Hizb 30

Do they not see that God, who created the heavens and earth, can create the likes of them [anew]? He has ordained a time for them- there is no doubt about that- but the evildoers refuse everything except disbelief

Translation 1260

Say, ‘If you possessed the very stores of my Lord’s bounty, you would hold them back in your fear of spending: man is ever grudging.’

Translation 1260

In the past, We gave Moses nine clear signs- ask the Children of Israel. When Moses came to [the Egyptians], Pharaoh said to him, ‘Moses, I think you are bewitched.’

Translation 1260

He said, ‘You know very well that only the Lord of the heavens and earth could have sent these signs as clear proof. I think that you, Pharaoh, are doomed.’

Translation 1260

So he wanted to wipe them off the [face of the] earth, but We drowned him and those with him

Translation 1260

After his death, We told the Children of Israel, ‘Live in the land, and when the promise of the Hereafter is fulfilled, We shall bring you to the assembly of all people.’

Translation 1260

We sent down the Quran with the truth, and with the truth it has come down- [Prophet], We sent you only to give good news and warning

Translation 1260

it is a recitation that We have revealed in parts, so that you can recite it to people at intervals; We have sent it down little by little

Translation 1260

Say, ‘Whether you believe it or not, those who were given knowledge earlier fall down on their faces when it is recited to them

Translation 1260

and say, “Glory to our Lord! Our Lord’s promise has been fulfilled.”

Translation 1260

They fall down on their faces, weeping, and [the Quran] increases their humility.’

Translation 1260

Say [to them], ‘Call on God, or on the Lord of Mercy- whatever names you call Him, the best names belong to Him.’ [Prophet], do not be too loud in your prayer, or too quiet, but seek a middle way

Translation 1260

and say, ‘Praise belongs to God, who has no child nor partner in His rule. He is not so weak as to need a protector. Proclaim His limitless greatness!’

Translation 1260

Praise be to God, who sent down the Scripture to His servant and made it unerringly straight

Translation 1260

warning of severe punishment from Him, and [giving] glad news to the believers who do good deeds––an excellent reward

Translation 1260

that they will always enjoy

Translation 1260

It warns those people who assert, ‘God has offspring.’

Translation 1260

They have no knowledge about this, nor did their forefathers––it is a monstrous assertion that comes out of their mouths: what they say is nothing but lies

Translation 1260

But [Prophet] are you going to worry yourself to death over them if they do not believe in this message

Translation 1260

We have adorned the earth with attractive things so that We may test people to find out which of them do best

Translation 1260

but We shall reduce all this to barren dust

Translation 1260

[Prophet], do you find the Companions in the Cave and al-Raqim so wondrous, among all Our other signs

Translation 1260

When the young men sought refuge in the cave and said, ‘Our Lord, grant us Your mercy, and find us a good way out of our ordeal,’

Translation 1260

We sealed their ears [with sleep] in the cave for years

Translation 1260

Then We woke them so that We could make clear which of the two parties was better able to work out how long they had been there

Translation 1260

[Prophet], We shall tell you their story as it really was. They were young men who believed in their Lord, and We gave them more and more guidance

Translation 1260

We gave strength to their hearts when they stood up and said, ‘Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and earth. We shall never call upon any god other than Him, for that would be an outrageous thing to do

Translation 1260

These people of ours have taken gods other than Him. Why do they not produce clear evidence about them? Who could be more unjust than someone who makes up lies about God

Translation 1260

Now that you have left such people, and what they worshipped instead of God, take refuge in the cave. God will shower His mercy on you and make you an easy way out of your ordeal.’

Translation 1260

You could have seen the [light of the] sun as it rose, moving away to the right of their cave, and when it set, moving away to the left of them, while they lay in the wide space inside the cave. (This is one of God’s signs: those people God guides are rightly guided, but you will find no protector to lead to the right path those He leaves to stray)

Translation 1260

You would have thought they were awake, though they lay asleep. We turned them over, to the right and the left, with their dog stretching out its forelegs at the entrance. If you had seen them, you would have turned and run away, filled with fear of them

Translation 1260

In time We woke them, and they began to question one another. One of them asked, ‘How long have you been here?’ and [some] answered, ‘A day or part of a day,’ but then [others] said, ‘Your Lord knows best how long you have been here. One of you go to the city with your silver coins, find out where the best food is there, and bring some back. But be careful not to let anyone know about you

Translation 1260

if they found you out, they would stone you or force you to return to their religion, where you would never come to any good.’

Translation 1260

In this way We brought them to people’s attention so that they might know that God’s promise [of resurrection] is true and that there is no doubt about the Last Hour, [though] people argue among themselves. [Some] said, ‘Construct a building over them: their Lord knows best about them.’ Those who prevailed said, ‘We shall build a place of worship over them.’

Translation 1260

[Some] say, ‘The sleepers were three, and their dog made four,’ others say, ‘They were five, and the dog made six’- guessing in the dark- and some say, ‘They were seven, and their dog made eight.’ Say [Prophet], ‘My Lord knows best how many they were.’ Only a few have real knowledge about them, so do not argue, but stick to what is clear, and do not ask any of these people about them

Translation 1260

do not say of anything, ‘I will do that tomorrow,’

Translation 1260

without adding, ‘God willing,’ and, whenever you forget, remember your Lord and say, ‘May my Lord guide me closer to what is right.’

Translation 1260

[Some say], ‘The sleepers stayed in their cave for three hundred years,’ some added nine more

Translation 1260

Say [Prophet], ‘God knows best how long they stayed.’ His is the knowledge of all that is hidden in the heavens and earth- How well He sees! How well He hears!- and they have no one to protect them other than Him; He does not allow anyone to share His rule

Translation 1260

[Prophet], follow what has been revealed to you of your Lord’s Scripture: there is no changing His words, nor can you find any refuge except with Him

Translation 1260

Content yourself with those who pray to their Lord morning and evening, seeking His approval, and do not let your eyes turn away from them out of desire for the attractions of this worldly life: do not yield to those whose hearts We have made heedless of Our Quran, those who follow their own low desires, those whose ways are unbridled

Translation 1260

Say, ‘Now the truth has come from your Lord: let those who wish to believe in it do so, and let those who wish to reject it do so.’ We have prepared a Fire for the wrongdoers that will envelop them from all sides. If they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like molten metal, scalding their faces. What a terrible drink! What a painful resting place

Translation 1260

As for those who believe and do good deeds- We do not let the reward of anyone who does a good deed go to waste

Translation 1260

they will have Gardens of lasting bliss graced with flowing streams. There they will be adorned with bracelets of gold. There they will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade. There they will be comfortably seated on soft chairs. What a blessed reward! What a pleasant resting place

Translation 1260

Tell them the parable of two men: for one of them We made two gardens of grape vines, surrounded them with date palms, and put corn fields in between

Translation 1260

both gardens yielded fruit and did not fail in any way; We made a stream flow through them

Translation 1260

and so he had abundant fruit. One day, while talking to his friend, he said, ‘I have more wealth and a larger following than you.’

Translation 1260

He went into his garden and wronged himself by saying, ‘I do not think this will ever perish

Translation 1260

or that the Last Hour will ever come- even if I were to be taken back to my Lord, I would certainly find something even better there.’

Translation 1260

His companion retorted, ‘Have you no faith in Him who created you from dust, from a small drop of fluid, then shaped you into a man

Translation 1260

But, for me, He is God, my Lord, and I will never set up any partner with Him

Translation 1260

If only, when you entered your garden, you had said, “This is God’s will. There is no power not [given] by God.” Although you see I have less wealth and offspring than you

Translation 1260

my Lord may well give me something better than your garden, and send thunderbolts on your garden from the sky, so that it becomes a heap of barren dust

Translation 1260

or its water may sink so deep into the ground that you will never be able to reach it again.’

Translation 1260

And so it was: his fruit was completely destroyed, and there he was, wringing his hands over what he had invested in it, as it drooped on its trellises, and saying, ‘I wish I had not set up any partner to my Lord.’

Translation 1260