68 They say, ‘God has children!’ May He be exalted! He is the Self-Sufficient One; everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him. You have no authority to say this. How dare you say things about God without any knowledge? 69 Say [Prophet], ‘Those who invent lies about God will not prosper.’ 70 They may have a little enjoyment in this world, but then they will return to Us. Then We shall make them taste severe punishment for persisting in blasphemy.
Stories from the Past
71 Tell them the story of Noah. He said to his people, ‘My people, if my presence among you and my reminding you of God’s signs is too much for you, then I put my trust in God. Agree on your course of action, you and your partner-gods– do not be hesitant or secretive about it– then carry out your decision on me and give me no respite. 72 But if you turn away, I have asked no reward from you; my reward is with God alone, and I am commanded to be one of those who devote themselves to Him.’ 73 But they rejected him. We saved him and those with him on the Ark and let them survive; and We drowned those who denied Our revelations– see what was the end of those who were forewarned!
74 Then, after him, We sent messengers to their peoples bringing them clear signs. But they would not believe in anything they had already rejected: in this way We seal the hearts of those who are full of hostility. 75 After them We sent Moses and Aaron with Our signs to Pharaoh and his leading supporters, but they acted arrogantly– they were wicked people. 76 When the truth came to them from Us, they said, ‘This is blatant sorcery.’ 77 Moses said, ‘Is this what you say about the Truth when it comes to you? Is this sorcery? Sorcerers never prosper.’ 78 They said, ‘Have you come to turn us away from the faith we found our fathers following, so that you and your brother can gain greatness in this land? We will never believe in you.’ 79 And Pharaoh said, ‘Bring me every learned sorcerer.’ 80 When the sorcerers came, Moses said to them, ‘Throw down whatever you have.’ [a] 81 When they did so, Moses said, ‘Everything you have brought is sorcery and God will show it to be false. God does not make the work of mischief-makers right; 82 He will uphold the Truth with His words, even if the evildoers hate it.’ 83 But no one believed in Moses except a few of his own people, for fear that Pharaoh and their leaders would persecute them: Pharaoh was domineering in the land and prone to excess.
84 Moses said, ‘My people, if you have faith in God and are devoted to Him, put your trust in Him.’ 85 They said, ‘We have put our trust in God. Lord! Do not make us an object of persecution for the oppressors. 86 Save us, in Your mercy, from those who reject [Your message].’
Deliverance
87 We revealed to Moses and his brother: ‘House your people in Egypt and make these houses places of worship; keep up the prayer; give good news to the believers!’ 88 And Moses said, ‘Our Lord, You have given Pharaoh and his chiefs splendor and wealth in this present life and here they are, Lord, leading others astray from Your path. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they do not believe until they see the agonizing torment.’ 89 God said, ‘Your prayers are answered, so stay on the right course, and do not follow the path of those who do not know.’
90 We took the Children of Israel across the sea. Pharaoh and his troops pursued them in arrogance and aggression. But as he was drowning he cried, ‘I believe there is no God except the one the Children of Israel believe in. I submit to Him.’ 91 ‘Now? When you had always been a rebel, and a troublemaker! 92 Today We shall save only your corpse as a sign to all posterity. A great many people fail to heed Our signs.’ 93 We settled the Children of Israel in a good place and provided good things as sustenance for them. It was only after knowledge had come to them that they began to differ among themselves. Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection regarding their differences.
94 So if you [Prophet] are in doubt about what We have revealed to you, ask those who have been reading the scriptures before you. The Truth has come to you from your Lord, so be in no doubt and do not deny God’s signs– 95 then you would become one of the losers.
Forced Conversion is Prohibited
96 Those against whom your Lord’s sentence is passed will not believe, 97 even if every sign comes to them, until they see the agonizing torment. 98 If only a single town had believed and benefited from its belief! Only Jonah’s people did so, and when they believed, We relieved them of the punishment of disgrace in the life of this world, and let them enjoy life for a time. 99 Had your Lord willed, all the people on earth would have believed. So can you [Prophet] compel people to believe? 100 No soul can believe except by God’s will, and He brings disgrace on those who do not use their reason. 101 Say, ‘Look at what is in the heavens and on the earth.’ But what use are signs and warnings to people who will not believe? 102 What are they waiting for but the punishment that came to those before them? Say, ‘Wait then, I am waiting too.’ 103 In the end We shall save Our messengers and the believers. We take it upon Ourself to save the believers.
Guidance Has Arrived, So Choose
104 [Prophet] say, ‘People, even if you are in doubt about my religion, I do not worship those you worship other than God, but I worship God who will cause you to die, and I am commanded to be a believer.’ 105 [Prophet], set your face towards religion as a man of pure faith. Do not be one of those who join partners with God; 106 do not pray to any other [god] that can neither benefit nor harm you: if you do, you will be one of the evildoers. 107 If God inflicts harm on you, no one can remove it but Him, and if He intends good for you, no one can turn His bounty away; He grants His bounty to any of His servants He will. He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful. 108 Say, ‘People, the Truth has come to you from your Lord. Whoever follows the right path follows it for his own good, and whoever strays does so to his own loss: I am not your guardian.’ 109 [Prophet], follow what is being revealed to you, and be steadfast until God gives His judgement, for He is the Best of Judges.
Footnotes
a. Your sticks or staffs– see 20: 66–9.
The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
The Qur'an / a new translation by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem, copyright © 2004 Oxford World's Classics (Oxford University Press). Used by permission. All rights reserved.