The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

c
‘This tale’ or ‘this ship’.

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18The people of  Ad also rejected the truth. How [terrible] was My
punishment and [the ful
filment of] My warnings! 19We released a
howling wind against them on a day of terrible disaster; 
20it swept
people away like uprooted palm trunks. 
21How [terrible] was My
punishment and [the ful
filment of] My warnings! 22We have made it
easy to learn lessons from the Qur
an: will anyone take heed?
23The people of Thamud also rejected the warnings: 24they said,
‘What? A man? Why should we follow a lone man from amongst
ourselves? That would be misguided; quite insane! 
25Would a mes-
sage be given to him alone out of all of us? No, he is an insolent liar!’
26‘Tomorrow they will know who is the insolent liar, 27for We shall
send them a she-camel to test them: so watch them [Salih] and be
patient. 
28Tell them the water is to be shared between them:
a
each
one should drink in turn.’
29But they called their companion, who
took a sword and hamstrung the camel. 
30How [terrible] was My
punishment and [the ful
filment of] My warnings! 31We released a
single mighty blast against them and they ended up like a fence-
maker’s dry sticks. 
32We have made it easy to learn lessons from the
Qur
an: will anyone take heed?
33The people of Lot rejected the warnings. 34We released a stone-
bearing wind against them, all except the family of Lot. We saved
them before dawn 
35as a favour from Us: this is how We reward the
thankful.
36He warned them of Our onslaught, but they dismissed
the warning –
–
37they even demanded his guests from him–– so We
sealed their eyes –
–‘ Taste My [terrible] punishment and [the ful
fil-
ment of] My warnings!’–
–
38and early in the morning a punishment
seized them that still remains –
–
39‘Taste My [terrible] punishment
and [the ful
filment of] My warnings!’ 40We have made it easy to learn
lessons from the Qur
an: will anyone take heed?
41The people of Pharaoh also received warnings. 42They rejected
all Our signs so We seized them with all Our might and power.
43‘Are your disbelievers
b
any better than these? Were you given an
exemption in the Scripture?’
44Do they perhaps say, ‘We are a great
army and we shall be victorious’?
45Their forces will be routed and
they will turn tail and 
flee.
c
46But the Hour is their appointed time––
a
And the she-camel (see 
26: 155).
b
Of Mecca.
c
The Prophet repeated this verse at the Battle of Badr.
The Moon
351
54: 46

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the Hour is more severe and bitter: 
47truly the wicked are misguided
and quite insane
a
––
48on the Day when they are dragged on their
faces in Hell. ‘Feel the touch of Hell.’
49We have created all things in
due measure; 
50when We ordain something it happens at once, in the
blink of an eye; 
51We have destroyed the likes of you in the past. Will
anyone take heed?
52Everything they do is noted in their records: 53every action,
great or small, is recorded. 
54The righteous will live securely among
Gardens and rivers, 
55secure in the presence of an all-powerful
Sovereign.
a
See verse 
24 above.
The Qur
an
54: 47
352

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55. THE LORD OF MERCY