The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

314
The Quran 42: 37
this world. Far better and more lasting is what God will give to
those who believe and trust in their Lord; 37 who shun great sins
and gross indecencies; who forgive when they are angry; 38 respond
to their Lord; keep up the prayer; conduct their affairs by mutual
consultation; give to others out of what We have provided for
them; 39 and defend themselves when they are oppressed. 40 Let
harm be requited by an equal harm, though anyone who forgives
and puts things right will have his reward from God Himself –He
does not like those who do wrong. 41 There is no cause to act
against anyone who defends himself after being wronged, 42 but
there is cause to act against those who oppress people and transgress
in the land against all justice – they will have an agonizing
torment – 43 though if a person is patient and forgives, this is one of
the greatest things.
44 Anyone God allows to stray will have no one else to protect him:
you [Prophet] will see the wrongdoers, when they face the punishment,
exclaiming, ‘Is there any way of going back?’ 45 You will see
them exposed to the Fire, abject in humiliation, glancing furtively,
while those who believed exclaim, ‘The losers are the ones who have
lost themselves and their people on the Day of Resurrection.’ Truly
the evildoers will remain in lasting torment; 46 they will have no allies
to help them against God. There is no way [forward] for those God
allows to stray.
47 So [people] respond to your Lord before there comes a Day that
cannot, against God’s will, be averted – you will have no refuge on
that Day, and no possibility of denying [your sins]. If they still turn
away [remember that] 48 We have not sent you [Prophet] to be their
guardian: your only duty is to deliver the message. When We give man
a taste of Our mercy, he rejoices in it, but if some harm befalls him
on account of what he has done with his own hands, then he is
ungrateful. 49 God has control of the heavens and the earth; He creates
whatever He will – He grants female offspring to whoever He
will, 50 male to whoever He will, or both male and female, and He
makes whoever He will barren: He is all knowing and all powerful.
51 It is not granted to any mortal that God should speak to him
except through revelation or from behind a veil, or by sending a
messenger to reveal by His command what He will: He is exalted
and wise. 52 So We have revealed a spirit to you [Prophet] by Our
command: you knew neither the Scripture nor the faith, but We