| asad | |
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| 1. * | ALL THAT IS in the heavens and all that is on earth extols the limitless glory of God, the Sovereign Supreme, the Holy, the Almighty, the Wise! |
| 2. * | He it is who has sent unto the unlettered people an apostle from among themselves, [1]1 to convey unto them His messages, and to cause them to grow in purity, and to impart unto them the divine writ as well as wisdom - whereas before that they were indeed, most obviously, lost in error - ; |
| 3. * | and [to cause this message to spread] from them unto other people as soon as they come into contact with them: [2]2 for He alone is almighty, truly wise! |
| 4. * | Such is God's bounty: He grants it to anyone who is willing [to receive it]: [3]3 for God is limitless in His great bounty. |
| 5. * | THE PARABLE of those who were graced with the burden of the Torah, and thereafter failed to bear this burden, [4]4 is that of an ass that carries a load of books [but cannot benefit from them]. Calamitous is the parable of people who are bent on giving the lie to God's messages - for God does not bestow His guidance upon such evildoing folk! |
| 6. * | Say: "O you who follow the Jewish faith! [5]5 If you claim that you [alone] are close to God, to the exclusion of all other people, then you should be longing for death - if what you say is true!" [6]6 |
| 7. * | But never will they long for it, because [they are aware] of what their hands have wrought in this world; [7]7 and God has full knowledge of evildoers. |
| 8. * | Say: "Behold, the death from which you are fIeeing [8]8 is bound to overtake you - and then you will be brought back unto Him who knows all that is beyond the reach of a created being's perception as well as all that can be witnessed by a creature's senses or mind, [9]9 whereupon He will make you truly understand all that you were doing [in life]. |
| 9. * | O YOU who have attained to faith! When the call to prayer is sounded on the day of congregation, [10]10 hasten to the remembrance of God, and leave all worldly commerce: this is for your own good, if you but knew it. |
| 10. * | And when the prayer is ended, disperse freely on earth [11]11 and seek to obtain [something] of God's bounty; but remember God often, so that you might attain to a happy state! |
| 11. * | Yet [it does happen that] when people^ [12]12 become aware of [an occasion for] worldly gain [13]13 or a passing delight, they rush headlong towards it, and leave thee standing [and preaching]. [14]14 Say: "That which is with God is far better than all passing delight and all gain! And God is the best of providers!" |