74 Remember when Abraham said to his father, Azar, ‘How can you take idols as gods? I see that you and your people have clearly gone astray.’ 75 In this way We showed Abraham [God’s] mighty dominion over the heavens and the earth, so that he might be a firm believer. 76 When the night grew dark over him he saw a star and said, ‘This is my Lord,’ but when it set, he said, ‘I do not like things that set.’ 77 And when he saw the moon rising he said, ‘This is my Lord,’ but when it too set, he said, ‘If my Lord does not guide me, I shall be one of those who go astray.’ 78 Then he saw the sun rising and cried, ‘This is my Lord! This is greater.’ But when the sun set, he said, ‘My people, I disown all that you worship beside God. 79 I have turned my face as a true believer towards Him who created the heavens and the earth. I am not one of the polytheists.’
80 His people argued with him, and he said, ‘How can you argue with me about God when He has guided me? I do not fear anything you associate with Him: unless my Lord wills [nothing can happen]. My Lord encompasses everything in His knowledge. How can you not take heed? 81 Why should I fear what you associate with Him? Why do you not fear to associate with Him things for which He has sent you no authority? Tell me, if you know the answer, which side has more right to feel secure? 82 It is those who have faith, and do not mix their faith with idolatry, [a] who will be secure, and it is they who are rightly guided.’ 83 Such was the argument We gave to Abraham against his people– We raise in rank whoever We will– your Lord is all wise, all knowing.
Abraham’s Legacy
84 We gave him Isaac and Jacob, each of whom We guided, as We had guided Noah before, and among his descendants were David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron– in this way We reward those who do good– 85 Zachariah, John, Jesus, and Elijah– every one of them was righteous– 86 Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot. We favored each one of them over other people, 87 and also some of their forefathers, their offspring, and their brothers: We chose them and guided them on a straight path. 88 Such is God’s guidance, with which He guides whichever of His servants He will. If they had associated other gods with Him, all their deeds would have come to nothing. 89 Those are the ones to whom We gave the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood. Even if these people now disbelieve in them, We have entrusted them to others who do not disbelieve. 90 Those were the people God guided, ‘[Prophet], follow the guidance they received.’ Say, ‘I ask no reward for it from you: it is a lesson for all people.’
Torah was also Revealed by God
91 They have no grasp of God’s true measure when they say, ‘God has sent nothing down to a mere mortal.’ Say, ‘Who was it who sent down the Scripture, which Moses brought as a light and a guide to people, which you made into separate sheets, showing some but hiding many? You were taught things that neither you nor your forefathers had known.’ Say, ‘God [sent it down],’ then leave them engrossed in their vain talk.
The Signs are Clear
92 This is a blessed Scripture that We have sent down to confirm what came before it and for you to warn the Mother of Cities [b] and all around it. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in this Scripture, and do not neglect their prayers. 93 Who could be more wicked than someone who invents a lie against God, or claims, ‘A revelation has come to me,’ when no revelation has been sent to him, or says, ‘I too can reveal something equal to God’s revelation’? If you could only see the wicked in their death agonies, as the angels stretch out their hands [to them], saying, ‘Give up your souls. Today you will be repaid with a humiliating punishment for saying false things about God and for arrogantly rejecting His revelations.’ 94 [God will say], ‘Now you return to Us, alone, as We first created you: you have left behind everything We gave you, nor do We see those intercessors of yours that you claimed were partners of God. All the bonds between you have been severed, and those about whom you made such claims have deserted you.’
95 It is God who splits open the seed and the fruit stone: He brings out the living from the dead and the dead from the living– that is God– so how can you turn away from the truth? 96 He makes the dawn break; He makes the night for rest; and He made the sun and the moon to a precise measure. That is the design of the Almighty, the All Knowing. 97 It is He who made the stars, so that they can guide you when land and sea are dark: We have made the signs clear for those who have knowledge. 98 It is He who first produced you from a single soul, then gave you a place to stay [in life] and a resting place [after death]. We have made Our revelations clear to those who understand. 99 It is He who sends down water from the sky. With it We produce the shoots of each plant, then bring greenery from it, and from that We bring out grains, one riding on the other in close-packed rows.
From the date palm come clusters of low-hanging dates, and there are gardens of vines, olives, and pomegranates, alike yet different. Watch their fruits as they grow and ripen! In all this there are signs for those who would believe. 100 Yet they made the jinn [c] partners with God, though He created them, and without any true knowledge they attribute sons and daughters to Him. Glory be to Him! He is far higher than what they ascribe to Him, 101 the Creator of the heavens and earth! How could He have children when He has no spouse, when He created all things, and has full knowledge of all things? 102 This is God, your Lord, there is no God but Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him; He is in charge of everything. 103 No vision can take Him in, but He takes in all vision. [d] He is the All Subtle, the All Aware.
104 Now clear proof has come to you from your Lord: if anyone sees it, that will be to his advantage; if anyone is blind to it, that will be to his loss– [Say], ‘I am not your guardian.’ 105 This is how We explain Our revelations in various ways– though [e] they will say, ‘You [Muhammad] have been studying’– to make them clear for those who know. 106 Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord, there is no God but Him. Turn away from those who join other gods with Him. 107 If it had been God’s will, they would not have done so, but We have not made you their guardian, nor are you their keeper.
Footnotes
a. The Prophet explained zulm (evildoing) here to be shirk (idolatry), referring to 31: 13.
b. Mecca.
c. Unseen beings (sometimes said to appear) made from ‘smokeless fire’ (see 38: 76; 55: 15).
d. No human eye is able to see God, but God sees everything we see: this is another illustration of our powerlessness compared with Him.
e. See Razi; the preposition li in Arabic here indicates result rather than purpose.
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.