A. L. M. R. These are the Signs of the Book! and that which was sent down to thee from thy Lord is the truth: but most men do not believe. It is God who raised the heavens without pillars that ye can see; then ascended the Throne, and subdued the sun and the moon: each runneth to its appointed goal, to rule every thing, to manifest signs. Haply ye will be convinced of meeting your Lord! And it is He who spread out the earth, and put thereon firm mountains, and rivers; and of every fruit He hath made therein two kinds: He maketh the night to cover the day; verily in that are signs for reflecting folk. And on the earth are neighbouring tracts, and gardens of grapes, and corn, and palms clustered and not clustered at the root; they are watered by the same water, yet we make some better than others for food: verily in that are signs for folk that have wits. If ever thou dost wonder, wonderful is their saying, “What! when we have become dust, shall we indeed become a new creation?” These are they who disbelieve in their Lord: and these shall have the shackles on their necks, and these shall be the inmates of the fire to abide therein for ever. They will bid thee hasten evil rather than good: examples have passed away before them; and verily thy Lord is full of forgiveness unto men despite their iniquity; and verily thy Lord is heavy in punishing. And they who disbelieve say, “Unless a sign be sent down to him from his Lord ...” Thou art but a warner, and to every people its guide. God knoweth what every woman beareth, and the decrease of the wombs and the increase; for the pattern of all things is with Him, Who knoweth the hidden and the seen, the Great, the Most High. Equal is he of you who concealeth his words and he that proclaimeth them: he who hideth by night, and he who goeth abroad by day. Each hath angels before him and behind him, who watch over him by God’s command. Verily God doth not change towards a people, till they change themselves; and when God willeth evil unto a people, there is no averting it, nor have they any protector beside Him.