فَلَآأُقْسِمُبِرَبِّٱلْمَشَـٰرِقِوَٱلْمَغَـٰرِبِإِنَّالَقَـٰدِرُونَ٤٠

So I swear by the Lord of [all] risings and settings¹ that indeed We are able

To replace them with better than them; and We are not to be outdone.

So leave them to converse vainly and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised -

The Day they will emerge from the graves rapidly as if they were, toward an erected idol, hastening.¹

Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. That is the Day which they had been promised.

Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, [saying], "Warn your people before there comes to them a painful punishment."

He said, "O my people, indeed I am to you a clear warner -

To worship Allāh, fear Him and obey me.

He [i.e., Allāh] will forgive you of your sins and delay you for a specified term. Indeed, the time [set by] Allāh, when it comes, will not be delayed, if you only knew."

He said, "My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day.

But my invitation increased them not except in flight [i.e., aversion].

And indeed, every time I invited them that You may forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments,¹ persisted, and were arrogant with [great] arrogance.

Then I invited them publicly.

Then I announced to them and [also] confided to them secretly

And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.