Abraham, On Whom Be Peace

[LXXVI.]

MECCA.—52 Verses

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

ELIF. LAM. RA. This Book have we sent down to thee that by their Lord’s permission thou mayest bring men out of darkness into light, into the path of the Mighty, the Glorious—

Of God; to whom belongeth whatever is in the Heavens and whatever is on the Earth: and woe! for their terrible punishment, to the infidels,

Who love the life that now is, above that which is to come, and mislead from the way of God, and seek to make it crooked. These are in a far-gone error.

And in order that He might speak plainly to them, we have not sent any Apostle, save with the speech of his own people; but God misleadeth whom He will, and whom He will he guideth: and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

Of old did we send Moses with our signs: and said to him, “Bring forth thy people from the darkness into the light, and remind them of the days of God.” Verily, in this are signs for every patient, grateful person:

When Moses said to his people, “Remember the kindness of God to you, when he rescued you from the family of Pharaoh who laid on you a cruel affliction, slaughtering your male children, and suffering only your females to live.” In this was a sore trial from your Lord—

And when your Lord caused it to be heard that, “If we render thanks then will I surely increase you more and more: but if ye be thankless. … Verily, right terrible my chastisement.”

And Moses said, “If ye and all who are on the Earth be thankless, yet truly God is passing Rich, and worthy of all praise.”

Hath not the story reached you of those who were before you, the people of Noah, and Ad, and Themoud,

And of those who lived after them? None knoweth them but God. When their prophets came to them with proofs of their mission, they put their hands on their mouths and said, “In sooth, we believe not your message; and in sooth, of that to which you bid us, we are in doubt, as of a thing suspicious.”

Their prophets said: “Is there any doubt concerning God, maker of the Heavens and of the Earth, who calleth you that He may pardon your sins, and respite you until an appointed time?”

They said, “Ye are but men like us: fain would ye turn us from our fathers’ worship. Bring us therefore some clear proof.”

Their Apostles said to them, “We are indeed but men like you. But God bestoweth favours on such of his servants as he pleaseth, and it is not in our power to bring you any special proof,

But by the leave of God. In God therefore let the faithful trust.

And why should we not put our trust in God, since He hath already guided us in our ways. We will certainly bear with constancy the harm you would do to us. In God let the trustful trust.”

And they who believed not said to their Apostles, “Forth from our land will we surely drive you, or, to our religion shall ye return.” Then their Lord revealed to them, “We will certainly destroy the wicked doers,