The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/67. The Kingdom

67. The Kingdom (Al-Mulk)

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

¹ Blessed is He in Whose hand is the Kingdom, and He is Possessor of power over all thing.

² Who created death and life that He might try you -- which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Mighty, the Forgiving,

³ Who created the seven heavens alike. Thou seest no incongruity in the creation of the Beneficent. Then look again: Canst thou see any disorder?

⁴ Then turn the eye again and again -- thy look will return to thee confused, while it is fatigued.

⁵ And certainly We have adorned this lower heaven with lamps and We make them means of conjectures for the devils, and We have prepared for them the chastisement of burning.

⁶ And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the chastisement of hell, and evil is the resort.

⁷ When they are cast therein, they will hear a loud moaning of it as it heaves,

⁸ Almost bursting for fury. Whenever a group is cast into it, its keepers ask them: Did not a warner come to you?

⁹ They say: Yea, indeed a warner came to us, but we denied and said Allah has revealed nothing you are only in great error.

¹⁰ And they say: Had we but listened or pondered, we should not have been among the inmates of the burning Fire.

¹¹ Thus they will confess their stns so far (from good) are the inmates of the burning Fire.

¹² Those who fear their Lord in secret, for them is surely forgiveness and a great reward.

¹³ And conceal your word or manifest it, truly He is Knower of that which is in the hearts.

¹⁴ Does He not know Who created? And He is the Knower of subtilties, the Aware.

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¹⁵ He it is Who made the earth subservient to you, so go about in the spacious sides thereof, and eat of His sustenance. And to Him is the rising (after death).

¹⁶ Do you feel secure that He Who is in the heaven will not make the earth to swallow you up? Then lo! it will shake.

¹⁷ Or do you feel secure that He Who is in the Heaven will not send on you a violent wind? Then shall you. know how (truthful) was My warning!

¹⁸ And cettainly those before them denied, then how (terrible) was My disapproval.

¹⁹ Do they not see the birds above them spreading and contracting (their wings)? Naught upholds them save the Beneficent. Surely He is Seer of all things.

²⁰ Or who is it that will be a host for you to help you against the Beneficent? The disbelievers are in naught but delusion.

²¹ Or who is it that will give you sustenance, if He should withhold His sustenance? Nay, they persist in disdain and aversion.

²² Is, then, he who goes prone upon his face better guided or he who walks upright on a straight path?

²³ Say: He it is Who brought you into being and made for you ears and eyes and hearts. Little thanks it is you give!

²⁴ Say: He it is Who multiplies you in the earth and to Him you will be gathered.

²⁵ And they say: When will this threat be (executed), if you are truthful?

²⁶ Say: The knowledge is with Allah only, and I am only a plain warner.

²⁷ But when they see it nigh, the faces of those who disbelieve will be grieved, and it will be said: This is that which you used to call for.

²⁸ Say: Have you considered if Allah should destroy me and those with me -- rather He will have mercy on us yet who will protect the disbelievers from a painful chastisement?

²⁹ Say: He is the Beneficent -- we believe in Him and on Him do we rely. So you will come to know who it is that is in clear error.

³⁰ Say: Have you considered if your water should subside, who is it then that will bring you flowing water?