This,34 because thy Lord would not destroy the cities in their sin, while their people were yet careless.

And for all, are grades of recompense as the result of their deeds; and of what they do, thy Lord is not regardless.

And thy Lord is the Rich one, full of compassion!  He can destroy you if He please, and cause whom He will to succeed you, as he raised you up from the offspring of other people: 

Verily, that which is threatened you shall surely come to pass, neither shall ye weaken its might.

Say:  O my people!  Act as ye best can:  I verily will act my part, and hereafter shall ye know

Whose will be the recompense of the abode!  Verily, the ungodly shall not prosper.

Moreover, they set apart a portion of the fruits and cattle35 which he hath produced, and say, “This for God"-so deem they-"And this for his companions, whom we associate with Him.”  But that which is for these companions of theirs, cometh not to God; yet that which is for God, cometh to the companions!  Ill do they judge.

Thus have the companion-gods induced many of these, who join them with God, to slay their children, that they might ruin them, and throw the cloak of confusion over their religion.  But if God had pleased, they had not done this.  Therefore, leave them and their devices.

They also say, “These cattle and fruits are sacred:  none may taste them but whom we please:”  so deem they-"And there are cattle, whose backs should be exempt from labour.”  And there are cattle over which they do not pronounce the name of God:  inventing in all this a lie against Him.  For their inventions shall He reward them.

And they say, “That which is in the wombs of these cattle is allowed to our males, and forbidden to our wives;” but if it prove abortive, both partake of it.  God shall reward them for their distinctions!  Knowing, Wise is He.

Lost are they who, in their ignorance, have foolishly slain their children, and have forbidden that which God hath given them for food, devising an untruth against God!  Now have they erred; and they were not rightly guided.

He it is who produceth gardens of the vine trellised and untrellised, and the palm trees, and the corn of various food, and olives, and pomegranates, like and unlike.  Eat of their fruit when they bear fruit, and pay the due thereof on the day of its ingathering:  and be not prodigal, for God loveth not the prodigal.

And there are cattle for burdens and for journeys.  Eat of what God hath given you for food; and follow not the steps of Satan, for he is your declared enemy.

You have four sorts of cattle in pairs:  of sheep a pair, and of goats a pair.  Say:  Hath He forbidden the two males or the two females; or that which the wombs of the two females enclose?  Tell me with knowledge, if ye speak the truth: 

And of camels a pair, and of oxen a pair.  Say:  Hath He forbidden the two males or the two females; or that which the wombs of the two females enclose?36 Were ye witnesses when God enjoined you this?  Who then is more wicked than he who, in his ignorance, inventeth a lie against God, to mislead men?  God truly guideth not the wicked.