Sura XXXI (31)
Lokman
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Elif.
Lam. Mim. These are the verses (signs) of the wise Book,
A
guidance and a mercy to the righteous,
Who
observe prayer, and pay the impost, and believe firmly in the life to come: --
These
rest on guidance from their Lord, and with these it shall be well.
But a
man there is who buyeth an idle tale, that in his lack of knowledge he may
mislead others form the way of God, and turn it to scorn. For such is prepared
a shameful punishment!
And
when our signs are rehearsed to him, he turneth away disdainfully, as though he
heard them not, -- as though his ears were heavy with deafness. Announce to him
therefore tidings of an afflictive punishment!
But
they who shall have believed and wrought good works, shall enjoy the gardens of
delight:
For
ever shall they dwell therein: it is God's
true promise! and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
Without
pillars that can be seen hath He created the heavens, and on the earth hath
thrown mountains lest it should move with you; and He hath scattered over it
animals of every sort: and from the Heaven we
send down rain and cause every kind of noble plant to grow up therein.
31:10 This is the creation of God: Shew me now what others than He have created. Ah!
the ungodly are in a manifest delusion.
Of old
we bestowed wisdom upon Lokman, and taught him thus -- "Be thankful to God: for whoever is thankful, is thankful to his own
behoof; and if any shall be thankless... God truly is self-sufficient, worthy
of all praise!"
And
bear in mind when Lokman said to his son by way of warning, "O my son!
joint not others gods with God, for the joining gods with God is the great
impiety."
(We
have commanded man concerning his parents. His mother carrieth him with
weakness upon weakness; nor until after two years is he weaned. Be grateful to
me, and to thy parents. Unto me shall all come.
But if
they importune thee to join that with Me of which thou hast no knowledge, obey
them not: comport thyself towards them in this
world as is meet and right; but follow the way of him who turneth unto me.
Until me shall you return at last, and then will I tell you of your doings;)
"O
my son! verily God will bring everything to light, though it were but the
weight of a grain of mustard-seed, and hidden in a rock or in the heavens or in
the earth; for, God is subtile, informed of all.
O my
son! observe prayer, and enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and be patient
under whatever shall betide thee: for this is
a bounden duty.
And
distort not thy face at men; nor walk thou loftily on the earth; for God loveth
no arrogant vain-glorious one.
But
let thy pace be middling; and lower thy voice:
for the least pleasing of voices is surely the voice of asses."
See
you not how that God hath put under you all that is in the heavens and all that
is on the earth, and hath been bounteous to you of his favours, both for soul
and body. But some are there who dispute of God without knowledge, and have no
guidance and no illuminating Book:
31:20 And when it is said to them, Follow
you what God hath sent down, they say, "Nay; that religion in which we
found our fathers will we follow." What! though Satan bid them to the
torment of the flame?
But
whoso setteth his face toward God with self-surrender, and is a doer of that
which is good, hath laid hold on a sure handle; for unto God is the issue of
all things.
But
let not the unbelief of the unbelieving grieve thee:
unto us shall they return: then will we tell
them of their doings; for God knoweth the very secrets of the breast.
Yet a
little while will we provide for them:
afterwards will we force them to a stern punishment.
If
thou ask them who hath created the heavens and the earth, they will certainly
reply, "God." Say: God be praised!
But most of them have no knowledge.
God's,
whatever is in the Heavens and the Earth! for God, He is the Rich, the
Praiseworthy.
If all
the trees that are upon the earth were to become pens, and if God should after
that swell the sea into seven seas of ink, His words would not be exhausted: for God is Mighty, Wise.
Your
creation and your quickening hereafter, are but as those of a single
individual. Verily, God Heareth, Seeth!
Seest
thou not that God causeth the night to come in upon the day, and the day to
come in upon the night? and that he hath subjected the sun and the moon to laws
by which each speedeth along to an appointed goal? and that God therefore is
acquainted with that which you do?
This,
for that God is the truth; and that whatever you call upon beside Him is a vain
thing; and that God -- He is the High, the Great.
31:30 Seest thou not how the ships speed on
in the sea, through the favour of God, that he may shew you of his signs? for
herein are signs to all patient, grateful ones.
When
the waves cover them like dark shadows they call upon God as with sincere
religion; but when He safely landeth them, some of them there are who halt
between two opinions. Yet none reject our signs but all deceitful, ungrateful
ones.
O men!
fear you your Lord, and dread the day whereon father shall not atone for son,
neither shall a son in the least atone for his father.
Aye!
the promise of God is a truth. Let not this present life then deceive you;
neither let the deceiver deceive you concerning God.
Aye!
God! -- with Him is the knowledge of the Hour; and He sendeth down the rain --
and He knoweth what is in the wombs -- but no soul knoweth what it shall have
gotten on the morrow: neither knoweth any soul
in what land it shall die. But God is knowing, informed of all.