The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
i.e. sons.
b
This meaning of farata is supported by Razi.
c
The disbelievers used to swear by their idols, so here God swears by Himself.
d
This refers to the disbelievers of Mecca.
e
The Arabic word sakar means ‘wine’, ‘juice’, or ‘vinegar’ (al-Mu
 jam al-Wasit).
The Qur
an
16: 62
170

---

believe in falsehood and deny God’s blessings?
a
73Those they worship
beside God have no power to provide anything for them from the
heavens or the earth: they can do nothing. 
74So do not make up
images about God: God knows and you do not.
75God presents this illustration: a slave controlled by his master,
with no power over anything, and another man We have supplied
with good provision, from which he gives alms privately and openly.
Can they be considered equal? All praise belongs to God, but most
of them do not recognize this. 
76God presents another illustration:
two men, one of them dumb, unable to do anything, a burden to his
carer –
– whatever task he directs him to, he achieves nothing good –
–
can he be considered equal to one who commands justice and is on
the straight path? 
77All that is hidden from view in the heavens and
earth belongs to God. The coming of the Hour of Judgement is like
the blink of an eye, or even quicker: God has power over everything.
78It is God who brought you out of your mothers’ wombs knowing
nothing, and gave you hearing and sight and minds, so that you
might be thankful. 
79Do they not see the birds made to fly through
the air in the sky? Nothing holds them up except God. There truly
are signs in this for those who believe. 
80It is God who has given you
a place of rest in your homes and from the skins of animals made
you homes that you 
find light [to handle] when you travel and when
you set up camp; furnishings and comfort for a while from their
wool, fur, and hair. 
81It is God who has given you shade from what
He has created, and places of shelter in the mountains; garments to
protect you from the heat, and garments to protect you in your wars.
In this way He perfects His blessings on you, so that you may devote
yourselves to Him. 
82But if they turn away [Prophet], your only duty
is to deliver the message clearly. 
83They know God’s blessings, but
refuse to recognize them: most of them are ungrateful.
84The day will come when We raise up a witness from every
community, when the disbelievers will not be allowed to make
excuses or amends. 
85When the evildoers face punishment it will
not be lightened for them nor will they be given any respite. 
86When
the idolaters see the partners they joined with God they will say,
‘Our Lord, these are the partners we used to invoke beside You,’
a
i.e. claim that the partners they ascribe to God are the ones to give them such
blessings.
The Bee
171
16: 86

---

but the partners will retort, ‘You are liars,’
87and on that Day they
will o
ffer total submission to God: their false deities will desert
them.
88Because of the corruption they spread, We shall add torment
upon torment for those who disbelieved and barred others from the
path of God.
89The day will come when We raise up in each community a
witness against them, and We shall bring you [Prophet] as a witness
against these people, for We have sent the Scripture down to you
explaining everything, and as guidance and mercy and good news to
those who devote themselves to God.
90God commands justice, doing good, and generosity towards
relatives and He forbids what is shameful, blameworthy, and oppres-
sive. He teaches you, so that you may take heed. 
91Fulfil any pledge
you make in God’s name and do not break oaths after you have
sworn them, for you have made God your surety: God knows every-
thing you do. 
92Do not use your oaths to deceive each other–– like a
woman who unravels the thread she has 
firmly spun–– just because
one party may be more numerous than another. God tests you with
this, and on the Day of the Resurrection He will make clear to you
those things you di
ffered about.
93If God so willed, He would have made you all one people, but
He leaves to stray whoever He will and guides whoever He will. You
will be questioned about your deeds. 
94Do not use your oaths to
deceive each other lest any foot should slip after being 
firmly placed
and lest you should taste the penalty for having hindered others from
the path of God, and su
ffer terrible torment. 95Do not sell for a small
price any pledge made in God’s name: what God has [to give] is
better for you, if you only knew. 
96What you have runs out but what
God has endures, and We shall certainly reward those who remain
steadfast according to the best of their actions. 
97To whoever, male or
female, does good deeds and has faith, We shall give a good life and
reward them according to the best of their actions.
98[Prophet], when you recite the Quran, seek God’s protection
from the outcast, Satan. 
99He has no power over those who believe
and trust in their Lord; 
100his power is only over those who ally
themselves with him and those who, because of him, join partners
with God. 
101When We substitute one revelation for another––
and God knows best what He reveals –
– they say, ‘You are just making
it up,’ but most of them have no knowledge. 
102Say that the Holy