The Ant (Al-Naml)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ These are verses of the Qur'an,-a book that makes (things) clear; 1 a guidance and good tidings for the believers 2 who are steadfast in prayer, who pay the religious tax, and who have strong faith in the life hereafter. 3 Lo! as for those who believe not in the Hereafter, We have made their works fairseeming unto them so that they are all astray. 4 Those are they for whom shall be an evil torment. And in the Hereafter they shall be the greatest losers. 5 But [as for thee, O believer,] verily, thou hast received this Qur'an out of the grace of One who is wise, all-knowing. 6 (Remember) when Moses said unto his household: Lo! I spy afar off a fire; I will bring you tidings thence, or bring to you a borrowed flame that ye may warm yourselves. 7 So, when he came to it, he was called: 'Blessed is he who is in the fire, and he who is about it. Glory be to God, the Lord of all Being! 8 O Moses! Lo! it is I, Allah, the Mighty, the Wise. 9 And [he was told], "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it writhing as if it were a snake, he turned in flight and did not return. [Allah said], "O Moses, fear not. Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear. 10 and neither need anyone who has done wrong and then has replaced the wrong with good: for, verily, I am much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace! 11 Put your hand in the bosom of your shirt; it will come out white without any blemish. This will be one of nine tokens for the Pharaoh and his people, who are a wicked lot indeed." 12 But when Our signs came to them in all their clarity they said, "This is clearly sorcery!" 13 And they persisted in rejecting them wrongfully and arrogantly, while in their hearts they were convinced of their truth. Observe, then, how evil was the fate of the evil-doers. 14