Surah Ash-Shu'ara (The Poets) 26

Revealed 47th in the Qur'an

Read the Full Text with References to the Torah and the Gospel

26:1
Ta, Seen, Meem.

26:2
These are the verses of the clear Book.

26:3
Perhaps you would kill yourself with grief because they will not be believers.

26:4
If We willed, We could send down a sign to them from the heaven for which their necks would remain humbled.

26:5
And no reminder comes to them anew from the Most Gracious except that they turn away from it.

26:6
For they have already denied, but the news will come to them [concerning] that which they used to ridicule.

26:7
Did they not look at the earth - how much We have produced therein from every noble pair?

26:8
Indeed, there is a sign in that, but most of them are not believers.

26:9
And indeed, your Lord - He is the Almighty, the Merciful.

26:10
And when your Lord called Moses, [saying], "Go to the wrongdoing people -

26:11
The people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear [God]?"

26:12
He said, "My Lord, indeed I fear that they will deny me

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And that my heart will tighten and my tongue will not proceed [to speak], *Exodus 4:10 so send for Aaron. *Exodus 4:13

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And they have a sin upon me, so I fear that they will kill me."

26:15
[God] said, "No. Go with Our signs, both of you; indeed, We are listening with you.

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Go to Pharaoh and say, 'We [have] a message from the Lord of the worlds -

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That you send the Children of Israel with us.'" *Exodus 7:2

26:18
[Pharaoh] said, "Did we not raise you as a child among us, and you remained among us for years of your life?

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And [then] you did your deed which you did, and you were among the disbelievers."

26:20
[Moses] said, "I did it then, while I was among those astray.

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So I fled from you when I feared you. Then my Lord granted me wisdom and prophethood and appointed me [as one] of the messengers.

26:22
And is this a favor of which you remind me - that you have enslaved the Children of Israel?"

26:23
Pharaoh said, "And what is the Lord of the worlds?" *Exodus 5:2

26:24
[Moses] said, "The Lord of the heavens and earth and that between them, if you should be convinced."

26:25
[Pharaoh] said to those around him, "Do you not hear?"

26:26
[Moses] said, "Your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers."

26:27
[Pharaoh] said, "Indeed, your 'messenger' who has been sent to you is possessed [by devils of jinn]."

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[Moses] said, "Lord of the east and the west and that between them, if you were to reason."

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[Pharaoh] said, "If you take a god other than me, I will surely place you among those imprisoned."

26:30
[Moses] said, "Even if I brought you something clear?"

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[Pharaoh] said, "Then bring it, if you should be among the truthful."

26:32
So [Moses] threw his staff, and suddenly it was a clear serpent.

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And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white for the observers.

26:34
[Pharaoh] said to the eminent [people] around him, "Indeed, this is a learned magician.

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He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic, so what do you advise?"

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They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send gatherers among the cities

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Who will bring you every learned, skilled magician."

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So the magicians were assembled for the appointment of a well-known day.

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And it was said to the people, "Will you congregate

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So that we might follow the magicians if they are predominant?"

26:41
And when the magicians arrived, they said to Pharaoh, "Is there indeed a reward for us if we are predominant?"

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He said, "Yes, and indeed, you will then be among those near [to me]."

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Moses said to them, "Throw whatever you will throw."

26:44
So they threw their ropes and their staffs and said, "By the might of Pharaoh, indeed it is we who are predominant."

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Then Moses threw his staff, and at once it devoured what they falsified. ~*Exodus 7:12

26:46
So the magicians fell down in prostration [to God].

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They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds, ~*Exodus 8:19

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The Lord of Moses and Aaron."

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[Pharaoh] said, "You believed Moses before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic, but you are going to know. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you all."

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They said, "No harm. Indeed, we will return to our Lord.

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Indeed, we aspire that our Lord will forgive our sins because we were the first of the believers."

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And We inspired to Moses, "Travel with My servants *Leviticus 25:55 by night; *Exodus 12:42 indeed, you will be pursued."

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Then Pharaoh sent gatherers amongst the cities

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[And said], "Indeed, those are only a small band,

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And indeed, they are enraging us,

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And indeed, we are a cautious society..."

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So We removed them from gardens and springs

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And treasures and a noble place -

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Thus. And We caused the Children of Israel to inherit it.

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So they pursued them at sunrise.

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And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Moses said, "Indeed, we are to be overtaken!" *Exodus 14:10

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[Moses] said, "No! Indeed, my Lord is with me; *Exodus 14:13 He will guide me."

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Then We inspired to Moses, "Strike the sea with your staff," *Exodus 14:16 and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain. *Book of Enoch 89:24, *Exodus 14:21 - 22

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And We brought the others near there.

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And We saved Moses and those with him, all together.

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Then We drowned the others.

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Indeed, there is a sign in that, but most of them are not believers.

26:68
And indeed, your Lord - He is the Almighty, the Merciful.

26:69
And recite the news of Abraham to them,

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When he said to his father and his people, "What do you serve?"

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They said, "We serve idols ~*Joshua 24:2 and remain devoted to them."

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He said, "Do they hear you when you supplicate?

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Or do they benefit you, or do they harm?" *Book of Jubilees 12:1 - 3

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They said, "No, but we found our fathers doing thus."

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He said, "Then do you see what you have been serving,

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You and your ancient forefathers?

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Indeed, they are enemies to me, except the Lord of the worlds,

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Who created me, and He [is the One who] guides me.

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And it is He who feeds me and gives me drink.

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And when I am ill, it is He who cures me. *Psalms 103:2 - 3, *Wisdom of Solomon 16:12

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And who will cause me to die and then bring me to life. *1 Samuel 2:6

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And who I aspire that He will forgive my sin on the Day of the Religion.

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My Lord, grant me authority and join me with the righteous.

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And make a tongue of truth for me among later [generations].

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And place me among the inheritors of the Garden of Pleasure.

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And forgive my father. Indeed, he has been among those astray.

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And do not disgrace me on the Day they are [all] resurrected -

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The Day when wealth or children will not benefit [anyone]

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But only one who comes to God with a sound heart."

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And the Garden will be brought near [that Day] to those who fear [God].

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And Hellfire will be brought forth for the deviators,

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And it will be said to them, "Where are those you used to serve

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Other than God? Can they help you or help themselves?"

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So they will be overturned into [Hellfire], they and the deviators

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And the hosts of Iblees, all together. *Matthew 25:41

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They will say while they dispute therein,

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"By God, indeed we were in clear error

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When we equated you with the Lord of the worlds.

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And no one misguided us except the criminals.

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So now we have no intercessors

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And no warm friend.

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Then if we only had a return [to the world] and could be among the believers..." *Book of Enoch 63:1, *Book of Enoch 63:5, *Shepherd of Hermas 17:5

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Indeed, there is a sign in that, but most of them are not believers.

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And indeed, your Lord - He is the Almighty, the Merciful.

26:105
The people of Noah denied the messengers

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When their brother Noah said to them, "Will you not fear [God]?

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Indeed, I am a trustworthy messenger to you.

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So fear God and obey me.

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And I do not ask you for any payment for it. *Shepherd of Hermas 43:12 My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

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So fear God and obey me."

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They said, "Should we believe you while you are followed by the lowest [class of people]?"

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He said, "And what is my knowledge of what they used to do?

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Their account is only upon my Lord, if you [could] perceive.

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And I am not one to drive away the believers.

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I am only a clear warner."

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They said, "If you do not desist, O Noah, you will surely be among those who are stoned."

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He said, "My Lord, indeed my people have denied me.

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Then judge between me and them with decisive judgement, and save me and those of the believers with me."

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So We saved him and those with him in the laden ark.

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Then We drowned the remaining ones thereafter.

26:121
Indeed, there is a sign in that, but most of them are not believers.

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And indeed, your Lord - He is the Almighty, the Merciful.

26:123
'Aad denied the messengers

26:124
When their brother Hud said to them, "Will you not fear [God]?

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Indeed, I am a trustworthy messenger to you.

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So fear God and obey me.

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And I do not ask you for any payment for it. *Shepherd of Hermas 43:12 My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

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Do you construct a sign on every elevation, amusing yourselves,

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And take fortresses for yourselves so that you might abide eternally?

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And when you strike, you strike as tyrants.

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So fear God and obey me.

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And fear He who provided you with that which you know,

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Provided you with grazing livestock and children

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And gardens and springs.

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Indeed, I fear the punishment for you on a great day."

26:136
They said, "It is all the same to us whether you advise or are not among the advisors.

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This is nothing but the custom of the former [peoples],

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And we are not to be punished."

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And they denied him, so We destroyed them. Indeed, there is a sign in that, but most of them are not believers.

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And indeed, your Lord - He is the Almighty, the Merciful.

26:141
Thamud denied the messengers

26:142
When their brother Salih said to them, "Will you not fear [God]?

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Indeed, I am a trustworthy messenger to you.

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So fear God and obey me.

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And I do not ask you for any payment for it. *Shepherd of Hermas 43:12 My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

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Will you be left secure in what is here,

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Within gardens and springs

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And fields of crops and palm trees with softened fruit?

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And you carve homes with skill out of the mountains.

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So fear God and obey me.

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And do not obey the order of the transgressors,

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Who cause corruption in the land and do not amend."

26:153
They said, "You are only among those affected by magic.

26:154
You are nothing but a man like ourselves, so bring a sign, if you should be among the truthful."

26:155
He said, "This is a she-camel. There is a drink for her, and there is a drink for you, [each] on a known day.

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And do not touch her with harm, otherwise you will be seized by the punishment of a great day."

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But they hamstrung her and so became regretful.

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So the punishment seized them. Indeed, there is a sign in that, but most of them are not believers.

26:159
And indeed, your Lord - He is the Almighty, the Merciful.

26:160
The people of Lot denied the messengers

26:161
When their brother Lot said to them, "Will you not fear [God]?

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Indeed, I am a trustworthy messenger to you.

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So fear God and obey me.

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And I do not ask you for any payment for it. *Shepherd of Hermas 43:12 My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

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Do you approach males among the worlds

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And leave what your Lord has created as mates for you? But you are a transgressing people."

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They said, "If you do not desist, O Lot, you will surely be among those evicted."

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He said, "Indeed, I am among those who detest your deed.

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My Lord, save me and my family from what they do."

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So We saved [Lot] *Book of Jubilees 16:11, *2 Peter 2:7 and his family, all,

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Except an old woman among those who remained behind.

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Then We destroyed the others.

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And We rained a rain [of stones] upon them, *Genesis 19:24, *Luke 17:29 and the rain of those who were warned was [indeed] evil.

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Indeed, there is a sign in that, but most of them are not believers.

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And indeed, your Lord - He is the Almighty, the Merciful.

26:176
The companions of the thicket denied the messengers

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When Shu'ayb said to them, "Will you not fear [God]?

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Indeed, I am a trustworthy messenger to you.

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So fear God and obey me.

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And I do not ask you for any payment for it. *Shepherd of Hermas 43:12 My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

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Give full measure and do not be among those who cause loss.

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And weigh with an even balance. *Deuteronomy 25:15, *Leviticus 19:35 - 36

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And do not deprive people of their due and do not commit abuse on earth, spreading corruption.

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And fear He who created you and the former creation."

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They said, "You are only among those affected by magic.

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You are nothing but a man like ourselves, and indeed, we think you are among the liars.

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So cause fragments of the heaven to fall upon us, if you should be among the truthful."

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He said, "My Lord is most knowing of what you do."

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And they denied him, so the punishment of the day of the black cloud seized them. Indeed, it was the punishment of a great day.

26:190
Indeed, there is a sign in that, but most of them are not believers.

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And indeed, your Lord - He is the Almighty, the Merciful.

26:192
And indeed, [the Qur'an] is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds.

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The Trustworthy Spirit has brought [the Qur'an] down

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Upon your heart, so that you may be among the warners

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In a clear Arabic language.

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And indeed, it is [mentioned] in the Scriptures of former [peoples].

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And has it not been a sign to them that it is recognized by the scholars of the Children of Israel? *John 14:16 - 17, *John 14:26, *John 15:26, *John 16:13

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And even if We had sent it down to one among the foreigners

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And he had recited it to them, they would [still] not have been believers in it.

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Thus We have inserted [disbelief] into the hearts of the criminals.

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They will not believe in it until they see the painful punishment.

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And it will come to them suddenly while they do not perceive.

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And they will say, "May we be reprieved?"

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So are they impatient for Our punishment?

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Then have you considered if We gave them enjoyment for years

26:206
And then that which they were promised came to them?

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They would not be availed by the enjoyment which they were provided with.

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And We did not destroy any city except that it had warners

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As a reminder; and We have never been unjust.

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And the devils have not brought the revelation down.

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It is not allowable for them, nor would they be able.

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Indeed they are removed from [its] hearing.

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So do not invoke another god with God and [thus] be among the punished.

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And warn your closest kindred.

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And lower your wing to those who follow you among the believers.

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And if they disobey you, then say, "Indeed, I am innocent from what you are doing."

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And trust in the Almighty, the Merciful,

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Who sees you when you arise

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And your movement among those who prostrate.

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Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

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Should I inform you whom the devils descend upon?

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They descend upon every sinful liar.

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They pass on what is heard, and most of them are liars.

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And the poets - the deviators follow them;

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Do you not see that they roam in every valley

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And that they say what they do not do? -

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Except those [poets] who believe and do righteous deeds and remember God often and defend one another after they were wronged. And those who have wronged are going to know what [kind of] return they will be returned to.