The Criterion · Surah 25

And when they see thee (O Muhammad) they treat thee only as a jest (saying): Is this he whom Allah sendeth as a messenger

He would have led us far away from our gods if we had not been staunch to them. They will know, when they behold the doom, who is more astray as to the road

Hast thou seen him who chooseth for his god his own lust? Wouldst thou then be guardian over him

Or deemest thou that most of them hear or understand? They are but as the cattle - nay, but they are farther astray

Hast thou not seen how thy Lord hath spread the shade - And if He willed He could have made it still - then We have made the sun its pilot

Then We withdraw it unto Us, a gradual withdrawal

And He it is Who maketh night a covering for you, and sleep repose, and maketh day a resurrection

And He it is Who sendeth the winds, glad tidings heralding His mercy, and We send down purifying water from the sky

That We may give life thereby to a dead land, and We give many beasts and men that We have created to drink thereof

And verily We have repeated it among them that they may remember, but most of mankind begrudge aught save ingratitude

If We willed, We could raise up a warner in every village

So obey not the disbelievers, but strive against them herewith with a great endeavour

And He it is Who hath given independence to the two seas (though they meet); one palatable, sweet, and the other saltish, bitter; and hath set a bar and a forbidding ban between them

And He it is Who hath created man from water, and hath appointed for him kindred by blood and kindred by marriage; for thy Lord is ever Powerful

Yet they worship instead of Allah that which can neither benefit them nor hurt them. The disbeliever was ever a partisan against his Lord

And We have sent thee (O Muhammad) only as a bearer of good tidings and a warner

Say: I ask of you no reward for this, save that whoso will may choose a way unto his Lord

And trust thou in the Living One Who dieth not, and hymn His praise. He sufficeth as the Knower of His bondmen's sins

Who created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six Days, then He mounted the Throne. The Beneficent! Ask anyone informed concerning Him

And when it is said unto them: Prostrate to the Beneficent! they say: And what is the Beneficent? Are we to prostrate to whatever thou (Muhammad) biddest us? And it increaseth aversion in them

Blessed be He Who hath placed in the heaven mansions of the stars, and hath placed therein a great lamp and a moon giving light

And He it is Who hath appointed night and day in succession, for him who desireth to remember, or desireth thankfulness

The (faithful) slaves of the Beneficent are they who walk upon the earth modestly, and when the foolish ones address them answer: Peace

And who spend the night before their Lord, prostrate and standing

And who say: Our Lord! Avert from us the doom of hell; lo! the doom thereof is anguish

Lo! it is wretched as abode and station

And those who, when they spend, are neither prodigal nor grudging; and there is ever a firm station between the two

And those who cry not unto any other god along with Allah, nor take the life which Allah hath forbidden save in (course of) justice, nor commit adultery - and whoso doeth this shall pay the penalty

The doom will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein disdained for ever

Save him who repenteth and believeth and doth righteous work; as for such, Allah will change their evil deeds to good deeds. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful

And whosoever repenteth and doeth good, he verily repenteth toward Allah with true repentance

And those who will not witness vanity, but when they pass near senseless play, pass by with dignity

And those who, when they are reminded of the revelations of their Lord, fall not deaf and blind thereat

And who say: Our Lord! Vouchsafe us comfort of our wives and of our offspring, and make us patterns for (all) those who ward off (evil)

They will be awarded the high place forasmuch as they were steadfast, and they will meet therein with welcome and the ward of peace

Abiding there for ever. Happy is it as abode and station

Say (O Muhammad, unto the disbelievers): My Lord would not concern Himself with you but for your prayer. But now ye have denied (the Truth), therefor there will be judgment