021.005 Y: "Nay," they say, "(these are) medleys of dream! - Nay, He forged it!

- Nay, He is (but) a poet! Let him then bring us a Sign like the ones that were sent to (Prophets) of old!"

P: Nay, say they, (these are but) muddled dreams; nay, he hath but invented it; nay, he is but a poet. Let him bring us a portent even as those of old (who were Allah's messengers) were sent (with portents).

S: Nay! say they: Medleys of dreams; nay! he has forged it; nay! he is a poet; so let him bring to us a sign as the former (prophets) were sent (with).

021.006 Y: (As to those) before them, not one of the populations which We destroyed believed: will these believe?

P: Not a township believed of those which We destroyed before them (though We sent them portents): would they then believe?

S: There did not believe before them any town which We destroyed, will they then believe?

021.007 Y: Before thee, also, the messengers We sent were but men, to whom We granted inspiration: If ye realise this not, ask of those who possess the Message.

P: And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men, whom We inspired. Ask the followers of the Reminder if ye know not?

S: And We did not send before you any but men to whom We sent revelation, so ask the followers of the reminder if you do not know.

021.008 Y: Nor did We give them bodies that ate no food, nor were they exempt from death.

P: We gave them not bodies that would not eat food, nor were they immortals.

S: And We did not make them bodies not eating the food, and they were not to abide (forever).

021.009 Y: In the end We fulfilled to them Our Promise, and We saved them and those whom We pleased, but We destroyed those who transgressed beyond bounds.

P: Then we fulfilled the promise unto them. So we delivered them and whom We would, and We destroyed the prodigals.

S: Then We made Our promise good to them, so We delivered them and those whom We pleased, and We destroyed the extravagant.

021.010 Y: We have revealed for you (O men!) a book in which is a Message for you: will ye not then understand?

P: Now We have revealed unto you a Scripture wherein is your Reminder.

Have ye then no sense?

S: Certainly We have revealed to you a Book in which is your good remembrance; what! do you not then understand?

021.011 Y: How many were the populations We utterly destroyed because of their iniquities, setting up in their places other peoples?

P: How many a community that dealt unjustly have We shattered, and raised up after them another folk!

S: And how many a town which was iniquitous did We demolish, and We raised up after it another people!

021.012 Y: Yet, when they felt Our Punishment (coming), behold, they (tried to) flee from it.

P: And, when they felt Our might, behold them fleeing from it!

S: So when they felt Our punishment, lo! they began to fly

021.013 Y: Flee not, but return to the good things of this life which were given you, and to your homes in order that ye may be called to account.

P: (But it was said unto them): Flee not, but return to that (existence) which emasculated you and to your dwellings, that ye may be questioned.

S: Do not fly (now) and come back to what you were made to lead easy lives in and to your dwellings, haply you will be questioned.

021.014 Y: They said: "Ah! woe to us! We were indeed wrong-doers!"

P: They cried: Alas for us! we were wrong-doers.

S: They said: O woe to us! surely we were unjust.

021.015 Y: And that cry of theirs ceased not, till We made them as a field that is mown, as ashes silent and quenched.

P: And this their crying ceased not till We made them as reaped corn, extinct.

S: And this ceased not to be their cry till We made them cut

021.016 Y: Not for (idle) sport did We create the heavens and the earth and all that is between!

P: We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in play.

S: And We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between them for sport.

021.017 Y: If it had been Our wish to take (just) a pastime, We should surely have taken it from the things nearest to Us, if We would do (such a thing)!

P: If We had wished to find a pastime, We could have found it in Our presence - if We ever did.

S: Had We wished to make a diversion, We would have made it from before Ourselves: by no means would We do (it).

021.018 Y: Nay, We hurl the Truth against falsehood, and it knocks out its brain, and behold, falsehood doth perish! Ah! woe be to you for the (false) things ye ascribe (to Us).

P: Nay, but We hurl the true against the false, and it doth break its head and lo! it vanisheth. And yours will be woe for that which ye ascribe (unto Him).

S: Nay! We cast the truth against the falsehood, so that it breaks its head, and lo! it vanishes; and woe to you for what you describe;

021.019 Y: To Him belong all (creatures) in the heavens and on earth: Even those who are in His (very) Presence are not too proud to serve Him, nor are they (ever) weary (of His service):

P: Unto Him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those who dwell in His presence are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they weary;

S: And whoever is in the heavens and the earth is His; and those who are with Him are not proud to serve Him, nor do they grow weary.

021.020 Y: They celebrate His praises night and day, nor do they ever flag or intermit.

P: They glorify (Him) night and day; they flag not.

S: They glorify (Him) by night and day; they are never languid.

021.021 Y: Or have they taken (for worship) G.o.ds from the earth who can raise (the dead)?