Quran — Page 372

Said he: “And what knowledge could I have as to what they were doing [before they came to me]?

Their reckoning rests with none but my Sus­tainer: if you could but understand [this]!

Hence, I shall not drive away [any of] those [who profess to be] believers;

I am nothing but a plain warner.”

Said they: “Indeed, if thou desist not, O Noah, thou wilt surely be stoned to death!”

[Whereupon] he prayed: “O my Sustainer! Behold, my people have given me the lie:

hence, lay Thou wide open the truth between me and them, and save me and those of the believers who are with me!”

And so We saved him and those [who were] with him in the fully-laden ark,

and then We caused those who stayed behind to drown.

In this [story], behold, there is a message [unto men], even though most of them will not believe [in it].

But, verily, thy Sustainer - He alone - is almighty, a dispenser of grace

[AND the tribe of] Ad gave the lie to [one of God’s] message-bearers

when their brother Hud said unto them: “Will you not be conscious of God?

Behold, I am an apostle [sent by Him] to you, [and therefore] worthy of your trust:

be, then, con­scious of God, and pay heed unto me!

“And no reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward rests with none but the Sustainer of all the worlds.

“Will you, in your wanton folly, build [idola­trous] altars on every height,

and make for yourselves mighty castles, [hoping] that you might become immortal?

And will you [always], whenever you lay hand [on others], lay hand [on them] cruelly, without any restraint?

“Be, then, conscious of God and pay heed unto me:

and [thus] be conscious of Him who has [so] amply provided you with all [the good] that you might think of

amply provided you with flocks, and children,

and gardens, and springs -:

for, verily, I fear lest suffering befall you on an awesome day!”

[But] they answered. “It is all one to us whether thou preachest [something new] or art not of those who [like to] preach.