The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
This is a response from Gabriel to the Prophet’s request for more frequent visits
(see Bukhari, Sahih, Book of Tafsir, Sura 
19).
b
This is taken to refer either to the disbelievers mentioned here, or to all humanity.
The Qur
an
19: 59
194

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who has the weakest forces.’
76But God gives more guidance to those
who are guided, and good deeds of lasting merit are best and most
rewarding in your Lord’s sight. 
77Have you considered the man who
rejects Our revelation, who says, ‘I will certainly be given wealth and
children’?
78Has he penetrated the unknown or received a pledge to
that e
ffect from the Lord of Mercy? 79No! We shall certainly record
what he says and prolong his punishment: 
80We shall inherit from
him all that he speaks of and he will come to Us all alone.
81They have taken other gods beside God to give them strength,
82but these gods will reject their worship and will even turn against
them.
83Have you [Prophet] not seen how We send devils to incite
the disbelievers to sin? 
84There is no need for you to be impatient
concerning them: We are counting down their [allotted] time. 
85On
the Day We gather the righteous as an honoured company before the
Lord of Mercy 
86and drive the sinful like a thirsty herd into Hell,
87no one will have power to intercede except for those who have
permission
a
from the Lord of Mercy.
88The disbelievers say, ‘The Lord of Mercy has offspring.’
b
89How
terrible is this thing you assert: 
90it almost causes the heavens to be
torn apart, the earth to split asunder, the mountains to crumble to
pieces, 
91that they attribute offspring to the Lord of Mercy. 92It does
not be
fit the Lord of Mercy [to have offspring]: 93there is no
one in the heavens or earth who will not come to the Lord of
Mercy as a servant –
–
94He has counted them all: He has numbered
them exactly –
–
95and they will each return to Him on the Day of
Resurrection all alone.
96But the Lord of Mercy will give love to those who believe and do
righteous deeds: 
97We have made it
c
easy, in your own language
[Prophet], so that you may bring glad news to the righteous and
warnings to a stubborn people. 
98How many generations We have
destroyed before them! Do you perceive a single one of them now, or
hear as much as a whisper?
a
For the meaning of 
 ahd as idhn ‘permission’ see Baydawi. Cf. 10: 3; 78: 38.
b
Many translators say ‘a son’ here, not realizing that walad in classical Arabic means
‘child’ or ‘children’. The discussion here is about the pagans of Mecca, who said that
the angels were daughters of God.
c
Either what is said in this sura or the whole Qur
an.
Mary
195
19: 98

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20. TA HA
A Meccan sura that both begins and ends with mention of the Qur
an: it was
not sent to the Prophet to cause him grief but is a clear proof from his Lord.
The example of Moses is given as a lengthy account in order to encourage
the Prophet and show the end of the disbelievers. The destruction of earlier
generations is cited as a lesson from which the disbelievers should learn. The
Prophet is ordered to be patient and to persevere with his worship.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Ta Ha