The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

7: 108
The Heights 101
who had rejected Shuayb had never lived there; it was those who
had rejected Shuayb who were the losers – 93 so he turned away
from them, saying, ‘My people, I delivered my Lord’s messages to
you and gave you sincere advice, so why should I grieve for people
who refused to believe?’
94 Whenever We sent a prophet to a town, We afflicted its [disbelieving]
a people with suffering and hardships, so that they might
humble themselves [before God], 95 and then We changed their
hardship into prosperity, until they multiplied. But then they said,
‘Hardship and affluence also befell our forefathers,’ and so We took
them suddenly, unawares. 96 If the people of those towns had believed
and been mindful of God, We would have showered them with
blessings from the heavens and earth, but they rejected the truth and
so We punished them for their misdeeds.
97 Do the people of these towns feel secure that Our punishment
will not come upon them by night, while they are asleep? 98 Do the
people of these towns feel secure that Our punishment will not come
upon them by day, while they are at play? 99 Do they feel secure
against God’s plan? Only the losers feel secure against God’s plan.
100 Is it not clear to those who inherit the land from former generations
that We can punish them too for their sins if We will? And
seal up their hearts so that they cannot hear? 101 We have told you
[Prophet] the stories of those towns: messengers came to them, and
clear signs, but they would not believe in what they had already
rejected – in this way God seals the hearts of disbelievers. 102 We
found that most of them did not honour their commitments; We
found that most of them were defiant.
103 After these, We sent Moses to Pharaoh and his leading supporters
with Our signs, but they rejected them. See the fate of
those who used to spread corruption. 104 Moses said, ‘Pharaoh, I am a
messenger from the Lord of all the Worlds, 105 duty-bound to say
nothing about God but the truth, and I have brought you a clear sign
from your Lord. Let the Children of Israel go with me.’ 106 He said,
‘Produce this sign you have brought, if you are telling the truth.’
107 So Moses threw his staff and – lo and behold! – it was a snake,
clear to all, 108 and then he pulled out his hand and – lo and
a This is implied in Arabic (Razi).