The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

28: 88
The Story 251
in his place exclaimed, ‘Alas [for you, Qarun]! It is God alone who
gives what He will, abundantly or sparingly, to whichever He will of
His creatures: if God had not been gracious to us, He would have
caused the earth to swallow us too.’ Alas indeed! Those who deny the
truth will never prosper.
83 We grant the Home in the Hereafter to those who do not seek
superiority on earth or spread corruption: the happy ending is
awarded to those who are mindful of God. 84 Whoever comes before
God with a good deed will receive a better reward; whoever comes
with an evil deed will be punished only for what he has done. 85 He
who has made the Quran binding on you [Prophet] will bring you
back home. a So say, ‘My Lord knows best who has brought true
guidance and who is blatantly astray.’ 86 You yourself could not have
expected the Scripture to be sent to you; it came only as a mercy
from your Lord. So give no help to the disbelievers. 87 Do not let
them turn you away from God’s revelations after they have been
revealed to you. Call people to your Lord. Never become one of
those who ascribe partners to God. 88 Do not call out to any other god
beside God, for there is no god but Him. Everything will perish
except His Face. His is the Judgement and to Him you shall all be
brought back.
a To Him. Cf. verse 83. Various commentators take this to refer to Mecca or to the life
to come.