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

Never comes (aught) to them of a renewed Message from their Lord, but they listen to it as in jest,-

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?"

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

"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!"

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

They said: "Ah! woe to us! We were indeed wrong-doers!"

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

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

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)!

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

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):

They celebrate His praises night and day, nor do they ever flag or intermit.

Or have they taken (for worship) gods from the earth who can raise (the dead)?

If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods 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!

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

Or have they taken for worship (other) gods 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.

Not a messenger did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me.

And they say: "(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten offspring." Glory to Him! they are (but) servants raised to honour.

They speak not before He speaks, and they act (in all things) by His Command.

He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they offer no intercession except for those who are acceptable, and they stand in awe and reverence of His (Glory).

If any of them should say, "I am a god besides Him", such a one We should reward with Hell: thus do We reward those who do wrong.

Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit of creation), before we clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?

And We have set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with them, and We have made therein broad highways (between mountains) for them to pass through: that they may receive Guidance.

And We have made the heavens as a canopy well guarded: yet do they turn away from the Signs which these things (point to)!

It is He Who created the Night and the Day, and the sun and the moon: all (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its rounded course.

We granted not to any man before thee permanent life (here): if then thou shouldst die, would they live permanently?

Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial. to Us must ye return.

When the Unbelievers see thee, they treat thee not except with ridicule. "Is this," (they say), "the one who talks of your gods?" and they blaspheme at the mention of (Allah) Most Gracious!

Man is a creature of haste: soon (enough) will I show you My Signs; then ye will not ask Me to hasten them!

They say: "When will this promise come to pass, if ye are telling the truth?"

If only the Unbelievers knew (the time) when they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs, and (when) no help can reach them!

Nay, it may come to them all of a sudden and confound them: no power will they have then to avert it, nor will they (then) get respite.

Mocked were (many) messenger before thee; But their scoffers were hemmed in by the thing that they mocked.

Say: "Who can keep you safe by night and by day from (the Wrath of) (Allah) Most Gracious?" Yet they turn away from the mention of their Lord.

Or have they gods that can guard them from Us? They have no power to aid themselves, nor can they be defended from Us.

Nay, We gave the good things of this life to these men and their fathers until the period grew long for them; See they not that We gradually reduce the land (in their control) from its outlying borders? Is it then they who will win?

Say, "I do but warn you according to revelation": But the deaf will not hear the call, (even) when they are warned!

If but a breath of the Wrath of thy Lord do touch them, they will then say, "Woe to us! we did wrong indeed!"

We shall set up scales of justice for the Day of Judgment, so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least, and if there be (no more than) the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it (to account): and enough are We to take account.

In the past We granted to Moses and Aaron the criterion (for judgment), and a Light and a Message for those who would do right,-

Those who fear their Lord in their most secret thoughts, and who hold the Hour (of Judgment) in awe.

And this is a blessed Message which We have sent down: will ye then reject it?