Quran — Page 570

But nay! I call to witness [Our being] the Sustainer of all the points of sunrise and sunset: verily, well able are We

to replace them with [people] better than they are; for there is nothing to prevent Us [from doing what We will].

Hence, leave them to indulge in idle talk and play [with words] until they face that [Judgment] Day of theirs which they have been promised –

the Day when they shall come forth in haste from their graves, as if racing towards a goal-post,

with downcast eyes, with ignominy overwhelming them: that Day which they were promised again and…

BEHOLD. We sent Noah unto his people. [saying:] "Warn thy people ere grievous suffering befall them!

[And Noah] said: "O my people! I am but a plain warner to you, [sent to tell you]

that you should worship God [alone] and be conscious of Him. "Now do pay heed unto me,

so that He may forgive you some of your sins, and grant you respite until a term known [to Him alone]: but, behold, when the term appointed by God does come, it can never be put back - if you but knew it!"

[And after a time, Noah] said: "O my Sustainer! Verily, I have been calling unto my people night and day

but my call has only caused them to flee farther and farther away [from Thee].

And behold, whenever I called unto them with a view to Thy granting them forgiveness, they put their fingers into their ears, and wrapped themselves up in their garments [of sin]; and grew obstinate, and became [yet more] arrogant in their false pride.

"And behold I called unto them openly;

and, behold I preached to them in public; and I spoke to them secretly, in private;

and I said: "'Ask your Sustainer to forgive you your sins - for, verily, He is all-forgiving!