The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

78
The Quran 5: 102
about them: God is most forgiving and forbearing. 102 Before you,
some people asked about things, then ignored [the answers]. 103 God
did not institute the dedication of such things as bahira, saiba,
wasila, or ham a to idols; but the disbelievers invent lies about God.
Most of them do not use reason: 104 when it is said to them, ‘Come
to what God has sent down, and to the Messenger,’ they say, ‘What
we inherited from our forefathers is good enough for us,’ even
though their forefathers knew nothing and were not guided. 105 You
who believe, you are responsible for your own souls; if anyone else
goes astray it will not harm you so long as you follow the guidance;
you will all return to God, and He will make you realize what you
have done.
106 You who believe, when death approaches any of you, let two
just men from among you act as witnesses to the making of a
bequest, or two men from another people if you are journeying in the
land when death approaches. Keep the two witnesses back after
prayer, if you have any doubts, and make them both swear by God,
‘We will not sell our testimony for any price, even if a close relative is
involved. We will not hide God’s testimony, for then we should be
doing wrong.’ 107 If it is discovered that these two are guilty [of perjury],
two of those whose rights have been usurped have a better right
to bear witness in their place. Let them swear by God, ‘Our testimony
is truer than theirs. We have said nothing but the truth, for
that would make us wrongdoers’: 108 that will make it more likely
they will give true and proper testimony, or fear that their oaths
might be refuted by others afterwards. Be mindful of God and listen;
God does not guide those who break His laws.
109 On the Day when God assembles all the messengers b and asks,
‘What response did you receive?’ they will say, ‘We do not have that
knowledge: You alone know things that cannot be seen.’ 110 Then
God will say, ‘Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My favour to you and
to your mother: how I strengthened you with the holy spirit, so that
a Different classes of animals liberated from work or use as food, in honour of idols,
and venerated by the pagan Arabs.
b As Razi rightly stated, it is the habit of the Quran, having talked at length on
legislation, to follow it with reminders of God’s power, stories of earlier prophets, or
what happens on the Day of Judgement, in order to motivate people to adhere to the
legislation. In this sura, having earlier mentioned the claims of Christians, it seeks
further to refute them by showing that Jesus will disown their claims on the Day of
Judgement.