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for thee. But the (fruit of) the Hereafter is for righteousness.
020.133 They say: "Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?" Has not a Clear Sign come to them of all that was
in the former Books of revelation?
020.134 And if We had inflicted on them a penalty before this, they would have said: "Our Lord! If only Thou hadst
sent us an apostle, we should certainly have followed Thy Signs before we were humbled and put to shame."
020.135 Say: "Each one (of us) is waiting: wait ye, therefore, and soon shall ye know who it is that is on the straight
and even way, and who it is that has received Guidance."
THE PROPHETS, CHAPTER NO. 021
021.001 Closer and closer to mankind comes their Reckoning: yet they heed not and they turn away.
021.002 Never comes (aught) to them of a renewed Message from their Lord, but they listen to it as in jest,-
021.003 Their hearts toying as with trifles. The wrong-doers conceal their private counsels, (saying), "Is this (one)
more than a man like yourselves? Will ye go to witchcraft with your eyes open?"
021.004 Say: "My Lord knoweth (every) word (spoken) in the heavens and on earth: He is the One that heareth and
knoweth (all things)."
021.005 "Nay," they say, "(these are) medleys of dream! - Nay, He forged it! - Nay, He is (but) a poet! Let him then
bring us a Sign like the ones that were sent to (Prophets) of old!"
021.006 (As to those) before them, not one of the populations which We destroyed believed: will these believe?
021.007 Before thee, also, the apostles We sent were but men, to whom We granted inspiration: If ye realise this not,
ask of those who possess the Message.
021.008 Nor did We give them bodies that ate no food, nor were they exempt from death.
021.009 In the end We fulfilled to them Our Promise, and We saved them and those whom We pleased, but We
destroyed those who transgressed beyond bounds.
021.010 We have revealed for you (O men!) a book in which is a Message for you: will ye not then understand?
021.011 How many were the populations We utterly destroyed because of their iniquities, setting up in their places
other peoples?
021.012 Yet, when they felt Our Punishment (coming), behold, they (tried to) flee from it.
021.013 Flee not, but return to the good things of this life which were given you, and to your homes in order that ye
may be called to account.
021.014 They said: "Ah! woe to us! We were indeed wrong-doers!"
021.015 And that cry of theirs ceased not, till We made them as a field that is mown, as ashes silent and quenched.
021.016 Not for (idle) sport did We create the heavens and the earth and all that is between!
021.017 If it had been Our wish to take (just) a pastime, We should surely have taken it from the things nearest to Us,
if We would do (such a thing)!
021.018 Nay, We hurl the Truth against falsehood, and it knocks out its brain, and behold, falsehood doth perish! Ah!
woe be to you for the (false) things ye ascribe (to Us).
021.019 To Him belong all (creatures) in the heavens and on earth: Even those who are in His (very) Presence are not
too proud to serve Him, nor are they (ever) weary (of His service):
021.020 They celebrate His praises night and day, nor do they ever flag or intermit.
021.021 Or have they taken (for worship) gods from the earth who can raise (the dead)?
021.022 If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides God, there would have been confusion in both!
but glory to God, the Lord of the Throne: (High is He) above what they attribute to Him!
021.023 He cannot be questioned for His acts, but they will be questioned (for theirs).
021.024 Or have they taken for worship (other) gods besides him? Say, "Bring your convincing proof: this is the
Message of those with me and the Message of those before me." But most of them know not the Truth, and so turn
away.
021.025 Not an apostle did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no god but
I; therefore worship and serve Me.
021.026 And they say: "(God) Most Gracious has begotten offspring." Glory to Him! they are (but) servants raised to