People pray as earnestly to gain evil as one should to gain virtue. But people are hasty. 11 And We have made the night and day two signs, and We erased the sign of the night and made the sign of the day visible that you may seek bounty from your Lord and may know the number of years and the account [of time]. And everything We have set out in detail. 12 And every man -- We have fastened to him his bird of omen upon his neck; and We shall bring forth for him, on the Day of Resurrection, a book he shall find spread wide open. 13 (It will be said to him): "Read your book. You yourself are sufficient as a reckoner against you this Day." 14 One who follows guidance does so for himself and one who goes astray does so against his soul. No one will suffer for the sins of others. We have never punished anyone without sending them Our Messenger first. 15 And when We decide to destroy a town (population), We (first) send a definite order (to obey Allah and be righteous) to those among them [or We (first) increase in number those of its population] who are given the good things of this life. Then, they transgress therein, and thus the word (of torment) is justified against it (them). Then We destroy it with complete destruction. 16 "How many generations have We laid low after Noah, for your Lord knows and notices well enough the sins of His creatures. 17 We give whatever We will to whoever desires immediate gains; but then We have prepared Hell for him which he will enter, disgraced and rejected. 18 Whosoever, being a believer, desires the Everlasting Life and strives for it as he should; those their striving will be thanked. 19 All [of them] - these as well as those - do We freely endow with some of thy Sustainer's gifts, since thy Sustainer's giving is never confined [to one kind of man]. 20 See, how We have exalted some above others in this world, and in the Life to Come they will have higher ranks and greater degrees of excellence over others. 21 Do not set up any other god with Allah lest you are rendered humiliated and helpless. 22