Jonah (Younus)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
ALIF LAM RA. These are the verses of the authoritative Book. 1 Does it seem strange to people that We have sent revelation to a man from among themselves, saying, "Warn mankind and give glad tidings to the believers that they have a true rank [of honour] with their Lord?" Those who deny the truth say, "This man is clearly a sorcerer." 2 Surely your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods, and He is firm in power, regulating the affair, there is no intercessor except after His permission; this is Allah, your Lord, therefore serve Him; will you not then mind? 3 Unto Him you all must return: this is, in truth, God's promise - for, behold, He creates [man] in the first instance, and then brings him forth anew to the end that He may reward with equity all who attain to faith and do righteous deeds; whereas for those who are bent on denying the truth there is in store a draught of burning despair and grievous suffering because of their persistent refusal to acknowledge the truth. 4 It was He that made the sun a brightness and the moon a light, and determined it in phases so that you might know the number of years and the reckoning. Allah did not create them except in truth, and distinguishes the verses to a nation who know. 5 In the alternation of night and day, and in all that God has created in the heavens and the earth, there are signs for a God-fearing people. 6 Indeed those who do not expect to meet Us and have preferred the worldly life and are content with it, and those who neglect Our signs, – 7 These! their abode shall be the Fire, for that which they have been earning. 8 The righteously striving believers receive, through their faith, guidance from their Lord to the bountiful gardens wherein streams flow. 9 Their prayer shall be, "Glory be to you Lord," and their greeting, "Peace be with you," and the only other words (of worldly speech) they will speak will be, "It is God, Lord of the Universe, who deserves all praise." 10