Sura XXX (30)
The Greeks
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Elif.
Lam. Mim. The Greeks have been defeated
In a
land hard by: But after their defeat they
shall defeat their foes,
In a
few years. First and last is the affair with God. And on that day shall the
faithful rejoice
In the
aid of their God: He aideth whom He will; and
He is the Mighty, the Merciful.
It is
the promise of God: To his promise God will
not be untrue: but most men know it not.
They
know the outward shews of this life present, but of the next life are they
careless.
Have
they not considered within themselves that God hath not created the Heavens and
the Earth and all that is between them but for a serious end, and for a fixed
term? But truly most men believe not that they shall meet their Lord.
Have
they never journeyed through the land, and seen what hath been the end of those
who were before them? Mightier were they than these in strength; and they broke
up the land, and dwelt in it in greater numbers than they who dwell there now;
and their apostles came to them with proofs of their mission: and it was not God who would wrong them, but they
wronged themselves.
Then
evil was the end of the evil doers; because they had treated our signs as lies,
and laughed them to scorn.
30:10 God bringeth forth the creation --
then causeth it to return again -- then to Him shall you come back.
And on
that day when the hour shall arrive, the guilty shall be struck dumb for
despair,
And
they shall have no intercessors from among the gods whom they have joined with
God, and they shall deny the gods they joined with Him.
And on
that day when the Hour shall arrive, shall men be separated one from another;
And as
for those who shall have believed and done the things that are right, they
shall enjoy themselves in a flowery mead;
But as
for those who shall not have believed, but treated our signs and the meeting of
the next life as lies, they shall be given over to the torment.
Glorify
God therefore when you reach the evening, and when you rise at morn:
And to
Him be praise in the Heavens and on the Earth; and at twilight, and when you rest
at noon.
He
bringeth forth the living out of the dead, and He bringeth forth the dead out
of the living: and He quickeneth the earth
when dead. Thus is it that you too shall be brought forth.
And
one of his signs it is that He hath created you out of dust; then lo! you
become men who spread themselves far and wide:
30:20 And one of his signs it is, that He
hath created wives for you of your own species, that you may dwell with them,
and hath put love and tenderness between you. Herein truly are signs for those
who reflect.
And
among his signs are the creation of the Heavens and of the Earth, and your
variety of tongues and colour. Herein truly are signs for all men.
And of
his signs are your sleep by night and by day, and your goings in quest of his bounties.
Herein truly are signs to those who hearken.
And of
his signs are, that He sheweth you the lightning, a source of awe and hope; and
that He sendeth down rain from the heaven and giveth life by it to the earth
when dead. Herein truly are signs to those who understand.
And of
his signs also one is that the Heaven and the Earth stand firm at his bidding: hereafter, when with one summons He shall summon
you out of the earth, -- lo! forth shall you come.
His,
whatsoever is in the Heavens and on the Earth:
all are obedient to him.
And He
it is who bringeth a creature forth, then causeth it to return again; and to
him is this most easy. To whatever is loftiest in heaven and earth is He to be
likened; and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
He
setteth forth to you an instance drawn from yourselves. Have you among the
slaves whom you right hands have won, any partner in what we have bestowed on
you, so that you share alike? Fear you them as you fear each other? (Thus make
we our signs clear to men of understanding.)
No,
you do not. But the wicked, devoid of knowledge, follow their own desires: and those whom God shall mislead, who shall guide,
and who shall be their protector?
Set
thou thy face then, as a true convert, towards the Faith which God hath made,
and for which He hath made man. No change is there in the creation of God. This
is the right Faith, but the greater part of men know it not.
30:30 And be you turned to Him, and fear
Him, and observe prayer, and be not of those who unite gods with God:
Of those
who have split up their religion, and have become sects, where every party
rejoices in what is their own.
When
some evil toucheth men, they turn to their Lord and call upon him: then when he hath made them taste his mercy, lo, a
part of them join other gods with their Lord,
Ungrateful
for our favours! Enjoy yourselves then. But in the end you shall know your
folly.
Have
we sent down to them any mandate which speaketh in favour of what they join
with God?
When
we cause men to taste mercy they rejoice in it; but if, for that which their
hands have aforetime wrought, evil befall them, they despair.
See
they not that God bestoweth full supplies on whom, He pleaseth and giveth
sparingly to whom He pleaseth? Signs truly are there herein to those who believe.
To him
who is of kin to thee give his due, and to the poor and to the wayfarer: this will be best for those who seek the face of
God; and with them it shall be well.
Whatever
you put out at usury to increase it with the substance of others shall have no
increase from God: but whatever you shall give
in alms, as seeking the face of God, shall be doubled to you.
It is
God who created you -- then fed you -- then will cause you to die -- then will
make you alive. Is there any of your companion-gods who can do aught of these
things? Praise be to Him! and far be He exalted above the gods they join with
Him.
30:40 Destruction hath appeared by land and
by sea on account of what men's hands have wrought, that it might make them
taste somewhat of the fruit of their doings, that haply they might turn to God.
Say: Journey through the land, and see what hath been
the end of those who were before you! The greater part of them joined other
gods with God.
Set
thy face then towards the right faith, ere the day come which none can hinder
God from bring on. On that day shall they be parted in twain:
Unbelievers
on whom shall be their unbelief; and they who have wrought righteousness, and
prepared for themselves couches of repose:
That
of his bounty He may reward those who have believed and wrought righteousness;
for the unbelievers He loveth not.
And
one of his signs is that He sendeth the winds with glad tidings of rain, both
that He may cause you to taste his mercy, and that ships may sail at his
command, that out of his bounties you may seek wealth, and that haply you may
render thanks.
We
have sent apostles before thee to their peoples, and they presented themselves
to them with clear proofs of their mission; and while it behoved us to succour
the faithful, we took vengeance on the guilty.
It is
God who sendeth the winds and uplifteth the clouds, and, as He pleaseth,
spreadeth them on high, and breaketh them up; and thou mayest see the rain
issuing from their midst; and when He poureth it down on such of his servants
as He pleaseth, lo! they are filled with joy,
Even
they who before it was sent down to them, were in mute despair.
Look
then at the traces of God's mercy -- how after its death he quickeneth the
earth! This same God will surely quicken the dead, for to all things His might
is equal.
30:50 Yet should we send a blast, and should
they see their harvest turn yellow, they would afterwards shew themselves
ungrateful.
Thou
canst not make the dead to hear, neither canst thou make the deaf to hear the
call, when they withdraw and turn their backs:
Neither
canst thou guide the blind out of their error:
in sooth, none shalt thou make to hear, save him who shall believe in our signs: for they are resigned to our will (Muslims).
It is
God who hath created you in weakness, then after weakness hath given you
strength: then after strength, weakness and
grey hairs: He createth what He will; and He
is the Wise, the Powerful.
And on
the day whereon the Hour shall arrive, the wicked will swear
That
not above an hour have they waited: Even so
did they utter lies on earth:
But
they to whom knowledge and faith have been given will say, "You have
waited, in accordance with the book of God, till the day of Resurrection: for this is the day of the Resurrection -- but you
knew it not."
On
that day their plea shall not avail the wicked, neither shall they again be
bidden to seek acceptance with God.
And
now have we set before men, in this Koran, every kind of parable: yet if thou bring them a single verse of it, the
infidels will surely say, "You are only utterers of vain things."
It is
thus that God hath sealed up the hearts of those who are devoid of knowledge.
30:60 But do thou, Muhammad, bear with
patience, for true is the promise of God; and let not those who have no firm
belief, unsettle thee.