Alif Lam Ra. It is an Edict1 whose contents have been made firm and issued in detail2 by the All-Wise and All-Aware: (it is this): "You should worship none but Allah-I am indeed a warner and also a bearer of good news from Him to you-And you should ask forgiveness of your Lord: then return to Him and He will provide you with good provisions of life till an appointed term.3 And He will bestow His favors on everyone who deserves His favors.4 But if you turn away I am afraid you shall meet with the torment of a dreadful day. To Allah you shall all return and He has power over everything." Behold! They turn aside their chests in order to hide themselves from him.5 Beware! Even when they cover themselves with clothes Allah knows alike what they conceal and what they show; indeed He knows even the secrets they conceal in their breasts. There is no moving creature on the earth whose sustenance does not depend on Allah: He knows its dwelling place and its repository.6 Everything has been recorded in an open register. And it is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six days-whereas before this His Throne rested upon water7 so that He may test which of you does the best deeds.8 Now O Muhammad, if you tell them "You will, O people, be raised again after death," those who disbelieve promptly exclaim, "This is plain sorcery!"9 And if We defer their punishment to some definite and reckoned time, they say, "Well, what is it that is delaying this?" Listen! When the day of that punishment comes, no one shall be able to avert it from them, and that very thing which they are ridiculing shall encircle them on all sides.