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 They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might. 74 Allah chooses the Noble Messengers from the angels, and from men; indeed Allah is All Hearing, All Seeing. 75 He knoweth whatsoever is before them and whatsoever is behind them; and unto Allah are returned all affairs 76 O you who believe! bow down and prostrate yourselves and serve your Lord, and do good that you may succeed. ۩ 77 and struggle for God as is His due, for He has chosen you, and has laid on you no impediment in your religion, being the creed of your father Abraham; He named you Muslims aforetime and in this, that the Messenger might be a witness against you, and that you might be witnesses against mankind. So perform the prayer, and pay the alms, and hold you fast to God; He is your Protector -- an excellent Protector, an excellent Helper. 78