The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

112
The Quran 8: 26
26 Remember when you were few, victimized in the land, afraid
that people might catch you, but God sheltered you and strengthened
you with His help, and provided you with good things so that
you might be grateful. 27 Believers, do not betray God and the
Messenger, or knowingly betray [other people’s] trust in you. 28 Be
aware that your possessions and your children are only a test, and
that there is a tremendous reward with God. 29 Believers, if you
remain mindful of God, He will give you a criterion [to tell right
from wrong] and wipe out your bad deeds, and forgive you: God’s
favour is great indeed.
30 Remember [Prophet] when the disbelievers plotted to take you
captive, kill, or expel you. They schemed and so did God: He is the
best of schemers. 31 Whenever Our Revelation is recited to them they
say, ‘We have heard all this before – we could say something like this
if we wanted – this is nothing but ancient fables.’ 32 They also said,
‘God, if this really is the truth from You, then rain stones on us from
the heavens, or send us some other painful punishment.’ 33 But God
would not send them punishment while you [Prophet] are in their
midst, nor would He punish them if they sought forgiveness, 34 yet
why should God not punish them when they debar people from the
Sacred Mosque, although they are not its [rightful] guardians? Only
those mindful of God are its rightful guardians, but most of the
disbelievers do not realize this. 35 Their prayers before the House are
nothing but whistling and clapping. ‘So taste the punishment a for
your disbelief.’ 36 They use their wealth to bar people from the path
of God, and they will go on doing so. In the end this will be a source
of intense regret for them: they will be overcome and herded towards
Hell. 37 God will separate the bad from the good, place the bad on top
of one another – heaping them all up together – and put them in
Hell. They will be the losers. 38 [Prophet], tell the disbelievers that if
they desist their past will be forgiven, but if they persist, they have
an example in the fate of those who went before. 39 [Believers], fight
them until there is no more persecution, and all worship b is devoted
to God alone: if they desist, then God sees all that they do, 40 but
if they pay no heed, be sure that God is your protector, the best
protector and the best helper.
a This could allude to their defeat in the battle.
b At the Sacred House; cf. 2: 191–3, 2: 17.