Quran — Page 455

AND [thus it is:] We have not created heaven and earth and all that is between them without meaning and purpose, as is the surmise of those who are bent on denying the truth: but then, woe from the fire [of hell] unto all who are bent on denying the truth!

[For,] would We treat those who have attained to faith and do righteous deeds in the same manner as [We shall treat] those who spread corruption on earth? Would We treat the God-conscious in the same manner as the wicked?

[All this have We expounded in this] blessed divine writ which We have revealed unto thee, [O Muhammad,] so that men may ponder over its mes­sages, and that those who are endowed with insight may take them to heart.

AND UNTO DAVID We granted Solomon [as a son - and] how excellent a servant [of Ours he grew up to be]! Behold, he would always turn unto Us -

[and even] when, towards the close of day, nobly-bred, swift-footed steeds were brought before him,

he would say, “Verily, I have come to love the love of all that is good because I bear my Sustainer in mind!” [repeating these words as the steeds raced away,] until they were hidden by the veil [of distance - whereupon he would command],

“Bring them back unto me!”- and would [lovingly] stroke their legs and their necks.

But [ere this], indeed, We had tried Solomon by placing upon his throne a [lifeless] body; and thereupon he turned [towards Us; and]

he prayed: “O my Sustainer! Forgive me my sins, and bestow upon me the gift of a kingdom which may not suit anyone after me: verily, Thou alone art a giver of gifts!”

And so We made subservient to him the wind, so that it gently sped at his behest whithersoever he willed,

as well as all the rebellious forces [that We made to work for him] - every kind of builder and diver -

and others linked together in fetters.

[And We told him:] “This is Our gift, for thee to bestow freely on others, or to withhold, without [having to render] account!”

And, verily, nearness to Us awaits him [in the life to come], and the most beauteous of all goals!

AND CALL to mind Our servant Job, [how it was] when he cried out to his Sustainer, “Behold, Satan has afflicted me with [utter] weariness and suffering!”

[and thereupon was told:] “Strike [the ground] with thy foot: here is cool water to wash with and to drink!”