The Rock 15

And bring thee the Truth, and lo! we are truth-tellers.

So travel with thy household in a portion of the night, and follow thou their backs. Let none of you turn round, but go whither ye are commanded.

And We made plain the case to him, that the root of them (who did wrong) was to be cut at early morn.

And the people of the city came, rejoicing at the news (of new arrivals).

He said: Lo! they are my guests. Affront me not!

And keep your duty to Allah, and shame me not!

They said; Have we not forbidden you from (entertaining) anyone?

He said: Here are my daughters, if ye must be doing (so).

By thy life (O Muhammad) they moved blindly in the frenzy of approaching death.

Then the (Awful) Cry overtook them at the sunrise.

And We utterly confounded them, and We rained upon them stones of heated clay.

Lo! therein verily are portents for those who read the signs.

And lo! it is upon a road still uneffaced.

Lo! therein is indeed a portent for believers.

And the dwellers in the wood indeed were evil-doers.

So we took vengeance on them; and lo! they both are on a high-road plain to see.

And the dwellers in Al-Hijr denied (Our) messengers.

And we gave them Our revelations, but they were averse to them.

And they used to hew out dwellings from the hills, (wherein they dwelt) secure.

But the (Awful) Cry overtook them at the morning hour,

And that which they were wont to count as gain availed them not.

We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them save with truth, and lo! the Hour is surely coming. So forgive, (O Muhammad), with a gracious forgiveness.

Lo! Thy Lord! He is the All-Wise Creator.

We have given thee seven of the oft-repeated (verses) and the great Qur'an.

Strain not thine eyes toward that which We cause some wedded pairs among them to enjoin, and be not grieved on their account, and lower thy wing (in tenderness) for the believers.

And say: Lo! I, even I, am a plain warner,

Such as We send down for those who make division,

Them, by thy Lord, We shall question, every one,

So proclaim that which thou art commanded, and withdraw from the idolaters.

Who set some other god along with Allah. But they will come to know.

Well know We that thy bosom is oppressed by what they say,

But hymn the praise of thy Lord, and be of those who make prostration (unto Him).

And serve thy Lord till the Inevitable cometh unto thee.