النمل

1Ta. Sin. THESE ARE MESSAGES of the Qur’an - a di­vine writ clear in itself and clearly showing the truth:

2a guidance and a glad tiding to the believers

3who are constant in prayer and spend in charity: for it is they, they who in their innermost are certain of the life to come!

4As for those who will not believe in the life to come - behold, goodly have We made their own doings appear unto them, and so they stumble blindly to and fro

5It is they whom the worst of suffering awaits: for it is they, they who in the life to come shall be the greatest losers!

6But [as for thee, O believer,] verily, thou hast received this Qur’an out of the grace of One who is wise, all-knowing.

7Lo! [While lost in the desert,] Moses said to his family: “Behold, I perceive a fire [far away]; I may bring you from there some tiding [as to which way we arc to pursue], or bring you [at least] a burning brand so that you might warm yourselves.”

8But when he came close to it, a call was sounded: “Blessed are all who are within [reach of] this fire, and all who are near it! And limitless in His glory is God, the Sustainer of all the worlds!”

9[And God spoke thus:] “O Moses! Verily I alone am God, the Almighty, the Wise!”

10[And then He said:] “Now throw down thy staff!” But when he saw it move rapidly, as if it were a serpent, he drew back [in terror], and did not [dare to] return. [And God spoke to him again:] O Moses! Fear not - for, behold, no fear need the message-bearers have in My Presence,

11and neither need anyone who has done wrong and then has replaced the wrong with good: for, verily, I am much-forgiving, a dis­penser of grace!

12“Now place thy hand into thy bosom: it will come forth [shining] white, without blemish!” [And thou shalt go] with nine [of My] messages unto Pharaoh and his people for, verily, they are people depraved!”

13But when Our light-giving messages came unto them, they said, “This is clearly [but] spellbinding deception!”