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 [In His almightiness,] God chooses message-bearers from among the angels as well as from among men. But, behold, God [alone] is all-hearing, all-seeing. 75 He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them. And to Allah will be returned [all] matters. 76 O ye who believe! bow down, prostrate yourselves, and adore your Lord; and do good; that ye may prosper. ۩ 77 Strive in the way of God with a service worthy of Him. He has chosen you and laid no hardship on you in the way of faith, the faith of your forbear Abraham. He named you Muslim earlier, and in this (Qur'an), in order that the Prophet be witness over you, and you be witness over mankind. So be firm in devotion, pay the zakat, and hold on firmly to God. He is your friend: How excellent a friend is He, how excellent a helper! 78