۞ Permission is granted to those against whom the disbelievers wage war, as they are being wronged; and indeed Allah is Able to assist them. 39 those who have been driven from their homelands against all right for no other reason than their saying: "Our Sustainer is God!" For, if God had not enabled people to defend themselves against one another, all] monasteries and churches and synagogues and mosques - in [all of] which God's name is abundantly extolled - would surely have been destroyed [ere now]. And God will most certainly succour him who succours His cause: for, verily, God is most powerful, almighty, 40 Those who, if We establish them in the earth, shall establish the prayer and give the poor-rate and command that which is reputable and restrain that which is disreputable; and unto Allah is the end of all affairs. 41 (O Prophet), if they give the lie to you, then before them the people of 'Ad and Thamud, also gave the lie (to the Prophets), 42 And the people of Ibrahim (Abraham) and the people of Lout (Lot), 43 and so did the dwellers of Midian, and Moses too was branded a liar. Initially I granted respite to the unbelievers for a while and then seized them. How dreadful was My punishment! 44 And many a township did We destroy, for they were oppressors – so they now lie flat on their roofs, and many a well lying useless and many a palace in ruins. 45 Have they not marched forth in the land, so that there might become unto them hearts to understand with or ears to hear with? Verily it is not the sights that are blinded but blinded are the hearts that are in the breasts. 46 And [so, O Muhammad,] they challenge thee to hasten the coming upon them of [God's] chastisement: but God never fails to fulfill His promise - and behold, in thy Sustainer's sight a day is like a thousand years of your reckoning. 47 How many a city I have respited in its evildoing; then I seized it, and to Me was the homecoming. 48