O mankind! A parable is related to you: so listen to it. The deities, whom you invoke instead of Allah, cannot create a fly even though they may all combine together for this purpose. Nay! if a fly snatches away something from them, they cannot get it back from it. How weak are the suppliants and how weak those whom they supplicate.123 They do not recognize the true worth of Allah' as they should: the fact is that Allah alone is All-Mighty, All-Powerful. Allah chooses His Messengers from among the angels and also from among the human beings (to convey His decrees).124 He hears everything and knows everything. He knows whatever is open before them as well as that which is hidden from them,125 and all matters are resented before Him.126 O people, who have believed, bow down and prostrate yourselves before Allah, worship your Lord and do righteous deeds: it may be that you attain true success.127 Exert your utmost for the cause of Allah as one should.128 He has chosen you for His service129 and has not laid on you any hardship in your religion.130 Therefore, be steadfast in the religion of your father Abraham.131 Allah had called you "Muslims" before this and has called you132 (by the same name) in this (Qur'an) also so that the Messenger may be a witness in regard to you and you may be witnesses in regard to the rest of mankind.133 Therefore, establish Salat and pay the Zakat dues, and hold fast to Allah,134 for He is your Guardian: What an excellent Guardian and what an excellent Helper!