The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

The Forgiver

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show you part of what We have promised them
a
in this life or
whether We take your soul back to Us 
first, it is to Us that they will
be returned. 
78We have sent other messengers before you–– some We
have mentioned to you and some We have not –
– and no messenger
could bring about a sign except with God’s permission. When [the
Day] God ordained comes, just judgement will be passed between
them: there and then, those who followed falsehood will be lost.
79It is God who provides livestock for you, some for riding and
some for your food; 
80you have other benefits in them too. You can
reach any destination you wish on them: they carry you, as ships
carry you [on the sea]. 
81He shows you His signs: which of God’s
signs do you still ignore?
82Have they not travelled through the land and seen how those
who lived before them met their end? They were more numerous
than them, stronger than them, and made a more impressive mark
on the land, yet what they achieved was of no use to them at all.
83When messengers came to them with clear signs, they revelled in
the knowledge they had, and so they were engulfed by the very
punishment they mocked: 
84when they saw Our punishment, they
said, ‘We believe in God alone; we reject any partner we ascribed to
Him,’
85but believing after seeing Our punishment did not benefit
them at all –
– this has always been God’s way of dealing with His
creatures –
– there and then the disbelievers were lost.
a
The disbelievers.
40: 78
306
The Qur
an

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41. [VERSES] MADE DISTINCT
This Meccan sura deals with the obduracy of the disbelievers, the truthfulness
of the Qur
an, the unity of God, and the inevitability of Resurrection. The title
refers to a term used to describe the Qur
an in verse 3 and again in verse
44. The sura makes several references to the senses (verses 5, 20–2, 44) which
the disbelievers shut o
ff from perceiving the Truth in this world, and which
will then testify against their ‘owners’ on the Day of Resurrection, and it
describes the arrogance displayed by people when all is well, contrasted with
their humility and despair when di
fficulties strike (verses 49–51).
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Ha Mim
2A revelation from the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy; 3a
Scripture whose verses are made distinct as a Qur
an in Arabic for
people who understand, 
4giving good news and warning. Yet most of
them turn away and so do not hear. 
5They say, ‘Our hearts are
encased against [the faith] you call us to; our ears are heavy; there is a
barrier between us and you. So you do whatever you want, and so
shall we.’ 
6Say [Prophet], ‘I am only a mortal like you, [but] it has
been revealed to me that your God is One. Take the straight path
to Him and seek His forgiveness. Woe to the idolaters, 
7who do not
pay the prescribed alms and refuse to believe in the world to come!
8Those who believe and do good deeds will have a reward that never
fails.’
9Say, ‘How can you disregard the One who created the earth in
two Days?
a
How can you set up other gods as His equals? He is the
Lord of all the worlds!’ 
10He placed solid mountains on it, blessed it,
measured out its varied provisions for all who seek them –– all in four
Days. 
11Then He turned to the sky, which was smoke––He said to it
and the earth, ‘Come into being, willingly or not,’ and they said, ‘We
come willingly’ ––
12and in two Days He formed seven heavens, and
assigned an order to each. We have made the nearest one beautifully
a
Commentators include these two days in the four mentioned in verse 
10, so that the
total is six days; see 
32: 4. God’s Days are not like ours; see 22: 47.

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illuminated and secure. Such is the design of the Almighty, the All
Knowing.
13If they turn away, say, ‘I have warned you about a blast like the
one which struck