The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

332
The Quran 47: 11
disbelievers. 11 That is because God protects the believers while the
disbelievers have no one to protect them: 12 God will admit those who
believe and do good deeds to Gardens graced with flowing streams;
the disbelievers may take their fill of pleasure in this world, and eat
as cattle do, but the Fire will be their home. 13 We have destroyed
many a town stronger than your own [Prophet] – the town which
[chose to] expel you – and they had no one to help them.
14 Can those who follow clear proof from their Lord be compared
to those whose foul deeds are made to seem alluring to them, those
who follow their own desires? 15 Here is a picture of the Garden
promised to the pious: rivers of water forever pure, rivers of milk
forever fresh, rivers of wine, a delight for those who drink, rivers of
honey clarified and pure, [all] flow in it; there they will find fruit of
every kind; and they will find forgiveness from their Lord. How can
this be compared to the fate of those stuck in the Fire, given
boiling water to drink that tears their bowels?
16 Some of these people listen to you [Prophet], but, once they
leave your presence, they sneer at those who have been given
knowledge, saying, ‘What was that he just said?’ These are the ones
whose hearts God has sealed, those who follow their own desires.
17 God has increased the guidance of those who follow the right path,
and given them their awareness [of Him]. 18 What are the disbelievers
waiting for, other than the Hour which will come upon them
unawares? Its signs are already here, but once the Hour has actually
arrived, what use will it be then to take heed? 19 So [Prophet], bear in
mind a that there is no god but God, and ask forgiveness for your sins
and for the sins of believing men and women. God knows whenever
any of you move, and whenever any of you stay still.
20 Those who believe ask why no sura [about fighting] has been
sent down. Yet when a decisive sura [that mentions fighting] is sent
down, you can see the sick at heart looking at you [Prophet] and
visibly fainting at the prospect of death – better for them 21 would be
obedience and fitting words; it would also be better for them to be
true to God when the decision to fight has been made. 22 ‘If you turn
away now, could it be that you will go on to spread corruption all
over the land and break your ties of kinship?’ b 23 These are the ones
a Literally ‘know’.
b A reference to the pretext given, by some who refused to fight, that fighting breaks
ties of kinship.