7:1  Alif. Lam. Meem. Saad.

7:2  A Book is revealed to you. Do not let your heart have doubts about it. You may warn with it and teach the believers.

7:3  Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord. Do not trust in guardians other than Him. How little you remember!

7:4  How many communities have We destroyed? Our punishment came by night or while they slept during midday.

7:5  When Our punishment overtook them, they only said, “We were certainly sinners.”

7:6  We will question those to whom (Our message) was sent. We will question the messengers.

7:7  With assurance, We will narrate [their stories]. We were never absent.

7:8  The balance that day [of judgment] will be true. Those whose measure is heavy [with good deeds] will be successful.

7:9  Those whose measure is light will have lost themselves because they denied Our signs.

7:10  We certainly established you on earth and made on it a means of livelihood for you. You give such little thanks.

7:11  We created you and gave you form. We beckoned the angels to bow down to Adam. They did so, except Iblis [Satan]. He refused to be among those who bowed.

7:12  (Allah) asked, “What prevented you from bowing when I commanded you?” (Iblis) answered, “I am better than he; You created me from fire, and him from clay.”

7:13  (Allah) ordered, “Descend [from your lofty position]. You are not permitted to be arrogant here [in the counsel of Allah]. Get out [of Heaven], for you are among the disgraced.

7:14  (Iblis) said, “Give me reprieve until the Day of Resurrection.”

7:15  (Allah) said, “Be among those who are reprieved.”

7:16  (Iblis) said, “Because you have thwarted me, I will prepare to ambush those along the Straight Way.

7:17  Then I will assault them from front, back, right side, and left side. You will find no gratitude [for Allah’s mercy] in most of them.”

7:18  (Allah) said, “Get out, disgraced and expelled. If any [spirit-beings or humans] choose to follow you, I will fill Hell with you all.”

7:19  “O Adam, dwell with your wife in the Garden [of Eden]. Eat from whatever you wish, but do not approach this tree or you would be among sinners.”

7:20  Then Satan whispered to them in order to reveal to them their shame, which was hidden from them. He said, “Your Lord only forbade you this tree to keep you from becoming angels or immortal beings.”

7:21  He swore to them both, “Indeed, I am among the sincere advisors.”

7:22  By deceit, he brought about their fall. After they had tasted of the tree, they realized their shame. They began to sew together leaves of the garden to cover their bodies. Their Lord called to them, “Did I not forbid that tree from you and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy to you?”

7:23  They said, “Our Lord, We have wronged our own souls. If You do not forgive us and grant mercy upon us, we will certainly be lost.”

7:24  (Allah) said [to all human souls], “Get down [from your divine prestige], with enmity among yourselves. On [this physical] Earth will be your dwelling place and your livelihood for a time.”

7:25  He said, “You will live there and die there, and from it you will be brought forth.

7:26  O Children of Adam, truly We have bestowed clothing upon you to cover your shame. It is also an adornment, but the clothing of righteousness is best. Such are among the signs of Allah so that they [humanity] may remember.

7:27  O Children of Adam, do not let Satan seduce you as he seduced your parents from Paradise. He stripped them of their clothing [of divine light] to expose their shame. Indeed, he and his tribe watch you from where you cannot see them. Indeed, We made the evil spirits buddies to those without faith.

7:28  When (the unbelievers) commit immorality, they say “We saw our elders doing so,” and, “Allah commanded us thus.” Say, “Allah most certainly does not order immorality! Do you say of Allah what you do not know?”

7:29  Say, “My Lord has commanded justice and that you set your faces at every place of prayer, and call upon Him, being sincere to Him in religion. As He created you in the beginning, so shall you return.”

7:30  He has guided some; others have deserved to be astray. Indeed, they took the evil spirits, in preference to Allah, as their buddies. They think they are on the right track.

7:31  O Children of Adam, wear your beautiful clothes at every place of prayer. Eat and drink but do not waste by excesses [eg, gluttony]. Allah does not love wasteful people.

7:32  Say, “Who has forbidden the beautiful apparel of Allah that He has produced for His servants, and the pure things for sustenance?” Say, “They are, in the life of this world, for those who believe. They will be exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection. Thus do We explain the signs for those who know.”

7:33  Say, “My Lord has only forbidden shameful deeds, whether open or secret. [He has forbidden] sins and trespasses against truth. [He has forbidden] assigning partners, to Allah, for which He has given no authority. [He has forbidden] saying things about Allah that you don’t know.”

7:34  To every people is a term appointed. When their term is reached, they cannot cause an hour in delay or progress.

7:35  O Children of Adam, [listen] whenever there comes to you messengers from among you, reciting My Scriptures to you. Those who fear Allah and who reform shall have no fear or grief on them.

7:36  Those who reject Our Scriptures, however, and treat them with arrogance are companions of the fire to dwell therein continuously.

7:37  Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against Allah or rejects His Scriptures? For such, their share must reach them from the Book [of Decrees]. Finally, Our messengers [of death] will arrive and take their souls. (Those messengers) will ask, “Where are those you used to invoke besides Allah?” They will answer, “They have left us.” They will testify against themselves about being unbelievers.

7:38  He will say, “Enter among the generations –of people and spirit-beings who passed away before you— into the fire.” Every time a community enters, it curses its sister community until they follow each other, all into the fire. The last group will say about the first, “Our Lord, these people misled us. Give them a double penalty in the fire.” He will say, “It’s double for everybody!” This, however, is beyond your understanding.

7:39  Then the first will say to the last, “You have no advantage over us, so taste the penalty for all that you did!”

7:40  Truly, as for those who reject Our signs and treat them arrogantly, the gates of Heaven will not open. They will not enter Paradise until a camel can pass through the eye of a needle. That is Our reward for the sinful.

7:41  For them, Hell has a bed with covers over them. That is Our reward for the wicked.

7:42  As for those who believe and live righteously, no burden do We place on any soul except what it can bear. They will be companions of Paradise, where they will dwell forever.

7:43  We will remove from their hearts any lurking malice. Beneath them will be flowing rivers. They will say, “Praise Allah who has guided us to this. Never could we have found guidance had it not been for the guidance of Allah. The messengers of our Lord really did bring us the truth.” They will hear the proclamation, “Behold Paradise! You have been made its inheritors for your deeds.”

7:44  The companions of Paradise will call out to the companions of the fire, “We have indeed found the promises of our Lord to be true. Have you also found your Lord’s promises true?” They shall call, “Yes,” but a crier shall proclaim among them, “The blame of Allah is on the sinner.

7:45  [They are] those who hinder from the path of Allah and seek in it something crooked. They denied the hereafter!”

7:46  Between (the faithful servants and the unforgiven sinners) will be a partition. On the heights will be people who recognize others by their marks. They will call to the companions of Paradise, “Peace to you!” They [the forgiven servants] will not have yet entered the garden, but they will already have the assurance.

7:47  When (the forgiven servants’) eyes turn toward the companions of the fire, they will say, “Our Lord, do not send us into the company of sinners.”

7:48  The companions on the heights will call to certain people whom they will recognize from their marks. [They will say,] “No profit to you were your hoarding and whatever caused your arrogance.

7:49  Are these [forgiven servants] not the same people of whom you said Allah would never bless with His mercy? Enter Paradise. No fear or grief will be upon you.”

7:50  The companions of the fire will call to the companions of Paradise, “Pour upon us water or anything that Allah has provided you.” They will say, “Allah has certainly forbidden these things to those who would not believe.

7:51  [They are] those who acknowledged religion to be mere amusement and play and were deceived by the life of this world.” That day We will forget them as they forgot the meeting of this day of theirs, as they tended to reject Our signs.

7:52  We had certainly sent them a Book, explained with knowledge. It was a guide and mercy for all who believed.

7:53  Are (the unbelievers) simply waiting for the fulfillment of the event? On the day the event is fulfilled, those who had ignored it will say, “The messengers of our Lord really were telling the truth. Do we have any intercessors now to plead on our behalf? Can we be sent back? If so, we would behave differently from how we acted before.” In fact, they will have lost their souls. The things they invented will have abandoned them.

7:54  Your Lord is Allah who created the skies and Earth in six days, and then established Himself on the [Heavenly] throne. He drags the night across the day as they swiftly run from one another. He created the sun, the moon, and the stars –all subject to His command. Blessed be Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds!

7:55  Call upon your Lord with humility and in privacy. Allah does not love those who transgress beyond boundaries.

7:56  Commit no chaos on Earth now that it has been set in order [according to the perfect balance of nature]. Address Allah in reverence and sincerity, for the mercy of Allah is always near to those who live righteously.

7:57  He sends the winds like heralds of glad tidings, going before His mercy. When they have carried the heavily laden clouds, We shepherd them to a land that is desiccated. [We] make rain to descend upon it, and produce every kind of harvest from it. Thus, shall We raise the dead. Perhaps you will remember.

7:58  From the goodly land, by the will of its Cherisher, fruits and vegetables are produced. From the land that is sour, nothing is produced except spindly plants. This is how we explain the various signs for those who are grateful.

7:59  We certainly sent Noah to his people. He said, “O my people, worship Allah. You have no god except Him. I fear for you the punishment of a dreadful day.”

7:60  The leaders of his people said, “We surely see you obviously in the wrong.”

7:61  He said, “O my people, I am not the one in the wrong. I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds.

7:62  I am delivering to you the message of my Lord and giving you my advice. I have information from Allah that you do not have.

7:63  Are you amazed that a reminder has come to you from your Lord through someone among you so He may warn you? From this, you may learn reverence so you may receive His mercy.”

7:64  They rejected him however. We saved him and those with him in the ark. In the flood, We drowned those who rejected Our signs. They certainly were an unseeing people.

7:65  To the Ad people, We sent Heber, one of their own brothers. He said, “O my people, worship Allah. You have no god except Him. Will you not fear Him?”

7:66  The leaders among the unbelievers said, “You must be an imbecile, and we think you are a liar.”

7:67  He said, “O my people, I am not an imbecile, but a messenger from the Lord and Sustainer of the Worlds.

7:68  I am simply fulfilling for you the duties of my Lord’s mission. I am to you a sincere and trustworthy advisor.

7:69  Do you wonder about a message to you from your Lord through a man of your own people? Remember that He made you inheritors after the people of Noah and gave you prestige among nations. Remember the blessings from Allah so you may prosper.”

7:70  They said, “Do you approach us, expecting us to worship Allah alone and forsake the religion of our fathers? Bring about what you threatened, if you’re telling the truth.

7:71  He said, “Punishment and wrath are already upon you from your Lord. Will you argue with me over names [of gods] that you and your fathers have devised without authority from Allah? Wait, then, and I too am waiting.”

7:72  We saved (Heber) and those who followed him, by Our mercy. We cut the roots of those who rejected Our signs and would not believe.

7:73  To the Thamud people, We sent Salih, one of their own brothers. He said, “O my people, worship Allah. You have no god except Him. Now evidence from your Lord has come to you. This female camel from Allah is a sign for you, so allow her to graze upon Allah’s earth, and allow no harm to come upon her. Otherwise, you will be seized with a horrid punishment.

7:74  “Remember how He made you inheritors after the Ad people and gave you occupancy in the land. You built palaces and mansions on the plains and carved houses in the mountainsides. Remember the blessings from Allah, and refrain from sin and wickedness on the earth.”

7:75  The arrogant aristocrats among the [Thamud] people said to those they considered weak, which were the believers, “How do you know that Salih is a messenger from his Lord?” They answered, “We believe in the revelation sent through him.”

7:76  The arrogant aristocrats said, “As far as we are concerned, we reject your faith.”

7:77  Next, they hamstrung the female camel in insolent defiance of their Lord. They said, “O Salih, bring about your threats if you really are a messenger.”

7:78  An earthquake took them before they knew what was happening, and they were left flattened in their homes.

7:79  Salih left them, saying, “O my people, I did warn you with the message given to me by my Lord. I gave you good counsel, but you do not appreciate good advisors.”

7:80  We also sent Lot. He said to his people, “Do you commit such immoral acts as no other people in creation committed before you?

7:81  You practice homosexuality in preference to [marital relations with] women. You are indeed a people transgressing far beyond boundaries.”

7:82  His people gave no response except to say, “Run (Lot’s family) out of your city. Truly, they are people who live morally.”

7:83  We saved (Lot) and his family, except for his wife. She was among those who lagged behind.

7:84  We rained upon them a shower [of brimstone]. Consider the consequence of those indulgent in sin.

7:85  To the Midian people, We sent Jethro, one of their own people. He said, “O my people, worship Allah. You have no god except Him. Truly, evidence has come to you from your Lord. Give correct measure and weight. Do not deprive people of whatever is due them. Commit no chaos upon Earth now that it has been set in order. That would be best for you, if you are believers.

7:86  “Do not lurk on every road and threaten. Do not hinder believers from the path of Allah. Do not look for flaws in it. Remember that you were few, and He multiplied you. Remember what happened to those who sinned.

7:87  “If there is a group of you who believes in the message I have and a group who does not believe, be patient. Allah will judge between us. He is the best Judge.”

7:88  The arrogant leaders among his people said, “O Jethro, we will run you out of our city, along with those who believe with you. Otherwise, you must return to our religion.” He said, “Even though we despise it?

7:89  “We would certainly be inventing a lie against Allah if we returned to your religion after Allah has rescued us from it. We could not return to it anyway unless it were according to the will of Allah our Lord. Our Lord comprehends everything by His knowledge. Our trust is in Allah our Lord. Decide between us and our people in truth. You are the best to decide.”

7:90  The leaders of the unbelievers among his people said, “If you follow Jethro, you will be among the losers.”

7:91  The earthquake overcame them, and they lay flattened in their homes.

7:92  The people who rejected Jethro became as if they had never been in the homes in which they had flourished. Those who rejected Jethro were the ones who were losers.

7:93  He left them, saying, “O my people, I certainly conveyed to you the messages of my Lord, and I advised you. How shall I grieve over a people that refused to believe?”

7:94  Whenever We sent a prophet to a town, We took its people into suffering and adversity in order that they might learn humility.

7:95  We then changed their suffering into prosperity until they grew and multiplied and claimed, “Our fathers were touched by suffering and affluence.” Behold, We called them to account all of a sudden without their suspecting it.

7:96  If the people of the towns had believed and feared Allah, We certainly would have lent them blessings from the sky and the earth. They refused, however, so We made them accountable for their errors.

7:97  Did the people of the towns feel secure against the coming of Our wrath by night while they slept?

7:98  Did they feel secure against its coming in broad daylight while they entertained themselves?

7:99  Did they feel secure against Allah’s plans? Only those left to ruin feel secure from Allah’s plans.

7:100  Is there not a lesson for those who have inherited the earth from its previous owners? If We so willed We could punish them for their sins. We could seal their hearts so they could not hear.

7:101  That’s the way it was for those towns about which We have told you. Truly, messengers came to them with evident signs, but they would not believe what they had already rejected. Thus Allah sealed the hearts of unbelievers.

7:102  In most of them We did not find people of commitment. We found most of them to be defiantly disobedient.

7:103  After them, We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs. They rejected them. Consider what happened to the sinners.

7:104  Moses said, “O Pharaoh, indeed I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds.

7:105  I have no right to say anything but truth about Allah. Truly, I have come to you with an evident sign from your Lord. Let the Children of Israel go with me.”

7:106  (Pharaoh) said, “If you have come with a sign, show it, if you are telling the truth.”

7:107  (Moses) threw his staff. It clearly became a serpent.

7:108  He brought his hand [from the folds of his garment]. Everyone could see that it had become white.

7:109  The leaders among Pharaoh’s people said, “Truly this is a skilled magician.”

7:110  “He plans to oust you from your land. What do you suggest?”

7:111  They said, “Stall him and his brother, and send scouts into the cities.

7:112  “Have them bring every skilled magician to you.”

7:113  Magicians came to Pharaoh. They said, “Of course we will have a reward if we are successful.”

7:114  He said, “Yes, and you will certainly be near [to my court].”

7:115  They said, “O Moses, will you throw first, or shall we?”

7:116  He said, “You go ahead and throw.” When they threw, they caused a great illusion for the eyes of the people, who became terrified. They demonstrated fine magical skills. [Their staffs became snakes.]

7:117  We inspired Moses, “Throw your staff.” When he did, [his staff became a snake, and] it swallowed the false illusions they made.

7:118  Thus, truth was revealed. All they did was made futile.

7:119  They were defeated and humiliated.

7:120  The magicians fell prostrate.

7:121  They said, “We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,…

7:122  “…the Lord of Moses and Aaron.”

7:123  Pharaoh said, “Do you believe in Him before I give you permission? This must be a plot that you have secretly planned in this city. You want to oust the people. You will soon realize [regrets].

7:124  “I will cut off your opposite hands and feet. I will crucify all of you.”

7:125  They answered, “Surely we will return to our Lord.

7:126  “You take vengeance on us only because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us.” “Our Lord, grant us patience and cause us to die in submission to You.”

7:127  The leaders of Pharaoh’s people said, “Will you allow Moses and his people to create havoc across the land and to abandon you and your gods.” (Pharaoh) said, “We will [continue to] kill their boy babies. We will allow their girls to live. We will be masters over them.”

7:128  Moses said to his people, “Pray for Allah’s help, and be patient. Truly, the land belongs to Allah. He gives it as a heritage to those of His servants as He pleases. The finale is for the righteous.

7:129  They said, “We have had troubles both before and after you came to us.” He said, “Perhaps your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you inheritors of the land and then see how you conduct yourselves.”

7:130  We punished the people of Pharaoh with years [of drought] and scarce crops, so perhaps they would take heed.

7:131  When things were good, they would say, “We deserve this!” When calamity seized them, they ascribed it to evil omens connected with Moses and those with him. Actually, the omens of evil were their own, by Allah’s decree. Most of them, however, never understood.

7:132  They said [to Moses], “No matter what signs you bring in performing your sorcery upon us, we will never believe in you.”

7:133  As a result, We heaped upon them death and destruction, locusts, lice, frogs, blood [from water], and other signs that were well explained. These people, however, were mired in ignorance and committed to sin.

7:134  Every time the penalty fell upon them, they said, “O Moses, on our behalf, call upon your Lord in virtue of His promise to you. If you will remove the penalty from us, we will certainly believe in you, and we will let the Children of Israel go with you.

7:135  Every time We removed the penalty from them for a determined time, which they had to fulfill, they broke their promise.

7:136  Finally, We demanded justice of them, and We drowned them in the sea, because they rejected Our signs and failed to heed their warning.

7:137  We made those who had been oppressed to inherit the eastern and western parts of the land that We had blessed. The best promise of your Lord was fulfilled to the Children of Israel because of their patience, and We destroyed what Pharaoh and his people had built and erected.

7:138  We took the Children of Israel across the sea. They came upon a people devoted to their own idols. (The Israelites) said, “O Moses, create a god like their gods for us.” He said, “You certainly are a people without any sense.

7:139  “These (idolaters) indulge in fragmented ruins. What they practice is all in vain.”

7:140  He said, “Should I seek for you a god other than Allah? It is Allah who has favored you above all other nations.”

7:141  Remember that We delivered you from Pharaoh’s people who afflicted you with dreadful torment. They killed your baby boys while leaving your girls alive. In that was a great trial from your Lord.

7:142  We appointed for Moses thirty nights. We completed that plus ten. Thus, the term completed with his Lord was forty nights. Moses had said to his brother Aaron, “Take over for me among my people. Act properly and do not follow those who instigate evil.”

7:143  When Moses came to the place appointed by Us, his Lord spoke to him. (Moses) said, “O my Lord, reveal Yourself to me so I may look upon You.” (Allah) said, “You cannot look upon Me. Look upon the mountain. If it remains in its place, you will see Me.” When his Lord manifested His glory on the mountain, He made it appear as dust. Moses fainted. When he recovered, he said, “Glory to You! To You I repent, and I am the first to believe.”

7:144  (Allah) said, “O Moses, I have chosen you above other men by My mission and My words. Take what I give you, and be among those who are thankful.”

7:145  On tablets, We ordained laws in all matters for him. We commanded and explained things. “Take these with determination. Order your people to obey the best [interpretations] in them. I will soon show you the homes of the disobedient.

7:146  “I will repel from My signs those who behave arrogantly on the earth, in defiance of right. Even if they saw signs, they would not believe in them. Even if they saw the way of proper conduct, they would not adopt it as the way. If they see the way of error, however, they want to adopt that way. They have rejected Our signs and failed to take warning from them.

7:147  “As for those who reject Our signs and the meeting in the afterlife, their deeds are in vain. Do they expect a reward other than what their deeds have earned?”

7:148  In his absence, the people of Moses used their ornaments to make the image of a calf. It seemed to moo [because of a wind instrument designed into its nose]. Could they not see that it neither spoke to them nor showed them the way? They accepted it [as a god], and they sinned.

7:149  When they became remorseful and realized their error, they said, “If our Lord does not have mercy on us and forgive us, we shall indeed be among the lost.”

7:150  When Moses returned to his people, he was angry and upset. He said [to Aaron], “You have done evil taking over for me while I was gone. Were you impatient for the judgment of your Lord.” He threw down the tablets, grabbed his brother by his head, and dragged him to himself. (Aaron) said, “Son of my mother, indeed the people decided that I was weak. They would have killed me [if I had not done as they wanted, by crafting the idol]. Do not make my enemies happy. Do not count me among the sinners.”

7:151  Moses prayed, “My Lord, forgive me and my brother. Admit us to Your mercy. You are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.”

7:152  Certainly, those who accepted the calf will experience their Lord’s anger. They will be humiliated in this life. In that way, We repay those who conjure deceit.

7:153  For those who sin but then repent afterward and believe, truly your Lord thereafter will be the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

7:154  When Moses’ anger had subsided, he picked up the tablets. They contained writing in which was guidance and mercy for those who feared their Lord.

7:155  Moses chose seventy of his people for Our meeting. They experienced an earthquake. He prayed, “O my Lord, if it had been Your will, You could have destroyed me and them long ago. Would you destroy all of us now because of the deeds of the foolish ones among us? This is only Your test. You allow whom You want to stray. You guide whom You will. You are our Guardian. Forgive us and have mercy upon us. You are the best among those who forgive.

7:156  “Ordain for us that which is good in this life and in the hereafter. Truly, we have turned to You.” (Allah) said, “I inflict My punishment on whom I will, but My mercy extends to all things. I will ordain it for those who live righteously, practice required charity, and believe in Our signs.

7:157  There are those who follow the messenger, the unlettered prophet. They find him mentioned in their own Torah and Gospel. He commands them what is right and forbids them what is evil. He makes pure things lawful for them. He makes hideous things unlawful for them. He releases them from their burdens and the yokes upon them. They believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the light sent to him. They will prosper.

7:158  Say, “O Humanity, I am truly a messenger of Allah for all of you. He owns the dominion of Heaven and Earth. No god is there except Him. He gives life and causes death. Believe in Allah and His messenger, the unlettered prophet who believes in Allah and His words. Follow him so you may be correctly guided.”

7:159  Of the people of Moses, many give guidance and act justly in the light of truth.

7:160  We divided them into twelve tribal communities. We inspired Moses, when his people asked him for water, “Strike the rock with your staff.” Out of (the rock) gushed twelve springs. Each tribe knew its own place for water. We gave them the shade of clouds and provided manna and quails. “Eat of the humane/ethical things We have provided for you.” They never harmed Us, but they harmed their own souls.

7:161  Recall that it was said to them, “Dwell in this town and eat there as you wish, but say a word of repentance and enter the gate in a posture of humility. We will forgive you of your sins. We will provide increase for those who live correctly.”

7:162  The sinners among them changed the saying that We had given them. We sent on them a plague from the sky, because they continued to sin.

7:163  Ask (the Jews) about the town by the sea. They transgressed concerning the Sabbath. On the Sabbath, the fish [bold due to the traditional lack of fishing activity that day] came right up to them with their heads up [to catch insects]. On days other than the Sabbath, however, the fish [inadvertently trained to hide on fishing days] did not come. Thus, We made a trial [through the temptation to fish on the Sabbath when the fish least expected it] of those given to transgression.

7:164  Some of them said, “Why do you preach to people whom Allah will destroy or punish with a terrible punishment?” (The preachers) said, “So we will have no blame before your Lord. Perhaps they will become righteous.”

7:165  They disregarded the warnings that had been given to them. We saved those who rejected evil. We delivered a dreadful punishment to the sinners because of their disobedience.

7:166  In their insolence, they persisted in sin. We said to them, “Be despicable apes!”

7:167  Your Lord declared that He would send people who would torture them until the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, your Lord is quick to punish. Indeed, He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

7:168  We disbursed them into communities across the earth. Among them are some who are righteous. Some are the opposite. We have tested them with prosperity and adversity so that they might return.

7:169  After them another generation came. They inherited the (Bible), but they preferred the vanities of this world. They said, “We will be forgiven.” Whenever similar vanities came their way, they would seize them. Was a promise not taken from them in the (Bible) that they would not ascribe to Allah anything but the truth? They studied what is in (the Bible). The home of the hereafter is best for the righteous. Why won’t they understand?

7:170  As for those who adhere to the Scriptures and establish ritual prayer, We will never allow the reward of the righteous to perish.

7:171  We shook the mountain over them as if it were a canopy. They thought it was going to fall on them. “Hold firmly to what We have given you. Remember what is in it so you may be obedient.”

7:172  Your Lord brought forth, from the backs of the children of Adam, their descendants. He made them testify about themselves. “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes; we so testify.” On the Day of Resurrection, you cannot say, “Certainly, we were unaware of this fact.”

7:173  You will not be able to say, “Our fathers before us accepted false gods. We are descendants after them. Will you destroy us because of the deeds of those who followed inventions?”

7:174  This is how We explain the signs in detail, so perhaps they may return.

7:175  Tell them the story of a man to whom We sent Our signs but who rejected them. Satan followed him. He became one of the lost.

7:176  If it had been Our will, We could have elevated him with (Our signs), but he clung to this world and followed his own vain desires. His simile is that of a dog, which, if attacked, lolls out its tongue; if left alone, it lolls out its tongue. That is the simile of those who reject Our signs. Tell the story; maybe they will think about it.

7:177  People who reject Our signs are evil, and they wrong their own souls.

7:178  Whomever Allah guides is on the right path. Whomever He rejects from His guidance is among the losers.

7:179  We have created many spirit-beings and people bound for Hell. They have hearts with which they cannot understand. They have eyes with which they cannot see. They have ears with which they cannot hear. They are like cattle; in fact, they are worse. They are heedless.

7:180  To Allah belong the most beautiful names. Call on Him by them. Shun people who use His names in profanity. They will be held accountable for what they have done.

7:181  Of those We have created are people who guide with truth and thereby establish justice.

7:182  As for those who reject Our signs, We gradually destroy them in ways they do not even realize.

7:183  I grant them respite, but my plan is indeed effective.

7:184  Do they not realize that their companion [the Prophet] is not crazy? He is only a lucid warner.

7:185  Do they realize nothing in the physics of the skies and Earth and all that Allah has created? Do they consider that their lives may be coming to an end? In what message after this will they believe?

7:186  As for one whom Allah does not guide, no guide will there be. He will leave them in their error, wandering in distraction.

7:187  They ask you about the [final] hour and when it will come. Say, “The knowledge of that is with my Lord. Only He can reveal when it will come. Its burden is heavy throughout the skies and Earth. It will not come to you except suddenly.” They ask you as if you were informed about it. Say, “The knowledge about it is only with Allah, but most people do not understand.”

7:188  Say, “I don’t have any power over benefit or harm for myself except as Allah wills. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I would have multiplied benefits and not allowed harm to touch me. I am only a warner and a bringer of good news to those with faith.”

7:189  He created you all from a single soul. He made his mate from it so that he could live with her. After they were united, she bore a light burden and carried it. When she grew heavy [with child], they both prayed to Allah their Lord, “If you give us a good child, we will certainly be grateful.”

7:190  When He gives (two such people) a good child, they credit others a share in the gift they have received. Allah is exalted above their associations.

7:191  Do they associate what cannot create anything and are created?

7:192  They can give no aid to them and cannot even aid themselves.

7:193  If you called (the idolaters) to guidance, they will not follow you. It makes no difference whether you call them or say nothing.

7:194  Truly, those whom you call besides Allah are servants like you. Call upon them and see if they respond to you, if you are telling the truth.

7:195  Do they have feet with which to walk? Do they have hands with which to grasp? Do they have eyes with which to see? Do they have ears with which to hear? Say, “Call upon your idols. Plot against me, giving me no rest.

7:196  Truly, my guardian is Allah who revealed the Book. He protects the righteous.

7:197  “Those you call upon besides Him are unable to help you; they can’t even help themselves.”

7:198  If you call (the idolaters) to guidance, they won’t even hear you. You will see them looking at you, but they see nothing.

7:199  Adhere to forgiveness. Command what is right, but distance yourself from the ignorant.

7:200  If a suggestion from Satan stalks you, seek refuge in Allah. He is the All-hearing, the All-knowing.

7:201  Indeed, those who fear [Allah], when a thought of evil from Satan assaults them, bring [Allah] to remembrance, and then they realize.

7:202  Their alliance, however, tries to drag them into error and never lets up!

7:203  If you do not bring them a verse [of Scripture], they ask, “Why don’t you make one up?” Say, “I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. Those [verses] are illumination from your Lord. They are guidance and mercy, for any who have faith.”

7:204  When the Qur’an is read, listen to it attentively, so you may receive mercy.

7:205  Bring your Lord to remembrance deep in your soul, with humility and reverence, without loud words, in the mornings and evenings. Do not be among those who are heedless.

7:206  Those near to your Lord are not haughty about worshiping Him. They glorify Him and prostrate before Him.