The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

21. THE PROPHETS
A Meccan sura which takes its name from the list of prophets mentioned from verse
48 to verse 91. It stresses that fact that Muhammad is a man like earlier prophets,
and has been given the same message to declare the unity of God. It warns the
disbelievers of the approaching Judgement from which there is no escape.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 Ever closer to people draws their reckoning, while they turn away,
heedless. 2 Whenever any fresh revelation comes to them from their
Lord, they listen to it playfully 3 with frivolous hearts. The evildoers
conferred in secret: ‘Is this man anything but a mortal like yourselves?
Are you going to fall under his spell with your eyes wide
open?’ 4 He said, a ‘My Lord knows everything that is said in the
heavens and the earth: He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing.’
5 Some say, ‘Muddled dreams’; others, ‘He made it up’; yet others,
‘He is just a poet, let him show us a sign as previous messengers
did.’ 6 But of the communities We destroyed before them not a single
one believed. Will these now believe? 7 And even before your time
[Prophet], all the messengers We sent were only men We inspired––
if you [disbelievers] do not know, ask people who know the Scripture––8
We did not give them bodies that ate no food, nor were they
immortal. 9 We fulfilled Our promise to them in the end: We saved
them and those We wished to save, and We destroyed those who
exceeded all bounds.
10 And now We have sent down to you [people] a Scripture to
remind you. Will you not use your reason? 11 How many communities
of evildoers We have destroyed! How many others We
have raised up in their places! 12 When they felt Our might coming
upon them, see how they tried to escape it! 13 ‘Do not try to escape.
Go back to your homes and the pleasure you revelled in: you
may be questioned.’ 14 They said, ‘Woe to us! We were wrong!’
15 and that cry of theirs did not cease until We made them burnt-off
stubble.
a Here and in verse 112 an alternative reading is the imperative, qul (‘say’).