Ash-Shu'ara

The Prophet ﷺ is told not to grieve himself to death because his people will not believe. Musa is sent to Pharaoh with Harun. Pharaoh reminds him he was raised in the palace, and asks who the Lord of the worlds is. Musa’s staff becomes a snake and his hand shines white. The magicians come for a reward, see the truth, and fall in prostration, and Pharaoh’s threats do not move them: “No harm.” Musa’s people leave by night with the army behind them. “We are overtaken!” they cry. “No! My Lord is with me,” Musa says, and the sea parts. Ibrahim asks his people whether their idols can hear them, then speaks of the Lord who created him, guides him, feeds him and heals him. On the Day neither wealth nor children will help, “only the one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.” Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut and Shu‘ayb each say the same words: “I am a trustworthy messenger. Fear Allah and obey me. I ask you no reward for it.” Each is denied, and each people meets its end, by flood, wind, the Blast, a rain of stones, and the Day of Shadow. After every story the same lines return: “Surely in that is a sign, yet most of them do not believe. Your Lord is the Almighty, the Most Merciful.” The Quran was brought down by the Trustworthy Spirit, in clear Arabic, and no devil could have brought it. The poets are followed by those astray, except those who believe and do good. The wrongdoers will soon know what a turnaround awaits them.