The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

218
The Quran 23: 72
72 Do you [Prophet] ask them for any payment? Your Lord’s is the best
payment: He is the Best of Providers. 73 You call them to a straight
path 74 and those who do not believe in the Hereafter turn away from
that path. 75 Even if We were to show them mercy and relieve them of
distress, they would blindly persist in their transgression. 76 We have
already afflicted them, yet they did not submit to their Lord: they
will not humble themselves 77 until We open a gate to severe torment
for them – then they will be plunged into utter despair.
78 It is God who endowed you with hearing, sight, and hearts –
how seldom you are grateful! 79 It is He who made you multiply on
earth. It is to Him that you will be gathered: 80 it is He who gives life
and death; the alternation of night and day depends on Him; will
you not use your minds? 81 But, like others before them, 82 they say,
‘What? When we die and turn to dust and bones, shall we really be
resurrected? 83 We have heard such promises before, and so did our
forefathers. These are just ancient fables.’ 84 Say [Prophet], ‘Who
owns the earth and all who live in it, if you know [so much]?’ 85 and
they will reply, ‘God.’ Say, ‘Will you not take heed?’ 86 Say, ‘Who is
the Lord of the seven heavens? Who is the Lord of the Mighty
Throne?’ 87 and they will reply, ‘God.’ Say, ‘Will you not be mindful?’
88 Say, ‘Who holds control of everything in His hand? Who protects,
while there is no protection against Him, if you know [so much]?’
89 and they will reply, ‘God.’ Say, ‘Then how can you be so deluded?’
90 The fact is, We brought them the truth and they are lying. 91 God
has never had a child. Nor is there any god beside Him – if there
were, each god would have taken his creation aside and tried to overcome
the others. May God be exalted above what they describe! 92 He
knows what is not seen as well as what is seen; He is far above any
partner they claim for Him. 93 Say, ‘Lord, if You are going to show me
the punishment You have promised them, 94 then Lord, do not
include me among the evildoers!’ 95 We certainly are able to show you
the punishment We have promised them. 96 Repel evil with good –
We are well aware of what they attribute to Us – 97 and say, ‘Lord, I
take refuge with You from the goadings of the evil ones; 98 I seek
refuge with you, Lord, so that they may not come near me.’
99 When death comes to one of them, he cries, ‘My Lord, let me
return 100 so as to make amends for the things I neglected.’ Never!
This will not go beyond his words: a barrier stands behind such
people until the very Day they are resurrected. 101 On that Day when