And among mankind is he who worshippeth Allah upon a narrow marge so that if good befalleth him he is content therewith, but if a trial befalleth him, he falleth away utterly. He loseth both the world and the Hereafter. That is the sheer loss. 11 He invokes, instead of Allah, those who can neither harm nor benefit him. That indeed is straying far away. 12 Their worship of such things, in which there is no hope for any benefit, can only harm them. How terrible is such a guardian and companion! 13 God will admit those who believe and act righteously into Gardens watered by flowing rivers. God does whatever He wills. 14 Whosoever hath been imagining that Allah shall not make him victorious in the world and the Hereafter, let him stretch a cord up to the heaven and let him cut it, and let him look if his stratagem can do away that whereat he enrageth. 15 And thus have We sent the Qur'an down as verses of clear evidence and because Allah guides whom He intends. 16 Verily, as for those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ,] and those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Sabians, and the Christians, and the Magians, [on the one hand,] and those who are bent on ascribing divinity to aught but God, [on the other,] verily, God will decide between them on Resurrection Day: for, behold, God is witness unto everything. 17 Beholdest thou not that Allah unto Him adore whosoever is in the heavens and on the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the mountains, and the trees and the beasts, and many of mankind! And many are there on whom due is the torment. And whomsoever Allah despiseth, none can honour; verily Allah doth whatsoever He willeth. ۩ 18 ۞ These twain are opponents who contended respecting their Lord; then as for those who disbelieved, cut out for them shall be raiments of fire: poured out over their head shall be hot water. 19 causing (not only) their skins but all that is in their bellies as well to melt away. 20 And for them are hooked rods of iron (to punish them). 21 So oft as they would seek to go forth therefrom, because of anguish, they shall be sent back therein, and taste the torment of burning. 22