The Heights

65And to the people of 'Ad 'We sent' their brother Hud.

He said, 'O my people!

Worship Allah—you have no other god except Him.

Will you not then keep Him in mind?

'

66The disbelieving chiefs of his people responded, 'We definitely see you as a fool' and 'We really think you are lying.

'

67He replied, 'O my people!

I am no fool!

But I am a messenger from the Lord of the universe,'

68delivering to you my Lord's messages and giving you sincere advice.

69Do you find it shocking that a reminder has come to you from your Lord through a man of your own, giving you warning?

Remember that He put you in charge after the people of Nuh and blessed you with mighty bodies.

Always keep Allah's favours in mind, so you may be successful.

'

70They argued, 'Have you come to make us worship Allah alone and abandon what our fathers used to worship?

Then bring us whatever you threaten us with, if what you say is true!

'

71He replied, 'You definitely deserve your Lord's punishment and anger.

How dare you argue with me about these so-called gods, which you and your fathers have made up—a practice Allah has never approved!

Just wait and see!

I too am waiting with you.

'

72So, We saved him and those with him by Our mercy and wiped out those who rejected Our signs and refused to believe.

73And to the people of Thamud We sent their brother Şalih.

He said, "O my people!

Worship Allah—you have no other god except Him.

A clear proof has come to you from your Lord: this is Allah's she-camel as a sign to you.

So leave her to feed freely' on Allah's land and do her no harm, or a painful punishment will hit you.

74Remember when He put you in charge after 'Ad and settled you in the land, so you built palaces on its plains and carved homes into mountains.

So always keep Allah's favours in mind, and do not go about spreading corruption in the land.

"

75The arrogant chiefs of his people asked the powerless who believed among them, "Are you sure that Şalih has been sent by his Lord?

" They replied, "We truly believe in the message sent with him.

"

76The arrogant said, "We certainly reject 'what you believe in'"

77Then they killed the she-camel—disobeying their Lord's orders—and challenged, "O Şalih!

Bring us what you threaten us with, if you are really' a messenger"

78Then a 'horrible' earthquake hit them, and they fell lifeless in their homes.

79So he turned away from them, saying, "O my people!

I already delivered to you my Lord's message and gave you 'sincere' advice, but you didn't like those who gave advice.

"

80And remember' when Lut criticized 'the men of his people: "How can you do such a shameful deed that no man has ever done before?

81You satisfy your desire with other men instead of your wives!

In fact, you have gone too far in Evil"

82But his people's only response was to say, "Expel them from your land!

They are a people who wish to stay pure!

"

83So, We saved him and his family except his wife, who was one of the doomed.

84And We rained down punishment upon them.

See what was the fate of the wicked!

85And to the people of Madian 'We sent' their brother Shu'aib.

He said, "O my people!

Worship Allah—you have no other god except Him.

A clear proof has already come to you from your Lord.

So give full measure and weight, do not cheat people out of their things, or spread corruption in the land after it has been put in order.

This is better for you, if you only believed.

86And do not take over every road, threatening 'people' and preventing those who believe in Allah from 'following' His Path, trying to make it 'appear' crooked.

Remember when you used to be few, then He increased you in number.

And see what was the fate of the Corruptors!

87Now that some of you believe in what I have been sent with while others refuse to, wait until Allah judges between us.

He is the Best of Judges.

"

88The arrogant chiefs of his people threatened, "O Shu'aib!

We will definitely expel you and your fellow believers from our land, unless you return to our faith.

" He replied, "What!

Even if we hate it?

89We would be making up a lie against Allah if we returned to your faith after Allah has saved us from it.

There is no way we can return to it, unless Allah—our Lord—wants this to happen.

Our Lord has perfect knowledge of every-thing.

In Allah we trust.

Our Lord!

Judge between us and our people in all fairness.

You are the best of those who judge.

"

90The disbelieving chiefs of his people warned others, "If you follow Shu'aib, you will certainly be losers!

"

91Then a 'horrible' earthquake hit them and they fell lifeless in their homes.

92Those who rejected Shu'aib were wiped out' as if they had never lived there.

Those who rejected Shu'aib were the true losers.

93So he turned away from them, saying, "O my people!

I already delivered to you the messages of my Lord and gave you 'sincere advice.

How then can I feel sorry for those who refused to believe?

"

94Whenever We sent a prophet to a society, We tested its people with suffering and difficult times, so perhaps they would be humbled.

95Then We changed their difficult times to good times until they started doing very well and argued 'falsely, 'Our fathers also went through good and bad times.

' So We took them by surprise when they least expected it.

96If the people of those societies had believed and kept Allah in mind, We would have showered them with blessings from heaven and earth.

But they kept rejecting the truth, so We destroyed them for what they used to do.

97Did the people of those societies feel safe that Our punishment would not hit them by night while they were asleep?

98Or did they feel safe that Our punishment would not hit them by day while they were playing around?

99Did they 'really' feel safe against Allah's planning?

No one feels safe from Allah's planning except the losers.

100Is it not clear to those who take over the land after the destruction of its former people that—if We want—We could punish them too for their sins

and seal their hearts so they would not hear 'the truth'?

101We have told you O Prophet some of the stories of those societies.

Their messengers certainly came to them with clear proofs, still they would not believe in what they had rejected before.

This is how Allah seals the hearts of the disbelievers.

102We did not find most of them honouring their promises.

Instead, We found most of them really out of control.

103Then after them We sent Musa with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they did wrong by rejecting them.

See what was the fate of the corruptors!

104Musa declared, "O Pharaoh!

I am truly a messenger from the Lord of the universe.

105It is my duty to say nothing about Allah except the truth.

I have come to you with a clear proof from your Lord, so let the children of Isra'il go with me"

106Pharaoh demanded, "If you have come with a sign, then show us if what you say is true.

"

107So Musa threw down his staff and—behold!

—it became a real snake.

108Then he took his hand 'out of his collar and it was 'glowing' white for all to see.

109The chiefs of Pharaoh's people said, "He is really a skilled magician,

110Who wants to drive you all out of your land.

" 'So Pharaoh asked, "What do you suggest?

"

111They replied, "Let him and his brother wait, and send agents to all cities

112to bring you every clever magician.

"

113Later, the magicians came to Pharaoh, saying, "Are we going to get a 'suitable' prize if we win?

"

114He replied, "Yes, and you will even be very close to me.

"

115They asked, "O Musa!

Will you throw, or shall we be the first to throw?

"

116Musa said, "You first.

" So when they did, they deceived the eyes of the people, stunned them, and pulled off an impressive magic trick.

117Then We Inspired Musa, "Throw down your staff," and—behold!

—it swallowed the objects of their illusion!

118So the truth won the day, and their illusion failed.

119And so Pharaoh and his people were defeated right there and put to shame,

120Then the magicians fell on their knees.

121They declared, "We now' believe in the Lord of the universe

122the Lord of Musa and Harun"

123Pharaoh threatened, "How dare you believe in him before I give you permission?

This must be some evil plan you made in the city to drive out its people, but soon you will see.

124I will definitely cut off your hands and feet from opposite sides, then crucify you all.

"

125They responded, "We will be returning to our Lord.

126You are mad at us simply because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us.

Our Lord!

Shower us with patience, and let us die while submitting 'to You' "

127The chiefs of Pharaoh's people protested, "Are you going to let Musa and his people cause trouble throughout the land and abandon you and your gods?

" He responded, "We will kill their sons and keep their women.

We will completely keep them under control"

128Musa said to his people, "Seek Allah's help and be patient.

Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah 'alone'.

He awards it to whoever He chooses of His servants.

The faithful will win in the end"

129They complained, "We have always been abused—before and after you came to us.

" He replied, "Perhaps your Lord will destroy your enemy and put you in charge of the land to see what you will do.

"

130And sure enough, We punished Pharaoh's people with droughts and poor harvests so they might come back 'to their senses'.

131If something good came their way, they bragged, "This is what we deserve.

" But if something bad happened to them, they blamed it on Musa and those with him.

It is all written by Allah, but most of them did not know.

132They argued, "We will never believe in you, no matter what 'miracle' you bring to deceive us.

"

133So, We unleashed on them floods, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood—one sign after the other.

But they kept acting arrogantly and were a wicked people.

134Every time they suffered a disaster, they cried, "O Musa!

Pray to your Lord for us, by the pledge He made with you.

' If you remove this disaster from us, we will definitely believe in you and let the Children of Isra'il go with you.

"

135But as soon as We removed their disaster—until they met their sure fate—they broke their promise.

136So We hit them with punishment, drowning them in the sea because they rejected Our signs and did not care about them.

137And We put the abused people in charge of the eastern and western lands, which We had blessed.

And so your Lord's good promise to the Children of Isra'il came true because of what they had been through.

And We destroyed what Pharaoh and his people did and what they built.

138We took the Children of Isra'il across the sea, and they came upon a people worshipping idols.

They demanded, "O Musa!

Make for us a god like their gods.

" He replied, "What!

You are really an ignorant people!

139What they follow will fall apart, and what they do will go to waste.

"

140He added, "How can I seek for you a god other than Allah, when He has honoured you above all others?

"

141And 'remember' when We saved you from the people of Pharaoh, who put you through a horrible punishment—killing your sons and keeping your women.

That was a severe test from your Lord.

142We set for Musa thirty nights 'of worship' then 'another ten, completing his Lord's period of forty nights.

Before that, Musa told his brother Harun, "Take my place among my people, do what is right, and do not follow the way of the corruptors.

"

143When Musa came at the 'appointed time' and his Lord spoke to him, he asked, "My Lord!

Reveal Yourself to me so I can see You.

" Allah answered, "You cannot see Me!

But look at that mountain: if it stays firm in its place, then you will be able to see Me.

" When his Lord appeared to the mountain, it crumbled into dust and Musa collapsed, passing out.

When he recovered, he cried, "Glory be to You!

I repent to You, and I am the first of the believers.

144Allah said, "O Musa!

I have already honoured you above all others by giving you' the message and speaking to you.

So hold on to what I have given you and be grateful"

145We wrote for him on the Tablets general guidelines—rules and explanations of all things.

We ordered, 'Take this seriously, and ask your people to follow its excellent teachings.

I will show 'all of you' the fate of those out of control.

146I will turn away from My signs those who act arrogantly in the land with no right.

And even if they saw every sign, they still would not believe in them.

If they see the Right Path, they do not take it.

But if they see a crooked path, they follow it.

This is because they rejected Our signs and did not care about them.

147Those who reject Our signs and 'the meeting with Allah' in the Next Life, their deeds will go to waste.

Is this not what they deserve for what they did?

"

148In Musa's absence, his people made 'from their golden' jewellery an idol that looked and sounded like a calf.

Did they not see that it could not speak to them or guide them in any way?

Still, they took it as a god, doing horribly wrong.

149Later, when they were filled with regret and realized that they had strayed, they cried, 'If our Lord does not have mercy on us and forgive us, we

will definitely be losers.

'

150Earlier, when Musa returned to his people, extremely angry and disappointed, he said, 'What an evil thing you did in my absence!

Were you so desperate for your Lord's punishment?

' Then he threw down the Tablets and grabbed his brother by the hair, dragging him closer.

Harun replied, 'O son of my mother!

These people outnumbered me and were about to kill me.

So do not give my enemies a reason to be happy, and do not count me among those who did wrong'

151Musa prayed, 'My Lord!

Forgive me and my brother, and enter us into Your mercy.

You are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.

'

152Those who worshipped the 'golden' calf are going to suffer their Lord's anger as well as disgrace in this life.

This is how We pay back those who make up lies.

153As for those who do evil, then later repent and have faith, surely your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful after all.

154When Musa's anger went away, he picked up the Tablets, which contained guidance and mercy for those who honour their Lord.

155Musa chose seventy men from his people for Our appointment.

Later, when they were shaken by an earthquake, he cried, "My Lord!

If You wanted, You could have destroyed them long ago, and me too.

Will You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done?

This is only a test from You—by which You allow whoever you want to stray and guide whoever You want.

You are our Guardian.

So forgive us and have mercy on us.

You are the best of those who forgive.

156Bless us with what is good in this life and the Next.

We have truly turned back to You.

" Allah replied, "As for My punishment, I unleash it on whoever I want.

But My mercy covers everything.

I will give this 'mercy' to those who avoid evil, pay zakah, and believe in Our revelations.

157'They are' the ones who follow the Messenger—the Prophet who can't read or write—the one they find described in their Tawrah and the Injil.

He encourages them to do what is right and forbids them from what is wrong, allows for them good things and prohibits for them evil things, and relieves

them from their strict rules and practices.

Only those who believe in him, honour and support him, and follow the light sent down to him will be successful.

'

158Say, Prophet, 'O humanity!

I am sent as a messenger to you all by Allah—the One Who owns the kingdom of the heavens and the earth.

There is no god 'that deserves worship' except Him.

He gives life and causes death.

' So believe in Allah and His Messenger—the Prophet who can't read or write—the one who believes in Allah and His revelations.

And follow him, so you may be 'rightly' guided.

159There are some among the people of Musa who guide with the truth, and with it they judge fairly.

160We divided them into twelve tribes, each as a community.

And when Musa's people asked him for water, We revealed to him: 'Strike the rock with your staff.

' Then twelve springs gushed out.

Each tribe knew its drinking place.

We shaded them with clouds and sent down to them manna and quails, saying, 'Eat from the good things We have provided for you.

' It was not Us they wronged; they wronged themselves.

161And 'remember' when they were told, 'Live in this city and eat as you wish.

Say, 'Clear us of our sins,' and enter this gate with humility.

We will forgive your sins, 'and' multiply the reward of those who do good.

'

162But those doing wrong among them changed the words they were ordered to say.

So, We sent against them a punishment from the heavens for all the wrong they did.

163Ask them 'O Prophet' about the town that was by the sea—whose people broke the Sabbath—when the fish were all over the surface on Saturdays, but nowhere to

be found on other days.

This is how We tested them for being out of control.

164'Remember' when some of the 'faithful among' them asked 'the other faithful', 'Why bother to warn those Sabbath-breakers 'who will be' either destroyed or severely punished by

Allah?

' They replied, 'Just to be free from your Lord's blame, and perhaps they will stop.

'

165When they kept ignoring all warnings, We saved those who warned against evil and disciplined those doing wrong with a terrible punishment for crossing all lines.

166In the end, when they kept repeating their offence, We said to them, 'Be disgraced apes!

'