Hood (Hood)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
AlifLaamRa. (This is) a Book whose verses are clear, and then distinguished from Him, the Wise, the Aware. 1 (Saying): Serve none but Allah. Lo! I am unto you from Him a warner and a bringer of good tidings. 2 “And ask forgiveness from your Lord and incline towards Him in repentance, He will provide you excellent sustenance until the appointed time and will bestow superiority to every one who excels; and if you turn away, I then fear the punishment of the Great Day upon you.” 3 to God you shall all return; and He has power over all things. 4 See, they cover their chests to conceal from Him. But when they wrap themselves in their clothes He knows what they hide and what they reveal. Indeed, He knows every thought within the chest. 5 ۞ There is not a living creature on the earth but it is for God to provide its sustenance. He knows its dwelling and its [final] resting place. All this is recorded in a clear book. 6 And He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in six aeons; and [ever since He has willed to create life,] the throne of His almightiness has rested upon water. [God reminds you of your dependence on Him] in order to test you [and thus to make manifest] which of you is best in conduct. For thus it is: if thou sayest [unto men,] "Behold, you shall be raised again after death!" - they who are bent on denying the truth are sure to answer, "This is clearly nothing but an enchanting delusion" 7 And thus it is: if We defer their suffering until a time-limit set [by Us,] they are sure to say: "What is preventing it [from coming now]?" Oh, verily, on the Day when it befalls them there will be nothing to avert it from them; and they shall be overwhelmed by the very thing which they were wont to deride. 8