5 Preface وَالَّذينَ سَعَوا في آياتِنا مُعاجِزينَ أُولٰئِكَ لَهُم عَذابٌ مِن رِجزٍ أَليمٌAli Quli QaraiBut those who contend with Our signs seeking to thwart [their purpose], for such is a painful punishment due to defilement.1 That is, owing to their inward defilement. According to an alternate reading which makes alīm the attribute of rijz, the translation will be: ‘for such is the torment of a painful punishment.’