Muhammad is only a Messenger. There lived other Messengers before him. Should (Muhammad) die or be slain, would you then turn back to your pre-Islamic behavior? Whoever does so can cause no harm to God. God will reward those who give thanks. 144 It is not possible for any person to die except by Allah's command at a term recorded. And whosoever desireth the reward of the world, We vouchsafe unto him thereof; and whosoever desireth the reward of the Hereafter, We vouchsafe unto him thereof. And anon will we recompense the grateful. 145 And how many a prophet has had to fight [in God's cause,] followed by many God-devoted men: and they did not become faint of heart for all that they had to suffer in God's cause, and neither did they weaken, nor did they abase themselves [before the enemy,] since God loves those who are patient in adversity; 146 All they said was, "Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses. Make our feet firm, and help us against those who deny the truth," 147 So God rewarded them in this world, and a better reward awaits them in the next; for God loves those who do good. 148