The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

The Ants
241
27: 48

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amends. 
49They said, ‘Swear by God: we shall attack this man and
his household in the night, then say to his next of kin, “We did not
witness the destruction of his household. We are telling the truth.”’
50So they devised their evil plan, but We too made a plan of which
they were unaware. 
51See how their scheming ended: We destroyed
them utterly, along with all their people. 
52As a result of their evil
deeds, their homes are desolate ruins –
– there truly is a sign in this for
those who know –
–
53but We saved those who believed and were
mindful of God.
54We also sent Lot to his people. He said to them, ‘How can you
commit this outrage with your eyes wide open? 
55How can you lust
after men instead of women? What fools you are!’
56The only answer
his people gave was to say, ‘Expel Lot’s followers from your town!
These men mean to stay chaste!’
57We saved him and his family––
except for his wife: We made her stay behind –
–
58and We brought
rain down on them. How dreadful that rain was for those who had
been warned!
59Say [Prophet], ‘Praise be to God and peace on the servants He
has chosen.
a
Who is better: God, or those they set up as partners
with Him? 
60Who created the heavens and earth? Who sends down
water from the sky for you –
– with which We cause gardens of delight
to grow: you have no power to make the trees grow in them –
– is it
another god beside God? No! But they are people who take others to
be equal with God. 
61Who is it that made the earth a stable place to
live? Who made rivers 
flow through it? Who set immovable moun-
tains on it and created a barrier between the fresh and salt water? Is it
another god beside God? No! But most of them do not know. 
62Who
is it that answers the distressed when they call upon Him? Who
removes their su
ffering? Who makes you successors in the earth? Is
it another god beside God? Little notice you take! 
63Who is it that
guides you through the darkness on land and sea? Who sends the
winds as heralds of good news before His mercy?
b
Is it another god
beside God? God is far above the partners they put beside him!
64Who is it that creates life and reproduces it? Who is it that gives
you provision from the heavens and earth? Is it another god beside
God?’ Say, ‘Show me your evidence then, if what you say is true.’
a
As messengers, see e.g. 
3: 33.
b
i.e. rain.
The Qur
an
27: 49
242

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65Say, ‘No one in the heavens or on earth knows the unseen except
God.’ They do not know when they will be raised from the dead:
66their knowledge cannot comprehend the Hereafter; they are in
doubt about it; they are blind to it. 
67So the disbelievers say, ‘What!
When we and our forefathers have become dust, shall we be brought
back to life again? 
68We have heard such promises before, and so did
our forefathers. These are just ancient fables.’
69[Prophet], say,
‘Travel through the earth and see how the evildoers ended up.’
70[Prophet], do not grieve over them; do not be distressed by their
schemes. 
71They also say, ‘When will this promise be fulfilled if what
you say is true?’
72Say, ‘Maybe some of what you seek to hasten is
near at hand.’
73Your Lord is bountiful to people, though most of
them are ungrateful. 
74He knows everything their hearts conceal and
everything they reveal: 
75there is nothing hidden in the heavens or on
earth that is not in a clear Record.
76Truly, this Quran explains to the Children of Israel most of
what they di
ffer about, 77and it is guidance and grace for those who
believe. 
78Truly, your Lord will judge between them in His wis-
dom –
– He is the Almighty, the All Knowing –
–
79so [Prophet], put
your trust in God, you are on the path of clear truth. 
80You cannot
make the dead hear, you cannot make the deaf listen to your call
when they turn their backs and leave, 
81you cannot guide the blind
out of their error: you cannot make anyone hear you except those
who believe in Our signs and submit [to Us]. 
82When the verdict is
given against them, We shall bring a creature out of the earth, which
will tell them that people had no faith in Our revelations. 
83The Day
will come when We gather from every community a crowd of those
who disbelieved in Our signs and they will be led in separate groups
84until, when they come before Him, He will say, ‘Did you deny
My messages without even taking them in? Or what were you
doing?’
85The verdict will be given against them because of their
wrongdoing: they will not speak.
86Did they not see that We gave them the night for rest, and the
day for light? There truly are signs in this for those who believe.
87On the Day the Trumpet sounds, everyone in heaven and on earth
will be terri
fied–– except such as God wills–– and all will come to
Him in utter humility. 
88You will see the mountains and think they
are
firmly fixed, but they will float away like clouds: this is the
handiwork of God who has perfected all things. He is fully aware of