not take it.
Yet if they saw the path of error,
they would take it—for they
denied Our signs, always
heedless of them.
147The deeds of those are vain
who deny Our signs and the meeting
with God in the hereafter.
Will they be rewarded for
anything but their deeds?
SECTION 18
148While Moses was gone,
his people made the image of a calf
from their ornaments—it seemed
to make a lowing sound.
Did they not see
that it could not speak to them,
or guide them to the right way?
They took to worshipping it—
and became wrongdoers.
149Realizing that they had strayed,
they said, wringing their hands,
“Unless our Lord shows us mercy
and forgives us, we’ll be among
the ones who fall into loss.”
150When Moses came back
to his people, he grew angry
and aggrieved, saying,
“What you’ve done in my absence
is just wicked. Are you so eager
to bring on your Lord’s judgment?”
He flung down the tablets
and seized his brother by the hair,
dragging him close. Aaron said,
“Brother, the people thought me
weak, and almost killed me.
Don’t let my enemies rejoice
at my lapse, and don’t count me
among the wrongdoers.”
151Moses prayed, “My Lord,
forgive me and my brother, and
admit us into your Mercy, for You
are the Most Merciful of all.”°
SECTION 19
152Those who took to worshipping
the calf shall be visited
by their Lord’s wrath, and disgrace
in the life of this world. This is how
We reward those who invent lies.
153As for those who do bad deeds,
and repent afterward, and believe—
then your Lord is Forgiving,
Ever Merciful.
154When Moses’ anger subsided,
he picked up the tablets—inscribed
on them were guidance and mercy
for those who fear their Lord.
155And Moses chose seventy men
from his people
for the meeting with Us; when
an earthquake seized them,
he cried out, “My Lord,
had You wished,
You could have destroyed them
and me long ago.
Would you now destroy us
for what the fools among us did?
“This is but a trial from You:
You lead astray by it whom you will,
and You guide whom You will.
You are our Protector, so forgive us
and have mercy on us—
for you are the supreme Forgiver.°
156“And decree for us what is good,
in this worldly life and the hereafter—
for we have turned to You.”
God said, “I visit My punishment
on whom I will, but My mercy
encompasses all things;
I shall decree it for those
who are mindful of Me,
who give in charity, and those
who believe in Our signs,
157“those who follow the messenger,
the ‘unlettered prophet,’°
whom they find mentioned
in their own Torah and the Gospel,°
who commands them to do right
and forbids what is wrong;
who makes lawful for them
what is pure, and forbids
what is impure;
who relieves their burdens,
and the shackles weighing on them.
“So those who believe in him,
honor him and help him,
and are guided by the light
sent down with him—
it is they who will flourish.”
SECTION 20
158Prophet, tell them, “People,
I am the messenger of God to you all.
To Him belongs dominion
over the heavens and the earth;
there is no god but He—He gives life
and He brings death. So believe
in God and His messenger,
the unlettered prophet, who believes
in God and His words—follow him,
that you might be rightly guided.”
159Among the people of Moses,
there is a group who guide
by the light of truth, by which
they also render justice.
160We divided them
into twelve tribes or communities.
When his people asked him for water,
We inspired Moses,
“Strike the stone with your staff.”
Twelve springs gushed out from it—
each tribe knew its drinking place.
We shaded them with clouds, and
sent down to them manna and quail,
saying, “Eat of the good things
We have provided for you.”
They did not wrong Us,
but wronged themselves.
161Remember when they were told,
“Enter this town, eat where you wish,
but first say, ‘Ease our burden,’
and enter the gate bowing low,
[voicing repentance].
We will forgive your mistakes
and increase the reward
of those who do good.”
162But the wrongdoers altered
the words they had been given,
so We sent upon them a plague
from the sky, for the wrong they did.
SECTION 21
163Ask them, Prophet, about the town
lodged by the sea; its people broke
the Sabbath, because their fish
appeared to abound on the Sabbath
but not on other days.
We tested them in this way
for they were always disobedient.
164And when a group of them
asked their preachers, “Why preach
to people whom God will destroy
or strike with severe punishment?”
they replied, “To be absolved
[of negligence] before your Lord; and
to make them mindful of God.”
165When they forgot
the warnings given to them,
We saved those who forbade evil,
and struck those who did wrong
with a stern° punishment,
for they were always disobedient.
166When they persisted
in doing what was forbidden,
We told them, “Become apes,
despised.”°
167Then your Lord declared
that He would send people°
to inflict harsh punishment on them,
until the day of resurrection.
Your Lord is Swift in Requital,
yet He is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.
168We divided them
into communities on the earth.
Some of them are righteous
and others are not.
We tested them
with good things and bad,
that they might return
to Our path.
169After them came a generation
who inherited the Book, but took
instead the goods of this lower life,
saying, “We’ll be forgiven.”
And if more goods like this came,
they would still take them.
Was a pledge not taken from them,
in the Book, that they would speak
only the truth about God?
They had studied its contents well.°
And the home of the hereafter
is better for those
who are mindful of God.
Will you not, then, use reason?
170As for those who hold fast
to the Book, and are steadfast
in prayer—We do not overlook
the reward of those who do good.
171When We raised the mountain
so high above them, like a shadow,
they thought it would fall on them,
We said, “Hold fast
to what We gave you, and
remember what lies within it,
that you might be mindful of God.”°
SECTION 22
172When your Lord drew out
descendants from the loins
of the children of Adam,
and made them testify
about themselves, He asked,
“Am I not your Lord?”
and they answered,
“Yes, we do so testify”—
in case you should say
on the day of resurrection,
“We were unaware of this,”°
173or plead, “Our fathers before us
were polytheists, and we are merely
their descendants coming after them.
Would you destroy us
for the falsehoods they devised?”
174This is how We explain the signs
that they might return to Our way.
175Prophet, tell them the story
of the person who cast aside the signs
We gave him. So Satan overtook him,
and he went astray.
176Had We willed, We would have
raised him by Our signs; but he cleaved
to the earth, following his own desires.
His parable is that of a dog:
if you attack him, he pants,
and if you leave him be, he pants.
This is the parable of a people
who deny Our signs.
So tell them the story, Prophet,
to let them reflect.
177Those who deny Our signs
set a wicked example—
and they wrong themselves.
178Those whom God guides
are rightly guided;
but those He leads astray
are the ones who
will fall into loss.
179We have destined many
jinn and humans for hell—
they have hearts,
yet do not understand;
they have eyes,
yet do not see;
and they have ears,
yet do not hear.
They are like cattle—
no, even more astray—
for they are heedless.
180The Most Beautiful of Names°
are those of God. So use them
to call on Him; and abandon those
who abuse His names. Soon,
they will be rewarded
for all they have done.
181There is a community
among all those We created
that guides by the truth
and renders justice [by its light].
SECTION 23
182We shall gradually draw those
who deny our signs [to damnation]—
without their discerning it.
183I shall grant them respite
for a while—but My scheme
is inexorable.
184Do they not realize
that their companion is not mad?
That he is merely someone
who gives clear warning?
185Or, do they not contemplate
the kingdom of the heavens
and the earth,
and all that God has created?
That perhaps the end of their term
is approaching? What message
can they believe after this?
186Those whom God
allows to stray
shall have no guide;
and He will leave them
transgressing, wandering blind.
187They ask you about the hour—
When is it due? Say, “My Lord alone
has knowledge of this—only He can
reveal its time—which shall resound°
throughout the heavens and the earth;
when it comes, it will come suddenly.”
They ask you as if you knew
about it. Say, “God alone
has knowledge of it, yet most
people don’t know this.”
188Say, Prophet, “I have no power
to profit or harm myself—
except as God wishes.
If I had knowledge of the unseen,
I would have amassed good deeds,
and no evil would touch me.
I am merely someone who warns
and bears joyous news
for a people who believe.”
SECTION 24
189It is He who created you
from a single soul, and
made a mate from him, so that
he might find comfort with her.
Then, when he lies with her,
she carries a light burden,
going about with it.
Then, when she grows heavy,
they both pray to God,
“Our Lord, we’ll be thankful
if you grant us a healthy child.”
190But once He grants them
a healthy child, they claim that
partners of His had a hand in this.
But God is exalted far above
the partners they ascribe to Him.
191Do they ascribe to Him
partners—who can create nothing
and are themselves created?
192And who can neither help them
nor themselves?
193And if you invite them
to be guided, they won’t follow you;
it’s the same for you
whether you invite them
or remain silent.
194Say, “Those you call upon
besides God are just His servants,
like you. So, call upon them,
and let them answer you,
if you are speaking the truth.
195“Do they have feet to walk with?
Or hands to grasp with?
Or eyes to see with?
Or ears to hear with?”
Say, “Call upon those
you join with God, and
scheme against me—
without respite,
196“for my protector is God,
who revealed the Book; it is He
who protects those who do good.
197“As for those you call upon
besides God—they can help
neither you nor themselves.”
198If you invite them to guidance,
they don’t hear. You may see them
looking at you—but they don’t see.
199Resolve to show forgiveness,
enjoin what is good—and turn away
from those who are ignorant.
200Should Satan tempt you
with some wicked prompting,
seek refuge in God—He
is the All Hearing, All Knowing.
201Those who are mindful of God
remember Him if Satan tempts them
with any wicked prompting—
they will see [what is right].
202But the disciples° of Satan
plunge them ever deeper
into error—relentlessly.
203If you don’t bring them a sign,
they ask,
“Why have you not devised it?”
Answer,
“I follow only what my Lord reveals
to me. These are insights from
your Lord—guidance and mercy,
for a people who believe.”
204When the Quran is being read,
listen to it, attentively,
that you might be shown mercy.
205And remember your Lord within
yourself, with humility and fear,
without raising your voice,
in the mornings and evenings,
and do not be