Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.
Has not the story reached you, (O people!), of those who (went) before you? - of the people of Noah, and 'Ad, and Thamud? - And of those who (came) after them? None knows them but Allah. To them came messengers with Clear (Signs); but they put their hands up to their mouths, and said: "We do deny (the mission) on which ye have been sent, and we are really in suspicious (disquieting) doubt as to that to which ye invite us."
(Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth,- doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: "My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case)." Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers.
你们应当为他们而准备你们所能准备的武力和战马,你们借此威胁真主的敌人和你们的敌人,以及他们以外的别的敌人,你们不认识那些敌人,真主却认识他们。凡你们为主道而花费的,无论是什么,都将得到完全的报酬,你们不会吃亏。
你们以前的民族--努哈的宗族、阿德人、赛莫德人和他们以后的人,只有真主能知道他们--难道这等人的消息没有来临你们吗?他们族中的使者昭示他们许多明证,但他们把自己的手指插入口内,说:“我们必定不信你们所奉的使命,我们对于你们所宣传的事情,确是在使人不安的疑惑之中。”
有人将说:“他们是三个,第四个是他们的狗。”有人将说:“他们是五个,第六个是他们的狗。”这是由于猜测幽玄。还有人将说:“他们是七个,第八个是他们的狗。”你说:“我的主是最知道他们的数目的,此外,只有少数人知道。关于他们的事情,只可作表面的辩论,关于他们的事情,不要请教任何人。”