The Prophets 21

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?

And unto Solomon (We subdued) the wind in its raging. It set by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And of everything We are Aware.

And of the evil ones (subdued We unto him) some who dived (for pearls) for him and did other work, and We were warders unto them.

And Job, when he cried unto his Lord, (saying): Lo! adversity afflicteth me, and Thou art Most Merciful of all who show mercy.

Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which he suffered, and We gave him his household (that he had lost) and the like thereof along with them, a mercy from Our store, and a remembrance for the worshippers;

And (mention) Ishmael, and Idris, and Dhu'l-Kifl. All were of the steadfast.

And We brought them in unto Our mercy. Lo! they are among the righteous.

And (mention) Dhu'n-Nun, when he went off in anger and deemed that We had no power over him, but he cried out in the darkness, saying: There is no God save Thee. Be Thou Glorified! Lo! I have been a wrong-doer.

Then we heard his prayer and saved him from the anguish. Thus we save believers.

And Zachariah, when he cried unto his Lord: My Lord! Leave me not childless, though Thou art the Best of inheritors.

Then We heard his prayer, and bestowed upon him John, and adjusted his wife (to bear a child) for him. Lo! they used to vie one with the other in good deeds, and they cried unto Us in longing and in fear, and were submissive unto Us.

And she who was chaste, therefor We breathed into her (something) of Our Spirit and made her and her son a token for (all) peoples.

Lo! this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.

And they have broken their religion (into fragments) among them, (yet) all are returning unto Us.

Then whoso doeth some good works and is a believer, there will be no rejection of his effort. Lo! We record (it) for him.

And there is a ban upon any community which We have destroyed: that they shall not return.

Until, when Gog and Magog are let loose, and they hasten out of every mound,

And the True Promise draweth nigh; then behold them, staring wide (in terror), the eyes of those who disbelieve! (They say): Alas for us! We (lived) in forgetfulness of this. Ah, but we were wrong-doers!

Lo! ye (idolaters) and that which ye worship beside Allah are fuel of hell. Thereunto ye will come.

If these had been gods they would not have come thither, but all will abide therein.

Therein wailing is their portion, and therein they hear not.

Lo! those unto whom kindness hath gone forth before from Us, they will be far removed from thence.

They will not hear the slightest sound thereof, while they abide in that which their souls desire.

The Supreme Horror will not grieve them, and the angels will welcome them, (saying): This is your Day which ye were promised;

The Day when We shall roll up the heavens as a recorder rolleth up a written scroll. As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise (binding) upon Us. Lo! We are to perform it.

And verily we have written in the Scripture, after the Reminder: My righteous slaves will inherit the earth:

Lo! there is a plain statement for folk who are devout.

We sent thee not save as a mercy for the peoples.

Say: It is only inspired in me that your God is One God. Will ye then surrender (unto Him)?

But if they are averse, then say: I have warned you all alike, although I know not whether nigh or far is that which ye are promised.

Lo! He knoweth that which is said openly, and that which ye conceal.

And I know not but that this may be a trial for you, and enjoyment for a while.

He saith: My Lord! Judge Thou with truth. Our Lord is the Beneficent, Whose help is to be implored against that which ye ascribe (unto Him).