Such, behold, will in truth be the [confusion and] mutual wrangling of the people of the fire!

and say, “Which is better - our deities or he?"* [But] it is only in the spirit of dispute that they put this comparison before thee: yea, they are conten­tious folk!*

These two contrary kinds of man* have become engrossed in contention about their Sus­tainer! But [thus it is:] as for those who are bent on denying the truth* garments of fire shall be cut out for them [in the life to come]; burning despair* will be poured over their heads,

AND YET, has the story of the litigants come within thy ken - [the story of the two] who surmounted the walls of the sanctuary [in which David prayed]?*

As they came upon David, and he shrank back in fear from them, they said: “Fear not! [We are but] two litigants. One of us has wronged the other: so judge thou between us with justice, and deviate not from what is right, and show [both of] us the way to rectitude.

NOW THERE IS a kind of man* whose views on the life of this world may please thee greatly, and [the more so as] he cites God as witness to what is in his heart and is, moreover, exceedingly skillful in argument.*

BEHOLD, We have bestowed upon thee from on high this divine writ, setting forth the truth, so that thou may judge between people in accordance with what God has taught thee.* Hence, do not contend with those who are false to their trust,

He creates man out of a [mere] drop of sperm: and lo! this same being shows himself endowed with the power to think and to argue!*

IS MAN, then, not aware that it is We who create him out of a [mere] drop of sperm - whereupon, lo! he shows himself endowed with the power to think and to argue?*

“What! [Am I to have a daughter -] one who is to be reared [only] for the sake of ornament?"* and thereupon he finds himself torn by a vague inner conflict.*

This account of something that was beyond the reach of thy perception We [now] reveal unto thee:* for thou wert not with them when they drew lots as to which of them should be Mary's guardian,* and thou wert not with them when they contended [about it] with one another.

These two contrary kinds of man* have become engrossed in contention about their Sus­tainer! But [thus it is:] as for those who are bent on denying the truth* garments of fire shall be cut out for them [in the life to come]; burning despair* will be poured over their heads,

And there and then, blaming one another,* they [who had grievously sinned in life] will exclaim:

AND [likewise], indeed, We sent unto [the tribe of] Thamud their brother Salih [with this message]: “Worship God alone!"* and, behold, they were [split into] two factions contending with one another.

[And they are unaware that] nothing awaits them beyond a single blast [of God's punishment],* which will overtake them while they are still arguing - [against resurrection]:

[Say, O Muhammad:] “No knowledge would I have had of [what passed among] the host on high when they argued [against the creation of man],*

and then, behold, on the Day of Resurrection you all shall place your dispute before your Sustainer.

[And] He will say: “Contend not before Me, [O you sinners,] for I gave you a forewarning [of this Day of Reckoning].