Quran — Page 527

Behold, it is [only] such as do not [really] believe in the life to come that regard the angels as female beings;

and [since] they have no knowledge whatever thereof, they follow nothing but surmise: yet, behold, never can surmise take the place of truth.

Avoid thou, therefore, those who turn away from all remembrance of Us and care for no more than the life of this world,

which, to them, is the only thing worth knowing. Behold, thy Sustainer is fully aware as to who has strayed from His path, and fully aware is He as to who follows His guidance.

Indeed, unto God belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth: and so He will reward those who do evil in accordance with what they did, and will reward those who do good with ultimate good.

As for those who avoid the [truly] grave sins and shameful deeds - even though they may some­times stumble behold, thy Sustainer is abounding in forgiveness. He is fully aware of you when He brings you into being out of dust, and when you are still hidden in your mothers’ wombs: do not, then, consider your­selves pure - [for] He knows best as to who is conscious of Him.

HAST THOU, then, ever considered him who turns away [from remembering Us, and cares for no more than the life of this world],

and gives so little [of himself for the good of his soul], and so grudgingly?

Does he [claim to] have knowledge of some­thing that is beyond the reach of human perception, so that he can see [it clearly]?

Or has he never yet been told of what was [said] in the revelations of Moses,

and of Abra­ham, who to his trust was true:

that no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another’s burden;

and that nought shall be accounted unto man but what he is striving for;

and that in time [the nature of] all his striving will be shown [to him in its true light],

where­upon he shall be requited for it with the fullest requital;

and that with thy Sustainer is the beginning and the end [of all that exists];

and that it is He alone who causes [you] to laugh and to weep;

and that it is He alone who deals death and grants life;