And when your Lord caused it to be heard that, “If we render thanks then will I surely increase you more and more:  but if ye be thankless. . . .  Verily, right terrible my chastisement.”

And Moses said, “If ye and all who are on the Earth be thankless, yet truly God is passing Rich, and worthy of all praise.”

Hath not the story reached you of those who were before you, the people of Noah, and Ad, and Themoud,

And of those who lived after them?  None knoweth them but God.  When their prophets came to them with proofs of their mission, they put their hands on their mouths and said, “In sooth, we believe not your message; and in sooth, of that to which you bid us, we are in doubt, as of a thing suspicious.”

Their prophets said:  “Is there any doubt concerning God, maker of the Heavens and of the Earth, who calleth you that He may pardon your sins, and respite you until an appointed time?”

They said, “Ye are but men like us:  fain would ye turn us from our fathers’ worship.  Bring us therefore some clear proof.”

Their Apostles said to them, “We are indeed but men like you.  But God bestoweth favours on such of his servants as he pleaseth, and it is not in our power to bring you any special proof,

But by the leave of God.  In God therefore let the faithful trust.

And why should we not put our trust in God, since He hath already guided us in our ways.  We will certainly bear with constancy the harm you would do to us.  In God let the trustful trust.”

And they who believed not said to their Apostles, “Forth from our land will we surely drive you, or, to our religion shall ye return.”  Then their Lord revealed to them, “We will certainly destroy the wicked doers,

And we shall certainly cause you to dwell in the land after them.  This for him who dreadeth the appearance at my judgment-seat and who dreadeth my menace!”

Then sought they help from God, and every proud rebellious one perished: 

Hell is before him:  and of tainted water shall he be made to drink: 

He shall sup it and scarce swallow it for loathing; and Death shall assail him on every side, but he shall not die:  and before him shall be seen a grievous torment.

A likeness of those who believe not in their Lord.  Their works are like ashes which the wind scattereth on a stormy day:  no advantage shall they gain from their works.  This is the far-gone wandering.

Seest thou not that in truth1 hath God created the Heavens and the Earth?  Were such his pleasure He could make you pass away, and cause a new creation to arise.

And this would not be hard for God.

All mankind shall come forth before God; and the weak shall say to the men of might, “Verily, we were your followers:  will ye not then relieve us of some part of the vengeance of God?”

They shall say, “If God had guided us, we surely had guided you.  It is now all one whether we be impatient, or endure with patience.  We have no escape.”