The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

b
149Now [Muhammad], ask the disbelievers: is it true that your
Lord has daughters, while they choose sons for themselves?
c
150Did
We create the angels as females while they were watching? 
151No
indeed! It is one of their lies when they say, 
152‘God has begotten.’
How they lie! 
153Did He truly choose daughters in preference to
sons? 
154What is the matter with you? How do you form your
a
It is inaccurate to say ‘brought to account’, since this would apply to everyone,
including the true servants of God.
b
One of the classical meanings of matta
 a is ‘to give long life’.
c
The pagan Arabs were ashamed to have daughters themselves, yet attributed
daughters to God.
The Qur
an
37: 114
288

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judgements?
155Do you not reflect? 156Do you perhaps have clear
authority?
157Bring your scriptures, if you are telling the truth.
158They claim that He has kinship with the jinn, yet the jinn them-
selves know that they will be brought before Him. 
159God is far
above what they attribute to Him –
–
160the true servants of God do
not do such things –
–
161and neither you nor what you worship 162can
lure away from God any 
163except those who will burn in Hell.
164[The angels say], ‘Every single one of us has his appointed place:
165we are ranged in ranks. 166We glorify God.’
a
167[The disbelievers] used to say, 168‘If only we had a scripture like
previous people, 
169we would be true servants of God,’ 170yet now
they reject [the Qur
an]. They will soon realize. 171Our word has
already been given to Our servants the messengers: 
172it is they who
will be helped, 
173and the ones who support
b
Our cause will be the
winners. 
174So [Prophet] turn away from the disbelievers for a while.
175Watch them: they will soon see. 176Do they really wish to hasten
Our punishment? 
177When it descends on their courtyards, how ter-
rible that morning will be for those who were warned! 
178[Prophet],
turn away from the disbelievers for a while. 
179Watch them: they will
soon see. 
180Your Lord, the Lord of Glory, is far above what they
attribute to Him. 
181Peace be upon the messengers 182and praise be to
God the Lord of all the Worlds.
a
This is the rebuke by the angels referred to in verse 
2.
b
In classical Arabic jund means ‘supporters’, not just ‘armies’.
Ranged in Rows
289
37: 182

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38. SAD
This Meccan sura mentions previous prophets in support and encouragement for
Muhammad, and makes a clear link between the arrogance displayed by
the disbelievers of Mecca, previous generations, and Iblis, the original rebel.
The
first and last verses assert the truth and nobility of the Quran.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Sad
By the Qur
an with its reminding . . .!
a
2Yet the disbelievers are
steeped in arrogance and hostility. 
3How many generations We have
destroyed before them! They all cried out, once it was too late, for
escape. 
4The disbelievers think it strange that a prophet of their own
people has come to warn them: they say, ‘He is just a lying sorcerer.
5How can he claim that all the gods are but one God? What an
astonishing thing [to claim]!’ 
6Their leaders depart, saying, ‘Walk
away! Stay faithful to your gods! That is what you must do. 
7We did
not hear any such claim in the last religion:
b
it is all an invention.
8Was the message sent only to him out of all of us?’
In fact they doubt My warning; in fact they have not tasted My
punishment yet. 
9Do they possess the treasures of your Lord’s
bounty, the Mighty, the All Giving? 
10Do they control the heavens
and earth and everything between? Let them climb their ropes: