And among men there is such a one as serves God upon the very edge -- if good befalls him he is at rest in it, but if a trial befalls him he turns completely over; he loses this world and the world to come; that is indeed the manifest loss. 11 He invokes instead of Allah that which neither harms him nor benefits him. That is what is the extreme error. 12 He calls upon him who is likelier to hurt him, rather than to profit him -- an evil protector indeed, he, an evil friend! 13 Surely Allah will cause those who believe and do good deeds to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, surely Allah does what He pleases. 14 Whoever thinks that Allah will not assist him in this life and the hereafter, let him stretch a rope to the ceiling, then let him cut (it) off, then let him see if his struggle will take away that at which he is enraged. 15 And Thus We have sent it down as evidences, and verily Allah guideth whomsoever He intendeth. 16 Verily, as for those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ,] and those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Sabians, and the Christians, and the Magians, [on the one hand,] and those who are bent on ascribing divinity to aught but God, [on the other,] verily, God will decide between them on Resurrection Day: for, behold, God is witness unto everything. 17 Hast thou not seen how to God bow all who are in the heavens and all who are in the earth, the sun and the moon, the stars and the mountains, the trees and the beasts, and many of mankind? And many merit the chastisement; and whom God abases, there is none to honour him. God does whatsoever He will. ۩ 18 ۞ These two contrary kinds of man have become engrossed in contention about their Sustainer! But [thus it is:] as for those who are bent on denying the truth garments of fire shall be cut out for them [in the life to come]; burning despair will be poured over their heads, 19 With it will melt or vanish away what is within their bellies, as well as (their) skins. 20 And for them are rods of iron. 21 Whenever they will desire to go forth from it, from grief, they shall be turned back into it, and taste the chastisement of burning. 22