God hath not begotten offspring; neither is there any other God with Him: else had each god assuredly taken away that which he had created,11 and some had assuredly uplifted themselves above others! Far from the glory of God, be what they affirm of Him! He knoweth alike the unseen and the seen: far be He uplifted above the gods whom they associate with Him! SAY: O my Lord! If thou wilt let me witness the infliction of that with which they have been threatened! O my Lord! place me not among the ungodly people. Verily, we are well able to make thee see the punishment with which we have threatened them. Turn aside evil with that which is better: we best know what they utter against thee. And SAY: "O my Lord! I betake me to Thee, against the promptings of the Satans: And I betake me to Thee, O my Lord! that they gain no hurtful access to me." When death overtaketh one of the wicked, he saith, "Lord, send me back again, That I may do the good which I have left undone."12 "By no means." These are the very words which he shall speak: But behind them shall be a barrier, until the day when they shall be raised again. And when the trumpet shall be sounded, the ties of kindred between them shall cease on that day; neither shall they ask each other's help. They whose balances shall be heavy, shall be the blest. But they whose balances shall be light,-these are they who shall lose their souls, abiding in hell for ever: The fire shall scorch their faces, and their lips shall quiver therein:- -"What! Were not my signs rehearsed unto you? and did ye not treat them as lies?" They shall say, "O our Lord! our ill-fortune prevailed against us, and we became an erring people. O our Lord! Bring us forth hence: if we go back again to our sins, we shall indeed be evil doers." He will say; "Be ye driven down into it; and, address me not." A part truly of my servants was there, who said, "O our Lord! we believe: forgive us, then, and be merciful to us, for of the merciful art thou the best." But ye received them with such scoffs that they suffered you to forget my warning, and ye laughed them to scorn. Verily this day will I reward then, for their patient endurance: the blissful ones shall they be! He will say, "What number of years tarried ye on earth?" They will say, "We tarried a day, or part of a day;13 but ask the recording angels."14 God will say, "Short indeed was the time ye tarried, if that ye knew it. What! Did ye then think that we had created you for pastime, and that ye should not be brought back again to us?" Wherefore let God be exalted, the King, the Truth! There is no god but He! Lord of the stately throne! And whoso, together with God, shall call on another god, for whom he hath no proof, shall surely have to give account to his Lord. Aye, it shall fare ill with the infidels. And SAY: "O my Lord, pardon, and have mercy; for of those who show mercy, art thou the best." _______________________