The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

partners they ascribe to Him! –
–
68the Trumpet will be sounded, and
everyone in the heavens and earth will fall down senseless except
those God spares. It will be sounded once again and they will be on
their feet, looking on. 
69The earth will shine with the light of its
Lord; the Record of Deeds will be laid open; the prophets and wit-
nesses will be brought in. Fair judgement will be given between
them: they will not be wronged 
70and every soul will be repaid in full
for what it has done. He knows best what they do.
71Those who rejected the Truth will be led to Hell in their throngs.
When they arrive, its gates will open and its keepers will say to them,
‘Were you not sent your own messengers to recite the revelations of
your Lord to you and warn you that you would meet this Day?’ and
The Throngs
299
39: 71

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they will say, ‘Yes indeed we were.’ But the sentence of punishment
will have been passed against those who rejected the truth. 
72It will be
said, ‘Enter the gates of Hell: there you will remain. How evil is the
abode of the arrogant!’
73Those who were mindful of their Lord will be led in throngs to
the Garden. When they arrive, they will 
find its gates wide open, and
its keepers will say to them, ‘Peace be upon you. You have been good.
Come in: you are here to stay,’
74and they will say, ‘Praise be to God
who has kept His promise to us and given us this land as our own.
Now we may live wherever we please in the Garden.’ How excellent
is the reward of those who labour! 
75You [Prophet] will see the angels
surrounding the Throne, glorifying their Lord with praise. True
judgement will have been passed between them, and it will be said,
‘Praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds.’
The Qur
an
39: 72
300

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40. THE FORGIVER
A Meccan sura with two recurring themes: disputing God’s truth (verses 
4,
35, 69) and calling upon Him (verses 14, 49, 50, 60, 65, 73). In the opening
verses God is described as the Forgiver, and the Accepter of repentance, yet
severe in punishment, and this dual aspect is exempli
fied in the sura. The
central section of the sura deals with the story of Pharaoh and Moses (verses
23–54): the destruction of one and victory of the other are stated in verses 45
and
51. The Prophet is, in his turn, urged to be steadfast and to ignore the
taunts of the disbelievers (verses 
55 and 77).
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Ha Mim
2This Scripture is sent down from God, the Almighty, the All
Knowing, 
3Forgiver of sins and Accepter of repentance, severe in
punishment, in
finite in bounty. There is no god but Him; to Him is
the ultimate return. 
4It is only the disbelievers who dispute God’s
revelations. [Prophet], do not be dazzled by their movements back
and forth across the land.
a
5Before them the people of Noah rejected
the truth and so did those who formed opposition after them: every
community schemed to destroy its messenger and strove to refute
truth with falsehood; but it was I who destroyed them. How terrible
My punishment was! 
6In this way your Lord’s sentence was passed
against the disbelievers that they would be the inhabitants of the Fire.
7Those [angels] who carry the Throne and those who surround it
celebrate the praise of their Lord and have faith in Him. They beg
forgiveness for the believers: ‘Our Lord, You embrace all things in
mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who turn to You and follow
Your path. Save them from the pains of Hell 
8and admit them, Lord,
to the lasting Gardens You have promised to them, together with
their righteous ancestors,