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37: Those Who Set the Ranks, Drawn Up in Ranks

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By those who range themselves in ranks,

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And so are strong in repelling (evil),

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And thus proclaim the Message (of God)!

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Verily, verily, your God is one!-

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Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all between them, and Lord of every point at the rising of the sun!

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We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars,-

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(For beauty) and for guard against all obstinate rebellious evil spirits,

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(So) they should not strain their ears in the direction of the Exalted Assembly but be cast away from every side,

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Repulsed, for they are under a perpetual penalty,

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Except such as snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire, of piercing brightness.

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Just ask their opinion: are they the more difficult to create, or the (other) beings We have created? Them have We created out of a sticky clay!

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Truly dost thou marvel, while they ridicule,

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And, when they are admonished, pay no heed,-

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And, when they see a Sign, turn it to mockery,

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And say, "This is nothing but evident sorcery!

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"What! when we die, and become dust and bones, shall we (then) be raised up (again)

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"And also our fathers of old?"

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Say thou: "Yea, and ye shall then be humiliated (on account of your evil)."

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Then it will be a single (compelling) cry; and behold, they will begin to see!

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They will say, "Ah! Woe to us! This is the Day of Judgment!"

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(A voice will say,) "This is the Day of Sorting Out, whose truth ye (once) denied!"

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"Bring ye up", it shall be said, "The wrong-doers and their wives, and the things they worshipped-

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"Besides God, and lead them to the Way to the (Fierce) Fire!

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"But stop them, for they must be asked:

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"'What is the matter with you that ye help not each other?'"

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Nay, but that day they shall submit (to Judgment);

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And they will turn to one another, and question one another.

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They will say: "It was ye who used to come to us from the right hand (of power and authority)!"

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They will reply: "Nay, ye yourselves had no Faith!

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"Nor had we any authority over you. Nay, it was ye who were a people in obstinate rebellion!

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"So now has been proved true, against us, the word of our Lord that we shall indeed (have to) taste (the punishment of our sins).

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"We led you astray: for truly we were ourselves astray."

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Truly, that Day, they will (all) share in the Penalty.

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Verily that is how We shall deal with Sinners.

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For they, when they were told that there is no god except God, would puff themselves up with Pride,

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And say: "What! shall we give up our gods for the sake of a Poet possessed?"

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Nay! he has come with the (very) Truth, and he confirms (the Message of) the apostles (before him).

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Ye shall indeed taste of the Grievous Penalty;-

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But it will be no more than the retribution of (the Evil) that ye have wrought;-

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But the sincere (and devoted) Servants of God,-

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For them is a Sustenance determined,

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Fruits (Delights); and they (shall enjoy) honour and dignity,

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In Gardens of Felicity,

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Facing each other on Thrones (of Dignity):

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Round will be passed to them a Cup from a clear-flowing fountain,

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Crystal-white, of a taste delicious to those who drink (thereof),

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Free from headiness; nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom.

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And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty).

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As if they were (delicate) eggs closely guarded.

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Then they will turn to one another and question one another.

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One of them will start the talk and say: "I had an intimate companion (on the earth),

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"Who used to say, 'what! art thou amongst those who bear witness to the Truth (of the Message)?

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"'When we die and become dust and bones, shall we indeed receive rewards and punishments?'"

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(A voice) said: "Would ye like to look down?"

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He looked down and saw him in the midst of the Fire.

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He said: "By God! thou wast little short of bringing me to perdition!

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"Had it not been for the Grace of my Lord, I should certainly have been among those brought (there)!

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"Is it (the case) that we shall not die,

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"Except our first death, and that we shall not be punished?"

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Verily this is the supreme achievement!

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For the like of this let all strive, who wish to strive.

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Is that the better entertainment or the Tree of Zaqqum?

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For We have truly made it (as) a trial for the wrong-doers.

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For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hell-Fire:

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The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils:

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Truly they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith.

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Then on top of that they will be given a mixture made of boiling water.

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Then shall their return be to the (Blazing) Fire.

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Truly they found their fathers on the wrong Path;

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So they (too) were rushed down on their footsteps!

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And truly before them, many of the ancients went astray;-

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But We sent aforetime, among them, (apostles) to admonish them;-

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Then see what was the end of those who were admonished (but heeded not),-

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Except the sincere (and devoted) Servants of God.

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(In the days of old), Noah cried to Us, and We are the best to hear prayer.

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And We delivered him and his people from the Great Calamity,

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And made his progeny to endure (on this earth);

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And We left (this blessing) for him among generations to come in later times:

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"Peace and salutation to Noah among the nations!"

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Thus indeed do we reward those who do right.

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For he was one of our believing Servants.

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Then the rest we overwhelmed in the Flood.

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Verily among those who followed his Way was Abraham.

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Behold! he approached his Lord with a sound heart.

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Behold! he said to his father and to his people, "What is that which ye worship?

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"Is it a falsehood- gods other than God- that ye desire?

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"Then what is your idea about the Lord of the worlds?"

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Then did he cast a glance at the Stars.

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And he said, "I am indeed sick (at heart)!"

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So they turned away from him, and departed.

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Then did he turn to their gods and said, "will ye not eat (of the offerings before you)?...

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"What is the matter with you that ye speak not (intelligently)?"

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Then did he turn upon them, striking (them) with the right hand.

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Then came (the worshippers) with hurried steps, and faced (him).

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He said: "Worship ye that which ye have (yourselves) carved?

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"But God has created you and your handwork!"

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They said, "Build him a furnace, and throw him into the blazing fire!"

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(This failing), they then sought a stratagem against him, but We made them the ones most humiliated!

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He said: "I will go to my Lord! He will surely guide me!

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"O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!"

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So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear.

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Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if God so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!"

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So when they had both submitted their wills (to God), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice),

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We called out to him "O Abraham!

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"Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" - thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

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For this was obviously a trial-

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And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice:

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And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times:

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"Peace and salutation to Abraham!"

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Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

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For he was one of our believing Servants.

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And We gave him the good news of Isaac - a prophet,- one of the Righteous.

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We blessed him and Isaac: but of their progeny are (some) that do right, and (some) that obviously do wrong, to their own souls.

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Again (of old) We bestowed Our favour on Moses and Aaron,

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And We delivered them and their people from (their) Great Calamity;

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And We helped them, so they overcame (their troubles);

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And We gave them the Book which helps to make things clear;

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And We guided them to the Straight Way.

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And We left (this blessing) for them among generations (to come) in later times:

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"Peace and salutation to Moses and Aaron!"

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Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

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For they were two of our believing Servants.

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So also was Elias among those sent (by Us).

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Behold, he said to his people, "Will ye not fear (God)?

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"Will ye call upon Baal and forsake the Best of Creators,-

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"God, your Lord and Cherisher and the Lord and Cherisher of your fathers of old?"

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But they rejected him, and they will certainly be called up (for punishment),-

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Except the sincere and devoted Servants of God (among them).

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And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times:

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"Peace and salutation to such as Elias!"

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Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

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For he was one of our believing Servants.

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So also was Lut among those sent (by Us).

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Behold, We delivered him and his adherents, all

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Except an old woman who was among those who lagged behind:

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Then We destroyed the rest.

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Verily, ye pass by their (sites), by day-

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And by night: will ye not understand?

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So also was Jonah among those sent (by Us).

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When he ran away (like a slave from captivity) to the ship (fully) laden,

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He (agreed to) cast lots, and he was condemned:

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Then the big Fish did swallow him, and he had done acts worthy of blame.

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Had it not been that he (repented and) glorified God,

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He would certainly have remained inside the Fish till the Day of Resurrection.

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But We cast him forth on the naked shore in a state of sickness,

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And We caused to grow, over him, a spreading plant of the gourd kind.

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And We sent him (on a mission) to a hundred thousand (men) or more.

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And they believed; so We permitted them to enjoy (their life) for a while.

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Now ask them their opinion: Is it that thy Lord has (only) daughters, and they have sons?-

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Or that We created the angels female, and they are witnesses (thereto)?

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Is it not that they say, from their own invention,

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"God has begotten children"? but they are liars!

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Did He (then) choose daughters rather than sons?

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What is the matter with you? How judge ye?

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Will ye not then receive admonition?

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Or have ye an authority manifest?

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Then bring ye your Book (of authority) if ye be truthful!

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And they have invented a blood-relationship between Him and the Jinns: but the Jinns know (quite well) that they have indeed to appear (before his Judgment-Seat)!

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Glory to God! (He is free) from the things they ascribe (to Him)!

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Not (so do) the Servants of God, sincere and devoted.

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For, verily, neither ye nor those ye worship-

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Can lead (any) into temptation concerning God,

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Except such as are (themselves) going to the blazing Fire!

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(Those ranged in ranks say): "Not one of us but has a place appointed;

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"And we are verily ranged in ranks (for service);

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"And we are verily those who declare (God's) glory!"

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And there were those who said,

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"If only we had had before us a Message from those of old,

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"We should certainly have been Servants of God, sincere (and devoted)!"

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But (now that the Qur'án has come), they reject it: But soon will they know!

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Already has Our Word been passed before (this) to our Servants sent (by Us),

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That they would certainly be assisted,

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And that Our forces,- they surely must conquer.

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So turn thou away from them for a little while,

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And watch them (how they fare), and they soon shall see (how thou farest)!

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Do they wish (indeed) to hurry on our Punishment?

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But when it descends into the open space before them, evil will be the morning for those who were warned (and heeded not)!

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So turn thou away from them for a little while,

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And watch (how they fare) and they soon shall see (how thou farest)!

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Glory to thy Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! (He is free) from what they ascribe (to Him)!

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And Peace on the apostles!

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And Praise to God, the Lord and Cherisher of the Worlds.


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