Now if God were to take men [immediately] to task for all the evil that they do [on earth,] He would not leave a single living creature upon its face. However, He grants them respite until a term set [by Him]: but when the end of their term approaches, they can neither delay it by a single moment, nor can they hasten it. 61 As it is, they ascribe to God something that they [themselves] dislike - and [all the while] their tongues utter the lie that [by doing so] they earn supreme merit! Truly, they earn but the fire, and will be left out [of God's grace]! 62 By Allah, We verily sent messengers unto the nations before thee, but the devil made their deeds fairseeming unto them. So he is their patron this day, and theirs will be a painful doom. 63 We have sent you the Book for no other reason than to settle their differences and to be a guide and mercy for those who believe. 64 And Allah has sent down rain from the sky and given life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who listen. 65