Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors.

How then if We brought from each people a witness, and We brought thee as a witness against these people!

Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord, and We shall then tell them the truth of all that they did.

To every people is a term appointed: when their term is reached, not an hour can they cause delay, nor (an hour) can they advance (it in anticipation).

To every people (was sent) a messenger: when their messenger comes (before them), the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged.

Say: "I have no power over any harm or profit to myself except as Allah willeth. To every people is a term appointed: when their term is reached, not an hour can they cause delay, nor (an hour) can they advance (it in anticipation)."

If We delay the penalty for them for a definite term, they are sure to say, "What keeps it back?" Ah! On the day it (actually) reaches them, nothing will turn it away from them, and they will be completely encircled by that which they used to mock at!

But the man who had been released, one of the two (who had been in prison) and who now bethought him after (so long) a space of time, said: "I will tell you the truth of its interpretation: send ye me (therefore)."

Thus have we sent thee amongst a People before whom (long since) have (other) Peoples (gone and) passed away; in order that thou mightest rehearse unto them what We send down unto thee by inspiration; yet do they reject (Him), the Most Gracious! Say: "He is my Lord! There is no god but He! On Him is my trust, and to Him do I turn!"

Neither can a people anticipate its term, nor delay it.

For We assuredly sent amongst every People a messenger, (with the Command), "Serve Allah, and eschew Evil": of the People were some whom Allah guided, and some on whom error became inevitably (established). So travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who denied (the Truth).

One Day We shall raise from all Peoples a Witness: then will no excuse be accepted from Unbelievers, nor will they receive any favours.

One day We shall raise from all Peoples a witness against them, from amongst themselves: and We shall bring thee as a witness against these (thy people): and We have sent down to thee the Book explaining all things, a Guide, a Mercy, and Glad Tidings to Muslims.

And be not like a woman who breaks into untwisted strands the yarn which she has spun, after it has become strong. Nor take your oaths to practise deception between yourselves, lest one party should be more numerous than another: for Allah will test you by this; and on the Day of Judgment He will certainly make clear to you (the truth of) that wherein ye disagree.

To every people did We appoint rites (of sacrifice), that they might celebrate the name of Allah over the sustenance He gave them from animals (fit for food). But your god is One God: submit then your wills to Him (in Islam): and give thou the good news to those who humble themselves,-

To every People have We appointed rites and ceremonies which they must follow: let them not then dispute with thee on the matter, but do thou invite (them) to thy Lord: for thou art assuredly on the Right Way.

No people can hasten their term, nor can they delay (it).

One day We shall gather together from every people a troop of those who reject our Signs, and they shall be kept in ranks,-

And from each people shall We draw a witness, and We shall say: "Produce your Proof": then shall they know that the Truth is in Allah (alone), and the (lies) which they invented will leave them in lurch.

Verily We have sent thee in truth, as a bearer of glad tidings, and as a warner: and there never was a people, without a warner having lived among them (in the past).

But (there were people) before them, who denied (the Signs),- the People of Noah, and the Confederates (of Evil) after them; and every People plotted against their prophet, to seize him, and disputed by means of vanities, therewith to condemn the Truth; but it was I that seized them! and how (terrible) was My Requital!

Nay! they say: "We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we do guide ourselves by their footsteps."

Just in the same way, whenever We sent a Warner before thee to any people, the wealthy ones among them said: "We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we will certainly follow in their footsteps."

And thou wilt see every sect bowing the knee: Every sect will be called to its Record: "This Day shall ye be recompensed for all that ye did!

And thou wilt see every sect bowing the knee: Every sect will be called to its Record: "This Day shall ye be recompensed for all that ye did!

你们是为世人而被产生的最优秀的民族，你们劝善戒恶，确信真主。假若信奉天经的人确信正道，那对于他们是更好的。他们中有一部分是信士，大部分是罪人。

当我从每个民族中召来一个见证，并召你来作证这等人的时候，（他们的情状），将怎样呢？

你们不要辱骂他们舍真主而祈祷的（偶像），以免他们因过分和无知而辱骂真主。我这样以-个民族的行为迷惑他们，然后，他们只归于他们的主，而他要把他们生前的行为告诉他们。

-个民族都有一个期限，当他们的限期到来的时候，他们不能耽延一刻；当其未来的时候，他们也不能提前一刻。

每个民族各有一个使者。当他们族中的使者来临的时候，他们要被秉公判决，不受冤枉。

你说：“我不能为我自己主持祸福，除非真主意欲，每个民族各有一个期限，当他们的期限来临的时候，他们不能耽延一会儿；（当其未来临的时候，）他们不能提前的一会儿。”

如果我把他们应受的惩罚展缓一个可数的日期，他们必定说：“惩罚怎么不降临呢？”真的，在惩罚降临他们的日子，他们将无处逃避，他们所嘲笑的惩罚将要降临他们。

曾被赦宥并且在一个时期之后想起优素福的那个青年说：“我将告诉你们关于这个梦的意思，请你们派我去吧。”

我这样派遣你去教化一个民族，在他们之前有许多民族确已逝去了，以便你对他们宣读我所启示你的经典，他们是不信至仁主的。你说：“他是我的主，除他之外，绝无应受崇拜的。我只信托他，我只以他为依归。”

任何民族都不能先其定期而灭亡，也不能后其定期而沦丧。

我在每个民族中，确已派遣一个使者，说：“你们当崇拜真主，当远离恶魔。”但他们中有真主所引导的，有应当迷误的。故你们当在大地上旅行，应当观察否认（使者）的人们的结局是怎样的。

在那日，我要在每个民族中推举一个见证，然后，不信道者不得为自己辩护，也不得向他们讨好。

我要在每个民族中，推举他们族中的一个见证，来反证他们，在那日，我要推举你来反证这等人。我曾降示这部经典，阐明万事，并作归顺者的向导、恩惠和喜讯。

你们不要像那个妇人，她把纺织得很结实的线又分拆成若干缕；你们以盟誓为互相欺诈的手段，因为这一族比那一族还要富庶。真主只以此事考验你们。复活日，他必为你们阐明你们所争论的是非。

我为每个民族制定一种供献的仪式， 以便他们记念真主之名而屠宰他所赐他们的牲畜。你们的神明是独一的神明，故你们应当只归顺他。你应当以喜讯传示谦恭者。

我为每个民族制定一种供献仪式，让他们有的遵循，绝不是让他们为这事与你争论。你应当召唤众人来崇拜你的主，你确是在正路上的。

任何世代，都不能在自己的期限之前灭亡，也不能在自己的期限之后沦丧。

在那日，我将从每个民族中，集合一群不信我的迹象的人，而他们是被排列得整整齐齐的。

我将从每一个民族中先拔一个证人，并且说：“你们把你们的证据拿来吧！”他们才知道真理是真主的，他们生前所伪造的，已回避他们了。

我确已使你本真理而为报喜者和警告者。没有一个民族则已，只要有一个民族，其中就有警告者曾经逝去了。

在他们之前，努哈的宗族，和后来的各民族，都否认众使者，各民族都欲加害本族的使者；他们据谬妄而争论，欲借此驳倒真理，故我惩治了他们。我的刑罚是怎样的？

不然，他们说：“我们确已发现我们的祖先是信奉一种宗教的，我们确是遵循他们的遗迹而得正道的。”

在你之前，每逢我这样派遣警告者到一个城市去，那里的豪华者总是说：“我们确已发现我们的祖先是信奉一种宗教的，我们确是遵循他们的遗迹的。”

你将来会看见，每一民族都是屈膝的，每一民族都要被召去看自己的功过簿。”今日，你们将受自己行为的报酬。”

你将来会看见，每一民族都是屈膝的，每一民族都要被召去看自己的功过簿。”今日，你们将受自己行为的报酬。”