وَمِنهُم مَن يَقولُ رَبَّنا آتِنا فِي الدُّنيا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنا عَذابَ النّارِ

Others say, “Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the suffering of the Fire.”

أُولـٰئِكَ لَهُم نَصيبٌ مِمّا كَسَبوا ۚ وَاللَّهُ سَريعُ الحِسابِ

These will have a share of what they’ve earned. God is swift in accounting.

وَاذكُرُوا اللَّهَ في أَيّامٍ مَعدوداتٍ ۚ فَمَن تَعَجَّلَ في يَومَينِ فَلا إِثمَ عَلَيهِ وَمَن تَأَخَّرَ فَلا إِثمَ عَلَيهِ ۚ لِمَنِ اتَّقىٰ ۗ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعلَموا أَنَّكُم إِلَيهِ تُحشَرونَ

Remember God during the appointed days. If someone is in a hurry to return in two days, there is no sin on him; if someone stays on, there is no sin on him either—provided they maintain righteousness. Be conscious of God, and know you will be gathered to Him.

وَمِنَ النّاسِ مَن يُعجِبُكَ قَولُهُ فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا وَيُشهِدُ اللَّهَ عَلىٰ ما في قَلبِهِ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ الخِصامِ

There is a type of person whose speech in this worldly life may impress you, and he calls God to witness what’s in his heart, yet he is the fiercest of opponents.

وَإِذا تَوَلّىٰ سَعىٰ فِي الأَرضِ لِيُفسِدَ فيها وَيُهلِكَ الحَرثَ وَالنَّسلَ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ الفَسادَ

Once he gains power, he aims to wreak havoc on earth and ruin its crops and lineage. God doesn’t like corruption.

وَمِنَ النّاسِ مَن يَشري نَفسَهُ ابتِغاءَ مَرضاتِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ رَءوفٌ بِالعِبادِ

And there are those who sell themselves seeking approval of God; God is Kind to the servants.

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا ادخُلوا فِي السِّلمِ كافَّةً وَلا تَتَّبِعوا خُطُواتِ الشَّيطانِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُم عَدُوٌّ مُبينٌ

O you who have believed, enter into submission completely, and don’t follow Satan’s footsteps; he is a clear enemy to you.

فَإِن زَلَلتُم مِن بَعدِ ما جاءَتكُمُ البَيِّناتُ فَاعلَموا أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزيزٌ حَكيمٌ

If you relapse after the clear signs have come to you, then know that God is Powerful and Wise.

هَل يَنظُرونَ إِلّا أَن يَأتِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ في ظُلَلٍ مِنَ الغَمامِ وَالمَلائِكَةُ وَقُضِيَ الأَمرُ ۚ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرجَعُ الأُمورُ

Are they awaiting the arrival of God Himself amidst the clouds, escorted by the angels? The matter would have already been resolved by then. All matters ultimately return to God.

سَل بَني إِسرائيلَ كَم آتَيناهُم مِن آيَةٍ بَيِّنَةٍ ۗ وَمَن يُبَدِّل نِعمَةَ اللَّهِ مِن بَعدِ ما جاءَتهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَديدُ العِقابِ

Ask the Children of Israel how many clear signs We’ve given them. Anyone who substitutes a blessing he has from God—God is stern in retribution.