O Mankind! a similitude is propounded; so hearken thereto. Verily those whom ye call upon beside Allah will by no means create a fly, even though they assembled for that; and if the fly were to snatch away aught from them, they cannot recover it from it: weak the seeker and the sought! 73 No true understanding of God have they [who err in this way]: for, verily, God is most powerful, almighty! 74 God chooses of the angels Messengers and of mankind; surely God is All-hearing, All-seeing. 75 He knows what is before them and behind them. To Allah all things are returned. 76 O Ye who believe! bow down and prostrate yourselves and worship your Lord, and do the good, that haply ye may thrive. ۩ 77 and struggle for God as is His due, for He has chosen you, and has laid on you no impediment in your religion, being the creed of your father Abraham; He named you Muslims aforetime and in this, that the Messenger might be a witness against you, and that you might be witnesses against mankind. So perform the prayer, and pay the alms, and hold you fast to God; He is your Protector -- an excellent Protector, an excellent Helper. 78