Chapter 67, 30 verses
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Blessed is He in Whose hand is the Sovereignty, and, He is Able to do all things.
Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent -
Who hath created life and death that He may try you which of you is best in conduct; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving,
[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving -
Who hath created seven heavens in harmony. Thou (Muhammad) canst see no fault in the Beneficent One's creation; then look again: Canst thou see any rifts ?
[And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks?
Then look again and yet again, thy sight will return unto thee weakened and made dim.
Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued.
And verily We have beautified the world's heaven with lamps, and We have made them missiles for the devils, and for them We have prepared the doom of flame.
And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with stars and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.
And for those who disbelieve in their Lord there is the doom of hell, a hapless journey's end!
And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination.
When they are flung therein they hear its roaring as it boileth up,
When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up.
As it would burst with rage. Whenever a (fresh) host is flung therein the wardens thereof ask them: Came there unto you no warner ?
It almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them, "Did there not come to you a warner?"
They say: Yea, verily, a warner came unto us; but we denied and said: Allah hath naught revealed; ye are in naught but a great error.
They will say," Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, 'Allah has not sent down anything. You are not but in great error.'"
And they say: Had we been wont to listen or have sense, we had not been among the dwellers in the flames.
And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze."
So they acknowledge their sins; but far removed (from mercy) are the dwellers in the flames.
And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze.
Lo! those who fear their Lord in secret, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward.
Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and great reward.
And keep your opinion secret or proclaim it, lo! He is Knower of all that is in the breasts (of men).
And conceal your speech or publicize it; indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
Should He not know what He created ? And He is the Subtile, the Aware.
Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?
He it is Who hath made the earth subservient unto you, so Walk in the paths thereof and eat of His providence. And unto Him will be the resurrection (of the dead).
It is He who made the earth tame for you - so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision - and to Him is the resurrection.
Have ye taken security from Him Who is in the heaven that He will not cause the earth to swallow you when lo! it is convulsed ?
Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway?
Or have ye taken security from Him Who is in the heaven that He will not let loose on you a hurricane ? But ye shall know the manner of My warning.
Or do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not send against you a storm of stones? Then you would know how [severe] was My warning.
And verily those before them denied, then (see) the manner of My wrath (with them)!
And already had those before them denied, and how [terrible] was My reproach.
Have they not seen the birds above them spreading out their wings and closing them ? Naught upholdeth them save the Beneficent. Lo! He is Seer of all things.
Do they not see the birds above them with wings outspread and [sometimes] folded in? None holds them [aloft] except the Most Merciful. Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing.
Or who is he that will be an army unto you to help you instead of the Beneficent ? The disbelievers are in naught but illusion.
Or who is it that could be an army for you to aid you other than the Most Merciful? The disbelievers are not but in delusion.
Or who is he that will provide for you if He should withhold His providence ? Nay, but they are set in pride and frowardness.
Or who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion.
Is he who goeth groping on his face more rightly guided, or he who walketh upright on a straight road ?
Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path?
Say (unto them, O Muhammad): He it is who gave you being, and hath assigned unto you ears and eyes and hearts. Small thanks give ye!
Say, "It is He who has produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful."
Say: He it is Who multiplieth you in the earth, and unto Whom ye will be gathered.
Say, "It is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered."
And they say: When (will) this promise (be fulfilled), if ye are truthful ?
And they say, "When is this promise, if you should be truthful?"
Say: The knowledge is with Allah only, and I am but a plain warner;
Say, "The knowledge is only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner."
But when they see it nigh, the faces of those who disbelieve will be awry, and it will be said (unto them): This is that for which ye used to call.
But when they see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be distressed, and it will be said, "This is that for which you used to call."
Say (O Muhammad): Have ye thought: Whether Allah causeth me (Muhammad) and those with me to perish or hath mercy on us, still, who will protect the disbelievers from a painful doom ?
Say, [O Muhammad], "Have you considered: whether Allah should cause my death and those with me or have mercy upon us, who can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?"
Say: He is the Beneficent. In Him we believe and in Him we put our trust. And ye will soon know who it is that is in error manifest.
Say, "He is the Most Merciful; we have believed in Him, and upon Him we have relied. And you will [come to] know who it is that is in clear error."
Say: Have ye thought: If (all) your water were to disappear into the earth, who then could bring you gushing water ?
Say, "Have you considered: if your water was to become sunken [into the earth], then who could bring you flowing water?"