The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
286 The Quran 37: 28 28 They will say, ‘You came to us from a position of power.’ a 29 They will say, ‘No! It was you who would not believe – 30 we had no power over you – and you were already exceeding all limits. 31 Our Lord’s sentence on us is just and we must all taste the punishment. 32 We led you astray as we ourselves were astray.’ 33 On that Day they will all share the torment: 34 this is how We deal with the guilty. 35 Whenever it was said to them, ‘There is no deity but God,’ they became arrogant, 36 and said, ‘Are we to forsake our gods for a mad poet?’ 37 ‘No: he brought the truth and confirmed the earlier messengers; 38 you will taste the painful torment, 39 and be repaid only according to your deeds.’ 40 Not so God’s true servants. 41 They will have familiar provisions b –– 42 fruits – and will be honoured 43 in gardens of delight; 44 seated on couches, facing one another. 45 A drink will be passed round among them from a flowing spring: 46 white, delicious to those who taste it, 47 causing no headiness or intoxication. 48 With them will be spouses – modest of gaze and beautiful of eye – 49 like protected eggs. c 50 They will turn to one another with questions: 51 one will say, ‘I had a close companion on earth 52 who used to ask me, “Do you really believe that 53 after we die and become dust and bone, we shall be brought for judgement?”’ 54 Then he will say, ‘Shall we look for him?’ 55 He will look down and see him in the midst of the Fire, 56 and say to him, ‘By God, you almost brought me to ruin! 57 Had it not been for the grace of my Lord, I too would have been taken to Hell.’ 58 Then he will say [to his blessed companions], ‘Are we never to die again after our earlier death? 59 Shall we never suffer? 60 This truly is the supreme triumph!’ 61 Everyone should strive to attain this. 62 Is this the better welcome, or the tree of Zaqqum, 63 which we have made a test for the evildoers? 64 This tree grows in the heart of the blazing Fire, d 65 and its fruits are like devils’ heads. 66 They will fill their bellies eating from it; 67 then drink scalding water on top of it; a The Arabic expression ‘from the right-hand side’ conveys the meaning of being in the right or approaching from the most honourable angle, or with power and influence (see verse 30). b See 2: 25. c Arabs described beautiful women as being as precious as the ostrich eggs they protected from the dust with feathers. d The disbelievers said, scornfully, ‘How can there be a tree in the Fire?’
37: 113 Ranged in Rows 287 68 then return to the blazing Fire. 69 They found their forefathers astray, 70 and rushed to follow in their footsteps – before the disbelievers [of Mecca], 71 most men in the past went astray, 72 even though We sent messengers to warn them.73 See how those who were warned met their end! 74 Not so the true servants of God. 75 Noah cried to Us, and how excellent was Our response! 76 We saved him and his people from great distress, 77 We let his offspring remain on the earth, 78 We let him be praised by later generations: 79 ‘Peace be upon Noah among all the nations!’ 80 This is how We reward those who do good: 81 he was truly one of Our faithful servants. 82 We drowned the rest. 83 Abraham was of the same faith: 84 he came to his Lord with a devoted heart. 85 He said to his father and his people, ‘What are you worshipping? 86 How can you choose false gods instead of the true God? 87 So what is your opinion about the Lord of all the Worlds?’ 88 then he looked up to the stars. 89 He said, ‘I am sick,’ 90 so [his people] turned away from him and left. 91 He turned to their gods and said, 92 ‘Do you not eat? Why do you not speak?’ 93 then he turned and struck them with his right arm. 94 His people hurried towards him, 95 but he said, ‘How can you worship things you carve with your own hands, 96 when it is God who has created you and all your handiwork?’ 97 They said, ‘Build a pyre and throw him into the blazing fire.’ 98 They wanted to harm him, but We humiliated them. 99 He said, ‘I will go to my Lord: He is sure to guide me. 100 Lord, grant me a righteous son,’ 101 so We gave him the good news that he would have a patient son. 102 When the boy was old enough to work with his father, Abraham said, ‘My son, I have seen myself sacrificing you in a dream. What do you think?’ He said, ‘Father, do as you are commanded and, God willing, you will find me steadfast.’ 103 When they had both submitted to God, and he had laid his son down on the side of his face, 104 We called out to him, ‘Abraham, 105 you have fulfilled the dream.’ This is how We reward those who do good – 106 it was a test to prove [their true characters] – 107 We ransomed his son with a momentous sacrifice, 108 and We let him be praised by succeeding generations: 109 ‘Peace be upon Abraham!’ 110 This is how We reward those who do good: 111 truly he was one of Our faithful servants. 112 We gave Abraham the good news of Isaac – a prophet and a righteous man – 113 and blessed him and Isaac too: some of their
- Page 262 and 263: 236 The Quran 26: 137 no difference
- Page 264 and 265: 238 The Quran 26: 216 follow you. 2
- Page 266 and 267: 240 The Quran 27: 13 the nine signs
- Page 268 and 269: 242 The Quran 27: 49 amends. 49 The
- Page 270 and 271: 244 The Quran 27: 89 what you do: 8
- Page 272 and 273: 246 The Quran 28: 12 them knowing.
- Page 274 and 275: 248 The Quran 28: 40 right - they t
- Page 276 and 277: 250 The Quran 28: 70 conceal and wh
- Page 278 and 279: 29. THE SPIDER A Meccan sura that t
- Page 280 and 281: 254 The Quran 29: 30 down on us, if
- Page 282 and 283: 256 The Quran 29: 61 God sustains t
- Page 284 and 285: 258 The Quran 30: 14 God - they wil
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- Page 288 and 289: 262 The Quran 31: 14 14 We have com
- Page 290 and 291: 32. BOWING DOWN IN WORSHIP A Meccan
- Page 292 and 293: 33. THE JOINT FORCES A Medinan sura
- Page 294 and 295: 268 The Quran 33: 21 hardly fight a
- Page 296 and 297: 270 The Quran 33: 49 49 Believers,
- Page 298 and 299: 34. SHEBA A Meccan sura that takes
- Page 300 and 301: 274 The Quran 34: 22 But [We aim] t
- Page 302 and 303: 276 The Quran 34: 51 am rightly gui
- Page 304 and 305: 278 The Quran 35: 12 two sexes; no
- Page 306 and 307: 280 The Quran 35: 43 yet further aw
- Page 308 and 309: 282 The Quran 36: 19 an evil omen.
- Page 310 and 311: 284 The Quran 36: 69 69 We have not
- Page 314 and 315: 288 The Quran 37: 114 offspring wer
- Page 316 and 317: 38. SAD This Meccan sura mentions p
- Page 318 and 319: 292 The Quran 38: 31 always turned
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- Page 322 and 323: 296 The Quran 39: 9 to Him, but onc
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- Page 330 and 331: 304 The Quran the right path. 39 My
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- Page 340 and 341: 314 The Quran 42: 37 this world. Fa
- Page 342 and 343: 43. ORNAMENTS OF GOLD A Meccan sura
- Page 344 and 345: 318 The Quran 43: 36 reserves the n
- Page 346 and 347: 320 The Quran 43: 83 the heavens an
- Page 348 and 349: 322 The Quran 44: 17 17 We tested t
- Page 350 and 351: 45. KNEELING A Meccan sura that tak
- Page 352 and 353: 326 The Quran 45: 29 Every communit
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- Page 356 and 357: 330 The Quran 46: 35 and He will sa
- Page 358 and 359: 332 The Quran 47: 11 disbelievers.
- Page 360 and 361: 48. TRIUMPH A Medinan sura that tak
37: 113<br />
Ranged in Rows 287<br />
68 then return to the blazing Fire. 69 <strong>The</strong>y found their forefathers<br />
astray, 70 and rushed to follow in their footsteps – before the disbelievers<br />
[of Mecca], 71 most men in the past went astray, 72 even<br />
though We sent messengers to warn them.73 See how those who were<br />
warned met their end! 74 Not so the true servants of God.<br />
75 Noah cried to Us, and how excellent was Our response! 76 We<br />
saved him and his people from great distress, 77 We let his offspring<br />
remain on the earth, 78 We let him be praised by later generations:<br />
79 ‘Peace be upon Noah among all the nations!’ 80 This is how We<br />
reward those who do good: 81 he was truly one of Our faithful<br />
servants. 82 We drowned the rest.<br />
83 Abraham was of the same faith: 84 he came to his Lord with a<br />
devoted heart. 85 He said to his father and his people, ‘What are you<br />
worshipping? 86 How can you choose false gods instead of the true<br />
God? 87 So what is your opinion about the Lord of all the Worlds?’<br />
88 then he looked up to the stars. 89 He said, ‘I am sick,’ 90 so [his<br />
people] turned away from him and left. 91 He turned to their gods<br />
and said, 92 ‘Do you not eat? Why do you not speak?’ 93 then he<br />
turned and struck them with his right arm. 94 His people hurried<br />
towards him, 95 but he said, ‘How can you worship things you carve<br />
with your own hands, 96 when it is God who has created you and all<br />
your handiwork?’ 97 <strong>The</strong>y said, ‘Build a pyre and throw him into the<br />
blazing fire.’ 98 <strong>The</strong>y wanted to harm him, but We humiliated them.<br />
99 He said, ‘I will go to my Lord: He is sure to guide me. 100 Lord,<br />
grant me a righteous son,’ 101 so We gave him the good news that he<br />
would have a patient son. 102 When the boy was old enough to work<br />
with his father, Abraham said, ‘My son, I have seen myself sacrificing<br />
you in a dream. What do you think?’ He said, ‘Father, do as<br />
you are commanded and, God willing, you will find me steadfast.’<br />
103 When they had both submitted to God, and he had laid his son<br />
down on the side of his face, 104 We called out to him, ‘Abraham,<br />
105 you have fulfilled the dream.’ This is how We reward those who<br />
do good – 106 it was a test to prove [their true characters] – 107 We<br />
ransomed his son with a momentous sacrifice, 108 and We let him be<br />
praised by succeeding generations: 109 ‘Peace be upon Abraham!’<br />
110 This is how We reward those who do good: 111 truly he was one of<br />
Our faithful servants.<br />
112 We gave Abraham the good news of Isaac – a prophet and a<br />
righteous man – 113 and blessed him and Isaac too: some of their