The Prophets · Surah 21

Messengers before thee, indeed, were mocked, but that whereat they mocked surrounded those who scoffed at them

Say: Who guardeth you in the night or in the day from the Beneficent? Nay, but they turn away from mention of their Lord

Or have they gods who can shield them from Us? They cannot help themselves nor can they be defended from Us

Nay, but We gave these and their fathers ease until life grew long for them. See they not how we aim to the land, reducing it of its outlying parts? Can they then be the victors

Say (O Muhammad, unto mankind): I warn you only by the Inspiration. But the deaf hear not the call when they are warned

And if a breath of thy Lord's punishment were to touch them, they assuredly would say: Alas for us! Lo! we were wrong-doers

And We set a just balance for the Day of Resurrection so that no soul is wronged in aught. Though it be of the weight of a grain of mustard seed, We bring it. And We suffice for reckoners

And We verily gave Moses and Aaron the Criterion (of right and wrong) and a light and a Reminder for those who keep from evil

Those who fear their Lord in secret and who dread the Hour (of doom)

This is a blessed Reminder that we have revealed: Will ye then reject it

And We verily gave Abraham of old his proper course, and We were Aware of him

When he said unto his father and his folk: What are these images unto which ye pay devotion

They said: We found our fathers worshippers of them

He said: Verily ye and your fathers were in plain error

They said: Bringest thou unto us the truth, or art thou some jester

He said: Nay, but your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them; and I am of those who testify unto that

And, by Allah, I shall circumvent your idols after ye have gone away and turned your backs

Then he reduced them to fragments, all save the chief of them, that haply they might have recourse to it

They said: Who hath done this to our gods? Surely it must be some evil-doer

They said: We heard a youth make mention of them, who is called Abraham

They said: Then bring him (hither) before the people's eyes that they may testify

They said: Is it thou who hast done this to our gods, O Abraham

He said: But this, their chief hath done it. So question them, if they can speak

Then gathered they apart and said: Lo! ye yourselves are the wrong-doers

And they were utterly confounded, and they said: Well thou knowest that these speak not

He said: Worship ye then instead of Allah that which cannot profit you at all, nor harm you

Fie on you and all that ye worship instead of Allah! Have ye then no sense

They cried: Burn him and stand by your gods, if ye will be doing

We said: O fire, be coolness and peace for Abraham

And they wished to set a snare for him, but We made them the greater losers

And We rescued him and Lot (and brought them) to the land which We have blessed for (all) peoples

And We bestowed upon him Isaac, and Jacob as a grandson. Each of them We made righteous

And We made them chiefs who guide by Our command, and We inspired in them the doing of good deeds and the right establishment of worship and the giving of alms, and they were worshippers of Us (alone)

And unto Lot we gave judgment and knowledge, and We delivered him from the community that did abominations. Lo! they were folk of evil, lewd

And We brought him in unto Our mercy. Lo! he was of the righteous

And Noah, when he cried of old, We heard his prayer and saved him and his household from the great affliction

And delivered him from the people who denied Our revelations. Lo! they were folk of evil, therefor did We drown them all

And David and Solomon, when they gave judgment concerning the field, when people's sheep had strayed and browsed therein by night; and We were witnesses to their judgment

And We made Solomon to understand (the case); and unto each of them We gave judgment and knowledge. And we subdued the hills and the birds to hymn (His) praise along with David. We were the doers (thereof)

And We taught him the art of making garments (of mail) to protect you in your daring. Are ye then thankful