Koran Curious - A Guide for Infidels and Believers (21 page)

[18:94] They said, “O Zul-Qarnain, Gog and Magog are corruptors of the earth. Can we pay you to create a barrier between us and them?”

[18:95] He said, “My Lord has given me great bounties. If you cooperate with me, I will build a dam between you and them.

[18:96] “Bring to me masses of iron.” Once he filled the gap between the two palisades, he said, “Blow.” Once it was red hot, he said, “Help me pour tar on top of it.”

[18:97] Thus, they could not climb it, nor could they bore holes in it.

[18:98] He said, “This is mercy from my Lord. When the prophecy of my Lord comes to pass, He will cause the dam to crumble. The prophecy of my Lord is truth.”

[18:99] At that time, we will let them invade with one another, then the horn will be blown, and we will summon them all together.

[18:100] We will present Hell, on that day, to the disbelievers.

[18:103] Say, “Shall I tell you who the worst losers are?

[18:104] “They are the ones whose works in this life are totally astray, but they think that they are doing good.”

[18:105] Such are the ones who disbelieved in the revelations of their Lord and in meeting Him. Therefore, their works are in vain; on the Day of Resurrection, they have no weight.

[18:106] Their just requital is Hell, in return for their disbelief, and for mocking My revelations and My messengers.

[18:107] As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, they have deserved a blissful Paradise as their abode.

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

[19:2] A narration about your Lord’s mercy towards His servant Zachariah.

[19:3] He called his Lord, a secret call.

[19:7] “O Zachariah, we give you good news; a boy whose name shall be John (Yahya). We never created anyone like him before.”

[19:8] He said, “My Lord, will I have a son despite my wife’s sterility, and despite my old age?”

[19:9] He said, “Thus said your Lord: ‘It is easy for Me to do. I created you before that, and you were nothing.’”

[19:12] “O John, you shall uphold the scripture, strongly.” We endowed him with wisdom, even in his youth.

[19:13] And (we endowed him with) kindness from us and purity, for he was righteous.

[19:16] Mention in the scripture Mary. She isolated herself from her family, into an eastern location.

[19:17] While a barrier separated her from them, we sent to her our Spirit. He went to her in the form of a human being.

[19:18] She said, “I seek refuge in the Most Gracious, that you may be righteous.”

[19:19] He said, “I am the messenger of your Lord, to grant you a pure son.”

[19:20] She said, “How can I have a son, when no man has touched me; I have never been unchaste.”

[19:21] He said, “Thus said your Lord, ‘It is easy for Me. We will render him a sign for the people, and mercy from us. This is a predestined matter.’ “

[19:22] When she bore him, she isolated herself to a faraway place.

[19:23] The birth process came to her by the trunk of a palm tree. She said, “(I am so ashamed;) I wish I were dead before this happened, and completely forgotten.”

[19:27] She came to her family, carrying him. They said, “O Mary, you have committed something that is totally unexpected.

[19:28] “O descendant of Aaron, your father was not a bad man, nor was your mother unchaste.”

[19:29] She pointed to him. They said, “How can we talk with an infant in the crib?”

[19:30] (The infant spoke and) said, “I am a servant of GOD. He has given me the scripture, and has appointed me a prophet.

[19:31] “He made me blessed wherever I go, and enjoined me to observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and the obligatory charity (Zakat) for as long as I live.

[19:34] That was Jesus, the son of Mary, and this is the truth of this matter, about which they continue to doubt.

[19:35] It does not befit GOD that He begets a son, be He glorified. To have anything done, He simply says to it, “Be,” and it is.

[19:36] He also proclaimed, “GOD is my Lord and your Lord; you shall worship Him alone. This is the right path.”

[19:37] The various parties disputed among themselves (regarding the identity of Jesus). Therefore, woe to those who disbelieve from the sight of a terrible day.

[19:38] Wait till you hear them and see them when they come to face us. The transgressors on that day will be totally lost.

[19:41] Mention in the scripture Abraham; he was a saint, a prophet.

[19:51] Mention in the scripture Moses. He was devoted, and he was a messenger prophet.

[19:52] We called him from the right side of Mount Sinai. We brought him close, to confer with him.

[19:53] And we granted him, out of our mercy, his brother Aaron as a prophet.

[19:54] And mention in the scripture Ismail. He was truthful when he made a promise, and he was a messenger prophet.

[19:55] He used to enjoin his family to observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and the obligatory charity (Zakat); he was acceptable to his Lord.

[19:56] And mention in the scripture Idris. He was a saint, a prophet.

[19:73] When our revelations are recited to them, clearly, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Which of us is more prosperous? Which of us is in the majority?”

[19:74] Many a generation have we annihilated before them; they were more powerful, and more prosperous.

[19:83] Do you not see how we unleash the devils upon the disbelievers to stir them up?

[19:84] Do not be impatient; we are preparing for them some preparation.

[19:85] The day will come when we summon the righteous before the Most Gracious in a group.

[19:86] And we will herd the guilty to Hell, to be their eternal abode.

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

[20:2] We did not reveal the Quran to you, to cause you any hardship.

[20:3] Only to remind the reverent.

[20:4] A revelation from the Creator of the earth and the high heavens.

[20:5] The Most Gracious; He has assumed all authority.

[20:9] Have you noted the history of Moses?

[20:10] When he saw a fire, he said to his family, “Stay here. I have seen a fire. Maybe I can bring you some of it, or find some guidance at the fire.”

[20:11] When he came to it, he was called, “O, Moses.

[20:12] “I am your Lord; remove your sandals. You are in the sacred valley, Tuwaa.

[20:13] “I have chosen you, so listen to what is being revealed.

[20:14] “I am GOD; there is no other god beside Me. You shall worship Me alone, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) to remember Me.

[20:49] He said, “Who is your Lord, O Moses.”

[20:50] He said, “Our Lord is the One who granted everything its existence, and its guidance.”

[20:51] He said, “What about the past generations?”

[20:52] He said, “The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a record. My Lord never errs, nor does He forget.”

[20:53] He is the One who made the earth habitable for you, and paved in it roads for you. And He sends down from the sky water with which we produce many different kinds of plants.

[20:60] Pharaoh summoned his forces, then came.

[20:61] Moses said to them, “Woe to you. Do you fabricate lies to fight GOD and thus incur His retribution? Such fabricators will surely fail.”

[20:70] The magicians fell prostrate, saying, “We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.”

[20:79] Thus, Pharaoh misled his people; he did not guide them.

[20:80] O Children of Israel, we delivered you from your enemy, summoned you to the right side of Mount Sinai, and we sent down to you manna and quails.

[20:81] Eat from the good things we provided for you, and do not transgress, lest you incur My wrath. Whoever incurs My wrath has fallen.

[20:82] I am surely Forgiving for those who repent, believe, lead a righteous life, and steadfastly remain guided.

[20:86] Moses returned to his people, angry and disappointed, saying, “O my people, did your Lord not promise you a good promise? Could you not wait? Did you want to incur wrath from your Lord? Is this why you broke your agreement with me?”