Part 26 (1/2)

advance me in knowledge.”

115. We had already, beforehand, taken the covenant of Adam, but We had already, beforehand, taken the covenant of Adam, but he forgot: and We found on his part no firm resolve.

116. When We said to the angels, ”Prostrate yourselves to Adam”, When We said to the angels, ”Prostrate yourselves to Adam”, they prostrated themselves, but not Iblis: he refused.

117. Then We said: ”O Adam! verily, this is an enemy to thee and thy Then We said: ”O Adam! verily, this is an enemy to thee and thy wife: so let him not get you both out of the Garden, so that thou art landed in misery.

118. ”There is therein (enough provision) for thee not to go hungry ”There is therein (enough provision) for thee not to go hungry nor to go naked, 119. ”Nor to suffer from thirst, nor from the sun's heat.” ”Nor to suffer from thirst, nor from the sun's heat.”

120. But Satan whispered evil to him: he said, ”O Adam! shall I lead But Satan whispered evil to him: he said, ”O Adam! shall I lead thee to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that never decays?”

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121. In the result, they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness In the result, they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness appeared to them: they began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden: thus did Adam disobey his Lord, and allow himself to be seduced.

122. But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him, and But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him, and gave him Guidance.

123. He said: ”Get ye down, both of you,-all together, from the He said: ”Get ye down, both of you,-all together, from the Garden, with enmity one to another: but if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from Me, whosoever follows My Guidance, will not lose his way, nor fall into misery.

124. ”But whosoever turns away from My Message, verily for him is a ”But whosoever turns away from My Message, verily for him is a life narrowed down, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment.”

125. He will say: ”O my Lord! why hast Thou raised me up blind, He will say: ”O my Lord! why hast Thou raised me up blind, while I had sight (before)?”

126. ((Allah)) will say: ”Thus didst Thou, when Our Signs came unto ((Allah)) will say: ”Thus didst Thou, when Our Signs came unto thee, disregard them: so wilt thou, this day, be disregarded.”

127. And thus do We recompense him who transgresses beyond And thus do We recompense him who transgresses beyond bounds and believes not in the Sings of his Lord: and the Penalty of the Hereafter is far more grievous and more enduring.

128. Is it not a warning to such men (to call to mind) how many Is it not a warning to such men (to call to mind) how many generations before them We destroyed, in whose haunts they (now) move? Verily, in this are Signs for men endued with understanding.

129. Had it not been for a Word that went forth before from thy Lord, Had it not been for a Word that went forth before from thy Lord, (their punishment) must necessarily have come; but there is a Term appointed (for respite).

130. Therefore be patient with what they say, and celebrate Therefore be patient with what they say, and celebrate (constantly) the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun, and before its setting; yea, celebrate them for part of the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day: that thou mayest have (spiritual) joy.

131. Nor strain thine eyes in longing for the things We have given for Nor strain thine eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to parties of them, the splendour of the life of this world, through which We test them: but the provision of thy Lord is better and more enduring.

132. Enjoin prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask Enjoin prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not to provide sustenance: We provide it for thee. But the (fruit of) the Hereafter is for righteousness.

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133. They say: ”Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?” Has They say: ”Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?” Has not a Clear Sign come to them of all that was in the former Books of revelation?

134. And if We had inflicted on them a penalty before this, they And if We had inflicted on them a penalty before this, they would have said: ”Our Lord! If only Thou hadst sent us an apostle, we should certainly have followed Thy Signs before we were humbled and put to shame.”

135. Say: ”Each one (of us) is waiting: wait ye, therefore, and soon Say: ”Each one (of us) is waiting: wait ye, therefore, and soon shall ye know who it is that is on the straight and even way, and who it is that has received Guidance.”

Surah 21. The Prophets

1. Closer and closer to mankind comes their Reckoning: yet they Closer and closer to mankind comes their Reckoning: yet they heed not and they turn away.

2. Never comes (aught) to them of a renewed Message from their Never comes (aught) to them of a renewed Message from their Lord, but they listen to it as in jest,-3. Their hearts toying as with trifles. The wrong-doers conceal their Their hearts toying as with trifles. The wrong-doers conceal their private counsels, (saying), ”Is this (one) more than a man like yourselves? Will ye go to witchcraft with your eyes open?”

4. Say: ”My Lord knoweth (every) word (spoken) in the heavens and Say: ”My Lord knoweth (every) word (spoken) in the heavens and on earth: He is the One that heareth and knoweth (all things).”

5. ”Nay,” they say, ”(these are) medleys of dream! - Nay, He forged ”Nay,” they say, ”(these are) medleys of dream! - Nay, He forged it! - Nay, He is (but) a poet! Let him then bring us a Sign like the ones that were sent to (Prophets) of old!”

6. (As to those) before them, not one of the populations which We (As to those) before them, not one of the populations which We destroyed believed: will these believe?

7. Before thee, also, the apostles We sent were but men, to whom Before thee, also, the apostles We sent were but men, to whom We granted inspiration: If ye realise this not, ask of those who possess the Message.

8. Nor did We give them bodies that ate no food, nor were they Nor did We give them bodies that ate no food, nor were they exempt from death.

9. In the end We fulfilled to them Our Promise, and We saved them In the end We fulfilled to them Our Promise, and We saved them and those whom We pleased, but We destroyed those who transgressed beyond bounds.

10. We have revealed for you (O men!) a book in which is a Message We have revealed for you (O men!) a book in which is a Message for you: will ye not then understand?

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11. How many were the populations We utterly destroyed because of How many were the populations We utterly destroyed because of their iniquities, setting up in their places other peoples?

12. Yet, when they felt Our Punishment (coming), behold, they (tried Yet, when they felt Our Punishment (coming), behold, they (tried to) flee from it.

13. Flee not, but return to the good things of this life which were Flee not, but return to the good things of this life which were given you, and to your homes in order that ye may be called to account.

14. They said: ”Ah! woe to us! We were indeed wrong-doers!” They said: ”Ah! woe to us! We were indeed wrong-doers!”

15. And that cry of theirs ceased not, till We made them as a field And that cry of theirs ceased not, till We made them as a field that is mown, as ashes silent and quenched.

16. Not for (idle) sport did We create the heavens and the earth and Not for (idle) sport did We create the heavens and the earth and all that is between!

17. If it had been Our wish to take (just) a pastime, We should surely If it had been Our wish to take (just) a pastime, We should surely have taken it from the things nearest to Us, if We would do (such a thing)!

18. Nay, We hurl the Truth against falsehood, and it knocks out its Nay, We hurl the Truth against falsehood, and it knocks out its brain, and behold, falsehood doth peris.h.!.+ Ah! woe be to you for the (false) things ye ascribe (to Us).

19. To Him belong all (creatures) in the heavens and on earth: Even To Him belong all (creatures) in the heavens and on earth: Even those who are in His (very) Presence are not too proud to serve Him, nor are they (ever) weary (of His service): 20. They celebrate His praises night and day, nor do they ever flag or They celebrate His praises night and day, nor do they ever flag or intermit.

21. Or have they taken (for wors.h.i.+p) G.o.ds from the earth who can Or have they taken (for wors.h.i.+p) G.o.ds from the earth who can raise (the dead)?

22. If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other G.o.ds besides If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other G.o.ds besides Allah, there would have been confusion in both! but glory to Allah, the Lord of the Throne: (High is He) above what they attribute to Him!

23. He cannot be questioned for His acts, but they will be questioned He cannot be questioned for His acts, but they will be questioned (for theirs).

24. Or have they taken for wors.h.i.+p (other) G.o.ds besides him? Say, Or have they taken for wors.h.i.+p (other) G.o.ds besides him? Say, ”Bring your convincing proof: this is the Message of those with me and the Message of those before me.” But most of them know not the Truth, and so turn away.

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25. Not an apostle did We send before thee without this inspiration Not an apostle did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no G.o.d but I; therefore wors.h.i.+p and serve Me.

26. And they say: ”((Allah)) Most Gracious has begotten offspring.” And they say: ”((Allah)) Most Gracious has begotten offspring.”