The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

43: 82
Ornaments of Gold 319
they cite him only to challenge you: they are a contentious people –
59 but he is only a servant We favoured and made an example for the
Children of Israel: 60 if it had been Our will, We could have made
you angels, a succeeding one another on earth.
61 This [Quran] gives knowledge of the Hour: b do not doubt it.
Follow Me for this is the right path; 62 do not let Satan hinder you,
for he is your sworn enemy. 63 When Jesus came with clear signs
he said, ‘I have brought you wisdom; I have come to clear up some
of your differences for you. Be mindful of God and obey me: 64 God
is my Lord and your Lord. Serve Him: this is the straight path.’
65 Yet still the different factions among them disagreed – woe to the
evildoers: they will suffer the torment of a grievous day! – 66 what are
they waiting for but the Hour, which will come upon them suddenly
and take them unawares? 67 On that Day, friends will become each
other’s enemies. Not so the righteous – 68 ‘My servants, there is no
fear for you today, nor shall you grieve’––69 those who believed in
Our revelations and devoted themselves to Us. 70 ‘Enter Paradise, you
and your spouses: you will be filled with joy.’ 71 Dishes and goblets of
gold will be passed around them with all that their souls desire and
their eyes delight in. ‘There you will remain: 72 this is the Garden you
are given as your own, because of what you used to do, 73 and there is
abundant fruit in it for you to eat.’ 74 But the evildoers will remain in
Hell’s punishment, 75 from which there is no relief: they will remain
in utter despair. 76 We never wronged them; they were the ones who
did wrong. 77 They will cry, ‘Malik, c if only your Lord would finish
us off,’ but he will answer, ‘No! You are here to stay.’ 78 We have
brought you the Truth but most of you despise it.
79 Have these disbelievers thought up some scheme? We too have
been scheming. 80 Do they think We cannot hear their secret talk and
their private counsel? Yes we can: Our messengers are at their sides,
recording everything.
81 Say [Prophet], ‘If the Lord of Mercy [truly] had offspring I
would be the first to worship [them], d but – 82 exalted be the Lord of
a Just as God was able to create Jesus without a father.
b Alternatively, the pronoun hu can also be seen to refer to Jesus: ‘[Jesus] gives
knowledge of the Hour’.
c The angel in charge of Hell.
d Another interpretation is ‘If the Lord of Mercy had a son I would be the first to
worship him’ (Razi).