The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

92
The Quran 6: 148
‘Your Lord has all-encompassing mercy, but His punishment cannot
be diverted from the evildoers.’ 148 The idolaters will say, ‘If God had
willed, we would not have ascribed partners to Him – nor would our
fathers – or have declared anything forbidden.’ In the same way,
those before them continually denied [the truth] until they tasted
Our punishment. Say, ‘Have you any knowledge that you can show
us? You follow only supposition and tell only lies.’ 149 Say, ‘The conclusive
argument belongs to God alone. Had He so willed He would
have guided you all.’ 150 Say, ‘Bring your witnesses to testify that God
has forbidden all this.’ If they do testify, do not bear witness with
them. Do not follow the whims of those who have denied Our revelation,
who do not believe in the Hereafter, and who set up equals with
their Lord.
151 Say, ‘Come! I will tell you what your Lord has really forbidden
you. Do not ascribe anything as a partner to Him; be good to your
parents; do not kill your children in fear of poverty’– We will
provide for you and for them –‘ stay well away from committing
obscenities, whether openly or in secret; do not take the life God has
made sacred, except by right. This is what He commands you to do:
perhaps you will use your reason. 152 Stay well away from the property
of orphans, except with the best [intentions], until they come of
age; give full measure and weight, according to justice’– We do not
burden any soul with more than it can bear –‘ when you speak, be
just, even if it concerns a relative; keep any promises you make in
God’s name. This is what He commands you to do, so that you may
take heed’– 153 this is My path, leading straight, so follow it, and do
not follow other ways: they will lead you away from it –‘ This is what
He commands you to do, so that you may refrain from wrongdoing.’
154 Once again, a We gave Moses the Scripture, perfecting [Our
favour] for those who do good, explaining everything clearly, as
guidance and mercy, so that they might believe in the meeting with
their Lord. 155 This, too, is a blessed Scripture which We have sent
down – follow it and be conscious of your Lord, so that you may
receive mercy – 156 lest you say, ‘Scriptures were only sent down to
two communities before us: we were not aware of what they studied,’
157 or ‘If only the Scripture had been sent down to us, we would have
a This reiterates the statement in verses 91–3 in response to their denial that God has
ever sent down any revelation.