The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
The Prophet and his companion Abu Bakr.
The Qur
an
9: 39
120

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[Prophet] have good fortune, it will grieve them, but if misfortune
comes your way, they will say to themselves, ‘We took precautions
for this,’ and go away rejoicing. 
51Say, ‘Only what God has decreed
will happen to us. He is our Master: let the believers put their trust
in God.’
52Say, ‘Do you expect something other than one of the two
best things to happen to us?
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Well, we expect God to in
flict punishment
on you, either from Himself or at our hands. So wait; we too are
waiting.’
53Say, ‘Whether you give willingly or unwillingly, what you
give will not be accepted, for you are disobedient people.’
54The only
thing that prevents what they give from being accepted is the fact
that they defy God and His Messenger, perform the prayer only
lazily, and give only grudgingly. 
55So [Prophet] do not let their
possessions or their children impress you: through these God
intends to punish them in this world and for their souls to depart
while they disbelieve.
56They swear by God that they belong with you [believers], but
they do not. They are cowardly: 
57if they could find a place of
refuge, or a cave, or somewhere to crawl into, they would run there
with great haste. 
58Some of them find fault with you [Prophet]
regarding the distribution of alms: they are content if they are given
a share, but angry if not. 
59If only they would be content with what
God and His Messenger have given them, and say, ‘God is enough
for us –
– He will give us some of His bounty and so will His Messen-
ger –
– to God alone we turn in hope.’
60Alms are meant only for the
poor, the needy, those who administer them, those whose hearts need
winning over, to free slaves and help those in debt, for God’s cause,
and for travellers in need. This is ordained by God; God is all
knowing and wise.
61There are others who insult the Prophet by saying, ‘He will
listen to anything.’ Say, ‘He listens for your own good: he believes in
God, trusts the believers, and is a mercy for those of you who
believe.’ An agonizing torment awaits those who insult God’s
Messenger. 
62They swear by God in order to please you [believers]:
if they were true believers it would be more 
fitting for them to
please God and His Messenger. 
63Do they not know that whoever
opposes God and His Messenger will go to the Fire of Hell and stay
there? That is the supreme disgrace.
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Victory or reward in the next world.
Repentance
121
9: 63

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64The hypocrites fear that a sura will be revealed exposing what is
in their hearts –
– say, ‘Carry on with your jokes: God will bring about
what you fear!’–
–
65yet if you were to question them, they would be
sure to say, ‘We were just chatting, just amusing ourselves.’ Say,
‘Were you making jokes about God, His Revelations, and His Mes-
senger?
66Do not try to justify yourselves; you have gone from belief
to disbelief.’ We may forgive some of you, but We will punish others:
they are evildoers. 
67The hypocrites, both men and women, are all
the same: they order what is wrong and forbid what is right; they are
tight-
fisted. They have ignored God, so He has ignored them.
a
The
hypocrites are the disobedient ones. 
68God promises the Fire of Hell
as a permanent home for the hypocrites, both men and women, and
the disbelievers: this is enough for them. God rejects them and a
lasting punishment awaits them. 
69‘You
b
are like those who lived
before you: they were even stronger than you, with more wealth and
children; they enjoyed their share in this life as you have enjoyed
yours; like them, you have indulged in idle talk.’ Their deeds go to
waste in this world and the next; it is they who will lose all in the life
to come. 
70Have they never heard the stories about their predeces-
sors, the peoples of Noah, 
 Ad, Thamud, Abraham, Midian, and the
ruined cities? Their messengers came to them with clear evidence of
the truth: God would not deceive them; they deceived themselves.
71The believers, both men and women, support each other; they
order what is right and forbid what is wrong; they keep up the prayer
and pay the prescribed alms; they obey God and His Messenger.
God will give His mercy to such people: God is almighty and
wise. 
72God has promised the believers, both men and women,
Gardens graced with 
flowing streams where they will remain; good,
peaceful homes in Gardens of lasting bliss; and –
– greatest of all –
–
God’s good pleasure. That is the supreme triumph.
73Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites,
and be tough with them. Hell is their 
final home–– an evil destin-
ation! 
74They swear by God that they did not, but they certainly did
speak words of de
fiance and became defiant after having sub-
mitted; they tried to do something,