The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

Kneeling
325
45: 28

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Every community will be summoned to its record: ‘Today you will
be repaid for what you did. 
29Here is Our record that tells the truth
about you: We have been recording everything you do.’
30Those who
believed and did good deeds will be admitted by their Lord into His
mercy –
– that is the clearest triumph –
–
31but those who disbelieved
[will be asked]: ‘When My revelations were recited to you, were you
not arrogant and persistent in wicked deeds? 
32When it was said to
you, “God’s promise is true: there is no doubt about the Hour,” did
you not reply, “We know nothing of the Hour. This is only con-
jecture in our opinion. We are not convinced”?’
33The evil of their actions will [then] become clear to them. The
punishment they mocked will engulf them. 
34It will be said, ‘Today
We shall ignore you just as you ignored your appointment with this
Day. The Fire will be your home and no one will help you, 
35because
you received God’s revelations with ridicule and were deceived by
worldly life.’ They will not be brought out of the Fire on that Day,
nor will they be given the chance to make amends.
36So praise be to God, Lord of the heavens and earth, Lord of the
worlds. 
37True greatness in the heavens and the earth is rightfully
His: He is the Mighty, the Wise.
The Qur
an
45: 29
326

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46. THE SAND DUNES
A Meccan sura. The title refers to the sand dunes mentioned in verse 
21,
where the people of 
Ad used to live, and where they were destroyed when they
rejected the warning of their prophet. It re
flects one of the major themes of this
sura: the inescapable punishment that awaits those who deny the truth and the
Resurrection. Emphasis is placed on the fact that communities more established
than the Meccans’ have been destroyed, and that even the jinn believe in the
Qur
an before the disbelievers of Mecca do. Finally, the Prophet is encouraged
to be steadfast and await God’s judgement on the disbelievers.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Ha Mim
2This Scripture is sent down from God, the Almighty, the Wise. 3It
was for a true purpose and a speci
fic term that We created heaven
and earth and everything in between, yet those who deny the truth
ignore the warning they have been given. 
4Say [Prophet], ‘Consider
those you pray to other than God: show me which part of the earth
they created or which share of the heavens they own; bring me a
previous scripture or some vestige of divine knowledge –– if what you
say is true.’ 
5Who could be more wrong than a person who calls on
those other than God, those who will not answer him till the Day of
Resurrection, those who are unaware of his prayers, 
6those who,
when all mankind is gathered, will become his enemies and disown
his worship?
7When Our revelations are recited to them in all their clarity, the
disbelievers say of the Truth that has reached them, ‘This is clearly
sorcery,’ 
8or they say, ‘He has invented it himself.’ Say [Prophet], ‘If
I have really invented it, there is nothing you can do to save me from
God. He knows best what you say amongst yourselves about it;
He is su
fficient as a witness between me and you; He is the Most
Forgiving, the Most Merciful.’ 
9Say, ‘I am nothing new among God’s
messengers. I do not know what will be done with me or you; I only
follow what is revealed to me; I only warn plainly.’ 
10Say, ‘Have you
thought: what if this Qur
an really is from God and you reject it?
What if one of the Children of Israel testi
fies to its similarity [to

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earlier scripture] and believes in it, and yet you are too proud to
[do the same]? God certainly does not guide evildoers.’
11Those who disbelieve say of the believers, ‘If there were any good
in this Qur