37. Those Ranging in Ranks (Al-Saffat)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. 1
By those ranging in ranks,
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And those who restrain holding in restraint,
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And those who recite the Reminder,
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Surely your God is One.
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The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and the Lord of the eastern lands.
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Surely We have adorned the lower heaven with an adornment, the stars,
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And (there is) a safeguard against every rebellious devil.
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They cannot listen to the exalted assembly and they are reproached from every side,
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Driven off; and for them is a perpetual chastisement,
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Except him who snatches away but once, then there follows him a brightly shining flame.
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So ask them whether they are stronger in creation or those (others) whom We have created. Surely We created them of firm clay.
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Nay, thou wonderest, while they mock,
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And when they are reminded, they mind not,
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And when they see a sign, they seek to scoff,
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And say: This is nothing but clear enchantment.
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When we are dead and have become dust and bones; shall we then be raised,
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Or our fathers of yore?
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Say: Yea, and you will be humiliated.
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So it will be but one cry, when lo! they will see.
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And they will say: O woe to us! This is the day of Requital.
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This is the day of Judgment, which you called a lie.
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Gather together those who did wrong and their associates, and what they worshipped
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Besides Allah, then lead them to the way to hell.
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And stop them, for they shall be questioned:
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What is the matter with you that you help not one another?
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Nay, on that day they will be submissive.
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And some of them will turn to others mutually questioning --
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Saying: Surely you used to come to us from the right side.
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They will say: Nay, you (yourselves) were not believers.
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And we had no authority over you, but you were an inordinate people.
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So the word of our Lord has proved true against us: we shall surely taste.
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We led you astray, for we ourselves were erring.
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So, that day they will be sharers in the chastisement.
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Thus do We deal with the guilty.
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They indeed were arrogant, when it was said to them: There is no god but Allah;
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And said: Shall we give up our gods for a mad poet?
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Nay, he has brought the Truth ind verifies the messengers.
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Surely you will taste the painful chastisement.
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And you are requited naught but for what you did --
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Save the servants of Allah, the purified ones.
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For them is a known sustenance:
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Fruits. And they are honoured,
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In Gardens of delight,
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On thrones, facing each other.
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A bowl of running water will be made to go round them,
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White, delicious to those who drink.
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It deprives not of reason, nor are they exhausted therewith.
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And with them are those modest in gaze, having beautiful eyes,
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As if they were eggs, carefully protected.
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Then some of them will turn to others, questioning mutually.
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A speaker of them will say: Surely I had a comrade,
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Who said: Art thou indeed of those who accept?
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When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then be requited?
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He will say: Will you look?
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Then he looked down and saw him in the midst of hell.
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He will say: By Allah! thou hadst almost caused me to perish
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And had it not been for favour of my Lord, I should have been among those brought up.
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Are we not to die,
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Except our previous death? And are we not to be chastised?
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Surely this is the mighty achievement.
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For the like of this, then, let the workers work.
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Is this the better entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum?
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Surely We have made it a trial for the wrongdoers.
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It is a tree that grows in the bottom of hell --
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Its produce is as it were the heads of serpents.
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Then truly they will eat of it and fill (their) bellies with it.
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Then surely they shall have after it a drink of boiling water.
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Then their return is surety to the flaming Fire.
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They indeed found their fathers astray,
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So in their footsteps they are hastening on.
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And most of the ancients surely went astray before them,
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And indeed We sent among them warners.
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Then see what was the end of those warned --
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Except the servants of Allah, the purified ones.
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And Noah certainly called upon Us, and excellent Answerer of prayers are We!
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And We delivered him and his people from the great distress;
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And made his offspring the survivors,
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And left for him (praise) among the later generations,
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Peace be to Noah among the nations!
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Thus indeed do We reward the doers of good.
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Surely he was of Our believing servants.
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Then We drowned the others.
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And surely of his party was Abraham.
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When he came to his Lord with a secure heart.
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When he said to his sire and his people: What is it that you worship?
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A lie -- gods besides Allah do you desire?
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What is then your idea about the Lord of the worlds?
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Then he glanced a glance at the stars,
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And said: Surely I am sick (of your deities).
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So they turned their backs on him, going away.
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Then he turned to their gods and said: Do you not eat?
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What is the matter with you that you speak not?
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So he turned upon them, smiting with the right hand.
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Then they came to him, hastening.
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He said: Do you worship that which you hew out?
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And Allah has created you and what you make.
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They said: Build for him a building, then cast him into the flaming fire.
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And they designed a plan against him, but We brought them low.
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And he said: Surely I flee to my Lord -- He will guide me.
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My Lord, grant me a doer of good deeds.
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So We gave him the good news of a forbearing son.
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But when he became of (age to) work with him, he said: O my son, I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice thee: so consider what thou seest. He said: O my father, do as thou art commanded; if Allah please, thou wilt find me patient.
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So when they both submitted and he had thrown him down upon his forehead,
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And We called out to him saying, O Abraham,
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Thou hast indeed fulfilled the vision. Thus do We reward the doers of good.
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Surely this is a manifest trial.
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And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.
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And We granted him among the later generations (the salutation),
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Peace be to Abraham!
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Thus do We reward the doers of good.
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Surely he was one of Our believing servants.
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And We gave him the good news of Isaac, a prophet, a righteous one.
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And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their offspring some are doers of good, but some are clearly unjust to themselves.
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And certainly We conferred a favour on Moses and Aaron.
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And We delivered them, and their people from the mighty distress.
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And We helped them, so they were the vanquishers.
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And We gave them both the clear Book.
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And We guided them on the right way.
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And We granted them among the later generations (the salutation),
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Peace be to Moses and Aaron!
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Thus do We reward the doers of good.
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Surely they were both of Our believing servants.
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And Elias was surely of those sent.
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When he said to his people: Will you not guard against evil?
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Do you call upon Ba'l and forsake the Best of the creators,
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Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore?
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But they rejected him, so they shall be brought up,
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But not the servants of Allah, the purified ones.
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And We granted him among the later generations (the salutation),
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Peace be to Elias!
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Even thus We reward the doers of good.
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Surely he was one of Our believing servants.
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And Lot was surely of those sent.
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When We delivered him and his people, all --
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Except an old woman among those who remained behind.
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Then We destroyed the others.
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And surely you pass by them in the morning,
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And at night. Do you not then understand?
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And Jonah was surely of those sent.
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When he fled to the laden ship,
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So he shared with others but was of those cast away.
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So the fish took him into its mouth while he was blamable.
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But had he not been of those who glorify (Us),
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He would have tarried in its belly till the day when they are raised.
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Then We cast him on the naked shore, while he was sick.
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And We caused a gourd to grow up for him.
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And We sent him to a hundred thousand or more.
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And they believed, so We gave them provision till a time.
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Now ask them whether thy Lord has daughters and they have sons?
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Or did We create the angels females, while they witnessed?
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Now surely it is of their own lie that they say:
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Allah has begotten. And truly they are liars.
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Has He preferred daughters to sons?
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What is the matter with you? How you judge!
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Will you not then mind?
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Or have you a clear authority?
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Then bring your Book, if you are truthful.
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And they assert a relationship between Him and the jinn. And certainly the jinn know that they will be brought up (for judgment) --
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Glory be to Allah from what they describe! --
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But not so the servants of Allah, the purified ones.
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So surely you and that which you serve,
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Not against Him can you cause (any) to fall into trial,
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Save him who will burn in the flaming Fire.
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And there is none of us but has an assigned place,
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And verily we are ranged in ranks,
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And we truly glorify (Him).
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And surely they used to say:
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Had we a reminder from those of yore,
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We would have been sincere servants of Allah.
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But (now) they disbelieve in it, so they will come to know.
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And certainly Our word has already gone forth to Our servants, to those sent,
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That they, surely they, will be helped,
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And Our hosts, surely they, will be triumphant.
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So turn away from them till a time,
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And watch them, they too will see.
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Would they hasten on Our chastisement?
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So when it descends in their court, evil will be the morning of the warned ones.
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And turn away from them till a time,
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And watch, for they too will see.
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Glory be to thy Lord, the Lord of Might, above what they describe
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And peace be to those sent
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And praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!