O you who believe! seek assistance through patience and prayer; surely Allah is with the patient. 153 Do not consider those who are slain for the cause of God to be dead. They are alive but you are unaware of them. 154 And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient, 155 Who say, when a misfortune striketh them: Lo! we are Allah's and lo! unto Him we are returning. 156 Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. 157 ۞ Undoubtedly Safa and Marwah* are among the symbols of Allah; so there is no sin on him, for whoever performs the Hajj (pilgrimage) of this House (of Allah) or the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage), to go back and forth between them; and whoever does good of his own accord, then (know that) indeed Allah is Most Appreciative (rewards virtue), the All Knowing. (These are 2 hillocks near the Holy Ka’aba) 158 Indeed Allah curses, and the cursers, too, curse those who conceal the clear teachings and guidance We have sent down, after We have made these plain in the Book for the guidance of all mankind. 159 But those who repent and reform and proclaim (the truth), are forgiven, for I am forgiving and merciful. 160 Behold, as for those who are bent on denying the truth and die as deniers of the truth - their due is rejection by God, and by the angels, and by all [righteous] men. 161 They will abide therein: Their penalty will not be lightened, nor will respite be their (lot). 162 Your God is one God. There is no deity save Him. He is the Compassionate, the Merciful. 163