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are the Unbelievers.
067.021 Or who is there that can provide you with Sustenance if He were to withhold His provision? Nay, they
obstinately persist in insolent impiety and flight (from the Truth).
067.022 Is then one who walks headlong, with his face grovelling, better guided,- or one who walks evenly on a Straight
Way?
067.023 Say: "It is He Who has created you (and made you grow), and made for you the faculties of hearing, seeing,
feeling and understanding: little thanks it is ye give.
067.024 Say: "It is He Who has multiplied you through the earth, and to Him shall ye be gathered together."
067.025 They ask: When will this promise be (fulfilled)? - If ye are telling the truth.
067.026 Say: "As to the knowledge of the time, it is with God alone: I am (sent) only to warn plainly in public."
067.027 At length, when they see it close at hand, grieved will be the faces of the Unbelievers, and it will be said (to
them): "This is (the promise fulfilled), which ye were calling for!"
067.028 Say: "See ye?- If God were to destroy me, and those with me, or if He bestows His Mercy on us,- yet who can
deliver the Unbelievers from a grievous Penalty?"
067.029 Say: "He is (God) Most Gracious: We have believed in Him, and on Him have we put our trust: So, soon will
ye know which (of us) it is that is in manifest error."
067.030 Say: "See ye?- If your stream be some morning lost (in the underground earth), who then can supply you with
clear-flowing water?"
THE PEN, (THE LETTER) N, CHAPTER NO. 068
068.001 Nun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write,-
068.002 Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.
068.003 Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:
068.004 And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.
068.005 Soon wilt thou see, and they will see,
068.006 Which of you is afflicted with madness.
068.007 Verily it is thy Lord that knoweth best, which (among men) hath strayed from His Path: and He knoweth best
those who receive (true) Guidance.
068.008 So hearken not to those who deny (the Truth).
068.009 Their desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.
068.010 Heed not the type of despicable men,- ready with oaths,
068.011 A slanderer, going about with calumnies,
068.012 (Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,
068.013 Violent (and cruel),- with all that, base-born,-
068.014 Because he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.
068.015 When to him are rehearsed Our Signs, "Tales of the ancients", he cries!
068.016 Soon shall We brand (the beast) on the snout!
068.017 Verily We have tried them as We tried the People of the Garden, when they resolved to gather the fruits of
the (garden) in the morning.
068.018 But made no reservation, ("If it be God's Will").
068.019 Then there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, while they were
asleep.
068.020 So the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered).
068.021 As the morning broke, they called out, one to another,-
068.022 "Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits."
068.023 So they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying)-
068.024 "Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day."
068.025 And they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.
068.026 But when they saw the (garden), they said: "We have surely lost our way: