CHAPTER 34.  SHEBA                                                                       SECTION 1.  PART  XXII

IN THE NAME OF GOD
THE MOST GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL GOD

1  PRAISE BE TO GOD TO WHOM BELONGS ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER
IS IN HEAVEN AND EARTH, TO HIM BE PRAISE IN THE HEREAFTER 
AND HE IS FULL OF KNOWLEDGE AND POWER
AND IS ACQUAINTED WITH ALL MATTERS

2  HE KNOWS WHAT GOES INTO THE EARTH AND WHAT COMES OUT FROM IT 
AND WHAT COMES DOWN FROM THE SKY AND WHAT ASCENDS UP TO IT
AND OF FORGIVENESS AND MERCY HE IS FULL OF IT

3  THE DISBELIEVERS 
SAY, NEVER TO US WILL COME THE HOUR 
SAY, BUT IT WILL COME UPON YOU FROM THE CREATOR

WHO KNOWS THE UNSEEN AND FROM WHOM IS NOT HIDDEN 
THE LEAST LITTLE ATOM IN THE EARTH OR THE HEAVENS 

NOR IS THERE ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT OR GREATER 
BUT ALL IS WRITTEN IN A CLEAR RECORD 

4  THAT HE MAY REWARD THOSE WHO ARE RIGHTEOUS 
FOR THEM IS FORGIVENESS AND A SUSTENANCE MOST GENEROUS

5  BUT THOSE WHO STRIVE AGAINST OUR SIGNS TO FRUSTRATE THEM 
THERE WILL SURELY BE A GRIEVOUS PENALTY FOR THEM 
AND A PUNISHMENT MOST HUMILIATING FOR THEM

6  AND THOSE TO WHOM KNOWLEDGE HAS BEEN GIVEN
KNOW THAT THIS IS GOD'S REVELATION   

AND THAT IT IS TRUE AND THAT IT GUIDES DIRECTLY 
TO THE PATH OF ONE EXALTED AND PRAISEWORTHY 

7  THE DISBELIEVERS SAY IN RIDICULE
SHALL WE POINT OUT TO YOU 
A MAN THAT WILL TELL YOU 

WHEN YOU ARE ALL SCATTERED TO PIECES IN DISINTEGRATION 
THAT YOU WILL THEN BE RAISED TO A NEW CREATION?

8  IS HE AGAINST GOD A LIAR OR IS HE INSANELY IN ERROR? 
NO, IT IS THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE HEREAFTER 
THAT ARE IN REAL TORMENT AND FARTHEST IN ERROR

9  SEE THEY NOT WHAT IS BEFORE THEM AND BEHIND THEM ?
AND WE COULD MAKE THE EARTH TO SWALLOW THEM 
OR CAUSE A PIECE OF THE SKY TO FALL UPON THEM
IN THIS FOR ALL DEVOTEES IS A SIGN FOR THEM 

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CHAPTER 34.  SHEBA                                                                       SECTION 2.  PART  XXII

10  WE  BESTOWED GRACE UPON DAVID FROM OURSELVES TO HIM
OH YOU MOUNTAINS, SING BACK THE PRAISES OF GOD WITH HIM
AND YOU BIRDS ALSO AND WE MADE THE IRON SOFT FOR HIM

11  COMMANDING, MAKE COATS OF ARMOR
BALANCING THE RINGS OF CHAIN ARMOR 
AND BE A RIGHTEOUSNESS DOER
FOR OF ALL THAT YOU DO I AM AWARE

12  AND TO SOLOMON WE MADE THE WIND TO FLOW OBEDIENTLY
ITS EARLY MORNING STRIDE WAS A MONTHS JOURNEY 
AND ITS EVENING STRIDE WAS A MONTHS JOURNEY 
AND WE MADE MOLTEN BRASS TO FLOW FOR HIM TAMELY
AND THE DEMONS WORKED FOR HIM SUBMISSIVELY
AND IF ANY OF THEM TURNED ASIDE FROM OUR DECREES
WE MADE HIM TASTE OF THE FIRE AS A PENALTY 

13  THEY WORKED FOR HIM MAKING ARCHES, IMAGES AND BASINS 
AS LARGE AS RESERVOIRS AND FIXED COOKING CAULDRONS

SO WORK, YOU SONS OF DAVID, AND BE THANKFUL 
BUT FEW OF MY SERVANTS ARE GRATEFUL

14  WHEN SOLOMON'S DEATH WE DECREED  
NOTHING SHOWED THEM HIS DEATH CLEARLY
BUT A LITTLE  EARTHWORM WHICH KEPT GNAWING SLOWLY 
AWAY AT HIS STAFF SO WHEN HE FELL THE DEMONS SAW PLAINLY 
BUT IF THEY HAD KNOWN THE UNSEEN THEY SURELY
WOULD NOT HAVE STAYED IN THE HUMILIATING PENALTY 

15  IN SHEBA'S HOMELAND THERE WAS A SIGN  
TWO GARDENS TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT

AND SUSTENANCE PROVIDED BY GOD, MOST GRACEFUL
SO EAT AND BE PLENTIFUL AND TO GOD BE GRATEFUL 
FOR A GOOD LAND AND FOR A GOD MOST MERCIFUL

16  BUT THEY TURNED AWAY FROM THEIR MAKER 
AND WE SENT AGAINST THEM THE FLOOD FROM THE WATERS
AND WE MADE THEIR GARDENS INTO TREES THAT WERE BITTER
AND TAMARISKS AND TOO SOME LOTE TREES THAT WERE MEAGER

17   WE GAVE THEM THIS AS A REQUITAL
BECAUSE THEY REJECTED FAITH AND WERE UNGRATEFUL
AND NEVER EXCEPT TO REJECTERS DO WE GIVE SUCH REQUITAL 

18  BETWEEN THEM AND CITIES ON WHICH WE HAD POURED BLESSINGS
WE HAD PLACED CITIES IN PROMINENT DWELLINGS 

AND BETWEEN THEM WE HAD APPOINTED JOURNEYS IN PROPORTION 
TRAVEL THEREIN BY NIGHT AND BY DAY WITH OUR PROTECTION

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CHAPTER 34.  SHEBA                                                     SECTION 2 (CONT'D). PART  XXII

19  BUT THEY SAID, OUR LORD, PLACE LONGER DISTANCES 
BETWEEN OUR JOURNEY IN STAGES 

BUT THEY WRONGED THEIR OWN SOULS
AND WE MADE THEM AS A TALE THAT IS TOLD

AND WE DISPERSED THEM ALL IN SCATTERED FRAGMENTS
IN THIS ARE SIGNS FOR EVERY SOUL THAT IS PATIENT 
AND EVERYONE THAT IS GRATEFUL AND CONSTANT

20  AND ON THEM DID SATAN PROVE TRUE HIS IDEA FULLY
FOR THEY FOLLOWED HIM ALL BUT A BELIEVING PARTY 

21  BUT HE HAD OVER THEM NO AUTHORITY
EXCEPT THAT WE MIGHT TEST THE MAN WHO BELIEVES 
IN THE HEREAFTER FROM THOSE WHO ACT DOUBTFULLY
AND YOUR LORD DOES WATCH OVER ALL THINGS SURELY

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CHAPTER 34.  SHEBA                                                                       SECTION 3.  PART  XXII

22  SAY, CALL ON WHOM YOU WILL BESIDES THE CREATOR 
BESIDES HIM THEY HAVE NO POWER
NOT THE WEIGHT OF AN ATOM ANYWHERE
IN HEAVEN OR EARTH NOR HAVE THEY IN IT A SHARE 
NOR IS ANY OF THEM TO GOD A HELPER 

23  IN HIS PRESENCE THERE CAN BE NO INTERCESSION 
EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO HE HAS GRANTED PERMISSION 
AND SO FAR IS THIS THE CASE THAT WHEN APPREHENSION
IS REMOVED FROM THEIR HEARTS ON THE DAY OF RESSURECTION
THEN THEY WILL BE ASKED THE QUESTION
WHAT IS IT THAT IS YOUR LORD'S INSTRUCTION? 
THEY WILL SAY, TO DO THAT WHICH IS TRUE IN DEVOTION
AND SURELY GOD IS THE LORD AND CHERISHER OF ALL CREATION

24  SAY, WHO IS HEAVEN AND EARTH'S SUSTAINER? 
SAY, IT IS GOD, THE CREATOR 
AND IT IS WE OR YOU WHO ARE EITHER
ON RIGHT GUIDANCE OR IN MANIFEST ERROR

25  SAY, YOU WILL NOT BE QUESTIONED AS TO OUR SINS
NOR WILL WE BE QUESTIONED AS TO YOUR SINS

26  SAY, OUR LORD WILL GATHER US TOGETHER 
AND WILL IN THE END DECIDE THE MATTER 
BETWEEN US AND YOU IN TRUTH AND HE WILL BE FAIR
AND HE IS THE BEST DECIDER AND BEST KNOWER

27  SHOW ME THOSE WHOM YOU HAVE JOINED WITH HIM AS PARTNERS
BY NO MEANS CAN YOU, HE IS GOD, AND IS EXALTED IN POWER 

28  AND WE HAVE SENT YOU AS A UNIVERSAL MESSENGER TO MEN 
GIVING THEM GLAD TIDINGS AND WARNING THEM AGAINST SIN 
BUT NO UNDERSTANDING HAVE MOST MEN 

29  THEY SAY WHEN WILL THIS PROMISE COME TRUE
IF WHAT IT IS YOU ARE SAYING IS TRUE?

30  SAY, THE APPOINTMENT TO YOU IS FOR A DAY 
WHICH YOU CANNOT HASTEN NOR CAN YOU DELAY

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CHAPTER 34.  SHEBA                                                                       SECTION 4.  PART  XXII

31  AND THE DISBELIEVERS SAY, WE WILL NEITHER
BELIEVE IN THIS SCRIPTURE NOR IN ANY OTHER
AND IF YOU COULD SEE THE WRONG DOERS 
WHEN THEY STAND BEFORE GOD BLAMING ONE ANOTHER 
THOSE WHO HAD BEEN DESPISED WILL SAY TO THEIR LEADERS 
IF IT HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR YOU WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BELIEVERS

32  THE ARROGANT ONES WILL SAY TO THOSE WHO 
HAD BEEN DESPISED, WAS IT WE WHO KEPT YOU 
BACK FROM THE RIGHT GUIDE AFTER IT REACHED YOU? 
NO, RATHER THE TRANSGRESSORS WERE YOU

33  THOSE WHO HAD BEEN THE DESPISED ONES WILL SURELY
SAY TO THE ONES WHO ACTED ARROGANTLY 
IT WAS A PLOT OF YOURS FOR YOU CONSTANTLY 
NIGHT AND DAY ORDERED US TO ACT UNGRATEFULLY
AND TO ATTRIBUTE OTHERS TO GOD EQUALLY
AND THEY WILL REPENT WHEN THEY SEE THE PENALTY
WE PUT SHACKLES ON THE NECKS OF THOSE WHO DISBELIEVED 
AND IT IS ONLY A REQUITAL FOR THEIR EVIL DEEDS

34  NEVER DID WE SEND A WARNER TO A POPULATION 
BUT AMONG THEM, SAID THE WEALTHY ONES 
WE BELIEVE NOT IN THE MISSION THAT YOU ARE ON

35  THEY SAID, WE HAVE MORE WEALTH AND SONS
AND WE WILL NOT BE THE PUNISHED ONES

36  SAY, SURELY MY LORD ENLARGES AND RESTRICTS THE PROVISION 
TO WHOM HE PLEASES BUT NO UNDERSTANDING HAVE MOST MEN 

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CHAPTER 34.  SHEBA                                                                       SECTION 5.  PART  XXII

37  IT IS NOT YOUR WEALTH NOR YOUR SONS EITHER
THAT TO US WILL BRING YOU NEARER 
BUT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE BELIEVERS
AND THOSE WHO ARE RIGHTEOUS DOERS
ARE THE ONES WHO WILL BE THE ACHIEVERS 
WHILE THEY RESIDE IN HIGH DWELLINGS SECURE

38  THOSE WHO STRIVE AGAINST OUR SIGNS ARROGANTLY 
WILL BE GIVEN OVER INTO PENALTY

39  SAY, MY LORD RESTRICTS AND ENLARGES
THE SUSTENANCE TO THOSE OF HIS SERVANTS HE PLEASES 
AND WHATEVER YOU SPEND IN CHARITY HE REPLACES 
FOR HE IS THE BEST PROVIDER OF SUBSTANCES

40  AND ONE DAY HE WILL GATHER THEM ALL TOGETHER 
AND ASK THE ANGELS, WHAT DID THESE DISBELIEVERS
USE TO WORSHIP BESIDES ME AS PARTNERS?

41  THEY WILL SAY, GLORY TO YOU, YOU ARE OUR PROTECTOR
NOT THEM FOR THEY INDEED WERE DEVIL WORSHIPPERS  
AND MOST OF THEM IN THEM WERE BELIEVERS 

42  SO ON THAT DAY NO POWER WILL THEY HAVE OVER EACH OTHER 
FOR PROFIT OR HARM AND WE WILL SAY TO THE WRONG DOERS 
TASTE THE PENALTY OF THE FIRE OF WHICH YOU WERE DENIERS

43  AND WHEN OUR MESSAGES ARE RECITED TO THEM CLEAR 
THEY SAY, THIS IS ONLY A MAN WHO WISHES TO HINDER 
YOU FROM THE PRACTICES OF YOUR FATHERS 
AND THEY SAY THIS IS FALSEHOOD AND SAY THE DISBELIEVERS 
OF THE TRUTH WHEN IT COMES TO THEM, THIS IS FOR SURE
NOTHING BUT CONJECTURE OF SORCERERS

44  BUT WE HAD CERTAINLY NOT GIVEN THEM SCRIPTURES
WHICH THEY COULD STUDY NOR SENT MESSENGERS
TO THEM BEFORE YOU AS WARNERS

45  THEIR PREDECESSORS REJECTED THE TRUTH WHEN IT CAME TO THEM 
AND THESE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A TENTH OF WHAT WE GAVE THEM   
AND WHEN THEY REJECTED THE TRUTH SENT TO THEM
HOW TERRIBLE WAS MY REJECTION OF THEM 

416
CHAPTER 34.  SHEBA                                                                       SECTION 6.  PART  XXII

46  SAY, I DO ADMONISH YOU ON ONE POINT THAT YOU EARNESTLY
STAND UP BEFORE GOD, IT MAY BE IN PAIRS OR IT MAY BE SINGULARLY 
AND REFLECT WITHIN YOURSELVES. YOUR COMPANION SURELY
IS NOT POSSESSED BUT ON THE CONTRARY HE IS CLEARLY
A WARNER TO YOU IN FACE OF A TERRIBLE PENALTY

47  SAY, NO REWARD DO I ASK OF YOU, IT IS ALL IN YOUR INTEREST
MY REWARD IS FROM GOD AND TO ALL THINGS HE IS THE WITNESS

48  SAY,  MY LORD CASTS THE MANTLE OF TRUTH OVER HIS SERVANTS 
AND HE HAS FULL KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THAT IS HIDDEN 

49  SAY, THE TRUTH HAS ARRIVED AND FALSEHOOD NEITHER 
CREATES ANYTHING NEW NOR RESTORES ANYTHING EITHER

50  SAY, IF I AM ASTRAY IT IS MY LOSS ONLY  
AND IF I RECEIVE GUIDANCE THEN IT IS SURELY
BECAUSE OF THE INSPIRATION OF MY LORD TO ME 
IT IS HE WHO HEARS AND KNOWS ALL THINGS INDEED

51  IF YOU COULD BUT SEE WHEN WITH HORROR THEY WILL QUAKE  
THEN THERE WILL BE FOR THEM NO ESCAPE 
AND THEY WILL BE SEIZED FROM A NEAR PLACE 

52  AND WE NOW BELIEVE THE TRUTH, THEY WILL SAY 
BUT HOW COULD THEY THEN RECEIVE FAITH 
FROM A POSITION SO FAR AWAY?

53  SEEING THAT THEY REJECTED FAITH PREVIOUSLY 
AND THAT THEY CAST SLANDERS CONTINUALLY 
ON THE UNSEEN FROM A FAR OFF LOCALITY

54  BETWEEN THEM AND THEIR DESIRES IS PLACED A BARRIER 
AS WAS DONE IN THE PAST WITH THEIR PREDECESSORS
ABOUT THAT IN WHICH THEY WERE DOUBTERS

417