The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

62
The Quran 4: 116
116 God does not forgive the worship of others beside Him –
though He does forgive whoever He will for lesser sins – for whoever
does this has gone far, far astray. 117 In His place the idolaters
invoke only females, a and Satan, the rebel 118 God rejected, who
said, ‘I will certainly take my due share of Your servants; 119 I will
mislead them and incite vain desires in them; I will command
them to slit the ears of cattle; b I will command them to tamper
with God’s creation.’ Whoever chooses Satan as a patron instead
of God is utterly ruined: 120 he makes them promises and raises
false hopes, but Satan’s promises are nothing but delusion. 121 Such
people will have Hell for their home and will find no escape from
it, 122 but We shall admit those who believe and do good deeds into
Gardens graced with flowing streams, there to remain for ever –a
true promise from God. Who speaks more truly than God? 123 It
will not be according to your hopes or those of the People of the
Book: anyone who does wrong will be requited for it and will find
no one to protect or help him against God; 124 anyone, male or
female, who does good deeds and is a believer, will enter Paradise
and will not be wronged by as much as the dip in a date stone.
125 Who could be better in religion than those who direct themselves
wholly to God, do good, and follow the religion of Abraham, who
was true in faith? God took Abraham as a friend. 126 It is to God
that everything in the heavens and earth belongs: God is fully
aware of all things.
127 They ask you [Prophet] for a ruling about women. Say, ‘God
Himself gives you a ruling about them. You already have what has
been recited to you in the Scripture about orphan girls [in your
charge] from whom you withhold the prescribed shares [of their
inheritance] and whom you wish to marry, and also about helpless
children – God instructs you to treat orphans fairly: He is well aware
of whatever good you do.’
128 If a wife fears high-handedness or alienation from her husband,
neither of them will be blamed if they come to a peaceful settlement,
for peace is best. Although human souls are prone to selfishness, if
you do good and are mindful of God, He is well aware of all that you
a See also 53: 19–20.
b An example of pagan superstitious practices: they used to dedicate cattle to their
gods by slitting their ears.