Stoneland (or [Rock] City)

HERE WE have 99 quite early Meccan verses arranged in six sections (except for v. 87 which dates from Madina). The title refers to a community north of Madina to whom Thumad came, which lived in a stone or rock city like that at Petra. It lay on the route from Madina to Syria, as we see in the last section of the chapter, and may have been near Tayma, in Midian.

This reference is preceded by mention of the early prophets, Abraham (IV) who gave his name to the previous chapter, and Lot (V). This chapter is important for its cosmogony or the description of how the world was formed. Diabolis is present at man's creation too (III).

This chapter was revealed after Joseph 12 and before Livestock 6, and is the last of the older group from Mecca, as can be seen by the initials at the beginning of the first verse. This mood can be sensed in the style and differing rhythm of the first verses. The chapter becomes quite personal towards the end, and sounds almost like a cry of distress uttered by someone seeking solace; it ends with a short hymn in this vein.

(I) * A. L. R.

PART FOURTEEN

These are verses from the Book, and a clear Reading.

(I cont'd) * Perhaps those who disbelieve would like to become Muslims. Leave them eating and enjoying themselves; let hope distract them, for they soon will know (anyhow). * We have never wiped out any town unless it had [received] a known term; ** no nation can forestall its deadline, nor will they ever postpone it. * Yet they say: "You to whom the Reminder has been sent down, why you're crazy! * Why don't you bring us angels if you are so truthful?"'

Past and Present

* We do not send down any angels except with the Truth, and even then they would not be allowed to wait. * We Ourself have sent down the Reminder just as We are safeguarding it. ** Even before you, We sent [some] down among the sects of early people; * yet no messenger ever came to them whom they did not sneer at.

* Thus We slip it into criminals' hearts; * they will not believe in it, even though the custom of early people has already preceded it. * Even though We opened up a gate to Heaven for them so they might keep on climbing into it, ** they still would say: "Our eyesight has been dazzled-in fact, we are enchanted folk!"

Heaven and Earth

(II) * We have placed constellations in the sky and embellished it for onlookers. * We have safeguarded them against every outcast Satan * except for such as may try to eavesdrop, so a blazing meteor follows him.

* Earth have We spread out and cast headlands upon it, and planted a bit of everything to grow there (so it is) well balanced. ** We have placed various means of livelihood on it for (all of) you as well as anyone you do not have to provide for. * There is nothing whose stores are not [controlled] by Us, and We send it down only according to a fixed quantity.

* We send forth fertilizing winds and send down water from the sky and offer you something to drink from it. You are not the ones who store it up. We give life and bring death, and We are the Heirs [to every- thing]! We know which of you try to get ahead and We know those who hold back. ** Your Lord will summon them; He is Wise, Aware.

(III)* We created man from ringing clay, from moulded slime; * while the sprites We had created earlier from smokeless fire.

Diabolis at Man's Creation

* So your Lord told the angels: "I am about to create a human being from ringing clay, from moulded slime. * When I have finished with him and breathed some of My spirit into him, then drop down on your knees before him." ** The angels all bowed down together * except for Diabolis; he refused to be one of those bowing down on their knees.

* He said: "Diabolis, what is wrong with you that you are not among those who bow down on their knees?" * He said: "I am no one to kneel before a human being You have created from ringing clay, from moulded slime."

* He said: "Then get out of here, for you are an outcast! ** On you lies the Curse until the Day for Repayment!"

* He said: 'My Lord, let me wait till the day when they are raised up again." * He said: "You will be allowed to wait * until a day in known time."

* He said: "My Lord, since You have let me go astray, I shall make things on earth seem attractive to them; I'll mislead them all ** except for any of Your sincere servants who may be among them."

* He said: "Here will be a Straight Road [leading] up to Me! * You will not hold any authority over My servants except for someone who may follow you from among those who are misguided. * Hell will [serve as] an appointment for all of them together. * It has seven gates; each gate will have a portion assigned from them."

Paradise

(IV) ** The heedful will be in gardens and by springs:

Abraham

* Advise them about Abraham's guests * how, when they entered his presence and said: "Peace!", he said: "We feel wary of you." * They said: 'Don't feel so wary; We bring you word about a clever boy."

* He said: "Have you brought me word like this once old age has set in on me? What sort of word do you want to spread?" ** They said: "We have brought you word of the Truth, so do not act so discouraged." * He said: "Who despairs of his Lord's mercy except those who are lost?"

Lot

* He said: "Yet what is your errand, you emissaries?" * They said: "We have been sent for some criminal folk, * except for Lot's house; we will rescue them all ** except his wife. We have decreed that she will be one of those who will be left behind."

Lot (cont'd)

(V) * When the emissaries came to Lot's household, * he said: "You are folk who should be ignored." * They said: Rather we have come to you about something they have been puzzling over. * We have brought you the Truth, for we are reliable. ** Travel with your family at dead of night; you should follow in their rear, and let none of you glance around! Keep on going wherever you are ordered to. * We have passed judgment on that case for him so that those people's last remnant shall be cut off once morning dawns for them."

Sodom

* The people of the city came up gay with the news. * He said: "These are my guests so do not disgrace me. * Heed God, and do not shame me." ** They said: "Didnt we forbid you to have contact with [anyone in] the Universe [outside]?"' * He said: "These are my daughters if you are going to do (something)."

* Upon your life, they were groping along in their drunkenness * so the Blast caught them at sunrise: * We turned things upside down and rained down stones which had been stamped with their names on them. ** In that are signs for investigators; * and it lies along a permanent highway.

Midian

* In that is a sign for believers. * The Companions in the Forest had been wrongdoers, so We avenged Ourself on them. Both are a clear indication.

(VI) ** The inhabitants of Stoneland rejected the emissaries. * We gave them Our signs even though they had shunned them. * They had confidently hewn houses out of the mountains. * So the Blast caught them early one morning * and what they had been earning did not help them out.

** We have only created Heaven and Earth and whatever lies between them for the sake of Truth. The Hour is coming on, so examine [matters] with fine discrimination. * Your Lord is the Clever Creator!

* We have brought you seven Oft-Repeated (verses] plus the Mighty Qur`an. * Do not strain your eyes towards what We let some types of them enjoy; do not feel saddened by them, and lower your [sheltering] wing over believers.

Handling Critics

* SAY:"I am the plain Warner," ** (such as We have sent down for the quibblers * who have torn the Quran apart. By your Lord, We shall question them all * about whatever they have been doing!) * So proclaim whatever you are ordered to, and shun associators; * We will suffice for you against such scoffers * who place another deity alongside God [Alone], They soon will know!

Prayer is Consoling

* We already know how cramped your breast feels because of what they say: so hymn your Lord's praise and be one of those who bow down on their knees (in worship).

* Serve your Lord until conviction comes to you!