The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

21: 56
The Prophets 205
35 Every soul is certain to taste death: We test you all through the bad
and the good, and to Us you will all return. 36 When the disbelievers
see you, they laugh at you: ‘Is this the one who talks about your
gods?’ They reject any talk of the Lord of Mercy.
37 Man was created hasty: I will show you My signs soon, so do not
ask Me to hasten them. 38 They say, ‘When will this promise be
fulfilled, if what you say is true?’ 39 If the disbelievers only knew, the
time will arrive when they will not be able to ward off the Fire from
their faces or their backs, and they will get no help. 40 It will come
upon them suddenly and stupefy them; they will be powerless to
push it away; they will not be reprieved.
41 Messengers before you [Muhammad] were also ridiculed, but
those who mocked them were overwhelmed in the end by the very
thing they had mocked. 42 Say, ‘Who could protect you night and day
from the Lord of Mercy?’ Yet they turn away when their Lord is
mentioned. 43 Do they have gods who can defend them against Us?
Their gods have no power to help themselves, nor can they be protected
from Us. 44 We have allowed these sinners and their forefathers
to enjoy life for a long time. But do they not see how We are
shrinking their borders? Is it they who will prevail? 45 Say, ‘I warn
you only through the Revelation.’ The deaf will not hear the warning
call, 46 yet if a mere breath of your Lord’s punishment touches
them, they will be sure to cry, ‘Woe to us! We were wrong!’ 47 We
will set up scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection so that no
one can be wronged in the least, and if there should be even the
weight of a mustard seed, We shall bring it out – We take excellent
account.
48 We gave Moses and Aaron [the Scripture] that distinguishes
right from wrong, a light and a reminder for those who are mindful
of God, 49 those who stand in awe of their Lord, though He is
unseen, and who fear the Hour. 50 This [Quran] too is a blessed
message We have sent down – are you [people] going to deny it?
51 Long ago We bestowed right judgement on Abraham and We knew
him well. 52 He said to his father and his people, ‘What are these
images to which you are so devoted?’ 53 They replied, ‘We found our
fathers worshipping them.’ 54 He said, ‘You and your fathers have
clearly gone astray.’ 55 They asked, ‘Have you brought us the truth or
are you just playing about?’ 56 He said, ‘Listen! Your true Lord is the
Lord of the heavens and the earth, He who created them, and I am a