15:1  A.L.R. These are the signs of the book, and of the perspicuous Koran

15:2  The time may come when the unbelievers shall wish that they had been Moslems

15:3  Suffer them to eat, and to enjoy themselves in this world; and let hope entertain them: But they shall hereafter know their folly

15:4  We have not destroyed any city, but a fixed term of repentance was appointed them

15:5  No nation shall be punished before their time shall be come; neither shall they be respited after

15:6  The Meccans say, O thou to whom the admonition hath been sent down, thou art certainly possessed with a devil

15:7  Wouldest thou not have come unto us with an attendance of angels, if thou hadst spoken truth

15:8  Answer, we send not down the angels, unless on a just occasion; nor should they be then respited any longer

15:9  We have surely sent down the Koran; and We will certainly preserve the same from corruption

15:10  We have heretofore sent apostles before thee, among the ancient sects

15:11  And there came no apostle unto them, but they laughed him to scorn

15:12  In the same manner will we put it into the hearts of the wicked Meccans to scoff at their prophet

15:13  They shall not believe on him; and the sentence of the nations of old hath been executed heretofore

15:14  If We should open a gate in the heaven above them, and they should ascend thereto all the day long

15:15  they would surely say, our eyes are only dazzled; or rather we are a people deluded by enchantments

15:16  We have placed the twelve signs in the heaven, and have set them out in various figures, for the observation of spectators

15:17  And we guard them from every devil driven away with stones

15:18  except him who listeneth by stealth, at whom a visible flame is darted

15:19  We have also spread forth the earth, and thrown thereon stable mountains; and we have caused every kind of vegetable to spring forth in the same, according to a determinate weight

15:20  And we have provided therein necessaries of life for you, and for him whom ye do not sustain

15:21  There is no one thing but the store-houses thereof are in our hands; and We distribute not the same otherwise than in a determinate measure

15:22  We also send the winds driving the pregnant clouds, and We send down from heaven water, whereof We give you to drink, and which ye keep not in store

15:23  Verily we give life, and We put to death; and We are the heirs of all things

15:24  We know those among you who go before; and We know those who stay behind

15:25  And thy Lord shall gather them together at the last day; for he is knowing and wise

15:26  We created man of dried clay, of black mud, formed into shape

15:27  And We had before created the devil of subtile fire

15:28  And remember when thy Lord said unto the angels, verily I am about to create man of dried clay, of black mud, wrought into shape

15:29  when therefore I shall have completely formed him, and shall have breathed of my spirit into him; do ye fall down and worship him

15:30  And all the angels worshipped Adam together

15:31  except Eblis, who refused to be with those who worshipped him

15:32  And God said unto him, O Eblis, what hindered thee from being with those who worshipped Adam

15:33  He answered, it is not fit that I should worship man, whom thou hast created of dried clay, of black mud, wrought into shape

15:34  God said, get thee therefore hence; for thou shalt be driven away with stones

15:35  And a curse shall be on thee, until the day of judgment

15:36  The devil said, O Lord, give me respite until the day of resurrection

15:37  God answered, verily thou shalt be one of those who are respite

15:38  until the day of the appointed time

15:39  The devil replied, O Lord, because thou hast seduced me, I will surely tempt them to disobedience in the earth; and I will seduce them all

15:40  except such of them as shall be thy chosen servants

15:41  God said, this is the right way with me

15:42  Verily as to my servants, thou shalt have no power over them; but over those only who shall be seduced, and who shall follow thee

15:43  And hell is surely denounced unto them all

15:44  It hath seven gates; unto every gate a distinct company of them shall be assigned

15:45  But those who fear God shall dwell in gardens, amidst fountains

15:46  The angels shall say unto them, enter ye therein in peace and security

15:47  And we will remove all grudges from their breasts; they shall be as brethren, sitting over against one another on couches

15:48  Weariness shall not affect them therein, neither shall they be cast out thence for ever

15:49  Declare unto my servants that I am the gracious, the merciful God

15:50  and that my punishment is a grievous punishment

15:51  And relate unto them the history of Abraham's guests

15:52  When they went in unto him, and said, peace be unto thee; he answered, verily we are afraid of you

15:53  And they replied, fear not; we bring thee the promise of a wise son

15:54  He said, do ye bring me the promise of a son now old age hath overtaken me? What is it therefore that ye tell me

15:55  They said, we have told thee the truth; be not therefore one of those who despair

15:56  He answered, and who despaireth of the mercy of God, except those who err

15:57  And he said, what is your errand therefore, O messengers of God

15:58  They answered, verily we are sent to destroy a wicked people

15:59  But as for the family of Lot, we will save them all

15:60  except his wife; we have decreed that she shall be one of those who remain behind to be destroyed with the infidels

15:61  And when the messengers came to the family of Lot

15:62  he said unto them, verily ye are people who are unknown to me

15:63  They answered, but we are come unto thee to execute that sentence, concerning which your fellow citizens doubted

15:64  We tell thee a certain truth; and we are messengers of veracity

15:65  Therefore lead forth thy family, in some time of the night; and do thou follow behind them, and let none of you turn back; but go whither ye are commanded

15:66  And We gave him this command; because the utmost remnant of those people was to be cut off in the morning

15:67  And the inhabitants of the city came unto Lot, rejoicing at the news of the arrival of some strangers

15:68  And he said unto them, verily these are my guests: Wherefore do not disgrace me by abusing them

15:69  but fear God, and put me not to shame

15:70  They answered, have we not forbidden thee from entertaining or protecting any man

15:71  Lot replied, these are my daughters; therefore rather make use of them, if ye be resolved to do what ye purpose

15:72  As thou livest they wander in their folly

15:73  Wherefore a terrible storm from heaven assailed them at sun-rise

15:74  And We turned the city upside down; and We rained on them stones of baked clay

15:75  Verily herein are signs unto men of sagacity

15:76  And those cities were punished, to point out a right way for men to walk in

15:77  Verily herein is a sign unto the true believers

15:78  The inhabitants of the wood near Midian were also ungodly

15:79  Wherefore We took vengeance on them. And both of them were destroyed, to serve as a manifest rule for men to direct their actions by

15:80  And the inhabitants of Al Hejr likewise heretofore accused the messengers of God of imposture

15:81  And We produced our signs unto them, but they retired afar off from the same

15:82  And they hewed houses out of mountains, to secure themselves

15:83  But a terrible noise from heaven assailed them in the morning

15:84  Neither was what they had wrought of any advantage unto them

15:85  We have not created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is contained between them, otherwise than in justice: And the hour of judgment shall surely come. Wherefore, O Mohammed, forgive thy people with a gracious forgiveness

15:86  Verily thy Lord is the creator of thee and of them, and knoweth what is most expedient

15:87  We have already brought unto thee seven verses which are frequently to be repeated, and the glorious Koran

15:88  Cast not thine eyes on the good things which We have bestowed on several of the unbelievers, so as to covet the same; neither be thou grieved on their account. Behave thyself with meekness towards the true believers

15:89  and say, I am a public preacher

15:90  If they believe not, We will inflict a like punishment on them, as We have inflicted on the dividers

15:91  who distinguished the Koran into different parts

15:92  for by thy Lord, We will demand an account from them all

15:93  of that which they have wrought

15:94  Wherefore publish that which thou hast been commanded, and withdraw from the idolaters

15:95  We will surely take thy part against the scoffers

15:96  who associate with God another god; they shall surely know their folly

15:97  And now We well know that thou art deeply concerned on account of that which they say

15:98  but do thou celebrate the praise of thy Lord; and be one of those who worship

15:99  and serve thy Lord, until death shall overtake thee