The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
See note to 
2: 1.
b
See also 
5: 48; 25: 1.
c
Literally ‘the mother’.

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do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us. Grant us Your
mercy: You are the Ever Giving. 
9Our Lord, You will gather all
people on the Day of which there is no doubt:
a
God never breaks
His promise.’
10Neither their possessions nor their children will be any use to
the disbelievers against God. The disbelievers will be fuel for the
Fire, 
11just as Pharaoh’s people and their predecessors denied Our
revelations, and God punished them for their sins: God is severe in
punishing. 
12[Prophet], say to the disbelievers, ‘You will be defeated
and driven together into Hell, a foul resting place. 
13You have already
seen a sign in the two armies that met in battle, one 
fighting for
God’s cause and the other made up of disbelievers. With their own
eyes [the former] saw [the latter] to be twice their number,
b
but God
helps whoever He will. There truly is a lesson in this for all with eyes
to see.’
14The love of desirable things is made alluring for men–– women,
children, gold and silver treasures piled up high, horses with 
fine
markings, livestock, and farmland –
– these may be the joys of this life,
but God has the best place to return to. 
15[Prophet], say, ‘Would you
like me to tell you of things that are better than all of these? Their
Lord will give those who are mindful of God Gardens graced with
flowing streams, where they will stay with pure spouses and God’s
good pleasure –
– God is fully aware of His servants –
–
16those who say,
“Our Lord, we believe, so forgive us our sins and protect us from
su
ffering in the Fire,” 17those who are steadfast, truthful, truly devout,
who give [in God’s cause] and pray before dawn for forgiveness.’
18God bears witness that there is no god but Him, as do the angels
and those who have knowledge. He upholds justice. There is no
god but Him, the Almighty, the All Wise. 
19True Religion, in God’s
eyes, is islam: [devotion to Him alone].
c
Those who were given the
Scripture disagreed out of rivalry, only after they had been given
knowledge –
– if anyone denies God’s revelations, God is swift to take
account –
–
20if they argue with you [Prophet], say, ‘I have devoted
myself
d
to God alone and so have my followers.’ Ask those who were
a
And on the day itself there will no longer be any doubt (see 
102: 3–8).
b
This is an allusion to the Battle of Badr, where the Muslim army was vastly out-
numbered but still victorious (see 
8: 43–4).
c
See note to 
2: 128 above.
d
Literally ‘submitted my face’.
3: 20
The Family of 
Imran
35

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given the Scripture, as well as those without one, ‘Do you too devote
yourselves to Him alone?’ If they do, they will be guided, but if they
turn away, your only duty is to convey the message. God is aware of
His servants.
21Give news of agonizing torment to those who ignore God’s
revelations, who unjusti
fiably kill prophets, who kill those who
command that justice is done: 
22the deeds of such people will
come to nothing in this world and in the next and no one will help
them.
23Have you considered those who were given a share of the
Scripture? When they are asked to accept judgement from God’s
Scripture, some of them turn their backs and walk away, all because
they declare, 
24‘The Fire will only touch us for a limited number of
days.’ The lies they have invented have led them astray in their own
religion. 
25How will they fare when We gather them together for a
Day of which there is no doubt, when every soul will be paid in full
for what it has done, and they will not be wronged?
26Say, ‘God, holder of all control,
a
You give control to whoever
You will and remove it from whoever You will; You elevate whoever
You will and humble whoever You will. All that is good lies in Your
hand: You have power over everything. 
27You merge night into day
and day into night; You bring the living out of the dead and the dead
out of the living; You provide limitlessly for whoever You will.’
28The believers should not make the disbelievers their allies
rather than other believers –
– anyone who does such a thing will
isolate himself completely from God –
– except when you need to
protect yourselves from them. God warns you to beware of Him:
the Final Return is to God. 
29Say [Prophet], ‘God knows every-
thing that is in your hearts, whether you conceal or reveal it; He
knows everything in the heavens and earth; God has power over all
things.’
30On the Day when every soul finds all the good it has done
present before it, it will wish all the bad it has done to be far, far
away. God warns you to beware of Him, but God is compassionate
towards His servants. 
31Say, ‘If you love God, follow me, and God
will love you and forgive you your sins; God is most forgiving, most
merciful.’
32Say, ‘Obey God and the Messenger,’ but if they turn
away, [know that] God does not love those who ignore [His
commands].