Indeed We sent forth Noah and Abraham and established in their line Prophecy and the Book. Then some of them embraced the guidance and many of them are wicked. 26 Thereafter in their footsteps We caused Our apostles to follow, and We caused Isa, son of Maryam, to follow them, and We vouchsafed unto him the Injil, and We placed in the hearts of those who followed him tenderness and mercy. And asceticism! they innovated it - We prescribed it not for them, only seeking Allah's pleasure, yet they tended it not with tendence due thereto. So We vouchsafed unto such of them as believed their hire, and many of them are transgressors. 27 Believers, fear Allah and believe in His Messenger (Prophet Muhammad), He will give you a double portion of His Mercy and He will make for you a light in which to walk, and forgive you; Allah is the Forgiver and the Most Merciful. 28 And the followers of earlier revelation should know that they have no power whatever over any of God's bounty, seeing that all bounty is in God's hand [alone]: He grants it unto whomever He wills - for God is limitless in His great bounty. 29