The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

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The Quran 28: 70
conceal and what they reveal. 70 He is God; there is no god but Him;
all praise belongs to Him in this world and the next; His is the
Judgement; and to Him you shall be returned.
71 Say [Prophet], ‘Just think, if God were to cast perpetual night
over you until the Day of Resurrection, what god other than He
could bring you light? Do you not listen?’ 72 Say, ‘Just think, if God
were to cast perpetual day over you until the Day of Resurrection,
what god other than He could give you night in which to rest? Do
you not see? 73 In His mercy He has given you night and day, so that
you may rest and seek His bounty and be grateful.’ 74 The Day will
come when He will call out to them, saying, ‘Where are the partners
you claimed for Me?’ 75 We shall call a witness from every community,
and say, ‘Produce your evidence,’ and then they will know
that truth belongs to God alone; the gods they invented will forsake
them.
76 Qarun was one of Moses’ people, but he oppressed them. We
had given him such treasures that even their keys would have
weighed down a whole company of strong men. His people said to
him, ‘Do not gloat, for God does not like people who gloat. 77 Seek
the life to come by means of what God has granted you, but do not
neglect your rightful share in this world. Do good to others as God
has done good to you. Do not seek to spread corruption in the land,
for God does not love those who do this,’ 78 but he answered, ‘This
wealth was given to me on account of the knowledge I possess.’ Did
he not know that God had destroyed many generations before him,
who had greater power than him and built up greater wealth? The
guilty will not be questioned about their sins. a 79 He went out
among his people in all his pomp, and those whose aim was the life of
this world said, ‘If only we had been given something like what
Qarun has been given: he really is a very fortunate man,’ 80 but those
who were given knowledge said, ‘Alas for you! God’s reward is better
for those who believe and do good deeds: only those who are steadfast
will attain this.’ 81 We caused the earth to swallow him and his
home: he had no one to help him against God, nor could he defend
himself. 82 The next day, those who had, the day before, wished to be
a There are a number of interpretations of this verse, the most likely, according to
Razi, being that the guilty will not be granted the privilege of being questioned about
their sins, nor will they be given the opportunity to provide excuses.