Hizb 23

6. And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allāh is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage.⁵⁴⁸ All is in a clear register.

7. And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you are resurrected after death," those who disbelieve will surely say, "This is not but obvious magic."

8. And if We hold back from them the punishment for a limited time, they will surely say,⁵⁴⁹ "What detains it?" Unquestionably, on the Day it comes to them, it will not be averted from them, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule.

9. And if We give man a taste of mercy from Us and then We withdraw it from him, indeed, he is despairing and ungrateful.

10. But if We give him a taste of favor after hardship has touched him, he will surely say, "Bad times have left me." Indeed, he is exultant and boastful -

11. Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward.

12. Then would you possibly leave [out] some of what is revealed to you,⁵⁵⁰ or is your breast constrained by it because they say, "Why has there not been sent down to him a treasure or come with him an angel?" But you are only a warner. And Allāh is Disposer of all things.

13. Or do they say, "He invented it"? Say, "Then bring ten sūrahs like it that have been invented and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allāh, if you should be truthful."

14. And if they do not respond to you - then know that it [i.e., the Qur’ān] was revealed with the knowledge of Allāh⁵⁵¹ and that there is no deity except Him. Then,⁵⁵² would you [not] be Muslims?

15. Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornments - We fully repay them for their deeds therein,⁵⁵³ and they therein will not be deprived.

16. Those are the ones for whom there is not in the Hereafter but the Fire. And lost is what they did therein,⁵⁵⁴ and worthless is what they used to do.

17. So is one who [stands] upon a clear evidence from his Lord [like the aforementioned]? And a witness⁵⁵⁵ from Him follows it,⁵⁵⁶ and before it was the Scripture of Moses to lead and as mercy. Those [believers in the former revelations] believe in it [i.e., the Qur’ān]. But whoever disbelieves in it from the [various] factions - the Fire is his promised destination. So be not in doubt about it. Indeed, it is the truth from your Lord, but most of the people do not believe.

18. And who is more unjust than he who invents a lie about Allāh? Those will be presented before their Lord, and the witnesses will say, "These are the ones who lied against their Lord." Unquestionably, the curse of Allāh is upon the wrongdoers

19. Who averted [people] from the way of Allāh and sought to make it [seem] deviant while they, concerning the Hereafter, were disbelievers.

20. Those were not causing failure [to Allāh] on earth, nor did they have besides Allāh any protectors. For them the punishment will be multiplied. They were not able to hear, nor did they see.⁵⁵⁷

21. Those are the ones who will have lost themselves, and lost from them is what they used to invent.

22. Assuredly, it is they in the Hereafter who will be the greatest losers.

23. Indeed, they who have believed and done righteous deeds and humbled themselves to their Lord - those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide eternally therein.

24. The example of the two parties is like the blind and deaf, and the seeing and hearing. Are they equal in comparison? Then, will you not remember?

25. And We had certainly sent Noah to his people, [saying], "Indeed, I am to you a clear warner

26. That you not worship except Allāh. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a painful day."

27. So the eminent among those who disbelieved from his people said, "We do not see you but as a man like ourselves, and we do not see you followed except by those who are the lowest of us [and] at first suggestion.⁵⁵⁸ And we do not see in you over us any merit; rather, we think you are liars."

28. He said, "O my people, have you considered: if I should be upon clear evidence from my Lord while He has given me mercy from Himself but it has been made unapparent to you, should we force it upon you while you are averse to it?

29. And O my people, I ask not of you for it any wealth. My reward is not but from Allāh. And I am not one to drive away those who have believed. Indeed, they will meet their Lord, but I see that you are a people behaving ignorantly.

30. And O my people, who would protect me from Allāh if I drove them away? Then will you not be reminded?

31. And I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allāh or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel, nor do I say of those upon whom your eyes look down that Allāh will never grant them any good. Allāh is most knowing of what is within their souls. Indeed, I would then be among the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust]."

32. They said, "O Noah, you have disputed [i.e., opposed] us and been frequent in dispute of us. So bring us what you threaten us, if you should be of the truthful."

33. He said, "Allāh will only bring it to you if He wills, and you will not cause [Him] failure.

34. And my advice will not benefit you - although I wished to advise you - if Allāh should intend to put you in error. He is your Lord, and to Him you will be returned."

35. Or do they say [about Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)], "He invented it"? Say, "If I have invented it, then upon me is [the consequence of] my crime; but I am innocent of what [crimes] you commit."

36. And it was revealed to Noah that, "No one will believe from your people except those who have already believed, so do not be distressed by what they have been doing.

37. And construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration and do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are [to be] drowned."

38. And he constructed the ship, and whenever an assembly of the eminent of his people passed by him, they ridiculed him. He said, "If you ridicule us, then we will ridicule you just as you ridicule.

39. And you are going to know who will get a punishment that will disgrace him [on earth] and upon whom will descend an enduring punishment [in the Hereafter]."

40. [So it was], until when Our command came and the oven overflowed,⁵⁵⁹ We said, "Load upon it [i.e., the ship] of each [creature] two mates and your family, except those about whom the word [i.e., decree] has preceded, and [include] whoever has believed." But none had believed with him, except a few.

41. And [Noah] said, "Embark therein; in the name of Allāh [are] its course and its anchorage. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."

42. And it sailed with them through waves like mountains, and Noah called to his son who was apart [from them], "O my son, come aboard with us and be not with the disbelievers."

43. [But] he said, "I will take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water." [Noah] said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allāh, except for whom He gives mercy." And the waves came between them, and he was among the drowned.

44. And it was said, "O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]." And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and it [i.e., the ship] came to rest on the [mountain of] Jūdiyy. And it was said, "Away with the wrongdoing people."

45. And Noah called to his Lord and said, "My Lord, indeed my son is of my family; and indeed, Your promise is true; and You are the most just of judges!"

46. He said, "O Noah, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous, so ask Me not for that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant."

47. [Noah] said, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers."

48. It was said, "O Noah, disembark in security from Us and blessings upon you and upon nations [descending] from those with you. But other nations [of them] We will grant enjoyment; then there will touch them from Us a painful punishment."

49. That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muḥammad]. You knew it not, neither you nor your people, before this. So be patient; indeed, the [best] outcome is for the righteous.

50. And to ʿAad [We sent] their brother Hūd. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. You are not but inventors [of falsehood].

51. O my people, I do not ask you for it [i.e., my advice] any reward. My reward is only from the one who created me. Then will you not reason?

52. And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength. And do not turn away, [being] criminals."

53. They said, "O Hūd, you have not brought us clear evidence, and we are not ones to leave our gods on your say-so. Nor are we believers in you.

54. We only say that some of our gods have possessed you with evil [i.e., insanity]." He said, "Indeed, I call Allāh to witness, and witness [yourselves] that I am free from whatever you associate with Allāh

55. Other than Him. So plot against me all together; then do not give me respite.

56. Indeed, I have relied upon Allāh, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but that He holds it by its forelock [i.e., controls it]. Indeed, my Lord is on a path [that is] straight.

57. But if you turn away, then I have already conveyed that with which I was sent to you. My Lord will give succession to a people other than you, and you will not harm Him at all. Indeed my Lord is, over all things, Guardian."⁵⁶⁰

58. And when Our command came, We saved Hūd and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us; and We saved them from a harsh punishment.

59. And that was ʿAad, who rejected the signs of their Lord and disobeyed His messengers and followed the order of every obstinate tyrant.

60. And they were [therefore] followed in this world with a curse and [as well] on the Day of Resurrection. Unquestionably, ʿAad denied their Lord; then away with ʿAad, the people of Hūd.

61. And to Thamūd [We sent] their brother Ṣāliḥ. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. He has produced you from the earth and settled you in it, so ask forgiveness of Him and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is near and responsive."

62. They said, "O Ṣāliḥ, you were among us a man of promise before this. Do you forbid us to worship what our fathers worshipped? And indeed we are, about that to which you invite us, in disquieting doubt."

63. He said, "O my people, have you considered: if I should be upon clear evidence from my Lord and He has given me mercy from Himself, who would protect me from Allāh if I disobeyed Him? So you would not increase me except in loss.

64. And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allāh - [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allāh's earth and do not touch her with harm, or you will be taken by an impending punishment."

65. But they hamstrung her, so he said, "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. That is a promise not to be denied [i.e., unfailing]."

66. So when Our command came, We saved Ṣāliḥ and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us, and [saved them] from the disgrace of that day.⁵⁶¹ Indeed, it is your Lord who is the Powerful, the Exalted in Might.

67. And the shriek⁵⁶² seized those who had wronged, and they became within their homes [corpses] fallen prone

68. As if they had never prospered therein. Unquestionably, Thamūd denied their Lord; then, away with Thamūd.

69. And certainly did Our messengers [i.e., angels] come to Abraham with good tidings; they said, "Peace." He said, "Peace," and did not delay in bringing [them] a roasted calf.

70. But when he saw their hands not reaching for it, he distrusted them and felt from them apprehension.⁵⁶³ They said, "Fear not. We have been sent to the people of Lot."

71. And his wife was standing, and she smiled.⁵⁶⁴ Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob.

72. She said, "Woe to me!⁵⁶⁵ Shall I give birth while I am an old woman and this, my husband, is an old man? Indeed, this is an amazing thing!"

73. They said, "Are you amazed at the decree of Allāh? May the mercy of Allāh and His blessings be upon you, people of the house. Indeed, He is Praiseworthy and Honorable."

74. And when the fright had left Abraham and the good tidings had reached him, he began to argue [i.e., plead] with Us⁵⁶⁶ concerning the people of Lot.

75. Indeed, Abraham was forbearing, grieving⁵⁶⁷ and [frequently] returning [to Allāh].

76. [The angels said], "O Abraham, give up this [plea]. Indeed, the command of your Lord has come, and indeed, there will reach them a punishment that cannot be repelled."

77. And when Our messengers, [the angels], came to Lot, he was anguished for them and felt for them great discomfort⁵⁶⁸ and said, "This is a trying day."

78. And his people came hastening to him, and before [this] they had been doing evil deeds.⁵⁶⁹ He said, "O my people, these are my daughters;⁵⁷⁰ they are purer for you. So fear Allāh and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not among you a man of reason?"

79. They said, "You have already known that we have not concerning your daughters [i.e., women] any claim [i.e., desire], and indeed, you know what we want."

80. He said, "If only I had against you some power or could take refuge in a strong support."

81. They [the angels] said, "O Lot, indeed we are messengers of your Lord; [therefore], they will never reach you. So set out with your family during a portion of the night⁵⁷¹ and let not any among you look back - except your wife; indeed, she will be struck by that which strikes them. Indeed, their appointment is [for] the morning. Is not the morning near?"

82. So when Our command came, We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of layered hard clay, [which were]

83. Marked from your Lord. And it [i.e., Allāh's punishment] is not from the wrongdoers [very] far.