The Prophets · Surah 21

Their reckoning draweth nigh for mankind, while they turn away in heedlessness

Never cometh there unto them a new reminder from their Lord but they listen to it while they play

With hearts preoccupied. And they confer in secret. The wrong-doers say: Is this other than a mortal like you? Will ye then succumb to magic when ye see (it)

He saith: My Lord knoweth what is spoken in the heaven and the earth. He is the Hearer, the Knower

Nay, say they, (these are but) muddled dreams; nay, he hath but invented it; nay, he is but a poet. Let him bring us a portent even as those of old (who were Allah's messengers) were sent (with portents)

Not a township believed of those which We destroyed before them (though We sent them portents): would they then believe

And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men, whom We inspired. Ask the followers of the Reminder if ye know not

We gave them not bodies that would not eat food, nor were they immortals

Then we fulfilled the promise unto them. So we delivered them and whom We would, and We destroyed the prodigals

Now We have revealed unto you a Scripture wherein is your Reminder. Have ye then no sense

How many a community that dealt unjustly have We shattered, and raised up after them another folk

And, when they felt Our might, behold them fleeing from it

(But it was said unto them): Flee not, but return to that (existence) which emasculated you and to your dwellings, that ye may be questioned

They cried: Alas for us! we were wrong-doers

And this their crying ceased not till We made them as reaped corn, extinct

We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in play

If We had wished to find a pastime, We could have found it in Our presence - if We ever did

Nay, but We hurl the true against the false, and it doth break its head and lo! it vanisheth. And yours will be woe for that which ye ascribe (unto Him)

Unto Him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those who dwell in His presence are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they weary

They glorify (Him) night and day; they flag not

Or have they chosen gods from the earth who raise the dead

If there were therein gods beside Allah, then verily both (the heavens and the earth) had been disordered. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, from all that they ascribe (unto Him)

He will not be questioned as to that which He doeth, but they will be questioned

Or have they chosen other gods beside Him? say: Bring your proof (of their godhead). This is the Reminder of those with me and those before me, but most of them know not the Truth and so they are averse

And We sent no messenger before thee but We inspired him, (saying): There is no Allah save Me (Allah), so worship Me

And they say: The Beneficent hath taken unto Himself a son. Be He Glorified! Nay, but (those whom they call sons) are honoured slaves

They speak not until He hath spoken, and they act by His command

He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him whom He accepteth, and they quake for awe of Him

And one of them who should say: Lo! I am a god beside Him, that one We should repay with hell. Thus We Repay wrong-doers

Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were of one piece, then We parted them, and we made every living thing of water? Will they not then believe

And We have placed in the earth firm hills lest it quake with them, and We have placed therein ravines as roads that haply they may find their way

And we have made the sky a roof withheld (from them). Yet they turn away from its portents

And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. They float, each in an orbit

We appointed immortality for no mortal before thee. What! if thou diest, can they be immortal

Every soul must taste of death, and We try you with evil and with good, for ordeal. And unto Us ye will be returned

And when those who disbelieve behold thee, they but choose thee out for mockery, (saying): Is this he who maketh mention of your gods? And they would deny all mention of the Beneficent

Man is made of haste. I shall show you My portents, but ask Me not to hasten

And they say: When will this promise (be fulfilled), if ye are truthful

If those who disbelieved but knew the time when they will not be able to drive off the fire from their faces and from their backs, and they will not be helped

Nay, but it will come upon them unawares so that it will stupefy them, and they will be unable to repel it, neither will they be reprieved