The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

16: 86
The Bee 171
believe in falsehood and deny God’s blessings? a 73 Those they worship
beside God have no power to provide anything for them from the
heavens or the earth: they can do nothing. 74 So do not make up
images about God: God knows and you do not.
75 God presents this illustration: a slave controlled by his master,
with no power over anything, and another man We have supplied
with good provision, from which he gives alms privately and openly.
Can they be considered equal? All praise belongs to God, but most
of them do not recognize this. 76 God presents another illustration:
two men, one of them dumb, unable to do anything, a burden to his
carer – whatever task he directs him to, he achieves nothing good –
can he be considered equal to one who commands justice and is on
the straight path? 77 All that is hidden from view in the heavens and
earth belongs to God. The coming of the Hour of Judgement is like
the blink of an eye, or even quicker: God has power over everything.
78 It is God who brought you out of your mothers’ wombs knowing
nothing, and gave you hearing and sight and minds, so that you
might be thankful. 79 Do they not see the birds made to fly through
the air in the sky? Nothing holds them up except God. There truly
are signs in this for those who believe. 80 It is God who has given you
a place of rest in your homes and from the skins of animals made
you homes that you find light [to handle] when you travel and when
you set up camp; furnishings and comfort for a while from their
wool, fur, and hair. 81 It is God who has given you shade from what
He has created, and places of shelter in the mountains; garments to
protect you from the heat, and garments to protect you in your wars.
In this way He perfects His blessings on you, so that you may devote
yourselves to Him. 82 But if they turn away [Prophet], your only duty
is to deliver the message clearly. 83 They know God’s blessings, but
refuse to recognize them: most of them are ungrateful.
84 The day will come when We raise up a witness from every
community, when the disbelievers will not be allowed to make
excuses or amends. 85 When the evildoers face punishment it will
not be lightened for them nor will they be given any respite. 86 When
the idolaters see the partners they joined with God they will say,
‘Our Lord, these are the partners we used to invoke beside You,’
a i.e. claim that the partners they ascribe to God are the ones to give them such
blessings.