The Majestic Quran

people are kind, patient and forgiving. It’s summarised in the ten commandments announced in this chapter: worship God; care for parents; give to the needy; give up the Seven Deadly Sins (wastefulness, miserliness, murder, adultery, dishonesty, blind imitation and arrogance). The Messenger r of Islam was devout and spiritual, so a special night vigil is recommended for him: “At night, wake up to offer voluntary prayer that is only for you. Soon your Lord will raise you to a glorious station of praise” (79). The Quran warns that Satan will exert maximum effort to misguide, so be on guard. But, the true servants will be protected from his insinuations (64– 65). In the name of God, the Kind, the Caring. T A M r 1 Glory to Him Who took His noble servant on a night journe y 7 from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque – whose surroundings we made holy – to show him Our signs. He is the Hearer, the Seeing. 2 We gave Moses the Book of guidance for the Israelites saying: “Don’t take a Guardian besides Me.” 3 You are the descendants of the people We carried in Noah’s ship; he was a thankful servant. T I 4 We stated in the Scripture: twice you would create mischief on the land and become arrogant. 8 5 So We sent against them Our servants who were severely brutal, they demolished their homes; hence the first prediction was fulfilled. 6 Later on We gave you victory over them and helped you with wealth and children and increased your numbers – 7 if you do good it will be for your good, and if you do evil it’s against yourselves – when the second promise came, you were again disgraced; they entered the masjid in Jerusalem as they entered the first time and destroyed what they could get hold of. 8 It is still possible that your Lord may be kind to you. However, if you turn back to evil We will again punish you; We made Hell a prison for the disbelievers.