The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

The Qur
an
2: 92
12

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full well that whoever gained [this knowledge] would lose any share
in the Hereafter. Evil indeed is the [price] for which they sold their
souls, if only they knew. 
103If they had believed and been mindful
of God, their reward from Him would have been far better, if only
they knew.
104Believers, do not say [to the Prophet], ‘Ra ina,’ but say,
‘Unzurna,’
a
and listen [to him]: an agonizing torment awaits those
who ignore [God’s words]. 
105Neither those People of the Book who
disbelieve nor the idolaters would like anything good to be sent down
to you from your Lord, but God chooses for His grace whoever He
will: His bounty has no limits. 
106Any revelation We cause to be
superseded or forgotten, We replace with something better or simi-
lar. Do you [Prophet] not know that God has power over everything?
107Do you not know that control of the heavens and the earth belongs
to Him? You [believers] have no protector or helper but God. 
108Do
you wish to demand of your messenger something similar to what
was demanded of Moses?
b
Whoever exchanges faith for disbelief has
strayed far from the right path. 
109Even after the truth has become
clear to them, many of the People of the Book wish they could turn
you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of their sel
fish envy.
Forgive and forbear until God gives his command: He has power
over all things. 
110Keep up the prayer and pay the prescribed alms.
Whatever good you store up for yourselves, you will 
find it with
God: He sees everything you do.
111They also say, ‘No one will enter Paradise unless he is a Jew or a
Christian.’ This is their own wishful thinking. [Prophet], say, ‘Pro-
duce your evidence, if you are telling the truth.’
112In fact, any who
direct themselves
c
wholly to God and do good will have their reward
with their Lord: no fear for them, nor will they grieve. 
113The Jews
say, ‘The Christians have no ground whatsoever to stand on,’ and
the Christians say, ‘The Jews have no ground whatsoever to stand
on,’ though they both read the Scripture, and those who have no
a
The word ra
 ina can be used politely as an expression for ‘look at us’. However, a
group of Jews in Medina hostile to Muhammad subtly changed its pronunciation to
imply ‘you are foolish’ or ‘you herd our sheep’ in order to abuse the Prophet. So the
believers are advised to avoid the word and use unzurna, also meaning ‘look at us’,
instead. See 
4: 46.
b
See
2: 55 and 4: 153.
c
Literally ‘their faces’. One meaning of wajh (face) is ‘direction’ and the basic
meaning of aslama is ‘devote’. See note to 
2: 128.
The Cow
13
2: 113

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knowledge say the same; God will judge between them on the Day of
Resurrection concerning their di
fferences.
114Who could be more wicked than those who prohibit the
mention of God’s name in His places of worship
a
and strive to have
them deserted? Such people should not enter them without fear:
there is disgrace for them in this world and painful punishment
in the Hereafter. 
115The East and the West belong to God: wherever
you turn, there is His Face.
b
God is all pervading and all knowing.
116They
c
have asserted, ‘God has a child.’ May He be exalted! No!
Everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him, everything
devoutly obeys His will. 
117He is the Originator of the heavens and
the earth, and when He decrees something, He says only, ‘Be,’ and it
is. 
118Those who have no knowledge also say, ‘If only God would
speak to us!’ or ‘If only a miraculous sign would come to us!’
People before them said the same things: their hearts are all alike. We
have made Our signs clear enough to those who have solid faith.
119We have sent you [Prophet] with the truth, bearing good news and
warning. You will not be responsible for the inhabitants of the Blaze.
120The Jews and the Christians will never be pleased with you unless
you follow their ways. Say, ‘God’s guidance is the only true guid-
ance.’ If you were to follow their desires after the knowledge that has
come to you, you would 
find no one to protect you from God or help
you. 
121Those to whom We have given the Scripture, who follow it as
it deserves,
d
are the ones who truly believe in it. Those who deny its
truth will be the losers.
122Children of Israel, remember how I blessed you and favoured
you over other people, 
123and beware of a Day when no soul can
stand in for another. No compensation will be accepted from it,
nor intercession be of use to it, nor will anyone be helped. 
124When
Abraham’s Lord tested him with certain commandments, which
he ful
filled, He said, ‘I will make you a leader of people.’ Abraham
asked, ‘And will You make leaders from my descendants too?’ God
answered, ‘My pledge does not hold for those who do evil.’