The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
One of the meanings of rajama is ‘abuse’ or ‘cast aspersions’; another is ‘to stone’;
another is ‘to expel’.
b
The Meccans.
c
Honori
fic title of the King of Yemen given to a succession of powerful kings who
ruled over southern Arabia in ancient times.
The Qur
an
44: 17
322

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them to maidens with large, dark eyes. 
55Secure and contented, they
will call for every kind of fruit. 
56After the one death they will taste
death no more. God will guard them from the torment of Hell,
57a bounty from your Lord. That is the supreme triumph.
58We have made this Quran easy to understand–– in your own
language [Prophet] –
– so that they may take heed. 
59So wait; the
disbelievers too are waiting.
Smoke
323
44: 59

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45. KNEELING
A Meccan sura that takes its title from verse 
28, where the kneeling posture of
all communities on the Day of Judgement is described. The sura addresses some
of the arguments put forward by those sceptical of the truthfulness of the
Qur
an. Emphasis is placed on the signs of God’s existence discernible in nature,
and on the painful punishment that awaits the doubters on the Day of Judge-
ment. The misguided arrogance of the disbelievers (verses 
8 and 31) is
contrasted with God’s true greatness (verse 
37); references to God’s wisdom
and majesty open and close the sura.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Ha Mim
2This Scripture is sent down from God, the Mighty, the Wise.
3There are signs in the heavens and the earth for those who believe:
4in the creation of you, in the creatures God scattered on earth, there
are signs for people of sure faith; 
5in the alternation of night and day,
in the rain God provides, sending it down from the sky and reviving
the dead earth with it, and in His shifting of the winds there are
signs for those who use their reason. 
6These are God’s signs that We
recount to you [Prophet, to show] the Truth.
If they deny God and His revelations, what message will they
believe in? 
7Woe to every lying sinful person 8who hears God’s
revelations being recited to him, yet persists in his arrogance as if he
had never heard them –– [Prophet] bring him news of a painful tor-
ment! ––
9who, if he knows anything about Our revelations, ridicules
it! Such people will have a humiliating torment: 
10Hell lurks behind
them and their gains will not bene
fit them, nor will those beings they
took as protectors beside God –– a tremendous torment awaits them.
11This is true guidance; those who reject their Lord’s revelations will
have a woeful torment.
12It is God who subjected the sea for you––ships sail on it by His
command so that you can seek His bounty and give Him thanks ––
13He has subjected all that is in the heavens and the earth for your
bene
fit, as a gift from Him. There truly are signs in this for those
who re
flect.

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14Tell the believers to forgive those who do not fear God’s days [of
punishment]
a
–– He will requite people for what they have done.
15Whoever does good benefits himself, and whoever does evil harms
himself: you will all be returned to your Lord.
16We gave scripture, wisdom, and prophethood to the Children of
Israel; We provided them with good things and favoured them above
others; 
17We gave them clear proof in matters [of religion]. They
di
ffered among themselves out of mutual rivalry, only after know-
ledge came to them: on the Day of Resurrection your Lord will
judge between them regarding their di
fferences. 18Now We have set
you [Muhammad] on a clear religious path, so follow it. Do not
follow the desires of those who lack [true] knowledge –
–
19they cannot
help you against God in any way. Wrongdoers only have each other
to protect them; the righteous have God Himself as their protector.
20This [revelation] is a means of insight for people, a source of
guidance and mercy for those of sure faith.
21Do those who commit evil deeds really think that We will deal
with them in the same way as those who believe and do righteous
deeds, that they will be alike in their living and their dying? How
badly they judge! 
22God created the heavens and earth for a true
purpose: to reward each soul according to its deeds. They will not be
wronged. 
23[Prophet], consider the one who has taken his own desire
as a god, whom God allows to stray in the face of knowledge, sealing
his ears and heart and covering his eyes –
– who can guide such a
person after God [has done this]? Will you [people] not take heed?
24They say, ‘There is only our life in this world: we die, we live,
nothing but time destroys us.’ They have no knowledge of this;
they only follow guesswork. Their only argument, 
25when Our clear
revelations are recited to them, is to say, ‘Bring back our forefathers
if what you say is true.’
26[Prophet], say, ‘It is God who gives you life,
then causes you to die, and then He gathers you all to the Day of
Resurrection of which there is no doubt, though most people do not
comprehend.’
27Control of everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to
God. When the Hour comes, those who follow falsehood will be
the losers on that Day. 
28You will see every community kneeling.
a
‘God’s days’ (plural) here suggests the days on which God delivers His punishment
in this world, not the Day of Judgement (singular).