The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

304 The Quran
the right path. 39 My people, the life of this world is only a brief
enjoyment; it is the Hereafter that is the lasting home. 40 Whoever
does evil will be repaid with its like; whoever does good and believes,
be it a man or a woman, will enter Paradise and be provided for
without measure. 41 My people, why do I call you to salvation when
you call me to the Fire? 42 You call me to disbelieve in God and to
associate with Him things of which I have no knowledge; I call you
to the Mighty, the Forgiving One. 43 There is no doubt that what
you call me to serve is not fit to be invoked either in this world or the
Hereafter: our return is to God alone, and it will be the rebels who
will inhabit the Fire. 44 [One Day] you will remember what I am
saying to you now, so I commit my case to God: God is well aware of
His servants.’ 45 So God saved him from the harm they planned.
A terrible punishment engulfed Pharaoh’s people; 46 they will be
brought before the Fire morning and evening. a On the Day the
Hour comes, it will be said, ‘Throw Pharaoh’s people into the worst
torment.’ 47 In the Fire they will quarrel with one another: the weak
will say to the haughty, ‘We were your followers, so can you now
relieve us from some share of the Fire?’ 48 but they will say, ‘We are
all in this together. God has judged between His creatures.’ 49 Those
in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, ‘Ask your Lord to lessen
our suffering for one day,’ 50 but they will say, ‘Did your messengers
not come to you with clear evidence of the truth?’ They will say, ‘Yes
they did,’ and the keeper will say, ‘You can plead, then, but the pleas
of disbelievers will always be in vain.’
51 We support Our messengers and the believers, in the present life
and on the Day when witnesses arise. 52 On the Day when excuses
will not profit the evildoers, their fate will be rejection and they will
have the worst of homes. 53 We gave Moses guidance and passed
down the Scripture to the Children of Israel, 54 as a guide and a
reminder to people of understanding. 55 So be patient, Prophet, for
what God has promised is sure to come. Ask forgiveness for your
sins; praise your Lord morning and evening. b 56 As for those who,
with no authority to do so, dispute God’s messages, there is nothing
in their hearts but a thirst for a greatness they will never attain. Seek
refuge in God, for He is the All Hearing, the All Seeing.
a ‘Morning and evening’ can convey a sense of ‘all the time’.
b See preceding note.
40: 39