Of Light and the Believers – From the Holy Qur’an, Part 2 of 2

Sūra 24: Nūr, or Light. Section 6

“See thou not that it is God Who praises all beings In the Heavens and on Earth Do celebrate, and the birds (Of the air) with wings Outspread? Each one knows Its own (mode of) prayer And praise. And God Knows well all that they do. Yea, to God belongs The dominion of the Heavens And the Earth; and to God Is the final goal (of all). See thou not that God Makes the clouds move Gently, then joins them Together, then makes them Into a heap? Then will thou See rain issue forth From their midst. And He Sends down from the sky Mountain masses (of clouds) Wherein is hail: He strikes Therewith whom He pleases And He turns it away From whom He pleases. The vivid flash of His lightning Well-nigh blinds the sight. It is God Who alternates The Night and the Day: Verily in these things Is an instructive example For those who have vision! And God has created Every animal from water: sort Of them there are some That creep on their bellies; Some that walk on two legs; And some that walk on four. God creates what He wills; For verily God has power Over all things. We have indeed sent down Signs that make things manifest: And God guides whom He wills To a Way that is straight.

They say, ‘We believe In God and in the Apostle, And we obey.’ […] The answer of the Believers, When summoned to God And His Apostle, in order That He may judge between them, Is no other than this: They say, ‘We hear and we obey:’ It is such as these That will attain felicity. It is such as obey God and His Apostle, And fear God and do Right, that will win (In the end). They swear their strongest oaths By God that, if only thou Would command them, they Would leave (their homes). Say: ‘Swear ye not; Obedience is (more) reasonable; Verily, God is well acquainted With all that ye do.’ Say: ‘Obey God, and obey The Apostle: but if ye turn Away, he is only responsible For the duty placed on him And ye for that placed On you. If ye obey him, Ye shall be on right guidance. The Apostle’s duty is only To preach the clear (Message). God has promised, to those Among you who believe And work righteous deeds, that He Will, of a surety, grant them In the land, inheritance (Of power), as He granted it To those before them; that He will establish in authority Their religion—the one Which He has chosen for them; And that He will change (Their state), after the fear In which they (lived), to one Of security and peace […].”