O men! a parable is set forth to you, wherefore hearken to it. Verily, they on whom ye call beside God, cannot create a fly, though they assemble for it; and if the fly carry off aught from them, they cannot take it away from it! Weak the suppliant and the supplicated!
Unworthy the estimate they form of God!14 for God is right Powerful, Mighty!
God chooseth messengers from among the angels and from among men: verily, God
Heareth, Seeth.
He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them; and unto God shall all things return.
Believers! bow down and prostrate yourselves and worship your Lord, and work righteousness that you may fare well.
And do valiantly in the cause of God as it behoveth you to do for Him. He hath elected you, and hath not laid on you any hardship in religion, the Faith of your father Abraham. He hath named you the Muslims
Heretofore and in this Book, that the Apostles may be a witness against you, and that ye may be witnesses against the rest of mankind. Therefore observe prayer, and pay the legal impost, and cleave fast to God. He is your liege Lord-a goodly Lord, and a goodly Helper!
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1 This Sura is generally said to have been revealed at Mecca,-but this is probably only the case with verses 1-24; 43-56; 60-65; 67-75. Mr. Muir places it at the close of the Meccan Suras of the fifth period. See Nöld, p. 158.
2 Said to be Abu Jahl. See Sura xcvi. p. 20, n. 2.