And in the alternation of the night and day, the provision that Allah sends down from the sky[2], reviving thereby the earth after its death, and directing of the winds, there are signs for people of understanding.
who hears the verses of Allah being recited to him, yet he persists in his arrogance, as if he did not hear them. So give him tidings of a painful punishment.
Behind them is Hell; neither their gains nor those whom they took besides Allah as protectors will avail them anything, and for them there will be a great punishment.
It is Allah Who has subjected for you the sea, so that the ships may sail on it by His command, and so that you may seek His bounty, and so that you may be grateful.
And He has subjected for you all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth; all is from Him. Indeed, there are signs in this for people who reflect.
Tell those who believe to forgive those who do not fear Allah’s days [of retribution], so that He may recompense each people for what they used to do[3].
[3] In the Hereafter, those who forgive will be rewarded, and who earned evil will be punished. This was at the outset of the Prophet’s mission before the permission of Jihad.
Whoever does a righteous deed, it is for his own benefit; and whoever does an evil deed, it is to his own loss. Then to your Lord you will be returned.
We gave them clear directions in matters [of religion]. They did not differ except after the knowledge had come to them out of transgression against one another[1]. Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning their differences.
[1] No community split into factions until there came to them a prophet with divine knowledge; some of them believed and most of them disbelieved out of arrogance and pursuit of worldly benefits.
Do those who commit evil deeds think that We will make them equal to those who believe and do righteous deeds, in this life and after their death? How poorly they judge!
Allah created the heavens and earth for a true purpose, and so that every soul may be recompensed for what it has earned, and they will not be wronged.
Have you seen the one who took his whims as his god, and Allah caused him to stray despite having knowledge[6], and sealed up his hearing and heart, and put a cover over his sight? Who can guide him after Allah? Will you not then take heed?
[6] Or Allah’s eternal knowledge of that person's preference for his own inclinations over divine guidance.
And they say, “There is nothing but our life of this world: we die and we live[7], and nothing causes us to die except time.” They have no knowledge of that; they only speculate.
[7] i.e., some of us die without return, and others are born replacing them.
Say, “It is Allah Who gives you life then causes you to die, then He will gather you on the Day of Resurrection about which there is no doubt, but most people do not know.”
You will see every community on its knees. Every community will be summoned to its book [of deeds], “Today you will be recompensed for what you used to do.
Whenever it was said, ‘Allah’s promise is certainly true and there is no doubt about the Hour,’ you said, ‘We do not know what the Hour is; We think it is just an assumption, and we are not convinced.’”
That is because you took Allah’s verses in ridicule, and were deluded by the life of this world.” So Today they will not be taken out of it, nor will they be asked to make amends.
