Moreover, the dead earth is a sign to them: we quicken it and bring forth the grain from it, and they eat thereof: And we make in it gardens of the date and vine; and we cause springs to gush forth in it; That they may eat of its fruits and of the labour of their hands. Will they not therefore be thankful? Glory be to Him, who hath created all the sexual pairs of such things as Earth produceth,10 and of mankind themselves; and of things beyond their ken! A sign to them also is the Night. We withdraw the day from it, and lo! they are plunged in darkness; And the Sun hasteneth to her place of rest. This, the ordinance of the Mighty, the Knowing! And as for the Moon, We have decreed stations for it, till it change like an old and crooked palm branch. To the Sun it is not given to overtake the Moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day; but each in its own sphere doth journey on. It is also a sign to them that we bare their posterity in the full-laden Ark; And that we have made for them vessels like it on which they embark; And if we please, we drown them, and there is none to help them, and they are not rescued, Unless through our mercy, and that they may enjoy themselves for yet awhile. And when it is said to them, Fear what is before you and what is behind you,11 that ye may obtain mercy. . . . Aye, not one sign from among the signs of their Lord dost thou bring them, but they turn away from it! And when it is said to them, Give alms of what God hath bestowed on you,12 they who believe not say to the believers, "Shall we feed him whom God can feed if He will? Truly ye are in no other than a plain error." And they say, "When will this promise be fulfilled, if what ye say be true?" They await but a single blast: as they are wrangling shall it assail them: And not a bequest shall they be able to make, nor to their families shall they return. And the trumpet shall be blown, and, lo! they shall speed out of their sepulchres to their Lord: They shall say, "Oh! woe to us! who hath roused us from our sleeping place? 'Tis what the God of Mercy promised; and the Apostles spake the truth." But one blast shall there be,13 and, lo! they shall be assembled before us, all together. And on that day shall no soul be wronged in the least: neither shall ye be rewarded but as ye shall have wrought. But joyous on that day shall be the inmates of Paradise, in their employ; In shades, on bridal couches reclining, they and their spouses: Therein shall they have fruits, and shall have whatever they require- "Peace!" shall be the word on the part of a merciful Lord. "But be ye separated this day, O ye sinners! Did I not enjoin on you, O sons of Adam, 'Worship not Satan, for that he is your declared foe,' But 'Worship Me: this is a right path'? But now hath he led a vast host of you astray. Did ye not then comprehend? This is Hell with which ye were threatened: Endure its heat this day, for that ye believed not."