Ash-Shura (The Counsel)
(42:0) In the name of God, the Gracious, the Compassionate.
(42:1) H8M40*
(42:2) A70S60Q100*
(42:3) Similarly, inspiring you and those before you, is God, the Noble, the Wise.
(42:4) To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, and He is the Most High, the Great.
(42:5) The heavens would nearly shatter from above them, and the angels praise the glory of their Lord, and they ask forgiveness for those on earth. Surely, God is the Forgiver, the Compassionate.
(42:6) Those who take allies besides Him, God is responsible for them; and you are not a guardian over them.
(42:7) Thus We have inspired to you an Arabic compilation, so that you may warn the capital town and all around it, and to warn about the day of Gathering that is inevitable. A group will be in Paradise, and a group in hell.
(42:8) Had God willed, He could have made them one nation. But He admits whom He wills into His mercy. The transgressors will have neither an ally, nor helper.
(42:9) Or have they taken allies besides Him? But God is the ally, and He is the One who resurrects the dead, and He is able to do all things.
(42:10) Anything you dispute in, then its judgment shall be with God. Such is God my Lord. In Him I put my trust, and to Him I repent.
(42:11) Creator of the heavens and the earth. He created for you from among yourselves mates, and also mates for the livestock so they may multiply. There is nothing like unto Him. He is the Hearer, the Seer.
(42:12) To Him belongs the possessions of the heavens and the earth. He spreads out the provision for whomever He wills, and He measures it. He is fully aware of all things.
(42:13) He has decreed for you the same system He ordained for Noah, and what We inspired to you, and what We ordained for Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: "You shall uphold this system, and do not divide in it." Intolerable for those who have set up partners is what you invite them towards. God chooses to Himself whoever/whomever He wills; He guides to Himself whoever repents.
(42:14) They only divided after the knowledge had come to them, due to resentment among themselves. Had it not been for a predetermined decision from your Lord, they would have been judged immediately. Indeed, those who inherited the book after them are full of doubts.
(42:15) For that, you shall preach and be upright, as you have been commanded, and do not follow their wishes. Say, "I acknowledge all that God has sent down from book, and I was commanded to apply justice between you. God is our Lord and your Lord. We have our deeds and you have your deeds. There is no argument between us and you. God will gather us all together, and to Him is the ultimate destiny."
(42:16) Those who debate about God, after they had been answered, their argument is nullified at their Lord. They have incurred a wrath, and will have a severe retribution.
(42:17) God is the One who sent down the book with truth, and the balance. For all that you know, the moment may be very near.
(42:18) Those who do not acknowledge it seek to hasten it, while those who acknowledge are concerned about it, and they know that it is the truth. Certainly, those who dispute the moment have gone far astray.
(42:19) God is Gracious to His servants; He gives provisions for whomever He wills, and He is the Powerful, the Noble.
(42:20) Whoever desires the harvest of the Hereafter, We will increase for him his harvest. Whoever seeks the harvest of this world, We will give it to him, and he will have no share in the Hereafter.
(42:21) Or do they have partners who decree for them a sharia which has not been authorized by God? If it were not for the word already given, they would have been judged immediately. Indeed, the transgressors will have a painful retribution.
(42:22) You see the transgressors worried because of what they had done; and it will come back at them. As for those who acknowledged and do good works, they will be in the paradises of bliss. They will have what they wish from their Lord. This is the great blessing.
(42:23) Such is the good news from God to His servants who acknowledge and do good works. Say, "I do not ask you for any wage, except that you show compassion to your relatives." Whosoever earns a good deed, We shall increase it for him in goodness. Surely, God is Forgiving, Appreciative.
(42:24) Or do they say, "He has fabricated lies about God!" If God willed, He could have sealed your heart. God erases the falsehood and affirms the truth with His words. He is fully aware of what is inside the chests.
(42:25) He is the One who accepts the repentance from His servants, and He forgives the sins. He is fully aware of what you do.
(42:26) Those who acknowledge and do good works respond to Him, and He increases for them His blessings. As for the ingrates, they have incurred a severe retribution.
(42:27) If God were to increase the provision for His servants, they would transgress on earth; but He sends down what He wills in a measure. He is Ever-aware and Seer of His servants.
(42:28) He is the One who sends down the rain after they had despaired, and spreads His mercy. He is the Supporter, the Praiseworthy.
(42:29) From among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the creatures He spreads in them. He is able to gather them, if He wills.
(42:30) Any misfortune that happens to you is a consequence of what your hands have earned. He overlooks much.
(42:31) You can never escape, and you have none besides God as an ally or helper.
(42:32) From His signs are the vessels that sail the sea like flags.
(42:33) If He willed, He could still the winds, leaving them motionless on top of it. In that are signs for everyone who is patient, thankful.
(42:34) Or He may drown them, for what they have earned. He overlooks much.
(42:35) Those who dispute Our signs may know that they have no place to hide.
(42:36) So whatever you are given is simply an enjoyment of the worldly life, and what is with God is far better and more lasting for those who acknowledge and put their trust in their Lord.
(42:37) Those who avoid gross sins and lewdness, and when they are angered, they forgive.
(42:38) Those who have responded to their Lord, and they hold the contact prayer, and their affairs are conducted by mutual consultation among themselves, and from Our provisions to them they give.
(42:39) They are those who seek justice when gross injustice befalls them.
(42:40) The recompense for a crime shall be its equivalence, but whoever forgives and makes right, then his reward is upon God. He does not like the wrongdoers.
(42:41) For any who demand action after being wronged, those are not committing any error.
(42:42) The error is upon those who oppress the people, and they aggress in the land without cause. For these will be a painful retribution.
(42:43) As for the patient and forgiving, that is an indication of strength. The Transgressor Opponents
(42:44) Whomever God sends astray will not have any ally after Him. You will see the transgressors, when they see the retribution, saying: "Is there any way we can go back?"
(42:45) You will see them being displayed to it, in fearful humiliation, and looking, while trying to avoid looking. Those who acknowledged will say, "The losers are those who lost themselves and their families on the day of resurrection. The transgressors will be in a lasting retribution."
(42:46) They had no allies to help them against God. Whomever God misguides will never find the way.
(42:47) Respond to your Lord before a day comes from God which cannot be averted. You will have no refuge for you on that day, nor an advocate.
(42:48) But if they turn away, then We did not send you as their guardian. You are only required to deliver. When We let the human being taste compassion from Us, he becomes happy with it, and when adversity afflicts them because of what their hands have done, the human being becomes rejecting.
(42:49) To God is the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. He creates whatever He wills. He bestows daughters to whomever He wills, and bestows sons to whomever He wills.
(42:50) Or, He may bestow them with both daughters and sons, and He makes whom He wills sterile. He is Knowledgeable, Omnipotent.
(42:51) It is not for any human being that God would speak to him, except through inspiration, or from behind a barrier, or by sending a messenger to inspire whom He wills by His leave. He is the Most High, Most Wise.
(42:52) Thus, We inspired to you a revelation of Our command. You did not know what the book was, nor the acknowledgement. Yet, We made this a light to guide whomever We wish from among Our servants. Surely, you guide to a straight path.
(42:53) The path of God; to Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. Ultimately, all matters revert to God.
