The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

22. THE PILGRIMAGE
A Medinan sura that gets its title from the reference to the sacred rite of the
pilgrimage first enacted by Abraham (verse 27). This theme is introduced by the
condemnation of those who bar the believers from access to the Sacred Mosque
and is followed by permission to fight when attacked. The sura begins with the
Day of Judgement and castigates those who worship useless idols, describing
them later as powerless to create even a fly. The sura ends by urging the
Muslims to persevere in following the faith of Abraham.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 People, be mindful of your Lord, for the earthquake of the Last
Hour will be a mighty thing: 2 on the Day you see it, every nursing
mother will think no more of her baby, every pregnant female will
miscarry, you will think people are drunk when they are not, so
severe will be God’s torment. 3 Yet still there are some who, with no
knowledge, argue about God, who follow every devilish rebel 4 fated
to lead astray those who take his side, and guide them to the suffering
of the blazing flame.
5 People, [remember,] if you doubt the Resurrection, that We
created you from dust, then a drop of fluid, then a clinging form,
then a lump of flesh, both shaped and unshaped: We mean to make
Our power clear to you. Whatever We choose We cause to remain in
the womb for an appointed time, then We bring you forth as infants
and then you grow and reach maturity. Some die young and some
are left to live on to such an age that they forget all they once knew.
You sometimes see the earth lifeless, yet when We send down water it
stirs and swells and produces every kind of joyous growth: 6 this is
because God is the Truth; He brings the dead back to life; He has
power over everything.
7 There is no doubt that the Last Hour is bound to come, nor that
God will raise the dead from their graves, 8 yet still there are some
who, with no knowledge or guidance or any book of enlightenment,
argue about God, 9 turning scornfully aside to lead others away from
God’s path. Disgrace in this world awaits such a person and, on the
Day of Resurrection, We shall make him taste the suffering of the