The Quran

Preface

۞ أَلَم يَأنِ لِلَّذينَ آمَنوا أَن تَخشَعَ قُلوبُهُم لِذِكرِ اللَّهِ وَما نَزَلَ مِنَ الحَقِّ وَلا يَكونوا كَالَّذينَ أوتُوا الكِتابَ مِن قَبلُ فَطالَ عَلَيهِمُ الأَمَدُ فَقَسَت قُلوبُهُم ۖ وَكَثيرٌ مِنهُم فاسِقونَ

Yusuf Ali

Has not the time arrived¹ for the Believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of God and of the Truth which has been revealed (to them), and that they should not become like those to whom was given Revelation aforetime,² but long ages passed over them and their hearts grew hard? For many among them are rebellious transgressors.

Humility and the remembrance of God and His Message are never more necessary than in the hour of victory and prosperity.
The men immediately referred to are the contemporary Jews and Christians.
To each of these Ummahs was given God’s Revelation, but as time passed, they corrupted it, became arrogant and hard-hearted, and subverted justice, truth, and the purity of Life. But the general lesson is far wider. No one is favoured by God except on the score of righteousness. Except on that score, there is no chosen individual or race. There is no blind good fortune or ill fortune. All happens according to the just laws and Will of God. But at no time is humility or righteousness more necessary than in the hour of victory or triumph.