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diff --git a/3434.txt b/3434.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5c0acdc --- /dev/null +++ b/3434.txt @@ -0,0 +1,27389 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Koran + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Koran + +Release Date: September, 2002 [EBook #3434] +[This file was first posted on September 4, 2002] +[Most recently updated: July 13, 2015] + + +Edition: 12a + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: windows-1252 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE KORAN *** + + + + +The Koran + + + +TRANSLATED FROM THE ARABIC BY THE REV. J.M. RODWELL, M.A. WITH AN +INTRODUCTION BY THE REV. G. MARGOLIOUTH, M.A. + + + +Introduction Preface Index + +Sura Number (this edition) Sura Number (Arabic text) Title + +1 96 Thick Blood or Clots of Blood +2 74 The Enwrapped +3 73 The Enfolded +4 93 The Brightness +5 94 The Opening +6 113 The Daybreak +7 114 Men +8 1 Sura I. +9 109 Unbelievers +10 112 The Unity +11 111 Abu Lahab +12 108 The Abundance +13 104 The Backbiter +14 107 Religion +15 102 Desire +16 92 The Night +17 68 The Pen +18 90 The Soil +19 105 The Elephant +20 106 The Koreisch +21 97 Power +22 86 The Night-Comer +23 91 The Sun +24 80 He Frowned +25 87 The Most High +26 95 The Fig +27 103 The Afternoon +28 85 The Starry +29 101 The Blow +30 99 The Earthquake +31 82 The Cleaving +32 81 The Folded Up +33 84 The Splitting Asunder +34 100 The Chargers +35 79 Those Who Drag Forth +36 77 The Sent +37 78 The News +38 88 The Overshadowing +39 89 The Daybreak +40 75 The Resurrection +41 83 Those Who Stint +42 69 The Inevitable +43 51 The Scattering +44 52 The Mountain +45 56 The Inevitable +46 53 The Star +47 70 The Steps or Ascents +48 55 The Merciful +49 54 The Moon +50 37 The Ranks +51 71 Noah +52 76 Man +53 44 Smoke +54 50 Kaf +55 20 Ta. Ha. +56 26 The Poets +57 15 Hedjr +58 19 Mary +59 38 Sad +60 36 Ya. Sin +61 43 Ornaments of Gold +62 72 Djinn +63 67 The Kingdom +64 23 The Believers +65 21 The Prophets +66 25 Al Furkan +67 17 The Night Journey +68 27 The Ant +69 18 The Cave +70 32 Adoration +71 41 The Made Plain +72 45 The Kneeling +73 16 The Bee +74 30 The Greeks +75 11 Houd +76 14 Abraham, On Whom Be Peace +77 12 Joseph, Peace Be On Him +78 40 The Believer +79 28 The Story +80 39 The Troops +81 29 The Spider +82 31 Lokman +83 42 Counsel +84 10 Jonah, Peace Be On Him! +85 34 Saba +86 35 The Creator, or The Angels +87 7 Al Araf +88 46 Al Ahkaf +89 6 Cattle +90 13 Thunder +91 2 The Cow +92 98 Clear Evidence +93 64 Mutual Deceit +94 62 The Assembly +95 8 The Spoils +96 47 Muhammad +97 3 The Family of Imran +98 61 Battle Array +99 57 Iron +100 4 Women +101 65 Divorce +102 59 The Emigration +103 33 The Confederates +104 63 The Hypocrites +105 24 Light +106 58 She Who Pleaded +107 22 The Pilgrimage +108 48 The Victory +109 66 The Forbidding +110 60 She Who Is Tried +111 110 HELP +112 49 The Apartments +113 9 Immunity +114 5 The Table + + +MOHAMMED was born at Mecca in A.D. 567 or 569. His flight (hijra) to Medina, +which marks the beginning of the Mohammedan era, took place on 16th June 622. +He died on 7th June 632. + + + +INTRODUCTION + +THE Koran admittedly occupies an important position among the great religious +books of the world. Though the youngest of the epoch-making works belonging +to this class of literature, it yields to hardly any in the wonderful effect +which it has produced on large masses of men. It has created an all but new +phase of human thought and a fresh type of character. It first transformed a +number of heterogeneous desert tribes of the Arabian peninsula into a nation +of heroes, and then proceeded to create the vast politico-religious +organisations of the Muhammedan world which are one of the great forces with +which Europe and the East have to reckon to-day. + +The secret of the power exercised by the book, of course, lay in the mind +which produced it. It was, in fact, at first not a book, but a strong living +voice, a kind of wild authoritative proclamation, a series of admonitions, +promises, threats, and instructions addressed to turbulent and largely +hostile assemblies of untutored Arabs. As a book it was published after the +prophet's death. In Muhammed's life-time there were only disjointed notes, +speeches, and the retentive memories of those who listened to them. To speak +of the Koran is, therefore, practically the same as speaking of Muhammed, and +in trying to appraise the religious value of the book one is at the same time +attempting to form an opinion of the prophet himself. It would indeed be +difficult to find another case in which there is such a complete identity +between the literary work and the mind of the man who produced it. + +That widely different estimates have been formed of Muhammed is well-known. +To Moslems he is, of course, the prophet par excellence, and the Koran is +regarded by the orthodox as nothing less than the eternal utterance of Allah. +The eulogy pronounced by Carlyle on Muhammed in Heroes and Hero Worship will +probably be endorsed by not a few at the present day. The extreme contrary +opinion, which in a fresh form has recently been revived1 by an able writer, +is hardly likely to find much lasting support. The correct view very probably +lies between the two extremes. The relative value of any given system of +religious thought must depend on the amount of truth which it embodies as +well as on the ethical standard which its adherents are bidden to follow. +Another important test is the degree of originality that is to be assigned to +it, for it can manifestly only claim credit for that which is new in it, not +for that which it borrowed from other systems. + +With regard to the first-named criterion, there is a growing opinion among +students of religious history that Muhammed may in a real sense be regarded +as a prophet of certain truths, though by no means of truth in the absolute +meaning of the term. The shortcomings of the moral teaching contained in the +Koran are striking enough if judged from the highest ethical standpoint with +which we are acquainted; but a much more favourable view is arrived at if a +comparison is made between the ethics of the Koran and the moral tenets of +Arabian and other forms of heathenism which it supplanted. + +The method followed by Muhammed in the promulgation of the Koran also +requires to be treated with discrimination. From the first flash of prophetic +inspiration which is clearly discernible in the earlier portions of the book +he, later on, frequently descended to deliberate invention and artful +rhetoric. He, in fact, accommodated his moral sense to the circumstances in +which the r\oc\le he had to play involved him. + +On the question of originality there can hardly be two opinions now that the +Koran has been thoroughly compared with the Christian and Jewish traditions +of the time; and it is, besides some original Arabian legends, to those only +that the book stands in any close relationship. The matter is for the most +part borrowed, but the manner is all the prophet's own. This is emphatically +a case in which originality consists not so much in the creation of new +materials of thought as in the manner in which existing traditions of various +kinds are utilised and freshly blended to suit the special exigencies of the +occasion. Biblical reminiscences, Rabbinic legends, Christian traditions +mostly drawn from distorted apocryphal sources, and native heathen stories, +all first pass through the prophet's fervid mind, and thence issue in strange +new forms, tinged with poetry and enthusiasm, and well adapted to enforce his +own view of life and duty, to serve as an encouragement to his faithful +adherents, and to strike terror into the hearts of his opponents. + +There is, however, apart from its religious value, a more general view from +which the book should be considered. The Koran enjoys the distinction of +having been the starting-point of a new literary and philosophical movement +which has powerfully affected the finest and most cultivated minds among both +Jews and Christians in the Middle Ages. This general progress of the +Muhammedan world has somehow been arrested, but research has shown that what +European scholars knew of Greek philosophy, of mathematics, astronomy, and +like sciences, for several centuries before the Renaissance, was, roughly +speaking, all derived from Latin treatises ultimately based on Arabic +originals; and it was the Koran which, though indirectly, gave the first +impetus to these studies among the Arabs and their allies. Linguistic +investigations, poetry, and other branches of literature, also made their +appearance soon after or simultaneously with the publication of the Koran; +and the literary movement thus initiated has resulted in some of the finest +products of genius and learning. + +The style in which the Koran is written requires some special attention in +this introduction. The literary form is for the most part different from +anything else we know. In its finest passages we indeed seem to hear a voice +akin to that of the ancient Hebrew prophets, but there is much in the book +which Europeans usually regard as faulty. The tendency to repetition which is +an inherent characteristic of the Semitic mind appears here in an exaggerated +form, and there is in addition much in the Koran which strikes us as wild and +fantastic. The most unfavourable criticism ever passed on Muhammed's style +has in fact been penned by the prophet's greatest British admirer, Carlyle +himself; and there are probably many now who find themselves in the same +dilemma with that great writer. + +The fault appears, however, to lie partly in our difficulty to appreciate the +psychology of the Arab prophet. We must, in order to do him justice, give +full consideration to his temperament and to the condition of things around +him. We are here in touch with an untutored but fervent mind, trying to +realise itself and to assimilate certain great truths which have been +powerfully borne in upon him, in order to impart them in a convincing form to +his fellow-tribesmen. He is surrounded by obstacles of every kind, yet he +manfully struggles on with the message that is within him. Learning he has +none, or next to none. His chief objects of knowledge are floating stories +and traditions largely picked up from hearsay, and his over-wrought mind is +his only teacher. The literary compositions to which he had ever listened +were the half-cultured, yet often wildly powerful rhapsodies of early Arabian +minstrels, akin to Ossian rather than to anything else within our knowledge. +What wonder then that his Koran took a form which to our colder temperaments +sounds strange, unbalanced, and fantastic? + +Yet the Moslems themselves consider the book the finest that ever appeared +among men. They find no incongruity in the style. To them the matter is all +true and the manner all perfect. Their eastern temperament responds readily +to the crude, strong, and wild appeal which its cadences make to them, and +the jingling rhyme in which the sentences of a discourse generally end adds +to the charm of the whole. The Koran, even if viewed from the point of view +of style alone, was to them from the first nothing less than a miracle, as +great a miracle as ever was wrought. + +But to return to our own view of the case. Our difficulty in appreciating the +style of the Koran even moderately is, of course, increased if, instead of +the original, we have a translation before us. But one is happy to be able to +say that Rodwell's rendering is one of the best that have as yet been +produced. It seems to a great extent to carry with it the atmosphere in which +Muhammed lived, and its sentences are imbued with the flavour of the East. +The quasi-verse form, with its unfettered and irregular rhythmic flow of the +lines, which has in suitable cases been adopted, helps to bring out much of +the wild charm of the Arabic. Not the least among its recommendations is, +perhaps, that it is scholarly without being pedantic that is to say, that it +aims at correctness without sacrificing the right effect of the whole to +over-insistence on small details. + +Another important merit of Rodwell's edition is its chronological arrangement +of the Suras or chapters. As he tells us himself in his preface, it is now in +a number of cases impossible to ascertain the exact occasion on which a +discourse, or part of a discourse, was delivered, so that the system could +not be carried through with entire consistency. But the sequence adopted is +in the main based on the best available historical and literary evidence; and +in following the order of the chapters as here printed, the reader will be +able to trace the development of the prophet's mind as he gradually advanced +from the early flush of inspiration to the less spiritual and more equivocal +r\oc\le of warrior, politician, and founder of an empire. + +G. Margoliouth. + + +1 Mahommed and the Rise of Islam, in “Heroes of Nations” series. + +SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY + +ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS. From the original Arabic by G. Sale, 1734, 1764, 1795, +1801; many later editions, which include a memoir of the translator by R. A. +Davenport, and notes from Savary's version of the Koran; an edition issued by +E. M. Wherry, with additional notes and commentary (Tr\du\ubner's Oriental +Series), 1882, etc.; Sale's translation has also been edited in the Chandos +Classics, and among Lubbock's Hundred Books (No. 22). The Holy Qur\da\an, +translated by Dr. Mohammad Abdul Hakim Khan, with short notes, 1905; +Translation by J. M. Rodwell, with notes and index (the Suras arranged in +chronological order), 1861, 2nd ed., 1876; by E. H. Palmer (Sacred Books of +the East, vols. vi., ix.). + +SELECTIONS: Chiefly from Sale's edition, by E. W. Lane, 1843; revised and +enlarged with introduction by S. Lane-Poole. (Tr\du\ubner's Oriental Series), +1879; The Speeches and Table-Talk of the Prophet Mohammad, etc., chosen and +translated, with introduction and notes by S. Lane-Poole, 1882 (Golden +Treasury Series); Selections with introduction and explanatory notes (from +Sale and other writers), by J. Murdock (Sacred Books of the East), 2nd ed., +1902; The Religion of the Koran, selections with an introduction by A. N. +Wollaston (The Wisdom of the East), 1904. + See also: Sir W. Muir: The Koran, its Composition and Teaching, 1878; +H. Hirschfeld: New Researches into the Composition and Exegesis of the Qoran, +1902; W. St C. Tisdale: Sources of the Qur’ân, 1905; H. U. W. Stanton: The +Teaching of the Qur’án, 1919; A. Mingana: Syriac Influence on the Style of +the Kur’ân, 1927. + + + +TO + +SIR WILLIAM MARTIN, K.T., D.C.L. +LATE CHIEF JUSTICE OF NEW ZEALAND, + +THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED, + +WITH SINCERE FEELINGS OF ESTEEM FOR HIS PRIVATE WORTH, + +PUBLIC SERVICES, + +AND EMINENT LITERARY ATTAINMENTS, + +BY + + THE TRANSLATOR. + + + +PREFACE + +It is necessary that some brief explanation should be given with reference to +the arrangement of the Suras, or chapters, adopted in this translation of the +Koran. It should be premised that their order as it stands in all Arabic +manuscripts, and in all hitherto printed editions, whether Arabic or +European, is not chronological, neither is there any authentic tradition to +shew that it rests upon the authority of Muhammad himself. The scattered +fragments of the Koran were in the first instance collected by his immediate +successor Abu Bekr, about a year after the Prophet's death, at the suggestion +of Omar, who foresaw that, as the Muslim warriors, whose memories were the +sole depositaries of large portions of the revelations, died off or were +slain, as had been the case with many in the battle of Yemâma, A.H. 12, the +loss of the greater part, or even of the whole, was imminent. Zaid Ibn +Thâbit, a native of Medina, and one of the Ansars, or helpers, who had been +Muhammad's amanuensis, was the person fixed upon to carry out the task, and +we are told that he "gathered together" the fragments of the Koran from every +quarter, "from date leaves and tablets of white stone, and from the breasts +of men."1 The copy thus formed by Zaid probably remained in the possession of +Abu Bekr during the remainder of his brief caliphate, who committed it to the +custody of Haphsa, one of Muhammad's widows, and this text continued during +the ten years of Omar's caliphate to be the standard. In the copies made from +it, various readings naturally and necessarily sprung up; and these, under +the caliphate of Othman, led to such serious disputes between the faithful, +that it became necessary to interpose, and in accordance with the warning of +Hodzeifa, "to stop the people, before they should differ regarding their +scriptures, as did the Jews and Christians."2 In accordance with this advice, +Othman determined to establish a text which should be the sole standard, and +entrusted the redaction to the Zaid already mentioned, with whom he +associated as colleagues, three, according to others, twelve3 of the +Koreisch, in order to secure the purity of that Meccan idiom in which +Muhammad had spoken, should any occasions arise in which the collators might +have to decide upon various readings. Copies of the text formed were thus +forwarded to several of the chief military stations in the new empire, and +all previously existing copies were committed to the flames. + +Zaid and his coadjutors, however, do not appear to have arranged the +materials which came into their hands upon any system more definite than that +of placing the longest and best known Suras first, immediately after the +Fatthah, or opening chapter (the eighth in this edition); although even this +rule, artless and unscientific as it is, has not been adhered to with +strictness. Anything approaching to a chronological arrangement was entirely +lost sight of. Late Medina Suras are often placed before early Meccan Suras; +the short Suras at the end of the Koran are its earliest portions; while, as +will be seen from the notes, verses of Meccan origin are to be found embedded +in Medina Suras, and verses promulged at Medina scattered up and down in the +Meccan Suras. It would seem as if Zaid had to a great extent put his +materials together just as they came to hand, and often with entire disregard +to continuity of subject and uniformity of style. The text, therefore, as +hitherto arranged, necessarily assumes the form of a most unreadable and +incongruous patchwork; "une assemblage," says M. Kasimirski in his Preface, +"informe et incohérent de préceptes moraux, religieux, civils et politiques, +męlés d'exhortations, de promesses, et de menaces"–and conveys no idea +whatever of the development and growth of any plan in the mind of the founder +of Islam, or of the circumstances by which he was surrounded and influenced. +It is true that the manner in which Zaid contented himself with simply +bringing together his materials and transcribing them, without any attempt to +mould them into shape or sequence, and without any effort to supply +connecting links between adjacent verses, to fill up obvious chasms, or to +suppress details of a nature discreditable to the founder of Islam, proves +his scrupulous honesty as a compiler, as well as his reverence for the sacred +text, and to a certain extent guarantees the genuineness and authenticity of +the entire volume. But it is deeply to be regretted that he did not combine +some measure of historical criticism with that simplicity and honesty of +purpose which forbade him, as it certainly did, in any way to tamper with the +sacred text, to suppress contradictory, and exclude or soften down +inaccurate, statements. + +The arrangement of the Suras in this translation is based partly upon the +traditions of the Muhammadans themselves, with reference especially to the +ancient chronological list printed by Weil in his Mohammed der Prophet, as +well as upon a careful consideration of the subject matter of each separate +Sura and its probable connection with the sequence of events in the life of +Muhammad. Great attention has been paid to this subject by Dr. Weil in the +work just mentioned; by Mr. Muir in his Life of Mahomet, who also publishes a +chronological list of Suras, 21 however of which he admits have "not yet been +carefully fixed;" and especially by Nöldeke, in his Geschichte des Qôrans, a +work to which public honours were awarded in 1859 by the Paris Academy of +Inscriptions. From the arrangement of this author I see no reason to depart +in regard to the later Suras. It is based upon a searching criticism and +minute analysis of the component verses of each, and may be safely taken as a +standard, which ought not to be departed from without weighty reasons. I +have, however, placed the earlier and more fragmentary Suras, after the two +first, in an order which has reference rather to their subject matter than to +points of historical allusion, which in these Suras are very few; whilst on +the other hand, they are mainly couched in the language of self-communion, of +aspirations after truth, and of mental struggle, are vivid pictures of Heaven +and Hell, or descriptions of natural objects, and refer also largely to the +opposition met with by Muhammad from his townsmen of Mecca at the outset of +his public career. This remark applies to what Nöldeke terms "the Suras of +the First Period." + +The contrast between the earlier, middle, and later Suras is very striking +and interesting, and will be at once apparent from the arrangement here +adopted. In the Suras as far as the 54th, p. 76, we cannot but notice the +entire predominance of the poetical element, a deep appreciation (as in Sura +xci. p. 38) of the beauty of natural objects, brief fragmentary and +impassioned utterances, denunciations of woe and punishment, expressed for +the most part in lines of extreme brevity. With a change, however, in the +position of Muhammad when he openly assumes the office of "public warner," +the Suras begin to assume a more prosaic and didactic tone, though the +poetical ornament of rhyme is preserved throughout. We gradually lose the +Poet in the missionary aiming to convert, the warm asserter of dogmatic +truths; the descriptions of natural objects, of the judgment, of Heaven and +Hell, make way for gradually increasing historical statements, first from +Jewish, and subsequently from Christian histories; while, in the 29 Suras +revealed at Medina, we no longer listen to vague words, often as it would +seem without positive aim, but to the earnest disputant with the enemies of +his faith, the Apostle pleading the cause of what he believes to be the Truth +of God. He who at Mecca is the admonisher and persuader, at Medina is the +legislator and the warrior, who dictates obedience, and uses other weapons +than the pen of the Poet and the Scribe. When business pressed, as at Medina, +Poetry makes way for Prose, and although touches of the Poetical element +occasionally break forth, and he has to defend himself up to a very late +period against the charge of being merely a Poet, yet this is rarely the case +in the Medina Suras; and we are startled by finding obedience to God and the +Apostle, God's gifts and the Apostle's, God's pleasure and the Apostle's, +spoken of in the same breath, and epithets and attributes elsewhere applied +to Allah openly applied to himself as in Sura ix., 118, 129. + +The Suras, viewed as a whole, strike me as being the work of one who began +his career as a thoughtful enquirer after truth, and an earnest asserter of +it in such rhetorical and poetical forms as he deemed most likely to win and +attract his countrymen, and who gradually proceeded from the dogmatic teacher +to the politic founder of a system for which laws and regulations had to be +provided as occasions arose. And of all the Suras it must be remarked that +they were intended not for readers but for hearers–that they were all +promulgated by public recital–and that much was left, as the imperfect +sentences shew, to the manner and suggestive action of the reciter. It would +be impossible, and indeed it is unnecessary, to attempt a detailed life of +Muhammad within the narrow limits of a Preface. The main events thereof with +which the Suras of the Koran stand in connection, are–The visions of Gabriel, +seen, or said to have been seen, at the outset of his career in his 40th +year, during one of his seasons of annual monthly retirement, for devotion +and meditation to Mount Hirâ, near Mecca,–the period of mental depression and +re-assurance previous to the assumption of the office of public teacher–the +Fatrah or pause (see n. p. 20) during which he probably waited for a +repetition of the angelic vision–his labours in comparative privacy for three +years, issuing in about 40 converts, of whom his wife Chadijah was the first, +and Abu Bekr the most important: (for it is to him and to Abu Jahl the Sura +xcii. p. 32, refers)–struggles with Meccan unbelief and idolatry followed by +a period during which probably he had the second vision, Sura liii. p. 69, +and was listened to and respected as a person "possessed" (Sura lxix. 42, p. +60, lii. 29, p. 64)–the first emigration to Abyssinia in A.D. 616, in +consequence of the Meccan persecutions brought on by his now open attacks +upon idolatry (Taghout)–increasing reference to Jewish and Christian +histories, shewing that much time had been devoted to their study the +conversion of Omar in 617–the journey to the Thaquifites at Taief in A.D. +620–the intercourse with pilgrims from Medina, who believed in Islam, and +spread the knowledge thereof in their native town, in the same year–the +vision of the midnight journey to Jerusalem and the Heavens–the meetings by +night at Acaba, a mountain near Mecca, in the 11th year of his mission, and +the pledges of fealty there given to him–the command given to the believers +to emigrate to Yathrib, henceforth Medinat-en-nabi (the city of the Prophet) +or El-Medina (the city), in April of A.D. 622–the escape of Muhammad and Abu +Bekr from Mecca to the cave of Thaur–the FLIGHT to Medina in June 20, A.D. +622–treaties made with Christian tribes–increasing, but still very imperfect +acquaintance with Christian doctrines–the Battle of Bedr in Hej. 2, and of +Ohod–the coalition formed against Muhammad by the Jews and idolatrous +Arabians, issuing in the siege of Medina, Hej. 5 (A.D. 627)–the convention, +with reference to the liberty of making the pilgrimage, of Hudaibiya, Hej. 6– +the embassy to Chosroes King of Persia in the same year, to the Governor of +Egypt and to the King of Abyssinia, desiring them to embrace Islam–the +conquest of several Jewish tribes, the most important of which was that of +Chaibar in Hej. 7, a year marked by the embassy sent to Heraclius, then in +Syria, on his return from the Persian campaign, and by a solemn and peaceful +pilgrimage to Mecca–the triumphant entry into Mecca in Hej. 8 (A.D. 630), and +the demolition of the idols of the Caaba–the submission of the Christians of +Nedjran, of Aila on the Red Sea, and of Taief, etc., in Hej. 9, called "the +year of embassies or deputations," from the numerous deputations which +flocked to Mecca proffering submission–and lastly in Hej. 10, the submission +of Hadramont, Yemen, the greater part of the southern and eastern provinces +of Arabia–and the final solemn pilgrimage to Mecca. + +While, however, there is no great difficulty in ascertaining the Suras which +stand in connection with the more salient features of Muhammad's life, it is +a much more arduous, and often impracticable task, to point out the precise +events to which individual verses refer, and out of which they sprung. It is +quite possible that Muhammad himself, in a later period of his career, +designedly mixed up later with earlier revelations in the same Suras not for +the sake of producing that mysterious style which seems so pleasing to the +mind of those who value truth least when it is most clear and obvious but for +the purpose of softening down some of the earlier statements which represent +the last hour and awful judgment as imminent; and thus leading his followers +to continue still in the attitude of expectation, and to see in his later +successes the truth of his earlier predictions. If after-thoughts of this +kind are to be traced, and they will often strike the attentive reader, it +then follows that the perplexed state of the text in individual Suras is to +be considered as due to Muhammad himself, and we are furnished with a series +of constant hints for attaining to chronological accuracy. And it may be +remarked in passing, that a belief that the end of all things was at hand, +may have tended to promote the earlier successes of Islam at Mecca, as it +unquestionably was an argument with the Apostles, to flee from "the wrath to +come." It must be borne in mind that the allusions to contemporary minor +events, and to the local efforts made by the new religion to gain the +ascendant are very few, and often couched in terms so vague and general, that +we are forced to interpret the Koran solely by the Koran itself. And for +this, the frequent repetitions of the same histories and the same sentiments, +afford much facility: and the peculiar manner in which the details of each +history are increased by fresh traits at each recurrence, enables us to trace +their growth in the author's mind, and to ascertain the manner in which a +part of the Koran was composed. The absence of the historical element from +the Koran as regards the details of Muhammad's daily life, may be judged of +by the fact, that only two of his contemporaries are mentioned in the entire +volume, and that Muhammad's name occurs but five times, although he is all +the way through addressed by the Angel Gabriel as the recipient of the divine +revelations, with the word SAY. Perhaps such passages as Sura ii. 15, p. 339, +and v. 246, p. 365, and the constant mention of guidance, direction, +wandering, may have been suggested by reminiscences of his mercantile +journeys in his earlier years. + +It may be considered quite certain that it was not customary to reduce to +writing any traditions concerning Muhammad himself for at least the greater +part of a century. They rested entirely on the memory of those who have +handed them down, and must necessarily have been coloured by their prejudices +and convictions, to say nothing of the tendency to the formation of myths and +to actual fabrication, which early shews itself, especially in +interpretations of the Koran, to subserve the purposes of the contending +factions of the Ommeyads and Abbâsides. It was under the 5th Caliph, Al- +Mâműn, that three writers (mentioned below) on whom we mainly depend for all +really reliable information, flourished: and even their writings are +necessarily coloured by the theological tendencies of their master and +patron, who was a decided partizan of the divine right of Ali and of his +descendants. The incidents mentioned in the Koran itself, for the +interpretation of which early tradition is available, are comparatively few, +and there are many passages with which it is totally at variance; as, for +instance, that Muhammad worked miracles, which the Koran expressly disclaims. +Traditions can never be considered as at all reliable, unless they are +traceable to some common origin, have descended to us by independent +witnesses, and correspond with the statements of the Koran itself–always of +course deducting such texts as (which is not unfrequently the case) have +themselves given rise to the tradition. It soon becomes obvious to the reader +of Muslim traditions and commentators that both miracles and historical +events have been invented for the sake of expounding a dark and perplexing +text; and that even the earlier traditions are largely tinged with the +mythical element. + +The first biographer of Muhammad of whom we have any information was Zohri, +who died A.H. 124, aged 72; but his works, though abundantly quoted by later +writers, are no longer extant. Much of his information was derived from Orwa, +who died A.H. 94, and was a near relative of Ayesha, the prophet's favourite +wife. + +Ibn Ishaq, who died in A.H. 151, and who had been a hearer of Zohri, composed +a Biography of Muhammad for the use of the Caliph Al Mánsűr. On this work, +considerable remains of which have come down to us, Ibn Hisham, who died A.H. +213, based his Life of Muhammad. + +Waquidi of Medina, who died A.H. 207, composed a biographical work, which has +reached us in an abbreviated form through his secretary (Katib). It is +composed entirely of traditions. + +Tabari, "the Livy of the Arabians" (Gibbon, 51, n. 1), who died at Baghdad +A.H. 310, composed annals of Muhammad's life and of the progress of Islam. + +These ancient writers are the principal sources whence anything like +authentic information as to the life of Muhammad has been derived. And it may +be safely concluded that after the diligent investigations carried on by the +professed collectors of traditions in the second century after the Hejira, +that little or nothing remains to be added to our stores of information +relative to the details of Muhammad's life, or to facts which may further +illustrate the text of the Koran. But however this may be, no records which +are posterior in date to these authorities can be considered as at all +deserving of dependance. "To consider," says Dr. Sprenger, "late historians +like Abulfeda as authorities, and to suppose that an account gains in +certainty because it is mentioned by several of them, is highly uncritical." +Life of Mohammad, p. 73. + +The sources whence Muhammad derived the materials of his Koran are, over and +above the more poetical parts, which are his own creation, the legends of his +time and country, Jewish traditions based upon the Talmud, or perverted to +suit his own purposes, and the floating Christian traditions of Arabia and of +S. Syria. At a later period of his career no one would venture to doubt the +divine origin of the entire book. But at its commencement the case was +different. The people of Mecca spoke openly and tauntingly of it as the work +of a poet, as a collection of antiquated or fabulous legends, or as palpable +sorcery.4 They accused him of having confederates, and even specified +foreigners who had been his coadjutors. Such were Salman the Persian, to whom +he may have owed the descriptions of Heaven and Hell, which are analogous to +those of the Zendavesta; and the Christian monk Sergius, or as the +Muhammadans term him, Boheira. From the latter, and perhaps from other +Christians, especially slaves naturalised at Mecca, Muhammad obtained access +to the teaching of the Apocryphal Gospels, and to many popular traditions of +which those Gospels are the concrete expression. His wife Chadijah, as well +as her cousin Waraka, a reputed convert to Christianity, and Muhammad's +intimate friend, are said to have been well acquainted with the doctrines and +sacred books both of Jews and Christians. And not only were several Arab +tribes in the neighbourhood of Mecca converts to the Christian faith, but on +two occasions Muhammad had travelled with his uncle, Abu Talib, as far as +Bostra, where he must have had opportunities of learning the general outlines +of Oriental Christian doctrine, and perhaps of witnessing the ceremonial of +their worship. And it appears tolerably certain that previous to and at the +period of his entering into public life, there was a large number of +enquirers at Mecca, who like Zaid, Omayah of Taief, Waraka, etc., were +dissatisfied equally with the religion of their fathers, the Judaism and the +Christianity which they saw around them, and were anxiously enquiring for +some better way. The names and details of the lives of twelve of the +"companions" of Muhammad who lived in Mecca, Medina, and Taief, are recorded, +who previous to his assumption of the Prophetic office, called themselves +Hanyfs, i.e., converts, puritans, and were believers in one God, and regarded +Abraham as the founder of their religion. Muhammad publicly acknowledged that +he was a Hanyf–and this sect of the Hanyfites (who are in no way to be +confounded with the later sect of the same name) were among his Meccan +precursors. See n. pp. 209, 387. Their history is to be found in the Fihrist– +MS. Paris, anc. fonds, nr. 874 (and in other treatises)–which Dr. Sprenger +believes to have been in the library of the Caliph El-Mâműn. In this +treatise, the Hanyfs are termed Sabeites, and said to have received the +Volumes (Sohof) or Books of Abraham, mentioned in Sura lxxxvii. 19, p. 40, +41, which most commentators affirm to have been borrowed from them, as is +also the case with the latter part of Sura liii. 37, ad f. p. 71; so that +from these "Books" Muhammad derived the legends of Ad and Themoud, whose +downfall, recent as it was (see note p. 300), he throws back to a period +previous to that of Moses, who is made to ask (Sura xiv. 9, p. 226) "whether +their history had reached his hearers." Muhammad is said to have discovered +these "Books" to be a recent forgery, and that this is the reason why no +mention of them occurs after the fourth year of his Prophetic function, A.D. +616. Hence too, possibly, the title Hanyf was so soon dropped and exchanged +for that of Muslim, one who surrenders or resigns himself to God. The Waraka +above mentioned, and cousin of Chadijah, is said to have believed on Muhammad +as long as he continued true to the principles of the Hanyfs, but to have +quitted him in disgust at his subsequent proceedings, and to have died an +orthodox Christian. + +It has been supposed that Muhammad derived many of his notions concerning +Christianity from Gnosticism, and that it is to the numerous gnostic sects +the Koran alludes when it reproaches the Christians with having "split up +their religion into parties." But for Muhammad thus to have confounded +Gnosticism with Christianity itself, its prevalence in Arabia must have been +far more universal than we have any reason to believe it really was. In fact, +we have no historical authority for supposing that the doctrines of these +heretics were taught or professed in Arabia at all. It is certain, on the +other hand, that the Basilidans, Valentinians, and other gnostic sects had +either died out, or been reabsorbed into the orthodox Church, towards the +middle of the fifth century, and had disappeared from Egypt before the sixth. +It is nevertheless possible that the gnostic doctrine concerning the +Crucifixion was adopted by Muhammad as likely to reconcile the Jews to Islam, +as a religion embracing both Judaism and Christianity, if they might believe +that Jesus had not been put to death, and thus find the stumbling-block of +the atonement removed out of their path. The Jews would in this case have +simply been called upon to believe in Jesus as being what the Koran +represents him, a holy teacher, who, like the patriarch Enoch or the prophet +Elijah, had been miraculously taken from the earth. But, in all other +respects, the sober and matter-of-fact statements of the Koran relative to +the family and history of Jesus, are altogether opposed to the wild and +fantastic doctrines of Gnostic emanations, and especially to the manner in +which they supposed Jesus, at his Baptism, to have been brought into union +with a higher nature. It is quite clear that Muhammad borrowed in several +points from the doctrines of the Ebionites, Essenes, and Sabeites. Epiphanius +(H‘r. x.) describes the notions of the Ebionites of Nabath‘a, Moabitis, and +Basanitis with regard to Adam and Jesus, almost in the very words of Sura +iii. 52. He tells us that they observed circumcision, were opposed to +celibacy, forbad turning to the sunrise, but enjoined Jerusalem as their +Kebla (as did Muhammad during twelve years), that they prescribed (as did the +Sabeites), washings, very similar to those enjoined in the Koran, and allowed +oaths (by certain natural objects, as clouds, signs of the Zodiac, oil, the +winds, etc.), which we find adopted in the Koran. These points of contact +with Islam, knowing as we do Muhammad's eclecticism, can hardly be +accidental. + +We have no evidence that Muhammad had access to the Christian Scriptures, +though it is just possible that fragments of the Old or New Testament may +have reached him through Chadijah or Waraka, or other Meccan Christians, +possessing MSS. of the sacred volume. There is but one direct quotation (Sura +xxi. 105) in the whole Koran from the Scriptures; and though there are a few +passages, as where alms are said to be given to be seen of men, and as, none +forgiveth sins but God only, which might seem to be identical with texts of +the New Testament, yet this similarity is probably merely accidental. It is, +however, curious to compare such passages as Deut. xxvi. 14, 17; 1 Peter v. +2, with Sura xxiv. 50, p. 448, and x. 73, p. 281 John vii. 15, with the +"illiterate" Prophet–Matt. xxiv. 36, and John xii. 27, with the use of the +word hour as meaning any judgment or crisis, and The last judgment–the voice +of the Son of God which the dead are to hear, with the exterminating or +awakening cry of Gabriel, etc. The passages of this kind, with which the +Koran abounds, result from Muhammad's general acquaintance with Scriptural +phraseology, partly through the popular legends, partly from personal +intercourse with Jews and Christians. And we may be quite certain that +whatever materials Muhammad may have derived from our Scriptures, directly or +indirectly, were carefully recast. He did not even use its words without due +consideration. For instance, except in the phrase "the Lord of the worlds," +he seems carefully to have avoided the expression the Lord, probably because +it was applied by the Christians to Christ, or to God the Father. + +It should also be borne in mind that we have no traces of the existence of +Arabic versions of the Old or New Testament previous to the time of Muhammad. +The passage of St. Jerome–"Hćc autem translatio nullum de veteribus sequitur +interpretem; sed ex ipso Hebraico, Arabicoque sermone, et interdum Syro, nunc +verba, nunc sensum, nunc simul utrumque resonabit," (Prol. Gal.) obviously +does not refer to versions, but to idiom. The earliest Ar. version of the Old +Testament, of which we have any knowledge, is that of R. Saadias Gaon, A.D. +900; and the oldest Ar. version of the New Testament, is that published by +Erpenius in 1616, and transcribed in the Thebais, in the year 1171, by a +Coptic Bishop, from a copy made by a person whose name is known, but whose +date is uncertain. Michaelis thinks that the Arabic versions of the New +Testament were made between the Saracen conquests in the seventh century, and +the Crusades in the eleventh century–an opinion in which he follows, or +coincides with, Walton (Prol. in Polygl. § xiv.) who remarks–"Plane constat +versionem Arabicam apud eas (ecclesias orientales) factam esse postquam +lingua Arabica per victorias et religionem Muhammedanicam per Orientem +propagata fuerat, et in multis locis facta esset vernacula." If, indeed, in +these comparatively late versions, the general phraseology, especially in the +histories common to the Scriptures and to the Koran, bore any similarity to +each other, and if the orthography of the proper names had been the same in +each, it might have been fair to suppose that such versions had been made, +more or less, upon the basis of others, which, though now lost, existed in +the ages prior to Muhammad, and influenced, if they did not directly form, +his sources of information. But5 this does not appear to be the case. The +phraseology of our existing versions is not that of the Koran–and these +versions appear to have been made from the Septuagint, the Vulgate, Syriac, +Coptic, and Greek; the four Gospels, says Tischendorf6 originem mixtam habere +videntur. + +From the Arab Jews, Muhammad would be enabled to derive an abundant, though +most distorted, knowledge of the Scripture histories. The secrecy in which he +received his instructions from them, and from his Christian informants, +enabled him boldly to declare to the ignorant pagan Meccans that God had +revealed those Biblical histories to him. But there can be no doubt, from the +constant identity between the Talmudic perversions of Scripture histories and +Rabbinic moral precepts, that the Rabbins of the Hejaz communicated their +legends to Muhammad. And it should be remembered that the Talmud was +completed a century previous to the era of Muhammad,7 and cannot fail to have +extensively influenced the religious creed of all the Jews of the Arabian +peninsula. In one passage,8 Muhammad speaks of an individual Jew–perhaps some +one of note among his professed followers, as a witness to his mission; and +there can be no doubt that his relations with the Jews were, at one time, +those of friendship and intimacy, when we find him speak of their recognising +him as they do their own children, and hear him blaming their most colloquial +expressions.9 It is impossible, however, for us at this distance of time to +penetrate the mystery in which this subject is involved. Yet certain it is, +that, although their testimony against Muhammad was speedily silenced, the +Koreisch knew enough of his private history to disbelieve and to disprove his +pretensions of being the recipient of a divine revelation, and that they +accused him of writing from the dictation of teachers morning and evening.10 +And it is equally certain, that all the information received by Muhammad was +embellished and recast in his own mind and with his own words. There is a +unity of thought, a directness and simplicity of purpose, a peculiar and +laboured style, a uniformity of diction, coupled with a certain deficiency of +imaginative power, which proves the ayats (signs or verses) of the Koran at +least to be the product of a single pen. The longer narratives were, +probably, elaborated in his leisure hours, while the shorter verses, each +claiming to be a sign or miracle, were promulgated as occasion required them. +And, whatever Muhammad may himself profess in the Koran11 as to his +ignorance, even of reading and writing, and however strongly modern +Muhammadans may insist upon the same point an assertion by the way +contradicted by many good authors12–there can be no doubt that to assimilate +and work up his materials, to fashion them into elaborate Suras, to fit them +for public recital, must have been a work requiring much time, study, and +meditation, and presumes a far greater degree of general culture than any +orthodox Muslim will be disposed to admit. + +In close connection with the above remarks, stands the question of Muhammad's +sincerity and honesty of purpose in coming forward as a messenger from God. +For if he was indeed the illiterate person the Muslims represent him to have +been, then it will be hard to escape their inference that the Koran is, as +they assert it to be, a standing miracle. But if, on the other hand, it was a +Book carefully concocted from various sources, and with much extraneous aid, +and published as a divine oracle, then it would seem that the author is at +once open to the charge of the grossest imposture, and even of impious +blasphemy. The evidence rather shews, that in all he did and wrote, Muhammad +was actuated by a sincere desire to deliver his countrymen from the grossness +of its debasing idolatries–that he was urged on by an intense desire to +proclaim that great truth of the Unity of the Godhead which had taken full +possession of his own soul–that the end to be attained justified to his mind +the means he adopted in the production of his Suras–that he worked himself up +into a belief that he had received a divine call–and that he was carried on +by the force of circumstances, and by gradually increasing successes, to +believe himself the accredited messenger of Heaven. The earnestness of those +convictions which at Mecca sustained him under persecution, and which perhaps +led him, at any price as it were, and by any means, not even excluding deceit +and falsehood, to endeavour to rescue his countrymen from idolatry,–naturally +stiffened at Medina into tyranny and unscrupulous violence. At the same time, +he was probably, more or less, throughout his whole career, the victim of a +certain amount of self-deception. A cataleptic13 subject from his early +youth, born–according to the traditions–of a highly nervous and excitable +mother, he would be peculiarly liable to morbid and fantastic hallucinations, +and alternations of excitement and depression, which would win for him, in +the eyes of his ignorant countrymen, the credit of being inspired. It would +be easy for him to persuade himself that he was "the seal of the Prophets," +the proclaimer of a doctrine of the Divine Unity, held and taught by the +Patriarchs, especially by Abraham–a doctrine that should present to mankind +Judaism divested of its Mosaic ceremonial, and Christianity divested of the +Atonement and the Trinity14–doctrine, as he might have believed, fitted and +destined to absorb Judaism, Christianity, and Idolatry; and this persuasion, +once admitted into his mind as a conviction, retained possession of it, and +carried him on, though often in the use of means, towards the end of his +career, far different from those with which he commenced it, to a victorious +consummation. It is true that the state of Arabia previous to the time of +Muhammad was one of preparedness for a new religion that the scattered +elements were there, and wanted only the mind of a master to harmonise and +enforce them and that Islam was, so to speak, a necessity of the time.15 +Still Muhammad's career is a wonderful instance of the force and life that +resides in him who possesses an intense Faith in God and in the unseen world; +and whatever deductions may be made–and they are many and serious–from the +noble and truthful in his character, he will always be regarded as one of +those who have had that influence over the faith, morals, and whole earthly +life of their fellow-men, which none but a really great man ever did, or can, +exercise; and as one of those, whose efforts to propagate some great verity +will prosper, in spite of manifold personal errors and defects, both of +principle and character. + +The more insight we obtain, from undoubted historical sources, into the +actual character of Muhammad, the less reason do we find to justify the +strong vituperative language poured out upon his head by Maracci, Prideaux, +and others, in recent days, one of whom has found, in the Byzantine +"Maometis," the number of the Beast (Rev. xii)! It is nearer to the truth to +say that he was a great though imperfect character, an earnest though +mistaken teacher, and that many of his mistakes and imperfections were the +result of circumstances, of temperament, and constitution; and that there +must be elements both of truth and goodness in the system of which he was the +main author, to account for the world-wide phenomenon, that whatever may be +the intellectual inferiority (if such is, indeed, the fact) of the Muslim +races, the influence of his teaching, aided, it is true, by the vast impulse +given to it by the victorious arms of his followers, has now lasted for +nearly thirteen centuries, and embraces more than one hundred millions of our +race–more than one-tenth part of the inhabitants of the globe. + +It must be acknowledged, too, that the Koran deserves the highest praise for +its conceptions of the Divine nature, in reference to the attributes of +Power, Knowledge, and universal Providence and Unity–that its belief and +trust in the One God of Heaven and Earth is deep and fervent–and that, though +it contains fantastic visions and legends, teaches a childish ceremonial, and +justifies bloodshedding, persecution, slavery, and polygamy, yet that at the +same time it embodies much of a noble and deep moral earnestness, and +sententious oracular wisdom, and has proved that there are elements in it on +which mighty nations, and conquering though not, perhaps, durable–empires can +be built up. It is due to the Koran, that the occupants in the sixth century +of an arid peninsula, whose poverty was only equalled by their ignorance, +become not only the fervent and sincere votaries of a new creed, but, like +Amru and many more, its warlike propagators. Impelled possibly by drought and +famine, actuated partly by desire of conquest, partly by religious +convictions, they had conquered Persia in the seventh century, the northern +coasts of Africa, and a large portion of Spain in the eighth, the Punjaub and +nearly the whole of India in the ninth. The simple shepherds and wandering +Bedouins of Arabia, are transformed, as if by a magician's wand, into the +founders of empires, the builders of cities, the collectors of more libraries +than they at first destroyed, while cities like Fostât, Baghdad, Cordova, and +Delhi, attest the power at which Christian Europe trembled. And thus, while +the Koran, which underlays this vast energy and contains the principles which +are its springs of action, reflects to a great extent the mixed character of +its author, its merits as a code of laws, and as a system of religious +teaching, must always be estimated by the changes which it introduced into +the customs and beliefs of those who willingly or by compulsion embraced it. +In the suppression of their idolatries, in the substitution of the worship of +Allah for that of the powers of nature and genii with Him, in the abolition +of child murder, in the extinction of manifold superstitious usages, in the +reduction of the number of wives to a fixed standard, it was to the Arabians +an unquestionable blessing, and an accession, though not in the Christian +sense a Revelation, of Truth; and while every Christian must deplore the +overthrow of so many flourishing Eastern churches by the arms of the +victorious Muslims, it must not be forgotten that Europe, in the middle ages, +owed much of her knowledge of dialectic philosophy, of medicine, and +architecture, to Arabian writers, and that Muslims formed the connecting link +between the West and the East for the importation of numerous articles of +luxury and use. That an immense mass of fable and silly legend has been built +up upon the basis of the Koran is beyond a doubt, but for this Muhammad is +not answerable, any more than he is for the wild and bloodthirsty excesses of +his followers in after ages. I agree with Sale in thinking that, "how +criminal soever Muhammad may have been in imposing a false religion on +mankind, the praises due to his real virtues ought not to be denied him" +(Preface), and venture to think that no one can rise from the perusal of his +Koran without argeeing with that motto from St. Augustin, which Sale has +prefixed to his title page, "Nulla falsa doctrina est, quć non aliquid veri +permisceat." Qu‘st. Evang. ii. 40. + +The Arabic text from which this translation has been made is that of Fluegel. +Leips. 1841. The translations of Sale, Ullmann, Wahl, Hammer von Purgstall in +the Fundgruben des Orients, and M. Kasimirski, have been collated throughout; +and above all, the great work of Father Maracci, to whose accuracy and +research search Sale's work mainly owes its merits. Sale has, however, +followed Maracci too closely, especially by introducing his paraphrastic +comments into the body of the text, as well as by his constant use of +Latinised instead of Saxon words. But to Sale's "Preliminary Discourse" the +reader is referred, as to a storehouse of valuable information; as well as to +the works of Geiger, Gerock, and Freytag, and to the lives of Muhammad by Dr. +Weil, Mr. Muir, and that of Dr. Sprenger now issuing from the press, in +German. The more brief and poetical verses of the earlier Suras are +translated with a freedom from which I have altogether abstained in the +historical and prosaic portions; but I have endeavoured nowhere to use a +greater amount of paraphrase than is necessary to convey the sense of the +original. "Vel verbum e verbo," says S. Jerome (Prćf. in Jobum) of versions, +"vel sensum e sensu, vel ex utroque commixtum, et medie temperatum genus +translationis." The proper names are usually given as in our Scriptures: the +English reader would not easily recognise Noah as Nűh, Lot as Lűt, Moses as +Musa, Abraham as Ibrahym, Pharaoh as Firaun, Aaron as Harun, Jesus as Isa, +John as Yahia, etc.; and it has been thought best to give different +renderings of the same constantly recurring words and phrases, in order more +fully to convey their meaning. For instance, the Arabic words which mean +Companions of the fire, are also rendered inmates of, etc., given up to, +etc.; the People of the Book, i.e. Jews, Christians and Sabeites, is +sometimes retained, sometimes paraphrased. This remark applies to such words +as tanzyl, lit. downsending or Revelation; zikr, the remembrance or constant +repetition or mention of God's name as an act of devotion; saha, the Hour of +present or final judgment; and various epithets of Allah. + +I have nowhere attempted to represent the rhymes of the original. The +"Proben" of H. v. Purgstall, in the Fundgruben des Orients, excellent as they +are in many respects, shew that this can only be done with a sacrifice of +literal translation. I subjoin as a specimen Lieut. Burton's version of the +Fatthah, or opening chapter of previous editions. See Sura [viii.] p. 28. + + 1 In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate! + 2 Praise be to Allah, who the three worlds made. + 3 The Merciful, the Compassionate, + 4 The King of the day of Fate. + 5 Thee alone do we worship, and of thee alone do we ask aid. + 6 Guide us to the path that is straight– + 7 The path of those to whom thy love is great, + Not those on whom is hate, + Nor they that deviate. Amen. + +"I have endeavoured," he adds, "in this translation to imitate the imperfect +rhyme of the original Arabic. Such an attempt, however, is full of +difficulties. The Arabic is a language in which, like Italian, it is almost +impossible not to rhyme." Pilgr. ii. 78. + + +1 Mishcât, vol. i. p. 524. E. Trans. B. viii. 3, 3. + +2 Mishcât, as above. Muir, i. p. xiii. Freyt. Einl., p. 384. Memoires de +l’Acad. T. 50, p. 426. Nöld. p. 205. + +3 Kitâb al Waquidi, p. 278 + +4 See Suras xxxvi. xxv. xvii. + +5 See Walton’s Prol. ad Polygl. Lond. § xiv. 2. + +6 Prol. in N.T. p. lxxviii. + +7 The date of the Bab. Gemara is A.D. 530; of the Jerusalem Gamara, A.D. +430; of the Mischina A.D. 220; See Gfrörer’s Jahrhundert des Heils, pp. 11- +44. + +8 Sura xlvi. 10, p. 314. + +9 Sura vi. 20, p. 318. Sura ii. 13 (p. 339), verse 98, etc. + +10 Sura xxv. 5, 6, p. 159. + +11 Sura. vii. 156, p. 307; xxix. 47, p. 265. + +12 See Dr. Sprenger’s “Life,” p. 101. + +13 Or, epileptic. + +14 A line of argument to be adopted by a Christian missionary in dealing +with a Muhammadan should be, not to attack Islam as a mass of error, but to +shew that it contains fragments of disjointed truth–that it is based upon +Christianity and Judaism partially understood–especially upon the latter, +without any appreciation of its typical character pointing to Christianity as +a final dispensation. + +15 Muhammad can scarcely have failed to observe the opportunity offered for +the growth of a new power, by the ruinous strifes of the Persians and Greeks. +Abulfeda (Life of Muhammad, p. 76) expressly says that he had promised his +followers the spoils o Chosroes and Cćsar. + + +SURA1 XCVI.–THICK BLOOD, OR CLOTS OF BLOOD [I.] + +MECCA.–19 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful2 + +RECITE3 thou, in the name of thy Lord who created;– + +Created man from CLOTS OF BLOOD:– + +Recite thou! For thy Lord is the most Beneficent, + +Who hath taught the use of the pen;– + +Hath taught Man that which he knoweth not. + +Nay, verily,4 Man is insolent, + +Because he seeth himself possessed of riches. + +Verily, to thy Lord is the return of all. + +What thinkest thou of him that holdeth back + +A servant5 of God when he prayeth? + +What thinkest thou?6 Hath he followed the true Guidance, or enjoined Piety? + +What thinkest thou? Hath he treated the truth as a lie and turned his back? + +What! doth he not know how that God seeth? + +Nay, verily, if he desist not, We shall seize him by the forelock, + +The lying sinful forelock! + +Then let him summon his associates;7 + +We too will summon the guards of Hell: + +Nay! obey him not; but adore, and draw nigh to God.8 + + +_______________________ + +1 The word Sura occurs nine times in the Koran, viz. Sur. ix. 65, 87, 125, +128; xxiv. 1; xlvii. 22 (twice); ii. 21; x. 39; but it is not easy to +determine whether it means a whole chapter, or part only of a chapter, or is +used in the sense of "revelation." See Weil's Mohammed der Prophet, pp. 361- +363. It is understood by the Muhammadan commentators to have a primary +reference to the succession of subjects or parts, like the rows of bricks in +a wall. The titles of the Suras are generally taken from some word occurring +in each, which is printed in large type throughout, where practicable. + +2 This formula–Bismillahi 'rrahmani 'rrahim–is of Jewish origin. It was in +the first instance taught to the Koreisch by Omayah of Taief, the poet, who +was a contemporary with, but somewhat older than, Muhammad; and who, during +his mercantile journeys into Arabia Petr‘a and Syria, had made himself +acquainted with the sacred books and doctrines of Jews and Christians. (Kitab +al-Aghâni, 16. Delhi.) Muhammad adopted and constantly used it, and it is +prefixed to each Sura except the ninth. The former of the two epithets +implies that the mercy of God is exercised as occasions arise, towards all +his creatures; the latter that the quality of mercy is inherent in God and +permanent, so that there is only a shade of difference between the two words. +Maracci well renders, In Nomine Dei Miseratoris, Misericordis. The rendering +I have adopted is that of Mr. Lane in his extracts from the Koran. See also +Freytag's Lex. ii. p. 133. Perhaps, In the name of Allah, the God of Mercy, +the Merciful, would more fully express the original Arabic. The first five +verses of this Sura are, in the opinion of nearly all commentators, ancient +and modern, the earliest revelations made to Muhammad, in the 40th year of +his life, and the starting point of El-Islam. (See the authorities quoted in +detail in Nöldeke's Geschichte des Qorâns, p. 62, n.) + +3 The usual rendering is read. But the word qaraa, which is the root of the +word Koran, analogous to the Rabbinic mikra, rather means to address, recite; +and with regard to its etymology and use in the kindred dialects to call, cry +aloud, proclaim. Compare Isai. lviii. 1; 1 Kings xviii. 37; and Gesen. +Thesaur. on the Hebrew root. I understand this passage to mean, "Preach to +thy fellow men what thou believest to be true of thy Lord who has created man +from the meanest materials, and can in like manner prosper the truth which +thou proclaimest. He has taught man the art of writing (recently introduced +at Mecca) and in this thou wilt find a powerful help for propagating the +knowledge of the divine Unity." The speaker in this, as in all the Suras, is +Gabriel, of whom Muhammad had, as he believed, a vision on the mountain Hirâ, +near Mecca. See note 1 on the next page. The details of the vision are quite +unhistorical. + +4 This, and the following verses, may have been added at a later period, +though previous to the Flight, and with special reference, if we are to +believe the commentators Beidhawi, etc., to the opposition which Muhammad +experienced at the hands of his opponent, Abu Jahl, who had threatened to set +his foot on the Prophet's neck when prostrate in prayer. But the whole +passage admits of application to mankind in general. + +5 That is Muhammad. Nöldeke, however, proposes to render "a slave." And it is +certain that the doctrines of Islam were in the first instance embraced by +slaves, many of whom had been carried away from Christian homes, or born of +Christian parents at Mecca. "Men of this description," says Dr. Sprenger +(Life of Mohammad. Allahabad. p. 159), "no doubt prepared the way for the +Islam by inculcating purer notions respecting God upon their masters and +their brethren. These men saw in Mohammad their liberator; and being +superstitious enough to consider his fits as the consequence of an +inspiration, they were among the first who acknowledged him as a prophet. +Many of them suffered torture for their faith in him, and two of them died as +martyrs. The excitement among the slaves when Mohammad first assumed his +office was so great, that Abd Allah bin Jod'an, who had one hundred of these +sufferers, found it necessary to remove them from Makkah, lest they should +all turn converts." See Sura xvi. 105, 111; ii. 220. + +6 Lit. hast thou seen if he be upon the guidance. + +7 The principal men of the Koreisch who adhered to Abu Jahl. + +8 During a period variously estimated from six months to three years from the +revelation of this Sura, or of its earliest verses, the prophetic inspiration +and the revelation of fresh Suras is said to have been suspended. This +interval is called the Fatrah or intermission; and the Meccan Suras delivered +at its close show that at or during this period Muhammad had gained an +increasing and more intimate acquaintance with the Jewish and Christian +Scriptures. "The accounts, however," says Mr. Muir (vol. ii. 86) "are +throughout confused, if not contradictory; and we can only gather with +certainty that there was a time during which his mind hung in suspense, and +doubted the divine mission." The idea of any supernatural influence is of +course to be entirely excluded; although there is no doubt that Muhammad +himself had a full belief in the personality and influence of Satans and +Djinn. Profound meditation, the struggles of an earnest mind anxious to +attain to truth, the morbid excitability of an epileptic subject, visions +seen in epileptic swoons, disgust at Meccan idolatry, and a desire to teach +his countrymen the divine Unity will sufficiently account for the period of +indecision termed the Fatrah, and for the determination which led Muhammad, +in all sincerity, but still self-deceived, to take upon himself the office +and work of a Messenger from God. We may perhaps infer from such passages as +Sura ii. 123, what had ever been the leading idea in Muhammad's mind. + + +SURA LXXIV.–THE ENWRAPPED1 [II.] + +MECCA.–55 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +O THOU, ENWRAPPED in thy mantle! + +Arise and warn! + +Thy Lord–magnify Him! + +Thy raiment–purify it! + +The abomination–flee it! + +And bestow not favours that thou mayest receive again with increase; + +And for thy Lord wait thou patiently. + +For when there shall be a trump on the trumpet,2 + +That shall be a distressful day, + +A day, to the Infidels, devoid of ease. + +Leave me alone to deal with him3 whom I have created, + +And on whom I have bestowed vast riches, + +And sons dwelling before him, + +And for whom I have smoothed all things smoothly down;– + +Yet desireth he that I should add more! + +But no! because to our signs he is a foe + +I will lay grievous woes upon him. + +For he plotted and he planned! + +May he be cursed! How he planned! + +Again, may he be cursed! How he planned! + +Then looked he around him, + +Then frowned and scowled, + +Then turned his back and swelled with disdain, + +And said, “This is merely magic that will be wrought; + +It is merely the word of a mortal.” + +We will surely cast him into Hell-fire. + +And who shall teach thee what Hell-fire is? + +It leaveth nought, it spareth nought, + +Blackening the skin. + +Over it are nineteen angels. + +None but angels have we made guardians of the fire:4 nor have we made this to +be their number but to perplex the unbelievers, and that they who possess the +Scriptures may be certain of the truth of the Koran, and that they who +believe may increase their faith; + +And that they to whom the Scriptures have been given, and the believers, may +not doubt; + +And that the infirm of heart and the unbelievers may say, What meaneth God by +this parable? + +Thus God misleadeth whom He will, and whom He will doth He guide aright: and +none knoweth the armies of thy Lord but Himself: and this is no other than a +warning to mankind. + +Nay, by the Moon! + +By the Night when it retreateth! + +By the Morn when it brighteneth! + +Hell is one of the most grievous woes, + +Fraught with warning to man, + +To him among you who desireth to press forward, or to remain behind.5 + +For its own works lieth every soul in pledge. But they of God’s right hand + +In their gardens shall ask of the wicked;– + +“What hath cast you into Hell-fire?”6 + +They will say, “We were not of those who prayed, + +And we were not of those who fed the poor, + +And we plunged into vain disputes with vain disputers, + +And we rejected as a lie, the day of reckoning, + +Till the certainty7 came upon us”– + +And intercession of the interceders shall not avail them. + +Then what hath come to them that they turn aside from the Warning + +As if they were affrighted asses fleeing from a lion? + +And every one of them would fain have open pages given to him out of Heaven. + +It shall not be. They fear not the life to come. + +It shall not be. For this Koran is warning enough. And whoso will, it +warneth him. + +But not unless God please, shall they be warned. Meet is He to be feared. +Meet is forgiveness in Him. + + +_______________________ + +1 This Sura is placed by Muir in the “second stage” of Meccan Suras, and +twenty-first in chronological order, in the third or fourth year of the +Prophet’s career. According, however, to the chronological list of Suras +given by Weil (Leben M. p. 364) from ancient tradition, as well as from the +consentient voice of tradionists and commentaries (v. Nöld. Geschichte, p. +69; Sprenger’s Life of Mohammad, p. 111) it was the next revealed after the +Fatrah, and the designation to the prophetic office. The main features of +the tradition are, that Muhammad while wandering about in the hills near +Mecca, distracted by doubts and by anxiety after truth, had a vision of the +Angel Gabriel seated on a throne between heaven and earth, that he ran to his +wife, Chadijah, in the greatest alarm, and desired her, perhaps from +superstitious motives (and believing that if covered with clothes he should +be shielded from the glances of evil spirits–comp. Stanley on I Cor. xi. 10), +to envelope him in his mantle; that then Gabriel came down and addressed him +as in v. I. This vision, like that which preceded Sura xcvi., may actually +have occurred during the hallucinations of one of the epileptic fits from +which Muhammad from early youth appears to have suffered. Hence Muhammad in +Sura lxxxi. appeals to it as a matter of fact, and such he doubtless believe +it to be. It may here be observed, that however absurd the Muslim traditions +may be in many of their details, it will generally be found that where there +is an ancient and tolerably universal consent, there will be found at the +bottom a residuum of fact and historical truth. At the same time there can +be no doubt but that the details of the traditions are too commonly founded +upon the attempt to explain or to throw light upon a dark passage of the +Koran, and are pure inventions of a later age. + +2 The Arabic words are not those used in later Suras to express the same +idea. + +3 Said to be Walid b. Mogheira, a person of note among the unbelieving +Meccans. This portion of the Sura seems to be of a different date from the +first seven verses, though very ancient, and the change of subject is similar +to that at v. 9 of the previous Sura. + +4 This and the three following verses wear the appearance of having been +inserted at a later period to meet objections respecting the number of the +angels who guard hell, raised by the Jews; perhaps at Medina, as the four +classes of persons specified are those whom Muhammad had to deal with in that +city, viz., the Jews, Believers, the Hypocrites, or undecided, and Idolaters. +These are constantly mentioned together in the Medina Suras. + +5 That is, who believe, and do not believe. + +6 As the word sakar disturbs the rhyme, it may have been inserted by a +mistake of the copyist for the usual word, which suits it. + +7 That is, death. Beidh. Comp. Sura xv. 99. + + +SURA LXXIII. THE ENFOLDED1 [III.] + +MECCA. 20 Verses. + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +O THOU ENFOLDED in thy mantle, + +Stand up all night, except a small portion of it, for prayer: + +Half; or curtail the half a little,– + +Or add to it: And with measured tone intone the Koran,2 + +For we shall devolve on thee weighty words. + +Verily, at the oncoming of night are devout impressions strongest, and words +are most collected;3 + +But in the day time thou hast continual employ– + +And commemorate the name of thy Lord, and devote thyself to Him with entire +devotion. + +Lord of the East and of the West! No God is there but He! Take Him for thy +protector, + +And endure what they say with patience, and depart from them with a decorous +departure. + +And let Me alone with the gainsayers, rich in the pleasures of this life; and +bear thou with them yet a little while: + +For with Us are strong fetters, and a flaming fire, + +And food that choketh, and a sore torment. + +The day cometh when the earth and the mountains shall be shaken; and the +mountains shall become a loose sand heap. + +Verily, we have sent you an Apostle to witness against you, even as we sent +an Apostle to Pharaoh: + +But Pharaoh rebelled against the Apostle, and we therefore laid hold on him +with a severe chastisement. + +And how, if ye believe not, will you screen yourselves from the day that +shall turn children greyheaded? + +The very heaven shall be reft asunder by it: this threat shall be carried +into effect. + +Lo! this is a warning. Let him then who will, take the way to his Lord. + +Of a truth,4 thy Lord knoweth that thou prayest almost two-thirds, or half, +or a third of the night, as do a part of thy followers. But God measureth the +night and the day: He knoweth that ye cannot count its hours aright, and +therefore, turneth to you mercifully. Recite then so much of the Koran as may +be easy to you. He knoweth that there will be some among you sick, while +others travel through the earth in quest of the bounties of God; and others +do battle in his cause. Recite therefore so much of it as may be easy. And +observe the Prayers and pay the legal Alms,5 and lend God a liberal loan: for +whatever good works ye send on before for your own behoof, ye shall find with +God. This will be best and richest in the recompense. And seek the +forgiveness of God: verily, God is forgiving, Merciful. + + +_______________________ + +1 From the first line of this Sura, and its expressions concerning the Koran, +Prayer, and Future Punishment: from the similarity of the tradition with +regard to its having been preceded by a vision of Gabriel (Beidh., etc.), it +seems to belong to, or at least to describe, a period, perhaps immediately +succeeding the Fatrah, during which the hours of night were spent by Muhammad +in devotion and in the labour of working up his materials in rhythmical and +rhyming Suras, and in preparation for the public assumption of the prophetic +office. Comp. especially verses 11, 19, 20, at the end, with 11, 54, 55, of +the preceding Sura. + +2 Singe den Koran laut. H.v.P. Psalle Alcoranum psallendo. Mar. Singe den +Koran mit singender und lauter Stimme ab. Ullm. + +3 Lit. most firm, perhaps, distinct. + +4 This verse, according to a tradition of Ayesha, was revealed one year later +than the previous part of the Sura. Nöldeke says it is "offenbar ein +Medinischer." + +5 The reader will not be surprised to find in the very outset of Muhammad's +career a frequent mention of Alms, Prayer, Heaven, Hell, Judgment, Apostles, +etc., in their usual sense, when he remembers that Judaism was extensively +naturalised in Arabia, and Christianity, also, although to a smaller extent. +The words and phrases of these religions were doubtless familiar to the +Meccans, especially to that numerous body who were anxiously searching after +some better religion than the idolatries of their fathers (v. on Sura iii. +19, 60), and provided Muhammad with a copious fund from which to draw. + + +SURA XCIII.1–THE BRIGHTNESS [IV.] + +MECCA.–11 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +BY the noon-day BRIGHTNESS, + +And by the night when it darkeneth! + +Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee, neither hath he been displeased. + +And surely the Future shall be better for thee than the Past, + +And in the end shall thy Lord be bounteous to thee and thou be satisfied. + +Did he not find thee an orphan2 and gave thee a home? + +And found thee erring and guided thee,3 + +And found thee needy and enriched thee. + +As to the orphan therefore wrong him not; + +And as to him that asketh of thee, chide him not away; + +And as for the favours of thy Lord tell them abroad. + + +_______________________ + +1 This and the six following Suras are expressions of a state of deep mental +anxiety and depression, in which Muhammad seeks to reassure himself by +calling to mind the past favours of God, and by fixing his mind steadfastly +on the Divine Unity. They belong to a period either before the public +commencement of his ministry or when his success was very dubious, and his +future career by no means clearly marked out. + +2 The charge of the orphaned Muhammad was undertaken by Abd-al-Mutalib, his +grandfather, A.D. 576. Hishami, p. 35; Kitab al Wakidi, p. 22, have preserved +traditions of the fondness with which the old man of fourscore years treated +the child, spreading a rug for him under the shadow of the Kaaba, protecting +him from the rudeness of his own sons, etc. + +3 Up to his 40th year Muhammad followed the religion of his countrymen. Waq. +Tabari says that when he first entered on his office of Prophet, even his +wife Chadijah had read the Scriptures, and was acquainted with the History of +the Prophets. Spreng. p. 100. But his conformity can only have been partial. + + +SURA XCIV.–THE OPENING [V.] + +MECCA.–8 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +HAVE we not OPENED thine heart for thee? + +And taken off from thee thy burden, + +Which galled thy back? + +And have we not raised thy name for thee? + +Then verily along with trouble cometh ease. + +Verily along with trouble cometh ease. + +But when thou art set at liberty, then prosecute thy toil. + +And seek thy Lord with fervour. + + +SURA CXIII.–THE DAYBREAK [VI.] + +MECCA OR MEDINA.–5 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +SAY: I betake me for refuge to the Lord of the DAY BREAK + +Against the mischiefs of his creation; + +And against the mischief of the night when it overtaketh me; + +And against the mischief of weird women;1 + +And against the mischief of the envier when he envieth. + +_______________________ + +1 Lit. who blow on knots. According to some commentators an allusion to a +species of charm. Comp. Virg.Ec. vi. But the reference more probably is to +women in general, who disconcert schemes as thread is disentangled by blowing +upon it. Suras cxiii. are called the el mouwwidhetani, or preservative +chapters, are engraved on amulets,etc. + + +SURA CXIV.–MEN [VII.] + +MECCA OR MEDINA.–6 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +SAY: I betake me for refuge to the Lord of MEN, + +The King of men, + +The God of men, + +Against the mischief of the stealthily withdrawing whisperer,1 + +Who whispereth in man's breast– + +Against djinn and men. + +_______________________ + +1 Satan. + + +SURA I.1 [VIII.] + +MECCA.–7 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +PRAISE be to God, Lord of the worlds! + +The compassionate, the merciful! + +King on the day of reckoning! + +Thee only do we worship, and to Thee do we cry for help. + +Guide Thou us on the straight path,2 + +The path of those to whom Thou hast been gracious;–with whom thou art not +angry, and who go not astray.3 + + +_______________________ + +1 This Sura, which Nöldeke places last, and Muir sixth, in the earliest class +of Meccan Suras, must at least have been composed prior to Sura xxxvii. +182,where it is quoted, and to Sura xv. 87, which refers to it. And it can +scarcely be an accidental circumstance that the words of the first, second, +and fifth verses do not occur in any other Suras of the first Meccan period +as given by N”ldeke, but frequently in those of the second, which it +therefore, in N”ldeke, opinion, immediately precedes. But this may be +accounted for by its having been recast for the purposes of private and +public devotion by Muhammad himself, which is the meaning probably of the +Muhammadan tradition that it was revealed twice. It should also be observed +that, including the auspicatory formula, there are the same number of +petitions in this Sura as in the Lord's Prayer. It is recited several times +in each of the five daily prayers, and on many other occassions, as in +concluding a bargain, etc. It is termed "the Opening of the Book," "the +Completion," "the Sufficing Sura," the Sura of Praise, Thanks, and Prayer," +"the Healer," "the Remedy," "the Basis," "the Treasure," "the Mother of the +Book," "the Seven Verses of Repetition." The Muhammadans always say "Amen" +after this prayer, Muhammad having been instructed, says the Sonna, to do so +by the Angel Gabriel. + +2 Islam + +3 The following transfer of this Sura from the Arabic into the corresponding +English characters may give some idea of the rhyming prose in which the Koran +is written: + +Bismillahi 'rahhmani 'rrahheem. +El-hamdoo lillahi rabi 'lalameen. +Arrahhmani raheem. +Maliki yowmi-d-deen. +Eyaka naboodoo, wa‚yaka nest aeen. +Ihdina 'ssirat almostakeem. +Sirat alezeena anhamta aleihim, gheiri-'l mughdoobi aleihim, wala dsaleen. +Ameen. + + +SURA CIX.–UNBELIEVERS [IX.] + +MECCA.–6 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +SAY: O ye UNBELIEVERS! + +I worship not that which ye worship, + +And ye do not worship that which I worship; + +I shall never worship that which ye worship, + +Neither will ye worship that which I worship. + +To you be your religion; to me my religion.1 + + +_______________________ + +1 This Sura is said to have been revealed when Walîd urged Muhammad to +consent that his God should be worshipped at the same time with the old +Meccan deities, or alternately every year. Hishâmi, p. 79; Tabari, p. 139. It +is a distinct renunciation of Meccan idolatry, as the following Sura is a +distinct recognition of the Divine Unity. + + +SURA CXII.–THE UNITY [X.] + +MECCA.–4 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +SAY: He is God alone: + +God the eternal! + +He begetteth not, and He is not begotten; + +And there is none like unto Him. + + +SURA CXI. ABU LAHAB [XI.] + +MECCA. 5 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +LET the hands of ABU LAHAB1 perish,and let himself perish! + +His wealth and his gains shall avail him not. + +Burned shall he be at the fiery flame,2 + +And his wife laden with fire wood,– + +On her neck a rope of palm fibre. + + +_______________________ + +1 Undoubtedly one of the earliest Suras, and refers to the rejection of +Muhammad's claim to the prophetic office by his uncle, Abu Lahab, at the +instigation of his wife, Omm Djemil, who is said to have strewn the path of +Muhammad on one occasion with thorns. The following six Suras, like the two +first, have special reference to the difficulties which the Prophet met with +the outset of his career, especially from the rich. + +2 In allusion to the meaning of Abu Lahab, father of flame. + + +SURA CVIII.–THE ABUNDANCE [XII.] + +MECCA.–3 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +TRULY we have given thee an ABUNDANCE; + +Pray therefore to the Lord, and slay the victims. + +Verily whoso hateth thee shall be childless.1 + + +_______________________ + +1 A reply to those who had taunted Muhammad with the death of his sons, as a +mark of the divine displeasure. + + +SURA CIV.–THE BACKBITER [XII.] + +MECCA.–9 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +Woe to every BACKBITER, Defamer! + +Who amasseth wealth and storeth it against the future! + +He thinketh surely that his wealth shall be with him for ever. + +Nay! for verily he shall be flung into the Crushing Fire; + +And who shall teach thee what the Crushing Fire is? + +It is God's kindled fire, + +Which shall mount above the hearts of the damned; + +It shall verily rise over them like a vault, + +On outstretched columns. + + +SURA CVII.–RELIGION [XIV.] + +MECCA.–7 Verses + +In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +WHAT thinkest thou of him who treateth our RELIGION as a lie? + +He it is who trusteth away the orphan, + +And stirreth not others up to feed the poor. + +Woe to those who pray, + +But in their prayer are careless; + +Who make a shew of devotion, + +But refuse help to the needy. + + +SURA CII.–DESIRE [XV.] + +MECCA.–8 Verses + +In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +THE DESIRE of increasing riches occupieth you, + +Till ye come to the grave. + +Nay! but in the end ye shall know + +Nay! once more,in the end ye shall know your folly. + +Nay! would that ye knew it with knowledge of certainty! + +Surely ye shall see hell-fire. + +Then shall ye surely see it with the eye of certainty; + +Then shall ye on that day be taken to task concerning pleasures. + + +SURA XCII.–THE NIGHT [XVI.] + +MECCA.–21 Verses + +In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +BY the NIGHT when she spreads her veil; + +By the Day when it brightly shineth; + +By Him who made male and female; + +At different ends truly do ye aim!1 + +But as to him who giveth alms and feareth God, + +And yieldeth assent to the Good; + +To him will we make easy the path to happiness. + +But as to him who is covetous and bent on riches, + +And calleth the Good a lie, + +To him will we make easy the path to misery: + +And what shall his wealth avail him when he goeth down? + +Truly man’s guidance is with Us + +And Our’s, the Future and the Past. + +I warn you therefore of the flaming fire; + +None shall be cast to it but the most wretched,– + +Who hath called the truth a lie and turned his back. + +But the God-fearing shall escape it,– + +Who giveth away his substance that he may become pure;2 + +And who offereth not favours to any one for the sake of recompense, + +But only as seeking the face of his Lord the Most High. + +And surely in the end he shall be well content. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Pref., p. 5, line I. +2 Comp. Luke xi. 41. Muhammad perhaps derived this view of the meritorious +anture of almsgiving from the Jewish oral law. + + +SURA LXVIII.–THE PEN [XVII.] + +Mecca.–52 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +Nun.1 By the PEN2 and by what they write, + +Thou, O Prophet; by the grace of thy Lord art not possessed!3 + +And truly a boundless recompense doth await thee, + +For thou art of a noble nature.4 + +But thou shalt see and they shall see Which of you is the demented. + +Now thy Lord! well knoweth He the man who erreth from his path, and well doth +he know those who have yielded to Guidance; + +Give not place, therefore, to those who treat thee as a liar: + +They desire thee to deal smoothly with them: then would they be smooth as oil +with thee: + +But yield not to the man of oaths, a despicable person, + +Defamer, going about with slander, + +Hinderer of the good, transgressor, criminal, + +Harsh–beside this, impure by birth, + +Though a man of riches and blessed with sons. + +Who when our wondrous verses are recited to him saith–"Fables of the +ancients." + +We will brand him on the nostrils. + +Verily, we have proved them (the Meccans) as we proved the owners of the +garden, when they swore that at morn they would cut its fruits; + +But added no reserve.5 + +Wherefore an encircling desolation from thy Lord swept round it while they +slumbered, + +And in the morning it was like a garden whose fruits had all been cut. + +Then at dawn they called to each other, + +"Go out early to your field, if ye would cut your dates." + +So on they went whispering to each other, + +"No poor man shall set foot this day within your garden;" + +And they went out at daybreak with this settled purpose. + +But when they beheld it, they said, "Truly we have been in fault: + +Yes! we are forbidden our fruits." + +The most rightminded of them said, "Did I not say to you, Will ye not give +praise to God?" + +They said, "Glory to our Lord! Truly we have done amiss." + +And they fell to blaming one another: + +They said, "Oh woe to us! we have indeed transgressed! + +Haply our Lord will give us in exchange a better garden than this: verily we +crave it of our Lord." + +Such hath been our chastisement–but heavier shall be the chastisement of the +next world. Ah! did they but know it. + +Verily, for the God-fearing are gardens of delight in the presence of their +Lord. + +Shall we then deal with those who have surrendered themselves to God, as with +those who offend him? + +What hath befallen you that ye thus judge? + +Have ye a Scripture wherein ye can search out + +That ye shall have the things ye choose? + +Or have ye received oaths which shall bind Us even until the day of the +resurrection, that ye shall have what yourselves judge right? + +Ask them which of them will guarantee this? + +Or is it that they have joined gods with God? let them produce those +associate-gods of theirs, if they speak truth. + +On the day when men's legs shall be bared,6 and they shall be called upon to +bow in adoration, they shall not be able: + +Their looks shall be downcast: shame shall cover them: because, while yet in +safety, they were invited to bow in worship, but would not obey. + +Leave me alone therefore with him who chargeth this revelation with +imposture. We will lead them by degrees to their ruin; by ways which they +know not; + +Yet will I bear long with them; for my plan is sure. + +Askest thou any recompense from them? But they are burdened with debt. + +Are the secret things within their ken? Do they copy them from the Book of +God? + +Patiently then await the judgment of thy Lord, and be not like him who was in +the fish,7 when in deep distress he cried to God. + +Had not favour from his Lord reached him, cast forth would he have been on +the naked shore, overwhelmed with shame: + +But his Lord chose him and made him of the just. + +Almost would the infidels strike thee down with their very looks when they +hear the warning of the Koran. And they say, "He is certainly possessed." + +Yet is it nothing less than a warning for all creatures. + + +_______________________ + +1 It has been conjectured that as the word Nun means fish, there may be a +reference to the fish which swallowed Jonas (v. 48). The fact, however, is +that the meaning of this and of the similar symbols, throughout the Koran, +was unknown to the Muhammadans themselves even in the first century. Possibly +the letters Ha, Mim, which are prefixed to numerous successive Suras were +private marks, or initial letters, attached by their proprietor to the copies +furnished to Said when effecting his recension of the text under Othman. In +the same way, the letters prefixed to other Suras may be monograms, or +abbreviations, or initial letters of the names of the persons to whom the +copies of the respective Suras belonged. + +addenda: The symbol nun may possibly refer to this letter as forming the +Rhyme in most of the verses of this Sura. + +2 This Sura has been supposed by ancient Muslim authorities to be, if not the +oldest, the second revelation, and to have followed Sura xcvi. But this +opinion probably originated from the expression in v. 1 compared with Sura +xcvi. 4. Verses 17-33 read like a later addition, and this passage, as well +as verse 48-50, has been classed with the Medina revelations. In the absence +of any reliable criterion for fixing the date, I have placed this Sura with +those which detail the opposition encountered by the Prophet at Mecca. + +3 By djinn. Comp. Sur. xxxiv. 45. + +4 In bearing the taunts of the unbelievers with patience. + +5 They did not add the restriction, if God will. + +6 An expression implying a grievous calamity; borrowed probably from the +action of stripping previous to wrestling, swimming, etc. + +7 Lit. the companion of the fish. Comp. on Jonah Sura xxxvii. 139-148, and +Sura xxi. 87. + + +SURA XC.–THE SOIL [XVIII.] + +MECCA.–20 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +I NEED not to swear by this SOIL, + +This soil on which thou dost dwell, + +Or by sire and offspring!1 + +Surely in trouble have we created man. + +What! thinketh he that no one hath power over him? + +"I have wasted," saith he, "enormous riches!" + +What! thinketh he that no one regardeth him? + +What! have we not made him eyes, + +And tongue, and lips, + +And guided him to the two highways?2 + +Yet he attempted not the steep. + +And who shall teach thee what the steep is? + +It is to ransom the captive,3 + +Or to feed in the day of famine, + +The orphan who is near of kin, or the poor that lieth in the dust; + +Beside this, to be of those who believe, and enjoin stedfastness on each +other, and enjoin compassion on each other. + +These shall be the people of the right hand: + +While they who disbelieve our signs, + +Shall be the people of the left. + +Around them the fire shall close. + + +_______________________ + +1 Lit. and begetter and what he hath begotten + +2 Of good and evil. + +3 Thus we read in Hilchoth Matt'noth Aniim, c. 8, "The ransoming of captives +takes precedence of the feeding and clothing of the poor, and there is no +commandment so great as this." + + +SURA CV.–THE ELEPHANT [XIX.] + +MECCA.–5 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +HAST thou not seen1 how thy Lord dealt with the army of the ELEPHANT? + +Did he not cause their stratagem to miscarry? + +And he sent against them birds in flocks (ababils), + +Claystones did they hurl down upon them, + +And he made them like stubble eaten down! + + +_______________________ + +1 This Sura is probably Muhammad's appeal to the Meccans, intended at the +same time for his own encouragement, on the ground of their deliverance from +the army of Abraha, the Christian King of Abyssinia and Arabia Felix, said to +have been lost in the year of Muhammad's birth in an expedition against Mecca +for the purpose of destroying the Caaba. This army was cut off by small-pox +(Wakidi; Hishami), and there is no doubt, as the Arabic word for small-pox +also means "small stones," in reference to the hard gravelly feeling of the +pustules, what is the true interpretation of the fourth line of this Sura, +which, like many other poetical passages in the Koran, has formed the +starting point for the most puerile and extravagant legends. Vide Gibbon's +Decline and Fall, c. 1. The small-pox first shewed itself in Arabia at the +time of the invasion by Abraha. M. de Hammer Gemaldesaal, i. 24. Reiske +opusc. Med. Arabum. Hal‘, 1776, p. 8. + + +SURA CVI.–THE KOREISCH [XX.] + +MECCA.–4 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +For the union of the KOREISCH:– + +Their union in equipping caravans winter and summer. + +And let them worship the Lord of this house, who hath provided them with food +against hunger, + +And secured them against alarm.1 + + +_______________________ + +1 In allusion to the ancient inviolability of the Haram, or precinct round +Mecca. See Sura, xcv. n. p. 41. This Sura, therefore, like the preceding, is +a brief appeal to the Meccans on the ground of their peculiar privileges. + + +SURA XCVII.–POWER [XXI.] + +MECCA.–5 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +VERILY, we have caused It1 to descend on the night of POWER. + +And who shall teach thee what the night of power is? + +The night of power excelleth a thousand months: + +Therein descend the angels and the spirit by permission of their Lord for +every matter;2 + +And all is peace till the breaking of the morn. + + +_______________________ + +1 The Koran, which is now pressed on the Meccans with increased prominence, +as will be seen in many succeeding Suras of this period. + +2 The night of Al Kadr is one of the last ten nights of Ramadhan, and as is +commonly believed the seventh of those nights reckoning backward. See Sura +xliv. 2. "Three books are opened on the New Year's Day, one of the perfectly +righteous, one of the perfectly wicked, one of the intermediate. The +perfectly righteous are inscribed and sealed for life," etc. Bab. Talm. Rosh. +Hash., § I. + + +SURA LXXXVI. THE NIGHT-COMER [XXII.] + +MECCA. 17 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +BY the heaven, and by the NIGHT-COMER! + +But who shall teach thee what the night-comer is? + +'Tis the star of piercing radiance. + +Over every soul is set a guardian. + +Let man then reflect out of what he was created. + +He was created of the poured-forth germs, + +Which issue from the loins and breastbones: + +Well able then is God to restore him to life,– + +On the day when all secrets shall be searched out, + +And he shall have no other might or helper. + +I swear by the heaven which accomplisheth its cycle, + +And by the earth which openeth her bosom, + +That this Koran is a discriminating discourse, + +And that it is not frivolous. + +They plot a plot against thee, + +And I will plot a plot against them. + +Deal calmly therefore with the infidels; leave them awhile alone. + + +SURA XCI.–THE SUN [XXIII.] + +MECCA.–15 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +BY the SUN and his noonday brightness! + +By the Moon when she followeth him! + +By the Day when it revealeth his glory! + +By the Night when it enshroudeth him! + +By the Heaven and Him who built it! + +By the Earth and Him who spread it forth! + +By a Soul and Him who balanced it, + +And breathed into it its wickedness and its piety, + +Blessed now is he who hath kept it pure, + +And undone is he who hath corrupted it! + +Themoud1 in his impiety rejected the message of the Lord, + +When the greatest wretch among them rushed up:– + +Said the Apostle of God to them,–"The Camel of God! let her drink." + +But they treated him as an impostor and hamstrung her. + +So their Lord destroyed them for their crime, and visited all alike: + +Nor feared he the issue. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura vii. 33, for the story of Themoud. + + +SURA LXXX.–HE FROWNED [XXIV.] + +MECCA.–42 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +HE FROWNED, and he turned his back,1 + +Because the blind man came to him! + +But what assured thee that he would not be cleansed by the Faith, + +Or be warned, and the warning profit him? + +As to him who is wealthy– + +To him thou wast all attention: + +Yet is it not thy concern if he be not cleansed:2 + +But as to him who cometh to thee in earnest, + +And full of fears– + +Him dost thou neglect. + +Nay! but it (the Koran) is a warning; + +(And whoso is willing beareth it in mind) + +Written on honoured pages, + +Exalted, purified, + +By the hands of Scribes, honoured, righteous. + +Cursed be man! What hath made him unbelieving? + +Of what thing did God create him? + +Out of moist germs.3 + +He created him and fashioned him, + +Then made him an easy passage from the womb, + +Then causeth him to die and burieth him; + +Then, when he pleaseth, will raise him again to life. + +Aye! but man hath not yet fulfilled the bidding of his Lord. + +Let man look at his food: + +It was We who rained down the copious rains, + +Then cleft the earth with clefts, + +And caused the upgrowth of the grain, + +And grapes and healing herbs, + +And the olive and the palm, + +And enclosed gardens thick with trees, + +And fruits and herbage, + +For the service of yourselves and of your cattle. + +But when the stunning trumpet-blast shall arrive,4 + +On that day shall a man fly from his brother, + +And his mother and his father, + +And his wife and his children; + +For every man of them on that day his own concerns shall be enough. + +There shall be faces on that day radiant, + +Laughing and joyous: + +And faces on that day with dust upon them: + +Blackness shall cover them! + +These are the Infidels, the Impure. + + +_______________________ + +1 We are told in the traditions, etc., that when engaged in converse with +Walid, a chief man among the Koreisch, Muhammad was interrupted by the blind +Abdallah Ibn Omm Maktűm, who asked to hear the Koran. The Prophet spoke very +roughly to him at the time, but afterwards repented, and treated him ever +after with the greatest respect. So much so, that he twice made him Governor +of Medina. + +2 That is, if he does not embrace Islam, and so become pure from sin, thou +wilt not be to blame; thou art simply charged with the delivery of a message +of warning. + +3 Ex spermate. + +4 Descriptions of the Day of Judgment now become very frequent. See Sura +lxxxv. p. 42, and almost every Sura to the lv., after which they become +gradually more historical. + + +SURA LXXXVII.–THE MOST HIGH [XXV.] + +MECCA.–19 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +PRAISE the name of thy Lord THE MOST HIGH, + +Who hath created and balanced all things, + +Who hath fixed their destinies and guideth them, + +Who bringeth forth the pasture, + +And reduceth it to dusky stubble. + +We will teach thee to recite the Koran, nor aught shalt thou forget, + +Save what God pleaseth; for he knoweth alike things manifest and hidden; + +And we will make easy to thee our easy ways. + +Warn, therefore, for the warning is profitable: + +He that feareth God will receive the warning,– + +And the most reprobate only will turn aside from it, + +Who shall be exposed to the terrible fire, + +In which he shall not die, and shall not live. + +Happy he who is purified by Islam, + +And who remembereth the name of his Lord and prayeth. + +But ye prefer this present life, + +Though the life to come is better and more enduring. + +This truly is in the Books of old, + +The Books of Abraham1 and Moses. + + +_______________________ + +1 Thus the Rabbins attribute the Book Jezirah to Abraham. See Fabr. Cod. +Apoc. V. T. p. 349. + + +SURA XCV.–THE FIG [XXVI.] + +MECCA.–8 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +I SWEAR by the FIG and by the olive, + +By Mount Sinai, + +And by this inviolate soil!1 + +That of goodliest fabric we created man, + +Then brought him down to be the lowest of the low;– + +Save who believe and do the things that are right, for theirs shall be a +reward that faileth not. + +Then, who after this shall make thee treat the Judgment as a lie? + +What! is not God the most just of judges? + + +_______________________ + +1 In allusion to the sacredness of the territory of Mecca. This valley in +about the fourth century of our ‘ra was a kind of sacred forest of 37 miles +in circumference, and called Haram a name applied to it as early as the time +of Pliny (vi. 32). It had the privilege of asylum, but it was not lawful to +inhabit it, or to carry on commerce within its limits, and its religious +ceremonies were a bond of union to several of the Bedouin tribes of the +Hejaz. The Koreisch had monopolised most of the offices and advantages of the +Haram in the time of Muhammad. See Sprenger's Life of Mohammad, pp. 7 20. + + +SURA CIII.–THE AFTERNOON [XXVII.] + +MECCA.–3 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +I SWEAR by the declining day! + +Verily, man's lot is cast amid destruction,1 + +Save those who believe and do the things which be right, and enjoin truth and +enjoin stedfastness on each other. + + +_______________________ + +1 Said to have been recited in the Mosque shortly before his death by +Muhammad. See Weil, p. 328. + + +SURA LXXXV.–THE STARRY [XXVIII.] + +MECCA.–22 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +BY the star-bespangled Heaven!1 + +By the promised Day! + +By the witness and the witnessed!2 + +Cursed the masters of the trench3 + +Of the fuel-fed fire, + +When they sat around it + +Witnesses of what they inflicted on the believers! + +Nor did they torment them but for their faith in God, the Mighty, the +Praiseworthy:4 + +His the kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth; and God is the witness of +everything. + +Verily, those who vexed the believers, men and women, and repented not, doth +the torment of Hell, and the torment of the burning, await. + +But for those who shall have believed and done the things that be right, are +the Gardens beneath whose shades the rivers flow. This the immense bliss! + +Verily, right terrible will be thy Lord's vengeance! + +He it is who produceth all things, and causeth them to return; + +And is He the Indulgent, the Loving; + +Possessor of the Glorious throne; + +Worker of that he willeth. + +Hath not the story reached thee of the hosts + +Of Pharaoh and Themoud? + +Nay! the infields are all for denial: + +But God surroundeth them from behind. + +Yet it is a glorious Koran, + +Written on the preserved Table. + + +_______________________ + +1 Lit. By the Heaven furnished with towers, where the angels keep watch; +also, the signs of the Zodiac: this is the usual interpretation. See Sura xv. +15. + +2 That is, by Muhammad and by Islam; or, angels and men. See, however, v. 7. + +3 Prepared by Dhu Nowas, King of Yemen, A.D. 523, for the Christians. See +Gibbon's Decline and Fall, chap. xii. towards the end. Pocock Sp. Hist. Ar. +p. 62. And thus the comm. generally. But Geiger (p. 192) and Nöldeke (p. 77 +n.) understand the passage of Dan. iii. But it should be borne in mind that +the Suras of this early period contain very little allusion to Jewish or +Christian legends. + +4 Verses 8-11 wear the appearance of a late insertion, on account of their +length, which is a characteristic of the more advanced period. Observe also +the change in the rhymes. + + +SURA CI.–THE BLOW [XXIX.] + +MECCA.–8 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +THE BLOW! what is the Blow? + +Who shall teach thee what the Blow is? + +The Day when men shall be like scattered moths, + +And the mountains shall be like flocks of carded wool, + +Then as to him whose balances are heavy–his shall be a life that shall please +him well: + +And as to him whose balances are light–his dwelling-place1 shall be the pit. + +And who shall teach thee what the pit (El-Hawiya) is? + +A raging fire! + + +_______________________ + +1 Lit. Mother. + + +SURA XCIX.–THE EARTHQUAKE [XXX.] + +MECCA.–8 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +WHEN the Earth with her quaking shall quake + +And the Earth shall cast forth her burdens, + +And man shall say, What aileth her? + +On that day shall she tell out her tidings, + +Because thy Lord shall have inspired her. + +On that day shall men come forward in throngs to behold their works, + +And whosoever shall have wrought an atom's weight of good shall behold it, + +And whosoever shall have wrought an atom's weight of evil shall behold it. + + +SURA LXXXII.–THE CLEAVING [XXXI.] + +MECCA.–19 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +WHEN the Heaven shall CLEAVE asunder, + +And when the stars shall disperse, + +And when the seas1 shall be commingled, + +And when the graves shall be turned upside down, + +Each soul shall recognise its earliest and its latest actions. + +O man! what hath misled thee against thy generous Lord, + +Who hath created thee and moulded thee and shaped thee aright? + +In the form which pleased Him hath He fashioned thee. + +Even so; but ye treat the Judgment as a lie. + +Yet truly there are guardians over you– + +Illustrious recorders– + +Cognisant of your actions. + +Surely amid delights shall the righteous dwell, + +But verily the impure in Hell-fire: + +They shall be burned at it on the day of doom, + +And they shall not be able to hide themselves from it. + +Who shall teach thee what the day of doom is? + +Once more. Who shall teach thee what the day of doom is? + +It is a day when one soul shall be powerless for another soul: all +sovereignty on that day shall be with God. + + +_______________________ + +1 Salt water and fresh water. + + +SURA LXXXI.–THE FOLDED UP [XXXII.] + +MECCA.–29 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +WHEN the sun shall be FOLDED UP,1 + +And when the stars shall fall, + +And when the mountains shall be set in motion, + +And when the she-camels shall be abandoned, + +And when the wild beasts shall be gathered together,2 + +And when the seas shall boil, + +And when souls shall be paired with their bodies, + +And when the female child that had been buried alive shall be asked + +For what crime she was put to death,3 + +And when the leaves of the Book shall be unrolled, + +And when the Heaven shall be stripped away,4 + +And when Hell shall be made to blaze, + +And when Paradise shall be brought near, + +Every soul shall know what it hath produced. + +It needs not that I swear by the stars5 of retrograde motions + +Which move swiftly and hide themselves away, + +And by the night when it cometh darkening on, + +And by the dawn when it brighteneth, + +That this is the word of an illustrious Messenger,6 + +Endued with power, having influence with the Lord of the Throne, + +Obeyed there by Angels, faithful to his trust, + +And your compatriot is not one possessed by djinn; + +For he saw him in the clear horizon:7 + +Nor doth he grapple with heaven's secrets,8 + +Nor doth he teach the doctrine of a cursed9 Satan. + +Whither then are ye going? + +Verily, this is no other than a warning to all creatures; + +To him among you who willeth to walk in a straight path: + +But will it ye shall not, unless as God willeth it,10 the Lord of the worlds. + + +_______________________ + +1 Involutus fuerit tenebris. Mar. Or, thrown down. + +2 Thus Bab. Talm. Erchin, 3. "In the day to come (i.e., of judgment) all the +beasts will assemble and come, etc." + +3 See Sura xvi. 61; xvii. 33. + +4 Like a skin from an animal when flayed. The idea is perhaps borrowed from +the Sept. V. of Psalm civ. 2. Vulg. sicut pellem. + +5 Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn. + +6 Gabriel; of the meaning of whose name the next verse is probably a +paraphrase. + +7 Sura 1iii. 7. + +8 Like a mere Kahin, or soothsayer. + +9 Lit. stoned. Sura iii. 31. This vision or hallucination is one of the few +clearly stated miracles, to which Muhammad appeals in the Koran. According to +the tradition of Ibn-Abbas in Waquidi he was preserved by it from committing +suicide by throwing himself down from Mount Hira, and that after it, God +cheered him and strengthened his heart, and one revelation speedily followed +another. + +10 Comp. the doctrine of predestination in Sura 1xxvi. v. 25 to end. + + +SURA LXXXIV.–THE SPLITTING ASUNDER [XXXIII.] + +MECCA.–25 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +WHEN the Heaven shall have SPLIT ASUNDER + +And duteously obeyed its Lord;1 + +And when Earth shall have been stretched out as a plain, + +And shall have cast forth what was in her and become empty, + +And duteously obeyed its Lord; + +Then verily, O man, who desirest to reach thy Lord, shalt thou meet him. + +And he into whose right hand his Book shall be given, + +Shall be reckoned with in an easy reckoning, + +And shall turn, rejoicing, to his kindred. + +But he whose Book shall be given him behind his back2 + +Shall invoke destruction: + +But in the fire shall he burn, + +For that he lived joyously among his kindred, + +Without a thought that he should return to God. + +Yea, but his Lord beheld him. + +It needs not therefore that I swear by the sunset redness, + +And by the night and its gatherings, + +And by the moon when at her full, + +That from state to state shall ye be surely carried onward.3 + +What then hath come to them that they believe not? + +And that when the Koran is recited to them they adore not? + +Yea, the unbelievers treat it as a lie. + +But God knoweth their secret hatreds: + +Let their only tidings4 be those of painful punishment; + +Save to those who believe and do the things that be right. + +An unfailing recompense shall be theirs. + + +_______________________ + +1 Lit. and obeyed its Lord, and shall be worthy, or capable, i.e., of +obedience. + +2 That is, into his left hand. The Muhammadans believe that the right hand of +the damned will be chained to the neck; the left chained behind the back. + +3 From Life to Death, from the Grave to Resurrection, thence to Paradise. + +4 The expression is ironical. See Freyt. on the word. Lit. tell them glad +tidings. + + +SURA C.–THE CHARGERS [XXXIV.] + +Mecca.–11 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +By the snorting CHARGERS! + +And those that dash off sparks of fire! + +And those that scour to the attack at morn! + +And stir therein the dust aloft; + +And cleave therein their midway through a host! + +Truly, Man is to his Lord ungrateful. + +And of this he is himself a witness; + +And truly, he is vehement in the love of this world's good. + +Ah! knoweth he not, that when that which is in the graves shall be laid bare, + +And that which is in men's breasts shall be brought forth, + +Verily their Lord shall on that day be informed concerning them? + + +SURA LXXIX.1–THOSE WHO DRAG FORTH [XXXV.] + +MECCA.–46 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +By those angels who DRAG FORTH souls with violence, + +And by those who with joyous release release them; + +By those who swim swimmingly along; + +By those who are foremost with foremost speed;2 + +By those who conduct the affairs of the universe! + +One day, the disturbing trumpet-blast shall disturb it, + +Which the second blast shall follow: + +Men's hearts on that day shall quake:– + +Their looks be downcast. + +The infidels will say, "Shall we indeed be restored as at first? + +What! when we have become rotten bones?" + +"This then," say they, "will be a return to loss." + +Verily, it will be but a single blast, + +And lo! they are on the surface of the earth. + +Hath the story of Moses reached thee? + +When his Lord called to him in Towa's holy vale: + +Go to Pharaoh, for he hath burst all bounds: + +And say, "Wouldest thou become just? + +Then I will guide thee to thy Lord that thou mayest fear him." + +And he showed him a great miracle,– + +But he treated him as an impostor, and rebelled; + +Then turned he his back all hastily, + +And gathered an assembly and proclaimed, + +And said, "I am your Lord supreme." + +So God visited on him the punishment of this life and of the other. + +Verily, herein is a lesson for him who hath the fear of God. + +Are ye the harder to create, or the heaven which he hath built? + +He reared its height and fashioned it, + +And gave darkness to its night, and brought out its light, + +And afterwards stretched forth the earth,– + +He brought forth from it its waters and its pastures; + +And set the mountains firm + +For you and your cattle to enjoy. + +But when the grand overthrow shall come, + +The day when a man shall reflect on the pains that he hath taken, + +And Hell shall be in full view of all who are looking on; + +Then, as for him who hath transgressed + +And hath chosen this present life, + +Verily, Hell–that shall be his dwelling-place: + +But as to him who shall have feared the majesty of his Lord, and shall have +refrained his soul from lust, + +Verily, Paradise–that shall be his dwelling-place. + +They will ask thee of "the Hour," when will be its fixed time? + +But what knowledge hast thou of it? + +Its period is known only to thy Lord; + +And thou art only charged with the warning of those who fear it. + +On the day when they shall see it, it shall seem to them as though they had +not tarried in the tomb, longer than its evening or its morn. + + +_______________________ + +1 This Sura obviously consists of three portions, verses 1-14, 15-26, 27-46, +of which the third is the latest in point of style, and the second, more +detailed than is usual in the Suras of the early period, which allude to +Jewish and other legend only in brief and vague terms. It may therefore be +considered as one of the short and early Suras. + +2 Or, By those angels which precede, i.e., the souls of the pious into +Paradise. Or, are beforehand with the Satans and djinn in learning the +decrees of God. + + +SURA LXXVII.–THE SENT [XXXVI.] + +MECCA.–50 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +By the train of THE SENT ones,1 + +And the swift in their swiftness; + +By the scatterers who scatter, + +And the distinguishers who distinguish; + +And by those that give forth the word + +To excuse or warn; + +Verily that which ye are promised is imminent. + +When the stars, therefore, shall be blotted out, + +And when the heaven shall be cleft, + +And when the mountains shall be scattered in dust, + +And when the Apostles shall have a time assigned them; + +Until what day shall that time be deferred? + +To the day of severing! + +And who shall teach thee what the day of severing is? + +Woe on that day to those who charged with imposture! + +Have we not destroyed them of old? + +We will next cause those of later times to follow them.2 + +Thus deal we with the evil doers. + +Woe on that day to those who charged with imposture! + +Have we not created you of a sorry germ, + +Which we laid up in a secure place, + +Till the term decreed for birth? + +Such is our power! and, how powerful are We! + +Woe on that day to those who charged with imposture! + +Have we not made the earth to hold + +The living and the dead? + +And placed on it the tall firm mountains, and given you to drink of sweet +water. + +Woe on that day to those who charged with imposture! + +Begone to that Hell which ye called a lie:– + +Begone to the shadows that lie in triple masses; + +"But not against the flame shall they shade or help you:"– + +The sparks which it casteth out are like towers– + +Like tawny camels. + +Woe on that day to those who charged with imposture! + +On that day they shall not speak, + +Nor shall it be permitted them to allege excuses. + +Woe on that day to those who charged with imposture! + +This is the day of severing, when we will assemble you and your ancestors. + +If now ye have any craft try your craft on me. + +Woe on that day to those who charged with imposture! + +But the god-fearing shall be placed amid shades and fountains, + +And fruits, whatsoever they shall desire: + +"Eat and drink, with health,3 as the meed of your toils." + +Thus recompense we the good. + +Woe on that day to those who charged with imposture! + +"Eat ye and enjoy yourselves a little while. Verily, ye are doers of evil." + +Woe on that day to those who charged with imposture! + +For when it is said to them, bend the knee, they bend it not. + +Woe on that day to those who charged with imposture + +In what other revelation after this will they believe? + + +_______________________ + +1 Lit. by the sent (fem.) one after another. Per missas. Mar. Either angels +following in a continued series; or, winds, which disperse rain over the +earth; or the successive verses of the Koran which disperse truth and +distinguish truth from error. + +2 Sura xliv. 40. + +3 Maimonides says that the majority of the Jews hope that Messiah shall come +and "raise the dead, and they shall be gathered into Paradise, and there +shall eat and drink and be in good health to all eternity."–Sanhedrin, fol. +119, col. I. + + +SURA LXXVIII.–THE NEWS [XXXVII.] + +MECCA.–41 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +Of what ask they of one another? + +Of the great NEWS.1 + +The theme of their disputes. + +Nay! they shall certainly knows its truth! + +Again. Nay! they shall certainly know it. + +Have we not made the Earth a couch? + +And the mountains its tent-stakes? + +We have created you of two sexes, + +And ordained your sleep for rest, + +And ordained the night as a mantle, + +And ordained the day for gaining livelihood, + +And built above you seven solid2 heavens, + +And placed therein a burning lamp; + +And we send down water in abundance from the rain-clouds, + +That we may bring forth by it corn and herbs, + +And gardens thick with trees. + +Lo! the day of Severance is fixed; + +The day when there shall be a blast on the trumpet, and ye shall come in +crowds, + +And the heaven shall be opened and be full of portals, + +And the mountains shall be set in motion, and melt into thin vapour. + +Hell truly shall be a place of snares, + +The home of transgressors, + +To abide therein ages; + +No coolness shall they taste therein nor any drink, + +Save boiling water and running sores; + +Meet recompense! + +For they looked not forward to their account; + +And they gave the lie to our signs, charging them with falsehood; + +But we noted and wrote down all: + +"Taste this then: and we will give you increase of nought but torment." + +But, for the God-fearing is a blissful abode, + +Enclosed gardens and vineyards; + +And damsels with swelling breasts, their peers in age, + +And a full cup: + +There shall they hear no vain discourse nor any falsehood: + +A recompense from thy Lord–sufficing gift!– + +Lord of the heavens and of the earth, and of all that between3 them lieth–the +God of Mercy! But not a word shall they obtain from Him. + +On the day whereon the Spirit4 and the Angels shall be ranged in order, they +shall not speak: save he whom the God of Mercy shall permit, and who shall +say that which is right. + +This is the sure day. Whoso then will, let him take the path of return to his +Lord. + +Verily, we warn you of a chastisement close at hand: + +The day on which a man shall see the deeds which his hands have sent before +him; and when the unbeliever shall say, "Oh! would I were dust!" + + +_______________________ + +1 Of the Resurrection. With regard to the date of this Sura, we can only be +guided (I) by the general style of the earlier portion (to verse 37, which is +analogous to that of the early Meccan Suras; (2) by verse 17, which pre- +supposes lxxvii. 12; (3) by the obviously later style of verse 37 to the end. + +2 See Sura ii. 27. This is the title given by the Talmudists to the fifth of +the seven heavens. + +3 This phrase is of constant recurrence in the Talmud. Maimonides, Yad Hach. +i. 3, makes it one of the positive commands of the Rabbins to believe "that +there exists a first Being . . . and that all things existing, Heaven and +Earth, and whatever is between them, exist only through the truth of his +existence." + +4 Gabriel. + + +SURA LXXXVIII.–THE OVERSHADOWING [XXXVIII.] + +MECCA.–26 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +Hath the tidings of the day that shall OVERSHADOW, reached thee? + +Downcast on that day shall be the countenances of some, + +Travailing and worn, + +Burnt at the scorching fire, + +Made to drink from a fountain fiercely boiling. + +No food shall they have but the fruit of Darih,1 + +Which shall not fatten, nor appease their hunger. + +Joyous too, on that day, the countenances of others, + +Well pleased with their labours past, + +In a lofty garden: + +No vain discourse shalt thou hear therein: + +Therein shall be a gushing fountain, + +Therein shall be raised couches, + +And goblets ready placed, + +And cushions laid in order, + +And carpets spread forth. + +Can they not look up to the clouds, how they are created; + +And to the heaven how it is upraised; + +And to the mountains how they are rooted; + +And to the earth how it is outspread? + +Warn thou then; for thou art a warner only: + +Thou hast no authority over them: + +But whoever shall turn back and disbelieve, + +God shall punish him with the greater punishment. + +Verily to Us shall they return; + +Then shall it be Our's to reckon with them. + + +_______________________ + +1 The name of a bitter, thorny shrub. + + +SURA LXXXIX.–THE DAYBREAK [XXXIX.] + +MECCA.–30 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +By the DAYBREAK and ten nights.1 + +By that which is double and that which is single, + +By the night when it pursues its course! + +Is there not in this an oath becoming a man of sense? + +Hast thou not seen how thy Lord dealt with Ad, + +At Irem adorned with pillars, + +Whose like have not been reared in these lands! + +And with Themoud who hewed out the rocks in the valley; + +And with Pharaoh the impaler; + +Who all committed excesses in the lands, + +And multiplied wickedness therein. + +Wherefore thy Lord let loose on them the scourge of chastisement,2 + +For thy Lord standeth on a watch tower. + +As to man, when his Lord trieth him and honoureth him and is bounteous to +him, + +Then saith he, "My Lord honoureth me:" + +But when he proveth him and limiteth his gifts to him, + +He saith, "My Lord despiseth me." + +Aye. But ye honour not the orphan, + +Nor urge ye one another to feed the poor, + +And ye devour heritages, devouring greedily, + +And ye love riches with exceeding love. + +Aye. But when the earth shall be crushed with crushing, crushing, + +And thy Lord shall come and the angels rank on rank, + +And Hell on that day shall be moved up,3–Man shall on that day remember +himself. But how shall remembrance help him? + +He shall say, Oh! would that I had prepared for this my life! On that day +none shall punish as God punisheth, + +And none shall bind with such bonds as He. + +Oh, thou soul which art at rest, + +Return to thy Lord, pleased, and pleasing him: + +Enter thou among my servants, + +And enter thou my Paradise. + + +_______________________ + +1 Of the sacred month Dhu'lhajja. + +2 Or, poured on them the mixed cup of chastisement. + +3 The orthodox Muhammadans take this passage literally. Djelal says that hell +will "be dragged up by 70,000 chains, each pulled by 70,000 angels," as if it +were an enormous animal or locomotive engine. + + +SURA LXXV.–THE RESURRECTION [XL.] + +MECCA.–40 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +It needeth not that I swear by the day of the RESURRECTION, + +Or that I swear by the self-accusing soul. + +Thinketh man that we shall not re-unite his bones? + +Aye! his very finger tips are we able evenly to replace. + +But man chooseth to deny what is before him: + +He asketh, "When this day of Resurrection?" + +But when the eye shall be dazzled, + +And when the moon shall be darkened, + +And the sun and the moon shall be together,1 + +On that day man shall cry, "Where is there a place to flee to?" + +But in vain–there is no refuge– + +With thy Lord on that day shall be the sole asylum. + +On that day shall man be told of all that he hath done first and last; + +Yea, a man shall be the eye witness against himself: + +And even if he put forth his plea. . . .2 + +(Move not thy tongue in haste to follow and master this revelation:3 + +For we will see to the collecting and the recital of it; + +But when we have recited it, then follow thou the recital, + +And, verily, afterwards it shall be ours to make it clear to thee.) + +Aye, but ye love the transitory, + +And ye neglect the life to come. + +On that day shall faces beam with light, + +Outlooking towards their Lord; + +And faces on that day shall be dismal, + +As if they thought that some great calamity would befal them. + +Aye, when the soul shall come up into the throat, + +And there shall be a cry, "Who hath a charm that can restore him?" + +And the man feeleth that the time of his departure is come, + +And when one leg shall be laid over the other,4 + +To thy Lord on that day shall he be driven on; + +For he believed not, and he did not pray, + +But he called the truth a lie and turned his back, + +Then, walking with haughty men, rejoined his people. + +That Hour is nearer to thee and nearer,5 + +It is ever nearer to thee and nearer still. + +Thinketh man that he shall be left supreme? + +Was he not a mere embryo?6 + +Then he became thick blood of which God formed him and fashioned him; + +And made him twain, male and female. + +Is not He powerful enough to quicken the dead? + + +_______________________ + +1 Lit. shall be united. In the loss of light, or in the rising in the west.– +Beidh. + +2 Supply, it shall not be accepted. + +3 Verses 16-19 are parenthetic, and either an address to Muhammad by Gabriel +desiring him (I) not to be overcome by any fear of being unable to follow and +retain the revelation of this particular Sura; (2) or, not to interrupt him, +but to await the completion of the entire revelation before he should proceed +to its public recital. In either case we are led to the conclusion that, from +the first, Muhammad had formed the plan of promulging a written book. Comp. +Sura xx. 112. + +4 In the death-struggle. + +5 Or, Therefore woe to thee, woe! And, again, woe to thee, woe. Thus Sale, +Ullm. Beidhawi; who also gives the rendering in the text, which is that of +Maracci. + +6 Nonne fuit humor ex spermate quod spermatizatur. + + +SURA LXXXIII.–THOSE WHO STINT [XLI.] + +MECCA.–36 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +Woe to those who STINT the measure: + +Who when they take by measure from others, exact the full; + +But when they mete to them or weigh to them, minish– + +What! have they no thought that they shall be raised again + +For the great day? + +The day when mankind shall stand before the Lord of the worlds. + +Yes! the register of the wicked is in Sidjin.1 + +And who shall make thee understand what Sidjin is? + +It is a book distinctly written. + +Woe, on that day, to those who treated our signs as lies, + +Who treated the day of judgment as a lie! + +None treat it as a lie, save the transgressor, the criminal, + +Who, when our signs are rehearsed to him, saith, "Tales of the Ancients!" + +Yes; but their own works have got the mastery over their hearts. + +Yes; they shall be shut out as by a veil from their Lord on that day; + +Then shall they be burned in Hell-fire: + +Then shall it be said to them, "This is what ye deemed a lie." + +Even so. But the register of the righteous is in Illiyoun. + +And who shall make thee understand what Illiyoun is? + +A book distinctly written; + +The angels who draw nigh unto God attest it. + +Surely, among delights shall the righteous dwell! + +Seated on bridal couches they will gaze around; + +Thou shalt mark in their faces the brightness of delight; + +Choice sealed wine shall be given them to quaff, + +The seal of musk. For this let those pant who pant for bliss– + +Mingled therewith shall be the waters of Tasnim–2 + +Fount whereof they who draw nigh to God shall drink. + +The sinners indeed laugh the faithful to scorn: + +And when they pass by them they wink at one another,– + +And when they return to their own people, they return jesting, + +And when they see them they say, "These are the erring ones." + +And yet they have no mission to be their guardians. + +Therefore, on that day the faithful shall laugh the infidels to scorn, + +As reclining on bridal couches they behold them. + +Shall not the infidels be recompensed according to their works? + + +_______________________ + +1 Sidjin is a prison in Hell which gives its name to the register of actions +there kept, as Illiyoun, a name of the lofty apartments of Paradise, is +transferred to the register of the righteous. + +2 Derived from the root sanima, to be high: this water being conveyed to the +highest apartments in the Pavilions of Paradise. + + +SURA LXIX.–THE INEVITABLE [XLII.] + +MECCA.–52 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +The INEVITABLE! + +And who shall make thee comprehend what the Inevitable is? + +Themoud and Ad treated the day of Terrors1 as a lie. + +So as to Themoud,2 they were destroyed by crashing thunder bolts; + +And as to Ad, they were destroyed by a roaring and furious blast. + +It did the bidding of God3 against them seven nights and eight days together, +during which thou mightest have seen the people laid low, as though they had +been the trunks of hollow palms; + +And couldst thou have seen one of them surviving? + +Pharaoh also, and those who flourished before him, and the overthrown cities, +committed sin,– + +And disobeyed the Sent one of their Lord; therefore did he chastise them with +an accumulated chastisement. + +When the Flood rose high, we bare you in the Ark, + +That we might make that event a warning to you, and that the retaining ear +might retain it. + +But when one blast shall be blown on the trumpet, + +And the earth and the mountains shall be upheaved, and shall both be crushed +into dust at a single crushing, + +On that day the woe that must come suddenly shall suddenly come,4 + +And the heaven shall cleave asunder, for on that day it shall be fragile; + +And the angels shall be on its sides, and over them on that day eight shall +bear up the throne of thy Lord. + +On that day ye shall be brought before Him: none of your hidden deeds shall +remain hidden: + +And he who shall have his book given to him in his right hand, will say to +his friends, "Take ye it; read ye my book; + +I ever thought that to this my reckoning I should come." + +And his shall be a life that shall please him well, + +In a lofty garden, + +Whose clusters shall be near at hand: + +"Eat ye and drink with healthy relish, as the meed of what ye sent on +beforehand in the days which are past." + +But he who shall have his book given into his left hand, will say, "O that my +book had never been given me! + +And that I had never known my reckoning! + +O that death had made an end of me! + +My wealth hath not profited me! + +My power hath perished from me!" + +"Lay ye hold on him and chain him, + +Then at the Hell-fire burn him, + +Then into a chain whose length is seventy cubits thrust him; + +For he believed not in God, the Great, + +And was not careful to feed the poor; + +No friend therefore shall he have here this day, + +Nor food, but corrupt sores, + +Which none shall eat but the sinners." + +It needs not that I swear by what ye see, + +And by that which ye see not, + +That this verily is the word of an apostle worthy of all honour! + +And that it is not the word of a poet–how little do ye believe! + +Neither is it the word of a soothsayer (Kahin)–how little do ye receive +warning! + +It is a missive from the Lord of the worlds. + +But if Muhammad had fabricated concerning us any sayings, + +We had surely seized him by the right hand, + +And had cut through the vein of his neck.5 + +Nor would We have withheld any one of you from him. + +But, verily, It (the Koran) is a warning for the God-fearing; + +And we well know that there are of you who treat it as a falsehood. + +But it shall be the despair of infidels, + +For it is the very truth of sure knowledge. + +Praise, then, the name of thy Lord, the Great. + + +_______________________ + +1 Thus Beidh., Sale, etc. But with reference to another sense of the root +karaa, it may be rendered the day of decision, the day on which man's lot +shall be decided. + +2 On Ad and Themoud. See Sura vii. 63-77. + +3 Lit. God subjected it to himself, availed himself of it against them. + +4 El-wakia, the sudden event, the calamity; the woe that must break in upon +Heaven and Earth. The same word is used, Sura lvi. 1, and ci. 1, for the +Resurrection and Day of Judgment. + +5 In allusion to the mode of executing criminals in many eastern countries. + + +SURA LI.–THE SCATTERING [XLIII.] + +MECCA.–60 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +By the clouds1 which scatter with SCATTERING, + +And those which bear their load, + +And by those which speed lightly along, + +And those which apportion by command! + +True, indeed, is that with which ye are threatened, + +And lo! the judgment will surely come.2 + +By the star-tracked heaven! + +Ye are discordant in what ye say; + +But whose turneth him from the truth, is turned from it by a divine decree. + +Perish the liars, + +Who are bewildered in the depths of ignorance! + +They ask, "When this day of judgment?" + +On that day they shall be tormented at the fire. + +"Taste ye of this your torment, whose speedy coming ye challenged." + +But the God-fearing shall dwell amid gardens and fountains, + +Enjoying what their Lord hath given them, because, aforetime they were well- +doers: + +But little of the night was it that they slept, + +And at dawn they prayed for pardon, + +And gave due share of their wealth to the suppliant and the outcast. + +On Earth are signs for men of firm belief, + +And also in your own selves: Will ye not then behold them? + +The Heaven hath sustenance for you, and it containeth that which you are +promised. + +By the Lord then of the heaven and of the earth, I swear that this is the +truth, even as ye speak yourselves.3 + +Hath the story reached thee of Abraham's honoured guests?4 + +When they went in unto him and said, "Peace!" he replied, "Peace:–they are +strangers." + +And he went apart to his family, and brought a fatted calf, + +And set it before them. He said, "Eat ye not?" + +And he conceived a fear of them. They said to him, "Fear not;" and announced +to him a wise son. + +His wife came up with outcry: she smote her face and said, "What I, old and +barren!" + +They said, "Thus saith thy Lord. He truly is the Wise, the Knowing." + +Said he, "And what, O messengers, is your errand?" + +They said, "To a wicked people are we sent, + +To hurl upon them stones of clay, + +Destined5 by thy Lord for men guilty of excesses." + +And we brought forth the believers who were in the city: + +But we found not in it but one family of Muslims. + +And signs we left in it for those who dread the afflictive chastisement,– + +And in Moses: when we sent him to Pharaoh with manifest power: + +But relying on his forces6 he turned his back and said, "Sorcerer, or +Possessed." + +So we seized him and his hosts and cast them into the sea; for of all blame +was he worthy. + +And in Ad: when we sent against them the desolating blast: + +It touched not aught over which it came, but it turned it to dust. + +And in Themoud:7 when it was said to them, "Enjoy yourselves for yet a +while." + +But they rebelled against their Lord's command: so the tempest took them as +they watched its coming.8 + +They were not able to stand upright, and could not help themselves. + +And we destroyed the people of Noah, before them; for an impious people were +they. + +And the Heaven–with our hands have we built it up, and given it its expanse; + +And the Earth–we have stretched it out like a carpet; and how + +smoothly have we spread it forth! + +And of everything have we created pairs: that haply ye may reflect. + +Fly then to God: I come to you from him a plain warner. + +And set not up another god with God: I come to you from him a plain warner. + +Even thus came there no apostle to those who flourished before them, but they +exclaimed, "Sorcerer, or Possessed." + +Have they made a legacy to one another of this scoff? Yes, they are a rebel +people. + +Turn away, then, from them, and thou shalt not incur reproach: + +Yet warn them, for, in truth, warning will profit the believers. + +I have not created Djinn and men, but that they should worship me: + +I require not sustenance from them, neither require I that they feed me: + +Verily, God is the sole sustainer: possessed of might: the unshaken! + +Therefore to those who injure thee shall be a fate like the fate of + +their fellows of old. Let them not challenge me to hasten it. + +Woe then to the infidels, because of their threatened day. + + +_______________________ + +1 Lit. (I swear) by those which scatter (i.e., the rain) with a scattering, +(2) and by those which carry a burden, (3) and by those which run lightly, +(4) and by those which divide a matter, or by command. The participles are +all in the feminine: hence some interpret verse 1 of winds; verse 2 of +clouds; verse 3 of ships; verse 4 of angels. + +2 Comp. note at Sura lvi. 1, p. 65. + +3 That is, this oath is for the confirmation of the truth, as ye are wont to +confirm things one among another by an oath. + +4 Comp. Sura xi. 72, and xv. 51. From the want of connection with what +precedes, it is highly probable that the whole passage from verse 24 60 did +not originally form a part of this Sura, but was added at a later period, +perhaps in the recension of the text under Othman. + +5 Lit. marked, with the names of the individuals to be slain, say the +commentators. + +6 Or, with his nobles. + +7 For Ad and Themoud, see Sura xi. + +8 That is, in broad daylight. Thus Beidh. Comp. Sura xlvi. 22. + + +SURA LII.–THE MOUNTAIN [XLIV.] + +MECCA.–49 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +BY the MOUNTAIN, + +And by the Book written + +On an outspread roll, + +And by the frequented fane,1 + +And by the lofty vault, + +And by the swollen sea, + +Verily, a chastisement from thy Lord is imminent, + +And none shall put it back. + +Reeling on that day the Heaven shall reel, + +And stirring shall the mountains stir.2 + +And woe, on that day, to those who called the apostles liars, + +Who plunged for pastime into vain disputes– + +On that day shall they be thrust with thrusting to the fire of Hell:– + +"This is the fire which ye treated as a lie. + +What! is this magic, then? or, do ye not see it? + +Burn ye therein: bear it patiently or impatiently 'twill be the same to you: +for ye shall assuredly receive the reward of your doings." + +But mid gardens and delights shall they dwell who have feared God, + +Rejoicing in what their Lord hath given them; and that from the pain of hell- +fire hath their Lord preserved them. + +"Eat and drink with healthy enjoyment, in recompense for your deeds." + +On couches ranged in rows shall they recline; and to the damsels with large +dark eyes will we wed them. + +And to those who have believed, whose offspring have followed them in the +faith, will we again unite their offspring; nor of the meed of their works +will we in the least defraud them. Pledged to God is every man for his +actions and their desert.3 + +And fruits in abundance will we give them, and flesh as they shall desire: + +Therein shall they pass to one another the cup which shall engender no light +discourse, no motive to sin: + +And youths shall go round among them beautiful as imbedded pearls: + +And shall accost one another and ask mutual questions. + +"A time indeed there was," will they say, "when we were full of care as to +the future lot of our families; + +But kind hath God been to us, and from the pestilential torment hath he +preserved us; + +For, heretofore we called upon Him–and He is the Beneficent, the Merciful." + +Warn thou, then. For thou by the favour of thy Lord art neither soothsayer +nor possessed. + +Will they say, "A poet! let us await some adverse turn of his fortune?" + +SAY, wait ye, and in sooth I too will wait with you. + +Is it their dreams which inspire them with this? or is it that they are a +perverse people? + +Will they say, "He hath forged it (the Koran) himself?" Nay, rather it is +that they believed not. + +Let them then produce a discourse like it, if they speak the Truth. + +Were they created by nothing? or were they the creators of themselves? + +Created they the Heavens and Earth? Nay, rather, they have no faith. + +Hold they thy Lord's treasures? Bear they the rule supreme? + +Have they a ladder for hearing the angels? Let any one who hath heard them +bring a clear proof of it. + +Hath God daughters and ye sons? + +Asketh thou pay of them? they are themselves weighed down with debts. + +Have they such a knowledge of the secret things that they can write them +down? + +Desire they to lay snares for thee? But the snared ones shall be they who do +not believe. + +Have they any God beside God? Glory be to God above what they join with Him. + +And should they see a fragment of the heaven falling down, they would say, +"It is only a dense cloud." + +Leave them then until they come face to face with the day when they shall +swoon away: + +A day in which their snares shall not at all avail them, neither shall they +be helped. + +And verily, beside this is there a punishment for the evildoers: but most of +them know it not. + +Wait thou patiently the judgment of thy Lord, for thou art in our eye; and +celebrate the praise of thy Lord when thou risest up, + +And in the night-season: Praise him when the stars are setting. + + +_______________________ + +1 Of the Caaba. + +2 Comp. Psalm lxviii. 9. + +3 The more prosaic style of this verse indicates a later origin than the +context. Muir places the whole Sura in what he terms the fourth stage of +Meccan Suras. + + + +SURA LVI.–THE INEVITABLE [XLV.] + +MECCA.–96 Verses + +In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +WHEN the day that must come shall have come suddenly,1 + +None shall treat that sudden coming as a lie: + +Day that shall abase! Day that shall exalt! + +When the earth shall be shaken with a shock, + +And the mountains shall be crumbled with a crumbling, + +And shall become scattered dust, + +And into three bands shall ye be divided:2 + +Then the people of the right hand3–Oh! how happy shall be the people of the +right hand! + +And the people of the left hand–Oh! how wretched shall be the people of the +left hand! + +And they who were foremost on earth–the foremost still.4 + +These are they who shall be brought nigh to God, + +In gardens of delight; + +A crowd of the former + +And few of the latter generations; + +On inwrought couches + +Reclining on them face to face: + +Aye-blooming youths go round about to them + +With goblets and ewers and a cup of flowing wine; + +Their brows ache not from it, nor fails the sense: + +And with such fruits as shall please them best, + +And with flesh of such birds, as they shall long for: + +And theirs shall be the Houris, with large dark eyes, like pearls hidden in +their shells, + +In recompense of their labours past. + +No vain discourse shall they hear therein, nor charge of sin, + +But only the cry, "Peace! Peace!" + +And the people of the right hand–oh! how happy shall be the people of the +right hand! + +Amid thornless sidrahs5 + +And talh6 trees clad with fruit, + +And in extended shade, + +And by flowing waters, + +And with abundant fruits,7 + +Unfailing, unforbidden, + +And on lofty couches. + +Of a rare creation have we created the Houris, + +And we have made them ever virgins, + +Dear to their spouses, of equal age with them,8 + +For the people of the right hand, + +A crowd of the former, + +And a crowd of the latter generations.9 + +But the people of the left hand–oh! how wretched shall be the people of the +left hand! + +Amid pestilential10 winds and in scalding water, + +And in the shadow of a black smoke, + +Not cool, and horrid to behold.11 + +For they truly, ere this, were blessed with worldly goods, + +But persisted in heinous sin, + +And were wont to say, + +"What! after we have died, and become dust and bones, shall we be raised? + +And our fathers, the men of yore?" + +SAY: Aye, the former and the latter: + +Gathered shall they all be for the time of a known day. + +Then ye, O ye the erring, the gainsaying, + +Shall surely eat of the tree Ez-zakkoum, + +And fill your bellies with it, + +And thereupon shall ye drink boiling water, + +And ye shall drink as the thirsty camel drinketh. + +This shall be their repast in the day of reckoning! + +We created you, will ye not credit us?12 + +What think ye? The germs of life13– + +Is it ye who create them? or are we their creator? + +It is we who have decreed that death should be among you; + +Yet are we not thereby hindered14 from replacing you with others, your likes, +or from producing you again in a form which ye know not! + +Ye have known the first creation: will ye not then reflect? + +What think ye? That which ye sow– + +Is it ye who cause its upgrowth, or do we cause it to spring forth? + +If we pleased we could so make your harvest dry and brittle that ye would +ever marvel and say, + +"Truly we have been at cost,15 yet are we forbidden harvest." + +What think ye of the water ye drink? + +Is it ye who send it down from the clouds, or send we it down? + +Brackish could we make it, if we pleased: will ye not then be thankful? + +What think ye? The fire which ye obtain by friction– + +Is it ye who rear its tree, or do we rear it? + +It is we who have made it for a memorial and a benefit to the wayfarers of +the desert, + +Praise therefore the name of thy Lord, the Great. + +It needs not that I swear by the setting of the stars, + +And it is a great oath, if ye knew it, + +That this is the honourable Koran, + +Written in the preserved Book:16 + +Let none touch it but the purified,17 + +It is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. + +Such tidings as these will ye disdain? + +Will ye make it your daily bread to gainsay them? + +Why, at the moment when the soul of a dying man shall come up into his +throat, + +And when ye are gazing at him, + +Though we are nearer to him than ye, although ye see us not:– + +Why do ye not, if ye are to escape the judgment, + +Cause that soul to return? Tell me, if ye speak the truth. + +But as to him who shall enjoy near access to God, + +His shall be repose, and pleasure, and a garden of delights. + +Yea, for him who shall be of the people of the right hand, + +Shall be the greeting from the people of the right hand–"Peace be to thee." + +But for him who shall be of those who treat the prophets as deceivers, + +And of the erring, + +His entertainment shall be of scalding water, + +And the broiling of hell-fire. + +Verily this is a certain truth: + +Praise therefore the name of thy Lord, the Great. + + +_______________________ + +1 The renderings of Mar. cum inciderit casura, or as in Sur. lxix, 15, +ingruerit ingruens nearly express the peculiar force of the Arabic verb and +of the noun formed from it; i.e. a calamity that falls suddenly and surely. +Weil renders, ween der Auferstehung's Tag eintritt (p. 389). Lane, when the +calamity shall have happened. + +2 Comp. Tr. Rosch Haschanah, fol. 16, 6. + +3 Lit., the companions of the right hand, what shall be the companions of the +right hand! and thus in verses 9, 37, 40. + +4 Lit., the preceders, the preceders. + +5 See Sura liii. 14, p. 69. + +6 Probably the banana according to others, the acacia gummifera. + +7 "A Muslim of some learning professed to me that he considered the +descriptions of Paradise in the Koran to be, in a great measure, figurative; +'like those,' said he, 'in the book of the Revelation of St. John;' and he +assured me that many learned Muslims were of the same opinion." Lane's Modern +Egyptians, i. p. 75, note. + +8 Like them, grow not old. + +9 This seems a direct contradiction to verse 14, unless we suppose with +Beidhawi that an inferior and more numerous class of believers are here +spoken of. + +10 Or, scorching. + +11 Lit., not noble, agreeable in appearance. + +12 As to the resurrection. + +13 Lit., semen quod emittitis. + +14 Lit., forestalled, anticipated. + +15 Lit, have incurred debt. + +16 That is, The Prototype of the Koran written down in the Book kept by God +himself. + +17 This passage implies the existence of copies of portions at least of the +Koran in common use. It was quoted by the sister of Omar when at his +conversion be desired to take her copy of Sura xx. into his hands. + + +SURA1–LIII. THE STAR [XLVI.] + +MECCA.–62 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +By the STAR when it setteth, + +Your compatriot erreth not, nor is he led astray, + +Neither speaketh he from mere impulse. + +The Koran is no other than a revelation revealed to him: + +One terrible in power2 taught it him, + +Endued with wisdom. With even balance stood he + +In the highest part of the horizon: + +Then came he nearer and approached, + +And was at the distance of two bows, or even closer,– + +And he revealed to his servant what he revealed. + +His heart falsified not what he saw. + +What! will ye then dispute with him as to what he saw? + +He had seen him also another time, + +Near the Sidrah-tree, which marks the boundary.3 + +Near which is the garden of repose. + +When the Sidrah-tree4 was covered with what covered it,5 + +His eye turned not aside, nor did it wander: + +For he saw the greatest of the signs of his Lord. + +Do you see Al-Lat and Al-Ozza,6 + +And Manat the third idol besides?7 + +What? shall ye have male progeny and God female? + +This were indeed an unfair partition! + +These are mere names: ye and your fathers named them thus: God hath not sent +down any warranty in their regard. A mere conceit and their own impulses do +they follow. Yet hath "the guidance" from their Lord come to them. + +Shall man have whatever he wisheth? + +The future and the present are in the hand of God: + +And many as are the Angels in the Heavens, their intercession shall be of no +avail8 + +Until God hath permitted it to whom he shall please and will accept. + +Verily, it is they who believe not in the life to come, who name the angels +with names of females: + +But herein they have no knowledge: they follow a mere conceit; and mere +conceit can never take the place of truth. + +Withdraw then from him who turneth his back on our warning and desireth only +this present life. + +This is the sum of their knowledge. Truly thy Lord best knoweth him who +erreth from his way, and He best knoweth him who hath received guidance. + +And whatever is in the Heavens and in the Earth is God's that he may reward +those who do evil according to their deeds: and those who do good will He +reward with good things. + +To those who avoid great crimes and scandals but commit only lighter faults, +verily, thy Lord will be diffuse of mercy. He well knew you when he produced +you out of the earth, and when ye were embryos in your mother's womb. Assert +not then your own purity. He best knoweth who feareth him. + +Hast thou considered him who turned his back? + +Who giveth little and is covetous? + +Is it that he hath the knowledge and vision of the secret things? + +Hath he not been told of what is in the pages of Moses? + +And of Abraham faithful to his pledge? + +That no burdened soul shall bear the burdens of another, + +And that nothing shall be reckoned to a man but that for which he hath made +efforts: + +And that his efforts shall at last be seen in their true light: + +That then he shall be recompensed with a most exact recompense, + +And that unto thy Lord is the term of all things, + +And that it is He who causeth to laugh and to weep, + +And that He causeth to die and maketh alive, + +And that He hath created the sexes, male and female, + +From the diffused germs of life,9 + +And that with Him is the second creation, + +And that He enricheth and causeth to possess, + +And that He is the Lord of Sirius,10 + +And that it was He who destroyed the ancient Adites, + +And the people of Themoud and left not one survivor, + +And before them the people of Noah who were most wicked and most perverse. + +And it was He who destroyed the cities that were overthrown. + +So that that which covered them covered them. + +Which then of thy Lord's benefits wilt thou make a matter of doubt?11 + +He who warneth you is one of the warners of old. + +The day that must draw nigh, draweth nigh already: and yet none but God can +reveal its time. + +Is it at these sayings that ye marvel? + +And that ye laugh and weep not? + +And that ye are triflers? + +Prostrate yourselves then to God and worship. + + +_______________________ + +1 This Sura was revealed at about the time of the first emigration of +Muhammad's followers to Abyssinia, A. 5. The manner in which the Prophet +cancelled the objectionable verses 19, 20, is the strongest proof of his +sincerity (as also is the opening of Sura 1xxx.) at this period. Had he not +done so, nothing would have been easier for him than to have effected a +reconciliation with the powerful party in Mecca, who had recently compelled +his followers to emigrate. + +2 The Angel Gabriel, to the meaning of whose name, as the strong one of God, +these words probably allude. + +3 That is, Beyond which neither men nor angels can pass (Djelal). The +original word is also rendered, the Lote-Tree of the extremity, or of the +loftiest spot in Paradise, in the seventh Heaven, on the right hand of the +throne of God. Its leaves are fabled to be as numerous as the members of the +whole human family, and each leaf to bear the name of an individual. This +tree is shaken on the night of the 15th of Ramadan every year a little after +sunset, when the leaves on which are inscribed the names of those who are to +die in the ensuing year fall, either wholly withered, or with more or less +green remaining, according to the months or weeks the person has yet to live. + +4 The Sidrah is a prickly plum, which is called Ber in India, the zizyphus +Jujuba of Linnćus. A decoction of the leaves is used in India to wash the +dead, on account of the sacredness of the tree. + +5 Hosts of adoring angels, by which the tree was masked. + +6 Al-Lat or El-Lat, probably the Alilat of Herodotus (iii. 8) was an idol at +Nakhlah, a place east of the present site of Mecca. Al-Ozza was an idol of +the Kinanah tribe; but its hereditary priests were the Banu Solaym, who were +stationed along the mercantile road to Syria in the neighbourhood of Chaibar. + +7 When at the first recital of this Sura, the prophet had reached this verse, +he continued, + +These are the exalted females, [or, sublime swans, i.e., mounting nearer and +nearer to God] + +And truly their intercession may be expected. + +These words, however, which were received by the idolaters with great +exultation, were disowned by Muhammad in the course of a few days as a +Satanic suggestion, and replaced by the text as it now stands. The +probability is that the difficulties of his position led him to attempt a +compromise of which he speedily repented. In the Suras subsequent to this +period the denunciations of idolatry become much sterner and clearer. The +authorities are given by Weil, Sprenger and Muir. See Sura [lxvii.] xvii. 74- +76. + +8 Verses 26-33 are probably later than the previous part of the Sura, but +inserted with reference to it. Some (as Omar b. Muhammad and 1tq.) consider +verse 33, or (as Itq.36) verses 34-42, or (as Omar b. Muhammad) the whole +Sura, to have originated at Medina. + +9 Ex spermate cum seminatum fuerit. + +10 The Dog-star, worshipped by the Arabians. + +11 Compare the refrain in Sura lv. p. 74. + + +SURA LXX.–THE STEPS OR ASCENTS [XLVII.] + +MECCA.–44 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +A SUITOR sued1 for punishment to light suddenly + +On the infidels: none can hinder + +God from inflicting it, the master of those ASCENTS, + +By which the angels and the spirit ascend to him in a day, whose length is +fifty thousand years.2 + +Be thou patient therefore with becoming patience; + +They forsooth regard that day as distant, + +But we see it nigh: + +The day when the heavens shall become as molten brass, + +And the mountains shall become like flocks of wool: + +And friend shall not question of friend, + +Though they look at one another. Fain would the wicked redeem himself from +punishment on that day at the price of his children, + +Of his spouse and his brother, + +And of his kindred who shewed affection for him, + +And of all who are on the earth that then it might deliver him. + +But no. For the fire, + +Dragging by the scalp, + +Shall claim him who turned his back and went away, + +And amassed and hoarded. + +Man truly is by creation hasty; + +When evil befalleth him, impatient; + +But when good falleth to his lot, tenacious. + +Not so the prayerful, + +Who are ever constant at their prayers; + +And of whose substance there is a due and stated portion + +For him who asketh, and for him who is ashamed3 to beg; + +And who own the judgment-day a truth, + +And who thrill with dread at the chastisement of their Lord– + +For there is none safe from the chastisement of their Lord– + +And who control their desires, + +(Save with their wives or the slaves whom their right hands have won, for +there they shall be blameless; + +But whoever indulge their desires beyond this are transgressors); + +And who are true to their trusts and their engagements, + +And who witness uprightly, + +And who keep strictly the hours of prayer: + +These shall dwell, laden with honours, amid gardens. + +But what hath come to the unbelievers that they run at full stretch around +thee, + +On the right hand and on the left, in bands? + +Is it that every man of them would fain enter that garden of delights? + +Not at all. We have created them, they know of what. + +It needs not that I swear by the Lord of the East and of the West4 that we +have power. + +To replace them with better than themselves: neither are we to be hindered. + +Wherefore let them flounder on and disport them, till they come face to face +with their threatened day, + +The day on which they shall flock up out of their graves in haste like men +who rally to a standard:– + +Their eyes downcast; disgrace shall cover them. Such their threatened day. + + +_______________________ + +1 Lit. asking one asked; probably some unbeliever, with reference to the +opening of Sura lvi., p. 60, or like statements in some previous Sura. + +2 The expression is hyperbolical, and, as such, identical with Sura [lxx.] +xxxii. 4. Compare also Sura xcvii., p. 37. where the descent is said to take +place in a single night. + +3 Lit. forbidden or prevented by shame. + +4 See next Sura. v. 16. + + +SURA LV.–THE MERCIFUL [XLVIII.] + +MECCA.–78 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +The God of MERCY hath taught the Koran, + +Hath created man, + +Hath taught him articulate speech, + +The Sun and the Moon have each their times, + +And the plants and the trees bend in adoration. + +And the Heaven, He hath reared it on high, and hath appointed the balance; + +That in the balance ye should not transgress. + +Weigh therefore with fairness, and scant not the balance. + +And the Earth, He hath prepared it for the living tribes: + +Therein are fruits, and the palms with sheathed clusters, + +And the grain with its husk, and the fragrant plants. + +Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye twain1 deny? + +He created man of clay like that of the potter. + +And He created the djinn of pure fire: + +Which then of the bounties, etc. + +He is the Lord of the East,2 + +He is the Lord of the West: + +Which, etc. + +He hath let loose the two seas3 which meet each other: + +Yet between them is a barrier which they overpass not: + +Which, etc. + +From each he bringeth up pearls both great and small: + +Which, etc. + +And His are the ships towering up at sea like mountains: + +Which, etc. + +All on the earth shall pass away, + +But the face of thy Lord shall abide resplendent with majesty and glory: + +Which, etc. + +To Him maketh suit all that is in the Heaven and the Earth. Every day doth +some new work employ Him: + +Which, etc. + +We will find leisure to judge you, O ye men and djinn:4 + +Which, etc. + +O company of djinn and men, if ye can overpass the bounds of the Heavens and +the Earth, then overpass them. But by our leave only shall ye overpass them: + +Which, etc. + +A bright flash of fire shall be hurled at you both, and molten brass, and ye +shall not defend yourselves from it: + +Which, etc. + +When the Heaven shall be cleft asunder, and become rose red, like stained +leather: + +Which, etc. + +On that day shall neither man nor djinn be asked of his sin: + +Which, etc. + +By their tokens shall the sinners be known, and they shall be seized by their +forelocks and their feet: + +Which, etc. + +"This is Hell which sinners treated as a lie." + +To and fro shall they pass between it and the boiling water: + +Which, etc. + +But for those who dread the majesty of their Lord shall be two gardens: + +Which, etc. + +With o'erbranching trees in each: + +Which, etc. + +In each two kinds of every fruit: + +Which, etc. + +On couches with linings of brocade shall they recline, and the fruit of the +two gardens shall be within easy reach: + +Which, etc. + +Therein shall be the damsels with retiring glances, whom nor man nor djinn +hath touched before them: + +Which, etc. + +Like jacynths and pearls: + +Which, etc. + +Shall the reward of good be aught but good? + +Which, etc. + +And beside these shall be two other gardens:5 + +Which, etc. + +Of a dark green: + +Which, etc. + +With gushing fountains in each: + +Which, etc. + +In each, fruits and the palm and the pomegranate: + +Which, etc. + +In each, the fair, the beauteous ones: + +Which, etc. + +With large dark eyeballs, kept close in their pavilions: + +Which, etc. + +Whom man hath never touched, nor any djinn:6 + +Which, etc. + +Their spouses on soft green cushions and on beautiful carpets shall recline: + +Which, etc. + +Blessed be the name of thy Lord, full of majesty and glory. + + +_______________________ + +1 Men and djinn. The verb is in the dual. + +2 Lit. of the two easts, of the two wests, i.e., of all that lies between the +extreme points at which the sun rises and sets at the winter and summer +solstices. + +3 Lit. he hath set at large, poured forth over the earth the masses of fresh +and salt water which are in contact at the mouths of rivers, etc. See Sura +[lxviii.] xxvii. 62; [lxxxvi.] xxxv. 13. + +4 Lit. O ye two weights; hence, treasures; and, generally, any collective +body of men or things. + +5 One for men, the other for the Genii; or, two for each man and Genius; or, +both are for the inferior classes of Muslims. Beidh. + +6 It should be remarked that these promises of the Houris of Paradise are +almost exclusively to be found in Suras written at a time when Muhammad had +only a single wife of 60 years of age, and that in all the ten years +subsequent to the Hejira, women are only twice mentioned as part of the +reward of the faithful. Suras ii. 23 and iv. 60. While in Suras xxxvi. 56; +xliii. 70; xiii. 23; xl. 8 the proper wives of the faithful are spoken of as +accompanying their husbands into the gardens of bliss. + + +SURA LIV.–THE MOON [XLIX.] + +MECCA.–55 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +The hour hath approached and the MOON hath been cleft: + +But whenever they see a miracle they turn aside and say, This is well-devised +magic. + +And they have treated the prophets as impostors, and follow their own lusts; +but everything is unalterably fixed. + +A message of prohibition had come to them– + +Consummate wisdom–but warners profit them not. + +Quit them then. On the day when the summoner shall summon to a stern +business, + +With downcast eyes shall they come forth from their graves, as if they were +scattered locusts, + +Hastening to the summoner. "This," shall the infidels say, "is the +distressful day." + +Before them the people of Noah treated the truth as a lie. Our servant did +they charge with falsehood, and said, "Demoniac!" and he was rejected. + +Then cried he to his Lord, "Verily, they prevail against me; come thou +therefore to my succour." + +So we opened the gates of Heaven with water which fell in torrents, + +And we caused the earth to break forth with springs, and their waters met by +settled decree. + +And we bare him on a vessel made with planks and nails. + +Under our eyes it floated on: a recompence to him who had been rejected with +unbelief. + +And we left it a sign: but, is there any one who receives the warning? + +And how great was my vengeance and my menace! + +Easy for warning have we made the Koran–but, is there any one who receives +the warning? + +The Adites called the truth a lie: but how great was my vengeance and my +menace; + +For we sent against them a roaring wind in a day of continued distress: + +It tore men away as though they were uprooted palm stumps. + +And how great was my vengeance and my menace! + +Easy for warning have we made the Koran–but, is there any one who receives +the warning? + +The tribe of Themoud treated the threatenings as lies: + +And they said, "Shall we follow a single man from among ourselves? Then +verily should we be in error and in folly. + +To him alone among us is the office of warning entrusted? No! he is an +impostor, an insolent person." + +To-morrow shall they learn who is the impostor, the insolent. + +"For we will send the she-camel to prove them: do thou mark them well, O +Saleh, and be patient: + +And foretell them that their waters shall1 be divided between themselves and +her, and that every draught shall come by turns to them." + +But they called to their comrade, and he took a knife and ham-strung her. + +And how great was my vengeance and my menance! + +We sent against them a single shout; and they became like the dry sticks of +the fold-builders. + +Easy have we made the Koran for warning–but, is there any one who receives +the warning? + +The people of Lot treated his warning as a lie; + +But we sent a stone-charged wind against them all, except the family of Lot, +whom at daybreak we delivered, + +By our special grace–for thus we reward the thankful. + +He, indeed, had warned them of our severity, but of that warning they +doubted. + +Even this guess did they demand: therefore we deprived them of sight, + +And said, "Taste ye my vengeance and my menace;" + +And in the morning a relentless punishment overtook them. + +Easy have we made the Koran for warning but, is there any one who receives +the warning? + +To the people of Pharaoh also came the threatenings: + +All our miracles did they treat as impostures. Therefore seized we them as he +only can seize, who is the Mighty, the Strong. + +Are your infidels, O Meccans, better men than these? Is there an exemption +for you in the sacred Books? + +Will they say, "We are a host that lend one another aid?" + +The host shall be routed, and they shall turn them back. + +But, that Hour is their threatened time, and that Hour shall be most severe +and bitter. + +Verily, the wicked are sunk in bewilderment and folly. + +On that day they shall be dragged into the fire on their faces. "Taste ye the +touch of Hell." + +All things have we created after a fixed decree: + +Our command was but one word, swift as the twinkling of an eye. + +Of old, too, have we destroyed the like of you–yet is any one warned? + +And everything that they do is in the Books;2 + +Each action, both small and great, is written down. + +Verily, amid gardens3 and rivers shall the pious dwell. + +In the seat of truth, in the presence of the potent King. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura [lvi.] xxvi. 155; also Sura [lxxxvii.] vii. 71. + +2 Kept by the Guardian Angels. + +3 The Talmudic descriptions of the Gardens–for the later Jews believed in +more than one Paradise–and of the rivers and trees therein, will be found in +Schr der Talm. Rabb. Judenthum, pp. 418-432. + + +SURA XXXVII.–THE RANKS [L.] + +MECCA.–182 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +By the angels ranged in order for Songs of Praise, + +And by those who repel demons,1 + +And by those who recite the Koran for warning, + +Truly your God is but one, + +Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth, and of all that is between them, and +Lord of the East.2 + +We have adorned the lower heaven with the adornment of the stars. + +They serve also as a guard against every rebellious Satan, + +That they overhear not what passeth in the assembly on high, for they are +darted at from every side,3 + +Driven off and consigned to a lasting torment; + +While, if one steal a word by stealth, a glistening flame pursueth him. + +Ask the Meccans then, Are they, or the angels whom we have made, the stronger +creation? Aye, of coarse clay have we created them. + +But while thou marvellest they mock; + +When they are warned, no warning do they take; + +And when they see a sign, they fall to mocking, + +And say, "This is no other than clear sorcery: + +What! when dead, and turned to dust and bones, shall we indeed be raised? + +Our sires also of olden times?" + +Say, Yes; and ye shall be covered with disgrace. + +For, one blast only, and lo! they shall gaze around them, And shall say, "Oh! +woe to us! this is the day of reckoning; This is the day of decision which ye +gainsaid as an untruth." + +Gather together those who have acted unjustly, and their consorts,4 and the +gods whom they adored + +Beside God; and guide them to the road for Hell. + +Set them forth: they shall be questioned. + +"How now, that ye help not one another?" + +But on this day they shall submit themselves to God, + +And shall address one another with mutual reproaches. + +They shall say, "In sooth, ye came to us in well-omened sort:"5 + +But they will answer, "Nay, it was ye who would not believe; and we had no +power whatever over you. Nay, ye were people given to transgress; + +Just, therefore, is the doom which our Lord hath passed upon us.6 We shall +surely taste it: + +We made you err, for we had erred ourselves." + +Partners therefore shall they be in punishment on that day. + +Truly, thus will we deal with the wicked, + +Because when it was said to them, There is no God but God, they swelled with +pride, + +And said, "Shall we then abandon our gods for a crazed poet?" + +Nay, he cometh with truth and confirmeth the Sent Ones of old. + +Ye shall surely taste the painful punishment, + +And ye shall not be rewarded but as ye have wrought, + +Save the sincere servants of God! + +A stated banquet shall they have + +Of fruits; and honoured shall they be + +In the gardens of delight, + +Upon couches face to face. + +A cup shall be borne round among them from a fountain, + +Limpid, delicious to those who drink; + +It shall not oppress the sense, nor shall they therewith be drunken. + +And with them are the large-eyed ones with modest refraining glances, fair +like the sheltered egg.7 + +And they shall address one another with mutual questions. + +Saith one of them, "I truly had a bosom friend, + +Who said, 'Art thou of those who credit it? + +What! when we shall have died, and become dust and bones, shall we indeed be +judged?"' + +He shall say to those around him, "Will ye look?" + +And he shall look and see him in the midst of Hell. + +And he shall say to him, "By God, thou hadst almost caused me to perish; + +And, but for the favour of my Lord, I had surely been of those who have been +brought with thee into torment." + +"But do we not die," say the blessed, + +"Any other than our first death? and have we escaped the torment?"8 + +This truly is the great felicity! + +For the like of this should the travailers travail! + +Is this the better repast or the tree Ez-zakkoum? + +Verily, we have made it for a subject of discord to the wicked. + +It is a tree which cometh up from the bottom of hell; + +Its fruits is as it were the heads of Satans; + +And, lo! the damned shall surely eat of it and fill their bellies with it: + +Then shall they have, thereon, a mixture of boiling water: + +Then shall they return to hell. + +They found their fathers erring, + +And they hastened on in their footsteps. + +Also before them the greater number of the ancients had erred. + +Though we had sent warners among them. + +But see what was the end of these warned ones, + +Except of God's true servants. + +Noah called on us of old, and right prompt were we to hear him,9 + +And we saved him and his family out of the great distress, + +And we made his offspring the survivors; + +And we left for him with posterity, + +"Peace be on Noah throughout the worlds!" + +Thus do we reward the well-doers, + +For he was one of our believing servants;– + +And the rest we drowned. + +And truly, of his faith was Abraham, + +When he brought to his Lord a perfect heart, + +When he said to his father and to his people, "What is this ye worship? + +Prefer ye with falsehood gods to God? + +And what deem ye of the Lord of the worlds?" + +So gazing he gazed towards the stars, + +And said, "In sooth I am ill:10 + +And they turned their back on him and departed. + +He went aside to their gods and said, "Do ye not eat? + +What aileth you that ye do not speak?" + +He broke out upon them, with the right hand striking: + +When his tribesmen came back to him with hasty steps + +He said, "Worship ye what ye carve, + +When God hath created you, and that ye make?" + +They said, "Build up a pyre for him and cast him into the glowing flame." + +Fain would they plot against him, but we brought them low. + +And he said, "Verily, I repair to my Lord who will guide me: + +O Lord give me a son, of the righteous." + +We announced to him a youth of meekness. + +And when he became a full-grown youth,11 + +His father said to him, "My son, I have seen in a dream that I should +sacrifice thee; therefore, consider what thou seest right." + +He said, "My father, do what thou art bidden; of the patient, if + +God please, shalt thou find me." + +And when they had surrendered them to the will of God, he laid him down upon +his forehead: + +We cried unto him, "O Abraham! + +Now hast thou satisfied the vision." See how we recompense the righteous. + +This was indeed a decisive test. + +And we ransomed his son with a costly12 victim, + +And we left this13 for him among posterity, + +"PEACE BE ON ABRAHAM!" + +Thus do we reward the well-doers, + +For he was of our believing servants. + +And we announced Isaac to him–a righteous Prophet– + +And on him and on Isaac we bestowed our blessing. And among their offspring +were well-doers, and others, to their own hurt undoubted sinners. + +And of old,14 to Moses and to Aaron shewed we favours: + +And both of them, and their people, we rescued from the great distress: + +And we succoured them, and they became the conquerors: + +And we gave them (Moses and Aaron) each the lucid book: + +And we guided them each into the right way: + +And we left this for each among posterity, + +"PEACE BE ON MOSES AND AARON." + +Thus do we reward the well-doers, + +For they were two of our believing servants. + +And Elias truly was of our Sent Ones, + +When he said to his people, "Fear ye not God? + +Invoke ye Baal and forsake ye the most skilful Creator? + +God is your Lord, and the Lord of your sires of old?" + +But they treated him as a liar, and shall therefore be consigned to +punishment, + +Except God's faithful servants. + +And we left this for him among posterity, + +"PEACE BE ON ELIASIN!"15 + +Thus do we reward the well-doers, + +For he was one of our believing servants. + +And Lot truly was of our Sent Ones, + +When we rescued him and all his family, + +Save an aged woman among those who tarried. + +Afterward we destroyed the others. + +And ye indeed pass by their ruined dwellings at morn + +And night: will ye not then reflect? + +Jonas, too, was one of the Apostles, + +When he fled unto the laden ship, + +And lots were cast,16 and he was doomed, + +And the fish swallowed him, for he was blameworthy. + +But had he not been of those who praise Us, + +In its belly had he surely remained, till the day of resurrection. + +And we cast him on the bare shore–and he was sick;– + +And we caused a gourd-plant to grow up over him, + +And we sent him to a hundred thousand persons, or even more, + +And because they believed, we continued their enjoyments for a season. + +Inquire then of the Meccans whether thy Lord hath daughters, and they, sons? + +Have we created the angels females? and did they witness it? + +Is it not a falsehood of their own devising, when they say, + +"God hath begotten"? They are indeed liars. + +Would he have preferred daughters to sons? + +What reason have ye for thus judging? + +Will ye not then receive this warning? + +Have ye a clear proof for them? + +Produce your Book if ye speak truth. + +And they make him to be of kin with the Djinn: but the Djinn have long known +that these idolaters shall be brought up before God. + +Far be the glory of God from what they impute to him. + +"His faithful servants do not thus. + +Moreover, ye and what ye worship + +Shall not stir up any against God,17 + +Save him who shall burn in Hell. + +And verily each one of us hath his appointed place, + +And we range ourselves in order, + +And we celebrate His praises."18 + +And if those infidels say, + +"Had we a revelation transmitted to us from those of old,19 + +We had surely been God's faithful servants." + +Yet they believe not the Koran. But they shall know its truth at last. + +Our word came of old to our servants the apostles, + +That they should surely be the succoured, + +And that our armies should procure the victory for them. + +Turn aside therefore from them for a time, + +And behold them, for they too shall in the end behold their doom. + +Would they then hasten our vengeance? + +But when it shall come down into their courts, an evil morning shall it be to +those who have had their warning. + +Turn aside from them therefore for a time. + +And behold; for they too shall in the end behold their doom. + +Far be the glory of thy Lord, the Lord of all greatness, from what they +impute to him, + +And peace be on his Apostles! + +And praise be to God the Lord of the worlds. + + +_______________________ + +1 I have given in the text the sense of these first two verses according to +the Muhammadan commentators. The original, literally translated, viz. By the +ranks which rank themselves, and by the repellers who repel, would not convey +an intelligible idea to the English reader. Mar. renders, Per ordinantes +ordinando et agitantes agitando. + +2 Ar. Easts. Errat in pluralitate mundorum. Mar. But the allusion probably is +to the different points of the horizon at which the sun rises and sets in the +course of the year. + +3 See Sura [lvii.] xv. 18. + +4 Or, comrades, i.e. the demons. + +5 Lit. on the right hand, the side of good omen i.e. with semblance of truth. + +6 See Sura [lx.] xxxvi. 6. + +7 The ostrich egg carefully protected from dust. + +8 Lit. and are we not among the punished? + +9 Lit. et sane euge auditores. Mar. + +10 And therefore unable to assist at your sacrifices. + +11 Lit. cum igitur pervenisset cum eo ad ‘tatem cui competit operandi +studium. Mar. Beidh. When he had attained to the age when he could work with +him. Lane. + +12 Brought, says Rabbi Jehoshua, from Paradise by an angel. Midr. fol. + +13 This salutation. + +14 The Arabic particle which is here and elsewhere rendered of old (also, +already, certainly) serves to mark the position of a past act or event as +prior to the time present, and in all such passages merely gives a fulness +and intensity to our perfect, or pluperfect tense. + +15 The form of this word is altered in the original for the sake of the +rhyme. + +16 Lit. he cast lots (with the sailors). + +17 Nequequam vos ad illud colendum estis Seducturi. Mar. + +18 This verse and the six preceding are the words of the Angel. + +19 Compare verse 69. + + +SURA LXXI.–NOAH [LI.] + +MECCA.–29 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +We sent NOAH to his people, and said to him, "Warn thou thy people ere there +come on them an afflictive punishment." + +He said, "O my people! I come to you a plain-spoken warner: + +Serve God and fear Him, and obey me: + +Your sins will He forgive you, and respite you till the fixed Time; for when +God's fixed Time hath come, it shall not be put back. Would that ye knew +this!" + +He said, "Lord I have cried to my people night and day; and my cry doth but +make them flee from me the more. + +So oft as I cry to them, that thou mayest forgive them, they thrust their +fingers into their ears, and wrap themselves in their garments, and persist +in their error, and are disdainfully disdainful. + +Then I cried aloud to them: + +Then again spake I with plainness, and in private did I secretly address +them: + +And I said, Beg forgiveness of your Lord, for He is ready to forgive. + +He will send down the very Heaven upon you in plenteous rains; + +And will increase you in wealth and children; and will give you gardens, and +will give you watercourses:– + +What hath come to you that ye hope not for goodness from the hand of God? + +For He it is who hath formed you by successive steps.1 + +See ye not how God hath created the seven heavens one over the other? + +And He hath placed therein the moon as a light, and hath placed there the sun +as a torch; + +And God hath caused you to spring forth from the earth like a plant; + +Hereafter will He turn you back into it again, and will bring you forth anew– + +And God hath spread the earth for you like a carpet, + +That ye may walk therein along spacious paths."' + +Said Noah, "O my Lord! they rebel against me, and they follow those whose +riches and children do but aggravate their ruin." + +And they plotted a great plot; + +And they said, "Forsake not your Gods; forsake not Wadd nor Sowah, + +Nor Yaghuth and Yahuk and Nesr;" + +And they caused many to err;2–and thou, too, O Muhammad! shalt be the means +of increasing only error in the wicked– + +Because of their sins they were drowned, and made to go into the Fire; + +And they found that they had no helper save God. + +And Noah said, "Lord, leave not one single family of Infidels on the Earth: + +For if thou leave them they will beguile thy servants and will beget only +sinners, infidels. + +O my Lord, forgive me, and my parents, and every one who, being a believer, +shall enter my house, and believers men and women: and add to the wicked +nought but perdition." + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura xxii. 5. + +2 Or, the idols had seduced many. Thus Kas. Beidh. gives both interpp.–See +on these idols Freytag's Einleitung, p. 349. + + +SURA LXXVI.–MAN [LII.] + +MECCA.–31 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +Doth not a long time pass over MAN, during which he is a thing unremembered?1 + +We have created man from the union of the sexes that we might prove him; and +hearing, seeing, have we made him: + +In a right way have we guided him, be he thankful or ungrateful. + +For the Infidels we have got ready chains and collars and flaming fire. + +But a wine cup tempered at the camphor fountain2 the just shall quaff: + +Fount whence the servants of God shall drink, and guide by channels from +place to place; + +They who fulfilled their vows, and feared the day whose woes will spread far +and wide; + +Who though longing for it themselves, bestowed their food on the poor and the +orphan and the captive: + +"We feed you for the sake of God: we seek from you neither recompense nor +thanks:3 + +A stern and calamitous day dread we from our Lord." + +From the evil therefore of that day hath God delivered them and cast on them +brightness of face and joy: + +And hath rewarded their constancy, with Paradise and silken robes: + +Reclining therein on bridal couches, nought shall they know of sun or +piercing cold: + +Its shades shall be close over them, and low shall its fruits hang down: + +And vessels of silver and goblets like flagons shall be borne round among +them: + +Flagons of silver whose measure themselves shall mete. + +And there shall they be given to drink of the cup tempered with zendjebil +(ginger) + +From the fount therein whose name is Selsebil (the softly flowing). + +Aye-blooming youths go round among them. When thou lookest at them thou +wouldest deem them scattered pearls; + +And when thou seest this, thou wilt see delights and a vast kingdom: + +Their clothing green silk robes and rich brocade: with silver bracelets shall +they be adorned; and drink of a pure beverage shall their Lord give them. + +This shall be your recompense. Your efforts shall meet with thanks. + +We ourselves have sent down to thee the Koran as a missive from on high. + +Await then with patience the judgments of thy Lord, and obey not the wicked +among them and the unbelieving: + +And make mention of the name of thy Lord at morn, at even, + +And at night. Adore him, and praise him the livelong night. + +But these men love the fleeting present, and leave behind them the heavy day +of doom. + +Ourselves have we created them, and strengthened their joints; and when we +please, with others like unto themselves will we replace them. + +This truly is a warning: And whoso willeth, taketh the way to his Lord; + +But will it ye shall not, unless God will it, for God is Knowing, Wise. + +He causeth whom He will to enter into his mercy. But for the evil doers, He +hath made ready an afflictive chastisement. + +_______________________ + +1 When in the womb. + +2 With (the water of) Kafoor. Lane. + +3 Desire no recompense from you. + + +SURA XLIV.–SMOKE [LIII.] + +MECCA.–59 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +Ha. Mim.1 By this clear Book! + +See! on a blessed night2 have we sent it down, for we would warn mankind: + +On the night wherein all things are disposed in wisdom,3 + +By virtue of our behest. Lo! we have ever sent forth Apostles, + +A mercy from thy Lord: he truly heareth and knoweth all things– + +Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth and of all that is between them,–if ye +be firm in faith– + +There is no God but He!–He maketh alive and killeth!–Your Lord and the Lord +of your sires of old! + +Yet with doubts do they disport them. + +But mark them on the day when the Heaven shall give out a palpable SMOKE, + +Which shall enshroud mankind: this will be an afflictive torment. + +They will cry, "Our Lord! relieve us from this torment: see! we are +believers." + +But how did warning avail them, when an undoubted apostle had come to them; + +And they turned their backs on him, and said, "Taught by others, possessed?" + +Were we to relieve you from the plague even a little, ye would certainly +relapse.4 + +On the day when we shall fiercely put forth our great fierceness, we will +surely take vengeance on them! + +Of old, before their time, had we proved the people of Pharaoh, when a noble +apostle presented himself to them. + +"Send away with me," cried he, "the servants of God; for I am an apostle +worthy of all credit: + +And exalt not yourselves against God, for I come to you with undoubted power; + +And I take refuge with Him who is my Lord and your Lord, that ye stone me +not: + +And if ye believe me not, at least separate yourselves from me." + +And he cried to his Lord, "That these are a wicked people." + +"March forth then, said God, with my servants by night, for ye will be +pursued. + +And leave behind you the cleft sea: they are a drowned host." + +How many a garden and fountain did they quit! + +And corn fields and noble dwellings! + +And pleasures in which they rejoiced them! + +So was it: and we gave them as a heritage to another people. + +Nor Heaven nor Earth wept for them, nor was their sentence respited; + +And we rescued the children of Israel from a degrading affliction– + +From Pharaoh, for he was haughty, given to excess. + +And we chose them, in our prescience, above all peoples,5 + +And we shewed them miracles wherein was their clear trial. + +Yet these infidels say, + +"There is but our first death, neither shall we be raised again: + +Bring back our sires, if ye be men of truth." + +Are they better than the people of Tobba,6 + +And those who flourished before them whom we destroyed for their evil deeds? + +We have not created the Heavens and the Earth and whatever is between them in +sport: + +We have not created them but for a serious end:7 but the greater part of them +understand it not. + +Verily the day of severing8 shall be the appointed time of all: + +A day when the master shall not at all be aided by the servant, neither shall +they be helped; + +Save those on whom God shall have mercy: for He is the mighty, the merciful. + +Verily the tree of Ez-Zakkoum9 + +Shall be the sinner's10 food: + +Like dregs of oil shall it boil up in their bellies, + +Like the boiling of scalding water. + +"–Seize ye him, and drag him into the mid-fire; + +Then pour on his head of the tormenting boiling water. + +–'Taste this:' for thou forsooth art the mighty, the honourable! + +Lo! this is that of which ye doubted." + +But the pious shall be in a secure place, + +Amid gardens and fountains, + +Clothed in silk and richest robes, facing one another: + +Thus shall it be: and we will wed them to the virgins with large dark eyes: + +Therein shall they call, secure, for every kind of fruit; + +Therein, their first death passed, shall they taste death no more; and He +shall keep them from the pains of Hell:– + +'Tis the gracious bounty of thy Lord! This is the great felicity. + +We have made this Koran easy for thee in thine own tongue, that they may take +the warning. + +Therefore wait thou, for they are waiting.11 + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura lxviii. I, p. 32. + +2 Of the 23rd and 24th of Ramadhan, in which, according to the Muslim creed, +all the events of the year subsequent are arranged. See Sura xcvii. n. 2, p. +27. + +3 Lit. We settle each wise affair–called wise, because proceeding direct from +the will of Him who is absolute wisdom. + +4 Beidh, and others suppose this verse to have been revealed at Medina. This +opinion, however, is based upon the supposition that it refers to the famine +with which Mecca was visited after the Hejira. + +5 Comp. Ex. xx. 20; Deut. viii. 16. + +6 Tobba, i.e. Chalif or successor, is the title of the Kings of Yemen; or of +Hadramont, Saba, and Hamyar.–See Pocock, Spec. Hist. Ar. p. 60. + +7 Lit. in truth. + +8 That is, Of the good from the bad. + +9 See Sura xxxvii. 60, p. 81. + +10 The commentators suppose this sinner to be Abu Jahl, one of the chief of +the Koreisch, and the bitter enemy of Muhammad. + +11 To see the turn which events may take. + + +SURA L.–KAF [LIV.] + +MECCA.–45 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. + +Kaf1. By the glorious Koran: + +They marvel forsooth that one of themselves hath come to them charged with +warnings. "This," say the infidels, "is a marvellous thing: + +What! when dead and turned to dust shall we. . . .? Far off is such a return +as this?" + +Now know we what the earth consumeth of them, and with us is a Book in which +account is kept. + +But they have treated the truth which hath come to them as falsehood; +perplexed therefore is their state. + +Will they not look up to the heaven above them, and consider how we have +reared it and decked it forth, and that there are no flaws therein? + +And as to the earth, we have spread it out, and have thrown the mountains +upon it, and have caused an upgrowth in it of all beauteous kinds of plants, + +For insight and admonition to every servant who loveth to turn to God: + +And we send down the rain from Heaven with its blessings, by which we cause +gardens to spring forth and the grain of harvest, + +And the tall palm trees with date-bearing branches one above the other + +For man's nourishment: And life give we thereby to a dead country. So also +shall be the resurrection. + +Ere the days of these (Meccans) the people of Noah, and the men of Rass2 and +Themoud, treated their prophets as impostors: + +And Ad and Pharaoh, and the brethren of Lot and the dwellers in the forest, +and the people of Tobba,3 all gave the lie to their prophets: justly, +therefore, were the menaces inflicted. + +Are we wearied out with the first creation? Yet are they in doubt with regard +to a new creation!4 + +We created man: and we know what his soul whispereth to him, and we are +closer to him than his neck-vein. + +When the two angels charged with taking account shall take it, one sitting on +the right hand, the other on the left: + +Not a word doth he utter, but there is a watcher with him ready to note it +down: + +And the stupor of certain death cometh upon him: "This is what thou wouldst +have shunned"– + +And there shall be a blast on the trumpet,–it is the threatened day! + +And every soul shall come,–an angel with it urging it along, and an angel to +witness against it5– + +Saith he, "Of this day didst thou live in heedlessness: but we have taken off +thy veil from thee, and thy sight is becoming sharp this day." + +And he who is at this side6 shall say, "This is what I am prepared with +against thee." + +And God will say, "Cast into Hell, ye twain, every infidel, every hardened +one, + +The hinderer of the good, the transgressor, the doubter, + +Who set up other gods with God. Cast ye him into the fierce torment." + +He who is at his side shall say, "O our Lord! I led him not astray, yet was +he in an error wide of truth." + +He shall say, "Wrangle not in my presence. I had plied you beforehand with +menaces: + +My doom changeth not, and I am not unjust to man." + +On that day will we cry to Hell, "Art thou full?" And it shall say, "Are +there more?"7 + +And not far from thence shall Paradise be brought near unto the Pious: + +– "This is what ye have been promised: to every one who hath turned in +penitence to God and kept his laws; + +Who hath feared the God of Mercy in secret, and come to him with a contrite +heart: + +Enter it in peace: this is the day of Eternity." + +There shall they have all that they can desire: and our's will it be to +augment their bliss: + +And how many generations have we destroyed ere the days of these (Meccans), +mightier than they in strength! Search ye then the land. Is there any escape? + +Lo! herein is warning for him who hath a heart, or giveth ear, and is himself +an eye-witness.8 + +We created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six +days, and no weariness touched us.9 + +Wherefore put up with what they say, and celebrate the praise of thy Lord +before sunrise and before sunset: + +And praise Him in the night: and perform the two final prostrations. + +And list for the day whereon the crier shall cry from a place near to every +one alike: + +The day on which men shall in truth hear that shout will be the day of their +coming forth from the grave. + +Verily, we cause to live, and we cause to die. To us shall all return. + +On the day when the earth shall swiftly cleave asunder over the dead, will +this gathering be easy to Us. + +We know best what the infidels say: and thou art not to compel them. + +Warn then by the Koran those who fear my menace. + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura lxviii. I, p. 32. + +2 See [lxvi.] xxv. 40. + +3 See xliv. 36, p. 90. + +4 The Resurrection. + +5 Lit. a driver and a witness. + +6 The Satan who is chained to him. Sura [lxxi.] xli. 24. + +7 Lit. is there any addition? which some explain as if Hell enquired whether, +being already full, any addition could be made to its size. Comp. Prov. xxx. +15, and Othioth Derabbi Akiba, 8, 1: "That the Prince of Hell saith daily, +Give me food enough, is clear from what is said (Is. v. 14). Therefore Shaol +hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure, etc." + +8 That is, of the ruins of the destroyed cities, etc. + +9 This verse is said (by Omar b. Muhammad, Itq. 36, Djelal Eddin, ap. Maracc. +and Beidh.) to have been revealed in answer to the Jews who told the Prophet +that if God rested on the Sabbath, it was because he was weary. But a +connection with verse 14 seems more natural. + + +SURA XX.1–TA. HA. [LV.] + +MECCA.–135 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +TA. HA.2 Not to sadden thee have we sent down this Koran to thee, + +But as a warning for him who feareth; + +It is a missive from Him who hath made the earth and the lofty heavens! + +The God of Mercy sitteth on his throne: + +His, whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and +whatsoever is between them both, and whatsoever is beneath the humid soil! + +Thou needest not raise thy voice:3 for He knoweth the secret whisper, and the +yet more hidden. + +God! There is no God but He! Most excellent His titles! + +Hath the history of Moses reached thee? + +When he saw a fire, and said to his family, "Tarry ye here, for I perceive a +fire: + +Haply I may bring you a brand from it, or find at the fire a guide."4 + +And when he came to it, he was called to, "O Moses! + +Verily, I am thy Lord:. therefore pull off thy shoes: for thou art in the +holy valley of Towa. + +And I have chosen thee: hearken then to what shall be revealed. + +Verily, I am God: there is no God but me: therefore worship me, and observe +prayer for a remembrance of me. + +Verily the hour is coming:–I all but manifest it– + +That every soul may be recompensed for its labours. + +Nor let him who believeth not therein and followeth his lust, turn thee aside +from this truth, and thou perish. + +Now, what is that in thy right hand, O Moses?" + +Said he, "It is my staff on which I lean, and with which I beast down leaves +for my sheep, and I have other uses for it." + +He said, "Cast it down, O Moses!" + +So he cast it down, and lo! it became a serpent that ran along. + +He said, "Lay hold on it, and fear not: to its former state will we restore +it." + +"Now place thy right hand to thy arm-pit: it shall come forth white, but +unhurt:–another sign!– + +That We may shew thee the greatest of our signs. + +Go to Pharaoh, for he hath burst all bounds." + +He said, "O my Lord! enlarge my breast for me, + +And make my work easy for me, + +And loose the knot of my tongue,5 + +That they may understand my speech. + +And give me a counsellor6 from among my family, + +Aaron my brother; + +By him gird up my loins,7 + +And make him a colleague in my work, + +That we may praise thee oft and oft remember thee, + +For thou regardest us." + +He said, "O Moses, thou hast obtained thy suit: + +Already, at another time, have we showed thee favour, + +When we spake unto thy mother what was spoken: + +'Cast him into the ark:8 then cast him on the sea [the river], and the sea +shall throw him on the shore: and an enemy to me and an enemy to him shall +take him up.' And I myself have made thee an object of love, + +That thou mightest be reared in mine eye. + +When thy sister went and said, 'Shall I shew you one who will nurse him?'9 +Then We returned thee to thy mother that her eye might be cheered, and that +she might not grieve. And when thou slewest a person, We delivered thee from +trouble, and We tried thee with other trial. + +For years didst thou stay among the people of Midian; then camest thou hither +by my decree, O Moses: + +And I have chosen thee for Myself. + +Go thou and thy brother with my signs and be not slack to remember me. + +Go ye to Pharaoh, for he hath burst all bounds: + +But speak ye to him with gentle speech; haply he will reflect or fear." + +They said, "O our Lord! truly we fear lest he break forth against us, or act +with exceeding injustice." + +He said, "Fear ye not, for I am with you both. I will hearken and I will +behold. + +Go ye then to him and say, 'Verily we are Sent ones of thy Lord; send +therefore the children of Israel with us and vex them not: now are we come to +thee with signs from thy Lord, and, Peace shall be on him who followeth the +right guidance. + +For now hath it been revealed to us, that chastisement shall be on him who +chargeth with falsehood, and turneth him away."' + +And he said, "Who is your Lord, O Moses?" + +He said, "Our Lord is He who hath given to everything its form and then +guideth it aright." + +"But what," said he, "was the state of generations past?"10 + +He said, "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in the Book of his decrees. +My Lord erreth not, nor forgetteth. + +He hath spread the earth as a bed, and hath traced out paths for you therein, +and hath sent down rain from Heaven, and by it we bring forth the kinds11 of +various herbs: + +–'Eat ye, and feed your cattle.' Of a truth in this are signs unto men endued +with understanding. + +From it have we created you, and into it will we return you, and out of it +will we bring you forth a second time."12 + +And we shewed him all our signs: but he treated them as falsehoods, and +refused to believe. + +He said, "Hast thou come, O Moses, to drive us from our land by thine +enchantments? + +Therefore will we assuredly confront thee with like enchantments: so appoint +a meeting between us and you–we will not fail it, we, and do not thou–in a +place alike for both." + +He said, "On the feast day13 be your meeting, and in broad daylight let the +people be assembled." + +And Pharaoh turned away, and collected his craftsmen and came. + +Said Moses to them, "Woe to you! devise not a lie against God: + +For then will he destroy you by a punishment. They who have lied have ever +perished." + +And the magicians discussed their plan, and spake apart in secret: + +They said, "These two are surely sorcerers: fain would they drive you from +your land by their sorceries, and lead away in their paths your chiefest men: + +So muster your craft: then come in order: well this day shall it be for him, +who shall gain the upper hand." + +They said, "O Moses, wilt thou first cast down thy rod, or shall we be the +first who cast?" + +He said, "Yes, cast ye down first." And lo! by their enchantment their cords +and rods seemed to him as if they ran. + +And Moses conceived a secret fear within him. + +We said, "Fear not, for thou shalt be the uppermost: + +Cast forth then what is in thy right hand: it shall swallow up what they have +produced: they have only produced the deceit of an enchanter: and come where +he may, ill shall an enchanter fare." + +And the magicians fell down and worshipped. They said, + +"We believe in the Lord of Aaron and of Moses." + +Said Pharaoh, "Believe ye on him ere I give you leave? He, in sooth, is your +Master who hath taught you magic. I will therefore cut off your hands and +your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on trunks of the palm, +and assuredly shall ye learn which of us is severest in punishing, and who is +the more abiding."14 + +They said, "We will not have more regard to thee than to the clear tokens +which have come to us, or than to Him who hath made us: doom the doom thou +wilt: Thou canst only doom as to this present life: of a truth we have +believed on our Lord that he may pardon us our sins and the sorcery to which +thou hast forced us, for God is better, and more abiding than thou.15 + +As for him who shall come before his Lord laden with crime–for him verily is +Hell: he shall not die in it and he shall not live. + +But he who shall come before Him, a believer, with righteous works,–these! +the loftiest grades await them: + +Gardens of Eden, beneath whose trees16 the rivers flow: therein shall they +abide for ever. This, the reward of him who hath been pure." + +Then revealed we to Moses, "Go forth by night with my servants and cleave for +them a dry path in the sea; + +Fear not thou to be overtaken, neither be thou afraid." + +And Pharaoh followed them with his hosts, and the whelming billows of the sea +overwhelmed them,17 for Pharaoh misled his people, and did not guide them. + +O children of Israel! we rescued you from your foes; and We appointed a +meeting with you on the right side of the mountain; and We caused the manna +and the quail to descend upon you: + +"Eat," said We, "of the good things with which we have supplied you; but +without excess, lest my wrath fall upon you; for on whom my wrath doth fall, +he perisheth outright. + +Surely however will I forgive him who turneth to God and believeth, and +worketh righteousness, and then yieldeth to guidance. + +But what hath hastened thee on apart from thy people,18 O Moses?" + +He said, "They are hard on my footsteps: but to thee, O Lord, have I +hastened, that thou mightest be well pleased with me." + +He said, "Of a truth now have we proved thy people since thou didst leave +them, and Samiri19 had led them astray." + +And Moses returned to his people, angered, sorrowful. + +He said, "O my people! did not your Lord promise you a good promise? Was the +time of my absence long to you? or desired ye that wrath from your Lord +should light upon you, that ye failed in your promise to me?" + +They said, "Not of our own accord have we failed in the promise to thee, but +we were made to bring loads of the people's trinkets, and we threw them into +the fire and Samiri likewise cast them in, and brought forth to them a +corporeal lowing20 calf: and they said, "This is your God and the God of +Moses, whom he hath forgotten."' + +What! saw they not that it returned them no answer, and could neither hurt +nor help them? + +And Aaron had before said to them, "O my people! by this calf are ye only +proved: surely your Lord is the God of Mercy: follow me therefore and obey my +bidding." + +They said, "We will not cease devotion to it, till Moses come back to us." + +He said, "O Aaron! when thou sawest that they had gone astray, what hindered +thee from following me? Hast thou then disobeyed my command?" + +He said, "O Son of my mother! seize me not by my beard, nor by my head: +indeed I feared lest thou shouldst say, + +Thou hast rent the children of Isreal asunder, and hast not observed my +orders."' + +He said, "And what was thy motive, O Samiri?" He said, "I saw what they saw +not: so I took a handful of dust from the track21 of the messenger of God, +and flung it into the calf, for so my soul prompted me." + +He said, "Begone then: verily thy doom even in this life shall be to say, +'Touch me not.'22 And there is a threat against thee, which thou shalt not +escape hereafter. Now look at thy god to which thou hast continued so +devoted: we will surely burn it and reduce it to ashes, which we will cast +into the sea. + +Your God is God, beside whom there is no God: In his knowledge he embraceth +all things." + +Thus do We recite to thee histories of what passed of old; and from ourself +have we given thee admonition. + +Whoso shall turn aside from it shall verily carry a burden on the day of +Resurrection: + +Under it shall they remain: and grievous, in the day of Resurrection, shall +it be to them to bear. + +On that day there shall be a blast on the trumpet, and We will gather the +wicked together on that day with leaden23 eyes: + +They shall say in a low voice, one to another,–"Ye tarried but ten days on +earth." + +We are most knowing with respect to that which they will say when the most +veracious24 of them will say. "Ye have not tarried above a day." + +And they will ask thee of the mountains: SAY: scattering my Lord will scatter +them in dust; + +And he will leave them a level plain: thou shalt see in it no hollows or +jutting hills. + +On that day shall men follow their summoner25–he marcheth straight on: and +low shall be their voices before the God of Mercy, nor shalt thou hear aught +but the light footfall. + +No intercession shall avail on that day, save his whom the God of Mercy shall +allow to intercede, and whose words he shall approve. + +He knoweth their future and their past; but in their own knowledge they +comprehend it not:– + +And humble shall be their faces before Him that Liveth, the Self-subsisting: +and undone he, who shall bear the burden of iniquity; + +But he who shall have done the things that are right and is a believer, shall +fear neither wrong nor loss. + +Thus have We sent down to thee an Arabic Koran, and have set forth menaces +therein diversely, that haply they may fear God, or that it may give birth to +reflection in them. + +Exalted then be God, the King, the Truth! Be not hasty in its recital26 while +the revelation of it to thee is incomplete. Say rather, "O my Lord, increase +knowledge unto me." + +And of old We made a covenant with Adam; but he forgat it; and we found no +firmness of purpose in him. + +And when We said to the angels, "Fall down and worship Adam," they worshipped +all, save Eblis, who refused: and We said, "O Adam! this truly is a foe to +thee and to thy wife. Let him not therefore drive you out of the garden, and +ye become wretched; + +For to thee is it granted that thou shalt not hunger therein, neither shalt +thou be naked; + +But Satan whispered him: said he, "O Adam! shall I shew thee the tree of +Eternity,27 and the Kingdom that faileth not?" + +And they both ate thereof, and their nakedness appeared to them, and they +began to sew of the leaves of the Garden to cover them, and Adam disobeyed +his Lord and went astray. + +Afterwards his Lord chose him for himself, and was turned towards him, and +guided him. + +And God said, "Get ye all down hence, the one of you a foe unto the other. +Hereafter shall guidance come unto you from me; + +And whoso followeth my guidance shall not err, and shall not be wretched: + +But whoso turneth away from my monition, his truly shall be a life of misery: + +And We will assemble him with others on the day of Resurrection, blind."28 + +He will say, "O my Lord! why hast thou assembled me with others, blind? +whereas I was endowed with sight." + +He will answer, "Thus is it, because our signs came unto thee and thou didst +forget them, and thus shalt thou be forgotten this day." + +Even thus will We recompense him who hath transgressed and hath not believed +in the signs of his Lord; and assuredly the chastisement of the next world +will be more severe and more lasting. + +Are not they, who walk the very places where they dwelt, aware how many +generations we have destroyed before them? Verily in this are signs to men of +insight. + +And had not a decree of respite from thy Lord first gone forth, their +chastisement had at once ensued. Yet the time is fixed. + +Put up then with what they say; and celebrate the praise of thy Lord before +the sunrise, and before its setting; and some time in the night do thou +praise him, and in the extremes29 of the day, that thou haply mayest please +Him. + +And strain not thine eye after what We have bestowed on divers of them–the +braveries of this world–that we may thereby prove them. The portion which thy +Lord will give, is better and more lasting. + +Enjoin prayer on thy family, and persevere therein. We ask not of thee to +find thine own provision–we will provide for thee, and a happy issue shall +there be to piety. + +But they say, "If he come not to us with a sign from his Lord . . .!"30 But +have not clear proofs for the Koran come to them, in what is in the Books of +old? + +And had We destroyed them by a chastisement before its time, they would +surely have said, "O our Lord! How could we believe if thou didst not send +unto us an Apostle that we might follow thy signs ere that we were humbled +and disgraced." + +SAY: Each one of us awaiteth the end. Wait ye then, and ye shall know which +of us have been followers of the even way, and who hath been the rightly +guided. + + +_______________________ + +1 The first 14 or 16 verses of this Sura are said to have induced Omar to +embrace Islam (His. 226. Ibn Sâd, i. and v. Comp. Weil, p. 60. Causs. i. 396 +ff.) in the sixth year before the Hejira. + +2 Freytag supposes these letters to mean, Hush! but see Sura lxviii. 1, p. +32. + +3 Lit. if thou raise thy voice. + +4 Lit. guidance. Moses had lost his way, say the Commentators, when +journeying to Egypt to visit his mother. + +5 The Muhammadan Commentators tell how Moses when a child burnt his tongue +with a live coal. The same story is found in Midr. Jalkut on Ex. c. 166, and +in Shalsheleth Hakabalah, p. 5, b. Ed. Amsterd. + +6 Lit vizir. + +7 Or, strengthen my back. + +8 The form of the word in the original is not the pure Hebraic, but the later +Rabbinic form. + +9 See Sura [lxxix.] xxviii. 11, 12. + +10 What is their condition after their death as to happiness or misery. +Beidh. whom Sale follows. But the word state, which Mar. renders mens, refers +rather to their creed. "How," enquires Pharaoh, "do you explain the fact that +the generations of men have always practised a different worship?" + +11 Lit. pairs. + +12 The Midrasch Tanchumah on Ex. vii. gives a very similar dialogue between +Pharaoh and Moses. + +13 Lit. the day of ornament. + +14 In punishing. Beidh. + +15 To recompense. Beidh. + +16 As the garden is said in Sura lxxxviii. to be lofty in point of situation, +this frequently recurring phrase may mean that rivers run at its base. The +Commentators, however, generally understand it to imply that the rivers flow +beneath its shades or pavilions. + +17 Lit. and there overwhelmed them of the sea that which overwhelmed them. + +18 The 70 elders who were to have accompanied him. + +19 That is, the Samaritan. This rendering, which is probably the true +explanation of the word Samiri, involves a grievous ignorance of history on +the part of Muhammad. Selden (de diis Syr. Syn. i. ch. 4) supposes that +Samiri is Aaron himself, the Shomeer, or keeper of Israel during the absence +of Moses. Many Arabians identify him with the Micha of Judges xvii. who is +said to have assisted in making the calf (Raschi, Sanhedr. 102, 2 Hottinger +Hist. Orient. p. 84). Geiger suggests that Samiri may be a corruption of +Samael. See next note. But it is probable that the name and its application +in the present instance, is to be traced to the old national feud between the +Jews and Samaritans. See De Sacy, Chrestom. i. p. 189, who quotes Abu Rihan +Muhammad as stating that the Samaritans were called Al-limsahsit, the people +who say, "Touch me not" (v. 97, below), and Juynboll Chron. Sam. (Leid. 1848) +p. 113. Sale also mentions a similar circumstance of a tribe of Samaritan +Jews dwelling on one of the islands in the Red Sea. + +20 "The calf came forth (Ex. xxxii. 24) lowing and the Israelites beheld it. +R. Jehuda saith, Samuel entered into it and lowed in order to mislead +Israel." Pirke R. Eliezer, § 45. + +21 From the track of Gabriel's horse, or of Gabriel himself. + +22 Lit. no touch. + +23 I have adopted the word leaden as expressive of the idea implied in the +original word, viz. grey or greyish blue; hence, dulled, dimmed. The Arabians +have a great aversion to blue and grey eyes as characteristic of their +enemies the Greeks. The word, however, may also mean blind. Comp. v. 124, 5. + +24 Lit. the most excellent or just of them in his way: dignitate, Mar. But +Kam. in Freyt. (iii. 150) justissimus eorum, simillimus veracibus. The sense +of the last clause is, "Yes have not tarried even so much as ten days, such, +now that we look back upon it, is the brevity of life." See Sura [lxiv.] +xxiii. 115. + +25 The angel Israfil. + +26 Compare Sura lxxv. 16-19, p. 56. + +27 It should be observed that here and in Sura vii. 19, Muhammad seems +unaware of the distinction between the tree of knowledge, and the tree of +life, as given in Gen. ii. 9, and iii. 5. + +28 From the intensity of the light, mentioned Sura [1xxx.] xxxix. 69. + +29 In order to reconcile this passage with the prescribed hours, some +understand the extremes to mean the mid-day, when the day is as it were +divided. + +30 Supply, we will not believe. + + +SURA XXVI.–THE POETS1 [LVI.] + +MECCA.–228 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +Ta. Sin. Mim.2 These are the signs of the lucid Book. + +Haply thou wearest thyself away with grief because they will not believe. + +Were it our will we could send down to them a sign from Heaven, before which +they would humbly bow.3 + +But from each fresh warning that cometh to them from the God of Mercy they +have only turned aside, + +And treated it as a lie: But tidings shall reach them which they shall not +laugh to scorn. + +Have they not beheld the earth–how we have caused every kind of noble plant +to spring up therein? + +Verily, in this is a sign: but most of them believe not. + +And assuredly, thy Lord!–He is the Mighty, the Merciful. + +And remember when thy Lord called to Moses, "Go to the wicked people, + +The people of Pharaoh. What! will they not fear me?" + +He said, "My Lord, in sooth I fear lest they treat me as a liar: + +And my breast is straitened, and I am slow of speech:4 send therefore to +Aaron to be my helpmate. + +For they have a charge5 against me, and I fear lest they put me to death." + +He said, "Surely not. Go ye therefore with our signs: we will be with you and +will hearken. + +And go to Pharaoh and say: 'Verily we are the messengers of the Lord of the +worlds– + +Send forth with us the children of Israel."' + +He said, "Did we not rear thee among us when a child? And hast thou not +passed years of thy life among us? + +And yet what a deed is that which thou hast done!6 Thou art one of the +ungrateful." + +He said, "I did it indeed, and I was one of those who erred: And I fled from +you because I feared you; but my Lord hath given me wisdom and hath made me +one of his Apostles. + +And is this the favour thou hast conferred on me, that thou hast enslaved the +children of Israel?" + +Said Pharaoh, "Who then is the Lord of the Worlds?" + +He said, "The Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth and of all that is between +them, if only ye believe it." + +Said Pharaoh to those around him, "Hear ye this?" + +"Your Lord," said Moses, "and the Lord of your sires of old." + +"In sooth, your Apostle whom He hath sent to you," said Pharaoh, "is +certainly possessed." + +He said, "Lord is He of the East and of the West, and of all that is between +them, if ye can understand." + +He said, "If ye take any God beside me, I will surely put thee in ward." + +Said Moses, "What! if I shew thee that which shall be a proof of my mission?" + +He said, "Forth with it then, if thou speakest truth." + +Then threw he down his staff, and lo! an undoubted serpent: + +And he drew out his hand, and lo! it was white7 to the beholders. + +He said to his nobles around him. "This truly is a right cunning sorcerer: + +Fain would he drive you out of your land by his Sorcery. But what do ye +suggest?" + +They said, "Put him and his brother off awhile, and send summoners to all the +cities, + +Who shall bring to thee every cunning magician." + +So the magicians were mustered at a set time, on a solemn day: + +And it was said to the people, "Are ye all assembled?" + +–"Yes! and we will follow the magicians if they gain the day." + +And when the magicians were arrived they said to Pharaoh, "Shall we have a +reward if we gain the day?" + +He said, "Yes. And verily in that case ye shall be of those who are near my +person." + +Moses said to them, "Throw down what ye have to throw." + +So they cast down their ropes and rods, and said, "By Pharaoh's might we +shall surely win." + +Then Moses threw down his rod, and lo! it swallowed up their cheating +wonders. + +Then the magicians threw themselves down in worship: + +They said, "We believe on the Lord of the Worlds, + +The Lord of Moses and of Aaron." + +Said Pharaoh, "Have ye then believed on him ere I gave you leave? He truly is +your master who hath taught you magic.8 But bye and bye ye shall surely know +my power. + +I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will have you all +crucified." + +They said, "It cannot harm us, for to our Lord shall we return: + +Assuredly we trust that our Lord will forgive us our sins, since we are of +the first who believe." + +Then revealed we this order to Moses: "Go forth by night with my servants, +for ye will be pursued." + +And Pharaoh sent summoners through the cities:– + +"These Israelites," said they, "are a scanty band; + +Yet are they enraged against us– + +But we truly are numerous, wary." + +Thus we caused them to quit gardens and fountains, + +And treasures and splendid dwellings; + +So was it; and we gave them to the children of Israel for an heritage.9 + +Then at sunrise the Egyptians followed them: + +And when the hosts came in view of one another, the comrades of Moses said, +"We are surely overtaken." + +He said, "By no means:–for my Lord is with me–He will guide me." + +And we revealed this order to Moses, "Strike the sea with thy rod." And it +clave asunder, and each part became like a huge mountain. + +Then made we the others to draw on; + +And we saved Moses, and those who were with him, all; + +But we drowned the others. + +Truly in this was a sign; but most of them did not believe. + +But verily thy Lord,–He is the Mighty, the Merciful! + +And recite to them the story of Abraham + +When he said to his Father and to his people, "What worship ye?" + +They said, "We worship idols, and constant is our devotion to them." + +He said, "Can they hear you when ye cry to them? + +Or help you or do you harm?" + +They said, "But we found our Fathers do the like." + +He said, "How think ye? They whom ye worship, + +Ye and your fathers of early days, + +Are my foes: but not so10 the Lord of the Worlds, + +Who hath created me, and guideth me, + +Who giveth me food and drink; + +And when I am sick, he healeth me, + +And who will cause me to die and again quicken me, + +And who, I hope, will forgive me my sins in the day of reckoning. + +My Lord! bestow on me wisdom and join me to the just, + +And give me a good name11 among posterity, + +And make me one of the heirs of the garden of delight, + +And forgive my father, for he was one of the erring, + +And put me not to shame on the day when mankind shall be raised up, + +The day when neither wealth nor children shall avail, + +Save to him who shall come to God with a sound heart: + +When Paradise shall be brought near the pious, + +And Hell shall lay open for those who have gone astray. + +And it shall be said to them, 'Where are they whom ye worshipped + +Beside God? Can they harm you or help themselves?' + +And they shall be cast into it–the seducers and the seduced, + +And all the host of Eblis. + +They shall say, as they wrangle therein together, + +'By God, we were in a plain error, + +When we equalled you with the Lord of the Worlds: + +And none misled us but the wicked, + +And we have none to plead for us, + +Nor friend who careth for us. + +Could we but return, we would be of the believers."' + +Verily, in this was a sign: but most of them believed not. + +And truly thy Lord!–He is the Mighty, the Merciful! + +The people of Noah gainsaid the Apostles, + +When their brother Noah said to them, "Will ye not fear God? + +Of a truth am I your faithful Apostle; + +Fear God then and obey me. + +I ask of you no reward for this, for my reward is of the Lord of the Worlds +alone: + +Fear God then and obey me." + +They said, "Shall we believe on thee when the meanest only are thy +followers?" + +He said, "But I have no knowledge of that they did:12 + +To my Lord only must their account be given: would that ye understood this! + +And I will not thrust away those who believe, + +For I am only one charged with plain warnings." + +They said, "Now unless thou desist, O Noah, one of the stoned shalt thou +surely be." + +He said, "Lord! my people treat me as a liar: + +Decide thou therefore a decision between me and them, and rescue me and the +faithful who are with me." + +So we saved him and those who were with him in the fully-laden ark, + +And afterwards we drowned the rest. + +Herein truly was a sign, but most of them believed not. + +But thy Lord!–He is the Mighty, the Merciful. + +The Adites13 treated their Apostles as liars, + +When their brother Houd said to them, "Will ye not fear God? + +I am your Apostle, worthy of all credit; + +Fear God then and obey me: + +I ask for no reward for this; for my reward is of the Lord of the Worlds +alone. + +What! build ye landmarks on all heights in mere pastime? + +And raise ye structures to be your lasting abodes?14 + +And when ye put forth your power do ye put it forth with harshness? + +Fear ye God then and obey me; + +And fear ye Him who hath plenteously betowed on you ye well know what: + +Plenteously bestowed on you flocks and children, + +And gardens and fountains; + +Indeed I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous day." + +They said, "It is the same to us whether thou warn or warn us not. + +This is but a tale of the ancients, + +And we are not they who shall be punished." + +And they charged him with imposture; and we destroyed them. In this was a +sign: but most of them believed not. + +But thy Lord!–He is the Mighty, the Merciful! + +The Themoudites also treated their Apostles as liars, + +When their brother Saleh said to them, "Will ye not fear God? + +I am your Apostle worthy of all credit: + +Fear God, then, and obey me. + +I ask of you no reward for this: my reward is of the Lord of the Worlds +alone. + +Shall ye be left secure amid these things here? + +Amid gardens and fountains, + +And corn-fields and palm-trees, with flower-sheathing branches? + +And, insolent that ye are, will ye hew out your dwellings in the mountains? + +But fear God and obey me, + +And obey not the bidding of those who commit excess, + +Who act disorderly on the earth and reform it not." + +They said, "Certainly thou art a person bewitched; + +Thou art only a man like us: produce now a sign if thou art a man of truth." + +He said, "This she-camel, then–drink shall there be for her, and drink shall +there be for you, on a several day for each. + +But harm her not, lest the punishment of a tremendous day overtake you." + +But they ham-strung her, and repented of it on the morrow; + +For the punishment overtook them. In this truly was a sign, but most of them +believed not. + +But thy Lord!–He is the Powerful, the Merciful! + +The people of Lot treated their apostles as liars, + +When their brother Lot said to them, "Will ye not fear God? + +I am your Apostle worthy of all credit: + +Fear God, then, and obey me. + +For this I ask you no reward: my reward is of the Lord of the worlds alone. + +What! with men, of all creatures, will ye have commerce? + +And leave ye your wives whom your Lord hath created for you? Ah! ye are an +erring people!" + +They said, "O Lot, if thou desist not, one of the banished shalt thou surely +be." + +He said, "I utterly abhor your doings: + +My Lord! deliver me and my family from what they do." + +So we delivered him and his whole family– + +Save an aged one among those who tarried– + +Then we destroyed the rest– + +And we rained a rain upon them, and fatal was the rain to those whom we had +warned. + +In this truly was a sign; but most of them did not believe. + +But thy Lord! He is the Powerful, the Merciful! + +The dwellers in the forest of Madian15 treated the Apostles as liars. + +When Shoaib their brother said to them, "Will ye not fear God? + +I truly am your trustworthy Apostle. + +Fear God, then, and obey me: + +No reward ask I of you for this: my reward is of the Lord of the Worlds +alone. + +Fill the measure, and be not of those who minish: + +Weigh with exact balance: + +And defraud not men in their substance, and do no wrong on the earth by deeds +of licence; + +And fear Him who made you and the races of old." + +They said, "Certainly thou art a person bewitched. + +Thou art but a man like us, and we deem thee liar– + +Make now a part of the heaven to fall down upon us, if thou art a man of +truth." + +He said, "My Lord best knoweth your doings." + +And when they treated him as a liar, the chastisement of the day of cloud +overtook them. This truly was the chastisement of a dreadful day! + +In this was a sign, but most of them believed not. + +But thy Lord!–He is the Mighty, the Merciful! + +Verily from the Lord of the Worlds hath this Book come down; + +The faithful spirit16 hath come down with it + +Upon thy heart, that thou mightest become a warner– + +In the clear Arabic tongue: + +And truly it is foretold in the Scriptures of them of yore.17 + +Was it not a sign to them18 that the learned among the children of Israel +recognised it? + +If we had sent it down unto any foreigner, + +And he had recited it to them, they had not believed. + +In such sort have we influenced19 the heart of the wicked ones, + +That they will not believe it till they see the grievous chastisement? + +And it shall come upon them on a sudden when they look not for it: + +And they will say, "Can we be respited?" + +What! will they seek to hasten on our chastisement? + +How thinkest thou? If after we have given them their fill for years, + +That with which they are menaced come upon them at last, + +Of what avail will their enjoyments be to them? + +We never destroyed a city which had not first its warners + +With admonition; nor did we deal unjustly. + +The Satans were not sent down with this Koran: + +It beseemed them not, and they had not the power, + +For they are far removed from hearing it.20 + +Call not thou on any other god but God, lest thou be of those consigned to +torment: + +But warn thy relatives of nearer kin,21 + +And kindly lower thy wing over the faithful who follow thee. + +And if they disobey thee, then say: "I will not be answerable for your +doings;"– + +And put thy trust in Him that is the Mighty, the Merciful, + +Who seeth thee when thou standest in prayer, + +And thy demeanour amongst those who worship; + +For He heareth, knoweth all. + +Shall I tell you on whom Satan descend? + +They descend on every lying, wicked person: + +They impart what they have heard;22–but most of them are liars. + +It is the POETS23 whom the erring follow: + +Seest thou not how they rove distraught in every valley? + +And that they say that which they do not? + +Save those who believe and do good works, and oft remember God; + +And who defend themselves when unjustly treated. But they who treat them +unjustly shall find out what a lot awaiteth them. + + +_______________________ + +1 This Sura belongs to about the seventh year of Muhammad's prophetic life. + +2 See Sura 1xviii. I, p. 32. + +3 Lit. to which their necks would humble themselves. + +4 Lit. my tongue is not free. This verse appears to be a studied +simplification of Ex. iv. 10-13. + +5 The murder of the Egyptian. See Geiger, 159. + +6 Lit. and thou hast done thy deed which thou hast done. See xxviii. 15. + +7 Thus Pirke R. Elieser § 48. "He placed his hand in his bosom, and drew it +forth, white as snow with leprosy." + +8 "The Pharaoh who lived in the days of Moses was a great magician." Mid. +Jalkut, c. 182. Comp. Sura xxviii. 38, where, in accordance with the Rabbinic +traditions Pharaoh claims to be a God. + +9 See ii. 58, and Midr. Jalkut on Ex. xii. c. 208. + +10 Lit. except. + +11 Lit. a tongue of truth, i.e. high repute. Or, grant that my words may be +believed among posterity. See [lviii.] xix. 47. + +12 Of their motives in embracing Islam. + +13 The Adites are mentioned in vii. and xi. + +14 This is to be understood of the small forts erected by the nomades of the +Hejaz along the route of the caravans to guarantee their safety. Comp. Gen. +xi. 1-10, and Sura lxxxix. 6, p. 54. + +15 The Madian and the El-Aika of other Suras are unquestionably one and the +same place, as they have the same prophet Shoaib (or Sho'eyb), the Jethro of +Scripture–a name perhaps altered from Hobab (Numb. x. 29)–and because the +same sin is laid to the charge of both. See Winer's Realw”rterbuch on Jethro. +The Midr. Rabbah on Ex. ii. I6, Par. I, makes Jethro renounce idolatry, and +his office of Priest, and undergo banishment from the Midianites. + +16 Gabriel. See Sura lxxxi. 19, p. 46. + +17 See Sura xiii. 36. This verse is said to have been revealed at Medina by +Itq. 34. + +18 The unbelieving Meccans. Lit. that the knowing (Doctors, Uhlemas) knew it. + +19 Lit. have introduced it, i.e. infidelity; or, the Koran. Beidh. The latter +interpretation seems most accordant with the context. + +20 Comp. Sura xxxvii. 7, 8, p. 79. + +21 It is probable that within three or four years from his entry upon the +prophetic office, Muhammad had made about 40 converts. Some biographers refer +to this passage, and not to Sura lxiv. I, as the first call to preach. But +this Sura is itself late, and bears evidence of the opposition to which the +prophet had become exposed, and of adherents to his cause, now become +numerous. The diffuseness and feeblenss of the style clearly point to a late +origin. + +22 They impart to their votaries on earth what they have learned by stealth +and partially, in heaven. + +23 Muhammad found it necessary to employ the pens of certain poets to defend +himself and his religion from the ridicule and satire of other poets, whose +productions were recited at the great annual fair held at Okatz, the Olympus +of the Hejaz. The poems which were judged the best were written up in letters +of gold, or suspended (hence called Moallakat) in the Caaba. These poetical +contests were subsequently suppressed by Muhammad, as offering openings for +discussions which might prove inconvenient, and dangerous to his rising +claims. + + +SURA XV.–HEDJR1 [LVII.] + +MECCA.–99 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ELIF. LAM. RA.2 These are the signs of the Book, and of a lucid recital +[Koran]. + +Many a time will the infidels wish that they had been Muslims. + +Let them feast and enjoy themselves, and let hope beguile them: but they +shall know the truth at last. + +We never destroyed a city whose term was not perfixed:3 + +No people can forestall or retard its destiny. + +They say: "O thou to whom the warning hath been sent down, thou art surely +possessed by a djinn: + +Wouldst thou not have come to us with the angels, if thou wert of those who +assert the truth?" + +–We will not send down the angels without due cause.4 The Infidels would not +in that case have been respited. + +Verily, We have sent down the warning, and verily, We will be its guardian; + +And already have We sent Apostles, before thee, among the sects of the +ancients; + +But never came Apostles to them whom they did not deride. + +In like manner will We put it into the hearts of the sinners of Mecca to do +the same: + +They will not believe on him though the example of those of old hath gone +before. + +Even were We to open above them a gate in Heaven, yet all the while they were +mounting up to it, + +They would surely say: It is only that our eyes are drunken: nay, we are a +people enchanted. + +We have set the signs of the zodiac5 in the Heavens, and adorned and decked +them forth for the beholders, + +And We guard them from every stoned6 Satan, + +Save such as steal a hearing:7 and him doth a visible flame pursue. + +And the Earth have We spread forth, and thrown thereon the mountains, and +caused everything to spring forth in it in balanced measure: + +And We have provided therein sustenance for you, and for the creatures which +not ye sustain: + +And no one thing is there, but with Us are its storehouses; and We send it +not down but in settled measure: + +And We send forth the fertilising winds, and cause the rain to come down from +the heaven, and give you to drink of it; and it is not ye who are its +storers: + +And We cause to live and We cause to die,8 and We are the heir of all things: + +We know those of you who flourish first and We know those who come later: + +And truly thy Lord will gather them together again, for He is Wise, Knowing. + +We created man of dried clay, of dark loam moulded; + +And the djinn had We before created of subtle fire. + +Remember when thy Lord said to the Angels, "I create man of dried clay, of +dark loam moulded: + +And when I shall have fashioned him and breathed of my spirit into him, then +fall ye down and worship him." + +And the Angels bowed down in worship, all of them, all together, + +Save Eblis: he refused to be with those who bowed in worship. + +"O Eblis,"9 said God, "wherefore art thou not with those who bow down in +worship?" + +He said, "It beseemeth not me to bow in worship to man whom thou hast created +of clay, of moulded loam." + +He said, "Begone then hence; thou art a stoned one,10 + +And the curse shall be on thee till the day of reckoning." + +He said, "O my Lord! respite me till the day when man shall be raised from +the dead." + +He said, "One then of the respited shalt thou be + +Till the day of the predestined time." + +He said, "O my Lord! because thou hast beguiled me, I will surely make all +fair seeming to them11 on the earth; I will surely beguile them all; + +Except such of them as shall be thy sincere servants." + +He said, "This is the right way with me; + +For over none of my servants shalt thou have power, save those beguiled ones +who shall follow thee." + +And verily, Hell is the promise for them one and all. + +It hath seven Portals;12 at each Portal is a separate band of them; + +But 'mid gardens and fountains shall the pious dwell: + +"Enter ye therein in peace, secure–" + +And all rancour will We remove from their bosoms: they shall sit as brethren, +face to face, on couches: + +Therein no weariness shall reach them, nor forth from it shall they be cast +for ever. + +Announce to my servants that I am the Gracious, the Merciful, + +And that my chastisement is the grievous chastisement. + +And tell them of Abraham's guests. + +When they entered in unto him, and said, "Peace." + +"Verily," said he, "We fear you." + +They said, "Fear not, for of a sage son we bring thee tidings." + +He said, "Bring ye me such tidings now that old age hath come upon me? What, +therefore, are your tidings really?" + +They said, "We announce them to thee in very truth. Be not then one of the +despairing." + +"And who," said he, "despaireth of the mercy of his Lord, but they who err?" + +He said, "What is your business then, O ye Sent Ones?" + +They said, "We are sent unto a people who are sinners, + +Except the family of Lot, whom verily we will rescue all, + +Except his wife. We have decreed that she shall be of those who linger." + +And when the Sent Ones came to the family of Lot + +He said, "Yes; are persons unknown to me." + +They said, "Yes; but we have come to thee for a purpose about which thy +people doubt: + +We have come to thee with very truth, and we are truthful envoys. + +Lead forth therefore thy family in the dead of the night; follow thou on +their rear: and let no one of you turn round, but pass ye on whither ye are +bidden." + +And this command we gave him because to the last man should these people be +cut off at morning. + +Then came the people of the city rejoicing at the news13– + +He said, "These are my guests: therefore disgrace me not. + +And fear God and put me not to shame." + +They said, "Have we not forbidden thee to entertain any one whatever?"14 + +He said, "Here are my daughters, if ye will thus act." + +As thou livest, O Muhammad, they were bewildered in the drunkenness of their +lust. + +So a tempest overtook them at their sunrise, + +And we turned the city upside down, and we rained stones of baked clay upon +them. + +Verily, in this are signs for those who scan heedfully; + +And these cities lay on the high road.15 + +Verily, in this are signs for the faithful. + +The inhabitants also of El Aika16 were sinners: + +So we took vengeance on them, and they both became a plain example. + +And the people of HEDJR treated God's messengers as liars. + +And we brought forth our signs to them, but they drew back from them: + +And they hewed them out abodes in the mountains to secure them: + +But a tempest surprised them at early morn, + +And their labours availed them nothing. + +We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that between them is, +but for a worthy end.17 And verily, "the hour" shall surely come. Wherefore +do thou, Muhammad, forgive with kindly forgiveness, + +For thy Lord! He is the Creator, the Wise. + +We have already given thee the seven verses of repetition18 and the glorious +Koran. + +Strain not thine eyes after the good things we have bestowed on some of the +unbelievers: afflict not thyself on their account, and lower thy wing to the +faithful.19 + +And SAY: I am the only plain-spoken warner. + +We will punish those who foster divisions,20 + +Who break up the Koran into parts: + +By thy Lord! we will surely take account from them one and all, + +Concerning that which they have done. + +Profess publicly then what thou hast been bidden,21 and withdraw from those +who join gods to God. + +Verily, We will maintain thy cause against those who deride thee, + +Who set up gods with God: and at last shall they know their folly. + +Now know We that thy heart is distressed22 at what they say: + +But do thou celebrate the praise of thy Lord, and be of those who bow down in +worship; + +And serve thy Lord till the certainty23 o'ertake thee. + + +_______________________ + +1 Hedjr, a valley in the route between Medina and Syria, originally the +country of the Themoudites. + +2 See Sura lxviii. p. 32. + +3 Lit. which had not a known writing. + +4 That is, not merely to gratify the curiosity of the doubting, but to +execute prompt punishment. It might also be rendered, save with justice + +5 Ar. bourdj, Gr. [greek text], towers, i.e. Signs of the Zodiac. + +6 See Sura xv. 34; and note p. 114. + +7 Comp. Sura xxxvii. 6, p. 79. In Chagiga 16, 1, the Demons (schedim) are +said to learn the secrets of the future by listening behind the veil +(pargôd). + +8 Compare precisely a similar association of subjects, the Rain, Food, God, +as Lord of life and death in Tr. Taanith, fol. 1 a. + +9 Comp. Sura [xci.] ii. 32. There is much in this dialogue between Eblis and +Allah which reminds of the dialogue between Jehovah and Satan in the opening +of the Book of Job. + +10 That is, accursed. According to the Muhammadan tradition, Abraham drove +Satan away with stones when he would have hindered him from sacrificing +Ismael. Hence the custom during the pilgrimage of throwing a certain number +of stones–the Shafeis, 49; the Hanafis, 70–as if at Satan, in the valley of +Mina, near Mecca. The spot where the apparition of Satan to Abraham took +place is marked by three small pillars, at which the stones are now thrown. +Comp. Gen. xv. II. + +11 Lit. I will embellish, prepare. + +12 Thus, in Sota, 10, David is said to have rescued Absalom from "the seven +dwellings of Hell;" in Midr. on Ps. xi. "There are seven houses of abode for +the wicked in Hell;" and in Sohar ii. 150, "Hell hath seven gates." + +13 At the arrival of strangers. + +14 Comp. Midr. Rabbah on Gen. Par. 50. + +15 From Arabia to Syria. The pronoun in the fem. sing. may refer to the +Pentapolis as to a single city, or to Sodom alone. + +16 See Sura [lvi.] xxvi. 176. + +17 See Sura [lxxiii.] xvi. 3. + +18 That is, the seven verses of Sura 1, p. 28. Others understand, the seven +long Suras; or, the fifteen Suras which make a seventh of the whole; or, this +Sura (Hedjr) as originally the seventh. Mathani is an allusion, according to +some, to the frequency with which the fatthah is to be repeated; or, to the +frequent repetitions of great truths, etc., in order to impress them on the +memory of the hearer and reader; or, to the manner in which waid and wa'd, +promises and threatenings, alternate and balance each other in the same or +subsequent verses and Suras, in pairs. This verse and Sura x. 10 shew that a +part at least of the Koran was known under that name and existed as a whole +in the time of Muhammad. Geiger's interpretations at pp. 59, 60 (and in the +note) seem very forced. + +19 Comp. Sura [lvi.] xxvi. 215, i.e. demean thyself gently. + +20 Lit. as we sent down upon the dividers, i.e. the Jews and Christians, who +receive part of the Scriptures and reject part. Others render obstructors and +explain the passage of twelve idolaters, who in order to intimidate the +Meccans, seized upon the public revenues of Mecca during the pilgrimage. + +21 In this, the fourth year of his mission, Muhammad is said to have hazarded +the step of mounting the Safa, a slight eminence in one of the streets of +Mecca, and publicly preached to the Koreisch. The authorities are given in +Sprenger (Life of M. p. 177, 8). + +22 Lit. contracted. + +23 Death. + + +SURA XIX.1–MARY [LVIII.] + +MECCA.–98 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +KAF. HA. YA. AIN. SAD.2 A recital of thy Lord's mercy to his servant +Zachariah; + +When he called upon his Lord with secret calling, + +And said: "O Lord, verily my bones are weakened, and the hoar hairs glisten +on my head, + +And never, Lord, have I prayed to thee with ill success. + +But now I have fears for my kindred after me;3 and my wife is barren: + +Give me, then, a successor as thy special gift, who shall be my heir and an +heir of the family of Jacob: and make him, Lord, well pleasing to thee." + +–"O Zachariah! verily we announce to thee a son,–his name John: + +That name We have given to none before him."4 + +He said: "O my Lord! how when my wife is barren shall I have a son, and when +I have now reached old age, failing in my powers?" + +He said: So shall it be. Thy Lord hath said, Easy is this to me, for I +created thee aforetime when thou wast nothing." + +He said: "Vouchsafe me, O my Lord! a sign." He said: "Thy sign shall be that +for three nights, though sound in health, thou speakest not to man." + +And he came forth from the sanctuary to his people, and made signs to them to +sing praises morn and even. + +We said: "O John! receive the Book with purpose of heart:"5–and We bestowed +on him wisdom while yet a child; + +And mercifulness from Ourself, and purity; and pious was he, and duteous to +his parents; and not proud, rebellious. + +And peace was on him on the day he was born, and the day of his death, and +shall be on the day when he shall be raised to life! + +And make mention in the Book, of Mary, when she went apart from her family, +eastward,6 + +And took a veil to shroud herself from them:7 and we sent our spirit8 to her, +and he took before her the form of a perfect man.9 + +She said: "I fly for refuge from thee to the God of Mercy! If thou fearest +Him, begone from me." + +He said: "I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may bestow on thee a holy +son." + +She said: "How shall I have a son, when man hath never touched me? and I am +not unchaste." + +He said: "So shall it be. Thy Lord hath said: 'Easy is this with me;' and we +will make him a sign to mankind, and a mercy from us. For it is a thing +decreed." + +And she conceived him,10 and retired with him to a far-off place. + +And the throes came upon her11 by the trunk of a palm. She said: "Oh, would +that I had died ere this, and been a thing forgotten, forgotten quite!" + +And one cried to her from below her:12 "Grieve not thou, thy Lord hath +provided a streamlet at thy feet:– + +And shake the trunk of the palm-tree toward thee:13 it will drop fresh ripe +dates upon thee. + +Eat then and drink, and be of cheerful eye:14 and shouldst thou see a man, + +Say,–Verily, I have vowed abstinence to the God of mercy.–To no one will I +speak this day." + +Then came she with the babe to her people, bearing him. They said, "O Mary! +now hast thou done a strange thing! + +O sister of Aaron!15 Thy father was not a man of wickedness, nor unchaste thy +mother." + +And she made a sign to them, pointing towards the babe. They said, "How shall +we speak with him who is in the cradle, an infant?" + +It said,16 "Verily, I am the servant of God; He hath given me the Book, and +He hath made me a prophet; + +And He hath made me blessed wherever I may be, and hath enjoined me prayer +and almsgiving so long as I shall live; + +And to be duteous to her that bare me: and he hath not made me proud, +depraved. + +And the peace of God was on me the day I was born, and will be the day I +shall die, and the day I shall be raised to life." + +This is Jesus, the son of Mary; this is a statement of the truth concerning +which they doubt. + +It beseemeth not God to beget a son. Glory be to Him! when he decreeth a +thing, He only saith to it, Be, and it Is.17 + +And verily, God is my Lord and your Lord; adore Him then. This is the right +way. + +But the Sects have fallen to variance among themselves about Jesus: but woe, +because of the assembly of a great day, to those who believe not! + +Make them hear, make them behold the day when they shall come before us! But +the offenders this day are in a manifest error. + +Warn them of the day of sighing when the decree shall be accomplished, while +they are sunk in heedlessness and while they believe not. + +Verily, we will inherit the earth and all who are upon it. To us shall they +be brought back. + +Make mention also in the Book of Abraham; for he was a man of truth, a +Prophet.18 + +When he said to his Father, "O my Father! why dost thou worship that which +neither seeth nor heareth, nor profiteth thee aught? + +O my Father! verily now hath knowledge come to me which hath not come to +thee. Follow me therefore–I will guide thee into an even path. + +O my Father! worship not Satan, for Satan is a rebel against the God of +Mercy. + +O my Father! indeed I fear lest a chastisement from the God of Mercy light +upon thee, and thou become Satan's vassal." + +He said, "Castest thou off my Gods, O Abraham? If thou forbear not, I will +surely stone thee. Begone from me for a length of time." + +He said, "Peace be on thee! I will pray my Lord for thy forgiveness, for he +is gracious to me: + +But I will separate myself from you, and the gods ye call on beside God, and +on my Lord will I call. Haply, my prayers to my Lord will not be with ill +success." + +And when he had separated himself from them and that which they worshipped +beside God, we bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and each of them we made a +prophet: + +And we bestowed gifts on them in our mercy, and gave them the lofty tongue of +truth."19 + +And commemorate Moses in "the Book;" for he was a man of purity: moreover he +was an Apostle, a Prophet: + +From the right side of the mountain we called to him, and caused him to draw +nigh to us for secret converse: + +And we bestowed on him in our mercy his brother Aaron, a Prophet. + +And commemorate Ismael in "the Book;" for he was true to his promise, and was +an Apostle, a Prophet; + +And he enjoined prayer and almsgiving on his people, and was well pleasing to +his Lord. + +And commemorate Edris20 in "the Book;" for he was a man of truth, a Prophet: + +And we uplifted him to a place on high.21 + +These are they among the prophets of the posterity of Adam, and among those +whom we bare with Noah, and among the posterity of Abraham and Israel, and +among those whom we have guided and chosen, to whom God hath shewed favour. +When the signs of the God of Mercy were rehearsed to them, they bowed them +down worshipping and weeping. + +But others have come in their place after them: they have made an end of +prayer, and have gone after their own lusts; and in the end they shall meet +with evil:– + +Save those who turn and believe and do that which is right, these shall enter +the Garden, and in nought shall they be wronged: + +The Garden of Eden, which the God of Mercy hath promised to his servants, +though yet unseen:22 for his promise shall come to pass: + +No vain discourse shall they hear therein, but only "Peace;" and their food +shall be given them at morn and even: + +This is the Paradise which we will make the heritage of those our servants +who fear us. + +We23 come not down from Heaven but by thy Lord's command. His, whatever is +before us and whatever is behind us, and whatever is between the two! And thy +Lord is not forgetful,– + +Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth, and of all that is between them! +Worship Him, then, and abide thou steadfast in his worship. Knowest thou any +other of the same name?24 + +Man saith: "What! after I am dead, shall I in the end be brought forth +alive?" + +Doth not man bear in mind that we made him at first, when he was nought? + +And I swear by thy Lord, we will surely gather together them and the Satans: +then will we set them on their knees round Hell: + +Then will we take forth from each band those of them who have been stoutest +in rebellion against the God of Mercy: + +Then shall we know right well to whom its burning is most due: + +No one is there of you who shall not go down unto it25–This is a settled +decree with thy Lord– + +Then will we deliver those who had the fear of God, and the wicked will we +leave in it on their knees. + +And when our clear signs are rehearsed to them, the infidels say to those who +believe: "Which of the two parties26 is in the best plight? and which is the +most goodly company?" + +But how many generations have we brought to ruin before them, who surpassed +them in riches and in splendour! + +SAY: As to those who are in error, the God of Mercy will lengthen out to them +a length of days + +Until they see that with which they are threatened, whether it be some +present chastisement, or whether it be "the Hour," and they shall then know +which is in the worse state, and which the more weak in forces: + +But God will increase the guidance of the already guided. + +And good works which abide, are in thy Lord's sight better in respect of +guerdon, and better in the issue than all worldly good. + +Hast thou marked him who believeth not in our signs, and saith, "I shall +surely have riches and children bestowed upon me?" + +Hath he mounted up into the secrets of God? Hath he made a compact with the +God of Mercy? + +No! we will certainly write down what he saith, and will lengthen the length +of his chastisement: + +And we will inherit what he spake of, and he shall come before us all alone. + +They have taken other gods beside God to be their help.27 + +But it shall not be. Those gods will disavow their worship and will become +their enemies. + +Seest thou not that we send the Satans against the Infidels to urge them into +sin? + +Wherefore be not thou in haste with them;28 for a small number of days do we +number to them. + +One day we will gather the God-fearing before the God of Mercy with honours +due:29 + +But the sinners will we drive unto Hell, like flocks driven to the watering. + +None shall have power to intercede, save he who hath received permission at +the hands of the God of Mercy. + +They say: "The God of Mercy hath gotten offspring." Now have ye done a +monstrous thing! + +Almost might the very Heavens be rent thereat, and the Earth cleave asunder, +and the mountains fall down in fragments, + +That they ascribe a son to the God of Mercy, when it beseemeth not the God of +Mercy to beget a son! + +Verily there is none in the Heavens and in the Earth but shall approach the +God of Mercy as a servant. He hath taken note of them, and numbered them with +exact numbering: + +And each of them shall come to Him, on the day of Resurrection, singly: + +But love will the God of Mercy vouchsafe to those who believe and do the +things that be right. + +Verily we have made this Koran easy and in thine own tongue, that thou mayest +announce glad tidings by it to the God-fearing, and that thou mayest warn the +contentious by it. + +How many generations have we destroyed before them! Canst thou search out one +of them? or canst thou hear a whisper from them? + + +_______________________ + +1 Comp. the first 37 verses of this Sura with Sura iii. 35-57 with reference +to the different style adopted by Muhammad in the later Suras, probably for +the purpose of avoiding the imputation of his being merely a poet, a +sorcerer, or person possessed. Sura lii. 29, 30; xxi. 5; lxviii. 2, 51. This +Sura is one of the fullest and earliest Koranic Gospel Histories, and was +recited to the Nagash or King of Ćthiopia, in the presence of the ambassadors +of the Koreisch. His. 220; Caussin, i. 392; Sprenger (Life of M.) p. 193. + +2 See Sura lxviii. I, p. 32. Golius conjectured that these letters represent +coh ya'as, thus he counselled, and that they were added by some Jewish +scribe. Sprenger (Journ. of As. Soc. of Bengal, xx. 280) arranges them as +Ain, Sad, Kaf, Ha, Ya, and supposes them to be taken from the Arabic words +for Aisa (Jesus) of the Nazarenes, King of the Jews. But we can hardly +imagine that Muhammad would ascribe such a title to our Lord, and the word +which Dr. Sprenger uses for Jews is not the form peculiar to the Koran. + +3 Lest they should desert the worship of the God of Israel. + +4 Ar. Yahia. It may be true that the name in this form had never been given. +Otherwise, we have in this passage a misunderstanding of Luke i. 61, as well +as ignorance of the Jewish Scriptures. Comp. 2 Kings xxv. 23; 1 Chron. iii. +16; Ezra viii. 12; Jerem. xl. 8. Some commentators try to avoid the +difficulty by rendering samiyan, deserving of the name. + +5 Or, with firm resolve. See Sura [xcvii.] iii. 36. The speaker is God. + +6 To an eastern chamber in the temple to pray. Or it may mean, to some place +eastward from Jerusalem, or from the house of her parents. + +7 Thus the Protev. Jac. c. 12 says that Mary, although at a later period, +[greek text] But Wahl, she laid aside her veil. + +8 Gabriel. + +9 See Sura [lxxxix.] vi. 9. + +10 It is quite clear from this passage, and from verse 36, that Muhammad +believed Jesus to have been conceived by an act of the divine will. Comp. +Sura [xcvii.] iii. 52; see also note at Sura [xci.] ii. 81. + +11 Or, the throes urged her to the trunk of, etc. + +12 This was either the Infant which spoke as soon as born, or Gabriel. Comp. +Thilo Cod. Apoc. 136-139 on this passage. Beidhawi explains: from behind the +palm tree. + +13 See Thilo Cod. Apoc. N. T. p. 138, and the Hist. Nat. Mar. c. 20, which +connects similar incidents with the flight into Egypt. Thus also Latona, +[greek text], Call. H. in Apoll. and [greek text], H. in Delum. + +14 Or, settle, calm thine eye, refresh thine eye. The birth of a son is still +called korrat ol ain. + +15 The anachronism is probably only apparent. See Sura iii. 1, n. Muhammad +may have supposed that this Aaron (or Harun) was the son of Imran and Anna. +Or, if Aaron the brother of Moses be meant Mary may be called his sister, +either because she was of the Levitical race, or by way of comparison. + +16 See Sura [cxiv.] v. 109. + +17 From the change in the rhyme, and from the more polemical tone of the +following five verses, it may be inferred that they were added at a somewhat +later period. + +18 The title Nabi, prophet, is used of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as +depositaries of the worship of the one true God, but with a mission +restricted to their own families; whereas Houd, Saleh, Shoaib, etc., are +designated as (Resoul) apostles and envoys, charged with a more extended +mission to the tribes of Arabia. In Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, etc., are +united the office and gift both of prophet (nabi) and apostle (resoul). + +19 Made them to be highly praised. Beidh. + +20 Enoch. Beidhawi derives the name Edris from the Ar. darasa, to search out, +with reference to his knowledge of divine mysteries. The Heb. Enoch, in like +manner, means initiated. + +21 Comp. Gen. v. 24, and the tract Derek Erez in Midr. Jalkut, c. 42, where +Enoch is reckoned among the nine according to other Talmudists, thirteen +(Schroeder's Talm. und Rabb. Judenthum)–individuals who were exempted from +death and taken straight to Paradise. It should be observed that both here +and Sura xxi. 85, Edris is named after Ismael. + +22 Maracci and Beidhawi, in absentid. Sale, as an object of faith. Beidhawi +ad f. in reward for their secret faith. Ullmann für die verborgene Zukunft. + +23 This verse is to be understood as an answer on the part of Gabriel to +Muhammad's complaints of the long intervals between the revelations. + +24 The idolaters called their deities Gods, but as Polytheists were unused to +the singular Allah, God. + +25 Even the pious on their way to Paradise are to pass the confines of Hell. + +26 The Koreisch, or the Muslims. + +27 Or, glory, strength. + +28 To call down judgments upon them. + +29 As ambassadors come into the presence of a prince. Sale. This is implied +in the original. + + +SURA XXXVIII.–SAD [LIX.] + +MECCA.–88 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +SAD.1 By the Koran full of warning! In sooth the Infidels are absorbed in +pride, in contention with thee. + +How many generations have we destroyed before them! And they cried for mercy +but no time was it of escape! + +And they marvel that a warner from among themselves hath come to them; and +the Infidels say, "This is a sorcerer, a liar: + +Maketh he the gods to be but one god? A strange thing forsooth is this!" + +And their chiefs took themselves off. "Go, said they, and cleave steadfastly2 +to your gods. Ye see the thing aimed at. + +We heard not of this in the previous creed.3 It is but an imposture: + +To him alone of us all hath a book of warning been sent down?" Yes! they are +in doubt as to my warnings, for they have not yet tasted my vengeance. + +Are the treasures of the mercy of thy Lord, the Mighty, the bounteous, in +their hands? + +Is the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth and of all that is between +them theirs? Then let them mount up by cords! + +Any army of the confederates4 shall here be routed. + +Before them the people of Noah and Ad and Pharaoh the impaler5 treated their +prophets as impostors; + +And Themoud, and the people of Lot, and the dwellers in the forest: these +were the confederates. + +Nought did they all but charge the apostles with falsehood: Just, therefore, +the retribution. + +And these (Meccans) await but one single trumpet blast–There shall be no +delaying it– + +Yet they dare to say, "O our Lord! hasten our lot to us, before the day of +reckoning." + +Put thou up with what they say: and remember our servant David, a man strong +of hand6, one who turned him to Us in penitence: + +We constrained the mountains7 to join with him in lauds at even and at +sunrise; + +And the birds which flocked to him, and would all return to him oft; + +And we stablished his kingdom: and wisdom, and skill to pronounce clear +decisions, did we bestow on him. + +Hath the story of the two pleaders8 reached thee, O Muhammad, when they +mounted the walls of his closet? + +When they entered in upon David, and he was frightened at them, they said, +"Be not afraid; we are two opposing parties: one of us hath wronged the +other. Judge therefore with truth between us, and be not unjust, but guide us +to the right way. + +Now this my brother had ninety and nine ewes, and I had but a single ewe; and +he said, make me her keeper. And he over-persuaded me in the dispute." + +He said, "Certainly he hath wronged thee in asking for thine ewe to add her +to his own ewes: and truly many associates do one another wrong–except those +who believe and do the things that are right; and few indeed are they!" And +David perceived that we had tried him; so he asked pardon of his Lord, and +fell down and bowed himself and repented. + +So we forgave him that his sin; and truly he shall have a high rank with Us, +and an excellent retreat in Paradise. + +O David! verily we have made thee our vicegerent upon earth. Judge therefore +between men with truth, and follow not thy passions, lest they cause thee to +err from the way of God. For they who err from the way of God shall meet with +a grievous chastisement, for that they have forgotten the day of reckoning. + +We have not created the heaven and the earth and what is between them for +nought. That is the thought of infidels; but woe to the infidels because of +the fire! + +Shall we treat those who believe and do the things that are right like those +who propagate evil on earth? Shall we treat the God-fearing like the impious? + +A blessed Book9 have we sent down to thee, that men may meditate its verses, +and that those endued with understanding may bear it in mind. + +And Solomon gave we unto David. An excellent servant, for he loved to turn +him Godward. + +Remember when at eventide the prancing10 chargers were displayed before him, + +And he said, "Truly I have loved the love of earthly goods above the +remembrance of my Lord, till the sun hath been hidden by the veil of +darkness.11 + +Bring them back to me." And he began to sever the legs and necks. + +We also made trial of Solomon, and placed a phantom12 on his throne: +whereupon he returned to Us (in penitence). + +He said, O my Lord! pardon me, and give me a dominion that may not be to any +one beside me, for thou art the liberal giver. + +So we subjected the wind to him; it ran softly at his bidding, whithersoever +he directed it: + +And the Satans–every builder and diver– + +And others bound in chains:13 + +"This," said we, "is our gift: be bounteous then, or withhold thy favours; no +account shalt thou render." + +And his rank also is high with Us, and an excellent retreat. + +And remember our servant Job when he cried to his Lord, "Verily, Satan hath +laid on me disease and pain." + +"Stamp," said we, "with thy foot. This14 is to wash with; cool, and to +drink." + +And we gave him back his family, and as many more with them in our mercy; and +for a monition to men of judgment. + +And we said, "Take in thine hand a rod, and strike15 with it, nor break thine +oath." Verily, we found him patient! + +How excellent a servant, one who turned to Us was he! + +And remember our servants Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, men of might and +vision.16 + +With this cleansing did we cleanse them the remembrance of the abode of +Paradise. + +And verily, they were, in our sight, of the elect and of the good. + +And remember Ishmael and Elisha and Dhoulkefl, for all these were of the +just. + +This is a monition: and verily, the pious shall have a goodly retreat: + +Gardens of Eden, whose portals shall stand open to them: + +Therein reclining, they shall there call for many a fruit and drink: + +And with them shall be virgins of their own age, with modest retiring +glances: + +"This is what ye were promised at the day of reckoning." + +"Yes! this is our provision: it shall never fail." + +Even so. But for the evil doers is a wretched home– + +Hell–wherein they shall be burned: how wretched a bed! + +Even so. Let them then taste it–boiling water and gore, + +And other things of kindred sort! + +To their leaders it shall be said, "This company shall be thrown in headlong +with you. No greetings shall await them, for they shall be burned in the +fire." + +They shall say: "But ye, too! there shall be no welcome for you. It was ye +who prepared this for us, and wretched is the abode!" + +They will say: "O our Lord! increase twofold in the fire, the punishment of +him who hath brought this upon us." + +And they will say: "Why see we not the men whom we numbered among the wicked– + +Whom we used to treat with scorn? Have they escaped our eyes?"17 + +Verily this is truth–the wrangling together of the people of the fire. + +SAY: I am but a warner; and there is no God but God the One, the Almighty! + +Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth, and of all that is between them,18 the +Potent, the Forgiving! + +SAY: this is a weighty message,19 + +From which ye turn aside! + +Yet had I no knowledge of what passed among the celestial chiefs when they +disputed,20 + +–Verily, it hath been revealed to me only because I am a public preacher– + +When thy Lord said to the angels, "I am about to make man of clay,21 + +And when I have formed him and breathed my spirit into him, then worshipping +fall down before him." + +And the angels prostrated themselves, all of them with one accord, + +Save Eblis. He swelled with pride, and became an unbeliever. + +"O Eblis," said God, "what hindereth thee from prostrating thyself before him +whom my hands have made? + +Is it that thou are puffed up with pride? or art thou a being of lofty +merit?" + +He said: "I am more excellent than he; me hast thou created of fire:22 of +clay hast thou created him." + +He said: "Begone then hence: thou art accursed,23 + +And lo! my ban shall be on thee till the day of the reckoning." + +He said: "O my Lord! respite me till the day of Resurrection." + +He said, "One then of the respited shalt thou be, + +Till the day of the time appointed." + +He said: "I swear by thy might then that all of them will I seduce, + +Save thy sincere servants among them." + +He said: "It is truth, and the truth I speak. From thee will I surely fill +Hell, and with such of them as shall follow thee, one and all. + +Say: I ask no wage of you for this, nor am I one who intermeddleth. + +Of a truth the Koran is no other than a warning to all creatures. + +And after a time shall ye surely know its message. + + +_______________________ + +1 The letter S. See Sura lxviii. p. 32. + +2 These verses are said to have been revealed when, upon the conversion of +Omar, the Koreisch went in a body to Abu Talib and requested him to withdraw +his protection from Muhammad, but being put to silence by the latter, +departed in great confusion. Wah. Beidh. + +3 That is, in the Christian religion, which teaches, Muhammad ironically +implies, a plurality of Gods. + +4 This may allude to the so-called "confederacy" of the Koreisch against +Muhammad. + +5 This term is also applied to Pharaoh, Sura lxxxix. 9, p. 54. He is said to +have fastened the Israelites to stakes, and then subjected them to various +torments. + +addenda: This is the usual interpretation. Lit. Lord of, or, possessor of +stakes (comp. li. 39 in Ar.), i.e., Forces. Dr. Sprenger ingenuously +suggests that Muhammad’s Jewish informant may have described Pharaoh as rich +in neçyb, i.e., fortresses; whereas, in Ar., naçyb, means an erection, +pillar, etc., for which Muhammad substituted the word for tent stakes. Vol. +i. (470). + +6 Prćditi (manibus) virtute. Mar. + +7 Comp. Ps. cxlviii. 9, 10. + +8 Two angels who pretended to appeal to David in order to convince him of his +sin in the matter of Uriah's wife. Comp. I Sam. xii. + +9 The Psalms, if we suppose with Nöldeke, p. 99, that David is still +addressed: the Koran, if with Sale we refer the passage to Muhammad. + +10 The Commentators say that the word used in the original implies that the +mares stood on three feet, and touched the ground with the edge of the fourth +foot. + +11 Solomon, in his admiration of these horses, the result, we are told, of +David's or his own conquests, forgot the hour of evening prayer, and when +aware of his fault commenced their slaughter. The Tr. Sanhedr. fol. 21, +mentions Solomon's love for horses, and that he determined to have a large +stud; yet not to send the people to Egypt (Deut. xvii. 16) but to have them +brought to him out of Egypt (I Kings x. 28). + +12 One of the Djinn. The absurd fiction may be seen in extenso in Sale. +Compare Tr. Sanhedr. fol. 20, b. and Midr. Jalkut on I Kings vi. § 182. + +13 Thus the second Targum on Esther i. 2, mentions the four different kinds +of Demons which were "given into the hand" of Solomon–a legend derived from a +misunderstanding of Eccl. ii. 8. + +14 The fountain which had sprung up. To this history the Talmudists have no +allusion. + +15 Thy wife;–on whom he had sworn that he would inflict an hundred blows, +because she had absented herself from him when in need of her assistance, or +for her words (Job ii. 9). The oath was kept, we are told, by his giving her +one blow with a rod of a hundred stalks. This passage is often quoted by the +Muslims as authorising any similar manner of release from an oath +inconsiderately taken. + +16 Lit. men of hand and of sight. + +17 Lit. or do our eyes wander from them. + +18 See verses 9, 26, above. It seems to have been one of the peculiarities of +Muhammad, as a person very deficient in imagination, to dwell upon and repeat +the same ideas, with an intensity which is at once an evidence of deep +personal conviction and consciousness, of the simple Arabian especially. + +19 The connection between the concluding episode and the preceding part of +the Sura does not seem very clear. It probably originated at a different but +uncertain period. + +20 About the creation of man. + +21 Comp. Sura [xci.] ii. 28, ff. + +22 Comp. Ps. civ. 4. + +23 Lit. stoned. See Sura xv. 34, p. 114. + + +SURA XXXVI.–YA. SIN [LX.] + +MECCA.–83 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +YA. SIN.1 By the wise Koran! + +Surely of the Sent Ones, Thou, + +Upon a right path! + +A revelation of the Mighty, the Merciful, + +That thou shouldest warn a people whose fathers were not warned and therefore +lived in heedlessness! + +Just, now, is our sentence2 against most of them; therefore they shall not +believe. + +On their necks have we placed chains which reach the chin, and forced up are +their heads: + +Before them have we set a barrier and behind them a barrier, and we have +shrouded them in a veil, so that they shall not see. + +Alike is it to them if thou warn them or warn them not: they will not +believe. + +Him only shalt thou really warn, who followeth the monition and feareth the +God of mercy in secret: him cheer with tidings of pardon, and of a noble +recompense. + +Verily, it is We who will quicken the dead, and write down the works which +they have sent on before them, and the traces which they shall have left +behind them: and everything have we set down in the clear Book of our +decrees.3 + +Set forth to them the instance of the people of the city4 when the Sent Ones +came to it. + +When we sent two unto them and they charged them both with imposture– +therefore with a third we strengthened them: and they said, "Verily we are +the Sent unto you of God." + +They said, "Ye are only men like us: Nought hath the God of Mercy sent down. +Ye do nothing but lie." + +They said, "Our Lord knoweth that we are surely sent unto you; + +To proclaim a clear message is our only duty." + +They said, "Of a truth we augur ill from you:5 if ye desist not we will +surely stone you, and a grievous punishment will surely befall you from us." + +They said, "Your augury of ill is with yourselves. Will ye be warned?6 Nay, +ye are an erring people." + +Then from the end of the city a man came running:7 He said, "O my people! +follow the Sent Ones; + +Follow those who ask not of you a recompense, and who are rightly guided. + +And why should I not worship Him who made me, and to whom ye shall be brought +back? + +Shall I take gods beside Him? If the God of Mercy be pleased to afflict me, +their intercession will not avert from me aught, nor will they deliver: + +Truly then should I be in a manifest error. + +Verily, in your Lord have I believed; therefore hear me."8 + +–It was said to him, "Enter thou into Paradise:" And he said, "Oh that my +people knew + +How gracious God hath been to me, and that He hath made me one of His +honoured ones." + +But no army sent we down out of heaven after his death, nor were we then +sending down our angels– + +There was but one shout from Gabriel, and lo! they were extinct. + +Oh! the misery that rests upon my servants! No apostle cometh to them but +they laugh him to scorn. + +See they not how many generations we have destroyed before them? + +Not to false gods is it that they shall be brought9 back, + +But all, gathered together, shall be set before Us. + +Moreover, the dead earth is a sign to them: we quicken it and bring forth the +grain from it, and they eat thereof: + +And we make in it gardens of the date and vine; and we cause springs to gush +forth in it; + +That they may eat of its fruits and of the labour of their hands. Will they +not therefore be thankful? + +Glory be to Him, who hath created all the sexual pairs of such things as +Earth produceth,10 and of mankind themselves; and of things beyond their ken! + +A sign to them also is the Night. We withdraw the day from it, and lo! they +are plunged in darkness; + +And the Sun hasteneth to her place of rest. This, the ordinance of the +Mighty, the Knowing! + +And as for the Moon, We have decreed stations for it, till it change like an +old and crooked palm branch. + +To the Sun it is not given to overtake the Moon, nor doth the night outstrip +the day; but each in its own sphere doth journey on. + +It is also a sign to them that we bare their posterity in the full-laden Ark; + +And that we have made for them vessels like it on which they embark; + +And if we please, we drown them, and there is none to help them, and they are +not rescued, + +Unless through our mercy, and that they may enjoy themselves for yet awhile. + +And when it is said to them, Fear what is before you and what is behind +you,11 that ye may obtain mercy. . . . + +Aye, not one sign from among the signs of their Lord dost thou bring them, +but they turn away from it! + +And when it is said to them, Give alms of what God hath bestowed on you,12 +they who believe not say to the believers, "Shall we feed him whom God can +feed if He will? Truly ye are in no other than a plain error." + +And they say, "When will this promise be fulfilled, if what ye say be true?" + +They await but a single blast: as they are wrangling shall it assail them: + +And not a bequest shall they be able to make, nor to their families shall +they return. + +And the trumpet shall be blown, and, lo! they shall speed out of their +sepulchres to their Lord: + +They shall say, "Oh! woe to us! who hath roused us from our sleeping place? +'Tis what the God of Mercy promised; and the Apostles spake the truth." + +But one blast shall there be,13 and, lo! they shall be assembled before us, +all together. + +And on that day shall no soul be wronged in the least: neither shall ye be +rewarded but as ye shall have wrought. + +But joyous on that day shall be the inmates of Paradise, in their employ; + +In shades, on bridal couches reclining, they and their spouses: + +Therein shall they have fruits, and shall have whatever they require– + +"Peace!" shall be the word on the part of a merciful Lord. + +"But be ye separated this day, O ye sinners! + +Did I not enjoin on you, O sons of Adam, 'Worship not Satan, for that he is +your declared foe,' + +But 'Worship Me: this is a right path'? + +But now hath he led a vast host of you astray. Did ye not then comprehend? + +This is Hell with which ye were threatened: + +Endure its heat this day, for that ye believed not." + +On that day will we set a seal upon their mouths; yet shall their hands speak +unto us, and their feet14 shall bear witness of that which they shall have +done. + +And, if we pleased, we would surely put out their eyes: yet even then would +they speed on with rivalry in their path: but how should they see? + +And, if we pleased, we would surely transform them as they stand,15 and they +would not be able to move onward, or to return. + +Him cause we to stoop through age whose days we lengthen. Will they not +understand? + +We have not taught him (Muhammad) poetry,16 nor would it beseem him. This +Book is no other than a warning and a clear Koran, + +To warn whoever liveth; and, that against the Infidels sentence may be justly +given. + +See they not that we have created for them among the things which our hands +have wrought, the animals of which they are masters? + +And that we have subjected them unto them? And on some they ride, and of +others they eat; + +And they find in them profitable uses and beverages: + +Yet have they taken other gods beside God that they might be helpful to them. + +No power have they to succour them: yet are their votaries an army at their +service. + +Let not their speech grieve thee: We know what they hide and what they bring +to light. + +Doth not man perceive that we have created him of the moist germs of life? +Yet lo! is he an open caviller. + +And he meeteth us with arguments,17 and forgetteth his creation: "Who," saith +he, "shall give life to bones when they are rotten?" + +SAY: He shall give life to them who gave them being at first, for in all +creation is he skilled: + +Who even out of the green tree hath given you fire18, and lo! ye kindle flame +from it. + +What! must not He who hath created the Heavens and the Earth be mighty enough +to create your likes? Yes! and He is the skilful creator. + +His command when He willeth aught, is but to say to it, BE, and IT IS. + +So glory be to Him in whose hand is sway over all things! And to Him shall ye +be brought back. + + +_______________________ + +1 This Sura is said to have been termed by Muhammad "the heart of the Koran." +It is recited in all Muhammadan countries to the dying, at the tombs of +saints, etc. On Ya. Sin, see Sura lxviii. p. 32. + +2 Sura xxxviii. 85, p. 129. + +3 Lit. in the clear prototype, that is, in the Preserved Table, on which all +the actions of mankind are written down. + +4 Antioch, to which Jesus is said to have sent two disciples to preach the +unity of God, and subsequently Simon Peter. This vague story, and that of the +seven sleepers in Sura xviii. are the only traces to be found in the Koran of +any knowledge, on the part of Muhammad, of the history of the Church +subsequent to the day of Pentecost, or of the spread of the Christian +religion. + +5 Comp. Sura xxvii. 48; vii. 128, where, as in this passage, the word augur +refers to the mode of divination practised previous to Islam, by the flight +of birds. + +6 Lit. if ye have been warned (will ye still disbelieve?). + +7 Habib, the carpenter, who, as implied at verse 25, was martyred, and whose +tomb at Antioch is still an object of veneration to the Muhammadans. + +8 Ullm. following Wahl, renders, Als sie (die stadtlente) darauf ihn +schändlich behandleten. The verb in the original is thus used in the 4th +conj. Nöldeke supposes that words to this effect have been lost from the +text. But of this there is no trace in the Commentators. + +9 Or, the Apostles shall not return to them again. Ullm. + +10 For instance, date trees, the female blossoms of which were carefully +impregnated, when requisite, by branches of the male plant. See Freyt. Einl. +p. 271. + +11 The chastisements of this world and of the next. + +12 On account of this precept, Itq. 35, and Omar b. Muhammad suppose the +verse to have originated at Medina. + +13 The Muhammadans affirm that a space of forty years will intervene between +two blasts of the Trumpet. Maracci suggests that the idea of the two blasts +is derived from 1 Thess. iv. 16, "the voice of the archangel and . . . the +trump of God." + +14 Thus Chagiga, 16; Taanith, 11. "The very members of a man bear witness +against him, for thus is it written (Is. xliii. 12), Ye yourselves are my +witnesses, saith the Lord." See also Sura [lxxi.] xli. 19, 20. + +15 Lit. in their place. + +16 See Sura xxvi. 225, p. III. + +17 Lit. he setteth forth to us comparisons. + +18 The form of the Arabic word is Rabbinic Hebrew. + + +SURA XLIII.–ORNAMENTS OF GOLD [LXI.] + +MECCA.–89 Verses. + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +Ha. Mim.1 By the Luminous Book! + +We have made it an Arabic Koran that ye may understand: + +And it is a transcript of the archetypal Book,2 kept by us; it is lofty, +filled with wisdom, + +Shall we then turn aside this warning from you because ye are a people who +transgress? + +Yet how many prophets sent we among those of old! + +But no prophet came to them whom they made not the object of their scorn: + +Wherefore we destroyed nations mightier than these Meccans in strength; and +the example of those of old hath gone before! + +And if thou ask them who created the Heavens and the Earth, they will say: +"The Mighty, the Sage, created them both," + +Who hath made the Earth as a couch for you, and hath traced out routes +therein for your guidance; + +And who sendeth down out of Heaven the rain in due degree, by which we +quicken a dead land; thus shall ye be brought forth from the grave: + +And who hath created the sexual couples, all of them, and hath made for you +the ships and beasts whereon ye ride: + +That ye may sit balanced on their backs and remember the goodness of your +Lord as ye sit so evenly thereon, and say: "Glory to Him who hath subjected +these to us! We could not have attained to it of ourselves: + +And truly unto our Lord shall we return." + +Yet do they assign to him some of his own servants for offspring! Verily man +is an open ingrate! + +Hath God adopted daughters from among those whom he hath created, and chosen +sons for you? + +But when that3 is announced to any one of them, which he affirmeth to be the +case with the God of Mercy,4 his face settleth into darkness and he is +silent-sad. + +What! make they a being to be the offspring of God who is brought up among +trinkets, and is ever contentious without reason? + +And they make the angels who are the servants of God of Mercy, females. What! +did they witness their creation? Their witness shall be taken down, and they +shall hereafter be enquired at. + +And they say: "Had the God of Mercy so willed it we should never have +worshipped them." No knowledge have they in this: they only lie. + +Have we ere this given them a Book?5 and do they possess it still? + +But say they: "Verily we found our fathers of that persuasion, and verily, by +their footsteps do we guide ourselves." + +And thus never before thy time did we send a warner to any city but its +wealthy ones said: "Verily we found our fathers with a religion, and in their +tracks we tread." + +SAY,–such was our command to that apostle–"What! even if I bring you a +religion more right than that ye found your fathers following?" And they +said, "Verily we believe not in your message." + +Wherefore we took vengeance on them, and behold what hath been the end of +those who treated our messengers as liars! + +And bear in mind when Abraham said to his father and to his people, "Verily I +am clear of what ye worship, + +Save Him who hath created me; for he will vouchsafe me guidance." + +And this he established as a doctrine that should abide among his posterity, +that to God might they be turned. + +In sooth to these idolatrous Arabians and to their fathers did I allow their +full enjoyments, till the truth should come to them, and an undoubted +apostle: + +But now that the truth hath come to them, they say, "'Tis sorcery, and we +believe it not." + +And they say, "Had but this Koran been sent down to some great one of the two +cities6 . . .!" + +Are they then the distributors of thy Lord's Mercy?7 It is we who distribute +their subsistence among them in this world's life; and we raise some of them +by grades above others, that the one may take the other to serve him: but +better is the mercy of thy Lord than all their hoards. + +But for fear that all mankind would have become a single people of +unbelievers, verily we would certainly have given to those who believe not in +the God of Mercy roofs of silver to their houses, and silver stairs to ascend +by; + +And doors of silver to their houses, and couches of silver to recline on; + +And ORNAMENTS OF GOLD: for all these are merely the good things of the +present life; but the next life doth thy Lord reserve for those who fear Him. + +And whoso shall withdraw from the Warning of the God of Mercy, we will chain +a Satan to him, and he shall be his fast companion: + +For the Satans will turn men aside from the Way, who yet shall deem +themselves rightly guided; + +Until when man shall come before us, he shall say, "O Satan, would that +between me and thee were the distance of the East and West."8 And a wretched +companion is a Satan. + +But it shall not avail you on that day, because ye were unjust: partners +shall ye be in the torment. + +What! Canst thou then make the deaf to hear, or guide the blind and him who +is in palpable error? + +Whether therefore we take thee off by death, surely will we avenge ourselves +on them; + +Or whether we make thee a witness of the accomplishment of that with which we +threatened them, we will surely gain the mastery over them.9 + +Hold thou fast therefore what hath been revealed to thee, for thou art on a +right path: + +For truly to thee and to thy people it is an admonition; and ye shall have an +account to render for it at last.10 + +And ask our Sent Ones whom we have sent before thee, + +"Appointed we gods beside the God of Mercy whom they should worship?"11 + +Of old sent we Moses with our signs to Pharaoh and his nobles: and he said, +"I truly am the Apostle of the Lord of the worlds." + +And when he presented himself before them with our signs, lo! they laughed at +them, + +Though we shewed them no sign that was not greater than its fellow:12 and +therefore did we lay hold on them with chastisement, to the intent that they +might be turned to God. + +Then they said, "O Magician! call on thy Lord on our behalf to do as he hath +engaged with thee, for truly we would fain be guided." + +But when we relieved them from the chastisement, lo! they broke their pledge. + +And Pharaoh made proclamation among his people. Said he, "O my people! is not +the kingdom of Egypt mine, and these rivers which flow at my feet?13 Do ye +not behold? + +Am I not mightier than this despicable fellow, + +And who scarce can speak distinctly? + +Have bracelets of gold14 then been put upon him, or come there with him a +train of Angels?" + +And he inspired his people with levity, and they obeyed him; for they were a +perverse people: + +And when they had angered us, we took vengeance on them, and we drowned them +all. + +And we made them a precedent and instance of divine judgments to those who +came after them. + +And when the Son of Mary was set forth as an instance of divine power, lo! +thy people cried out for joy thereat: + +And they said, "Are our gods or is he the better?"15 They put this forth to +thee only in the spirit of dispute. Yea, they are a contentious people. + +Jesus is no more than a servant whom we favoured, and proposed as an instance +of divine power to the children of Israel. + +(And if we pleased, we could from yourselves bring forth Angels to succeed +you on earth:)16 + +And he shall be a sign of the last hour;17 doubt not then of it, and follow +ye me: this is the right way; + +And let not Satan turn you aside from it, for he is your manifest foe. + +And when Jesus came with manifest proofs, he said, "Now am I come to you with +wisdom; and a part of those things about which ye are at variance I will +clear up to you; fear ye God therefore and obey me. + +Verily, God is my Lord and your Lord; wherefore worship ye him: this is a +right way." + +But the different parties18 fell into disputes among themselves; but woe to +those who thus transgressed, because of the punishment of an afflictive day! + +For what wait they but for the hour "to come suddenly on them, while they +expect it not?" + +Friends on that day shall become foes to one another, except the God- +fearing:– + +"O my servants! on this day shall no fear come upon you, neither shall ye be +put to grief, + +Who have believed in our signs and become Muslims: + +Enter ye and your wives into Paradise, delighted." + +Dishes and bowls of gold shall go round unto them: there shall they enjoy +whatever their souls desire, and whatever their eyes delight in; and therein +shall ye abide for ever. + +This is Paradise, which ye have received as your heritage in recompense for +your works; + +Therein shall ye have fruits in abundance, of which ye shall eat. + +But in the torment of Hell shall the wicked remain for ever: + +It shall not be mitigated to them, and they shall be mute for despair +therein, + +For it is not we who have treated them unjustly, but it was they who were +unjust to themselves. + +And they shall cry: "O Malec!19 would that thy Lord would make an end of us!" +He saith: "Here must ye remain." + +We have come to you with the truth (O Meccans), but most of you abhor the +truth. + +Have they drawn tight their toils for thee?20 We too will tighten ours. + +Think they that we hear not their secrets and their private talk? Yes, and +our angels who are at their sides write them down. + +SAY: If the God of Mercy had a son, the first would I be to worship him: + +But far be the Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth, the Lord of the Throne, +from that which they impute to Him! + +Wherefore let them alone, to plunge on, and sport, until they meet the day +with which they are menaced. + +He who is God in the Heavens is God in earth also: and He is the Wise, the +Knowing. + +And Blessed be He whose is the kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth and of +all that is between them; for with Him is the knowledge of the Hour, and to +Him shall ye be brought back. + +The gods whom they call upon beside Him shall not be able to intercede for +others: they only shall be able who bore witness to the truth and21 knew it." + +If thou ask them who hath created them, they will be sure to say, "God." How +then hold they false opinions? + +And one22 saith, "O Lord! verily these are people who believe not." + +Turn thou then from them, and say, "Peace:" In the end they shall know their +folly. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura lxviii. I, p. 32. + +2 Lit. it is in the Mother of the Book, i.e. the original of the Koran, +preserved before God. + +3 That is, of the birth of a female. + +4 Lit. which he imputeth to the God of Mercy, as his likeness. + +5 To authorise angel-worship. + +6 Supply, Mecca and Taief, we would have received it. + +7 Lit. mercy, i.e. the gift and office of prophecy. + +8 Lit. the two Easts, by which some understand the distance between the two +solstices. + +9 Comp. Suras xl. 77; xxiii. 97; x. 47; xxix. 53; xxxvii. 179; xiii. 42. +These passages clearly show that Muhammad had at this period–towards the +close of his Meccan period–full faith in his ultimate success, and in the +fulfilment of his menaces against the unbelievers. + +10 Lit. ye shall be examined in the end. + +11 This verse is said (see Nöld. p. 100, n.) to have been revealed in the +temple at Jerusalem on the occasion of the night journey thither. See also +Weil's Muhammed der Prophet, p. 374. + +12 Lit. sister. + +13 See Sura [lxxix.] xxviii. 39, n. + +14 Comp. Gen. xli. 42. + +15 This was a captious objection made to Muhammad by the idolaters of Mecca +when he condemned their gods (Sura xxi. 98), as if they had said, "Jesus is +worshipped as a God by the Christians: does he come under your anathema +equally with our idols? we shall be content for our gods to be with him." + +16 That is, as we caused Jesus to be born without a human father. + +17 At his return to this earth. Some refer this to the Koran as revealing the +last Hour. Lit. He (or It) is for knowledge of the Hour. + +18 Jewish and Christian sects. + +19 Malec is one of the keepers of Hell, who specially presides over the +torments of the damned. + +20 Lit. if they have twisted tight or set firmly the affair, i.e. their plots +against thee and the truth. + +21 Or, and they (the Infidels). The Commentators say that Jesus, Ezra, and +the angels, will be allowed to intercede. + +22 Muhammad. + + +SURA LXXII.–DJINN [LXII.] + +MECCA.–28 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +SAY: It hath been revealed to me that a company of + +DJINN1 listened, and said,–"Verily, we have heard a marvellous discourse +(Koran); + +It guideth to the truth; wherefore we believed in it, and we will not +henceforth join any being with our Lord; + +And He,–may the majesty of our Lord be exalted!–hath taken no spouse neither +hath he any offspring. + +But the foolish among us hath spoken of God that which is unjust: + +And we verily thought that no one amongst men or Djinn would have uttered a +lie against God. + +There are indeed people among men, who have sought for refuge unto people +among Djinn: but they only increased their folly: + +And they thought, as ye think, that God would not raise any from the dead. + +And the Heavens did we essay, but found them filled with a mighty garrison, +and with flaming darts; + +And we sat on some of the seats to listen, but whoever listeneth findeth an +ambush ready for him of flaming darts. + +And truly we know not whether evil be meant for them that are on earth, or +whether their Lord meaneth guidance for them. + +And there are among us good, and others among us of another kind;–we are of +various sorts: + +And verily we thought that no one could weaken God on earth, neither could we +escape from him by flight: + +Wherefore as soon as we had heard 'the guidance' we believed in it; and +whoever believeth in his Lord, need not fear either loss or wrong. + +There are some among us who have resigned themselves to God (the Muslims); +and there are others of us who have gone astray. And whoso resigneth himself +to God pursueth the way of truth; + +But they who go astray from it shall be fuel for Hell." + +Moreover, if they (the Meccans) keep straight on in that way, we will surely +give them to drink of abundant waters, + +That we may prove them thereby: but whoso withdraweth from the remembrance of +his Lord, him will He send into a severe torment. + +It is unto God that the temples are set apart: call not then on any other +therein with God. + +When the servant of God stood up to call upon Him, the djinn almost jostled +him by their crowds. + +SAY: I call only upon my Lord, and I join no other being with Him. + +SAY: No control have I over what may hurt or benefit you. + +SAY: Verily none can protect me against God; + +Neither shall I find any refuge beside Him. + +My sole work is preaching from God, and His message: and for such as shall +rebel against God and his apostle is the fire of Hell! they shall remain +therein alway,–for ever! + +Until they see their threatened vengeance they will be perverse! but then +shall they know which side was the weakest in a protector and the fewest in +number. + +SAY: I know not whether that with which ye are threatened be nigh, or whether +my Lord hath assigned it to a distant day: He knoweth the secret, nor doth He +divulge his secret to any, + +Except to that Apostle who pleaseth Him; and before him and behind him He +maketh a guard to march: + +That He may know if his Apostles have verily delivered the messages of their +Lord: and He embraceth in his knowledge all their ways, and taketh count of +all that concerneth them. + + +_______________________ + +1 This interview with the Djinn took place at Nakhla, probably the "Wady +Mohram" of Burckhardt, midway between Mecca and Ta‹ef, when Muhammad was +driven from Mecca. A.D. 620. + + +SURA LXVII.–THE KINGDOM [LXIII.] + +MECCA.– 30 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +BLESSED be He is whose hand is the KINGDOM! and over all things is He potent: + +Who hath created death and life to prove which of you will be most righteous +in deed; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving! + +Who hath created seven Heavens one above another: No defect canst thou see in +the creation of the God of Mercy: Repeat the gaze: seest thou a single flaw? + +Then twice more repeat the gaze: thy gaze shall return to thee dulled and +weary. + +Moreover we have decked the lowest heaven with lights, and have placed them +there to be hurled at the Satans, for whom we have prepared the torment of +the flaming fire. + +And for those who believe not in their Lord is the torment of Hell; and +horrid the journey thither! + +When they shall be thrown into it, they shall hear it braying:1 and it shall +boil– + +Almost shall it burst for fury. So oft as a crowd shall be thrown into it, +its keepers shall ask them, "Came not the warner to you?" + +They shall say, Yes! there came to us one charged with warnings; but we +treated him as a liar, and said, "Nothing hath God sent down: ye are in +nothing but a vast delusion." + +And they shall say, "Had we but hearkened or understood, we had not been +among the dwellers in the flames;" + +And their sin shall they acknowledge: but, "Avaunt, ye dwellers in the +flame." + +But pardon and a great reward for those who fear their Lord in secret! + +Be your converse hidden or open, He truly knoweth the inmost recess of your +breasts! + +What! shall He not know who hath created? for He is the Subtil,2 the +Cognizant. + +It is He who hath made the earth level for you: traverse then its broad +sides, and eat of what He hath provided.–Unto Him shall be the resurrection. + +What! are ye sure that He who is in Heaven will not cleave the Earth beneath +you? And lo, it shall quake. + +Or are ye sure that He who is in Heaven will not send against you a stone- +charged whirlwind? Then shall ye know what my warning meant! + +And verily, those who flourish before you treated their prophets as liars: +and how grievous my wrath! + +Behold they not the birds over their heads, outstretching and drawing in +their wings? None, save the God of Mercy, upholdeth them: for he regardeth +all things. + +Who is he that can be as an army to you, to succour you, except the God of +Mercy? Truly, the infidels are in the merest delusion. + +Or who is he that will furnish you supplies, if He withhold His supplies? Yet +do they persist in pride and in fleeing from Him! + +Is he who goeth along grovelling on his face, better guided than he who goeth +upright on a straight path? + +SAY: It is He who hath brought you forth, and gifted you with hearing and +sight and heart: yet how few are grateful! + +SAY: It is He who hath sown you in the earth, and to Him shall ye be +gathered. + +And they say, "When shall this threat be put in force, if ye speak the +truth?" + +SAY: Nay truly, this knowledge is with God alone: and I am only an open +warner. + +But when they shall see it nigh, sad shall wax the countenances of the +infidels: and it shall be said, "This is what ye have been calling for." + +SAY: What think ye? Whether God destroy me or not, and those who follow me, +or whether he have mercy on us, yet who will protect the infidels from a +woeful torment? + +SAY: He is the God of Mercy: in Him do we believe, and in Him put we our +trust; and ye shall know hereafter who is in a manifest error. + +SAY: What think ye? If at early morn your waters shall have sunk away, who +then will give you clear running water? + + +_______________________ + +1 Thus Shakespeare uses the word braying of clamours of Hell; and Milton +speaks of braying horrible discord. Comp. Sura xxv. 12-21. + +2 Der alles durchdringt. Ullm.; perspicax. Mar.; sagacious. Sale. The primary +meaning of the Arabic root is to draw near; hence the above signification, in +the sense of God's presence as interpenetrating all things: hence also the +other sense of benign, as in Sura [lxxxiii.] xlii. 18. + + +SURA XXIII.–THE BELIEVERS [LXIV.] + +MECCA.1–118 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +HAPPY now the BELIEVERS, + +Who humble them in their prayer, + +And who keep aloof from vain words,2 + +And who are doers of alms deeds, + +And who restrain their appetites, + +(Save with their wives, or the slaves whom their right hands possess: for in +that case they shall be free from blame: + +But they whose desires reach further than this are transgressors:) + +And who tend well their trusts and their covenants, + +And who keep them strictly to their prayers: + +These shall be the heritors, + +Who shall inherit the paradise, to abide therein for ever. + +Now of fine clay have we created man: + +Then we placed him, a moist germ,3 in a safe abode; + +Then made we the moist germ a clot of blood: then made the clotted blood into +a piece of flesh; then made the piece of flesh into bones: and we clothed the +bones with flesh: then brought forth man of yet another make4–Blessed +therefore be God, the most excellent of Makers5– + +Then after this ye shall surely die: + +Then shall ye be waked up on the day of resurrection. + +And we have created over you seven heavens:6–and we are not careless of the +creation. + +And we send down water from the Heaven in its due degree, and we cause it to +settle on the earth;–and we have power for its withdrawal:– + +And by it we cause gardens of palm trees, and vineyards to spring forth for +you, in which ye have plenteous fruits, and whereof ye eat; + +And the tree that groweth up on Mount Sinai; which yieldeth oil and a juice +for those who eat. + +And there is a lesson for you in the cattle: We give you to drink of what is +in their bellies, and many advantages do ye derive from them, and for food +they serve you; + +And on them and on ships are ye borne. + +We sent Noah heretofore unto his people, and he said, "O my people! serve +God: ye have no other God than He: will ye not therefore fear Him? + +But the chiefs of the people who believed not said, "This is but a man like +yourselves: he fain would raise himself above you: but had it pleased God to +send, He would have sent angels: We heard not of this with our sires of old;– + +Verily he is but a man possessed; leave him alone therefore for a time." + +He said, "O my Lord! help me against their charge of imposture." + +So we revealed unto him, "Make the ark under our eye, and as we have taught, +and when our doom shall come on, and the earth's surface shall boil up,7 + +Carry into it of every kind a pair, and thy family, save him on whom sentence +hath already passed: and plead not with me for the wicked, for they shall be +drowned. + +And when thou, and they who shall be with thee, shall go up into the ark; +say, 'Praise be unto God, who hath rescued us from the wicked folk.' + +And say, 'O my Lord! disembark me with a blessed disembarking: for thou art +the best to disembark."' + +Verily in this were signs, and verily we made proof of man. + +We then raised up other generations after them; + +And we sent among them an apostle from out themselves, with, "Worship ye God! +ye have no other God than He: will ye not therefore fear Him?" + +And the chiefs of His people who believed not, and who deemed the meeting +with us in the life to come to be a lie, and whom we had richly supplied in +this present life, said, "This is but a man like yourselves; he eateth of +what ye eat, + +And he drinketh of what ye drink: + +And if ye obey a man like yourselves, then ye will surely be undone. + +What! doth he foretell you, that after ye shall be dead and become dust and +bones, ye shall be brought forth? + +Away, away with his predictions! + +There is no life beyond our present life; we die, and we live, and we shall +not be quickened again! + +This is merely a man who forgeth a lie about God: and we will not believe +him." + +He said, "O my Lord! help me against this charge of imposture." + +He said, "Yet a little, and they will soon repent them!" + +Then did the shout of the destroying angel in justice surprise them, we made +them like leaves swept down by a torrent. Away then with the wicked people! + +Then raised we up other generations after them– + +Neither too soon, nor too late, shall a people reach its appointed time– + +Then sent we our apostles one after another. Oft as their apostle presented +himself to a nation, they treated him as a liar; and we caused one nation to +follow another; and we made them the burden of a tale. Away then with the +people who believe not! + +Then sent we Moses and his brother Aaron, with our signs and manifest power, + +To Pharaoh and his princes; but they behaved them proudly, for they were a +haughty people. + +And they said, "Shall we believe on two men like ourselves, whose people are +our slaves?" + +And they treated them both as impostors; wherefore they became of the +destroyed. + +And we gave Moses the Book for Israel's guidance. + +And we appointed the Son of Mary, and His mother for a sign; and we prepared +an abode for both in a lofty spot,8 quiet, and watered with springs. + +"O ye apostles! eat of things that are good: and do that which is right: of +your doings I am cognisant. + +And truly this your religion is the one religion;9 and I am your Lord: +therefore fear me." + +But men have rent their great concern, one among another, into sects; every +party rejoicing in that which is their own; + +Wherefore leave them till a certain time, in their depths of error. + +What! think they that what we largely, bestow on them of wealth and children, + +We hasten to them for their good? Nay, they have no knowledge. + +But they who are awed with the dread of their Lord, + +And who believe in the signs of their Lord, + +And who join no other gods with their Lord, + +And who give that which they give with hearts thrilled with dread because +they must return unto their Lord, + +These hasten after good, and are the first to win it. + +We will not burden a soul beyond its power: and with us is a book, which +speaketh the truth; and they shall not be wronged: + +But as to this Book, their hearts are plunged in error, and their works are +far other than those of Muslims, and they will work those works, + +Until when we lay hold on their affluent ones with punishment; lo! they cry +for help: + +–"Cry not for help this day, for by Us ye shall not be succoured: + +Long since were my signs rehearsed to you, but ye turned back on your heels, + +Puffed up with pride, discoursing foolishly by night." + +Do they not then heed the things spoken–whether that hath come to them which +came not to their fathers of old? + +Or do they not recognise their apostle; and therefore disavow him? + +Or say they, "A Djinn is in him?" Nay! he hath come to them with the truth; +but the truth do most of them abhor. + +But if the truth had followed in the train of their desires, the heavens and +the earth, and all that therein is, had surely come to ruin! But we have +brought them their warning; and from their warning they withdraw. + +Dost thou ask them for remuneration? But, remuneration from thy Lord is best; +and He is the best provider. + +And thou indeed biddest them to the right path; + +But verily they who believe not in the life to come, from that path do surely +wander! + +And if we had taken compassion on them, and relieved them from their trouble, +they would have plunged on in their wickedness, wildly wandering.10 + +We formerly laid hold on them with chastisement, yet they did not humble them +to their Lord, nor did they abase them; + +Until, when we have opened upon them the door of a severe punishment, lo! +they are in despair at it. + +It is He who hath implanted in you hearing, and sight, and heart; how few of +you give thanks! + +It is He who hath caused you to be born on the earth: and unto Him shall ye +be gathered. + +And it is He who maketh alive and killeth, and of Him is the change of the +night and of the day: Will ye not understand? + +But they say, as said those of old:– + +They say,"What! When we shall be dead, and have become dust and bones, shall +we, indeed, be waked to life? + +This have we been promised, we and our fathers aforetime: but it is only +fables of the ancients." + +SAY: Whose is the earth, and all that is therein;–if ye know? + +They will answer, "God's." SAY: Will ye not, then reflect? + +SAY: Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the glorious +throne? + +They will say, "They are God's". SAY: Will ye not, then, fear Him? + +SAY: In whose hand is the empire of all things, who protecteth but is not +protected? if ye know: + +They will answer, "In God's." SAY: How, then, can ye be so spell-bound? + +Yea, we have brought them the truth; but they are surely liars: + +God hath not begotten offspring; neither is there any other God with Him: +else had each god assuredly taken away that which he had created,11 and some +had assuredly uplifted themselves above others! Far from the glory of God, be +what they affirm of Him! + +He knoweth alike the unseen and the seen: far be He uplifted above the gods +whom they associate with Him! + +SAY: O my Lord! If thou wilt let me witness the infliction of that with which +they have been threatened! + +O my Lord! place me not among the ungodly people. + +Verily, we are well able to make thee see the punishment with which we have +threatened them. + +Turn aside evil with that which is better: we best know what they utter +against thee. + +And SAY: "O my Lord! I betake me to Thee, against the promptings of the +Satans: + +And I betake me to Thee, O my Lord! that they gain no hurtful access to me." + +When death overtaketh one of the wicked, he saith, "Lord, send me back again, + +That I may do the good which I have left undone."12 "By no means." These are +the very words which he shall speak: + +But behind them shall be a barrier, until the day when they shall be raised +again. + +And when the trumpet shall be sounded, the ties of kindred between them shall +cease on that day; neither shall they ask each other's help. + +They whose balances shall be heavy, shall be the blest. + +But they whose balances shall be light,–these are they who shall lose their +souls, abiding in hell for ever: + +The fire shall scorch their faces, and their lips shall quiver therein:– + +–"What! Were not my signs rehearsed unto you? and did ye not treat them as +lies?" + +They shall say, "O our Lord! our ill-fortune prevailed against us, and we +became an erring people. + +O our Lord! Bring us forth hence: if we go back again to our sins, we shall +indeed be evil doers." + +He will say; "Be ye driven down into it; and, address me not." + +A part truly of my servants was there, who said, "O our Lord! we believe: +forgive us, then, and be merciful to us, for of the merciful art thou the +best." + +But ye received them with such scoffs that they suffered you to forget my +warning, and ye laughed them to scorn. + +Verily this day will I reward then, for their patient endurance: the blissful +ones shall they be! + +He will say, "What number of years tarried ye on earth?" + +They will say, "We tarried a day, or part of a day;13 but ask the recording +angels."14 + +God will say, "Short indeed was the time ye tarried, if that ye knew it. + +What! Did ye then think that we had created you for pastime, and that ye +should not be brought back again to us?" Wherefore let God be exalted, the +King, the Truth! There is no god but He! Lord of the stately throne! And +whoso, together with God, shall call on another god, for whom he hath no +proof, shall surely have to give account to his Lord. Aye, it shall fare ill +with the infidels. + +And SAY: "O my Lord, pardon, and have mercy; for of those who show mercy, art +thou the best." + + +_______________________ + +1 This Sura is said by Wahidi Intr, and by Assuyűti, 55, to be the last +Meccan revelation. But there seems to be no reason for this opinion. + +2 In prayer. Eccl. v. I; Matt. vi. 7. But it may be understood of idle talk +generally. + +3 See Sura xxii. 5, n. + +4 That is, a perfect man at last, composed of soul and body. The verb halaka, +to create, is used throughout, for which I have necessarily substituted to +make, in order to retain the same word throughout the verse. + +5 These words are said by most commentators on Sura vi. 93, to have been +uttered by Muhammad's scribe, Abdallah, on hearing the previous part of this +verse, and to have been adopted by the prophet, at the same moment, as +identical with his own inspirations. + +6 Lit. seven paths–a Talmudic expression. + +7 See Sura [lxxv.] xi. 42, n. + +8 Comp. Sura xix. 22 ff., p. 119. Wahl understands this passage of Paradise. + +9 Comp. Sura xxi. 92, p. 157. + +10 There is no reliable tradition as to the nature of the visitation here +alluded to. + +11 That is, each would have formed a separate and independent kingdom. + +12 Or, in the (world) which I have left. + +13 That is, our past life seems brevity itself in comparison with eternal +torment. + +14 Lit. those who number, or keep account, i.e. our torments distract us too +much to allow us to compute. + + +SURA XXI.–THE PROPHETS [LXV.] + +MECCA.–112 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +THIS people's reckoning hath drawn nigh, yet, sunk in carelessness, they turn +aside. + +Every fresh warning that cometh to them from their Lord they only hear to +mock it,– + +Their hearts set on lusts: and they who have done this wrong say in secret +discourse, "Is He more than a man like yourselves? What! will ye, with your +eyes open,1 accede to sorcery?" + +SAY: "My Lord knoweth what is spoken in the heaven and on the earth: He is +the Hearer, the Knower." + +"Nay," say they, "it is the medley of dreams: nay, he hath forged it: nay, he +is a poet: let him come to us with a sign as the prophets of old were sent." + +Before their time, none of the cities which we have destroyed, believed: will +these men, then, believe? + +And we sent none, previous to thee, but men to whom we had revealed +ourselves. Ask ye the people who are warned by Scriptures,2 if ye know it +not. + +We gave them not bodies which could dispense with food: and they were not to +live for ever. + +Then made we good our promise to them; and we delivered them and whom we +pleased, and we destroyed the transgressors. + +And now have we sent down to you "the book," in which is your warning: What, +will ye not then understand? + +And how many a guilty city have we broken down, and raised up after it other +peoples: + +And when they felt our vengeance, lo! they fled from it. + +"Flee not," said the angels in mockery, "but come back to that wherein ye +revelled, and to your abodes! Questions will haply be put to you." + +They said, "Oh, woe to us! Verily we have been evil doers." + +And this ceased not to be their cry, until we made them like reaped corn, +extinct. + +We created not the heaven and the earth, and what is between them, for sport: + +Had it been our wish to find a pastime, we had surely found it in ourselves;– +if to do so had been our will. + +Nay, we will hurl the truth at falsehood, and it shall smite it, and lo! it +shall vanish. But woe be to you for what ye utter of God! + +All beings in the heaven and on the earth are His: and they who are in his +presence disdain not his service, neither are they wearied: + +They praise Him night and day: they rest not.3 + +Have they taken gods from the earth who can quicken the dead? + +Had there been in either heaven or earth gods besides God, both surely had +gone to ruin. But glory be to God, the Lord of the throne, beyond what they +utter! + +He shall not be asked of his doings, but they shall be asked. + +Have they taken other gods beside Him? SAY; Bring forth your proofs that they +are gods. This is the warning of those who are with me, and the warning of +those who were before me: but most of them know not the truth, and turn +aside. + +No apostle have we sent before thee to whom we did not reveal that "Verily +there is no God beside me: therefore worship me." + +Yet they say, "The God of Mercy hath begotten issue from the angels." Glory +be to Him! Nay, they are but His honoured servants: + +They speak not till He hath spoken;4 and they do His bidding. + +He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them; and no plea shall +they offer + +Save for whom He pleaseth; and they tremble for fear of Him. + +And that angel among them who saith "I am a god beside Him," will we +recompense with hell: in such sort will we recompense the offenders. + +Do not the infidels see that the heavens and the earth were both a solid +mass, and that we clave them asunder, and that by means of water we give life +to everything? Will they not then believe? + +And we set mountains on the earth lest it should move with them, and we made +on it broad passages between them as routes for their guidance; + +And we made the heaven a roof strongly upholden; yet turn they away from its +signs. + +And He it is who hath created the night and the day, and the sun and the +moon, each moving swiftly in its sphere. + +At no time5 have we granted to man a life that shall last for ever: if thou +then die, shall they live for ever? + +Every soul shall taste of death:6 and for trial will we prove you with evil +and with good; and unto Us shall ye be brought back. + +And when the infidels see thee they receive thee only with scoffs:–"What! is +this he who maketh such mention of your gods?" Yet when mention is made to +them of the God of Mercy, they believe not. + +"Man," say they, "is made up of haste."7 But I will shew you my signs:8 +desire them not then to be hastened. + +They say, "When will this threat be made good? Tell us, if ye be men of +truth?" + +Did the infidels but know the time when they shall not be able to keep the +fire of hell from their faces or from their backs, neither shall they be +helped! + +But it shall come on them suddenly and shall confound them; and they shall +not be able to put it back, neither shall they be respited. + +Other apostles have been scoffed at before thee: but that doom at which they +mocked encompassed the scoffers. + +SAY: Who shall protect you by night and by day from the God of Mercy? Yet +turn they away from the warning of their Lord. + +Have they gods beside Us who can defend them? For their own succour have they +no power; neither shall the gods they join with God screen them from Us. + +Yes! we have given these men and their fathers enjoyments so long as their +life lasted. What! see they not that we come to a land and straiten its +borders9 Is it they who are the conquerors? + +SAY: I only warn you of what hath been revealed to me: but the deaf will not +hear the call, whenever they are warned; + +Yet if a breath of thy Lord's chastisement touch them, they will assuredly +say, "Oh! woe to us! we have indeed been offenders." + +Just balances will we set up for the day of the resurrection, neither shall +any soul be wronged in aught; though, were a work but the weight of a grain +of mustard seed, we would bring it forth to be weighed: and our reckoning +will suffice. + +We gave of old to Moses and Aaron the illumination,10 and a light and a +warning for the God-fearing, + +Who dread their Lord in secret, and who tremble for "the Hour." + +And this Koran which we have sent down is a blessed warning: will ye then +disown it? + +Of old we gave unto Abraham his direction,11 for we knew him worthy. + +When he said to his Father and to his people, "What are these images to which +ye are devoted?" + +They said, "We found our fathers worshipping them." + +He said, "Truly ye and your fathers have been in a plain mistake." + +They said, "Hast thou come unto us in earnest? or art thou of those who +jest?" + +He said, "Nay, your Lord is Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth, who hath +created them both; and to this am I one of those who witness: + +–And, by God, I will certainly lay a plot against your idols, after ye shall +have retired and turned your backs." + +So, he broke them all in pieces, except the chief of them, that to it they +might return, inquiring. + +They said, "Who hath done this to our gods? Verily he is one of the unjust." + +They said, "We heard a youth make mention of them: they call him Abraham." + +They said, "Then bring him before the people's eyes, that they may witness +against him." + +They said, "Hast thou done this to our gods, O Abraham?" + +He said, "Nay, that their chief hath done it: but ask ye them, if they can +speak." + +So they turned their thoughts upon themselves, and said, "Ye truly are the +impious persons:" + +Then became headstrong in their former error12 and exclaimed,"Thou knowest +that these speak not." + +He said, "What! do ye then worship, instead of God, that which doth not +profit you at all, nor injure you? Fie on you and on that ye worship instead +of God! What! do ye not then understand?" + +They said:13 "Burn him, and come to the succour of your gods: if ye will do +anything at all." + +We said, "O fire! be thou cold, and to Abraham a safety!"14 + +And they sought to lay a plot against him, but we made them the sufferers. + +And we brought him and Lot in safety to the land which we have blessed for +all human beings: + +And we gave him Isaac and Jacob as a farther gift, and we made all of them +righteous: + +We also made them models who should guide others by our command, and we +inspired them with good deeds and constancy in prayer and almsgiving, and +they worshipped us. + +And unto Lot we gave wisdom, and knowledge; and we rescued him from the city +which wrought filthiness; for they were a people, evil, perverse: + +And we caused him to enter into our mercy, for he was of the righteous. + +And remember Noah when aforetime he cried to us and we heard him, and +delivered him and his family from the great calamity; + +And we helped him against the people who treated our signs as impostures. An +evil people verily were they, and we drowned them all. + +And David and Solomon; when they gave judgment concerning a field when some +people's sheep had caused a waste therein; and we were witnesses of their +judgment. + +And we gave Solomon insight into the affair; and on both of them we bestowed +wisdom and knowledge. And we constrained the mountains and the birds to join +with David in our praise: Our doing was it! + +And we taught David the art of making mail15 for you, to defend you from each +other's violence: will ye therefore be thankful? + +And to Solomon we subjected we subjected the strongly blowing wind; it sped +at his bidding to the land we had blessed; for we know all things: + +And sundry Satans16 who should dive for him and perform other work beside: +and we kept watch over them. + +And remember Job: When he cried to his Lord, "Truly evil hath touched me: but +thou art the most merciful of those who shew mercy." + +So we heard him, and lightened the burden of his woe; and we gave him back +his family, and as many more with them,–a mercy from us, and a memorial for +those who serve us: + +And Ismael, and Edris17 and Dhoulkefl18–all steadfast in patience. + +And we caused them to enter into our mercy; for they were of the righteous: + +And Dhoulnoun;19 when he went on his way in anger, and thought that we had no +power over him. But in the darkness he cried "There is no God but thou: Glory +be unto Thee! Verily, I have been one of the evil doers:" + +So we heard him and rescued him from misery: for thus rescue we the faithful: + +And Zacharias; when he called upon his Lord saying, "O my Lord, leave me not +childless: but there is no better heir than Thyself."20 + +So we heard him, and gave him John, and we made his wife fit for child- +bearing. Verily, these vied in goodness, and called upon us with love and +fear, and humbled themselves before us: + +And her who kept her maidenhood, and into whom21 we breathed of our spirit, +and made her and her son a sign to all creatures. + +Of a truth, this, your religion, is the one22 Religion, and I your Lord; +therefore serve me: + +But they have rent asunder this their great concern among themselves into +sects. All of them shall return to us. + +And whoso shall do the things that are right, and be a believer, his efforts +shall not be disowned: and surely will we write them down for him. + +There is a ban on every city which we shall have destroyed, that they shall +not rise again, + +Until a way is opened for Gog and Magog,23 and they shall hasten from every +high land, + +And this sure promise shall draw on. And lo! the eyes of the infidels shall +stare amazedly; and they shall say, "Oh, our misery! of this were we +careless! yea, we were impious persons." + +Verily, ye, and what ye worship beside God,24 shall be fuel for hell: ye +shall go down into it. + +Were these gods, they would not go down into it; but they shall all abide in +it for ever. + +Therein shall they groan; but nought therein shall they hear to comfort them. + +But they for whom we have before ordained good things, shall be far away from +it: + +Its slightest sound they shall not hear: in what their souls longed for, they +shall abide for ever: + +The great terror shall not trouble them; and the angel shall meet them with, +"This is your day which ye were promised." + +On that day we will roll up the heaven as one rolleth up25 written scrolls. +As we made the first creation, so will we bring it forth again. This promise +bindeth us; verily, we will perform it. + +And now, since the Law was given, have we written in the Psalms that "my +servants, the righteous, shall inherit the earth."26 + +Verily, in this Koran is teaching for those who serve God. + +We have not sent thee otherwise than as mercy unto all creatures. + +SAY: Verily it hath been revealed to me that your God is one God; are ye then +resigned to Him? (Muslims.) + +But if they turn their backs, then SAY: I have warned you all alike; but I +know not whether that with which ye are threatened be nigh or distant. + +God truly knoweth what is spoken aloud, and He also knoweth that which ye +hide. + +And I know not whether haply this delay be not for your trial, and that ye +may enjoy yourselves for a time. + +My Lord saith: Judge ye with truth; for our Lord is the God of Mercy–whose +help is to be sought against what ye utter. + + +_______________________ + +1 Lit. while ye see it to be such. + +2 Lit. the people or family of the admonition. Itq. 34 considers this verse +to have been revealed at Medina. + +3 Or, they invent not (concerning Him). Comp. Rev. iv. 8. + +4 Lit. they precede him not in speech. + +5 Lit. before thee, which might seem to imply that the grant of immortality +had been made to Muhammad. I have therefore rendered, as in the text, to +avoid the ambiguity. Comp. Suras [xcvii.] iii. 182; [lxxxi.] xxix. 57, and +Weil's Life of Mohammad, p. 350. + +6 Comp. Matt. xvi. 28; Heb. ii. 9. Hist. Josephi Fabr. Lign. c. 22 at the +end. + +7 See the index under the word Man. The Rabbins teach that man was created +with innate evil propensities. See Schr der's Talm. Rabb.- Judenthum, p. 378. +8 That is, my teaching as to the future lot of the infidels, etc. + +9 Muhammad appeals to the rapid progress of Islam as a proof of his divine +mission. + +10 Ar. furquan–a derived by Muhammad from the Jews, constantly used in the +Talmud, and meaning as in Syr. and Ćth. deliverance, liberation. Thus, Sura +viii. 29, 42, and hence, illumination, revelation, generally. The usual +interpretation here and in other passages is the distinction, i.e. between +good and evil, lawful and unlawful. The title is applied to the Koran and +Pentateuch alike. + +11 This story is taken in part verbatim from Midr. Rabbah on Gen. par. 17. +See also Schalscheleth Hakabala, 2; Maimon de Idol. ch. 1; and Yad +Hachazakah, vii. 6, who makes Abraham–in his 40th year–renounce star-worship, +break images, escape the wrath of the king by a miracle, and preach that +there is one God of the whole universe. + +12 Lit. sie neigten sich nach ihren Kopfen. They were turned down upon their +heads. Ullm. and Sale in notes. But Ullm. in the text, verfielen sie wieder +in ihren Aberglauben. + +13 The Rabbins make Nimrod to have been the persecutor of Abraham. Comp. +Targ. Jon. on Gen. xv. 7. Tr. Bava Bathra, fol. 91 a. Maimon. More Nevochim, +iii. 29. Weil, Legenden, p. 74. + +14 Or, let peace be upon Abraham. Comp. Targ. Jon. on Gen. xi. 28, from the +mistranslation of which this legend took its rise, the word ur in Heb. +meaning fire. See also Targ. Jon. on. Gen. xv. 7. The legend was adopted by +some of the Eastern Christians; and commemorated in the Syrian Calendar on +Jan. 29. (Hyde de Rel. V. Pers. 74). Comp. the Abyssinian Calendar on Jan. +25. (Ludolf. Hist. p. 409). + +15 It has been observed that the blacksmith has ever been looked upon with +awe by barbarians on the same principle that made Vulcan a deity. In +Abyssinia all artisans are Budah, sorcerers, especially the blacksmith, and +he is a social outcast, as among the Somal; Throughout the rest of El- +Islam, the blacksmith is respected as treading in the path of David, the +father of the craft. Burton. First Footsteps in E. Africa, p. 33. The +numerous wars in which David was engaged, may have given rise to the myth of +his being the inventor of mail. + +16 See Sura xxxviii. 37, p. 127. + +17 See Sura xix. 55, 6, p. 121. + +18 The man of the lot or portion. Or, of care, support. According to some +Elias, as others say, Isaiah. It is more probable, however, that he is he +Obadiah of 1 Kings xviii. 4, who supported 100 prophets in the cave, or +Ezechiel, who is called Kephil by the Arabs. See Niebuhr, Travels, ii. 265. + +19 The man of the fish–Jonah. + +20 See Suras [xcvii.] iii. 33; xix. p. 117, for the story of Zacharias in +full. The concluding sentence of this clause is obscure. It probably means +that even if no heir were vouchsafed to Zacharias, yet since God will be the +heir of all things he would take Zacharias to himself and thus abundantly +recompense him. See Sura [lxxix.] xxviii. 58. + +21 See Sura [cix.] lxvi. 12. It is quite clear from these two passages that +Muhammad believed in the Immaculate and miraculous conception of Jesus. + +22 That is, identical with that of the previous prophets, etc. + +23 See Sura [lxix.] xviii. 93. Thus, the ancient Jewish and Christian legend +connects Gog and Magog with the end of the world. Rev. xx. 8. Pseudojon on +Lev. xxvi. 44. Comp. Numb. xi. 27. Gog, however, is probably the mountain +Ghef or Ghogh (see Reinegg's Beschreib. der Caucasus, ii. 79) and the +syllable Ma in Magog, the Sanscrit mah, maha great. + +24 "Whenever a people is punished (for idolatry) the beings honoured by them +as gods, shall also be punished, for so it is written, on all the gods also +of Egypt will I inflict judgments." (Sakkah, 29.) + +25 Ar. Sidjill, which is supposed by some to be the name of the angel who +writes down the actions of every man's life upon a scroll, which is rolled up +at his death (comp. Isai. xxxiv. 4); by others, to be the name of one of +Muhammad's secretaries. + +26 Ps. xxxvii. 29. This is the only text quoted in the Koran. + + +SURA XXV.–AL FURKAN [LXVI.] + +MECCA.–77 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +BLESSED be He who hath sent down AL FURKAN1 (the illumination) on his +servant, that to all creatures he may be a warner. + +His the Kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth! No son hath He begotten! No +partner hath He in his Empire! All things hath He created, and decreeing hath +decreed their destinies. + +Yet have they adopted gods beside Him which have created nothing, but were +themselves created: + +And no power have they over themselves for evil or for good, nor have they +power of death, or of life, or of raising the dead. + +And the infidels say, "This Koran is a mere fraud of his own devising, and +others have helped him with it,2 who had come hither by outrage and lie."3 + +And they say, "Tales of the ancients that he hath put in writing! and they +were dictated to him morn and even." + +SAY: He hath sent it down who knoweth the secrets of the Heavens and of the +Earth. He truly is the Gracious, the Merciful. + +And they say, "What sort of apostle is this? He eateth food and he walketh +the streets! Unless an angel be sent down and take part in his warnings, + +Or a treasure be thrown down to him, or he have a garden that supplieth him +with food . . ."4 and those unjust persons say, "Ye follow but a man +enchanted." + +See what likenesses they strike out for thee! But they err, and cannot find +their way. + +Blessed be He who if he please can give thee better than that of which they +speak–Gardens, 'neath which the rivers flow: and pavilions will He assign +thee. + +Aye, they have treated the coming of "the Hour" as a lie. But a flaming fire +have we got ready for those who treat the coming of the Hour as a lie. + +When it shall see them from afar, they shall hear its raging and roaring,– + +And when they shall be flung into a narrow space thereof bound together, they +shall invoke destruction on the spot: + +–"Call not this day for one destruction, but call for destructions many." + +SAY: Is this, or the Paradise of Eternity which was promised to the God- +fearing, best? Their recompense shall it be and their retreat; + +Abiding therein for ever, they shall have in it all that they desire! It is a +promise to be claimed of thy Lord. + +And on the day when he shall gather them together, and those whom they +worshipped beside God, he will say, "Was it ye who led these my servants +astray, or of themselves strayed they from the path?" + +They will say, "Glory be to thee! It beseemed not us to take other lords than +thee. But thou gavest them and their fathers their fill of good things, till +they forgat the remembrance of thee, and became a lost people." + +Then will God say to the Idolaters, "Now have they made you liars in what ye +say,5 and they have no power to avert your doom, or to succour you." + +And whosoever of you thus offendeth, we will make him taste a great +punishment. + +Never have we sent Apostles before thee who ate not common food, and walked +not the streets. And we test you by means of each other. Will ye be +steadfast? Thy Lord is looking on! + +They who look not forward to meet Us say, "If the angels be not sent down to +us, or unless we behold our Lord. . . .” Ah! they are proud of heart, and +exceed with great excess! + +On the day when they shall see the angels, no good news shall there be for +the guilty ones, and they shall cry out, "A barrier that cannot be passed!"6 + +Then will we proceed to the works which they have wrought, and make them as +scattered dust. + +Happier, on that day, the inmates of the Garden as to abode, and better off +as to place of noontide slumber! + +On that day shall the heaven with its clouds be cleft, and the angels shall +be sent down, descending: + +On that day shall all empire be in very deed with the God of Mercy, and a +hard day shall it be for the Infidels. + +And on that day shall the wicked one7 bite his hands, and say, "Oh! would +that I had taken the same path with the Apostle! + +"Oh! woe is me! would that I had not taken such an one8 for my friend! + +It was he who led me astray from the Warning which had reached me! and Satan +is man's betrayer."9 + +Then said the Apostle, "O my Lord! truly my people have esteemed this Koran +to be vain babbling." + +Thus have we given to every Prophet an enemy from among the wicked ones–But +thy Lord is a sufficient guide and helper. + +And the infidels say, "Unless the Koran be sent down to him all at once. . . +." But in this way would we stablish thy heart by it; in parcels have we +parcelled it out to thee;10 + +Nor shall they come to thee with puzzling questions,11 but we will come to +thee with the truth, and their best solution. + +They who shall be gathered upon their faces into hell, shall have the worst +place, and be farthest from the path of happiness. + +Heretofore we gave the law to Moses, and appointed his brother Aaron to be +his counsellor:12 + +And we said, "Go ye to the people who treat our signs as lies." And them +destroyed we with utter destruction. + +And as to the people of Noah! when they treated their Apostles as impostors, +we drowned them; and we made them a sign to mankind:–A grievous chastisement +have we prepared for the wicked! + +And Ad and Themoud, and the men of Rass,13 and divers generations between +them: + +Unto each of them did we set forth parables for warnings, and each of them +did we utterly exterminate. + +Oft are this have the unbelieving Meccans passed by the city on which was +rained a fatal rain. What! Have they not seen it? Yet have they no hope of a +resurrection! + +And when they see thee, they do but take thee as the subject of their +railleries. "What! Is this he whom God has sent as an Apostle? + +Indeed he had well nigh led us astray from our gods, had we not persevered +steadfastly in their service." But in the end they shall know, when they +shall see the punishment, who hath most strayed from the path. + +What thinkest thou? He who hath taken his passions as a god–wilt thou be a +guardian over him? + +Thinkest thou that the greater part of them hear or understand? They are just +like the brutes! Yes! they stray even further from the right way. + +Hast thou not seen how thy Lord lengtheneth out the shadow?14 Had He pleased +he had made it motionless.15 But we made the sun to be its guide; + +Then draw it in unto Us with easy indrawing. + +He it is who ordaineth the night as a garment, and sleep for rest, and +ordaineth the day for waking up to life: + +He it is who sendeth the winds as the forerunner of his mercy (rain); and +pure water send we down from Heaven, + +That we may revive by it a dead land: and we give it for drink to our +creation, beasts and men in numbers; + +And we distribute it among them on all sides, that they may reflect: but most +men refuse to be aught but thankless. + +Had we pleased, we had raised up a warner in every city. + +Give not way therefore to the Infidels, but by means of this Koran strive +against them with a mighty strife. + +And He it is who hath let loose the two seas,16 the one sweet, fresh; and the +other salt, bitter; and hath put an interspace between them, and a barrier +that cannot be passed. + +And it is He who hath created man of water,17 and established between them +the ties of kindred and affinity: and potent is thy Lord. + +Yet beside God do they worship what can neither help nor hurt them: and the +Infidel is Satan's helper against his Lord: + +Still we have sent thee only as a herald and a warner. + +SAY: I ask of you no recompense for it,18 except from him who is willing to +take the way to his Lord. + +And put thou thy trust in Him that liveth and dieth not, and celebrate his +praise; (He fully knoweth the faults of his servants) who in six days created +the Heavens and the Earth, and whatever is between them, then mounted his +Throne: the God of Mercy! Ask now of the Wise concerning Him. + +But when it is said to them, "Bow down before the God of Mercy," they say, +"Who is the God of Mercy? Shall we bow down to what thou biddest?" And they +fly from thee the more. + +Blessed be He who hath placed in the Heaven the sign of the Zodiac!19 who +hath placed in it the Lamp of the Sun, and the light-giving Moon! + +And it is He who hath ordained the night and the day to succeed one another +for those who desire to think on God or desire to be thankful. + +And the servants of the God of Mercy are they who walk upon the Earth softly; +and when the ignorant20 address them, they reply, "Peace!" + +They that pass the night in the worship of their lord prostrate and +standing:– + +And that say, "O our Lord! turn away from us the torment of Hell, for its +torment is endless: it is indeed an ill abode and resting place! + +Those who when they spend are neither lavish nor niggard, but keep the mean:– + +Those who call on no other gods with God, nor slay whom God hath forbidden to +be slain, except for a just cause, and who commit not fornication (for he who +doth this shall meet the reward of his wickedness: + +Doubled to him shall be the torment on the day of Resurrection; and in it +shall he remain, disgraced, for ever:– + +Save those who shall repent and believe and do righteous works–for them God +will change their evil things into good things, for God is Gracious, +Merciful– + +And whose turneth to God and doeth what is right, he verily will convert with +a true conversion): + +And they who bear not witness to that which is false, and when they pass by +frivolous sport, pass on with dignity:– + +And they who, when monished by the signs of their Lord, fall not down +thereat, as if deaf and blind:– + +And who say, "O our Lord! give us in our wives and offspring the joy of our +eyes, and make us examples to those who fear thee:" + +These shall be rewarded with the High Places of Paradise for their steadfast +endurance, and they shall meet therein with–Welcome and Salutation:– + +For ever shall they remain therein: a fair abode and resting-place! + +SAY: Not on your account doth my Lord care if ye call not on Him! ye have +treated his Apostle as an impostor: but bye and bye a punishment shall cleave +to them. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura [lxv.] xxi. 49. + +2 Comp. Sura [lxxiii.] xvi. 105. The frequency with which Muhammad feels it +necessary to rebut this charge by mere denial is strongly indicative of its +truth. + +3 "The meaning may possibly be that the teachers of Muhammad were persons who +had taken refuge in Arabia for offences and heresies." Sprenger, Life of M. +p. 96, n. Or, but they utter an injustice and a falsehood. Nöldeke combats +Dr. Sprenger's supposition that "Tales of the ancients" (verse 6) is a book. +Hist. of Qoran, p. 13. + +4 Supply, we will not believe. + +5 In your ascriptions of divinity to them. Beidh. + +6 Or, far, far be they removed. The same words occur at the end of verse 55. +The Commentators doubt whether they are spoken by the wicked of the +impossibility of their attaining Paradise, or by the angels to the wicked. + +7 Said by Beidh. to be the polytheist Okbeh, the son of Abu Mo'eyt, who by +Muhammad's persuasion professed Islam, but afterwards retracted to please +Ubei ben Khalaf. See Gagnier's Vie de Mahom. i. 362. + +8 Ar. fulani (whence the Spanish fulano) identical with the Heb. p. 155, used +of a person only in Ruth iv. 1, but by the Rabbinic writers, constantly. + +9 Or, abandoner. + +10 This verse shews that the Koran was of gradual growth in the time of +Muhammad himself. + +11 Lit. parables. + +12 Lit. vizier. + +13 It is uncertain whether Rass is the name of a city in Yemama; or merely, +as some interpret it, of a well near Midian; or, according to others, in the +territory of Hadramont. + +14 Geiger is mistaken in supposing that this passage alludes to 2 Kings xx. 9 +12, and his translation is inaccurate. + +15 Lit. quiescent, i.e. always the same. + +16 According to some commentators, Muhammad here speaks of the waters of the +Tigris, which do not mingle with the salt water of the sea till they have +reached a considerable distance from the river-mouth. See Zech. xiv. 8. + +17 See Sura [cv.] xxiv. 44, n. + +18 "Thou art taught that whoever would make a profit by the Law depriveth +himself of life." Pirke Aboth, i. 4. This precept is of frequent occurrence +in the Talmud. + +19 Comp. Sura [xc.] xiii. 29; and the following Sura xvii. 109, n. + +20 The idolaters. + + +SURA XVII.–THE NIGHT JOURNEY [LXVII.] + +MECCA.1–111 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +GLORY be to Him who carried his servant by night2 from the sacred temple of +Mecca to the temple3 that is more remote, whose precinct we have blessed, +that we might shew him of our signs! for He is the Hearer, the Seer. + +And4 we gave the Book to Moses and ordained it for guidance to the children +of Israel–"that ye take no other Guardian than me." + +O posterity of those whom we bare with Noah! He truly was a grateful servant! + +And we solemnly declared to the children of Israel in the Book, "Twice surely +will ye enact crimes in the earth, and with great loftiness of pride will ye +surely be uplifted." + +So when the menace for the first crime5 came to be inflicted, we sent against +you our servants endued with terrible prowess; and they searched the inmost +part of your abodes, and the menace was accomplished. + +Then we gave you the mastery over them6 in turn, and increased you in wealth +and children, and made you a most numerous host. + +We said, "If ye do well, to your own behoof will ye do well: and if ye do +evil, against yourselves will ye do it. And when the menace for your latter +crime7 came to be inflicted, then we sent an enemy to sadden your faces, and +to enter the temple as they entered it at first, and to destroy with utter +destruction that which they had conquered. + +Haply your Lord will have mercy on you! but if ye return, we will return:8 +and we have appointed Hell–the prison of the infidels. + +Verily, this Koran guideth to what is most upright; and it announceth to +believers + +Who do the things that are right, that for them is a great reward; + +And that for those who believe not in the life to come, we have got ready a +painful punishment. + +Man prayeth for evil as he prayeth for good; for man is hasty. + +We have made the night and the day for two signs: the sign of the night do we +obscure, but the sign of the day cause we to shine forth, that ye may seek +plenty from your Lord, and that ye may know the number of the years and the +reckoning of time; and we have made everything distinct by distinctiveness. + +And every man's fate9 have we fastened about his neck: and on the day of +resurrection will we bring forth to him a book which shall be proffered to +him wide open: + +–"Read thy Book:10 there needeth none but thyself to make out an account +against thee this day." + +For his own good only shall the guided yield to guidance, and to his own loss +only shall the erring err; and the heavy laden shall not be laden with +another's load. We never punished until we had first sent an apostle: + +And when we willed to destroy a city, to its affluent ones did we address our +bidding; but when they acted criminally therein, just was its doom, and we +destroyed it with an utter destruction. + +And since Noah, how many nations have we exterminated! And of the sins of his +servants thy Lord is sufficiently informed, observant. + +Whoso chooseth this quickly passing life, quickly will we bestow therein that +which we please–even on him we choose; afterward we will appoint hell for +him, in which he shall burn–disgraced, outcast: + +But whoso chooseth the next life, and striveth after it as it should be +striven for, being also a believer,–these! their striving shall be grateful +to God: + +To all–both to these and those–will we prolong the gifts of thy Lord; for not +to any shall the gifts of thy Lord be denied. + +See how we have caused some of them to excel others! but the next life shall +be greater in its grades, and greater in excellence. + +Set not up another god with God, lest thou sit thee down disgraced, +helpless.11 + +Thy Lord hath ordained that ye worship none but him; and, kindness to your +parents, whether one or both of them attain to old age with thee: and say not +to them, "Fie!" neither reproach them; but speak to them both with respectful +speech; + +And defer humbly to them12 out of tenderness; and say, "Lord, have compassion +on them both, even as they reared me when I was little." + +Your Lord well knoweth what is in your souls; he knoweth whether ye be +righteous: + +And gracious is He to those who return to Him. + +And to him who is of kin render his due, and also to the poor and to the +wayfarer; yet waste not wastefully, + +For the wasteful are brethren of the Satans, and Satan was ungrateful to his +Lord: + +But if thou turn away from them, while thou thyself seekest boons from thy +Lord for which thou hopest, at least speak to them with kindly speech: + +And let not thy hand be tied up to thy neck; nor yet open it with all +openness, lest thou sit thee down in rebuke, in beggary. + +Verily, thy Lord will provide with open hand for whom he pleaseth, and will +be sparing. His servants doth he scan, inspect. + +Kill not your children for fear of want:13 for them and for you will we +provide. Verily, the killing them is a great wickedness. + +Have nought to do with adultery; for it is a foul thing and an evil way: + +Neither slay any one whom God hath forbidden you to slay, unless for a just +cause: and whosoever shall be slain wrongfully, to his heir14 have we given +powers; but let him not outstep bounds in putting the manslayer to death, for +he too, in his turn, will be assisted and avenged. + +And touch not the substance of the orphan, unless in an upright way, till he +attain his age of strength: And perform your covenant; verily the covenant +shall be enquired of: + +And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with just balance. This +will be better, and fairest for settlement: + +And follow not that of which thou hast no knowledge;15 because the hearing +and the sight and the heart,–each of these shall be enquired of: + +And walk not proudly on the earth, for thou canst not cleave the earth, +neither shalt thou reach to the mountains in height: + +All this is evil; odious to thy Lord. + +This is a part of the wisdom which thy Lord hath revealed to thee. Set not up +any other god with God, lest thou be cast into Hell, rebuked, cast away. + +What! hath your Lord prepared sons for you, and taken for himself daughters +from among the angels? Indeed, ye say a dreadful saying. + +Moreover, for man's warning have we varied16 this Koran: Yet it only +increaseth their flight from it. + +SAY: If, as ye affirm, there were other gods with Him, they would in that +case seek occasion against the occupant of the throne: + +Glory to Him! Immensely high is He exalted above their blasphemies! + +The seven heavens17 praise him, and the earth, and all who are therein; +neither is there aught which doth not celebrate his praise; but their +utterances of praise ye understand not. He is kind, indulgent. + +When thou recitest the Koran we place between thee and those who believe not +in the life to come, a dark veil; + +And we put coverings over their hearts lest they should understand it, and in +their ears a heaviness; + +And when in the Koran thou namest thy One Lord, they turn their backs in +flight. + +We well know why they hearken, when they hearken unto thee, and when they +whisper apart; when the wicked say, "Ye follow no other than a man +enchanted." + +See what likenesses they strike out for thee! But they are in error, neither +can they find the path. + +They also say, "After we shall have become bones and dust, shall we in sooth +be raised a new creation?" + +SAY: "Yes, though ye were stones, or iron, or any other creature, to your +seeming, yet harder to be raised." But they will say, "Who shall bring us +back?" SAY: "He who created you at first." And they will wag their heads at +thee, and say, "When shall this be?" SAY: "Haply it is nigh." + +On that day shall God call you forth, and ye shall answer by praising Him; +and ye shall seem to have tarried but a little while. + +Enjoin my servants to speak in kindly sort: Verily Satan would stir up +strifes among them, for Satan is man's avowed foe. + +Your Lord well knoweth you: if He please He will have mercy on you; or if He +please He will chastise you: and we have not sent thee to be a guardian over +them. + +Thy Lord hath full knowledge of all in the heavens and the earth. Higher +gifts have we given to some of the prophets than to others, and the Psalter +we gave to David. + +SAY: Call ye upon those whom ye fancy to be gods beside Him; yet they will +have no power to relieve you from trouble, or to shift it elsewhere. + +Those whom ye call on, themselves desire union with their Lord,18 striving +which of them shall be nearest to him: they also hope for his mercy and fear +his chastisement. Verily the chastisement of thy Lord is to be dreaded. + +There is no city which we will not destroy before the day of Resurrection, or +chastise it with a grievous chastisement. This is written in the Book. + +Nothing hindered us from sending thee with the power of working miracles, +except that the peoples of old treated them as lies. We gave to Themoud19 the +she-camel before their very eyes, yet they maltreated her! We send not a +prophet with miracles but to strike terror. + +And remember when we said to thee, Verily, thy Lord is round about mankind; +we ordained the vision20 which we shewed thee, and likewise the cursed tree +of the Koran, only for men to dispute of; we will strike them with terror; +but it shall only increase in them enormous wickedness: + +And when we said to the Angels, "Prostrate yourselves before Adam:" and they +all prostrated them, save Eblis. "What!" said he, "shall I bow me before him +whom thou hast created of clay? + +Seest thou this man whom thou hast honoured above me? Verily, if thou respite +me till the day of Resurrection, I will destroy his offspring, except a few." + +He said, "Begone; but whosoever of them shall follow thee, verily, Hell shall +be your recompense; an ample recompense! + +And entice such of them as thou canst by thy voice; assault them with thy +horsemen and thy footmen;21 be their partner in their riches and in their +children, and make them promises: but Satan shall make them only deceitful +promises. + +As to my servants, no power over them shalt thou have; And thy Lord will be +their sufficient guardian." + +It is your Lord who speedeth onward the ships for you in the sea, that ye may +seek of his abundance; for he is merciful towards you. + +When a misfortune befalleth you out at sea, they whom ye invoke are not to be +found: God alone is there: yet when he bringeth you safe to dry land, ye +place yourselves at a distance from Him. Ungrateful is man. + +What! are ye sure, then, that he will not cleave the sides of the earth for +you? or that he will not send against you a whirlwind charged with sands? +Then shall ye find no protector. + +Or are ye sure that he will not cause you to put back to sea a second time, +and send against you a storm blast, and drown you, for that ye have been +thankless? Then shall ye find no helper against us therein. + +And now have we honoured the children of Adam: by land and by sea have we +carried them: food have we provided for them of good things, and with +endowments beyond many of our creatures have we endowed them. + +One day we will summon all men with their leaders: they whose book shall be +given into their right hand, shall read their book, and not be wronged a +thread: + +And he who has been blind here, shall be blind hereafter, and wander yet more +from the way. + +And, verily, they had well nigh beguiled thee from what we revealed to thee, +and caused thee to invent some other thing in our name: but in that case they +would surely have taken thee as a friend;22 + +And had we not settled thee, thou hadst well nigh leaned to them a little: + +In that case we would surely have made thee taste of woe23 in life and of woe +in death: then thou shouldest not have found a helper against us. + +And truly they had almost caused thee to quit the land, in order wholly to +drive thee forth from it:24 but then, themselves should have tarried but a +little after thee. + +This was our way with the Apostles we have already sent before thee, and in +this our way thou shalt find no change. + +Observe prayer at sunset, till the first darkening of the night, and the +daybreak reading–for the daybreak reading hath its witnesses, + +And watch unto it in the night: this shall be an excess in service:25 it may +be that thy Lord will raise thee to a glorious station: + +And say, "O my Lord, cause me to enter26 with a perfect entry, and to come +forth with a perfect forthcoming, and give me from thy presence a helping +power:" + +And SAY: Truth is come and falsehood is vanished. Verily, falsehood is a +thing that vanisheth. + +And we send down of the Koran that which is a healing and a mercy to the +faithful: But it shall only add to the ruin of the wicked. + +When we bestow favours on man, he withdraweth and goeth aside; but when evil +toucheth him, he is despairing. + +SAY: Every one acteth after his own manner: but your Lord well knoweth who is +best guided in his path. + +And they will ask thee of the Spirit.27 SAY: The Spirit proceedeth at my +Lord's command: but of knowledge, only a little to you is given. + +If we pleased, we could take away what we have revealed to thee: none couldst +thou then find thee to undertake thy cause with us, + +Save as a mercy from thy Lord; great, verily, is his favour towards thee. + +SAY: Verily, were men and Djinn assembled to produce the like of this Koran, +they could not produce its like, though the one should help the other. + +And of a truth we have set out to men every kind of similitude in this Koran, +but most men have refused everything except unbelief. + +And they say, "By no means will we believe on thee till thou cause a fountain +to gush forth for us from the earth; + +Or, till thou have a garden of palm-trees and grapes, and thou cause forth- +gushing rivers to gush forth in its midst; + +Or thou make the heaven to fall on us, as thou hast given out, in pieces; or +thou bring God and the angels to vouch for thee; + +Or thou have a house of gold; or thou mount up into Heaven; nor will we +believe in thy mounting up, till thou send down to us a book which we may +read." SAY: Praise be to my Lord! Am I more than a man, an apostle? + +And what hindereth men from believing, when the guidance hath come to them, +but that they say, "Hath God sent a man as an apostle?" + +SAY: Did angels walk the earth as its familiars, we had surely sent them an +angel-apostle out of Heaven. + +SAY: God is witness enough between you and me. His servants He scanneth, +eyeth. + +And He whom God shall guide will be guided indeed; and whom he shall mislead +thou shalt find none to assist, but Him: and we will gather them together on +the day of the resurrection, on their faces, blind and dumb and deaf: Hell +shall be their abode: so oft as its fires die down, we will rekindle the +flame. + +This shall be their reward for that they believed not our signs and said, +"When we shall have become bones and dust, shall we surely be raised a new +creation?" + +Do they not perceive that God, who created the Heavens and the Earth, is able +to create their like? And he hath ordained them a term; there is no doubt of +it: but the wicked refuse everything except unbelief. + +SAY: If ye held the treasures of my Lord's mercy ye would certainly refrain +from them through fear of spending them: for man is covetous. + +We therefore gave to Moses nine clear signs. Ask thou, therefore, the +children of Israel how it was when he came unto them, and Pharaoh said to +him, "Verily, I deem thee, O Moses, a man enchanted." + +Said Moses, "Thou knowest that none hath sent down these clear signs but the +Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth; and I surely deem thee, O Pharaoh, a +person lost." + +So Pharaoh sought to drive them out of the land; but we drowned him and all +his followers. + +And after his death, we said to the children of Israel, "Dwell ye in the +land:" and when the promise of the next life shall come to pass, we will +bring you both up together to judgment. In truth have we sent down the Koran, +and in truth hath it descended, and we have only sent thee to announce and to +warn. + +And we have parcelled out the Koran into sections, that thou mightest recite +it unto men by slow degrees, and we have sent it down piecemeal. + +SAY: Believe ye therein or believe ye not? They verily to whom knowledge had +been given previously, fall on their faces worshipping when it is recited to +them, and say: "Glory be to God! the promise of our Lord is made good!" + +They fall down on their faces weeping, and It increaseth their humility. + +SAY: Call upon God (Allah),28 or call upon the God of Mercy (Arrahman), by +whichsoever ye will invoke him: He hath most excellent names. And be not loud +in thy prayer, neither pronounce it too low;29 but between these follow a +middle way: + +And SAY: Praise be to God who hath not begotten a son, who hath no partner in +the Kingdom, nor any protector on account of weakness. And magnify him by +proclaiming His greatness.30 + + +_______________________ + +1 Verses 12, 23-41, 75-82, 87, are supposed by many commentators to have +originated at Medina. + +2 Waquidy says the night-journey took place on the 17th of Rabhy' 1, a +twelvemonth before the Hejira. + +3 Of Jerusalem; and thence through the seven heavens to the throne of God on +the back of Borak, accompanied by Gabriel, according to some traditions; +while others, and those too of early date, regard it as no more than a +vision. It was, however, in all probability a dream. Muir ii. 219; Nöld. p. +102, who give the Muhammadan sources of information. + +4 It is probable that as this verse has no real or apparent connection with +the preceding, a verse may have been lost, and that verse 1 has been placed +at the head of the Sura merely because the night-journey is elsewhere alluded +to in it. + +5 According to the commentators the slaughter of Isaiah and the imprisonment +of Jeremiah, punished by the invasion of the Assyrians. + +6 Over Sennacherib. + +7 The slaying Zacharias, John Baptist, and Jesus, punished by the destruction +of Jerusalem by the Romans. Comp. Tr. Gittin, fol. 57, where we read of the +sufferings drawn down upon the Jews in consequence of the former of these +crimes. + +8 That is, if ye return to sin, we will return to punish. + +9 Lit. bird. + +10 Comp. Mischnah Aboth, 3, 20. + +11 Comp. in Heb. Isai. liii. 3. + +12 Lit. lower a wing of humility. + +13 Comp. Sura [lxxxix.] vi. 151; lxxxi. 8, p. 45. Zaid, the sceptical seeker +after truth, is reported to have discouraged the killing of daughters, +saying, "I will support them." Kitâb al Wackidi, p. 255. See note at Sura +[xcvii.] iii. 18. + +14 Or, next of kin. + +15 Or, run not after vain things which will avail nought. Or, accuse not any +of a crime if thou art not sure of his guilt. + +16 Used a variety of arguments and illustrations. + +17 Thus Tr. Chagiga, fol. 9 b. "There are seven heavens (rakian): the veil, +the firmament, the clouds, the habitation, the abode, the fixed seat, the +araboth." See Wetst. on 2 Cor. xii. 2. + +18 In obvious allusion to the saint-worship of the Christians. + +19 See Sura [lxxxvii.] vii. 71. + +20 See note on v. 1. The tree is Zakkoum, Sura [xlv.] lvi. The Rabbins teach +that food of the bitterest herbs is one of the punishments of Hell. See +Schröder's Rabb. und. Talm. Judenthum, p. 403. + +21 That is, with all thy might. + +22 Zamakshary relates that this passage was revealed when the Thaqyfites in +framing the document of agreement between themselves and Muhammad, required +that the words requiring the prostrations in worship should not be added. The +writer looked at the prophet, who stood by in silence, when Omar stood up and +drew his sword with menacing words. They replied, We speak not thee but to +Muhammad. Then this verse was revealed. Thus Dr. Sprenger. Life, p. 186. He +renders the last clause, but at the right moment a friend reprehended thee. + +23 Lit. weakness, languors. + +24 "The Jews, envious of Muhammad's good reception and stay there, told him, +by way of counsel, that Syria was the land of the Prophets, and that if he +was really a prophet, he ought to go there." Sale from Djelal Eddin ap. Mar. +Geiger, p. 12, quotes a Talmudical saying to the same effect, but without any +reference. + +25 A work of supererogation, and therefore doubly meritorious. Thus Tr. +Berachoth, fol. 4. The word station (mekam) is still used of the nearness to +God, attained in spiritual ecstacies, etc. + +26 That is, to enter the Grave or Mecca. Lit. with an entry of truth. + +27 The word spirit is probably to be understood of the Angel Gabriel. Comp. 1 +Kings xxii. 21. Others understand it of the immaterial soul of man. See note +on Sura [xci.] ii. 81. + +28 The infidels hearing Muhammad say, Ya Allah! Ya Rahman! in his prayers, +imagined that he was addressing two Deities; hence this passage. Comp. +[lxxiii.] xvi. 52; [lxvi.] xxv. 61. As this title of God (Rahman) disappears +from the later Suras, it has been inferred that Muhammad's original intention +was to have combined it with Allah, but that through fear lest Allah and +Arrahman should be supposed to be two Gods, he dropped the latter.–This title +was applied to their deities by the Himyarites; and it occurs in Ps. lxxviii. +38, and Ex. xxxiv. 6. The root is not found in Ćthiopic. + +29 The Talm. Tr. Berachoth, 31, 2, forbids loudness in prayer by the example +of Hannah. + +30 Lit. magnify Him by magnifying. + + +SURA XXVII.–THE ANT [LXVIII.] + +MECCA.–95 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +TA. SAD.1 These are the signs (verses) of the Koran and of the lucid Book; + +Guidance and glad tidings to the believers who observe prayer and pay the +stated alms, and believe firmly–do they–in the life to come. + +As to those who believe not in the life to come, we have made their own +doings fair seeming to them, and they are bewildered therein. + +These are they whom the woe of chastisement awaiteth; and in the next life +they shall suffer–yes shall they–greatest loss; + +But thou hast certainly received the Koran from the Wise, the Knowing. + +Bear in mind when Moses said to his family, "I have perceived a fire; + +I will bring you tidings from it, or will bring you a blazing brand, that ye +may warm you." + +And when he came to it, he was called to, "Blessed, He who is in the fire, +and He who is about it; and glory be to God, the Lord of the worlds! + +O Moses! verily, I am God, the Mighty, the Wise! + +Throw down now thy staff." And when he saw that it moved itself as though it +were a serpent, he retreated backward and returned not. "O Moses, fear not; +for the Sent Ones fear not in my presence, + +Save he who having done amiss shall afterwards exchange the evil for good; +for I am Forgiving, Merciful. + +Put now thy hand into thy bosom: it shall come forth white, yet free from +hurt:2 one of nine signs to Pharaoh and his people; for a perverse people are +they." + +And when our signs were wrought in their very sight,3 they said, "This is +plain magic." + +And though in their souls they knew them to be true, yet in their wickedness +and pride they denied them. But see what was the end of the corrupt doers! + +And of old we gave knowledge to David and Solomon: and they said, "Praise be +to God, who hath made us to excel many of his believing servants!" + +And in knowledge Solomon was David's heir. And he said, "O men, we have been +taught the speech of birds,4 and are endued with everything. This is indeed a +clear boon from God." + +And to Solomon were gathered his hosts of Djinn5 and men and birds, and they +were marched on in bands, + +Till they reached the Valley of Ants. Said AN ANT, "O ye ants, enter your +dwellings, lest Solomon and his army crush you and know it not." + +Then smiled Solomon, laughing at her words, and he said, "Stir me up, O Lord, +to be thankful for thy favour which thou hast shewed upon me and upon my +parents, and to do righteousness that shall be well pleasing to thee, and +bring me in, by thy mercy, among thy servants the righteous." + +And he reviewed the birds, and said, "How is it that I see not the lapwing? +Is it one of the absent? + +Surely, with a severe chastisement will I chastise it, or I will certainly +slaughter it, unless it bring me a clear excuse." + +Nor tarried it long ere it came and said, "I have gained the knowledge that +thou knowest not, and with sure tidings have I come to thee from Saba: + +I found a woman reigning over them, gifted with everything, and she hath a +splendid throne; + +And I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of God; and Satan +hath made their works fair seeming to them, so that he hath turned them from +the Way: wherefore they are not guided, + +To the worship of God, who bringeth to light the secret things of heaven and +earth, and knoweth what men conceal and what they manifest: + +God! there is no god but He! the lord of the glorious throne!" + +He said, "We shall see whether thou hast spoken truth, or whether thou art of +them that lie. + +Go with this my letter and throw it down to them: then turn away from them +and await their answer." + +She said, "O my nobles! an honourable letter hath been thrown down to me: + +It is from Solomon; and it is this: 'In the name of God, the Compassionate, +the Merciful! + +Set not up yourselves against me, but come to me submitting (Muslims).' " + +She said, "O my nobles, advise me in mine affair: I decide it not without +your concurrence."6 + +They said, "We are endued with strength and are endued with mighty valour.– +But to command is thine: See therefore what thou wilt command us." + +She said, "Kings when they enter a city spoil it, and abase the mightiest of +its people: and in like manner will these also do. + +But I will send to them with a gift, and await what my envoys bring back." + +And when the messenger came to Solomon, he said, "Aid ye me with riches? But +what God hath given to me is better than what he hath given you: yet ye glory +in your gifts: + +Return to them: for we will surely come to them with forces which they cannot +withstand, and we will drive them from their land humbled and contemptible." + +Said he, "O nobles, which of you will bring me her throne before they come to +me, submitting? (Muslims)." + +An Efreet7 of the Djinn said: "I will bring it thee ere thou risest from thy +place: I have power for this and am trusty." + +And one who had the knowledge of Scripture said, "I will bring it to thee in +the twinkling of an eye."8 And when he saw it set before him, he said, "This +is of the favour of my Lord, to try me whether I will be thankful or +unthankful. And he who is thankful is thankful to his own behoof; and as for +him who is unthankful–truly my Lord is self-sufficient, bounteous!" + +Said he, "Make her throne so that she know it not: we shall see whether she +hath or not guidance." + +And when she came he said, "Is thy throne like this?" She said, "As though it +were the same." "And we," said he, "have had knowledge given us before her, +and have been Muslims." + +But the gods she had worshipped instead of God had led her astray: for she +was of a people who believe not. + +It was said to her,"Enter the Palace:" and when she saw it, she thought it a +lake of water, and bared her legs. He said, "It is a palace paved with +glass." + +She said, "O my Lord! I have sinned against my own soul, and I resign myself, +with Solomon, to God the Lord of the Worlds." + +And of old we sent to Themoud their brother Saleh, with "Serve ye God:"but +lo! they became two sets of disputants wrangling with each other. + +He said, "O my people, why, if ye ask not pardon of God that ye may find +mercy, hasten ye on evil rather than good?" + +They said,"We augur9 ill concerning thee and those who are with thee." He +said, "The ills of which ye augur10 depend on God. But ye are a people on +your trial." + +And there were in the city nine persons who committed excesses in the land +and did not that which is right. + +They said, "Swear ye to one another by God that we will surely fall on him +and on his family by night: then will be say to the avenger of blood, we +witnessed not the destruction of his family: and verily we speak the truth." + +And they devised a device, and we devised a device, and they were not aware +of it– + +And see what was the end of their device! We destroyed them and their whole +people: + +And for their sin these their houses are empty ruins: Verily in this is a +sign to those who understand; + +And we delivered those who believed and feared. + +And Lot, when he said to his people, "What! proceed ye to such filthiness +with your eyes open? + +What! come ye with lust unto men rather than to women? Surely ye are an +ignorant people." + +And the answer of his people was but to say, "Cast out the family of Lot from +your city: they, forsooth, are men of purity!" + +So we rescued him and his family: but as for his wife, we decreed her to be +of them that lingered: + +And we rained a rain upon them, and fatal was the rain to those who had had +their warning. + +SAY: Praise be to God and peace be on His servants whom He hath chosen! Is +God the more worthy or the gods they join with Him? + +Is not He who hath made the Heavens and the Earth, and hath sent down rain to +you from Heaven, by which we cause the luxuriant groves to spring up! It is +not in your power to cause its trees to spring up! What! A god with God? Yet +they find equals for Him! + +Is not He, who hath set the earth so firm, and hath made rivers in its midst, +and hath placed mountains upon it, and put a barrier between the two seas?11 +What! a god with God? Yet the greater part of them have no knowledge! + +Is not He the more worthy who answereth the oppressed when they cry to him, +and taketh off their ills, and maketh you to succeed your sires on the earth? +What! a god with God? How few bear these things in mind! + +Is not He, who guideth you in the darkness of the land and of the sea, and +who sendeth forth the winds as the forerunners of His mercy? What! a god with +God? Far from God be what ye join with Him! + +Is not He, who created a Being, then reneweth it, and who supplieth you out +of the Heaven and the Earth? What! a god with God? SAY: Bring forth your +proofs if you speak the truth. + +SAY: None either in the Heavens or in the Earth knoweth the unseen but God. +And they know not + +When they shall be raised. + +–Yet they have attained to a knowledge of the life to come:12–yet are they in +doubt about it:–yet are they blind about it! + +And the unbelievers say: "When we and our fathers have been dead shall we be +taken forth? + +Of old have we been promised this, we and our sires of old it is but fables +of the ancients." + +SAY: Go ye through the land, and see what hath been the end of the wicked. + +And grieve not thou for them, nor be in distress at their devisings. + +And they say, "When will this promise be made good, if ye speak true?" + +SAY: Haply a part of what ye desire to be hastened may be close behind you. + +And truly thy Lord is full of goodness towards men: But most of them are not +thankful. + +And thy Lord knoweth well what their breasts enshroud, and what they bring to +light, + +And there is no secret thing in the Heaven or on the Earth, but it is in the +clear Book. + +Truly this Koran declareth to the children of Israel most things wherein they +disagree: + +And it is certainly guidance and a mercy to the faithful. + +Verily, by his wisdom will thy Lord decide between them: for He is the +Mighty, the Knowing. + +Put thou then thy trust in God: for thou hast clear truth on thy side.13 + +Thou shalt not make the dead to hear; neither shalt thou make the deaf to +hear the call, when they turn away backward; + +Neither art thou the guide of the blind out of their errors: none truly shalt +thou make to hear but those who believe our signs: and they are Muslims. + +When the doom shall be ready to light upon them, we will cause a monster14 to +come forth to them out of the earth, and cry to them "Verily men have not +firmly believed our signs." + +And on that day shall be gathered out of every nation a company of those who +have gainsaid our signs, in separate bands; + +Till they come before God, who will say, "Treated ye my signs as impostures, +although ye embraced them not in your knowledge? or what is it that ye were +doing? + +And doom shall light upon them for their evil deeds, and nought shall they +have to plead. + +See they not that we have ordained the night that they may rest in it, and +the day with its gift of light? Of a truth herein are signs to people who +believe. + +On that day there shall be a blast on the trumpet, and all that are in the +heavens, and all that the on the earth shall be terror-stricken, save him +whom God pleaseth to deliver; and all shall come to him in humble guise. + +And thou shalt see the mountains, which thou thinkest so firm, pass away with +the passing of a cloud! 'Tis the work of God, who ordereth all things! of all +that ye do is He well aware. + +To him who shall present himself with good works, shall be a reward beyond +their desert,15 and they shall be secure from the terror on that day; + +And they who shall present themselves with evil shall be flung downward on +their faces into the fire. Shall ye be rewarded but as ye have wrought? + +SAY: Specially am I commanded to worship the Lord of this land, which He hath +sanctified. All things are His: and I am commanded to be one of those who +surrender them to God (a Muslim) + +And to recite the Koran: and whoever is rightly guided, assuredly will be +rightly guided to his own behoof. + +And as to him who erreth, SAY, I truly am a warner only.And SAY, Praise be to +God! He will shew you His signs, and ye shall acknowledge them: and of what +ye do, thy Lord is not regardless. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura lxviii., p. 32, n. + +2 Not really leprous. + +3 Lit. when our visible signs came to them. + +4 This tradition may be derived from 1 Kings iv. 33. Comp. Geiger, p. 185. +The legend of Solomon's power over the Genii originates in a mistranslation +of Eccl. ii. 8. Comp. also for other points in this story Prov. vi. 6; 1 +Kings x. 1-10. + +5 "Demons obeyed him (Solomon) . . . and evil spirits were subjected to him." +Targ. 2. on Esther 1, 2. From the same source Muhammad has adopted, with +slight variations, the whole story of Solomon's intercourse with the Queen of +Saba. Comp. also Tr. Gittin, fol. 68, and Midr. Jalkut on 1 Kings vi. ch. +182. + +6 Lit. unless ye bear me witness. + +7 That is, malignant. "The efreets are generally believed to differ from the +other djinn in being very powerful and always malicious; but to be in other +respects of a similar nature" (Lane's Modern Egyptians, i. 285). "The ghosts +of dead persons are also called by this name" (ib. 289). + +8 Or, before thy glance can be withdrawn from an object. + +9 Lit. we have consulted the flight of birds: hence presage. + +10 Lit. your bird, augury. + +11 Comp. Sura [lxvi.] xxv. 55. + +12 Lit. their knowledge attaineth to the next life. + +13 Lit. art on clear truth. + +14 Al Jassaca, the Spy. + +15 Or, shall derive advantage from them. + + +SURA XVIII.–THE CAVE [LXIX.] + +MECCA.–110 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +PRAISE be to God, who hath sent down the Book to his servant, and hath not +made it tortuous1 + +But direct; that it may warn of a grievous woe from him, and announce to the +faithful who do the things that are right, that a goodly reward, wherein they +shall abide for ever, awaiteth them; + +And that it may warn those who say, "God hath begotten a Son." + +No knowledge of this have either they or their fathers! A grievous saying to +come out of their mouths! They speak no other than a lie! + +And haply, if they believe not in this new revelation, thou wilt slay +thyself, on their very footsteps, out of vexation. + +Verily, we have made all that is on earth as its adornment, that we might +make trial who among mankind would excel in works: + +But we are surely about to reduce all that is thereon to dust! + +Hast thou reflected that the Inmates of THE CAVE and of Al Rakim2 were on our +wondrous signs? + +When the youths betook them to the cave they said, "O our Lord! grant us +mercy from before thee, and order for us our affair aright." + +Then struck we upon their ears with deafness in the cave for many a year: + +Then we awaked them that we might know which of the two parties could best +reckon the space of their abiding. + +We will relate to thee their tale with truth. They were youths who had +believed in their Lord, and in guidance had we increased them; + +And we had made them stout of heart, when they stood up and said, "Our Lord +is Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth: we will call on no other God than +Him; for in that case we had said a thing outrageous. + +These our people have taken other gods beside Him, though they bring no clear +proof for them; but, who more iniquitous than he who forgeth a lie of God? + +So when ye shall have separated you from them and from that which they +worship beside God, then betake you to the cave: Your Lord will unfold his +mercy to you, and will order your affairs for you for the best." + +And thou mightest have seen the sun when it arose, pass on the right of their +cave, and when it set, leave them on the left, while they were in its +spacious chamber. This is one of the signs of God. Guided indeed is he whom +God guideth; but for him whom He misleadeth, thou shalt by no means find a +patron, director. + +And thou wouldst have deemed them awake,3 though they were sleeping: and we +turned them to the right and to the left. And in the entry lay their dog with +paws outstretched.4 Hadst thou come suddenly upon them, thou wouldst surely +have turned thy back on them in flight, and have been filled with fear at +them. + +So we awaked them that they might question one another. Said one of them, +"How long have ye tarried here?" They said, "We have tarried a day or part of +day." They said, "Your Lord knoweth best how long ye have tarried: Send now +one of you with this your coin into the city, and let him mark who therein +hath purest food, and from him let him bring you a supply: and let him be +courteous, and not discover you to any one. + +For they, if they find you out, will stone you or turn you back to their +faith, and in that case it will fare ill with you for ever." + +And thus made we their adventure known to their fellow citizens, that they +might learn that the promise of God is true, and that as to "the Hour" there +is no doubt of its coming. When they disputed among themselves concerning +what had befallen them, some said, "Build a building over them; their Lord +knoweth best about them." Those who prevailed in the matter said, "A place of +worship will we surely raise over them." + +Some say, "They were three; their dog the fourth:" others say, "Five; their +dog the sixth," guessing at the secret: others say, "Seven; and their dog the +eighth." SAY: My Lord best knoweth the number: none, save a few, shall know +them. + +Therefore be clear in they discussions about them,5 and ask not any Christian +concerning them. + +Say not thou of a thing, " I will surely do it to-morrow;" without , "If God +will."6 And when thou hast forgotten, call thy Lord to mind; and say, "Haply +my Lord will guide me, that I may come near to the truth of this story with +correctness." + +And they tarried in their cave 300 years, and 9 years over.7 + +SAY: God best knoweth how long they tarried: With Him are the secrets of the +Heavens and of the Earth: Look thou and hearken unto Him alone.8 Man hath no +guardian but Him, and none may bear part in his judgments:– + +And publish what hath been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord–none may +change his words,–and thou shalt find no refuge beside Him. + +Be patient with those who call upon their Lord at morn and even, seeking his +face: and let not thine eyes be turned away from them in quest of the pomp of +this life;9 neither obey him10 whose heart we have made careless of the +remembrance of Us, and who followeth his own lusts, and whose ways are +unbridled. + +And SAY: the truth is from your Lord: let him then who will, believe; and let +him who will, be an infidel. But for the offenders we have got ready the fire +whose smoke shall enwrap them: and if they implore help, helped shall they be +with water like molten brass which shall scald their Wretched the drink! and +an unhappy couch! + +But as to those who have believed and done the things that are right,–Verily +we will not suffer the reward of him whose works were good, to perish! + +For them, the gardens of Eden, under whose shades shall rivers flow: decked +shall they be therein with bracelets of gold, and green robes of silk and +rich brocade shall they wear, reclining them therein on thrones. Blissful the +reward! and a pleasant couch!11 + +And set forth to them as a parable two men; on one of whom we bestowed two +gardens of grape vines, and surrounded both with palm trees, and placed corn +fields between them: Each of the gardens did yield its fruit, and failed not +thereof at all: + +And we caused a river to flow in their midst: And this man received his +fruit, and said, disputing with him, to his companion, "More have I than thou +of wealth, and my family is mightier." + +And he went into his garden–to his own soul unjust. He said, "I do not think +that this will ever perish: + +And I do not think that 'the Hour' will come: and even if I be taken back to +my Lord, I shall surely find a better than it in exchange." + +His fellow said to him, disputing with him, "What ! hast thou no belief in +him who created thee of the dust, then of the germs of life,12 then fashioned +thee a perfect man? + +But God is my Lord; and no other being will I associate with my Lord. + +And why didst thou not say when thou enteredst thy garden, 'What God willeth! +There is no power but in God.' Though thou seest that I have less than thou +of wealth and children, + +Yet haply my Lord may bestow on me better than thy garden, and may send his +bolts upon it out of Heaven, so that the next dawn shall find it barren dust; + +Or its water become deep sunk, so that thou art unable to find it." + +And his fruits were encompassed by destruction. Then began he to turn down +the palms of his hands at what he had spent on it; for its vines were falling +down on their trellises, and he said, "Oh that I had not joined any other god +to my Lord!" + +And he had no host to help him instead of God, neither was he able to help +himself. + +Protection in such a case is of God–the Truth: He is the best rewarder, and +He bringeth to the best issue. + +And set before them a similitude of the present life. It is as water which we +send down from Heaven, and the herb of the Earth is mingled with it, and on +the morrow it becometh dry stubble which the winds scatter: for God hath +power over all things. + +Wealth and children are the adornment of this present life: but good works, +which are lasting, are better in the sight of thy Lord as to recompense, and +better as to hope. + +And call to mind the day when we will cause the mountains to pass away,13 and +thou shalt see the earth a levelled plain, and we will gather mankind +together, and not leave of them any one. + +And they shall be set before thy Lord in ranks:–"Now are ye come unto us as +we created you at first: but ye thought that we should not make good to you +the promise." + +And each shall have his book put into his hand: and thou shalt see the wicked +in alarm at that which is therein: and they shall say, "O woe to us! what +meaneth this Book? It leaveth neither small nor great unnoted down!" And they +shall find all that they have wrought present to them, and thy Lord will not +deal unjustly with any one. + +When we said to the angels, "Prostrate yourselves before Adam," they all +prostrated them save Eblis, who was of the Djinn,14 and revolted from his +Lord's behest. behest.–What! will ye then take him and his offspring as +patrons rather than Me? and they your enemies? Sad exchange for the ungodly! + +I made them not witnesses of the creation of the Heavens and of the Earth, +nor of their own creation, neither did I take seducers as my helpers. + +On a certain day, God shall say, "Call ye on the companions ye joined with +me, deeming them to be gods:" and they shall call on them, but they shall not +answer them: then will we place a valley of perdition between them: + +And the wicked shall see the fire, and shall have a foreboding that they +shall be flung into it, and they shall find no escape from it. + +And now in this Koran we have presented to man similitudes of every kind: +but, at most things is man a caviller. + +And what, now that guidance is come to them, letteth men from believing and +from asking forgiveness of their Lord–unless they wait till that the doom of +the ancients overtake them, or the chastisement come upon them in the sight +of the universe? + +We send not our Sent Ones but to announce and to warn: but the infidels cavil +with vain words in order to refute the truth; and they treat my signs and +their own warnings with scorn. + +But who is worse than he who when told of the signs of his Lord turneth him +away and forgetteth what in time past his hands have wrought? Truly we have +thrown veils over their hearts lest they should understand this Koran, and +into their ears a heaviness: + +And if thou bid them to "the guidance" yet will they not even then be guided +ever. + +The gracious one, full of compassion, is thy Lord! if he would have chastised +them for their demerits he would have hastened their chastisement. But they +have a time fixed for the accomplishment of our menaces: and beside God they +shall find no refuge. + +And those cities did we destroy when they became impious; and of their coming +destruction we gave them warning. + +Remember when Moses said to his servant, "I will not stop till I reach the +confluence of the two seas,15 or for years will I journey on." + +But when they reached their confluence, they forgot their fish, and it took +its way in the sea at will. + +And when they had passed on, said Moses to his servant, "Bring us our morning +meal; for now have we incurred weariness from this journey." + +He said, "What thinkest thou? When we repaired to the rock for rest I forgot +the fish; and none but Satan made me forget it, so as not to mention it; and +it hath taken its way in the sea in a wondrous sort." + +He said, "It is this we were in quest of."16 And they both went back +retracing their footsteps. + +Then found they one of our servants to whom we had vouchsafed our mercy, and +whom we had instructed with our knowledge. + +And Moses said to him, "Shall I follow thee that thou teach me, for guidance, +of that which thou too hast been taught?" + +He said, "Verily, thou canst not have patience with me; + +How canst thou be patient in matters whose meaning thou comprehendest not?" + +He said, "Thou shalt find me patient if God please, nor will I disobey thy +bidding." + +He said, "Then, if thou follow me, ask me not of aught until I have given +thee an account thereof." + +So they both went on, till they embarked in a ship, and he–the unknown–staved +it in. "What!" said Moses, "hast thou staved it in that thou mayest drown its +crew? a strange thing now hast thou done!" + +He said, "Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not have patience with me?" + +He said, "Chide me not that I forgat, nor lay on me a hard command." + +Then went they on till they met a youth, and he slew him. Said Moses, "Hast +thou slain him who is free from guilt of blood? Now hast thou wrought a +grievous thing!" + +He said, "Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not have patience with me?" + +Moses said, "If after this I ask thee aught, then let me be thy comrade no +longer; but now hast thou my excuse." + +They went on till they came to the people of a city. Of this people they +asked food, but they refused them for guests. And they found in it a wall +that was about to fall, and he set it upright. Said Moses, "If thou hadst +wished, for this thou mightest have obtained pay." + +He said, "This is the parting point between me and thee. But I will first +tell thee the meaning of that which thou couldst not await with patience. + +"As to the vessel, it belonged to poor men who toiled upon the sea, and I was +minded to damage it, for in their rear was a king who seized every ship by +force. + +As to the youth his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should +trouble them by error and infidelity. + +And we desired that their Lord might give them in his place a child, better +than he in virtue, and nearer to filial piety. + +And as to the wall, it belonged to two orphan youths in the city, and beneath +it was their treasure: and their father was a righteous man: and thy Lord +desired that they should reach the age of strength, and take forth their +treasure through the mercy of thy Lord. And not of mine own will have I done +this. This is the interpretation of that which thou couldst not bear with +patience." + +They will ask thee of Dhoulkarnain [the two-horned17]. SAY: I will recite to +you an account of him. + +We stablished his power upon the earth, and made for him a way to everything. +And a route he followed, + +Until when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it to set in a miry +fount; and hard by he found a people. + +We said, "O Dhoulkarnain! either chastise or treat them generously." + +"The impious," said he, "will we surely chastise;" then shall he be taken +back to his Lord, and he will chastise him with a grievous chastisement. + +But as to him who believeth and doeth that which is right, he shall have a +generous recompense, and we will lay on them our easy behests. + +Then followed he a route, + +Until when he reached the rising of the sun he found it to rise on a people +to whom we had given no shelter from it. + +Thus it was. And we had full knowledge of the forces that were with him. + +Then followed he a route + +Until he came between the two mountains, beneath which he found a people who +scarce understood a language. + +They said, "O Dhoulkarnain! verily, Gog and Magog18 waste this land; shall we +then pay thee tribute, so thou build a rampart19 between us and them?" + +He said, "Better than your tribute is the might wherewith my Lord hath +strengthened me; but help me strenuously, and I will set a barrier between +you and them. + +Bring me blocks of iron,"–until when it filled the space between the mountain +sides–"Ply," said he, "your bellows,"–until when he had made it red with heat +(fire), he said,–"Bring me molten brass that I may pour upon it." + +And Gog and Magog were not able to scale it, neither were they able to dig +through it. + +"This," said he, "is a mercy from my Lord: + +But when the promise of my Lord shall come to pass, he will turn it to dust; +and the promise of my Lord is true." + +On that day we will let them dash like billows one over another; and there +shall be a blast on the trumpet, and we will gather them together in a body. + +And we will set Hell on that day close before the infidels, + +Whose eyes were veiled from my warning, and who had no power to hear. + +What! do the infidels think that they can take my servants as their patrons, +beside Me? Verily, we have got Hell ready as the abode of the infidels. + +SAY: Shall we tell you who they are that have lost their labour most? + +Whose aim in the present life hath been mistaken, and who deem that what they +do is right? + +They are those who believe not in the signs of the Lord, or that they shall +ever meet him. Vain, therefore, are their works; and no weight will we allow +them on the day of resurrection. + +This shall be their reward–Hell.20 Because they were unbelievers, and treated +my signs and my Apostles with scorn. + +But as for those who believe and do the things that are right, they shall +have the gardens of Paradise21 for their abode: + +They shall remain therein for ever: they shall wish for no change from it. + +SAY: Should the sea become ink, to write the words of my Lord, the sea would +surely fail ere the words of my Lord would fail, though we brought its like +in aid. + +SAY: In sooth I am only a man like you. It hath been revealed to me that your +God is one only God: let him then who hopeth to meet his Lord work a +righteous work: nor let him give any other creature a share in the worship of +his Lord. + + +_______________________ + +1 Lit. hath not put crookedness into it. + +2 The valley, or mountain, in which the Cave of the Seven Sleepers was +situated. Comp. Fundgreiben des Orients, iii. 347-381. Gibbon's Decline and +Fall, ch. xxxiii., especially the concluding sentences. + +3 Because they slept with their eyes open. Beidh. + +4 The Muhammadans believe that this dog will be admitted into Paradise. One +of its traditional names is Katmir, a word whose letters, it should be +observed, are with one exception identical with Rakim. + +5 Lit. dispute not about them unless with clear disputation. + +6 Muhammad had omitted to use the qualifying phrase when, in reply to the +Jews who asked for the History of the Seven Sleepers, he simply promised to +give it on the morrow; hence, this verse. Comp. James iv. 13-15. + +7 They entered the cavern under Decius and awoke in the time of Theodosius, +according to the tradition; which cannot be reconciled with the number of +years given in the text. + +8 Thus Ullm. But the words may be taken with Beidh. and Sale, as ironical. +Make thou him to see and hear. + +9 Said to have been promulgated at Medina. Nöld. p. 106 + +10 Omaya Ibn Chalf, who advised Muhammad to cast off all his poorer +followers, out of respect to the Koreisch. + +11 It is probable that this and the numerous similar descriptions of the +enjoyments in Paradise are based upon Muhammad's knowledge, or possibly +personal observation, of the luxurious habits of the Persians, to whom many +Arabian tribes owed allegiance, and with whom they had mercantile +transactions by means of caravans. The word Paradise, the names of cups and +brocade in Sura lvi. pp. 66, 67, and the word sundus in this passage, are all +Persian. + +12 Lit ex spermate. + +13 Comp. Isai. xl. 4, etc. + +14 Muhammad appears, according to this text, to have considered Eblis not +only as the father of the Djinn, but as one of their number. The truth +appears to be that Muhammad derived his doctrines of the Genii from the +Persian and Indian mythology, and attempted to identify them with the Satan +and demons of the Semitic races. Both the Satans and Djinn represent in the +Koran the principle of Evil. See Sura [xci.] ii. 32, n. + +15 The sea of Greece and the sea of Persia. But as no literal interpretation +of the passage seems satisfactory, the Commentators have devised a spiritual +or metaphorical one, and explain it of the two oceans of natural and +supernatural knowledge. There is no trace of this legend in the Rabbinic +writings. + +16 The loss of our fish is a sign to us of our finding him whom we seek, +namely, El-Khidr, or El-Khadir, the reputed vizier of Dhoulkarnain, and said +to have drunk of the fountain of life, by virtue of which he still lives, and +will live till the day of judgment. He is also said to appear, clad in green +robes, to Muslims in distress, whence his name. Perhaps the name Khidr is +formed from Jethro. + +17 Probably Alexander the Great–so called from his expeditions to the East +and West. He seems to be regarded in this passage as invested with a divine +commission for the extirpation of impiety and idolatry. Comp. Dan. viii. and +Tr. Tanith, fol. 32. Hottinger Bibl. Orient. 109. + +18 Ar. Yadjoudj and Madjoudj–the barbarous people of E. Asia. See Ibn +Batoutah's Travels, iv. p. 274 (Par.ed.) + +19 This rampart has been identified with fortifications which extended from +the W. shore of the Caspian Sea to the Pontus Euxinus, made, as it is said, +by Alexander, and repaired by Yezdegird II. Caussin de Perceval, vol.i.p. 66. +See Sura [lxv.] xxi. 96 + +20 The form of this word in the Arabic, with the h in the second syllable and +the final m, shews that the word was borrowed from the Hebrew, and not from +the Greek or Syriac. + +21 Observe in this expression the same admixture of the Semitic and Indo- +Persian elements as was noticed above in the identification of Satans and +Djinn, verse 48. + + +SURA XXXII.–ADORATION [LXX.] + +MECCA.–30 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. + +ELIF. LAM. MIM.1 This Book is without a doubt a Revelation sent down from the +Lord of the Worlds. + +Will they say, He hath forged it? Nay, it is the truth from thy Lord that +thou mayest warn a people to whom no warner hath come before thee, that haply +they may be guided. + +God it is who hath created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is between +them in six days; then ascended his throne. Save Him ye have no patron, and +none to plead for you. Will ye not then reflect? + +From the Heaven to the Earth He governeth all things: hereafter shall they +come up to him on a day whose length shall be a thousand of such years as ye +reckon.2 + +This is He who knoweth the unseen and the seen; the Mighty, the Merciful, + +Who hath made everything which he hath created most good; and began the +creation of man with clay; + +Then ordained his progeny from germs of life,3 from sorry water: + +Then shaped him, and breathed of His Spirit into him, and gave you hearing +and seeing and hearts: what little thanks do ye return! + +And they say, "What! when we shall have lain hidden in the earth, shall we +become a new creation?" + +Yea, they deny that they shall meet their Lord. + +SAY: The angel of death who is charged with you shall cause you to die: then +shall ye be returned to your Lord. + +Couldst thou but see when the guilty shall droop their heads before their +Lord, and cry, "O our Lord! we have seen and we have heard: return us then to +life: we will do that which is right. Verily we believe firmly!" + +(Had we pleased we had certainly given to every soul its guidance. But true +shall be the word which hath gone forth from me–I will surely fill hell with +Djinn and men together.) + +"Taste then the recompense of your having forgotten the meeting with this +your day. We, too, we have forgotten you: taste then an eternal punishment +for that which ye have wrought." + +They only believe in our signs, who, when mention is made of them, fall down +in ADORATION, and celebrate the praise of their Lord, and are not puffed up +with disdain: + +Who, as they raise them4 from their couches, call on their Lord with fear and +desire, and give alms of that with which we have supplied them. + +No soul knoweth what joy of the eyes is reserved for the good in recompense +of their works. + +Shall he then who is a believer be as he who sinneth grossly? they shall not +be held alike. + +As to those who believe and do that which is right, they shall have gardens +of eternal abode as the meed of their works: + +But as for those who grossly sin, their abode shall be the fire: so oft as +they shall desire to escape out of it, back shall they be turned into it. And +it shall be said to them, Taste ye the torment of the fire, which ye treated +as a lie. + +And we will surely cause them to taste a punishment yet nearer at hand, +besides the greater punishment, that haply they may turn to us in penitence. + +Who acteth worse than he who is warned by the signs of his Lord, then turneth +away from them? We will surely take vengeance on the guilty ones. + +We heretofore gave the Book of the law to Moses: have thou no doubt as to our +meeting with him:5 and we appointed it for the guidance of the children of +Israel. + +And we appointed Imâms from among them who should guide after our command +when they had themselves endured with constancy, and had firmly believed in +our signs. + +Now thy Lord! He will decide between them on the day of resurrection as to +the subject of their disputes. + +Is it not notorious to them how many generations, through whose abodes they +walk, we have destroyed before them? Truly herein are sings: will they not +then hear? + +See they not how we drive the rain to some parched land and thereby bring +forth corn of which their cattle and themselves do eat? Will they not then +behold? + +They say, "When will this decision take place? Tell us, if ye are men of +truth?" + +SAY: On the day of that decision, the faith of infidels shall not avail them, +and they shall have no further respite. + +Stand aloof from them then, and wait thou, for they too wait.6 + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura lxviii. 1, p. 32. + +2 Comp. Sura [cvii.] xxii. 46, and Ps. xc. 4, which is taken literally by +many of the Talmudists. Comp. e.g. Sanhed. 96, 2. + +3 Lit. ex spermate genitali. + +4 Lit. their sides are raised. + +5 Nöldeke thinks that the word for meeting is used here in the same sense as +in v. 10 above and Sura [lxxi.] xli. 54, and that the clause does not belong +to this verse, p. 108, n. + +6 Wait thou for their punishment as they wait for thy downfall. + + +SURA1 XLI.–THE MADE PLAIN [LXXI.] + +MECCA.–54 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +HA. MIM.2 A Revelation from the Compassionate, the Merciful! + +A Book whose verses (signs) are MADE PLAIN–an Arabic Koran, for men of +knowledge; + +Announcer of glad tidings and charged with warnings! But most of them +withdraw and hearken not: + +And they say, "Our hearts are under shelter from thy teachings, and in our +ears is a deafness, and between us and thee there is a veil. Act as thou +thinkest right: we verily shall act as we think right." + +SAY: I am only a man like you.3 It is revealed to me that your God is one +God: go straight then to Him, and implore his pardon. And woe to those who +join gods with God; + +Who pay not the alms of obligation, and in the life to come believe not! + +But they who believe and do the things that are right shall receive a +perfect4 recompense. + +SAY: Do ye indeed disbelieve in Him who in two days created the earth? and do +ye assign Him peers? The Lord of the worlds is He! + +And he hath placed on the earth the firm mountains which tower above it; and +He hath blessed it, and distributed food throughout it, for the cravings of +all alike, in four days: + +Then He applied himself to the Heaven, which then was but smoke: and to it +and to the Earth He said, "Come ye, whether in obedience or against your +will?" and they both said, "We come obedient." + +And He made them seven heavens in two days, and in each heaven made known its +office: And we furnished the lower heaven with lights and guardian angels. +This, the disposition of the Almighty, the All-knowing. + +If they turn away, then SAY: I warn you of a tempest, like the tempest of Ad +and Themoud! + +When the apostles came to them on every side,5 saying, "Worship none but +God," they said, "Had our Lord been pleased to send down, He had surely sent +down angels; and in sooth, your message we do not believe." + +As to Ad, they bore them proudly and unjustly in the land, and said, "Who +more mighty than we in prowess?" Saw they not that God their creator was +mightier than they in prowess? And they rejected our signs. + +Therefore on ill-omened days did we send against them an impetuous blast that +we might make them taste the chastisement of shame in this world:–but more +shameful shall be the chastisement of the life to come; and they shall not be +protected. + +And as to Themoud, we had vouchsafed them guidance; but to guidance did they +prefer blindness; wherefore the tempest of a shameful punishment overtook +them for their doings: + +But we rescued the believing and the God-fearing: + +And warn of the day when the enemies of God shall be gathered6 unto the fire +urged on in bands: + +Until when they reach it, their ears and their eyes and their skins shall +bear witness against them of their deeds: + +And they shall say to their skins, "Why witness ye against us?" They shall +say, "God, who giveth a voice to all things, hath given us a voice: He +created you at first, and to Him are ye brought back. + +And ye did not hide yourselves so that neither your ears nor your eyes nor +your skins should witness against you: but ye thought that God knew not many +a thing that ye did! + +And this your thought which ye did think of your Lord hath ruined you, so +that ye are become of those who perish." + +And be they patient, still the fire shall be their abode: or if they beg for +favour, yet shall they not be of favoured. + +And we will appoint Satans as their fast companions; for it was they who made +their present and future state seem fair and right to them; and the sentence +passed on the peoples of Djinn and men who flourished before them hath become +their due, and they shall perish. + +Yet the unbelievers say, "Hearken not to this Koran, but keep up a talking, +that ye may overpower the voice of the reader." + +Surely therefore will we cause the unbelievers to taste a terrible +punishment; + +And recompense them according to the worst of their actions. + +This the reward of the enemies of God,–the Fire! it shall be their eternal +abode, in requital for their gainsaying our signs. + +And they who believed not shall say, "O our Lord! shew us those of the Djinn +and men who led us astray: both of them will we put under out feet, that they +may be of the humbled." + +But as for those who say, "Our Lord is God;" and who go straight to Him,7 +angels shall descend to them and say, "Fear ye not, neither be ye grieved, +but rejoice ye in the paradise which ye have been promised. + +We are your guardians in this life and in the next: your's therein shall be +your soul's desire, and your's therein whatever ye shall ask for, + +The hospitality of a Gracious, a Merciful One." + +And who speaketh fairer than he who biddeth to God and doth the thing that is +right, and saith, "I for my part am of the Muslims"? + +Moreover, good and evil are not to be treated as the same thing. Turn away +evil by what is better, and lo! he between whom and thyself was enmity, shall +be as though he were a warm friend. + +But none attain to this save men steadfast in patience, and none attain to it +except the most highly favoured.8 + +And if an enticement from Satan entice thee, then take refuge in God, for He +is the Hearing, the Knowing. + +And among his signs are the night, and the day, and the sun, and the moon. +Bend not in adoration to the sun or the moon, but bend in adoration before +God who created them both, if ye would serve Him. + +But if they are too proud for this, yet they who are with thy Lord do +celebrate His praises night and day,9 and cease not. + +And among His signs is this, that thou seest the earth drooping: but, when we +send down the rain upon it, it is stirred and swelleth; verily He who giveth +it life, will surely give life to the dead; for His might extendeth over all +things.10 + +They truly who with obloquy disown our signs are not hidden from us. Is he +then who shall be cast into the fire, or he who shall come forth secure on +the day of resurrection, in the better position? Do what ye will: but His eye +is on all your doings. + +Verily, they who believe not in "the warning," after it hath come to them . . +. and yet the Koran is a glorious book! + +Falsehood, from whatever side it cometh, shall not come night it;11 it is a +missive down from the Wise, the Praiseworthy. + +Nothing hath been said to thee which hath not been said of old to apostles +before thee. Verily with thy Lord is forgiveness, and with Him is terrible +retribution. + +Had we made it a Koran in a foreign tongue, they had surely said, "Unless its +signs be made clear . . . !12 What! in a foreign tongue? and the people +Arabian?" SAY: It is to those who believe a guide and a medicine;13 but as to +those who believe not, there is a thickness in their ears, and to them it is +a blindness: they are like those who are called to from afar. + +Of old we gave the Book to Moses, and disputes arose about it: and if a +decree of respite from thy Lord had gone before, there would surely have been +a decision between them: for great were their doubts and questionings about +it.14 + +He who doth right–it is for himself:15 and he who doth evil–it is for +himself: and thy Lord will not deal unfairly with his servants. + +With Him alone16 is the knowledge of "the Hour." No fruit cometh forth from +its coverings, neither doth any female conceive, nor is she delivered, but +with His knowledge. And on that day He shall call men to Him, saying, "Where +are the companions ye gave me?" They shall say, "We own to thee, there is no +one of us can witness for them." + +And what they erst called on shall pass away from them, and they shall +perceive that there will be no escape for them. + +Man ceaseth not to pray for good: but if evil betide him he despondeth, +despairing. + +And if we cause him to taste our mercy after affliction hath touched him, he +is sure to say, "This is my due: and I take no thought of the Hour of +Resurrection: and if I be brought back to my Lord, I shall indeed attain with +Him my highest good." But we will then certainly declare their doings to the +Infidels, and cause them to taste a stern punishment. + +When we are gracious to man, he withdraweth and turneth him aside: but when +evil toucheth him, he is a man of long prayers. + +SAY: What think ye? If this Book be from God and ye believe it not, who will +have gone further astray than he who is at a distance from it? + +We will shew them our signs in different countries and among themselves, +until it become plain to them that it is the truth. Is it not enough for thee +that thy Lord is witness of all things? + +Are they not in doubt as to the meeting with their Lord? But doth he not +encompass all things? + + +_______________________ + +1 In some MSS. this Sura is entitled Adoration. Thus Beidh. According to His. +186, comp. Caussin 1, 375 f., Muhammad's aim in this Sura was the conversion +of a noble Meccan, Utba ben Rabia, to Islam. The precise year is uncertain. + +2 See Sura lxviii. 1, p. 32. + +3 Thus SS. Paul and Barnabas, Acts xiv. 15. + +4 Or, never failing. + +5 Lit. from before them and from behind them. + +6 See Sura [lx.] xxxvi. 64, n. + +7 Comp. Sura [lxxxviii.] xlvi. 12. + +8 Lit. the possessor of great good fortune. + +9 Comp. Rev. iv. 8 in the original. + +10 Thus Tr. Taanith (init.). + +11 Lit. vanity shall not come to it from before it, or from behind it. + +12 We will not receive it. The literal rendering of the following words is +what! foreign and Arabian? + +13 Comp. Sura [lxvii.] xvii. 83, 84. + +14 Lit. verily they were in suspicious doubting about it. + +15 Lit. for his soul. See next Sura, v. 14. + +16 Lit. to Him is referred. + + +SURA XLV.–THE KNEELING [LXXII.] + +MECCA.–36 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +HA. MIM.1 This Book is sent down2 from God, the Mighty, the Wise! + +Assuredly in the Heavens and the Earth are signs for those who believe: + +And in your own creation, and in the beasts which are scattered abroad are +signs to the firm in faith: + +And in the succession of night and day, and in the supply which God sendeth +down from the Heaven whereby He giveth life to the earth when dead, and in +the change of the winds, are signs for a people of discernment. + +Such are the signs of God: with truth do we recite them to thee. But in what +teaching will they believe, if they reject3 God and his signs? + +Woe to every lying sinner, + +Who heareth the signs of God recited to him, and then, as though he heard +them not, persisteth in proud disdain! Apprise him of an afflictive +punishment. + +And when he becometh acquainted with any of our signs he turneth them into +ridicule. These! a shameful punishment for them! + +Hell is behind them! and neither their gains nor the lords whom they have +adopted beside God shall avail them in the least: and theirs, a great +punishment! + +This is "Guidance:" and for those who disbelieve the signs of their Lord is +the punishment of an afflictive torment. + +It is God who hath subjected the sea to you that the ships may traverse it at +his bidding, and that ye may go in quest of the gifts of his bounty, and that +ye may be thankful. + +And he hath subjected to you all that is in the Heavens and all that is on +the Earth: all is from him. Verily, herein are signs for those who reflect. + +Tell the believers to pardon those who hope not for the days of God4 in which +He purposeth to reward men according to their deeds. + +He who doth that which is right, doth it to his own behoof, and whoso doth +evil, doth it to his own hurt. Hereafter, to your Lord shall ye be brought +back. + +To the children of Israel gave we of old the Book and the Wisdom, and the +gift of Prophecy, and we supplied them with good things, and privileged them +above all peoples: + +And we gave them clear sanctions for our behests: neither did they differ, +through mutual envy, till after they had become possessed of knowledge; but +thy Lord will judge between them on the day of resurrection, as to the +subject of their disputes. + +Afterwards we set thee over our divine law:5 follow it then: and follow not +the wishes of those who have no knowledge, + +For against God shall they avail thee nothing. And in sooth, the doers of +evil are one another's patrons; but the patron of them that fear Him is God +himself. + +This Book hath insight for mankind, and a Guidance and Mercy to a people who +are firm in faith. + +Deem they whose gettings are only evil, that we will deal with them as with +those who believe and work righteousness, so that their lives and deaths +shall be alike? Ill do they judge. + +In all truth hath God created the Heavens and the Earth, that he may reward +every one as he shall have wrought; and they shall not be wronged. + +What thinkest thou? He who hath made a God of his passions, and whom God +causeth wilfully to err, and whose ears and whose heart he hath sealed up, +and over whose sight he hath placed a veil–who, after his rejection by God, +shall guide such a one? Will ye not then be warned? + +And they say, "There is only this our present life: we die and we live, and +nought but time destroyeth us." But in this they have no knowledge: it is +merely their own conceit. + +And when our clear signs are recited to them, their only argument is to say, +"Bring back our fathers, if ye speak the truth." + +Say: God giveth you life, then causeth you to die: then will He assemble you +on the day of resurrection: there is no doubt of it: but most men have not +this knowledge. + +And God's is the kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth; and on the day when +the Hour shall arrive, on that day shall the despisers6 perish. + +And thou shalt see every nation KNEELING: to its own book shall every nation +be summoned:–”This day shall ye be repaid as ye have wrought. + +This our Book will speak of you with truth: therein have we written down +whatever ye have done." + +As to those who have believed and wrought righteously, into his mercy shall +their Lord cause them to enter. This shall be undoubted bliss! + +But as to the Infidels–"Were not my signs recited to you? but ye proudly +scorned them, and became a sinful people." + +And when it was said, "Verily the Promise of God is truth; and as to the +Hour, there is no doubt of it;" ye said, "We know not what the hour is–we +conceive it a mere conceit,–we have no assurance of it." + +And the evils they have wrought shall rise up into their view, and that at +which they mocked shall hem them in on every side. + +And it shall be said to them, "This day will we forget you as ye forgat your +meeting with us this day, and your abode shall be the fire, and none shall +there be to succour you:– + +This, because ye received the signs of God with mockery, and this present +life deceived you." On that day therefore they shall not come out from it; +and they shall not be asked to win the favour of God. + +Praise then be to God, Lord of the Heavens and Lord of the Earth; the Lord of +the worlds! + +And His be the greatness in the Heavens and on the Earth; for He is the +Mighty, the Wise! + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura lxviii. p. 32. + +2 Lit. the sending down, i.e. the revelation of the Book. + +3 Lit. after God. + +4 That is, the days of victory. In Scripture phrase, "the days of the right +hand of the Most High." + +5 The Arabic amri may be rendered either command or business, i.e. of +religion. + +6 Lit. the makers vain, i.e. vanitatis arguentes alcoranum. Mar. + + +SURA XVI.–THE BEE [LXXIII.] + +MECCA.–128 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +THE doom of God cometh to pass. Then hasten it not. Glory be to Him! High let +Him be exalted above the gods whom they join with Him! + +By his own behest will He cause the angels to descend with the Spirit on whom +he pleaseth among his servants, bidding them, "Warn that there is no God but +me; therefore fear me." + +He hath created the Heavens and the Earth to set forth his truth;1 high let +Him be exalted above the gods they join with Him! + +Man hath He created from a moist germ;2 yet lo! man is an open caviller. + +And the cattle! for you hath He created them: in them ye have warm garments +and gainful uses; and of them ye eat: + +And they beseem you well3 when ye fetch them home and when ye drive them +forth to pasture: + +And they carry your burdens to lands which ye could not else reach but with +travail of soul: truly your Lord is full of goodness, and merciful: + +And He hath given you horses, mules, and asses, that ye may ride them, and +for your ornament: and things of which ye have no knowledge hath he created. + +Of God it is to point out "the Way." Some turn aside from it: but had He +pleased, He had guided you all aright. + +It is He who sendeth down rain out of Heaven: from it is your drink; and from +it are the plants by which ye pasture. + +By it He causeth the corn, and the olives, and the palm-trees, and the grapes +to spring forth for you, and all kinds of fruits: verily, in this are signs +for those who ponder. + +And He hath subjected to you the night and the day; the sun and the moon and +the stars too are subjected to you by his behest; verily, in this are signs +for those who understand: + +And all of varied hues that He hath created for you over the earth: verily, +in this are signs for those who remember. + +And He it is who hath subjected the sea to you, that ye may eat of its fresh +fish, and take forth from it ornaments to wear–thou seest the ships ploughing +its billows–and that ye may go in quest of his bounties, and that ye might +give thanks. + +And He hath thrown firm mountains on the earth, least it move with you; and +rivers and paths for your guidance, + +And way marks. By the stars too are men guided. + +Shall He then who hath created be as he who hath not created? Will ye not +consider? + +And if ye would reckon up the favours of God, ye could not count them. Aye! +God is right Gracious, Merciful! + +And God knoweth what ye conceal, and what ye bring to light, + +While the gods whom they call on beside God, create nothing, but are +themselves created: + +Dead are they, lifeless! and they know not + +When they shall be raised! + +Your God is the one God: and they who believe not in a future life, have +hearts given to denial, and are men of pride:– + +Beyond a doubt God knoweth what they conceal and what they manifest:– + +He truly loveth not the men of pride. + +For when it is said to them, "What is this your Lord hath sent down?" they +say, "Fables of the ancients,"– + +That on the day of resurrection they may bear their own entire burden, and +the burden of those whom they, in their ignorance, misled. Shall it not be a +grievous burden for them? + +They who were before them did plot of old. But God attacked their building at +its foundation the roof fell on them from above; and, whence they looked not +for it, punishment overtook them:4 + +On the day of resurrection, too, will He shame them. He will say, "Where are +the gods ye associated with me, the subjects of your disputes?" They to whom +"the knowledge" hath been given will say, Verily, this day shall shame and +evil fall upon the infidels. + +The sinners against their own souls whom the angels shall cause to die will +proffer the submission, "No evil have we done." Nay! God knoweth what ye have +wrought: + +Enter ye therefore the gates of Hell to remain therein for ever: and horrid +the abiding place of the haughty ones! + +But to those who have feared God it shall be said, "What is this that your +Lord hath awarded?" They shall say, "That which is best. To those who do +good, a good reward in this present world; but better the mansion of the +next, and right pleasant the abode of the God-fearing!" + +Gardens of Eden into which they shall enter; rivers shall flow beneath their +shades; all they wish for shall they find therein! Thus God rewardeth those +who fear Him; + +To whom, as righteous persons, the angels shall say, when they receive their +souls, "Peace be on you! Enter Paradise as the meed of your labours." + +What can the infidels expect but that the angels of death come upon them, or +that a sentence of thy Lord take effect? Thus did they who flourished before +them. God was not unjust to them, but to their ownselves were they unjust; + +And the ill which they had done recoiled upon them, and that which they had +scoffed at encompassed them round about. + +They who have joined other gods with God say, "Had He pleased, neither we nor +our fathers had worshipped aught but him; nor should we, apart from him, have +forbidden aught." Thus acted they who were before them. Yet is the duty of +the apostles other than public preaching? + +And to every people have we sent an apostle saying:–Worship God and turn away +from Taghout.5 Some of them there were whom God guided, and there were others +decreed to err. But go through the land and see what hath been the end of +those who treated my apostles as liars! + +If thou art anxious for their guidance, know that God will not guide him whom +He would lead astray, neither shall they have any helpers. + +And they swear by God with their most sacred oath that "God will never raise +him who once is dead." Nay, but on Him is a promise binding, though most men +know it not,– + +That He may clear up to them the subject of their disputes, and that the +infidels may know that they are liars. + +Our word to a thing when we will it, is but to say, "Be," and it is.6 + +And as to those who when oppressed have fled their country for the sake of +God, we will surely provide them a goodly abode in this world, but greater +the reward of the next life, did they but know it + +They who bear ills with patience and put their trust in the Lord! + +None have we sent before thee but men inspired ask of those who have Books of +Monition,7 if ye know it not– + +With proofs of their mission and Scriptures: and to thee have we sent down +this Book of Monition that thou mayest make clear to men what hath been sent +down to them, and that they may ponder it. + +What! Are they then who have plotted mischiefs, sure that God will not cause +the earth to cleave under them? or that a chastisement will not come upon +them whence they looked not for it? + +Or that He will not seize upon them in their comings and goings, while they +shall not be able to resist him? + +Or that he will not seize them with some slowly wasting scourge? But verily +your Lord is Good, Gracious. + +Have they not seen how everything which God hath created turneth its shadow +right and left, prostrating itself before God in all abasement? + +And all in the Heavens and all on the Earth, each thing that moveth, and the +very angels, prostrate them in adoration before God, and are free from pride; + +They fear their Lord who is above them, and do what they are bidden: + +For God hath said, "Take not to yourselves two gods, for He is one God: me, +therefore! yea, me revere! + +All in the Heavens and in the Earth is His! His due unceasing service! Will +ye then fear any other than God? + +And all your blessings are assuredly from God: then, when trouble befalleth +you, to Him ye turn for help: + +Then when He relieveth you of the trouble, lo! some of you join associates +with your Lord:– + +To prove how thankless are they for our gifts! Enjoy yourselves then: but in +the end ye shall know the truth. + +And for idols, of which they know nothing, they set apart a share of our +bounties! By God ye shall be called to account for your devices! + +And they ascribe daughters unto God! Glory be to Him! But they desire them +not for themselves:8 + +For when the birth of a daughter is announced to any one of them, dark +shadows settle on his face, and he is sad: + +He hideth him from the people because of the ill tidings: shall he keep it +with disgrace or bury it in the dust?9 Are not their judgments wrong? + +To whatever is evil may they be likened who believe not in a future life;10 +but God is to be likened to whatever is loftiest: for He is the Mighty, the +Wise. + +Should God punish men for their perverse doings, he would not leave on earth +a moving thing! but to an appointed term doth He respite them; and when their +term is come, they shall not delay or advance it an hour. + +Yet what they loathe themselves do they assign to God; and their tongues +utter the lie, that theirs shall be a goodly lot. But beyond a doubt is it +that the fire awaiteth them, and that they shall be the first sent into it. + +By God we have sent Apostles to nations before thee, but Satan prepared their +work for them, and this day is he their liege; and a woeful punishment doth +await them. + +And we have sent down the Book to thee only, that thou mightest clear up to +them the subject of their wranglings, and as a guidance and a mercy to those +who believe. + +And God sendeth down water from Heaven, and by it giveth life to the Earth +after it hath been dead: verily, in this is a sign to those who hearken. + +Ye have also teaching from the cattle. We give you drink of the pure milk, +between dregs and blood, which is in their bellies; the pleasant beverage of +them that quaff it. + +And among fruits ye have the palm and the vine, from which ye get wine and +healthful nutriment: in this, verily, are signs for those who reflect. + +And thy Lord hath taught the BEE, saying: "Provide thee houses in the +mountains, and in the trees, and in the hives which men do build thee: + +Feed, moreover, on every kind of fruit, and walk the beaten paths of thy +Lord." From its belly cometh forth a fluid of varying hues,11 which yieldeth +medicine to man. Verily in this is a sign for those who consider. + +And God hath created you; by and bye will he take you to himself; and some +among you will he carry on to abject old age, when all that once was known is +known no longer. Aye, God is Knowing, Powerful. + +And God hath abounded to some of you more than to others in the supplies of +life; yet they to whom He hath abounded, impart not thereof to the slaves +whom their right hands possess, so that they may share alike. What! will they +deny, then, that these boons are from God? + +God, too, hath given you wives of your own race, and from your wives hath He +given you sons and grandsons, and with good things hath he supplied you. +What, will they then believe in vain idols? For God's boons they are +ungrateful! + +And they worship beside God those who neither out of the Heavens or Earth can +provide them a particle of food, and have no power in themselves! + +Make no comparisons, therefore, with God.12 Verily, God hath knowledge, but +ye have not. + +God maketh comparison between a slave13 the property of his lord, who hath no +power over anything, and a free man whom we have ourselves supplies, and who +giveth alms therefrom both in secret and openly. Shall they be held equal? +No: praise be to God! But most men know it not. + +God setteth forth also a comparison between two men, one of whom is dumb from +his birth, and hath no power over anything, and is a burden to his lord: send +him where he will, he cometh not back with success. Shall he and the man who +enjoineth what is just, and keepeth in the straight path, be held equal? + +God's are the secrets of the Heavens and of the Earth! and the business of +the last hour will be but as the twinkling of an eye, or even less. Yes! for +all things is God Potent. + +God hath brought you out of your mothers' wombs devoid of all knowledge; but +hath given you hearing, and sight, and heart, that haply ye might render +thanks. + +Have they never looked up at the birds subjected to Him in Heaven's vault? +None holdeth them in hand but God! In this are signs for those who believe. + +And God hath given you tents to dwell in: and He hath given you the skins of +beasts for tents, that ye may find them light when ye shift your quarters, or +when ye halt; and from their wool and soft fur and hair, hath He supplied you +with furniture and goods for temporary use. + +And from the things which He hath created, hath God provided shade for you, +and hath given you the mountains for places of shelter, and hath given you +garments to defend you from the heat, and garments to defend you in your +wars. Thus doth He fill up the measure of His goodness towards you, that you +may resign yourselves to Him. + +But if they turn their backs, still thy office is only plain spoken +preaching. + +They own the goodness of God–then they disown it–and most of them are +infidels. + +But one day, we will raise up a witness out of every nation: them shall the +infidels have no permission to make excuses, and they shall find no favour. + +And when they who have acted thus wrongly shall behold their torment, it +shall not be made light to them, nor will God deign to look upon them. + +And when they who had joined associates with God shall see those their +associate-gods, they shall say, "O our Lord! these are our associate-gods +whom we called upon beside Thee." But they shall retort on them, "Verily, ye +are liars." + +And on that day shall they proffer submission to God; and the deities of +their own invention shall vanish from them. + +As for those who were infidels and turned others aside from the way of God, +to them we will add punishment on punishment for their corrupt doings. + +And one day we will summon up in every people a witness against them from +among themselves; and we will bring thee up as a witness against these +Meccans: for to thee have we sent down the Book which cleareth up everything, +a guidance, and mercy, and glad tidings to those who resign themselves to God +(to Muslims). + +Verily, God enjoineth justice and the doing of good and gifts to kindred, and +he forbiddeth wickedness and wrong and oppression. He warneth you that haply +ye may be mindful. + +Be faithful in the covenant of God when ye have covenanted, and break not +your oaths after ye have pledged them: for now have ye made God to stand +surety for you. Verily, God hath knowledge of what ye do. + +And, because you are a more numerous people than some other people, be not +like her who unravelleth the thread which she had strongly spun, by taking +your oaths with mutual perfidy. God is making trial of you in this: and in +the day of resurrection he will assuredly clear up to you that concerning +which ye are now at variance. + +Had God pleased, He could have made you one people: but He causeth whom He +will to err, and whom He will He guideth: and ye shall assuredly be called to +account for your doings. + +Therefore take not your oaths with mutual fraud, lest your foot slip after it +hath been firmly fixed, and ye taste of evil because ye have turned others +aside from the way of God, and great be your punishment. + +And barter not the covenant of God for a mean price; for with God is that +which is better for you, if ye do but understand. + +All that is with you passeth away, but that which is with God abideth. With a +reward meet for their best deeds will we surely recompense those who have +patiently endured. + +Whoso doeth that which is right, whether male or female, if a believer, him +will we surely quicken to a happy life, and recompense them with a reward +meet for their best deeds. + +When thou readest the Koran, have recourse to God for help against Satan the +stoned,14 + +For no power hath he over those who believe, and put their trust in their +Lord, + +But only hath he power over those who turn away from God, and join other +deities with Him. + +And when we change one (sign) verse for another, and God knoweth best what He +revealeth, they say, "Thou art only a fabricator." Nay! but most of them have +no knowledge. + +SAY: The Holy Spirit15 hath brought it down with truth from thy Lord, that He +may stablish those who have believed, and as guidance and glad tidings to the +Muslims. + +We also know that they say, "Surely a certain person teacheth him." But the +tongue of him at whom they hint is foreign,16 while this Koran is in the +plain Arabic. + +As for those who believe not in the signs of God, God will not guide them, +and a sore torment doth await them. + +Surely they invent a lie who believe not in the signs of God–and they are the +liars. + +Whoso, after he hath believed in God denieth him, if he were forced to it and +if his heart remain steadfast in the faith, shall be guiltless:17 but whoso +openeth his breast to infidelity–on such shall be wrath from God, and a +severe punishment awaiteth them. + +This, because they have loved this present life beyond the next, and because +God guideth not the unbelievers! + +These are they whose hearts and ears and eyes God hath sealed up: these are +the careless ones: in the next world shall they perish beyond a doubt. + +To those also who after their trials fled their country,18 then fought and +endured with patience, verily, thy Lord will in the end be forgiving, +gracious. + +On a certain day shall every soul come to plead for itself, and every soul +shall be repaid according to its deeds; and they shall not be wronged. + +God proposeth the instance of a city,19 secure and at ease, to which its +supplies come in plenty from every side. But she was thankless for the boons +of God; God therefore made her taste the woe20 of famine and of fear, for +what they had done. + +Moreover, an apostle of their own people came to them, and they treated him +as an impostor. So chastisement overtook them because they were evil doers. + +Of what God hath supplied you eat the lawful and good, and be grateful for +the favours of God, if ye are his worshippers. + +Forbidden to you is that only which dieth of itself, and blood, and swine's +flesh, and that which hath been slain in the name of any other than God: but +if any be forced, and neither lust for it nor wilfully transgress, then +verily God is forgiving, gracious.21 + +And say not with a lie upon your tongue, "This is lawful and this is +forbidden:" for so will ye invent a lie concerning God: but they who invent a +lie of God shall not prosper: + +Brief their enjoyment, but sore their punishment! + +To the Jews22 we have forbidden that of which we before told thee; we injured +them not, but they injured themselves. + +To those who have done evil in ignorance, then afterwards have repented and +amended, verily thy Lord is in the end right gracious, merciful. + +Verily, Abraham was a leader in religion:23 obedient to God, sound in +faith:24 he was not of those who join gods with God. + +Grateful was he for His favours: God chose him and guided him into the +straight way; + +And we bestowed on him good things in this world: and in the world to come he +shall be among the just. + +We have moreover revealed to thee that thou follow the religion of Abraham, +the sound in faith. He was not of those who join gods with God. + +The Sabbath was only ordained for those who differed about it: and of a truth +thy Lord will decide between them on the day of resurrection as to the +subject of their disputes. + +Summon thou to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and with kindly warning: +dispute with them in the kindest manner: thy Lord best knoweth those who +stray from his way, and He best knoweth those who have yielded to his +guidance. + +If ye make reprisals,25 then make them to the same extent that ye were +injured: but if ye can endure patiently, best will it be for the patiently +enduring. + +Endure then with patience. But thy patient endurance must be sought in none +but God. And be not grieved about the infidels, and be not troubled at their +devices; for God is with those who fear him and do good deeds. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura [lxxxiv.] x. 5, n. + +2 Ex gutta spermatis. Pirke Aboth iii. Unde venisti? ex guttá foetidâ. This +verse is said to be an allusion to a difficulty proposed by an idolatrous +Arab, who brought a carious leg-bone to Muhammad, and asked whether it could +be restored to life. Compare a similar argument for the Resurrection, Tr. +Sanhedrin, fol. 91 a. + +3 Lit. there is beauty in them for you, i.e. they win you credit. + +4 In allusion to Gen. xi. 1-10. + +5 An Arabian idol. + +6 Ps. xxxv. 9. + +7 Lit. the family of the admonition, i.e. Jews and Christians versed in the +Pentateuch and Gospel. + +8 The idolatrous Arabians regarded Angels as females and daughters of God. +But their own preference was always for male offspring. Thus Rabbinism +teaches that to be a woman is a great degradation. The modern Jew says in his +Daily Prayers, fol. 5, 6, "Blessed art thou, O Lord our God! King of the +Universe! who hath not made me a woman." + +9 See Sura lxxxi. 8, p. 45. It is said that the only occasion on which Othman +ever shed a tear was when his little daughter, whom he was burying alive, +wiped the dust of the grave-earth from his beard. + +10 Lit. the likeness of evil to those, etc. + +11 The Arabs are curious in and fond of honey: Mecca alone affords eight or +nine varieties–green, white, red, and brown. Burton's Pilgr. iii. 110. + +12 Ex. xx. 4. + +13 The slave, and the dumb in verse following, are the idols. + +14 See Sura [xcvii.] iii. 34, and n. 1, p. 114. + +15 Gabriel. + +16 This passage has been supposed to refer to Salman the Persian. He did not, +however, embrace Islam till a much later period, at Medina. Nöld. p. 110. Mr. +Muir thinks that it may refer to Suheib, son of Sinan, "the first fruits of +Greece," as Muhammad styled him, who, while yet a boy, had been carried off +by some Greeks as a slave, from Mesopotamia to Syria, brought by a party of +the Beni Kalb, and sold to Abdallah ibn Jodda'ân of Mecca. He became rich, +and embraced Islam. Dr. Sprenger thinks the person alluded to may have been +Addas, a monk of Nineveh, who had settled at Mecca. Life of M. p. 79. + +17 This is to be understood of the persecutions endured by the more humble +and needy Muslims by their townspeople of Mecca. + +18 From Mecca to Medina, i.e. the Mohadjers, to whom also verse 43 refers. +Both passages, therefore, are of a later date than the rest of this Sura. +Thus Nöldeke. Sprenger, however (Life, p. 159), explains this passage of the +seven slaves purchased and manumitted by Abu Bekr. They had been tortured for +professing Islam, shortly after Muhammad assumed the Prophetic office. + +19 Mecca. + +20 Lit. the garment. + +21 Comp. Sura [lxxxix.] vi. 119. + +22 Comp. Sura [lxxxix.] vi. 147. This verse as well as the following, and +verse 125, were probably added at Medina. + +23 Antistes. Maracci. Or the text may be literally rendered Abraham was a +people, i.e. the people of Abraham; from whom the idolatrous Koreisch +pretended to derive their origin. + +24 Ar. a Hanyf. According to a tradition in Waquidi, fol. 255, Zaid (who died +only five years before Muhammad received his first inspiration, and +undoubtedly prepared the way for many of his subsequent announcements) +adopted this term at the instance of a Christian and a Jew, who exhorted him +to become a Hanyf. Zaid having at this time renounced idolatry, and being +unable to receive either Judaism or Christianity, "What," said he, "is a +Hanyf?" They both told him, it was the religion of Abraham, who worshipped +nothing but God. On this Zaid exclaimed, "O God, I bear witness that I follow +the religion of Abraham." The root, whence Hanyf is derived, means generally +to turn from good to bad, or vice versâ, and is equivalent to the verbs +convert and pervert. + +25 All Muhammadan commentators explain this verse as a prohibition to avenge +the death of Hamza on the Meccans with too great severity. + + +SURA XXX.–THE GREEKS [LXXIV.] + +MECCA.–60 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ELIF. LAM. MIM.1 THE GREEKS have been defeated2 + +In a land hard by: But after their defeat they shall defeat their foes, + +In a few years.3 First and last is the affair with God. And on that day +shall the faithful rejoice + +In the aid of their God: He aideth whom He will; and He is the Mighty, the +Merciful. + +It is the promise of God: To his promise God will not be untrue: but most men +know it not. + +They know the outward shews of this life present, but of the next life are +they careless. + +Have they not considered within themselves that God hath not created the +Heavens and the Earth and all that is between them but for a serious end, and +for a fixed term? But truly most men believe not that they shall meet their +Lord. + +Have they never journeyed through the land, and seen what hath been the end +of those who were before them? Mightier were they than these in strength; and +they broke up the land, and dwelt in it in greater numbers than they who +dwell there now; and their apostles came to them with proofs of their +mission: and it was not God who would wrong them, but they wronged +themselves. + +Then evil was the end of the evil doers; because they had treated our signs +as lies, and laughed them to scorn. + +God bringth forth the creation–then causeth it to return again–then to Him +shall ye come back.4 + +And on the day when the hour shall arrive, the guilty shall be struck dumb +for despair, + +And they shall have no intercessors from among the gods whom they have joined +with God, and they shall deny the gods they joined with Him. + +And on that day when the Hour shall arrive, shall men be separated one from +another; + +And as for those who shall have believed and done the things that are right, +they shall enjoy themselves in a flowery mead; + +But as for those who shall not have believed, but treated our signs and the +meeting of the next life as lies, they shall be given over to the torment. + +Glorify God therefore when ye reach the evening, and when ye rise at morn: + +And to Him be praise in the Heavens and on the Earth; and at twilight, and +when ye rest at noon. + +He bringeth forth the living out of the dead, and He bringeth forth the dead +out of the living: and He quickeneth the earth when dead. Thus is it that ye +too shall be brought forth.5 + +And one of his signs it is that He hath created you out of dust; then lo! ye +become men who spread themselves far and wide: + +And one of his signs it is, that He hath created wives for you of your own +species,6 that ye may dwell with them, and hath put love and tenderness +between you. Herein truly are signs for those who reflect. + +And among his signs are the creation of the Heavens and of the Earth, and +your variety of tongues and colour. Herein truly are signs for all men. + +And of his signs are your sleep by night and by day, and your goings in quest +of his bounties. Herein truly are signs to those who hearken. + +And of his signs are, that He sheweth you the lightning, a source of awe and +hope; and that He sendeth down rain from the heaven and giveth life by it to +the earth when dead. Herein truly are signs to those who understand. + +And of his signs also one is that the Heaven and the Earth stand firm at his +bidding: hereafter, when with one summons He shall summon you out of the +earth,–lo! forth shall ye come. + +His, whatsoever is in the Heavens and on the Earth: all are obedient to him. + +And He it is who bringeth a creature forth, then causeth it to return again; +and to him is this most easy. To whatever is loftiest in heaven and earth is +He to be likened; and He is the Mighty, the Wise. + +He setteth forth to you an instance drawn from yourselves. Have ye among the +slaves whom your right hands have won, any partner in what we have bestowed +on you, so that ye share alike? Fear ye them as ye fear each other? (Thus +make we our signs clear to men of understanding.) + +No, ye do not. But the wicked, devoid of knowledge, follow their own +desires:7 and those whom God shall mislead, who shall guide, and who shall be +their protector? + +Set thou thy face then, as a true convert,8 towards the Faith which God hath +made, and for which He hath made man. No change is there in the creation of +God. This is the right Faith, but the greater part of men know it not. + +And be ye turned to Him, and fear Him, and observe prayer, and be not of +those who unite gods with God: + +Of those who have split up their religion, and have become sects, where every +party rejoices in what is their own.9 + +When some evil toucheth men, they turn to their Lord and call upon him: then +when he hath made them taste his mercy, lo, a part of them join other gods +with their Lord, + +Ungrateful for our favours! Enjoy yourselves then. But in the end ye shall +know your folly. + +Have we sent down to them any mandate which speaketh in favour of what they +join with God? + +When we cause men to taste mercy they rejoice in it; but if, for that which +their hands have aforetime wrought, evil befall them, they despair. + +See they not that God bestoweth full supplies on whom He pleaseth and giveth +sparingly to whom He pleaseth? Signs truly are there herein to those who +believe. + +To him who is of kin to thee give his due, and to the poor and to the +wayfarer: this will be best for those who seek the face of God; and with them +it shall be well. + +Whatever ye put out at usury to increase it with the substance of others +shall have no increase from God:10 but whatever ye shall give in alms, as +seeking the face of God, shall be doubled to you. + +It is God who created you–then fed you–then will cause you to die–then will +make you alive. Is there any of your companion-gods who can do aught of these +things? Praise be to Him! and far be He exalted above the gods they join with +Him. + +Destruction hath appeared by land and by sea on account of what men's hands +have wrought, that it might make them taste somewhat of the fruit of their +doings, that haply they might turn to God. + +SAY: Journey through the land, and see what hath been the end of those who +were before you! The greater part of them joined other gods with God. + +Set thy face then towards the right faith, ere the day come which none can +hinder God from bringing on.11 On that day shall they be parted in twain: + +Unbelievers on whom shall be their unbelief; and they who have wrought +righteousness, and prepared for themselves couches of repose: + +That of his bounty He may reward those who have believed and wrought +righteousness; for the unbelievers He loveth not. + +And one of his signs is that He sendeth the winds with glad tidings of rain, +both that He may cause you to taste his mercy, and that ships may sail at his +command, that out of his bounties ye may seek wealth, and that haply ye may +render thanks. + +We have sent apostles before thee to their peoples, and they presented +themselves to them with clear proofs of their mission; and while it behoved +us to succour the faithful, we took vengeance on the guilty. + +It is God who sendeth the winds and uplifteth the clouds, and, as He +pleaseth, spreadeth them on high, and breaketh them up; and thou mayest see +the rain issuing from their midst; and when He poureth it down on such of his +servants as He pleaseth, lo! they are filled with joy, + +Even they who before it was sent down to them, were in mute despair. + +Look then at the traces of God's mercy–how after its death he quickeneth the +earth! This same God will surely quicken the dead, for to all things His +might is equal. + +Yet should we send a blast, and should they see their harvest turn yellow, +they would afterwards shew themselves ungrateful. + +Thou canst not make the dead to hear, neither canst thou make the deaf to +hear the call, when they withdraw and turn their backs: + +Neither canst thou guide the blind out of their error: in sooth, none shalt +thou make to hear, save him who shall believe in our signs: for they are +resigned to our will (Muslims). + +It is God who hath created you in weakness, then after weakness hath given +you strength: then after strength, weakness and grey hairs: He createth what +He will; and He is the Wise, the Powerful. + +And on the day whereon the Hour shall arrive, the wicked will swear + +That not above an hour have they waited: Even so did they utter lies on +earth: + +But they to whom knowledge and faith have been given will say, "Ye have +waited, in accordance with the book of God, till the day of Resurrection: for +this is the day of the Resurrection–but ye knew it not." + +On that day their plea shall not avail the wicked, neither shall they again +be bidden to seek acceptance with God. + +And now have we set before men, in this Koran, every kind of parable: yet if +thou bring them a single verse of it, the infidels will surely say, "Ye are +only utterers of vain things." + +It is thus that God hath sealed up the hearts of those who are devoid of +knowledge. + +But do thou, Muhammad, bear with patience, for true is the promise of God; +and let not those who have no firm belief, unsettle thee. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura lxviii. 1, p. 32. + +2 By the Persians; probably in Palestine in the 6th year before the Hejira, +under Khosrou Parviz. (Ann. 615. See Gibbon's Decline and Fall, ch. xlvi.) +The sympathies of Muhammad would naturally be enlisted on the side of the +Christians rather than on that of the idolatrous fire-worshippers, with whom +Islam had nothing in common. + +3 This alludes to the defeat of the Persians by Heraclius, ann. 625. The +Muhammadans appeal to this passage as a clear proof of the inspiration of +their prophet. But it should be borne in mind that the vowel points of the +consonants of the Arabic word for defeated in verse 1, not being originally +written, and depending entirely on the speaker or reader, would make the +prophecy true in either event, according as the verb received an active or +passive sense in pronunciation. The whole passage was probably constructed +with the view of its proving true in any event. + +4 Comp. Psalm xc. 30, in the Arabic version. + +5 The Talmudists apply the description of God of the sender of the rain to +the divine command which shall cause the dead to arise. Taanith (init.). + +6 Lit. from yourselves, i.e. either from the side of Adam or of human, and of +no other kind of being. Beidh. + +7 By worshipping idols conjointly with God. + +8 Lit. as a Hanyf. See note on the preceding Sura, 121, p. 209. + +9 Peculiar to and distinctive of themselves. Muhammad had a just appreciation +of that narrowness of mind which is the characteristic of sectarians in every +age, who seize upon some one point of truth, through inability to grasp the +whole in its due proportions and bearing, and glory in it, as if the fragment +were the whole. + +10 Comp. Ps. xv. 5. + +11 Lit. which none can put back from God. + + +SURA XI.–HOUD [LXXV.] + +MECCA.–123 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ELIF. LAM. RA.1 A book whose verses are stablished in wisdom and then set +forth with clearness from the Wise, the All-informed– + +That ye worship none other than God–Verily I come to you from Him charged +with warnings, announcements; + +And that ye seek pardon of your Lord, and then be turned unto Him! Goodly +enjoyments will He give you to enjoy until a destined time, and His favours +will He bestow on every one who deserves his favours.2 But if ye turn away, +then verily I fear for you the chastisement of the great day. + +Unto God shall ye return, and over all things is he Potent. + +Do they not doubly fold up their breasts, that they may hide themselves from +Him? + +But when they enshroud themselves in their garments, doth He not know alike +what they conceal and what they shew? + +For He knoweth the very inmost of their breast. + +There is no moving thing on earth whose nourishment dependeth not on God; he +knoweth its haunts and final resting place: all is in the clear Book. + +And He it is who hath made the Heavens and the Earth in six days: His throne +had stood ere this upon the waters,3 that He might make proof which of you4 +would excel in works. + +And if thou say, "After death ye shall surely be raised again," the infidels +will certainly exclaim, "This is nothing but pure sorcery." + +And if we defer their chastisement to some definite time, they will exclaim, +"What keepeth it back?" What! will it not come upon them on a day when there +shall be none to avert it from them? And that at which they scoffed shall +enclose them in on every side. + +And if we cause man to taste our mercy, and then deprive him of it, verily, +he is despairing, ungrateful. + +And if after trouble hath befallen him we cause him to taste our favour, he +will surely exclaim, "The evils are passed away from me." Verily, he is +joyous, boastful. + +Except those who endure with patience and do the things that are right: these +doth pardon await and a great reward. + +Perhaps thou wilt suppress a part of what hath been revealed to thee, and +wilt be distress at heart lest they say, "If a treasure be not sent down to +him, or an angel come with him. . . ." But thou art only a warner, and God +hath all things in his charge. + +If they shall say, "The Koran is his own device," SAY: Then bring ten Suras +like it5 of your devising, and call whom ye can to your aid beside God, if ye +are men of truth. + +But if they answer you not, then know that it hath been sent down to you in +the wisdom of God only, and that there is no God but He. Are ye then Muslims? + +Those who choose this present life and its braveries, we will recompense for +their works therein: they shall have nothing less therein than their deserts. + +These are they for whom there is nothing in the next world but the Fire: all +that they have wrought in this life shall come to nought, and vain shall be +all their doings. + +With such can they be compared who rest upon clear proofs from their Lord? to +whom a witness from him reciteth the Koran, and who is preceded by the Book +of Moses, a guide and mercy? These have faith in it: but the partisans of +idolatry, who believe not in it, are menaced with the fire! Have thou no +doubts about that Book, for it is the very truth from thy Lord. But most men +will not believe. + +Who is guilty of a greater injustice than he who inventeth a lie concerning +God? They shall be set before their Lord, and the witnesses shall say, "These +are they who made their Lord a liar." Shall not the malison of God be on +these unjust doers, + +Who pervert others from the way of God, and seek to make it crooked, and +believe not in a life to come? God's power on earth they shall not weaken; +and beside God they have no protector! Doubled shall be their punishment! +They were not able to hearken, and they could not see. + +These are they who have lost their own souls, and the deities of their own +devising have vanished from them: + +There is no doubt but that in the next world they shall be the lost ones. + +But they who shall have believed and done the things that are right, and +humbled them before their Lord, shall be the inmates of Paradise; therein +shall they abide for ever. + +These two sorts of persons resemble the blind and deaf, and the seeing and +hearing: shall these be compared as alike? Ah! do ye not comprehend? + +We sent Noah of old unto his people:–"Verily I come to you a plain +admonisher, + +That ye worship none but God. Verily I fear for you the punishment of a +grievous day." + +Then said the chiefs of his people who believed not, "We see in thee but a +man like ourselves; and we see not who have followed thee except our meanest +ones of hasty judgment, nor see we any excellence in you above ourselves: +nay, we deem you liars." + +He said: "O my people! how think you? If I am upon a clear revelation from my +Lord, who hath bestowed on me mercy from Himself to which ye are blind, can +we force it on you, if ye are averse from it? + +And, O my people! I ask you not for riches: my reward is of God alone: and I +will not drive away those who believe that they shall meet their Lord:–but I +see that ye are an ignorant people. + +And, O my people! were I to drive them away, who shall help me against God? +Will ye not therefore consider? + +And I tell you not that with me are the treasures of God: nor do I say, 'I +know the things unseen;' nor do I say, 'I am an angel;' nor do I say of those +whom you eye with scorn, No good thing will God bestow on them:–God best +knoweth what is in their minds–for then should I be one of those who act +unjustly." + +They said: "O Noah! already hast thou disputed with us, and multiplied +disputes with us: Bring then upon us what thou hast threatened, if thou be of +those who speak truth." + +He said, "God will bring it on you at His sole pleasure, and it is not you +who can weaken him; + +Nor, if God desire to mislead you, shall my counsel profit you, though I fain +would counsel you aright. He is your Lord, and unto Him shall ye be brought +back. + +Do they say, "This Koran is of his own devising?" Say: On me be my own guilt, +if I have devised it, but I am clear of that whereof ye are guilty. + +And it was revealed unto Noah. Verily, none of thy people shall believe, save +they who have believed already; therefore be not thou grieved at their +doings. + +But build the Ark under our eye and after our revelation: and plead not with +me for the evil doers, for they are to be drowned. + +So he built the Ark; and whenever the chiefs of his people passed by they +laughed him to scorn:6 said he, "Though ye laugh at us, we truly shall laugh +at you, even as ye laugh at us; and in the end ye shall know + +On whom a punishment shall come that shall shame him, and on whom shall light +a lasting punishment." + +Thus was it until our sentence came to pass, and the earth's surface7 boiled +up. We said, "Carry into it one pair of every kind, and thy family, except +him on whom sentence hath before been passed, and those who have believed." +But there believed not with him except a few. + +And he said, "Embark ye therein. In the name of God be its course and its +riding at anchor! Truly my Lord is right Gracious, Merciful." + +And the Ark moved on with them amid waves like mountains: and Noah called to +his son–for he was apart–"Embark with us, O my child! and be not with the +unbelievers." + +He said, "I will betake me to a mountain that shall secure me from the +water." He said, "None shall be secure this day from the decree of God, save +him on whom He shall have mercy." And a wave passed between them, and he was +among the drowned. + +And it was said, "O Earth! swallow up thy water;" and "cease, O Heaven!" And +the water abated, and the decree was fulfilled, and the Ark rested upon Al- +Djoudi;8 and it was said, "Avaunt! ye tribe of the wicked!" + +And Noah called on his Lord and said, "O Lord! verily my son is of my family: +and thy promise is true, and thou art the most just of judges." + +He said, "O Noah! verily, he is not of thy family: in this thou actest not +aright.9 Ask not of me that whereof thou knowest nought: I warn thee that +thou become not of the ignorant. + +He said, "To thee verily, O my Lord, do I repair lest I ask that of thee +wherein I have no knowledge: unless thou forgive me and be merciful to me I +shall be one of the lost. + +It was said to him, "O Noah! debark with peace from Us, and with blessings on +thee and on peoples to be born from those who are with thee; but as for other +and unbelieving peoples, we will give them their good things in this world, +but hereafter shall a grievous punishment light on them from us. + +This is one of the secret Histories: we reveal it unto thee: neither thou nor +thy people knew it ere this: be patient thou: verily, there is a prosperous +issue to the God-fearing. + +And unto Ad we sent their Brother HOUD. He said, "O my people, worship God. +You have no God beside Him. Ye only devise a lie. + +O my people! I ask of you no recompense for this: my recompense is with Him +only who hath made me. Will ye not then understand? + +O my people! ask pardon of your Lord; then be turned unto Him: He will send +down the heavens upon you with copious rains: + +And with strength on strength will He increase you: only turn not back with +deeds of evil." + +They said, "O Houd, thou hast not brought us proofs of thy mission: we will +not abandon our gods at thy word, and we believe thee not. + +We can only say that some of our gods have smitten thee with evil." Said he, +"Now take I God to witness, and do ye also witness, that I am clear of your +joining other gods + +To God. Conspire then against me all of you, and delay me not. + +For I trust in God, my Lord and yours. No single beast is there which he +holdeth not by its forelock. Right, truly, is the way in which my Lord goeth. + +But if ye turn back, I have already declared to you my message. And my Lord +will put another people in your place, nor shall ye at all hurt Him; verily, +my Lord keepeth watch over all things." + +And when our doom came to be inflicted, we rescued Houd and those who had +like faith with Him, by our special mercy: we rescued them from the rigorous +chastisement. + +These men of Ad gainsaid the signs of their Lord, and rebelled against his +messengers, and followed the bidding of every proud contumacious person. + +Followed therefore were they in this world by a curse; and in the day of the +Resurrection it shall be said to them, "What! Did not Ad disbelieve their +Lord?" Was not Ad, the people of Houd, cast far away? + +And unto Themoud we sent their Brother Saleh:10–"O my people! said he, +worship God: you have no other god than Him. He hath raised you up out of the +earth, and hath given you to dwell therein. Ask pardon of him then, and be +turned unto him; for thy Lord is nigh, ready to answer." + +They said, "O Saleh! our hopes were fixed on thee till now:11 forbiddest thou +us to worship what our fathers worshipped? Truly we misdoubt the faith to +which thou callest us, as suspicious." + +He said, "O my people! what think ye? If I have a revelation from my Lord to +support me, and if He hath shewed his mercy on me, who could protect me from +God if I rebel against him? Ye would only confer on me increase of ruin. + +O my people! this is the she-Camel of God, and a sign unto you. Let her go at +large and feed in God's earth, and do her no harm, lest a speedy punishment +overtake you." + +Yet they hamstrung her: then said he, "Yet three days more enjoy yourselves +in your dwellings: this menace will not prove untrue." + +And when our sentence came to pass, we rescued Saleh and those who had a like +faith with him, by our mercy, from ignominy on that day. Verily, thy Lord is +the Strong, the Mighty! + +And a violent tempest overtook the wicked, and they were found in the morning +prostrate in their dwellings, + +As though they had never abode in them. What! Did not Themoud disbelieve his +Lord? Was not Themoud utterly cast off? + +And our messengers came formerly to Abraham with glad tidings. "Peace," said +they. He said, "Peace," and he tarried not, but brought a roasted calf. + +And when he saw that their hands touched it not,12 he misliked them, and grew +fearful of them. They said, "Fear not, for we are sent to the people of Lot." + +His wife was standing by and laughed;13 and we announced Isaac to her; and +after Isacc, Jacob. + +She said, "Ah, woe is me! shall I bear a son when I am old, and when this my +husband is an old man? This truly would be a marvellous thing." + +They said, "Marvellest thou at the command of God? God's mercy and blessing +be upon you, O people of this house; praise and glory are His due!" + +And when Abraham's fear had passed away, and these glad tidings had reached +him, he pleaded with us for the people of Lot. Verily, Abraham was right +kind, pitiful, relenting. + +"O Abraham! desist from this; for already hath the command of thy God gone +forth; as for them, a punishment not to be averted is coming on them." + +And when our messengers came to Lot, he was grieved for them; and he was too +weak to protect them,14 and he said, "This is a day of difficulty." + +And his people came rushing on towards him, for aforetime had they wrought +this wickedness. He said, "O my people! these my daughters will be purer for +you: fear God, and put me not to shame in my guests. Is there no rightminded +man among you?" + +They said, "Thou knowest now that we need not thy daughters; and thou well +knowest what we require." + +He said, "Would that I had strength to resist you, or that I could find +refuge with some powerful chieftain."15 + +The Angels said, "O Lot! verily, we are the messengers of thy Lord: they +shall not touch thee: depart with thy family in the dead of night, and let +not one of you turn back: as for thy wife, on her shall light what shall +light on them. Verily, that with which they are threatened is for the +morning. Is not the morning near?" + +And when our decree came to be executed we turned those cities upside down, +and we rained down upon them blocks of claystone one after another, marked16 +by thy Lord himself. Nor are they far distant from the wicked Meccans. + +And we sent to Madian17 their brother Shoaib. He said, "O my people! worship +God: no other God have you than He: give not short weight and measure: I see +indeed that ye revel in good things; but I fear for you the punishment of the +all-encompassing day. + +O my people! give weight and measure with fairness; purloin not other men's +goods; and perpetrate not injustice on the earth with corrupt practices: + +A residue,18 the gift of God, will be best for you if ye are believers: + +But I am not a guardian over you." + +They said to him, "O Shoaib! is it thy prayers which enjoin that we should +leave what our fathers worshipped, or that we should not do with our +substance as pleaseth us? Thou forsooth art the mild, the right director!" + +He said, "O my people! How think ye? If I have a clear revelation from my +Lord, and if from Himself He hath supplied me with goodly supplies, and if I +will not follow you in that which I myself forbid you, do I seek aught but +your amendment so far as in me lieth? My sole help is in God. In Him do I +trust, and to Him do I turn me. + +O my people! let not your opposition to me draw down upon you the like of +that which befel the people of Noah, or the people of Houd, or the people of +Saleh: and the abodes of the people of Lot are not far distant from you! + +Seek pardon of your Lord and be turned unto Him: verily, my Lord is Merciful, +Loving. + +They said, "O Shoaib! we understand not much of what thou sayest, and we +clearly see that thou art powerless among us: were it not for thy family we +would have surely stoned thee, nor couldest thou have prevailed against us." + +He said, "O my people! think ye more highly of my family than of God? Cast ye +Him behind your back, with neglect? Verily, my Lord is round about your +actions. + +And, O my people! act with what power ye can for my hurt: I verily will act: +and ye shall know + +On whom shall light a punishment that shall disgrace him, and who is the +liar. Await ye; verily I will await with you." + +And when our decree came to pass, we delivered Shoaib and his companions in +faith, by our mercy: And a violent tempest overtook the wicked, and in the +morning they were found prostrate in their houses + +As if they had never dwelt in them. Was not Madian swept off even as Themoud +had been swept off? + +Of old sent we Moses with our signs and with incontestable power to Pharaoh, +and to his nobles–who followed the behests of Pharaoh, and, unrighteous were +Pharaoh's behests. + +He shall head his people on the day of the Resurrection and cause them to +descend into the fire: and wretched the descent by which they shall descend! + +They were followed by a curse in this world; and in the day of the +Resurrection, wretched the gift that shall be given them! + +Such, the histories of the cities which we relate to thee. Some of them are +standing, others mown down: + +We dealt not unfairly by them, but they dealt not fairly by themselves: and +their gods on whom they called beside God availed them not at all when thy +Lord's behest came to pass. They did but increase their ruin. + +Such was thy Lord's grasp19 when he laid that grasp on the cities that had +been wicked. Verily his grasp is afflictive, terrible! + +Herein truly is a sign for him who feareth the punishment of the latter day. +That shall be a day unto which mankind shall be gathered together; that shall +be a day witnessed by all creatures. + +Nor do we delay it, but until a time appointed. + +When that day shall come no one shall speak a word but by His leave, and some +shall be miserable and others blessed. + +And as for those who shall be consigned to misery–their place the Fire! +therein shall they sigh and bemoan them– + +Therein shall they abide while the Heavens and the Earth shall last, unless +thy Lord shall will it otherwise; verily thy Lord doth what He chooseth. + +And as for the blessed ones–their place the Garden! therein shall they abide +while the Heavens and the Earth endure, with whatever imperishable boon thy +Lord may please to add. + +Have thou no doubts therefore concerning that which they worship: they +worship but what their fathers worshipped before them: we will surely assign +them their portion with nothing lacking. + +Of old gave we Moses the Book, and they fell to variance about it. If a +decree of respite had not gone forth from thy Lord, there had surely been a +decision between them. Thy people also are in suspicious doubts about the +Koran. + +And truly thy Lord will repay every one according to their works! for He is +well aware of what they do. + +Go straight on then as thou hast been commanded, and he also who hath turned +to God with thee, and let him transgress no more. He beholdeth what ye do. + +Lean not on the evil doers lest the Fire lay hold on you. Ye have no +protector, save God, and ye shall not be helped against Him. + +And observe prayer at early morning, at the close of the day, and at the +approach of night; for the good deeds drive away the evil deeds. This is a +warning for those who reflect: + +And persevere steadfastly, for verily God will not suffer the reward of the +righteous to perish. + +Were the generations before you, endued with virtue, and who forbad corrupt +doings on the earth, more than a few of those whom we delivered? but the evil +doers followed their selfish pleasures, and became transgressors. + +And thy Lord was not one who would destroy those cities unjustly, when its +inhabitants were righteous. + +Had thy Lord pleased he would have made mankind of one religion: but those +only to whom thy Lord hath granted his mercy will cease to differ. And unto +this hath He created them; for the word of thy Lord shall be fulfilled, "I +will wholly fill hell with Djinn and men." + +And all that we have related to thee of the histories of these Apostles, is +to confirm thy heart thereby. By these hath the truth reached thee, and a +monition and warning to those who believe. + +But say to those who believe not, "Act as ye may and can: we will act our +part: and wait ye; we verily will wait." + +To God belong the secret things of the Heavens and of the Earth: all things +return to him: worship him then and put thy trust in Him: thy Lord is not +regardless of your doings.20 + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura lxviii. p. 32. + +2 Or, will bestow his grace on every gracious one, or will bestow his +abundance on every one who hath abundance (of merit). The difficulty of +rendering this passage arises from the word fadhl, which means merit as +applied to man, favour as applied to God. + +3 That is, before the Creation. Precisely the same statement occurs in Raschi +on Gen. i. 2, also in the modern catechism. Tsenah ur'enak b'noth Tsion, +authoritatively put forth by the Polish and German Talmudist Rabbins. "At the +first creation of Heaven and Earth . . . the throne of glory of the Blessed +God stood in the air above the waters." Comp. Ps. civ. 3. + +4 Men, heaven, and earth. Comp. Tr. Aboth, v. Mischna 1. + +5 Comp. verse 37 and Sura [xci.] ii. 21. It should be observed that the +challenge in these passages is not to produce a book which shall equal the +Koran in point of poetry or rhetoric, but in the importance of its subject- +matter with reference to the Divine Unity, the future retribution, etc. Upon +these topics Muhammad well knew that he had preoccupied the ground. And we +may infer from the fragments of the Revelations of Musailima and Sajâh +(Hisam. 946; Attabâri (ed. Kosegarten) i. 134, 136, 152; Tab. Agâni, 339), +which are mere imitations of the Koran, that he felt this to be the case. + +6 "They laughed and jeered at him in their words." Midr. Tanchuma. "The +passage Job xii. 5, refers to the righteous Noah who taught them and spake to +them words severe as flames: but they scorned him, and said, 'Old man! for +what purpose is this ark?"' Sanhedr. 108. Comp. Midr. Rabbah on Gen. 30, and +33 on Eccl. ix. 14. + +7 Or, oven: according to others, reservoir. Geiger thinks that the expression +the oven boiled up may be a figurative mode of expressing the Rabbinic idea +that "the generation of the Deluge were punished by hot water." Rosch. +Haschanah, 16, 2; Sanhedr. 108. Comp. Weil's Legenden, p. 44. + +8 The Montes Gordyoei, perhaps. + +9 According to another reading: He hath done amiss. The origin of this story +is probably Gen. ix. 20-25. + +10 A Prophet, so far as we know, of Muhammad's own invention, unless Muir's +conjecture be admitted that he was a Christian or Jewish missionary whose +adventures and persecution were recast into this form.–The name may have been +suggested by, Methusaleh, upon whose piety the Midrasch enlarges. + +11 That is, we had intended to make thee our chief. Beidh. + +12 Thus, in contradiction to Gen. xviii. 8, the Rabbins; comp. Tr. Baba +Mezia, fol. 86, "They made as though they ate." + +13 Or, menstrua passa est, in token of the possibility of her bearing a +child. + +14 Lit. his arm was straitened concerning them. + +15 Lit. column. + +16 With the name, it is said, of the person each should strike. + +17 See Sura [lvi.] xxvi. 176. + +18 That is, after giving fair measure. + +19 Seizure, for punishment. Hence, the punishment itself. + +20 In the later period of his life Muhammad attributed his gray hairs to the +effect produced upon him by this Sura and its "Sisters." While Abu Bekr and +Omar sat in the mosque at Medina, Muhammad suddenly came upon them from the +door of one of his wives' houses. . . . And Abu Bekr said, "Ah! thou for +whom I would sacrifice father and mother, white hairs are hastening upon +thee!" And the Prophet raised up his beard with his hand and gazed at it; and +Abu Bekr's eyes filled with tears. "Yes," said Muhammad, "Hűd and its sisters +have hastened my white hairs." "And what," asked Abu Bekr, "are its sisters?" +"The Inevitable (Sura lvi.) and the Blow (Sura ci.)." Kitâb al Wackidi, p. +84, ap. Muir. + + +SURA XIV.–ABRAHAM, ON WHOM BE PEACE [LXXVI.] + +MECCA.–52 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ELIF. LAM. RA. This Book have we sent down to thee that by their Lord's +permission thou mayest bring men out of darkness into light, into the path of +the Mighty, the Glorious– + +Of God; to whom belongeth whatever is in the Heavens and whatever is on the +Earth: and woe! for their terrible punishment, to the infidels, + +Who love the life that now is, above that which is to come, and mislead from +the way of God, and seek to make it crooked. These are in a far-gone error. + +And in order that He might speak plainly to them, we have not sent any +Apostle, save with the speech of his own people; but God misleadeth whom He +will, and whom He will he guideth: and He is the Mighty, the Wise. + +Of old did we send Moses with our signs: and said to him, "Bring forth thy +people from the darkness into the light, and remind them of the days of God." +Verily, in this are signs for every patient, grateful person: + +When Moses said to his people, "Remember the kindness of God to you, when he +rescued you from the family of Pharaoh who laid on you a cruel affliction, +slaughtering your male children, and suffering only your females to live." In +this was a sore trial from your Lord– + +And when your Lord caused it to be heard that, "If we render thanks then will +I surely increase you more and more: but if ye be thankless. . . . Verily, +right terrible my chastisement." + +And Moses said, "If ye and all who are on the Earth be thankless, yet truly +God is passing Rich, and worthy of all praise." + +Hath not the story reached you of those who were before you, the people of +Noah, and Ad, and Themoud, + +And of those who lived after them? None knoweth them but God. When their +prophets came to them with proofs of their mission, they put their hands on +their mouths and said, "In sooth, we believe not your message; and in sooth, +of that to which you bid us, we are in doubt, as of a thing suspicious." + +Their prophets said: "Is there any doubt concerning God, maker of the Heavens +and of the Earth, who calleth you that He may pardon your sins, and respite +you until an appointed time?" + +They said, "Ye are but men like us: fain would ye turn us from our fathers' +worship. Bring us therefore some clear proof." + +Their Apostles said to them, "We are indeed but men like you. But God +bestoweth favours on such of his servants as he pleaseth, and it is not in +our power to bring you any special proof, + +But by the leave of God. In God therefore let the faithful trust. + +And why should we not put our trust in God, since He hath already guided us +in our ways. We will certainly bear with constancy the harm you would do to +us. In God let the trustful trust." + +And they who believed not said to their Apostles, "Forth from our land will +we surely drive you, or, to our religion shall ye return." Then their Lord +revealed to them, "We will certainly destroy the wicked doers, + +And we shall certainly cause you to dwell in the land after them. This for +him who dreadeth the appearance at my judgment-seat and who dreadeth my +menace!" + +Then sought they help from God, and every proud rebellious one perished: + +Hell is before him: and of tainted water shall he be made to drink: + +He shall sup it and scarce swallow it for loathing; and Death shall assail +him on every side, but he shall not die: and before him shall be seen a +grievous torment. + +A likeness of those who believe not in their Lord. Their works are like ashes +which the wind scattereth on a stormy day: no advantage shall they gain from +their works. This is the far-gone wandering. + +Seest thou not that in truth1 hath God created the Heavens and the Earth? +Were such his pleasure He could make you pass away, and cause a new creation +to arise. + +And this would not be hard for God. + +All mankind shall come forth before God; and the weak shall say to the men of +might, "Verily, we were your followers: will ye not then relieve us of some +part of the vengeance of God?" + +They shall say, "If God had guided us, we surely had guided you. It is now +all one whether we be impatient, or endure with patience. We have no escape." + +And after doom hath been given, Satan shall say, "Verily, God promised you a +promise of truth: I, too, made you a promise, but I deceived you. Yet I had +no power over you: + +But I only called you and ye answered me. Blame not me then, but blame +yourselves: I cannot aid you, neither can ye aid me. I never believed that I +was His equal with whom ye joined me."2 As for the evil doers, a grievous +torment doth await them. + +But they who shall have believed and done the things that be right, shall be +brought into gardens beneath which the rivers flow: therein shall they abide +for ever by the permission of their Lord: their greeting therein shall be +"Peace." + +Seest thou not to what God likeneth a good word?3 To a good tree: its root +firmly fixed, and its branches in the Heaven: + +Yielding its fruit in all seasons by the will of its Lord. God setteth forth +these similitudes to men that haply they may reflect. + +And an evil word is like an evil tree torn up from the face of the earth, and +without strength to stand. + +Those who believe shall God stablish by his steadfast word both in this life +and in that which is to come: but the wicked shall He cause to err: God doth +his pleasure. + +Hast thou not beholden those who repay the goodness of God with infidelity, +and sink their people into the abode of perdition– + +Hell? Therein shall they be burned; and wretched the dwelling! + +They set up compeers with God in order to mislead man from his way. SAY: +Enjoy your pleasures yet awhile, but assuredly, your going hence shall be +into the fire. + +Speak to my servants who have believed, that they observe prayer, and give +alms of that with which we have supplied them, both privately and openly, ere +the day come when there shall be neither traffic nor friendship. + +It is God who hath created the Heavens and the Earth, and sendeth down water +from the Heaven, and so bringeth forth the fruits for your food: And He hath +subjected to you the ships, so that by His command, they pass through the +sea; and He hath subjected the rivers to you: and He hath subjected to you +the sun and the moon in their constant courses: and He hath subjected the day +and the night to you: of everything which ye ask Him, giveth He to you; and +if ye would reckon up the favours of God, ye cannot count them! Surely man is +unjust, ungrateful! + +ABRAHAM said, "O Lord make this land secure, and turn aside me and my +children from serving idols: + +For many men, O my Lord, have they led astray. But whosoever shall follow me, +he truly shall be of me; and whosoever shall disobey me. . . . Thou truly +art Gracious, Merciful. + +O our Lord! verily I have settled some of my offspring in an unfruitful +valley, nigh to thy holy house;4 O our Lord, that they may strictly observe +prayer! Make thou therefore the hearts of men to yearn toward them, and +supply them with fruits that they may be thankful. + +O our Lord! thou truly knowest what we hide and what we bring to light; +nought on earth or in heaven is hidden from God. Praise be to God who hath +given me, in my old age, Ismael and Isaac! My Lord is the hearer of prayer. + +Lord! grant that I and my posterity may observe prayer. O our Lord! and grant +this my petition. O our Lord! forgive me and my parents and the faithful, on +the day wherein account shall be taken." + +Think thou not that God is regardless of the deeds of the wicked. He only +respiteth them to the day on which all eyes shall stare up with terror: + +They hasten forward in fear; their heads upraised in supplication; their +looks riveted; and their hearts a blank. Warn men therefore of the day when +the punishment shall overtake them, + +And when the evil doers shall say, "O our Lord! respite us yet a little +while:5 + +To thy call will we make answer; thine Apostles will we follow." "Did ye not +once swear that no change should befal you? + +Yet ye dwelt in the dwellings of those6 who were the authors of their +undoing7 and it was made plain to you how we had dealt with them; and we held +them up to you as examples. They plotted their plots: but God could master +their plots, even though their plots had been so powerful as to move the +mountains." + +Think not then that God will fail his promise to his Apostles: aye! God is +mighty, and Vengeance is His. + +On the day when the Earth shall be changed into another Earth, and the +Heavens also, men shall come forth unto God, the Only, the Victorious. + +And thou shalt see the wicked on that day linked together in chains– + +Their garments of pitch, and fire shall enwrap their faces that God may +reward every soul as it deserveth; verily God is prompt to reckon. + +This is a message for mankind, that they may thereby be warned: and that they +may know that there is but one God; and that men of understanding may ponder +it. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura [lxxxiv.] x. 5. + +2 Lit. I truly renounce your having associated me (with God) heretofore. + +3 The preaching and the profession of Islam. Comp. Ps. i. 3, 4. + +4 The Caaba. + +5 Lit. to a term near at hand. + +6 Of the anciently destroyed cities of Themoud, Ad, etc. + +7 Lit. were unjust to their own souls. + +SURA XII.–JOSEPH, PEACE BE ON HIM [LXXVII.] + +MECCA.–III Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ELIF. LAM. RA.1 These are signs of the clear Book. + +An Arabic Koran have we sent it down, that ye might understand it. + +In revealing to thee this Koran,2 one of the most beautiful of narratives +will we narrate to thee, of which thou hast hitherto been regardless. + +When Joseph said to his Father, "O my Father! verily I beheld eleven stars +and the sun and the moon–beheld them make obeisance to me!"3 + +He said, "O my son! tell not thy vision to thy brethren, lest they plot a +plot against thee: for Satan is the manifest foe of man. + +It is thus that thy Lord shall choose thee and will teach thee the +interpretation of dark saying, and will perfect his favours on thee and on +the family of Jacob, as of old he perfected it on thy fathers Abraham and +Isaac; verily thy Lord is Knowing, Wise!" + +Now in JOSEPH and his brethren are signs for the enquirers;4 + +When they said, "Surely better loved by our Father, than we, who are more in +number, is Joseph and his brother; verily, our father hath clearly erred. + +Slay ye Joseph! or drive him to some other land, and on you alone shall your +father's face be set! and after this, ye shall live as upright persons." + +One of them said, "Slay not Joseph, but cast him down to the bottom of the +well: if ye do so, some wayfarers will take him up." + +They said, "O our Father! why dost thou not entrust us with Joseph? indeed we +mean him well. + +Send him with us to-morrow that he may enjoy himself and sport: we will +surely keep him safely." + +He said, "Verily, your taking him away will grieve me; and I fear lest while +ye are heedless of him the wolf devour him." + +They said, "Surely if the wolf devour him, and we so many, we must in that +case be weak indeed."5 + +And when they went away with him they agreed to place him at the bottom of +the well. And We revealed to him, "Thou wilt yet tell them of this their +deed, when they shall not know thee." + +And they came at nightfall to their father weeping. + +They said, "O our Father! of a truth, we went to run races, and we left +Joseph with our clothes, and the wolf devoured him: but thou wilt not believe +us even though we speak the truth." + +And they brought his shirt with false blood upon it. He said, "Nay, but +yourselves have managed this affair.6 But patience is seemly: and the help of +God is to be implored that I may bear what you tell me." + +And wayfarers came and sent their drawer of water,7 and he let down his +bucket. "Good news!"8 said he, "This is a youth!" And they kept his case +secret, to make merchandise of him. But God knew what they did. + +And they sold him for a paltry price–for some dirhems counted down, and at no +high rate did they value him. + +And he who bought him–an Egyptian–said to his wife, "Treat him hospitably; +haply he may be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son." Thus did we +settle Joseph in the land, and we instructed him in the interpretation of +dark sayings, for God is equal to his purpose; but most men know it not. + +And when he had reached his age of strength we bestowed on him judgment and +knowledge; for thus do we recompense the well doers. + +And she in whose house he was conceived a passion for him, and she shut the +doors and said, "Come hither." He said, "God keep me! Verily, my lord hath +given me a good home: and the injurious shall not prosper." + +But she longed for him; and he had longed for her had he not seen a token +from his lord.9 Thus we averted evil and defilement from him, for he was one +of our sincere servants. + +And they both made for the door, and she rent his shirt behind; and at the +door they met her lord. "What," said she, "shall be the recompense of him who +would do evil to thy family, but a prison10 or a sore punishment?" + +He said, "She solicited me to evil." And a witness out of her own family11 +witnessed: "If his shirt be rent in front she speaketh truth, and he is a +liar: + +But if his shirt be rent behind, she lieth and he is true." + +And when his lord saw his shirt torn behind, he said, "This is one of your +devices! verily your devices are great! + +Joseph! leave this affair. And thou, O wife, ask pardon for thy crime, for +thou hast sinned." + +And in the city, the women said, "The wife of the Prince hath solicited her +servant: he hath fired her with his love: but we clearly see her manifest +error." + +And when she heard of their cabal, she sent to them and got ready a banquet +for them, and gave each one of them a knife, and said, "Joseph shew thyself +to them." And when they saw him they were amazed at him, and cut their +hands,12 and said, "God keep us! This is no man! This is no other than a +noble angel!" + +She said, "This is he about whom ye blamed me. I wished him to yield to my +desires, but he stood firm. But if he obey not my command, he shall surely be +cast into prison, and become one of the despised." + +He said, "O my Lord! I prefer the prison to compliance with their bidding: +but unless thou turn away their snares from me, I shall play the youth with +them, and become one of the unwise." + +And his Lord heard him and turned aside their snares from him: for he is the +Hearer, the Knower. + +Yet resolved they, even after they had seen the signs of his innocence, to +imprison him for a time. + +And there came into the prison with him two youths. Said one of them, +"Methought in my dream that I was pressing grapes." And the other said, "I +dreamed that I was carrying bread on my head, of which the birds did eat. +Declare to us the interpretation of this, for we see thou art a virtuous +person." + +He said, "There shall not come to you in a dream any food wherewith ye shall +be fed, but I will acquaint you with its interpretation ere it come to pass +to you. This is a part of that which my Lord hath taught me: for I have +abandoned the religion13 of those who believe not in God and who deny the +life to come; + +And I follow the religion of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. We may +not associate aught with God. This is of God's bounty towards us and towards +mankind: but the greater part of mankind are not thankful. + +O my two fellow prisoners! are sundry lords best, or God, the One, the +Mighty? + +Ye worship beside him mere names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, +for which God hath not sent down any warranty. Judgment belongeth to God +alone. He hath bidden you worship none but Him. This is the right faith: but +most men know it not. + +O my two fellow prisoners! as to one of you, he will serve wine unto his +Lord: but as to the other, he will be crucified and the birds shall eat from +off his head. The matter is decreed concerning which ye enquire." + +And he said unto him who he judged would be set at large, "Remember me with +thy lord." But Satan caused him to forget the remembrance of his Lord,14 so +he remained some years in prison. + +And the King said, "Verily, I saw in a dream seven fat kine which seven lean +devoured; and seven green ears and other withered. O nobles, teach me my +vision, if a vision ye are able to expound." + +They said, "They are confused dreams, nor know we aught of the unravelling of +dreams." + +And he of the twain who had been set at large, said, "I will tell you the +interpretation; let me go for it." + +"Joseph, man of truth! teach us of the seven fat kine which seven lean +devoured, and of the seven green ears, and other withered, that I may return +to the men, and that they may be informed." + +He said, "Ye shall sow seven years as is your wont, and the corn which ye +reap leave ye in its ear, except a little of which ye shall eat. + +Then after that shall come seven grievous years which shall eat what ye have +stored for them, except a little which ye shall have kept. + +Then shall come after this a year, in which men shall have rain, and in which +they shall press the grape." + +And the King said, "Bring him to me."15 And when the messenger came to Joseph +he said, "Go back to thy lord, and ask him what meant the women who cut their +hands, for my lord well knoweth the snare they laid." + +Then said the Prince to the women, "What was your purpose when ye solicited +Joseph?" They said, "God keep us! we know not any ill of him." The wife of +the Prince said, "Now doth the truth appear. It was I who would have led him +into unlawful love, and he is one of the truthful." + +"By this" (said Joseph) "may my lord know that I did not in his absence play +him false, and that God guideth not the machinations of deceivers. + +Yet I hold not myself clear, for the heart is prone to evil, save theirs on +whom my Lord hath mercy; for gracious is my Lord, Merciful." + +And the King said, "Bring him to me: I will take him for my special service." +And when he had spoken with him he said, "From this day shalt thou be with +us, invested with place and trust." + +He said, "Set me over the granaries of the land,16 I will be their prudent +keeper!" + +Thus did we stablish Joseph in the land that he might house himself therein +at pleasure. We bestow our favours on whom we will, and suffer not the reward +of the righteous to perish. + +And truly the recompense of the life to come is better, for those who have +believed and feared God. + +And Joseph's brethren came and went in to him and he knew them, but they +recognised him not. + +And when he had provided them with their provision, he said, "Bring me your +brother from your father. See ye not that I fill the measure, and am the best +of hosts? + +But if ye bring him not to me, then no measure of corn shall there be for you +from me, nor shall ye come near me." + +They said, "We will ask him of his father, and we will surely do it." + +Said he to his servants, "Put their money into their camel-packs, that they +may perceive it when they have returned to their family: haply they will come +back to us." + +And when they returned to their father, they said, "O, our father! corn is +withholden from us: send, therefore, our brother with us and we shall have +our measure; and all care of him will we take." + +He said, "Shall I entrust you with him otherwise than as I before entrusted +you with his brother? But God is the best guardian, and of those who shew +compassion He is the most compassionate." + +And when they opened their goods they found their money had been returned to +them. They said, "O, our father, what more can we desire? Here is our money +returned to us; we will provide corn for our families, and will take care of +our brother, and shall receive a camel's burden more of corn. This is an easy +quantity."17 + +He said, "I will not send him with you but on your oath before God that ye +will, indeed, bring him back to me, unless hindrances encompass you." And +when they had given him their pledge, he said, "God is witness of what we +say." + +And he said, "O, my sons! Enter not by one gate, but enter by different +gates.18 Yet can I not help you against aught decreed by God: judgment +belongeth to God alone. In Him put I my trust, and in Him let the trusting +trust." + +And when they entered as their father had bidden them, it did not avert from +them anything decreed of God; but it only served to satisfy a desire in the +soul of Jacob which he had charged them to perform; for he was possessed of +knowledge which we had taught him; but most men have not that knowledge. + +And when they came in to Joseph, he took his brother to him. He said, +"Verily, I am thy brother. Be not thou grieved for what they did."19 + +And when he had provided them with their provisions, he placed his drinking +cup in his brother's camel-pack. Then a crier cried after them, "O +travellers! ye are surely thieves." + +They turned back to them and said, "What is that ye miss?" + +"We miss," said they, "the prince's cup. For him who shall restore it, a +camel's load of corn! I pledge myself for it." + +They said, "By God! ye know certainly that we came not to do wrong20 in the +land and we have not been thieves." + +"What," said the Egyptians, "shall be the recompense of him who hath stolen +it, if ye be found liars?" + +They said, "That he in whose camel-pack it shall be found be given up to you +in satisfaction for it. Thus recompense we the unjust." + +And Joseph began with their sacks, before the sack of his brother, and then +from the sack of his brother he drew it out. This stratagem did we suggest to +Joseph. By the King's law he had no power to seize his brother, had not God +pleased. We uplift into grades of wisdom whom we will. And there is one +knowing above every one else endued with knowledge. + +They said, "If he steal, a brother of his hath stolen heretofore."21 But +Joseph kept his secret, and did not discover it to them. Said he, aside, "Ye +are in the worse condition. And God well knoweth what ye state." + +They said, "O Prince! Verily he hath a very aged father; in his stead, +therefore, take one of us, for we see that thou art a generous person." + +He said, "God forbid that we should take but him with whom our property was +found, for then should we act unjustly." + +And when they despaired of Benjamin, they went apart for counsel. The eldest +of them said, "Know ye not how that your father hath taken a pledge from you +before God, and how formerly ye failed in duty with regard to Joseph? I will +not quit the land till my father give me leave, or God decide for me; for of +those who decide is He the best. + +Return ye to your father and say, 'O our father! Verily, thy son hath stolen: +we bear witness only of what we know: we could not guard against the +unforeseen. + +Enquire for thyself in the city where we have been, and of the caravan with +which we have arrived; and we are surely speakers of the truth.' + +He said, "Nay, ye have arranged all this among yourselves: But patience is +seemly: God, may be, will bring them back to me together; for he is the +Knowing, the Wise." + +And he turned away from them and said, "Oh! how I am grieved for Joseph!" and +his eyes became white with grief, for he bore a silent sorrow. + +They said, "By God thou wilt only cease to think of Joseph when thou art at +the point of death, or dead." + +He said, "I only plead my grief and my sorrow to God: but I know from God +what ye know not:22 + +Go, my sons, and seek tidings of Joseph and his brother, and despair not of +God's mercy, for none but the unbelieving despair of the mercy of God." + +And when they came in to Joseph, they said, "O Prince, distress hath reached +us and our family, and little is the money that we have brought. But give us +full measure, and bestow it as alms, for God will recompense the almsgivers." + +He said, "Know ye what ye did to Joseph and his brother in your ignorance?" + +They said, "Canst thou indeed be Joseph?" He said, "I am Joseph, and this is +my brother. Now hath God been gracious to us. For whoso feareth God and +endureth. . . . God verily will not suffer the reward of the righteous to +perish!" + +They said, "By God! now hath God chosen thee above us, and we have indeed +been sinners!" + +He said, "No blame be on you this day. God will forgive you, for He is the +most merciful of those who shew mercy. + +Go ye with this my shirt and throw it on my father's face, and he shall +recover his sight: and bring me all your family." + +And when the caravan was departed, their father said, "I surely perceive the +smell of Joseph:23 think ye that I dote?" + +They said, "By God, it is thy old mistake." + +And when the bearer of good tidings came, he cast it on his face, and Jacob's +eyesight returned." + +Then he said, "Did I not tell you that I knew from God what ye knew not?" + +They said, "Our father, ask pardon for our crimes for us, for we have indeed +been sinners." + +He said, "I will ask your pardon of my Lord, for he is Gracious, Merciful." + +And when they came into Joseph he took his parents24 to him, and said, "Enter +ye Egypt, if God will, secure." + +And he raised his parents to the seat of state, and they fell down bowing +themselves unto him. Then said he, "O my father, this is the meaning of my +dream of old. My Lord hath now made it true, and he hath surely been gracious +to me, since he took me forth from the prison, and hath brought you up out of +the desert, after that Satan had stirred up strife between me and my +brethren; for my Lord is gracious to whom He will; for He is the Knowing, the +Wise. + +O my Lord, thou hast given me dominion, and hast taught me to expound dark +sayings. Maker of the Heavens and of the Earth! My guardian art thou in this +world and in the next! Cause thou me to die a Muslim, and join me with the +just." + +This is one of the secret histories25 which we reveal unto thee. Thou wast +not present with Joseph's brethren when they conceived their design and laid +their plot: but the greater part of men, though thou long for it, will not +believe. + +Thou shalt not ask of them any recompense for this message. It is simply an +instruction for all mankind. + +And many as are the signs in the Heavens and on the Earth, yet they will pass +them by, and turn aside from them: + +And most of them believe not in God, without also joining other deities with +Him. + +What! Are they sure that the overwhelming chastisement of God shall not come +upon them, or that that Hour shall not come upon them suddenly, while they +are unaware? + +SAY: This is my way: resting on a clear proof, I call you to God, I and whoso +followeth me: and glory be to God! I am not one of those who add other +deities to Him. + +Never before thee have we sent any but men, chosen out of the people of the +cities, to whom we made revelations. Will they not journey through the land, +and see what hath been the end of those who were before them? But the +mansions of the next life shall be better for those who fear God. Will they +not then comprehend? + +When at last the Apostles lost all hope, and deemed that they were reckoned +as liars, our aid reached them, and we delivered whom we would; but our +vengeance was not averted from the wicked. + +Certainly in their histories is an example for men of understanding. This is +no new tale of fiction, but a confirmation of previous scriptures, and an +explanation of all things, and guidance and mercy to those who believe. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura lxviii. p. 32. In no other Sura beside this is one subject treated +of throughout. It was recited to the first eight of the Ansars who were +converted, and clearly proves that Muhammad must have been in confidential +intercourse with learned Jews. + +2 The word Koran is here used in the same sense as Sura. + +3 Muhammad was either unaware of the previous dream mentioned, Gen. xxxvii. +7, or passes it by in silence. + +4 The captious and unbelieving Koreisch. + +5 Wir mussten denn zuerst das Leben einbüssen. Wahl. Ullm. Maracci. + +6 Lit. your minds have made a thing seem pleasant to you. + +7 According to Gen. xxxvii. 24, the well or pit had "no water in it. + +8 Some take the Arabic Boshra as the proper name of the person who +accompanied the drawer of water. + +9 The apparition of his father, who said, "Hereafter shall the names of thy +brethren, engraven on precious stones, shine on the breast of the High +Priest. Shall thine be blotted out?" Tr. Sotah, fol. 36. Comp. Weil, +Legenden, p. 109, n. + +10 Lit. that he be imprisoned. + +11 An infant in the cradle. Sepher Hadjascher, as below on v. 31. + +12 Instead of their food, through surprise at his beauty. Seph. Hadj. in +Midr. Jalkut. See also Midr. Abkhir, ib. ch. 146. + +13 It is curious to observe how Muhammad, in this and the following verse, +puts his own doctrine and convictions into the mouth of Joseph. + +14 Satan induced Joseph to place his confidence in man, rather than in God +alone, in punishment of which sin the imprisonment was continued. Thus Midr. +Rabba. Gen. Par. 89. Midr. Jalkut, ib. ch. 147. + +15 In Gen. xli. 14, Joseph is released from prison before the interpretation +of the dreams. But the Koran makes him decline to quit it till his character +is cleared. + +16 According to Gen. xli. 39, Pharaoh of his own accord sets Joseph over his +house and land. + +17 For the king to bestow. + +18 Thus we read in Mid. Rab. on Gen. Par. 91, "Jacob said to them, Enter ye +not all by one gate." See also Midr. Jalkut, ch. 148. + +19 Thus also, in the Sepher Hadjaschar, Joseph first discovers himself to +Benjamin, in opposition to Gen. xlv. 1. + +20 Comp. Gen. xlii. 9. + +21 Joseph is said by the Muhammadan commentators to have stolen an idol of +gold belonging to his mother's father, which he broke, that he might not +worship it. But this comment, as well as the text of the Koran, is probably +based upon some such tradition as that of Midr. Rabba, Par. 92, "He is a +thief and the son of a thief" (Comp. Gen. xxxi. 19)–spoken of Benjamin. + +22 That is, that Joseph was still alive. Thus Midr. Tanchumah on Gen. xlii. +1. + +23 Comp. Gen. xxvii. 27. + +24 Joseph's mother had long been dead. See Gen. xxxv. 19. But the object of +Muhammad was probably to bring the event into strict accordance with the +prediction of the dream. Gen. xxxvii. 10. Some, however, suppose that Bilhah +is here meant, and her appearance before Joseph is also asserted to be the +fulfilment of the dream by some of the Rabbins. Comp. Raschi on Gen. xxxvii. +10. + +25 Lit. This is of the announcements of the things unseen (by thee, +Muhammad). Compare the manner in which the story of the Creation and of Moses +in the mount is introduced. Sura xxxviii. 70; xxviii. 45. Mr. Muir thinks +that Muhammad must at this period, while recasting and working up these +materials, have entered upon a course of wilful dissimulation and deceit +(although the end would justify to him the means employed) in claiming +inspiration for them. + + +SURA XL.–THE BELIEVER [LXXVIII.] + +MECCA.–85 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +HA. MIM. The Revelation (sending down) of the Book is from God the Almighty, +the All-knowing,1 + +Forgiver of sin, and receiver of penitence,–vehement in chastisement, + +Long-suffering! There is no God but He: to Him shall be the final gathering. + +None but infidels gainsay the signs of God: but let not their prosperity in +the land deceive thee. + +The people of Noah, and the confederates after them, have brought the charge +of imposture before these Meccans: each nation schemed against their apostle +to lay violent hold on him, and disputed with vain words to refute the truth. +Therefore did I lay violent hold on them; and how great was my chastisement! + +Thus is it that thy Lord's sentence, that inmates shall they be of the fire, +was accomplished upon the infidels. + +They who bear the throne2 and they who encircle it, celebrate the praise of +their Lord and believe in Him, and implore forgiveness for the believers:–"O +our Lord! thou embracest all things in mercy and knowledge; forgive, +therefore, those who turn to thee and follow thy path; keep them from the +pains of hell: + +O our Lord! and bring them into the Gardens of Eden which thou hast promised +to them, and to the righteous ones of their fathers and their wives and their +children; for thou art the All-mighty, the All-wise: + +And keep them from evil: for on him hast thou mercy whom on that day thou +shalt keep from evil;" and this will be the great felicity. + +But to the infidels shall a voice cry, "Surely the hatred of God is more +grievous than your hatred of yourselves, when ye were called to the faith, +and remained unbelievers." + +They shall say, "Twice, O our Lord, hast thou given us death, and twice hast +thou given us life:3 and we acknowledge our sins: is there no way to escape?" + +"This hath befallen you, for that when One God was proclaimed to you, ye +believed not: but when partners had been united with him, ye believed: But +judgment belongeth unto God, the High, the Great." + +It is He who sheweth you his signs, and sendeth down supplies to you from +Heaven: but none will receive warning save he who turneth to God. + +Call then on God, offering him a pure worship, though the infidels abhor it. + +Of exalted grade, of the throne possessed, He sendeth forth the Spirit at His +own behest on whomsoever of His servants He pleaseth, that He may warn of the +day of meeting, + +The day when they shall come forth from their graves, when nought that +concerneth them shall be hidden from God. With whom shall be the power +supreme on that day? With God, the One, the Almighty. + +On that day shall every soul be recompensed as it hath deserved: no injustice +on that day! Verily, God will be swift to reckon. + +Warn them, then, of the approaching day, when men's hearts shall rise up, +choking them, into their throats. + +The evil-doers shall have no friend or intercessor who shall prevail. + +God knoweth the deceitful of eye, and what men's breasts conceal. + +And everything will God decide with truth: But nothing shall those gods whom +men call on beside him, decide. Verily, God! the Hearer, the Beholder, He! + +Have they never journeyed in this land, and seen what hath been the end of +those who flourished before them? Mightier were they in strength than these +Meccans, and their traces remain in the land: Yet God took them in their +sins, and there was none to defend them against God. + +This, because their apostles had come to them with proofs of their mission, +and they believed not: so God took them in hand; for He is mighty, vehement +in punishing. + +Moreover we had sent Moses of old with our signs and with clear authority. + +To Pharaoh, and Haman, and Karun:4 and they said, "Sorcerer, impostor." + +And when he came to them from our presence with the truth, they said, "Slay +the sons of those who believe as he doth, and save their females alive;" but +the stratagem of the unbelievers issued only in failure. + +And Pharaoh said, "Let me alone, that I may kill Moses; and let him call upon +his Lord: I fear lest he change your religion, or cause disorder to shew +itself in the land." + +And Moses said, "I take refuge with my Lord and your Lord from every proud +one who believeth not in the day of reckoning." + +And a man of the family of Pharaoh, who was a BELIEVER,5 but hid his faith, +said, "Will ye slay a man because he saith my Lord is God, when he hath +already come to you with proofs of his mission from your Lord? and if he be a +liar, on him will be his lie:6 but if he be a man of truth, part at least of +what he threateneth will fall upon you. Truly God guideth not him who is a +transgressor, a liar. + +O my people! this day is the kingdom yours, the eminent of the earth! but who +shall defend us from the vengeance of God if it come on us?" Pharaoh said, "I +would have you see only what I see; and in a right way only will I guide +you." + +Then said he who believed, "O my people! truly I fear for you the like of the +day of the allies,7 + +The like of the state of the people of Noah and Ad and Themoud, + +And of those who came after them; yet God willeth not injustice to his +servants. + +And, O my people! I indeed fear for you the day of mutual outcry– + +The day when ye shall be turned back from the Judgment into hell. No +protector shall ye have then against God. And he whom God shall mislead no +guide shall there be for him. + +Moreover, Joseph had come to you before with clear tokens, but ye ceased not +to doubt of the message with which he came to you, until when he died, ye +said, 'God will by no means raise up an apostle after him.' " Thus God +misleadeth him who is the transgressor, the doubter. + +They who gainsay the signs of God without authority having come to them, are +greatly hated by God and by those who believe. Thus God sealeth up every +proud, contumacious heart. + +And Pharaoh said, "O Haman,8 Build for me a tower that I may reach the +avenues, + +The avenues of the heavens, and may mount to the God of Moses, for I verily +deem him a liar." + +And thus the evil of his doings was made fair-seeming to Pharaoh, and he +turned away from the path of truth; but the artifice of Pharaoh ended only in +his ruin. + +And he who believed said, "O my people! follow me: into the right way will I +guide you. + +O my people! this present life is only a passing joy, but the life to come is +the mansion that abideth. + +Whoso shall have wrought evil shall not be recompensed but with its like; but +whoso shall have done the things that are right, whether male or female, and +is a believer–these shall enter paradise: good things unreckoned shall they +enjoy therein. + +And, O my people! how is it that I bid you to salvation, but that ye bid me +to the fire? + +Ye invite me to deny God, and to join with him gods of whom I know nothing; +but I invite you to the Mighty, the Forgiving. + +No doubt is there that they to whom ye invite me are not to be invoked either +in this world or in the world to come: and that unto God is our return, and +that the transgressors shall be the inmates of the fire. + +Then shall ye remember what I am saying unto you: and to God commit I my +case: Verily, God beholdeth his servants." + +So God preserved him from the evils which they had planned, and the woe of +the punishment encompassed the people of Pharaoh. + +It is the fire to which they shall be exposed morning and evening, and on the +day when "the Hour" shall arrive–"Bring in the people of Pharaoh into the +severest punishment." + +And when they shall wrangle together in the fire, the weak shall say to those +who had borne themselves so proudly, "It is you we followed: will ye +therefore relieve us from aught of the fire?" + +And those proud ones shall say, "Verily we are all in it; for now hath God +judged between his servants." + +And they who are in the fire shall say to the keepers of Hell, "Implore your +Lord that he would give us ease but for one day from this torment." + +They shall say, "Came not your apostles to you with the tokens?" They shall +say, "Yes." They shall say, "Cry ye then aloud for help:" but the cry of the +unbelievers shall be only in vain. + +Assuredly, in this present life will we succour our apostles and those who +shall have believed, and on the day when the witnesses shall stand forth; + +A day whereon the plea of the evil doers shall not avail them; but theirs +shall be a curse, and theirs the woe of the abode in Hell. + +And of old gave we Moses the guidance, and we made the children of Israel the +heritors of the Book,–a guidance and warning to men endued with +understanding. + +Therefore be steadfast thou and patient; for true is the promise of God: and +seek pardon for thy fault,9 and celebrate the praise of thy Lord at evening +and at morning. + +As to those who cavil at the signs of God without authority having reached +them, nought is there but pride in their breasts: but they shall not succeed. +Fly thou for refuge then to God, for He is the Hearer, the Beholder. + +Greater surely than the creation of man is the creation of the heavens and of +the earth: but most men know it not. + +Moreover, the blind and the seeing, and the evil doer and they who believe +and do the things that are right, shall not be deemed equal. How few ponder +this! + +Aye, "the Hour" will surely come: there is no doubt of it: but most men +believe it not. + +And your Lord saith, "Call upon me–I will hearken unto you: but they who turn +in disdain from my service shall enter Hell with shame." + +It is God who hath ordained the night for your rest, and the day to give you +light: verily God is rich in bounties to men: but most men render not the +tribute of thanks. + +This is God your Lord, Creator of all things: no god is there but He: why +then do ye turn away from Him? + +Yet thus are they turned aside who gainsay the signs of God. + +It is God who hath given you the earth as a sure foundation, and over it +built up the Heaven, and formed you, and made your forms beautiful, and +feedeth you with good things. This is God your Lord. Blessed then be God the +Lord of the Worlds! + +He is the Living One. No God is there but He. Call then upon Him and offer +Him a pure worship. Praise be to God the Lord of the Worlds! + +SAY: Verily I am forbidden to worship what ye call on beside God, after that +the clear tokens have come to me from my Lord, and I am bidden to surrender +myself to the Lord of the Worlds. + +He it is who created you of the dust, then of the germs of life, then of +thick blood, then brought you forth infants: then he letteth you reach your +full strength, and then become old men (but some of you die first), and reach +the ordained term. And this that haply ye may understand. + +It is He who giveth life and death; and when He decreeth a thing, He only +saith of it, "Be," and it is. + +Seest thou not those who cavil at the signs of God? how are they turned +aside! + +They who treat "the Book," and the message with which we have sent our Sent +Ones, as a lie, shall know the truth hereafter, + +When the collars shall be on their necks and the chains to drag them into +Hell: then in the fire shall they be burned. + +Then shall it be said to them, "Where are they whom ye made the objects of +joint worship with God?" They shall say, "They have vanished away from us. +Yea, it was nought on which we called heretofore." Thus God leadeth the +unbelievers astray. + +–"This for you, because of your unrighteous insolence and immoderate joys on +earth. + +Enter ye the portals of Hell to abide therein for ever. And, wretched the +abode of the haughty ones!" + +Therefore be thou steadfast in patience: for the promise of God is truth: and +whether we shall make thee see part of the woes with which we threatened +them, or whether we cause thee first to die, unto us shall they be brought +back. + +And we have already sent apostles before thee: of some we have told thee, and +of others we have told thee nothing:10 but no apostle had the power to work a +miracle unless by the leave of God. But when God's behest cometh, everything +will be decided with truth: and then they perish who treated it as a vain +thing. + +It is God who hath given you the cattle that on some of them ye may ride, and +of some may eat: + +(Other advantages too do ye derive from them)–and that by them ye may effect +the projects ye cherish in your breasts; for on them, and on ships are ye +borne: + +And He sheweth you His signs: which, then, of the signs of God will ye deny? + +Have they not journeyed in this land, and seen what hath been the end of +those who flourished before them? More were they than these in number and +mightier in strength, and greater are the traces of their power remaining in +the land:11 yet their labours availed them nothing. + +And when their apostles had come to them with the tokens of their mission, +they exulted in what they possessed of knowledge; but that retribution at +which they scoffed, encompassed them. + +And when they beheld our vengeance they said, "We believe in God alone, and +we disbelieve in the deities we once associated with Him." + +But their faith, after they had witnessed our vengeance, profited them not. +Such the procedure of God with regard to his servants who flourished of old. +And then the unbelievers perished. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura 1xviii. 1, p. 32. + +2 The Cherubic beings of Scripture are said to be above the throne of God +(Is. vi. 1), beneath it (Ezek. x.); and the mystical beasts in the +Revelations are said to be in the midst of the throne and round about it. + +3 Probably the union of life and death in the womb, and the subsequent life +followed by death. + +4 See Sura [lxxix.] xxviii. 76. + +5 Thus Sura [lxxix.] xxviii 20, and Sura [lx.] xxxvi. 19, we have a similar +character introduced into the narrative. + +6 Comp. Acts v. 38, 39. + +7 These tribes no doubt constantly formed temporary alliances. Muhammad +implies that they were confederate against their prophets. + +8 Haman, the favourite of Ahasuerus and the enemy of the Jews, is thus made +the vizier of Pharaoh. The Rabbins make this vizier to have been Korah, +Jethro, or Balaam. Midr. Jalkut on Ex. ch. 1, Sect. 162-168; and Tr. Solah, +fol. 11. See Sura [lxxix.] xxviii. 5. + +9 Thy remissness in propagating Islam. Beidh. + +10 It is possible that Muhammad, conscious of his ignorance of Jewish +history, intends in this verse to screen himself from the charge of passing +over the histories of many of their prophets. + +11 The wealth of Mecca, although it still numbered about 12,000 inhabitants +(as well as of Arabia generally), had much declined at the time of Muhammad, +owing mainly to the navigation of the Red Sea, under the Roman dominion over +Egypt, which of course impoverished the tribes situated on the line of the +old mercantile route southward. Mecca, however, was still to a certain extent +prosperous. Comp. Sura [lxi.] xliii. 28. + + +SURA XXVIII.–THE STORY [LXXIX.] + +MECCA.–88 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +TA. SIN. MIM.1 These are the signs of the lucid Book. + +We will recite to thee portions of the History of Moses and Pharaoh with +truth, for the teaching of the faithful. + +Now Pharaoh lifted himself up in the earth, and divided his people into +parties: one portion of them he brought low–He slew their male children, and +let their females only live; for he was one of those who wrought disorders. + +And we were minded to shew favour to those who were brought low in the land, +and to make them spiritual chiefs,2 and to make them Pharaoh's heirs, + +And to stablish them in the land;3 and to make Pharaoh and Haman and their +hosts, the eye-witnesses of what they dreaded from them. + +And we said by revelation to the mother of Moses, "Give him suck; and if thou +fearest for him, launch him on the sea; and fear not, neither fret; for we +will restore him to thee, and make him one of the apostles." + +And Pharaoh's family took him up to be a foe and a sorrow to them, for +sinners were Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts! + +And Pharaoh's wife said, "Joy of the eye4 to me and thee! put him not to +death: haply he will be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son." But they +knew not what they did. + +And the heart of Moses' mother became a blank through fear: and almost had +she discovered him, but that we girt up her heart with constancy, in order +that she might be one of those who believe. + +She said to his sister, "Follow him." And she watched him from afar: and they +perceived it not. + +And we caused him to refuse the nurses,5 until his sister came and said, +Shall I point out to you the family of a house that will rear him for you, +and will be careful of him? + +So we restored him to his mother, to be the joy of her eyes, and that she +might not fret, and that she might know that the promise of God was true. But +most men knew it not. + +And when he had reached his age of strength, and had become a man, we +bestowed on him wisdom and knowledge; for thus do we reward the righteous. + +And he entered a city at the time when its inhabitants would not observe +him,6 and found therein two men fighting: the one, of his own people; the +other, of his enemies. And he who was of his own people asked his help +against him who was of his enemies. And Moses smote him with his fist and +slew him. Said he, "This is a work of Satan; for he is an enemy, a manifest +misleader." + +He said, "O my Lord, I have sinned to mine own hurt:7 forgive me." So God +forgave him; for He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. + +He said, "Lord, because thou hast showed me this grace, I will never again be +the helper of the wicked." + +And in the city at noon he was full of fear, casting furtive glances round +him: and lo! the man whom he had helped the day before, cried out to him +again for help. Said Moses to him, "Thou art plainly a most depraved person." + +And when he would have laid violent hands on him who was their common foe, he +said to him, "O Moses, dost thou desire to slay me, as thou slayedst a man +yesterday? Thou desirest only to become a tyrant in this land, and desirest +not to become a peacemaker." + +But a man came running up from the city's end. He said, "O Moses, of a truth, +the nobles consult to slay thee–Begone then–I counsel thee as a friend." + +So forth he went from it in fear, looking warily about him. He said, "O Lord, +deliver me from the unjust people." + +And when he was journeying toward Madian, he said, "Haply my Lord will direct +me in an even path." + +And when he arrived at the water of Madian, he found at it a company of men +watering. + +And he found beside them, two women8 keeping back their flock: "Why do ye," +said he, "thus?" They said "We shall not water till the shepherds shall have +driven off; for our father is very aged." + +So he watered for them–then retired to the shade and said, "O my Lord, of the +good thou hast caused me to meet with I stand in need."9 + +And one of them came to him, walking bashfully. Said she, "My father calleth +thee, that he may pay thee wages for thy watering for us." And when he came +to him and had told him his STORY, "Fear not," said he, "thou hast escaped +from an unjust people." + +One of them said, "O my father, hire him: for the best thou canst hire is the +strong, the trusty." + +He said, "Truly to one of these my two daughters I desire to marry thee, if +for eight years thou wilt be my hired servant:10 and if thou fulfil ten, it +shall be of thine own accord, for I wish not to deal hardly with thee. Thou +wilt find me, if God will, one of the upright." + +He said, "Be it so between me and thee: Whichever of the two terms I fulfil, +there will be no injustice to me. And God is witness of what we say." + +And when Moses had fulfilled the term, and was journeying with his family, he +perceived a fire on the mountain side. He said to his family, "Wait ye, for I +perceive a fire. Haply I may bring you tidings from it, or a brand from the +fire to warm you." + +And when he came up to it, a Voice cried to him11 out of the bush from the +right side of the valley in the sacred hollow, "O Moses, I truly am God, the +Lord of the Worlds: + +Throw down now thy rod." And when he saw it move as though it were a serpent, +he retreated and fled and returned not. "O Moses," cried the Voice, "draw +near and fear not, for thou art in safety. + +Put thy hand into thy bosom; it shall come forth white, but unharmed: and +draw back thy hand12 to thee without fear. These shall be two signs from thy +Lord to Pharaoh and his nobles; for they are a perverse people." + +He said, "O my Lord! truly I have slain one of them, therefore fear I lest +they slay me. + +My brother Aaron is clearer of speech than I. Send him, therefore, with me as +a help, and to make good my cause, for I fear lest they treat me as an +impostor." + +He said, "We will strengthen thine arm with thy brother, and we will give +power unto you both, and they shall not equal you in our signs. Ye twain and +they who shall follow you, shall gain the day." + +And when Moses came to him with our demonstrative signs they said, "This is +nought but magical device. We never heard the like among our sires of old." + +And Moses said, "My Lord best knoweth on whom He hath bestowed His guidance, +and whose shall be the recompense of the abode of Paradise. Verily, the +wicked shall not prosper." + +And Pharaoh said, "O ye nobles, ye have no other God that I know of but +myself. Burn me then, Haman, bricks of clay,13 and build me a tower that I +may mount up to the God of Moses, for in sooth, I deem him a liar." + +And he and his hosts behaved themselves proudly and unjustly on the earth, +and thought that they should never be brought back to us. + +But we seized on him and his hosts and cast them into the sea: Behold, then, +the end of the wrongful doers: + +And we made them imâms who invite to the fire of hell, and on the day of +Resurrection they shall not be helped. + +We followed them with a curse in this world, and covered shall they be with +shame on the day of Resurrection. + +And after we had destroyed the former generations, we gave the book of the +Law to Moses for man's enlightening, and a guidance and a mercy, that haply +they might reflect. + +And thou wast not on the western slope of Sinai when we laid his charge on +Moses, nor wast thou one of the witnesses; + +But we raised up generations after Moses, men whose days were lengthened;14 +neither didst thou dwell among the inhabitants of Madian to rehearse to them +our signs, but we sent Apostles to them.15 + +Nor wast thou on the slope of Sinai when we called to Moses, but it is of the +mercy of thy Lord that thou warnest a people, to whom no warner had come +before thee, to the intent that they should reflect: + +And that they should not say when a calamity shall befal them for their +previous handy work, "O our Lord! why hast thou not sent an Apostle to us? +Then we should have followed thy signs and have been of the believers." + +Yet when the truth came to them from our very presence, they said, "Unless +the like powers be given to him that were given to Moses. . . ."16 But did +they not disbelieve in what of old was given to Moses? They said, "Two works +of sorcery17 have helped each other;" and they said, "We disbelieve them +both." + +SAY: Bring then a Book from before God which shall be a better guide than +these, that I may follow it; if ye speak the truth. + +And if they answer thee not, then know that verily they are following their +own caprices: and who goeth more widely astray than he who followeth his own +caprice without guidance from God? for God guideth not the wicked. + +And now have we caused our word to come unto them, that they may be warned: + +They18 to whom we gave the Scriptures before IT, do in IT believe. + +And when it is recited to them they say, "We believe in it, for it is the +truth from our Lord. We were Muslims before it came." + +Twice shall their reward be given them, for that they suffered with patience, +and repelled evil with good, and gave alms out of that with which we provided +them. + +And when they hear light discourse they withdraw from it, and say, "Our works +for us and your works for you! Peace be on you! We are not in quest of +fools!" + +Thou truly canst not guide whom thou desirest; but God guideth whom He will; +and He best knoweth those who yield to guidance. + +But they say, "If we follow the way in which thou art guided,19 we shall be +driven from our country." But have we not established for them a sacred +secure precinct, to which fruits of every kind, our gift for their support, +are gathered together? But most of them have no knowledge. + +And how many cities have we destroyed that flourished in wanton ease! And +these their dwellings have not been inhabited since their time save by a few, +and it is we who became their heirs. + +But thy Lord did not destroy the cities till He had sent an apostle to their +mother-city to rehearse our signs to its people: nor did we destroy the +cities unless its people were unjust. + +And all that hath been bestowed on you is merely for enjoyment and pomp of +this life present: but that which is with God is better and more lasting. +Will ye not be wise? + +Shall he then to whom we have promised a goodly promise and who obtaineth it, +be as he on whom we have bestowed the enjoyments of this life present, and +who on the day of Resurrection shall be brought up for punishment? + +On that day will God cry to them and say, "Where are my companions, as ye +supposed them?" + +They on whom doom shall be justly pronounced will say, "O our Lord! these are +they whom we led astray: we led them astray even as we had been led astray +ourselves: Thou hast no cause of blame against us: It was not we whom they +worshipped.20 + +And it shall be said, "Call now on those whom ye made God's companions:" and +they shall call on them, but they will not answer them. And they shall see +the punishment, and wish that they had been guided aright. + +And on that day shall God call to them and say, "How answered ye the +apostles?" + +But on that day they shall be too blinded with confusion to give an +account,21 nor shall they ask it of one another. + +Yet as to him who shall turn to God and believe and do the thing that is +right, it may come to pass that he shall be among the happy. + +And thy Lord createth what he will and hath a free choice. But they, the +false gods, have no power to choose. Glory be to God! and high let him be +exalted above those whom they associate with him. + +And thy Lord knoweth what their breasts conceal and what they bring to light. + +And He is God! There is no god but He! His, all praise in this life and in +the next, and His the power supreme,22 and to Him shall ye be brought back! + +SAY: What think ye? If God should enshroud you with a long night until the +day of resurrection, what god beside God would bring you light? Will ye not +then hearken? + +SAY: What think ye? If God should make it one long day for you until the day +of resurrection, what god but God could bring you the night in which to take +your rest? Will ye not then see? + +Of His mercy he hath made for you the night that ye may take your rest in it; +and the day that ye may seek what ye need out of his bounteous supplies, and +that ye may give thanks. + +One day God will call to them and say, "Where are my companions as ye +supposed them? + +And we will bring up a witness out of every nation and say, "Bring your +proofs." And they shall know that the truth is with God alone, and the gods +of their own devising shall desert them. + +Now Korah23 was of the people of Moses: but he behaved haughtily toward them; +for we had given him such treasure that its keys would have burdened a +company of men of strength. When his people said to him, "Exult not, for God +loveth not those who exult; + +But seek, by means of what God hath given thee, to attain the future Mansion; +and neglect not thy part in this world, but be bounteous to others as God +hath been bounteous to thee, and seek not to commit excesses on the earth; +for God loveth not those who commit excesses:" + +He said, "It hath been given me only on account of the knowledge that is in +me." Did he not know that God had destroyed before him generations that were +mightier than he in strength and had amassed more abundant wealth? But the +wicked shall not be asked of their crimes. + +And Korah went forth to his people in his pomp. Those who were greedy for +this present life said, "Oh that we had the like of that which hath been +bestowed on Korah! Truly he is possessed of great good fortune." + +But they to whom knowledge had been given said, "Woe to you! the reward of +God is better for him who believeth and worketh righteousness, and none shall +win it but those who have patiently endured." + +And we clave the earth for him and for his palace, and he had no forces, in +the place of God,24 to help him, nor was he among those who are succoured. + +And in the morning those who the day before had coveted his lot said, "Aha! +God enlargeth supplies to whom he pleaseth of his servants, or is sparing. +Had not God been gracious to us, He had caused it to cleave for us. Aha! the +ungrateful can never prosper." + +As to this future mansion, we will bestow it on those who seek not to exalt +them in the earth or to do wrong: And there is a happy issue for the God- +fearing. + +Whoso doeth good shall have reward beyond its merits, and whoso doeth evil, +they who do evil shall be rewarded only as they shall have wrought. + +He who hath sanctioned the Koran to thee will certainly bring thee to thy +home.25 SAY: My Lord best knoweth who hath guidance, and who is in undoubted +error. + +Thou didst never expect that the Book would be given thee. Of thy Lord's +mercy only hath it been sent down. Be not thou helpful then to the +unbelievers: + +Neither let them turn thee aside from the signs of God after they have been +sent down to thee, but bid men to thy Lord; and be not among those who add +gods to God: + +And call not on any other god with God. There is no god but He! Everything +shall perish except Himself! Judgment is His, and to Him shall ye return! + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura lxviii. 1, p. 32. + +2 Lit. Imâms. + +3 Comp. [xci.] ii. 58. + +4 That is, This child will be a comfort to us. See Sura [lviii.] xix. 26. + +5 "Why must the nurse be a Hebrew woman? (Ex. ii. 7.) This shews that he +refused the breast of all the Egyptian women. For the Holy, blessed be He, +had said, Shall the mouth that is to speak with me suck an unclean thing?" +Sotah. xii. 2. + +6 Lit. in the time of neglect on the part of its people, i.e. at the hour of +the noon sleep. + +7 Lit. I have acted unjustly to my soul. + +8 Comp. Ex. ii. 16, 17, where the daughters are said to be seven. + +9 That is, of a wife. + +10 The compact (Gen. xxix. 15-39) between Laban and Jacob must have been +present to the mind of Muhammad when composing this tale. + +11 Lit. he was cried to. According to Muhammad, Moses had resolved to quit +Madian previously to the Vision of the Bush, which, according to Ex. iii., +was the real occasion. + +12 Lit. thy wing. + +13 Lit. kindle upon the clay. Comp. [lxxviii.] xl. 38-49. "He (Pharaoh) said +to them: From the first have ye spoken an untruth, for Lord of the Worlds am +I. I created myself and the Nile, as it is said (Ez. xxix. 3), 'My river is +mine own and I have made it for myself."' (E.T.) Mid. Rab. on Ex. Par. 5. + +14 So that the oral traditions would be easily handed down. + +15 Or, yet have we sent thee as an Apostle to them. + +16 Supply, we will not believe. + +17 That is, the Pentateuch and the Koran. + +18 The Meccan Jews and Christians who had formerly embraced Islam, and could +now affirm that they had always held the same faith. This passage could not +have been written after Muhammad's experience of Jewish unbelief at Medina. + +19 Lit. the guidance with thee. + +20 But their own imaginations and passions. + +21 Lit. the account shall be blind or dark to them. Sie werden vor Bestürzung +keine Rechenschaft geben. Ullm. + +22 Potestas judiciaria. Mar. Richteramt. Ullm. + +23 Ar. Karun. "Joseph concealed three treasures in Egypt, one of which became +known to Korah . . . the keys of Korah's treasure chambers were a burden for +300 white mules." Midr. Jalkut on Eccl. v. 12, "Riches kept for the owners +thereof to their hurt,"–which may have furnished Muhammad with the nucleus of +this story. Compare also Tract. Psachim. fol. 119 a. + +24 Or, against God. + +25 Probably to Paradise, according to others to Mecca, as a conqueror. But +this latter interpretation involves the revelation of this verse at least, at +Medina. + + +SURA XXXIX.–THE TROOPS [LXXX.] + +MECCA.–75 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +THE Book1 sent down from God, the Mighty, the Wise! + +We have sent down the Book to thee with the truth: serve thou God then, and +be sincere in thy worship: + +Is not a sincere worship due to God? + +But they who take others beside him as lords saying, "We serve them only that +they may bring us near to God"–God will judge between them and the faithful, +concerning that wherein they are at variance. + +Verily God will not guide him who is a liar, an infidel. + +Had God desired to have had a son, he had surely chosen what he pleased out +of his own creation. But praise be to Him! He is God, the One, the Almighty. + +For truth2 hath he created the Heavens and the Earth: It is of Him that the +night returneth upon the day and that the day returneth upon the night: and +He controlleth the sun and the moon so that each speedeth to an appointed +goal. Is He not the Mighty, the Gracious? + +He created you all of one man, from whom He afterwards formed his wife; and +of cattle He hath sent down to you four pairs.3 In the wombs of your mothers +did He create you by creation upon creation in triple darkness. It is He who +is God your Lord: the kingdom is His: There is no God but He. How then are ye +so turned aside from Him? + +Suppose ye render him no thanks! yet forsooth is God rich without you: but He +is not pleased with thanklessness in His servants: yet if ye be thankful He +will be pleased with you. The soul burdened with its own works shall not be +burdened with the burden of another: hereafter shall ye return to your Lord, +and he will tell you of all your works, + +For he knoweth the very secrets of your breasts. + +When some trouble toucheth a man, he turneth to his Lord and calleth on him: +yet no sooner hath He enriched him with his favour than he forgetteth Him on +whom he before had called, and setteth up peers with God, that he may beguile +others from His way. SAY: Enjoy thou thyself yet a little in thine +ingratitude! but thou shalt surely be one of the inmates of the fire. + +Shall he who observeth the hours of the night, prostrate or standing in +devotion, heedful of the life to come, and hoping for the mercy of his Lord . +. .? SAY: Shall they who have knowledge and they who have it not, be treated +alike? In sooth, men of understanding only will take the warning. + +SAY: O my believing servants, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this +world there is good: and broad is God's earth4–verily those who endure with +patience shall be repaid: their reward shall not be by measure. + +SAY: I am bidden to serve God with a sincere worship: and I am bidden to be +the first of those who surrender themselves to him (Muslims). + +SAY: Verily I fear if I rebel against my Lord the punishment of a great day. + +SAY: God will I serve, presenting him with a sincere worship: + +And serve ye what ye choose beside Him. SAY: The losers truly will they be +who shall lose their own souls and their families on the day of resurrection: +Is not this the clear ruin? + +Canopies of fire shall be over them, and floors of fire beneath them. With +this doth God alarm his servants: Fear ye me, then, O my servants! + +But good tidings are there for those who shun the worship of Thagout and are +turned to God. Cheer then with good tidings those my servants who hearken to +my word and follow its excellence. These are they whom God guideth, and these +are men of insight. + +Him then on whom the sentence of punishment hath justly lighted–him who is +doomed to the fire canst thou rescue? + +But for those who fear their Lord are storied pavilions beneath which shall +the rivers flow: it is the promise of God, and God will not fail in his +promise. + +Seest thou not that God sendeth down water from heaven, and guideth it along +so as to form springs in the earth–then bringeth forth by it corn of varied +sorts–then causeth he it to wither, and thou seest it become yellow–then +crumbleth it away? Lo! herein is teaching for men of insight. + +Shall he then whose breast God hath opened to Islam, and who hath light from +his Lord . . .? But woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the +remembrance of God! They plainly err. + +The best of recitals hath God sent down a book in unison with itself, and +teaching by iteration.5 The very skins of those who fear their Lord do creep +at it! Then do their skins and their hearts soften at the remembrance of +their Lord! This is God's guidance: by it will He guide whom He pleaseth; +and, whom God shall mislead, no guide shall there be for him. + +Shall he who shall have nought but his own face to shelter him with from the +torment of the punishment on the day of the resurrection . . .? Aye, to the +evil doers it shall be said, "Taste what ye have earned." + +They who were before them said it was a lie; but a punishment came upon them +whence they looked not for it: + +And God made them taste humiliation in this present life: but greater surely +will be the punishment of the life to come. Did they but know it! + +Now have we set before man in this Koran every kind of parable for their +warning: + +An Arabic Koran, free from tortuous wording, to the intent that they may fear +God. + +God setteth forth the comparison of a man with associates6 at variance among +themselves, and of a man devoted wholly to a man. Are these to be held alike? +No, praise be to God! But the greater part of them understand not. + +Thou truly shall die, O Muhammad, and they too shall die: + +Then, at the day of resurrection, ye shall wrangle with one another in the +presence of your Lord. + +And who acteth more unjustly than he who lieth of God, and treateth the truth +when it cometh to him as a lie? Is there not a dwelling-place in Hell for the +infidels? + +But he who bringeth the truth, and he who believeth it to be the truth: these +are the God-fearing. + +Whatever they shall desire, awaiteth them with their Lord! This is the reward +of the righteous; + +That God may do away the guilt of their worst actions, and for their best +actions render them their reward. + +Is not God all-sufficient for his servant? Yet would they scare thee by their +idols. But no guide shall there be for him whom God misleadeth: + +And he whom God guideth shall have none to mislead him. Is not God, all- +mighty, able to revenge? + +And if thou ask them who hath created the Heavens and the Earth, they will +surely answer, God. SAY: Think ye, then, that they7 on whom ye call beside +God, if God choose to afflict me, could remove his affliction? or if he +choose to show me mercy, could they withhold His mercy? SAY: God sufficeth +me: in Him let the trusting trust. + +SAY: O my people, act your part as best ye can, I too will act mine; and in +the end ye shall know + +On whom shall light a punishment that shall shame him, and on whom a lasting +punishment shall fall. + +Assuredly we have sent down the Book to thee for man and for the ends of +truth. Whoso shall be guided by it–it will be for his own advantage, and +whoso shall err, shall only err to his own loss. But not to thy keeping are +they entrusted. + +God taketh souls unto Himself at death; and during their sleep those who do +not die:8 and he retaineth those on which he hath passed a decree of death, +but sendeth the others back till a time that is fixed. Herein are signs for +the reflecting. + +Have they taken aught beside God as intercessors? SAY: What! though they have +no power over anything, neither do they understand? + +SAY: Intercession is wholly with God:9 His the kingdom of the Heavens and of +the Earth! To him shall ye be brought back hereafter! + +But when the One God is named, the hearts of those who believe not in the +life to come, shrivel up: but when the deities who are adored beside Him are +named, lo! they are filled with joy. + +SAY: O God, creator of the Heaven and of the Earth, who knowest the hidden +and the manifest, thou shalt judge between thy servants as to the subject of +their disputes. + +If the wicked possessed all that is in the earth and as much again therewith, +verily they would ransom themselves with it from the pain of the punishment +on the day of the resurrection; and there shall appear to them, from God, +things they had never reckoned on: + +And their own ill deeds shall be clearly perceived by them, and that fire at +which they mocked shall encircle them on every side. + +When trouble befalleth a man he crieth to Us; afterwards, when we have +vouchsafed favour to him, he saith, "God knew that I deserved it."10 Nay, it +is a trial. But the greater part of them knew it not. + +The same said those who flourished before them; but their deeds profited them +not. + +And their own ill deeds recoiled upon them. And whoso among these (Meccans) +shall do wrong, on them likewise their own misdeeds shall light, neither +shall they invalidate God. + +Know they not that God giveth supplies with open hand, and that He is sparing +to whom He will? Of a truth herein are signs to those who believe. + +SAY: O my servants who have transgressed to your own hurt,11 despair not of +God's mercy, for all sins doth God forgive. Gracious, Merciful is He! + +And return ye to your Lord, and to Him resign yourselves, ere the punishment +come on you, for then ye shall not be helped: + +And follow that most excellent thing which hath been sent down to you from +your Lord, ere the punishment come on you suddenly, and when ye look not for +it: + +So that a soul say, "Oh misery! for my failures in duty towards God! and +verily I was of those who scoffed:" + +Or say, "Had God guided me, I had surely been of those who feared Him:" + +Or say, when it seeth the punishment, "Could I but return, then I would be of +the righteous." + +Nay! my signs had already come to thee, and thou didst treat them as +untruths, and wast arrogant, and becamest of those who believed not. + +And on the resurrection day, thou shalt see those who have lied of God, with +their faces black. Is there not an abode in Hell for the arrogant? + +But God shall rescue those who fear him into their safe retreat: no ill shall +touch them, neither shall they be put to grief. + +God is the creator of all things, and of all things is He the guardian! His +the keys of the Heavens and of the Earth! and–who believe not in the signs of +God–these! they shall perish! + +SAY: What! do ye then bid me worship other than God, O ye ignorant ones? + +But now hath it been revealed to thee and to those who flourished before +thee,–"Verily, if thou join partners with God, vain shall be all thy work, +and thyself shalt be of those who perish. + +Nay, rather worship God! and be of those who render thanks." + +But they have not deemed of God as is His due;12 for on the resurrection day +the whole Earth shall be but his handful, and in his right hand shall the +Heavens be folded together. Praise be to Him! and high be He uplifted above +the partners they join with Him! + +And there shall be a blast on the trumpet, and all who are in the Heavens and +all who are in the Earth shall expire, save those whom God shall vouchsafe to +live. Then shall there be another blast on it, and lo! arising they shall +gaze around them: + +And the earth shall shine with the light of her Lord, and the Book shall be +set, and the prophets shall be brought up, and the witnesses; and judgment +shall be given between them with equity; and none shall be wronged: + +And every soul shall receive as it shall have wrought, for well knoweth He +men's actions. + +And by TROOPS shall the unbelievers be driven towards Hell, until when they +reach it, its gates shall be opened, and its keepers shall say to them, "Came +not apostles from among yourselves to you, reciting to you the signs of your +Lord, and warning you of the meeting with Him on this your day?"13 They shall +say, "Yes." But just is the sentence of punishment on the unbelievers. + +It shall be said to them, "Enter ye the gates of Hell, therein to dwell for +ever;" and wretched the abode of the arrogant! + +But those who feared their Lord shall be driven on by troops to Paradise, +until when they reach it, its gates shall be opened, and its keepers shall +say to them, "All hail! virtuous have ye been: enter then in, to abide herein +for ever." + +And they shall say, "Praise be to God, who hath made good to us His promise, +and hath given to us the earth as our heritage, that we may dwell in Paradise +wherever we please!" And goodly is the reward of those who travailed +virtuously. + +And thou shalt see the Angels circling around the Throne with praises of +their Lord: and judgment shall be pronounced between them with equity: and it +shall be said, "Glory be to God the Lord of the Worlds." + + +_______________________ + +1 Lit. the sending down, or revelation, of the Book is, etc. + +2 Lit. in truth, i.e. for a serious and earnest purpose, and not as mere +pastime. + +3 That is, camels, oxen, sheep and goats. + +4 The wording of this verse would seem to indicate a period when Muhammad was +meditating flight from Mecca. Comp. [lxxxi.] xxix. 56. + +5 See on the word Mathani, Sura xv. 87, p. 116. Or, by rhyming couplets. + +6 The word associates contains an implied allusion to the deities associated +with God, and who distract the idolaters in their worship. + +7 In the fem. gender in the Ar. This passage was revealed shortly after the +circumstances mentioned, liii. 20, n. p. 70. + +8 See Sura [lxxxix.] vi. 60. + +9 That is, none may intercede with Him but those whom He permits to do so. + +10 Lit. It was only given to me on account of knowledge. Mar. Deus sciebat me +esse dignum eo. Thus Sale. + +11 By becoming apostates from Islam. Comp. Sura [lxxiii.] xvi. 108. This and +the two following verses are said to have originated at Medina. His 230, Wah. +Omar ben Muhammad. Beidh. Itq. 19. + +12 Lit. they have not esteemed God according to the truth of His estimation. + +13 Adventum diei hujus. Mar. + + +SURA XXIX.–THE SPIDER [LXXXI.] + +MECCA–69 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ELIF. LAM. MIM.1 Think men that when they say, "We believe," they shall be +let alone and not be put to proof? + +We put to proof those who lived before them; for God will surely take +knowledge of those who are sincere, and will surely take knowledge of the +liars. + +Think they who work evil that they shall escape Us? Ill do they judge. + +To him who hopeth to meet God, the set time of God will surely come. The +Hearer, the Knower, He! + +Whoso maketh efforts for the faith, maketh them for his own good only. Verily +God is rich enough to dispense with all creatures. + +And as to those who shall have believed and done the things that are right, +their evil deeds will we surely blot out from them, and according to their +best actions will we surely reward them. + +Moreover we have enjoined on man to shew kindness to parents: but if they +strive with thee that thou join that with Me of which thou hast no +knowledge,2 obey them not. To me do ye return, and then will I tell you of +your doings: + +And those who shall have believed and done the things that are right, we will +surely give them an entering in among the just. + +But some men say, "We believe in God," yet when they meet with sufferings in +the cause of God, they regard trouble from man as chastisement from God. Yet +if a success come from thy Lord they are sure to say, "We were on your side!" +Doth not God well know what is in the breasts of his creatures? + +Yes, and God well knoweth those who believe, and He well knoweth the +Hypocrites. + +The unbelievers say to the faithful, "Follow ye our way, and we will surely +bear your sins." But not aught of their sins will they bear–verily they are +liars! + +But their own burdens, and burdens beside their own burdens shall they surely +bear: and inquisition shall be made of them on the day of Resurrection as to +their false devices. + +Of old sent we Noah to his people: a thousand years save fifty did he tarry +among them; and the flood overtook them in their wrongful doings: + +But we rescued him and those who were in the vessel; and we made it a sign to +all men: + +And Abraham; when he said to his people, "Worship God and fear Him. This will +be best for you, if ye have knowledge;" + +Ye only worship idols beside God, and are the authors of a lie. Those whom ye +worship beside God can give you no supplies: seek, then, your supplies from +God; and serve Him and give Him thanks. To Him shall ye return. + +Suppose that ye treat me as a liar! nations before you have treated God's +messenger as a liar; but open preaching is his only duty. + +See they not how God bringeth forth creation? and then causeth it to return +again? This truly is easy for God. + +SAY,3 Go through the earth, and see how he hath brought forth created beings. +Hereafter, with a second birth will God cause them to be born again; for God +is Almighty. + +Whom He pleaseth will He chastise, and on whom He pleaseth will He have +mercy, and to Him shall ye be taken back. + +And ye shall not invalidate his power either in the Earth or in the Heaven:4 +and, save God, ye shall have neither patron nor helper. + +As for those who believe not in the signs of God, or that they shall ever +meet him, these of my mercy shall despair, and these doth a grievous +chastisement await." + +And the only answer of his people was to say, "Slay him or burn him." But +from the fire did God save him! Verily, herein are signs to those who +believe. + +And Abraham said, "Of a truth ye have taken idols along with God as your bond +of union5 in this life present; + +But on the day of resurrection some of you shall deny the others, and some of +you shall curse the others; and your abode shall be the fire, and ye shall +have none to help." + +But Lot believed on him,6 and said, "I betake me to my Lord, for He truly is +the Mighty, the Wise." + +And we bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob,7 and placed the gift of prophecy and +the Scripture among his posterity; And we gave him his reward in this world, +and in the next he shall be among the just. + +We sent also Lot: when he said to his people, "Proceed ye to a filthiness in +which no people in the world hath ever gone before you? + +Proceed ye even to men? attack ye them on the highway? and proceed ye to the +crime in your assemblies?" But the only answer of his people was to say, +"Bring God's chastisement upon us, if thou art a man of truth." + +He cried: My Lord! help me against this polluted people. + +And when our messengers came to Abraham with the tidings of a son, they said, +"Of a truth we will destroy the in-dwellers in this city, for its in-dwellers +are evil doers." + +He said, "Lot is therein." They said, "We know full well who therein is. Him +and his family will we save, except his wife; she will be of those who +linger. + +And when our messengers came to Lot, he was troubled for them, and his arm +was too weak8 to protect them; and they said, "Fear not, and distress not +thyself, for thee and thy family will we save, except thy wife; she will be +of those who linger.9 + +We will surely bring down upon the dwellers in this city vengeance from +Heaven for the excesses they have committed." + +And in what we have left of it is a clear sign to men of understanding. + +And to Madian we sent their brother Shoaib. And he said, "Oh! my people! +worship God, and expect the latter day, and enact not in the land deeds of +harmful excess." + +But they treated him as an impostor: so an earthquake assailed them; and at +morn they were found prostrate and dead in their dwellings. + +And we destroyed Ad and Themoud. Already is this made plain to you in the +ruins of their dwellings. For Satan had made their own works fair seeming to +them, and drew them from the right path, keen-sighted though they were. + +And Corah and Pharaoh and Haman. With proofs of his mission did Moses come to +them, and they behaved proudly on the earth; but us they could not +outstrip;10 + +For, every one of them did we seize in his sin. Against some of them did +wesend a stone-charged wind: Some of them did the terrible cry of Gabriel +surprise: for some of them we cleaved the earth; and some of them we drowned. +And it was not God who would deal wrongly by them, but they wronged +themselves. + +The likeness for those who take to themselves guardians instead of God is the +likeness of the SPIDER who buildeth her a house: But verily, frailest of all +houses surely is the house of the spider. Did they but know this! + +God truly knoweth all that they call on beside Him; and He is the Mighty, the +Wise. + +These similitudes do we set forth to men: and none understand them except the +wise. + +God hath created the Heavens and the Earth for a serious end.11 Verily in +this is a sign to those who believe. + +Recite the portions of the Book which have been revealed to thee and +discharge the duty of prayer: for prayer restraineth from the filthy and the +blame-worthy. And the gravest duty is the remembrance of God; and God knoweth +what ye do. + +Dispute not, unless in kindly sort, with the people of the Book;12 save with +such of them as have dealt wrongfully with you: And say ye, "We believe in +what hath been sent down to us and hath been sent down to you. Our God and +your God is one, and to him are we self-surrendered" (Muslims). + +Thus have we sent down the Book of the Koran to thee: and they to whom we +have given the Book of the law believe in it: and of these Arabians there are +those who believe in it: and none, save the Infidels, reject our signs. + +Thou didst not recite any book (of revelation) before it: with that right +hand of thine thou didst not transcribe one: else might they who treat it as +a vain thing have justly doubted: + +But it is a clear sign in the hearts of those whom "the knowledge" hath +reached. None except the wicked reject our signs. + +And they say, "Unless a sign be sent down to him from his Lord. . . ." SAY: +Signs are in the power of God alone. I am only a plain spoken warner. + +Is it not enough for them that we have sent down to thee the Book to be +recited to them? In this verily is a mercy and a warning to those who +believe. + +SAY: God is witness enough between me and you. + +He knoweth all that is in the Heavens and the Earth, and they who believe in +vain things13 and disbelieve in God–these shall be the lost ones. + +They will challenge thee to hasten the punishment: but had there not been a +season fixed for it, that punishment had already come upon them. But it shall +overtake them suddenly when they look not for it. + +They will challenge thee to hasten the punishment: but verily Hell shall be +round about the infidels. + +One day the punishment shall wrap them round, both from above them and from +beneath their feet; and God will say, "Taste ye your own doings." + +O my servants who have believed! Vast truly is my Earth:14 me, therefore! yea +worship me. + +Every soul shall taste of death. Then to us shall ye return. + +But those who shall have believed and wrought righteousness will we lodge in +gardens with palaces, beneath which the rivers flow. For ever shall they +abide therein. How goodly the reward of those who labour, + +Who patiently endure, and put their trust in their Lord! + +How many animals are there which provide not15 their own food! God feedeth +them and you. He Heareth, Knoweth all things. + +If thou ask them who hath created the Heavens and the Earth, and hath imposed +laws on the sun and on the moon, they will certainly say, "God." How then can +they devise lies? + +God lavisheth supplies on such of his servants as He pleaseth or giveth to +them by measure. God knoweth all things. + +If thou ask them who sendeth rain from heaven, and by it quickeneth the +earth, after it hath been dead, they will certainly answer, "God." SAY: +Praise be to God! Yet most of them do not understand. + +This present life is no other than a pastime and a disport: but truly the +future mansion is life indeed! Would that they knew this! + +Lo! when they embark on shipboard, they call upon God, vowing him sincere +worship, but when He bringeth them safe to land, behold they join partners +with Him. + +In our revelation they believe not, yet take their fill of good things. But +in the end they shall know their folly. + +Do they not see that we have established a safe precinct16 while all around +them men are being spoiled? Will they then believe in vain idols, and not own +the goodness of God? + +But who acteth more wrongly than he who deviseth a lie against God, or calls +the truth when it hath come to him, a lie? Is there not an abode for the +infidels in Hell? + +And whoso maketh efforts for us, in our ways will we guide them: for God is +assuredly with those who do righteous deeds. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura lxviii. p. 32. The first ten verses of this Sura were revealed at +Medina, after the battles of Bedr and Ohod. Nöld. p. 115. + +2 Deities for whose worship thou canst shew no authority. Comp. Tr. +Jebhamoth, fol. 6. If a father saith to his son, "Defile thyself," or saith, +"Make not restitution," shall he obey him? It is said (Lev. xix. 3), Let +every man reverence his father and mother, but keep my Sabbaths all of you: +ye are all bound to honour me. Thus also Midr. Jalkut, 604. Comp. next Sura, +v. 13. + +3 The word SAY–the usual address of God or Gabriel to Muhammad–must either be +considered as spoken by God to Abraham, in which case we have a curious +instance of the manner in which Muhammad identifies himself with Abraham, and +makes Abraham speak in words which he constantly elsewhere uses himself; or, +with Wahl, we must suppose that from v. 17 to v. 22 are misplaced. + +4 Comp. Ps. cxxxix. 7. + +5 Lit. for love among yourselves, or as an object of love, i.e. devout +worship. + +6 Thus Sura [lxv.] xxi. 71. The Midr. Rabbah on Gen. Par. 18, says that +Haran, the father of Lot, was brought by Abraham's deliverance from the +furnace to the adoption of his doctrines. Muhammad may have transferred this +idea to Lot. + +7 The following passages deserve to be compared, as shewing the loose way in +which Muhammad could speak of the relationship subsisting between Abraham and +the other Patriarchs. See 38 below. Sura [xci.] ii. 127; [lxxxix.] vi. 84; +[lviii.] xix. 50; [lxv.] xxi. 72; [lxxvii.] xii. 6. It is a curious +coincidence that in the Sonna 398, 400, Joseph is said to be the Grandson, +and Jacob the Son, of Abraham. + +8 Lit. was straitened in regard to them. + +9 See [lxxv.] xi. 83. + +10 So as to fly from our vengeance. + +11 Lit. in truth. + +12 With the Jews. This passage is quoted by modern Muslims in justification +of their indifference with respect to the propagation of their religion. "The +number of the faithful," said one of them to Mr. Lane, "is decreed by God, +and no act of man can increase or diminish it." Mod. Egypt. i. p. 364. +Nöldeke supposes this verse to have been revealed at Medina, and renders, +Contend not except in the best way, i.e. not by words but by force. + +13 Idols. + +14 That is, you may find places of refuge where you may worship the true God +in some other parts of the earth, if driven forth from your native city. This +verse is very indicative of a late Meccan origin. Flight from Mecca must have +been imminent when Muhammad could thus write. + +15 Lit. carry not. Comp. Matth. vi. 26; Luke xii. 24. + +16 At Mecca. + + +SURA XXXI.–LOKMAN1 [LXXXII.] + +MECCA.–34 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ELIF. LAM. MIM.2 These are the verses (signs) of the wise Book, + +A guidance and a mercy to the righteous, + +Who observe prayer, and pay the impost,3 and believe firmly in the life to +come:– + +These rest on guidance from their Lord, and with these it shall be well. + +But a man there is4 who buyeth an idle tale, that in his lack of knowledge he +may mislead others from the way of God, and turn it to scorn. For such is +prepared a shameful punishment! + +And when our signs are rehearsed to him, he turneth away disdainfully, as +though he heard them not,–as though his ears were heavy with deafness. +Announce to him therefore tidings of an afflictive punishment! + +But they who shall have believed and wrought good works, shall enjoy the +gardens of delight: + +For ever shall they dwell therein: it is God's true promise! and He is the +Mighty, the Wise. + +Without pillars that can be seen hath He created the heavens, and on the +earth hath thrown mountains lest it should move with you;5 and He hath +scattered over it animals of every sort: and from the Heaven we send down +rain and cause every kind of noble plant to grow up therein. + +This is the creation of God: Shew me now what others than He have created. +Ah! the ungodly are in a manifest delusion. + +Of old we bestowed wisdom upon LOKMAN, and taught him thus–"Be thankful to +God: for whoever is thankful, is thankful to his own behoof; and if any shall +be thankless . . . God truly is self-sufficient, worthy of all praise!" + +And bear in mind when Lokman said to his son by way of warning, "O my son! +join not other gods with God, for the joining gods with God is the great +impiety." + +(We have commanded6 man concerning his parents. His mother carrieth him with +weakness upon weakness; nor until after two years is he weaned.7 Be grateful +to me, and to thy parents. Unto me shall all come. + +But if they importune thee to join that with Me of which thou hast no +knowledge, obey them not: comport thyself towards them in this world as is +meet and right; but follow the way of him who turneth unto me. Unto me shall +ye return at last, and then will I tell you of your doings;) + +"O my son! verily God will bring everything to light, though it were but the +weight of a grain of mustard-seed, and hidden in a rock or in the heavens or +in the earth; for, God is subtile, informed of all. + +O my son! observe prayer, and enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and be +patient under whatever shall betide thee: for this is a bounden duty. + +And distort not thy face at men; nor walk thou loftily on the earth; for God +loveth no arrogant vain-glorious one. + +But let thy pace be middling; and lower thy voice: for the least pleasing of +voices is surely the voice of asses." + +See ye not how that God hath put under you all that is in the heavens and all +that is on the earth, and hath been bounteous to you of his favours, both for +soul and body.8 But some are there who dispute of God without knowledge, and +have no guidance and no illuminating Book: + +And when it is said to them, Follow ye what God hath sent down, they say, +"Nay; that religion in which we found our fathers will we follow." What! +though Satan bid them to the torment of the flame? + +But whoso setteth his face toward God with self-surrender, and is a doer of +that which is good, hath laid hold on a sure handle; for unto God is the +issue of all things. + +But let not the unbelief of the unbelieving grieve thee: unto us shall they +return: then will we tell them of their doings; for God knoweth the very +secrets of the breast. + +Yet a little while will we provide for them: afterwards will we force them to +a stern punishment. + +If thou ask them who hath created the heavens and the earth, they will +certainly reply, "God." SAY: God be praised! But most of them have no +knowledge. + +God's, whatever is in the Heavens and the Earth! for God, He is the Rich,9 +the Praiseworthy. + +If all the trees that are upon the earth were to become pens, and if God +should after that swell the sea into seven seas of ink, His words would not +be exhausted: for God is Mighty, Wise.10 + +Your creation and your quickening hereafter, are but as those of a single +individual. Verily, God Heareth, Seeth! + +Seest thou not that God causeth the night to come in upon the day, and the +day to come in upon the night? and that he hath subjected the sun and the +moon to laws by which each speedeth along to an appointed goal? and that God +therefore is acquainted with that which ye do? + +This, for that God is the truth; and that whatever ye call upon beside Him is +a vain thing; and that God–He is the High, the Great. + +Seest thou not how the ships speed on in the sea, through the favour of God, +that he may shew you of his signs? for herein are signs to all patient, +grateful ones. + +When the waves cover them like dark shadows they call upon God as with +sincere religion; but when He safely landeth them, some of them there are who +halt between two opinions.11 Yet none reject our signs but all deceitful, +ungrateful ones. + +O men! fear ye your Lord, and dread the day whereon father shall not atone +for son, neither shall a son in the least atone for his father. + +Aye! the promise of God is a truth. Let not this present life then deceive +you; neither let the deceiver deceive you concerning God. + +Aye! God!–with Him is the knowledge of the Hour: and He sendeth down the +rain–and He knoweth what is in the wombs–but no soul knoweth what it shall +have gotten on the morrow: neither knoweth any soul in what land it shall +die. But God is knowing, informed of all. + + +_______________________ + +1 Nothing certain is known concerning the history of this fabulist and +philosopher. The opinion most generally received is that Lokman is the same +person whom the Greeks, not knowing his real name, have called Ćsop, i.e., +Ćthiops. This Sura shews the high degree of respect entertained for Lokman in +Arabia at the time of Muhammad, who doubtless aimed to promote the interests +of his new religion by connecting the Koran with so celebrated a name. + +2 See Sura lxviii. 1, p. 32. + +3 Beidh. and Itq. suppose this verse to have been revealed at Medina, on +account of the precept to pay the impost, required by Muhammad of his +followers as a religious duty, and different from the alms. The former is +usually coupled with the duty of observing prayer. Mar. renders, sacrum +censum in marg. + +4 Nodhar Ibn El Hareth, who had purchased in Persia the romance of Roustem +and Isfendiar, two of the most famous heroes of that land, which he recited +to the Koreisch as superior to the Koran. + +5 Comp. Ps. civ. 5. + +6 This verse and the verse following would seem more naturally to follow +verse 18, where Wahl has placed them. See preceding Sura, v. 7. + +7 Comp. Talm. Kethuboth, 60, 1, "A woman is to suckle her child two years." +Comp. Jos. Ant. ii. 9, 6. + +8 Or, the seen and unseen, lit., outwardly and inwardly. + +9 Or as rendered in verse 11, "the self-sufficient." + +10 Wah. Omar ben Muhammad, Zam. and Beidh. suppose this and the three +following verses to have been revealed at Medina, in answer to the Jews, who +had affirmed that all knowledge was contained in their own Law. But the +accuracy of this supposition is very doubtful, if considered with regard to +the preceding and following context. + +11 Between idolatry and Islam. + + +SURA XLII.–COUNSEL [LXXXIII.] + +MECCA.–53 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +HA. MIM. AIN. SIN. KAF.1 Thus unto thee as unto those who preceded thee doth +God, the Mighty, the Wise, reveal! + +All that is in the Heavens and all that is in the Earth is His: and He is the +High, the Great! + +Ready are the Heavens to cleave asunder from above for very awe: and the +angels celebrate the praise of their Lord, and ask forgiveness for the +dwellers on earth: Is not God the Indulgent, the Merciful? + +But whose take aught beside Him as lords–God watcheth them! but thou hast +them not in thy charge. + +It is thus moreover that we have revealed to thee an Arabic Koran, that thou +mayest warn the mother city2 and all around it, and that thou mayest warn +them of that day of the Gathering, of which there is no doubt–when part shall +be in Paradise and part in the flame. + +Had God so pleased, He had made them one people and of one creed: but He +bringeth whom He will within His mercy; and as for the doers of evil, no +patron, no helper shall there be for them. + +Will they take other patrons than Him? But God is man's only Lord: He +quickeneth the dead; and He is mighty over all things. + +And whatever the subject of your disputes, with God doth its decision rest. +This is God, my Lord: in Him do I put my trust, and to Him do I turn in +penitence; + +Creator of the Heavens and of the Earth! he hath given you wives from among +your own selves, and cattle male and female–by this means to multiply you: +Nought is there like Him! the Hearer, the Beholder He! + +His, the keys of the Heavens and of the Earth! He giveth with open hand, or +sparingly, to whom He will: He knoweth all things. + +To you hath He prescribed the faith which He commanded unto Noah, and which +we have revealed to thee, and which we commanded unto Abraham and Moses and +Jesus, saying, "Observe this faith, and be not divided into sects therein." +Intolerable to those who worship idols jointly with God + +Is that faith to which thou dost call them. Whom He pleaseth will God choose +for it, and whosoever shall turn to Him in penitence will He guide to it. + +Nor were they divided into sects through mutual jealousy, till after that +"the knowledge" had come to them: and had not a decree from thy Lord gone +forth respiting them to a fixed time, verily, there had at once been a +decision between them.3 And they who have inherited "the Book" after them, +are in perplexity of doubt concerning it. + +For this cause summon thou them to the faith, and go straight on as thou hast +been bidden, and follow not their desires: and SAY: In whatsoever Books God +hath sent down do I believe: I am commanded to decide justly between you: God +is your Lord and our Lord: we have our works and you have your works: between +us and you let there be no strife: God will make us all one: and to Him shall +we return. + +And as to those who dispute about God, after pledges of obedience given to +Him,4 their disputings shall be condemned by their Lord, and wrath shall be +on them, and theirs shall be a sore torment. + +It is God who hath sent down the Book with truth, and the Balance:5 but who +shall inform thee whether haply "the Hour" be nigh? + +They who believe not in it, challenge its speedy coming:6 but they who +believe are afraid because of it, and know it to be a truth. Are not they who +dispute of the Hour, in a vast error? + +Benign is God towards his servants: for whom He will doth He provide: and He +is the Strong, the Mighty. + +Whoso will choose the harvest field of the life to come, to him will we give +increase in this his harvest field: and whoso chooseth the harvest field of +this life, thereof will we give him: but no portion shall there be for him in +the life to come.7 + +Is it that they have gods who have sanctioned for them aught in the matter of +religion which God hath not allowed? But had it not been for a decree of +respite till the day of severance, judgment had ere now taken place among +them; and assuredly the impious shall undergo a painful torment. + +On that day thou shalt see the impious alarmed at their own works, and the +consequence thereof shall fall upon them: but they who believe and do the +things that are right, shall dwell in the meadows of paradise: whatever they +shall desire awaiteth them with their Lord. This, the greatest boon. + +This is what God announceth to his servants who believe and do the things +that are right. SAY: For this ask I no wage of you, save the love of my kin. +And whoever shall have won the merit of a good deed, we will increase good to +him therewith; for God is forgiving, grateful. + +Will they say he hath forged a lie of God? If God pleased, + +He could then seal up thy very heart.8 But God will bring untruth to nought, +and will make good the truth by his word: for He knoweth the very secrets of +the breast. + +He it is who accepteth repentance from his servants, and forgiveth their sins +and knoweth your actions: + +And to those who believe and do the things that are right will he hearken, +and augment his bounties to them:9 but the unbelievers doth a terrible +punishment await. + +Should God bestow abundance upon his servants, they might act wantonly on the +earth: but He sendeth down what He will by measure; for he knoweth, beholdeth +his servants. + +He it is who after that men have despaired of it, sendeth down the rain, and +spreadeth abroad his mercy: He is the Protector, the Praiseworthy. + +Among his signs is the creation of the Heavens and of the Earth, and the +creatures which he hath scattered over both: and, for their gathering +together when he will, He is allpowerful! + +Nor happeneth to you any mishap, but it is for your own handy-work: and yet +he forgiveth many things. + +Ye cannot weaken him on the earth: neither, beside God, patron or helper +shall ye have. + +Among his signs also are the sea-traversing ships like mountains: if such be +his will, He lulleth the wind, and they lie motionless on the back of the +waves:–truly herein are signs to all the constant, the grateful;– + +Or if, for their ill deserts, He cause them to founder, still He forgiveth +much: + +But they who gainsay our signs shall know that there will be no escape for +them. + +All that you receive is but for enjoyment in this life present: but better +and more enduring is a portion with God, for those who believe and put their +trust in their Lord; + +And who avoid the heinous things of crime, and filthiness, and when they are +angered, forgive; + +And who hearken to their Lord, and observe prayer, and whose affairs are +guided by mutual COUNSEL, and who give alms of that with which we have +enriched them; + +And who, when a wrong is done them, redress themselves: + +–Yet let the recompense of evil be only a like evil but he who forgiveth and +is reconciled, shall be rewarded by God himself; for He loveth not those who +act unjustly. + +And there shall be no way open against those who, after being wronged, avenge +themselves; + +But there shall be a way open against those who unjustly wrong others, and +act insolently on the earth in disregard of justice. These! a grievous +punishment doth await them. + +And whoso beareth wrongs with patience and forgiveth;–this verily is a +bounden duty; + +But he whom God shall cause to err, shall thenceforth have no protector. And +thou shalt behold the perpetrators of injustice, + +Exclaiming, when they see the torment, "Is there no way to return?" + +And thou shalt see them when set before it, downcast for the shame: they +shall look at it with stealthy glances: and the believers shall say, "Truly +are the losers they who have lost themselves and their families on the day of +Resurrection! Shall not the perpetrators of injustice be in lasting torment?" + +And no other protectors shall there be to succour them than God; and no +pathway for him whom God shall cause to err. + +Hearken then to your Lord ere the day come, which none can put back when God +doth ordain its coming. No place of refuge for you on that day! no denying +your own works! + +But if they turn aside from thee, yet we have not sent thee to be their +guardian. 'Tis thine but to preach. When we cause man to taste our gifts of +mercy, he rejoiceth in it; but if for their by-gone handy-work evil betide +them, then lo! is man ungrateful. + +God's, the kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth! He createth what He will! +and he giveth daughters to whom He will, and sons to whom He will: + +Or He giveth them children of both sexes, and He maketh whom He will to be +childless; for He is Wise, Powerful! + +It is not for man that God should speak with him but by vision, or from +behind a veil: + +Or, He sendeth a messenger to reveal, by his permission, what He will: for He +is Exalted, Wise! + +Thus have we sent the Spirit (Gabriel10) to thee with a revelation, by our +command. Thou knewest not, ere this, what "the Book" was, or what the faith. +But we have ordained it for a light: by it will we guide whom we please of +our servants. And thou shalt surely guide into the right way, + +The way of God, whose is all that the Heaven and the Earth contain. Shall not +all things return to God? + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura lxviii. 1, p. 32. + +2 Mecca. + +3 Jews and Christians. + +4 Or, nachdem ihm (Mohamed) die Lehre geworden. Ullm. Postquam responsum fuit +illi (id est, Mahumeto de Religione manifestanda). Mar. + +5 The law contained in the Koran. + +6 Isai. v. 19. + +7 Comp. Gal. vi. 7, 8. + +8 That is, deprive thee of the Prophetic mission; or, fortify thee with +patience against the calumny of forging lies of God. Thus Mar. If this latter +interpretation be adopted, the remainder of the verse must be rendered: And +God will abolish the lie and, etc. + +9 Lit. he will increase them. Comp. Ps. cxv. 14. + +10 Thus Beidhawi. + + +SURA X.–JONAH, PEACE BE ON HIM! [LXXXIV.] + +MECCA.–109 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ELIF. LAM. RA.1 These are the signs of the wise Book! + +A matter of wonderment is it to the men of Mecca, that to a person among +themselves We revealed, "Bear warnings to the people: and, to those who +believe, bear the good tidings that they shall have with their Lord the +precedence merited by their sincerity." The unbelievers say, "Verily this is +a manifest sorcerer." + +Verily your Lord is God who hath made the Heavens and the Earth in six days– +then mounted his throne to rule all things: None can intercede with him till +after his permission: This is God your Lord: therefore serve him: Will ye not +reflect? + +Unto Him shall ye return, all together: the promise of God is sure: He +produceth a creature, then causeth it to return again–that he may reward +those who believe and do the things that are right, with equity: but as for +the infidels!–for them the draught that boileth and an afflictive torment– +because they have not believed. + +It is He who hath appointed the sun for brightness, and the moon for a light, +and hath ordained her stations that ye may learn the number of years and the +reckoning of time. God hath not created all this but for the truth.2 He +maketh his signs clear to those who understand. + +Verily, in the alternations of night and of day, and in all that God hath +created in the Heavens and in the Earth are signs to those who fear Him. + +Verily, they who hope not to meet Us, and find their satisfaction in this +world's life, and rest on it, and who of our signs are heedless;– + +These! their abode the fire, in recompense of their deeds! + +But they who believe and do the things that are right, shall their Lord +direct aright because of their faith. Rivers shall flow at their feet in +gardens of delight: + +Their cry therein, "Glory be to thee, O God!" and their salutation therein, +"Peace!" + +And the close of their cry, "Praise be to God, Lord, of all creatures!" + +Should God hasten evil on men as they fain would hasten their good, then were +their end decreed! So leave we those who hope not to meet Us, bewildered in +their error. + +When trouble toucheth a man, he crieth to us, on his side, or sitting, or +standing; and when we withdraw his trouble from him, he passeth on as though +he had not called on us against the trouble which touched him! Thus are the +deeds of transgressors pre-arranged for them. + +And of old destroyed we generations before you, when they had acted wickedly, +and their Apostles had come to them with clear tokens of their mission, and +they would not believe:–thus reward we the wicked. + +Then we caused you to succeed them on the earth, that we might see how ye +would act. + +But when our clear signs are recited to them, they who look not forward to +meet Us, say, "Bring a different Koran from this, or make some change in it." +SAY: It is not for me to change it as mine own soul prompteth. I follow only +what is revealed to me: verily, I fear, if I rebel against my Lord, the +punishment of a great day. + +SAY: Had God so pleased, I had not recited it to you, neither had I taught it +to you. Already have I dwelt among you for years, ere it was revealed to me. +Understand ye not? + +And who is more unjust than he who coineth a lie against God, or treateth his +signs as lies? Surely the wicked shall not prosper! + +And they worship beside God, what cannot hurt or help them; and say, "These +are our advocates with God!" SAY: Will ye inform God of aught in the Heavens +and in the Earth which he knoweth not? Praise be to Him! High be He exalted +above the deities they join with Him! + +Men were of one religion only:3 then they fell to variance: and had not a +decree (of respite) previously gone forth from thy Lord, their differences +had surely been decided between them! + +They say: "Unless a sign be sent down to him from his Lord. . . ." But SAY: +The hidden is only with God: wait therefore: I truly will be with you among +those who wait. + +And when after a trouble which you befallen them,4 we caused this people to +taste of mercy, lo! a plot on their part against our signs! SAY: Swifter to +plot is God! Verily, our messengers note down your plottings. + +He it is who enableth you to travel by land and sea, so that ye go on board +of ships–which sail on with them, with favouring breeze in which they +rejoice. But if a tempestuous gale overtake them, and the billow come on them +from every side, and they think that they are encompassed therewith, they +call on God, professing sincere religion:–"Wouldst thou but rescue us from +this, then will we indeed be of the thankful." + +But when we have rescued them, lo! they commit unrighteous excesses on the +earth! O men! assuredly your self-injuring excess is only an enjoyment of +this life present: soon ye return to us: and we will let you know what ye +have done! + +Verily, this present life is like the water which we send down from Heaven, +and the produce of the earth, of which men and cattle eat, is mingled with +it, till the earth hath received its golden raiment, and is decked out: and +they who dwell on it deem that they have power over it! but, Our behest +cometh to it by night or by day, and we make it as if it had been mown, as if +it had not teemed only yesterday! Thus make we our signs clear to those who +consider. + +And God calleth to the abode of peace;5 and He guideth whom He will into the +right way. + +Goodness6 itself and an increase of it for those who do good! neither +blackness nor shame shall cover their faces! These shall be the inmates of +Paradise, therein shall they abide for ever. + +And as for those who have wrought out evil, their recompense shall be evil of +like degree, and shame shall cover them–no protector shall they have against +God: as though their faces were darkened with deep murk of night! These shall +be inmates of the fire: therein they shall abide for ever. + +And on that day will we gather them all together: then will we say to those +who added gods to God, "To your place, ye and those added gods of yours!" +Then we will separate between them: and those their gods shall say, "Ye +served us not:7 + +And God is a sufficient witness between us and you: we cared not aught for +your worship." + +There shall every soul make proof of what itself shall have sent on before, +and they shall be brought back to God, their true lord, and the deities of +their own devising shall vanish from them. + +SAY: Who supplieth you from the Heaven and the Earth? Who hath power over +hearing and sight? And who bringeth forth the living from the dead, and +bringeth forth the dead from the living? And who ruleth all things? They will +surely say, "God:" then SAY: "What! will ye not therefore fear him? + +This God then is your true Lord: and when the truth is gone, what remaineth +but error? How then are ye so perverted? + +Thus is the word of thy Lord made good on the wicked, that they shall not +believe. + +SAY: Is there any of the gods whom ye add to God who produceth a creature, +then causeth it to return to him? SAY: God produceth a creature, then causeth +it to return to Him: How therefore are ye turned aside? + +SAY: Is there any of the gods ye add to God who guideth into the truth? SAY: +God guideth into the truth. Is He then who guideth into the truth the more +worthy to be followed, or he who guideth not unless he be himself guided? +What then hath befallen you that ye so judge? + +And most of them follow only a conceit:–But a conceit attaineth to nought of +truth! Verily God knoweth what they say. + +Moreover this Koran could not have been devised by any but God: but it +confirmeth what was revealed before it, and is a clearing up of the +Scriptures–there is no doubt thereof–from the Lord of all creatures. + +Do they say, "He hath devised it himself?" SAY: Then bring a Sura like it; +and call on whom ye can beside God, if ye speak truth. + +But that which they embrace not in their knowledge have they charged with +falsehood, though the explanation of it had not yet been given them. So those +who were before them brought charges of imposture: But see what was the end +of the unjust! + +And some of them believe in it, and some of them believe not in it. But thy +Lord well knoweth the transgressors. + +And if they charge thee with imposture, then SAY: My work for me, and your +work for you! Ye are clear of that which I do, and I am clear of that which +ye do. + +And some of them lend a ready ear to thee: But wilt thou make the deaf to +hear even though they understand not? + +And some of them look at thee: But wilt thou guide the blind even though they +see not? + +Verily, God will not wrong men in aught, but men will wrong themselves. + +Moreover, on that day, He will gather them all together: They shall seem as +though they had waited but an hour of the day! They shall recognise one +another! Now perish they who denied the meeting with God, and were not guided +aright! + +Whether we cause thee to see some of our menaces against them fulfilled, or +whether we first take thee to Ourself,8 to us do they return. Then shall God +bear witness of what they do. + +And every people hath had its apostle.9 And when their apostle came, a +rightful decision took place between them, and they were not wronged. + +Yet they say, "When will this menace be made good? Tell us if ye speak +truly." + +SAY: I have no power over my own weal or woe, but as God pleaseth. Every +people hath its time: when their time is come, they shall neither retard nor +advance it an hour. + +SAY: How think ye? if God's punishment came on you by night or by day, what +portion of it would the wicked desire to hasten on? + +When it falleth on you, will ye believe it then? Yes! ye will believe it +then. Yet did ye challenge its speedy coming. + +Then shall it be said to the transgressors, "Taste ye the punishment of +eternity! Shall ye be rewarded but as ye have wrought?" + +They will desire thee to inform them whether this be true? SAY: Yes! by my +Lord it is the truth: and it is not ye who can weaken Him. + +And every soul that hath sinned, if it possessed all that is on earth, would +assuredly ransom itself therewith; and they will proclaim their repentance +when they have seen the punishment: and there shall be a rightful decision +between them, and they shall not be unjustly dealt with. + +Is not whatever is in the Heavens and the Earth God's? Is not then the +promise of God true? Yet most of them know it not. + +He maketh alive and He causeth to die, and to Him shall ye return. + +O men! now hath a warning come to you from your Lord, and a medicine for what +is in your breasts, and a guidance and a mercy to believers. + +SAY: Through the grace of God and his mercy! and in this therefore let them +rejoice: better is this than all ye amass. + +SAY: What think ye? of what God hath sent down to you for food, have ye made +unlawful and lawful? SAY: Hath God permitted you? or invent ye on the part of +God? + +But what on the day of Resurrection will be the thought of those who invent a +lie on the part of God? Truly God is full of bounties to man; but most of +them give not thanks. + +Thou shalt not be employed in affairs, nor shalt thou read a text out of the +Koran, nor shall ye work any work, but we will be witnesses over you when ye +are engaged therein: and not the weight of an atom on Earth or in Heaven +escapeth thy Lord; nor is there aught that is less than this or greater, but +it is in the perspicuous Book. + +Are not the friends of God, those on whom no fear shall come, nor shall they +be put to grief? + +They who believe and fear God– + +For them are good tidings in this life, and in the next! There is no change +in the words of God! This, the great felicity! + +And let not their discourse grieve thee: for all might is God's: the Hearer, +the Knower, He! + +Is not whoever is in the Heavens and the Earth subject to God? What then do +they follow who, beside God, call upon deities they have joined with Him? +They follow but a conceit, and they are but liars! + +It is He who hath ordained for you the night wherein to rest, and the +lightsome day. Verily in this are signs for those who hearken. + +They say, "God hath begotten children." No! by his glory! He is the self- +sufficient. All that is in the Heavens and all that is in the Earth is His! +Have ye warranty for that assertion? What! speak ye of God that which ye know +not? + +SAY: Verily, they who devise this lie concerning God shall fare ill. + +A portion have they in this world! Then to us they return! Then make we them +to taste the vehement torment, for that they were unbelievers. + +Recite to them the history of Noah,10 when he said to his people,–If, O my +people! my abode with you, and my reminding you of the signs of God, be +grievous to you, yet in God is my trust: Muster, therefore, your designs and +your false gods, and let not your design be carried on by you in the dark: +then come to some decision about me, and delay not. + +And if ye turn your backs on me, yet ask I no reward from you: my reward is +with God alone, and I am commanded to be of the Muslims. + +But they treated him as a liar: therefore we rescued him and those who were +with him in the ark, and we made them to survive the others; and we drowned +those who charged our signs with falsehood. See, then, what was the end of +these warned ones! + +Then after him, we sent Apostles to their peoples, and they came to them with +credentials; but they would not believe in what they had denied aforetime: +Thus seal we up the hearts of the transgressors! + +Then sent we, after them, Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his nobles with our +signs; but they acted proudly and were a wicked people: + +And when the truth came to them from us, they said, "Verily, this is clear +sorcery." + +Moses said: "What! say ye of the truth after it hath come to you, 'Is this +sorcery?' But sorcerers shall not prosper." + +They said: "Art thou come to us to pervert us from the faith in which we +found our fathers, and that you twain shall bear rule in this land? But we +believe you not." + +And Pharaoh said: "Fetch me every skilled magician." And when the magicians +arrived, Moses said to them, "Cast down what ye have to cast." + +And when they had cast them down, Moses said, "Verily, God will render vain +the sorceries which ye have brought to pass: God prospereth not the work of +the evildoers. + +And by his words will God verify the Truth, though the impious be averse to +it. + +And none believed on Moses but a race among his own people, through fear of +Pharaoh and his nobles, lest he should afflict them: For of a truth mighty +was Pharaoh in the land, and one who committed excesses. + +And Moses said: "O my people! if ye believe in God, then put your trust in +Him–if ye be Muslims." + +And they said: "In God put we our trust. O our Lord! abandon us not to trial +from that unjust people, + +And deliver us by thy mercy from the unbelieving people." + +Then thus revealed we to Moses and to his brother: "Provide houses for your +people in Egypt, and in your houses make a Kebla, and observe prayer and +proclaim good tidings to the believers." + +And Moses said: "O our Lord! thou hast indeed given to Pharaoh and his nobles +splendour and riches in this present life: O our Lord! that they may err from +thy way! O our Lord! confound their riches, and harden their hearts that they +may not believe till they see the dolorous torment." + +He said: "The prayer of you both is heard: pursue ye both therefore the +straight path, and follow not the path of those who have no knowledge." + +And we led the children of Israel through the sea; and Pharaoh and his hosts +followed them in eager and hostile sort until, when the drowning overtook +him, he said, "I believe that there is no God but he on whom the children of +Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims." + +"Yes, now," said God: "but thou hast been rebellious hitherto, and wast one +of the wicked doers. + +But this day will we rescue thee with thy body that thou mayest be a sign to +those who shall be after thee:11 but truly, most men are of our signs +regardless!" + +Moreover we prepared a settled abode for the children of Israel, and provided +them with good things: nor did they fall into variance till the knowledge +(the Law) came to them: Truly thy Lord will decide between them on the day of +Resurrection concerning that in which they differed. + +And if thou art in doubt as to what we have sent down to thee, inquire at +those who have read the Scriptures before thee.12 Now hath the truth come +unto thee from thy Lord: be not therefore of those who doubt. + +Neither be of those who charge the signs of God with falsehood, lest thou be +of those who perish. + +Verily they against whom the decree of thy Lord is pronounced, shall not +believe, + +Even though every kind of sign come unto them, till they behold the dolorous +torment! + +Were it otherwise, any city, had it believed, might have found its safety in +its faith. But it was so, only with the people of JONAS. When they believed, +we delivered them from the penalty of shame in this world, and provided for +them for a time. + +But if thy Lord had pleased, verily all who are in the earth would have +believed together. What! wilt thou compel men to become believers? + +No soul can believe but by the permission of God: and he shall lay his wrath +on those who will not understand. + +SAY: Consider ye whatever is in the Heavens and on the Earth: but neither +signs, nor warners, avail those who will not believe! + +What then can they expect but the like of such days of wrath as befel those +who flourish before them? SAY: WAIT; I too will wait with you: + +Then will we deliver our apostles and those who believe. Thus is it binding +on us to deliver the faithful. + +SAY: O men! if ye are in doubt as to my religion, verily I worship not what +ye worship beside God; but I worship God who will cause you to die: and I am +commanded to be a believer. + +And set thy face toward true religion, sound in faith, and be not of those +who join other gods with God: + +Neither invoke beside God that which can neither help nor hurt thee: for if +thou do, thou wilt certainly then be one of those who act unjustly. + +And if God lay the touch of trouble on thee, none can deliver thee from it +but He: and if He will thee any good, none can keep back his boons. He will +confer them on such of his servants as he chooseth: and He is the Gracious, +the Merciful! + +SAY: O men! now hath the truth come unto you from your Lord. He therefore who +will be guided, will be guided only for his own behoof: but he who shall err +will err only against it; and I am not your guardian! + +And follow what is revealed to thee: and persevere steadfastly till God shall +judge, for He is the best of Judges. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura 1xviii. n. 3, p. 32. + +2 That is, for a serious end, to manifest the Divine Unity. + +3 Gen. xi. 1. + +4 This refers to the seven years of scarcity with which Mecca had been +visited. + +5 Paradise. + +6 Verses 27, 28 are to be noted, as defining the proportion to be observed in +rewards and punishments, the severity of the latter being only in proportion +to the crime, the excellence of the former being above and beyond its strict +merits. + +7 But rather your own lusts. The Muhammadans believe that idols will be +gifted with speech at the day of judgment. + +8 The ordinary Arabic word for to die seems to be avoided in speaking of +Jesus and Muhammad. + +9 This is the doctrine of the Rabbins. Comp. Midrasch Rabba, and Midr. Jalkut +on Numb. xxii. 2. + +10 The preaching of Noah is mentioned by the Rabbins. Sanhedrin, 108. Comp. +Midr. Rabbah on Gen. Par. 30 and 33, on Eccl. ix. 14, and in the probably +sub. Apostolic 2 Pet. ii. 5. + +11 This is in accordance with Talmudic legend. "Recognise the power of +repentance, in the case of Pharaoh, King of Egypt, who rebelled excessively +against the most High; Who is God that I should hearken to his voice? (Ex. v. +2). But with the same tongue that sinned he did penance: Who is like thee, O +Lord, among the Gods? (xv. 11). The Holy One, Blessed be He, delivered him +from the dead, . . . so that he should not die (ix. 15, 16).–For now have I +stretched forth my hand, and verily thee have I raised up from among the +dead, to proclaim my might." Ex. ix. 15, 16. A strange comment! Pirke R. +Eliezer, § 43. Comp. Midr. on Ps. cvi. Midr. Jalkut, ch. 238. + +12 That is, whether thou art not foretold in the Law and Gospel, and whether +the Koran is not in unison with, and confirmatory of, them. + + +SURA XXXIV.–SABA1 [LXXXV.] + +MECCA.–54 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +PRAISE be to God! to whom belongeth all that is in the Heavens and all that +is on the Earth; and to Him be praise in the next world: for he is the All- +wise, the All-informed! + +He knoweth what entereth into the earth, and what proceedeth from it; and +what cometh down from heaven, and what goeth up into it: and He is the +Merciful, the Forgiving! + +"Never," say the unbelievers, "will the Hour come upon us!" SAY: Yea, by my +Lord who knoweth the unseen, it will surely come upon you! not the weight of +a mote either in the Heavens or in the Earth escapeth him; nor is there aught +less than this or aught greater, which is not in the clear Book;– + +To the intent that God may reward those who have believed and done the things +that are right: Pardon and a noble provision shall they receive: + +But as for those who aim to invalidate our signs,–a chastisement of painful +torment awaiteth them! + +And they to whom knowledge hath been given see that what hath been sent down +to thee from thy Lord is the truth, and that it guideth into the way of the +Glorious one, the Praiseworthy. + +But the unbelievers say to those whom they fall in with, "Shall we shew you a +man who will foretell you that when ye shall have been utterly torn and rent +to pieces, ye shall be restored in a new form? + +He deviseth a lie about God, or there is a djinn in him," but they who +believe not in the next life, shall incur the chastisement, and be lost in +the mazes of estrangement from God. + +What! have they never contemplated that which is before them and behind them, +the Heaven and the Earth? If such were our pleasure, we could sink them into +that Earth, or cause a portion of that Heaven to fall upon them! herein truly +is a sign for our every returning servant. + +Of old bestowed we on David a gift, our special boon:–"Ye mountains and ye +birds answer his songs of praise." And we made the iron soft for him:–"Make +coats of mail, and arrange its plates; and work ye righteousness; for I +behold your actions." + +And unto Solomon did we subject the wind, which travelled in the morning a +month's journey, and a month's journey in the evening. And we made a fountain +of molten brass to flow for him. And of the Djinn were some who worked in his +presence, by the will of his Lord; and such of them as swerved from our +bidding will we cause to taste the torment of the flame. + +They made for him whatever he pleased, of lofty halls, and images, and dishes +large as tanks for watering camels, and cooking pots that stood firmly. +"Work," said we, "O family of David with thanksgiving:" But few of my +servants are the thankful! + +And when we decreed the death of Solomon, nothing shewed them that he was +dead but a reptile of the earth that gnawed the staff which supported his +corpse.2 And when it fell, the Djinn perceived that if they had known the +things unseen, they had not continued in this shameful affliction.3 + +A sign there was to SABA, in their dwelling places:–two gardens, the one on +the right hand and the other on the left:–"Eat ye of your Lord's supplies, +and give thanks to him: Goodly is the country, and gracious is the Lord!" + +But they turned aside: so we sent upon them the flood of Irem;4 and we +changed them their gardens into two gardens of bitter fruit and tamarisk and +some few jujube trees. + +Such was our retribution on them for their ingratitude: but do we thus +recompense any except the ungrateful? + +And we placed between them and the cities which we have blessed, conspicuous +cities, and we fixed easy stages: "Travel ye through them by night and day, +secure." + +But they said, "O Lord! make the distance between our journeys longer,"5–and +against themselves did they act unjustly: so we made them a tale, and +scattered them with an utter scattering. Truly herein are signs to everyone +that is patient, grateful. + +And Eblis found that he had judged truly of them: and they all except a +remnant of the faithful, followed him: + +Yet no power had he over them. Only we would discern him who believed in the +life to come, from him who doubted of it; for thy Lord watcheth all things. + +SAY: Call ye upon those whom ye deem gods, beside God: their power in the +Heavens and in the Earth is not the weight of an atom–neither have they any +share in either; nor hath He a helper from among them. + +No intercession shall avail with Him but that which He shall Himself allow. +Until when at last their hearts shall be relieved from terror, they shall +say, "What saith your Lord?" they shall say, "The Truth; and He is the High, +the Great." + +SAY: Who supplieth you out of the Heavens and the Earth? SAY: God. And either +we or ye have guidance, or are in palpable error! + +SAY: Not as to our faults shall ye be questioned; neither shall we be +questioned as to your actions. + +SAY: Our Lord will gather us together: then will He judge between us in +justice; for He is the Judge, the Knowing! + +SAY: Shew me those whom ye have united with Him as associates: Nay, rather, +He is God, the Mighty, the Wise! + +And we have sent thee to mankind at large, to announce and to threaten. But +most men understand not. + +And they say, "When will this threat come to pass? Tell us, if ye be men of +truth." + +SAY: Ye are menaced with a day, which not for an hour shall ye retard or +hasten on. + +The unbelievers say, "We will not believe in this Koran, nor in the Books +which preceded it." But couldst thou see when the wicked shall be set before +their Lord! With reproaches will they answer one another. The weak shall say +to the mighty ones, "But for you we had been believers:" + +Then shall the mighty ones say to the weak, "What! was it we who turned you +aside from the guidance which had reached you? Nay, but ye acted wickedly +yourselves." + +And the weak shall say to the mighty ones, "Nay, but there was a plot by +night and by day, when ye bad us believe not in God, and gave him peers." And +they shall proclaim their repentance after they have seen the punishment! And +yokes will we place on the necks of those who have not believed! Shall they +be rewarded but as they have wrought? + +And never have we sent a warner to any city whose opulent men did not say, +"In sooth we disbelieve your message." + +And they said, "We are the more abundant in riches and in children, nor shall +we be among the punished." + +SAY: Of a truth my Lord will be liberal or sparing in his supplies to whom he +pleaseth: but the greater part of men acknowledge it not. + +Neither by your riches nor by your children shall you bring yourselves into +nearness with Us; but they who believe and do the thing that is right shall +have a double reward for what they shall have done: and in the pavilions of +Paradise shall they dwell secure! + +But they who shall aim to invalidate our signs, shall be consigned to +punishment. + +SAY: Of a truth my Lord will be liberal in supplies to whom he pleaseth of +his servants, or will be sparing to him: and whatever ye shall give in alms +he will return; and He is the best dispenser of gifts. + +One day he will gather them all together: then shall he say to the angels, +"Did these worship you?" + +They shall say, "Glory be to thee! Thou art our master, not these! But they +worshipped the Djinn: it was in them that most of them believed. + +On this day the one of you shall have no power over others for help or hurt. +And we will say to the evil doers, "Taste ye the torment of the fire, which +ye treated as a delusion." + +For when our distinct signs are recited to them, they say, "This is merely a +man who would fain pervert you from your father's Worship." And they say, +"This (Koran) is no other than a forged falsehood." And the unbelievers say +to the truth when it is presented to them, "Tis nothing but palpable +sorcery." + +Yet have we given them no books in which to study deeply, nor have we sent +any one to them before thee, charged with warnings. + +They also flourished before them, treated our apostles as impostors in like +sort: but not to the tenth part of what we bestowed on them,6 have these +attained. And yet when they charged my apostles with deceit, how terrible was +my vengeance: + +SAY: One thing in sooth do I advise you:–that ye stand up before God two and +two, or singly,7 and then reflect that in your fellow citizen is no djinn:8 +he is no other than your warner before a severe punishment. + +SAY: I ask not any wage from you: keep it for yourselves: my wage is from God +alone. And He is witness over all things! + +SAY: Truly my Lord sendeth forth the Truth:–Knower of things unseen! + +SAY: Truth is come, and falsehood shall vanish and return no more. + +SAY: If I err, verily to my own cost only shall I err: but if I have +guidance, it will be of my Lord's revealing, for He is the Hearer, the near +at hand. + +Couldst thou see how they shall tremble and find no escape, and be taken +forth from the place that is so near;9 + +And shall say, "We believe in Him!" But how, in their present distance, shall +they receive the faith, + +When they had before denied it, and aimed their shafts at the mysteries from +afar?10 + +And a gulf shall be between them and that which they shall desire– + +As was done unto their likes of old, who were lost in the questionings of +doubt. + + +_______________________ + +1 In Arabia Felix, three days' journey from Sanaa. + +2 The Talmud mentions the worm Shameer, used by Solomon to cut the stones for +building the temple. Pirke Aboth. v. See Buxt. Lex. Talmud, p. 2456. Tr. +Gittin, fol. 68; and Midr. Jalkut on 1 Kings, vi. 7. This passage of +Scripture may have suggested the idea that Solomon built, etc., by the aid of +Spirits. 3 That is, in their difficult toils. + +4 See M. Caussin de Perceval Hist. des Arabes, vol. iii., who, as well as M. +de Sacy, fix this event in the second century of our era. + +5 The Saba, of verse 14 formed an important branch of the trading population +of Yemen. This whole passage, 14-18, alludes to the cessation of traffic +between them and Syria, which led to the desire to lengthen the stages and +diminish the expense of the journey. See Muir's Life of Muhammad, i. p. +cxxxix. Muhammad attributes this desire to covetousness. + +6 That is, of strength and material prosperity. + +7 That is, so as to form a judgment free from the influence of others. + +8 It is very remarkable, that when the power of Muhammad became firmly +established, he never reverts to the insinuations against the soundness of +his mind which in the earlier Suras he so often rebuts. + +9 That is, their graves. Mar. So called because there is but a step into it +from the surface of the earth. Ullm. + +10 That is, when in this life. + + +SURA XXXV.–THE CREATOR, OR THE ANGELS [LXXXVI.] + +MECCA.–45 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +PRAISE be to God, Maker of the Heavens and of the Earth! Who employeth the +ANGELS as envoys, with pairs of wings, two, three, and four: He addeth to his +creature what He will! Truly God hath power for all things. + +The mercy which God layeth open for man, no one can keep back; and what He +shall keep back, none can afterwards send forth. And He is the Mighty, the +Wise. + +O men! bear in mind the favour of God towards you. Is there a creator other +than God, who nourisheth you with the gifts of heaven and earth? There is no +God but He! How then are ye turned aside from Him? + +If they treat thee as an impostor, then before thee have apostles been +treated as impostors. But to God shall all things return. + +O men! assuredly the promise of God is true: let not then the present life +deceive you: and let not the Deceiver deceive you as to God. + +Yes, Satan is your foe. For a foe then hold him. He calleth his followers to +him that they may become inmates of the flame. + +The unbelievers,–for them a terrible punishment! + +But believers and doers of good works, for them is mercy, and a great reward! + +Shall he, the evil of whose deeds are so tricked out to him that he deemeth +them good, be treated like him who seeth things aright? Verily God misleadeth +whom He will, and guideth whom He will. Spend not thy soul in sighs for them: +God knoweth their doings. + +It is God who sendeth forth the winds which raise the clouds aloft: then +drive we them on to some land dead from drought,1 and give life thereby to +the earth after its death. So shall be the resurrection. + +If any one desireth greatness, all greatness is in God. The good word riseth +up to Him, and the righteous deed will He exalt. But a severe punishment +awaiteth the plotters of evil things; and the plots of such will He render +vain. + +Moreover, God created you of dust–then of the germs of life–then made you two +sexes: and no female conceiveth or bringeth forth without his knowledge; and +the aged ageth not, nor is aught minished from man's age, but in accordance +with the Book. An easy thing truly is this to God. + +Nor are the two seas2 alike: the one fresh, sweet, pleasant for drink, and +the other salt, bitter; yet from both ye eat fresh fish, and take forth for +you ornaments to wear, and thou seest the ships cleaving their waters that ye +may go in quest of his bounties, and that ye may be thankful. + +He causeth the night to enter in upon the day, and the day to enter in upon +the night; and He hath given laws to the sun and to the moon, so that each +journeyeth to its appointed goal: This is God your Lord: All power is His: +But the gods whom ye call on beside Him have no power over the husk of a date +stone! + +If ye cry to them they will not hear your cry; and if they heard they would +not answer you, and in the day of resurrection they will disown your joining +them with God: and none can instruct thee like Him who is informed of all. + +O men! ye are but paupers in need of God; but God is the Rich, the +Praiseworthy! + +If He please, He could sweep you away, and bring forth a new creation! + +Nor will this be hard for God. + +And the burdened soul shall not bear the burden of another: and if the heavy +laden soul cry out for its burden to be carried, yet shall not aught of it be +carried, even by the near of kin! Thou shalt warn those who fear their Lord +in secret, and observe prayer. And whoever shall keep himself pure, he +purifieth himself to his own behoof: for unto God shall be the final +gathering. + +And the blind and the seeing are not alike; neither darkness and light; nor +the shade and the hot wind; + +Nor are the living and the dead the same thing! God indeed shall make whom He +will to hearken, but thou shalt not make those who are in their graves to +hearken; for only with warning art thou charged. + +Verily we have sent thee with the truth; a bearer of good tidings and a +warner; nor hath there been a people unvisited by its warner. + +And if they treat thee as a liar, so did those who were before them threat +their Apostles who came to them with the proofs of their mission, and with +the Scriptures and with the enlightening Book:3 + +Then chastised I the unbelievers: and how great was my vengeance! + +Seest thou not how that God sendeth down water from the Heaven, and that by +it we cause the up-growth of fruits of varied hues, and that on the +mountains4 are tracks of varied hues, white and red, and others are of a +raven black? And of men and reptiles and animals, various likewise are the +hues. Such only of his servants as are possessed of knowledge fear God. Lo! +God is Mighty, Gracious! + +Verily they who recite the Book of God, and observe prayer, and give alms in +public and in private from what we have bestowed upon them, may hope for a +merchandise that shall not perish: + +God will certainly pay them their due wages, and of his bounty increase them: +for He is Gracious, Grateful. + +And that which we have revealed to thee of the Book is the very Truth, +confirmatory of previous Scriptures: for God knoweth and beholdeth his +servants. + +Moreover, we have made the Book an heritage to those of our servants whom we +have chosen. Some of them injure themselves by evil deeds; others keep the +midway between good and evil; and others, by the permission of God, outstrip +in goodness; this is the great merit! + +Into the gardens of Eden shall they enter: with bracelets of gold and pearl +shall they be decked therein, and therein shall their raiment be of silk: + +And they shall say, "Praise be to God who hath put away sorrow from us. +Verily our Lord is Gracious, Grateful, + +Who of His bounty hath placed us in a manison that shall abide for ever: +therein no toil shall reach us, and therein no weariness shall touch us." + +But for infidels is the fire of Hell; to die shall never be decreed them, nor +shall aught of its torment be made light to them. Thus reward we every +infidel! + +And therein shall they cry aloud, "Take us hence, O our Lord! righteousness +will we work, and not what we wrought of old."–"Prolonged we not your days +that whoever would be warned might be warned therein? And the preacher came +to you– + +Taste it then."–There is no protector for the unjust. + +God truly knoweth the hidden things both of the Heavens and of the Earth: for +He knoweth the very secrets of the breast. + +He hath appointed you his vicegerents in the earth: And whoever believeth +not, on him shall be his unbelief; and their unbelief shall only increase for +the unbelievers, hatred at the hands of their Lord:–and their unbelief shall +only increase for the unbelievers their own perdition! + +SAY: What think ye of the gods whom ye invoke beside God? Shew me what part +of the earth they have created? Had they a share in the creation of the +Heavens? Have we given them a Book in which they can find proofs that they +are to be called on? Nay, the wicked promise one another only deceits. + +Verily God holdeth fast the Heavens and the Earth that they pass not away: +and if they were passing away none could hold them back but He: for He is +Kind, Gracious. + +They swore by God with their mightiest oath that should a preacher come to +them they would yield to guidance more than any people: but when the preacher +came to them it only increased in them their estrangement, + +Their haughtiness on earth and their plotting of evil! But the plotting of +evil shall only enmesh those who make use of it.5 Look they then for aught +but God's way6 of dealing with the peoples of old? Thou shalt not find any +change in the way of God,– + +Yea, thou shalt not find any variableness in the way of God. + +Have they never journeyed in the land and seen what hath been the end of +those who flourished before them, though mightier in strength than they? God +is not to be frustrated by aught in the Heavens or in the Earth; for He is +the All-knowing, the All-mighty. + +If, moreover, God should chastise men according to their deserts, He would +not leave even a reptile on the back of the earth! But to an appointed time +doth He respite them. + +And when their time shall come, then verily God's eye is on his servants. + + +_______________________ + +1 See note at Sura [xcvii.] iii. 18. This is one of the passages said to have +originated with Zayd. + +2 Not only seas, properly so called, but the great masses of fresh water in +the Nile, Tigris, inland lakes, etc. 3 The Gospel. + +4 This idea was probably suggested by Muhammad's reminiscences of the view +from the Cave of Hira, to the north and west of which there is a prospect +thus described by Burckhardt (Travels, p. 176). "The country before us had a +dreary aspect, not a single green spot being visible; barren, black, and grey +hills, and white sandy valleys were the only objects in sight." + +5 Lit. shall encompass its people. + +6 Method of dealing, i.e., first warning, then punishing. + + +SURA VII.–AL ARAF [LXXXVII.] + +MECCA.–205 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ELIF. LAM. MIM. SAD.1 A Book hath been sent down to thee: therefore let there +be no difficulty in thy breast concerning it: to the intent that thou mayest +warn thereby, and that it may be a monition to the faithful. + +Follow ye what hath been sent down to you from your Lord; and follow no +masters beside Him. How little will ye be monished! + +How many cities have we destroyed! By night, or while they were in their +midday slumber, did our wrath reach them! + +And what was their cry when our wrath reached them, but to say, "Verily, we +have been impious." + +Surely, therefore, will we call those to account, to whom an Apostle hath +been sent, and of the sent ones themselves will we certainly demand a +reckoning. + +And with knowledge will we tell them of their deeds, for we were not absent +from them. + +The weighing2 on that day, with justice! and they whose balances shall be +heavy, these are they who shall be happy. + +And they whose balances shall be light, these are they who have lost their +souls, for that to our signs they were unjust: + +And now have we stabilished you on the earth, and given you therein the +supports of life. How little do ye give thanks! + +We created you; then fashioned you; then said we to the angels, "Prostrate +yourselves unto Adam: and they prostrated them all in worship, save Eblis: He +was not among those who prostrated themselves. + +To him said God: "What hath hindered thee from prostrating thyself in worship +at my bidding?" He said, "Nobler am I than he: me hast thou created of fire; +of clay hast thou created him." + +He said, "Get thee down hence: Paradise is no place for thy pride: Get thee +gone then; one of the despised shalt thou be." + +He said, "Respite me till the day when mankind shall be raised from the +dead." + +He said, "One of the respited shalt thou be." + +He said, "Now, for that thou hast caused me to err, surely in thy straight +path will I lay wait for them: + +Then will I surely come upon them from before, and from behind, and from +their right hand, and from their left, and thou shalt not find the greater +part of them to be thankful." + +He said, "Go forth from it, a scorned, a banished one! Whoever of them shall +follow thee, I will surely fill hell with you, one and all. + +And, O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in Paradise, and eat ye whence ye will, +but to this tree approach not, lest ye become of the unjust doers." + +Then Satan whispered them to shew them their nakedness, which had been hidden +from them both. And he said, "This tree3 hath your Lord forbidden you, only +lest ye should become angels, or lest ye should become immortals." + +And he sware to them both, "Verily I am unto you one who counselleth aright." + +So he beguiled them by deceits: and when they had tasted of the tree, their +nakedness appeared to them, and they began to sew together upon themselves +the leaves of the garden. And their Lord called to them, "Did I not forbid +you this tree, and did I not say to you, 'Verily, Satan is your declared +enemy.' " + +They said, "O our Lord! With ourselves have we dealt unjustly: if thou +forgive us not and have pity on us, we shall surely be of those who perish." + +He said, "Get ye down, the one of you an enemy4 to the other; and on earth +shall be your dwelling, and your provision for a season." + +He said, "On it shall ye live, and on it shall ye die, and from it shall ye +be taken forth." + +O children of Adam! now have we sent down to you raiment to hide your +nakedness, and splendid garments; but the raiment of piety–this is best. This +is one of the signs of God, that man haply may reflect. + +O children of Adam! let not Satan bring you into trouble, as he drove forth +your parents from the Garden, by despoiling them of their raiment, that he +might cause them to see their nakedness: He truly seeth you, he and his +comrades, whence ye see not them. Verily, we have made the Satans tutelars of +those who believe not. + +And when the wicked commit some filthy deed, they say, "We found our fathers +practising it, and to us hath God commanded it"–SAY: God enjoineth not filthy +deeds. Will ye speak of God ye know not what? + +SAY: My Lord hath enjoined what is right. Turn your faces therefore towards +every place where he is worshipped5 and call upon him with sincere religion. +As he created you, to him shall ye return: some hath he guided, and some hath +he justly left in error, because they have taken the Satans as their tutelars +beside God, and have deemed that they were guided aright. + +O children of Adam! wear your goodly apparel when ye repair to any mosque,6 +and eat ye and drink; but exceed not, for He loveth not those who exceed. + +SAY: Who hath prohibited God's goodly raiment, and the healthful viands which +He hath provided for his servants? SAY: These are for the faithful in this +present life, but above all on the day of the resurrection. Thus make we our +signs plain for people of knowledge. + +SAY: Truly my Lord hath forbidden filthy actions whether open or secret, and +iniquity, and unjust violence, and to associate with God that for which He +hath sent down no warranty, and to speak of God that ye know not. + +Every nation hath its set time. And when their time is come, they shall not +retard it an hour; and they shall not advance it. + +O children of Adam! there shall come to you Apostles from among yourselves, +rehearsing my signs to you; and whoso shall fear God and do good works, no +fear shall be upon them, neither shall they be put to grief. + +But they who charge our signs with falsehood, and turn away from them in +their pride, shall be inmates of the fire: for ever shall they abide therein. + +And who is worse than he who deviseth a lie of God, or treateth our signs as +lies? To them shall a portion here below be assigned in accordance with the +Book of our decrees, until the time when our messengers,7 as they receive +their souls, shall say, "Where are they on whom ye called beside God?" They +shall say: "Gone from us." And they shall witness against themselves that +they were infidels. + +He shall say, "Enter ye into the Fire with the generations of Djinn and men +who have preceded you. So oft as a fresh generation entereth, it shall curse +its sister, until when they have all reached it, the last comers shall say to +the former, 'O our Lord! these are they who led us astray: assign them +therefore a double torment of the fire:"' He will say, "Ye shall all have +double." But of this are ye ignorant. + +And the former of them shall say to the latter, "What advantage have ye over +us? Taste ye therefore the torment for that which ye have done." + +Verily, they who have charged our signs with falsehood and have turned away +from them in their pride, Heaven's gates shall not be opened to them, nor +shall they enter Paradise, until the camel8 passeth through the eye of the +needle. After this sort will we recompense the transgressors. + +They shall make their bed in Hell, and above them shall be coverings of fire! +After this sort will we recompense the evil doers. + +But as to those who have believed and done the things which are right (we +will lay on no one a burden beyond his power) These shall be inmates of +Paradise: for ever shall they abide therein; + +And we will remove whatever rancour was in their bosoms: rivers shall roll at +their feet: and they shall say, "Praise be to God who hath guided us hither! +We had not been guided had not God guided us! Of a surety the Apostles of our +Lord came to us with truth." And a voice shall cry to them, "This is +Paradise, of which, as the meed of your works, ye are made heirs." + +And the inmates of Paradise shall cry to the inmates of the fire, "Now have +we found what our Lord promised us to be true. Have ye too found what your +Lord promised you to be true?" And they shall answer, "Yes." And a Herald +shall proclaim between them: "The curse of God be upon the evil doers, + +Who turn men aside from the way of God, and seek to make it crooked, and who +believe not in the life to come!" + +And between them shall be a partition; and on the wall AL ARAF9 shall be men +who will know all,10 by their tokens, and they shall cry to the inmates of +Paradise, "Peace be on you!" but they shall not yet enter it, although they +long to do so. + +And when their eyes are turned towards the inmates of the Fire, they shall +say, "O our Lord! place us not with the offending people." + +And they who are upon Al Araf shall cry to those whom they shall know by +their tokens, "Your amassings and your pride have availed you nothing. + +Are these they on whom ye sware God would not bestow mercy? Enter ye11 into +Paradise! where no fear shall be upon you, neither shall ye be put to grief." + +And the inmates of the fire shall cry to the inmates of Paradise: "Pour upon +us some water, or of the refreshments12 God hath given you?" They shall say, +"Truly God hath forbidden both to unbelievers, + +Who made their religion a sport and pastime, and whom the life of the world +hath deceived." This day therefore will we forget them, as they forgot the +meeting of this their day, and as they did deny our signs. + +And now have we brought them the Book: with knowledge have we explained it; a +guidance and a mercy to them that believe. + +What have they to wait for now but its interpretation? When its +interpretation13 shall come, they who aforetime were oblivious of it shall +say, "The Prophets of our Lord did indeed bring the truth; shall we have any +intercessor to intercede for us? or could we not be sent back? Then would we +act otherwise than we have acted." But they have ruined themselves; and the +deities of their own devising have fled from them! + +Your Lord is God, who in six days created the Heavens and the Earth, and then +mounted the throne: He throweth the veil of night over the day: it pursueth +it swiftly: and he created the sun and the moon and the stars, subjected to +laws by His behest: Is not all creation and its empire His? Blessed be God +the Lord of the Worlds! + +Call upon your Lord with lowliness and in secret, for He loveth not +transgressors. + +And commit not disorders on the earth after it hath been well ordered; and +call on Him with fear and longing desire: Verily the mercy of God is nigh +unto the righteous. + +And He it is who sendeth forth the winds as the heralds of his compassion,14 +until they bring up the laden clouds, which we drive along to some dead land +and send down water thereon, by which we cause an upgrowth of all kinds of +fruit.–Thus will we bring forth the dead. Haply ye will reflect. + +In a rich soil, its plants spring forth abundantly by the will of its Lord, +and in that which is bad, they spring forth but scantily. Thus do We +diversify our signs for those who are thankful. + +Of old sent We Noah to his people,15 and he said, "O my people! worship God. +Ye have no God but Him: indeed I fear for you the chastisement of the great +day." + +The chiefs of his people said, "We clearly see that thou art in a palpable +error." + +He said, "There is no error in me, O my people! but I am a messenger from the +Lord of the Worlds. + +I bring to you the messages of my Lord, and I give you friendly counsel; for +I know from God what ye know not. + +Marvel ye that a Warning should come to you from your Lord through one of +yourselves, that he may warn you, and that ye may fear for yourselves, and +that haply ye may find mercy?" + +But they treated him as a liar: so we delivered him and those who were with +him in the ark, and we drowned those who charged our signs with falsehood; +for they were a blind people. + +And to Ad16 we sent their brother Houd.17 "O my people!" said he, "worship +God: ye have no other god than Him: Will ye not then fear Him?" + +Said the unbelieving chiefs among his people, "We certainly perceive that +thou art unsound of mind; and we surely deem thee an impostor." + +He said, "O my people! it is not unsoundness of mind in me, but I am an +Apostle from the Lord of the Worlds. + +The messages of my Lord do I announce to you, and I am your faithful18 +counsellor. + +Marvel ye that a warning hath come to you from your Lord through one of +yourselves that He may warn you? Remember how he hath made you the successors +of the people of Noah, and increased you in tallness of stature. Remember +then the favours of God, that it may haply be well with you." + +They said, "Art thou come to us in order that we may worship one God alone, +and leave what our fathers worshipped? Then bring that upon us with which +thou threatenest us, if thou be a man of truth." + +He said, "Vengeance and wrath shall suddenly light on you from your Lord. Do +ye dispute with me about names that you and your fathers have given your +idols, and for which God hath sent you down no warranty? Wait ye then, and I +too will wait with you." + +And we delivered him, and those who were on his side, by our mercy, and we +cut off, to the last man, those who had treated our signs as lies, and who +were not believers. + +And to Themoud we sent their brother Saleh.19 He said, O my people! worship +God: ye have no other god than Him: now hath a clear proof of my mission come +to you from your Lord, this she-camel of God being a sign to you: therefore +let her go at large to pasture on God's earth: and touch her not to harm her, +lest a grievous chastisement seize you. + +And remember how he hath made you successors to the Adites, and given you +dwellings on the earth, so that on its plains ye build castles, and hew out +houses in the hills. And bear in mind the benefits of God, and lay not the +earth waste with deeds of licence. + +Said the chiefs of his people puffed up with pride, to those who were +esteemed weak, even to those of them who believed, "What! know ye for certain +that Saleh is sent by his Lord?" They said, "Truly we believe in that with +which he hath been sent." + +Then said those proud men, "Verily, we reject that in which ye believe." + +And they ham-strung the she-camel, and rebelled against their Lord's command, +and said, "O Saleh, let thy menaces be accomplished upon us if thou art one +of the Sent Ones." + +Then the earthquake surprised them; and in the morning they were found dead +on their faces in their dwellings. + +So he turned away from them, and said, "O my people! I did indeed announce to +you the message of my Lord: and I gave you faithful counsel, but ye love not +faithful counsellors.20 + +We also sent Lot, when he said to his people, commit ye this filthy deed in +which no creature hath gone before you? + +Come ye to men, instead of women, lustfully? Ye are indeed a people given up +to excess. + +But the only answer of his people was to say, "Turn them out of your city, +for they are men who vaunt them pure." + +And we delivered him and his family, except his wife; she was of those who +lingered: + +And we rained a rain upon them: and see what was the end of the wicked! + +And we sent to Madian21 their brother Shoaib. He said, "O my people! worship +God; ye have no other God than Him: now hath a clear sign come to you from +your Lord: give therefore the full in measures and weights; take from no man +his chattels, and commit no disorder on the earth after it has been made so +good. This will be better for you, if you will believe it. + +And lay not in ambush by every road in menacing sort; nor mislead him who +believeth in God, from His way, nor seek to make it crooked; and remember +when ye were few and that he multiplied you, and behold what hath been the +end of the authors of disorder! + +And if a part of you believe in that with which I am sent, and a part of you +believe not, then wait steadfastly until God shall judge between us, for He +is the best of judges." + +Said the chiefs of his people puffed up with pride, "We will surely banish +thee, O Shoaib, and thy fellow-believers from our cities, unless indeed ye +shall come back to our religion." "What!" said he, "though we abhor it? + +Now shall we have devised a lie concerning God, if after he hath delivered us +from your religion we shall return to it; nor can we return to it, unless by +the will of God our Lord: our Lord embraceth all things in his ken. In God +have we put our trust: O our Lord! decide between us and between our people, +with truth; for the best to decide art Thou." + +And the chiefs of his people who believed not, said, "If ye follow Shoaib, ye +shall then surely perish." + +An earthquake therefore surprised them, and they were found in the morning +dead on their faces, in their dwellings. + +Those who had treated Shoaib as an impostor, became as though they had never +dwelt in them: they who treated Shoaib as an impostor, were they that +perished. + +So he turned away from them and said, O my people! I proclaimed to you the +messages of my Lord, and I counselled you aright; but how should I be grieved +for a people who do not believe? + +Nor did we ever send a prophet to any city without afflicting its people with +adversity and trouble, that haply they might humble them.22 + +Then changed we their ill for good, until they waxed wealthy, and said, "Of +old did troubles and blessings befall our fathers:" therefore did we seize +upon them suddenly when they were unaware. + +But if that the people of these cities had believed and feared us, we would +surely have laid open to them blessings out of the Heaven and the Earth: but +they treated our signs as lies, and we took vengeance on them for their +deeds. + +Were the people, therefore, of those cities secure that our wrath would not +light on them by night, while they were slumbering? + +Were the people of those cities secure that our wrath would not light on them +in broad day, while they were disporting themselves? + +Did they, therefore, deem themselves secure from the deep counsel23 of God? +But none deem themselves secure from the deep counsel of God, save those who +perish. + +Is it not proved to those who inherit this land after its ancient occupants, +that if we please we can smite them for their sins, and put a seal upon their +hearts, that they hearken not? + +We will tell thee the stories of these cities. Their apostles came to them +with clear proofs of their mission; but they would not believe in what they +had before treated as imposture.–Thus doth God seal up the hearts of the +unbelievers– + +And we found not of their covenant in most of them; but we found most of them +to be perverse. + +Then after them we sent Moses with our signs to Pharaoh and his nobles, who +acted unjustly in their regard. But see what was the end of the corrupt +doers! + +And Moses said, "O Pharaoh! verily I am an apostle from the Lord of the +Worlds. + +Nothing but truth is it right for me to speak of God. Now am I come to you +from your Lord with a proof of my mission; send away, therefore, the children +of Israel with me." He said, "If thou comest with a sign, shew it if thou art +a man of truth." + +So he threw down his rod, and lo! it distinctly became a serpent. + +Then drew he forth his hand, and lo! it was white24 to the beholders. + +The nobles of Pharaoh's people said, "Verily, this is an expert enchanter: + +Fain would he expel you from your land: what then do ye order to be done?" + +They said, "Put25 him and his brother off awhile, and send round men to your +cities who shall muster + +And bring to thee every skilled enchanter." + +And the enchanters came to Pharaoh. Said they, "Shall we surely be rewarded +if we prevail?" + +He said, "Yes; and ye certainly shall be near my person." + +They said, "O Moses! either cast thou down thy rod first, or we will cast +down ours." + +He said, "Cast ye down." And when they had cast them down they enchanted the +people's eyes, and made them afraid; for they had displayed a great +enchantment. + +Then spake we unto Moses, "Throw down thy rod;" and lo! it devoured their +lying wonders. + +So the truth was made strong, and that which they had wrought proved vain: + +And they were vanquished on the spot, and drew back humiliated. + +But the other enchanters prostrated themselves adoring: + +Said they, "We believe on the Lord of the Worlds, + +The Lord of Moses and Aaron." + +Said Pharaoh, "Have ye believed on him, ere I have given you leave? This +truly is a plot which ye have plotted in this my city, in order to drive out +its people. But ye shall see in the end what shall happen. + +I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides; then will I have +you all crucified." + +They said, "Verily, to our Lord do we return; + +And thou takest vengeance on us only because we have believed on the signs of +our Lord when they came to us. Lord! pour out constancy upon us, and cause us +to die Muslims." + +Then said the chiefs of Pharaoh's people–"Wilt thou let Moses and his people +go to spread disorders in our land, and desert thee and thy gods?" He said, +"We will cause their male children to be slain and preserve their females +alive: and verily we shall be masters over them." + +Said Moses to his people, "Cry unto God for help, and bear up patiently, for +the earth is God's: to such of His servants as He pleaseth doth He give it as +a heritage; and for those that fear Him is a happy issue." + +"We have been oppressed," they said, "before thou camest to us, and since +thou hast been with us:" "Perhaps," said he, "your Lord will destroy your +enemy, and will make you his successors in the land, and He will see how ye +will act therein." + +Already had we chastised the people of Pharaoh with dearth and scarcity of +fruits, that haply they might take warning: + +And when good fell to their lot they said, "This is our due." But if ill +befel them, they regarded Moses and his partisans as (the birds) of evil +omen.26 Yet, was not their evil omen from God? But most of them knew it not. + +And they said, "Whatever sign thou bring us for our enchantment, we will not +believe on thee." + +And we sent upon them the flood and the locusts and the kummal (lice) and the +frogs and the blood,–clear signs27–but they behaved proudly, and were a +sinful people. + +And when any plague fell upon them, they said, "O Moses! pray for us to thy +Lord, according to that which he hath covenanted with thee: Truly if thou +take off the plague from us, we will surely believe thee, and will surely +send the children of Israel with thee." But when we had taken off the plague +from them, and the time which God had granted them had expired,28 behold! +they broke their promise. + +Therefore we took vengeance on them and drowned them in the sea, because they +treated our signs as falsehoods and were heedless of them. + +And we gave to the people who had been brought so low, the eastern and the +western lands, which we had blessed as an heritage: and the good word of thy +Lord was fulfilled on the children of Israel because they had borne up with +patience: and we destroyed the works and the structures of Pharaoh and his +people: + +And we brought the children of Israel across the sea, and they came to a +people who gave themselves up to their idols. They said, "O Moses! make us a +god, as they have gods." He said, "Verily, ye are an ignorant people: + +For the worship they practise29 will be destroyed, and that which they do, is +vain." + +He said, "Shall I seek any other god for you than God, when it is He who hath +preferred you above all other peoples?" + +And remember when we rescued you from the people of Pharaoh they had laid on +you a cruel affliction; they slew your sons, and let only your daughters +live, and in this was a great trial from your Lord. + +And we appointed a meeting with Moses for thirty nights, which we completed +with ten other nights, so that his whole time with his Lord30 amounted to +forty nights. Then said Moses to his brother Aaron, "Take thou my place among +my people, and act rightly, and follow not the way of the corrupt doers." + +And when Moses came at our set time and his Lord spake with him, he said, "O +Lord, shew thyself to me, that I may look upon thee." He said, "Thou shalt +not see Me; but look towards the mount, and if it abide firm in its place, +then shalt thou see Me." And when God manifested Himself to the mountain he +turned it to dust! and Moses fell in a swoon. + +And when he came to himself, he said, "Glory be to thee! To thee do I turn in +penitence, and I am the first of them that believe." + +He said, "O Moses! thee above all men have I chosen by my commissions, and by +my speaking to thee. Take therefore what I have brought thee, and be one of +those who render thanks. + +And we wrote for him upon the tables a monition concerning every matter, and +said, "Receive them thyself with steadfastness, and command thy people to +receive them for the observance of its most goodly precepts:–I will shew you +the abode of the wicked." + +The unjustly proud ones of the earth will I turn aside from my signs, for +even if they see every sign they will not believe them; and if they see the +path of uprightness, they will not take it for their path, but if they see +the path of error, for their path will they take it. + +This,–for that they treated our signs as lies, and were heedless of them. + +Vain will be the works of those who treated our signs, and the meeting of the +life to come, as lies! Shall they be rewarded but as they have wrought? + +And the people of Moses took during his absence a calf made of their +ornaments, and ruddy like gold, and lowing.31 Saw they not that it could not +speak to them, nor guide them in the way? + +Yet they took if for a God and became offenders! + +But when they repented, and saw that they had erred, they said, Truly if our +Lord have not mercy on us, and forgive us, we shall surely be of those who +perish. + +And when Moses returned to his people, wrathful, angered, he said, "Evil is +it that ye have done next upon my departure. Would ye hasten on the judgments +of your Lord?" And he threw down the tables, and seized his brother by the +head and dragged him unto him. Said he, "Son of my mother! the people thought +me weak, and had well nigh slain me. Make not mine enemies to rejoice over +me, and place me not among the wrong doers." + +He said, "O Lord, forgive me and my brother, and bring us into thy mercy; for +of those who shew mercy thou art the most merciful." + +Verily as to those who took the calf as a god, wrath from their Lord shall +overtake them, and shame in this present life: for thus recompense we the +devisers of a lie. + +But to those who have done evil, then afterwards repent and believe, thy Lord +will thereafter be Lenient, Merciful. + +And when the anger of Moses was stilled, he took up the tables; and in their +writing was guidance and mercy for those who dread their Lord. + +And Moses chose seventy men of his people for a meeting appointed by us. And +when the earthquake overtook them, he said, "O my Lord! if it had been thy +pleasure, thou hadst destroyed them and me ere this! wilt thou destroy us for +what our foolish ones have done? It is nought but thy trial: thou wilt +mislead by it whom thou wilt, and guide whom thou wilt. Our guardian, thou! +Forgive us then and have mercy on us; for of those who forgive art thou the +best: + +And write down for us what is good in this world, as well as in the world to +come, for to thee are we guided." He said, "My chastisement shall fall on +whom I will, and my mercy embraceth all things, and I write it down for those +who shall fear me, and pay the alms, and believe in our signs, + +Who shall follow the Apostle, the unlettered32 Prophet–whom they shall find +described with them in the Law and Evangel. What is right will he enjoin +them, and forbid them what is wrong, and will allow them healthful viands and +prohibit the impure, and will ease them of their burden, and of the yokes +which were upon them; and those who shall believe in him, and strengthen him, +and help him,33 and follow the light34 which hath been sent down with him,– +these are they with whom it shall be well." + +SAY to them: O men! Verily I am God's apostle to you all; + +Whose is the kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth! Therefore believe on +God but He! He maketh alive and killeth! Therefore believe on God, and his +Apostle–the unlettered Prophet–who believeth in God and his word. And follow +him that ye may be guided aright. + +And among the people of Moses there is a certain number35 who guide others +with truth, and practise what is right according to it. + +And we divided the Israelites into twelve tribes, as nations; and we revealed +unto Moses when the people asked drink of him–"Strike the rock with thy +staff:" and there gushed forth from it twelve fountains–the men all knew +their drinking places. And we caused clouds to overshadow them, and sent down +upon them the manna and the quails. . . . "Eat of the good things with which +we have supplied you." But it was not us whom they injured, but they injured +their own selves: + +And when it was said to them, "Dwell in this city, and eat therefrom what ye +will, and say 'Hittat' (forgiveness), and enter the gate with prostrations; +then will we pardon your offences,–we will give increase to the doers of +good:" + +But the ungodly ones among them changed that word into another than that +which had been told them:36 therefore sent we forth wrath out of Heaven upon +them for their wrong doings. + +And37 ask them about the city that stood by the sea, when its inhabitants +broke the Sabbath; when their fish came to them on their Sabbath day +appearing openly, but came not to them on the day when they kept no Sabbath. +Thus did we make trial of them, for that they were evildoers.38 + +And when some of them said, why warn ye those whom God would destroy or +chastise with terrible chastisement? they said, For our own excuse with your +Lord; and that they may fear Him. + +And when they forgot their warnings, we delivered those who had forbidden +evil; and we inflicted a severe chastisement on those who had done wrong, for +that they were evil doers. + +But when they proudly persisted in that which was forbidden, we said to them, +"Become scouted apes;" and then thy Lord declared that until the day of the +resurrection, he would surely send against them39 (the Jews) those who should +evil entreat and chastise them: for prompt is thy Lord to punish; and He is +Forgiving, Merciful. + +And we have divided them upon the Earth as peoples: some of them are upright +and some are otherwise; and by good things and by evil things have we proved +them, to the intent that they might return to us. + +And they have had successors to succeed them: they have inherited the Book: +they have received the passing good things of this lower world,40 and say, +"It will be forgiven us." Yet if the like good things came to them again, +they would again receive them. But hath there not been received on their part +a covenant through the Scripture that they should speak nought of God but the +truth? And yet they study its contents. But the mansion of the next world +hath more value for those who fear God–Do ye not then comprehend?– + +And who hold fast the Book, and observe prayer: verily, we will not suffer +the reward of the righteous to perish. + +And when we shook the mount41 over them as if it had been a shadow, and they +thought it falling upon them, . . . "Receive, said we, with steadfastness +what we have brought you, and remember what is therein to the end that ye may +fear God." + +And when thy Lord brought forth their descendants from the reins of the sons +of Adam and took them to witness against themselves, "Am I not," said He, +"your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we witness it." This we did, lest ye should say +on the day of Resurrection, "Truly, of this were we heedless, because +uninformed;" + +Or lest ye should say, "Our fathers, indeed, aforetime joined other gods with +our God, and we are their seed after them: wilt thou destroy us for the +doings of vain men?" + +Thus make we our signs clear: that haply they may return to God. + +Recite to them42 the history of him43 to whom we vouchsafed our signs, and +who departed from them, so that Satan followed him, and he became one of the +seduced. + +Had we pleased, we had certainly thereby exalted him; but he crouched to the +earth and followed his own lust: his likeness, therefore, is as that of the +dog which lolls out his tongue, whether thou chase him away, or leave him +alone! Such is the likeness of those who treat our signs as lies. Tell them +this tale then, that they may consider. + +Evil the likeness of those who treat our signs as lies! and it is themselves +they injure. + +He whom God guideth is the guided, and they whom he misleadeth shall be the +lost. + +Many, moreover, of the Djinn and men have we created for Hell. Hearts have +they with which they understand not, and eyes have they with which they see +not, and ears have they with which they hearken not. They are like the +brutes: Yea, they go more astray: these are the heedless. + +Most excellent titles hath God:44 by these call ye on Him, and stand aloof +from those who pervert45 his titles. For what they have done shall they be +repaid! + +And among those whom we have created are a people who guide others with +truth, and in accordance therewith act justly. + +But as for those who treat our signs as lies, we will gradually bring them +down by means of which they know not: + +And though I lengthen their days, verily, my stratagem shall prove effectual. + +Will they not bethink them that their companion Muhammad is not djinn- +possessed? Yes, his office is only that of plain warner. + +Will they not look forth on the realms of the Heaven and of the Earth, and on +all things which God hath made, to see whether haply their end be not drawing +on? And in what other book will they believe46 who reject the Koran? + +No other guide for him whom God shall mislead! He will leave them distraught +in their wanderings. + +They will ask thee of the Hour–for what time is its coming fixed? SAY: The +knowledge of it is only with my Lord: none shall manifest it in its time but +He: it is the burden47 of the Heavens and of the Earth: not otherwise than on +a sudden will it come on you.48 + +They will ask thee as if thou wast privy to it: SAY: The knowledge of it is +with none but God. But most men know not this. + +SAY: I have no control over what may be helpful or hurtful to me, but as God +willeth. Had I the knowledge of his secrets, I should revel in the good, and +evil should not touch me. But I am only a warner, and an announcer of good +tidings to those who believe. + +He it is who hath created you from a single person, and from him brought +forth his wife that he might dwell with her: and when he had known her, she +bore a light burden, and went about with it; and when it became heavy, they +both cried to God their Lord, "If thou give us a perfect child we will surely +be of the thankful." + +Yet when God had given them a perfect child,49 they50 joined partners with +Him in return for what he had given them. But high is God above the partners +they joined with Him! + +What! Will they join those with Him who cannot create anything, and are +themselves created, and have no power to help them, or to help themselves? + +And if ye summon them to "the guidance," they will not follow you! It is the +same to them whether ye summon them or whether ye hold your peace! + +Truly they whom ye call on beside God, are, like yourselves, His servants! +Call on them then, and let them answer you, if what ye say of them be true! + +Have they feet to walk with? Have they hands to hold with? Have they eyes to +see with? Have they ears to hear with? SAY: Call on these joint gods of +yours; then make your plot against me, and delay it not. + +Verily, my Lord is God, who hath sent down "the Book;" and He is the +protector of the righteous. + +But they whom ye call on beside Him, can lend you no help, nor can they help +themselves: + +And if ye summon them to "the guidance," they hear you not: thou seest them +look towards thee, but they do not see! + +Make the best of things;51 and enjoin what is just, and withdraw from the +ignorant: + +And if stirrings to evil from Satan stir thee, fly thou for refuge to God: He +verily heareth, knoweth! + +Verily, they who fear God, when some phantom from Satan toucheth them, +remember Him, and lo! they see clearly. + +Their Brethren52 will only continue them in error, and cannot preserve +themselves from it. + +And when thou bringest not a verse (sign) of the Koran to them, they say, +"Hast thou not yet patched it up?53 SAY: I only follow my Lord's utterances +to me. This is a clear proof on the part of your Lord, and a guidance and a +mercy for those who believe. + +And when the Koran is read, then listen ye to it and keep silence, that haply +ye may obtain mercy. + +And think within thine own self on God, with lowliness and with fear and +without loud spoken words, at even and at morn; and be not one of the +heedless. + +Verily they who are round about thy Lord disdain not His service. They praise +Him and prostrate themselves before Him. + + +_______________________ + +1 The initial letters, it has been conjectured, of (Amara li Muhammad +sahdiq), thus spake to me Muhammad the truthful. But see Sura 1xviii. p. 32. +The first part of this Sura was perhaps revealed when the Arabians were +assembled at the Pilgrimage. See verse 29. + +2 A figure of frequent occurence in the Talmud. See Tr. Rosh. Haschana, 17a. + +3 Comp. Sura xx. 118, p. 101. + +4 Gen. iii. 15. + +5 Lit. towards each Mosque, i.e. towards the kibla of each Mosque. The word +mosque, mesjid, however, is usually applied only to that of Mecca. The common +term in use for larger places of worship is djami, a word unknown, in that +sense, to the Koran. + +6 For full information as to the clothing of the ancient Arabians see Freyt. +Einl. pp. 295 327. The Koreisch (we are told in Sirat Arrasul, fol. 26, and +Beidh.), in order to instil a deep respect for the Caaba and other holy +places into the minds of the Arabians, had forbidden all food during the +processions, and required that no clothes, except those borrowed from +Meccans, should be worn, or that those who wore their own should devote them +to God as holy vestments. The consequence was that most of the pilgrims +visited the holy places in perfect nudity. Hence the precept in the text. + +7 The Angels of Death. + +8 Comp. Matth. xix. 24; Mark x. 25; Luke xviii. 25. By the change of a single +vowel in the Arabic word for camel, we obtain the rendering, cable. In the +Rabbinic form of the proverb, however, the elephant is substituted for the +camel, which confirms the usual rendering and reading. + +9 "On this wall (the name of which is derived from Arafa, 'to know,' with +allusion to the employment of those upon it) will stand those whose good and +evil works are equal, and are not, therefore, deserving of either Paradise or +Gehenna. The idea, which is analogous to that of Purgatory, may be derived +from the Talmud. Thus in the Midrasch on Eccl. vii. 14, 'How much space is +there between the two' (Paradise and Hell)? R. Jochanan saith, a wall; R. +Acha, a span: others hold them to be so close that a person may see from one +into the other." See Plato's Phaed. 62. + +10 That is, they will know the inmates of Paradise by their whiteness, and +the people of Hell by the blackness of their faces. + +11 That is, ye believers: to whom the speakers on Al Araf are supposed to +turn. + +12 The fruits of Paradise. Comp. Luke xvi. 19. + +13 The fulfilment of its promises and threats. + +14 The rain. Thus, the Rabbins call the rain "the might and power of God," +Comp. Tract Tanith, fol. I, and connect it with the Resurrection, Tract +Berachoth, fol. 33. + +15 The Rabbins in like manner describe the mission of Noah. Comp. Sanhedr. +108. Midr. Rabbah on Gen. par. 30, 33; and on Eccl. 9, 14. See Sura [lxxv.] +xi. 40. + +16 The two tribes of Ad and Themoud–the latter of whom is mentioned by Diod. +Sic. and Ptolemy–lay to the north of Mecca in the direct line of traffic +between the countries to the north and to the south, and both probably +disappeared with its cessation, when the Arabs were no longer held in check +by the Romans. The traditions adopted by Muhammad attribute this to the +divine vengeance, throughout the Koran, and were derived by him from the +popular legends of Arabia. See Freyt. Einl. p. 12. + +17 On Houd, see Geiger, pp. 113 119. He supposes him to be the Eber of the +Bible. But Mr. Muir suggests that both Houd and Saleh may have been +persecuted Jewish or Christian emissaries and teachers, whose rejection was +thus recast by Muhammad. See note on verse 71. + +18 Or, entrusted, i.e. with the office of apostle. + +19 Saleh–according to Bochart, the Peleg of Gen. xi. 16. D'Herbelot, B. O. +740, makes him the Schelah of Gen. xi. 13. See v. 63, n. and p. 220, n. + +20 It is just possible that the act of Koleib, chief of the Banu Taghlib +tribe, in killing the milch camel of Basűs, a female relative of his wife of +Bani-Bakr lineage–which led to a forty years' war between these two tribes, +A.D. 490–may have been worked up by Muhammad into this account of the +persecutions of Saleh. + +21 See Sura xxiv. 176, p. 109. + +22 This verse may contain an implied reference to the famine with which Mecca +had been visited, and fix the date of this part of the Sura. Comp. verse 127. + +23 Lit. plot, stratagem. + +24 Comp. the passage from Pirke R. Eliezer, c. 48, who makes Moses perform +this miracle in the presence of Pharaoh, which the Scripture (Ex. vii.) +account does not. The Muhammadan tradition is that Moses was a black. + +25 Lit. cause him to hope, temporise with him. + +26 Lit. male ominati sunt. Mar. They traced their calamities to Moses. So +Sale. Kas. But Ullmann. renders, they attributed their misfortunes to the +predictions of Moses. + +27 In Suras [lxvii.] xvii. and [lxviii.] Muhammad speaks of nine plagues. The +flood is not mentioned in the Scripture. + +28 Lit. when we removed from them the plague until a period at which they +should arrive. + +29 Lit. that in which these are. + +30 Lit. the set time of his Lord was fulfilled in forty nights. + +31 Sale and others render having a body, corporeal, of which the commentators +give no satisfactory explanation. I have adopted that given by Freytag in v. +That the calf lowed in consequence of Sama‰l having entered into it, is one +of the traditions of the Talmud. Pirke R. Eliezer, c. 45. + +32 Compare Sura [lxxxi.] xxix. 47, [xciv.] lxxii. 2, [xci.] ii. 73. The word +ummyy is derived from ummah, a nation, and means Gentile; it here refers to +Muhammad's ignorance, previous to the revelation of Islam, of the ancient +Scriptures. It is equivalent to the Gr. laic, ethnic, and to the term gojim, +as applied by the Jews to those unacquainted with the Scriptures. There can, +however, be no doubt that Muhammad–in spite of his assertions to the +contrary, with the view of proving his inspiration–was well acquainted with +the Bible histories. He wished to appear ignorant in order to raise the +elegance of the Koran into a miracle. For the passages of Scripture said to +foretel Muhammad, see Pocock's Sp. Hist. Ar. p. 188, ed. White. + +33 If these words, as Nöldeke supposes, contain an allusion to the Ansars, it +is likely that this verse was added at Medina. The epithet Al-Ummy (the +unlettered) does not, thus, occur in Meccan Suras. + +34 The Koran. + +35 Pirke R. Eliezer, 45, explains Ex. xxxii. 26, of the tribe of Levi, as not +having been implicated with the other tribes in the sin of the golden calf. + +36 The Jews changed hittat, absolution, indulgence, into habbat, corn. + +37 This and the next six verses are supposed to have been added at Medina. + +38 Comp. Sura [xci.] ii. 61. No trace of this legend is to be found in the +Talmudists. The city is said to have been Aila (Elath) on the Red Sea. + +39 Perhaps in allusion to Deut. xxviii. 49, 50. + +40 As bribes to pervert Scripture, etc. + +41 Sinai–which, however, is not mentioned in the Koran as the place where the +law was given. Comp. "I will cover you with the mountain like a roof." Abodah +Sar. 2, 2. Thus also in Tract Sabbath, f. 88, 1, "R. Avdimi . . . saith, +These words teach us that the Holy One, blessed be He, turned the mountain +over them like a vessel, and said to them, If ye will receive the law, well; +but if not, there shall be your grave." This tradition is still held by the +Jews. See D. Lewis Pent. Prayers, fol. 150. Its origin is a misunderstanding +of Ex. xix. 17, rightly rendered in the E. version at the nether part of the +mountain. + +42 To the Jews. + +43 Balaam. But according to others, a Jew who renounced his faith in +Muhammad. + +44 The 99 titles of God, taken from the Koran, are to be found in Maracci, +vol. 11, p. 414, or in Macbride's Religion of the Mohammedans, p. 121. To +facilitate the repetition of these names, the Muslims use a rosary. + +45 In altering the names of God, changing allah into Allat, Elaziz into +Alozza, Mennan into Menat, etc. + +46 Lit. and in what declaration after it will they believe? + +47 That is, it weighs heavily on the hopes and fears of men, djinn, and +angels. + +48 Probably the usual final clause, whence ye looked not for it, should here +be added to make good the rhyme, which is otherwise interrupted in the +original. + +49 Some render salihan, well made, rightly shaped; others, virtuous, morally +perfect. + +50 And their idolatrous posterity. Beidh. + +51 Take or use indulgence; i.e. take men and their actions as they are, and +make all due allowances. Some understand it, of Muhammad's accepting such +voluntary and superfluous alms as the people could spare. + +52 That is, those under Satanic influence. + +53 Collected or sought it out. Beidh. + + +SURA XLVI.–AL AHKAF [LXXXVIII.] + +MECCA.–35 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +HA. MIM.1 The Revelation (sending down) of this Book is from the Mighty, the +Wise! + +We have not created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is between them +otherwise than in truth and for a settled term. But they who believe not, +turn away from their warning. + +SAY: What think ye? As for those whom ye invoke beside God, shew me what part +of the earth it is which they have created? Had they a share in the Heavens? +Bring me a Book sent down by them before this Koran, or traces of their +knowledge;2–if ye are men of truth. + +And who erreth more than he who, beside God, calleth upon that which shall +not answer him until the day of Resurrection? Yes, they regard not their +invocations; + +And when mankind shall be assembled together, they will become their enemies, +and ungratefully disown their worship. + +And when our clear signs are recited to them, they who believe not say of the +truth when it cometh to them, "This is plain sorcery." + +Will they say, "He hath devised It?" SAY: If I have devised the Koran, then +not one single thing shall ye ever obtain for me from God! He best knoweth +what ye utter in its regard! Witness enough is He between me and you! And He +is the Gracious, the Merciful. + +SAY: I am no apostle of new doctrines: neither know I what will be done with +me or you. Only what is revealed to me do I follow, and I am only charged to +warn openly. + +SAY: What think ye? If this Book be from God, and ye believe it not, and a +witness of the children of Israel3 witness to its conformity with the Law, +and believe, while ye proudly disdain it . . . ? Ah! God guideth not the +people guilty of such a wrong! + +But the infidels say of the believers, "If it were a good Book they would not +have been before us in believing it:"4 And not having submitted to guidance, +they proceed to say, "It is an old lying legend!" + +But before the Koran was the Book of Moses, a rule and a mercy; and this Book +confirmeth it (the Pentateuch)–in the Arabic tongue–that those who are guilty +of that wrong may be warned, and as glad tidings to the doers of good. + +Assuredly they who say, "Our Lord is God," and take the straight way to Him– +no fear shall come on them, neither shall they be put to grief: + +These shall be the inmates of Paradise to remain therein for ever,–the +recompense of their deeds! + +Moreover, we have enjoined on man to shew kindness to his parents. With pain +his mother beareth him; with pain she bringeth him forth: and his bearing and +his weaning is thirty months; until when he attaineth his strength, and +attaineth to forty years,5 he saith, "O my Lord! stir me up to be grateful +for thy favours wherewith thou hast favoured me and my parents, and to do +good works which shall please thee: and prosper me in my offspring: for to +thee am I turned, and am resigned to thy will" (am a Muslim). + +These are they from whom we will accept their best works, and whose evil +works we will pass by; among the inmates shall they be of Paradise:–a true +promise which they are promised. + +But he who saith to his parents, "Fie on you both! Promise ye me that I shall +be taken forth from the grave alive, when whole generations have already +passed away before me?" But they both will implore the help of God, and say, +"Alas for thee! Believe: for the promise of God is true." But he saith, "It +is no more than a fable of the ancients." + +These are they in whom the sentence passed on the nations, djinn and men, who +flourished before them, is made good. They shall surely perish.6 + +And there are grades for all, according to their works, that God may repay +them for their works; and they shall not be dealt with unfairly. + +And they who believe not shall one day be set before the fire. "Ye made away +your precious gifts during your life on earth; and ye took your fill of +pleasure in them: This day, therefore, with punishment of shame shall ye be +rewarded, for that ye behaved you proudly and unjustly on the earth, and for +that ye were given to excesses." + +Remember, too, the brother of Ad7 when he warned his people in AL AHKAF8–and +before and since his time there have been warners–"Worship none but God: +verily I fear for you the punishment of the great day." + +They said, "Art thou come to us to turn us away from our Gods? Bring on us +now the woes which thou threatenest if thou speakest truth." + +"That knowledge," said he, "is with God alone: I only proclaim to you the +message with which I am sent. But I perceive that ye are a people sunk in +ignorance." + +So when they saw a cloud coming straight for their valleys, they said, "It is +a passing cloud that shall give us rain." "Nay, it is that whose speedy +coming ye challenged a blast wherein is an afflictive punishment:– + +It will destroy everything at the bidding of its Lord!" And at morn nought +was to be seen but their empty dwellings! Thus repay we a wicked people. + +With power had we endued them, even as with power have we endued you; and we +had given them ears and eyes and hearts: yet neither their eyes, nor their +ears, nor their hearts aided them at all, when once they gainsaid the signs +of God; but that punishment which they had mocked at enveloped them on all +sides. + +Of old, too, did we destroy the cities which were round about you; and, in +order that they might return to us, we varied our signs before them. + +But did those whom they took for gods beside God as his kindred deities, help +them?9 Nay, they withdrew from them. Such was their delusion, and their +device! + +And remember when we turned aside a company of the djinn to thee, that they +might hearken to the Koran: and no sooner were they present at its reading +than they said to each other, "Hist;" and when it was ended, they returned to +their people with warnings. + +They said, "O our people! verily we have been listening to a book sent down +since the days of Moses, affirming the previous scriptures; it guideth to the +truth, and to the right way. + +O our people! Obey the Summoner of God, and believe in him, that He may +forgive your sins, and rescue you from an afflictive punishment. + +And he who shall not respond to God's preacher, yet cannot weaken God's power +on earth, nor shall he have protectors beside Him. These are in obvious +error." + +See they not that God who created the Heavens and the Earth, and was not +wearied with their creation, is of power to quicken the dead? Yea, he is for +all things Potent. + +And a day is coming when the infidels shall be set before the fire. "Is not +this it in truth?" They shall say, "Aye, by our Lord." He said, "Taste then +the punishment for that ye would not believe." + +Bear thou up, then, with patience, as did the Apostles endued with firmness, +and seek not to accelerate their doom. For, on the day when they shall see +that with which they have been menaced, + +It shall be as though they had waited but an hour of the day. Enough! shall +any perish save they who transgress? + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura lxviii. p. 32. + +2 Of a divine revelation, authorising the worship of other gods than God + +3 Abdallah bin Salma, say the commentators. + +4 Comp. John vii. 48. + +5 Thus Mischn. Aboth, v. 21, "at forty years of age a man comes to +intelligence." This verse refers, it is said by the Sonnites, to Abu Bekr, +afterwards Chalif, who embraced Islam in his 40th year. But this +interpretation was probably invented after his accession to power. + +6 Lit. suffer loss. + +7 The Prophet Houd. + +8 That is, Sandhills; at Taief, to which Muhammad had retired in consequence +of the opposition, etc., of the Meccans. Verses 20-31 are probably misplaced, +as they interrupt the connection between 19 and 32, but appear to belong to +the same period as the rest of the Sura. + +9 Thus Ullm. als naheverwandte Götter. But Wahl, denen sie sich mit +gottesdienstlichen Opfer näherten. Ad appropinquandum (magis ipsi Deo), by +intercession. Mar. Beidh. + + +SURA VI.–CATTLE [LXXXIX.] + +MECCA.–165 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +PRAISE be to God, who hath created the Heavens and the Earth, and ordained +the darkness and the light! Yet unto their Lord do the infidels give peers! + +He it is who created you of clay then decreed the term of your life: and with +Him is another prefixed term for the resurrection. Yet have ye doubts +thereof! + +And He is God in the Heavens and on the Earth! He knoweth your secrets and +your disclosures! and He knoweth what ye deserve. + +Never did one single sign from among the signs of their Lord come to them, +but they turned away from it; + +And now, after it hath reached them, have they treated the truth itself as a +lie. But in the end, a message as to that which they have mocked, shall reach +them. + +See they not how many generations we have destroyed before them? We had +settled them on the earth as we have not settled you, and we sent down the +very heavens upon them in copious rains, and we made the rivers to flow +beneath their feet: yet we destroyed them in their sins, and raised up other +generations to succeed them. + +And had we sent down to thee a Book written on parchment, and they had +touched it with their hands, the infidels had surely said, "This is nought +but plain sorcery." + +They say, too, "Unless an angel be sent down to him. . . ." But if we had +sent down an angel, their judgment would have come on them at once,1 and they +would have had no respite: + +And if we had appointed an angel, we should certainly have appointed one in +the form of a man, and we should have clothed him before them in garments +like their own.2 + +Moreover, apostles before thee have been laughed to scorn: but that which +they laughed to scorn encompassed the mockers among them! + +SAY: Go through the land: then see what hath been the end of those who +treated them as liars. + +SAY: Whose is all that is in the Heavens and the Earth? + +SAY: God's. He had imposed mercy on Himself as a law. He will surely assemble +you on the Resurrection day; there is no doubt of it. They who are the +authors of their own ruin, are they who will not believe. + +His, whatsoever hath its dwelling in the night and in the day! and He, the +Hearing, the Knowing! + +SAY: Other than God shall I take as Lord, maker of the Heavens and of the +Earth, who nourisheth all, and of none is nourished? SAY: Verily, I am bidden +to be the first of those who surrender them to God (profess Islam): and, be +not thou of those who join gods with God. + +SAY: Verily, I fear, should I rebel against my Lord, the punishment of the +great day. + +From whomsoever it shall be averted on that day, He will have had mercy on +him: and this will be the manifest bliss. + +If God touch thee with trouble, none can take it off but He: and if He visit +thee with good–it is He whose power is over all things; + +And He is the Supreme over his servants; and He is the Wise, the Cognisant! + +SAY: What thing is weightiest in bearing witness? SAY: God is witness between +me and you; and this Koran hath been revealed to me that I should warn you by +it, and all whom it shall reach. What! will ye really bear witness that there +are other gods with God? SAY: I bear no such witness. SAY: Verily, He is one +God, and truly am guiltless of what ye join with Him. + +They to whom we have given the Book, recognise him (Muhammad) as they do +their own children:3 but they who are the authors of their own perdition are +they who will not believe. + +And who more wicked than he who inventeth a lie concerning God, or who +treateth our signs as lies? Verily those wicked ones shall not prosper.4 + +And on "the Day" we will gather them all together: then will we say to those +who joined gods with God, "Where are those companion-gods of yours, as ye +supposed them?" + +Then shall they find no other excuse than to say, "By God our Lord! we joined +not companions with Him." + +Behold! how they lie against themselves–and the gods of their own inventing +desert them! + +Some among them hearken unto thee: but we have cast veils over their hearts +that they should not understand the Koran, and a weight into their ears: and +though they should see all kinds of signs, they will refuse all faith in +them, until when they come to thee, to dispute with thee, the infidels say, +"Verily, this is nothing but fables of the ancients." + +And they will forbid it, and depart from it:–but they are only the authors of +their own perdition, and know it not. + +If thou couldst see when they shall be set over the fire, and shall say, "Oh! +would we might be sent back! we would not treat the signs of our Lord as +lies! we would be of the believers." + +Aye! that hath become clear5 to them which they before concealed; but though +they should return, they would surely go back to that which was forbidden +them; for they are surely liars! + +And they say, "There is no other than our life in this world, neither shall +we be raised again." + +But if thou couldest see when they shall be set before their Lord! He shall +say to them, "Is not this it6 in truth?" They shall say, "Yea, by our Lord!" +"Taste then," saith He, "the torment, for that ye believed not!" + +Lost are they who deny the meeting with God until "the Hour" cometh suddenly +upon them! Then will they say, "Oh, our sighs for past negligence of this +hour!" and they shall bear their burdens on their back! Will not that be evil +with which they shall be burdened? + +The life in this world is but a play and pastime; and better surely for men +of godly fear will be the future mansion! Will ye not then comprehend? + +Now know we that what they speak vexeth thee:7 But it is not merely thee whom +they charge with falsehood, but the ungodly gainsay the signs of God. + +Before thee have apostles already been charged with falsehood: but they bore +the charge and the wrong with constancy, till our help came to them;–for none +can change the words of God. But this history of His Sent Ones hath already +reached thee. + +But if their estrangement be grievous to thee, and if thou art able to seek +out an opening into the earth or a ladder into Heaven,8 that thou mightest +bring them a sign. . . . Yes! But if God pleased, He would surely bring +them, one and all, to the guidance! therefore be not thou one of the +ignorant. + +To those only who shall lend an ear will He make answer: as for the dead, God +will raise them up; then unto Him shall they return. + +They say, "Unless a sign be sent down to him from his Lord. . . ." SAY: +Verily, God is able to send down a sign; but the greater part of them know it +not. + +No kind of beast is there on earth nor fowl that flieth with its wings, but +is a folk9 like you: nothing have we passed over in the Book:10 then unto +their Lord shall they be gathered. + +They who gainsay our signs are deaf, and dumb, in darkness: God will mislead +whom He pleaseth, and whom He pleaseth He will place upon the straight path. + +SAY: What think ye? If the punishment of God were to come upon you, or "the +Hour" were to come upon you, will ye cry to any other than God? Tell me, if +ye speak the truth? + +Yes! to Him will ye cry: and if He please He will deliver you from that ye +shall cry to Him to avert, and ye shall forget the partners ye joined with +Him. + +Already have we sent apostles to nations that were before thee, and we laid +hold on them with troubles and with straits in order that they might humble +themselves: + +Yet, when our trouble came upon them, they did not humble themselves; but +their hearts were hardened, and Satan pre-arranged for them11 their course of +conduct. + +And when they had forgotten their warnings, we set open to them the gates of +all things, until, as they were rejoicing in our gifts, we suddenly laid hold +upon them, and lo! they were plunged into despair, + +And the uttermost part of that impious people was cut off. All praise be to +God, the Lord of the Worlds! + +SAY: What think ye? If God should take away your hearing and your sight and +set a seal upon your hearts, what god beside God would restore them to you? +See! how we vary our wondrous verses (signs)! yet they turn away from them! + +SAY: What think ye? If the punishment of God come on you suddenly or +foreseen,12 shall any perish except the impious? + +We send not our Sent Ones but as heralds of good news and warners; and whoso +shall believe and amend, on them shall come no fear, neither shall they be +sorrowful: + +But whoso shall charge our signs with falsehood, on them shall fall a +punishment for their wicked doings. + +SAY: I say not to you, "In my possession are the treasures of God;" neither +say I, "I know things secret;" neither do I say to you, "Verily, I am an +angel:" Only what is revealed to me do I follow. SAY: Shall the blind and the +seeing be esteemed alike? Will ye not then reflect? + +And warn those who dread their being gathered to their Lord, that patron or +intercessor they shall have none but Him,–to the intent that they may fear +Him! + +And thrust not thou away those who cry to their Lord at morn and even, +craving to behold his face. It is not for thee in anything to judge of their +motives, nor for them in anything to judge of thee. If thou thrust them away +thou wilt be of the doers of wrong. + +Thus have we made proof of some of them by others, that they may say, "Are +these they among us to whom God hath been gracious?" Doth not God best know +the thankful? + +And when they who believe in our signs come to thee, SAY: Peace be upon you! +Your Lord hath laid down for himself a law of mercy; so that if any one of +you commit a fault through ignorance, and afterwards turn and amend, He +surely will be Gracious, Merciful. + +Thus have we distinctly set forth our signs, that the way of the wicked might +be made known. + +SAY: Forbidden am I to worship those whom ye call on beside God. SAY: I will +not follow your wishes; for then should I have gone astray, and should not be +of the guided. + +SAY: I act upon proofs from my Lord, but ye treat them as falsehoods. That +punishment which ye desire to be hastened is not in my power; judgment is +with God only: He will declare the truth; and He is the best settler of +disputes. + +SAY: If what ye would hasten on, were in my power, the matter between me and +you had been decided: but God best knoweth the impious. + +And with Him are the keys13 of the secret things; none knoweth them but He: +He knoweth whatever is on the land and in the sea; and no leaf falleth but He +knoweth it; neither is there a grain in the darknesses of the earth, nor a +thing green or sere, but it is noted in a distinct writing.14 + +It is He who taketh your souls at night,15 and knoweth what ye have merited +in the day: then he awaketh you therein, that the set life-term may be +fulfilled: then unto Him shall ye return; and then shall be declare to you +that which ye have wrought. + +Supreme over his servants, He sendeth forth guardians who watch over you, +until, when death overtaketh any one of you, our messengers take his soul, +and fail not: + +Then are they returned to God their Lord, the True. Is not judgment His? +Swiftest He, of those who take account! + +SAY: Who rescueth you from the darkness of the land and of the sea, when +humbly and secretly ye cry to Him–"If thou rescue us from this, we will +surely be of the thankful?" + +SAY: God rescueth you from them, and from every strait: yet afterwards ye +give Him companions! + +SAY: It is He who hath power to send on you a punishment from above you, or +from beneath your feet, or to clothe you with discord,16 and to make some of +you to taste the violence of others. See how variously we handle the wondrous +verses, that haply they may become wise! + +But thy people hath accused the Koran of falsehood, though it be the truth: +SAY: I am not in charge of you: To every prophecy is its set time, and bye- +and-bye ye shall know it! + +And when thou seest those who busy themselves with cavilling at our signs, +withdraw from them till they busy themselves in some other subject: and if +Satan cause thee to forget this, sit not, after recollection, with the +ungodly people:17 + +Not that they who fear God are to pass any judgment upon them, but the object +of recollection is that they may continue to fear Him. + +And quit those who make their religion a sport and a pastime, and whom this +present life hath deceived: warn them hereby that every soul will be +consigned to doom for its own works: patron or intercessor, beside God, shall +it have none: and could it compensate with fullest compensation, it would not +be accepted from it. They who for their deeds shall be consigned to doom–for +them are draughts of boiling water, and a grievous torment; for that they +believed not! + +SAY: Shall we, beside God, call upon those who can neither help nor hurt us? +Shall we turn upon our heel after that God hath guided us? Like some +bewildered man whom the Satans have spell-bound in the desert, though his +companions call him to the true guidance, with, "Come to us!" SAY: Verily, +guidance from God, that is the true guidance; and we are commanded to +surrender ourselves to the Lord of the Worlds. + +And observe ye the times of prayer, and fear ye God: for it is He to whom ye +shall be gathered. + +And it is He who hath created the Heavens and the Earth, in truth, and when +He saith to a thing, "Be," it is. + +His word is the truth: and His the kingdom, on the day when there shall be a +blast on the trumpet: He knoweth alike the unseen and the seen: and He is the +Wise, the Cognisant. + +And remember when Abraham said to his father Azar,18 Takest thou images as +gods? Verily, I see that thou and thy people are in manifest error. + +And thus did we shew Abraham the kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth,19 +that he might be stablished in knowledge. + +And when the night overshadowed him, he beheld a star. "This," said he, "is +my Lord:" but when it set, he said, "I love not gods which set." + +And when he beheld the moon uprising, "This," said he, "is my Lord:" but when +it set, he said, "Surely, if my Lord guide me not, I shall surely be of those +who go astray." + +And when he beheld the sun uprise, he said, "This is my Lord; this is +greatest." But when it set, he said, "O my people! I share not with you the +guilt of joining gods with God; + +I turn my face to him who hath created the Heavens and the Earth, following +the right religion:20 I am not one of those who add gods to God." + +And his people disputed with him.–He said: "Dispute ye with me about God, +when He hath guided me? And I fear not the deities whom ye join with Him, for +only by the will of my Lord have they any power:21 My Lord embraceth all +things in His knowledge. Will ye not then consider? + +And how should I fear what ye have joined with God, since ye fear not for +having joined with Him that for which He hath sent you down no warranty? +Which, therefore, of the two parties is more worthy of safety? Know ye that? + +They who believe, and who clothe not their faith with error.22 theirs is +safety, and they are guided aright." + +This is our reasoning with which we furnished Abraham against his people: We +uplift to grades of wisdom whom we will; Verily thy Lord is Wise, Knowing. + +And we gave him Isaac and Jacob, and guided both aright; and we had before +guided Noah; and among the descendants of Abraham, David and Solomon, and Job +and Joseph, and Moses and Aaron: Thus do we recompense the righteous: + +And Zachariah, John, Jesus, and Elias: all were just persons: + +And Ismael and Elisha and Jonas and Lot: all these have we favoured above +mankind: + +And some of their fathers, and of their offspring, and of their brethren: and +we chose them, and guided them into the straight way. + +This is God's guidance: He guideth by it such of his servants as he will: But +if they join others god with Him, vain assuredly shall be all their works. + +These are they to whom we gave the Scripture and Wisdom and Prophecy: but if +these their posterity believe not therein, we will entrust these gifts to a +people who will not disbelieve therein. + +These are they whom God hath guided: follow therefore their guidance. SAY: No +pay do I ask of you for this:23 Verily it is no other than the teaching for +all creatures. + +No just estimate do they form of God when they say, "Nothing hath God sent +down to man." SAY: Who sent down the Book which Moses brought, a light and +guidance to man, which ye set down on paper, publishing part, but concealing +most: though ye have now been taught that which neither ye nor your fathers +knew? SAY: It is God: then leave them in their pastime of cavillings.24 + +And this Book which we have sent down is blessed, confirming that which was +before it; and in order that thou mightest warn the mother-city and those who +dwell round about it. They who believe in the next life will believe in It, +and will keep strictly to their Prayers. + +But is any more wicked than he who deviseth a lie of God, or saith, "I have +had a revelation," when nothing was revealed to him?25 And who saith, "I can +bring down a book like that which God hath sent down"? But couldst thou see +when the ungodly are in the floods of death, and the angels reach forth their +hands, saying, "Yield up your souls:–this day shall ye be recompensed with a +humiliating punishment for your untrue sayings about God, and for proudly +rejecting his signs!" + +"And now are ye come back to us, alone, as we created you at first, and ye +leave behind you the good things which we had given you, and we see not with +you your intercessors whom ye regarded as the companions of God among you. +There is a severance between you now, and those whom ye regarded as partners +with God have deserted you." + +Verily God causeth the grain and the date stone to put forth: He bringeth +forth the living from the dead, and the dead from the living! This is God! +Why, then, are ye turned aside from Him? + +He causeth the dawn to appear, and hath ordained the night for rest, and the +sun and the moon for computing time! The ordinance of the Mighty, the Wise! + +And it is He who hath ordained the stars for you that ye may be guided +thereby in the darknesses of the land and of the sea! clear have we made our +signs to men of knowledge. + +And it is He who hath produced you from one man, and hath provided for you an +abode and resting-place!26 Clear have we made our signs for men of insight. + +And it is He who sendeth down rain from Heaven: and we bring forth by it the +buds of all the plants, and from them bring we forth the green foliage, and +the close growing grain, and palm trees with sheaths of clustering dates, and +gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, like and unlike.27 Look +ye on their fruits when they fruit and ripen. Truly herein are signs unto +people who believe. + +Yet have they assigned the Djinn to God as his associates, though He created +them; and in their ignorance have they falsely ascribed to him sons and +daughters. Glory be to Him! And high let Him be exalted above that which they +attribute to Him! + +Sole maker of the Heavens and of the Earth! how, when He hath no consort, +should He have a son? He hath created everything, and He knoweth everything! + +This is God your Lord. There is no God but He, the creator of all things: +therefore worship Him alone;–and He watcheth over all things. + +No vision taketh in Him, but He taketh in all vision:28 and He is the +Subtile, the All-informed. + +Now have proofs that may be seen, come to you from your Lord; whoso seeth +them, the advantage will be his own: and whoso is blind to them, his own will +be the loss: I am not made a keeper over you. + +Thus variously do we apply our signs,29 that they may say, "Thou hast studied +deep:" and that to people of understanding we may make them clear. + +Follow thou that which hath been revealed to thee by thy Lord: there is no +god but He! and withdraw from those who join other gods with Him. + +Had God pleased, they had not joined other gods with Him: and we have not +made thee keeper over them, neither art thou a guardian over them. + +Revile not those whom they call on beside God,30 lest they, in their +ignorance, despitefully revile Him. Thus have we planned out their actions +for every people; then shall they return to their Lord, and He will declare +to them what those actions have been. + +With their most solemn oath have they sworn by God, that if a sign come unto +them they will certainly believe it; SAY: Signs are in the power of God +alone; and He teacheth you not thereby, only because when they were wrought, +ye did not believe.31 + +And we will turn their hearts and their eyes away from the truth, because +they did not believe therein at first, and we will leave them in their +transgressions, wandering in perplexity. + +And though we had sent down the angels to them, and the dead had spoken to +them, and we had gathered all things about them in tribes, they had not +believed, unless God had willed it! but most of them do not know it. + +Thus have we given an enemy to every prophet Satans among men and among +Djinn: tinsel discourses do they suggest the one to the other, in order to +deceive: and had thy Lord willed it, they would not have done it. Therefore, +leave them and their vain imaginings– + +And let the hearts of those who believe not in the life to come incline +thereto, and let them find their content in this, and let them gain what they +are gaining. + +What! shall I seek other judge than God, when it is He who hath sent down to +you the distinguishing Book? They to whom we have given the Book know that it +is sent down from thy Lord with truth. Be not thou then of those who doubt. + +And the words of thy Lord are perfect in truth and in justice: none can +change his words: He is the Hearing, Knowing. + +But if thou obey most men in this land, from the path of God will they +mislead thee: they follow but a conceit, and they are only liars. + +Thy Lord! He best knoweth those who err from his path, and He knoweth the +rightly guided. + +Eat32 of that over which the name of God hath been pronounced, if ye believe +in his signs. + +And why eat ye not of that over which the name of God hath been pronounced, +since He hath made plain to you what He hath forbidden you, save as to that +which is forced upon you? But indeed many mislead others by their appetites, +through lack of knowledge. Verily, thy Lord! He best knoweth the +transgressors. + +And abandon the semblance of wickedness, and wickedness itself.33 They, +verily, whose only acquirement is iniquity, shall be rewarded for what they +shall have gained. + +Eat not therefore of that on which the name of God has not been named, for +that is assuredly a crime: the Satans will indeed suggest to their votaries +to wrangle with you; but if ye obey them, ye will indeed be of those who join +gods with God. + +Shall the dead, whom we have quickened, and for whom we have ordained a light +whereby he may walk among men, be like him, whose likeness is in the +darkness, whence he will not come forth? Thus have the doings of the +unbelievers been prepared for them. + +Even so have we placed in every city, ringleaders of its wicked ones, to +scheme therein: but only against themselves shall they scheme! and they know +it not. + +And when a sign cometh to them they say, "We will not believe, till the like +of what was accorded to the apostles of God, be accorded to us." God best +knoweth where to place his mission. Disgrace with God, and a vehement +punishment shall come on the transgressors for their crafty plottings. + +And whom God shall please to guide, that man's breast will He open to Islam; +but whom He shall please to mislead, strait and narrow will He make his +breast, as though he were mounting up into the very Heavens! Thus doth God +inflict dire punishment on those who believe not. + +And this is the right way of thy Lord. Now have we detailed our signs unto +those who will consider. + +For them is a dwelling of peace with their Lord! and in recompense for their +works, shall he be their protector. + +On the day whereon God shall gather them all together . . . "O race of +Djinn," will He say, "much did ye exact from mankind." And their votaries +from among men shall say, "O our Lord! we rendered one another mutual +services: but we have reached our set term, which thou hast set for us." He +will say, "Your abode the fire! therein abide ye for ever: unless as God +shall will." Verily, thy Lord is Wise, Knowing. + +Even thus place we some of the wicked over others, as the meed of their +doings. + +O race of Djinn and men! came not apostles to you from among yourselves, +rehearsing my signs to you, and warning you of the meeting of this your day? +They shall say, "We bear witness against ourselves." This world's life +deceived them; and they shall bear witness against themselves that they were +infidels:– + +This,34 because thy Lord would not destroy the cities in their sin, while +their people were yet careless. + +And for all, are grades of recompense as the result of their deeds; and of +what they do, thy Lord is not regardless. + +And thy Lord is the Rich one, full of compassion! He can destroy you if He +please, and cause whom He will to succeed you, as he raised you up from the +offspring of other people: + +Verily, that which is threatened you shall surely come to pass, neither shall +ye weaken its might. + +SAY: O my people! Act as ye best can: I verily will act my part, and +hereafter shall ye know + +Whose will be the recompense of the abode! Verily, the ungodly shall not +prosper. + +Moreover, they set apart a portion of the fruits and cattle35 which he hath +produced, and say, "This for God"–so deem they–"And this for his companions, +whom we associate with Him." But that which is for these companions of +theirs, cometh not to God; yet that which is for God, cometh to the +companions! Ill do they judge. + +Thus have the companion-gods induced many of these, who join them with God, +to slay their children, that they might ruin them, and throw the cloak of +confusion over their religion. But if God had pleased, they had not done +this. Therefore, leave them and their devices. + +They also say, "These cattle and fruits are sacred: none may taste them but +whom we please:" so deem they–"And there are cattle, whose backs should be +exempt from labour." And there are cattle over which they do not pronounce +the name of God: inventing in all this a lie against Him. For their +inventions shall He reward them. + +And they say, "That which is in the wombs of these cattle is allowed to our +males, and forbidden to our wives;" but if it prove abortive, both partake of +it. God shall reward them for their distinctions! Knowing, Wise is He. + +Lost are they who, in their ignorance, have foolishly slain their children, +and have forbidden that which God hath given them for food, devising an +untruth against God! Now have they erred; and they were not rightly guided. + +He it is who produceth gardens of the vine trellised and untrellised, and the +palm trees, and the corn of various food, and olives, and pomegranates, like +and unlike. Eat of their fruit when they bear fruit, and pay the due thereof +on the day of its ingathering: and be not prodigal, for God loveth not the +prodigal. + +And there are cattle for burdens and for journeys. Eat of what God hath given +you for food; and follow not the steps of Satan, for he is your declared +enemy. + +You have four sorts of cattle in pairs: of sheep a pair, and of goats a pair. +SAY: Hath He forbidden the two males or the two females; or that which the +wombs of the two females enclose? Tell me with knowledge, if ye speak the +truth: + +And of camels a pair, and of oxen a pair. SAY: Hath He forbidden the two +males or the two females; or that which the wombs of the two females +enclose?36 Were ye witnesses when God enjoined you this? Who then is more +wicked than he who, in his ignorance, inventeth a lie against God, to mislead +men? God truly guideth not the wicked. + +SAY: I find not in what hath been revealed to me aught forbidden to the eater +to eat, except it be that which dieth of itself, or blood poured forth, or +swine's flesh; for this is unclean or profane, being slain in the name of +other than God. But whoso shall be a forced partaker, if it be without +wilfulness, and not in transgression,–verily, thy Lord is Indulgent, +Merciful! + +To the Jews did we forbid every beast having an entire hoof, and of both +bullocks and sheep we forbade them the fat, save what might be on their +backs, or their entrails, and the fat attached to the bone. With this have we +recompensed them, because of their transgression: and verily, we are indeed +equitable. + +If they treat thee as an impostor, then SAY: Your Lord is of all-embracing +mercy: but his severity shall not be turned aside from the wicked. + +They who add gods to God will say, "If God had pleased, neither we nor our +fathers had given him companions, nor should we have interdicted anything." +Thus did they who flourished before them charge with imposture, until they +had tasted our severity! SAY: Have ye any knowledge that ye can produce to +us? Verily, ye follow only a conceit: ye utter only lies! + +SAY: Peremptory proof is God's! Had He pleased He had guided you all aright. + +SAY: Bring hither your witnesses who can witness that God hath forbidden +these animals; but if they bear witness, witness not thou with them, nor +witness to the conceits of those who charge our signs with falsehood, and who +believe not in the life to come, and give equals to our Lord. + +SAY: Come, I will rehearse what your Lord hath made binding on you–that ye +assign not aught to Him as partner; and that ye be good to your parents; and +that ye slay not your children, because of poverty: for them and for you will +we provide:37 and that ye come not near to pollutions, outward or inward:38 +and that ye slay not anyone whom God hath forbidden you, unless for a just +cause. This hath he enjoined on you, to the intent that ye may understand. + +And come not nigh to the substance of the orphan, but to improve it, until he +come of age: and use a full measure, and a just balance: We will not task a +soul beyond its ability. And when ye give judgment, observe justice, even +though it be the affair of a kinsman, and fulfil the covenant of God. This +hath God enjoined you for your monition– + +And, "this is my right way." Follow it then; and follow not other paths lest +ye be scattered from His path. This hath he enjoined you, that ye may fear +Him. + +Then39 gave we the Book to Moses–complete for him who should do right, and a +decision for all matters, and a guidance, and a mercy, that they might +believe in the meeting with their Lord. + +Blessed, too, this Book which we have sent down. Wherefore follow it and fear +God, that ye may find mercy: + +Lest ye should say, "The Scriptures were indeed sent down only unto two +peoples before us, but we were not able to go deep into their studies:"40 + +Or lest ye should say, "If a book had been sent down to us, we had surely +followed the guidance better than they." But now hath a clear exposition come +to you from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy. Who then is more wicked +than he who treateth the signs of God as lies, and turneth aside from them? +We will recompense those who turn aside from our signs with an evil +punishment, because they have turned aside. + +What wait they for, but the coming of the angels to them, or the coming of +thy Lord Himself, or that some of the sings of the Lord should come to pass? +On the day when some of thy Lord's signs shall come to pass, its faith shall +not profit a soul which believed not before, nor wrought good works in virtue +of its faith. SAY: Wait ye. Verily, we will wait also. + +As to those who split up their religion and become sects, have thou nothing +to do with them: their affair is with God only. Hereafter shall he tell them +what they have done. + +He who shall present himself with good works shall receive a tenfold reward; +but he who shall present himself with evil works shall receive none other +than a like punishment: and they shall not be treated unjustly. + +SAY: As for me, my Lord hath guided me into a straight path; a true religion, +the creed of Abraham, the sound in faith; for he was not of those who join +gods with God. + +SAY: My prayers and my worship and my life and my death are unto God, Lord of +the Worlds. He hath no associate. This am I commanded, and I am the first of +the Muslims. + +SAY: Shall I seek any other Lord than God, when He is Lord of all things? No +soul shall labour but for itself; and no burdened one shall bear another's +burden. At last ye shall return to your Lord, and he will declare that to you +about which you differ. + +And it is He who hath made you the successors of others on the earth, and +hath raised some of you above others by various grades, that he may prove you +by his gifts. Verily thy Lord is swift to punish. But He is also Gracious, +Merciful! + + +_______________________ + +1 Lit. their affair would have been decided. In that case there would no +longer have been an opportunity for the warnings of the prophets and for +repentance, but the angels would at once have executed the divine judgments. + +2 See Sura xli. 13, p. 193. + +3 See Sura [xc.] xiii. 36. + +4 This denunciation is repeated in eleven other passages of the Koran, and +coupled with the known reverence of the early Muslims for what they +considered as the word of God, must have greatly tended to secure the +revelations of the Prophet from being in any way tampered with and corrupted. + +5 They are self-convicted of their own hypocrisy and of the hollowness of +their professions. + +6 The Resurrection, etc. + +7 Abu Jahl had said: "Muhammad speaks truth, and he never said a falsehood; +but, if the Banu Chosai, who enjoy already the offices of bearing the +standard, of providing the pilgrims with water, and of keeping the keys of +the Kaaba, should also obtain the Prophetship, what would remain for the +other Koreisch." Kashaf in 1. + +8 See Sura lii. 38, p. 65. These passages may allude to the ladder set up in +a tower by Wacih ben Salamah, one of the ancient doorkeepers of the Caaba, by +which he professed to mount up to God and receive divine Oracles. Freyt. +Einl. p. 371. + +9 A community. Comp. Prov. xxx. 25, 26. Animals as well as mankind are under +the control of God, are held within the limits of his decrees, are +accountable to him, and will stand before him in the judgment. + +10 Of the Eternal decrees. + +11 Or, embellished, made it fair-seeming. + +12 Lit. openly, i.e. preceded by some sign. + +13 The Rabbins speak of the three keys in the hand of God. Tr. Tanith, fol. +x. + +14 On the preserved tablet, on which are written the decrees of God. + +15 That is, during sleep. See Sura xxxix. 43, p. 258. Or, layeth to rest. +Mar. renders literally, defungi faciet vos, id est, obdormiscere. Thus also +Beidh. But see the use of the same word in the next verse. + +16 Or, to perplex you (by dividing you into) sects. + +17 Comp. Sura [cx.] 1x. 13. + +18 Azar. This form is probably borrowed from Athar, as Terah is called by +Eusebius. See Maracci Prodr. iv. 90. Compare a similar narrative (Midr. +Rabbah on Gen. par. 17) in which Abraham is given over by his idolatrous +father Zarah to Nimrod, who says, "We will adore the Fire:" "Rather," said +Abraham, "the water which puts out fire." "The Water then"–"Rather the clouds +that bear the water." "The Clouds then"–"Rather the wind which scatters the +clouds." "The Wind then"–"Rather man who endures the wind." Whereupon Abraham +was thrown into the furnace. It is quite possible that in what follows, +Muhammad may have intended to imply that Abraham had renounced the Sabian +starworship of his fathers, and to vindicate him from the habit of consulting +the stars attributed to him by the Talmudists. Shabbath, fol. 156, col. 1. +"Abraham replied, I have consulted my Astrology." Comp. Rashi on Gen. xv. 5. +See Maim. Yad Hachaz. vii. 6. + +19 Comp. Gen. xv. 5. + +20 See Sura xxi. 52. + +21 Lit. unless that my Lord shall will anything. + +22 Or, confuse not their faith with wrong, injustice, i.e. idolatry. + +23 Koran. + +24 This verse and the following were probably added at Medina after the +Hejira; at least it is difficult to conceive that Muhammad would have +ventured thus to have written at Mecca. + +25 This verse is said to have been revealed at Medina and to be aimed at the +false prophets Moseilama, Aswad and Amsi; also at Abdallah Ibn Saad, +Muhammad's secretary, who for corrupting the sacred text and apostacy, was +one of the ten proscribed at the taking of Mecca. + +26 In the womb. + +27 Of all sorts. + +28 Lit. attaineth to. Mr. Lane renders, "the eyes see not Him, but He seeth +the eyes." + +29 The verses of the Koran. + +30 Comp. Ex. xxii. 28. + +31 Notwithstanding this disclaimer, the Muslim tradition, etc. speak of many +of their Prophet's miracles. See Maracci's Prodr. p. ii. p. 16, and 30 46. + +32 Verses 118-121 seem misplaced, and should probably follow 154. + +33 Lit. the outside of iniquity and its inside. Some understand these words +of open sins, and secret sins. + +34 That is, God's method of dealing with the guilty was to send apostles +previous to the execution of his judgments. + +35 It appears to have been the custom of the idolatrous Arabs to set apart +one portion of their fields for the Supreme God, and the other for the +inferior gods represented by their idols. If any of the fruit happened to +fall from the part consecrated to the idols into that consecrated to God, +they restored it, but if the reverse occurred, they gave it to the idols. +God, said they, is rich and can dispense with it. The secret, however, was +that the idols' portion was reserved for the priests, Beidhawi. Freytag +mentions the names of 73 idols worshipped by the Arab tribes, previous to +Islam (Einl. pp. 270 and 342 357) and generally with Allah, as Supreme God. + +36 Comp. Sura [cxiv.] v. 102. + +37 Comp. Sura xvii. 33, p. 167. + +38 See verse 120 above. + +39 This very abrupt transition to Jewish history seems to indicate that a +passage between this and the preceding verse is lost. + +40 Lit. we were careless of their studies + + +SURA XIII.–THUNDER [XC.] + +MECCA.–43 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ELIF. LAM. MIM. RA.1 These, the signs of the Book! And that which hath been +sent down to thee from thy Lord is the very truth: But the greater part of +men will not believe. + +It is God who hath reared the Heavens without pillars thou canst behold; then +mounted his throne, and imposed laws on the sun and moon: each travelleth to +its appointed goal. He ordereth all things. He maketh his signs clear, that +ye may have firm faith in a meeting with your Lord. + +And He it is who hath outstretched the earth, and placed on it the firm +mountains, and rivers: and of every fruit He hath placed on it two kinds: He +causeth the night to enshroud the day. Verily in this are signs for those who +reflect. + +And on the earth hard by each other are its various portions: gardens of +grapes and corn, and palm trees single or clustered. Though watered by the +same water, yet some make we more excellent as food than other: Verily in all +this are signs for those who understand. + +If ever thou dost marvel, marvellous surely is their saying, "What! when we +have become dust, shall we be restored in a new creation?" + +These are they who in their Lord believe not: these! the collars shall be on +their necks; and these shall be inmates of the fire, to abide therein for +aye. + +To hasten evil rather than good will they challenge thee: but, before their +time have been like examples. Full, truly, of mercy is thy Lord unto men, +despite their sins; but verily, thy Lord is right vehement to punish. + +And they who believe not say: "If a sign from his Lord be not sent down to +him . . . !" Thou art a warner only. And every people hath its guide. + +God knoweth the burden of every female, and how much their wombs lessen and +enlarge: with Him everything is by measure: + +Knower of the Hidden and the Manifest! the Great! the Most High! + +Alike to Him is that person among you who concealeth his words, and he that +telleth them abroad: he who hideth him in the night, and he who cometh forth +in the day. + +Each hath a succession of Angels before him and behind him, who watch over +him by God's behest. Verily, God will not change his gifts to men, till they +change what is in themselves: and when God willeth evil unto men, there is +none can turn it away, nor have they any protector beside Him. + +He it is who maketh the lightning to shine unto you; for fear and hope: and +who bringeth up the laden clouds. + +And the THUNDER uttereth his praise, and the Angels also, for awe of Him: and +he sendeth his bolts and smiteth with them whom he will2 while they are +wrangling about God! Mighty is he in prowess. + +Prayer is His of right: but these deities to whom they pray beside Him give +them no answer, otherwise than as he is answered who stretcheth forth his +hands to the water that it may reach his mouth, when it cannot reach it! The +prayer of the Infidels only wandereth, and is lost. + +And unto God doth all in the Heavens and on the Earth bow down in worship, +willingly or by constraint: their very shadows also morn and even! + +SAY: Who is Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth? SAY: God. SAY: Why then +have ye taken beside Him protectors, who even for their own selves have no +power for help or harm? SAY: What! shall the blind and the seeing be held +equal? Shall the darkness and the light be held equal? Or have they given +associates to God who have created as He hath created, so that their creation +appear to them like His? SAY: God is the Creator of all things! He is the +One! the Conquering! + +He sendeth down the rain from Heaven: then flow the torrents in their due +measure, and the flood beareth along a swelling foam. And from the metals +which are molten in the fire for the sake of ornaments or utensils, a like +scum ariseth. In this way doth God depict (set forth) truth and falsehood. As +to the foam, it is quickly gone: and as to what is useful to man, it +remaineth on the earth. Thus doth God set forth comparisons! To those who +respond to their Lord shall be an excellent reward; but those who respond not +to his call, had they all that the earth containeth twice over, they would +surely give it for their ransom. Evil their reckoning! and Hell their home! +And wretched the bed! + +Shall he then who knoweth that what hath been sent down to thee from thy Lord +is the truth, act like him who is blind? Men of insight only will bear this +in mind, + +Who fulfil their pledge to God, and break not their compact: + +And who join together what God hath bidden to be joined, and who fear their +Lord, and dread an ill reckoning; + +And who, from desire to see the face of their Lord, are constant amid trials, +and observe prayer and give alms, in secret and openly, out of what we have +bestowed upon them, and turn aside evil by good: for these is the recompense +of that abode, + +Gardens of Eden–into which they shall enter together with the just of their +fathers, and their wives, and their descendants: and the angels shall go in +unto them at every portal: + +"Peace be with you!" say they, "because ye have endured all things!" Charming +the recompense of their abode! + +But those who, after having contracted it, break their covenant with God, and +cut asunder what God hath bidden to be united, and commit misdeeds on the +earth, these, a curse awaiteth them, and an ill abode! + +God is open-handed with supplies to whom he will, or is sparing. They rejoice +in the life that now is, but this present life is but a passing good, in +respect of the life to come!3 + +And they who believe not say, "Unless a sign be sent down to him from his +Lord. . . ." SAY: God truly will mislead whom he will; and He will guide to +Himself him who turneth to Him, + +Those who believe, and whose hearts rest securely on the thought of God. +What! Shall not men's hearts repose in the thought of God? They who believe +and do the things that be right–blessedness awaiteth them, and a goodly home. + +Thus have we sent thee to a people whom other peoples have preceded, that +thou mightest rehearse to them our revelations to thee. Yet they believe not +on the God of Mercy.4 SAY: He is my Lord. There is no God but He. In Him do I +put my trust. To Him must I return. + +If there were a Koran by which the mountains could be set in motion, or the +earth cleft, or the dead be made to speak ! But all sovereignty is in the +hands of God. Do then believers doubt5 that had He pleased God would +certainly have guided all men aright? + +Misfortune shall not cease to light on the unbelievers for what they have +done, or to take up its abode hard by their dwellings, until the threat of +God come to pass. Verily, God will not fail his plighted word. + +Before thee indeed have apostles been mocked at; but though I bore long with +the unbelievers, at last I seized upon them;–and how severe was my +punishment! + +Who is it then that is standing over every soul to mark its actions? Yet have +they set up associates with God. SAY: Name them. What! Would ye inform God of +that which He knoweth not on the Earth? Or are they not a mere empty name? +But prepared of old for the infidels was this fraud of theirs; and they are +turned aside from the path; and whom God causeth to err, no guide shall there +be for him! + +Chastisement awaiteth them in this present life, and more grievous shall be +the chastisement of the next: and none shall screen them from God. + +A picture of the Paradise which God hath promised to them that fear Him. The +rivers flow beneath its bowers: its food and its shades are perpetual. This +is the reward of those who fear God; but the reward of the unbelievers is the +Fire. + +They to whom we have given the Book rejoice6 in what hath been sent down to +thee; yet some are banded together who deny a part of it. SAY: I am commanded +to worship God, and not to associate any creature with Him. On Him do I call, +and to Him shall I return. + +Thus, then, as a code in the Arabic tongue have we sent down the Koran; and +truly, if after the knowledge that hath reached thee thou follow their +desires, thou shalt have no guardian nor protector against God. + +Apostles truly have we already sent before thee, and wives and offspring have +we given them. Yet no apostle had come with miracles unless by the leave of +God. To each age its Book. + +What He pleaseth will God abrogate or confirm: for with Him is the source of +revelation.7 + +Moreover, whether we cause thee to see the fulfilment of part of our menaces, +or whether we take thee hence, verily, thy work is preaching only, and ours +to take account. + +See they not that we come into their land and cut short its borders?8 God +pronounceth a doom, and there is none to reverse his doom. And swift is He to +take account. + +Those who lived before them made plots: but all plotting is controlled by +God: He knoweth the works of every one, and the infidels shall know whose +will be the recompense of the abode. + +The infidels, moreover, will say; Thou art not sent of God. SAY: God is +witness enough betwixt me and you, and, whoever hath knowledge of the Book. + + +_______________________ + +1 See Sura 1xviii. p. 32. + +2 This is said by the traditionists and commentators generally, to refer to +Amir and Arbad ben Kais, who in the year 9 or 10 conspired against Muhammad's +life, and were struck dead by lightning. See the authorities in Nöld. p. 120: +Weil, 256; Caussin, iii. 295. But this explanation may have been suggested by +the words of the text, which must, if the comment be correct, have been +revealed at Medina. + +3 Thus, "one hour of bliss in the world to come is better than all life in +this world." Mischnah Aboth, iv. 17. Comp. Sura [cxiii.] ix. 38. + +4 See Sura xvii. 109. This verse is said to have been occasioned by the +refusal of the Meccans at Hudaibiya to adopt the formula prescribed by +Muhammad–In the Name of the God of Mercy, the Merciful–declaring that they +knew not who the God of Mercy (Arrahman) was. This was in Hej. 6. See n. p. +173. + +5 Lit. despair. + +6 That is, the Jews, who at this period of Muhammad's prophetic function, +must have been highly gratified at the strong leaning towards, and respect +for, their Scriptures and Histories, which shews itself increasingly in the +later Meccan Suras. + +7 Lit. Mother, or Prototype of the Book. Either God's knowledge or +Prescience, or the fabled preserved tablet, on which is written the original +of the Koran, and all God's decrees. The Jews have a tradition that the Law +existed before the Creation. Midr. Jalkut, 7. + +8 That is, the progressive conquests of the Muslims trench more and more on +the territories of the idolatrous Arabians. + + +SURA II.–THE COW1 [XCI.] + +MEDINA.–286 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ELIF. LAM. MIM.2 No doubt is there about this Book: It is a guidance to the +God-fearing, + +Who believe in the unseen,3 who observe prayer, and out of what we have +bestowed on them, expend for God; + +And who believe in what hath been sent down to thee, and in what hath been +sent down before thee, and full faith have they in the life to come: + +These are guided by their Lord; and with these it shall be well. + +As to the infidels, alike is it to them whether thou warn them or warn them +not–they will not believe: + +Their hearts and their ears hath God sealed up; and over their eyes is a +covering. For them, a severe chastisement! + +And some4 there are who say, "We believe in God, and in the latter day:" Yet +are they not believers! + +Fain would they deceive God and those who have believed; but they deceive +themselves only, and know it not. + +Diseased are their hearts! And that disease hath God increased creased to +them. Their's a sore chastisement, for that they treated their prophet as a +liar! + +And when it is said to them, "Cause not disorders in the earth:" they say, +"Nay, rather do we set them right." + +Is it not that they are themselves the authors of disorder? But they perceive +it not! + +And when it is said to them, "Believe as other men have believed;" they say, +"Shall we believe as the fools have believed?" Is it not that they are +themselves the fools? But they know it not! + +And when they meet the faithful they say, "We believe;" but when they are +apart with their Satans5 they say, "Verily we hold with you, and at them we +only mock." + +God shall mock at them, and keep them long in their rebellion, wandering in +perplexity. + +These are they who have purchased error at the price of guidance: but their +traffic hath not been gainful, neither are they guided at all. + +They are like one6 who kindleth a fire, and when it hath thrown its light on +all around him. . . . God taketh away their light and leaveth them in +darkness–they cannot see!– + +Deaf, dumb, blind: therefore they shall not retrace their steps from error! + +Or like those who, when there cometh a storm-cloud out of the Heaven, big +with darkness thunder and lightning, thrust their fingers into their ears +because of the thunder-clap, for fear of death! God is round about the +infidels. + +The lightning almost snatcheth away their eyes! So oft as it gleameth on them +they walk on in it, but when darkness closeth upon them, they stop! And if +God pleased, of their ears and of their eyes would he surely deprive them: +verily God is Almighty! O men of Mecca7 adore your Lord, who hath created you +and those who were before you: haply ye will fear Him + +Who hath made the earth a bed for you, and the heaven a covering, and hath +caused water to come down from heaven, and by it hath brought forth fruits +for your sustenance! Do not then wittingly give peers to God. + +And if ye be in doubt as to that which we have sent down to our servant, then +produce a Sura like it, and summon your witnesses, beside God, if ye are men +of truth: + +But if ye do it not, and never shall ye do it, then fear the fire prepared +for the infidels, whose fuel is men and stones:8 + +But announce to those who believe and do the things that are right, that for +them are gardens 'neath which the rivers flow! So oft as they are fed +therefrom with fruit for sustenance, they shall say, "This same was our +sustenance of old:" And they shall have its like given to them.9 Therein +shall they have wives of perfect purity, and therein shall they abide for +ever. + +Verily God is not ashamed to set forth as well the instance of a gnat10 as of +any nobler object: for as to those who have believed, they know it to be the +truth from their Lord; but as to the unbelievers, they will say, "What +meaneth God by this comparison?" Many will He mislead by such parables and +many guide: but none will He mislead thereby except the wicked, + +Who, after its establishment, violate the covenant of God,11 and cut in +sunder what God hath bidden to be joined, and act disorderly on the Earth. +These are they who shall suffer loss! + +How can ye withhold faith from God? Ye were dead and He gave you life; next +He will cause you to die; next He will restore you to life: next shall ye +return to Him! + +He it is who created for you all that is on Earth, then proceeded to the +Heaven, and into seven12 Heavens did He fashion it: and He knoweth all +things. + +When thy Lord said to the angels, "Verily, I am about to place one in my +stead on earth,"13 they said, "Wilt thou place there one who will do ill +therein and shed blood, when we celebrate thy praise and extol thy holiness?" +God said, "Verily, I know what ye know not." + +And he taught Adam the names of all things, and then set them before the +angels,14 and said, "Tell me the names of these, if ye are endued with +wisdom."15 + +They said, "Praise be to Thee! We have no knowledge but what Thou hast given +us to know. Thou! Thou art the Knowing, the Wise." + +He said, "O Adam, inform them of their names." And when he had informed them +of their names, He said, "Did I not say to you that I know the hidden things +of the Heavens and of the Earth, and that I know what ye bring to light, and +what ye hide?" + +And when we said to the angels, "Bow down and worship Adam," then worshipped +they all, save Eblis.16 He refused and swelled with pride, and became one of +the unbelievers. + +And we said, "O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, and eat ye +plentifully therefrom wherever ye list; but to this tree come not nigh, lest +ye become of the transgressors." + +But Satan17 made them slip from it, and caused their banishment from the +place in which they were. And we said, "Get ye down, the one of you an enemy +to the other: and there shall be for you in the earth a dwelling-place, and a +provision for a time." + +And words of prayer learned Adam from his Lord: and God turned to him; for He +loveth to turn, the Merciful. + +We said, "Get ye down from it, all together: and if + +Guidance shall come to you from me, whoso shall follow my guidance, on them +shall come no fear, neither shall they be grieved: + +But they who shall not believe, and treat our signs as false-hoods, these +shall be inmates of the fire; in it shall they remain for ever." + +O children of Israel! remember my favour wherewith I shewed favour upon you, +and be true to your covenant with me; I will be true to my covenant with you; +me therefore, revere me! and believe in what I have sent down confirming your +Scriptures, and be not the first to disbelieve it, neither for a mean price +barter my signs: me therefore, fear ye me! + +And clothe not the truth with falsehood, and hide not the truth when ye know +it:18 + +And observe prayer and pay the legal impost, and bow down with those who bow. + +Will ye enjoin what is right upon others, and forget yourselves? Yet ye read +the Book: will ye not understand? + +And seek help with patience and prayer: a hard duty indeed is this, but not +to the humble, + +Who bear in mind that they shall meet their Lord, and that unto Him shall +they return. + +O children of Israel! remember my favour wherewith I shewed favour upon you; +for verily to you above all human beings have I been bounteous. + +And fear ye the day when soul shall not satisfy for soul at all, nor shall +any intercession be accepted from them, nor shall any ransom be taken, +neither shall they be helped. + +And remember when we rescued you from the people of Pharaoh, who had laid on +you a cruel chastisement. They slew your male children, and let only your +females live: and in this was a great trial from your Lord: + +And when we parted the sea for you, and saved you, and drowned the people of +Pharaoh, while ye were looking on: + +And when we were in treaty with Moses forty nights: then during his absence +took ye the calf and acted wickedly: + +Yet after this we forgave you, that ye might be grateful: + +And when we gave Moses the Book and the Illumination19 in order to your +guidance: + +And remember when Moses said to his people, "O my people! verily ye - have +sinned to your own hurt, by your taking the calf to worship it: Be turned +then to your creator, and slay the guilty among you;20 this will be best for +you with your creator:" Then turned He unto you, for He is the one who +turneth, the Merciful: + +And when ye said, "O Moses! we will not believe thee until we see God +plainly;" the thunderbolt fell upon you while ye were looking on: + +Then we raised you to life after ye had been dead,21 that haply ye might give +thanks: + +And we caused the clouds to overshadow you, and we sent down manna and quails +upon you;–"Eat of the good things we have give you for sustenance;"–and they +injured not us but they injured themselves.22 + +And when we said, "Enter this city,23 and eat therefrom plentifully, at your +will, and enter the gate with prostrations, and say, 'Forgiveness;' and we +will pardon you your sins, and give an increase to the doers of good:"– + +But the evil-doers changed that word into another than that spoken to them,24 +and we sent down upon those evil-doers wrath from heaven, for that they had +done amiss: + +And when Moses asked drink for his people, we said, "Strike the rock with thy +rod;" and from it there gushed twelve fountains: each tribe25 knew their +drinking-place:–"Eat and drink," said we, "of what God hath supplied, and do +no wrong on the earth by licentious deeds:" + +And when ye said, "O Moses! we will not put up with one sort of food: pray, +therefore, thy Lord for us, that He would bring forth for us of that which +the earth groweth, its herbs and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils +and its onions:" He said, "What! will ye exchange that which is worse for +what is better? Get ye down into Egypt;–for ye shall have what ye have +asked:" Vileness and poverty were stamped upon them, and they returned with +wrath from God: This, for that they disbelieved the signs of God, and slew +the Prophets26 unjustly: this, for that they rebelled and transgressed! + +Verily, they who believe (Muslims), and they who follow the Jewish religion, +and the Christians, and the Sabeites27–whoever of these believeth in God and +the last day, and doeth that which is right, shall have their reward with +their Lord: fear shall not come upon them, neither shall they be grieved. + +Call to mind also when we entered into a covenant with you, and lifted up the +mountain28 over you:–"Take hold," said we, "on what we have revealed to you, +with resolution, and remember what is therein, that ye may fear:" + +But after this ye turned back, and but for God's grace and mercy toward you, +ye had surely been of the lost! Ye know too those of you who transgressed on +the Sabbath, and to whom we said, "Be changed into scouted apes:"29 + +And we made them a warning to those of their day, and to those who came after +them, and a caution to the God-fearing: + +And when Moses said to his people, "Verily, God bids you sacrifice a COW;"30 +they said, "Makest thou a jest of us?" He said, "God keep me from being one +of the foolish." They said, "Call on thy Lord for us that He would make plain +to us what she is." He said, "God saith, 'She is a cow neither old nor young, +but of the middle age between the two:' do therefore what ye are bidden." + +They said, "Call on your Lord for us, that he would make plain to us what is +her colour." He said, "God saith, 'She is a fawn-coloured cow; her colour is +very bright; she rejoiceth the beholders.' " + +They said, "Call on they Lord for us that He would make plain to us what cow +it is–for to us are cows alike,–and verily, if God please, we shall be guided +rightly:" + +He said, "God saith, 'She is a cow not worn by ploughing the earth or +watering the field, sound, no blemish in her.' " They said, "Now hast thou +brought the truth:" Then they sacrificed her; Yet nearly had they done it +not: + +And when ye slew a man, and strove among yourselves about him, God brought to +light what he had hidden: + +For we said, "Strike the corpse with part of her." So God giveth life to the +dead, and sheweth you his signs, that haply ye may understand. + +Then after that your hearts became hard like rocks, or harder still: for +verily, from rocks have rivers gushed; others, verily, have been cleft, and +water hath issued from them; and others, verily, have sunk down through fear +of God: And God is not regardless of your actions. + +Desire ye then that for your sakes31 the Jews should believe? Yet a part of +them heard the word of God, and then, after they had understood it, perverted +it, and knew that they did so. + +And when they fall in with the faithful, they say, "We believe;" but when +they are apart32 one with another, they say, "Will ye acquaint them with what +God hath revealed to you, that they may dispute with you about it in the +presence of your Lord?" Understand ye their aim? + +Know they not that God knoweth what they hide, as well as what they bring to +light? + +But there are illiterates among them who are unacquainted with the Book,33 +but with lies only, and have but vague fancies. Woe to those who with their +own hands transcribe the Book corruptly, and then say, "This is from God," +that they may sell it for some mean price! Woe then to them for that which +their hands have written! and, Woe to them for the gains which they have +made! + +And they say, "Hell fire shall not touch us, but for a few days:"34 SAY: Have +ye received such a promise from God? for God will not revoke his promise: or, +Speak ye of God that which ye know not? + +But they whose only gains are evil works, and who are environed by their +sins,–they shall be inmates of the fire, therein to abide for ever: + +But they who have believed and done the things that be right, they shall be +the inmates of Paradise,–therein to abide for ever. + +And when we entered into covenant with the children of Israel, we said, +"Worship none but God, and be good to your parents and kindred, and to +orphans, and to the poor, and speak with men what is right, and observe +prayer, and pay the stated alms." Then turned ye away, except a few of you, +and withdrew afar off. + +And when we made a covenant with you that ye should not shed your own +blood,35 nor expel one another from your abodes, then ye ratified it and +yourselves were witnesses. + +Then were ye the very persons who slew one another; and ye drove out a part +of your own people from their abodes; ye lent help against them with wrong +and hatred; but if they come captives to you, ye redeem them!–Yet it was +forbidden you to drive them out.36 Believe ye then part of the Book, and deny +part? But what shall be the meed of him among you who doth this, but shame in +this life? And on the day of the Resurrection they shall be sent to the most +cruel of torments, for God is not regardless of what ye do. + +These are they who purchase this present life at the price of that which is +to come: their torment shall not be lightened, neither shall they be helped. + +Moreover, to Moses gave we "the Book," and we raised up apostles after him; +and to Jesus, son of Mary, gave we clear proofs of his mission, and +strengthened him by the Holy Spirit.37 So oft then as an apostle cometh to +you with that which your souls desire not, swell ye with pride, and treat +some as impostors, and slay others? + +And they say, "Uncircumcised are our hearts." Nay! God hath cursed them in +their infidelity: few are they who believe! + +And when a Book had come to them from God, confirming that which they had +received already–although they had before prayed for victory over those who +believed not–yet when that Koran come to them, of which they had knowledge, +they did not recognise it. The curse of God on the infidels! + +For a vile price have they sold themselves, by not believing what God hath +sent down, envious of God's sending down his grace on such of his servants as +he pleaseth:38 and they have brought on themselves wrath upon wrath. And for +the unbelievers is a disgraceful chastisement. + +And when it is said to them, "Believe in what God hath sent down," they say, +"In that which hath been sent down to us we believe:" but what hath since +been sent down they disbelieve, although it be the truth confirmatory of +their own Scriptures. SAY: Why then have ye of old slain God's prophets,39 if +ye are indeed believers? + +Moreover, Moses came unto you with proofs of his mission. Then in his absence +ye took the calf for your God, and did wickedly. + +And when we accepted your covenant, and uplifted40 the mountain over you, we +said, "Take firm hold on what we have given you, and hearken." They said, "We +have hearkened and have rebelled:" then were they made to drink down the calf +into their hearts for their ingratitude. SAY: A bad thing hath your faith +commanded you, if ye be indeed believers. + +SAY: If the future dwelling place with God be specially for you, but not for +the rest of mankind, then wish for death, if ye are sincere: + +But never can they wish for it, because of that which their own hands have +sent on before them!41 And God knoweth the offenders. + +And thou wilt surely find them of all men most covetous of life, beyond even +the polytheists. To be kept alive a thousand years might one of them desire: +but that he may be preserved alive, shall no one reprieve himself from the +punishment! And God seeth what they do. + +SAY: Whoso is the enemy of Gabriel–For he it is who by God's leave hath +caused the Koran to descend on thy heart, the confirmation of previous +revelations, and guidance, and good tidings to the faithful– + +Whoso is an enemy to God or his angels, or to Gabriel, or to Michael, shall +have God as his enemy: for verily God is an enemy to the Infidels. + +Moreover, clear signs have we sent down to thee, and none will disbelieve +them but the perverse. + +Oft as they have formed an engagement with thee, will some of them set it +aside? But most of them believe not. + +And when there came to them an apostle from God, affirming the previous +revelations made to them, some of those to whom the Scriptures were given, +threw the Book of God behind their backs as if they knew it not: + +And they followed what the Satans read42 in the reign of Solomon: not that +Solomon was unbelieving, but the Satans were unbelieving. Sorcery did they +teach to men, and what had been revealed to the two angels, Harut and Marut, +at Babel. Yet no man did these two teach until they had said, "We are only a +temptation. Be not then an unbeliever." From these two did men learn how to +cause division between man and wife: but unless by leave of God, no man did +they harm thereby. They learned, indeed, what would harm and not profit them; +and yet they knew that he who bought that art should have no part in the life +to come! And vile the price for which they have sold themselves,–if they had +but known it! + +But had they believed and feared God, better surely would have been the +reward from God,–if they had but known it! + +O ye who believe! say not to our apostle, "Raina"43 (Look at us); but say, +"Ondhorna" (Regard us). And attend to this; for, the Infidels shall suffer a +grievous chastisement. + +The unbelievers among the people of the Book, and among the idolaters, desire +not that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord: but God will +shew His special mercy to whom He will, for He is of great bounty. + +Whatever verses we cancel,44 or cause thee to forget, we bring a better or +its like. Knowest thou not that God hath power over all things? + +Knowest thou not that the dominion of the Heavens and of the Earth is God's? +and that ye have neither patron nor helper, save God? + +Would ye ask of your apostle what of old was asked of Moses? But he who +exchangeth faith for unbelief,45 hath already erred from the even way. + +Many of the people of the Book desire to bring you back to unbelief after ye +have believed, out of selfish envy, even after the truth hath been clearly +shewn them. But forgive them, and shun them till God shall come in with His +working. Truly God hath power over all things. + +And observe prayer and pay the legal impost:46 and whatever good thing ye +have sent on before for your soul's sake, ye shall find it with God. Verily +God seeth what ye do. + +And they say, "None but Jews or Christians shall enter Paradise:" This is +their wish. SAY: Give your proofs if ye speak the truth. + +But they who set their face with resignation Godward, and do what is right,– +their reward is with their Lord; no fear shall come on them, neither shall +they be grieved. + +Moreover, the Jews say, "The Christians lean on nought:" "On nought lean the +Jews," say the Christians: Yet both are readers of the Book. So with like +words say they who have no knowledge.47 But on the resurrection day, God +shall judge between them as to that in which they differ. + +And who committeth a greater wrong than he who hindereth God's name from +being remembered in his temples, and who hasteth to ruin them?48 Such men +cannot enter them but with fear. Their's is shame in this world, and a severe +torment in the next. + +The East and the West is God's: therefore, whichever way ye turn, there is +the face of God:49 Truly God is immense and knoweth all. + +And they say, "God hath a son:" No! Praise be to Him! But–His, whatever is +in the Heavens and the Earth! All obeyeth Him, + +Sole maker of the Heavens and of the Earth! And when He decreeth a thing, He +only saith to it, "Be," and it is. + +And they who have no knowledge say, "Unless God speak to us, or thou shew us +a sign . . . !" So, with like words, said those who were before them: their +hearts are alike: Clear signs have we already shewn for those who have firm +faith: + +Verily, with the Truth have we sent thee, a bearer of good tidings and a +warner: and of the people of Hell thou shalt not be questioned. + +But until thou follow their religion, neither Jews nor Christians will be +satisfied with thee. SAY: Verily, guidance of God,–that is the guidance! And +if, after "the Knowledge" which hath reached thee, thou follow their desires, +thou shalt find neither helper nor protector against God. + +They to whom we have given the Book, and who read it as it ought to be read,– +these believe therein: but whoso believeth not therein, shall meet with +perdition. + +O children of Israel! remember my favour wherewith I have favoured you, and +that high above all mankind have I raised you: + +And dread the day when not in aught shall soul satisfy for soul, nor shall +any ransom be taken from it, nor shall any intercession avail, and they shall +not be helped. + +When his Lord made trial of Abraham by commands which he fulfilled, He said, +"I am about to make thee an Imâm to mankind:" he said, "Of my offspring +also:" "My covenant," said God, "embraceth not the evil doers." + +And remember when we appointed the Holy House50 as man's resort and safe +retreat, and said, "Take ye the station of Abraham for a place of prayer:" +And we commanded Abraham and Ismael, "Purify my house for those who shall go +in procession round it, and those who shall abide there for devotion, and +those who shall bow down and prostrate themselves." + +And when Abraham said, "Lord! make this secure land, and supply its people +with fruits, such of them as believe in God and in the last day:" He said, +"And whoso believeth not, for a little while will I bestow good things on +him; then will I drive him to the torment of the Fire!" An ill passage! + +And when Abraham, with Ismael, raised the foundations51 of the House, they +said, "O our Lord! accept it from us; for thou art the Hearer, the Knower. + +O our Lord! make us also Muslims, and our posterity a Muslim people; and +teach us our holy rites, and be turned towards us, for thou art He who +turneth, the Merciful. + +O our Lord! raise up among them an apostle52 who may rehearse thy signs unto +them, and teach them 'the Book,' and Wisdom, and purify them: for thou art +the Mighty, the Wise." + +And who but he that hath debased his soul to folly will mislike the faith of +Abraham, when we have chosen him in this world, and in the world to come he +shall be of the Just? + +When his Lord said to him, "Resign thyself to me," he said, "I resign myself +to the Lord of the Worlds." + +And this to his children did Abraham bequeath, and Jacob also, saying, "O my +children! truly God hath chosen a religion for you; so die not unless ye be +also Muslims." + +Were ye present when Jacob was at the point of death?53 when he said to his +sons, "Whom will ye worship when I am gone?" They said, "We will worship thy +God and the God of thy fathers Abraham and Ismael and Isaac, one God, and to +Him are we surrendered (Muslims)." + +That people have now passed away; they have the reward of their deeds, and ye +shall have the meed of yours: but of their doings ye shall not be questioned. + +They say, moreover, "Become Jews or Christians that ye may have the true +guidance." SAY: Nay! the religion of Abraham, the sound in faith,54 and not +one of those who join gods with God! + +Say ye: "We believe in God, and that which hath been sent down to us, and +that which hath been sent down to Abraham and Ismael and Isaac and Jacob and +the tribes: and that which hath been given to Moses and to Jesus, and that +which was given to the prophets from their Lord. No difference do we make +between any of them: and to God are we resigned (Muslims)." + +If therefore they believe even as ye believe, then have they true guidance; +but if they turn back, then do they cut themselves off from you: and God will +suffice to protect thee against them, for He is the Hearer, the Knower.55 + +Islam is the Baptism of God,56 and who is better to baptise than God? And Him +do we serve. + +SAY: Will ye dispute with us about God? when He is our Lord and your Lord! We +have our works and ye have your works; and we are sincerely His. + +Will ye say, "Verily Abraham, and Ismael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the +tribes, were Jews or Christians?" SAY: Who knoweth best, ye, or God? And who +is more in fault than he who concealeth the witness which he hath from God? +But God is not regardless of what ye do. + +That people have now passed away: they have the reward of their deeds, and +for you is the meed of yours; but of their doings ye shall not be questioned. + +The foolish ones will say, "What hath turned them from the kebla which they +used?" SAY: The East and the West are God's. He guideth whom he will into the +right path. + +Thus have we made you a central people,57 that ye may be witnesses in regard +to mankind, and that the apostle may be a witness in regard to you. + +We appointed the kebla which thou formerly hadst, only that we might know him +who followeth the apostle, from him who turneth on his heels: The change is a +difficulty, but not to those whom God hath guided. But God will not let your +faith58 be fruitless; for unto man is God Merciful, Gracious. + +We have seen thee turning thy face towards every part of Heaven; but we will +have thee turn to a kebla which shall please thee. Turn then thy face towards +the sacred Mosque,59 and wherever ye be, turn your faces towards that part. +They, verily, to whom "the Book" hath been given, know this to be the truth +from their Lord: and God is not regardless of what ye do. + +Even though thou shouldest bring every kind of sign to those who have +received the Scriptures, yet thy kebla they will not adopt; nor shalt thou +adopt their kebla; nor will one part of them adopt the kebla of the other. +And if, after the knowledge which hath come to thee, thou follow their +wishes, verily then wilt thou become of the unrighteous. + +They to whom we have given the Scriptures know him–the apostle–even as they +know their own children: but truly a part of them do conceal the truth, +though acquainted with it.60 + +The truth is from thy Lord. Be not then of those who doubt. + +All have a quarter of the Heavens to which they turn them; but wherever ye +be, hasten emulously after good: God will one day bring you all together; +verily, God is all-powerful. + +And from whatever place thou comest forth, turn thy face toward the sacred +Mosque; for this is the truth from thy Lord; and God is not inattentive to +your doings. + +And from whatever place thou comest forth, turn thy face toward the sacred +Mosque; and wherever ye be, to that part turn your faces, lest men have cause +of dispute against you: but as for the impious among them, fear them not; but +fear me, that I may perfect my favours on you, and that ye may be guided +aright. + +And we sent to you an apostle from among yourselves to rehearse our signs +unto you, and to purify you, and to instruct you in "the Book," and in the +wisdom, and to teach you that which ye knew not: + +Therefore remember me: I will remember you; and give me thanks and be not +ungrateful. + +O ye who believe! seek help with patience and with prayer, for God is with +the patient. + +And say not of those who are slain on God's path61 that they are Dead; nay, +they are Living! But ye understand not. + +With somewhat of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth, and lives, and fruits, +will we surely prove you: but bear good tidings to the patient, + +Who when a mischance chanceth them, say, "Verily we are God's, and to Him +shall we return:"62 + +On them shall be blessings from their Lord, and mercy: and these!–they are +the rightly guided. + +Verily, Safa and Marwah63 are among the monuments of God: whoever then maketh +a pilgrimage to the temple, or visiteth it, shall not be to blame if he go +round about them both. And as for him who of his own accord doeth what is +good–God is Grateful, Knowing. + +They who conceal aught that we have sent down, either of clear proof or of +guidance, after what we have so clearly shewn to men in the Book,64 God shall +curse them, and they who curse shall curse them. + +But as for those who turn to me, and amend and make known the truth, even +unto them will I turn me, for I am He who Turneth, the Merciful. + +Verily, they who are infidels and die infidels,–these! upon them shall be the +malison of God and of angels and of all men: + +Under it shall they remain for ever: their torment shall not be lightened, +and God will not even look upon them! + +Your God is one God:65 there is no God but He, the Compassionate, the +Merciful. + +Assuredly in the creation of the Heavens and of the Earth; and in the +alternation of night and day; and in the ships which pass through the sea +with what is useful to man; and in the rain which God sendeth down from +Heaven, giving life by it to the earth after its death, and by scattering +over it all kinds of cattle; and in the change of the winds, and in the +clouds that are made to do service between the Heaven and the Earth;–are +signs for those who understand. + +Yet there are men who take to them idols along with God, and love them with +the love of God: But stronger in the faithful is the love of God. Oh! the +impious will see, when they see their chastisement, that all power is God's, +and that God is severe in chastising. + +When those who have had followers66 shall declare themselves clear from their +followers after that they have seen the chastisement, and when the ties +between them shall be cut asunder; + +The followers shall say, "Could we but return to life we would keep ourselves +clear from them, as they have declared themselves clear of us." So will God +shew them their works! Sighing is upon them! but, forth from the fire they +come not. + +Oh men! eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth, but follow not the +steps of Satan, for he is your avowed enemy: + +He only enjoineth you evil and wickedness, and that ye should aver of God +that which ye know not. + +And when it is said to them, "Follow ye that which God hath sent down;" they +say, "Nay, we follow the usages which we found with our fathers." What! +though their fathers were utterly ignorant and devoid of guidance? + +The infidels resemble him who shouteth aloud to one who heareth no more than +a call and cry! Deaf, Dumb, blind: therefore they have no understanding. + +O ye who believe! eat of the good things with which we have supplied you, and +give God thanks if ye are His worshippers. + +But that which dieth of itself, and blood, and swine's flesh, and that over +which any other name than that of God hath been invoked, is forbidden you. +But he who shall partake of them by constraint, without lust or wilfulness, +no sin shall be upon him. Verily God is Indulgent, Merciful. + +They truly who hide the Scriptures which God hath sent down, and barter them +for a mean price–these shall swallow into their bellies nought but fire. God +will not speak to them, or assoil them, on the day of the Resurrection: and +theirs shall be a grievous torment. + +These are they who have bartered guidance for error, and pardon for torment; +But how great their endurance in fire!67 + +This shall be their doom, because God had sent down "the Book" with the very +truth. And verily they who dispute about that Book are in a far-gone +severance from it. + +There is no piety in turning your faces toward the east or the west, but he +is pious who believeth in God, and the last day, and the angles, and the +Scriptures, and the prophets; who for the love of God disburseth his wealth +to his kindred, and to the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and +those who ask, and for ransoming; who observeth prayer, and payeth the legal +alms, and who is of those who are faithful to their engagements when they +have engaged in them, and patient under ills and hardships, and in time of +trouble: these are they who are just, and these are they who fear the Lord. + +O believers! retaliation for bloodshedding is prescribed to you: the free man +for the free, and the slave for the slave, and the woman for the woman: but +he to whom his brother shall make any remission,68 is to be dealt with +equitably; and to him should he pay a fine with liberality. + +This is a relaxation69 from your Lord and a mercy. For him who after his +shall transgress,70 a sore punishment! + +But in this law of retaliation is your security for life, O men of +understanding! to the intent that ye may fear God. + +It is prescribed to you, when any one of you is at the point of death, if he +leave goods, that he bequeath equitably to his parents and kindred. This is +binding on those who fear God. But as for him who after he hath heard the +bequest shall change it, surely the wrong of this shall be on those who +change it: verily, God Heareth, Knoweth. + +But he who feareth from the testator any mistake or wrong, and shall make a +settlement between the parties–that shall be no wrong in him: verily, God is +Lenient, Merciful. + +O believers! a Fast is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before +you, that ye may fear God, + +For certain days. But he among you who shall be sick, or on a journey, shall +fast that same number of other days: and as for those who are able to keep it +and yet break it, the expiation of this shall be the maintenance of a poor +man. And he who of his own accord performeth a good work, shall derive good +from it: and good shall it be for you to fast if ye knew it. + +As to the month Ramadhan in which the Koran was sent down to be man's +guidance, and an explanation of that guidance, and of that illumination,71 as +soon as any one of you observeth the moon, let him set about the fast; but he +who is sick, or upon a journey, shall fast a like number of other days. God +wisheth you ease, but wisheth not your discomfort, and that you fulfil the +number of days, and that you glorify God for his guidance, and that you be +thankful. + +And when my servants ask thee concerning me, then will I be nigh unto them. I +will answer the cry of him that crieth, when he crieth unto me: but let them +hearken unto me, and believe in me, that they may proceed aright. + +You are allowed on the night of the fast to approach your wives: they are +your garment and ye are their garment.72 God knoweth that ye defraud +yourselves therein, so He turneth unto you and forgiveth you! Now, therefore, +go in unto them with full desire for that which God hath ordained for you; +and eat and drink until ye can discern a white thread from a black thread73 +by the daybreak: then fast strictly till night, and go not in unto them, but +rather pass the time in the Mosques. These are the bounds set up by God: +therefore come not near them. Thus God maketh his signs clear to men that +they may fear Him.74 + +Consume not your wealth among yourselves in vain things, nor present it to +judges that ye may consume a part of other men's wealth unjustly, while ye +know the sin which ye commit. + +They will ask thee of the new moons. SAY: They are periods fixed for man's +service and for the Pilgrimage. There is no piety in entering your houses at +the back,75 but piety consists in the fear of God. Enter your houses then by +their doors; and fear God that it may be well with you. + +And fight for the cause of God against those who fight against you: but +commit not the injustice of attacking them first: God loveth not such +injustice: + +And kill them wherever ye shall find them, and eject them from whatever place +they have ejected you; for civil discord76 is worse than carnage: yet attack +them not at the sacred Mosque, unless they attack you therein; but if they +attack you, slay them. Such the reward of the infidels. + +But if they desist, then verily God is Gracious, Merciful. + +Fight therefore against them until there be no more civil discord, and the +only worship be that of God: but if they desist, then let there be no +hostility, save against the wicked. + +The sacred month and the sacred precincts are under the safeguard of +reprisals:77 whoever offereth violence to you, offer ye the like violence to +him, and fear God, and know that God is with those who fear Him. + +Give freely for the cause of God, and throw not yourselves with your own +hands into ruin;78 and do good, for God loveth those who do good. + +Accomplish the Pilgrimage and the Visitation79 of the holy places in honour +of God: and if ye be hemmed in by foes, send whatever offering shall be the +easiest: and shave not your heads until the offering reach the place of +sacrifice. But whoever among you is sick, or hath an ailment of the head, +must satisfy by fasting, or alms, or an offering. And when ye are safe from +foes, he who contents himself with the Visitation of the holy places, until +the Pilgrimage, shall bring whatever offering shall be the easiest. But he +who findeth nothing to offer, shall fast three days in the Pilgrimage itself, +and seven days when ye return: they shall be ten days in all. This is binding +on him whose family shall not be present at the sacred Mosque. And fear God, +and know that God is terrible in punishing. + +Let the Pilgrimage be made in the months already known:80 whoever therefore +undertaketh the Pilgrimage therein, let him not know a woman, nor transgress, +nor wrangle in the Pilgrimage. The good which ye do, God knoweth it. And +provide for your journey; but the best provision is the fear of God: fear me, +then, O men of understanding! + +It shall be no crime in you if ye seek an increase from your Lord;81 and when +ye pour swiftly on from Arafat, then remember God near the holy monument; and +remember Him, because He hath guided you who before this were of those who +went astray: + +Then pass on quickly82 where the people quickly pass, and ask pardon of God, +for God is Forgiving, Merciful. + +And when ye have finished your holy rites, remember God as ye remember your +own fathers, or with a yet more intense remembrance! Some men there are who +say, "O our Lord! give us our portion in this world:" but such shall have no +portion in the next life: + +And some say, "O our Lord! give us good in this world and good in the next, +and keep us from the torment of the fire." + +They shall have the lot which they have merited: and God is swift to reckon. + +Bear God in mind during the stated days: but if any haste away83 in two days, +it shall be no fault in him: And if any tarry longer, it shall be no fault in +him, if he fear God. Fear God, then, and know that to Him shall ye be +gathered. + +A man there is84 who surpriseth thee by his discourse concerning this life +present. He taketh God to witness what is in his heart; yet is he the most +zealous in opposing thee: + +And when he turneth his back on thee, he runneth through the land to enact +disorders therein, and layeth waste the fields and flocks: but God loveth not +the disorder. + +And when it is said to him, "Fear God," the pride of sin seizeth him: but he +shall have his fill of Hell; and right wretched the couch! + +A man, too, there is85 who selleth his very self out of desire to please God: +and God is good to his servants. + +O believers! enter completely into the true religion, and follow not the +steps of Satan, for he is your declared enemy. + +But if ye lapse after that our clear signs86 have come to you, know that God +is Mighty, Wise. + +What can such expect but that God should come down to them overshadowed with +clouds, and the angels also, and their doom be sealed? And to God shall all +things return. + +Ask the children of Isreal how many clear signs we have given them. But if +any man shall alter the boon87 of God after it shall have reached him, +assuredly God will be vehement in punishing him. + +This present life is prepared for those who believe not, and who mock at the +faithful. But they who fear God shall be above them on the day of +resurrection; and God is bounteous without measure to whom He will. + +Mankind was but one people;88 and God sent prophets to announce glad tidings +and to warn; and He sent down with them the Book of Truth, that it might +decide the disputes of men; and none disputed but those to whom the Book had +been given, after the clear tokens had reached them,–being full of mutual +jealousy. And God guided those who believed to the truth of that about which, +by his permission, they had disputed; for God guideth whom he pleaseth into +the straight path. + +Think ye to enter Paradise, when no such things have come upon you, as on +those who flourish before you? Ills and troubles tried them; and so tossed +were they by trials, that the Apostle and they who shared his faith, said, +"When will the help of God come?"–Is not the help of God nigh? + +They will ask thee what they shall bestow in alms. SAY: Let the good which ye +bestow be for parents, and kindred, and orphans, and the poor, and the +wayfarer; and whatever good ye do, of a truth God knoweth. + +War is prescribed to you: but from this ye are averse. + +Yet haply ye are averse from a thing, though it be good for you, and haply ye +love a thing though it be bad for you: And God knoweth; but ye, ye know not. + +They will ask thee concerning war in the Sacred Month. SAY: To war therein is +bad, but to turn aside from the cause of God, and to have no faith in Him, +and in the Sacred Temple, and to drive out its people, is worse in the sight +of God; and civil strife is worse than bloodshed. They will not cease to war +against you until they turn you from your religion, if they be able: but +whoever of you shall turn from his religion and die an infidel, their works +shall be fruitless in this world, and in the next: they shall be consigned to +the fire; therein to abide for aye. + +But they who believe, and who fly their country, and fight in the cause of +God may hope for God's mercy: and God is Gracious, Merciful. + +They will ask thee concerning wine89 and games of chance. SAY: In both is +great sin, and advantage also, to men; but their sin is greater than their +advantage. They will ask thee also what they shall bestow in alms: + +SAY: What ye can spare. Thus God sheweth you his signs that ye may ponder + +On this present world, and on the next. They will also ask thee concerning +orphans. SAY: Fair dealing with them is best; + +But if ye mix yourselves up (in their affairs)–they are your brethren: God +knoweth the foul dealer from the fair: and, if God pleased, he could indeed +afflict you! Verily, God is Mighty, Wise. + +Marry not idolatresses until they believe; a slave who believeth is better +than an idolatress, though she please you more. And wed not your daughters to +idolaters until they believe; for a slave who is a believer, is than better +an idolater, though he please you. + +They invite to the Fire; but God inviteth to Paradise, and to pardon, if he +so will, and maketh clear his signs to men that they may remember. + +They will also question thee as to the courses of women. SAY: They are a +pollution. Separate yourselves therefore from women and approach them not, +until they be cleansed. But when they are cleansed, go in unto them as God +hath ordained for you. Verily God loveth those who turn to Him, and loveth +those who seek to be clean. + +Your wives are your field: go in, therefore, to your field as ye will; but do +first some act for your souls' good: and fear ye God, and know that ye must +meet Him; and bear these good tidings to the faithful. + +Swear not by God, when ye make oath, that ye will be virtuous and fear God, +and promote peace among men; for God is He who Heareth, Knoweth. + +God will not punish you for a mistake in your oaths: but He will punish you +for that which your hearts have done. God is Gracious, Merciful. + +They who intend to abstain from their wives shall wait four months; but if +they go back from their purpose, then verily God is Gracious, Merciful: + +And if they resolve on a divorce, then verily God is He who Heareth, Knoweth. + +The divorced shall wait the result, until they have had their courses thrice, +nor ought they to conceal what God hath created in their wombs, if they +believe in God and the last day; and it will be more just in their husbands +to bring them back when in this state, if they desire what is right. And it +is for the women to act as they (the husbands) act by them, in all fairness; +but the men are a step above them. God is Mighty, Wise. + +Ye may divorce your wives twice: Keep them honourably, or put them away with +kindness. But it is not allowed you to appropriate to yourselves aught of +what ye have given to them, unless both fear that they cannot keep within the +bounds90 set up by God. And if ye fear that they cannot observe the +ordinances of God, no blame shall attach to either of you for what the wife +shall herself give for her redemption. These are the bounds of God: therefore +overstep them not; for whoever oversteppeth the bounds of God, they are evil +doers. + +But if the husband divorce her a third time, it is not lawful for him to take +her again, until she shall have married another husband; and if he also +divorce her, then shall no blame attach to them if they return to each other, +thinking that they can keep within the bounds fixed by God. And these are the +bounds of God; He maketh them clear to those who have knowledge. + +But when ye divorce women, and the time for sending them away is come, either +retain them with generosity, or put them away with generosity: but retain +them not by constraint so as to be unjust towards them. He who doth so, doth +in fact injure himself. And make not the signs of God a jest; but remember +God's favour toward you, and the Book and the Wisdom which He hath sent down +to you for your warning, and fear God, and know that God's knowledge +embraceth everything. + +And when ye divorce your wives, and they have waited the prescribed time, +hinder them not from marrying their husbands when they have agreed among +themselves in an honourable way. This warning is for him among you who +believeth in God and in the last day. This is most pure for you, and most +decent. God knoweth, but ye know not. + +Mothers, when divorced, shall give suck to their children two full years,91 +if the father desire that the suckling be completed; and such maintenance and +clothing as is fair for them, shall devolve on the father. No person shall be +charged beyond his means. A mother shall not be pressed unfairly for her +child, nor a father for his child: And the same with the father's heir. But +if they choose to wean the child by consent and by bargain, it shall be no +fault in them. And if ye choose to have a nurse for your children, it shall +be no fault in you, in case ye pay what ye promised her according to that +which is fair. Fear God, and know that God seeth what ye do. + +If those of you who die leave wives, they must await their state during four +months and ten days; and when this their term is expired, you shall not be +answerable for the way in which they shall dispose of themselves fairly. And +God is cognisant of what ye do. + +And then shall no blame attach to you in making proposals of marriage92 to +such women, or in keeping such intention to yourselves? God knoweth that ye +will not forget them. But promise them not in secret, unless ye speak +honourable words; + +And resolve not on the marriage tie until the prescribed time be reached; and +know that God knoweth what is in your minds: therefore, beware of Him; and +know that God is Gracious, Mild! + +It shall be no crime in you if ye divorce your wives so long as ye have not +consummated the marriage, nor settled any dowry on them. And provide what is +needful for them he who is in ample circumstances according to his means, and +he who is straitened, according to his means–with fairness: This is binding +on those who do what is right. + +But if ye divorce them before consummation, and have already settled a dowry +on them, ye shall give them half of what ye have settled, unless they make a +release, or he make a release in whose hand is the marriage tie. But if ye +make a release, it will be nearer to piety. And forget not generosity in your +relations one towards another; for God beholdeth your doings. + +Observe strictly the prayers, and the middle93 prayer, and stand up full of +devotion towards God. + +And if you have any alarm, then pray on foot or riding: but when you are +safe, then remember God, how he hath made you to know what ye knew not. + +And94 such of you as shall die and leave wives, shall bequeath their wives a +year's maintenance without causing them to quit their homes; but if they quit +them of their own accord, then no blame shall attach to you for any +disposition they may make of themselves in a fair way. And God is Mighty, +Wise. + +And for the divorced let there be a fair provision. This is a duty in those +who fear God. + +Thus God maketh his signs clear to you that ye may understand. + +Hast thou not thought on those who quitted their dwellings–and they were +thousands–for fear of death?95 God said to them, "Die:" then He restored them +to life, for full of bounty towards man is God. But most men give not thanks! + +Fight for the cause of God; and know that God is He who Heareth, Knoweth. + +Who is he that will lend to God a goodly loan? He will double it to him again +and again: God is close, but open handed also: and to Him shall ye return. + +Hast thou not considered96 the assembly of the children of Israel after the +death of Moses, when they said to a prophet of theirs, "Set up for us a king; +we will do battle for the cause of God?" He said, "May it not be that if to +fight were ordained you, ye would not fight?" They said, "And why should we +not fight in the cause of God, since we and our children are driven forth +from our dwellings?" But when fighting was commanded them, they turned back, +save a few of them: But God knew the offenders! + +And their prophet said to them, "Now hath God set (Talout) Saul king over +you." They said, "How shall he reign over us, when we are more worthy of the +kingdom than he, and of wealth he hath no abundance?" He said, "Verily God +hath chosen him to be over you, and hath given him increase in knowledge and +stature; God giveth his kingdom to whom he pleaseth; and God is Liberal, +Knowing!" + +And their prophet said to them, "Verily, the sign of his kingship shall be +that the Ark shall come to you: in it is a pledge of security97 from your +Lord and the relics98 left by the family of Moses, and the family of Aaron; +the angels shall bear it: Truly herein shall be a sign indeed to you if ye +are believers." + +And when Saul marched forth with his forces, he said, "God will test you by a +river: He who drinketh of it shall not be of my band; but he who shall not +taste it, drinking a drink out of the hand excepted, shall be of my band."99 +And, except a few of them, they drank of it. And when they had passed it, he +and those who believed with him, the former said, "We have no strength this +day against (Djalout) Goliath and his forces:" But they who held it as +certain that they must meet God, said, "How oft, by God's will, hath a small +host vanquished a numerous host! and God is with the steadfastly enduring." + +And when they went forth against Goliath and his forces, they said, "O our +Lord! pour out steadfastness upon us, and set our feet firm, and help us +against the infidels!" + +And by the will of God they routed them; and (Daood) David slew Goliath; and +God gave him the kingship and wisdom, and taught him according to His will: +and were it not for the restraint of one by means of the other, imposed on +men by God, verily the earth had been utterly corrupted. But God is bounteous +to his creatures. + +Such are the signs of God: with truth do we rehearse them to thee, for one of +the Sent Ones art Thou. + +Some of the apostles we have endowed more highly than others: Those to whom +God hath spoken, He hath raised to the loftiest grade, and to Jesus the Son +of Mary we gave manifest signs, and we strengthened him with the Holy +Spirit.100 And if God had pleased, they who came after them would not have +wrangled, after the clear signs had reached them. But into disputes101 they +fell: some of them believed, and some were infidels; yet if God had pleased, +they would not have thus wrangled: but God doth what he will. + +O Believers! give alms of that with which we have supplied you, before the +day cometh when there shall be no trafficking, nor friendship, nor +intercession. And the infidels are the wrong-doers. + +God! There is no God but He; the Living, the Eternal; Nor slumber seizeth +Him, nor sleep; His, whatsoever is in the Heavens and whatsoever is in the +Earth! Who is he that can intercede with Him but by His own permission? He +knoweth what hath been before them and what shall be after them; yet nought +of His knowledge shall they grasp, save what He willeth. His Throne reacheth +over the Heavens and the Earth, and the upholding of both burdeneth Him not; +and He is the High, the Great! + +Let there be no compulsion in Religion.102 Now is the right way made distinct +from error. Whoever therefore shall deny Thagout103 and believe in God–he +will have taken hold on a strong handle that shall not be broken: and God is +He who Heareth, Knoweth. + +God is the patron of believers: He shall bring them out of darkness into +light: + +As to those who believe not, their patrons are Thagout: they shall bring them +out of light into darkness: they shall be given over to the fire: they shall +abide therein for ever. + +Hast thou not thought on him104 who disputed with Abraham about his Lord, +because God had given him the kingdom? When Abraham said, "My Lord is He who +maketh alive and cause to die:" He said, "It is I who make alive and cause to +die!" Abraham said, "Since God bringeth the sun from the East, do thou, then, +bring it from the West." The infidel was confounded; for God guideth not the +evil doers: + +Or how he105 demeaned him who passed by a city which had been laid in +ruins.106 "How," said he, "shall God give life to this city, after she hath +been dead?" And God caused him to die for an hundred years, and then raised +him to life. And God said, "How long hast thou waited?" He said, "I have +waited a day or part of a day." He said, "Nay, thou hast waited an hundred +years. Look on thy food and thy drink; they are not corrupted; and look on +thine ass: we would make thee a sign unto men: And look on the bones of thine +ass, how we will raise them, then clothe them with flesh." And when this was +shewn to him, he said, "I acknowledge that God hath power to do all things." + +When Abraham said, "O Lord, shew me how thou wilt give life to the dead!" He +said, "Hast thou not believed?" + +He said, "Yes; but I have asked thee, that my heart may be well assured." He +said, "Take, then, four birds,107 and draw them towards thee, and cut them in +pieces; then place a part of them on every mountain; then call them and they +shall come swiftly to thee: and know thou that God is Might, Wise!" + +The likeness of those who expend their wealth for the cause of God, is that +of a grain of corn which produceth seven ears, and in each ear a hundred +grains; and God will multiply to whom He pleaseth: God is Liberal, Knowing! + +They who expend their wealth for the cause of God, and never follow what they +have laid out with reproaches or harm, shall have their reward with their +Lord; no fear shall come upon them, neither shall they be put to grief. + +A kind speech and forgiveness is better than alms followed by injury. God is +Rich, Clement. + +O ye who believe! make not your alms void by reproaches and injury, like him +who spendeth his substance to be seen of men, and believeth not in God and in +the latter day. The likeness of such an one is that of a rock with a thin +soil upon it, on which a heavy rain falleth but leaveth it hard: No profit +from their works shall they be able to gain; for God guideth not the +unbelieving people. + +And the likeness of those who expend their substance from a desire to please +God, and for the stablishing of their souls, is as a garden on a hill, on +which the heavy rain falleth, and it yieldeth its fruits twofold; and even if +a heavy rain fall not on it, yet is there a dew: God beholdeth your actions. + +Desireth any one of you a garden of palms and vines through which rivers +flow, in which he may have every fruit, and that old age should surprise him +there, and that his offspring should be weakly, and that then a fiery violent +wind shall strike it so that it shall be burned? Thus God maketh plain his +signs to you that ye may reflect. + +O ye who believe! bestow alms of the good things which ye have acquired, and +of that which we have brought forth for you out of the earth, and choose not +the bad for almsgiving, + +Such as ye would accept yourselves only by connivance: and know that God is +Rich, Praiseworthy. + +Satan menaceth you with poverty,108 and enjoineth base actions: but God +promiseth you pardon from himself and abundance: God is All-bounteous, +Knowing. + +He giveth wisdom to whom He will: and he to whom wisdom is given, hath had +much good given him; but none will bear it in mind, except the wise of heart. + +And whatever alms ye shall give, or whatever vow ye shall vow, of a truth God +knoweth it: but they who act unjustly shall have no helpers. Give ye your +alms openly?109 it is well. Do ye conceal them and give them to the poor? +This, too, will be of advantage to you, and will do away your sins: and God +is cognisant of your actions. + +Their guidance is not thine affair, O Muhammad; but God guideth whom he +pleaseth. And the good that ye shall give in alms shall redound unto +yourselves; and ye shall not give but as seeking the face of God; and +whatever good thing ye shall have given in alms, shall be repaid you, and ye +shall not be wronged. There are among you the poor, who being shut up to +fighting for the cause of God, have it not in their power to strike out into +the earth for riches. Those who know them not, think them rich because of +their modesty. By this their token thou shalt know them–they ask not of men +with importunity: and of whatever good thing ye shall give them in alms, of a +truth God will take knowledge. + +They who give away their substance in alms, by night and day, in private and +in public, shall have their reward with their Lord: no fear shall come on +them, neither shall they be put to grief. + +They who swallow down usury, shall arise in the resurrection only as he +ariseth whom Satan hath infected by his touch. This, for that they say, +"Selling is only the like of usury:" and yet God hath allowed selling, and +forbidden usury. He then who when this warning shall come to him from his +Lord, abstaineth, shall have pardon for the past, and his lot shall be with +God. But they who return to usury, shall be given over to the fire; therein +shall they abide for ever. + +God will bring usury to nought, but will increase alms with usury, and God +loveth no infidel, or evil person. But they who believe and do the things +that are right, and observe the prayers, and pay the legal impost, they shall +have their reward with their Lord: no fear shall come on them, neither shall +they be put to grief. + +O believers! fear God and abandon your remaining usury, if ye are indeed +believers. + +But if ye do it not, then hearken for war on the part of God and his apostle: +yet if ye repent, ye shall have the principal of your money. Wrong not, and +ye shall not be wronged. + +If any one find difficulty in discharging a debt, then let there be a delay +until it be easy for him: but if ye remit it as alms it will be better for +you, if ye knew it. + +Fear the day wherein ye shall return to God: then shall every soul be +rewarded according to its desert, and none shall have injustice done to them. + +O ye who believe! when ye contract a debt (payable) at a fixed date, write it +down, and let the notary faithfully note between you: and let not the notary +refuse to note, even as God hath taught him; but let him note it down, and +let him who oweth the debt dictate, and let him fear God his Lord, and not +diminish aught thereof. But if he who oweth the debt be foolish or weak, or +be not able to dictate himself, let his friend dictate for him with fairness; +and call to witness two witnesses of your people: but if there be not two +men, let there be a man, and two women of those whom ye shall judge fit for +witnesses: if the one of them should mistake, the other may cause her to +recollect. And the witnesses shall not refuse, whenever they shall be +summoned. And disdain not to put the debt in writing, be it large or small, +with its time of payment: this will be more just for you in the sight of God, +better suited for witnessing, and the best for avoiding doubt. But if the +goods be there present, and ye pass them from hand to hand–then it shall be +no fault in you not to write it down. And have witnesses when ye sell, and +harm not writer or witness: it will be a crime in you to do this. But fear +God and God will give you knowledge, for God hath knowledge of all things. + +And if ye be on a journey and shall find no notary, let pledges be taken: but +if one of you trust the other, let him who is trusted, restore what he is +trusted with, and fear God his Lord. And refuse not to give evidence. He who +refuseth is surely wicked at heart: and God knoweth your deeds. + +Whatever is in the Heavens and in the Earth is God's: and whether ye bring +forth to light what is in your minds or conceal it, God will reckon with you +for it; and whom He pleaseth will He forgive, and whom He pleaseth will He +punish; for God is All-powerful. + +The apostle believeth in that which hath been sent down from his Lord, as do +the faithful also. Each one believeth in God, and His Angels, and His Books, +and His Apostles: we make no distinction between any of His Apostles.110 And +they say, "We have heard and we obey. Thy mercy, Lord! for unto thee must we +return." + +God will not burden any soul beyond its power. It shall enjoy the good which +it hath acquired, and shall bear the evil for the acquirement of which it +laboured. O our Lord! punish us not if we forget, or fall into sin; O our +Lord! and lay not on us a load like that which thou hast laid on those who +have been before us; O our Lord! and lay not on us that for which we have not +strength: but blot out our sins and forgive us, and have pity on us. Thou art +our protector: give us victory therefore over the infidel nations. + + +_______________________ + +1 The greater part of this, the oldest of the Medina Suras, was revealed in +the early part of the second year of the Hejira and previously to the battle +of Bedr.–The Hejira took place in the beginning of Muharram, or middle of +April, A.D. 622. The numbers who emigrated with Muhammad at first, were about +150 persons. Medina is 250 miles north of Mecca, and ten days' journey. + +2 Said to mean A mara li Muhammad, i.e. at the command of Muhammad; but see +Sura 1xviii. p. 32. + +3 Death, Resurrection, Judgment, etc. + +4 The Jews. + +5 The Jews and Christians, hostile to the mission of Muhammad. + +6 Lit. the similitude of them is as the similitude of, etc. + +7 The people of Medina are generally addressed with "O ye who believe;" the +Meccans, with "O men." Hence it has been inferred that from verse 19 (O men) +to 37 inclusively, is of the Meccan period. The subjects treated of also lead +to this conclusion. + +8 The statues of false gods. + +9 It will be an agreeable surprise to the blessed to have fruits, which at +first sight resemble those of earth, but are infinitely more delicious,. + +10 Muhammad had been reproached for having drawn illustrations from the Ant, +Bee, Spider, etc. + +11 Concerning faith in Muhammad. See verse 39 below, note. + +12 The number of the Heavens is borrowed from the Talmud, or traditions based +upon it; but the idea probably has its root in the Scriptural expression, +"Heaven of Heavens." + +13 Lit. a caliph, vicegerent. "When the Holy One, Blessed be He, would create +man, He took counsel with the Angels and said to them, We will make man in +our image." Midr. Rabbah on Numb. iv. par. 19. Comp. Midr. on Gen. 1, par. 8, +17. Sanhedr. 38. + +14 "God said to the Angels, 'His wisdom is greater than yours.' Then brought +he before them beasts, cattle, and birds, and asked for their names, but they +knew them not. But when he had created man," etc. Midr. as above. + +15 Or, if ye are truthful, or can make good a better claim to the +vicegerency. + +16 In the name Eblis (diabolos) and in the honour claimed for Adam as a kind +of Godman, there are traces of a Christian original, as well as in the +identification of the serpent with Satan. Comp. Ps. civ. 4; Heb. i. 6. The +Talmudists also enlarge on the honour paid to Adam. "Adam sat in the garden +and the Angels brought him flesh and cooling wine." Sanhedr. 29. "In the hour +when the Holy One, Blessed be He, created man, the Angels went astray in +regard to him, and essayed to say before him, 'O Holy One!' then God +permitted sleep to fall on him, and all knew that he was of earth." Midr. +Rabbah on Gen. par. 8. It is possible that the Arabic word balas, a +profligate, wicked person, may have influenced Muhammad in the formation of +the word Eblis. See note, p. 185. Eblis is used in the Arabic version of the +New Testament, for the probable date of which, see Tischendorf, Prol. p. 78. + +17 Observe the change from Eblis, the calumniator, to Satan, the hater. + +18 Muhammad rarely accused the Jews and Christians of corrupting, but often +of misinterpreting, their Sacred Books, in order to evade his claims. His +charges, however, are always very vaguely worded, and his utterances upon +this subject are tantamount to a strong testimony in favour of the +unimpeachable integrity of the sacred books, both of the Jews and Christians, +so far as he knew them. See Sura [lxxxvii.] vii. 168, and v. 73 below. + +19 See Sura [lxv.] xxi. 49. + +20 Lit. slay one another. + +21 The Talmudists relate how the Israelites who had died, on hearing the +divine voice, etc., were restored by the intercession of the Law itself. +Sanh. 5. + +22 By storing them up in violation of God's command. + +23 Jericho according to some commentators, Jerusalem according to others, but +see verse 58. + +24 See Sura [lxxxvii.] vii. 162. + +25 Lit. all men. This incident is perhaps inadvertently borrowed from Ex. xv. +27. + +26 This passage (comp. xxvi. 59) is one of the numerous anachronisms which +abound in the Koran and prove the gross ignorance of the Arabian Prophet. + +27 The Sabeites are identical with the Mendaites, or so-called Christians of +S. John, residing in the marshy district at the mouth of the Euphrates, but +are not the same with the star-worshipping Sabians of Harran in Mesopotamia. +See D'Herbelot, Bibl. Or. under the word Sabi; Assemani, Bibl. Or. iii. 2, +609. For curious details as to the elements of the Sabeite religion, see +Chwolson's SSabier and SSabaismus I. + +28 See Sura [lxxxvii.] vii. 170. + +29 See Sura [lxxxvii.] vii. 164. + +30 Compare Numb. xix.; Deut. xxii. 1-9. The cow was to be sacrificed in order +that a murderer might be discovered through the miracle to be wrought on the +corpse by a piece of her flesh. + +31 To please you, O Muslims. + +32 This is one of the passages which shews great familiarity with the habits +of the Jews, on the part of Muhammad. See Maracci's Prodr. i. 44. Wahl's +Einleitung, xxx. xxxv. + +33 The Pentateuch. This passage shews that the art of writing was known in +Medina shortly after the Hejira. + +34 Forty days; the period during which they worshipped the calf. + +35 The blood of those who are as your own flesh. + +36 Two Jewish tribes (Koreidha and Nadhir) in alliance with certain Arab +tribes who were at war, destroyed one another's abodes, but redeemed the +Jewish captives, professing that they were commanded to do this by the Law. +So the commentators. + +37 Gabriel. Muhammad either knowingly rejected the divinity of the Holy +Ghost, or confounded Gabriel announcing the conception, with the Holy Spirit +that overshadowed Mary. It is probable that Muhammad's ideas of the Spirit +were at first indefinite, but that the two expressions, Gabriel and the Holy +Spirit, became ultimately synonymous. See note on Sura [lxvii.] xvii. 87. +Geiger (p. 82) quotes an instance in which the Jewish expositors understand +the distinctly-speaking Spirit (Sanhedr. 44) of Gabriel. + +38 The gift of the prophetic office, etc., to a pagan Arab and not to a Jew. + +39 Matt. xxiii. 37. + +40 See Sura vii. 170, p. 309. + +41 Comp. 1 Tim. v. 24. + +42 In Solomon's Books of Magic. This story has been supposed to be of Persian +origin. See Hyde de Rel. Vet. Pers. ch. xii. But from a passage in the Midr. +Abhkhir quoted in the Midr. Jalkut, ch. 44, and from a quotation in Maracci's +Prodr. iv. 82, Geiger infers that Muhammad has transferred to the time of +Solomon, the Rabbinic traditions concerning the influence of angels upon men +at the time of the Deluge. p. 106. "Babel is regarded by the Muslims as the +fountain head of the science of magic. They suppose Haroot and Maroot to be +two angels who, in consequence of their want of compassion for the frailties +of mankind, were sent down to earth to be tempted. They both sinned; and +being permitted to choose whether they would be punished now or hereafter, +chose the former, and are still suspended by the feet at Babel in a rocky +pit, and are the great teachers of magic." (Lane on ch. iii. note 14 of the +1001 Nights.) + +43 Raina, as pronounced in Hebrew, "our bad one;" but in Arabic, "look upon +us," a kind of salutation of the same signification as ondhorna, which, +however, does not admit of any secondary bad sense like raina. + +44 Comp. Sura xvi. 103; iv. 84. The Muslims admit that there are 225 verses +cancelled by later ones. The doctrine of "abrogation" is taught in the +Talmud. Thus Hilchoth Mamrim, ii. 1, 2, etc. + +45 That is, does not weigh the evidence for Muhammad's mission already given, +but demands, as the Jews did, to see God himself. + +46 In all Muhammadan countries the first time of prayer is the moghreb or +sunset, or rather, four minutes later; the second the eshe, when it has +become quite dark; the third the soobh or fegr, the daybreak; the fourth, +doohr, or a little after noon, when the sun has begun to decline; the fifth, +the asr, midway between noon and nightfall. The obligatory legal alms or +impost are called, as here, zekah (lit. purity), the voluntary, sudackah. It +is, however, left to the conscience of individuals to give and to apply them +as they think fit. + +47 The idolatrous Arabs. + +48 If this verse is aimed at the Meccans who, in the 6th year of the Hejira, +forbad Muhammad and his followers to enter the temple of Mecca in the +expedition of Hodeibiya, it is misplaced here. + +49 Abrogated by verse 139 below. + +50 The Caaba. + +51 Freytag (Einl. p. 339) says that there is no good reason for doubting that +the Caaba was founded as stated in this passage. See note on Sura [xcvii.] +iii. 90. + +52 Deut. xviii. 15. + +53 "At the time when our father Jacob quitted this world, be summoned his +twelve sons and said to them, Hearken to your father Israel (Gen. xlix. 2). +Have ye any doubts in your hearts concerning the Holy One, Blessed be He! +They said, Hear, O Israel, our Father. As there is no doubt in thy heart, so +neither is there in ours. For the Lord is our God, and He is one." Midr. +Rabbah on Gen. par. 98, and on Deut. par. 2. Comp. also Targ. Jer. on Deut. +vi. 4. Tract. Pesachim, 56. + +54 See Sura [lxxiii.] xvi. 121, n., p. 209. + +55 Ibn Batutah assures us (vol. ii. 10) that when in the 14th century he +visited Basra, he saw in the mosque the copy of the Koran which the Caliph +Othman had in his hands when murdered, and that the marks of his blood were +still visible at the words of this verse. Othman's originals are also said to +be preserved in Egypt, Morocco, Damascus, Mecca, and Medina. See M. +Quatremere in Journ. Asiatique, Juillet, 1838. + +56 The original simply has Baptism of God. This may be understood either of +Islam generally, or, with Ullmann, in the more restricted sense of +circumcision. Perhaps Muhammad used the word advisedly as a hint to the +Christians of his land, that in the reception of his religion consisted the +true new birth. + +57 Or, intermediate, i.e., according to the commentators, not addicted to +excess, just. Ullm. ein vermittelndes Volk, zwischen Juden und Christen die +Mitte haltend. + +58 In having prayed towards Jerusalem. + +59 Of Mecca. This change of the Kebla from Jerusalem to Mecca shows that this +part of the Sura was revealed at a time when the breach between Muhammad and +the Jews was past healing; i.c. in the first half of the second year of the +Hejira. See Thilo's. Cod. Apoc. p. 21, n. + +60 That is, the Jews are really convinced of the truth of Muhammad's mission. + +61 That is, warring with the infidels. The precise date of verses 148-152 +depends upon whether this passage refers to the battle of Bedr or Ohod. + +62 These words are constantly used by the pious Muslims when in any trouble. + +63 Hills in the sacred territory of Mecca, which had long been objects of +superstitious reverence to the idolatrous Arabs, on which account the Muslims +were at first unwilling to include them among the sacred places. + +64 The Pentateuch. See verse 141. + +65 This and the three following verses are probably Meccan, as also verses +167-171. + +66 The ringleaders of infidelity and idolatrous faiths. + +67 Freyt. Lex. vol. ii. p. 477 Quid eos agere coegit quemadmodum damnati +agunt? But Mar. Quanta erit sustinentia corum! + +68 To whom his brother, that is, any Arab or believer, shall remit the +penalty of death. + +69 Of the stricter Mosaic lex talionis, as well of the ante-Islamitic Arabian +custom, by which the killing of a slave was avenged by the death of a free +man, and the killing of a woman by taking the life of a man. See Freyt. Einl. +p. 193. Comp. Ex. xxi. 23. + +70 That is, by killing the manslayer. + +71 On the word Furquan, see Sura [1xv.] xxi. 49. + +72 A mutual comfort to each other. + +73 Thus Misch. Berachoth, 1, 2, "Prayer is to be said as soon as one can +distinguish between a blue and white thread." + +74 Judging from the minuteness of the precepts laid down in this and the +following verses to 193, it would appear that they were added at a late +period of Muhammad's residence at Medina. + +75 Such appears to have been the superstitious custom of the Arabs after +their return from pilgrimages to Mecca. + +76 Their driving you out of Mecca; or, the temptation (to idolatry). + +77 Lit. the sacred month for the sacred month, and the sacred precincts or +things (for) reprisals. The meaning of this difficult passage is that in wars +for the cause of religion, the sacred month and the temple of Mecca may be +made the time and scene of contests, which then and there are usually +prohibited. For the most accurate information as to the Pilgrimage, see +Freytag, Einl. 418. + +78 This shows that Muhammad inculcated the doctrine of entire freedom of the +will. + +79 The greater Pilgrimage, which every Muslim is bound to perform once in his +life, is the Hadjat el Farz (the one obligatory Pilgrimage), or the Hadjat el +Islam. The Umrah, or little pilgrimage, may be performed at any time except +the pilgrimage season, and its ceremonies are much fewer. They are described +by Lieut. Burton in his "Pilgrimage," vol. iii. ch. xxviii. + +80 Namely, Shawâl, Dhu'lkaada, and Dhu'lhajja. + +81 By trading during the Hadj. + +82 The pilgrims move on very rapidly when in the immediate neighbourhood of +the Holy Places. + +83 From the valley of Mina. + +84 Said to have been one Al Akhnas Ibn Shoraik, a dissembler with Muhammad. + +85 Sohaib, when he joined the standard of Muhammad, left all his property in +the hands of the infidels. + +86 Verses 204-210 are probably addressed to those Muslims who were desirous +to observe certain parts of the Jewish law. + +87 The Koran. + +88 That is, there was originally but one religion in the world. + +89 Comp. Sura [c.] iv. 42, and [cxiv.] v. 99, 100. + +90 Limits, fences. The word is Talmudic. Thus Pirke Aboth, i. "The men of the +great synagogue said . . . Make a fence for the law;" and iii. 13, "Tradition +is a fence to the law." + +91 Comp. Sura [lxxxii.] xxxi. 13. + +92 Within the four months and ten days. + +93 Either the asr, midway between noon and nightfall (see verse 104 above) or +the prayer immediately after midday. See note on Sura [c.] iv. 46. + +94 This verse is certainly older than the commencement of Sura iv. which +alters the law here laid down. + +95 Comp. Ezek. xxxvii. 1-10. These Jews are said by some commentators to have +abandoned their dwellings through fear of a pestilence (comp. Talmud Sanhed. +92); by others, for fear of being compelled to serve in the wars of God. + +96 This and the seven following verses shew that Muhammad, foreseeing an open +rupture with the people of Medina at no distant period, felt it necessary to +stimulate the zeal and courage of his partisans by examples from Jewish +history. + +97 Ar. Shechinah. See Freytag Lex. in v. This word, as well as the Arabic +word for ark (p. 95, n.) betray in their form a Rabbinic origin. + +98 The shoes and rod of Moses, the mitre of Aaron, the vase of manna, the +fragments of the two tables of the law. + +99 Observe the confusion between Gideon and Saul. + +100 See verse 81. + +101 The drift of these words, which are of such frequent recurrence in the +Koran, is, that the former revelations had been abused, and instead of +leading them to Islam broke them up into sects and dissentient parties. + +102 This verse must have been revealed before Muhammad felt himself secure in +his new position at Medina. + +103 A name applied to an idol or idols especially Allat and Ozza, the ancient +idols of the Meccans. The termination of the word Thagout is more Hebraic +than pure Arabic, and literally means error. + +104 Nimrod. + +105 Ozair or Esdras doubted whether Jerusalem could be rebuilt after its +destruction by Nebuchadnezzar, and the miracle here narrated, was wrought for +his assurance. The fable has its origin in the circuit made by Nehemiah +around the ruined city. Neh. ii. 13. + +106 Lit. it was falling on its roofs. + +107 Comp. Gen. xv. 9. + +108 That is, Satan would dissuade you from liberal contributions by +instilling the fear of poverty. + +109 Comp. Matt. vi. 3, 4. 110 This contradicts verse 254, as well as several +verses in Sura [1viii.] xix. + + +SURA XCVIII.–CLEAR EVIDENCE [XCII.] + +MEDINA.–8 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +THE unbelievers among the people of the Book, and the Polytheists, did not +waver, until the CLEAR EVIDENCE had come to them; + +A messenger from God, reciting to them the pure pages wherein are true +Scriptures! + +Neither were they to whom the Scriptures were given divided into sects, till +after this clear evidence had reached them! + +Yet was not aught enjoined on them but to worship God with sincere religion, +sound in faith; and to observe prayer and pay the stated alms. For this is +true religion. + +But the unbelievers among the people of the Book, and among the Polytheists, +shall go into the fire of Gehenna to abide therein for aye. Of all creatures +are they the worst! + +But they who believe and do the things that are right–these of all creatures +are the best! + +Their recompense with their Lord shall be gardens of Eden, 'neath which the +rivers flow, in which they shall abide for evermore. + +God is well pleased in them and they in Him! This, for him who feareth his +Lord. + + +SURA LXIV.–MUTUAL DECEIT [XCIII.] + +MEDINA.1–18 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ALL that is in the Heavens, and all that is in the Earth, praiseth God: His +the Kingdom and His the Glory! And He hath power over all things! + +It is He who hath created you all; yet some of you are infidel and others +believers: but God beholdeth all your actions. + +He hath created the Heavens and the Earth in Truth; and He hath fashioned you +and given you goodly forms; and to Him must ye all return. + +He knoweth all that passeth in the Heavens and in the Earth; and He knoweth +what ye hide and what ye bring to light; and God knoweth the very secrets of +men's breasts. + +Hath not the story reached you of those who disbelieved of yore, and +therefore tasted the evil consequences of their doings? And a sore punishment +doth await them. + +This, for that when their apostles came to them with the clear tokens, they +said, "What! shall men be our guides?" And they believed not and turned their +backs. But God can dispense with them; for God is the Rich, the Praiseworthy! + +The infidels pretend that they shall not be raised from the dead. SAY: Yea, +by my Lord, ye shall surely be raised; then shall ye surely be told of your +deeds! And easy is this for God. + +Believe then in God and his apostle and in the light which we have sent down; +for God is fully aware of all ye do. + +The day when He shall gather you together for the day of mutual gathering, +will be the day of MUTUAL DECEIT,2 and whoso shall have believed in God and +done what is right, for him will He cancel his deeds of evil; and He will +bring him into the gardens beneath whose shades the rivers flow, to abide +therein for evermore. This will be the great bliss! + +But the unbelieving–those who gave the lie to our signs–shall be the inmates +of the fire, wherein they shall remain for ever. And a wretched passage +thither! + +No mischance chanceth but by God's permission; and whoso believeth in God, +that man's heart will he guide: and God knoweth all things. + +Obey God then and obey the apostle: but if ye turn away, our apostle is not +to blame, for he is only charged with plain preaching. + +God! there is no God but He! On God, then, let the faithful trust. + +O ye who believe! Verily, in your wives and your children ye have an enemy: +wherefore beware of them. But if ye pass it3 over and pardon, and are +lenient, then God too is Lenient, Merciful. + +Your wealth and your children are only a source of trial! but God! with Him +is the great recompense. + +Fear God, then, with all your might, and hear and obey: and give alms for +your own weal; for such as are saved from their own greed, shall prosper. + +If ye lend God a generous loan, He will double it to you and will forgive +you, for God is Grateful, Long-suffering. + +He knoweth alike the Hidden and the Manifest: the Mighty, the Wise! + + +_______________________ + +1 The first verse of this Sura, and the phrase obey God and the Apostle +(verses 8, 12), which usually occurs only in Medina Suras, the phrases in +verse 16 compared with Sura [cii.] lix. 9, as well as the subject matter, +incline me to follow those Muslim commentators who are of opinion that the +whole Sura was revealed at Medina. Weil and Muir suppose it to be Meccan. + +2 That is, the day on which it will be found that if the just had been wicked +they would have taken the place of the reprobates, while the reprobates will +see that if they had been just persons they would have gone to Paradise. + +3 Their occasionally beguiling you from your duty, especially that of +contending for the faith. Comp. 1 Cor. vii. 32. + + +SURA LXII.–THE ASSEMBLY [XCIV.] + +MEDINA.–II Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ALL that is in the Heavens, and all that is on the Earth, uttereth the Praise +of God, the King! the Holy! the Mighty! the Wise! + +It is He who hath sent to the pagan folk (Arabs) an Apostle from among +themselves, to rehearse His signs to them, and to purify them, and to impart +to them a knowledge of "the Book" and wisdom; for aforetime were they in +manifest error. + +And others among them have not yet overtaken those who preceded them in the +faith. But He is the Mighty, the Wise! + +This is the goodness of God: He bestoweth it on whom He will: God is of +immense goodness! + +They on whom the burden of the law was laid, and would not bear it, are like +an ass beneath a load of books. A sorry likeness this, for the people who +give the lie to the signs of God! God guideth not the people who do this +wrong! + +SAY: O ye Jews, if ye profess that ye rather than other men are the friends +of God, then wish for death if ye are men of truth. + +But never on account of their previous handywork will they wish for it, and +God knoweth the wrong doers. + +SAY: Verily the death from which ye flee will surely meet you. Then shall ye +be brought back to Him who knoweth alike the things done in secret and +openly: and He will tell you of your actions. + +O ye who believe! When ye are summoned to prayer on the day of THE ASSEMBLY,1 +haste to the commemoration of God, and quit your traffic. This, if ye knew +it, will be best for you. + +And when the Prayer is ended, then disperse yourselves abroad and go in quest +of the bounties of God; and, that it may be well with you, oft remember God. + +But when they get a sight of merchandise or sport, they disperse after it, +and leave thee standing alone.2 SAY: God hath in reserve what is better than +sport or wares. And God is the best provider! + + +_______________________ + +1 Friday; the day on which Muhammad made his first entry into Medina, and the +day on which creation was finished. + +2 It is said that when Muhammad was preaching, Dahya Alkalbi, while yet a +heathen, came, on a Friday, into Medina at the head of a caravan, and that +all the congregation, attracted by the music of the tambours which preceded +it, left the sermon for the spectacle. Muquâtil ap. Alfarrâ. If this account +be accurate, we may approximate to the date of this Sura as in Hej. 5 +(towards the close). Dahya is known to have fought in the ranks of the +Muslims at the battle of the Ditch. And as the former part is aimed at the +Jews, it is probably of the same period as Sura [xci.] ii. + + +SURA VIII.–THE SPOILS1 [XCV.] + +MEDINA.–76 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +THEY will question thee about THE SPOILS. SAY: The spoils are God's and the +apostle's. Therefore, fear God, and settle this among yourselves; and obey +God and his apostle, if you are believers. + +Believers are they only whose hearts thrill with fear when God is named, and +whose faith increaseth at each recital of his signs, and who put their trust +in their Lord; + +Who observe the prayers, and give alms out of that with which we have +supplied them; + +These are the believers: their due grade awaiteth them in the presence of +their Lord, and forgiveness, and a generous provision. + +Remember how thy Lord caused thee to go forth from thy home2 on a mission of +truth, and part of the believers were quite averse to it: + +They disputed with thee about the truth3 which had been made so clear, as if +they were being led forth to death, and saw it before them: + +And remember when God promised you that one of the two troops4 should fall to +you, and ye desired that they who had no arms should fall to you: but God +purposed to prove true the truth of his words, and to cut off the uttermost +part ofthe infidels; + +That he might prove his truth to be the truth, and bring to nought that which +is nought,5 though the impious were averse to it: + +When ye sought succour of your Lord, and he answered you, "I will verily aid +you with a thousand6 angels, rank on rank:" + +And God made this promise as pure good tidings, and to assure your hearts by +it: for succour cometh from God alone! Verily God is Mighty, Wise. + +Recollect when sleep, a sign of security from Him, fell upon you, and he sent +down upon you water from Heaven that he might thereby cleanse you, and cause +the pollution of Satan to pass from you, and that he might gird up your +hearts, and stablish your feet by it: + +When thy Lord spake unto the angels, "I will be with you: therefore stablish +ye the faithful. I will cast a dread into the hearts of the infidels." Strike +off their heads then, and strike off from them every finger-tip. + +This, because they have opposed God and his apostle: And whoso shall oppose +God and his apostle. . . . Verily, God will be severe in punishment. + +"This for you! Taste it then! and for the infidels is the torture of the +fire!" + +O ye who believe! when ye meet the marshalled hosts of the infidels, turn not +your backs to them: + +Whoso shall turn his back to them on that day, unless he turn aside to fight, +or to rally to some other troop, shall incur wrath from God: Hell shall be +his abode and wretched the journey thither! + +So it was not ye who slew them, but God slew them; and those shafts were +God's, not thine!7 He would make trial of the faithful by a gracious trial +from Himself: Verily, God Heareth, Knoweth. + +This befel, that God might also bring to nought the craft of the infidels. + +O Meccans! if ye desired a decision, now hath the decision come to you.8 It +will be better for you if ye give over the struggle. If ye return to it, we +will return; and your forces, though they be many, shall never avail you +aught, for God is with the faithful. + +O ye faithful! obey God and his apostle, and turn not away from Him, now that +ye hear the truth; + +And be not like those who say "We hear," when they hear not; + +For the vilest beasts in God's sight, are the deaf, the dumb, who understand +not. + +Had God known any good in them, he would certainly have made them hear. But +even if He had made them hear, they would certainly have turned back and +withdrawn afar. + +O ye faithful! make answer to the appeal of God and his apostle when he +calleth you to that which giveth you life. Know that God cometh in between a +man and his own heart, and that to him shall ye be gathered. + +And be afraid of temptation: the evil doers among you will not be the only +ones on whom it will light: And know ye that God is severe in punishment. + +And remember when ye were few, and reputed weak in the land:9 ye feared lest +men should pluck you away; then was it that He took you in and strengthened +you with his help, and supplied you with good things, that haply ye might +give thanks. + +O ye who believe! deal not falsely with God and his apostle; and be not false +in your engagements, with your own knowledge: + +And know that your wealth and your children are a temptation; and that God! +with Him is a glorious recompense. + +O ye who believe! if ye fear God he will make good your deliverance, and will +put away your sins from you, and will forgive you. God is of great +bounteousness! + +And call to mind when the unbelievers plotted against thee, to detain thee +prisoner, or to kill thee, or to banish thee: They plotted–but God plotted: +and of plotters is God the best! + +And oft as our signs were rehearsed to them, they said, "Now have we heard: +if we pleased we could certainly utter its like! Yes, it is mere tales of the +ancients." + +And when they said, "God! if this be the very truth from before thee, rain +down stones upon us from Heaven, or lay on us some grievous chastisement." + +But God chose not to chastise them while thou wast with them, nor would God +chastise them when they sued for pardon. + +But because they debarred the faithful from the holy temple, albeit they are +not its guardians, nothing is there on their part why God should not chastise +them. The Godfearing only are its guardians; but most of them know it not. + +And their prayer at the house of God is no other than whistling through the +fingers and clapping of the hands–"Taste then the torment, for that ye have +been unbelievers." + +The infidels spend their riches10 with intent to turn men aside from the way +of God: spend it they shall; then shall sighing be upon them, and then shall +they be overcome. + +And the infidels shall be gathered together into Hell, + +That God may separate the bad from the good, and put the bad one upon the +other, and heap them all up and put them into Hell! These are they who shall +be lost. + +SAY to the infidels: If they desist from their unbelief, what is now past +shall be forgiven them; but if they return to it, they have already before +them11 the doom of the ancients! + +Fight then against them till strife be at an end, and the religion be all of +it God's. If they desist, verily God beholdeth what they do: + +But if they turn their back, know ye that God is your protector: Excellent +protector! excellent helper! + +And know ye, that when ye have taken any booty, a fifth12 part belongeth to +God and to the Apostle, and to the near of kin, and to orphans, and to the +poor, and to the wayfarer, if ye believe in God, and in that which we have +sent down to our servant on the day of the victory,13 the day of the meeting +of the Hosts. Over all things is God potent. + +When ye were encamped on the near side of the valley, and they were on the +further side, and the caravan was below you, if ye had made an engagement to +attack ye would have failed the engagement; but ye were led into action +notwithstanding, that God might accomplish the thing destined to be done: + +That he who should perish might perish with a clear token14 before him, and +that he who liveth might live with it. And verily, God Heareth, Knoweth. + +Remember when God shewed them to thee in thy dream, as few: Had he shown them +numerous, ye would certainly have become fainthearted, and would certainly +have disputed about the matter–But from this God kept you–He knoweth the very +secrets of the breast– + +And when, on your meeting, he made them to appear to your eyes as few, and +diminished you in their eyes, that God might carry out the thing that was to +be done.15 To God do all things return. + +Believers! when ye confront a troop, stand firm and make frequent mention of +the name of God, that it may fare well with you: + +And obey God and his Apostle; and dispute not, lest ye become fainthearted +and your success go from you; but endure with steadfastness, for God is with +the steadfastly enduring. + +And be not like those Meccans who came out of their houses insolently and to +be seen of men, and who turn others from the way of God: God is round about +their actions. + +When Satan prepared their works for them, and said, "No man shall conquer you +this day; and verily I will be near to help you:" But when the two armies +came in sight, he turned on his heel and said, "Ay, I am clear of you: ay, I +see what ye see not:16 ay, I fear God; for God is severe in punishing." + +When the hypocrites and the diseased of heart said, "Their Religion hath +misled the Muslims:17 But whoso putteth his trust in God. , , , Yes, verily +God is Mighty, Wise! + +If thou didst see, when the angels cause the infidels to die! They smite +their faces and their backs, and–"Taste ye the torture of the burning: + +This, for what your hands have sent on before you:"–and God is not unjust to +his servants. + +Their state is like that of the people of Pharaoh and of those before them +who believed not in the signs of God: therefore God seized upon them in their +sin! God is Mighty, severe in punishing. + +This, because God changeth not the favour with which he favoureth a people, +so long as they change not what is in their hearts; and for that God Heareth, +Knoweth. + +Their state is like that of the people of Pharaoh, and of those before them +who treated their Lord's signs as lies. We therefore destroyed them in their +sins, and we drowned the people of Pharaoh; for they were all doers of wrong. + +The worst beasts truly in the sight of God are the thankless who will not +believe; + +They with whom thou hast leagued, and who are ever breaking their league, and +who fear not God! + +If thou take them in war, then, by the example of their fate, scatter those +who shall follow them–that they may be warned: + +Or if thou fear treachery from any people, throw back their treaty to them as +thou fairly mayest,18 for God loveth not the treacherous. + +And think not that the infidels shall escape Us! They shall not weaken God. + +Make ready then against them what force ye can, and strong squadrons whereby +ye may strike terror into the enemy of God and your enemy, and into others +beside them whom ye know not, but whom God knoweth. All that you shall expend +for the cause of God shall be repaid you; and ye shall not be wronged. + +And if they lean to peace, lean thou also to it; and put thy trust in God: +for He is the Hearing, the Knowing. + +But if they seek to betray thee, God will be all-sufficient for thee. He it +is who hath strengthened thee with His help, and with the faithful, and hath +made their hearts one. Hadst thou spent all the riches of the earth, thou +couldst not have united their hearts; but God hath united them, for He is +Mighty, Wise. + +O prophet! God, and such of the faithful as follow thee, will be all- +sufficient for thee. + +O prophet! stir up the faithful to the fight. Twenty of you who stand firm +shall vanquish two hundred: and if there be a hundred of you they shall +vanquish a thousand of the infidels, for they are a people devoid of +understanding. + +Now hath God made your work easy, for he knoweth how weak ye are. If there be +an hundred of you who endure resolutely, they shall vanquish two hundred; and +if there be a thousand of you, they shall vanquish two thousand19 by God's +permission; for God is with those who are resolute to endure. + +No prophet hath been enabled to take captives until he had made great +slaughter in the earth. Ye desire the passing fruitions of this world, but +God desireth the next life for you. And God is Mighty, Wise. + +Had there not been a previous ordinance20 from God, a severe chastisement had +befallen you, for the ransom which ye took. + +Eat therefore of the spoils ye have taken what is lawful and good; and fear +God: God is Gracious, Merciful. + +O prophet! say to the captives who are in your hands, "If God shall know +good21 to be in your hearts, He will give you good beyond all that hath been +taken from you, and will forgive you: for God is Forgiving, Merciful." + +But if they seek to deal treacherously with you–they have already dealt +treacherously22 with God before! Therefore hath He given you power over them. +God is Knowing, Wise. + +Verily, they who have believed and fled their homes and spent their substance +for the cause of God, and they who have taken in the prophet and been helpful +to him, shall be near of kin the one to the other. And they who have +believed, but have not fled their homes, shall have no rights of kindred with +you at all, until they too fly their country. Yet if they seek aid from you +on account of the faith, your part it is to give them aid, except against a +people between whom and yourselves there shall be a treaty. And God beholdeth +your actions. + +The infidels lend one another mutual help. Unless ye do the same, there will +be discord in the land and great corruption. + +But as for those who have believed and fled their country, and fought on the +path of God, and given the prophet an asylum, and been helpful to him, these +are the faithful; Mercy is their due and a noble provision. + +And they who have believed and fled their country since, and have fought at +your side, these also are of you. Those who are united by ties of blood23 are +the nearest of kin to each other. This is in the Book of God. Verily, God +knoweth all things. + +_______________________ + +1 On this Sura, which relates mainly to the battle of Bedr, see Weil's M. der +Prophet, p. 268. + +2 At Medina. + +3 The necessity for the combat and its probable result. + +4 Muhammad had conceived the design of attacking an unarmed caravan belonging +to the Koreisch on its way from Syria to Mecca. Abu Sofian, who had charge of +it, sent to Mecca for succour, whence a body of nearly 1000 armed men at once +set out to his assistance. Some of the Muslims were anxious to attack the +caravan: others, notwithstanding the disparity of numbers, proposed to throw +themselves upon the succours. + +5 Idolatry. + +6 In Sura [xcvii.] iii. the angels are said to be 3000. + +7 Lit. thou didst not cast when thou didst cast, but God cast. This is +explained of the miracle of the gravelstones and sand cast by God into the +eyes of the Meccans at Bedr. + +8 That is, by our victory over you. + +9 Muhammad specially addresses the Mohadjers in this verse, i.e. those who +had fled with him to Medin. + +10 Twelve of the Koreisch had given camels and a large sum of money in aid of +the Meccan succours. + +11 Lit. hath preceded. + +12 Before Islam it had been the custom among the Arabians to assign a fourth +part of the booty to the leader of an expedition. See Freyt. Einl. p. 266. + +13 That is, on the day of the battle of Bedr. See Sura xxi. 49, p. 154. + +14 The mission of Gabriel to Muhammad with the promise of victory. + +15 Compare the different account in Sura [xcvii.] iii. II. The commentators, +however, get over the discropancy by explaining the apparent diminution of +the Muslims at the commencement only of the battle, which had the effect of +drawing on the enemy in self-confidence. + +16 The angels fighting for the Muslims. + +17 By inducing them to attack so greatly superior a force. + +18 Thus Beidh. Or, more simply, render them the like. + +19 Comp. Lev. xxvi. 8; Josh. xxiii. 10. + +20 Authorising the ransom of captives. + +21 That is, a disposition to become Muslims. + +22 That is, on account of their infidelity. + +23 See Weil. Life of M. p. 84, n. + + +SURA1 XLVII.–MUHAMMAD [XCVI.] + +MEDINA.–40 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +WHOSO believe not, and prevent others from the way of God–their works will He +cause to miscarry;2 + +But whoso believe, and do things that are right, and believe in what hath +been sent down to MUHAMMAD–for it is the truth from their Lord–their sins +will He cancel, and dispose their hearts aright. + +This–because the infidels followed vanity, while those who believe, followed +the truth from their Lord. Thus to men doth God set forth their likenesses. + +When ye encounter the infidels,3 strike off their heads till ye have made a +great slaughter among them, and of the rest make fast the fetters. + +And afterwards let there either be free dismissals or ransomings, till the +war hath laid down its burdens. Thus do. Were such the pleasure of God, he +could himself take vengeance upon them: but He would rather prove the one of +you by the other. And whoso fight for the cause of God, their works he will +not suffer to miscarry; + +He will vouchsafe them guidance, and dispose their hearts aright; + +And he will bring them into the Paradise, of which he hath told them. + +Believers! if ye help God, God will help you, and will set your feet firm: + +But as for the infidels, let them perish: and their works shall God bring to +nought: + +This–because they were averse from the command which God sent down; +Fruitless, therefore, shall their works become! + +Have they not journeyed through the land, and seen what hath been the end of +those who flourished before them? God brought destruction on them: and the +like of this doth await the infidels. + +This–because God is the protector of those who believe, and because the +infidels have no protector. + +Verily God will bring those who believe, and do the things that are right, +into the Gardens, beneath whose shades the rivers flow: but they who believe +not, take their fill, and eat as the beasts eat! And their dwelling-place the +fire! + +And how many cities were mightier in strength than thy city, which hath +thrust thee forth!4 We destroyed them, and there was none to help them. + +Shall he who followeth the clear teaching of his Lord be as he, the evil of +whose doings hath been made to seem good to him, or like those who follow +their own lusts? + +A picture of the Paradise which is promised to the God-fearing! Therein are +rivers of water, which corrupt not: rivers of milk, whose taste changeth not: +and rivers of wine, delicious to those who quaff it; + +And rivers of honey clarified: and therein are all kinds of fruit for them +from their Lord! Is this like the lot of those who must dwell for ever in the +fire? and shall have draughts of boiling water forced on them which will rend +their bowels asunder? + +Some of them indeed hearken to thee, until when they go out from thee, they +say with sneers to those to whom "the knowledge" hath been given, "What is +this he said?" These are they whose hearts God hath sealed up, and who follow +their own lusts. + +But as to those who have the guidance, He will increase their guidance, and +He will teach them what to fear. + +For what do the infidels wait, but that the Hour come suddenly on them? +Already are its signs come,5 and when it hath come on them indeed, how can +they be warned then? + +Know, then, that there is no god but God: and ask pardon for thy sin, and for +believers, both men and women. God knoweth your busy movements, and your +final resting-places. + +The believers say, "Oh, would that a Sura were sent down!"6 but when a +peremptory Sura is revealed, whose burden is war, thou mayest see the +diseased of heart look toward thee, with a look of one on whom the shadows of +death have fallen! But better in them would be obedience and becoming +language. + +And if, when the command for war is issued, they are true to God, it will be +assuredly best for them. + +Were ye not ready, if ye had turned back from Him, to spread disorder in the +land, and violate the ties of blood? + +These are they whom God hath cursed, and made deaf, and blinded their eyes! + +Will they not then meditate on the Koran? Are locks upon their hearts? + +But as to those who return to their errors after "the guidance" hath been +made plain to them, Satan shall beguile them, and fill them with his +suggestions. + +This–because they say to those who abhor what God hath sent down, "We will +comply with you in part of what ye enjoin." But God knoweth their secret +reservations. + +But how? When the angels, in causing them to die, shall smite them on the +face and back! + +This because they follow that which angereth God, and abhor what pleaseth +Him: therefore will He make their works fruitless. + +Think these men of diseased hearts, that God will not bring out their malice +to light? + +If such were our pleasure, we could point them out to thee, and thou surely +know them by their tokens: and know them thou shalt, by the strangeness of +their words.7 God knoweth your doings. + +And we will surely test you, until we know the valiant and the steadfast +among you: and we will test the reports of your conduct. + +Verily they who believe not, and turn others from the way of God, and +separate from the Apostle after that "the guidance" hath been clearly shewn +them, shall in no way injure God: but their works shall he bring to nought. + +Believers! obey God and the Apostle: and render not your works vain. + +Verily those who believe not, and who pervert others from the way of God, and +then die in unbelief, God will not forgive. + +Be not fainthearted then; and invite not the infidels to peace when ye have +the upper hand: for God is with you, and will not defraud you of the +recompense of your works. + +Surely this present life is only a play, and pastime! but if ye believe, fear +God; He will give you your rewards: but He will not ask all your riches of +you. + +Should He ask them of you, and urge you, ye would shew yourself niggards: and +He would bring your grudges to light. + +Lo! ye are they, who are called to expend for the cause of God: and some of +you are niggards: but whoso is niggardly shall be niggard only to his own +loss; for God is the Rich, and ye are the poor: and if ye turn back, He will +change you for another people,8 and they shall not be your like! + + +_______________________ + +1 This Sura was revealed at a period after the victory at Bedr, when there +was still some hesitation on the part of Muhammad's followers to take decided +steps for securing their position. See 37. + +2 Lit. will He cause to wander, that is, from their proper aim and end, the +rewards of Paradise. See verse 5 ad f. + +3 The Meccans and other unbelievers of Muhammad's time. The Hanefites suppose +this law to apply only to the battle of Bedr. The Shiites take it as of +universal obligation. + +4 This verse is said (by Omar b. Muhammad, and Itq. 43) to be the expression +of Muhammad's feelings at the injuries inflicted on Mecca. He is reported to +have wept over it. + +5 The first sign being the mission of Muhammad; the second, the splitting of +the moon; the third, the smoke mentioned in Sura xliv. p. 89. + +6 That is, commanding war against the infidels. + +7 Unintelligible or affected words, applied to the new religion in contempt. +See Sura [xci.] ii. 56, p. 343. + +8 Matt. xxi. 43. + + +SURA III.–THE FAMILY OF IMRAN1 [XCVII.] + +MEDINA.–200 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ELIF. LAM. MIM.2 God! there is no god but He, the Living, the Merciful! + +In truth hath He sent down to thee "the Book," which confirmeth those which +precede it: For He had sent down the Law, and the Evangel aforetime, as man's +Guidance; and now hath He sent down the "Illumination."3 (Furkan.) + +Verily for those who believe not in the signs of God, is a severe +chastisement! And God is Mighty, the Avenger! + +God! nought that is in Earth or that is in Heaven, is hidden unto Him. He it +is who formeth you in your mothers' wombs. There is no god but He; the +Mighty, the Wise! + +He it is who hath sent down to thee "the Book." Some of its signs are of +themselves perspicuous;–these are the basis4 of the Book–and others are +figurative. But they whose hearts are given to err, follow its figures, +craving discord, craving an interpretation; yet none knoweth its +interpretation but God. And the stable in knowledge say, "We believe in it: +it is all from our Lord." But none will bear this in mind, save men endued +with understanding. + +O our Lord! suffer not our hearts to go astray after that thou hast once +guided us, and give us mercy from before thee; for verily thou art He who +giveth. + +O our Lord! For the day of whose coming there is not a doubt, thou wilt +surely gather mankind together. Verily, God will not fail the promise. + +As for the infidels, their wealth, and their children, shall avail them +nothing against God. They shall be fuel for the fire. + +After the wont of the people of Pharaoh, and of those who went before them, +they treated our signs as falsehoods. Therefore God laid hold of them in +their sins; and God is severe in punishing! + +Say to the infidels: ye shall be worsted, and to Hell shall ye be gathered +together; and wretched the couch! + +Ye have already had a sign5 in the meeting of the two hosts. The one host +fought in the cause of God, and the other was infidel. To their own eyesight, +the infidels saw you twice as many as themselves: And God aided with his +succour whom He would: And in this truly was a lesson for men endued with +discernment. + +Fair-seeming to men is the love of pleasures from women and children, and the +treasured treasures of gold and silver, and horses of mark, and flocks, and +cornfields! Such the enjoyment of this world's life. But God! goodly the home +with Him. + +SAY: Shall I tell you of better things than these, prepared for those who +fear God, in His presence? Theirs shall be gardens, beneath whose pavilions +the rivers flow, and in which shall they abide for aye: and wives of +stainless purity, and acceptance with God: for God regardeth his servants– + +Who say, "O our Lord! we have indeed believed; pardon us our sins, and keep +us from the torment of the fire;"– + +The patient, and the truthful, the lowly, and the charitable, and they who +seek pardon at each daybreak. + +God witnesseth that there is no god but He: and the angels, and men endued +with knowledge, stablished in righteousness, proclaim "There is no god but +He, the Mighty, the Wise!" + +The true religion with God is Islam: and they to whom the Scriptures had been +given, differed not till after "the knowledge"6 had come to them, and through +mutual jealousy. But as for him who shall not believe in the signs of God–God +will be prompt to reckon with him! + +If they shall dispute with thee, then SAY: I have surrendered myself to God, +as have they who follow me. + +SAY to those who have received the Book, and to the common folk, Do ye +surrender yourselves unto God?7 If they become Muslims, then are they guided +aright: but if they turn away–thy duty is only preaching; and God's eye is on +His servants. + +But to those who believe not in the signs of God, and unjustly slay the +prophets, and slay those men who enjoin uprightness,–announce an afflictive +chastisement. + +These are they whose works come to nought in this world, and in the next; and +none shall they have to help them! + +Hast thou not marked those who have received a portion of the Scriptures, +when they are summoned to the Book of God, that it may settle their +differences? Then did a part of them turn back, and withdrew far off. + +This–because they said, "The fire shall by no means touch us, but for certain +days:"–Their own devices have deceived them in their religion. + +But how, when we shall assemble them together for the day of (which) whose +coming there is no doubt, and when every soul shall be paid what it hath +earned, and they shall not be wronged? + +SAY: O God, possessor of all power,8 thou givest power to whom thou wilt, and +from whom thou wilt, thou takest it away! Thou raisest up whom thou wilt, and +whom thou wilt thou dost abase! In thy hand is good; for thou art over all +things potent. + +Thou causest the night to pass into the day, and thou causest the day to pass +into the night. Thou bringest the living out of the dead, and thou bringest +the dead out of the living; and thou givest sustenance to whom thou wilt, +without measure. + +Let not believers take infidels for their friends rather than believers: +whoso shall do this hath nothing to hope from God–unless, indeed, ye fear a +fear from them: But God would have you beware of Himself; for to God ye +return. SAY: Whether ye hide what is in your breasts, or whether ye publish +it abroad, God knoweth it: He knoweth what is in the heavens and what is in +the earth; and over all things is God potent. + +On that day shall every soul find present to it, whatever it hath wrought of +good: and as to what it hath wrought of evil, it will wish that wide were the +space between itself and it! But God would have you beware of Himself; for +God is kind to His servants. + +SAY: If ye love God, then follow me: God will love you, and forgive your +sins, for God is Forgiving, Merciful. SAY: Obey God and the Apostle; but if +ye turn away, then verily, God loveth not the unbelievers. + +Verily above all human beings did God choose Adam, and Noah, and the family +of Abraham, and the family of IMRAN, the one the posterity of the other: And +God Heareth, Knoweth. + +Remember when the wife of Imran9 said, "O my Lord! I vow to thee what is in +my womb, for thy special service. Accept it from me, for thou Hearest, +Knowest!" And when she had given birth to it, she said, "O my Lord! Verily I +have brought forth a female,"–God knew what she had brought forth; a male is +not as a female10–"and I have named her Mary, and I take refuge with thee for +her and for her offspring, from Satan the stoned."11 + +So with goodly acceptance did her Lord accept her, and with goodly growth did +he make her grow.12 Zacharias reared her. So oft as Zacharias went in to Mary +at the sanctuary, he found her supplied with food.13 "Oh, Mary!" said he, +"whence hast thou this?" She said, "It is from God; for God supplieth whom He +will, without reckoning!" + +There did Zacharias call upon his Lord: "O my Lord!" said he, "vouchsafe me +from thyself good descendants,14 for thou art the hearer of prayer." Then did +the angels call to him, as he stood praying in the sanctuary:15 + +"God announceth John (Yahia) to thee, who shall be a verifier of the word +from God, and a great one, chaste, and a prophet of the number of the just." + +He said, "O my Lord! how shall I have a son, now that old age hath come upon +me, and my wife is barren?" He said, "Thus will God do His pleasure." + +He said, "Lord! give me a token." He said, "Thy token shall be, that for +three days thou shalt speak to no man but by signs: But remember thy Lord +often, and praise him at even and at morn:" + +And remember when the angels said, "O Mary! verily hath God chosen thee,16 +and purified thee, and chosen thee above the women of the worlds! + +O Mary! be devout towards thy Lord,17 and prostrate thyself, and bow down +with those who bow." + +This is one of the announcements of things unseen by thee: To thee, O +Muhammad! do we reveal it; for thou wast not with them when they cast lots +with reeds18 which of them should rear Mary; nor wast thou with them when +they disputed about it. + +Remember when the angel said, "O Mary! Verily God announceth to thee the Word +from Him: His name shall be, Messiah Jesus the son of Mary,19 illustrious in +this world, and in the next, and one of those who have near access to God; + +And He shall speak to men alike when in the cradle and when grown up; And he +shall be one of the just." + +She said, "How, O my Lord! shall I have a son, when man hath not touched me?" +He said, "Thus: God will create what He will; When He decreeth a thing, He +only saith, 'Be,' and it is." + +And he will teach him the Book, and the Wisdom, and the Law, and the Evangel; +and he shall be an apostle to the children of Israel. "Now have I come," he +will say, "to you with a sign from your Lord: Out of clay will I make for +you, as it were, the figure of a bird: and I will breathe into it, and it +shall become, by God's leave, a bird.20 And I will heal the blind, and the +leper; and by God's leave will I quicken the dead; and I will tell you what +ye eat, and what ye store up in your houses! Truly in this will be a sign for +you, if ye are believers. + +And I have come to attest the law which was before me; and to allow you part +of that which had been forbidden you; and I come to you with a sign from your +Lord: Fear God, then, and obey me; of a truth God is my Lord, and your Lord: +Therefore worship Him. This is a right way." + +And when Jesus perceived unbelief on their part, He said, "Who my helpers +with God?"20-21 The apostles21 said, "We will be God's helpers! We believe in +God, and bear thou witness that we are Muslims. + +O our Lord! we believe in what thou hast sent down, and we follow the +apostle; write us up, then, with those who bear witness to him." + +And the Jews plotted, and God plotted: But of those who plot is God the best. + +Remember when God said, "O Jesus! verily I will cause thee to die,22 and will +take thee up to myself and deliver thee from those who believe not; and I +will place those who follow thee above those who believe not, until the day +of resurrection. Then, to me is your return, and wherein ye differ will I +decide between you. + +And as to those who believe not, I will chastise them with a terrible +chastisement in this world and in the next; and none shall they have to help +them." + +But as to those who believe, and do the things that are right, He will pay +them their recompense. God loveth not the doers of evil. + +These signs, and this wise warning do we rehearse to thee. + +Verily, Jesus is as Adam in the sight of God.23 He created him of dust: He +then said to him, "Be"–and he was. + +The truth from thy Lord! Be not thou, therefore, of those who doubt. + +As for those 24 who dispute with thee about Him, after "theknowledge" hath +come to thee, SAY: Come,25 let us summon our sons and your sons, our wives +and your wives, and ourselves and yourselves. Then will we invoke and lay the +malison of God on those that lie! + +This recital is very truth, and there is no god but God; and verily God is +the Mighty, the Wise. + +But if they turn away, then verily God hath knowledge of the corrupt doers. + +SAY: O people of the Book! come ye to a just judgment between us and you–That +we worship not aught but God, and that we join no other god with Him, and +that the one of us take not the other for lords,26 beside God. Then if they +turn their backs, SAY: Bear ye witness that we are Muslims. + +O people of the Book! Why dispute about Abraham,27 when the Law and the +Evangel were not sent down till after him? Do ye not then understand? + +Lo! ye are they who dispute about that in which ye have knowledge; 28 but why +dispute ye about that of which ye have no knowledge? God hath knowledge, but +ye know nothing. + +Abraham was neither Jew nor Christian; but he was sound in the faith,29 a +Muslim; and not of those who add gods to God. + +They among men, who are nearest of kin to Abraham, are surely those who +follow him, and this prophet Muhammad, and they who believe on him. And God +is the protector of the faithful. + +A party among the people of the Book would fain mislead you: but they only +mislead themselves, and perceive it not. + +O people of the Book! why disbelieve the signs of God, of which yourselves +have been witnesses? + +O people of the Book! why clothe ye the truth with falsehood? Why wittingly +hide the truth? + +Others of the people of the Book say: "Believe in what hath been sent down to +the believers, at daybreak, and deny it at its close"–Thus do they go back– + +"And believe in those only who follow your Religion." SAY: True guidance is +guidance from God–that to others may be imparted the like of what hath been +imparted to you. Will they wrangle then with you in the presence of their +Lord? SAY: Plenteous gifts are in the hands of God: He imparteth them unto +whom He will, and God is Bounteous, Wise. + +He will vouchsafe His mercy to whom He will, for God is of great +bounteousness. + +Among the people of the Book are some, to one of whom if thou entrust a +thousand dinars, he will restore them to thee: And there is of them to whom +if thou entrust a dinar, he will not restore it to thee, unless thou be ever +instant with him. + +This–because they say, "We are not bound to keep faith with the ignorant +(Pagan) folk, and they utter a lie against God, and know they do so:" + +But whoso is true to his engagement, and feareth God,–verily God loveth those +that fear Him. + +Verily they who barter their engagement with God, and their oaths, for some +paltry price–These! no portion for them in the world to come! and God will +not speak to them, and will not look on them, on the day of resurrection, and +will not assoil them! for them, a grievous chastisement! + +And some truly are there among them who torture the Scriptures with their +tongues, in order that ye may suppose it to be from the Scripture, yet it is +not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from God;" yet it is not from +God: and they utter a lie against God, and they know they do so. + +It beseemeth not a man, that God should give him the Scriptures and the +Wisdom, and the gift of prophecy, and that then he should say to his +followers, "Be ye worshippers of me, as well as of God;" 30 but rather, "Be +ye perfect in things pertaining to God, since ye know the Scriptures, and +have studied deep." + +God doth not command you to take the angels or the prophets as lords.31 What! +would he command you to become infidels after ye have been Muslims? + +When God entered into covenant with the prophets,32 he said, "This is the +Book and the Wisdom which I give you. Hereafter shall a prophet came unto you +to confirm the Scriptures already with you. Ye shall surely believe on him, +and ye shall surely aid him. Are ye resolved?" said he, "and do ye accept the +covenant on these terms?" They said, "We are resolved;" "Be ye then the +witnesses," said he, "and I will be a witness as well as you. + +And whoever turneth back after this, these are surely the perverse." + +Other religion than that of God desire they? To him doth everything that is +in the Heavens and in the Earth submit, in willing or forced obedience! and +to Him do they return. + +SAY: We believe in God, and in what hath been sent down to us, and what hath +been sent down to Abraham, and Ismael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, +and in what was given to Moses, and Jesus, and the Prophets, from their Lord. +We make no difference between them. And to Him are we resigned (Muslims). + +Whoso desireth any other religion than Islam, that religion shall never be +accepted from him, and in the next world he shall be among the lost. + +How shall God guide a people who, after they had believed and bore witness +that the apostle was true, and after that clear proofs of his mission had +reached them, disbelieved? God guideth not the people who transgress. + +These! their recompense, that the curse of God, and of angels, and of all +men, is on them! + +Under it shall they abide for ever; their torment shall not be assuaged! nor +shall God even look upon them!– + +Save those who after this repent and amend; for verily God is Gracious, +Merciful! + +As for those who become infidels, after having believed, and then increase +their infidelity–their repentance shall never be accepted. These! they are +the erring ones. + +As for those who are infidels, and die infidels, from no one of them shall as +much gold as the earth could contain be accepted, though he should offer it +in ransom. These! a grievous punishment awaiteth them; and they shall have +none to help them. + +Ye shall never attain to goodness till ye give alms of that which ye love; +and whatever ye give, of a truth God knoweth it. + +All food was allowed to the children of Israel, except what Jacob forbad +himself, ere the law was sent down; SAY: Bring ye then the law and read it, +if ye be men of truth. + +And whoso after this inventeth the lie about God: These are evil doers. + +SAY: God speaketh truth. Follow, therefore, the religion of Abraham, the +sound in faith, who was not one of those who joined other gods to God. + +The first temple that was founded for mankind, was that in Becca,33–Blessed, +and a guidance to human beings. + +In it are evident signs, even the standing-place34 of Abraham: and he who +entereth it is safe. And the pilgrimage to the temple, is a service due to +God from those who are able to journey thither. + +And as to him who believeth not–verily God can afford to dispense with all +creatures! + +SAY: O people of the Book! why disbelieve ye the signs of God? But God is +witness of your doings. + +SAY: O people of the Book! why repel believers from the way of God? Ye fain +would make it crooked, and yet ye are its witnesses! But God is not +regardless of what ye do. + +O believers! if ye obey some amongst those who have received the Scripture, +after your very Faith will they make you infidels! + +But how can ye become infidels, when the signs of God are recited to you, and +his prophet is among you? Whoever holdeth fast by God, is already guided to a +straight path. + +O ye believers! fear God as He deserveth to be feared! and die not till ye +have become Muslims. + +And hold ye fast by the cord 35 of God, all of you, and break not loose from +it; and remember God's goodness towards you, how that when ye were enemies, +He united your hearts, and by his favour ye became brethren; + +And when ye were on the brink of the pit of fire, he drew you back from it. +Thus God clearly sheweth you his signs that ye may be guided; + +And that there may be among you a people who invite to the Good, and enjoin +the Just, and forbid the Wrong. These are they with whom it shall be well. + +And be ye not like those who have formed divisions, and fallen to variance +after the clear proofs have come to them. These! a terrible chastisement doth +await them, + +On THE DAY when faces shall turn white, and faces shall turn black! And as to +those whose faces shall have turned black ". . . .What! after your belief +have ye become infidels? Taste then the chastisement, for that ye have been +unbelievers." + +And as to those whose faces shall have become white, they shall be within the +mercy of God: therein shall they abide for ever. + +These are the signs of God: we recite them to thee in truth: And God willeth +not injustice to mankind. + +Whatever is in the Heavens, and whatever is on the Earth, is God's. And to +God shall all things return. + +Ye are the best folk that hath been raised up unto mankind. Ye enjoin the +Just, and ye forbid the Evil, and ye believe in God: And if the people of the +Book had believed, it had surely been better for them! Believers there are +among them, but most of them are perverse. + +They will never inflict on you but a trifling damage; and if they do battle +with you, they shall turn their backs to you: then they shall not be +succoured. + +Shame shall be stamped upon them36 wherever found, unless they ally them with +God and men! And the wrath of God will they incur, and poverty shall be +stamped upon them! This–for that they believed not in the signs of God, and +slew the prophets unjustly: This–because they rebelled, and became +transgressors. + +Yet all are not alike: Among the people of the Book is an upright folk, who +recite the signs of God in the night-season, and adore: + +They believe in God and in the latter day, and enjoin justice, and forbid +evil, and speed on in good works. These are of the righteous. + +And of whatever good ye do, ye shall not be denied the meed. God knoweth +those who fear Him. + +But as for the infidels, their wealth, and their children shall avail them +nothing against God. They shall be the inmates of the fire, to abide therein +eternally. + +The alms which they bestow in this present life, are like a freezing wind, +which falleth upon and destroyeth the cornfields of a people who have been to +themselves unjust. God doeth them no injustice, but to themselves are they +unjust. + +O ye who have believed! form not intimacies among others than yourselves. +They will not fail to corrupt you. They long for your ruin. Hatred hath +already shewn itself out of their mouths, but more grievous is what their +breasts conceal. The tokens thereof we have already made plain to you, if ye +will comprehend. + +See now! ye love them, but they love not you. Ye believe the entire Book. And +when they meet you, they say, "We believe;" but when they are apart, they +bite their fingers' ends at you, out of wrath. SAY: "Die in your wrath!" God +truly knoweth the very recesses of your breasts. + +If good befalleth you it grieveth them, and when ill lighteth on you, they +rejoice in it. But if ye be steadfast and fear God, their craft shall in no +way harm you. For God is round about their doings. + +And remember when thou didst leave thy household at early morn, that thou +mightest prepare the faithful a camp for the war;37–God heard, knew it– + +When two troops of you became full of anxious thoughts, and lost heart, and +when God became the protector of both! In God, then, let the faithful trust. + +God had already succoured you at Bedr, when ye were the weaker! Fear God, +then, that ye may be thankful. + +Then thou didst say to the faithful, "Is it not enough for you that your Lord +aideth you with three thousand angels sent down from on high?" + +Aye: but ye if be steadfast and fear God, and the foe come upon you in hot +haste, your Lord will help you with five thousand angels in their +cognisances!38 + +This, as pure good tidings for you, did God appoint, that your hearts might +be assured–for only from God, the Mighty, the Wise, cometh the Victory–and +that He might cut off the uttermost part of those who believed not, or cast +them down so that they should be overthrown, defeated without resource. + +It is none of thy concern whether He be turned unto them in kindness or +chastise them: for verily they are wrongful doers. + +Whatever is in the Heavens and the Earth is God's! He forgiveth whom He will, +and whom He will, chastiseth: for God is Forgiving, Merciful. + +O ye who believe! devour not usury, doubling it again and again! But fear +God, that ye may prosper. + +And fear the fire which is prepared for them that believe not; and obey God +and the apostle, that ye may find mercy: + +And vie in haste for pardon from your Lord, and a Paradise, vast as the +Heavens and the Earth, prepared for the God-fearing. + +Who give alms, alike in prosperity and in success, and who master their +anger, and forgive others! God loveth the doers of good. + +They who, after they have done a base deed or committed a wrong against their +own selves, remember God and implore forgiveness of their sins–and who will +forgive sins but God only?–and persevere not in what they have wittingly done +amiss. + +As for these! Pardon from their Lord shall be their recompense, and gardens +'neath which the rivers flow; for ever shall they abide therein: And goodly +the reward of those who labour! + +Already, before your time, have examples been made! Traverse the earth, then, +and see what hath been the end of those who treat prophets as liars. + +This Koran is a manifest to man, and a guidance, and a warning to the God- +fearing! + +And be not fainthearted, and be not sorrowful: For ye shall gain the upper +hand if ye be believers.39 + +If a wound hath befallen you, a wound like it hath already befallen others: +we alternate these days of successes and reverses among men, that God may +know those who have believed, and that He may take martyrs from among you,– +but God loveth not the wrongful doers– + +And that God may test those who believe, and destroy the infidels. + +Thought ye that ye should enter Paradise ere God had taken knowledge of those +among you who did valiantly, and of those who steadfastly endure? + +Ye had desired death ere ye met it. But ye have now seen it–and ye have +beheld it–and fled from it! + +Muhammad is no more than an apostle; other apostles have already passed away +before him: if he die, therefore,40 or be slain, will ye turn upon your +heels?41 But he who turneth on his heels shall not injure God at all: And God +will certainly reward the thankful! + +No one can die except by God's permission, according to the Book that fixeth +the term of life.42 He who desireth the recompense of this world, we will +give him thereof; And he who desireth the recompense of the next life, we +will give him thereof! And we will certainly reward the thankful. + +How many a prophet hath combated those who had with them many myriads! Yet +were they not daunted at what befel them on the path of God, nor were they +weakened, nor did they basely submit! God loveth those who endure with +steadfastness, + +Nor said they more than this:43 "O our Lord! forgive us our sins and our +mistakes in this our work; and set our feet firm; and help us against the +unbelieving people." And God gave them the recompense of this world, and the +excellence of the recompense of the next. For God loveth the doers of what is +excellent. + +O ye who have believed! if ye obey the infidels, they will cause you to turn +upon your heels,44 and ye will fall back into perdition: + +But God is your liege lord, and He is the best of helpers. + +We will cast a dread into hearts of the infidels because they have joined +gods with God without warranty sent down; their abode shall be the fire; and +wretched shall be the mansion of the evil doers. + +Already had God made good to you His promise, when by His permission ye +destroyed your foes, until your courage failed you, and ye disputed about the +order,45 and disobeyed, after that the Prophet had brought you within view of +that for which ye longed.46 + +Some of you were for this world, and some for the next.47 Then, in order to +make trial of you, He turned you to flight from them,–yet hath He now +forgiven you; for all-bounteous is God to the faithful– + +When ye came up the height48 and took no heed of any one, while the Prophet +in your rear was calling you to the fight! God hath rewarded you with trouble +upon trouble, that ye might learn not to be chagrined at your loss of booty, +or at what befel you! God is acquainted with your actions. + +Then after the trouble God sent down security upon you. Slumber fell upon a +part of you: as to the other part–their own passions stirred them up to think +unjustly of God with thoughts of ignorance! They said–What gain we by this +affair? SAY: Verily the affair resteth wholly with God. They hid in their +minds what they did not speak out to thee, saying, "Were we to have gained +aught in this affair, none of us had been slain at this place." SAY: Had ye +remained in your homes, they who were decreed to be slain would have gone +forth to the places where they lie:–in order that God might make trial of +what was in your breasts, and might discover what was in your hearts, for God +knoweth the very secrets of the breast. + +Of a truth it was Satan alone who caused those of you to fail in duty who +turned back on the day when the hosts met, for some of their doings! But now +hath God pardoned them; For God is Forgiving, Gracious. + +O ye who believe! be not like the infidels, who said of their brethren when +they had travelled by land or had gone forth to war, "Had they kept with us, +they had not died, and had not been slain!" God purposed that this affair +should cause them heart sorrow! God maketh alive and killeth; and God +beholdeth your actions. + +And if ye shall be slain or die on the path of God, then pardon from God and +mercy is better than all your amassings; + +For if ye die or be slain, verily unto God shall ye be gathered. + +Of the mercy of God thou hast spoken to them in gentle terms. Hadst thou been +severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from thee. Therefore, +forgive and ask for pardon for them, and consult them in the affair of war, +and when thou art resolved, then put thou thy trust in God, for God loveth +those who trust in Him. + +If God help you, none shall overcome you; but if He abandon you, who is he +that shall help you when He is gone? In God, then, let the faithful trust. + +It is not the Prophet who will defraud you;49–But he who shall defraud, shall +come forth with his defraudings on the day of the resurrection: then shall +every soul be paid what it hath merited, and they shall not be treated with +injustice. + +Shall he who hath followed the good pleasure of God be as he who hath brought +on himself wrath from God, and whose abode shall be Hell? and wretched the +journey thither! + +There are varying grades with God: and God beholdeth what ye do. + +Now hath God been gracious to the faithful, when he raised up among them an +apostle out of their own people, to rehearse unto them his signs, and to +cleanse them, and to give them knowledge of the Book and of Wisdom: for +before they were in manifest error. + +When a reverse hath befallen you,50 the like of which ye had before +inflicted, say ye, "Whence is this?" SAY: It is from yourselves. For God hath +power over all things. + +And that which befel you on the day when the armies met, was certainly by the +will of God, and that he might know the faithful, and that he might know the +hypocrites! And when the word was "Advance, fight on the path of God, or +drive back the foe,"–they said, "Had we known how to fight, we would have +followed you." Nearer were some of them on that day to unbelief, than to +faith: + +They said with their lips what was not in their hearts! But God knew what +they concealed, + +Who said of their brethren while themselves sat at home, + +"Had they obeyed us, they had not been slain." SAY: Keep back death from +yourselves if ye speak truth. + +And repute not those slain on God's path to be dead.51 Nay, alive with their +Lord, are they richly sustained; + +Rejoicing in what God of his bounty hath vouchsafed them, filled with joy for +those who follow after them, but have not yet overtaken them, that on them +nor fear shall come, nor grief; + +Filled with joy at the favours of God, and at his bounty: and that God +suffereth not the reward of the faithful to perish. + +As to those who after the reverse52 which befel them, respond to God and the +Apostle–such of them as do good works and fear God, shall have a great +reward: + +Who, when men said to them, "Now are the Meccans mustering against you; +therefore fear them!" it only increased their faith, and they said, "Our +sufficiency is God, and He is an excellent protector." + +They returned, therefore, with the favour of God, enriched by Him, and +untouched by harm; and they followed what was well pleasing to God. And God +is of great Munificence. + +Only would that Satan53 instil the fear of his adherents: Fear them not, but +fear me if ye are believers. + +Let not those who vie in haste after infidelity grieve thee: Verily not one +whit shall they injure God! God will refuse them all part in the life to +come: a severe chastisement shall be their lot. + +They truly who purchase infidelity at the price of their faith, shall not +injure God one whit! and a grievous chastisement shall be their lot. + +Let not the infidels deem that the length of days we give them is good for +them! We only give them length of days that they may increase their sins! and +a shameful chastisement shall be their lot. + +It is not in God to leave the faithful in the State in which they are, until +he sever the bad from the good: + +Nor is God minded to lay open the secret things to you, but God chooseth whom +he will of his apostles to know them.54 Believe, therefore, in God and his +apostles: and if ye believe and fear God, a great reward awaiteth you. + +And let not those who are niggard of what God hath vouchsafed them in his +bounty, think that this will be good for them–Nay, it will be bad for them– + +That of which they have been niggard shall be their collar on the day of the +resurrection. God's, the heritage of the Heavens and of the Earth! And God is +well-informed of all ye do. + +Now hath God heard the saying of those who said: "Aye, God is poor and we are +rich."55 We will surely write down their sayings, and their unjust slaughter +of the prophets; and and we will say, "Taste ye the torment of the burning. + +This, for what your hands have sent before you; and because God will not +inflict a wrong upon his servants!" + +To those who say, "Verily, God hath enjoined us that we are not to credit an +apostle until he present us a sacrifice which fire out of Heaven shall +devour," + +SAY: Already have apostles before me come to you with miracles, and with that +of which ye speak. Wherefore slew ye them? Tell me, if ye are men of truth. + +And if they treat thee as a liar, then verily apostles have been treated as +liars before thee, though they came with clear proofs of their mission, and +with Scriptures, and with the light-giving Book. + +Every soul shall taste of death: and ye shall only receive your recompenses +on the day of resurrection. And whoso shall scape the fire, and be brought +into Paradise, shall be happy. And the life of this world is but a cheating +fruition! + +Ye shall assuredly be tried in your possessions and in yourselves. And many +hurtful things shall ye assuredly hear from those to whom the Scriptures were +given before you, and from those who join other gods with God. But if ye be +steadfast, and fear God this verily is needed in the affairs of life. + +Moreover, when God entered into a convenant with those to whom the Scriptures +had been given, and said, "Ye shall surely make it known to mankind and not +hide it," they cast it behind their backs, and sold it for a sorry price! But +vile is that for which they have sold it. + +Suppose not that they who rejoice in what they have brought to pass, and love +to be praised for what they have not done56–suppose not they shall escape the +chastisement. An afflictive chastisement doth await them, + +For the Kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth is God's, and God hath power +over all things. + +Verily, in the creation of the Heavens and of the Earth, and in the +succession of the night and of the day, are signs for men of understanding +heart; + +Who standing, and sitting, and reclining, bear God in mind, and muse on the +creation of the Heavens and of the Earth. "O our Lord!" say they, "thou hast +not created this in vain. No. Glory be to Thee! Keep us, then, from the +torment of the fire. + +O our Lord! surely thou wilt put him to shame whom thou shalt cause to enter +into the Fire, and the wrong-doers shall have none to help them. + +O our Lord! we have indeed heard the voice of one that called. He called us +to the faith–’Believe on your Lord’–and we have believed. + +O our Lord! forgive us then our sin, and hide away from us our evil deeds, +and cause us to die with the righteous. + +O our Lord! and give us what thou hast promised us by thine apostles, and put +us not to shame on the day of the resurrection. Verily, Thou wilt not fail +thy promise." + +And their Lord answereth them, "I will not suffer the work of him among you +that worketh, whether of male or female, to be lost. The one of you is the +issue of the other.57 + +And they who have fled their country and quitted their homes and suffered in +my cause, and have fought and fallen, I will blot out their sins from them, +and I will bring them into gardens beneath which the streams do flow." + +A recompense from God! and God! with His is the perfection of recompense! + +Let not prosperity in the land58 on the part of those who believe not, +deceive thee. 'Tis but a brief enjoyment! Then shall Hell be their abode; and +wretched the bed! + +But as to those who fear their Lord–for them are the gardens 'neath which the +rivers flow: therein shall they abide for aye. Such their reception with God– +and that which is with God is best for the righteous. + +Among the people of the Book are those who believe in God, and in what He +hath sent down to you, and in what He hath sent down to them, humbling +themselves before God. They barter not the signs of God for a mean price. + +These! their recompense awaiteth them with their Lord: aye! God is swift to +take account. + +O ye who believe! be patient, and vie in patience, and be firm, and fear God, +that it may be well with you. + + +_______________________ + +1 Verses 1-87 probably belong to the period between the battle of Bedr and +Hej. 6.–Muhammad supposed Imran or Amran to be the father of the Virgin Mary +(Sura [cix.] lxvi. 12)–Mary and Elizabeth to be sisters; who, with Jesus, +John, and Zacharias, make up the family of Imran. It is difficult to avoid +the conclusion that Muhammad is guilty of the anachronism of confounding +Miriam with the Virgin Mary. On the other hand is the difficulty of +conceiving that as the sequence of time and fact is observed with tolerable +accuracy in regard to the main features of Jewish and Christian History, he +should have fallen into so serious an error, or have so inadvertently +adopted, as Mr. Muir supposes, the phraseology of his Jewish informants +(amongst whom the only well-known Mary (Miriam) was the daughter of Imran and +the sister of Moses) as to have overlooked the discrepancy in their +respective dates. But it is possible that Muhammad believed, as some Muslim +writers assert, that Miriam's soul and body were miraculously preserved till +the time of Jesus in order to become Mary his mother. Certainly the +Talmudists fabled that the Angel of Death and the worm of corruption had no +power over Miriam. Comp. Babha Bathra, 17. Jos. Ant. iv. 4, 6. + +2 See note, p. 32. + +3 See Sura xxi. 49, p. 154, n. + +4 Lit. mother. + +5 In the battle of Bedr, Muhammad, with 319 followers routed 1000 Meccans, +A.H. 2. + +6 That is, knowledge, or revelation, became the cause of disputings. + +7 That is, will ye receive Islam? The Ummiin, or common folk, the heathen +Arabians destitute of Revelation. In the earliest extant biography of +Muhammad by Ibn Ishaq, we find these words addressed by Zaid, previous to the +assumption of the prophetic office by Muhammad, to the Koreisch. This is one +of the facts which shew that the way was to a great extent prepared for +Islam. This whole address of Zaid's–which contains not less than six passages +afterwards repeated in the Koran–may be seen in Dr. Sprenger's Life of M. p. +42. The instances of others who had learned to disbelieve in idolatry, and +had either become Jews or Christians, or held their minds in suspense, might +easily be multiplied. Comp. Sharastani, p. 437. Masudi, ch. 6. + +8 The King of the Kingdom, or, Lord of Might. This verse and the following +are either fragments of some lost Sura, or belonging to one of the Meccan +Suras. At any rate, they are misplaced, interrupting as they do the +connection of the preceding and subsequent verses. + +9 The wife of Imran is Hannah or Anne. Comp. Protev. Jac. iv. [greek text].– +Evang. de Nat. Mar. 1: Voverunt tamen (Mari‘ parentes) si forte donaret eis +Deus sobolem, eam se Dni servitio mancipaturos.–Although Muhammad had no +direct access to the Apocryphal Gospels, yet these may have influenced, or at +any rate, contained much in common with, the ordinary traditions of S. Syria. +And of this, the Immaculate Conception of the B. V. Mary, supposed by Gibbon +(ch. 50) to have been "borrowed from the Koran," probably formed a part. + +10 That is, the female could not become a priest. + +11 See note, p. 114. + +12 According to a tradition of Muhammad every new-born child is touched by +Satan, with the exception of Mary and her Son, between whom and Satan God +interposed a veil. (Djelal. Beidh.) Hence this passage may imply the +Immaculate Conception of the B. V. Mary. See v. 37 below. + +13 Evang. de Nat. Mar. 7: Quotidie ab angelis frequentabatur, quotidie divinâ +visione fruebatur, queam a malis omnibus custodiebat et bonis omnibus +redundare faciebat. Protev. Jac. 8: [greek text]. Hist. Nativ. Mar. 6: +Quotidie escâ, quam de manu angeli accipiebat, ipsâ tantum reficiebatur. + +14 The word rendered descendants is a collective noun. Gerock (p. 20) thinks +that Zacharias' prayer was not for a son of his own, but for an adopted son– +as, for instance, the future husband of Mary who might become his heir, and +hence accounts for his surprise and unbelief at the announcement of John. + +15 Lit. chamber. By this may be meant an [greek text] of the Temple Comp. +Luke i. 21. + +16 Luke i. 28. + +17 Hist. de Nativ. Mar. 6: Abierunt simul Joachim et Anna uxor ejus ad +templum domini, et . . . tradiderunt . . . Mariam in contubernio virginum qu‘ +die noctuque in Dei laudibus manebant. + +18 These reeds, say the commentators, were written over with passages from +the law, and cast into Jordan. That of Zacharias alone swam, and was the +token that the charge of Mary was to devolve on him. Others render, their +divining arrows. See a detailed account of the manner in which this matter +was settled by [greek text], virgae, in Protev. Jac. Thilo. p. 204. Hist. +Nat. Mar. ib. p. 359 sqq. + +19 Ar. El-Mesich Isa ben Mariam, illustrious in this world as a Prophet, in +the next as an Intercessor. Beidh. + +20 Evang. Thom‘, ch. 2 (Thilo. p. 281) and Evang. Infantić Arab. ch. 36, 46. +(Thilo. p. 111, 123.) + +20-21a (0) Addenda: Lit. who my helpers unto God? i.e., helpers of his +religion (Beidh). If Muhammad had become, by any means, acquainted with the +use of the Ćth. radeh, helper or disciple, we have herein a probable +interpretation of this passage, as well as of the word Ansar. + +21 See Sura [cxiv.] v. 111. + +22 Muhammad probably believed that God took the dead body of Jesus to Heaven– +for three hours according to some–while the Jews crucified a man who +resembled him. Sura [c.] iv. 156. The word motewaffika (comp. Sura [lxxx.] +xxxix. 156) means, in speaking of God, to cause to die, take to himself. It +would also seem from Sura [lviii.] xix. 34, that Muhammad supposed Jesus to +have died a natural death, though it is nowhere said how long he continued in +that state. The Muhammadans believe that Jesus on his return to earth at the +end of the world will slay the Antichrist, die, and be raised again. A vacant +place is reserved for his body in the Prophet's tomb at Medina. See Lieut. +Burton's Pilgrimage, vol. ii. + +23 Lit. verily the similitude or analogy of Isa is as the similitude or +analogy of Adam, i.e. neither of them had a human father. + +24 This refers to an embassy from the Christians in Nedjran in Arabia, with +their Bishop, Abu Hareth, at their head, to Muhammad at Medina, who had now +acquired political power. The embassy declined to be parties to the strange +mode of settling the dispute here proposed, but consented to pay tribute on +condition of not being molested in their religion or lands. + +25 If this be not a mere figure of speech, it must mean let us call over and +curse the names, the persons being at a distance. + +26 As the Christians do their Bishops and Priests. + +27 Whether he were a Jew or Christian. + +28 About Moses and Jesus, and their respective faiths. + +29 See Sura xvi. 121, p. 209, note. + +30 Muhammad insinuates that the claim to be equal with God could never have +been made by Jesus himself, but by his followers, in ignorance of the +Scriptures and of his true nature. + +31 That is, to call them rabb–a title due only to God. + +32 Assembled on Mount Sinai. Compare the Jewish legend, that all the +prophets, even those who were not yet born, were present on Mount Sinai, when +God gave the law to Moses. See Shemoth Rabba. Parashah 28, according to +which, not only the Prophets but the Rabbis of every generation, were present +at the giving of the Law. + +33 Becca, place of crowding, i.e. Mecca. This sentence, together with other +Suras–the Cave, Mary, Imran, Repentance, T, H, are woven into the Kiswah or +covering of the Caaba, which is renewed annually. + +34 The Makam Ibrahim (praying place of Abraham) is a small building supported +by six pillars about 8 ft. high, four of which are surrounded from top to +bottom by a fine iron railing, while they leave the space between the two +hind pillars open; within the railing is a frame about 5 ft. square, said to +contain the sacred stone on which Ibrahim stood when he built the Caaba. +Burckhardt. Lieut. Burton (Pilgrimage, iii. 336) says that as the Arab +tradition speaks clearly and consistently as to the fact of Abraham having +visited Mecca to build the Caaba, it may be considered an open question. Thus +also Dr. G. W. Freytag (Einl.). + +35 The Koran. + +36 Or, they are smitten with. Sale. S'etendra comme une tente. Kas. + +37 This probably refers to the battle of Ohod. + +38 The Arabic word occurs at verse 13 of horses as known by certain marks. So +here these angels would be known by their accoutrements, etc. + +39 This and the following verses to 154 were probably revealed shortly after +the reverse of Ohod. + +40 This verse and xxxix. 31 (p.257) were recited at Muhammad's death by Abu +Bekr, in order to convince Omar and the other Muslims of the possibility of +that event. It has been supposed that these passages were invented by Abu +Bekr on this occasion, and inserted into the Koran. But this is more than +doubtful. See Nöldeke, pp. 199-201. + +41 That is, return to idolatry. A report had been spread in the battle of +Ohod that Muhammad had been slain. + +42 Lit. according to a writing (i.e. of God) definite. The Rabbins also teach +(Com. Tract. Rosch. Haschanah) that there are books in which God has written +down the lifetime of every individual. Lit. No soul can die. + +43 Lit. and their saying was no other than that they said. + +44 To relapse into infidelity. The Koreisch attempted to seduce the Muslims +to renounce their faith after the battle of Ohod. + +45 The command to abstain from taking the spoils. This disobedience turned +the scale of victory against the Muslims. + +46 Victory and plunder. + +47 Some took to flight, others stood firm, and were not careful of their +lives. + +48 That is, in confused rout. + +49 Muhammad had been accused of having secretly appropriated a portion of the +spoil. + +50 At Ohod. + +51 See Sura [xci.] ii. 149. + +52 At Ohod; lit. wound. + +53 Lit. that Satan. Said to refer to Noaim, or Abu Sofian, the leader of the +Koreisch. + +54 This is an answer to the taunt that Muhammad could not distinguish true +believers from hypocrites. + +55 This was the taunt of the Jews of the tribe of Kainoka, when Muhammad +demanded tribute of them in the name of God. + +56 That is, who rejoice in their successful corruptions of their own sacred +books, especially the testimony of Moses to Muhammad, and in their own +fancied righteousness. Thus some of the commentators. + +57 Lit. some of you are from others. These words were occasioned by one of +the Prophet's wives having told him that God often praised the men, but not +the women, who had fled their country for the faith. Beidh. + +58 Lit. their movements, their comings and goings. Hence, the success of the +Meccans in their trading journeys. This may point to the comparative freedom +from trade and general independence of the Meccans after the affair at Ohod. + + +SURA LXI.–BATTLE ARRAY [XCVIII.] + +MEDINA.–14 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ALL that is in the Heavens and all that is on the Earth praiseth God. He is +the Mighty, the Wise! + +Believers! why profess ye that which ye practise not?1 + +Most hateful is it to God that ye say that which ye do not. + +Verily God loveth those who, as though they were a solid wall, do battle for +his cause in serried lines! + +And bear in mind when Moses said to his people, "Why grieve ye me, O my +people, when ye know that I am God's apostle unto you?" And when they went +astray, God led their hearts astray; for God guideth not a perverse people: + +And remember when Jesus the son of Mary said, "O children of Israel! of a +truth I am God's apostle to you to confirm the law which was given before me, +and to announce an apostle that shall come after me whose name shall be +Ahmad!"2 But when he (Ahmad) presented himself with clear proofs of his +mission, they said, "This is manifest sorcery!" + +But who more impious than he who when called to Islam deviseth a falsehood +concerning God? God guideth not the wicked! + +Fain would they put out the light of God with their mouths! but though the +Infidels hate it, God will perfect his light. + +He it is who hath sent his apostle with guidance and the religion of truth, +that, though they hate it who join other gods with God, He may make it +victorious over every other religion. + +O ye who believe! shall I shew you a merchandise that shall deliver you from +the sore torment? + +Believe in God and his apostle, and do valiantly in the cause of God with +your wealth and with your persons! This, did ye but know it, will be best for +you. + +Your sins will He forgive you, and He will bring you into gardens beneath +whose shades the rivers flow–into charming abodes in the gardens of Eden: +This shall be the great bliss.– + +And other things which ye desire will he bestow, Help from God and speedy +conquest!3 Bear thou these tidings to the faithful. + +O ye who believe! be helpers (ansars) of God; as said Jesus the son of Mary +to his apostles, "Who will come to the help of God?" "We," said the apostles, +"will be helpers of God." And a part of the children of Israel believed, and +a part believed not. But to those who believed gave we the upperhand over +their foes, and soon did they prove victorious. + + +_______________________ + +1 Addressed to the Muslims who had turned their backs to the enemy at Ohod. + +2 Muhammad had no doubt heard that Jesus had promised a Paracletos, John xvi. +7. This title, understood by him, probably from the similarity of sound, as +equivalent to Periclytos, he applied to himself with reference to his own +name Muhammad (i.e. praised, glorified) from the same root and of the same +meaning as Ahmad, also one of the Prophet's names. It may be here remarked +that the name Muhammad, if pronounced Muhammed, "might be understood by an +Arab in an active instead of a passive sense." (Lane, Kor. p. 52.) Other +passages of Scripture understood by Muslims of their Prophet are Deut. +xxxiii. 2, where Paran is said to mean Islam; Isai. xxi. 6, where the "rider +on the ass" is Jesus, the "rider on the camel" Muhammad; Matt. xx. 1-16, +where the morning, noon, and even are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; John +iv. 21; 1 John iv. 2, 3, where Muhammad is said to be "the spirit that is of +God," because he proclaimed that Jesus was a true man and not God. + +3 If this allude to a meditated attack on the Banu Nadir (see Sura [cii.] +lix.) we have a clue to the probable date of the Sura. The promise, however, +may be general. But the tone of verse 9 evidently points to a period when, as +at Medina, the prospects of Islam were becoming hopeful. + + +SURA LVII.–IRON [XCIX.] + +MEDINA.1–29 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ALL that is in the Heavens and in the Earth praiseth God, and He is the +Mighty, the Wise! + +His the Kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth; He maketh alive and killeth; +and He hath power over all things! + +He is the first and the last; the Seen and the Hidden;2 and He knoweth all +things! + +It is He who in six days created the Heavens and the Earth, then ascended His +throne. He knoweth that which entereth the earth, and that which goeth forth +from it, and what cometh down from Heaven, and what mounteth up to it; and +wherever ye are, He is with you; and God beholdeth all your actions! + +His the kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth; and to God shall all things +return! + +He causeth the night to pass into the day, and He causeth the day to pass +into the night: and He knoweth the very secrets of the bosom! + +Believe in God and his apostle, and bestow in alms of that whereof God hath +made you heirs: for whoever among you believe and give alms–their's shall be +a great recompense. + +What hath come to you that ye believe not in God, although the apostle +exhorteth you to believe in your Lord, and He hath accepted your alliance–if +ye are true believers? + +He it is who hath sent down clear tokens upon His servant, that He may bring +you out of darkness into light; and truly, Kind, Merciful to you is God. + +And what hath come to you that ye expend not for the cause of God? since the +heritage of the Heavens and of the Earth is God's only! Those among you who +contributed before the victory, and fought, shall be differently treated from +certain others among you! Such shall have a nobler grade than those who +contributed and fought after it. But a goodly recompense hath God promised to +all; and God is fully informed of your actions. + +Who is he that will lend a generous loan to God? So will He double it to him, +and he shall have a noble reward. + +One day thou shalt see the believers, men and women, with their light running +before them, and on their right hand.3 The angels shall say to them, "Good +tidings for you this day of gardens beneath whose shades the rivers flow, in +which ye shall abide for ever!" This the great bliss! + +On that day the hypocrites, both men and women, shall say to those who +believe, "Tarry for us, that we may kindle our light at yours." It shall be +said, "Return ye back, and seek light for yourselves." But between them shall +be set a wall with a gateway, within which shall be the Mercy, and in front, +without it, the Torment. They shall cry to them, "Were we not with you?" They +shall say, "Yes! but ye led yourselves into temptation, and ye delayed, and +ye doubted, and the good things ye craved deceived you, till the doom of God +arrived:–and the deceiver deceived you in regard to God." + +On that day, therefore, no ransom shall be taken from you or from those who +believe not:–your abode the fire!–This shall be your master!4 and wretched +the journey thither! + +Hath not the time come, for those who believe, to humble their hearts at the +warning of God and at the truth which he hath sent down? and that they be not +as those to whom the Scriptures were given heretofore, whose lifetime was +prolonged, but whose hearts were hardened, and many of them were perverse? + +Know that God quickeneth the earth after its death! Now have we made these +signs clear to you, that ye may understand. + +Verily, they who give alms, both men and women, and they who lend a generous +loan to God,–doubled shall it be to them–and they shall have a noble +recompense. + +And they who believed in God and his apostle are the men of truth, and the +witnesses in the presence of their Lord;5 They shall have their recompense +and their light: But as for the infidels, and those who give the lie to our +signs, these shall be the inmates of Hell. + +Know ye that this world's life is only a sport, and pastime, and show, and a +cause of vainglory among you! And the multiplying of riches and children is +like the plants which spring up after rain–Their growth rejoiceth the +husband-man; then they wither away, and thou seest them all yellow; then they +become stubble. And in the next life is a severe chastisement, + +Or else pardon from God and His satisfaction: and this world's life is but a +cheating fruition.6 + +Vie in hasting after pardon from your Lord, and Paradise–whose outspread is +as the outspread of the Heaven and of the Earth: Prepared is it for those who +believe in God and His apostles: Such is the bounty of God: to whom He will +He giveth it: and of immense bounty is God! + +No mischance chanceth either on earth or in your own persons, but ere we +created them, it was in the Book;7–for easy is this to God– + +Lest ye distress yourselves if good things escape you, and be over joyous for +what falleth to your share. God loveth not the presumptuous, the boaster, + +Who are covetous themselves and incite others to covetousness. But whose +turneth away from almsgiving–Ah! God is the Rich, the Praiseworthy. + +We have sent our apostles with the clear tokens, and we have caused the Book +and the balance8 to descend with them, that men might observe fairness. And +we have sent down IRON. Dire evil9 resideth in it, as well as advantage, to +mankind! God would know who will assist Him and his apostle in secret. +Verily, God is Powerful, Strong. + +And of old sent we Noah and Abraham, and on their seed conferred the gift of +prophecy, and the Book; and some of them we guided aright; but many were evil +doers. + +Then we caused our apostles to follow in their footsteps; and we caused Jesus +the son of Mary to follow them; and we gave him the Evangel,10 and we put +into the hearts of those who followed him kindness and compassion: but as to +the monastic life, they invented it themselves. The desire only of pleasing +God did we prescribe to them, and this they observed not as it ought to have +been observed: but to such of them as believed gave we their reward, though +many of them were perverse. + +O ye who believe! fear God and believe in his apostle: two portions of his +mercy will He give you. He will bestow on you light to walk in, and He will +forgive you: for God is Forgiving, Merciful; + +That the people of the Book may know that they have no control over aught of +the favours of God, and that these gifts of grace11 are in the hands of God, +and that He vouchsafeth them to whom he will; for God is of immense bounty. + + +_______________________ + +1 The general tone of this Sura shews it to have been revealed at Medina, and +from verse 22 it may be inferred that its true date lies between the battle +of Ohod and the battle of the Ditch. + +2 Lit. the exterior and the interior. + +3 To guide them on their route to paradise. + +4 Patronus. Mar. Beschutzer. Ullm. Or, what ye have deserved. + +5 Against the infidels. + +6 Supellex deceptionis. Mar. + +7 Of our eternal decrees. + +8 Brought by Gabriel to Noah, who imparted its use to his posterity. So say +the commentators. But the expression seems rather to be figurative. Comp. +Sura lv. 6, p. 74. + +9 Or, mighty warlike strength, but the antithesis requires the rendering +given in the text. Comp. Gen. iv. 22, and Michna Tr. Aboth, 5, 9. + +10 We are not to understand by the word Evangel the actual volume of the New +Testament, or any one of its component parts, but rather the revelation made +to Jesus by God himself, which Muhammad may have imagined to have been +committed to writing subsequently, in the same way as his own Koran. + +11 The word in the original is the same for favours, gifts of grace, bounty. +The reference is to the gift of prophecy (Beidh.) mentioned verse 27. + + +SURA IV.–WOMEN1 [C.] + +MEDINA.–175 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +O MEN! fear your Lord, who hath created you of one man (nafs, soul), and of +him created his wife, and from these twain hath spread abroad so many men and +WOMEN. And fear ye God, in whose name ye ask mutual favours,–and reverence +the wombs that bare you. Verily is God watching over you! + +And give to the orphans their property; substitute not worthless things of +your own for their valuable ones, and devour not their property after adding +it to your own; for this is a great crime. + +And if ye are apprehensive that ye shall not deal fairly with orphans, then, +of other women who seem good in your eyes, marry but two, or three, or four;2 +and if ye still fear that ye shall not act equitably, then one only; or the +slaves whom ye have acquired: this will make justice on your part easier. +Give women their dowry freely; but if of themselves they give up aught +thereof to you, then enjoy it as convenient, and profitable: + +And entrust not to the incapable the substance which God hath placed with you +for their support; but maintain them therewith, and clothe them, and speak to +them with kindly speech. + +And make trial of orphans until they reach the age of marriage; and if ye +perceive in them a sound judgment, then hand over their substance to them; +but consume ye it not wastefully, or by hastily entrusting it to them; + +Because they are growing up. And let the rich guardian not even touch it; and +let him who is poor use it for his support (eat of it) with discretion. + +And when ye make over their substance to them, then take witnesses in their +presence: God also maketh a sufficient account. + +Men ought to have a part of what their parents and kindred leave; and women3 +a part of what their parents and kindred leave: whether it be little or much, +let them have a stated portion. + +And when they who are of kin are present at the division, and the orphans and +the poor, let them too have a share; and speak to them with kindly speech. + +And let those be afraid to wrong the orphans, who, should they leave behind +them weakly offspring, would be solicitous on their account. Let them, +therefore, fear God, and let them propose what is right. + +Verily they who swallow the substance of the orphan wrongfully, shall swallow +down only fire into their bellies, and shall burn in the flame! + +With regard to your children, God commandeth you to give the male the portion +of two females; and if they be females more than two, then they shall have +two-thirds of that which their father hath left: but if she be an only +daughter, she shall have the half; and the father and mother of the deceased +shall each of them have a sixth part of what he hath left, if he have a +child; but if he have no child, and his parents be his heirs, then his mother +shall have the third: and if he have brethren, his mother shall have the +sixth, after paying the bequests he shall have bequeathed, and his debts. As +to your fathers, or your children, ye know not which of them is the most +advantageous to you. This is the law of God. Verily, God is Knowing, Wise! + +Half of what your wives leave shall be your's, if they have no issue; but if +they have issue, then a fourth of what they leave shall be your's, after +paying the bequests they shall bequeath, and debts. + +And your wives shall have a fourth part of what ye leave, if ye have no +issue; but if ye have issue, then they shall have an eighth part of what ye +leave, after paying the bequests ye shall bequeath, and debts. + +If a man or a woman make a distant relation their heir, and he or she have a +brother or a sister, each of these two shall have a sixth; but if there are +more than this, then shall they be sharers in a third, after payment of the +bequests he shall have bequeathed, and debts, + +Without loss to any one. This is the ordinance of God, and God is Knowing, +Gracious! + +These are the precepts of God; and whoso obeyeth God and his prophet, him +shall God bring into gardens beneath whose shades the rivers flow, therein to +abide for ever: and this, the great blessedness! + +And whoso shall rebel against God and his apostle, and shall break His +bounds, him shall God place in the fire to abide therein for ever; and his +shall be a shameful torment. + +If any of your women be guilty of whoredom, then bring four witnesses against +them from among yourselves; and if they bear witness to the fact, shut them +up within their houses till death release them,4 or God make some way for +them. + +And if two men among you commit the same crime, then punish them both; but if +they turn and amend, then let them be: for God is He who turneth, Merciful! + +With God himself will the repentance of those who have done evil ignorantly, +and then turn speedily unto Him, be accepted. These! God will turn unto +them:for God is Knowing, Wise! + +But no place of repentance shall there be for those who do evil, until, when +death is close to one of them, he saith, "Now verily am I turned to God;" nor +to those who die unbelievers. These! we have made ready for them a grievous +torment! + +O believers! it is not allowed you to be heirs of your wives against their +will; nor to hinder them from marrying, in order to take from them part of +the dowry you had given them, unless they have been guilty of undoubted +lewdness; but associate kindly with them: for if ye are estranged from them, +haply ye are estranged from that in which God hath placed abundant good. + +And if ye be desirous to exchange one wife for another, and have given one of +them a talent, make no deduction from it. Would ye take it by slandering her, +and with manifest wrong? + +How, moreover, could ye take it, when one of you hath gone in unto the other, +and they have received from you a strict bond of union? + +And marry not women whom your fathers have married: for this is a shame, and +hateful, and an evil way: though what is past5 may be allowed. + +Forbidden to you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and +your aunts, both on the father and mother's side, and your nieces on the +brother and sister's side, and your foster-mothers, and your foster-sisters, +and the mothers of your wives, and your step-daughters who are your wards, +born of your wives to whom ye have gone in: (but if ye have not gone in unto +them, it shall be no sin in you to marry them;) and the wives of your sons +who proceed out of your loins; and ye may not have two sisters; except where +it is already done. Verily, God is Indulgent, Merciful! + +Forbidden to you also are married women, except those who are in your hands +as slaves: This is the law of God for you. And it is allowed you, beside +this, to seek out wives by means of your wealth, with modest conduct, and +without fornication. And give those with whom ye have cohabited their dowry. +This is the law. But it shall be no crime in you to make agreements over and +above the law. Verily, God is Knowing, Wise! + +And whoever of you is not rich enough to marry free believing women, then let +him marry such of your believing maidens as have fallen into your hands as +slaves; God well knoweth your faith. Ye are sprung the one from the other. +Marry them, then, with the leave of their masters, and give them a fair +dower: but let them be chaste and free from fornication, and not entertainers +of lovers. + +If after marriage they commit adultery, then inflict upon them half the +penalty enacted for free married women. This law is for him among you who is +afraid of doing wrong:6 but if ye abstain,7 it will be better for you. And +God is Lenient, Merciful. + +God desireth to make this known to you, and to guide you into the ways of +those who have been before you, and to turn Him unto you in mercy. And God is +Knowing, Wise! + +God desireth thus to turn him unto you: but they who follow their own lusts, +desire that with great swerving should ye swerve! God desireth to make your +burden light: for man hath been created weak. + +O believers! devour not each other's substance in mutual frivolities;8 unless +there be a trafficking among you by your own consent: and commit not +suicide:–of a truth God is merciful to you. + +And whoever shall do this maliciously and wrongfully, we will in the end cast +him into the fire; for this is easy with God. + +If ye avoid the great sins which ye are forbidden, we will blot out your +faults, and we will cause you to enter Paradise with honourable entry. + +Covet not the gifts by which God hath raised some of you above others. The +men shall have a portion according to their deserts, and the women a portion +according to their deserts. Of God, therefore, ask his gifts. Verily, God +hath knowledge of all things. + +To every one have we appointed kindred, as heirs of what parents and +relatives, and those with whom ye have joined right hands in contract, leave. +Give therefore, to each their portion. Verily, God witnesseth all things. + +Men are superior to women on account of the qualities with which God hath +gifted the one above the other, and on account of the outlay they make from +their substance for them. Virtuous women are obedient, careful, during the +husband's absence, because God hath of them been careful.9 But chide those +for whose refractoriness ye have cause to fear; remove them into beds apart, +and scourage them: but if they are obedient to you, then seek not occasion +against them: verily, God is High, Great! + +And if ye fear a breach between man and wife, then send a judge chosen from +his family, and a judge chosen from her family: if they are desirous of +agreement, God will effect a reconciliation between them; verily, God is +knowing, apprised of all! + +Worship God, and join not aught with Him in worship. Be good to parents,10 +and to kindred, and to orphans, and to the poor, and to a neighbour, whether +kinsman or new-comer, and to a fellow traveller, and to the wayfarer, and to +the slaves whom your right hands hold; verily, God loveth not the proud, the +vain boaster, + +Who are niggardly themselves, and bid others be niggards, and hide away what +God of his bounty hath given them. We have made ready a shameful chastisement +for the unbelievers, + +And for those who bestow their substance in alms to be seen of men, and +believe not in God and in the last day. Whoever hath Satan for his companion, +an evil companion hath he! + +But what blessedness would be theirs, if they should believe in God and in +the last day, and bestow alms out of what God hath vouchsafed them; for God +taketh knowledge of them! + +God truly will not wrong any one of the weight of a mote; and if there be any +good deed, he will repay it doubly; and from his presence shall be given a +great recompense. + +How! when we shall bring up against them witnesses from all peoples, and when +we shall bring thee up as witness against these? On that day they who were +Infidels and rebelled against the prophet, shall wish that the earth were +levelled with them! But nothing shall they hide from God. + +O ye true believers,11 come not to prayer when ye are drunken, but wait till +ye can understand what ye utter; nor when ye are polluted, unless ye be +travelling on the road, until ye have washed you. If ye be sick, or on a +journey, or have come from the unclean place, or have touched a woman, and ye +find not water, then rub pure sand, and bathe your face and your hands with +it: verily, God is Lenient, Merciful. + +Hast thou not remarked those12 to whom a part of the Scriptures hath been +given? Vendors are they of error, and are desirous that ye go astray from the +way. But God knoweth your enemies; and God is a sufficient patron, and God is +a sufficient helper! + +Among the Jews are those who displace the words of their Scriptures, and say, +"We have heard, and we have not obeyed. Hear thou, but as one that heareth +not; and LOOK AT US;"13 perplexing with their tongues, and wounding the Faith +by their revilings. + +But if they would say, "We have heard, and we obey; hear thou, and REGARD +US;" it were better for them, and more right. But God hath cursed them for +their unbelief. Few only of them are believers! + +O ye to whom the Scriptures have been given! believe in what we have sent +down confirmatory of the Scripture which is in your hands, ere we efface your +features, and twist your head round backward, or curse you as we cursed the +sabbath-breakers:14 and the command of God was carried into effect. + +Verily, God will not forgive the union of other gods with Himself! But other +than this will forgive to whom He pleaseth. And He who uniteth gods with God +hath devised a great wickedness. + +Hast thou not marked those who hold themselves to be righteous? But God +holdeth righteous whom He will; and they shall not be wronged the husk of a +date stone. + +Behold how they devise a lie of God! Therein is wickedness manifest enough! + +Hast thou not observed those to whom a part of the Scriptures hath been +given?15 They believe in Djibt and Thagout, and say of the infidels, "These +are guided in a batter path than those who hold the faith." + +These are they whom God hath cursed: and for him whom God hath cursed, thou +shalt by on means find a helper. + +Shall they have a share in the kingdom who would not bestow on their fellow +men even the speck in a date stone? + +Envy they other men what God of his bounty hath given them? We gave of old +the Scriptures and wisdom to the line of Abraham, and we gave them a grand +kingdom: + +–Some of them believe on the prophet and some turn aside from him:–the flame +of Hell is their sufficing punishment! + +Those who disbelieve our signs we will in the end cast into the fire: so oft +as their skins shall be well burnt,16 we will change them for fresh skins, +that they may taste the torment. Verily God is Mighty, Wise! + +But as for those who have believed, and done the things that are right, we +will bring being them into gardens 'neath which the rivers flow therein to +abide eternally;–therein shall they have wives of stainless purity: and we +will bring them into aye-shadowing shades. + +Verily, God enjoineth you to give back your trusts to their owners, and when +ye judge between men, to judge with fairness. Excellent is the practice to +which God exhorteth you. God Heareth, Beholdeth! + +O ye who believe! obey God and obey the apostle, and those among you invested +with authority; and if in aught ye differ, bring it before God and the +apostle, if ye believe in God and in the latter day. This is the best and +fairest way of settlement. + +Hast thou not marked those who profess that they believe in what hath been +sent down to thee, and what hath been sent down before thee? Fain would they +be judged before Thagout, though commanded not to believe in him; and fain +would Satan make them wander with wanderings wide of truth. + +And when it is said to them, "Accede to that which God hath sent down, and to +the apostle," thou seest the hypocrites avert them from thee with utter +aversion. + +But how, when some misfortune shall fortune them, for their previous +handywork? Then will they come to thee, swearing by God, "We desire nothing +but to promote good and concord!" + +These are they whose hearts God knoweth. Therefore break off from them, and +warn them, speak words that may penetrate their souls. + +We have not sent any apostle but to be obeyed, it God so will: but if they, +after they have sinned to their own hurt by unbelief, come to thee and ask +pardon of God, and the apostle ask pardon for them, they shall surely find +that God is He who turneth unto man, Merciful. + +And they will not–I swear by thy Lord–they will not believe, until they have +set thee up as judge between them on points where they differ. Then shall +they not find in their own minds any difficulty in thy decisions, and shall +submit with entire submission. + +Had we laid down such a law for them as "Kill yourselves, or abandon your +dwellings," but few of them would have done it. But had they done that to +which they were exhorted, better and it been for them, and stronger for the +confirmation of their faith. + +In that case we had surely given them from ourself a great recompense, and on +the straight path should we surely have guided them. + +And whoever shall obey God and the Apostle, these shall be with those of the +Prophets, and of the Sincere, and of the Martyrs, and of the Just, to whom +God hath been gracious. These are a goodly band! + +This is the bounty of God; and in knowledge doth God suffice. + +O ye who believe! make use of precautions; and advance in detachments, or , +advance in a body. + +There is of you who will be a laggard: and if a reverse befall you he saith, +"Now hath God dealt graciously with me, since I was not with you in the +fight:" + +But if a success from God betide you, he will say, as if there had never been +any friendship between you and him, "Would I had been with them! a rich prize +should I have won!" + +Let those then fight on the path of God, who barter this present life for +that which is to come; for whoever fighteth on God's path, whether he be +slain or conquer, we will in the end give him a great reward. + +But what hath come to you that ye fight not on the path of God, and for the +weak among men, women and children, who say, "O our Lord! bring us forth from +this city17 whose inhabitants are oppressors; give us a champion from thy +presence; and give us from thy presence a defender." + +They who believe, fight on the path of God; and they who believe not, fight +on the path of Thagout: Fight therefore against the friends of Satan. Verily +craft of Satan shall be powerless! + +Hast thou not marked those to whom it was said, "Withhold your hands awhile +from war; and observe prayer, and pay the stated alms." But when war is +commanded them, lo! a portion of them fear men as with the fear of God, or +with a yet greater fear, and say: "O our Lord! why hast thou commanded us +war? Couldst thou not have given us respite till our not distant end?" SAY: +Small the fruition of this world; but the next life is the true good for him +who feareth God! and ye shall not be wronged so much as the skin of a date +stone. + +Wherever ye be, death will overtake you–although ye be in lofty towers! If +good fortune betide them, they say, "This is from God;" and if evil betide +them, they say, "This is from thee." SAY: All is from God: But what hath come +to these people that they are not near to understanding what is told them? + +Whatever good betideth thee is from God, and whatever betideth thee of evil +is from thyself; and we have sent thee to mankind as an apostle: God is thy +sufficing witness. + +Whoso obeyeth the Apostle, in so doing obeyeth God: and as to those who turn +back from thee, we have not sent thee to be their keeper. + +Moreover, they say: "Obedience!" but when they come forth from thy presence, +a party of them brood by night over other than thy words; but God writeth +down what they brood over: therefore separate thyself from them, and put thou +thy trust in God. is a sufficient protector! + +Can they not consider the Koran? Were it from any other than God, they would +surely have found in it many contradictions. + +And when tidings, either of security or alarm, reach them, they tell them +abroad; but if they would report them to the apostle, and to those who are in +authority among them, those who desire information would learn it from them. +But for the goodness and mercy of God towards you, ye would have followed +Satan except a few! + +Fight, therefore, on God's path: lay not burdens on any but thyself; and stir +up the faithful. The might of the infidels haply will god restrain, for God +is the stronger in prowess, and the stronger to punish. + +He who shall mediate between men for a good purpose shall be the gainer by +it. But he who shall mediate with an evil mediation shall reap the fruit of +it. And God keepeth watch over everything. + +If ye are greeted with a greeting, then greet ye with a better greeting, or +at least return it: God taketh count of all things. + +God! there is no god but He! He will certainly assemble you on the day of +resurrection. There is no doubt of it. And whose word is more true than +God's? + +Why are ye two parties on the subject of the hypocrites, when God hath cast +them off for their doings? Desire ye to guide those whom god hath led astray? +But for him whom God leadeth astray, thou shalt by no means find a pathway. + +They desire that ye should be infidels as they are infidels, and that ye +should be alike. Take therefore none of them for friends, till they have fled +their homes for the cause of God. If they turn back, then seize them, and +slay them wherever ye find them; but take none of them as friends or helpers, + +Except those who shall seek and asylum among your allies, and those who come +over to you–their hearts forbidding them to make war on you, or to make war +on their own people. Had God pleased, he would have given them power against +you, and they would have made war upon you! But, if they depart from you, and +make not war against you and offer you peace, the God alloweth you no +occasion against them. + +Ye will find others who seek to gain your confidence as well as that of their +own people: So oft as they return to sedition, they shall be overthrown in +it: But if they leave you not, nor propose terms or peace to you nor withhold +their hands, then seize them, and slay them, wherever ye find them. Over +these have we given you undoubted power. + +A believer killeth not a believer but by mischance: and whoso killeth a +believer by mischance shall be bound to free a believer from slavery; and the +blood-money shall be paid to the family of the slain, unless they convert it +into alms. But if the slain believer be of a hostile people, then let him +confer freedom on a slave who is a believer; and if he be of a people between +whom and yourselves there is an alliance, then let the blood-money be paid to +his family, and let him set free a slave who is a believer: and let him who +hath not the means, fast two consecutive months. This is the penance enjoined +by God; and God is Knowing, Wise! + +But whoever shall kill a believer of set purpose, his recompense shall be +hell; for ever shall he abide in it; God shall be wrathful with him, and +shall curse him, and shall get ready for him a great torment. + +O believers! when ye go forth to the fight for the cause of God, be +discerning, and say not to every one who meeteth you with a greeting, "Thou +art not a believer"18 in your greed after the chance good things of this +present life! With God are abundant spoils. Such hath been your wont in times +past; but god hath been gracious to you. Be discerning, then, for God well +knoweth what ye do. + +Those believers who sit at home free from trouble, and those who do valiantly +in the cause of God with their substance and their persons, shall not be +treated alike. God hath assigned to those who contend earnestly with their +persons and with their substance, a rank above those who sit at home. Goodly +promises hath He made to all. But God hath assigned to the strenuous a rich +recompense, above those who sit still at home, + +Rank of his own bestowal, and forgiveness, and mercy; for God is Indulgent, +Merciful. + +The angels,19 when they took the souls of those who had been unjust to their +own weal, demanded, "What hath been your state?"20 They said, "We were the +weak ones21 of the earth." They replied, "Was not God's earth broad enough +for you to flee away in?" These! their home shall be Hell, and evil the +passage to it– + +Except the men and women and children who were not able, through their +weakness, to find the means of escape, and were not guided on their way. +These haply God will forgive: for God is Forgiving, Gracious. + +Whoever flieth his country for the cause of God, will find in the earth many +under like compulsion, and abundant resources; and if any one shall quit his +home and fly to God and his apostle, and then death overtake him,–his reward +from God is sure: for God is Gracious, Merciful! + +And when ye go forth to war in the land, it shall be no crime in you to cut +short your prayers,22 if ye fear lest the infidels come upon you; Verily, the +infidels are your undoubted enemies! + +And when thou, O apostle! shalt be among them, and shalt pray with them, then +let a party of them rise up with thee, but let them take their arms; and when +they shall have made their prostrations, let them retire to your rear: then +let another party that hath not prayed come forward, and let them pray with +you; but let them take their precautions and their arms. Pleased would the +infidels be for you to neglect your arms and your baggage, that they might +turn upon you at once! And it shall be no crime in you to lay down your arms +if rain annoy you, or if ye be sick. But take your precautions.23 Verily, God +hath made ready a shameful torment for the infidels. + +And when ye shall have ended the prayer, make mention of God, standing, and +sitting, and reclining: and as soon as ye are secure, observe prayer; for to +the faithful, prayer is a prescribed duty, and for stated hours. + +Slacken not in pursuit of the foe. If ye suffer, assuredly they suffer also +as ye suffer; but ye hope from God for what they cannot hope! And God is +Knowing, Wise! + +Verily, we have sent down the Book to thee with the truth, thou that mayest +judge between men according as God hath given thee insight: But with the +deceitful ones dispute not: and implore pardon of God. Verily, God is +Forgiving, Merciful.24 + +And plead not with us for those who are self-deceivers; for God loveth not +him who is deceitful, criminal. + +From men they hide themselves; but they cannot hide themselves from God: and +when they hold nightly discourses which please Him not, He is with them. God +is round about their doings! + +Oh! ye are they who plead in their favour in this present life; but who shall +plead with God for them on the day of the resurrection? Who will be the +guardian over them? + +Yet he who doth evil, or shall have acted against his own weal, and then +shall ask pardon of God, will find God Forgiving, Merciful: + +And whoever committeth a crime, committeth it to his own hurt. And God is +Knowing, Wise! + +And whoever committeth an involuntary fault or a crime, and then layeth it on +the innocent, shall surely bear the guilt of calumny and of a manifest crime. + +But for the grace and mercy of God upon thee, a party among them had resolved +to mislead thee, but they shall only mislead themselves; nor in aught shall +they harm thee. God hath caused the Book and the wisdom to descend upon thee: +and what thou knowest not He hath caused thee to know: and the grace of God +toward thee hath been great. + +In most of their secret talk is nothing good; but only in his who enjoineth +almsgiving, or that which is right, or concord among men. Whoso doth this, +out of desire to please God, we will give him at the last a great reward: + +But whoso shall sever himself from the prophet after that "the guidance" hath +been manifested to him, and shall follow any other path than that of the +faithful, we will turn our back on him as he hath turned his back on us, and +we will cast him into Hell;–an evil journey thither! + +God truly will not forgive the joining other gods with Himself. Other sins He +will forgive to whom He will: but he who joineth gods with God, hath erred +with far-gone error. + +They call, beside Him, upon mere goddesses! they invoke a rebel Satan! + +On them is the malison of God. For he said, "A portion of thy servants will I +surely take, and will lead them astray, and will stir desires within them, +and will command them and they shall cut the ears of animals;25 and I will +command them, and they shall alter the creation of God."26 He who taketh +Satan rather than God for his patron, is ruined with palpable ruin: + +He hath made them promises, and he hath stirred desires within them; but +Satan promiseth, only to beguile! + +These! their dwelling Hell! no escape shall they find from it! + +But they who believe and do the things that are right, we will bring them +into gardens beneath which the rivers flow; For ever shall they abide +therein. Truly it is the promise of God: And whose word is more sure than +God's? + +Not according to your wishes, or the wishes of the people of the Book, shall +these things be. He who doth evil shall be recompensed for it. Patron or +helper, beside God, shall he find none. + +But whoso doth the things that are right, whether male or female, and he or +she a believer,–these shall enter Paradise, nor shall they be wronged the +skin of a date stone. + +And who hath a better religion than he who resigneth himself to God, who doth +what is good, and followeth the faith of Abraham in all sincerity? And God +took Abraham for his friend. + +All that is in the Heavens and all that is on the Earth is God's: and God +encompasseth all things! + +Moreover, they will consult thee in regard to women: SAY: God hath instructed +you about them; and His will is rehearsed to you, in the Book, concerning +female orphans to whom ye give not their legal due, and whom ye refuse to +marry; also with regard to weak children; and that ye deal with fairness +towards orphans. Ye cannot do a good action, but verily God knoweth it. + +And if a wife fear ill usage or aversion on the part of her husband, then +shall it be no fault in them if they can agree with mutual agreement, for +agreement is best. Men's souls are prone to avarice; but if ye act kindly and +fear God, then, verily, your actions are not unnoticed by God! + +And ye will not have it at all in your power to treat your wives alike, even +though you fain would do so; but yield not wholly to disinclination, so that +ye leave one of them as it were in suspense; if ye come to an understanding, +and fear God, then, verily, God is Forgiving, Merciful; + +But if they separate, God can compensate both out of His abundance; for God +is Vast, Wise; + +And whatever is in the Heavens and in the Earth is God's! We have already +enjoined those to whom the Scriptures were given before you, and yourselves, +to fear God. But if ye become unbelievers, yet know that whatever is in the +Heavens and in the Earth is God's: and God is Rich, Praiseworthy. + +All that is in Heaven and all that is in Earth is God's! God is a sufficient +protector! + +If he pleased, he could cause you to pass away, O mankind! and create others +in your stead: for this hath God power. + +If any one desire the reward of this world, yet with God is the reward of +this world and of the next! And God Heareth, Beholdeth. + +O ye who believe! stand fast to justice, when ye bear witness before God, +though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kindred, whether +the party be rich or poor. God is nearer than you to both. Therefore follow +not passion, lest ye swerve from truth. And if ye wrest your testimony or +stand aloof, God verily is well aware of what ye do. + +O ye who believe! believe in God and his Apostle, and the Book which he hath +sent down to his Apostle, and the Book which he hath sent down aforetime. +Whoever believeth not on God and his Angels and his Books and his Apostles, +and in the last day, he verily hath erred with far-gone error. + +Verily, they who believed, then became unbelievers, then believed, and again +became unbelievers, and then increased their unbelief–it is not God who will +forgive them or guide them into the way. + +Announce27 to the hypocrites that a dolorous torment doth await them. + +Those who take the unbelievers for friends besides the faithful–do they seek +honour at their hands? Verily, all honour belongeth unto God! + +And already hath He sent this down to you in the Book28 "WHEN YE SHALL HEAR +THE SIGNS OF GOD THEY SHALL NOT BE BELIEVED BUT SHALL BE MOCKED AT." Sit ye +not therefore with such, until they engage in other discourse; otherwise, ye +will become like them. Verily God will gather the hypocrites and the infidels +all together in Hell. + +They watch you narrowly. Then if God grant you a victory, they say, "Are we +not with you?" and if the infidels meet with a success, they say to them, +"Were we not superior to you: and did we not defend you from those +believers?" God shall judge betwixt ye on the day of the resurrection, and +God will by no means make a way for the infidels over the believers. + +The hypocrites would deceive God, but He will deceive them! When they stand +up for prayer, they stand carelessly, to be seen of men, and they remember +God but little: + +Wavering between the one and the other–belonging neither to these nor those! +and by no means shalt thou find a path for him whom God misleadeth. + +O believers! take not infidels for friends rather than believers. Would ye +furnish God with clear right to punish you? + +Verily the hypocrites shall be in the lowest abyss of the fire: and, by no +means shalt thou find a helper for them; + +Save for those who turn and amend, and lay fast hold on God, and approve the +sincerity of their religion to God; these shall be numbered with the +faithful, and God will at last bestow on the faithful a great reward. + +Why should God inflict a chastisement upon you, if ye are grateful, and +believe? God is Grateful, Wise! + +God loveth not that evil be matter of public talk, unless any one hath been +wronged: God it is who Heareth, Knoweth! + +Whether ye publish what is good, or conceal it, or pardon evil, verily God is +Pardoning, Powerful! + +Of a truth they who believe not on God and his Apostles, and seek to separate +God from his Apostles, and say, "Some we believe, and some we believe not," +and desire to take a middle way; + +These! they are veritable infidels! and for the infidels have we prepared a +shameful punishment. + +And they who believe on God and his Apostles, and make no difference between +them these! we will bestow on them their reward at last. God is Gracious, +Merciful! + +The people of the Book will ask of thee to cause a Book to come down unto +them out of Heaven. But a greater thing than this did they ask of Moses! for +they said, "Shew us God plainly!" and for this their wickedness did the fire- +storm lay hold on them. Then took they the calf as the object of their +worship, after that our clear tokens had come to them; but we forgave them +this, and conferred on Moses undoubted power. + +And we uplifted the mountain 29 over them when we made a covenant with them, +and we said to them, "Enter the gate adoring:"and we said to them, +"Transgress not on the Sabbath," and we received from them a strict covenant. + +So, for that they have broken their covenant, and have rejected the signs of +God, and have put the prophets to death unjustly, saying the while, "Our +hearts are uncircumcised,"–Nay, but God hath sealed them up for their +unbelief, so that but few believe. + +And for their unbelief,–and for their having spoken against Mary a grievous +calumny,– + +And for their saying, "Verily we have slain the Messiah, Jesus the son of +Mary, an Apostle of God." Yet they slew him not, and they crucified him not, +but they had only his likeness.30 And they who differed about him were in +doubt concerning him: No sure knowledge had they about him, but followed only +an opinion, and they did not really slay him, but God took him up to Himself. +And God is Mighty, Wise! + +There shall not be one of the people of the Book but shall believe in Him +before his death, and in the day of resurrection, He will be a witness +against them. + +For the wickedness of certain Jews, and because they turn many from the way +of God, we have forbidden them goodly viands which had been before allowed +them. + +And because they have taken usury, though they were forbidden it, and have +devoured men's substance in frivolity, we have got ready for the infidels +among them a grievous torment. + +But their men of solid knowledge, and the believers who believe in that which +hath been sent down to thee, and in what hath been sent down before thee, and +who observe prayer, and pay the alms of obligation, and believe in God and +the latter day,–these! we will give them a great reward. + +Verily we have revealed to thee as we revealed to Noah and the Prophets after +him, and as we revealed to Abraham, and Ismaël, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the +tribes, and Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon; and to David +gave we Psalms. + +Of some apostles we have told thee before: of other apostles we have not told +thee–And discoursing did God discourse with Moses– + +Apostles charged to announce and to warn, that men, after those apostles, +might have no plea against God. And God is Mighty, Wise! + +But God is himself witness of what He hath sent down to thee: In His +knowledge hath He sent it down to thee. The angels are also its witnesses: +but God is a sufficient witness! + +Verily, they who believe not and pervert from the way of God, have indeed +erred with error wide of truth. + +Verily, those who believe not, and act wrongfully, God will never pardon, and +never will he guide them on path, + +Than the path to Hell, in which they shall abide for ever! And this is easy +for God. + +O men! now hath an apostle come to you with truth from your Lord. Believe +then, it will be better for you. But if ye believe not, then, all that is in +the Heavens and the Earth is God's; and God is Knowing, Wise! + +O ye people of the Book! overstep not bounds in your religion;31 and of God, +speak only truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, is only an apostle of God, +and his Word which he conveyed into Mary, and a Spirit32 proceeding from +himself. Believe therefore in God and his apostles, and say not, "Three:" +(there is a Trinity)–Forbear–it will be better for you. God is only one God! +Far be it from His glory that He should have a son! His, whatever is in the +Heavens, and whatever is in the Earth! And God is a sufficient Guardian. + +The Messiah disdaineth not to be a servant of God, nor do the angels who are +nigh unto Him. + +And whoso disdaineth His service, and is filled with pride, God will gather +them all to Himself. + +And to those who believe and do the things that are right, will He pay them +their due recompense, and out of His bounty will He increase them: but as for +those who are disdainful and proud, with a grievous chastisement will He +chastise them; + +And none beside God shall they find to protect or to help them. + +O men! now hath a proof come to you from your Lord, and we have sent down to +you a clear light. As to those who believe in God and lay fast hold on Him, +these will He cause to enter into his mercy and grace, and along the straight +way unto Himself will He guide them. + +They will consult thee. SAY: God instructeth you as to distant kindred. If a +man die childless, but have a sister, half what he shall have shall be her's; +and if she die childless he shall be her heir. But if there be two sisters, +two-third parts of what he shall have shall be theirs; and if there be both +brothers and sisters, the male shall have the portion of two females. God +teacheth you plainly, that ye err not! God knoweth all things. + + +_______________________ + +1 Most of the events alluded to in this Sura fall between the end of the +third and the close of the fifth year after the Flight to Medina. + +2 Muhammad assumed to himself the privilege of having a yet greater number of +wives. But in doing so, he was probably actuated by a desire for male +offspring. Chadijah was his only wife until quite a late period of his +career. Comp. Arbah Turim. Ev. Hazaer 1, "A man may marry many wives, for +Rabba saith it is lawful to do so, if he can provide for them. Nevertheless, +the wise men have given good advice, that a man should not marry more than +four wives." See also Yad Hachazakah Hilchoth Ishuth. 14, 3. + +3 Verses 8 and 12 are said by the commentators to have been revealed in +consequence of the complaints of Omm Kuhha that, in accordance with the ante- +Islamitic custom, she had been excluded from any portion of her deceased +husband's property. The unsatisfactory nature of the Muhammadan traditions +may be inferred from the fact, that no less than six different names are +assigned to him. It is, however, probable that these and similar laws +relative to inheritances were given at a time when many heads of families had +fallen, as at Ohod, in battle. This remark applies to verses 33-45. + +4 Women found guilty of adultery and fornication were punished at the first +rise of Islam, by being literally immured. But this was exchanged, in the +case of a maiden, for one year's banishment and 100 stripes; and in the case +of a married woman, for stoning. + +5 What took place in the times of ignorance, previous to the revelation of +the Koran. See Freytag's Einl. p. 201, as to the incestuous nature of the +ante-Islamitic Arabian marriages. + +6 By marrying without means adequate to the support of a free wife, or by +remaining single. + +7 From marrying slaves. + +8 Games of chance, usury, etc. + +9 By providing for them a home and the protection of a husband. Or, of that +which God would have them care for. + +10 An undutiful child is very seldom heard of among the Egyptians, or the +Arabs in general. Sons scarcely ever sit, or sit, or eat, or smoke, in the +presence of the father unless bidden to do so; and they often wait upon him +and upon his guests at meals and on other occasions: they do not cease to act +thus when they have become men. Lane's Mod. Egypt. vol. i. p. 69. + +11 The Koranic precepts as to prayer savour of Jewish origin. Thus, "Prayer +should be said standing" is a Rabbinic precept.–Comp. Sura [xci.] ii. 240.– +Misch.Berachoth 10–may be shortened in dangerous places, ib. iv. 10–is +forbidden to the drunken, ib. 31, 2. Erubin, 64–and to the polluted; +Berachoth iii. 4–and is to be preceded, in this case, by washings with water +or sand. See Sura xvii. 110, note 2, p. 173. 1 Cor. xi. 21. + +12 The Jews and their Rabbis. + +13 See Sura [xci.] ii. 98. + +14 Lit. the companions of the sabbath. See [xci.] ii. 61. + +15 This refers to certain renegade Jews, who out of hatred against Muhammad, +went over to the Koreisch. See Nöldeke. p. 149. + +16 Lit. ripened. + +17 Mecca. + +18 And therefore a fit subject for plunder. + +19 Some of the Meccans after embracing Islam did not thoroughly break with +the infidels and fly their country. These persons were miraculously slain by +angels at Bedr. Others suppose the angels to be Nakir and Monkir, who examine +the dead in the grave. + +20 That is, to what religion did ye belong? + +21 And therefore could not resist the unbelievers. + +22 Thus the Rabbins Tr. Berachoth, iv. 4, "He that goeth in a dangerous place +may pray a short prayer." + +23 See Mischna Tr. Berachoth, 10. + +24 This verse is said to have been revealed when Muhammad was about to acquit +a Muslim who had committed theft, and laid the guilt at the door of a Jew. +But the particulars are given in a very contradictory manner. See Nöldeke, p. +151. + +25 In allusion to an idolatrous and superstitious custom of the old Arabians. + +26 By the mutilation of slaves, branding their bodies, filing the teeth, etc. + +27 See Sura lxxxiv. 24, p. 47, note. + +28 Sura vi. + +29 See Sura [xci.] ii.7. + +30 Lit. one was made to appear to them like (Jesus). Comp. [xcvii.] iii.48. +Photius, Bibl. Cod. cxiv.says that the Apocr. Book, [Greek text]–This +individual according to the Basilidans was-Simon of Cyrene; according to the +Evang. Barnab‘, Judas.–Mani, Ep. Fund. ap. Evodium: "Princeps itaque +tenebrarum cruci est affixus, idemque coronam spineam portavit." + +31 By believing too much, like the Christians who regarded Jesus as God; or +too little, like the Jews who would not believe on Muhammad. + +32 That is, a Being possessing a Spirit. + + +SURA LXV.–DIVORCE1 [CI.] + +MECCA.–12 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +O PROPHET! when ye divorce women, divorce them at their special times. And +reckon those times exactly, and fear God your Lord. Put them not forth from +their houses, nor allow them to depart, unless they have committed a proven +adultery. This is the precept of God; and whoso transgresseth the precept of +God, assuredly imperilleth his own self. Thou knowest not whether, after +this, God may not cause something new to occur which may bring you together +again. + +And when they have reached their set time, then either keep them with +kindness, or in kindness part from them. And take upright witnesses from +among you, and bear witness as unto God. This is a caution for him who +believeth in God and in the latter day. And whoso feareth God, to him will He +grant a prosperous issue, and will provide for him whence he reckoned not +upon it. + +And for him who putteth his trust in Him will God be all-sufficient. God +truly will attain his purpose. For everything hath God assigned a period. + +As to such of your wives as have no hope of the recurrence of their times, if +ye have doubts in regard to them, then reckon three months, and let the same +be the term of those who have not yet had them. And as to those who are with +child, their period shall be until they are delivered of their burden. God +will make His command easy to him who feareth Him. + +This is God's command which He hath sent down to you: Whoso feareth God, his +evil deeds will He cancel and will increase his reward. + +Lodge the divorced wherever ye lodge, according to your means; and distress +them not by putting them to straits. And if they are pregnant, then be at +charges for the them till they are delivered of their burden; and if they +suckle your children, then pay them their hire and consult among yourselves, +and act generously: And if herin ye meet with obstacles, then let another +female suckle for him. + +Let him who hath abundance of his abundance; let him, too, whose store is +scanty, give of what God hath vouchsafed to him. God imposeth burdens only +according to the means which He hath given. God will cause ease to succeed +difficulties. + +How many cities have turned aside from the command of their Lord and of his +apostles! Therefore did we reckon with them in a severe reckoning, and +chastised them with a stern chastisement; + +And they tasted the harmfulness of their own conduct: and the end of their +conduct was ruin. + +A vehement chastisement hath God prepared for them! Fear God, then, O ye men +of understanding!2 + +Believers! Now hath God sent down to you a warning! a prophet, who reciteth +to you the clear signs of God, that he may bring those who believe, and do +the things that are right, out of the darkness into the light. And-whoso +believeth in God, and doeth the things that are right, God will cause them to +enter the gardens beneath which the rivers flow, to remain therein for aye! A +goodly provision now hath God made for him. + +It is God who hath created seven heavens and as many earths.3 The Divine +command cometh down through them all, that ye may know that God hath power +over all things, and that God in his knowledge embraceth all things! + + +_______________________ + +1 Comp. Sura [xci.] ii. 228, which this Sura is perhaps intended to +supplement. Wahidi and Beidhawi state that it was revealed on account of Ibn +Omar who had divorced his wife at improper time, and was obliged to take her +again. + +2 In order to make good the rhyme, verse 10 ought to be continued to the end +of the first clause of verse II. + +3 Lit. and of the earth, their likes. The style of this verse resembles that +of the Meccan Suras. Hence, probably; a tradition in Omar ben Muhammad makes +the whole Sura Meccan. + + +SURA LIX.–THE EMIGRATION [CII.] + +MEDINA.–24 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +ALL that is in the Heavens and all that is on the Earth praiseth God! He, the +Mighty, the Wise! + +He it is who caused the unbelievers among the people of the Book to quit +their homes and join those who had EMIGRATED previously.1 Ye did not think +that they would quit them; and they on their part thought that their +fortresses would protect them against God: But God came upon them whence they +looked not for Him, and cast such fear into their hearts that by their own +hands as well as by the hands of the victorious believers they demolished +their houses! Profit by this example ye who are men of insight! + +And were it not that God had decreed their exile, surely in this world would +he have chastised them: but in the world to come the chastisement of the fire +awaiteth them. + +This because they set them against God and his apostle; and whoso setteth him +against God. . . . ! God truly is vehement in punishing. + +Your cutting down some of their palm trees and sparing others was by God's +permission, and to put the wicked to shame. + +After the spoils of these Jews which God hath assigned to his apostle, ye +pressed not with horse or camel.2 But God giveth his apostles power over what +he will. God is Almighty. + +The spoil taken from the people of the towns and assigned by God to his +apostle, belongeth to God, and to the apostle, and to his kindred, and to the +orphan, and to the poor, and to the wayfarer, that none of it may circulate +among such of you only as are rich: What the apostle hath given you, take: +What he hath refused you, refuse: And fear ye God, for God is severe in +punishing. + +To the poor refugees (Mohadjerin) also doth a part belong, who have been +driven from their homes and their substance, and who seek favour from God and +his goodwill, and aid God and his apostle. These are the men of genuine +virtue. + +They of Medina who had been in possession of their abodes and embraced the +faith before them, cherish those who take refuge with them; and they find not +in their breasts any desire for what hath fallen to their share: they prefer +them before themselves, though poverty be their own lot. And with such as are +preserved from their own covetousness shall it be well. + +And they who have come after them into the faith say, "O our Lord! forgive us +and our brethren who have preceded us in the faith, and put not into our +hearts ill-will against those who believe. O our Lord! thou verily art Kind, +Merciful." + +Hast thou not observed the disaffected saying to their unbelieving brethren3 +among the people of the Book, "If ye be driven forth, we will go forth with +you; and in what concerneth you, never will we obey any one; and if ye be +attacked we will certainly come to your help." But God is witness that they +are liars. + +No! if they were driven forth, they would not share their banishment; if they +were attacked they would not help them, or if they help them they will surely +turn their backs: then would they remain unhelped. + +Assuredly the fear of you is more intense in their hearts than the fear of +God! This because they are a people devoid of discernment. + +They (the Jews) will not fight against you in a body except in fenced towns +or from behind walls. Mighty is their valour among themselves! thou thinkest +them united–but their hearts are divided. This for that they are a people who +understand not. + +They act like those who lately preceded them,4 who also tasted the result of +their doings; and a grievous chastisement awaiteth them– + +Like Satan when he saith to a man, "Be an infidel:" and when he hath become +an infidel, he saith, "I share not thy guilt:5 verily, I fear God the Lord of +the Worlds." + +Of both, therefore, shall the end be that they dwell for ever in the fire: +This is the recompense of the evil doers. + +O ye who believe! fear God. And let every soul look well to what it sendeth +on before for the morrow. And fear ye God: Verily, God is cognisant of what +ye do. + +And be ye not like those who forget God, and whom He hath therefore caused to +forget their proper selves. Such men are the evil doers. + +The inmates of the Fire and the inmates of Paradise are not to be held equal. +The inmates of Paradise only shall be the blissful. + +Had we sent down this Koran on some mountain, thou wouldst certainly have +seen it humbling itself6 and cleaving asunder for the fear of God. Such are +the parables we propose to men in order that they may reflect. + +He is God beside whom there is no god. He knoweth things visible and +invisible: He is the Compassionate, the Merciful. + +He is God beside whom there is no god: He is the King, the Holy, the +Peaceful, the Faithful, the Guardian, the Mighty, the Strong, the Most High! +Far be the Glory of God from that which they unite with Him! + +He is God, the Producer, the Maker, the Fashioner! To Him are ascribed +excellent titles. Whatever is in the Heavens and in the Earth praiseth Him. +He is the Mighty, the Wise! + + +_______________________ + +1 The Jews of Nadhir, three miles from Medina, had broken a treaty made with +Muhammad, and in the month RabŚ of the fourth year of the Hejira were +besieged by him and driven first to the Jews of Kainoka, who had emigrated +previously, under compulsion, after the battle of Bedr, and subsequently out +of Arabia. Weil, Life of M. p.137.n. + +2 On which account these spoils were entirely assigned to Muhammad, and not +divided in the usual manner. See Sura [xcv.] viii. 42. Weil, p. 138, 184. + +3 To the Jews of the tribe of Nadhir. + +4 The idolaters slain at Bedr (Djal.) or the Jews of Kainoka, who had been +plundered previously to those of Nadhir. + +5 Lit. I am clear of thee. + +6 This may be derived from the Rabbinical idea that Mount Sinai was chosen, +on account of its lowness, to be the scene of the revelation to Moses, in +order to shew that God loves the humble. + + +SURA XXXIII.–THE CONFEDERATES1 [CIII.] + +MEDINA.–73 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +O PROPHET, fear thou God, and obey not the unbelievers and the hypocrites;– +Truly God is Knowing, Wise: + +But follow what is revealed to thee from thy Lord: Cognisant truly is He of +all your actions– + +And put thou thy trust in God, for a sufficient guardian is God. + +God hath not given a man two hearts within him; neither hath he made your +wives whom ye divorce2 to be as your mothers; nor hath he made your adopted +sons to be as your own sons. Such words are indeed in your mouths; but God +speaketh the truth, and in the right way He guideth. + +Name them after their fathers: this will be more right before God. But if ye +know not who their fathers are, then let them be your brethren in the faith, +and your comrades. And unless made with intent of heart, mistakes in this +matter shall be no crime in you: for God is Lenient, Merciful. + +Nearer of kin to the faithful is the Prophet, than they are to their own +selves. His wives are their mothers. According to the Book of God, they who +are related by blood, are nearer the one to the other than other believers, +and than those who have fled their country3 for the cause of God: but +whatever kindness ye shew to your kindred, shall be noted down in the Book. + +And remember that we have entered into covenant with the Prophets, and with +thee, and with Noah, and Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus, Son of Mary: and we +formed with them a strict covenant, + +That God may question the men of truth as to their truth.4 But a sore torment +hath He prepared for the unbelievers. + +O believers!5 remember the goodness of God towards you, when the armies came +against you, and we sent against them a blast, and hosts that ye saw not; for +the eye of God was upon your doings: + +When they assailed you from above you, and from below you,6 and when your +eyes became distracted, and your hearts came up into your throat, and ye +thought divers thoughts of God: + +Then were the faithful tried, and with strong quaking did they quake: + +And when the disaffected and the diseased7 of heart said, "God and his +Apostle have made us but a cheating promise:" + +And when a party of them said, "O people of Yathrib!8 there is no place of +safety for you here;9 therefore return into the city." And another party of +you asked the prophet's leave to return, saying, "Our houses are left +defenceless." No! they were not left defenceless: but their sole thought was +to flee away. + +If the enemy had effected an entry at all points, and they (the disaffected) +had been asked to promote confusion, they would have done so; but only a +short time would they have remained in it.–(Medina).10 + +They had before pledged themselves to God that they would not turn their +backs; and a pledge given to God must be enquired of. + +SAY: Flight shall not profit you; if ye have fled the death or the slaughter, +yet even then, but a little while shall ye enjoy your good things! + +SAY: Who is he that will screen you from God, whether He choose to bring evil +on you, or to shew you mercy? None beside God shall they find to be their +patron or helper. + +God well knoweth those among you who cause hindrances, and those who say to +their brethren, "Come hither to us;" and who come not to the fight except a +little. + +It is out of covetousness in your regard: for when an alarm cometh, thou +mayest see them look to thee, and roll their eyes like him on whom the +shadows of death have fallen! Yet, when the alarm is passed, with sharp +tongues will they assail you, covetous of the best of the spoil. No faith +have these! God will make their doings of no avail! And easy is this with +God. + +They thought that the CONFEDERATES would never retire:11 and were the +confederates to come again, they would fain be dwelling among the Arabs of +the desert, and there ask news about you! for though they were with you, they +fought not except a little. + +A noble pattern had ye in God's Apostle, for all who hope in God, and in the +latter day, and oft remember God! + +And when the faithful saw the confederates, they said, "This is what God and +His Apostle promised us,12 and God and His Apostle spoke truly:" and it only +increased their faith and self-devotion. + +Some were there among the faithful who made good what they had promised to +God. Some have fulfilled their course, and others await its fulfilment, and +have not been changelings who change– + +That God may reward the faithful for their faithfulness, and may punish the +hypocrites, if He so please, or be turned unto them: for God is Forgiving, +Merciful. + +And God drove back the infidels in their wrath; they won no advantage; God +sufficed the faithful in the fight: for God is Strong, Mighty! + +And He caused those of the people of the Book (the Jews), who had aided the +confederates, to come down out of their fortresses, and cast dismay into +their hearts: some ye slew, others ye took prisoners.13 + +And He gave you their land, and their dwellings, and their wealth, for an +heritage–even a land on which ye had never set foot: for the might of God is +equal to all things. + +O Prophet! say to thy wives,14 If ye desire this present life and its +braveries, come then, I will provide for you, and dismiss you with an +honourable dismissal. + +But if ye desire God and His Apostle, and a home in the next life, then, +truly, hath God prepared for those of you who are virtuous, a great reward. + +O wives of the Prophet! should any of you be guilty of a proven lewdness, +doubly shall her chastisement be doubled: and with God this is easy. + +But whoever of you shall obey God and His Apostle, and shall do that which is +right, twice over will we give her her reward, and we have prepared for her a +noble provision. + +O wives of the Prophet! ye are not as other women. If ye fear God, be not too +complaisant of speech, lest the man of unhealthy heart should lust after you, +but speak with discreet speech. + +And abide still in your houses, and go not in public decked as in the days of +your former ignorance,15 but observe prayer, and pay the impost, and obey God +and the Apostle: for God only desireth to put away filthiness from you16 as +his household, and with cleansing to cleanse you. + +And recollect what is rehearsed to you in your houses of the Book of God, and +of wisdom: for God is keen-sighted, cognisant of all. + +Truly the men who resign themselves to God (Muslims), and the women who +resign themselves, and the believing men and the believing women, and the +devout men and the devout women, and the men of truth, and the women of +truth, and the patient men and the patient women, and the humble men and the +humble women, and the men who give alms and the women who give alms, and the +men who fast and the women who fast, and the chaste men and the chaste women, +and the men and the women who oft remember God: for them hath God prepared +forgiveness and a rich recompense. + +And it is not for a believer, man or woman, to have any choice in their +affairs, when God and His Apostle have decreed a matter: and whoever +disobeyeth God and His Apostle, erreth with palpable error. + +And, remember, when thou saidst to him unto whom God had shewn favour,17 and +to whom thou also hadst shewn favour, "Keep thy wife to thyself, and fear +God;" and thou didst hide in thy mind what God would bring to light.18 and +thou didst fear man; but more right had it been to fear God. And when Zaid +had settled concerning her to divorce her, we married her to thee, that it +might not be a crime in the faithful to marry the wives of their adopted +sons, when they have settled the affair concerning them. And the behest of +God is to be performed. + +No blame attacheth to the prophet where God hath given him a permission. Such +was the way of God with those prophets who flourished before thee; for God's +behest is a fixed decree– + +Who fulfilled the mission with which God had charged them,19 and feared Him, +and feared none but God. And God taketh a sufficient account. + +Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Apostle of +God, and the seal of the prophets: and God knoweth all things. + +O Believers! remember God with frequent remembrance, and praise Him morning +and evening. + +He blesseth you, and His angels intercede for you, that He may bring you +forth out of darkness into light: and Merciful is He to the Believers. + +Their greeting on the day when they shall meet Him shall be "Peace!" And He +hath got ready for them a noble recompense. + +O Prophet ! we have sent thee to be a witness, and a herald of glad tidings, +and a warner; + +And one who, through His own permission, summoneth to God, and a light-giving +torch. + +Announce, therefore, to believers, that great boons do await them from God; + +And obey not the Infidels and Hypocrites–yet abstain from injuring them: and +put thou thy trust in God, for God is a sufficient guardian. + +O Believers! when ye marry believing women, and then divorce them before ye +have consummated the marriage, ye have no term prescribed you, which ye must +fulfil towards them: provide for them, and dismiss them with a reputable +dismissal. + +O Prophet! we allow thee thy wives whom thou hast dowered, and the slaves +whom thy right hand possesseth out of the booty which God hath granted thee, +and the daughters of thy uncle, and of thy paternal and maternal aunts who +fled with thee to Medina, and any believing woman who hath given herself up +to the Prophet, if the Prophet desired to wed her–a Privilege for thee above +the rest of the Faithful. + +We well know what we have settled for them, in regard to their wives and to +the slaves whom their right hands hold, that there may be no fault on thy +part:20 and God is Indulgent, Merciful! + +Thou mayst decline for the present whom thou wilt of them, and thou mayest +take to thy bed her whom thou wilt, and whomsoever thou shalt long for of +those thou shalt have before neglected; and this shall not be a crime in +thee. Thus will it be easier to give them the desire of their eyes, and not +to put them to grief, and to satisfy them with what thou shalt accord to each +of them. God knoweth what is in your hearts, and God is Knowing, Gracious. + +It is not permitted thee to take other wives hereafter,21 nor to change thy +present wives for other women, though their beauty charm thee, except slaves +whom thy right hand shall possess.22 And God watcheth all things. + +O Believers! enter not into the houses of the Prophet,23 save by his leave, +for a meal, without waiting his time. When ye are invited then enter, and +when ye have eaten then disperse at once.24 And engage not in familiar talk, +for this would cause the Prophet trouble, and he would be ashamed to bid you +go; but God is not ashamed to say the truth. And when ye would ask any gift +of his wives, ask it from behind a veil. Purer will this be for your hearts +and for their hearts. And ye must not trouble the Apostle of God, nor marry +his wives, after him, for ever. This would be a grave offence with God. + +Whether ye bring a matter to the light or hide it, God truly hath knowledge +of all things. + +No blame shall attach to them (your wives) for speaking to their fathers +unveiled, or to their sons, or to their brothers, or to their brothers' sons, +or to their sisters' sons, or to their women, or to the slaves whom their +right hands hold. And fear ye God: for God witnesseth all things. + +Verily, God and His Angels bless the Prophet! Bless ye Him, O Believers, and +salute Him with salutations of Peace. + +Verily, they who affront God and His Apostle, the curse of God is on them in +this world, and in the world to come: and He hath prepared for them a +shameful chastisement. + +And they who shall affront believing men and believing women, for no fault of +theirs, they shall surely bear the guilt of slander, and of a clear wrong. + +O Prophet! speak to thy wives and to thy daughters,25 and to the wives of the +Faithful, that they let their veils fall low. Thus will they more easily be +known, and they will not be affronted. God is Indulgent, Merciful! + +If the Hypocrites, and the men of tainted heart, and the stirrers of sedition +in Medina desist not, we will surely stir thee up against them. Then shall +they not be suffered to dwell near thee therein, but a little while: + +Cursed wherever they are found; they shall be seized and slain with +slaughter! + +Such hath been the way of God with those who lived before them; and no change +canst thou find in the way of God. + +Men will ask thee of "the Hour." SAY: The knowledge of it is with God alone: +and who can tell thee whether haply the Hour be not nigh at hand? + +Verily, God hath cursed the Infidels, and hath got ready for them the flame: + +For aye shall they abide therein; none to befriend them, no helper shall they +find! + +On the day when their faces shall be rolled in the fire, they shall cry: "Oh! +would that we had obeyed God, and obeyed the Apostle!" + +And they shall say: "Oh our Lord! indeed we obeyed our chiefs and our great +ones, and they misled us from the way of God– + +O our Lord! give them a double chastisement, and curse them with a heavy +curse." + +O Believers! be not like those who affronted Moses.26 But God cleared him +from what they said of him, and of God was he highly esteemed. + +O Believers! fear God, and speak with well-guided speech. + +That God may bless your doings for you, and forgive you your sins. And whoso +obeyeth God and His Apostle with great bliss shall be blessed. + +Verily, we proposed to the Heavens, and to the Earth, and to the Mountains to +receive the Faith, but they refused the burden, and they feared to receive +it. Man undertook to bear it, but hath proved unjust, senseless! + +Therefore will God punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, +and the men and the women who join gods with God; but to the believing men +and women will God turn him: for God is Indulgent, Merciful! + + +_______________________ + +1 Medina was besieged, when this Sura was revealed, by certain confederate +tribes at the instigation of the Jews, an. Hej. 5. The first nine verses, +however, have no immediate reference to this event, but to Muhammad's +cotemporary marriage with Zeinab. See below, verse 37. + +2 The Arabians had been accustomed, before the time of Muhammad, to divorce +their wives with the words,–thy back be to me as the back of my mother. The +drift and motive of this passage is explained by verse 37 below. It had also +been the custom to hold adopted sons to be as nearly related to them as their +natural ones. See Sura lviii. 2, p. 451. + +3 The Mohadjers–those who had emigrated with Muhammad from Mecca. This verse +abrogates Sura [xcv.] viii. 73. + +4 How they have discharged their prophetic functions. + +5 Verses 9-33 have reference to the events of the year Hej. 5, towards the +close. See next note. His. 688; Waq. 4 f. + +6 In the engagement which took place under the walls of Medina, some of the +enemy were posted on a height to the east of the city, others in a valley on +the west. The besiegers were 12,000, the Muslims 3,000 strong, when a violent +storm, which upset the tents, put out the camp fires, and blinded the eyes of +the confederates with sand, turned the scale of victory against them. +Muhammad ascribes the storm to angelic agency. + +7 That is, with infidelity. + +8 The ancient name of El-Medina. + +9 In the trenches which had been dug around the city by the advice of Salmân, +the Persian. + +10 They would speedily have quitted the city to attack the faithful in the +trenches. + +11 That is, raise the siege. + +12 That is, that through trials we should attain to Paradise, v. 29. + +13 After the siege of Medina had been raised, Muhammad made a successful +expedition against the Jews of Koreidha, for their treason and violation of +treaties. + +14 Muhammad's wives having caused him much annoyance by demands of rich +dresses, etc., he gave them the choice of continuing with him as before, or +of divorce. They chose the former. See Abulfeda's Hist. Moh. p. 77, and +Gagnier's Vie de Moh. i. 4, chap. ii. + +15 That is, Idolatry. Acts xvii. 30. Freytag (Einl. p. 453) thinks that +previous to Islam, the Arabian women went in public unveiled. + +16 The pronoun is in the pl. masc., whereas the pl. fem. is used in the +previous part of the verse. The partisans of Ali quote this passage to prove +the intimate union of Ali and his posterity with the Prophet. + +17 That is, to Zaid. The favour of God to Zaid consisted in having caused him +to become a Muslim: the favour of Muhammad in adopting him as his son. Zaid +and Abu Lahab (Sura cxi. p. 29) are the only contemporaries of Muhammad +mentioned by name in the Koran. + +18 Thy plan to obtain Zeinab, or Zenobia, Zaid's wife, as thy wife. + +19 Lit, who brought the messages of God. + +20 If thou makest use of the special prerogative (conferred in verse 49). + +21 He had nine wives at this period, beside slaves. The number of wives +allowed to the faithful is four. See note, p. 411. 22 The first slave whom +Muhammad took to wife was Raihana, at the conquest of the Banu Koreidha. His. +693. Weil, 170. + +23 Verses 53-55 refer to the conduct of the guests at Muhammad's house after +his marriage with Zeinab. Albuhari passim. Muslim i. 824 ff. Wah. Comp. +Caussir, iii. 151. + +24 Ullmann, p. 263, quotes a similar precept from the Talmud, "Do all that +the master of the house biddeth, but wait not to be asked to depart." + +25 This verse cannot be of later date than Hej. 8, when Muhammad's daughter +Omm Kulthum died. leaving only Fatima. + +26 This may refer to the charge of adultery said by the Rabbins to have been +brought by Korah against Moses. Comp. Tr. Sanhedrin, fol. 110a. and Numbers +xii. 1. The verse is said to have been revealed on account of aspersions +thrown on Muhammad for unfairly dividing spoils, whereupon he said, "God be +merciful to my brother Moses. He was wronged more than this, and bore it with +patience." + + +SURA LXIII.1–THE HYPOCRITES [CIV.] + +MEDINA.–11 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +WHEN the Hypocrites come to thee, they say, "We bear witness that thou art +the Sent One of God." God knoweth that thou art His Sent One: but God beareth +witness that the HYPOCRITES do surely lie. + +Their faith2 have they used as a cloak, and they turn aside others from the +way of God! Evil are all their doings. + +This, for that they believed, then became unbelievers!Therefore hath a seal +been set upon their hearts, and they understand not. + +When thou seest them, their persons make thee marvel; and if they speak, thou +listenest with pleasure to their discourse. Like timbers are they leaning +against a wall!3 They think that every shout is against them. They are +enemies–Beware of them then–God do battle with them! How false are they! + +And when it is said to them, "Come, the Apostle of God will ask pardon for +you," they turn their heads aside, and thou seest them withdraw in their +pride. + +Alike shall it be to them whether thou ask forgiveness for them, or ask it +not. By no means will God forgive them: God hath no guidance for a perverse +people. + +These are they who say to you of Medina, "Spend not aught upon those who are +with the Apostle of God, and they will be forced to quit him." Yet the +treasures of the Heavens and of the Earth are God's! But the Hypocrites have +no understanding. + +They say: "If we return to the city, the mightier will assuredly drive out +the weaker from it." But might is with God, and with the Apostle, and with +the Faithful! Yet the Hypocrites understand not. + +O ye who believe! let not your wealth and your children delude you into +forgetfulness of God. Whoever shall act thus, shall surely suffer loss. + +And expend in the cause of God out of that with which we have supplied you, +ere death surprise each one of you, and he say, "O Lord! wilt thou not +respite me to a term not far distant, that I may give alms, and become one of +the just?" + +And by no means will God respite a soul when its hour hath come! And God is +fully cognisant of what ye do. + + +_______________________ + +1 Revealed shortly after the expedition against the Banu 'l Mustaliq in Hej. +6. See Nöld. p. 156 n. The "Hypocrites" mentioned in the later Suras are the +disaffected portion of the population of Medina, who covertly opposed the +claims of Muhammad to temporal authority over that city. They were gradually +absorbed, as the authority of Islam increased. + +2 Or, in accordance with another reading, oaths. Comp. Ps. cix. 18. + +3 Like timbers or joists supported in a wall or leaned against it, i.e., +their persons are bulky, but their hearts so hypocritical and cowardly that +they are afraid of the slightest noise. In the original, saďkat is perhaps an +allusion to the shout of Gabriel, that is to exterminate the wicked. + + +SURA XXIV.–LIGHT [CV.] + +MEDINA.–64 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +A SURA which we have sent down and sanctioned! Clear signs have we sent down +therein, that ye may take warning. + +The whore and the whoremonger–scourge each of them with an hundred stripes; +and let not compassion keep you from carrying out the sentence of God, if ye +believe in God and the last day: And let some of the faithful witness their +chastisement.1 + +The whoremonger shall not marry other than a whore or an idolatress; and the +whore shall not marry other than a whoremonger or an idolater. Such alliances +are forbidden to the faithful. + +They who defame virtuous women,2 and bring not four witnesses, scourge them +with fourscore stripes, and receive ye not their testimony for ever, for +these are perverse persons– + +Save those who afterwards repent and live virtuously; for truly God is +Lenient, Merciful! + +And they who shall accuse their wives, and have no witnesses but themselves, +the testimony of each of them shall be a testimony by God four times +repeated, that he is indeed of them that speak the truth.3 + +And the fifth time that the malison of God be upon him, if he be of them that +lie. + +But it shall avert the chastisement from her if she testify a testimony four +times repeated, by God, that he is of them that lie; + +And a fifth time to call down the wrath of God on her, if he have spoken the +truth. + +And but for the goodness and mercy of God towards you, and that God is He who +loveth to turn, Wise . . . . ! + +Of a truth, they who advanced that lie4 were a large number of you; but +regard it not as an evil to you. No, it is an advantage to you.5 To every man +among them shall it be done according to the offence he hath committed; and +as to that person6 among them who took on himself to aggravate it, a sore +punishment doth await him. + +Did not the faithful of both sexes, when ye heard of this, form a favourable +judgment in their own minds, and say, + +"This is a manifest lie?" + +Have they brought four witnesses of the fact? If they cannot produce the +witnesses, they are the liars in the sight of God. + +And but for the goodness of God towards you, and His mercy in this world and +in the next, a severe punishment had come upon you for that which ye spread +abroad, when ye uttered with your tongues, and spake with your mouths that of +which ye had no knowledge. Ye deemed it to be a light matter, but with God it +was a grave one. + +And did ye say when ye heard it, "It is not for us to talk of this affair! O +God! By thy Glory, this is a gross calumny?" + +God hath warned you that ye go not back to the like of this for ever, if ye +be believers: + +And God maketh His signs clear to you: for God is Knowing, Wise. + +But as for those who love that foul calumnies should go forth against those +who believe, a grievous chastisement awaits them + +In this world and in the next. And God hath knowledge, but ye have not. + +And but for the goodness of God towards you and His Mercy, and that God is +Kind, Merciful . . . ! + +O ye who believe! follow not the steps of Satan, for whosoever shall follow +the steps of Satan, he will enjoin on him what is base and blameworthy; and +but for the goodness of God towards you,7 and His mercy, no one of you had +been cleansed for ever: but God maketh whom He will to be clean, and God +Heareth, Knoweth. + +And let not persons of wealth and means among you swear that they will not +give to their kindred, to the poor, and to those who have fled their homes in +the cause of God; let them rather pardon and pass over the offence.8 Desire +ye not that God should forgive you? And God is Gracious, Merciful! + +Verily, they who throw out charges against virtuous but careless women, who +yet are believers, shall be cursed in this world and in the world to come; +and a terrible punishment doth await them. + +Their own tongues, and hands, and feet, shall one day bear witness against +them of their own doings.9 + +On that day will God pay them their just due, and they shall know that God is +the clear Truth itself. + +Bad women for bad men, and bad men for bad women; but virtuous women for +virtuous men, and virtuous men for virtuous women! These shall be cleared +from calumnies; theirs shall be forgiveness and an honourable provision. + +O ye who believe! enter not into other houses10 than your own, until ye have +asked leave, and have saluted its inmates. This will be best for you: haply +ye will bear this in mind. + +And if ye find no one therein, then enter it not till leave be given you; and +if it be said to you, "Go ye back," then go ye back. This will be more +blameless in you, and God knoweth what ye do. + +There shall be no harm in your entering houses in which no one dwelleth, for +the supply of your needs: and God knoweth what ye do openly and what ye hide. + +Speak unto the believers that they restrain their eyes and observe +continence. Thus will they be more pure. God is well aware of what they do. + +And speak to the believing women that they refrain their eyes, and observe +continence; and that they display not their ornaments, except those which are +external; and that they throw their veils over their bosoms, and display not +their ornaments, except to their husbands or their fathers, or their +husbands' fathers, or their sons, or their husbands' sons, or their brothers, +or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or their +slaves, or male domestics who have no natural force, or to children who note +not women's nakedness. And let them not strike their feet together, so as to +discover their hidden ornaments.11 And be ye all turned to God, O ye +Believers! that it may be well with you. + +And marry those among you who are single, and your good servants, and the +handmaidens. If they are poor, God of His bounty will enrich them. God is +all-bounteous, Knowing. + +And let those who cannot find a match12 live in continence till God of His +bounty shall enrich them. And to those of your slaves who desire a deed of +manumission, execute it for them, if ye know good in them, and give them a +portion of the wealth of God which He hath given you.13 Force not your female +slaves into sin, in order that ye may gain the casual fruitions of this +world, if they wish to preserve their modesty. Yet if any one compel them, +then Verily to them, after their compulsion, will God be Forgiving, Merciful. + +And now have we sent down to you clear signs, and an instance from among +those who flourished before you, and a caution for the God-fearing.14 + +God is the LIGHT of the Heavens and of the Earth. His Light is like a niche +in which is a lamp–the lamp encased in glass–the glass, as it were, a +glistening star. From a blessed tree is it lighted, the olive neither of the +East nor of the West, whose oil would well nigh shine out, even though fire +touched it not! It is light upon light. God guideth whom He will to His +light, and God setteth forth parables to men, for God knoweth all things. + +In the temples which God hath allowed to be reared, that His name may therein +be remembered, do men praise Him morn and even. + +Men whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of God, +and from the observance of prayer, and the payment of the stated alms, +through fear of the day when hearts shall throb and eyes shall roll: + +That for their most excellent works may God recompense them, and of His +bounty increase it to them more and more: for God maketh provision for whom +He pleaseth without measure. + +But as to the infidels, their works are like the vapour in a plain which the +thirsty dreameth to be water, until when he cometh unto it, he findeth it not +aught, but findeth that God is with him; and He fully payeth him his account: +for swift to take account is God: + +Or like the darkness on the deep sea when covered by billows riding upon +billows, above which are clouds: darkness upon darkness. When a man reacheth +forth his hand, he cannot nearly see it! He to whom God shall not give light, +no light at all hath he! + +Hast thou not seen how all in the Heavens and in the Earth uttereth the +praise of God?–the very birds as they spread their wings? Every creature +knoweth its prayer and its praise! and God knoweth what they do. + +God's, the Kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth: and unto God the final +return! + +Hast thou not seen that God driveth clouds lightly forward, then gathereth +them together, then pileth them in masses? And then thou seest the rain +forthcoming from their midst; and He causeth clouds like mountains charged +with hail, to descend from the heaven, and He maketh it to fall on whom He +will, and from whom He will He turneth it aside.–The brightness of His +lightning all but taketh away the sight! + +God causeth the day and the night to take their turn. Verily in this is +teaching for men of insight. And God hath created every animal of water.15 +Some go upon the belly; some go upon two feet; some go upon four feet. God +hath created what He pleased. Aye, God hath power over all things. + +Now have we sent down distinct signs.–And God guideth whom He will into the +right path: + +For there are who say "We believe on God and on the Apostle, and we obey;" +yet, after this, a part of them turn back.16 But these are not of the +faithful. + +And when they are summoned before God and His Apostle that He may judge +between them, lo! a part of them withdraw: + +But had the truth been on their side, they would have come to Him, obedient. + +What! are they diseased of heart? Do they doubt? Are they afraid that God and +His Apostles will deal unfairly with them? Nay, themselves are the unjust +doers. + +The words of the believers, when called to God and His Apostle that He may +judge between them, are only to say, "We have heard, and we obey:" these are +they with whom it shall be well. + +And whoso shall obey God, and His Apostle, and shall dread God and fear Him, +these are they that shall be the blissful. + +And they have sworn by God, with a most solemn oath, that if thou give them +the word, they will certainly march forth. Say: swear ye not: of more worth +is obedience. Verily, God is well aware of what ye do. + +SAY: Obey God and obey the Apostle. Suppose that ye turn back, still the +burden of his duty is on him only, and the burden of your duty rests on you. +If ye obey Him, ye shall have guidance: but plain preaching is all that +devolves upon the Apostle. + +God hath promised to those of you who believe and do the things that are +right, that He will cause them to succeed others in the land, as He gave +succession to those who were before them, and that He will establish for them +that religion which they delight in, and that after their fears He will give +them security in exchange. They shall worship Me: nought shall they join with +Me: And whoso, after this, believe not, they will be the impious. + +But observe prayer, and pay the stated alms, and obey the Apostle, that haply +ye may find mercy. + +Let not the Infidels think that they can weaken God on His own Earth: their +dwelling place shall be the Fire! and right wretched the journey! + +O ye who believe! let your slaves, and those of you who have not come of age, +ask leave of you, three times a day, ere they come into your presence;–before +the morning prayer, and when ye lay aside your garments at mid-day, and after +the evening prayer. These are your three times of privacy. No blame shall +attach to you or to them, if after these times, when ye go your rounds of +attendance on one another, they come in without permission. Thus doth God +make clear to you His signs: and God is Knowing, Wise! + +And when your children come of age, let them ask leave to come into your +presence, as they who were before them asked it. Thus doth God make clear to +you his signs: and God is Knowing, Wise. + +As to women who are past childbearing, and have no hope of marriage, no blame +shall attach to them if they lay aside their outer garments, but so as not to +shew their ornaments. Yet if they abstain from this, it will be better for +them: and God Heareth, Knoweth. + +No crime17 shall it be in the blind, or in the lame, or in the sick, to eat +at your tables: or in yourselves, if ye eat in your own houses, or in the +houses of your fathers, or of your mothers, or of your brothers, or of your +sisters, or of your uncles on the father's side, or of your aunts on the +father's side, or of your uncles on the mother's side, or of your aunts on +the mother's side, or in those of which ye possess the keys, or in the house +of your friend. No blame shall attach to you whether ye eat together or +apart. + +And when ye enter houses, salute one another with a good and blessed greeting +as from God. Thus doth God make clear to you His signs, that haply ye may +comprehend them. + +Verily, they only are believers who believe in God and His Apostle, and who, +when they are with him upon any affair of common interest, depart not until +they have sought his leave. Yes, they who ask leave of thee, are those who +believe in God and His Apostle. And when they ask leave of Thee on account of +any affairs of their own, then grant it to those of them whom thou wilt, and +ask indulgence for them of God: for God is Indulgent, Merciful. + +Address not the Apostle as ye address one another.18 God knoweth those of you +who withdraw quietly from the assemblies, screening themselves behind others. +And let those who transgress his command beware, lest some present trouble +befall them, or a grievous chastisement befall them, hereafter. + +Is not whatever is in the Heavens and the Earth God's? He knoweth your state; +and one day shall men be assembled before Him, and He will tell them of what +they have done: for God knoweth all things. + + +_______________________ + +1 With this verse commences the reference to the scandal against Ayesha, to +which verses 6-9 read like a later addition. See His. 731 ff. Albuhari, +passim. Muslim ii. 628 ff. Tirm. 524. Tabari and Weil, p. 151. + +2 Said to refer to Hilal ben Umaiya (Muslim i. 886. Tirm. 523. Annasai, 409 +f. Assamarq.) who had accused his wife of adultery. Two of these +commentators, however, give the name of another Muslim as the person +intended. + +3 Comp. Numb. v. ii, 31, with which Muhammad must have been acquainted. + +4 The rumour of improper intimacy between Ayesha and Safwan Ibn El Moattal, +during Muhammad's return from the expedition against the tribe of Mostaliq +(an. Hej. 9), in which he was separated from her for an entire day, which she +passed in the company of Safwan, who had found her when accidentally left +behind. Verses 4-26 were revealed shortly after the return. + +5 Whose characters are cleared. + +6 Abdallah Ibn Obba. (Abulf. p. 83.) + +7 Comp. verse 10, 11 (n.). + +8 Abubekr had been desirous to punish one of his relatives, Mestah, who had +propagated the scandal against Ayesha, by refusing him gifts or alms. + +9 "The very members of a man shall testify against him, for thus we read +(Jer. xliii. 12), Ye are yourselves my witnesses saith the Lord." Chagiga, +16. Thaanith, 11a. + +10 It was the custom in Arabia, before Islam, to enter houses without +permission. Freyt. Einl. p. 216. + +11 That is, the anklets. Comp. Isai. iii. 16, 18 + +12 On account of poverty. + +13 Comp. Deut. xv. 12 15. + +14 The meaning probably is, that the scandal raised against Ayesha resembled +the scandal in the case of Joseph in Egypt, and of the Virgin Mary, detailed +in previous suras. + +15 An idea perhaps derived from Gen. i. 20, 21. Comp. Tr. Cholin, fol. 27a. + +16 Verses 46-56 obviously refer to a period, perhaps that between the battle +of Ohod and the end of the war of the Ditch, when Muhammad's prospects were +overclouded and the confidence of his followers shaken. + +17 This verse was intended to relieve the scruples of the Muslims, who. +following the superstitious customs of the Arabs, thought that they ought not +to admit the blind, etc. to their tables, to eat alone, or in a house of +which they were entrusted with the key, etc. + +18 Lit. make not the calling of the Apostle among you, like the calling of +some of you to others, i.e., address him by some respectful and honourable +title. Thus in the Talmud, "It is forbidden to a disciple to call his Rabbi +by name even when he is not in his presence;" and again: "Neither is he to +salute his Rabbi, nor to return his salutation, in the same way that +salutations are given and returned among friends." "Whoever despises the wise +men hath no portion in the world to come." See Hilchoth Torah, c.5. + + +SURA LVIII.–SHE WHO PLEADED [CVI.] + +MEDINA.–22 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +God hath heard the words of HER1 WHO PLEADED with thee against her husband, +and made her plaint to God; and God hath heard your mutual intercourse: for +God Heareth, Beholdeth. + +As to those of you who put away their wives by saying, "Be thou to me as my +mother's back" their mothers2 they are not; they only are their mothers who +gave them birth! they certainly say a blameworthy thing and an untruth: + +But truly, God is Forgiving, Indulgent. + +And those who thus put away their wives, and afterwards would recall their +words, must free a captive before they can come together again. To this are +ye warned to conform: and God is aware of what ye do. + +And he who findeth not a captive to set free, shall fast two months in +succession before they two come together. And he who shall not be able to do +so, shall feed sixty poor men. This, that he may believe in God and His +Apostle. These are the statutes of God: and for the unbelievers is an +afflictive chastisement! + +Truly they who oppose God and His Apostle shall be brought low, as those who +were before them were brought low. And now have we sent down demonstrative +signs: and, for the Infidels is a shameful chastisement. + +On the day when God shall raise them all to life, and shall tell them of +their doings. God hath taken count of them, though they have forgotten them! +and God is witness over all things. + +Dost thou not see that God knoweth all that is in the Heavens and all that is +in the Earth? Three persons speak not privately together, but He is their +fourth; nor five, but He is their sixth; nor fewer nor more, but wherever +they be He is with them. Then on the day of resurrection He will tell them of +their deeds: for God knoweth all things. + +Hast thou not marked those who have been forbidden secret talk, and return to +what they have been forbidden, and talk privately together with wickedness, +and hate, and disobedience towards the Apostle? And when they come to thee, +they greet thee not as God greeteth thee:3 and they say among themselves, +"Why doth not God punish us for what we say?" Hell shall be their meed:4 they +shall be burned at its fire: and a wretched passage thither! + +O Believers! when ye hold private converse together, let it not be with +wickedness, and hate, and disobedience towards the Apostle; but let your +private talk be with justice and the fear of God: aye, fear ye God unto whom +ye shall be gathered! + +Only of Satan is this clandestine talk, that he may bring the faithful to +grief: but, unless by God's permission, not aught shall he harm them! in God +then let the faithful trust. + +O ye who believe! when it is said to you, "Make room in your assemblies," +then make ye room. God will make room for you in Paradise! And when it is +said to you, "Rise up," then rise ye up. God will uplift those of you who +believe, and those to whom "the Knowledge" is given, to lofty grades! and God +is cognisant of your actions. + +O ye who believe! when ye go to confer in private with the Apostle, give alms +before such conference. Better will this be for you, and more pure. But if ye +have not the means, then truly God is Lenient, Merciful. + +Do ye hesitate to give alms previously to your private conference? Then if ye +do it not (and God will excuse it in you), at least observe prayer, and pay +the stated impost, and obey God and His Apostle: for God is cognisant of your +actions. + +Hast thou not remarked those who make friends of that people with whom God is +angered? They are neither of your party nor of theirs; and they swear to a +lie,5 knowing it to be such. + +God hath got ready for them a severe torment: for, evil is that they do. + +They make a cloak of their faith, and turn others aside from the way of God: +wherefore a shameful torment awaiteth them. + +Not at all shall their wealth or their children avail them aught against God. +Companions shall they be of the fire: they shall abide therein for ever. + +On the day when God shall raise them all, they will swear to Him as they now +swear to you, deeming that it will avail them. Are they not–yes they–the +liars? + +Satan hath gotten mastery over them, and made them forget the remembrance of +God. These are Satan's party. What! shall not verily the party of Satan be +for ever lost. + +Verily, they who oppose God and His Apostle shall be among the most vile. God +hath written this decree: "I will surely prevail, and my Apostles also." +Truly God is Strong, Mighty. + +Thou shalt not find that any of those who believe in God, and in the last +day, love him who opposeth God and His Apostle, even though they be their +fathers, or their sons, or their brethren, or their nearest kin. On the +hearts of these hath God graven the Faith, and with His own Spirit hath He +strengthened them; and He will bring them into gardens, beneath whose shades +the rivers flow, to remain therein eternally. God is well pleased in them, +and they in Him. These are God's party! Shall not, of a truth, a party of God +be for ever blessed? + + +_______________________ + +1 Khaula, daughter of Thalaba, who had been divorced by the formula in verse +2, which was understood among the Arabs to imply perpetual separation. This +Muhammad had asserted in her case; but in consequence of the woman's prayers, +etc., a relaxation of the law, on fulfilment of the conditions mentioned in +verses 4, 5, was hereby allowed. None of the earlier traditions fix any date +for this Sura, though later authorities (Weil, 184) fix the end of Hej. 6, or +the beginning of Hej. 7.–The subject matter is in part similar to that of +Sura xxiv. + +2 See Sura [ciii.] xxxiii. 4. + +3 Instead of saying, Es-salam aleika, "Peace be on thee," the Infidels and +Jews said, Es-sam aleika, "a plague, or poison on thee." See Geiger, p. 18. + +4 Lit. sufficiency. + +5 The Jews swear that they are Muslims. + + +SURA XXII.–THE PILGRIMAGE [CVII.] + +MEDINA.1–78 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +O MEN of Mecca, fear your Lord. Verily, the earthquake of the last Hour will +be a tremendous thing! + +On the day when ye shall behold it, every suckling woman shall forsake her +sucking babe; and every woman that hath a burden in her womb shall cast her +burden; and thou shalt see men drunken, yet are they not drunken: but it is +the mighty chastisement of God! + +There is a man2 who, without knowledge, wrangleth about God, and followeth +every rebellious Satan; + +Concerning whom it is decreed, that he shall surely beguile and guide into +the torment of the Flame, whoever shall take him for his Lord. + +O men! if ye doubt as to the resurrection, yet, of a truth, have We created +you of dust, then of the moist germs of life, then of clots of blood, then of +pieces of flesh shapen and unshapen, that We might give you proofs of our +power! And We cause one sex or the other, at our pleasure, to abide in the +womb until the appointed time; then We bring you forth infants; then permit +you to reach your age of strength; and one of you dieth, and another of you +liveth on to an age so abject that all his former knowledge is clean +forgotten!3 And thou hast seen the earth dried up and barren: but when We +send down the rain upon it, it stirreth and swelleth, and groweth every kind +of luxuriant herb. + +This, for that God is the Truth, and that it is He who quickeneth the dead,- +and that He hath power over everything: + +And that "the Hour" will indeed come–there is no doubt of it–and that God +will wake up to life those who are in the tombs. + +A man there is who disputeth about God without knowledge or guidance or +enlightening Book, + +Turning aside in scorn to mislead others from the way of God! Disgrace shall +be his in this world; and on the day of the resurrection, We will make him +taste the torment of the burning:– + +"This, for thy handywork of old! for God is not unjust to His servants." + +There are some who serve God in a single point. If good come upon one of +them, he resteth in it; but if trial come upon him, he turneth him round (to +infidelity) with the loss both of this world and of the next! This same is +the clear ruin! + +He calleth upon that beside God which can neither hurt him nor profit him. +This same is the far-gone error! + +He calleth on him who would sooner hurt than profit him. Surely, bad the +lord, and, surely, bad the vassal! + +But God will bring in those who shall believe and do the things that are +right, into gardens 'neath which the rivers flow: for God doth that which He +pleaseth. + +Let him who thinketh that God will not help His Apostle in this world and in +the next, stretch a cord aloft as if to destroy himself; then let him cut it, +and see whether his devices can bring that4 to nought at which he was angry! + +Thus send we down the Koran with its clear signs (verses): and because God +guideth whom He pleaseth. + +As to those who believe, and the Jews, and the Sabeites,5 and the Christians, +and the Magians, and those who join other gods with God, of a truth, God +shall decide between them on the day of resurrection: for God is witness of +all things. + +Seest thou not that all in the Heavens and all on the Earth adoreth God? the +sun and the moon and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and the +beasts, and many men? But of many is chastisement the due: + +And whom God shall disgrace there shall be none to honour: God doth that +which pleaseth Him. + +These, the Faithful and the Infidels, are the two disputants who dispute +concerning their Lord: but for those who have disbelieved, garments of fire +shall be cut out; the boiling water shall be poured down upon their heads: + +All that is in their bowels, and their skins, shall be dissolved: and there +are maces of iron for them! + +So oft as they, for very anguish, would fain come forth thence, back shall +they be turned into it: and–"Taste ye the torment of the burning." + +But God will bring in those who shall have believed, and done the things that +are right, into gardens 'neath which the rivers flow. Adorned shall they be +therein with golden bracelets and with pearls, and their raiment therein +shall be of silk; + +For they were guided to the best of words; guided to the glorious path! + +But those who believe not, and seduce others from the way of God, and from +the Holy Mosque which we have appointed to all men, alike for those who abide +therein, and for the stranger; + +And those who seek impiously to profane it, we will cause to taste a grievous +punishment. + +And call to mind when we assigned the site of the House6 to Abraham and said: +"Unite not aught with Me in worship, and cleanse My House for those who go in +procession round it, and who stand or bow in worship:"– + +And proclaim to the peoples a PILGRIMAGE: Let them come to thee on foot and +on every fleet7 camel, arriving by every deep defile: + +That they may bear witness of its benefits to them, and may make mention of +God's name on the appointed days,8 over the brute beasts with which He hath +supplied them for sustenance: Therefore eat thereof yourselves, and feed the +needy, the poor: + +Then let them bring the neglect of their persons to a close,9 and let them +pay their vows, and circuit the ancient House. + +This do. And he that respecteth the sacred ordinances of God, this will be +best for him with his Lord. The flesh of cattle is allowed you, save of those +already specified to you. Shun ye, therefore, the pollutions of idols; and +shun ye the word of falsehood; + +Sound in faith Godward, uniting no god with Him; for whoever uniteth gods +with God, is like that which falleth from on high, and the birds snatch it +away, or the wind wafteth it to a distant place. + +This do. And they who respect the rites of God, perform an action which +proceedeth from piety of heart. + +Ye may obtain advantages from the cattle up to the set time for slaying them: +then, the place for sacrificing them is at the ancient House. + +And to every people have we appointed rites, that they may commemorate the +name of God over the brute beasts which He hath provided for them. And your +God is the one God. To Him, therefore, surrender yourselves: and bear thou +good tidings to those who humble them,– + +Whose hearts, when mention is made of God, thrill with awe; and to those who +remain steadfast under all that be-falleth them, and observe prayer, and give +alms of that with which we have supplied them. + +And the camels have we appointed you for the sacrifice to God: much good have +ye in them. Make mention, therefore, of the name of God over them when ye +slay them, as they stand in a row; and when they are fallen over on their +sides, eat of them, and feed him who is content and asketh not, and him who +asketh. Thus have We subjected them to you, to the intent ye should be +thankful.10 + +By no means can their flesh reach unto God, neither their blood; but piety on +your part reacheth Him. Thus hath He subjected them to you, that ye might +magnify God for His guidance: moreover, announce to those who do good deeds– + +That God will ward off mischief from believers: for God loveth not the false, +the Infidel. + +A sanction is given to those who, because they have suffered outrages, have +taken up arms; and verily, God is well able to succour them: + +Those who have been driven forth from their homes wrongfully, only because +they say "Our Lord is the God." And if God had not repelled some men by +others, cloisters, and churches, and oratories, and mosques, wherein the name +of God is ever commemorated, would surely have been destroyed. And him who +helpeth God will God surely help:11 for God is right Strong, Mighty:– + +Those who, if we establish them in this land, will observe prayer, and pay +the alms of obligation, and enjoin what is right, and forbid what is evil. +And the final issue of all things is unto God. + +Moreover, if they charge thee with imposture, then already, before them, the +people of Noah, and Ad and Themoud, and the people of Abraham, and the people +of Lot, and the dwellers in Madian, have charged their prophets with +imposture! Moses, too, was charged with imposture! And I bore long with the +unbelievers; then seize on them: and how great was the change I wrought! + +And how many cities which had been ungodly, and whose roofs are now laid low +in ruin, have We destroyed! And wells have been abandoned and lofty castles! + +Have they not journeyed through the land? Have they not hearts to understand +with, or ears to hear with? It is not that to these sights their eyes are +blind, but the hearts in their breasts are blind! + +And they will bid thee to hasten the chastisement. But God cannot fail His +threat. And verily, a day with thy Lord is as a thousand years,12 as ye +reckon them! + +How many cities have I long borne with, wicked though they were, yet then +laid hold on them to chastise them! Unto Me shall all return. + +SAY: O men! I am only your open warner: + +And they who believe and do the things that are right, shall have forgiveness +and an honourable provision; + +But those who strive to invalidate our signs shall be inmates of Hell. + +We have not sent any apostle or prophet before thee, among whose desires +Satan injected not some wrong desire, but God shall bring to nought that +which Satan had suggested. Thus shall God affirm His revelations13 for God is +Knowing, Wise! + +That He may make that which Satan hath injected, a trial to those in whose +hearts is a disease, and whose hearts are hardened.–Verily, the wicked are in +a far-gone severance from the truth!– + +And that they to whom "the Knowledge" hath been given, may know that the +Koran is the truth from thy Lord, and may believe in it, and their hearts may +acquiesce in it: for God is surely the guider of those who believe, into the +straight path. + +But the Infidels will not cease to doubt concerning it, until "the Hour" come +suddenly upon them, or until the chastisement of the day of desolation come +upon them. + +On that day the Kingdom shall be God's: He shall judge between them: and they +who shall have believed and done the things that are right, shall be in +gardens of delight: + +But they who were Infidels and treated our signs as lies–these then–their's a +shameful chastisement! + +And as to those who fled their country for the cause of God, and were +afterwards slain, or died, surely with goodly provision will God provide for +them! for verily, God! He, surely, is the best of providers! + +He will assuredly bring them in with an in-bringing that shall please them +well: for verily, God is right Knowing, Gracious. + +So shall it be. And whoever in making exact reprisal for injury done him, +shall again be wronged, God will assuredly aid him: for God is most Merciful, +Gracious. + +So shall it be; for that God causeth the night to enter in upon the day, and +He causeth the day to enter in upon the night: and for that God Heareth, +Seeth. + +So shall it be, for that God is the truth; and because what they call on +beside Him is vanity: and because God is the Lofty, the Mighty! + +Seest thou not that God sendeth down water from Heaven, and that on the +morrow the earth is clad with verdure? for God is benignant, cognisant of +all. + +His, all in the Heavens and all on Earth: and verily, God! He assuredly is +the Rich, the Praiseworthy! + +Seest thou not that God hath put under you whatever is in the earth; and the +ships which traverse the sea at His bidding? And He holdeth back the heaven +that it fall not on the earth, unless He permit it! for God is right Gracious +to mankind, Merciful. + +And He it is who hath given you life, then will cause you to die, then will +give you life–of a truth man is all ungrateful. + +To every people have we appointed observances which they observe. Therefore, +let them not dispute this matter with thee, but bid them to thy Lord, for +thou art on the right way: + +But if they debate with thee, then Say: God best knoweth what ye do! + +God will judge between you on the day of resurrection, as to the matters +wherein ye differ. + +Knowest thou not that God knoweth whatever is in the Heaven and on the Earth? +This truly is written in the Book: this truly is easy for God. + +They worship beside God, that for which He hath sent down no warranty, and +that of which they have no knowledge: but for those who commit this wrong, no +helper! + +And when our clear signs are rehearsed to them, thou mayst perceive disdain +in the countenances of the Infidels. Scarce can they refrain from rushing to +attack those who rehearse our signs to them! SAY: Shall I tell you of worse +than this? The fire which God hath threatened to those who believe not! +Wretched the passage thither! + +O men! a parable is set forth to you, wherefore hearken to it. Verily, they +on whom ye call beside God, cannot create a fly, though they assemble for it; +and if the fly carry off aught from them, they cannot take it away from it! +Weak the suppliant and the supplicated! + +Unworthy the estimate they form of God!14 for God is right Powerful, Mighty! + +God chooseth messengers from among the angels and from among men: verily, God +Heareth, Seeth. + +He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them; and unto God shall +all things return. + +Believers! bow down and prostrate yourselves and worship your Lord, and work +righteousness that you may fare well. + +And do valiantly in the cause of God as it behoveth you to do for Him. He +hath elected you, and hath not laid on you any hardship in religion, the +Faith of your father Abraham. He hath named you the Muslims + +Heretofore and in this Book, that the Apostles may be a witness against you, +and that ye may be witnesses against the rest of mankind. Therefore observe +prayer, and pay the legal impost, and cleave fast to God. He is your liege +Lord–a goodly Lord, and a goodly Helper! + + +_______________________ + +1 This Sura is generally said to have been revealed at Mecca,–but this is +probably only the case with verses 1-24; 43-56; 60-65; 67-75. Mr. Muir places +it at the close of the Meccan Suras of the fifth period. See Nöld, p. 158. + +2 Said to be Abu Jahl. See Sura xcvi. p. 20, n. 2. + +3 Lit. so that after knowledge he knoweth not aught. + +4 The teachings and progress of Islam. + +5 See Sura [xci.] ii. 59. The Sabeites were probably Hanyfs. See Pref. + +6 The Kaaba. Sharastani informs us that there was an opinion prevalent among +the Arabs, that the walking round the Kaaba, and other ceremonies, were +symbolic of the motion of the planets and of other astronomical facts. +Watwat, Mabahij al Fikr., Lib. i., c. 2, says that "most Arabic tribes were +originally star-worshippers, Sabeans. The people of Saba worshipped the Sun, +the tribes of Asad and Kaninah the Moon, etc. etc. At a later period they all +sunk into idolatry, and in the time of Muhammad, the idols round the Kaaba +amounted to 360." + +7 Lit. thin, with the implied sense of fleet. + +8 The ten first days of the Dhu'lhajja. For the ceremonies, see Freytag's +Einleitung, p. 418; Burton's Pilgrimage, vol. iii.; Sale's Notes and Prelim. +Disc. + +9 That is, the uncut beards, nails, etc. + +10 Offerings of animals are by no means confined to Mecca and the Pilgrimage. +"It is not uncommon," says Mr. Lane, "without any definite view but that of +obtaining general blessings, to make vows (of animals): and sometimes a +peasant vows that he will sacrifice, for the sake of a saint, a calf which he +possesses, as soon as it is grown and fatted. It is let loose, by consent of +all his neighbours, to pasture where it will, even in fields of young wheat; +and at last, after it has been sacrificed, a public feast is made of its +meat. Many a large bull is thus given away." Modern Egyptians, i. 307. +Compare Dr. Gobat's Abyssinia, p. 294, 7, for similar customs among +Christians of probably Arabian extraction. Five or six thousand animals are +said to have been slain in the valley of Mina by the pilgrims of the year +1854. (See Lieut. Burton's Pilgrimage, iii. p. 313.) The victim is considered +by the devout as an expression of their conviction that death is their desert +at the hands of God. + +11 See Ibn Batoutah, iv. 106. (Par. ed.) + +12 Comp. Sur. xxxii. 4, p. 190. + +13 The ayats, signs or verses of the Koran. It is said by tradition that +Muhammad was consoled by this revelation for the Satanic suggestion mentioned +Sur. liii. 20, p. 70 (n.). But in this view of the text, for among whose +desires, or affections, we should render when he recited. + +14 Lit. they measure not God with truth of His measurement. + + +SURA XLVIII.–THE VICTORY [CVIII.] + +MEDINA.–29 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +Verily, We have won for thee an undoubted VICTORY1– + +In token that God forgiveth thy earlier and later faults, and fulfilleth His +goodness to thee, and guideth thee on the right way, + +And that God succoureth thee with a mighty succour. + +He it is who sendeth down a spirit of secure repose into the hearts of the +faithful that they might add faith to their faith; (for God's are the armies +of the Heavens and of the Earth: and God is Knowing, Wise:) + +And that He may bring the believing men and the believing women into gardens +'neath whose trees the rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever, and that He +may cancel their evil deeds: for this is the great bliss with God: + +And that He may punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and +the men and women who join other gods with God, and think evil thoughts of +Him. Theirs shall be a round of evil; and God is angry with them and curseth +them, and hath prepared Hell for them: and, an evil journey thither! + +The armies of the Heavens and of the Earth are God's, and God is Mighty, +Wise! + +Verily, we have sent thee to be a witness and a herald of good (an +announcer), and a warner, + +That ye may believe on God and on His Apostle; and may assist Him, and honour +Him, and praise him, morning and evening. + +In truth, they who plighted fealty to thee, really plighted that fealty to +God: the hand of God was over their hands! Whoever, therefore, shall break +his oath shall only break it to his own hurt; but whoever shall be true to +his engagement with God, He will give him a great reward. + +The Arabs who took not the field with you,2 will say to thee,3 "We were +engaged with our property and our families; therefore ask thou pardon for +us." They speak with their tongues what is not in their hearts. SAY: And who +can have any power over God in your behalf, whether he will you some loss, or +whether he will you an advantage? Yes, God is acquainted with your doings. + +But ye thought that the Apostle and the faithful could never more come back +to their families; and your hearts were pleased at this; and ye thought an +evil thought of this expedition, and ye became an undone people: + +For, whoso believeth not in God, and His Apostle. . . . Verily, we have got +ready the flame for the Infidels! + +And God's is the kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth: Whom He will He +forgiveth, and whom He will He punisheth: and God is Gracious, Merciful! + +They who took not the field with you will say, when ye go forth to the spoil +to take it, "Let us follow you." Fain would they change the word of God.4 +SAY: Ye shall by no means follow us: thus hath God said already. They will +say, "Nay, ye are jealous of us." Nay! they are men of little understanding. + +SAY to those Arabs of the desert, who took not the field, ye shall be called +forth against a people of mighty valour. Ye shall do battle with them, or +they shall profess Islam. If ye obey, a goodly recompense will God give you; +but if ye turn back, as ye turned back aforetime, He will chastise you with a +sore chastisement. + +It shall be no crime on the part of the blind, the lame, or the sick, if they +go not to the fight. But whoso shall obey God and His Apostle, he shall bring +him into the gardens 'neath which the rivers flow: but whoso shall turn back, +He will punish him with a sore punishment. + +Well pleased now hath God been with the believers when they plighted fealty +to thee under the tree;5 and He knew what was in their hearts: therefore did +He send down upon them a spirit of secure repose, and rewarded them with a +speedy victory, + +And with the rich booty which they took: for God is Mighty, Wise! + +God promised you the taking of a rich booty6 and sped it to you; and He +withheld men's hands from you, for a sign to the faithful, and that He might +guide you along the right way:– + +And other booty, over which ye have not yet had power: but now hath God +compassed them for you; for God is over all things Potent. + +If the Infidels shall fight against you, they shall assuredly turn their +backs; then, neither protector nor helper shall they find! + +Such is God's method carried into effect of old; no change canst thou find in +God's mode of dealing. + +And He it was who held their hands from you and your hands from them in the +valley of Mecca,7 after that He had given you the victory over them: for God +saw what ye did. + +These are they who believed not, and kept you away from the sacred Mosque, as +well as the offering which was prevented from reaching the place of +sacrifice. And had it not been that ye would have trodden down believers, +both men and women, whom ye knew not, so that a crime might have lighted on +you without your knowledge on their account, and that God would bring whom He +will within His mercy, this would have been otherwise ordered. Had they been +apart,8 we had surely punished such of them as believed not, with a sore +punishment. + +When the unbelievers had fostered rage in their hearts–the rage of ignorance +(of heathens)–God sent down His peace on His Apostle and on the faithful, and +stablished in them the word of piety, for they were most worthy and deserving +of it: and God knoweth all things. + +Now hath God in truth made good to His Apostle the dream9 in which he said, +"Ye shall surely enter the sacred Mosque, if God will, in full security, +having your heads shaved and your hair cut: ye shall not fear; for He knoweth +what ye know not; and He hath ordained you, beside this, a speedy victory." + +It is He who hath sent His Apostle with "the Guidance," and the religion of +truth, that He may exalt it above every religion. And enough for thee is this +testimony on the part of God. + +Muhammad is the Apostle of God; and his comrades are vehement against the +infidels, but full of tenderness among themselves. Thou mayst see them bowing +down, prostrating themselves, imploring favours from God, and His acceptance. +Their tokens10 are on their faces, the marks of their prostrations. This is +their picture in the Law, and their picture in the Evangel:11 they are as the +seed which putteth forth its stalk; then strengtheneth it, and it groweth +stout, and riseth upon its stem,12 rejoicing the husbandman–that the infidels +may be wrathful at them. To such of them as believe and do the things that +are right, hath God promised forgiveness and a noble recompense. + + +_______________________ + +1 This Sura was probably revealed shortly after the peace of Hudaibiya. Ann. +Hej. 6. Some commentators, however, understand the Victory of the taking of +Mecca two years–later the preterite being used in the prophetic style for the +future–others of the taking of Chaibar, or Muta (?), a town of the Roman +empire. + +2 Lit. were left behind. + +3 On the return to Medina. See Weil's Leben M. p. 173 (n.). + +4 The law relative to booty, viz. that those who were not at Hudaibiya should +have no share in the booty to be obtained from the Jews at Chaibar. Muhammad +marched against them in Hej. 7. + +5 When the rumour reached Muhammad at Hudaibiya that Othman Ibn Affan, whom +he had sent to inform the Meccans that he was merely coming to visit their +temple, and with peaceable intentions, had been slain by them. + +6 At Chaibar. + +7 The valley of Mecca may mean Hudaibiya. But the commentators explain this +verse of different events. It probably, however, refers to the 50 (according +to Djalalein 80) prisoners whom Muhammad dismissed freely at Hudaibiya. + +8 Had the believers been separate from the infidels. + +9 This dream Muhammad had at Medina, before he set out for al Hudaibiya. His +followers expected its fulfilment within the year, but when the truce +frustrated their hopes, this verse was revealed to pacify them. + +10 Dust from the pavement. The Muhammadans who say their prayers on carpets +often place little bricks before them which they touch in prostration with +their forehead. + +11 Comp. Mark iv. 28. + +12 Lit. legs. + + +SURA LXVI.–THE FORBIDDING [CIX.] + +MEDINA.–12 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +WHY,1 O Prophet! dost thou hold that to be FORBIDDEN which God hath made +lawful to thee, from a desire to please thy wives, since God is Lenient, +Merciful? + +God hath allowed you release from your oaths; and God is your master: and He +is the Knowing, Wise. + +When the prophet told a recent occurrence as a secret to one of his wives, +and when she divulged it and God informed him of this, he acquainted her with +part and withheld part.2 And when he had told her of it, she said, "Who told +thee this?" He said, "The Knowing, the Sage hath told it me. + +"If ye both be turned to God in penitence, for now have your hearts gone +astray . . . .3 but if ye conspire against the Prophet, then know that God is +his Protector, and Gabriel, and every just man among the faithful; and the +angels are his helpers besides. + +"Haply if he put you both away, his Lord will give him in exchange other +wives better than you, Muslims, believers, devout, penitent, obedient, +observant of fasting, both known of men and virgins." + +O Believers! save yourselves and your families from the fire whose fuel is +men and stones, over which are set angels fierce and mighty: they disobey not +God in what He hath commanded them, but execute His behests. + +O ye Infidels! make no excuses for yourselves this day; ye shall surely be +recompensed according to your works. + +O Believers! turn to God with the turning of true penitence; haply your Lord +will cancel your evil deeds, and will bring you into the gardens 'neath which +the rivers flow, on the day when God will not shame the Prophet, nor those +who have shared his faith: their light shall run before them, and on their +right hands! they shall say, "Lord perfect our light, and pardon us: for thou +hast power over all things." + +O Prophet! make war on the infidels and hypocrites, and deal rigorously with +them. Hell shall be their abode! and wretched the passage to it! + +God setteth forth as an example to unbelievers the wife of Noah and the wife +of Lot; they were under two of our righteous servants, both of whom they +deceived: but their husbands availed them nought against God: and it shall be +said "Enter ye into the fire with those who enter." + +God also holdeth forth to those who believe the example of the wife of +Pharaoh,4 when she said, "Lord, build me an house with thee in Paradise, and +deliver me from Pharaoh and his doings; and deliver me from the wicked:" + +And Mary, the daughter of Imran, who kept her maidenhood, and into whose +womb5 we breathed of our spirit, and who believed in the words of her Lord +and His Scriptures, and was one of the devout. + + +_______________________ + +1 The first verses of this Sura were revealed (Hej. 7.) on occasion of +Muhammad's reviving affection for Mary, a Copt slave sent him by the governor +of Egypt, from whom he had recently (verse 3) sworn to his wife Hafsa to +separate entirely. Hafsa, who had been greatly incensed at their amour, of +which Muhammad had himself informed her, communicated the matter in +confidence to Ayesha, from whose altered manner, probably, the prophet found +that his secret had been betrayed. To free Muhammad from his obligation to +Hafsa was the object of this chapter. + +2 Muhammad withheld the fact that Ayesha, as well as God, was his informant, +but taxed Hafsa with not having kept his secret. + +3 Supply God will pardon you. + +4 Asia, a name, perhaps, corrupted from that of Pharaoh's daughter Bithiah. 1 +Chron. iv.18. + +5 See Sura xxi. 91. Lit. quae rimam suam tuita est, in quam (rimam) +inflavimus Spiritus nostri partem. Thus Beidh. + + +SURA1 LX.–SHE WHO IS TRIED [CX.] + +MEDINA.–13 Versus + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +O YE who believe! take not my foe2 and your foe for friends, shewing them +kindness, although they believe not that truth which hath come to you: they +drive forth the Apostles and yourselves because ye believe in God your Lord! +If ye go forth to fight on my way, and from a desire to please me, and shew +them kindness in private, I well know what ye conceal, and what ye discover! +Whoso doth this hath already gone astray from the even way. + +If they meet with you they will prove your foes: hand and tongue will they +put forth for your hurt, and will desire that you become infidels again. + +Neither your kindred nor your children shall at all avail you on the day of +the resurrection. A severance between you will it make! and your actions doth +God behold. + +A good example had ye in Abraham,3 and in those who followed him, when they +said to their people, "Verily, we are clear of you, and of what ye worship +beside God: we renounce you: and between us and hath hatred and enmity sprung +up for ever, until ye believe in God alone." Yet imitate not the language of +Abraham to his Father, "I will pray for thy forgiveness, but not aught shall +I obtain for thee from God."4 O our Lord! in thee do we trust! to thee do we +turn! to thee we shall come back at the last. + +O our Lord! expose us not for trial to the unbelievers, and forgive us: for +thou art the Mighty, the Wise! + +A good example had ye in them, for all who hope in God and in the last day. +But let who will turn back, God truly is the Rich, the Praiseworthy! + +God will, perhaps, establish good will between yourselves and those of them +whom ye take to be your enemies:5 God is Powerful: and God is Gracious, +Merciful. + +God doth not forbid you to deal with kindness and fairness toward those who +have not made war upon you on account of your religion, or driven you forth +from your homes: for God loveth those who act with fairness.>Only doth God +forbid you to make friends of those who, on account of your religion, have +warred against you, and have driven you forth from your homes, and have aided +those who drove you forth: and whoever maketh friends of them are wrong- +doers. + +O Believers!6 when believing women come over to you as refugees (Mohadjers), +then make TRIAL of them. God best knoweth their faith; but if ye have also +ascertained their faith, let them not go back to the infidels; they are not +lawful for them, nor are the unbelievers lawful for these women. But give +them back what they have spent for their dowers. No crime shall it be in you +to marry them, provided ye give them their dowers. Do not retain any right in +the infidel women, but demand back what you have spent for their dowers, and +let the unbelievers demand back what they have spent for their wives.7 This +is the ordinance of God which He ordaineth among you: and God is Knowing, +Wise. + +And if any of your wives escape from you to the Infidels from whom ye +afterwards take any spoil, then give to those whose wives shall have fled +away, the like of what they shall have spent for their dowers; and fear God +in whom ye believe. + +O Prophet! when believing women come to thee, and pledge themselves that they +will not associate aught with God, and that they will not steal or commit +adultery, nor kill their children, nor bring scandalous charges,8 nor disobey +thee in what is right, then plight thou thy faith to them, and ask pardon for +them of God: for God is Indulgent, Merciful! + +O Believers! enter not into amity with those against whom God is angered; +they despair of the life to come, even as the Infidels despair of the inmates +of the tombs. + + +_______________________ + +1 Revealed probably as far as verse 9 (Ramadhan Hej. 8) shortly before the +taking of Mecca. + +2 Haleb (?) Ben Abu Baltaa had informed the Koreisch of an intended surprise +of Mecca on the part of Muhammad, with the view of making terms for his own +family who had been left there. The offence was pardoned, but the revelation +was nevertheless published with the view of preventing similar acts of +treachery in future. + +3 Speaking of the representatives of the different religious systems +prevalent in the Roman Empire, as Orpheus, Abraham, Christ, Apollonius of +Tyana, enshrined among the household deities of Alexander Severus, Mr. Milman +remarks (Hist. of Christianity, ii. p. 231) that "It is singular that +Abraham, rather than Moses, was placed at the head of Judaism: it is possible +that the traditionary sanctity which attached to the first parent of the +Jewish people, and of many of the Arab tribes, and which was afterwards +embodied in the Koran, was floating in the East, and would comprehend, as it +were, the opinions, not only of the Jews, but of a much wider circle of the +Syrian natives." + +4 Sura [cxiii.] ix. 115. + +5 That is, by their conversion hereafter. + +6 Said (see Nöld. p. 163) to have been revealed at, or shortly after, the +peace of Hudaibiya. According to the terms then agreed upon, a mutual +restitution of property was to take place. + +7 Who are converted to Islam. + +8 Lit. with a calumny which they have devised between their hands and their +feet. Said to have been revealed at the taking of Mecca. Tab. Beidh. + + +SURA1 CX.–HELP [CXI.] + +MEDINA.–3 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +WHEN the HELP of God and the victory arrive, + +And thou seest men entering the religion of God by troops; + +Then utter the praise of thy Lord, implore His pardon; for He loveth to turn +in mercy. + + +_______________________ + +1 This Sura was revealed at the taking of Mecca, and is supposed to have +given Muhammad warning of his death. + + +SURA XLIX.–THE APARTMENTS [CXII.] + +MEDINA.–18 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +O BELIEVERS! enter not upon any affair ere God and His Apostle1 permit you; +and fear ye God: for God Heareth, Knoweth.2 + +O Believers! raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, neither +speak loud to him as ye speak loud one to another, lest your works come to +nought, and ye unaware of it. + +They who lower their voices in the presence of the Apostle of God, are the +persons whose hearts God hath inclined to piety. Forgiveness shall be theirs +and a rich reward. + +They who call out to thee while thou art within3 thine APARTMENTS, have most +of them no right perception of what is due to thee. + +But if they wait patiently till thou come forth to them, it were far better +for them. But God is Indulgent, Merciful. + +O Believers! if any bad man4 come to you with news, clear it up at once, lest +through ignorance ye harm others, and speedily have to repent of what ye have +done. + +And know that an Apostle of God is among you! should he give way to you in +many matters ye would certainly become guilty of a crime. But God hath +endeared the faith to you, and hath given it favour in your hearts, and hath +made unbelief, and wickedness, and disobedience hateful to you. Such are they +who pursue a right course. + +Through the bounty and grace which is from God: and God is Knowing, Wise. + +If two bodies of the faithful are at war, then make ye peace between them:5 +and if the one of them wrong the other, fight against that party which doth +the wrong, until they come back to the precepts of God: if they come back, +make peace between them with fairness, and act impartially; God loveth those +who act with impartiality. + +Only the faithful are brethren; wherefore make peace between your brethren; +and fear God, that ye may obtain mercy. + +O Believers! let not men laugh men to scorn who haply may be better than +themselves; neither let women laugh women to scorn who may haply be better +than themselves!6 Neither defame one another, nor call one another by +nicknames. Bad is it to be called wicked after having professed the faith:7 +and whoso repent not of this are doers of wrong. + +O Believers! avoid frequent suspicions, for some suspicions are a crime; and +pry not: neither let the one of you traduce another in his absence. Would any +one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Surely ye would loathe +it. And fear ye God: for God is Ready to turn, Merciful. + +O men! verily, we have created you of a male and a female; and we have +divided you into peoples and tribes that ye might have knowledge one of +another. Truly, the most worthy of honour in the sight of God is he who +feareth Him most.8 Verily, God is Knowing, Cognisant. + +The Arabs of the desert9 say, "We believe." Say thou: Ye believe not; but +rather say, "We profess Islam;" for the faith hath not yet found its way into +your hearts. But if ye obey God and His Apostle, he will not allow you to +lose any of your actions: for God is Indulgent, Merciful. + +The true believers are those only who believe in God and His Apostle, and +afterwards doubt not; and who contend with their substance and their persons +on the path of God. These are the sincere. + +SAY: Will ye teach God about your religion? when God knoweth whatever is in +the Heavens and on the Earth: yea, God hath knowledge of all things. + +They taunt thee with their having embraced Islam.10 SAY: Taunt me not with +your having embraced Islam: God rather taunteth you with His having guided +you to the faith: acknowledge this if ye are sincere. + +Verily, God knoweth the secrets of the Heavens and of the Earth: and God +beholdeth what ye do. + + +_______________________ + +1 Or anticipate not, take not the lead of God and His Apostle. + +2 All the ancient Interpreters (as His. 933 ff., Ibn Sa'd. 320, Tab. Agâní. +116 f.–comp. also Weil 244 ff., Caussin, iii. 271) refer from 1-5 to the +disrespectful demeanour, in Muhammad's presence, of the envoys of the Banu +Tamim in Hej. 9 or 10. + +3 Lit. from without. + +4 The commentators mentioned in the last note, as well as others, explain +this verse of Al Walid ben Uqba, who had brought a false report of the +refusal of the Banu'lmustaliq to pay certain alms which Muhammad had sent him +to demand. This Al Walid became governor of Kufa under Othman. He probably +was never really converted to Islam. + +5 Upon this passage 91-2, die Muslimen, says Nöldeke, verschiedene +Geschichten erzählen, so dass sich Nichts sicher bestimmen Iässt, p. 164. +This remark applies to the great mass of Muhammadan comment. + +6 Said to refer to Safia, one of Muhammad's wives. who had been taunted by +his other wives with being a Jewess. + +7 Lit. Bad the name, wickedness, after faith. + +8 That is, not the most nobly born, like the Koreisch. This verse is said to +have been revealed in Mecca on the day of its conquest. See Weil, Leben, +p.372, and n. + +9 The Banű Asad had come to Medina in a year of famine to seek support for +themselves and families, and made profession of Islamism. Beidh.–Thus, also +Ibn Sad. Tabari. Wah. + +10 As if by so doing they had conferred a favour on the Prophet. + + +SURA IX.1–IMMUNITY [CXIII.] + +MEDINA.–130 Verses + +An IMMUNITY from God and His Apostle to those with whom ye are in league, +among the Polytheist Arabs! (those who join gods with God). + +Go ye, therefore, at large in the land four months: but know that God ye +shall not weaken;2 and that those who believe not, God will put to shame– + +And a proclamation on the part of God and His Apostle to the people on the +day of the greater pilgrimage, that God is free from any engagement with the +votaries of other gods with God as is His Apostle! If, therefore, ye turn to +God it will be better for you; but if ye turn back, then know that ye shall +not weaken God: and to those who believe not, announce thou a grievous +punishment. + +But this concerneth not those Polytheists with whom ye are in league, and who +shall have afterwards in no way failed you, nor aided anyone against you. +Observe, therefore, engagement with them through the whole time of their +treaty: for God loveth those who fear Him. + +And when the sacred months3 are passed, kill those who join other gods with +God wherever ye shall find them; and seize them, besiege them, and lay wait +for them with every kind of ambush: but if they shall convert, and observe +prayer, and pay the obligatory alms, then let them go their way, for God is +Gracious, Merciful. + +If any one of those who join gods with God ask an asylum of thee, grant him +an asylum, that he may hear the Word of God, and then let him reach his place +of safety. This, for that they are people devoid of knowledge. + +How shall they who add gods to God be in league with God and with His +Apostle, save those with whom ye made a league at the sacred temple? So long +as they are true to you, be ye true to them; for God loveth those who fear +Him. + +How can they? since if they prevail against you, they will not regard in you +either ties of blood or faith. With their mouths will they content you, but +their hearts will be averse. The greater part of them are perverse doers. + +They sell the signs of God for a mean price, and turn others aside from his +way: evil is it that they do! + +They regard not in a believer either ties of blood or faith; these are the +transgressors! + +Yet if they turn to God and observe prayer, and pay the impost, then are they +your brethren in religion. We make clear our signs to those who understand. + +But if, after alliance made, they break their oaths and revile your religion, +then do battle with the ring-leaders of infidelity–for no oaths are binding +with them that they may desist. + +What! will ye not fight against those Meccans who have broken their oaths and +aimed to expel your Apostle, and attacked you first? Will ye dread them? God +is more worthy of your fear, if ye are believers! + +So make war on them: By your hands will God chastise them, and will put them +to shame, and will give you victory over them, and will heal the bosoms of a +people who believe; + +And will take away the wrath of their hearts. God will be turned unto whom He +will: and God is Knowing, Wise. + +Think ye that ye shall be forsaken as if God did not yet know those among you +who do valiantly, and take none for their friends beside God, and His +Apostle, and the faithful? God is well apprised of your doings. + +It is not for the votaries of other gods with God, witnesses against +themselves of infidelity, to visit the temples of God. These! vain their +works: and in the fire shall they abide for ever! + +He only should visit the temples of God who believeth in God and the last +day, and observeth prayer, and payeth the legal alms, and dreadeth none but +God. These haply will be among the rightly guided. + +Do ye place the giving drink to the pilgrims, and the visitation of the +sacred temple,4 on the same level with him who believeth in God and the last +day, and fighteth on the way of God? They shall not be held equal by God: and +God guideth not the unrighteous. + +They who have believed, and fled their homes, and striven with their +substance and with their persons on the path of God, shall be of highest +grade with God: and these are they who shall be happy! + +Tidings of mercy from Himself, and of His good pleasure, doth their Lord send +them, and of gardens in which lasting pleasure shall be theirs; + +Therein shall they abide for ever; for God! with Him is a great reward. + +O Believers! make not friends of your fathers or your brethren if they love +unbelief above faith: and whoso of you shall make them his friends, will be +wrong doers. + +SAY: If your fathers, and your sons, and your brethren, and your wives, and +your kindred, and the wealth which ye have gained, and merchandise which ye +fear may be unsold, and dwellings wherein ye delight, be dearer to you than +God and His Apostle and efforts on his Path, then wait until God shall +Himself enter on His work:5 and God guideth not the impious. + +Now hath God helped you in many battlefields, and, on the day of Honein,6 +when ye prided yourselves on your numbers; but it availed you nothing; and +the earth, with all its breadth, became too straight for you:7 then turned ye +your backs in flight: + +Then did God send down His spirit of repose8 upon His Apostle, and upon the +faithful, and He sent down the hosts which ye saw not, and He punished the +Infidels: This, the Infidels' reward! + +Yet, after this, will God be turned to whom He pleaseth; for God is Gracious, +Merciful! + +O Believers! only they who join gods with God are unclean! Let them not, +therefore, after this their year, come near the sacred Temple. And if ye fear +want,9 God, if He please, will enrich you of His abundance: for God is +Knowing, Wise. + +Make war upon such of those to whom the Scriptures have been given as believe +not in God, or in the last day, and who forbid not that which God and His +Apostle have forbidden, and who profess not the profession of the truth, +until they pay tribute out of hand,10 and they be humbled.11 + +The Jews say, "Ezra (Ozair) is a son of God";12 and the Christians say, "The +Messiah is a son of God." Such the sayings in their mouths! They resemble the +saying of the Infidels of old! God do battle with them! How are they +misguided! + +They take their teachers, and their monks, and the Messiah, son of Mary, for +Lords13 beside God, though bidden to worship one God only. There is no God +but He! Far from His glory be what they associate with Him! + +Fain would they put out God's light with their mouths: but God only desireth +to perfect His light, albeit the Infidels abhor it. + +He it is who hath sent His Apostle with the Guidance and a religion of the +truth, that He may make it victorious14 over every other religion, albeit +they who assign partners to God be averse from it. + +O Believers! of a truth, many of the teachers and monks do devour man's +substance in vanity, and turn them from the Way of God. But to those who +treasure up gold and silver and expend it not in the Way of God, announce +tidings of a grievous torment. + +On that day their treasures shall be heated in hell fire, and their +foreheads, and their sides, and their backs, shall be branded with them. . . +. "This is what ye have treasured up for yourselves: taste, therefore, your +treasures!" + +Twelve months is the number of months with God,15 according to God's book, +since the day when He created the Heavens and the Earth: of these four are +sacred: this is the right usage: But wrong not yourselves therein; attack +those who join gods with God in all, as they attack you in all: and know that +God is with those who fear Him. + +To carry over a sacred month to another, is only a growth of infidelity. The +Infidels are led into error by it. They allow it one year, and forbid it +another, that they may make good the number of months which God hath +hallowed, and they allow that which God hath prohibited. The evil of their +deeds hath been prepared for them by Satan: for God guideth not the people +who do not believe. + +O Believers! what possessed you, that when it was said to you, "March forth +on the Way of God," ye sank heavily earthwards? What! prefer ye the life of +this world to the next? But the fruition of this mundane life, in respect of +that which is to come, is but little.16 + +Unless ye march forth, with a grievous chastisement will He chastise you; and +He will place another people in your stead, and ye shall in no way harm Him: +for over everything is God potent. + +If ye assist not your Prophet . . . God assisted him formerly, when the +unbelievers drove him forth, in company with a second only!17 when they two +were in the cave; when the Prophet said to his companion, "Be not distressed; +verily, God is with us." And God sent down His tranquillity upon him, and +strengthened him with hosts ye saw not, and made the word of those who +believed not the abased, and the word of God was the exalted: for God is +Mighty, Wise. + +March ye forth the light and heavy armed,18 and contend with your substance +and your persons on the Way of God. This, if ye know it, will be better for +you. + +Had there been a near advantage and a short journey, they would certainly +have followed thee; but the way seemed long to them.19 Yet will they swear by +God, "Had we been able, we had surely gone forth with you:" they are self- +destroyers! And God knoweth that they are surely liars! + +God forgive thee! Why didst thou give them leave to stay behind, ere they who +make true excuses had become known to thee, and thou hadst known the liars? + +They who believe in God and in the last day will not ask leave of thee to be +exempt from contending with their substance and their persons. But God +knoweth those who fear Him! + +They only will ask thy leave who believe not in God and the last day, and +whose hearts are full of doubts, and who are tossed up and down in their +doubtings. + +Moreover, had they been desirous to take the field, they would have got ready +for that purpose the munitions of war.20 But God was averse to their +marching forth, and made them laggards; and it was said, "Sit ye at home with +those who sit." + +Had they taken the field with you, they would only have added a burden to +you, and have hurried about among you, stirring you up to sedition; and some +there are among you who would have listened to them: and God knoweth the evil +doers. + +Of old aimed they at sedition, and deranged thy affairs, until the truth +arrived, and the behest of God became apparent, averse from it though they +were. + +Some of them say to thee, "Allow me to remain at home, and expose me not to +the trial." Have they not fallen into a trial already? But verily, Hell shall +environ the Infidels! + +If a success betide thee, it annoyeth them: but if a reverse betide thee, +they say, "We took our own measures before:" and they turn their backs and +are glad. + +SAY: Nothing can befall us but what God hath destined21 for us. Our liege- +lord is He; and on God let the faithful trust! + +SAY: Await ye for us, other than one of the two best things?22 But we await +for you the infliction of a chastisement by God, from himself, or at our +hands. Wait ye then; we verily will wait with you. + +SAY: Make ye your offerings willingly or by constraint; it cannot be accepted +from you, because ye are a wicked people: + +And nothing hindreth the acceptance of their offerings, but that they believe +not in God and His Apostle, and discharge not the duty of prayer but with +sluggishness, and make not offerings but with reluctance. + +Let not, therefore, their riches or their children amaze thee. God is only +minded to punish them by means of these, in this life present, and that their +souls may depart while they are unbelievers.23 + +And they swear by God that they are indeed of you, yet they are not of you, +but they are people who are afraid of you: + +If they find a place of refuge, or caves, or a hiding place, they assuredly +turn towards it and haste thereto. + +Some of them also defame thee in regard to the alms; yet if a part be given +them, they are content, but if no part be given them, behold, they are angry! + +Would that they were satisfied with that which God and His Apostle had given +them, and would say "God sufficeth us! God will vouchsafe unto us of His +favour, and so will His Apostle: verily unto God do we make our suit!" + +But alms are only to be given to the poor and the needy,24 and those who +collect them, and to those25 whose hearts are won to Islam, and for ransoms, +and for debtors, and for the cause of God, and the wayfarer. This is an +ordinance from God: and God is Knowing, Wise. + +There are some of them who injure26 the Prophet and say, "He is all ear." +Say: An ear of good to you! He believeth in God, and believeth the believers: +and is a mercy to such of you as believe: + +But they who injure the Apostle of God, shall suffer a dolorous chastisement. + +They swear to you by God to please you; but worthier is God, and His Apostle, +that they should please Him, if they are believers. + +Know they not, that for him who opposeth God and His Apostle, is surely the +fire of Hell, in which he shall remain for ever? This is the great ignominy! + +The hypocrites are afraid lest a Sura should be sent down concerning them, to +tell them plainly what is in their hearts. SAY: Scoff ye; but God will bring +to light that which ye are afraid of. + +And if thou question them, they will surely say, "We were only discoursing +and jesting." SAY: What! do ye scoff at God, and His signs, and His Apostle? + +Make no excuse: from faith ye have passed to infidelity! If we forgive some +of you, we will punish others: for that they have been evil doers. + +Hypocritical men and women imitate one another.27 They enjoin what is evil, +and forbid what is just, and shut up their hands.28 They have forgotten God, +and He hath forgotten them. Verily, the hypocrites are the perverse doers. + +God promiseth the hypocritical men and women, and the unbelievers, the fire +of Hell–therein shall they abide–this their sufficing portion! And God hath +cursed them, and a lasting torment shall be theirs. + +Ye act like those who flourished before you. Mightier were they than you in +prowess, and more abundant in wealth and children, and they enjoyed their +portion: so ye also enjoy your portion, as they who were before you enjoyed +theirs; and ye hold discourses like their discourses. These! vain their works +both for this world and for that which is to come! These! they are the lost +ones. + +Hath not the history reached them of those who were before them?–of the +people of Noah,29 and of Ad, and of Themoud, and of the people of Abraham, +and of the inhabitants of Madian, and of the overthrown cities? Their +apostles came to them with clear proofs of their mission: God would not deal +wrongly by them, but they dealt wrongly by themselves. + +The faithful of both sexes are mutual friends: they enjoin what is just, and +forbid what is evil; they observe prayer, and pay the legal impost, and they +obey God and His Apostle. On these will God have mercy: verily, God is +Mighty, Wise. + +To the faithful, both men and women, God promiseth gardens 'neath which the +rivers flow, in which they shall abide, and goodly mansions in the gardens of +Eden. But best of all will be God's good pleasure in them. This will be the +great bliss. + +O Prophet! contend against the infidels and the hypocrites, and be rigorous +with them: Hell shall be their dwelling place! Wretched the journey thither! + +They swear by God that they said no such thing: yet spake they the word of +infidelity, and from Muslims became unbelievers! They planned what they could +not effect;30 and only disapproved of it because God and His Apostle had +enriched them by His bounty! If they repent it will be better for them; but +if they fall back into their sin, with a grievous chastisement will God +chastise them in this world and the next, and on earth they shall have +neither friend nor protector! + +Some there are of them who made this agreement with God–"If truly He give us +of His bounties, we will surely give alms and surely be of the righteous." + +Yet when he had vouchsafed them of His bounty, they became covetous thereof, +and turned their backs, and withdrew afar off: + +So He caused hypocrisy to take its turn in their hearts, until the day on +which they shall meet Him–for that they failed their promise to God, and that +they were liars! + +Know they not that God knoweth their secrets and their private talk, and that +God knoweth the secret things? + +They who traduce such of the faithful as give their alms freely, and those +who find nothing to give but their earnings, and scoff at them, God shall +scoff at them; and there is a grievous torment in store for them. + +Ask thou forgiveness for them, or ask it not, it will be the same. If thou +ask forgiveness for them seventy times, God will by no means forgive them. +This, for that they believe not in God and His Apostle! And God guideth not +the ungodly people. + +They who were left at home were delighted to stay behind God's Apostle, and +were averse from contending with their riches and their persons for the cause +of God, and said, "March not out in the heat." SAY: A fiercer heat will be +the fire of Hell." Would that they understood this. + +Little, therefore, let them laugh, and much let them weep, as the meed of +their doings! + +If God bring thee back from the fight to some of them, and they ask thy leave +to take the field, SAY: By no means shall ye ever take the field with me, and +by no means shall ye fight an enemy with me: ye were well pleased to sit at +home at the first crisis: sit ye at home, then, with those who lag behind. + +Never pray thou over anyone of them who dieth, or stand at his grave31– +because they believed not in God and His Apostle, and died in their +wickedness. + +Let not their riches or their children astonish thee: through these God is +fain only to punish them in this world, and that their souls should depart +while they are still infidels. + +When a Sura was sent down with "Believe in God and go forth to war with His +Apostle," those of them who are possessed of riches demanded exemption, and +said, "Allow us to be with those who sit at home. + +Well content were they to be with those who stay behind: for a seal hath been +set on their hearts so that they understand not:– + +But the Apostle and those who share his faith, contend for the faith with +purse and person; and these! all good things await them: and these are they +who shall be happy. + +God hath made ready for them gardens 'neath which the rivers flow, wherein +they shall remain for ever: this will be the great bliss. + +Some Arabs of the desert came with excuses, praying exemption; and they who +had gainsaid God and His Apostle sat at home: a grievous punishment shall +light on such of them as believe not. + +It shall be no crime in the weak, and in the sick, and in those who find not +the means of contributing, to stay at home, provided they are sincere with +God and His Apostle. Against those who act virtuously, there is no cause of +blame: and God is Gracious, Merciful:– + +Nor against those, to whom when they came to thee that thou shouldst mount +them, thou didst say "I find not wherewith to mount you," and they turned +away their eyes shedding floods of tears for grief, because they found no +means to contribute. + +Only is there cause of blame against those who, though they are rich, ask +thee for exemption. They are pleased to be with those who stay behind; and +God hath set a seal upon their hearts: they have no knowledge. + +They will excuse themselves to you when ye come back to them. SAY: Excuse +yourselves not; we cannot believe you: now hath God informed us about you: +God will behold your doings, and so will His Apostle: to Him who knoweth +alike things hidden and things manifest shall ye hereafter be brought back: +and He will tell you what ye have done. + +They will adjure you by God when ye are come back to them, to withdraw from +them: Withdraw from them, then, for they are unclean: their dwelling shall be +Hell, in recompense for their deserts. + +They will adjure you to take pleasure in them; but if ye take pleasure in +them, God truly will take no pleasure in those who act corruptly. + +The Arabs of the desert are most stout in unbelief and dissimulation; and +likelier it is that they should be unaware of the laws which God hath sent +down to His Apostle: and God is Knowing, Wise. + +Of the Arabs of the desert there are some who reckon what they expend in the +cause of God as tribute, and wait for some change of fortune to befall you: a +change for evil shall befall them! God is the Hearer, the Knower. + +And of the Arabs of the desert, some believe in God and in the last day, and +deem those alms an approach to God and to the Apostle's prayers. Are they not +their approach? Into His mercy shall God lead them: yes, God is Indulgent, +Merciful. + +As for those who led the way, the first of the Mohadjers,32 and the Ansars, +and those who have followed their noble conduct, God is well pleased with +them, and they with Him: He hath made ready for them gardens under whose +trees the rivers flow: to abide therein for aye: this shall be the great +bliss: + +And of the Arabs of the desert round about you, some are hypocrites: and of +the people of Medina, some are stubborn in hypocrisy. Thou knowest them not, +Muhammad: we know them: twice33 will we chastise them: then shall they be +given over to a great chastisement. + +Others have owned their faults, and with an action that is right they have +mixed another that is wrong. God will haply be turned to them: for God is +Forgiving, Merciful. + +Take alms of their substance,34 that thou mayst cleanse and purify them +thereby, and pray for them; for thy prayers shall assure their minds: and God +Heareth, Knoweth. + +Know they not that when his servants turn to Him with repentance, God +accepteth it, and that He accepteth alms, and that God is He who turneth, the +Merciful? + +SAY: Work ye: but God will behold your work, and so will His Apostle, and the +faithful: and ye shall be brought before Him who knoweth alike the Hidden and +the Manifest, and He will tell you of all your works. + +And others await the decision of God; whether He will punish them, or whether +He will be turned unto them: but God is Knowing, Wise. + +There are some35 who have built a Mosque for mischief36 and for infidelity, +and to disunite the faithful, and in expectation of him37 who, in time past, +warred against God and His Apostle. They will surely swear, "Our aim was only +good:" but God is witness that they are liars. + +Never set thou foot in it.38 There is a Mosque39 founded from its first day +in piety. More worthy is it that thou enter therein: therein are men who +aspire to purity, and God loveth the purified. + +Which of the two is best? He who hath founded his building on the fear of God +and the desire to please Him, or he who hath founded his building on the +brink of an undermined bank washed away by torrents, so that it rusheth with +him into the fire of Hell? But God guideth not the doers of wrong. + +Their building which they40 have built will not cease to cause uneasiness in +their hearts, until their hearts are cut in pieces.41 God is Knowing, Wise. + +Verily, of the faithful hath God bought their persons and their substance, on +condition of Paradise for them in return: on the path of God shall they +fight, and slay, and be slain: a Promise for this is pledged in the Law, and +in the Evangel, and in the Koran–and who more faithful, in to his engagement +than God? Rejoice, therefore, in the contract that ye have contracted: for +this shall be the great bliss. + +Those who turn to God, and those who serve, who praise, who fast, who bow +down, who prostrate themselves, who enjoin what is just and forbid what is +evil, and keep to the bounds42 of God . . .43 Wherefore bear these good +tidings to the faithful. + +It is not for the prophet or the faithful to pray for the forgiveness of +those, even though they be of kin, who associate other beings with God, after +it hath been made clear to them that they are to be the inmates of Hell. + +For neither did Abraham ask forgiveness for his father, but in pursuance of a +promise which he had promised to him: but when it was shewn him that he was +an enemy to God, he declared himself clear of him. Yet Abraham was pitiful, +kind. + +Nor is it for God to lead a people into error, after he hath guided them +aright, until that which they ought to dread hath been clearly shewn them. +Verily, God knoweth all things. + +God! His the kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth! He maketh alive and +killeth! Ye have no patron or helper save God. + +Now hath God turned Him unto the Prophet and unto the refugees (Mohadjers), +and unto the helpers (Ansars)44, who followed him in the hour of distress, +after that the hearts of a part of them had well nigh failed them45. Then +turned He unto them, for He was Kind to them, Merciful. + +He hath also turned Him unto the three46 who were left behind, so that the +earth, spacious as it is, became too strait for them; and their souls became +so straitened within them, that they bethought them that there was no refuge +from God but unto Himself. Then was He turned to them, that they might be +turned to Him, for God is He that turneth, the Merciful. + +Believers!47 fear God, and be with the sincere. + +No cause had the people of Medina and the Arabs of the desert around them, to +abandon God's Apostle, or to prefer their own lives to his; because neither +thirst, nor the labour nor hunger, could come upon them when on path of +God;48 neither do they step a step which may anger the unbelievers, neither +do they receive from the enemy any damage, but it is written down to them as +a good work. Verily, God suffereth not the reward of the righteous to perish. + +Nor give they alms either small or great, nor traverse they a torrent, but it +is thus reckoned to them; that God may reward them with better than they have +wrought. + +The faithful must not march forth all together to the wars: and if a party of +every band of them march not out, it is that they may instruct themselves in +their religion, and may warn their people when they come back to them, that +they take heed to themselves. + +Believers! wage war against such of the infidels as are your neighbours, and +let them find you rigorous: and know that God is with those who fear him. + +Whenever a Sura is sent down, there are some of them who say, "Whose faith +hath it increased?" It will increase the faith of those who believe, and they +shall rejoice. + +But as to those in whose hearts is a disease, it will add doubt to their +doubt, and they shall die infidels. + +Do they not see that they are proved every year once or twice? Yet they turn +not, neither are they warned. + +And whenever a Sura is sent down, they look at one another. . . . "Doth any +one see you?" then turn they aside. God shall turn their hearts aside, +because they are a people devoid of understanding. + +Now hath an Apostle come unto you from among yourselves: your iniquities +press heavily upon him. He is careful over you, and towards the faithful, +compassionate, merciful. + +If they turn away, SAY: God sufficeth me: there is no God but He. In Him put +I my trust. He is the possessor of the Glorious Throne! + + +_______________________ + +1 The "Immunity" is said by some commentators to have formed originally one +Sura with the eighth, p.375, and that on this account the usual formula of +invocation is not prefixed. The Caliph Othman accounted for this omission of +the Bismillah from the fact of this Sura having been revealed, with the +exception of a few verses, shortly before the prophet's death, who left no +instructions on the subject. (Mishcat 1, p. 526.) The former verses from 1- +12, or, according to other traditions, from 1-40, were recited to the +pilgrims at Mecca by Ali, Ann. Hej. 9. + +2 Lit. that ye cannot weaken God. + +3 Shawâl, Dhu'lkaada, Dhu'lhajja, Muharram. These months were observed by the +Arabians previous to the time of Muhammad. + +4 Al Abbas, Muhammad's uncle, when taken prisoner, had defended his unbelief, +and declared that he had performed these two important duties. Beidh. + +5 Or, shall issue his behest. + +6 At the battle of Honein, a valley three miles from Mecca (A.H. 8), the +Muhammadans, presuming upon the great superiority of their numbers, 12,000 +men, over the enemy who were only 4000 strong, were seized with a panic +throughout their ranks. Order was restored and victory obtained through the +bravery and presence of mind of Muhammad and his kindred. + +7 The enemy attacked and routed you on all sides. + +8 See ii. 249, p. 365. + +9 Through the breaking off commercial relations. + +10 Or, by right of subjection, Sale; in cash, Wahl.; all without exception, +K. i.e. as if by counting hands. + +11 Thus Hilchoth Melachim, vi. 4. The Jews are commanded, in case of war with +the Gentiles, to offer peace on two conditions:–that they become tributaries, +and renounce idolatry. Thus also chap. viii. 4. + +12 The Muhammadan tradition is that Ezra was raised to life after he had been +100 years dead, and dictated from memory the whole Jewish law, which had been +lost during the captivity, to the scribes. That the Jews regarded Ezra as a +son of God is due to Muhammad's own invention. See Sonna, 462 v. H. v. +Purgstall's Fundgruben des Orients, i. 288. The Talmudists, however, use very +exaggerated language concerning him. Thus, Sanhedrin, 21, 22. "Ezra would +have been fully worthy to have been the lawgiver, if Moses had not preceded +him." Josephus, Ant. xi. 5, 5, speaks of his high repute ([greek text]) with +the people, and of his honourable burial. Muhammad probably represents the +Jews as having deified Ezra with the view of showing that they, as well as +the Christians, had tampered with the doctrine of the Divine unity. + +13 An allusion to the word Rabbi, used by Jews and Christians, of their +priests, etc., but in Arabic of God only. Comp. Matt. xxiii. 7, 8. + +14 See Sur. [cxiv.] v. 85. + +15 The intercalation of a month every third year, in order to reduce the +lunar to the solar years, is justified by the Muhammadans from this passage. + +16 See Sur. xiii. 26, p. 336 (n.). + +17 With Abubekr. lit. second of two. + +18 Wahk. reich oder arm. Savary, young or old. Ibn Hisam (924) pronounces +this to be the oldest verse of the Sura. + +19 This refers to the expedition of Tabouk, a town half-way between Medina +and Damascus, against the Greeks, A.H. 9. Muhammad was now at the head of an +army of 30,000 men. Verses 42-48 are said to have been revealed during the +march. + +20 Lit. prepared a preparation. + +21 Lit. written. + +22 That is, victory or martyrdom. + +23 Compare Sura iii. 172. Geiger, p. 76, shews that this is precisely the +teaching of the Talmudists with regard to the wicked. + +24 The poor, i.e. absolute paupers; the needy i.e. those in some temporary +distress. + +25 The petty Arab chiefs with whom Muhammad made terms after the battle of +Honein, in order to secure their followers. + +26 There seems to be a play, in the original, upon the similarity of the +words for injure and ear. + +27 Lit. (are) the one from the other. + +28 From giving alms. + +29 Comp. Sura liv. 15, p. 77. The traditions as to the collection of pitch +from wood of the Ark, in the time of Berosus (B.C. 250?) for amulets, and of +the wood itself, in the time of Josephus (Ant. i. 3, 6, c. Apion, i. 19) must +have reached Muhammad through his Jewish informants. Fragments are said to +have existed in the days of Benjamin of Tudela, and to have been carried away +by the Chalif Omar, from the mountain al Djoudi to the mosque of Gazyrat Ibn +Omar. + +30 To kill Muhammad. The circumstances are given in a tradition preserved ap. +Weil, p. 265, note. The meaning is, that the people of Medina, who had become +enriched by Muhammad's residence among them, had no better motive for +disapproving the attempt upon his life. Lit. they had nothing to avenge but +that, etc. + +31 Prayers for the dead were customary among the Arabians before Muhammad. +See Freyt. Einl. p. 221. + +32 The Mohadiers were those who fled with Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, the +Ansars his auxiliaries in Medina. + +33 The commentators are not agreed as to the nature of this double +punishment. + +34 The fine of a third part of all their substance was imposed upon seven of +those who had held back from the expedition to Tabouk. This is the fault +spoken of in the preceding verse. + +35 The tribe of Beni Ganim had built a mosque, professedly from religious +motives, which they invited Muhammad on his way to Tabouk to dedicate by a +solemn act of prayer. Muhammad, however, discovered that the real motive of +the Beni Ganim was jealousy of the tribe of Beni Amru Ibn Auf, and of the +mosque at Kuba, and that there existed and understanding between them and his +enemy the monk Abu Amir, who was then in Syria, for the purpose of urging the +Greeks to attack the Muslims and their mosque. It is to him that the word +irsâdan refers. + +36 To the dwellers at Kuba. Verses 108-111 were probably promulged on the +return from Tabouk previous to the entry into Medina. + +37 Abu Amir. + +38 Or, never stand thou in it (to pray). + +39 The mosque of Kuba, about three miles S.S.E. of Medina. The spot where +this verse was revealed is still pointed out, and called "Makam el Ayat," or +"the place of signs." Burton's "Pilgrimage," ii. p. 214.Muhammad laid the +first brick, and it was the first place of public prayer in El Islam. Ib. p. +209. + +40 The Beni Ganim. + +41 That is, up to the time of their death they will never reflect on what +they have done without bitter pangs of conscience. See Weil's M. der Prophet, +pp. 268, 269, and note. + +42 Lit. limits, i.e. laws. + +43 Shall have their recompense. + +44 See verse 101. + +45 Lit. turned aside, swerved. + +46 Three Ansars who did not accompany Muhammad to Tabouk, and who on his +return were put under interdict, and not released from it till after fifty +days of penance. + +47 Verses 120-128 probably belong to the period after the return from Tabouk +to Medina. + +48 While fighting for the cause of God. + + +SURA V.–THE TABLE [CXIV.] + +MEDINA.–120 Verses + +In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful + +O BELIEVERS! be faithful to your engagements. You are allowed the flesh of +cattle other than what is hereinafter recited, except game, which is not +allowed you while ye are on pilgrimage. Verily, God ordaineth what he +pleaseth. + +O Believers! violate neither the rites of God, nor the sacred month Muharram, +nor the offering, nor its ornaments1, nor those who press on to the sacred +house seeking favour from their Lord and his good pleasure in them. + +But when all is over2, then take to the chase: and let not ill will at those3 +who would have kept you from the sacred mosque lead you to transgress4, but +rather be helpful to one another according to goodness and piety, but be not +helpful for evil and malice: and fear ye God. Verily, God is severe in +punishing! + +That which dieth of itself, and blood, and swine's flesh, and all that hath +been sacrificed under the invocation of any other name than that of God, and +the strangled, and the killed by a blow, or by a fall, or by goring5, and +that which hath been eaten by beasts of prey, unless ye make it clean by +giving the death-stroke yourselves, and that which hath been sacrificed on +the blocks of stone6, is forbidden you: and to make division of the slain by +consulting the arrows,7 is impiety in you. Woe this day on those who forsake +your religion! And fear them not, but fear Me. + +This day have I perfected your religion for you, and have filled up the +measure of my favours upon you: and it is my pleasure that Islam be your +religion; but whoso without wilful leanings to wrong shall be forced by +hunger to transgress, to him,verily, will God be Indulgent, Merciful. + +They will ask thee what is made lawful for them. Say: Those things which are +good8 are legalised to you, and the prey of beasts of chase which ye have +trained like dogs, teaching them as God hath taught you. Eat, therefore, of +what they shall catch for you, and make mention of the name of God over it, +and fear God: Verily, Swift is God to reckon: + +This day, things healthful are legalised to you, and the meats of those who +have received the Scriptures are allowed to you, as your meats are to them. +And you are permitted to marry virtuous women who are believers, and virtuous +women of those who have received the Scriptures before you, when you shall +have provided them their portions, living chastely with them without +fornication, and without taking concubines. Vain the works of him who shall +renounce the faith! and in the next world he shall be of the lost. + +O Believers! when ye address yourselves to prayer, wash your faces, and your +hands up to the elbow, and wipe your heads, and your feet to the ankles. + +And if ye have become unclean, then purify yourselves. But if ye are sick, or +on a journey, or if one of you come from the place of retirement, or if ye +have touched women, and ye find no water, then take clean sand and rub your +faces and your hands with it.9 God desireth not to lay a burden upon you, but +he desireth to purify you, and He would fill up the measure of His favour +upon you, that ye may be grateful. + +And remember the favour of God upon you, and His covenant which He hath +covenanted with you, when ye said, "We have heard and will obey;"10 and fear +God; verily, God knoweth the very secrets of the breast. + +O Believers! stand up as witnesses for God by righteousness: and let not ill- +will at any, induce you not to act uprightly. Act uprightly. Next will this +be to the fear of God. And fear ye God: verily, God is apprised of what ye +do. + +God hath promised to those who believe, and do the things that are right, +that for them is pardon and a great reward. + +But they who are Infidels and treat our signs as lies–these shall be mated +with Hell fire. + +O Believers! recollect God's favour upon you, when11 certain folk were minded +to stretch forth their hands against you, but He kept their hands from you. +Fear God then: and on God let the faithful trust. + +Of old did God accept the covenant of the children of Israel,12 and out of +them we raised up twelve leaders, and God said, "Verily, I will be with you. +If ye observe prayer and pay the obligatory alms, and believe in my Apostles +and help them, and lend God a liberal loan, I will surely put away from you +your evil deeds, and I will bring you into gardens 'neath which the rivers +flow! But whoso of you after this believeth not, hath gone astray from the +even path." + +But for their breaking their covenant we have cursed them, and have hardened +their hearts. They shift the words of Scripture from their places, and have +forgotten part of what they were taught. Thou wilt not cease to discover +deceit on their part, except in a few of them. But forgive them, and pass it +over: verily, God loveth those who act generously! + +And of those who say, "We are Christians," have we accepted the covenant. But +they too have forgotten a part of what they were taught; wherefore we have +stirred up enmity and hatred among them that shall last till the day of the +Resurrection; and in the end will God tell them of their doings. + +O people of the Scriptures! now is our Apostle come to you to clear up to you +much that ye concealed of those Scriptures, and to pass over many things. Now +hath a light and a clear Book come to you from God, by which God will guide +him who shall follow after his good pleasure, to paths of peace, and will +bring them out of the darkness to the light, by his will: and to the straight +path will he guide them. + +Infidels now are they who say, "Verily God is the Messiah Ibn Maryam (son of +Mary)! SAY: And who could aught obtain from God, if he chose to destroy the +Messiah Ibn Maryam, and his mother, and all who are on the earth together? + +For with God is the sovereignty of the Heavens and of the Earth, and of all +that is between them! He createth what He will; and over all things is God +potent. + +Say the Jews and Christians, "Sons are we of God and his beloved." SAY: Why +then doth he chastise you for your sins? Nay! ye are but a part of the men +whom he hath created! He will pardon whom he pleaseth, and chastise whom he +pleaseth, and with God is the sovereignty of the Heavens and of the Earth, +and of all that is between them, and unto Him shall all things return. + +O people of the Book! now hath our Apostle come to you to clear up to you the +cessation13 of Apostles, lest you should say, "There hath come to us no +bearer of good tidings, nor any warner." But now hath a bearer of good +tidings and a warner reached you. And God is Almighty. + +And remember when Moses said to his people, "O my people! call to mind the +goodness of God towards you when he appointed Prophets among you, and +appointed you kings, and gave you what never had been given before to any +human beings: + +Enter, O my people! the holy land which God hath destined for you. Turn not +back, lest ye be overthrown to your ruin." + +They said, "O Moses! Therein are men of might. And verily, we can by no means +enter it till they be gone forth. But if they go forth from it, then verily +will we enter in." + +Then said two men of those who feared their Lord and to whom God had been +gracious, "Enter in upon them by the gate: and when ye enter it, ye overcome! +If ye be believers, put ye your trust in God." + +They said, "O Moses! never can we enter while they remain therein. Go thou +and thy Lord and fight; for here will we sit us down." + +He said, "O my Lord, Verily of none am I master but of myself and my brother: +put thou therefore a difference between us and this ungodly people." + +He said, "Verily the land shall be forbidden them forty years: they shall +wander in the earth perplexed. Fret not thyself therefore for the ungodly +people." + +Relate to them exactly the story of the sons of Adam14 when they each offered +an offering; accepted from the one of them, and not accepted from the other. +The one said, "I will surely slay thee." Said the other, "God only accepted +from those that fear Him. + +"Even if thou stretch forth thine hand against me to slay me, I will not +stretch forth my hand against thee to slay thee. Truly I fear God the Lord of +the Worlds. + +"Yea, rather would I that thou shouldest bear my sin15 and thine own sin, and +that thou become an inmate of the Fire: for that is the recompense of the +unjust doers." + +And his passion led him to slay his brother: and he slew him; and he became +one of those who perish. + +And God sent a raven which scratched upon the ground, to shew him16 how he +might hide his brother's wrong.17 He said: "O woe is me! am I too weak to +become like this raven, and to hide away my brother's wrong?" And he became +one of the repentant. + +For this cause have we ordained to the children of Israel that he who slayeth +any one, unless it be a person guilty of manslaughter, or of spreading +disorders in the land, shall be as though he had slain all mankind; but that +he who saveth a life, shall be as though he had saved all mankind alive.18 + +Of old our Apostles came to them with the proofs of their mission; then +verily after this most of them committed excesses in the land. + +Only, the recompense of those who war against God and his Apostle, and go +about to commit disorders on the earth, shall be that they shall be slain or +crucified, or have their alternate hands and feet cut off, or be banished the +land: This their disgrace in this world, and in the next a great torment +shall be theirs– + +Except those who, ere you have them in your power, shall repent; for know +that God is Forgiving, Merciful. + +O ye who believe! fear God. Desire union with Him. Contend earnestly on his +path, that you may attain to happiness. + +As to the infidels–if that they had twice the riches of the earth to be their +ransom from torment on the day of resurrection, it should not be accepted +from them! And a dolorous torment shall be their's. + +Fain would they come forth from the Fire; but forth from it they shall not +come: and a lasting torment shall be their's. + +As to the thief, whether man or woman, cut ye off their hands in recompense +for their doings.19 This is a penalty by way of warning from God himself. And +God is Mighty, Wise. + +But whoever shall turn him to God after this his wickedness, and amend, God +truly will be turned to him: for God is Forgiving, Merciful. + +Knowest thou not that the sovereignty of the Heavens and of the Earth is +God's? He chastiseth whom He will, and whom He will He forgiveth. And God +hath power over all things. + +O Apostle! let not those who vie with one another in speeding to infidelity +vex thee;–of those who say with their mouths, "We believe," but whose hearts +believe not;–or of the Jews listeners to a lie–listeners to others–but who +come not to thee. They shift the words of the law from their places, and say, +"If this be brought to you, receive it; but if this be not brought to you, +then beware of it." For him whom God would mislead, thou canst in no wise +prevail with God! They whose hearts God shall not please to cleanse, shall +suffer disgrace in this world, and in the next a grievous punishment; + +Listeners to a falsehood and greedy devourers of the forbidden!20 If, +therefore, they have recourse to thee, then judge between them, or withdraw +from them. If thou withdraw from them, then can they have no power to injure +thee. But if thou judge, then judge between them with equity. Verily, God +loveth those who deal equitably. + +But how shall they make thee their judge, since they possess already the Law, +in which are the behests of God, and have not obeyed it? After this, they +will turn their backs; but such are not believers. + +Verily, we have sent down the law (Towrat) wherein are guidance and light. By +it did the prophets who professed Islam judge the Jews; and the doctors and +the teachers judged by that portion of the Book of God, of which they were +the keepers and the witnesses. Therefore, O Jews! fear not men but fear Me; +and barter not away my signs for a mean price! And whoso will not judge by +what God hath sent down–such are the Infidels. + +And therein21 have we enacted for them, "Life for life, and eye for eye, and +nose for nose, and ear for ear, and tooth for tooth, and for wounds +retaliation:"–Whoso shall compromise it as alms shall have therein the +expiation of his sin; and whoso will not judge by what God hath sent down– +such are the transgressors. + +And in the footsteps of the prophets caused we Jesus, the son of Mary, to +follow, confirming the law which was before him: and we gave him the Evangel +with its guidance and light, confirmatory of the preceding Law; a guidance +and warning to those who fear God;– + +And that the people of the Evangel may judge according to what God hath sent +down therein. And whoso will not judge by what God hath sent down–such are +the perverse. + +And to thee we have sent down the Book of the Koran with truth, confirmatory +of previous Scriptures, and their safeguard. Judge therefore between them by +what God hath sent down, and follow not their desires by deserting the truth +which hath come unto thee. To every one of you have we given a rule and a +beaten track. + +And if God had pleased He had surely made you all one people; but He would +test you by what He hath given to each. Be emulous, then, in good deeds. To +God shall ye all return, and He will tell you concerning the subjects of your +disputes. + +Wherefore do thou judge between them, by what God hath sent down, and follow +not their wishes! but be on thy guard against them lest they beguile thee +from any of those precepts which God hath sent down to thee; and if they turn +back, then know thou that for some of their crimes doth God choose to punish +them: for truly most men are perverse. + +Desire they, therefore, the judgments of the times of(pagan) ignorance? But +what better judge can there be than God for those who believe firmly? + +O Believers! take not the Jews or Christians22 as friends. They are but one +another's friends. If any one of you taketh them for his friends, he surely +is one of them! God will not guide the evil doers. + +So shalt thou see the diseased at heart speed away to them, and say, "We fear +lest a change of fortune befall us." But haply God will of himself bring +about some victory or event of His own ordering: then soon will they repent +them of their secret imaginings. + +Then will the faithful say, "What! are these they who swore, by their most +solemn oath, that they were surely with you?" Vain their works; and +themselves shall come to ruin. + +O ye who believe! should any of you desert His religion, God will then raise +up a people loved by Him, and loving Him, lowly towards the faithful, haughty +towards the Infidels. For the cause of God will they contend, and not fear +the blame of the blamer. This is the Grace of God! On whom He will He +bestoweth it! God is Vast, Omniscient! + +Verily, your protector is God and His Apostle, and those who believe, who +observe prayer, and pay the alms of obligation, and who bow in worship. + +And whoso take God and His Apostle, and those who believe for friends, they +truly are the people of God; they shall have the upper hand. + +O ye who believe! take not such of those who have received the Scriptures +before you, as scoff and jest at your religion, or the Infidels, for your +friends, but fear God if ye are believers: + +Nor those who when ye call to prayer, make it an object of raillery and +derision. This they do because they are a people who understand not. + +SAY:23 O people of the Book! do ye not disavow us only because we believe in +God, and in what He hath sent down to us, and in what He hath sent down +aforetime, and because most of you are doers of ill? + +SAY: Can I announce to you any retribution worse than that which awaiteth +them with God? They whom God hath cursed and with whom He hath been angry– +some of them hath He changed into apes and swine; and they who worship +Thagout are in evil plight, and have gone far astray from the right path! + +When they presented themselves to you they said, "We believe;" but Infidels +they came in unto you, and Infidels they went forth! God well knew what they +concealed. + +Many of them shalt thou see hastening together to wickedness and malice, and +to eat unlawful things. Shame on them for what they have done! + +Had not their doctors and teachers forbidden their uttering wickedness, and +their eating unlawful food, bad indeed would have been their doings! + +"The hand of God," say the Jews, "is chained up."24 Their own hands shall be +chained up–and for that which they have said shall they be cursed. Nay! +outstretched are both His hands! At His own pleasure does He bestow gifts. +That which hath been sent down to thee from thy Lord will surely increase the +rebellion and unbelief of many of them; and we have put enmity and hatred +between them that shall last till the day of the Resurrection. Oft as they +kindle a beacon fire for war shall God quench it! and their aim will be to +abet disorder on the earth: but God loveth not the abettors of disorder. + +But if the people of the Book believe and have the fear of God, we will +surely put away their sins from them, and will bring them into gardens of +delight: and if that they observe the law and the Evangel, and what hath been +sent down to them from their Lord, they shall surely have their fill of good +things from above them and from beneath their feet. Some there are among them +who act aright; but many of them–how evil are their doings! + +O Apostle! proclaim all that hath been sent down to thee from thy Lord: for +if thou do it not, thou hast not proclaimed His message at all. And God will +protect thee from evil men: verily, God guideth not the unbelievers. + +SAY: O people of the Book! ye have no ground to stand on, until ye observe +the Law and the Evangel, and that which hath been sent down to you from your +Lord.25 The Book which hath been sent down to thee from thy Lord will +certainly increase the rebellion and unbelief of many of them; but, be not +thou troubled for the unbelievers. + +Verily, they who believe, and the Jews, and the Sabeites,26 and the +Christians–whoever of them believeth in God and in the last day, and doth +what is right, on them shall come no fear, neither shall they be put to +grief. + +Of old we accepted the covenant of the children of Israel, and sent Apostles +to them. Oft as an Apostle came to them with that for which they had no +desire, some they treated as liars, and some they slew;27 + +And they reckoned that no harm would come of it:–but they became blind and +deaf! Then was God turned unto them: then many of them again became blind and +deaf! but God beheld what they did. + +Infidels now are they who say, "God is the Messiah, Son of Mary;" for the +Messiah said, "O children of Israel! worship God, my Lord and your Lord." +Whoever shall join other gods with God, God shall forbid him the Garden, and +his abode shall be the Fire; and the wicked shall have no helpers. + +They surely are Infidels who say, "God is the third of three:" for there is +no God but one God: and if they refrain not from what they say, a grievous +chastisement shall light on such of them as are Infidels. + +Will they not, therefore, be turned unto God, and ask pardon of Him? since +God is Forgiving, Merciful! + +The Messiah, Son of Mary, is but an Apostle; other Apostles have flourished +before him; and his mother was a just28 person: they both ate food.29 Behold! +how we make clear to them the signs! then behold how they turn aside! + +SAY: Will ye worship, beside God, that which can neither hurt nor help? But +God! He only Heareth, Knoweth. + +SAY: O people of the Book! outstep not bounds of truth in your religion; +neither follow the desires of those who have already gone astray, and who +have caused many to go astray, and have themselves gone astray from the +evenness of the way. + +Those among the children of Israel who believed not were cursed by the tongue +of David,30 and of Jesus, Son of Mary. This, because they were rebellious, +and became transgressors: they forbade not one another the iniquity which +they wrought! detestable are their actions! + +Thou shalt see many of them make friends of the infidels. Evil the actions +which their own passions have sent on beforehand; for God is angry with them, +and in torment shall they abide for ever: + +But, if they had believed in God, and the Prophet, and the Koran which hath +been sent down to him, they had not taken them for their friends; but +perverse are most of them. + +Of all men thou wilt certainly find the Jews, and those who join other gods +with God, to be the most intense in hatred of those who believe; and thou +shalt certainly find those to be nearest in affection to them who say, "We +are Christians." This, because some of them are priests and monks,31 and +because they are free from pride. + +And when they hear that which hath been sent down to the Apostle, thou seest +their eyes overflow with tears at the truth they recognise therein, saying, +"O our Lord! we believe; write us down therefore with those who bear witness +to it. + +And why should we not believe in God, and in the truth which hath come down +to us, and crave that our Lord would bring us into Paradise with the Just?" + +Therefore hath God rewarded them for these their words, with gardens 'neath +which the rivers flow; they shall abide therein for ever: this the reward of +the righteous! But they who believe not and treat our signs as lies shall be +the inmates of Hell-fire. + +O ye who believe! interdict not the healthful viands which God hath allowed +you; go not beyond this limit. God loveth not those who outstep it.32 + +And eat of what God hath given you for food, that which is lawful and +wholesome: and fear God, in whom ye believe. + +God will not punish you for a mistaken word in your oaths: but he will punish +you in regard to an oath taken seriously.33 Its expiation shall be to feed +ten poor persons with such middling food as ye feed your own families with, +or to clothe them; or to set free a captive. But he who cannot find means, +shall fast three days. This is the expiation of your oaths when ye shall have +sworn. Keep then your oaths. Thus God maketh his signs clear to you, that ye +may give thanks. + +O believers! surely wine and games of chance,34 and statues, and the divining +arrows, are an abomination of Satan's work! Avoid them, that ye may prosper. + +Only would Satan sow hatred and strife among you, by wine and games of +chance, and turn you aside from the remembrance of God, and from prayer: will +ye not, therefore, abstain from them? Obey God and obey the Apostle, and be +on your guard: but if ye turn back, know that our Apostle is only bound to +deliver a plain announcement. + +No blame shall attach to those who believe and do good works, in regard to +any food they have taken, in case they fear God and believe, and do the +things that are right, and shall still fear God and believe, and shall still +fear him, and do good; for God loveth those who do good. + +O ye who believe! God will surely make trial of you with such game as ye may +take with your hands, or your lances, that God may know who feareth him in +secret: and whoever after this transgresseth, shall suffer a grievous +chastisement. + +O believers!35 kill no game while ye are on pilgrimage. Whosoever among you +shall purposely kill it, shall comsent pensate for it in domestic animals of +equal value (according to the judgment of two just persons among you), to be +brought as an offering to the Caaba; or in expiation thereof shall feed the +poor; or as the equivalent of this shall fast, that he may taste the ill +consequence of his deed. God forgiveth what is past; but whoever doth it +again, God will take vengeance on him; for God is mighty and vengeance is +His. + +It is lawful for you to fish in the sea, and to eat fish, as provision for +you and for those who travel; but it is unlawful for you to hunt by land +while ye are still on pilgrimage: fear ye God, therefore, before whom ye +shall be assembled. + +God hath appointed the Caaba,36 the sacred house, to be a station for +mankind, and the sacred month, and the offering, and its ornaments. This, +that ye may know that God knoweth all that is in the heavens and on the +earth, and that God hath knowledge of everything. Know that God is severe in +punishing, and that God is Forgiving, Merciful. + +The Apostle is only bound to preach: and God knoweth what ye bring to light, +and what ye conceal. + +SAY: The evil and the good shall not be valued alike, even though the +abundance of evil please thee; therefore fear God, O ye of understanding! +that it may be well with you. + +O believers! ask us not of things which if they were told might only pain +you; but if ye ask of such things when the entire Koran shall have been sent +down, they will be declared to you: God will pardon you for this, for God is +Forgiving, Gracious. They who were before you, asked concerning such things, +and afterwards quickly disbelieved therein + +God hath not ordained anything on the subject. of Bahira, or Saďba, or +Wasila, or Hami;37 but the unbelievers have invented this lie against God: +and most of them had no understanding. + +And when it was said to them, "Accede to that which God hath sent down, and +to the Apostle:" they said, "Sufficient for us is the faith in which we found +our fathers." What! though their fathers knew nothing, and had no guidance? + +O believers! take heed to yourselves.38 He who erreth shall not hurt you when +ye have the "guidance:" to God shall ye all return, and He will tell you that +which ye have done. + +O believers! let there be witnesses between you, when death draweth nigh to +any of you, at the time of making the testament; two witnesses–just men from +among yourselves, or two others of a different tribe from yourselves–if ye be +journeying in the earth, and the calamity of death surprise you. Ye shall +shut them both up, after the prayer; and if ye doubt them, they shall swear +by God, "We will not take a bribe though the party be of kin to us, neither +will we conceal the testimony of God, for then we should be among the +wicked." + +But if it shall be made clear that both have been guilty of a falsehood, two +others of those who have convicted them thereof, the two nearest in blood +shall stand up in their place, and they shall swear by God, "Verily our +witness is more true than the witness of these two; neither have we advanced +anything untrue, for then should we be of the unjust." + +Thus will it be easier for men to bear a true39 witness, or fear lest after +their oath another oath be given. Therefore fear God and hearken; for God +guideth not the perverse. + +One day will God assemble the Apostles, and say, "What reply was made to +you?" They shall say, "We have no knowledge, but Thou art the Knower of +Secrets." + +When He shall say: O Jesus! Son of Mary! call to mind my favour upon thee and +upon thy mother, when I strengthened thee with the Holy Spirit, that thou +shouldest speak40 to men alike in the cradle, and when grown up;– + +And when I taught thee the Scripture, and Wisdom, and the Law, and the +Evangel: and thou didst create of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by +my leave, and didst breathe into it, and by my leave it became a bird; and +thou didst heal the blind and the leper, by my leave; and when, by my leave, +thou didst bring forth the dead; and when I withheld the children of Israel +from thee, when thou hadst come to them with clear tokens: and such of them +as believed not said, "This is nought but plain sorcery;"41 + +And when I revealed unto the Apostles, "Believe on me and on my Sent One," +they said, "We believe; and bear thou witness that we are Muslims." + +Remember when the Apostles42 said–"O Jesus, Son of Mary! is thy Lord able to +send down a furnished TABLE to us out of Heaven?" He said–"Fear God if ye be +believers." + +They said–"We desire to eat therefrom, and to have our hearts assured; and to +know that thou hast indeed spoken truth to us, and to be witnesses thereof." + +Jesus, Son of Mary, said–"O God, our Lord! send down a table to us out of +Heaven, that it may become a recurring festival to us, to the first of us and +to the last of us, and a sign from thee; and do thou nourish us, for thou art +the best of nourishers." + +And God said–Verily, I will cause it to descend unto you; but whoever among +you after that shall disbelieve, I will surely chastise him with a +chastisement, wherewith I will not chastise any other creature.43 + +And when God shall say–"O Jesus, Son of Mary: hast thou said unto mankind– +'Take me and my mother as two Gods, beside God?"' He shall say–"Glory be unto +Thee! it is not for me to say that which I know to be not the truth; had I +said that, verily thou wouldest have known it: Thou knowest what is in me, +but I know not what is in Thee; for Thou well knowest things unseen! + +"I spake not to them aught but that which thou didst bid me–'Worship God, my +Lord and your Lord;' and I was a witness of their actions while I stayed +among them; but since thou hast taken me to Thyself, Thou hast Thyself +watched them, and Thou art witness of all things: + +"If Thou punish them, they are Thy servants, and if Thou forgive them. . . +.44 Thou, verily, art the Mighty, the Wise!" + +God will say–This day shall their truth advantage the truthful. Gardens shall +they have 'neath which the rivers flow, and remain therein for ever: God is +well pleased with them and they with Him. This shall be the great bliss. + +Unto God belongeth the sovereignty of the Heavens and of the Earth, and of +all that they contain; and He hath power over all things. + + +_______________________ + +1 The garlands, etc., attached to the victims offered at Mecca. + +2 When you have again returned to your common and everyday life by laying +aside the ihram, or pilgrim's robe. This generally consists of two pieces of +cotton, or linen, or woollen cloth, without seam or ornament, one of which is +wrapped round the loins, and the other thrown over the shoulders. The instep, +heel, and head must be bare. + +3 The Koreisch sent to meet Muhammad, who was on his way to visit the Caaba +with 1400 men, at Hudaibiya (An. Hej. 6) to prohibit his nearer approach. A +truce for ten years was ultimately concluded. + +4 By making war in the holy month. + +5 Comp. Tract Cholin, c. 3. + +6 Lit. on blocks or shafts of stone. These were set up by the pagan Arabs in +front of their houses for the purpose of sacrificing thereon. See Freytag's +Einl. p. 462, and Tr. Cholin, p. 39, 40, 41. + +7 It was the custom to draw lots for joints of a camel with arrows, some +feathered and others unfeathered, kept for this purpose in the temple of +Mecca. See Pocock, Spec. Hist. Ar., under the word Hobal. + +8 In the sense of sound, healthful. + +9 Thus Talm. Tr. Berachoth, 46. + +10 This refers to the oath of fidelity which Muhammad's followers took at Al +Akaba. Abulf. Vit.Moh.p.43. + +11 It is quite uncertain to what events this refers. The commentators +narrate, and have doubtless invented, various incidents as having occasioned +it. + +12 Verses 15-38 belong probably to the period shortly before the taking of +Chaibar in the beginning of Hej. 7. It is remarkable that Muhammad, although +he has invented these twelve leaders of tribes, should nowhere mention the +number of the Apostles. There is no doubt, however, from the ancient +biographies, that he chose twelve assistants for the propagation of Islam. +See Gagnier, Vie de M. ii. xvi. + +13 The space between the mission of different prophets. + +14 Called by the Arabians Habeel and Kabeel. The dialogue between Cain and +Abel is slightly varied from that given in Targ. Jerus. on Gen. iv. 8, and +Jonath. Ben Uzziel. + +15 Or, the sin against me, i.e. of slaying me. + +16 In the Jewish tradition the raven shews the mode of burial to Adam, not to +Cain. Pirke R. Elieser, c. 21. Midr. fol. II ap. Weil (Legenden, p. 39). + +17 Or, corpse. + +18 Thus Mischn. Sanhedr. iv. 5, "We find it said in the case of Cain who +murdered his brother–'The voice of thy brother's bloods crieth'–It is not +said, blood of thy brother, but bloods, i.e. his blood and the blood of his +seed. Therefore was man created single, in order to shew that to him who +kills a single individual of Israel it shall be reckoned as if he had slain +the whole race, and that he, etc." precisely as in the text. Comp. also the +same form of expression in Bab. Tal, Kidush, § 1, "If one fulfil but one +commandment, he causes the scale of innocence to preponderate for himself and +the whole world; but if he commit one sin, he causes the scale of guilt to +preponderate for himself and the whole world. + +19 Muhammad is said by the early traditionists to have punished a woman who +had been guilty of theft in this manner while on the route to Mecca previous +to its capture. We are, therefore, able to fix the date of verses 39-44. + +20 Usury, bribes. + +21 Ex. xxi. 23-27. + +22 This may refer to proposals made to the Muslims to enter into alliance +with the Jews and Christians against the heathen, after the reverse at Ohod. +Lane observes (Mod. Egyptians, i. 358) with regard to this precept, that "of +the leading features of the character of the Mooslims none is more remarkable +than their religious pride. They regard persons of every other faith as the +children of perdition; and such the Mooslim is early taught to despise." They +are, however, "as remarkable for their toleration as for their contempt of +unbelievers." + +23 Weil suggests that verses 64-88 were revealed subsequently to contests +with the Jews, but before Muhammad had broken with the Christians, i.e. +between Hej. 4 and 8. + +24 That is, God has ceased to be bounteous. The Muslims believe that at the +day of judgment all the Jews will appear with the right hand tied to the +neck. + +25 That is, the Koran. The Jew was to retain a faith in the Towrât, or Law; +the Christian in the Injil, or Gospel; but both Jews and Christians were to +receive the Koran as the complement of both. + +26 See Sura [xci.] ii. 59, p. 344. + +27 I Thess. ii. 15. + +28 Did not give herself out to be a goddess. Djelal. + +29 That is, were human beings, and subject to the usual wants and liabilities +of ordinary persons. + +30 See Sura ii. 61, p. 344. Mark viii. 30. + +31 Geiger derives both the Arabic words from Syriac terms, and renders elders +and clerics, p. 51. But the root of the Arabic word rendered monk is +generally said to be rahaba, to fear. + +32 Comp. Sura [cix.] 1xvi. 2. The date of verses 89-91 is therefore probably +Hej. 7. + +33 If you violate it. + +34 See verse 4. Tradition has expanded the word ansab, so as to include all +figures, and hence the strict observers of the letter of the Koran forbid the +game of chess. The Persians, however, and Indians generally interpret this +verse more liberally. + +35 This and the two following verses are placed by the commentators in the +year of Hudaibiya, as also 98, 99, 100. + +36 That is, Cube-House. Maison Carrée. It is also commonly called the Bait +Ullah, House of God. The Caaba is an oblong massive structure 55 ft. in +length, 45 in breadth, and the height somewhat greater than the length. At +the S.E. corner is the famous Hajar El-Aswad, or Black Stone, according to +Lieut. Burton, an undoubted aerolite. It is figured in Mr. Muir's "Life of +Mahomet." The Caaba stands in an open parallelogram of about 500 ft. by 530 +ft. and is surrounded by colonnades, the pillars of which, made of various +marbles, some Egyptian but mostly Meccan, stand in a quadruple row on the +east side, and three deep on the other sides, and amount to 554. It has been +rebuilt several times, but has not been materially altered since A.H. 1040. + +37 Names given to the sacred animals which were marked and allowed to range +for pasture at liberty. The dedicated mother-camel was the Saiba; the Wasila +included also goats or ewes; the eleventh female offspring of the camel was +Bahira; the dedicated stallion was Hami. These forms of superstition grew up, +obviously, from a remote period, out of the intense affection of the Bedouin +for his flocks, especially his horses and camels. + +38 Lit. on you your souls. + +39 Lit. upon its face, i.e. according to its plain scope. + +40 See Evang. Infant. c. 1, Invenimus in libro Josephi Pontificis qui vixit +tempore Christi, Jesum locutum esse, et quidem cum in cunis jaceret, etc. The +date of verse 108 to the end is uncertain. + +41 Precisely the same expression is applied to our Lord in the Arabic Evang. +Infantić, c. 36 at the end, which also relates the story of the Birds. + +42 Ar. El-hawariyin, a different word from that used for Jesus, Hud, Saleh, +and the other apostles par excellence. The root of the word is the Ćthiopic +hawyra, to go, send; hence the Church is called in Ćthiopic the Beth +chrestyan ant hawariyat, i.e. Apostolic. See, however, the note on Thilo's +Cod. Apoc. p. 152, who derives from the root hur, to be white, pure; hence, +friends, helpers. + +43 Comp. 1 Cor. xi. 27, sqq.–Muhammad obviously refers to the Eucharist. + +44 Thou hast a right to do so as their Lord. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Koran as translated by Rodwell End +of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Q'uran as translated by Rodwell + + + +INDEX + + +[The Roman figures shew the Sura, the second figures the verse, and the +third, in parenthesis, the page.] + + +AARON, relics of, ii. 249 (365) + Receives a revelation, iv. 161 (428); + vi. 84 (324); xxi. 49 (154) + Makes the calf, xx. 92 (99) + Clear of speech, xxviii. 34 (250) + Brother of Mary, xix. 29 (119) +Ababils, cv. 3 (36) +Abel and Cain, v. 30 (489) +Ablutions, iv. 46 (416); v. 9 (486) +Abraham, receives a revelation, ii. 130 (352); lxxxvii. 19 (40) + Neither Jew nor Christian, ii. 134 (352) + Is a Hanyf, or sound in faith, iii. 89 (395); vi. 162 (333); xvi. 121 +(209) + Is visited by Angels, xi. 72 (221); xv. 51 (114) + Preaches the Divine unity, xxix. 15 (262); xliii. 25 (136); vi. 74 +(323) + Is made Imâm, ii. 118 (350) + Argues with Nimrod, ii. 260 (367) + Is taught the resurrection, ii. 262 (367) + Is a Muslim, iii. 60 (392) + Is ready to sacrifice his son, xxxvii. 101 (82) + Builds the Caaba, xxii. 27 (455); iii. 91, note (395) + Prays for his race, xiv. 38 (229) + Is condemned to the flames, xxi. 68 (155) +Abrogation, ii. 100 (349); xvi. 103 (207) +Abu Jahl, xcvi. 16 (20) +Abu Lahab, cxi. (29) +Ad or Adites, vii. 63, note (300) +Adam, his sin, vii. 18 (295); ii. 34 (341) + Worshipped by angels, ii. 32 (341); xx. 115 (101); xviii. 48 (185); +xvii. 63 (169) + Is as Jesus, iii. 52 (391) +Adopted Children, xxxiii. 4, 5, 37 (434) +Adultery, iv. 19, 30 (412); xvii. 34 (167); xxiv. 6 (444); xxxiii. 30 (437) +Ahmed, lxi. 6 (405) +Al Araf (Purgatory), vii. 44 (298) +Alexander the Great, or Dhoul-karnain, xviii. 82 (188) +Alms, ii. 211 (361); lviii. 13, 14 (452); lxiv. 16, 17 (373); xxx. 38 (213) +Amulets, note (27) +Angels, bear God’s throne, lxix. 17 (59) + Intercede, xl. 7 (240); xlii. 3 (270) + Die, xxxix. 68 (260) + Aid believers, xiii. 12 (334); iii. 120 (397); vi. 61 (322); viii. 9, +12 (376) + Daughters of God, xvi. 59 (204); xvii. 42 (168); xxxvii. 150 (84); +xliii. 18 (136); liii. + 28 (70) + Guard Hell, lxxiv. 30 (22) + Of Death, vi. 61 (322); vii. 35 (296); xvi. 30 (201); xxxii. 11 (190); +xlvii. 29 (384) + Of Babel, ii. 96 (348) +Ant, xxvii. 17 (175) +Arafat, ii. 194 (359) +Ayesha, xxiv. 10 (444), note +Azar, vi. 74 (323); lx. 4 (466) + +Babel, Angels of, ii. 96 (348) +Balance, xxi. 48 (154); vii. 7 (294); lvii. 25 (409) +Baptism, ii. 132 (352) +Beast, the, xxvii. 84 (179) +Becca. See Mecca. +Bedr, iii. 11 (386); viii. 5 (375), 42 (378) +Bird, i.e., Destiny, vii. 128 (305); xvii. 14 (166); xxvii. 48 (177); xxxvi. +18 (131) + (Ababils), cv. 3 (36) +Booty, viii. 1, 42 (375); xlviii. 19, 20 (462) + +Caaba, ii. 119-21 (351) + + +Cain, v. 30 (489) +Calf (Golden), ii. 48 (342), 88 (347), iv. 152 (427); vii. 146 (306); xx. 90 +(99) +Christians, less opposed to Muslims than Jews, etc., v. 85 (495) +Circumcision, not mentioned in the Koran +Corah, xxviii. 76 (252); xxix. 38 (264); xl. 25 (242) +Creation of the world, xvi. 3 (200); l. 37 (93); xiii. 3, 4 (334); xxxv. +(289) + Of Heavens and Earth, xli. 8-11 (193) + To set forth his truth, xvi. 4 (200) + For man, xvi. 14 (201), 82 (206) + +David, makes coats of mail, xxi. 80 (156); xxxiv. 10 (285) + His judgment, xxxviii. 20 (125) + His praises of God, xxxiv. 10 (285); xxxviii. 16, 17 (125) +Deluge, liv. 9 (77); lxix. 11 (59) +Dhoul Karnain, xviii. 82 (188) +Dhoul Kefl, xxi. 85 (156); xxxviii. 48 (127) +Dhoul Noon, xxi. 87 (157) +Disciples of Christ, lvii. 27 (409) +Divorce, iv. 24 (413); xxxiii. 48 (439); lviii. 4 (451); lxv. 1, 2, 6 (429); +ii. 226 sqq. (362) +Djalout (Goliath), ii. 250 (366) +Djibt, iv. 54 (417) +Djinn, vi. 100 (326), 128 (329); xli. 24, 29 (194) + Created of fire, xv. 27 (113); lv. 14 (74) + Good and bad, xi. 120 (225); lxxii. 11 (141) + In the power of Solomon, xxvii. 39 (176); xxxviii. 36 (127) + Hear the Koran, xlvi. 28 (316); lxxii. (141) + Hear what passes in Heaven, xxvi. 212 (110); xv. 17 (113); xxxvii. 7 +(79); xviii. 48 + (185), etc. + +Eblis (note, 341) +Eden, ix. 73 (478); xiii. 23 (335); xviii. 30 (183); xxxv. 30 (292); lxi. 12 +(406) +Edris or Enoch, xix. 57 (121); xxi. 85 (156) +Egypt. See under Pharaoh, Moses, Magicians +Elephant, cv. (36) +Elias (an Apostle), vi. 85 (325); xxxvii. 123 (83) +Elisha, vi. 86 (325); xxxviii. 48 (127) +Enemies, treatment of, lx. 9 (466) +Evangel, lvii. 27, note (409) +Ezdras, ix. 30 (473) + +Faith and Good Works, xvi. 99 (207); viii. 1 (375) +Fast, the, ii. 179-183 (357) +Fatalism, iii. 139 (399); lxxxvii. 3 (40); viii. 17 (376); ix. 51 (476); +xiii. 30 (336); xiv. 4 + (226); xviii. 81 (187), 102 (189) +Fire, obtained by friction, xxxvi. 80 (134); lvi. 70 (68) + +Gabriel, xvi. 104 (207); lxvi. 4 (464); lxxxi. 19 (46) + Enemy of the Jews, ii. 81 (346) + Bearer of Revelation, liii. 5, 6 (69) +Gehennam, the form of the word (189), note + Has seven gates, xv. 44 (114) + Its guardians, xl. 52 (244); lxxiv. 30 (22) +Genii. See Djinn +God (Allah), one cxii. (29); xxxvii 4 (79); xx. 7 (94) + His names, vii. 179 (310) + Creator, vi. 101 (326) + Unwearied by creation, l. 37 (93) + His power, ii. (throughout); iii. 159 (401) + Is a light, xxiv. 35 (446) + Perfect in His works, lxvii. 3 (142) + Provides for all, xv. 20 (114); xvii. 21, 32 (166) + His words are countless, xviii. 109 (189); xxxi. 26 (269) + The avenger, iii. 3 (386); v. 96 (496); x. 100 (283); xiv. 48 (230) + Has no offspring, ii. 110 (350); vi. 100 (326); xix. 36 (120); 91-93 +(123); xxi. 26 + (152); xxxvii. 149 (84); xxxix. 6 (255); lxxii. 3 (141) + Because He has no wife, vi. 101 (326); cxii. 3 (29) + Changes not, xlviii. 23 (462) + Created all beings to adore Him, li. 56 (63) + How He speaks with man, xlii. 50 (274) + Leads and misleads, xxxv. 9 (290); xiii. 27 (336); lxi. 5 (405) + His decrees, xiv. 4, 32 (226-28) + + +God, made reprobates for Hell, vii. 178 (310) + Is author of good and evil deeds, xci. 8 (38) + And yet good is from Him, evil from man, iv. 81 (419) + Omniscient, vi. 59 (322); lviii. 8 (451) + Omnipotent (passim) + All seeing but unseen, vi. 103 (327); lvii. 6 (407) + All hearinng, xliv. 5 (89) + Gracious, iii. 28 (388) + Omnipresent, lvii. 3 (407) + His Providence (passim) + Eternal, cxii. 2 (29) + The first and last, lvii. 3 (407) + Forgiving (passim) + Grateful, iv. 146 (426) + Subtile, vi. 103 (327) + Self-sufficient, xxvii. 40 (176); xxxv. 27 (292) +Gog, Magog, xviii. 93 (188); xxi. 96 (157) +Goliath. See Djalout. +Greeks, xxx. 1 (210) +Greetings, iv. 88 (420) + +Habil (Abel), v. 30 (489) +Haman, vizier of Pharaoh, xxviii. 5 (247); xxix. 38 (264); xl. 25, 38 (242, +43) +Harut and Marut, ii. 96 (348) +Heavens, seven, lxvii. 3 (142); lxxviii. 12 (52) +Hedjr, xv. 80 (115) +Hell, made for Djinn and men, vii. 36 (296); xi. 120 (225) + Duration of, xi. 109 (224); vi. 128 (329) +Honein, ix. 25 (473) +Hotama or Crushing Fire, civ. 4, 5 (30) +Houd, vii. 63 (300); xi. 52 (220); xxvi. 123 (107) +Houris, lvi. 34 (67) +Hypocrites, ii. 9-19 (339) + Their conduct at Medina, xxxiii. 9-15 (435) + Their treatment, xxxiii. 47 (439) + Their portion hereafter, lvii. 13 (408) + +Idolaters, those who associate other gods with God, ii. 107 (350); xxv. 3 +(159); xxviii. 62- + 74 (252); lii. 34-49 (64) + Are unclean, ix. 28 (473) +Idolators, not to be prayed for, ix. 114, 5 (483) + The unpardonable sin, iv. 51 (417), 116 (424) +Immunity, ix. 1 (468) +Imran, iii. 30 (388); lxvi. 12 (465) +Infidels deny the future life, vi. 29 (319); xix. 67 (122) + Their portion, iii. 8 (386), 112 (397) + Their hardness of heart, vi. 109 (327) + Hold mere opinions, liii. 29 (70) + Those who die infidels, iii. 85 (394) +Initial Letters, 32 (note) +Irem, lxxxix. 6 (54) +Isaak (Ishak), ii. 127 ff. (351); vi. 84 (324); xi. 74 (221); xix. 50 (121); +xxi. 72 (155); xxxvii. + 112 (83) +Islam, ii. 132 (352); iii. 79 (394); xlix. 14 (470) +Ismael, ii. 119 ff. (351); vi. 86 (324); xix. 55 (121); xxxviii. 48 (127) +Israelites, a pre-eminent race, ii. 116 (350) + Pass the Red sea, xxvi. 63 (105) + In Egypt, xxviii. 2, 3 (247) + See Jews. + +Jacob, ii. 126 (351); iii. 87 (395); xi. 74 (221); xix. 50 (121); xxxviii. 45 +(127) +Jesus, ii. 81 (346), 254 (366); v. 50 (491); vi. 85 (325); xxiii. 52 (147); +lvii. 27 (409); lxi. 6, + 14 (405) + His history, iii. 40-52 (390) + His divinity denied, iii. 73 (393) + Was not put to death, iv. 156 (427) + God could destroy him if He chose, v. 19 (488) + Is only a servant of God, v. 109 ff. (498); xliii. 57 (138), 63 (139) + His birth, xix. 23, 24 (119) + His profession, xix. 31 (119) +Jews (of Muhammad’s time), ii. 59 (344), 88 (347); iii. 62 (392); ix. 30 +(473); lviii. 15 (452) + The punishment in store for them, iv. 50 (416); v. 69 (493) + Their conduct, iii. 184 (403) + Their captious words, iii. 179 (403) + Their perversions of Scripture, ii. 98 (348); iv. 48 (416) + + +Jews, enemies to Muslims, v. 85 (495) + Their lex talionis, v. 48, 49, 69 (491, 493) + Their calumnies against the Virgin Mary, iv. 155 (427) +Job, vi. 84 (324); xxi. 83 (156); xxxviii. 40 (127) +John, xix. 7 (117); xxi. 90 (157) +Jonah, vi. 86 (324); x. 98 (283); xxxvii. 139 (84); lxviii. 48 (34) +Joseph, vi. 84 (324); xii. (230); xl. 36 (242) +Joshua, xviii. 59 (186) + +Kadr or Power (night of), xliv. 2, 3 (89); xcvii. 1-5 (36) +Karoun (Corah), xxviii. 76 (252); xxix. 38 (264); xl. 25 (242) +Kebla, ii. 109 (350), 136-145 (353) +Khidr, xviii. 62, note (186) +Koran, a divine work, iv. 84 (420); xlvi. 2-7 (313); liii. 4 (69) + Preserved in Heaven, xiii. 39 (337), lxxxv. 21 (43) + Is not the work of djinn, xxvi. 210 (110) + Is admired by djinn, xlvi. 28 (316) + Confirms the Scriptures, x. 38 (278) +Koreisch, cvi. 1 (36) + +Lokman, xxxi. (267) +Lot (a prophet), vi. 86 (325); vii. 78 (301) +Lotus (of the boundary), liii. 14, note (69) + +Madian, vii. 83 (301); xxviii. 24 (249) +Magi, xxii. 17 (589) +Magicians, x. 80 (282); xx. 60 (97); xxvi. 37 (104) +Malec, xliii. 77 (454) +Man, his creation, ii. 28 (340) etc. + Hasty, xxi. 38 (153); xvii. 12 (165); lxx. 19 (73) + Created weak, iv. 32 (414) + Of clay, xv. 26 (113) + Of clots of blood, xcvi. 2 (19); xxii. 5 (453) + Inconstant, xxii. 11 (454) + Ungrateful, xvii. 69 (170) + Was one people, ii. 209 (360) +Manna, vii. 160 (308); xx. 82 (98) +Marriage, xxxiii. 50 (439) + Lawful and unlawful, ii. 220 (361); v. 7 (486); iv. 26-30 (413) +Mary, Mother of Jesus, iii. 31 (389); iv. 169 (428); v. 79 (494); xix. 16 +(118); xxi. 91 + (157); lxvi. 12 (465) + Calumniated by Jews, iv. 155 (427) +Meats forbidden, ii. 168 (356); v. 1-4 (485); vi. 118 (328) +Mecca or Becca, iii. 90 (395); xlvii. 14 (383); xlviii. 24 (462) +Merwa, ii. 153 (354) +Michael, ii. 92 (348) +Mina, ii. 199 (359) +Mohadjers, ix. 101 (481); lix. 8 (432) +Monastic Life, lvii. 27 (409) +Monks, ix. 31 (474) +Month (sacred), ii. (361); ix. 5 (471) +Moon, its worship forbidden, xli. 37 (195) +Moses, ii. 48 ff. (342) + Brings water from rock, vii. 160 (308) + Reared in Egypt, xx. 36 (95); xxviii. 2-30 (247) + His meeting with Khidr, xviii. 62 (186) + His wrath at Aaron, xx. 95 (99) + Prophet and apostle, xix. 52 (121) +Muhammad, illiterate, vii. 156 (307) + Foretold in the Scriptures, vii. 156 (307); lxi. 6 (406) + Seal of the Prophets, xxxiii. 40 (438) + Sees Gabriel, liii. 9 (69); lxxxi. 22 (46) + Becomes apostle at man’s estate, x. 17 (276) + Subject to hallucinations, note 1 (21) + His Night-journey, xvii. 1 (164). See Pref. + Belief in Satanic influence, xvi. 101-2 (207) +Muslims, their description, iii. 106 (396); xlviii. 29 (463) + +Nicknames forbidden, xlix. 12 (469) +Noah, iii. 30 (388) + Is a prophet, iv. 161 (428); vi. 84 (324) + And apostle, vii. 57 (299) + Builds the ark, xi. 40 (218) + Preaches, lxxi. 1-29 (85) + +Offerings, v. 2 (485) +Ondhorna, ii. 98 (348) +Ozair or Esdras, ix. 30 (473) + +Parables of the two Gardens, xviii. 32 ff. (184) + + +Parables of the Light, xxiv. 35 (446) + For the Resurrection, xli. 39 (195) + For Infidels, ii. 16, 18, etc. (339) + Of truth and error, xiii. 18 (335) +Paraclete, lxi. 6, note (406) +Paradise, lvi. 12 (66); lv. 46 (75) + Terresrial, ii. 33 (341) + The abode of the blessed, ii. 23 (340); xxxvi. 54 ff. (133); xxxvii. 38 +(80) +Parents, duties towards, xvii. 24, 25 (166); xxix. 7 (262); xxxi. 13 (268); +xlvi. 14 (314) +Pharaoh, ii. 46 (342); x. 76 (281); xliii. 45 (138); xl. 38 (242) + A believer in his family, xl. 29 (242) + The impaler, xxxviii. 12 (125) +Piety, or fear of God, ii. 172 (356) +Pilgrimmage, xxii. 25 (455); ii. 153 (354); iii. 91 (395); v. 2 (485) +Prayer, Kebla, ii. 136-140 (353), 239 (364); iv. 46 (416); v. 8 (486); vii. +204 (313); xiii. 15 + (335); xi. 116 (225); xvii. 80 (171); xxix. 44 (265); l. 39 (93) + In war, iv. 102, 3 (422) + The Muslims, iii. 188 (404); xxv. 66, 74 (163) + Joseph’s, xii. 102 (239) + Abraham’s, xiv. 38 (229); ii. 120 (351) +Prayers, ii. 286 (370) +Predestination, iii. 148 (400); vi. 35 (320); xvi. 38, 39 (202); xxxii. 13 +(191); xxxiii. 38 + (438); xxxiv. 19 (286); xxxv. 9 (290); xxxvi. 6 ff. (130); liii. 33 ff. +(71); lvii. 22 (409) +Prophets, xix. 42, note (120); xxi. 25 (152) + Of different degrees, ii. 254 (366); xvii. 57 (169) + Not to be worshipped, iii. 74 (393) + False, vi. 93 (325) +Psalter, xvii. 57 (169); xxi. 105 (158) +Purgatory, vii. 44 (298) + +Rahman, xvii. 110 (173) +Raina, ii. 98 (348) +Rakim, xviii. 8 (181) +Ramadhan, ii. 181 (357) +Rass, xxv. 40 (160); l. 12 (92) +Refrain, instances of, li. 50, 51 (62); liv. 17 ff. (77); lvi. 13, 14 (66), +with, 38, 39 (67); lxxvii. + 15 ff. (50) +Religion (Monotheistic), ii. 124-134 (351-352); xlii. 11 (271) +Reprobates, iii. 80 (394); vi. 69 (323); xxi. 45 ff. (154); xxii. 20 ff. +(455); lxxvii. 7-40 (48) +Resurrection, ii. 261 (367); iii. 102 (396); vii. 55 (299); xxxiv. 7 (285); +l. 3, 11, 14 (91); + xcix. 2 (44) + +Saba, xxvii. 22 (175); xxxiv. 14 (285) +Sabeites, ii. 59 (344); v. 73 (644); xxii. 17 (454) +Safa, ii. 151 (354) +Sakar, lxxiv. 43 (23) +Saleh, vii. 71 (300, note); xi. 64 (220); xxvi. 142 (108); xxvii. 46 (177); +liv. 27 (78) +Saul, ii. 248 (365) +Scriptures, falsified by Jews and Christians, ii. 39 (342), 73 (345) +Selsebil, lxxvi. 18 (88) +Seven Sleepers, xviii. 8 (181) +Shoaib, vii. 83 (301); xi. 85 ff. (222); xxvi. 176 (109); xxix. 35 (264) +Sidjill, xxi. 104, note (158) +Sidjin, lxxxiii. 7 (57) +Sinai, shaken over Israel, ii. 87 (347), 170 (356); iv. 153 (427); xx. 82 +(98); xxviii. 44, 46 + (250); lii. 1 (63) +Solomon, vi. 84 (324) + His judgment, etc. xxi. 78 (156) + Lord of Djinn and winds, xxi. 81 (156); xxxiv. 11, 13 (285) + and Queen of Saba, xxvii. 17 (175) + His horses, xxxviii. 29, 38 (126, 127) + His death, xxxiv. 13 (285) +Spider, xxix. 40 (264) +Spirit, xvii. 87 (171) + Conveyed unto the Virgin’s womb, iv. 169 (428) + The Holy Spirit, ii. 81 (346), 254 (366); xvi. 104 (207) +Statues and Images, v. 92 (496) +Suicide forbidden, iv. 33 (414) +Sun, its worship forbidden, xli. 37 (195) + +Table, Lord’s, v. 112 (499) +Tabouk, ix. 80, 82 (479) +Tasnim, lxxxiii. 27 (58) +Testament, ii. 176 ff. (356); v. 105 (498) +Themoud, vii. 71 (300); ix. 71 (478) +Throne (verse of), ii. 256 (366) + + +Trinity, iv. 169 (428); v. 77 (494) +Trumpet (last), xxiii. 103 (150); xxxvi. 51 (133); xxxvii. 19 (80) +Trumpets, lxxix. 6 (48) + +Visit (Umra) of the Holy places, ix. 18 (472) + +Wine, rivers of, xlvii. 16 (383) +Wives, number allowed, iv. 3 (411) + +Yathril, xxxiii. 13 (435) + +Zacharias, iii. 32 (389); vi. 85 (325); xix. 1 (117); xxi. 88 (157) +Zaid, xxxiii. 37 (438) +Zakkoum, xxxvii. 60 (81); xliv. 43 (90); lvi. 52 (67) +Zendjebil, lxxvi. 17 (88) + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE KORAN *** + +This file should be named 3434.txt or 3434.zip + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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