The Servants of the Merciful

The true servants of the Merciful are those who walk humbly upon the earth and say: “Peace!” to the ignorant who accost them: who pass the night standing and prostrate in adoration of their Lord; who say: “Lord ward off from us the punishment of Hell, for its punishment is everlasting, an evil dwelling and an evil resting-place”; who, when they spend, are neither wasteful nor niggardly, but keep the golden mean; who invoke no other god besides God, and do not kill save for a just cause; who do not commit adultery. He that does this shall meet with evil: his punishment shall be doubled on the Day of Resurrection and in disgrace he shall abide forever—unless he repent and believe and do good works, for then God will change his sins to good actions; God is Forgiving and Merciful: he that repents and does good works truly returns to God; who do not bear false witness and when they pass by idle talk, pass by with dignity; who do not turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the revelations of their Lord when they are reminded of them; who say: “Lord, give us joy in our spouses and offspring, and make us examples to those who are God-fearing.” These shall be rewarded with the highest heaven for their patient endurance. There they shall be welcomed with a greeting and peace, and there they shall abide forever; a blessed dwelling and a blessed resting place (25:63-76).