There are among men some who serve Allah, as it were, on the verge: if good befalls them, they are, therewith, well content; but if a trial comes to them, they turn on their faces: they lose both this world and the Hereafter: that is loss for all to see! 11 He calls besides Allah unto that which hurts him not, nor profits him. That is a straying far away. 12 They pray to him whose bane is more imminent than his boon: How bad the protector and how bad the associate! 13 God shall surely admit those who believe and do righteous deeds into gardens underneath which rivers flow; surely God does that He desires. 14 If anyone thinks that God will not succour him in this world and in the life to come, let him reach out unto heaven by any [other] means and [thus try to] make headway: and then let him see whether this scheme of his will indeed do away with the cause of his anguish. 15 And thus have We bestowed from on high this [divine writ] in the shape of clear messages: for [thus it is] that God guides him who wills [to be guided]. 16 Verily those who believe and those who are Judaised and the Sabians and the Nazarenes and the Magians and those who associate - verily Allah will decide between them on the Day of Judgment; verily Allah is over everything a Witness. 17 Do you not see that Allah is He, Whom obeys whoever is in the heavens and whoever is in the earth, and the sun and the moon and the stars, and the mountains and the trees, and the animals and many of the people; and many there are against whom chastisement has become necessary; and whomsoever Allah abases, there is none who can make him honorable; surely Allah does what He pleases. ۩ 18 ۞ These two contrary kinds of man have become engrossed in contention about their Sustainer! But [thus it is:] as for those who are bent on denying the truth garments of fire shall be cut out for them [in the life to come]; burning despair will be poured over their heads, 19 and that which is in their bellies and their skins shall be melted; 20 There will be maces of iron for them; 21 Whenever in their anguish they try to get out of it, they are restored to it. (It will be said): 'Taste the punishment of burning' 22