What! have they never contemplated that which is before them and behind them, the Heaven and the Earth?  If such were our pleasure, we could sink them into that Earth, or cause a portion of that Heaven to fall upon them! herein truly is a sign for our every returning servant.

Of old bestowed we on David a gift, our special boon:-"Ye mountains and ye birds answer his songs of praise.”  And we made the iron soft for him:-"Make coats of mail, and arrange its plates; and work ye righteousness; for I behold your actions.”

And unto Solomon did we subject the wind, which travelled in the morning a month’s journey, and a month’s journey in the evening.  And we made a fountain of molten brass to flow for him.  And of the Djinn were some who worked in his presence, by the will of his Lord; and such of them as swerved from our bidding will we cause to taste the torment of the flame.

They made for him whatever he pleased, of lofty halls, and images, and dishes large as tanks for watering camels, and cooking pots that stood firmly.  “Work,” said we, “O family of David with thanksgiving:”  But few of my servants are the thankful!

And when we decreed the death of Solomon, nothing shewed them that he was dead but a reptile of the earth that gnawed the staff which supported his corpse.2 And when it fell, the Djinn perceived that if they had known the things unseen, they had not continued in this shameful affliction.3

A sign there was to Saba, in their dwelling places:-two gardens, the one on the right hand and the other on the left:-"Eat ye of your Lord’s supplies, and give thanks to him:  Goodly is the country, and gracious is the Lord!”

But they turned aside:  so we sent upon them the flood of Irem;4 and we changed them their gardens into two gardens of bitter fruit and tamarisk and some few jujube trees.

Such was our retribution on them for their ingratitude:  but do we thus recompense any except the ungrateful?

And we placed between them and the cities which we have blessed, conspicuous cities, and we fixed easy stages:  “Travel ye through them by night and day, secure.”

But they said, “O Lord! make the distance between our journeys longer,"5-and against themselves did they act unjustly:  so we made them a tale, and scattered them with an utter scattering.  Truly herein are signs to everyone that is patient, grateful.

And Eblis found that he had judged truly of them:  and they all except a remnant of the faithful, followed him: 

Yet no power had he over them.  Only we would discern him who believed in the life to come, from him who doubted of it; for thy Lord watcheth all things.

Say:  Call ye upon those whom ye deem gods, beside God:  their power in the Heavens and in the Earth is not the weight of an atom-neither have they any share in either; nor hath He a helper from among them.

No intercession shall avail with Him but that which He shall Himself allow.  Until when at last their hearts shall be relieved from terror, they shall say, “What saith your Lord?” they shall say, “The Truth; and He is the High, the Great.”