Quran — Page 564

Yet in the end, when they shall see that [fulfilment] close at hand, the faces of those who were bent on denying the truth will be stricken with grief; and they will be told, "This it is that you were [so derisively] calling for!"

SAY [O Prophet]: "What do you think? Whether God destroys me and those who follow me, or graces us with His mercy - is there anyone that could protect [you] deniers of the truth from grievous suffering [in the life to come]?"

Say: "He is the Most Gracious: we have attained to faith in Him, and in Him have we placed our trust; and in time you will come to know which of us was lost in manifest error."

Say [unto those who deny the truth]: "What do you think? If of a sudden all your water were to vanish underground, who [but God] could provide you with water from [new] unsullied springs?"

Nun. CONSIDER the pen, and all that they write [therewith]!

Thou art not, by thy Sustainer's grace, a madman!

And, verily, thine shall be a reward neverending –

for, behold, thou keepest indeed to a sublime way of life;

and [one day] thou shalt see, and they [who now deride thee] shall see,

which of you was bereft of reason.

Verily, thy Sustainer alone is fully aware as to who has strayed from His path, Just as He alone is fully aware of those who have found the right way.

Hence, defer not to [the likes and dislikes of] those who give the lie to the truth:

they would like thee to be soft [with them], so that they might be soft [with thee].

Furthermore, defer not to the contemptible swearer of oaths,

[or to] the slanderer that goes about with defaming tales,

[or] the withholder of good, [or] the sinful aggressor,

[or] one who is cruel, by greed possessed, and, in addition to all this, utterly useless [to his fellow-men].

Is it because he is possessed of worldly goods and children

that, whenever Our messages are conveyed to him, such a one says, "Fables of ancient times"?