S (Saad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Sad. CONSIDER this Qur'an, endowed with all that one ought to remember! 1 nay, but the unbelievers glory in their schism. 2 How many a generation have We destroyed before them, and they [then] called out; but it was not a time for escape. 3 They were surprised that one of them had come to them as warner; and the unbelievers said: "He is a deceiving sorcerer. 4 What, has he made the gods One God? This is indeed a marvellous thing.' 5 And their leaders launch forth [thus]: "Go ahead, and hold steadfastly onto your deities: this, behold, is the only thing to do! 6 We have not heard this in the religious community close to our time. This is nothing but a fabrication. 7 What! Upon him alone from among all of us should a [divine] reminder have been bestowed from on high?" Nay, but it is My Own reminder that they distrust! Nay, they have not yet tasted the suffering which I do impose! 8 Do they possess the treasures of the mercy of your Lord, the Mighty, the Great Bestower? 9 Or is theirs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and what is between them? Then let them ascend through [any] ways of access. 10 A defeated host are (all) the factions that are there. 11 The people of Noah denied before them, and [the tribe of] 'Aad and Pharaoh, the owner of stakes, 12 And (the tribe of) Thamud, and the folk of Lot, and the dwellers in the wood: these were the factions. 13 There was none of them but called the apostles liars, so just was My retribution. 14