The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

The Heights
97
7: 48

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men they recognize by their marks, ‘What use were your great
numbers and your false pride? 
49And are these the people you swore
God would never bless? [Now these people are being told], “Enter
the Garden! No fear for you, nor shall you grieve.”’
50The people of the Fire will call to the people of Paradise, ‘Give
us some water, or any of the sustenance God has granted you!’ and
they will reply, ‘God has forbidden both to the disbelievers –
–
51those
who took their religion for distraction, a mere game, and were
deluded by worldly life.’ Today We shall ignore
a
them, just as
they have ignored their meeting with this Day and denied Our
Revelations.
52We have brought people a Scripture–– We have explained it on
the basis of true knowledge –
– as guidance and mercy for those who
believe. 
53What are they waiting for but the fulfilment of its [final
prophecy]? On the Day it is ful
filled, those who had ignored it will
say, ‘Our Lord’s messenger spoke the truth. Is there anyone to inter-
cede for us now? Or can we be sent back to behave di
fferently from
the way we behaved before?’ They will really have squandered their
souls, and all [the idols] they invented will have deserted them.
54Your Lord is God, who created the heavens and earth in six
Days, then established Himself on the throne; He makes the night
cover the day in swift pursuit; He created the sun, moon, and stars to
be subservient to His command; all creation and command belong to
Him. Exalted be God, Lord of all the worlds! 
55Call on your Lord
humbly and privately –
– He does not like those who transgress His
bounds:
56do not corrupt the earth after it has been set right–– call on
Him fearing and hoping. The mercy of God is close to those who do
good.
57It is God who sends the winds, bearing good news of His
coming grace, and when they have gathered up the heavy clouds, We
drive them to a dead land where We cause rain to fall, bringing out
all kinds of crops, just as We shall bring out the dead. Will you not
re
flect? 58Vegetation comes out of good land in abundance, by the
will of its Lord, but out of bad land only scantily: We explain Our
Revelations in various ways to those who give thanks.
59We sent Noah to his people. He said, ‘My people, serve God:
you have no god other than Him. I fear for you the punishment of a
fearsome Day!’
60but the prominent leaders of his people said, ‘We
a
‘Ignore’ is one of the meanings of the Arabic nasiya normally translated as ‘forget’.
The Qur
an
7: 49
98

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believe you are far astray.’
61He replied, ‘My people, there is nothing
astray about me! On the contrary, I am a messenger from the Lord of
all the Worlds: 
62I am delivering my Lord’s messages to you and
giving you sincere advice. I know things from God that you do not.
63Do you find it so strange that a message should come from your
Lord –
– through a man in your midst –
– to warn you and make you
aware of God so that you may be given mercy?’
64but they called him
a liar. We saved him, and those who were with him, on the Ark and
We drowned those who rejected Our revelations –
– they were wilfully
blind.
65To the people of  Ad We sent their brother, Hud. He said, ‘My
people, serve God: you have no god other than Him. Will you not
take heed?’
66but the disbelieving leaders of his people said, ‘We
believe you are a fool,’ and ‘We think you are a liar.’
67He said, ‘My
people, there is nothing foolish about me! On the contrary, I am a
messenger from the Lord of all the Worlds: 
68I am delivering my
Lord’s messages to you. I am your sincere and honest adviser. 
69Do
you 
find it so strange that a message should come from your Lord,
through a man in your midst, to warn you? Remember how He made
you heirs after Noah’s people, and increased your stature: remember
God’s bounties, so that you may prosper.’
70They said, ‘Have you
really come to tell us to serve God alone and to forsake what our
forefathers served? If what you say is true, bring us the punishment
you threaten.’
71He said, ‘You are already set to receive your Lord’s
loathing and anger. Are you arguing with me about mere names you
and your forefathers invented, names for which God has given no
sanction? Just wait; I too am waiting.’
72We saved him, and those who
were with him, through Our mercy; We destroyed those who denied
Our revelations and would not believe.
73To the people of Thamud We sent their brother, Salih. He said,
‘My people, serve God: you have no god other than Him. A clear
sign has come to you now from your Lord: this is God’s she-camel –
–
a sign for you –
– so let her graze in God’s land and do not harm her in
any way, or you will be struck by a painful torment. 
74Remember
how He made you heirs after 
 Ad and settled you in the land to build
yourselves castles on its plains and carve houses out of the moun-
tains: remember God’s blessings and do not spread corruption in the
land,’
75but the arrogant leaders among his people said to the
believers they thought to be of no account, ‘Do you honestly think