Are they then the distributors of thy Lord's Mercy?[1] It is we who distribute their subsistence among them in this world's life; and we raise some of them by grades above others, that the one may take the other to serve him: but better is the mercy of thy Lord than all their hoards.
But for fear that all mankind would have become a single people of unbelievers, verily we would certainly have given to those who believe not in the God of Mercy roofs of silver to their houses, and silver stairs to ascend by;
And doors of silver to their houses, and couches of silver to recline on;
And ORNAMENTS OF GOLD: for all these are merely the good things of the present life; but the next life doth thy Lord reserve for those who fear Him.
And whoso shall withdraw from the Warning of the God of Mercy, we will chain a Satan to him, and he shall be his fast companion:
For the Satans will turn men aside from the Way, who yet shall deem themselves rightly guided;
Until when man shall come before us, he shall say, “O Satan, would that between me and thee were the distance of the East and West.”[2] And a wretched companion is a Satan.
But it shall not avail you on that day, because ye were unjust: partners shall ye be in the torment.
What! Canst thou then make the deaf to hear, or guide the blind and him who is in palpable error?
40Whether therefore we take thee off by death, surely will we avenge ourselves on them;
Or whether we make thee a witness of the accomplishment of that with which we threatened them, we will surely gain the mastery over them.[3]
Hold thou fast therefore what hath been revealed to thee, for thou art on a right path:
For truly to thee and to thy people it is an admonition; and ye shall have an account to render for it at last.[4]
And ask our Sent Ones whom we have sent before thee,
- ↑ Lit. mercy, i.e. the gift and office of prophecy.
- ↑ Lit. the two Easts, by which some understand the distance between the two solstices.
- ↑ Comp. Suras xl. 77; xxiii. 97; x. 47; xxix. 53; xxxvii. 179; xiii. 42. These passages clearly show that Muhammad had at this period—towards the close of his Meccan period—full faith in his ultimate success, and in the fulfilment of his menaces against the unbelievers.
- ↑ Lit. ye shall be examined in the end.
