The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

156
The Quran 13: 32
realize that if God had so willed, He could have guided all mankind?
As for the disbelievers, because of their misdeeds, disaster will not
cease to afflict them or fall close to their homes until God’s promise
is fulfilled: God never fails to keep His promise.
32 Many messengers before you [Muhammad] were mocked, but I
granted respite to the disbelievers: in the end, I took them to task –
how terrible My punishment was! 33 Is He who stands over every soul
marking its action [in need of any partner]? Yet they ascribe partners
to God. Say, ‘Name them,’ or, ‘Can you tell Him about something
on the earth He does not know to exist, or is this just a display of
words?’ But the things they devise are made alluring to the disbelievers
and they are barred from the [right] path: no one can guide
those God leaves to stray. 34 There is a punishment for them in this
world, but the punishment of the Hereafter will be harder – no one
will defend them against God.
35 Here is a picture of the Garden that those mindful of God have
been promised: flowing streams and perpetual food and shade. This
is the reward that awaits those who are mindful of God; the disbelievers’
reward is the Fire. 36 Those to whom We sent the Scripture
rejoice in what has been revealed to you [Prophet]; some factions
deny parts of it. Say, ‘I am commanded to worship God, and not join
anything with Him in worship: to Him I call [others] and to Him I
shall return.’ 37 So We have sent down the Quran to give judgement
in the Arabic language. If you were to follow their desires, after the
knowledge that has come to you, you would have no one to guard you
or protect you from God. 38 We sent messengers before you and gave
them wives and offspring; no messenger was given the power to
produce a miracle except with God’s permission. There was a Scripture
for every age: a 39 God erases or confirms whatever He will, and
the source of Scripture is with Him. 40 Whether We let you [Prophet]
see part of what We threaten them with, or cause you to die [before
that], your duty is only to deliver the message: the Reckoning is
Ours. 41 Do they not see how We come to [their] land and shrink its
borders? God decides – no one can reverse His decision – and He is
swift in reckoning. 42 Those before them also schemed, but the overall
scheme belongs to God: He knows what each soul does. In the
end, the disbelievers will find out who will have the excellent home.
a Another interpretation is ‘there is a time decreed for everything’.