The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

d
41listen out for the Day when
the caller will call from a nearby place. 
42They will come out [from
a
Usually taken to mean ‘recording angels’.
b
This verb is in the dual, taken to be addressed either to both recording angels, or to
two of the angels who guard Hell.
c
Cf. 
4: 38; 41: 25.
d
Literally ‘prostration’, sujud. This is a 
figure of speech in which the part stands for the
whole.
Qaf
341
50: 42

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their graves] on that Day, the Day when they hear the mighty blast in
reality. 
43It is We who give life and death; the final return will be to
Us
44on the Day when the earth will be torn apart, letting them rush
out –
– that gathering will be easy for Us. 
45We know best what the
disbelievers say. You [Prophet] are not there to force them, so
remind, with this Qur
an, those who fear My warning.
The Qur
an
50: 43
342

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51. SCATTERING [WINDS]
A Meccan sura that gives several of the signs of nature as proof of the
Resurrection, among them the scattering winds that give the sura its title
(verse 
1). The disbelievers are reminded of the fate that befell previous rebellious
generations and the Prophet is urged to carry on reminding.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1By those [winds] that scatter far and wide,
a
2and those that are
heavily laden,
b
3that speed freely, 4that distribute [rain] as ordained!
5What you [people] are promised is true: 6the Judgement will
come ––
7by the sky with its pathways, 8you differ in what you say––
9those who turn away from it
c
are [truly] deceived. 
10Perish the liars,
11those steeped in error and unaware! 12They ask, ‘When is this
Judgement Day coming?’ 
13On a Day when they will be punished by
the Fire, 
14‘Taste the punishment! This is what you wished to
hasten.’
15The righteous will be in Gardens with [flowing] springs.
16They will receive their Lord’s gifts because of the good they did
before: 
17sleeping only little at night, 18praying at dawn for God’s
forgiveness, 
19giving a rightful share of their wealth to the beggar
and the deprived. 
20On earth there are signs for those with sure
faith ––
21and in yourselves too, do you not see?––22in the sky is your
sustenance and all that you are promised.
d
23By the Lord of the
heavens and earth! All this is as real as your speaking.
24[Muhammad], have you heard the story of the honoured guests
of Abraham? 
25They went in to see him and said, ‘Peace.’ ‘Peace,’
he said, [adding to himself] ‘These people are strangers.’ 
26He
turned quickly to his household, brought out a fat calf, 
27and
placed it before them. ‘Will you not eat?’ he said, 
28beginning to be
afraid of them, but they said, ‘Do not be afraid.’ They gave him good
news of a son who would be gifted with knowledge. 
29His wife then
entered with a loud cry, struck her face,
e
and said, ‘A barren old
a
See
15: 22; this is a benevolent scattering (unlike the one in 18: 45).
b
With rain.
c
Judgement.
d
The punishment and Final Judgement/Destiny/physical and spiritual sustenance.
e
In her incredulity and embarrassment.

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woman?’
a
30but they said, ‘It will be so. This is what your Lord said,
and He is the Wise, the All Knowing.’
31Abraham said, ‘What is your
errand, messengers?’
32They said, ‘We are sent to a people lost in sin,
33to bring down rocks of clay, 34marked by your Lord for those who
exceed all bounds.’
35We brought out such believers as were there––
36We found only one household devoted to God–– 37and left the town
to be a sign for those who fear the painful punishment.
38There is another sign in Moses: We sent him to Pharaoh with
clear authority. 
39Pharaoh turned away with his supporters, saying,
‘This is a sorcerer, or maybe a madman,’
40so We seized him and his
forces and threw them into the sea: he was to blame. 
41There is
another sign in the 
 Ad: We sent the life-destroying wind against
them
42and it reduced everything it came up against to shreds. 43And
also in the Thamud: it was said to them, ‘Make the most of your lives
for a while,’
44but they rebelled against their Lord’s command, so the
blast took them. They looked on helplessly: 
45they could not even
remain standing, let alone defend themselves. 
46Before that We des-
troyed the people of Noah. They were a truly sinful people! 
47We
built the heavens with Our power and made them vast, 
48We spread
out the earth –
– how well We smoothed it out! –
–
49and We created
pairs of all things so that you [people] might take note.
50[So, say to them, Prophet], ‘Quickly, turn to God–– I am sent by
Him to give you clear warning –
–
51and do not set up any other god
alongside Him. I am sent by Him to give you clear warning!’
52Every
previous people to whom a messenger was sent also said, ‘A sor-
cerer, or maybe a madman!’
53Did they tell one another to do this?
No! They are a people who exceed all bounds, 
54so ignore them
[Prophet] –
– you are not to blame –
–
55and go on reminding [people],
it is good for those who believe to be reminded.
56I created jinn and mankind only to worship Me: 57I want no
provision from them, nor do I want them to feed Me –
–
58God is the
Provider, the Lord of Power, the Ever Mighty. 
59The evildoers, like
their predecessors, will have a share of punishment –
– they need not
ask Me to hasten it –
–
60and woe betide those who deny the truth on
the Day they have been promised.