I CALL TO witness those who stand arrayed in rows,
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And those who restrain by reprimanding,
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And those who recite the Reminder,
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Verily your God is One,
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The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them, and the Lord of the Easts.
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He decked the nearest heavens with ornaments of stars,
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Protecting them against every wayward devil,
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So that they are not able to listen to the angels of higher (echelons), and are pelted from all sides
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And kept far away. There is perpetual punishment for them,
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Except those who eavesdrop and are pursued by a shooting flame.
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So ask them if they are more difficult to create, or the rest We have created? Indeed (man) We created from fermented clay.
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Yet while you are filled with wonder, they just scoff;
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And when they are warned they pay no heed.
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When they see a sign, they laugh at it,
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And say: "This is only magic.
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When we are dead and turned to dust and bones, how can we be raised again,
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And our fathers too?"
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You say: "Yes; and you will be lowly made. "
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There will only be a single jerk, and they will gape,
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And say: "Ah woe! This is the Day of Reckoning. "
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"(Yes, ) this is the Day of Judgement you had called a lie. "
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Gather all the wicked together and their comrades, and those they had worshipped
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Other than God, " (the angels will be told), "then show them the way to Hell,
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And detain them, for they will be questioned. "
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"What is the matter with you that you do not help each other?"
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They will submit to questioning then,
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And some of them will confront the others,
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Saying: "It were you who imposed yourselves upon us. "
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They will say: "No, you were the ones who would not believe.
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We had no power over you. In fact, you were a people rebellious.
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The sentence of our Lord has come true for us. We have certainly to taste (the punishment),
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For we had led you astray. In fact we ourselves were astray."
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So, they will become partners in punishment.
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That is how We deal with sinners.
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They were those who, when it was said to them, "There is no god but God," behaved with insolence,
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And said: "Should we abandon our gods for the sake of an insane poet?"
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Not in the least. He has brought the truth and confirmed the other messengers.
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You will indeed taste a painful punishment,
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And be rewarded but only for what you had done,
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Except the chosen creatures of God,
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Whose provision is predetermined --
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Fruits of every kind, and they will be honoured
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In gardens of delight,
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(Sitting) on couches, face to face,
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With cups from a flowing stream being passed around,
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Clear, delicious to drink,
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Neither dulling the senses nor intoxicating,
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And with them maidens of modest look and large lustrous eyes,
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Like sheltered eggs in a nest.
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Then one turned to the other in an enquiry.
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Said one of the speakers: "I had a friend
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Who used to say: 'Are you one of those who can testify to the truth?
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(Do you think) we would be paid back our due when we are dead and reduced to dust and bones?'
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He said: 'Will you look down?'
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He looked down and saw (his friend) in the midst of Hell.
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'By God', he said, 'you had almost ruined me.
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Had it not been for the grace of my Lord I too would have been there (in Hell).
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(Another will say:)"Is it true, we are not going to die
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Other than our first death, and we shall not be punished?
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This will indeed be great happiness.
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For this the toilers should strive. "
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Is this better or the tree of Zaqqum
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Which We have reserved as punishment for evil-doers?
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It is a tree that grows at the bottom of Hell.
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Its spathes are like the prickly pear.
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They will eat and fill their bellies with it,
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Washing it down with boiling water.
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Then to Hell they will surely be returned.
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They had found their fathers astray,
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Yet they hasten to follow in their footsteps.
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So had many an earlier people gone astray,
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And We had sent admonishers to them.
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Look, then how was the end of those who had been warned,
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Other than the chosen creatures of God.
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Noah had verily called to Us. And how gracious was He who answered (him).
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We saved him and his family from the great affliction,
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And made his progeny survive,
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And left (his name) for posterity.
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Peace on Noah among all men.
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That is how We reward those who do good.
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Surely he was among Our faithful creatures.
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Afterwards We drowned the others.
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And Abraham indeed was of his inducement,
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When he came to his Lord with a heart compliant,
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When he said to his father and his people: "What is this you worship?
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Why do you solicit false gods instead of God?
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What do you imagine the Lord of the worlds to be?"
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Then he looked up at the stars (they worshipped),
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And said: "I am sick (of what you worship)!"
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But they turned their backs on him and went away.
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Then he turned towards their gods and said: "Why do you not eat (of these offerings)?
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What is wrong with you that you do not speak?"
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Then he started striking them down with his right hand.
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So the people descended upon him.
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"Why do you worship these you carve yourselves, " he asked,
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"When God has created you and what you make?"
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"Build a pyre for him and throw him into the raging fire. "
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So they contrived a plot against him, but We made them abject.
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And he said: "I am going away to my Lord who will show me the way.
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(And he prayed:) "O Lord, grant me a righteous son. "
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So We gave him the good news of a clement son.
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When he was old enough to go about with him, he said: "O my son, I dreamt that I was sacrificing you. Consider, what you think?" He replied: "Father, do as you are commanded. If God pleases you will find me firm."
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When they submitted to the will of God, and (Abraham) laid (his son) down prostrate on his temple,
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We called out: "O Abraham,
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You have fulfilled your dream. " Thus do We reward the good.
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That was indeed a trying test.
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So We ransomed him for a great sacrifice,
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And left (his hallowed memory) for posterity.
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Peace be on Abraham.
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That is how We reward those who do good.
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He is truly among Our faithful creatures.
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So We gave him the good news of Isaac, apostle, who is among the righteous.
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And We blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants are some who do good, but some who wrong themselves.
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We were indeed gracious to Moses and Aaron,
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And saved them and their people from great distress,
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And helped them, so they were victorious.
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We gave them the explicit Book,
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And showed them the straight path,
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And left (their remembrance) for posterity.
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Peace be on Moses and Aaron.
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That is how We reward those who do good.
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They are among Our faithful devotees.
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Verily Elias is one of the apostles.
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When he said to his people: "Will you not be mindful of God?
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Would you call on Baal and leave the best of creators,
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God, your Lord, and the Lord of your fathers?"
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They denied him, and will surely be brought to punishment,
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Except the chosen creatures of God.
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And We left his (memory) for posterity.
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Peace be on Elias.
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That is how We reward those who do good.
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He is truly among Our faithful devotees.
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Verily Lot was one of the apostles,
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Wherefore We saved him and his entire family
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Except an old woman who was one of those who stayed behind.
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Then We destroyed the others.
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You pass by (their habitations) in the morning
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Or at night. Then how is it you do not understand?
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Verily Jonah is one of the apostles.
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When he fled on the laden ship,
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And lots were cast (when a storm overtook them), he was rejected, (and thrown overboard).
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Then he was swallowed by a large fish as he was worthy of blame.
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Had he not been one of those who struggled hard,
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He would have stayed in its belly till the day the dead are raised.
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So We cast him, sick, on a barren shore,
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And We made a gourd tree grow over him.
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We sent him to a hundred thousand men or more,
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And they came to believe; so We allowed them to enjoy the good things of life for an age.
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Now ask them if their Lord has daughters, and they sons?
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Or did We make the angels females, and they witnessed it?
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Is it not a lie invented by them when they say:
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"God has begotten (children)?" They are liars indeed!
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Does He prefer sons to daughters?
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What ails you that you judge in such a wise?
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Why do you not reflect?
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Or have you received some clear authority?
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Then bring your scripture, if what you say is true.
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They link Him with jinns by lineage, yet the jinns know they will be brought before Him.
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God is too glorious for what they ascribe to Him
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Except His chosen creatures who do not.
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So neither you nor those you worship
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Can mislead anyone away from Him,
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Except one who is (destined) to burn in Hell.
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"There is not one of us who does not have his appointed place, " (declare the angels. )
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"And we are truly those who stand in rows,
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And we are those who sing hallelujas to Him. "
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They used to say:
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If we had the account of earlier people with us,
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We would have been the chosen creatures of God. "
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Yet now (that it has come) they refuse to believe in it; but they will come to know soon.
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Our word had already been given before to Our votaries, the apostles, --
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That they would be helped,
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And that certainly Our armies will be victorious.
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So you ignore them for a time
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And wait; they will come to know soon.
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Do they want to hasten Our punishment?
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When it comes down on their plains, it will be an evil dawn for those who had been warned.
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So turn away from them for a time
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And watch; they will come to know soon.
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Too glorious is your Lord, the Lord of power, for what they ascribe to Him.
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So peace be on the messengers,
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And all praise to God, the Lord of all the worlds.