Could, then, one whose bosom God has opened wide with willingness towards self-surrender unto Him, so that he is illumined by a light [that flows] from his Sustainer, [be likened to the blind and deaf of heart]? Woe, then, unto those whose hearts are hardened against all remembrance of God! They are most obviously lost in error! 22 God has sent down the best Message: a Scripture that is consimilar and oft-repeated: that causes the skins of those in awe of their Lord to creep. Then their skins and their hearts soften at the mention of God: such is God's guidance. He bestows it upon whoever He will; but no one can guide those whom God leaves to stray. 23 What about the one who will have only his bare face to protect him from his terrible punishment on the Day of Resurrection? The evil-doers will be told, "Taste what you have earned." 24 Those who lived before them did [too] give the lie to the truth - whereupon suffering befell them without their having perceived whence it came: 25 Allah let them taste degradation in this present life, but the punishment of the Everlasting Life shall be greater if they but knew. 26 We have set forth to men all kinds of parables in this Quran so that they may take heed: 27 as a discourse in the Arabic tongue, free of all deviousness, so that they might become conscious of God. 28 God advances the example of a man who is owned (as slave in common) by a number of men at loggerheads, and another man who is owned by only one. Are these two alike in attribute? God be praised; yet many of them do not know. 29 Indeed, you are to die, and indeed, they are to die. 30 Then surely on the day of resurrection you will contend one with another before your Lord. 31