44 You [Muhammad] were not present on the western side of the mountain when We gave Our command to Moses: you were not there– 45 We have brought into being many generations who lived long lives– you did not live among the people of Midian or recite Our Revelation to them– We have always sent messengers to people– 46 nor were you present on the side of Mount Sinai when We called out to Moses. But you too have been sent as an act of grace from your Lord, to give warning to a people to whom no warner has come before, so that they may take heed, 47 and may not say, if a disaster should befall them as a result of what they have done with their own hands, ‘Lord, if only You had sent us a messenger, we might have followed Your message and become believers.’ 48 Even now that Our truth has come to them, they say, ‘Why has he not been given signs like those given to Moses?’ Did they not also deny the truth that was given to Moses before? They say, ‘Two kinds of sorcery, helping each other,’ and, ‘We refuse to accept either of them.’ 49 Say [Muhammad], ‘Then produce a book from God that gives better guidance than these two and I will follow it, if you are telling the truth.’ 50 If they do not respond to you, you will know that they follow only their own desires. Who is further astray than the one who follows his own desires with no guidance from God? Truly God does not guide those who do wrong.
In Mecca
51 We have caused Our Word to come to them so that they may be mindful. 52 Those to whom We gave the Scripture before believe in it, [a] 53 and, when it is recited to them, say, ‘We believe in it, it is the truth from our Lord. Before it came we had already devoted ourselves to Him.’ 54 They will be given their rewards twice over because they are steadfast, repel evil with good, give to others out of what We have provided for them, 55 and turn away whenever they hear frivolous talk, saying, ‘We have our deeds and you have yours. Peace be with you! We do not seek the company of ignorant people.’
56 You [Prophet] cannot guide everyone you love to the truth; it is God who guides whoever He will: He knows best those who will follow guidance. 57 They say, ‘If we were to follow guidance with you [Prophet], we would be swept from our land.’ Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary [b] where every kind of produce is brought, as a provision from Us? But most of them do not comprehend. 58 We have destroyed many a community that once reveled in its wanton wealth and easy living: since then their dwelling places have barely been inhabited– We are the only heir. 59 Your Lord would never destroy towns without first raising a messenger in their midst to recite Our messages to them, nor would We destroy towns unless their inhabitants were evildoers. 60 Whatever things you have been given for the life of this world are merely [temporary] gratification and vanity: that which is with God is better and more lasting– will you not use your reason?
Polytheists Will be Left Helpless on Judgement Day
61 Can the person who will see the fulfilment of the good promise We gave him be compared to someone We have given some enjoyments for this worldly life but who, on the Day of Resurrection, will be summoned? [c] 62 The Day will come when God will call them, saying, ‘Where now are those you allege are My partners?’ 63 and those [ringleaders] against whom the verdict will be passed will say, ‘Our Lord, these are the ones we caused to deviate. We caused them to deviate as we ourselves deviated, but now we disown them before You: they did not really serve us.’ 64 It will then be said to them, ‘Now call those you worshipped as partners,’ and they will call them but receive no answer. They will see the suffering and wish they had followed guidance. 65 On that Day He will call them, saying, ‘How did you respond to My messengers?’ 66 All arguments will seem obscure to them on that Day; they will not be able to consult one another. 67 Yet anyone who has repented, believed, and done good deeds can hope to find himself among the successful. 68 Your Lord creates what He pleases and chooses those He will– they have no choice– so glory be to God, and may He be exalted above the partners they ascribe to Him! 69 Your Lord knows what their hearts conceal and what they reveal. 70 He is God; there is no god but Him; all praise belongs to Him in this world and the next; His is the Judgement; and to Him you shall be returned.
Footnotes
a. The Quran
b. Mecca.
c. For punishment.
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.