISTRESS SAFELY

77  WE HELPED HIM AGAINST PEOPLE WHO REJECTED OUR MESSAGES 
SO WE DROWNED THEM IN THE FLOOD FOR THEIR TRESPASSES

78  OUR SERVANTS DAVID AND SOLOMON GAVE JUDGMENT CONCERNING
THE FIELD INTO WHICH THE SHEEP OF PEOPLE HAD BEEN STRAYING
AND WE DID SURELY WITNESS THEIR JUDGING

79  TO SOLOMON WE INSPIRED UNDERSTANDING OF THE MATTER 
WE GAVE THEM JUDGMENT AND KNOWLEDGE AND IT WAS OUR POWER 

THAT MADE THE MOUNTAINS CELEBRATE OUR PRAISES 
AND WE MADE THE BIRDS SUBSERVIENT TO DAVID

80  WE TAUGHT HIM THE MAKING OF COATS OF ARMOR 
TO GUARD THEM FROM THE VIOLENCE OF OTHERS 
WILL YOU NOT SHOW GRATITUDE TO YOUR MAKER?

81  IT WAS OUR POWER THAT MADE THE VIOLENT WIND 
TO FLOW TAMELY FOR SOLOMON TO HIS ORDER IN THE LAND 
WHICH WE HAD BLESSED, FOR SURELY ALL THINGS WE COMMAND

82  OF THE DEVILS WERE SOME WHO DIVED FOR HIM 
AND THEY DID DO OTHER WORK BESIDES FOR HIM
AND IT WAS WE WHO GUARDED THEM FOR HIM

83  AND REMEMBER JOB WHEN HE 
CRIED TO HIS LORD, DISTRESS HAS SEIZED ME 
BUT YOU ARE THE MOST MERCIFUL OF THOSE THAT SHOW MERCY

84  SO WE LISTENED TO HIM 
WE REMOVED THE DISTRESS THAT WAS ON HIM 
AND WE RESTORED ALL OF HIS PEOPLE BACK TO HIM 

AND DOUBLED THEIR NUMBER AS A GRACE FROM US
AND A THING FOR COMMEMORATION FOR ALL WHO SERVE US

85  AND REMEMBER IDRIS AND ZUL-KIFL AND ISHMAEL 
WERE ALL MEN WHO WERE PATIENT AND FAITHFUL

86  WE ADMITTED THEM TO OUR MERCY 
FOR THEY WERE OF THOSE WHO LIVED RIGHTEOUSLY

87  REMEMBER JONAH WHEN HE DEPARTED IN ANGER 
AND HE IMAGINED THAT WE HAD OVER HIM NO POWER 
BUT THROUGH THE DEPTHS OF DARKNESS HE UTTERED
THERE IS NO GOD BUT YOU, TO YOU IS DUE ALL HONOR

88  SO WE LISTENED TO HIM AND DELIVERED HIM FROM DISTRESS
AND SO DO WE DELIVER THOSE WHO ARE RIGHTEOUS

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CHAPTER 21.  THE PROPHETS                                    SECTION 6 (CONT'D). PART  XVII

89  AND REMEMBER ZAKARIZA, WHEN HE CRIED TO HIS LORD
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ME WITHOUT OFFSPRING MY LORD
THOUGH YOU ARE THE BEST OF INHERITORS

90  SO WE LISTENED TO HIM
AND WE GRANTED JOHN TO HIM 
WE CURED HIS WIFE'S BARRENNESS FOR HIM 

AND THEY EMULATED GOOD WORKS AND THESE THREE
CALLED ON US HOPING AND FEARING AND HUMBLY 

91  REMEMBER SHE WHOSE CHASTIY SHE GUARDED 
AND WE BREATHED INTO HER OF OUR SPIRIT 

WE MADE HER AND HER SON 
A SIGN FOR THE NATIONS

92  SURELY THIS YOUR BROTHERHOOD 
IS A SINGLE BROTHERHOOD 

AND I AM YOUR LORD AND CHERISHER 
THEREFORE SERVE ME AND NO OTHER

93  BUT LATER GENERATIONS CUT OFF THEIR AFFAIR OF UNITY 
YET WILL THEY ALL RETURN TO US SURELY

308
CHAPTER 21.  THE PROPHETS                                                      SECTION 7.  PART  XVII

94  WHOEVER DOES GOOD AND IS A BELIEVER 
WE WILL NOT EVER REJECT HIS ENDEAVOR
AND WE WILL RECORD IT IN HIS FAVOR

95  BUT THERE IS A BAN ON ANY POPULATION 
THAT THEY WILL NOT RETURN AFTER THEIR DESTRUCTION

96  UNTIL GOG AND MAGOG ARE LET THROUGH THEIR BARRIER
AND THEY SWIFTLY SWARM FROM EVERYWHERE

97  AND THEN WILL THE TRUE PROMISE COME INTO REALITY 
AND THEN THE DISBELIEVERS WILL STARE FRIGHTFULLY
THEY WILL SAY, WOE TO US WE WERE WRONG INDEED 
AND UNFORTUNATELY WE DID NOT TAKE HEED

98  SURELY YOU DISBELIEVERS AND THE FALSE GODS 
THAT YOU WORSHIP AND SERVE BESIDES GOD 

ARE BUT FUEL FOR HELL 
IN IT YOU WILL SURELY DWELL

99  IF THESE HAD BEEN GODS THEY WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THERE 
BUT EACH ONE OF THEM WILL ABIDE THERE

100  CRYING IS ALL THEY WILL DO THERE
NOR WILL THEY HEAR ANYTHING ELSE THERE

101  THOSE FOR WHOM THE GOOD RECORD HAS GONE ALREADY 
WILL BE REMOVED FAR FROM IT SAFELY

102  NOT THE SLIGHTEST SOUND WILL THEY HEAR OF HELL 
WHAT THEIR SOULS DESIRE IN THAT WILL THEY DWELL

103  NO GRIEF WILL THE GREAT TERROR BRING THEM
THE ANGELS WILL WITH MUTUAL GREETINGS MEET THEM 
AND WILL SAY, THIS IS THE DAY THAT WAS PROMISED TO THEM

104  THE DAY THAT THE HEAVENS ARE ROLLED UP 
LIKE A SCROLL WHEN COMPLETED BOOKS ARE ROLLED UP

AND EVEN AS WE PRODUCED THE FIRST CREATION
SO WILL WE PRODUCE A NEW CREATION
FOR THIS IS A PROMISE WHICH WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN
AND WE WILL FULFILL IT TO COMPLETION

105  WE WROTE IN THE PSALMS BEFORE THIS 
AND AFTER THAT THE MESSAGE GIVEN TO MOSES 
THAT THE LAND WILL BE INHERITED BY THE RIGHTEOUS 

106  SURELY THIS QURAN IS A MESSAGE FROM GOD
FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD TRULY WORSHIP GOD

107  WE SENT YOU ONLY FOR THIS
AS A MERCY FOR ALL CREATURES THAT EXIST

108  SAY, WHAT HAS COME TO ME BY INSPIRATION 
IS THAT YOUR GOD IS ONE GOD, SO BOW TO HIM IN SUBMISSION 

309
CHAPTER 21.  THE PROPHETS                                     SECTION 7 (CONT'D). PART  XVII

109  BUT IF THEY TURN BACK THEN YOU
SAY TO THEM, I HAVE PROCLAIMED THE MESSAGE TO YOU 
BUT I KNOW NOT WHETHER THAT OF WHICH YOU 
ARE PROMISED IS NEAR OR FAR FROM YOU

110  IT IS HE WHO KNOWS WHAT IS OPENLY SPOKEN 
AND WHAT YOU IN YOUR HEARTS KEEP SECRETLY HIDDEN

111  I KNOW NOT BUT THAT IT MAY BE A TRIAL FOR YOU 
AND A GRANT OF WORLDLY LIVELIHOOD TO YOU 

112  SAY, OH MY LORD, JUDGE IN TRUTH, FOR SURELY
IT IS GOD WHOSE ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE 
SOUGHT AGAINST YOUR BLASPHEMIES 

310