The Allies 33

That was the way of Allah in the case of those who passed away of old; thou wilt not find for the way of Allah aught of power to change.

Men ask thee of the Hour. Say: The knowledge of it is with Allah only. What can convey (the knowledge) unto thee? It may be that the Hour is nigh.

Lo! Allah hath cursed the disbelievers, and hath prepared for them a flaming fire,

Wherein they will abide for ever. They will find (then) no protecting friend nor helper.

On the day when their faces are turned over in the Fire, they say: Oh, would that we had obeyed Allah and had obeyed His messenger!

And they say: Our Lord! Lo! we obeyed our princes and great men, and they misled us from the Way.

Our Lord! Oh, give them double torment and curse them with a mighty curse.

O ye who believe! Be not as those who slandered Moses, but Allah proved his innocence of that which they alleged, and he was well esteemed in Allah's sight.

O ye who believe! Guard your duty to Allah, and speak words straight to the point;

He will adjust your works for you and will forgive you your sins. Whosoever obeyeth Allah and His messenger, he verily hath gained a signal victory.

Lo! We offered the trust unto the heavens and the earth and the hills, but they shrank from bearing it and were afraid of it. And man assumed it. Lo! he hath proved a tyrant and a fool.

So Allah punisheth hypocritical men and hypocritical women, and idolatrous men and idolatrous women. But Allah pardoneth believing men and believing women, and Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.