1ELIF. LAM. MIM. These are the verses (signs) of the wise Book.

3A guidance and a mercy to the righteous.

4Who observe prayer, and pay the impost, and believe firmly in the life to come:–

5These rest on guidance from their Lord, and with these it shall be well.

6But a man there is who buyeth an idle tale, that in his lack of knowledge he may mislead others from the way of God, and turn it to scorn. For such is prepared a shameful punishment!

7And when our signs are rehearsed to him, he turneth away disdainfully, as though he heard them not,–as though his ears were heavy with deafness. Announce to him therefore tidings of an afflictive punishment!

8But they who shall have believed and wrought good works, shall enjoy the gardens of delight.

9For ever shall they dwell therein: it is God's true promise! and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

9Without pillars that can be seen hath He created the heavens, and on the earth hath thrown mountains lest it should move with you; and He hath scattered over it animals of every sort: and from the Heaven we send down rain and cause every kind of noble plant to grow up therein.

10This is the creation of God: Shew me now what others than He have created. Ah! the ungodly are in a manifest delusion.

11Of old we bestowed wisdom upon LOKMAN, and taught him thus–"Be thankful to God: for whoever is thankful, is thankful to his own behoof; and if any shall be thankless . . . God truly is self-sufficient, worthy of all praise!"

12And bear in mind when Lokman said to his son by way of warning, "O my son! join not other gods with God, for the joining gods with God is the great impiety."

13(We have commanded man concerning his parents. His mother carrieth him with weakness upon weakness; nor until after two years is he weaned Be grateful to me, and to thy parents. Unto me shall all come.

14But if they importune thee to join that with Me of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not: comport thyself towards them in this world as is meet and right; but follow the way of him who turneth unto me. Unto me shall ye return at last, and then will I tell you of your doings.)

16O my son! verily God will bring everything to light, though it were but the weight of a grain of mustard-seed, and hidden in a rock or in the heavens or in the earth; for, God is subtile, informed of all.

17O my son! observe prayer, and enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and be patient under whatever shall betide thee: for this is a bounden duty.

18And distort not thy face at men; nor walk thou loftily on the earth; for God loveth no arrogant vain-glorious one.

19But let thy pace be middling; and lower thy voice: for the least pleasing of voices is surely the voice of asses.

20See ye not how that God hath put under you all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and hath been bounteous to you of his favours, both for soul and body But some are there who dispute of God without knowledge, and have no guidance and no illuminating Book.

21And when it is said to them, Follow ye what God hath sent down, they say, "Nay; that religion in which we found our fathers will we follow." What! though Satan bid them to the torment of the flame?

22But whoso setteth his face toward God with self-surrender, and is a doer of that which is good, hath laid hold on a sure handle; for unto God is the issue of all things.

23But let not the unbelief of the unbelieving grieve thee: unto us shall they return: then will we tell them of their doings; for God knoweth the very secrets of the breast.

24Yet a little while will we provide for them: afterwards will we force them to a stern punishment.

25If thou ask them who hath created the heavens and the earth, they will certainly reply, "God." SAY: God be praised! But most of them have no knowledge.

26God's, whatever is in the Heavens and the Earth! for God, He is the Rich, the Praiseworthy.

27If all the trees that are upon the earth were to become pens, and if God should after that swell the sea into seven seas of ink, His words would not be exhausted: for God is Mighty, Wise.

28Your creation and your quickening hereafter, are but as those of a single individual. Verily, God Heareth, Seeth!

29Seest thou not that God causeth the night to come in upon the day, and the day to come in upon the night? and that he hath subjected the sun and the moon to laws by which each speedeth along to an appointed goal? and that God therefore is acquainted with that which ye do?

30This, for that God is the truth; and that whatever ye call upon beside Him is a vain thing; and that God–He is the High, the Great.

31Seest thou not how the ships speed on in the sea, through the favour of God, that he may shew you of his signs? for herein are signs to all patient, grateful ones.

32When the waves cover them like dark shadows they call upon God as with sincere religion; but when He safely landeth them, some of them there are who halt between two opinions Yet none reject our signs but all deceitful, ungrateful ones.

33O men! fear ye your Lord, and dread the day whereon father shall not atone for son, neither shall a son in the least atone for his father.

33Aye! the promise of God is a truth. Let not this present life then deceive you; neither let the deceiver deceive you concerning God.

34Aye! God!–with Him is the knowledge of the Hour: and He sendeth down the rain–and He knoweth what is in the wombs–but no soul knoweth what it shall have gotten on the morrow: neither knoweth any soul in what land it shall die. But God is knowing, informed of all.