The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
Another interpretation is ‘there is a time decreed for everything’.
The Qur
an
13: 32
156

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43They say, ‘You have not been sent.’ Say, ‘God is sufficient witness
between me and you: all knowledge of the Scripture comes from
Him.’
a
a
Alternatively, ‘God –
– and those who have [true] knowledge of the Scripture –
– are
su
fficient witness between us.’
Thunder
157
13: 43

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14. ABRAHAM
A Meccan sura named after Abraham (verses 
35–41), who prays to God that
Mecca may be made prosperous so that its people may be thankful and continue
to worship God. The ungrateful are condemned, and the grateful commended,
throughout the sura. Abraham also asks that he and his descendants may be
protected from idol-worship. This serves to remind the Meccans that they
should shun the worship of idols.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Alif Lam Ra
This is a Scripture which We have sent down to you [Prophet] so
that, with their Lord’s permission, you may bring people from the
depths of darkness into light, to the path of the Almighty, the
Praiseworthy One, 
2God, to whom everything in the heavens and
earth belongs. How terrible will be the torment of those who ignore
[Him],
3those who prefer the life of this world over the life to come,
who turn others from God’s way, trying to make it crooked: such
people have gone far astray. 
4We have never sent a messenger who
did not use his own people’s language to make things clear for them.
But still God leaves whoever He will to stray, and guides whoever He
will: He is the Almighty, the All Wise.
5We sent Moses with Our signs: ‘Bring out your people from the
depths of darkness into light. Remind them of the Days of God:
a
there truly are signs in this for every steadfast, thankful person.’
6And so Moses said to his people, ‘Remember God’s blessing on you
when He saved you from Pharaoh’s people, who were in
flicting
terrible su
ffering on you, slaughtering your sons and sparing only
your women –– that was a severe test from your Lord! 
7Remember
that He promised, “If you are thankful, I will give you more, but
if you are thankless, My punishment is terrible indeed.” ’ 
8And
Moses said, ‘Even if you, together with everybody else on earth, are
thankless, God is self-su
fficient, worthy of all praise.’
a
The times when God singled them out for special favour or tribulation (cf.
2: 30–61).

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9Have you not heard about those who went before you, the people
of Noah, 
 Ad, Thamud, and those who lived after them, known only
to God? Their messengers came to them with clear proof, but they
tried to silence them,
a
saying, ‘We do not believe the message with
which you were sent. We have disturbing doubts about what you are
asking us to do.’
10Their messengers answered, ‘Can there be any
doubt about God, the Creator of the heavens and earth? He calls you
to Him in order to forgive you your sins and let you enjoy your life
until the appointed hour.’ But they said, ‘You are only men like us.
You want to turn us away from what our forefathers used to worship.
Bring us clear proof then, [if you can].’
11Their messengers
answered, ‘True, we are only men like you, but God favours which-
ever of His servants He chooses. We cannot bring you any proof
unless God permits it, so let the believers put all their trust in Him –
–
12why should we not put our trust in God when it is He who has
guided us to this way we follow? We shall certainly bear steadfastly
whatever harm you do to us. Let anyone who trusts, trust in God.’
13The disbelievers said to their messengers, ‘We shall expel you
from our land unless you return to our religion.’ But their Lord
inspired the messengers: ‘We shall destroy the evildoers, 
14and leave
you to dwell in the land after them. This reward is for those who are
in awe of meeting Me, and of My warnings.’
15They asked God to
decide, and every obstinate tyrant failed –
–
16Hell awaits each one; he
will be given foul water to drink, 
17which he will try to gulp but
scarcely be able to swallow; death will encroach on him from every
side, but he will not die; more intense su
ffering will lie ahead of him.
18The deeds of those who reject their Lord are like ashes that the
wind blows furiously on a stormy day: they have no power over
anything they have gained. This is to stray far, far away.
19[Prophet], do you not see that God created the heavens and the
earth for a purpose? He could remove all of you and replace you with
a new creation if He wished to: 
20that is not difficult for God.
21When they all appear before Him, the weak will say to the power-
seekers, ‘We were your followers. Can you protect us from any of
God’s punishment?’ They will reply, ‘If God had guided us, we
would have guided you. It makes no di
fference now whether we rage
or endure with patience: there is no escape.’
22When everything has