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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 (without footnotes) + +Translator: George Sale + +Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7440] +[This file was first posted on April 30, 2003] +[Most recently updated September 11, 2005] + +Edition: 09 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: Latin1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE KORAN *** + + +Note: This eBook still needs better formatting, especially for +extensive footnotes, so is posted as version 09 rathern than 10. See +Project Gutenberg's eBooks #3434 and 2800 for other translations of +The Koran. + + +Thanks to Brett Zamir for work on this eBook. + +Thanks to Ron Carney for providing a version without footnotes, +and with verse numbers regularlized. + + + + + +THE KORAN: + +COMMONLY CALLED THE + +ALKORAN OF MOHAMMED. + +Translated into English from the Original Arabic, + +WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES TAKEN FROM THE MOST +APPROVED COMMENTATORS. + +TO WHICH IS PREFIXED + +A PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE, + +BY GEORGE SALE. + + +TO THE +RIGHT HON. JOHN LORD CARTERET. + +ONE OF THE LORDS OF HIS MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL. + + + +____________ + + + MY LORD, + +NOTWITHSTANDING the great honour and respect generally and deservedly paid +to the memories of those who have founded states, or obliged a people by the +institution of laws which have made them prosperous and considerable in the +world, yet the legislator of the Arabs has been treated in so very different +a manner by all who acknowledge not his claim to a divine mission, and by +Christians especially, that were not your lordship's just discernment +sufficiently known, I should think myself under a necessity of making an +apology for presenting the following translation. + + The remembrance of the calamities brought on so many nations by the +conquests of the Arabians may possibly raise some indignation against him who +formed them to empire; but this being equally applicable to all conquerors, +could not, of itself, occasion all the detestation with which the name of +Mohammed is loaded. He has given a new system of religion, which has had +still greater success than the arms of his followers, and to establish this +religion made use of an imposture; and on this account it is supposed that he +must of necessity have been a most abandoned villain, and his memory is +become infamous. But as Mohammed gave his Arabs the best religion he could, +as well as the best laws, preferable. at least, to those of the ancient pagan +lawgivers, I confess I cannot see why he deserves not equal respect--though not +with Moses or Jesus Christ, whose laws came really from Heaven, yet, with +Minos or Numa, notwithstanding the distinction of a learned writer, who seems +to think it a greater crime to make use of an imposture to set up a new +religion, founded on the acknowledgment of one true God, and to destroy +idolatry, than to use the same means to gain reception to rules and +regulations for the more orderly practice of heathenism already established. + + To be acquainted with the various laws and constitutions of civilized +nations, especially of those who flourish in our own time, is, perhaps, the +most useful part of knowledge: wherein though your lordship, who shines with +so much distinction in the noblest assembly in the world, peculiarly excels; +yet as the law of Mohammed, by reason of the odium it lies under, and the +strangeness of the language in which it is written, has been so much +neglected. I flatter myself some things in the following sheets may be new +even to a person of your lordship's extensive learning; and if what I have +written may be any way entertaining or acceptable to your lordship, I shall +not regret the pains it has cost me. + + I join with the general voice in wishing your lordship all the honour and +happiness your known virtues and merit deserve, and am with perfect respect, + + MY LORD, + Your lordship's most humble + And most obedient servant, + GEORGE SALE. + + +A SKETCH + +OF THE + +LIFE OF GEORGE SALE. + + +_________ + +OF the life of GEORGE SALE, a man of extensive learning, and considerable +literary talent, very few particulars have been transmitted to us by his +contemporaries. He is said to have been born in the county of Kent, and the +time of his birth must have been not long previous to the close of the +seventeenth century. His education he received at the King's School, +Canterbury. Voltaire, who bestows high praise on the version of the Koran, +asserts him to have spent five-and-twenty years in Arabia, and to have +acquired in that country his profound knowledge of the Arabic language and +customs. On what authority this is asserted it would now be fruitless to +endeavour to ascertain. But that the assertion is an erroneous one, there can +be no reason to doubt; it being opposed by the stubborn evidence of dates and +facts. It is almost certain that Sale was brought up to the law, and that he +practised it for many years, if not till the end of his career. He is said, +by a co-existing writer, to have quitted his legal pursuits, for the purpose +of applying himself to the study of the eastern and other languages, both +ancient and modern. His guide through the labyrinth of the oriental dialects +was Mr. Dadichi, the king's interpreter. If it be true that he ever relinquished +the practice of the law, it would appear that he must have resumed it before +his decease; for, in his address to the reader, prefixed to the Koran, he pleads, +as an apology for the delay which had occurred in publishing the volume, that +the work "was carried on at leisure times only, and amidst the necessary +avocations of a troublesome profession." This alone would suffice to show that +Voltaire was in error. But to this must be added, that the existence of Sale was +terminated at an early period, and that, in at least his latter years, he was +engaged in literary labours of no trifling magnitude. The story of his having, +during a quarter of a century, resided in Arabia, becomes, therefore, an obvious +impossibility, and must be dismissed to take its place among those fictions by +which biography has often been encumbered and disgraced. + Among the few productions of which Sale is known to be the author is a part +of "The General Dictionary," in ten volumes, folio. To the translation of Bayle, +which is incorporated with this voluminous work, he is stated to have been a +large contributor. + When the plan of the Universal History was arranged, Sale was one of those +who were selected to carry it into execution. His coadjutors were Swinton, +eminent as an antiquary, and remarkable for absence of mind; Shelvocke, +originally a naval officer; the well informed, intelligent, and laborious Campbell; +that singular character, George Psalmanazar; and Archibald Bower, who +afterwards became an object of unenviable notoriety. The portion of the history +which was supplied by Sale comprises "The Introduction, containing the +Cosmogony, or Creation of the World;" and the whole, or nearly the whole, of +the succeeding chapter, which traces the narrative of events from the creation +to the flood. In the performance of his task, he displays a thorough +acquaintance with his subject; and his style, though not polished into elegance, +is neat and perspicuous. In a French biographical dictionary, of anti-liberal +principles, a writer accuses him of having adopted a system hostile to tradition +and the Scriptures, and composed his account of the Cosmogony with the view +of giving currency to his heretical opinions. Either the accuser never read the +article which he censures, or he has wilfully misrepresented it; for it affords +the fullest contradiction to the charge, as does also the sequent chapter; and +he must, therefore, be contented to choose between the demerit of being a +slanderer through blundering and reckless ignorance, or through sheer malignity +of heart. + Though his share in these publications affords proof of the erudition and +ability of Sale, it probably would not alone have been sufficient to preserve +his name from oblivion. His claim to be remembered rests principally on his +version of the Koran, which appeared in November, 1734, in a quarto volume, +and was inscribed to Lord Carteret. The dedicator does not disgrace himself +by descending to that fulsome adulatory style which was then too frequently +employed in addressing the great. As a translator, he had the field almost +entirely to himself; there being at that time no English translation of the +Mohammedan civil and spiritual code, except a bad copy of the despicable one +by Du Ryer. His performance was universally and justly approved of, still +remains in repute, and is not likely to be superseded by any other of the kind. +It may, perhaps, be regretted, that he did not preserve the division into verses, +as Savary has since done, instead of connecting them into a continuous +narrative. Some of the poetical spirit is unavoidably lost by the change. But +this is all that can be objected to him. It is, I believe, admitted, that he is in no +common degree faithful to his original; and his numerous notes, and Preliminary +Discourse, manifest such a perfect knowledge of Eastern habits, manners, +traditions, and laws, as could have been acquired only by an acute mind, capable +of submitting to years of patient toil. + But, though his work passed safely through the ordeal of criticism, it has +been made the pretext for a calumny against him. It has been declared, that +he puts the Christian religion on the same footing with the Muhammedan; and +some charitable persons have even supposed him to have been a disguised +professor of the latter. The origin of this slander we may trace back to the +strange obliquity of principles, and the blind merciless rage which are +characteristic of bigotry. Sale was not one of those who imagine that the end +sanctifies the means, and that the best interests of mankind can be advanced +by violence, by railing, or by deviating form the laws of truth, in order to +blacken an adversary. He enters into the consideration of the character of +Mohammed with a calm philosophic spirit; repeatedly censuring his imposture, +touching upon his subterfuges and inventions, but doing justice to him on those +points on which the pretended prophet is really worthy of praise. The rules +which, in his address to the reader, he lays down for the conversion of +Mohammedans, are dictated by sound sense and amiable feelings. They are, +however, not calculated to satisfy those who think the sword and the fagot +to be the only proper instruments for the extirpation of heresy. That he +places Islamism on an equality with Christianity is a gross falsehood. "As +Mohammed," says he, "gave his Arabs the best religion he could, preferable, at +least, to those of the ancient pagan lawgivers, I confess I cannot see why he +deserves not equal respect, though not with Moses or Jesus Christ, whose laws +came really from heaven, yet with Minos or Numa, notwithstanding the +distinction of a learned writer, who seems to think it a greater crime to make +use of an imposture to set up a new religion, founded on the acknowledgment +of one true God, and to destroy idolatry, than to use the same means to gain +reception to rules and regulations for the more orderly practice of heathenism +already established." This, and no more, is "the very head and front of his +offending;" and from this it would, I think, be difficult to extract any proof +of his belief in the divine mission of Mohammed. If the charge brought against +him be not groundless, he must have added to his other sins that of being a +consummate hypocrite, and that, too, without any obvious necessity; he +having been, till the period of his decease, a member of the Society for the +Promoting of Christian Knowledge. + In 1736 a society was established for the encouragement of learning. It +comprehended many noblemen, and some of the most eminent literary men of +that day. Sale was one of the founders of it, and was appointed on the first +committee. The meetings were held weekly, and the committee decided upon +what works should be printed at the expense of the society, or with its +assistance, and what should be the price of them. When the cost of printing +was repaid, the property of the work reverted to the author. This +establishment did not, I Imagine, exist for any length of time. The attention +of the public has been recently called to a plan of a similar kind. + Sale did not long survive the carrying of this scheme into effect. He died +of a fever, on the 13th of November, 1736, at his house in Surrey-street, +Strand, after an illness of only eight days, and was buried at St. Clement +Danes. He was under the age of forty when he was thus suddenly snatched +from his family, which consisted of a wife and five children. Of his sons, one +was educated at New College, Oxford, of which he became Fellow, and he was +subsequently elected to a Fellowship in Winchester College. Sale is described +as having had "a healthy constitution, and a communicative mind in a comely +person." His library was valuable, and contained many rare and beautiful +manuscripts in the Persian, Turkish, Arabic, and other languages; a +circumstance which seems to show that poverty, so often the lot of men +whose lives are devoted to literary pursuits, was not one of the evils with +which he was compelled to encounter. + + R. A. DAVENPORT. + +[from 1891 version] + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +THERE is surely no need to-day to insist on the importance of a close study +of the Koran for all who would comprehend the many vital problems connected +with the Islamic World; and yet few of us, I imagine, among the many who +possess translations of this book have been at pains to read it through. +It must, however, be borne in mind that the Koran plays a far greater role +among the Muhammadans than does the Bible in Christianity in that it provides +not only the canon of their faith, but also the textbook of their ritual and the +principles of their Civil Law. + It was the Great Crusades that first brought the West into close touch +with Islam, but between the years 1096 and 1270 we only hear of one attempt +to make known to Europe the Sacred Book of the Moslems, namely, the Latin +version made in 1143, by Robert of Retina (who, Sale tells us, was an +Englishman), and Hermann of Dalmatia, on the initiative of Petrus Venerabilis, +the Abbot of Clugny, which version was ultimately printed by T. Bibliander in +Basel in 1543, nearly a hundred years after the fall of Constantinople. + During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, several translations +appeared both in Latin and in French, and one of the latter, by Andre du Ryer, +was translated into English by Alexander Ross in 1649. But by far the most +important work on the Koran was that of Luigi Marracci which was published in +Padua in 1698. + George Sale's translation first appeared in November, 1734, in a quarto +volume; in 1764 it was first printed in medium octavo, and the reprint of 1825 +contained the sketch of Sale's life by Richard Alfred Davenant which has been +utilized in the article on Sale in the Dictionary of National Bibliography. The +Chandos Classics edition in crown octavo was first issued in 1877. + Soon after the death of the Prophet, early Muhammadan theologians began +to discuss, not only the correct reading of the text itself, but also to work +out on the basis of first-hand reports the story connected with the revelation +of each chapter. As the book at present stands in its original form the +chapters are arranged more or less according to their respective length, +beginning with the longest; except in the case of the opening chapter, which +holds a place by itself, not only in the sacred book of Islam, corresponding +as it does in a manner to our Pater Noster, but also in its important +ceremonial usages. The presumed order in which the various chapters were +revealed is given in the tabular list of Contents, but it may be mentioned +that neither Muhammadan theologians, nor, in more recent times, European +scholars, are in entire agreement upon the exact chronological position of all +the chapters. + It is well for all who study the Koran to realize that the actual text +is never the composition of the Prophet, but is the word of God addressed to +the Prophet; and that in quoting the Koran the formula is "He (may he be +exalted) said" or some such phrase. The Prophet himself is of course quoted +by Muhammadan theologians, but such quotations refer to his traditional +sayings known as "Hadis," which have been handed down from mouth to mouth +with the strictest regard to genealogical continuity. + It would probably be impossible for any Arabic scholar to produce a +translation of the Koran which would defy criticism, but this much may be +said of Sale's version: just as, when it first appeared, it had no rival in the +field, it may be fairly claimed to-day that it has been superseded by no +subsequent translations. Equally remarkable with his translation is the +famous Preliminary Discourse which constitutes a tour de force when we +consider how little critical work had been done in his day in the field of +Islamic research. Practically the only works of first-class importance were +Dr. Pocock's Specimen Historio Arabum, to which, in his original Address to +the Reader, Sale acknowledges his great indebtedness, and Maracci's Koran. + In spite of the vast number of eminent scholars who have worked in the +same field since the days of George Sale, his Preliminary Discourse still +remains the best Introduction in any European language to the study of the +religion promulgated by the Prophet of Arabia; but as Wherry says: "Whilst +reading the Preliminary Discourse as a most masterly, and on the whole +reliable, presentation of the peculiar doctrines, rites, ceremonies, customs, +and institutions of Islam, we recognize the fact that modern research has +brought to light many things concerning the history of the ancient Arabs +which greatly modify the statements made in the early paragraphs." + For many centuries the acquaintance which the majority of Europeans +possessed of Muhammadanism was based almost entirely on distorted reports +of fanatical Christians which led to the dissemination of a multitude of gross +calumnies. What was good in Muhammadanism was entirely ignored, and what +was not good, in the eyes of Europe, was exaggerated or misinterpreted. + It must not, however, be forgotten that the central doctrine preached by +Muhammad to his contemporaries in Arabia, who worshipped the Stars; to the +Persians, who acknowledged Ormuz and Ahriman; the Indians, who worshipped +idols; and the Turks, who had no particular worship, was the unity of God, and +that the simplicity of his creed was probably a more potent factor in the +spread of Islam than the sword of the Ghazis. + Islam, although seriously affecting the Christian world, brought a spiritual +religion to one half of Asia, and it is an amazing circumstance that the Turks, +who on several occasions let loose their Central Asian hordes over India, and +the Middle East, though irresistible in the onslaught of their arms, were all +conquered in their turn by the Faith of Islam, and founded Muhammadan +dynasties. + The Mongols of the thirteenth century did their best to wipe out all traces +of Islam when they sacked Baghdad, but though the Caliphate was relegated +to obscurity in Egypt the newly founded Empires quickly became Muhammadan +states, until finally it was a Turk who took the title of Caliph which has been +held by the house of Othman ever since. + Thus through all the vicissitudes of thirteen hundred years the Koran +has remained the sacred book of all the Turks and Persians and of nearly a +quarter of the population of India. Surely such a book as this deserves to be +widely read in the West, more especially in these days when space and time +have been almost annihilated by modern invention, and when public interest +embraces the whole world. + It is difficult to decide to what extent Sale's citations in the notes +represent first-hand use of the Arabic commentators, but I fear that the +result of a close inquiry only points to very little original research on his +part. He says himself in his Address to the Reader: "As I have no opportunity +of consulting public libraries, the manuscripts of which I have made use +throughout the whole work have been such as I had in my own study, except +only the Commentary of Al Baidhâwi" . . . which "belongs to the library of the +Dutch Church in Austin Friars." + Now with regard to these manuscripts which Sale had in his "own study" +we happen to possess first-hand information, for a list of them was printed +by the executor of his will under the following title: "A choice collection of +most curious and inestimable manuscripts in the Turkish, Arabic and Persian +languages from the library of the late learned and ingenious Mr. George Sale. +Which books are now in the possession of Mr. William Hammerton Merchant in +Lothbury where they may be seen on Wednesdays and Fridays till either they +are sold or sent abroad. N.B. These MSS. are to be sold together and not +separately." They were purchased in the first instance by the Rev. Thomas +Hunt of Oxford for the Radcliffe Library, and they are now permanently +housed in the Bodleian Library. + The British Museum possesses a copy of this list which is drawn up in +English and French on opposite pages and comprises eighty-six works in all. +The list contains very few Arabic works of first-rate importance, but is rich +in Turkish and Persian Histories. What is most significant, however, is the +fact that it contains hardly any of the Arabic works and none of the +Commentaries which are referred to on every page of Sale's translation +of the Koran. + I have therefore been forced to the conclusion that with the exception +of Al-Baidhâwi, Sale's sources were all consulted at second hand; and an +examination of Marracci's great work makes the whole matter perfectly clear. +Sale says of Marracci's translation that it is "generally speaking very exact; +but adheres to the Arabic idiom too literally to be easily understood . . . by +those who are not versed in the Muhammadan learning. The notes he has +added are indeed of great use; but his refutations, which swell the work to +a large volume, are of little or none at all, being often unsatisfactory, and +sometimes impertinent. The work, however, with all its faults is very +valuable, and I should be guilty of ingratitude, did I not acknowledge myself +much obliged thereto; but still being in Latin it can be of no use to those +who understand not that tongue." + Such is Sale's own confession of his obligation to Marracci--but it does +not go nearly far enough. A comparison of the two versions shows that so +much had been achieved by Marracci that Sale's work might almost have been +performed with a knowledge of Latin alone, as far as regards the quotations +from Arabic authors. I do not wish to imply that Sale did not know Arabic, +but I do maintain that his work as it stands gives a misleading estimate of +his original researches, and that his tribute to Marracci falls far short of +his actual indebtedness. + It must be mentioned that Marracci not only reproduced the whole of the +Arabic text of the Koran but furthermore gives the original text and the +translation of all his quotations from Arabic writers. It is indeed a profoundly +learned work and has never received the recognition it deserves. Marracci +had at his disposal rich collections of MSS. belonging to the Libraries of Italy. +How he learnt his Arabic we do not know. Voltaire says he was never in the +East. He was confessor to Pope Innocent XI, and his work which appeared in +Padua in 1698 is dedicated to the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I. By way of +Introduction to his Koran Marracci published a companion folio volume called +Prodromus which contains practically all that was known in his day regarding +Muhammad and the Religion of Islam. + It may in any case be claimed that the present work presents to the +Western student all the essentials of a preliminary study of Islam: for Sale's +translation and footnotes will give him as clear an idea as can be obtained, +without laborious years of study in Arabic, of what is regarded by so many +millions of men from Fez to the Far East as the revealed word of God and the +unshakable basis of their faith. + George Sale was born about 1697 and died in 1736. Every biography calls +attention to the statement made by Voltaire in his Dictionnaire Philosophique +to the effect that Sale spent over twenty years among the Arabs. I think this +must have been a lapsus calami on Voltaire's part, because it is unlikely that +he would have invented such a story. Sale must also have been well versed in +Hebrew, both biblical and post-biblical, as his numerous allusions to Rabbinical +writings testify. + Two years after the publication of his great work Sale died in Surrey +Street, Strand, his age being then under forty. In 1720 he had been admitted +a student of the Inner Temple--son of Samuel Sale, citizen and merchant of +London--and the same year the Patriarch of Antioch had sent Solomon Negri +(Suleiman Alsadi) to London from Damascus to urge the Society for Promoting +Christian Knowledge, then established in the Middle Temple, to issue an Arabic +New Testament for the Syrian Christians. It is surmised that Negri was Sale's +first instructor in Arabic, though Dadichi, the King's Interpreter, a learned +Greek of Aleppo, guided him, we are told, "through the labyrinth of oriental +dialects." + Whatever Sale may have known before--and he certainly had the gift of +languages--it is on the Society's records that on August 30, 1726, he offered +his services as one of the correctors of the Arabic New Testament and soon +became the chief worker on it, besides being the Society's solicitor and holding +other honorary offices. That translation of the New Testament into Arabic +was followed by the translation of the Koran into English. + In this edition the proper names have been left for the most part as in +the original, but the reader must understand that in Sale's day there was a +freedom in regard to oriental orthography that allowed of many variations. In +spite, however, of the want of a scientific system, Sale's transcription is on +the whole clear, and far less confusing than those adopted by contemporary +Anglo--Indian scholars, who utterly distorted Muhammadan names--including +place names in India--by rendering the short a by u and so forth. As a few +examples of names spelled in more than one way, the correct modern way +being given first, we have Al-Qor'an, Coran, Koran, etc.; Muhammad, +Mohammed, Mahomet, etc.; Al-Baidhâwi, Al-Beidâwi; Muttalib, Motalleb, +Motaleb, etc.; Jalâl ud-Din, Jallâlo'ddin; Anas, Ans; Khalifa, Caliph, Khalif, etc. + It is only within quite recent times that scholars have troubled to render +each letter of the Arabic alphabet by an equivalent and distinct letter of the +Roman alphabet--and although no particular system has been universally +adopted by European orientalists, every writer has some system by which any +reader with a knowledge of Arabic is able to turn back every name into the +original script. The chief advantage of any such system is that a distinction +is made between the two varieties of s, k, and t, and the presence of the +illusive Arabic letter 'ayn is always indicated. + + E. DENISON ROSS. + + + +Sir Edward Denison Ross +C.I.E., Ph.D., ETC. + +[Written apparently sometime after 1877] + + +TO THE READER. + +_______ + +I IMAGINE it almost needless either to make an apology for publishing the +following translation, or to go about to prove it a work of use as well as +curiosity. They must have a mean opinion of the Christian religion, or be but +ill grounded therein, who can apprehend any danger from so manifest a +forgery: and if the religious and civil institutions of foreign nations are worth +our knowledge, those of Mohammed, the lawgiver of the Arabians, and founder +of an empire which in less than a century spread itself over a greater part of +the world than the Romans were ever masters of, must needs be so; whether +we consider their extensive obtaining, or our frequent intercourse with those +who are governed thereby. I shall not here inquire into the reasons why the +law of Mohammed has met with so unexampled a reception in the world (for +they are greatly deceived who imagine it to have been propagated by the +sword alone), or by what means it came to be embraced by nations which +never felt the force of the Mohammedan arms, and even by those which +stripped the Arabians of their conquests, and put an end to the sovereignty +and very being of their Khalifs: yet it seems as if there was something more +than what is vulgarly imagined in a religion which has made so surprising a +progress. But whatever use an impartial version of the Koran may be of in +other respects, it is absolutely necessary to undeceive those who, from the +ignorant or unfair translations which have appeared, have entertained too +favourable an opinion of the original, and also to enable us effectually to +expose the imposture; none of those who have hitherto undertaken that +province, not excepting Dr. Prideaux himself, having succeeded to the +satisfaction of the judicious, for want of being complete masters of the +controversy. The writers of the Romish communion, in particular, are so +far from having done any service in their refutations of Mohammedism, that +by endeavouring to defend their idolatry and other superstitions, they have +rather contributed to the increase of that aversion which the Mohammedans +in general have to the Christian religion, and given them great advantages in +the dispute. The Protestants alone are able to attack the Koran with +success; and for them, I trust, Providence has reserved the glory of its +overthrow. In the meantime, if I might presume to lay down rules to be +observed by those who attempt the conversion of the Mohammedans, they +should be the same which the learned and worthy Bishop Kidder[1] has +prescribed for the conversion of the Jews, and which may, mutatis mutandis, +be equally applied to the former, notwithstanding the despicable opinion that +writer, for want of being better acquainted with them, entertained of those +people, judging them scarce fit to be argued with. The first of these rules is, +To avoid compulsion; which, though it be not in our power to employ at +present, I hope will not be made use of when it is. The second is, To avoid +teaching doctrines against common sense; the Mohammedans not being such +fools (whatever we may think of them) as to be gained over in this case. +The worshipping of images and the doctrine of transubstantiation are great +stumbling-blocks to the Mohammedans, and the Church which teacheth them +is very unfit to bring those people over. The third is, To avoid weak +arguments: for the Mohammedans are not to be converted with these, or hard +words. We must use them with humanity, and dispute against them with +arguments that are proper and cogent. It is certain that many Christians, +who have written against them, have been very defective this way: many have +used arguments that have no force, and advanced propositions that are void +of truth. This method is so far from convincing, that it rather serves to +harden them. The Mohammedans will be apt to conclude we have little to say, +when we urge them with arguments that are trifling or untrue. We do but lose +ground when we do this; and instead of gaining them, we expose ourselves and +our cause also. We must not give them ill words neither; but must avoid all +reproachful language, all that is sarcastical and biting: this never did good +from pulpit or press. The softest words will make the deepest impression; +and if we think it a fault in them to give ill language, we cannot be excused +when we imitate them. The fourth rule is, Not to quit any article of the +Christian faith to gain the Mohammedans. It is a fond conceit of the +Socinians, that we shall upon their principles be most like to prevail upon the +Mohammedans: it is not true in matter of fact. We must not give up any +article to gain them: but then the Church of Rome ought to part with many +practices and some doctrines. We are not to design to gain the Mohammedans +over to a system of dogma, but to the ancient and primitive faith. I believe +nobody will deny but that the rules here laid down are just: the latter part of +the third, which alone my design has given me occasion to practise, I think so +reasonable, that I have not, in speaking of Mohammed or his Koran, allowed +myself to use those opprobrious appellations, and unmannerly expressions, +which seem to be the strongest arguments of several who have written against +them. On the contrary, I have thought myself to treat both with common +decency, and even to approve suchparticulars as seemed to me to deserve +approbation: for how criminal soever Mohammed may have been in imposing +a false religion on mankind, the praises due to his real virtues ought not to be +denied him; nor can I do otherwise than applaud the candour of the pious and +learned Spanhemius, who, though he owned him to have been a wicked impostor, +yet acknowledged him to have been richly furnished with natural endowments, +beautiful in his person, of a subtle wit, agreeable behaviour, showing liberality +to the poor, courtesy to every one, fortitude against his enemies, and above +all a high reverence for the name of GOD; severe against the perjured, +adulterers, murderers, slanderers, prodigals, covetous, false witnesses, &c., +a great preacher of patience, charity, mercy, beneficence, gratitude, honouring +of parents and superiors, and a frequent celebrator of the divine praises.[2] + +[1] In his Demonstr. of the Messias, Part III. chap. 2. + +[2] Id certum, naturalibus egregie dotibus instructum Muhammedera, forma +praestanti, ingenio calido, moribus facetis, ac prae se ferentem liberalitatem +in egenos. comitatem in singulos, fortitudinem in hostes, ac prae caeteris +reverentiam divini nominis.--Severus fuit in perjuros, adulteros, homicidas, +obtrectatores, prodigos, avaros, falsos testes, &c. Magnus idem patientiae, +charitatis, misericordiae, beneficentiae, gratitudinis, honoris in parentes ac +superiores praeco, ut et divinarum laudum. Hist. Eccles. Sec. VII. c. 7, +lem. 5 and 7. + + + Of the several translations of the Koran now extant, there is but one +which tolerably represents the sense of the original; and that being in Latin, +a new version became necessary, at least to an English reader. What +Bibliander published for a Latin translation of that book deserves not the +name of a translation; the unaccountable liberties therein taken and the +numberless faults, both of omission and commission, leaving scarce any +resemblance of the original. It was made near six hundred years ago, being +finished in 1143, by Robertus Retenensis, an Englishman, with the assistance +of Hermannus Dalmata, at the request of Peter, Abbot of Clugny, who paid +them well for their pains. + From this Latin version was taken the Italian of Andrea Arrivabene, +notwithstanding the pretences in his dedication of its being done immediately +from the Arabic;[3] wherefore it is no wonder if the transcript be yet more +faulty and absurd than the copy.[4] + +[3] His words are: Questo libro, che gia havevo a commune utilita di molti +fatto dal proprio testo Arabo tradurre nella nostra volgar lingua Italiana, &c. +And afterwards; Questo e l'Alcorano di Macometto, il quale, come ho gia +detto, ho fatto dal suo idioma tradurre, &c. + +[4] Vide Jos. Scalig. Epist. 361 et 362; et Selden. de Success. ad Leges +Ebraeor. p. 9. + + + About the end of the fifteenth century, Johannes Andreas, a native of +Xativa in the kingdom of Valencia, who from a Mohammedan doctor became a +Christian priest, translated not only the Koran, but also its glosses, and the +seven books of the Sonna, out of Arabic into the Arragonian tongue, at the +command of Martin Garcia[5], Bishop of Barcelona and Inquisitor of Arragon. +Whether this translation were ever published or not I am wholly ignorant: but +it may be presumed to have been the better done for being the work of one +bred up in the Mohammedan religion and learning; though his refutation of that +religion, which has had several editions, gives no great idea of his abilities. + +[5] J. Andreas, in Praef. ad Tractat. suum de Confusione Sectae +Mahometanae. + + + Some years within the last century, Andrew du Ryer, who had been consul +of the French nation in Egypt, and was tolerably skilled in the Turkish and +Arabic languages, took the pains to translate the Koran into his own tongue: +but his performance, though it be beyond comparison preferable to that of +Retenensis, is far from being a just translation; there being mistakes in every +page, besides frequent transpositions, omissions, and additions,[6] faults +unpardonable in a work of this nature. And what renders it still more +incomplete is, the want of Notes to explain a vast number of passages, some +of which are difficult, and others impossible to be understood, without proper +explications, were they translated ever so exactly; which the author is so +sensible of that he often refers his reader to the Arabic commentators. + +[6] Vide Windet. de Vitâ Functorum statu, Sect. IX. + + + The English version is no other than a translation of Du Ryer's, and that a +very bad one; for Alexander Ross, who did it, being utterly unacquainted with +the Arabic, and no great master of the French, has added a number of fresh +mistakes of his own to those of Du Ryer; not to mention the meanness of his +language, which would make a better book ridiculous. + In 1698, a Latin translation of the Koran, made by Father Lewis Marracci, +who had been confessor to Pope Innocent XI., was published at Padua, +together with the original text, accompanied by explanatory notes and a +refutation. This translation of Marracci's, generally speaking, is very exact; +but adheres to the Arabic idiom too literally to be easily understood, unless +I am much deceived, by those who are not versed in the Mohammedan +learning. The notes he has added are indeed of great use; but his +refutations, which swell the work to a large volume, are of little or none at +all, being often unsatisfactory, and sometimes impertinent. The work, +however, with all its faults, is very valuable, and I should be guilty of +ingratitude, did I not acknowledge myself much obliged thereto; but still, +being in Latin, it can be of no use to those who understand not that tongue. + Having therefore undertaken a new translation, I have endeavoured to do +the original impartial justice; not having, to the best of my knowledge, +represented it, in any one instance, either better or worse than it really is. +I have thought myself obliged, indeed, in a piece which pretends to be the +Word of GOD, to keep somewhat scrupulously close to the text; by which +means the language may, in some places, seem to express the Arabic a little +too literally to be elegant English: but this, I hope, has not happened often; +and I flatter myself that the style I have made use of will not only give a more +genuine idea of the original than if I had taken more liberty (which would have +been much more for my ease), but will soon become familiar: for we must +not expect to read a version of so extraordinary a book with the same +ease and pleasure as a modern composition. + In the Notes my view has been briefly to explain the text, and especially +the difficult and obscure passages, from the most approved commentators, +and that generally in their own words, for whose opinions or expressions, +where liable to censure, I am not answerable; my province being only fairly +to represent their expositions, and the little I have added of my own, or +from European writers, being easily discernible. Where I met with any +circumstance which I imagined might be curious or entertaining, I have +not failed to produce it. + The Preliminary Discourse will acquaint the reader with the most material +particulars proper to be known previously to the entering on the Koran itself, +and which could not so conveniently have been thrown into the Notes. And +I have taken care, both in the Preliminary Discourse and the Notes, +constantly to quote my authorities and the writers to whom I have been +beholden; but to none have I been more so than to the learned Dr. Pocock, +whose Specimen Historiae Arabum is the most useful and accurate work +that has been hitherto published concerning the antiquities of that nation, +and ought to be read by every curious inquirer into them. + As I have had no opportunity of consulting public libraries, the manuscripts +of which I have made use throughout the whole work have been such as I had +in my own study, except only the Commentary of al Beidâwi and the Gospel of +St. Barnabas. The first belongs to the library of the Dutch church in Austin +Friars, and for the use of it I have been chiefly indebted to the Reverend +Dr. Bolten, one of the ministers of that church: the other was very obligingly +lent me by the Reverend Dr. Holme, Rector of Hedley in Hampshire; and I take +this opportunity of returning both those gentlemen my thanks for their +favours. The merit of al Beidâwi's commentary will appear from the frequent +quotations I have made thence; but of the Gospel of St. Barnabas (which I had +not seen when the little I have said of it in the Preliminary Discourse,[7] and +the extract I had borrowed from M. de la Monnoye and M. Toland,[8] were +printed off), I must beg leave to give some further account. + +[7] Sect. IV. p. 58. + +[8] In not. ad cap. 3, p. 38 + + + The book is a moderate quarto, in Spanish, written in a very legible hand, +but a little damaged towards the latter end. It contains two hundred and +twenty-two chapters of unequal length, and four hundred and twenty pages; +and is said, in the front, to be translated from the Italian, by an Arragonian +Moslem, named Mostafa de Aranda. There is a preface prefixed to it, wherein +the discoverer of the original MS., who was a Christian monk, called Fra +Marino, tells us that having accidentally met with a writing of Irenaeus (among +others), wherein he speaks against St. Paul, alleging, for his authority, the +Gospel of St. Barnabas, he became exceeding desirous to find this gospel; +and that GOD, of His mercy, having made him very intimate with Pope +Sixtus V., one day, as they were together in that Pope's library, his Holiness +fell asleep, and he, to employ himself, reaching down a book to read, the first +he laid his hand on proved to be the very gospel he wanted: overjoyed at the +discovery, he scrupled not to hide his prize in his sleeve, and on the Pope's +awaking, took leave of him, carrying with him that celestial treasure, by +reading of which he became a convert to Mohammedism. + This Gospel of Barnabas contains a complete history of Jesus Christ from +His birth to His ascension; and most of the circumstances in the four real +Gospels are to be found therein, but many of them turned, and some artfully +enough, to favour the Mohammedan system. From the design of the whole, +and the frequent interpolations of stories and passages wherein Mohammed +is spoken of and foretold by name, as the messenger of God, and the great +prophet who was to perfect the dispensation of Jesus, it appears to be a +most barefaced forgery. One particular I observe therein induces me to +believe it to have been dressed up by a renegade Christian, slightly instructed +in his new religion, and not educated a Mohammedan (unless the fault be +imputed to the Spanish, or perhaps the Italian translator, and not to the +original compiler); I mean the giving to Mohammed the title of Messiah, and +that not once or twice only, but in several places; whereas the title of the +Messiah, or, as the Arabs write it, al Masih, i.e., Christ, is appropriated to +Jesus in the Koran, and is constantly applied by the Mohammedans to Him, +and never to their own prophet. The passages produced from the Italian +MS. by M. de la Monnoye are to be seen in this Spanish version almost word +for word. + But to return to the following work. Though I have freely censured the +former translations of the Koran, I would not therefore be suspected of a +design to make my own pass as free from faults: I am very sensible it is not; +and I make no doubt that the few who are able to discern them, and know the +difficulty of the undertaking, will give me fair quarter. I likewise flatter +myself that they, and all considerate persons, will excuse the delay which has +happened in the publication of this work, when they are informed that it was +carried on at leisure times only, and amidst the necessary avocations of a +troublesome profession. + + + + + +CONTENTS. + +_________ + + +A TABLE + +OF THE + +SECTIONS OF THE PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE + +_________ + + +SECTION +I. Of the Arabs before Mohammed; or, as they express it, in the Time of + Ignorance; their History, Religion, Learning, and Customs + +II. Of the State of Christianity, particularly of the Eastern Churches, and of + Judaism, at time of Mohammed's appearance; and of the methods taken + by him for the establishing his Religion, and the circumstances which + concurred thereto + +III. Of the Koran itself, the Peculiarities of that Book; the manner of its + being written and published, and the General Design of it + +IV. Of the Doctrines and positive Precepts of the Koran which relate to + Faith and Religious Duties + +V. Of certain Negative Precepts in the Koran + +VI. Of the Institutions of the Koran in Civil Affairs + +VII. Of the Months commanded by the Koran to be kept Sacred; and of the + setting apart of Friday for the especial service of God + +VIII. Of the principal Sects among the Mohammedans; and of those who have + pretended to Prophecy among the Arabs, in or since the time of + Mohammed + + + + + + + + + +A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS + +OF + +THE KORAN. + + +______________ + + +CHAPTER +1. Entitled, The Preface, or Introduction; containing 7 verses +2. Entitled, The Cow; containing 286 verses +3. Entitled, The Family of Imrân; containing 200 verses +4. Entitled, Women; containing 176 verses +5. Entitled, The Table; containing 120 verses +6. Entitled, Cattle; containing 165 verses +7. Entitled, Al Araf; containing 206 verses +8. Entitled, The Spoils; containing 75 verses +9. Entitled, The Declaration of Immunity; containing 129 verses +10. Entitled, Jonas; containing 109 verses +11. Entitled, Hud; containing 123 verses +12. Entitled, Joseph; containing 111 verses +13. Entitled, Thunder; containing 43 verses +14. Entitled, Abraham; containing 52 verses +15. Entitled, Al Hejr; containing 99 verses +16. Entitled, The Bee; containing 128 verses +17. Entitled, The Night Journey; contianing 111 verses +18. Entitled, The Cave; containing 110 verses +19. Entitled, Mary; containing 98 verses +20. Entitled, T. H.; containing 134 verses +21. Entitled, The Prophets; containing 112 verses +22. Entitled, The Pilgrimage; containing 78 verses +23. Entitled, The True Believers; containing 118 verses +24. Entitled, Light; containing 64 verses +25. Entitled, Al Forkan; containing 77 verses +26. Entitled, The Poets; containing 227 verses +27. Entitled, The Ant; containing 93 verses +28. Entitled, The Story; containing 88 verses +29. Entitled, The Spider; containing 69 verses +30. Entitled, The Greeks; containing 60 verses +31. Entitled, Lokmân; containing 34 verses +32. Entitled, Adoration; containing 30 verses +33. Entitled, The Confederates; containing 73 verses +34. Entitled, Saba; containing 54 verses +35. Entitled, The Creator; containing 45 verses +36. Entitled, Y. S; containing 83 verses +37. Entitled, Those who rank themselves in Order; containing 182 verses +38. Entitled, S.; containing 88 verses +39. Entitled, The Troops; containing 75 verses +40. Entitled, The True Believer; containing 85 verses +41. Entitled, Are distinctly explained; containing 54 verses +42. Entitled, Consultation; containing 53 verses +43. Entitled, The Ornaments of Gold; containing 89 verses +44. Entitled, Smoke; containing 59 verses +45. Entitled, The Kneeling; containing 37 verses +46. Entitled, Al Ahkaf; containing 35 verses +47. Entitled, Mohammed; containing 38 verses +48. Entitled, The Victory; containing 29 verses +49. Entitled, The Inner Apartments; containing 18 verses +50. Entitled, K.; containing 45 verses +51. Entitled, The Dispersing; containing 60 verses +52. Entitled, The Mountain; containing 49 verses +53. Entitled, The Star; containing 62 verses +54. Entitled, The Moon; containing 55 verses +55. Entitled, The Merciful; containing 78 verses +56. Entitled, The Inevitable; containing 96 verses +57. Entitled, Iron; containing 29 verses +58. Entitled, She who disputed; containing 22 verses +59. Entitled, The Emigration; containing 24 verses +60. Entitled, She who is tried; containing 13 verses +61. Entitled, Battle Array; containing 14 verses +62. Entitled, The Assembly; containing 11 verses +63. Entitled, The Hypocrites; containing 11 verses +64. Entitled, Mutual Deceit; contianing 18 verses +65. Entitled, Divorce; containing 12 verses +66. Entitled, Prohibition; containing 12 verses +67. Entitled, The Kingdom; containing 30 verses +68. Entitled, The Pen; containing 52 verses +69. Entitled, The Infallible; containing 52 verses +70. Entitled, The Steps; containing 44 verses +71. Entitled, Noah; containing 28 verses +72. Entitled, The Genii; containing 28 verses +73. Entitled, The Wrapped up; containing 20 verses +74. Entitled, The Covered; containing 56 verses +75. Entitled, The Resurrection; containing 40 verses +76. Entitled, Man; containing 31 verses +77. Entitled, Those which are sent; containing 50 verses +78. Entitled, The News; containing 40 verses +79. Entitled, Those who tear forth; containing 46 verses +80. Entitled, He Frowned; containing 42 verses +81. Entitled, The Folding up; containing 29 verses +82. Entitled, The Cleaving in Sunder; containing 19 verses +83. Entitled, Those who give Short Measure or Weight; containing 36 verses +84. Entitled, The Rending in Sunder; containing 25 verses +85. Entitled, The Celestial Signs; containing 22 verses +86. Entitled, The Star which appeareth by Night; containing 17 verses +87. Entitled, The Most High; containing 19 verses +88. Entitled, The Overwhelming; containing 26 verses +89. Entitled, The Daybreak; containing 30 verses +90. Entitled, The Territory; containing 20 verses +91. Entitled, The Sun; containing 15 verses +92. Entitled, The Night; containing 21 verses +93. Entitled, The Brightness; containing 11 verses +94. Entitled, Have we not Opened; containing 8 verses +95. Entitled, The Fig; containing 8 verses +96. Entitled, Congealed Blood; containing 19 verses +97. Entitled, Al Kadr; containing 5 verses +98. Entitled, The Evidence; containing 8 verses +99. Entitled, The Earthquake, containing 8 verses +100. Entitled, The War Horses which run swiftly; containing 11 verses +101. Entitled, The Striking; containing 11 verses +102. Entitled, The Emulous Desire of Multiplying; containing 8 verses +103. Entitled, The Afternoon; containing 3 verses +104. Entitled, The Slanderer; containing 9 verses +105. Entitled, The Elephant; containing 5 verses +106. Entitled, Koreish; containing 4 verses +107. Entitled, Necessaries; containing 7 verses +108. Entitled, Al Cawthar; containing 3 verses +109. Entitled, The Unbelievers; containing 6 verses +110. Entitled, Assistance; containing 3 verses +111. Entitled, Abu Laheb; containing 5 verses +112. Entitled, The Declaration of GOD's Unity; containing 4 verses +113. Entitled, The Daybreak; containing 5 verses +114. Entitled, Men; containing 6 verses + + + +THE + +PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE + + + +SECTION I. + + +OF THE ARABS BEFORE MOHAMMED; OR, AS THEY EXPRESS IT, IN THE TIME + OF IGNORANCE; THEIR HISTORY, RELIGION, LEARNING, AND CUSTOMS + + +THE Arabs, and the country they inhabit, which themselves call Jezirat al Arab, +or the Peninsula of the Arabians, but we Arabia, were so named from Araba, a +small territory in the province of Tehâma; to which Yarab the son of Kahtân, the +father of the ancient Arabs, gave his name, and where, some ages after, dwelt +Ismael the son of Abraham by Hagar. The Christian writers for several +centuries speak of them under the appellation of Saracens; the most certain +derivation of which word is from shark, the east, where the descendants of +Joctan, the Kahtân of the Arabs, are placed by Moses, and in which quarter they +dwelt in respect to the Jews. + The name of Arabia (used in a more extensive sense) sometimes comprehends +all that large tract of land bounded by the river Euphrates, the Persian Gulf, +the Sindian, Indian, and Red Seas, and part of the Mediterranean: above two- +thirds of which country, that is, Arabia properly so called, the Arabs have +possessed almost from the Flood; and have made themselves masters of the +rest, either by settlements or continual incursions; for which reason the Turks +and Persians at this day call the whole Arabistân, or the country of the Arabs. + But the limits of Arabia, in its more usual and proper sense, are much +narrower, as reaching no farther northward than the Isthmus, which runs from +Aila to the head of the Persian Gulf, and the borders of the territory of Cufa; +which tract of land the Greeks nearly comprehended under the name of Arabia +the Happy. The eastern geographers make Arabia Petraea to belong partly to +Egypt, and partly to Shâm or Syria, and the desert Arabia they call the deserts +of Syria. + Proper Arabia is by the oriental writers generally divided into five provinces, +viz., Yaman, Hejâz, Tehâma, Najd, and Yamâma; to whichsome add Bahrein, as a +sixth, but this province the more exact make part of Irak; others reduce them +all to two, Yaman and Hejâz, the last including the three other provinces of +Tehâma, Najd, and Yamâma. + The province of Yaman, so called either from its situation to the right hand, +or south of the temple of Mecca, or else from the happiness and verdure of its +soil, extends itself along the Indian Ocean from Aden to Cape Rasalgat; part of +the Red Sea bounds it on the west and south sides, and the province of Hejâz on +the north. It is subdivided into several lesser provinces, as Hadramaut, Shihr, +Omân, Najrân, &c., of which Shihr alone produces the frankincense. The +metropolis of Yaman is Sanaa, a very ancient city, in former times called Ozal, +and much celebrated for its delightful situation; but the prince at present +resides about five leagues northward from thence, at a place no less pleasant, +called Hisn almawâheb, or the Castle of delights. + This country has been famous from all antiquity for the happiness of its +climate, its fertility and riches, which induced Alexander the Great, after his +return from his Indian expedition, to form a design of conquering it, and fixing +there his royal seat; but his death, which happened soon after, prevented the +execution of this project. Yet, in reality, great part of the riches which the +ancients imagined were the produce of Arabia, came really from the Indies and +the coasts of Africa; for the Egyptians, who had engrossed that trade, which +was then carried on by way of the Red Sea, to themselves, industriously +concealed the truth of the matter, and kept their ports shut to prevent +foreigners penetrating into those countries, or receiving any information +thence; and this precaution of theirs on the one side, and the deserts, +unpassable to strangers, on the other, were the reason why Arabia was so +little known to the Greeks and Romans. The delightfulness and plenty of Yaman +are owing to its mountains; for all that part which lies along the Red Sea is a +dry, barren desert, in some places ten or twelve leagues over, but in return +bounded by those mountains, which being well watered, enjoy an almost +continual spring, and, besides coffee, the peculiar produce of this country, +yield great plenty and variety of fruits, and in particular excellent corn, grapes, +and spices. There are no rivers of note in this country, for the streams which +at certain times of the year descend from the mountains, seldom reach the +sea, being for the most part drunk up and lost in the burning sands of that +coast. + The soil of the other provinces is much more barren than that of Yaman; the +greater part of their territories being covered with dry sands, or rising into +rocks, interspersed here and there with some fruitful spots, which receive +their greatest advantages from their water and palm trees. + The province of Hejâz, so named because it divides Najd from Tehâma, is +bounded on the south by Yaman and Tehâma, on the west by the Red Sea, on the +north by the deserts of Syria, and on the east by the province of Najd. This +province is famous for its two chief cities, Mecca and Medina, one of which is +celebrated for its temple, and having given birth to Mohammed; and the other +for being the place of his residence for the last ten years of his life, and of his +interment. + Mecca, sometimes also called Becca, which words are synonymous, and signify +a place of great concourse, is certainly one of the most ancient cities of the +world: it is by some thought to be the Mesa of the scripture, a name not +unknown to the Arabians, and supposed to be taken form one of Ismael's sons. +It is seated in a stony and barren valley, surrounded on all sides with mountains. +The length of Mecca from south to north is about two miles, and its breadth +from the foot of the mountain Ajyad, to the top of another called Koaikaân, +about a mile. In the midst of this space stands the city, built of stone cut from +the neighbouring mountains. There being no springs at Mecca, at least none but +what are bitter and unfit to drink, except only the well Zemzem, the water of +which, though far the best, yet cannot be drank of any continuance, being +brackish, and causing eruptions in those who drink plentifully of it, the +inhabitants are obliged to use rain-water which they catch in cisterns. But +this not being sufficient, several attempts were made to bring water thither +from other places by aqueducts; and particularly about Mohammed's time, +Zobair, one of the principal men of the tribe of Koreish, endeavoured at a great +expense to supply the city with water from Mount Arafat, but without success; +yet this was effected not many years ago, being begun at the charge of a wife +of Solimân the Turkish emperor. But long before this, another aqueduct had +been made from a spring at a considerable distance, which was, after several +years' labour, finished by the Khalif al Moktader. + The soil about Mecca is so very barren as to produce no fruits but what are +common in the deserts, though the prince or Sharif has a garden well planted +at his castle of Marbaa, about three miles westward from the city, where he +usually resides. Having therefore no corn or grain of their own growth, they +are obliged to fetch it from other places; and Hashem, Mohammed's great- +grandfather, then prince of his tribe, the more effectually to supply them +with provisions, appointed two caravans to set out yearly for that purpose, +the one in summer, and the other in winter: these caravans of purveyors are +mentioned in the Koran. The provisions brought by them were distributed also +twice a year, viz., in the month of Rajeb, and at the arrival of the pilgrims. +They are supplied with dates in great plenty from the adjacent country, and +with grapes from Tayef, about sixty miles distant, very few growing at Mecca. +The inhabitants of this city are generally very rich, being considerable gainers +by the prodigious concourse of people of almost all nations at the yearly +pilgrimage, at which time there is a great fair or mart for all kinds of +merchandise. They have also great numbers of cattle, and particularly of +camels: however, the poorer sort cannot but live very indifferently in a place +where almost every necessary of life must be purchased with money. +Notwithstanding this great sterility near Mecca, yet you are no sooner out +of its territory than you meet on all sides with plenty of good springs and +streams of running water, with a great many gardens and cultivated lands. + The temple of Mecca, and the reputed holiness of this territory, will be +treated of in a more proper place. + Medina, which till Mohammed's retreat thither was called Yathreb, is a +walled city about half as big as Mecca, built in a plain, salt in many places, yet +tolerably fruitful, particularly in dates, but more especially near the mountains, +two of which, Ohod on the north, and Air on the south, are about two leagues +distant. Here lies Mohammed interred in a magnificent building, covered with a +cupola, and adjoining to the east side of the great temple, which is built in the +midst of the city. + The province of Tehâma was so named from the vehement heat of its sandy +soil, and is also called Gaur from its low situation; it is bounded on the west by +the Red Sea, and on the other sides by Hejâz and Yaman, extending almost from +Mecca to Aden. + The province of Najd, which word signifies a rising country, lies between +those of Yamâma, Yaman, and Hejâz, and is bounded on the east by Irak. + The province of Yamâma, also called Arud from its oblique situation, in +respect of Yaman, is surrounded by the provinces of Najd, Tehâma, Bahrein, +Omân, Shihr, Hadramaut, and Saba. The chief city is Yamâma, which gives name +to the province: it was anciently called Jaw, and is particularly famous for +being the residence of Mohammed's competitor, the false prophet Moseilama. + The Arabians, the inhabitants of this spacious country, which they have +possessed from the most remote antiquity, are distinguished by their own +writers into two classes, viz., the old lost Arabians, and the present. + The former were very numerous, and divided into several tribes, which are +now all destroyed, or else lost and swallowed up among the other tribes, nor are +any certain memoirs or records extant concerning them; though the memory +of some very remarkable events and the catastrophe of some tribes have been +preserved by tradition, and since confirmed by the authority of the Koran. + The most famous tribes amongst these ancient Arabians were Ad, Thamud, +Tasm, Jadis, the former Jorham, and Amalek. + The tribe of Ad were descended from Ad, the son of Aws, the son of Aram, +the son of Sem, the son of Noah, who, after the confusion of tongues, settled +in al Ahkâf, or the winding sands in the province of Hadramaut, where his +posterity greatly multiplied. Their first king was Shedâd the son of Ad, of +whom the eastern writers deliver many fabulous things, particularly that he +finished the magnificent city his father had begun, wherein he built a fine +palace, adorned with delicious gardens, to embellish which he spared neither +cost nor labour, proposing thereby to create in his subjects a superstitious +veneration of himself as a god. This garden or paradise was called the garden +of Irem, and is mentioned in the Koran, and often alluded to by the oriental +writers. The city, they tell us, is still standing in the deserts of Aden, being +preserved by providence as a monument of divine justice, though it be invisible, +unless very rarely, when GOD permits it to be seen, a favour one Colabah +pretended to have received in the reign of the Khalif Moâwiyah, who sending for +him to know the truth of the matter, Colabah related his whole adventure; that +as he was seeking a camel he had lost, he found himself on a sudden at the +gates of this city, and entering it saw not one inhabitant, at which, being +terrified, he stayed no longer than to take with him some fine stones which he +showed the Khalif. + The descendants of Ad in process of time falling from the worship of the +true God into idolatry, GOD sent the prophet Hud (who is generally agreed to +be Heber) to preach to and reclaim them. But they refusing to acknowledge +his mission, or to obey him, GOD sent a hot and suffocating wind, which blew +seven nights and eight days together, and entering at their nostrils passed +through their bodies. and destroyed them all, a very few only excepted, who +had believed in Hud and retired with him to another place. That prophet +afterwards returned into Hadramaut, and was buried near Hasec, where there +is a small town now standing called Kabr Hud, or the sepulchre of Hud. Before +the Adites were thus severely punished, GOD, to humble them, and incline them +to hearken to the preaching of his prophet, afflicted them with a drought for +four years, so that all their cattle perished, and themselves were very near +it; upon which they sent Lokmân (different from one of the same name who +lived in David's time) with sixty others to Mecca to beg rain, which they not +obtaining, Lokmân with some of his company stayed at Mecca, and thereby +escaped destruction, giving rise to a tribe called the latter Ad, who were +afterward changed into monkeys. + Some commentators on the Koran tell us these old Adites were of prodigious +stature, the largest being 100 cubits high, and the least 60; which +extraordinary size they pretend to prove by the testimony of the Koran. + The tribe of Thamud were the posterity of Thamud the son of Gather the son +of Aram, who falling into idolatry, the prophet Sâleh was sent to bring them +back to the worship of the true GOD. This prophet lived between the time of +Hud and of Abraham, and therefore cannot be the same with the patriarch +Sâleh, as Mr. d'Herbelot imagines. The learned Bochart with more probability +takes him to be Phaleg. A small number of the people of Thamud hearkened +to the remonstrances of Sâleh, but the rest requiring, as a proof of his mission, +that he should cause a she-camel big with young to come out of a rock in their +presence, he accordingly obtained it of GOD, and the camel was immediately +delivered of a young one ready weaned; but they, instead of believing, cut the +hamstrings of the camel and killed her; at which act of impiety GOD, being +highly displeased, three days after struck them dead in their houses by an +earthquake and a terrible noise from heaven, which, some say, was the +voice of Gabriel the archangel crying aloud, "Die, all of you." Sâleh, with those +who were reformed by him, were saved from this destruction; the prophet +going into Palestine, and from thence to Mecca, where he ended his days. + This tribe first dwelt in Yaman, but being expelled thence by Hamyar the +son of Sâba, they settled in the territory of Hejr in the province of Hejâz, +where their habitations cut out of the rocks, mentioned in the Koran, are +still to be seen, and also the crack of the rock whence the camel issued, +which, as an eyewitness hath declared, is 60 cubits wide. These houses of +the Thamudites being of the ordinary proportion, are used as an argument to +convince those of a mistake who who this people to have been of a gigantic +stature. + The tragical destructions of these two potent tribes are often insisted on +in the Koran, as instances of GOD'S judgment on obstinate unbelievers. + The tribe of Tasm were the posterity of Lud the son of Sem, and Jadis of +the descendants of Jether. These two tribes dwelt promiscuously together +under the government of Tasm, till a certain tyrant made a law that no maid +of the tribe of Jadis should marry unless first defloured by him; which the +Jadisians not enduring, formed a conspiracy, and inviting the king and chiefs +of Tasm to an entertainment, privately hid their swords in the sand, and in +the midst of their mirth fell on them and slew them all, and extirpated the +greatest part of that tribe; however, the few who escaped obtaining aid of the +king of Yaman, then (as is said) Dhu Habshân Ebn Akrân, assaulted the Jadis +and utterly destroyed them, there being scarce any mention made from that +time of either of these tribes. + The former tribe of Jorham (whose ancestor some pretend was one of the +eighty persons saved in the ark of Noah, according to a Mohammedan tradition) +was contemporary with Ad, and utterly perished. The tribe of Amalek were +descended from Amalek the son of Eliphaz the son of Esau, though some of the +oriental authors say Amalek was the son of Ham the son of Noah, and others +the son of Azd the son of Sem. The posterity of this person rendered +themselves very powerful, and before the time of Joseph conquered the lower +Egypt under their king Walid, the first who took the name of Pharaoh, as the +eastern writers tell us; seeming by these Amalekites to mean the same people +which the Egyptian histories call Phoenician shepherds. But after they had +possessed the throne of Egypt for some descents, they were expelled by the +natives, and at length totally destroyed by the Israelites. + The present Arabians, according to their own historians, are sprung from +two stocks, Kahtân, the same with Joctan the son of Eber, and Adnân descended +in a direct line from Ismael the son of Abraham and Hagar; the posterity of the +former they call al Arab al Ariba, i.e., the genuine or pure Arabs, and those of +the latter al Arab al mostareba, i.e., naturalized or institious Arabs, though +some reckon the ancient lost tribes to have been the only pure Arabians, and +therefore call the posterity of Kahtân also Mutareba, which word likewise +signifies insititious Arabs, though in a nearer degree than Mostareba; the +descendants of Ismael being the more distant graff. + The posterity of Ismael have no claim to be admitted as pure Arabs, their +ancestor being by origin and language an Hebrew; but having made an alliance +with the Jorhamites, by marrying a daughter of Modad, and accustomed himself +to their manner of living and language, his descendants became blended with +them into one nation. The uncertainty of the descents between Ismael and +Adnân is the reason why they seldom trace their genealogies higher than the +latter, whom they acknowledge as father of their tribes, the descents from +him downwards being pretty certain and uncontroverted. + The genealogy of these tribes being of great use to illustrate the Arabian +history, I have taken the pains to form a genealogical table from their most +approved authors, to which I refer the curious. + Besides these tribes of Arabs mentioned by their own authors, who were all +descended from the race of Sem, others of them were the posterity of Ham by +his son Cush, which name is in scripture constantly given to the Arabs and +their country, though our version renders it Ethiopia; but strictly speaking, +the Cushites did not inhabit Arabia properly so called, but the banks of the +Euphrates and the Persian Gulf, whither they came form Chuzestân or Susiana, +the original settlement of their father. They might probably mix themselves +in process of time with the Arabs of the other race, but the eastern writers +take little or no notice of them. + The Arabians were for some centuries under the government of the +descendants of Kâhtan; Yarab, one of his sons, founding the kingdom of Yaman, +and Jorham, another of them, that of Hejâz. + The province of Yaman, or the better part of it, particularly the provinces +of Saba and Hadramaut, was governed by princes of the tribe of Hamyar, +though at length the kingdom was translated to the descendants of Cahlân, his +brother, who yet retained the title of king of Hamyar, and had all of them the +general title of Tobba, which signifies successor, and was affected to this +race of princes, as that of Caesar was to the Roman emperors, and Khalif +to the successors of Mohammed. There were several lesser princes who +reigned in other parts of Yaman, and were mostly, if not altogether, subject +to the king of Hamyar, whom they called the great king, but of these history +has recorded nothing remarkable or that may be depended upon. + The first great calamity that befell the tribes settled in Yaman was the +inundation of Aram, which happened soon after the time of Alexander the Great, +and is famous in the Arabian history. No less than eight tribes were forced +to abandon their dwellings upon this occasion, some of which gave rise to the +two kingdoms of Ghassân and Hira. And this was probably the time of the +migration of those tribes or colonies which were led into Mesopotamia by three +chiefs, Becr, Modar, and Rabia, from whom the three provinces of that country +are still named Diyar Becr, Diyar Modar, and Diyar Rabia. Abdshems, surnamed +Saba, having built the city from him called Saba, and afterwards Mareb, made a +vast mound, or dam, to serve as a basin or reservoir to receive the water +which came down from the mountains, not only for the use of the inhabitants, +and watering their lands, but also to keep the country they had subjected in +greater awe by being masters of the water. This building stood like a mountain +above their city, and was by them esteemed so strong that they were in no +apprehension of its ever failing. The water rose to the height of almost twenty +fathoms, and was kept in on every side by a work so solid, that many of the +inhabitants had their houses built upon it. Every family had a certain portion of +this water, distributed by aqueducts. But at length, GOD, being highly +displeased at their great pride and insolence, and resolving to humble and +disperse them, sent a mighty flood, which broke down the mound by night while +the inhabitants were asleep, and carried away the whole city, with the +neighbouring towns and people. + The tribes which remained in Yaman after this terrible devastation still +continued under the obedience of the former princes, till about seventy years +before Mohammed, when the king of Ethiopia sent over forces to assist the +Christians of Yaman against the cruel persecution of their king, Dhu Nowâs, a +bigoted Jew, whom they drove to that extremity that he forced his horse into +the sea, and so lost his life and crown, after which the country was governed +by four Ethiopian princes successively, till Selif, the son of Dhu Yazan, of the +tribe of Hamyar, obtaining succours from Khosru Anushirwân, king of Persia, +which had been denied him by the emperor Heraclius, recovered the throne +and drove out the Ethiopians, but was himself slain by some of them who were +left behind. The Persians appointed the succeeding princes till Yaman fell into +the hands of Mohammed, to whom Bazan, or rather Badhân, the last of them, +submitted, and embraced this new religion. + This kingdom of the Hammyarites is said to have lasted 2,020 years, or as +others say above 3,000; the length of the reign of each prince being very +uncertain. + It has been already observed that two kingdoms were founded by those who +left their country on occasion of the inundation of Aram: they were both out +of the proper limits of Arabia. One of them was the kingdom of Ghassân. +The founders of this kingdom were of the tribe of Azd, who, settling in Syria +Damascena near a water called Ghassân, thence took their name, and drove +out (the Dajaamian Arabs of the tribe of Salih, who before possessed the +country; where they maintained their kingdom 400 years, as others say 600, +or as Abulfeda more exactly computes, 616. Five of these princes were +named Hâreth, which the Greeks write Aretas: and one of them it was whose +governor ordered the gates of Damascus to be watched to take St. Paul. +This tribe were Christians, their last king being Jabalah the son of al Ayham, +who on the Arabs' successes in Syria professed Mohammedism under the +Khalif Omar; but receiving a disgust from him, returned to his former faith, +and retired to Constantinople. + The other kingdom was that of Hira, which was founded by Malec, of the +descendants of Cahlân in Chaldea or Irâk; but after three descents the throne +came by marriage to the Lakhmians, called also the Mondars (the general name +of those princes), who preserved their dominion, notwithstanding some small +interruption by the Persians, till the Khalifat of Abubecr, when al Mondar al +Maghrur, the last of them, lost his life and crown by the arms of Khaled Ebn +al Walid. This kingdom lasted 622 years eight months. Its princes were under +the protection of the kings of Persia, whose lieutenants they were over the +Arabs of Irâk, as the kings of Ghassân were for the Roman emperors over +those of Syria. + Jorham the son of Kahtân reigned in Hejâz, where his posterity kept the +throne till the time of Ismael; but on his marrying the daughter of Modad, by +whom he had twelve sons, Kidar, one of them, had the crown resigned to him +by his uncles the Jorhamites, though others say the descendants of Ismael +expelled that tribe, who retiring to Johainah, were, after various fortune, at +last all destroyed by an inundation. + Of the kings of Hamyar, Hira, Ghassân, and Jorham, Dr. Pocock has given us +catalogues tolerably exact, to which I refer the curious. + After the expulsion of the Jorhamites, the government of Hejâz seems not to +have continued for many centuries in the hands of one prince, but to have been +divided among the heads of tribes, almost in the same manner as the Arabs of +the desert are governed at this day. At Mecca an aristocracy prevailed, where +the chief management of affairs till the time of Mohammed was in the tribe of +Koreish, especially after they had gotten the custody of the Caaba from the +tribe of Khozâah. + Besides the kingdoms which have been taken notice of, there were some +other tribes which in latter times had princes of their own, and formed states +of lesser note, particularly the tribe of Kenda: but as I am not writing a just +history of the Arabs, and an account of them would be of no great use ot my +present purpose, I shall waive any further mention of them. + After the time of Mohammed, Arabia was for about three centuries under +the Khalifs his successors. But in the year 325 of the Hejra, great part of +that country was in the hands of the Karmatians, a new sect who had +committed great outrages and disorders even in Mecca, and to whom the +Khalifs were obliged to pay tribute, that the pilgrimage thither might be +performed: of this sect I may have occasion to speak in another place. +Afterwards Yaman was governed by the house of Thabateba, descended from +Ali the son-in-law of Mohammed, whose sovereignty in Arabia some place so +high as the time of Charlemagne. However, it was the posterity of Ali, or +pretenders to be such, who reigned in Yaman and Egypt so early as the tenth +century. The present reigning family in Yaman is probably that of Ayub, a +branch of which reigned there in the thirteenth century, and took the title of +Khalif and Imâm, which they still retain. They are not possessed of the whole +province of Yaman, there being several other independent kingdoms there, +particularly that of Fartach. The crown of Yaman descends not regularly from +father to son, but the prince of the blood royal who is most in favour with the +great ones, or has the strongest interest, generally succeeds. + The governors of Mecca and Medina, who have always been of the race of +Mohammed, also threw off their subjection to the Khalifs, since which time +four principal families, all descended from Hassan the son of Ali, have reigned +there under the title of Sharif, which signifies noble, as they reckon themselves +to be on account of their descent. These are Banu Kâder, Banu Musa Thani, +Banu Hashem, and Banu Kitâda; which last family now is, or lately was, in the +throne of Mecca, where they have reigned above 500 years. The reigning +family at Medina are the Banu Hashem, who also reigned at Mecca before +those of Kitâda. + The kings of Yaman, as well as the princes of Mecca and Medina, are +alsolutely independent and not at all subject to the Turk, as some late +authors have imagined. These princes often making cruel wars among +themselves, gave an opportunity to Selim I. and his son Solimân, to make +themselves masters of the coasts of Arabia on the Red Sea, and of part of +Yaman, by means of a fleet built at Sues: but their successors have not been +able to maintain their conquests; for, except the port of Jodda, where they +have a Basha whose authority is very small, they possess nothing considerable +in Arabia. + Thus have the Arabs preserved their liberty, of which few nations can +produce so ancient monuments, with very little interruption, from the very +Deluge; for though very great armies have been sent against them, all attempts +to subdue them were unsuccessful. The Assyrian or Median empires never got +footing among them. The Persian monarchs, though they were their friends, +and so far respected by them as to have an annual present of frankincense, +yet could never make them tributary; and were so far from being their masters, +that Cambyses, on his expedition against Egypt, was obliged to ask their leave +to pass through their territories; and when Alexander had subdued that mighty +empire, yet the Arabians had so little apprehension of him, that they alone, of +all the neighbouring nations, sent no ambassadors to him, either first or last; +which, with a desire of possessing so rich a country, made him form a design +against it, and had he not died before he could put it in execution, this people +might possibly have convinced him that he was not invincible: and I do not find +that any of his successors, either in Asia or Egypt, ever made any attempt +against them. The Romans never conquered any part of Arabia properly so +called; the most they did was to make some tribes in Syria tributary to them, +as Pompey did one commanded by Sampsiceramus or Shams'alkerâm, who +reigned at Hems or Emesa; but none of the Romans, or any other nations that +we know of, ever penetrated so far into Arabia as Alius Gallus under Augustus +Caesar; yet he was so far from subduing it, as some authors pretend, that he +was soon obliged to return without effecting anything considerable, having lost +the best part of his army by sickness and other accidents. This ill success +probably discouraged the Romans from attacking them any more; for Trajan, +notwithstanding the flatteries of the historians and orators of his time, and +the medals struck by him, did not subdue the Arabs; the province of Arabia, +which it is said he added to the Roman empire, scarce reaching farther than +Arabia Petraea, or the very skirts of the country. And we are told by one +author, that this prince, marching against the Agarens who had revolted, met +with such a reception that he was obliged to return without doing anything. + The religion of the Arabs before Mohammed, which they call the state of +ignorance, in opposition to the knowledge of GOD'S true worship revealed to +them by their prophet, was chiefly gross idolatry; the Sabian religion having +almost overrun the whole nation, though there were also great numbers of +Christians, Jews, and Magians among them. + I shall not here transcribe what Dr. Prideaux has written of the original of +the Sabian religion; but instead thereof insert a brief account of the tenets +and worship of that sect. They do not only believe one GOD, but produce many +strong arguments for His unity, though they also pay an adoration to the +stars, or the angels and intelligences which they suppose reside in them, and +govern the world under the Supreme Deity. They endeavour to perfect +themselves in the four intellectual virtues, and believe the souls of the +wicked men will be punished for nine thousand ages, but will afterwards be +received to mercy. They are obliged to pray three times a day; the first, +half an hour or less before sunrise, ordering it so that they may, just as the +sun rises, finish eight adorations, each containing three prostrations; the +second prayer they end at noon, when the sun begins to decline, in saying +which they perform five such adorations as the former: and in the same they +do the third time, ending just as the sun sets. They fast three times a year, +the first time thirty days, the next nine days, and the last seven. They offer +many sacrifices, but eat no part of them, burning them all. They abstain from +beans, garlic, and some other pulse and vegetables. Asto the Sabian Kebla, or +part to which they turn their faces in praying, authors greatly differ; one will +have it to be the north, another the south, a third Mecca, and a fourth the star +to which they pay their devotions: and perhaps there may be some variety in +their practice in this respect. They go on pilgrimage to a place near the city +of Harran in Mesopotamia, where great numbers of them dwell, and they have +also a great respect for the temple of Mecca, and the pyramids of Egypt; +fancying these last to be the sepulchres of Seth, and of Enoch and Sabi his +two sons, whom they look on as the first propagators of their religion; at +these structures they sacrifice a cock and a black calf, and offer up incense. +Besides the book of Psalms, the only true scripture they read, they have other +books which they esteem equally sacred, particularly one in the Chaldee tongue +which they call the book of Seth, and is full of moral discourses. This sect say +they took the name of Sabians from the above-mentioned Sabi, though it +seems rather to be derived from Saba, or the host of heaven, which they +worship. Travellers commonly call them Christians of St. John the Baptist, +whose disciples also they pretend to be, using a kind of baptism, which is the +greatest mark they bear of Christianity. This is one of the religions, the +practice of which Mohammed tolerated (on paying tribute), and the professors +of it are often included in that expression of the Koran, "those to whom the +scriptures have been given," or literally, the people of the book. + The idolatry of the Arabs then, as Sabians, chiefly consisted in worshipping +the fixed stars and planets, and the angels and their images, which they +honoured as inferior deities, and whose intercession they begged, as their +mediators with GOD. For the Arabs acknowledged one supreme GOD, the +Creator and LORD of the universe, whom they called Allah Taâla, the most high +GOD; and their other deities, who were subordinate to him, they called simply +al Ilahât, i.e., the goddesses; which words the Grecians not understanding, and +it being their constant custom to resolve the religion of every other nation into +their own, and find out gods of their to match the others', they pretend that +the Arabs worshipped only two deities, Orotalt and Alilat, as those names are +corruptly written, whom they will have to be the same with Bacchus and Urania; +pitching on the former as one of the greatest of their own gods, and educated +in Arabia, and on the other, because of the veneration shown by the Arabs to +the stars. + That they acknowledged one supreme GOD, appears, to omit other proof, +from their usual form of addressing themselves to him, which was this, "I +dedicate myself to thy service, O GOD! Thou hast no companion, except thy +companion of whom thou art absolute master, and of whatever is his." So that +they supposed the idols not to be sui juris, though they offered sacrifices and +other offerings to them, as well as to GOD, who was also often put off with +the least portion, as Mohammed upbraids them. Thus when they planted fruit +trees, or sowed a field, they divided it by a line into two parts, setting one +apartfor their idols, and the other for GOD; if any of the fruits happened to fall +from the idol's part into GOD'S, they made restitution; but if from GOD'S part +into the idol's, they made no restitution. So when they watered the idol's +grounds, if the water broke over the channels made for that purpose, and ran +on GOD'S part, they damned it up again; but if the contrary, they let it run +on, saying, they wanted what was GOD'S, but he wanted nothing. In the same +manner, if the offering designed for GOD happened to be better than that +designed for the idol, they made an exchange, but not otherwise. + It was from this gross idolatry, or the worship of inferior deities, or +companions of GOD, as the Arabs continue to call them, that Mohammed +reclaimed his countrymen, establishing the sole worship of the true GOD +among them; so that how much soever the Mohammedans are to blame in +other points, they are far from being idolaters, as some ignorant writers +have pretended. + The worship of the stars the Arabs might easily be led into, from their +observing the changes of weather to happen at the rising and setting of +certain of them, which after a long course of experience induced them to +ascribe a divine power to those stars, and to think themselves indebted to +them for their rains, a very great benefit and refreshment to their parched +country: this superstition the Koran particularly takes notice of. + The ancient Arabians and Indians, between which two nations was a great +conformity of religions, had seven celebrated temples, dedicated to the seven +planets; one of which in particular, called Beit Ghomdân, was built in Sanaa, the +metropolis of Yaman, by Dahac, to the honour of al Zoharah or the planet +Venus, and was demolished by the Khalif Othman; by whose murder was +fulfilled the prophetical inscription set, as is reported, over this temple, viz., +"Ghomdân, he who destroyeth thee shall be slain. The temple of Mecca is also +said to have been consecrated to Zohal, or Saturn. + Though these deities were generally reverenced by the whole nation, yet +each tribe chose some one as the more peculiar object of their worship. + Thus as to the stars and planets, the tribe of Hamyar chiefly worshipped +the sun; Misam, al Debarân, or the Bull's-eye; Lakhm and Jodâm, al Moshtari, +or Jupiter; Tay, Sohail, or Canopus; Kais, Sirius, or the Dog-star; and Asad, +Otâred, or Mercury. Among the worshippers of Sirius, one Abu Cabsha was +very famous; some will have him to be the same with Waheb, Mohammed's +grandfather by the mother, but others say he was of the tribe of Khozâah. +This man used his utmost endeavours to persuade the Koreish to leave their +images and worship this star; for which reason Mohammed, who endeavoured +also to make them leave their images, was by them nicknamed the son of Abu +Cabsha. The worship of this star is particularly hinted at in the Koran. + Of the angels or intelligences which they worshipped, the Koran, makes +mention only of three, which were worshipped under female names; Allat, al +Uzza, and Manah. These were by them called goddesses, and the daughters +of GOD; an appellation they gave not only to the angels, but also to their images, +which they either believed to be inspired with life by GOD, or else to become the +tabernacles of the angels, and to be animated by them; and they gave them +divine worship, because they imagined they interceded for them with GOD. + Allât was the idol of the tribe of Thakif who dwelt at Tayef, and had a temple +consecrated to her in a place called Nakhlah. This idol al Mogheirah destroyed +by Mohammed's order, who sent him and Abu Sofiân on that commission in the +ninth year of the Hejra. The inhabitants of Tayef, especially the women, +bitterly lamented the loss of this their deity, which they were so fond of, that +they begged of Mohammed as a condition of peace, that it might not be +destroyed for three years, and not obtaining that, asked only a month's +respite; but he absolutely denied it. There are several derivations of this +word which the curious may learn from Dr. Pocock: it seems most probably to +be derived from the same root with Allah, to which it may be a feminine, and +will then signify the goddess. + Al Uzza, as some affirm, was the idol of the tribes of Koreish and Kenânah, +and part of the tribe of Salim: others tell us it was a tree called the Egyptian +thorn, or acacia, worshipped by the tribe of Ghatfân, first consecrated by one +Dhâlem, who built a chapel over it, called Boss, so contrived as to give a sound +when any person entered. Khâled Ebn Walid being sent by Mohammed in the +eighth year of the Hejra to destroy this idol, demolished the chapel, and cutting +down this tree or image, burnt it: he also slew the priestess, who ran out with +her hair dishevelled, and her hands on her head as a suppliant. Yet the author +who relates this, in another place says, the chapel was pulled down, and Dhâlem +himself killed by one Zohair, because he consecrated this chapel with design to +draw the pilgrims thither from Mecca, and lessen the reputation of the Caaba. +The name of this deity is derived from the root azza, and signifies the most +mighty. + Manah was the object of worship of the tribes of Hodhail and Khazâah, who +dwelt between Mecca and Medina, and, as some say, of the tribes of Aws, +Khazraj, and Thakif also. This idol was a large stone, demolished by one Saad, +in the eighth year of the Hejra, a year so fatal to the idols of Arabia. The name +seems derived from mana, to flow, from the flowing of the blood of the victims +sacrificed to the deity; whence the valley of Mina, near Mecca, had also its +name, where the pilgrims at this day slay their sacrifices. + Before we proceed to the other idols, let us take notice of five more, which +with the former three are all the Koran mentions by name, and they are Wadd, +Sawâ, Yaghuth, Yauk, and Nasr. These are said to have been antediluvian idols, +which Noah preached against, and were afterwards taken by the Arabs for +gods, having been men of great merit and piety in their time, whose statues +they reverenced at first with a civil honour only, which in process of time +became heightened to a divine worship. + Wadd was supposed to be the heaven, and was worshipped under the form of +a man by the tribe of Calb in Daumat al Jandal. + Sawâ was adored under the shape of a woman by the tribe of Hamadan, or, as +others write, of Hodhail in Rohat. This idol lying under water for some time +after the Deluge, was at length, it is said, discovered by the devil, and was +worshipped by those of Hodhail, who instituted pilgrimages to it. + Yaghuth was an idol in the shape of a lion, and was the deity of the tribe of +Madhaj and others who dwelt in Yaman. Its name seems to be derived from +ghatha, which signifies to help. + Yauk was worshipped by the tribe of Morâd, or, according to others, by that +of Hamadan, under the figure of a horse. It is said he was a man of great +piety, and his death much regretted; whereupon the devil appeared to his +friends in a human form, and undertaking to represent him to the life, +persuaded them, by way of comfort, to place his effigies in their temples, +that they might have it in view when at their devotions. This was done, and +seven others of extraordinary merit had the same honours shown them, till at +length their posterity made idols of them in earnest. The name Yauk probably +comes from the verb âka, to prevent or avert. + Nasr was a deity adored by the tribe of Hamyar, or at Dhu'l Khalaah in their +territories, under the image of an eagle, which the name signifies. + There are, or were, two statues at Bamiyân, a city of Cabul in the Indies, +50 cubits high, which some writers suppose to be the same with Yaghuth and +Yauk, or else with Manah and Allât; and they also speak of a third standing near +the others, but something less, in the shape of an old woman, called Nesrem or +Nesr. These statues were hollow within, for the secret giving of oracles; but +they seem to have been different from the Arabian idols. There was also an +idol at Sumenat in the Indies, called Lât or al Lât, whose statue was 50 fathoms +high, of a single stone, and placed in the midst of a temple supported by 56 +pillars of massy gold: this idol Mahmud Ebn Sebecteghin, who conquered that +part of India, broke to pieces with his own hands. + Besides the idols we have mentioned, the Arabs also worshipped great +numbers of others, which would take up too much time to have distinct +accounts given of them; and not being named in the Koran, are not so much +to our present purpose: for besides that every housekeeper had his household +god or gods, which he last took leave of and first saluted at his going abroad +and returning home, there were no less than 360 idols, equalling in number the +days of their year, in and about the Caaba of Mecca; the chief of whom was +Hobal, brought from Belka in Syria into Arabia by Amru Ebn Lohai, pretending +it would procure them rain when they wanted it. It was the statue of a man, +made of agate, which having by some accident lost a hand, the Koreish repaired +it with one of gold: he held in his hand seven arrows without heads or feathers, +such as the Arabs used in divination. This idol is supposed to have been the +same with the image of Abraham, found and destroyed by Mohammed in the +Caaba, on his entering it, in the eighth year of the Hejra, when he took Mecca, +and surrounded with a great number of angels and prophets, as inferior deities; +among whom, as some say, was Ismael, with divining arrows in his hand also. + Asâf and Nayelah, the former the image of a man, the latter of a woman, +were also two idols brought with Hobal from Syria, and placed the one on Mount +Safâ, and the other on Mount Merwa. They tell us Asâf was the son of Amru, +and Nayelah the daughter of Sahâl, both of the tribe of Jorham, who committing +whoredom together in the Caaba, were by GOD converted into stone, and +afterwards worshipped by the Koreish, and so much reverenced by them, that +though this superstition was condemned by Mohammed, yet he was forced to +allow them to visit those mountains as monuments of divine justice. + I shall mention but one idol more of this nation, and that was a lump of dough +worshipped by the tribe of Hanifa, who used it with more respect than the +Papists do theirs, presuming not to eat it till they were compelled to it +by famine. + Several of their idols, as Manah in particular, were no more than large rude +stones, the worship of which the posterity of Ismael first introduced; for as +they multiplied, and the territory of Mecca grew too strait for them, great +numbers were obliged to seek new abodes; and on such migrations it was usual +for them to take with them some of the stones of that reputed holy land, and +set them up in the places where they fixed; and these stones they at first only +compassed out of devotion, as they had accustomed to do the Caaba. But this +at last ended in rank idolatry, the Ismaelites forgetting the religion left them +by their father so far as to pay divine worship to any fine stone they met with. + Some of the pagan Arabs believed neither a creation past, nor a resurrection +to come, attributing the origin of things to nature, and their dissolution to age. +Others believed both, among whom were those who, when they died, had their +camel tied by their sepulchre, and so left, without meat or drink, to perish, +and accompany them to the other world, lest they should be obliged, at the +resurrection, to go on foot, which was reckoned very scandalous. Some +believed a metem-psychosis, and that of the blood near the dead person's +brain was formed a bird named Hâmah, which once in a hundred years visited +the sepulchre; though others say this bird is animated by the soul of him that +is unjustly slain, and continually cries, Oscuni, Oscuni, i.e., "give me to drink"-- +meaning of the murderer's blood--till his death be revenged, and then it flies +away. This was forbidden by the Koran to be believed. + I might here mention several superstitious rites and customs of the ancient +Arabs, some of which were abolished and others retained by Mohammed; but +I apprehend it will be more convenient to take notice of them, hereafter +occasionally, as the negative or positive precepts of the Koran, forbidding +or allowing such practices, shall be considered. + Let us now turn our view from the idolatrous Arabs, to those among them +who had embraced more rational religions. + The Persians had, by their vicinity and frequent intercourse with the +Arabians, introduced the Magian religion among some of their tribes, +particularly that of Tamim, a long time before Mohammed, who was so far +from being unacquainted with that religion, that he borrowed many of his own +institutions from it, as will be observed in the progress of this work. I refer +those who are desirous to have some notion of Magism, to Dr. Hyde's curious +account of it, a succinct abridgment of which may be read with much pleasure +in another learned performance. + The Jews, who fled in great numbers into Arabia from the fearful destruction +of their country by the Romans, made proselytes of several tribes, those of +Kenânah, al Hareth Ebn Caaba, and Kendah in particular, and in time became +very powerful, and possessed of several towns and fortresses there. But the +Jewish religion was not unknown to the Arabs, at least above a century before; +Abu Carb Asad, taken notice of in the Koran, who was king of Yaman, about +700 years before Mohammed, is said to have introduced Judaism among the +idolatrous Hamyarites. Some of his successors also embraced the same +religion, one of whom, Yusef, surnamed Dhu Nowâs, was remarkable for his zeal +and terrible persecution of all who would not turn Jews, putting them to death +by various tortures, the most common of which was throwing them into a +glowing pit of fire, whence he had the opprobrious appellation of the Lord of +the Pit. This persecution is also mentioned in the Koran. + Christianity had likewise made a very great progress among this nation +before Mohammed. Whether St. Paul preached in any part of Arabia, properly +so called, is uncertain; but the persecutions and disorders which happened in +the eastern church soon after the beginning of the third century, obliged +great numbers of Christians to seek for shelter in that country of liberty, +who, being for the most part of the Jacobite communion, that sect generally +prevailed among the Arabs. The principal tribes that embraced Christianity +were Hamyar, Ghassân, Rabiâ, Taghlab, Bahrâ, Tonuch, part of the tribes of +Tay and Kodâa, the inhabitants of Najrân, and the Arabs of Hira. As to the two +last, it may be observed that those of Najrân became Christians in the time of +Dhu Nowâs, and very probably, if the story be true, were some of those who +were converted on the following occasion, which happened about that time, or +not long before. The Jews of Hamyar challenged some neighbouring Christians +to a public disputation, which was held sub dio for three days before the king +and his nobility and all the people, the disputants being Gregentius, bishop of +Tephra (which I take to be Dhafâr) for the Christians, and Herbanus for the +Jews. On the third day, Herbanus, to end the dispute, demanded that Jesus of +Nazareth, if he were really living and in heaven, and could hear the prayers of +his worshippers, should appear from heaven in their sight, and they would then +believe in him; the Jews crying out with one voice, "Show us your Christ, alas! +and we will become Christians." Whereupon, after a terrible storm of thunder +and lightning, Jesus Christ appeared in the air, surrounded with rays of glory, +walking on a purple cloud, having a sword in his hand, and an inestimable diadem +on his head, and spake these words over the heads of the assembly: "Behold I +appear to you in your sight, I, who was crucified by your fathers." After which +the cloud received him from their sight. The Christians cried out, "Kyrie +eleeson," i.e., "Lord, have mercy upon us;" but the Jews were stricken blind, +and recovered not till they were all baptized. + The Christians at Hira received a great accession by several tribes, who +fled thither for refuge from the persecution of Dhu Nowâs. Al Nooman, +surnamed Abu Kabus, king of Hira, who was slain a few months before +Mohammed's birth, professed himself a Christian on the following occasion. +This prince, in a drunken fit, ordered two of his intimate companions, who +overcame with liquor had fallen asleep, to be buried alive. When he came to +himself, he was extremely concerned at what he had done, and to expiate his +crime, not only raised a monument to the memory of his friends, but set apart +two days, one of which he called the unfortunate, and the other the fortunate +day; making it a perpetual rule to himself, that whoever met him on the former +day should be slain, and his blood sprinkled on the monument, but he that met +him on the other day should be dismissed in safety, with magnificent gifts. On +one of those unfortunate days there came before him accidentally an Arab, of +the tribe of Tay, who had once entertained this king, when fatigued with hunting, +and separated from his attendants. The king, who could neither discharge him, +contrary to the order of the day, nor put him to death, against the laws of +hospitality, which the Arabians religiously observe, proposed, as an expedient, +to give the unhappy man a year's respite, and to send him home with rich gifts +for the support of his family, on condition that he found a surety for his +returning at the year's end to suffer death. One of the prince's court, out of +compassion, offered himself as his surety, and the Arab was discharged. +When the last day of the term came, and no news of the Arab, the king, not at +all displeased to save his host's life, ordered the surety to prepare himself to +die. Those who were by represented to the king that the day was not yet +expired, and therefore he ought to have patience till the evening: but in the +middle of their discourse the Arab appeared. The king, admiring the man's +generosity, in offering himself to certain death, which he might have avoided +by letting his surety suffer, asked him what was his motive for his so doing? +to which he answered, that he had been taught to act in that manner by the +religion he professed; and al Nooman demanding what religion that was, he +replied, the Christian. Whereupon the king desiring to have the doctrines of +Christianity explained to him, was baptized, he and his subjects; and not only +pardoned the man and his surety, but abolished his barbarous custom. This +prince, however, was not the first king of Hira who embraced Christianity; +al Mondar, his grandfather, having also professed the same faith, and built +large churches in his capital. + Since Christianity had made so great a progress in Arabia, we may +consequently suppose they had bishops in several parts, for the more orderly +governing of the churches. A bishop of Dhafâr has been already named, and we +are told that Najrân was also a bishop's see. The Jacobites (of which sect we +have observed the Arabs generally were) had two bishops of the Arabs subject +to their Mafriân, or metropolitan of the east; one was called the bishop of the +Arabs absolutely, whose seat was for the most part at Akula, which some +others make the same with Cufa, others a different town near Baghdâd. +The other had the title of bishop of the Scenite Arabs, of the tribe of Thaalab +in Hira, or Hirta, as the Syrians call it, whose seat was in that city. The +Nestorians ahd but one bishop, who presided over both these dioceses of Hira +and Akula, and was immediately subject to their patriarch. + These were the principal religions which obtained among the ancient Arabs; +but as freedom of thought was the natural consequence of their political +liberty and independence, some of them fell into other different opinions. The +Koreish, in particular, were infected with Zendicism, an error supposed to have +very near affinity with that of the Sadducees among the Jews, and, perhaps, +not greatly different from Deism; for there were several of that tribe, even +before the time of Mohammed, who worshipped one GOD, and were free from +idolatry, and yet embraced none of the other religions of the country. + The Arabians before Mohammed were, as they yet are, divided into two +sorts, those who dwell in cities and towns, and those who dwell in tents. The +former lived by tillage, the cultivation of palm trees, breeding and feeding of +cattle, and the exercise of all sorts of trades, particularly merchandising, +wherein they were very eminent, even in the time of Jacob. The tribe of +Koreish were much addicted to commerce, and Mohammed, in his younger years, +was brought up to the same business; it being customary for the Arabians to +exercise the same trade that their parents did. The Arabs who dwelt in tents, +employed themselves in pasturage, and sometimes in pillaging of passengers; +they lived chiefly on the milk and flesh of camels; they often changed their +habitations, as the convenience of water and of pasture for their cattle invited +them, staying in a place no longer than that lasted, and then removing in search +of other. They generally wintered in Irâk and the confines of Syria. This way of +life is what the greater part of Ismael's posterity have used, as more agreeable +to the temper and way of life of their father; and is so well described by a late +author, that I cannot do better than refer the reader to his account of them. + The Arabic language is undoubtedly one of the most ancient in the world, and +arose soon after, if not at, the confusion of Babel. There were several dialects +of it, very different from each other: the most remarkable were that spoken +by the tribes of Hammyar and the other genuine Arabs, and that of the +Koreish. The Hamyaritic seems to have approached nearer ot the purity of the +Syriac, than the dialect of any other tribe; for the Arabs acknowledge their +father Yarab to have been the first whose tongue deviated from the Syriac +(which was his mother tongue, and is almost generally acknowledged by the +Asiatics to be the most ancient) to the Arabic. The dialect of the Koreish is +usually termed the pure Arabic, or, as the Koran, which is written in this +dialect, calls it, the perspicuous and clear Arabic; perhaps, says Dr. Pocock, +because Ismael, their father, brought the Arabic he had learned of the +Jorhamites nearer to the original Hebrew. But the politeness and elegance +of the dialect of the Koreish, is rather to be attributed to their having the +custody of the Caaba, and dwelling in Mecca, the centre of Arabia, as well +more remote from intercourse with foreigners, who might corrupt their +language, as frequented by the Arabs from the country all around, not only +on a religious account, but also for the composing of their differences, from +whose discourse and verses they took whatever words or phrases they judged +more pure and elegant; by which means the beauties of the whole tongue +became transfused into this dialect. The Arabians are full of the +commendations of their language, and not altogether without reason; for +it claims the preference of most others in many respects, as being very +harmonious and expressive, and withal so copious, that they say no man +without inspiration can be a perfect master of it in its utmost extent; and +yet they tell us, at the same time, that the greatest part of it has been lost; +which will not be thought strange, if we consider how late the art of writing +was practised among them. For though it was known to Job, their countryman, +and also the Hamyarites (who used a perplexed character called al Mosnad, +wherein the letters were not distinctly separate, and which was neither +publicly taught, nor suffered to be used without permission first obtained) +many centuries before Mohammed, as appears from some ancient monuments, +said to be remaining in their character; yet the other Arabs, and those of +Mecca in particular, were, for many ages, perfectly ignorant of it, unless such +of them as were Jews or Christians: Morâmer Ebn Morra of Anbar, a city of Irâk, +who lived not many years before Mohammed, was the inventor of the Arabic +character, which Bashar the Kendian is said to have learned from those of +Anbar, and to have introduced at Mecca but a little while before the institution +of Mohammedism. These letters of Marâmer were different from the +Hamyaritic; and though they were very rude, being either the same with, or +very much like the Cufic, which character is still found in inscriptions and some +ancient books, yet they were those which the Arabs used for many years, the +Koran itself being at first written therein; for the beautiful character they now +use was first formed from the Cufic by Ebn Moklah, Wazir (or Visir) to the +Khalifs al Moktader, al Kâher, and al Râdi, who lived about three hundred years +after Mohammed, and was brought to great perfection by Ali Ebn Bowâb, who +flourished in the following century, and whose name is yet famous among them +on that account; yet, it is said, the person who completed it, and reduced it to +its present form, was Yakut al Mostasemi, secretary to al Mostasem, the last +of the Khalifs of the family of Abbâs, for which reason he was surnamed al +Khattât, or the Scribe. + The accomplishments the Arabs valued themselves chiefly on, were, +1. Eloquence, and a perfect skill in their own tongue; 2. Expertness in the use +of arms, and horsemanship; and 3. Hospitality. The first they exercised +themselves in, by composing of orations and poems. Their orations were of +two sorts, metrical, or prosaic, the one being compared to pearls strung, and +the other to loose ones. They endeavoured to excel in both, and whoever was +able, in an assembly, to persuade the people to a great enterprise, or dissuade +them from a dangerous one, or gave them other wholesome advice, was +honoured with the title of Khâteb, or orator, which is now given to the +Mohammedan preachers. They pursued a method very different from that of +the Greek and Roman orators; their sentences being like loose gems, without +connection, so that this sort of composition struck the audience chiefly by +the fulness of the periods, the elegance of the expression, and the acuteness +of the proverbial sayings; and so persuaded were they of their excelling in this +way, that they would not allow any nation to understand the art of speaking in +public, except themselves and the Persians; which last were reckoned much +inferior in that respect to the Arabians. Poetry was in so great esteem among +them, that it was a great accomplishment, and a proof of ingenuous extraction, +to be able to express one's self in verse with ease and elegance, on any +extraordinary occurrence; and even in their common discourse they made +frequent applications to celebrated passages of their famous poets. In their +poems were preserved the distinction of descents, the rights of tribes, the +memory of great actions, and the propriety of their language; for which +reasons an excellent poet reflected an honour on his tribe, so that as soon as +any one began to be admired for his performances of this kind in a tribe, the +other tribes sent publicly to congratulate them on the occasion, and +themselves made entertainments, at which the women assisted, dressed in +their nuptial ornaments, singing to the sound of timbrels the happiness of their +tribe, who had now one to protect their honour, to preserve their genealogies +and the purity of their language, and to transmit their actions to posterity; +for this was all performed by their poems, to which they were solely obliged +for their knowledge and instructions, moral and economical, and to which they +had recourse, as to an oracle, in all doubts and differences. No wonder, +then, that a public congratulation was made on this account, which honour they +yet were so far from making cheap, that they never did it but on one of these +three occasions, which were reckoned great points of felicity, viz., on the birth +of a boy, the rise of a poet, and the fall of a foal of generous breed. To keep +up an emulation among their poets, the tribes had, once a year, a general +assembly at Ocadh, a place famous on this account, and where they kept a +weekly mart or fair, which was held on our Sunday. This annual meeting +lasted a whole month, during which time they employed themselves, not only +in trading, but in repeating their poetical compositions, contending and vieing +with each other for the prize; whence the place, it is said, took its name. The +poems that were judged to excel, were laid up in their kings' treasuries, as were +the seven celebrated poems, thence called al Moallakât, rather than from their +being hung upon the Caaba, which honour they also had by public order, being +written on Egyptian silk, and inn letters of gold; for which reason they had also +the name of al Modhahabât, or the golden verses. + The fair and assembly at Ocadh were suppressed by Mohammed, in whose +time, and for some years after, poetry seems to have been in some degree +neglected by the Arabs, who were then employed in their conquests; which +being completed, and themselves at peace, not only this study was revived, +but almost all sorts of learning were encouraged and greatly improved by them. +This interruption, however, occasioned the loss of most of their ancient pieces +of poetry, which were then chiefly preserved in memory; the use of writing +being rare among them, in their time of ignorance. Though the Arabs were so +early acquainted with poetry, they did not at first use to write poems of a just +length, but only expressed themselves in verse occasionally; nor was their +prosody digested into rules, till some time after Mohammed; for this was done, +as it is said, by al Khalil Ahmed al Farâhidi, who lived in the reign of the Khalif +Harun al Rashid. + The exercise of arms and horsemanship they were in a manner obliged to +practise and encourage, by reason of the independence of their tribes, whose +frequent jarrings made wars almost continual; and they chiefly ended their +disputes in field battles, it being a usual saying among them that GOD had +bestowed four peculiar things on the Arabs--that their turbans should be to +them instead of diadems, their tents instead of walls and houses, their swords +instead of entrenchments, and their poems instead of written laws. + Hospitality was so habitual to them, and so much esteemed, that the +examples of this kind among them exceed whatever can be produced from +other nations. Hatem, of the tribe of Tay, and Hasn, of that of Fezârah, were +particularly famous on this account; and the contrary vice was so much in +contempt, that a certain poet upbraids the inhabitants of Waset, as with the +greatest reproach, that none of their men ad the heart to give, nor their +women to deny. + Nor were the Arabs less propense to liberality after the coming of Mohammed +than their ancestors had been. I could produce many remarkable instances of +this commendable quality among them, but shall content myself with the +following. Three men were disputing in the court of the Caaba, which was the +most liberal person among the Arabs. One gave the preference to Abdallah, the +son of Jaafar, the uncle of Mohammed; another to Kais Ebn Saad Ebn Obâdah; +and the third gave it to Arâbah, of the tribe of Aws. After much debate, one +that was present, to end the dispute, proposed that each of them should go +to his friend and ask his assistance, that they might see what every one gave, +and form a judgment accordingly. This was agreed to; and Abdallah's friend, +going to him, found him with his foot in the stirrup, just mounting his camel for +a journey, and thus accosted him: "Son of the uncle of the apostle of GOD, I am +travelling and in necessity." Upon which Abdallah alighted, and bid him take +the camel with all that was upon her, but desired him not to part with a sword +which happened to be fixed to the saddle, because it had belonged to Ali, the +son of Abutâleb. So he took the camel, and found on her some vests of silk +and 4,000 pieces of gold; but the thing of greatest value was the sword. The +second went to Kais Ebn Saad, whose servant told him that his master was +asleep, and desired to know his business. The friend answered that he came to +ask Kais's assistance, being in want on the road. Whereupon the servant said +that he had rather supply his necessity than wake his master, and gave him a +purse of 7,000 pieces of gold, assuring him that it was all the money then in +the house. He also directed him to go to those who had the charge of the +camels, with a certain token, and take a camel and a slave, and return home +with them. When Kais awoke, and his servant informed him of what he had +done, he gave him his freedom, and asked him why he did not call him, "For," +says he, "I would have given him more." The third man went to Arâbah, and +met him coming out of his house in order to go to prayers, and leaning on two +slaves, because his eyesight failed him. The friend no sooner made known his +case, but Arâbah let go the slaves, and clapping his hands together, loudly +lamented his misfortune in having no money, but desired him to take the two +slaves, which the man refused to do, till Arâbah protested that if he would not +accept of them he gave them their liberty, and leaving the slaves, groped his +way along by the wall. On the return of the adventurers, judgment was +unanimously, and with great justice, given by all who were present, that +Arâbah was the most generous of the three. + Nor were these the only good qualities of the Arabs; they are commended +by the ancients for being most exact to their words, and respectful to their +kindred. And they have always been celebrated for their quickness of +apprehension and penetration, and the vivacity of their wit, especially those +of the desert. + As the Arabs have their excellencies, so have they, like other nations, +their defects and vices. Their own writers acknowledge that they have +a natural disposition to war, bloodshed, cruelty, and rapine, being so much +addicted to bear malice that they scarce ever forget an old grudge; which +vindictive temper some physicians say is occasioned by their frequent feeding +on camel's flesh (the ordinary diet of the Arabs of the desert, who are +therefore observed to be most inclined to these vices), that creature being +most malicious and tenacious of anger, which account suggests a good reason +for a distinction of meats. + The frequent robberies committed by these people on merchants and +travellers have rendered the name of an Arab almost infamous in Europe; this +they are sensible of, and endeavour to excuse themselves by alleging the hard +usage of their father Ismael, who, being turned out of doors by Abraham, had +the open plains and deserts given him by GOD for his patrimony, with +permission to take whatever he could find there; and on this account they +think they may, with a safe conscience, indemnify themselves as well as they +can, not only on the posterity of Isaac, but also on everybody else, always +supposing a sort of kindred between themselves and those they plunder. And +in relating their adventures of this kind, they think it sufficient to change the +expression, and instead of "I robbed a man of such or such a thing," to say, +"I gained it." We must not, however, imagine that they are the less honest +for this among themselves, or towards those whom they receive as friends; +on the contrary, the strictest probity is observed in their camp, where +everything is open and nothing ever known to be stolen. + The sciences the Arabians chiefly cultivated before Mohammedism, were +three; that of their genealogies and history, such a knowledge of the stars +as to foretell the changes of weather, and the interpretation of dreams. +They used to value themselves excessively on account of the nobility of their +families, and so many disputes happened on that occasion, that it is no wonder +if they took great pains in settling their descents. What knowledge they had +of the stars was gathered from long experience, and not from any regular +study, or astronomical rules. The Arabians, as the Indians also did, chiefly +applied themselves to observe the fixed stars, contrary to other nations, +whose observations were almost confined to the planets, and they foretold +their effects from their influences, not their nature; and hence, as has been +said, arose the difference of the idolatry of the Greeks and Chaldeans, who +chiefly worshipped the planets, and that of the Indians, who worshipped the +fixed star. The stars or asterisms they most usually foretold the weather +by, were those they called Anwâ, or the houses of the moon. These are 28 in +number, and divide the zodiac into as many parts, through one of which the +moon passes every night; as some of them set in the morning, others rise +opposite to them, which happens every thirteenth night; and from their rising +and setting, the Arabs, by long experience, observed what changes happened +in the air, and at length, as has been said, came to ascribe divine power to +them; saying, that their rain was from such or such a star: which expression +Mohammed condemned, and absolutely forbade them to use it in the old sense; +unless they meant no more by it, than that GOD had so ordered the seasons, +that when the moon was in such or such a mansion or house, or at the rising +or setting of such and such a star, it should rain or be windy, hot or cold. + The old Arabians therefore seem to have made no further progress in +astronomy, which science they afterwards cultivated with so much success +and applause, than to observe the influence of the stars on the weather, and +to give them names; and this it was obvious for them to do, by reason of their +pastoral way of life, lying night and day in the open plains. The names they +imposed on the stars generally alluded to cattle and flocks, and they were +so nice in distinguishing them, that no language has so many names of stars +and asterisms as the Arabic; for though they have since borrowed the names +of several constellations from the Greeks, yet the far greater part are of +their own growth, and much more ancient, particularly those of the more +conspicuous stars, dispersed in several constellations, and those of the lesser +constellations which are contained within the greater, and were not observed +or named by the Greeks. + Thus have I given the most succinct account I have been able, of the state +of the ancient Arabians before Mohammed, or, to use their expression, in the +time of ignorance. I shall now proceed briefly to consider the state of religion +in the east, and of the two great empires which divided that part of the world +between them, at the time of Mohammed's setting up for a prophet, and what +were the conducive circumstances and accidents that favoured his success. + + + + + +_______ + + +SECTION II. + +OF THE STATE OF CHRISTIANITY, PARTICULARLY OF THE EASTERN + CHURCHES, AND OF JUDAISM, AT THE TIME OF MOHAMMED'S + APPEARANCE; AND OF THE METHODS TAKEN BY HIM FOR THE + ESTABLISHING OF HIS RELIGION, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH + CONCURRED THERETO. + +IF WE look into the ecclesiastical historians even from the third century, we +shall find the Christian world to have then had a very different aspect from +what some authors have represented; and so far from being endued with +active graces, zeal, and devotion, and established within itself with purity +of doctrine, union, and firm profession of the faith, that on the contrary, +what by the ambition of the clergy, and what by drawing the abstrusest +niceties into controversy, and dividing and subdividing about them into endless +schisms and contentions, they had so destroyed that peace, love, and charity +from among them, which the Gospel was given to promote; and instead thereof +continually provoked each other to that malice, rancour, and every evil work; +that they had lost the whole substance of their religion, while they thus +eagerly contended for their own imaginations concerning it; and in a manner +quite drove Christianity out of the world by those very controversies in which +they disputed with each other about it. In these dark ages it was that most +of those superstitions and corruptions we now justly abhor in the church of +Rome were not only broached, but established; which gave great advantages +to the propagation of Mohammedism. The worship of saints and images, in +particular, was then arrived at such a scandalous pitch that it even +surpassed whatever is now practised among the Romanists. + After the Nicene council, the eastern church was engaged in perpetual +controversies, and torn to pieces by the disputes of the Arians, Sabellians, +Nestorians, and Eutychians: the heresies of the two last of which have been +shown to have consisted more in the words and form of expression than in +the doctrines themselves; and were rather the pretences than real motives +of those frequent councils to and from which the contentious prelates were +continually riding post, that they might bring everything to their own will +and pleasure. And to support themselves by dependants and bribery, the +clergy in any credit at court undertook the protection of some officer in the +army, under the colour of which justice was publicly sold, and all corruption +encouraged. + In the western church Damasus and Ursicinus carried their contests at +Rome for the episcopal seat so high, that they came to open violence and +murder, which Viventius the governor not being able to suppress, he retired +into the country, and left them to themselves, till Damasus prevailed. It is +said that on this occasion, in the church of Sicininus, there were no less than +137 found killed in one day. And no wonder they were so fond of these seats, +when they became by that means enriched by the presents of matrons, and +went abroad in their chariots and sedans in great state, feasting sumptuously +even beyond the luxury of princes, quite contrary to the way of living of the +country prelates, who alone seemed to have some temperance and modesty +left. + These dissensions were greatly owing to the emperors, and particularly +to Constantius, who, confounding the pure and simple Christian religion with +anile superstitions, and perplexing it with intricate questions, instead of +reconciling different opinions, excited many disputes, which he fomented as +they proceeded with infinite altercations. This grew worse in the time of +Justinian, who, not to be behind the bishops to the fifth and sixth centuries +in zeal, thought it no crime to condemn to death a man of a different +persuasion from his own. + This corruption of doctrine and morals in the princes and clergy, was +necessarily followed by a general depravity of the people; those of all +conditions making it their sole business to get money by any means, +and then to squander it away when they had got it in luxury and debauchery. + But, to be more particular as to the nation we are now writing of, Arabia +was of old famous for heresies; which might be in some measure attributed +to the liberty and independency of the tribes. Some of the Christians of that +nation believed the soul died with the body, and was to be raised again with +it at the last day: these Origen is said to have convinced. Among the Arabs +it was that the heresies of Ebion, Beryllus, and the Nazaraens, and also that +of the Collyridians, were broached, or at least propagated; the latter +introduced the Virgin Mary for GOD, or worshipped her as such, offering +her a sort of twisted cake called collyris, whence the sect had its name. + This notion of the divinity of the Virgin Mary was also believed by some +at the council of Nice, who said there were two gods besides the Father, +viz., Christ and the Virgin Mary, and were thence named Mariamites. Others +imagined her to be exempt from humanity, and deified; which goes but little +beyond the Popish superstition in calling her the complement of the Trinity, +as if it were imperfect without her. This foolish imagination is justly +condemned in the Koran as idolatrous, and gave a handle to Mohammed +to attack the Trinity itself. + Other sects there were of many denominations within the borders of +Arabia, which took refuge there from the proscriptions of the imperial +edicts; several of whose notions Mohammed incorporated with his religion, +as may be observed hereafter. + Though the Jews were an inconsiderable and despised people in other parts +of the world, yet in Arabia, whither many of them fled from the destruction +of Jerusalem, they grew very powerful, several tribes and princes embracing +their religion; which made Mohammed at first show great regard to them, +adopting many of their opinions, doctrines, and customs; thereby to draw +them, if possible, into his interest. But that people, agreeably to their +wonted obstinacy, were so far from being his proselytes, that they were +some of the bitterest enemies he had, waging continual war with him, so +that their reduction cost him infinite trouble and danger, and at last his life. +This aversion of theirs created at length as great a one in him to them, so +that he used them, for the latter part of his life, much worse than he did the +Christians, and frequently exclaims against them in his Koran; his followers +to this day observe the same difference between them and the Christians, +treating the former as the most abject and contemptible people on earth. + It has been observed by a great politician, that it is impossible a person +should make himself a prince and found a state without opportunities. If the +distracted state of religion favoured the designs of Mohammed on that side, +the weakness of the Roman and Persian monarchies might flatter him with no +less hopes in any attempt on those once formidable empires, either of which, +had they been in their full vigour, must have crushed Mohammedism in its +birth; whereas nothing nourished it more than the success the Arabians met +with in their enterprises against those powers, which success they failed not +to attribute to their new religion and the divine assistance thereof. + The Roman empire declined apace after Constantine, whose successors +were for the generality remarkable for their ill qualities, especially cowardice +and cruelty. By Mohammed's time, the western half of the empire was +overrun by the Goths; and the eastern so reduced by the Huns on the one +side, and the Persians on the other, that it was not in a capacity of stemming +the violence of a powerful invasion. The emperor Maurice paid tribute to the +Khagân or king of the Huns; and after Phocas had murdered his master, such +lamentable havoc there was among the soldiers, that when Heraclius came, +not above seven years after, to muster the army, there were only two +soldiers left alive, of all those who had borne arms when Phocas first usurped +the empire. And though Heraclius was a prince of admirable courage and +conduct, and had done what possibly could be done to restore the discipline +of the army, and had had great success against the Persians, so as to drive +them not only out of his own dominions, but even out of part of their own; +yet still the very vitals of the empire seemed to be mortally wounded; that +there could no time have happened more fatal to the empire or more +favourable to the enterprises of the Arabs, who seem to have been raised +up on purpose by GOD, to be a scourge to the Christian church, for not living +answerably to that most holy religion which they had received. + The general luxury and degeneracy of manners into which the Grecians +were sunk, also contributed not a little to the enervating their forces, which +were still further drained by those two great destroyers, monachism and +persecution. + The Persians had also been in a declining condition for some time before +Mohammed, occasioned chiefly by their intestine broils and dissensions; great +part of which arose from the devilish doctrines of Manes and Mazdak. The +opinions of the former are tolerably well known: the latter lived in the reign +of Khosru Kobâd, and pretended himself a prophet sent from GOD to preach a +community of women and possessions, since all men were brothers and +descended from the same common parents. This he imagined would put an +end to all feuds and quarrels among men, which generally arose on account of +one of the two. Kobâd himself embraced the opinions of this impostor, to +whom he gave leave, according to his new doctrine, to lie with the queen his +wife; which permission Anushirwân, his son, with much difficulty prevailed on +Mazdak not to make use of. These sects had certainly been the immediate +ruin of the Persian empire, had not Anushirwân, as soon as he succeeded his +father, put Mazdek to death with all his followers, and the Manicheans also, +restoring the ancient Magian religion. + In the reign of this prince, deservedly surnamed the Just, Mohammed was +born. He was the last king of Persia who deserved the throne, which after +him was almost perpetually contended for, till subverted by the Arabs. His +son Hormuz lost the love of his subjects by his excessive cruelty; having had +his eyes put out by his wife's brothers, he was obliged to resign the crown to +his son Khosru Parviz, who at the instigation of Bahrâm Chubin had rebelled +against him, and was afterwards strangled. Parviz was soon obliged to quit +the throne to Bahrâm; but obtaining succours of the Greek emperor Maurice, +he recovered the crown: yet towards the latter end of a long reign he +grew so tyrannical and hateful to his subjects, that they held private +correspondence with the Arabs; and he was at length deposed, imprisoned, +and slain by his son Shiruyeh. After Parviz no less than six princes +possessed the throne in less than six years. These domestic broils +effectually brought ruin upon the Persians; for though they did rather by +the weakness of the Greeks, than their own force, ravage Syria, and sack +Jerusalem and Damascus under Khosru Parviz; and, while the Arabs were +divided and independent, had some power in the province of Yaman, where +they set up the four last kings before Mohammed; yet when attacked by +the Greeks under Heraclius, they not only lost their new conquests, but +part of their own dominions; and no sooner were the Arabs united by +Mohammedism, than they beat them in every battle, and in a few years +totally subdued them. + As these empires were weak and declining, so Arabia, at Mohammed's +setting up, was strong and flourishing; having been peopled at the expense +of the Grecian empire, whence the violent proceedings of the domineering +sects forced many to seek refuge in a free country, as Arabia then was, +where they who could not enjoy tranquility and their conscience at home, +found a secure retreat. The Arabians were not only a populous nation, but +unacquainted with the luxury and delicacies of the Greeks and Persians, and +inured to hardships of all sorts; living in a most parsimonious manner, seldom +eating any flesh, drinking no wine, and sitting on the ground. Their political +government was also such as favoured the designs of Mohammed; for the +division and independency of their tribes were so necessary to the first +propagation of his religion, and the foundation of his power, that it would +have been scarce possible for him to have effected either, had the Arabs +been united in one society. But when they had embraced his religion, the +consequent union of their tribes was no less necessary and conducive to +their future conquests and grandeur. + This posture of public affairs in the eastern world, both as to its +religious and political state, it is more than probably Mohammed was well +acquainted with; he having had sufficient opportunities of informing himself +in those particulars, in his travels as a merchant in his younger years: and +though it is not to be supposed his views at first were so extensive as +afterwards, when they were enlarged by his good fortune, yet he might +reasonably promise himself success in his first attempts from thence. As +he was a man of extraordinary parts and address, he knew how to make the +best of every incident, and turn what might seem dangerous to another, to +his own advantage. + Mohammed came into the world under some disadvantages, which he soon +surmounted. His father Abd'allah was a younger son of Abd'almotalleb, and +dying very young and in his father's lifetime, left his widow and infant son in +very mean circumstances, his whole substance consisting but of five camels +and one Ethiopian she-slave. Abd'almotalleb was therefore obliged to take +care of his grandchild Mohammed, which he not only did during his life, but +at his death enjoined his eldest son Abu Tâleb, who was brother to Abd'allah +by the same mother, to provide for him for the future; which he very +affectionately did, and instructed him in the business of a merchant, which +he followed; and to that end he took him with him into Syria when he was but +thirteen, and afterward recommended him to Khadijah, a noble and rich widow, +for her factor, in whose service he behaved himself so well, that by making +him her husband she soon raised him to an equality with the richest in Mecca. + After he began by this advantageous match to live at his ease, it was that +he formed the scheme of establishing a new religion, or, as he expressed it, +of replanting the only true and ancient one, professed by Adam, Noah, +Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and all the prophets, by destroying the gross idolatry +into which the generality of his countrymen had fallen, and weeding out the +corruptions and superstitions which the latter Jews and Christians had, as he +thought, introduced into their religion, and reducing it to its original purity, +which consisted chiefly in the worship of the one only GOD. + Whether this was the effect of enthusiasm, or only a design to raise +himself to the supreme government of his country, I will not pretend to +determine. The latter is the general opinion of the Christian writers, who +agree that ambition, and the desire of satisfying his sensuality, were the +motives of his undertaking. It may be so; yet his first views, perhaps, were +not so interested. His original design of bringing the pagan Arabs to the +knowledge of the true GOD, was certainly noble, and highly to be commended; +for I cannot possibly subscribe to the assertion of a late learned writer, +that he made the nation exchange their idolatry for another religion +altogether as bad. Mohammed was no doubt fully satisfied in his conscience +of the truth of his grand point, the unity of GOD, which was what he chiefly +attended to; all his other doctrines and institutions being rather accidental +and unavoidable, than premeditated and designed. + Since then Mohammed was certainly himself persuaded of his grand article +of faith, which, in his opinion, was violated by all the rest of the world; not +only by the idolaters, but by the Christians, as well those who rightly +worshipped Jesus as GOD, as those who superstitiously adored the Virgin +Mary, saints, and images; and also by the Jews, who are accused in the Koran +of taking Ezra for the son of GOD; it is easy to conceive that he might think it +a meritorious work to rescue the world from such ignorance and superstition; +and by degrees, with the help of a warm imagination, which an Arab seldom +wants, to suppose himself destined by providence for the effecting that +great reformation. And this fancy of his might take still deeper root in his +mind, during the solitude he thereupon affected, usually retiring for a month +in the year to a cave in Mount Hara, near Mecca. One thing which may be +probably urged against the enthusiasm of this prophet of the Arabs, is the +wise conduct and great prudence he all along showed in pursuing his design, +which seem inconsistent with the wild notions of a hot-brained religionist. +But though all enthusiasts or madmen do not behave with the same gravity +and circumspection that he did, yet he will not be the first instance, by +several, of a person who has been out of the way only quoad hoc, and in all +other respects acted with the greatest decency and precaution. + The terrible destruction of the eastern churches, once so glorious and +flourishing, by the sudden spreading of Mohammedism, and the great +successes of its professors against the Christians, necessarily inspire a +horror of that religion in those to whom it has been so fatal; and no wonder +if they endeavour to set the character of its founder, and its doctrines, in +the most infamous light. But the damage done by Mohammed to Christianity +seems to have been rather owing to his ignorance than malice; for his great +misfortune was, his not having a competent knowledge of the real and pure +doctrines of the Christian religion, which was in his time so abominably +corrupted, that it is not surprising if he went too far, and resolved to abolish +what he might think incapable of reformation. + It is scarce to be doubted but that Mohammed had a violent desire of being +reckoned an extraordinary person, which he could attain to by no means more +effectually, than by pretending to be a messenger sent from GOD, to inform +mankind of his will. This might be at first his utmost ambition; and had his +fellow-citizens treated him less injuriously, and not obliged him by their +persecutions to seek refuge elsewhere, and to take up arms against them +in his own defence, he had perhaps continued a private person, and contented +himself with the veneration and respect due to his prophetical office; but +being once got at the head of a little army, and encouraged by success, it is +no wonder if he raised his thoughts to attempt what had never before +entered his imagination. + That Mohammed was, as the Arabs are by complexion, a great lover of +women, we are assured by his own confession; and he is constantly upbraided +with it by the controversial writers, who fail not to urge the number of women +with whom he had to do, as a demonstrative argument of his sensuality, +which they think sufficiently proves him to have been a wicked man, and +consequently an impostor. But it must be considered that polygamy, though +it be forbidden by the Christian religion, was in Mohammed's time frequently +practised in Arabia and other parts of the east, and was not counted an +immorality, nor was a man worse esteemed on that account; for which reason +Mohammed permitted the plurality of wives, with certain limitations, among +his own followers, who argue for the lawfulness of it from several reasons, +and particularly from the examples of persons allowed on all hands to +have been good men; some of whom have been honoured with the divine +correspondence. The several laws relating to marriages and divorces, and +the peculiar privileges granted to Mohammed in his Koran, were almost all +taken by him from the Jewish decisions, as will appear hereafter; and +therefore he might think those institutions the more just and reasonable, +as he found them practised or approved by the professors of a religion which +was confessedly of divine original. + But whatever were his motives, Mohammed had certainly the personal +qualifications which were necessary to accomplish his undertaking. The +Mohammedan authors are excessive in their commendations of him, and +speak much of his religious and moral virtues; as his piety, veracity, justice, +liberality, clemency, humility, and abstinence. His charity, in particular, +they say, was so conspicuous, that he had seldom any money in his house, +keeping no more for his own use than was just sufficient to maintain his +family; and he frequently spared even some part of his own provisions to +supply the necessities of the poor; so that before the year's end he had +generally little or nothing left: "GOD," says al Bokhâri, "offered him the +keys of the treasures of the earth, but he would not accept them." Though +the eulogies of these writers are justly to be suspected of partiality, yet +thus much, I think, may be inferred from thence, that for an Arab who had +been educated in Paganism, and had but a very imperfect knowledge of his +duty, he was a man of at least tolerable morals, and not such a monster of +wickedness as he is usually represented. And indeed it is scarce possible +to conceive, that a wretch of so profligate a character should ever have +succeeded in an enterprise of this nature; a little hypocrisy and saving of +appearances, at least, must have been absolutely necessary; and the +sincerity of his intentions is what I pretend not to inquire into. + He had indisputably a very piercing and sagacious wit, and was thoroughly +versed in all the arts of insinuation. The eastern historians describe him +to have been a man of an excellent judgment, and a happy memory; and these +natural parts were improved by a great experience and knowledge of men, and +the observations he had made in his travels. They say he was a person of few +words, of an equal cheerful temper, pleasant and familiar in conversation, +of inoffensive behaviour towards his friends, and of great condescension +towards his inferiors. To all which were joined a comely agreeable person, +and a polite address; accomplishments of no small service in preventing those +in his favour whom he attempted to persuade. + As to acquired learning, it is confessed he had none at all; having had no +other education than what was customary in his tribe, who neglected, +and perhaps despised, what we call literature; esteeming no language in +comparison with their own, their skill in which they gained by use and not by +books, and contenting themselves with improving their private experience by +committing to memory such passages of their poets as they judged might be +of use to them in life. This defect was so far from being prejudicial or putting +a stop to his design, that he made the greatest use of it; insisting that the +writings which he produced as revelations from GOD, could not possibly be a +forgery of his own; because it was not conceivable that a person who could +neither write nor read should be able to compose a book of such excellent +doctrine, and in so elegant a style; and thereby obviating an objection that +might have carried a great deal of weight. And for this reason his followers, +instead of being ashamed of their master's ignorance, glory in it, as an evident +proof of his divine mission, and scruple not to call him (as he is indeed called in +the Koran itself) the "illiterate prophet." + The scheme of religion which Mohammed framed, and the design and artful +contrivance of those written revelations (as he pretended them to be) which +compose his Koran, shall be the subject of the following sections: I shall +therefore in the remainder of this relate, as briefly as possible, the steps +he took towards the effecting of his enterprise, and the accidents which +concurred to his success therein. + Before he made any attempt abroad, he rightly judged that it was necessary +for him to begin by the conversion of his own household. Having therefore +retired with his family, as he had done several times before, to the above- +mentioned cave in Mount Hara, he there opened the secret of his mission to +his wife Khadijah; and acquainted her that the angel Gabriel had just before +appeared to him, and told him that he was appointed the apostle of GOD: he +also repeated to her a passage which he pretended had been revealed to him +by the ministry of the angel, with those other circumstances of his first +appearance, which are related by the Mohammedan writers. Khadijah received +the news with great joy, swearing by him in whose hands her soul was, that +she trusted he would be the prophet of his nation, and immediately +communicated what she had heard to her cousin, Warakah Ebn Nawfal, who, +being a Christian, could write in the Hebrew character, and was tolerably well +versed in the scriptures; and he as readily came into her opinion, assuring +her that the same angel who had formerly appeared unto Moses was now sent +to Mohammed. This first overture the prophet made in the month of Ramadân, +in the fortieth year of his age, which is therefore usually called the year of +his mission. + Encouraged by so good a beginning, he resolved to proceed, and try for some +time what he could do by private persuasion, not daring to hazard the whole +affair by exposing it too suddenly to the public. He soon made proselytes of +those under his own roof, viz., his wife Khadijah, his servant Zeid Ebn Hâretha +(to whom he gave his freedom on that occasion, which afterwards became a +rule to his followers), and his cousin and pupil Ali, the son of Abu Tâleb, though +then very young: but this last, making no account of the other two, used to +style himself the "first of believers." The next person Mohammed applied to +was Abdallah Ebn Abi Kohâfa, surnamed Abu Becr, a man of great authority +among the Koreish, and one whose interest he well knew would be of great +service to him, as it soon appeared, for Abu Becr being gained over, prevailed +also on Othmân Ebn Affân, Abd'alrahmân Ebn Awf, Saad Ebn Abi Wakkâs, +al Zobeir Ebn al Awâm, and Telha Ebn Obeid'allah, all principal men in Mecca, +to follow his example. + These men were the six chief companions, who, with a few more, were +converted in the space of three years, at the end of which, Mohammed having, +as he hoped, a sufficient interest to support him, made his mission no longer +a secret, but gave out that GOD had commanded him to admonish his near +relations; and in order to do it with more convenience and prospect of +success, he directed Ali to prepare an entertainment, and invite the sons +and descendants of Abd'almotalleb, intending then to open his mind to them; +this was done, and about forty of them came; but Abu Laheb, one of his +uncles, making the company break up before Mohammed had an opportunity +of speaking, obliged him to give them a second invitation the next day; and +when they were come, he made them the following speech: "I know no man in +all Arabia who can offer his kindred a more excellent thing than I now do you. +I offer you happiness, both in this life and in that which is to come. GOD +Almighty hath commanded me to call you unto him; who therefore among you +will be assisting to me herein, and become my brother and my vicegerent?" +All of them hesitating, and declining the matter, Ali at length rose up and +declared that he would be his assistant, and vehemently threatened those +who should oppose him. Mohammed upon this embraced Ali with great +demonstrations of affection, and desired all who were present to hearken +to and obey him as his deputy, at which the company broke out into great +laughter, telling Abu Tâleb that he must now pay obedience to his son. + This repulse however was so far from discouraging Mohammed, that he +began to preach in public to the people, who heard him with some patience, +till he came to upbraid them with the idolatry, obstinacy, and perverseness +of themselves and their fathers, which so highly provoked them that they +declared themselves his enemies, and would soon have procured his ruin had +he not been protected by Abu Tâleb. The chief of the Koreish warmly solicited +this person to desert his nephew, making frequent remonstrances against +the innovations he was attempting, which proving ineffectual, they at length +threatened him with an open rupture if he did not prevail on Mohammed to +desist. At this, Abu Tâleb was so far moved that he earnestly dissuaded his +nephew from pursuing the affair any farther, representing the great danger +he and his friends must otherwise run. But Mohammed was not to be +intimidated, telling his uncle plainly "that if they set the sun against him on +his right hand, and the moon on his left, he would not leave his enterprise;" +and Abu Tâleb, seeing him so firmly resolved to proceed, used no further +arguments, but promised to stand by him against all his enemies. + The Koreish, finding they could prevail neither by fair words nor menaces, +tried what they could do by force and ill-treatment, using Mohammed's +followers so very injuriously that it was not safe for them to continue at +Mecca any longer: whereupon Mohammed gave leave to such of them as had +not friends to protect them, to seek for refuge elsewhere. And accordingly, +in the fifth year of the prophet's mission, sixteen of them, four of whom +were women, fled into Ethiopia; and among them Othmân Ebn Affân and his +wife Rakiah, Mohammed's daughter. This was the first flight; but afterwards +several others followed them, retiring one after another, to the number of +eighty-three men and eighteen women, besides children. These refugees were +kindly received by the Najâshi, or king of Ethiopia, who refused to deliver them +up to those whom the Koreish sent to demand them, and, as the Arab writers +unanimously attest, even professed the Mohammedan religion. + In the sixth year of his mission Mohammed had the pleasure of seeing his +party strengthened by the conversion of his uncle Hamza, a man of great +valour and merit, and of Omar Ebn al Khattâb, a person highly esteemed, and +once a violent opposer of the prophet. As persecution generally advances +rather than obstructs the spreading of a religion, Islamism made so great +a progress among the Arab tribes, that the Koreish, to suppress it +effectually, if possible, in the seventh year of Mohammed's mission, made +a solemn league or covenant against the Hashemites and the family of al +Motalleb, engaging themselves to contract no marriages with any of them, +and to have no communication with them; and to give it the greater sanction, +reduced it into writing, and laid it up in the Caaba. Upon this the tribe became +divided into two factions; and the family of Hashem all repaired to Abu Tâleb, +as their head; except only Abd'al Uzza, surnamed Abu Laheb, who, out of his +inveterate hatred to his nephew and his doctrine, went over to the opposite +party, whose chief was Abu Sofiân Ebn Harb, of the family of Ommeya. + The families continued thus at variance for three years; but in the +tenth year of his mission, Mohammed told his uncle Abu Tâleb that GOD +had manifestly showed his disapprobation of the league which the Koreish +had made against them, by sending a worm to eat out every word of the +instrument except the name of GOD. Of this accident Mohammed had +probably some private notice; for Abu Tâleb went immediately to the Koreish +and acquainted them with it; offering, if it proved false, to deliver his nephew +up to them; but in case it were true, he insisted that they ought to lay aside +their animosity, and annul the league they had made against the Hashemites. +To this they acquiesced, and going to inspect the writing, to their great +astonishment found it to be as Abu Tâleb had said; and the league was +thereupon declared void. + In the same year Abu Tâleb died, at the age of above fourscore; and it is +the general opinion that he died an infidel, though others say that when he +was at the point of death he embraced Mohammedism, and produce some +passages out of his poetical compositions to confirm their assertion. +About a month, or as some write, three days after the death of this great +benefactor and patron, Mohammed had the additional mortification to lose +his wife Khadijah, who had so generously made his fortune. For which reason +this year is called the year of mourning. + On the death of these two persons the Koreish began to be more +troublesome than ever to their prophet, and especially some who had +formerly been his intimate friends; insomuch that he found himself obliged +to seek for shelter elsewhere, and first pitched upon Tâyet, about sixty miles +east from Mecca, for the place of his retreat. Thither therefore he went, +accompanied by his servant Zeid, and applied himself to two of the chief of +the tribe of Thakif, who were the inhabitants of that place; but they received +him very coldly. However, he stayed there a month; and some of the more +considerate and better sort of men treated him with a little respect: but +the slaves and inferior people at length rose against him, and bringing him +to the wall of the city, obliged him to depart and return to Mecca, where he +put himself under the protection of al Motaam Ebn Adi. + This repulse greatly discouraged his followers: however, Mohammed was not +wanting to himself, but boldly continued to preach to the public assemblies at +the pilgrimage, and gained several proselytes, and among them six of the +inhabitants of Yathreb of the Jewish tribe of Khazraj, who on their return +home failed not to speak much in commendation of their new religion, and +exhorted their fellow-citizens to embrace the same. + In the twelfth year of his mission it was that Mohammed gave out that he +had made his night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and thence to heaven, +so much spoken of by all that write of him. Dr. Prideaux thinks he invented it +either to answer the expectations of those who demanded some miracle as a +proof of his mission, or else, by pretending to have conversed with GOD, to +establish the authority of whatever he should think fit to leave behind by way +of oral tradition, and make his sayings to serve the same purpose as the oral +law of the Jews. But I do not find that Mohammed himself ever expected so +great a regard should be paid to his sayings, as his followers have since done; +and seeing he all along disclaimed any power of performing miracles, it seems +rather to have been a fetch of policy to raise his reputation, by pretending to +have actually conversing with GOD in heaven, as Moses had heretofore done in +the mount, and to have received several institutions immediately from him, +whereas before he contented himself with persuading them that he had all by +the ministry of Gabriel. + However, this story seemed so absurd and incredible, that several of his +followers left him upon it, and it had probably ruined the whole design, had +not Abu Becr vouched for his veracity, and declared that if Mohammed +affirmed it to be true, he verily believed the whole. Which happy incident +not only retrieved the prophet's credit, but increased it to such a degree, +that he was secure of being able to make his disciples swallow whatever he +pleased to impose on them for the future. And I am apt to think this fiction, +notwithstanding its extravagance, was one of the most artful contrivances +Mohammed ever put in practice, and what chiefly contributed to the raising +of his reputation to that great height to which it afterwards arrived. + In this year, called by the Mohammedans the accepted year, twelve men of +Yathreb or Medina, of whom ten were of the tribe of Khazraj, and the other +two of that of Aws, came to Mecca, and took an oath of fidelity to Mohammed +at al Akaba, a hill on the north of that city. This oath was called the women's +oath, not that any women were present at this time, but because a man was +not thereby obliged to take up arms in defence of Mohammed or his religion; +it being the same oath that was afterwards exacted of the women, the form +of which we have in the Koran, and is to this effect, viz.: "That they should +renounce all idolatry; that they should not steal, nor commit fornication, nor +kill their children (as the pagan Arabs used to do when they apprehended they +should not be able to maintain them), nor forge calumnies; and that they +should obey the prophet in all things that were reasonable." When they had +solemnly engaged to do all this, Mohammed sent one of his disciples, named +Masab Ebn Omair, home with them, to instruct them more fully in the grounds +and ceremonies of his new religion. + Masab, being arrived at Medina, by the assistance of those who had been +formerly converted, gained several proselytes, particularly Osaid Ebn Hodeira, +a chief man of the city, and Saad Ebn Moâdh, prince of the tribe of Aws; +Mohammedism spreading so fast, that there was scarce a house wherein +there were not some who had embraced it. + The next year, being the thirteenth of Mohammed's mission, Masah returned +to Mecca, accompanied by seventy-three men and two women of Medina, who +had professed Islamism, besides some others who were as yet unbelievers. +On their arrival, they immediately sent to Mohammed, and offered him their +assistance, of which he was now in great need, for his adversaries were by +this time grown so powerful in Mecca, that he could not stay there much +longer without imminent danger. Wherefore he accepted their proposal, and +met them one night, by appointment, at al Akaba above mentioned, attended +by his uncle al Abbas, who, though he was not then a believer, wished his +nephew well, and made a speech to those of Medina, wherein he told them, +that as Mohammed was obliged to quit his native city, and seek an asylum +elsewhere, and they had offered him their protection, they would do well not +to deceive him; and that if they were not firmly resolved to defend and not +betray him, they had better declare their minds, and let him provide for his +safety in some other manner. Upon their protesting their sincerity, +Mohammed swore to be faithful to them, on condition that they should +protect him against all insults, as heartily as they would their own wives +and families. They then asked him what recompense they were to expect +if they should happen to be killed in his quarrel; he answered, Paradise. +Whereupon they pledged their faith to him, and so returned home; after +Mohammed had chosen twelve out of their number, who were to have the +same authority among them as the twelve apostles of Christ had among +his disciples. + Hitherto Mohammed had propagated his religion by fair means, so that the +whole success of his enterprise, before his flight to Medina, must be +attributed to persuasion only, and not to compulsion. For before this second +oath of fealty or inauguration at al Akaba, he had no permission to use any +force at all; and in several places of the Koran, which he pretended were +revealed during his stay at Mecca, he declares his business was only to +preach and admonish; that he had no authority to compel any person to +embrace his religion; and that whether people believed, or not, was none of +his concern, but belonged solely unto GOD. And he was so far from allowing +his followers to use force, that he exhorted them to bear patiently those +injuries which were offered them on account of their faith; and when +persecuted himself, chose rather to quit the place of his birth and retire +to Medina, than to make any resistance. But this great passiveness and +moderation seems entirely owing to his want of power, and the great +superiority of his opposers for the first twelve years of his mission; for +no sooner was he enabled, by the assistance of those of Medina, to make +head against his enemies, than he gave out, that GOD had allowed him and +his followers to defend themselves against the infidels; and at length as +his forces increased, he pretended to have the divine leave even to attack +them, and to destroy idolatry, and set up the true faith by the sword; finding +by experience that his designs would otherwise proceed very slowly, if they +were not utterly overthrown, and knowing on the other hand that innovators, +when they depend solely on their own strength, and can compel, seldom run +any risk; from whence, the politician observes, it follows, that all the armed +prophets have succeeded, and the unarmed ones have failed. Moses, Cyrus, +Theseus, and Romulus would not have been able to establish the observance +of their institutions for any length of time had they not been armed. +The first passage of the Koran which gave Mohammed the permission of +defending himself by arms, is said to have been that in the twenty-second +chapter; after which a great number to the same purpose were revealed. + That Mohammed had a right to take up arms for his own defence against +his unjust persecutors, may perhaps be allowed; but whether he ought +afterwards to have made use of that means for the establishing of his +religion is a question I will not here determine. How far the secular power +may or ought to interpose in affairs of this nature, mankind are not agreed. +The method of converting by the sword, gives no very favourable idea of the +faith which is so propagated, and is disallowed by everybody in those of +another religion, though the same persons are willing to admit of it for the +advancement of their own; supposing that though a false religion ought not +to be established by authority, yet a true one may; and accordingly force is +almost as constantly employed in these cases by those who have the power +in their hands, as it is constantly complained of by those who suffer the +violence. It is certainly one of the most convincing proofs that Mohammedism +was no other than human invention, that it owed its progress and +establishment almost entirely to the sword; and it is one of the strongest +demonstrations of the divine original of Christianity, that it prevailed against +all the forces and powers of the world by the mere dint of its own truth, +after having stood the assaults of all manner of persecutions, as well as +other oppositions, for 300 years together and at length made the Roman +emperors themselves submit thereto; after which time, indeed, this proof +seems to fail, Christianity being then established and Paganism abolished by +public authority, which has had great influence in the propagation of the one +and destruction of the other ever since. But to return. + Mohammed having provided for the security of his companions as well as his +own, by the league offensive and defensive which he had now concluded with +those of Medina, directed them to repair thither, which they accordingly did; +but himself with Abu Becr and Ali stayed behind, having not yet received the +divine permission, as he pretended, to leave Mecca. The Koreish, fearing the +consequence of this new alliance, began to think it absolutely necessary to +prevent Mohammed's escape to Medina, and having held a council thereon, +after several milder expedients had been rejected, they came to a resolution +that he should be killed; and agreed that a man should be chosen out of every +tribe for the execution of this design, and that each man should have a blow +at him with his sword, that the guilt of his blood might fall equally on all the +tribes, to whose united power the Hashemites were much inferior, and +therefore durst not attempt to revenge their kinsman's death. + This conspiracy was scarce formed when by some means or other it came +to Mohammed knowledge, and he gave out that it was revealed to him the +angel Gabriel, who had now ordered him to retire to Medina. Whereupon, to +amuse his enemies, he directed Ali to lie down in his place and wrap himself +up in his green cloak, which he did, and Mohammed escape miraculously, as +they pretend, to Abu Becr's house, unperceived by the conspirators, who +had already assembled at the prophet's door. They in the meantime, looking +through the crevice and seeing Ali, whom they took to be Mohammed himself, +asleep, continued watching there till morning, when Ali arose, and they found +themselves deceived. + From Abu Becr's house Mohammed and he went to a cave in Mount Thur, to +the southeast of Mecca, accompanied only by Amer Ebn Foheirah, Abu Becr's +servant, and Abd'allah Ebn Oreikat, an idolater, whom they had hired for a +guide. In this cave they lay hid three days to avoid the search of their +enemies, which they very narrowly escaped, and not without the assistance +of more miracles than one; for some say that the Koreish were struck with +blindness, so that they could not find the cave; others, that after Mohammed +and his companions were got in, two pigeons laid their eggs at the entrance, +and a spider covered the mouth of the cave with her web, which made them +look no farther. Abu Becr, seeing the prophet in such imminent danger, +became very sorrowful, whereupon Mohammed comforted him with these +words, recorded in the Koran: "Be not grieved, for GOD is with us." Their +enemies being retired, they left the cave and set out for Medina, by a by-road, +and having fortunately, or as the Mohammedans tell us, miraculously, escaped +some who were sent to pursue them, arrived safely at that city; whither Ali +followed them in three days, after he had settled some affairs at Mecca. + The first thing Mohammed did after his arrival at Medina, was to build a +temple for his religious worship, and a house for himself, which he did on a +parcel of ground which had before served to put camels in, or as others tell +us, for a burying-ground, and belonged to Sahal and Soheil the sons of Amru, +who were orphans. This action Dr. Prideaux exclaims against, representing +it as a flagrant instance of injustice, for that, says he, he violently +dispossessed these poor orphans, the sons of an inferior artificer (whom the +author he quotes calls a carpenter) of this ground, and so founded the first +fabric of his worship with the like wickedness as he did his religion. But to +say nothing of the improbability that Mohammed should act in so impolitic a +manner at his first coming, the mohammedan writers set this affair ina quite +different light; one tells us that he treated with the lads about the price of +the ground, but they desired he would accept it asa present; however, as +historians of good credit assure us, he actually bought it, and the money was +paid by Abu Becr. Besides, had Mohammed accepted it as a present, the +orphans were in circumstances sufficient to have afforded it; for they were +of a very good family, of the tribe of Najjâr, one of the most illustrious among +the Arabs, and not the sons of a carpenter, as Dr. Prideaux's author writes, +who took the word Najjâr, which signifies a carpenter, for an appellative, +whereas it is a proper name. + Mohammed being securely settled at Medina, and able not only to defend +himself against the insults of his enemies, but to attack them, began to send +out small parties to make reprisals on the Koreish; the first party consisting +of no more than nine men, who intercepted and plundered a caravan belonging +to that tribe, and in the action took two prisoners. But what established his +affairs very much, and was the foundation on which he built all his succeeding +greatness, was the gaining of the battle of Bedr, which was fought in the +second year of the Hejra, and is so famous in the Mohammedan history. As +my design is not to write the life of Mohammed, but only to describe the +manner in which he carried on his enterprise, I shall not enter into any detail +of his subsequent battles and expeditions, which amounted to a considerable +number. Some reckon no less than twenty-seven expeditions wherein +Mohammed was personally present, in nine of which he gave battle, besides +several other expeditions in which he was not present: some of them, +however, will be necessarily taken notice of in explaining several passages +of the Koran. His forces he maintained partly by the contributions of his +followers for this purpose, which he called by the name of Zacât or alms, and +the paying of which he very artfully made one main article of his religion; and +partly by ordering a fifth part of the plunder to be brought into the public +treasury for that purpose, in which manner he likewise pretended to act by +the divine direction. + In a few years by the success of his arms (notwithstanding he sometimes +came off by the worst) he considerably raised his credit and power. In the +sixth year of the Hejra he set out with 1,400 men to visit the temple of +Mecca, not with any intent of committing hostilities, but in a peaceable +manner. However, when he came to al Hodeibiya, which is situate partly +within and partly without the sacred territory, the Koreish sent to let him +know that they would not permit him to enter Mecca, unless he forced his +way; whereupon he called his troops about him, and they all took a solemn +oath of fealty or homage to him, and he resolved to attack the city; but +those of Mecca sending Araw Ebn Masúd, prince of the tribe of Thakif, as +their ambassador to desire peace, a truce was concluded between them for +ten years, by which any person was allowed to enter into league either with +Mohammed or with the Koreish as he thought fit. + It may not be improper, to show the inconceivable veneration and respect +the Mohammedans by this time had for their prophet, to mention the account +which the above-mentioned ambassador gave the Koreish, at his return, of +their behaviour. He said he had been at the courts both of the Roman emperor +and of the king of Persia, and never saw any prince so highly respected by his +subjects as Mohammed was by his companions; for whenever he made the +ablution, in order to say his prayers, they ran and catched the water that he +had used; and whenever he spit, they immediately licked it up, and gathered +up every hair that fell from him with great superstition. + In the seventh year of the Hejra, Mohammed began to think of propagating +his religion beyond the bounds of Arabia, and sent messengers to the +neighbouring princes with letters to invite them to Mohammedism. Nor was +this project without some success. Khosru Parviz, then king of Persia, +received his letter with great disdain, and tore it in a passion, sending away +the messenger very abruptly; which when Mohammed heard, he said, "GOD +shall tear his kingdom." And soon after a messenger came to Mohammed +from Badhân, king of Yaman, who was a dependant on the Persians, to +acquaint him that he had received orders to send him to Khosru. Mohammed +put off his answer till the next morning, and then told the messenger it had +been revealed to him that night that Khosru was slain by his son Shiruyeh; +adding that he was well assured his new religion and empire should rise to as +great a height as that of Khosru; and therefore bid him advise his master +to embrace Mohammedism. The messenger being returned, Badhân in a few +days received a letter from Shiruyeh informing him of his father's death, +and ordering him to give the prophet no further disturbance. Whereupon +Badhân and the Persians with him turned Mohammedans. + The emperor Heraclius, as the Arabian historians assure us, received +Mohammed's letter with great respect, laying it on his pillow, and dismissed +the bearer honourably. And some pretend that he would have professed this +new faith, had he not been afraid of losing his crown. + Mohammed wrote to the same effect to the king of Ethiopia, though he had +been converted before, according to the Arab writers; and to Mokawkas, +governor of Egypt, who gave the messenger a very favourable reception, and +sent several valuable presents to Mohammed, and among the rest two girls, +one of which, named Mary, became a great favourite with him. He also sent +letters of the like purport to several Arab princes, particularly one to al +Hareth Ebn Abi Shamer, king of Ghassân, who, returning for answer that he +would go to Mohammed himself, the prophet said, "May his kingdom perish;" +another to Hawdha Ebn Ali, king of Yamâma, who was a Christian, and having +some time before professed Islamism, had lately returned to his former faith; +this prince sent back a very rough answer, upon which Mohammed cursing him, +he died soon after; and a third to al Mondar Ebn Sâwa, king of Bahrein, who +embraced Mohammedism, and all the Arabs of that country followed his +example. + The eighth year of the Hejra was a very fortunate year to Mohammed. +In the beginning of it Khâled Ebn al Walid and Amru Ebn al As, both excellent +soldiers, the first of whom afterwards conquered Syria and other countries, +and the latter Egypt, became proselytes of Mohammedism. And soon after +the prophet sent 3,000 men against the Grecian forces, to revenge the death +of one of his ambassadors, who being sent to the governor of Bosra on the +same errand as those who went to the above-mentioned princes, was slain by +an Arab of the tribe of Ghassân at Muta, a town in the territory of Balkâ in +Syria, about three days' journey eastward from Jerusalem, near which town +they encountered. The Grecians being vastly superior in number (for, +including the auxiliary Arabs, they had an army of 100,000 men), the +Mohammedans were repulsed in the first attack, and lost successively three +of their general, viz., Zeid Ebn Hâretha, Mohammed's freedman, Jaafar, the +son of Abu Tâleb, and Abdâllah Ebn Rawâha; but Khâled Ebn al Walid, succeeding +to the command, overthrew the Greeks with a great slaughter, and brought +away abundance of rich spoil; on occasion of which action Mohammed gave +him the honourable title of Seif min soyuf Allah, One of the Swords of GOD. + In this year also Mohammed took the city of Mecca, the inhabitants whereof +had broken the truce concluded on two years before. For the tribe of Becr, +who were confederates of the Koreish, attacking those of Khozâah, who were +allies of Mohammed, killed several of them, being supported in the action by a +party of the Koreish themselves. The consequence of this violation was soon +apprehended, and Abu Sofiân himself made a journey to Medina on purpose to +heal the breach and renew the truce, but in vain, for Mohammed, glad of this +opportunity, refused to see him; whereupon he applied to Abu Becr and Ali, +but they giving him no answer, he was obliged to return to Mecca as he came. + Mohammed immediately gave orders for preparations to be made, that he +might surprise the Meccans while they were unprovided to receive him; in a +little time he began his march thither, and by the time he came near the city +his forces were increased to 10,000 men. Those of Mecca being not in a +condition to defend themselves against so formidable an army, surrendered +at discretion, and Abu Sofiân saved his life by turning Mohammedan. About +twenty-eight of the idolaters were killed by a party under the command of +Khâled; but this happened contrary to Mohammed's orders, who, when he +entered the town, pardoned all the Koreish on their submission, except only +six men and four women, who were more obnoxious than ordinary (some of +them having apostatized), and were solemnly proscribed by the prophet +himself; but of these no more than three men and one woman were put +to death, the rest obtaining pardon on their embracing Mohammedism, and +one of the women making her escape. + The remainder of this year Mohammed employed in destroying the idols in +and round about Mecca, sending several of his generals on expeditions for that +purpose, and to invite the Arabs to Islamism: wherein it is no wonder if they +now met with success. + The next year, being the ninth of the Hejra, the Mohammedans call "the year +of embassies," for the Arabs had been hitherto expecting the issue of the war +between Mohammed and the Koreish; but so soon as that tribe--the principal of +the whole nation, and the genuine descendants of Ismael, whose prerogatives +none offered to dispute--had submitted, they were satisfied that it was not in +their power to oppose Mohammed, and therefore began to come in to him in +great numbers, and to send embassies to make their submissions to him, both +to Mecca, while he stayed there, and also to Medina, whither he returned this +year. Among the rest, five kings of the tribe of Hamyar professed +Mohammedism, and sent ambassadors to notify the same. + In the tenth year Ali was sent into Yaman to propagate the Mohammedan +faith there, and as it is said, converted the whole tribe of Hamdân in one day. +Their example was quickly followed by all the inhabitants of that province, +except only those of Najrân, who, being Christians, chose rather to pay +tribute. + Thus was Mohammedism established and idolatry rooted out, even in +Mohammed's lifetime (for he died the next year), throughout all Arabia, except +only Yamâma, where Moseilama, who set up also for a prophet as Mohammed's +competitor, had a great party, and was not reduced till the Khalifat of Abu +Becr. And the Arabs being then united in one faith and under one prince, +found themselves in a condition of making those conquests which extended +the Mohammedan faith over so great a part of the world. + + + + + +______ + + +SECTION III + +OF THE KORAN ITSELF, THE PECULIARITIES OF THAT BOOK; THE MANNER OF + ITS BEING WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED, AND THE GENERAL DESIGN OF IT. + +THE word Koran, derived from the verb karaa, to read, signifies properly in +Arabic, "the reading," or rather, "that which ought to be read;" by which name +Mohammedans denote not only the entire book or volume of the Koran, but +also any particular chapter or section of it: just as the Jews call either the +whole scripture or any part of it by the name of Karâh, or Mikra, words of +the same origin and import; which observation seems to overthrow the opinion +of some learned Arabians, who would have the Koran so named because it is a +collection of the loose chapters or sheets which compose it--the verb karaa +signifying also to gather or collect: and may also, by the way, serve as an +answer to those who object that the Koran must be a book forged at once, +and could not possibly be revealed by parcels at different times during the +course of several years, as the Mohammedans affirm, because the Koran is +often mentioned and called by that name in the very book itself. It may not +be amiss to observe, that the syllable Al in the word Alkoran is only the Arabic +article, signifying the, and therefore ought to be omitted when the English +article is prefixed. + Beside this peculiar name, the Koran is also honoured with several +appellations, common to other books of scripture: as, al Forkân, from the verb +faraka, to divide or distinguish; not, as the Mohammedan doctor say, because +those books are divided into chapters or sections, or distinguish between good +and evil; but in the same notion that the Jews use the word Perek, or Pirka, +from the same root, to denote a section or portion of scripture. It is also +called al Moshaf, the volume, and al Kitab, the book, by way of eminence, which +answers to the Biblia of the Greeks; and al Dhikr, the admonition, which name +is also given to the Pentateuch and Gospel. + The Koran is divided into 114 larger portions of very unequal length, which +we call chapters, but the Arabians Sowar, in the singular Sura, a word rarely +used on any other occasion, and properly signifying a row, order, or regular +series; as a course of bricks in building, or a rank of soldiers in an army; and +is the same in use and import with the Sura, or Tora, of the Jews, who also +call the fifty-three sections of the Pentateuch Sedârim, a word of the same +signification. + These chapters are not in the manuscript copies distinguished by their +numerical order, though for the reader's ease they are numbered in this +edition, but by particular titles, which (except that of the first, which is the +initial chapter, or introduction to the rest, and by the one Latin translator +not numbered among the chapters) are taken sometimes from a particular +matter of, or person mentioned therein; but usually from the first word of +note, exactly in the same manner as the Jews have named their Sedârim: +though the words from which some chapters are denominated be very far +distant, towards the middle, or perhaps the end of the chapter; which seems +ridiculous. But the occasion of this seems to have been, that the verse or +passage wherein such word occurs, was, in point of time, revealed and +committed to writing before the other verses of the same chapter which +precede it in order: and the title being given to the chapter before it was +completed, or the passages reduced to their present order, the verse from +whence such title was taken did not always happen to begin the chapter. +Some chapters have two or more titles, occasioned by the difference of +the copies. + Some of the chapters having been revealed at Mecca, and others at Medina, +the noting this difference makes a part of the title; but the reader will +observe that several of the chapters are said to have been revealed partly at +Mecca, and partly at Medina; and as to others, it is yet a dispute among the +commentators to which place of the two they belong. + Every chapter is subdivided into smaller portions, of very unequal length +also, which we customarily call verses; but the Arabic word is Ayât, the same +with the Hebrew Ototh, and signifies signs, or wonders; such as are the +secrets of GOD, his attributes, works, judgments, and ordinances, delivered in +those verses; many of which have their particular titles also, imposed in the +same manner as those of the chapters. + Notwithstanding this subdivision is common and well known, yet I have never +yet seen any manuscript wherein the verses in each chapter is set down after +the title, which we have therefore added in the table of the chapters. And +the Mohammedans seem to have some scruple in making an actual distinction +in their copies, because the chief disagreement between their several editions +of the Koran, consists in the division and number of the verses: and for this +reason I have not taken upon me to make any such division. + Having mentioned the different editions of the Koran, it may not be amiss +here to acquaint the reader, that there are seven principal editions, if I may +so call them, or ancient copies of that book; two of which were published and +used at Medina, a third at Mecca, a fourth at Cufa, a fifth at Basra, a sixth +in Syria, and a seventh called the common or vulgar edition. Of these +editions, the first of Medina makes the whole number of the verses 6,000; +the second and fifth, 6,214; the third, 6,219; the fourth, 6,236; the sixth, +6,226; and the last, 6,225. But they are all said to contain the same number +of words, namely, 77,639; and the same number of letters, viz., 323,015: +for the Mohammedans have in this also imitated the Jews, that they have +superstitiously numbered the very words and letters of their law; nay, they +have taken the pains to compute (how exactly I know not) the number of +times each particular letter of the alphabet is contained in the Koran. + Besides these unequal divisions of chapter and verse, the Mohammedans +have also divided their Koran into sixty equal portions, which they call Ahzâb, +in the singular Hizb, each subdivided into four equal parts; which is also an +imitation of the Jews, who have an ancient division of their Mishna into sixty +portions, called Massictoth: but the Koran is more usually divided into +thirty sections only, named Ajzâ, from the singular Joz, each of twice the +length of the former, and in the like manner subdivided into four parts. +These divisions are for the use of the readers of the Koran in the royal +temples, or in the adjoining chapels where the emperors and great men are +interred. There are thirty of these readers belonging to every chapel, and +each reads his section every day, so that the whole Koran is read over once +a day. I have seen several copies divided in this manner, and bound up in as +many volumes; and have thought it proper to mark these divisions in the +margin of this translation by numeral letters. + Next after the title, at the head of every chapter, except only the ninth, +is prefixed the following solemn form, by the Mohammedans called the +Bismillah, "In the name of the most merciful GOD;" which form they constantly +place at the beginning of all their books and writings in general, as a peculiar +mark or distinguishing characteristic of their religion, it being counted a sort +of impiety to omit it. The Jews for the same purpose make use of the form, +"In the name of the LORD," or, "In the name of the great GOD:" and the eastern +Christians, that of "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy +Ghost." But I am apt to believe Mohammed really took this form, as he did +many other things, from the Persian Magi, who used to begin their books in +these words, Benâm Yezdân bakhshaishgher dâdâr; that is, "In the name of the +most merciful, just GOD." + This auspicatory form, and also the titles of the chapters, are by the +generality of the doctors and commentators believed to be of divine original, +no less than the text itself; but the more moderate are of opinion they are +only human additions, and not the very word of GOD. + There are twenty-nine chapters of the Koran, which have this peculiarity, +that they begin with certain letters of the alphabet, some with a single one, +others with more. These letters the Mohammedans believe to be the peculiar +marks of the Koran, and to conceal several profound mysteries, the certain +understanding of which, the more intelligent confess, has not been +communicated to any mortal, their prophet only excepted. Notwithstanding +which, some will take the liberty of guessing at their meaning by that species +of Cabbala called by the jews, Notarikon, and suppose the letters to stand +for as many words expressing the names and attributes of GOD, his works, +ordinances, and decrees; and therefore these mysterious letters, as well as +the verses themselves, seem in the Koran to be called signs. Others explain +the intent of these letters from their nature or organ, or else from their +value in numbers, according to another species of the Jewish Cabbala called +Gematria; the uncertainty of which conjectures sufficiently appears from +their disagreement. Thus, for example, five chapters, one of which is the +second, begin with these letters, A.L.M., which some imagine to stand for +Allah latif magid; "GOD is gracious and to be glorified;" or, Ana li minni, +"to me and from me," viz., belongs all perfection, and proceeds all good; or +else for Ana Allah âlam, "I am the most wise GOD," taking the first letter to +mark the beginning of the first word, the second the middle of the second +word, and the third the last of the third word: or for "Allah, Gabriel, +Mohammed," the author, revealer, and preacher of the Koran. Others say +that as the letter A belongs to the lower part of the throat, the first of the +organs of speech; L to the palate, the middle organ; and M to the lips, which +are the last organs; so these letters signify that GOD is the beginning, +middle, and end, or ought to be praised in the beginning, middle, and end of +all our words and actions: or, as the total value of those three letters in +numbers is seventy-one, they signify that in the space of so many years, +the religion preached in the Koran should be fully established. The conjecture +of a learned Christian is, at least, as certain as any of the former, who +supposes those letters were set there by the amanuensis, for Amar li +Mohammed, i.e., "at the command of Mohammed," as the five letters prefixed +to the nineteenth chapter seem to be there written by a Jewish scribe, for +Cob yaas, i.e., "thus he commanded." + The Koran is universally allowed to be written with the utmost elegance and +purity of language, in the dialect of the tribe of Koreish, the most noble and +polite of all the Arabians, but with some mixture, though very rarely, or other +dialects. It is confessedly the standard of the Arabic tongue, and as the +more orthodox believe, and are taught by the book itself, inimitable by any +human pen (though some sectaries have been of another opinion), and +therefore insisted on as a permanent miracle, greater than that of raising +the dead, and alone sufficient to convince the world of its divine original. + And to this miracle did Mohammed himself chiefly appeal for the +confirmation of his mission, publicly challenging the most eloquent men in +Arabia, which was at that time stocked with thousands whose sole study and +ambition it was to excel in elegance of style and composition, to produce +even a single chapter that might be compared with it. I will mention but one +instance out of several, to show that this book was really admired for the +beauty of its composure by those who must be allowed to have been +competent judges. A poem of Labid Ebn Rabia, one of the greatest wits in +Arabia in Mohammed's time, being fixed up on the gate of the temple of Mecca, +an honour allowed to none but the most esteemed performances, none of the +other poets durst offer anything of their own in competition with it. But the +second chapter of the Koran being fixed up by it soon after, Labid himself +(then an idolater) on reading the first verses only, was struck with admiration, +and immediately professed the religion taught thereby, declaring that such +words could proceed from an inspired person only. This Labid was afterwards +of great service to Mohammed, in writing answers to the satires and +invectives that were made on him and his religion by the infidels, and +particularly by Amri al Kais, prince of the tribe of Asad, and author of one +of those seven famous poems called al Moallakât. + The style of the Koran is generally beautiful and fluent, especially where +it imitates the prophetic manner and scripture phrases. It is concise and +often obscure, adorned with bold figures after the eastern taste, enlivened +with florid and sententious expressions, and in many places, especially where +the majesty and attributes of GOD are described, sublime and magnificent; of +which the reader cannot but observe several instances, though he must not +imagine the translation comes up to the original, notwithstanding my +endeavours to do it justice. + Though it be written in prose, yet the sentences generally conclude in a +long continued rhyme, for the sake of which the sense is often interrupted, +and unnecessary repetitions too frequently made, which appear still more +ridiculous in a translation, where the ornament, such as it is, for whose sake +they were made, cannot be perceived. However, the Arabians are so mightily +delighted with this jingling, that they employ it in their most elaborate +compositions, which they also embellish with frequent passages of, and +allusions to, the Koran, so that it is next to impossible to understand them +without being well versed in this book. + It is probable the harmony of expression which the Arabians find in the +Koran might contribute not a little to make them relish the doctrine therein +taught, and give an efficacy to arguments which, had they been nakedly +proposed without this rhetorical dress, might not have so easily prevailed. +Very extraordinary effects are related of the power of words well chosen +and artfully placed, which are no less powerful either to ravish or amaze than +music itself; wherefore as much has been ascribed by the best orators to +this part of rhetoric as to any other. He must have a very bad ear who is not +uncommonly moved with the very cadence of a well-turned sentence; and +Mohammed seems not to have been ignorant of the enthusiastic operation of +rhetoric on the minds of men; for which reason he has not only employed his +utmost skill in these his pretended revelations, to preserve the dignity and +sublimity of style, which might seem not unworthy of the majesty of that +Being, whom he gave out to be the author of them; and to imitate the +prophetic manner of the Old Testament; but he has not neglected even +the other arts of oratory; wherein he succeeded so well, and so strangely +captivated the minds of his audience, that several of his opponents thought +it the effect of witchcraft and enchantment, as he sometimes complains. + "The general design of the Koran" (to use the words of a very learned +person) "seems to be this. To unite the professors of the three different +religions then followed in the populous country of Arabia, who for the most +part lived promiscuously, and wandered without guides, the far greater +number being idolaters, and the rest Jews and Christians, mostly of +erroneous and heterodox belief, in the knowledge and worship of one eternal, +invisible GOD, by whose power all things were made, and those which are not, +may be, the supreme Governor, Judge, and absolute Lord of the creation; +established under the sanction of certain laws, and the outward signs of +certain ceremonies, partly of ancient and partly of novel institution, and +enforced by setting before them rewards and punishments, both temporal +and eternal; and to bring them all to the obedience of Mohammed, as the +prophet and ambassador of GOD, who after the repeated admonitions, +promises, and threats of former ages, was at last to establish and +propagate GOD'S religion on earth by force of arms, and to be acknowledged +chief pontiff in spiritual matters, as well as supreme prince in temporal." + The great doctrine then of the Koran is the unity of GOD; to restore which +point Mohammed pretended was the chief end of his mission; it being laid down +by him as a fundamental truth, that there never was nor ever can be more +than one true orthodox religion. For though the particular laws or ceremonies +are only temporary, and subject to alteration according to the divine direction, +yet the substance of it being eternal truth, is not liable to change, but +continues immutably the same. And he taught that whenever this religion +became neglected, or corrupted in essentials, GOD had the goodness to re- +inform and re-admonish mankind thereof, by several prophets, of whom Moses +and Jesus were the most distinguished, till the appearance of Mohammed, +who is their seal, no other being to be expected after him. And the more +effectually to engage people hearken to him, great part of the Koran is +employed in relating examples of dreadful punishments formerly inflicted +by God on those who rejected and abused his messengers; several of which +stories of some circumstances of them are taken from the Old and New +Testament, but many more from the apocryphal books and traditions of +the Jews and Christians of those ages, set up in the Koran as truths in +opposition to the scriptures, which the Jews and Christians are charged +with having altered; and I am apt to believe that few or none of the relations +or circumstances in the Koran were invented by Mohammed, as is generally +supposed, it being easy to trace the greater part of them much higher, as +the rest might be, were more of the books extant, and it was worth while to +make the inquiry. + The other part of the Koran is taken up in giving necessary laws and +directions, in frequent admonitions to moral and divine virtues, and above all +to the worshipping and reverencing of the only true GOD, and resignation to +his will; among which are many excellent things intermixed not unworthy even +a Christian's perusal. + But besides these, there are a great number of passages which are +occasional, and relate to particular emergencies. For whenever anything +happened which perplexed and gravelled Mohammed, and which he could not +otherwise get over, he had constant recourse to a new revelation, as an +infallible expedient in all nice cases; and he found the success of this method +answer his expectation. It was certainly an admirable and politic contrivance +of his to bring down the whole Koran at once to the lowest heaven only, and +not to the earth, as a bungling prophet would probably have done; for if the +whole had been published at once, innumerable objections might have been +made, which it would have been very hard, if not impossible, for him to solve: +but as he pretended to have received it by parcels, as GOD saw proper that +they should be published for the conversion and instruction of the people, +he had a sure way to answer all emergencies, and to extricate himself with +honour from any difficulty which might occur. If any objection be hence made +to that eternity of the Koran, which the Mohammedans are taught to believe, +they easily answer it by their doctrine of absolute predestination; according +to which all the accidents for the sake of which these occasional passages +were revealed, were predetermined by GOD from all eternity. + That Mohammed was really the author and chief contriver of the Koran is +beyond dispute; though it be highly probably that he had no small assistance +in his design from others, as his countrymen failed not to object to him; +however, they differed so much in their conjectures as to the particular +persons who gave him such assistance, that they were not able, it seems, to +prove the charge; Mohammed, it is to be presumed, having taken his measures +too well to be discovered. Dr. Prideaux has given the most probably account +of this matter, though chiefly from Christian writers, who generally mix such +ridiculous fables with what they deliver, that they deserve not much credit. + However, it be, the Mohammedans absolutely deny the Koran was composed +by their prophet himself, or any other for him; it being their general and +orthodox belief that it is of divine original, any, that it is eternal and uncreated, +remaining, as some express it, in the very essence of GOD; that the first +transcript has been from everlasting by GOD'S throne, written on a tablet +of vast bigness, called the preserved table, in which are also recorded the +divine decrees past and future: that a copy from this table, in one volume +on paper, was by the ministry of the angel Gabriel sent down to the lowest +heaven, in the month of Ramadân, on the night of power; from whence Gabriel +revealed it to Mohammed by parcels, some at Mecca, and some at Medina, at +different times, during the space of twenty-three years, as the exigency of +affairs required; giving him, however, the consolation to show him the whole +(which they tell us was bound in silk, and adorned with gold and precious +stones of paradise) once a year; but in the last year of his life he had the +favour to see it twice. They say that few chapters were delivered entire, the +most part being revealed piecemeal, and written down form time to time by +the prophet's amanuenses in such or such a part of such or such a chapter +till they were completed, according to the directions of the angel. The first +parcel that was revealed, is generally agreed to have ben the first five verses +of the ninety-sixth chapter. + After the new revealed passages had been from the prophet's mouth taken +down in writing by his scribe, they were published to his followers, several +of whom took copies for their private use, but the far greater number got +them by heart. The originals when returned were put promiscuously into a +chest, observing no order of time, for which reason it is uncertain when many +passages were revealed. + When Mohammed died, he left his revelations in the same disorder I have +mentioned, and not digest into the method, such as it is, which we now find +them in. This was the work of his successor, Abu Becr, who considering that +a great number of passages were committed to the memory of Mohammed's +followers, many of whom were slain in their wars, ordered the whole to be +collected, not only from the palm-leaves and skins on which they had been +written, and which were kept between two boards or covers, but also from +the mouths of such as had gotten them by heart. And this transcript when +completed he committed to the custody of Hafsa the daughter of Omar, one +of the prophet's widows. + From this relation it is generally imagined that Abu Becr was really the +compiler of the Koran; though for aught appears to the contrary, Mohammed +left the chapters complete as we now have them, excepting such passages as +his successor might add or correct from those who had gotten them by heart; +what Abu Becr did else being perhaps no more than to range the chapters in +their present order, which he seems to have done without any regard to time, +having generally placed the longest first. + However, in the thirtieth year of the Hejra, Othmân being then Khalif, and +observing the great disagreement in the copies of the Koran in the several +provinces of the empire--those of Irak, for example, following the reading of +Abu Musa al Ashari, and the Syrians that of Macdâd Ebn Aswad--he, by advice +of the companions, ordered a great number of copies to be transcribed from +that of Abu Becr, in Hafsa's care, under the inspection of Zeid Ebn Thabet, +Abd'allah Ebn Zobair, Said Ebn al As, and Abd'alrahmân Ebn al Hâreth, the +Makhzumite; whom he directed that wherever they disagreed about any word, +they should write it in the dialect of the Koreish, in which it was first +delivered. These copies when made were dispersed in the several provinces +of the empire, and the old ones burnt and suppressed. Though many things in +Hafsa's copy were corrected by the above-mentioned supervisors, yet some +various readings still occur; the most material of which will be taken notice +of in their proper places. + The want of vowels in the Arabic character made Mokris, or readers whose +peculiar study and profession it was to read the Koran with its proper vowels, +absolutely necessary. But these differing in their manner of reading, +occasioned still further variations in the copies of the Koran, as they are now +written with the vowels; and herein consist much the greater part of the +various readings throughout the book. The readers whose authority the +commentators chiefly allege, in admitting these various readings, are seven +in number. + There being some passages in the Koran which are contradictory, the +Mohammedan doctors obviate any objection from thence by the doctrine of +abrogation; for they say, that GOD in the Koran commanded several things +which were for good reasons afterwards revoked and abrogated. + Passages abrogated are distinguished into three kinds: the first where +the letter and the sense are both abrogated; the second, where the letter +only is abrogated, but the sense remains; and the third, where the sense is +abrogated, though the letter remains. + Of the first kind were several verses, which, by the tradition of Malec Ebn +Ans, were in the prophet's lifetime read in the chapter of Repentance, but +are not now extant, one of which, being all he remembered of them, was the +following: "If a son of Adam had two rivers of gold, he would covet yet a +third; and if he had three, he would covet yet a fourth (to be added) unto +them; neither shall the belly of a son of Adam be filled, but with dust. GOD +will turn unto him who shall repent." Another instance of this kind we have +from the tradition of Abd'allah Ebn Masud, who reported that the prophet +gave him a verse to read which he wrote down; but the next morning looking +in his book, he found it was vanished, and the leaf blank: this he acquainted +Mohammed with, who assured him the verse was revoked the same night. + Of the second kind is a verse called the verse of stoning, which, according +to the tradition of Omar, afterwards Khalif, was extant while Mohammed was +living, though it be not now to be found. The words are these: "Abhor not +your parents, for this would be ingratitude in you. If a man and woman of +reputation commit adultery, ye shall stone them both; it is a punishment +ordained by GOD; for GOD is mighty and wise." + Of the last kind are observed several verses in sixty-three different +chapters, to the number of 225. Such as the precepts of turning in prayer +to Jerusalem; fasting after the old custom; forbearance towards idolaters; +avoiding the ignorant, and the like. The passages of this sort have been +carefully collected by several writers, and are most of them remarked in +their proper places. + Though it is the belief of the Sonnites or orthodox that the Koran is +uncreated and eternal, subsisting in the very essence of GOD, and Mohammed +himself is said to have pronounced him an infidel who asserted the contrary, +yet several have been of a different opinion; particularly the sect of the +Mutazalites, and the followers of Isa Ebn Sobeih Abu Musa, surnamed al +Mozdâr, who struck not to accuse those who held the Koran to be uncreated +of infidelity, as asserters of two eternal beings. + This point was controverted with so much heat that it occasioned many +calamities under some of the Khalifs of the family of Abbâs, al Mamun making +a public edict declaring the Koran to be created, which was confirmed by his +successors Al Mutasem and Al Wâthek, who whipped, imprisoned, and put +to death those of the contrary opinion. But at length Al Motawakkel, who +succeeded Al Wâthek, put an end to these persecutions, by revoking the +former edicts, releasing those that were imprisoned on that account, and +leaving every man at liberty as to his belief in this point. + Al Ghazâli seems to have tolerably reconciled both opinions, saying, that +the Koran is read and pronounced with the tongue, written in books, and kept +in memory; and is yet eternal, subsisting in GOD'S essence, and not possible +to be separated thence by any transmission into men's memories or the +leaves of books; by which he seems to mean no more than that the original +idea of the Koran only is really in GOD, and consequently co-essential and +co-eternal with him, but that the copies are created and the work of man. + The opinion of Al Jahedh, chief of a sect bearing his name, touching the +Koran, is too remarkable to be omitted: he used to say it was a body, which +might sometimes be turned into a man, and sometimes into a beast; which +seems to agree with the notion of those who assert the Koran to have two +faces, one of a man, the other of a beast; thereby, as I conceive, intimating +the double interpretation it will admit of, according to the letter or the +spirit. + As some have held the Koran to be created, so there have not been wanting +those who have asserted that there is nothing miraculous in that book in +respect to style or composition, excepting only the prophetical relations of +things past, and predictions of things to come; and that had GOD left men +to their natural liberty, and not restrained them in that particular, the +Arabians could have composed something not only equal, but superior to +the Koran in eloquence, method, and purity of language. This was another +opinion of the Mutazalites, and in particular of al Mozdâr, above mentioned, +and al Nodhâm. + The Koran being the Mohammedans' rule of faith and practice, it is no +wonder its expositors and commentators are so very numerous. And it may +not be amiss to take notice of the rules they observe in expounding it. + One of the most learned commentators distinguishes the contents of the +Koran into allegorical and literal. The former comprehends the more obscure, +parabolical, and enigmatical passages, and such as are repealed or abrogated; +the latter those which are plain, perspicuous, liable to no doubt, and in full +force. + To explain these severally in a right manner, it is necessary from +tradition and study to know the time when each passage was revealed, its +circumstances, state, and history, and the reasons or particular emergencies +for the sake of which it was revealed. Or, more explicitly, whether the +passage was revealed at Mecca, or at Medina; whether it be abrogated, or +does itself abrogate any other passage; whether it be anticipated in order +of time, or postponed; whether it be distinct from the context, or depends +thereon; whether it be particular or general; and, lastly, whether it be implicit +by intention, or explicit in words. + By what has been said the reader may easily believe this book is in the +greatest reverence and esteem among the Mohammedans. They dare not +so much as touch it without being first washed or legally purified; which, lest +they should do by inadvertence, they write these words on the cover or label, +"Let none touch it but they who are clean." They read it with great care and +respect, never holding it below their girdles. They swear by it, consult it +in their weighty occasions, carry it with them to war, write sentences of it +on their banners, adorn it with gold and precious stones, and knowingly suffer +it not to be in the possession of any of a different persuasion. + The Mohammedans, far from thinking the Koran to be profaned by a +translation, as some authors have written, have taken care to have their +scriptures translated not only into the Persian tongue, but into several +others, particularly the Javan and Malayan, though out of respect to the +original Arabic, these versions are generally (if not always) intermediary. + + + + + +______ + + +SECTION IV. + +OF THE DOCTRINES AND POSITIVE PRECEPTS OF THE KORAN, WHICH + RELATE TO FAITH AND RELIGIOUS DUTIES. + +IT has been already observed more than once, that the fundamental position +on which Mohammed erected the superstructure of his religion was, that +from the beginning to the end of the world there has been, and for ever +will be, but one true orthodox belief; consisting, as to matter of faith, in the +acknowledging of the only true GOD, and the believing in and obeying such +messengers or prophets as he should from time to time send, with proper +credential, to reveal his will to mankind; and as to matter of practice, in the +observance of the immutable and eternal laws of right and wrong, together +with such other precepts and ceremonies as GOD should think fit to order +for the time being, according to the different dispensations in different ages +of the world: for these last he allowed were things indifferent in their own +nature, and became obligatory by GOD'S positive precept only; and were +therefore temporary, and subject to alteration according to his will and +pleasure. And to this religion he gives the name of Islâm, which word signifies +resignation, or submission to the service and commands of GOD; and is used +as the proper name of the Mohammedan religion, which they will also have to +be the same at bottom with that of all the prophets from Adam. + Under pretext that this eternal religion was in his time corrupted, and +professed in its purity by no one sect of men, Mohammed pretended to be a +prophet sent by GOD to reform those abuses which had crept into it, and to +reduce it to its primitive simplicity; with the addition, however, of peculiar +laws and ceremonies, some of which had been used in former times, and +others were now first instituted. And he comprehended the whole substance +of his doctrine under these two propositions, or articles of faith; viz., that +there is but one GOD, and that himself was the apostle of GOD; in consequence +of which latter article, all such ordinances and institutions as he thought fit +to establish must be received as obligatory and of divine authority. + The Mohammedans divide their religion, which, as I just now said, they call +Islâm, into two distinct parts: Imân, i.e., faith, or theory, and Din, i.e., religion, +or practice; and teach that it is built on five fundamental points, one belonging +to faith, and the other four to practice. + The first is that confession of faith which I have already mentioned; that +"there is no god but the true GOD; and that Mohammed is his apostle." Under +which they comprehend six distinct branches; viz., 1. Belief in GOD; 2. In his +angels; 3. In his scriptures; 4. In his prophets; 5. In the resurrection and +day of judgment; and, 6. In GOD'S absolute decree and predetermination both +of good and evil. + The four points relating to practice are: 1. Prayer, under which are +comprehended those washings or purifications which are necessary +preparations required before prayer; 2. Alms; 3. Fasting; and, 4. +The pilgrimage to Mecca. Of each of these I shall speak in their order. + That both Mohammed and those among his followers who are reckoned +orthodox, had and continue to have just and true notions of GOD and his +attributes (always excepting their obstinate and impious rejecting of the +Trinity), appears so plain from the Koran itself and all the Mohammedan +divines, that it would be loss of time to refute those who suppose the GOD +of Mohammed to be different from the true GOD, and only a fictitious deity +or idol of his own creation. Nor shall I enter into any of the Mohammedan +controversies concerning the divine nature and attributes, because I shall +have a more proper opportunity of doing it elsewhere. + The existence of angels and their purity are absolutely required to be +believed in the Koran; and he is reckoned an infidel who denies there are such +beings, or hates any of them, or asserts any distinction of sexes among them. +They believe them to have pure and subtle bodies, created of fire; that they +neither eat nor drink, nor propagate their species; that they have various +forms and offices; some adoring GOD in different postures, others singing +praises to him, or interceding for mankind. They hold that some of them are +employed in writing down the actions of men; others in carrying the throne of +GOD and other services. + The four angels whom they look on as more eminently in GOD'S favour, and +often mention on account of the offices assigned them, are Gabriel, to whom +they give several titles, particularly those of the holy spirit, and the angel of +revelations, supposing him to be honoured by GOD with a greater confidence +than any other, and to be employed in writing down the divine decrees; +Michael, the friend and protector of the Jews; Azrael, the angel of death, +who separates men's souls from their bodies; and Israfil, whose office +it will be to sound the trumpet at the resurrection. The Mohammedans also +believe that two guardian angels attend on every man, to observe and write +down his actions, being changed every day, and therefore called al Moakkibât, +or the angels who continually succeed one another. + This whole doctrine concerning angels Mohammed and his disciples have +borrowed from the Jews, who learned the names and offices of those beings +from the Persians, as themselves confess. The ancient Persians firmly +believed the ministry of angels, and their superintendence over the affairs +of this world (as the Magians still do), and therefore assigned them distinct +charges and provinces, giving their names to their months and the days of +their months. Gabriel they called Sorush and Revân bakhsh, or the giver of +souls, in opposition to the contrary office of the angel of death, to whom +among other names they gave that of Mordâd, or the giver of death; Michael +they called Beshter, who according to them provides sustenance for mankind. +The Jews teach that the angels were created of fire; that they have several +offices; that they intercede for men, and attend them. The angel of death +they name Duma, and say he calls dying persons by their respective names +at their last hour. + The devil, whom Mohammed names Eblis from his despair, was once one +of those angels who are nearest to GOD'S presence, called Azazil, and fell, +according to the doctrine of the Koran, for refusing to pay homage to Adam +at the command of GOD. + Besides angels and devils, the Mohammedans are taught by the Koran +to believe an intermediate order of creatures, which they call Jin or Genii, +created also of fire, but of a grosser fabric than angels; since they eat and +drink, and propagate their species, and are subject to death. Some of these +are supposed to be good, and others bad, and capable of future salvation or +damnation, as men are; whence Mohammed pretended to be sent for the +conversion of genii as well as men. The orientals pretend that these genii +inhabited the world for many ages before Adam was created, under the +government of several successive princes, who all bore the common name +of Solomon; but falling at length into an almost general corruption, Eblis was +sent to drive them into a remote part of the earth, there to be confined: +that some of that generation still remaining, were by Tahmurath, one of the +ancient kings of Persia, who waged war against them, forced to retreat into +the famous mountains of Kâf. Of which successions and wars they have many +fabulous and romantic stories. They also make different ranks and degrees +among these beings (if they be not rather supposed to be of a different +species), some being called absolutely Jin, some Peri or fairies, some Div or +giants, others Tacwins or fates. + The Mohammedan notions concerning these genii agree almost exactly with +what the Jews write of a sort of demons, called Shedim, whom some fancy +to have been begotten by two angels named Aza and Azael, on Naamah the +daughter of Lamech, before the Flood. However, the Shedim, they tell us, +agree in three things with the ministering angels; for that, like them, they +have wings, and fly from one end of the world to the other, and have some +knowledge of futurity; and in three things they agree with men, like whom +they eat and drink, are propagated, and die. They also say that some of +them believe in the law of Moses, and are consequently good, and that others +of them are infidels and reprobates. + As to the scriptures, the Mohammedans are taught by the Koran that GOD, +in divers ages of the world, gave revelations of his will in writing to several +prophets, the whole and every word of which it is absolutely necessary for a +good Moslem to believe. The number of these sacred books were, according to +them, 104. Of which ten were given to Adam, fifty to Seth, thirty to Edris or +Enoch, ten to Abraham; and the other four, being the Pentateuch, the Psalms, +the Gospel, and the Koran, were successively delivered to Moses, David, Jesus, +and Mohammed; which last being the seal of the prophets, those revelations +are now closed, and no more are to be expected. All these divine books, +except the four last, they agree to be now entirely lost, and their contents +unknown; though the Sabians have several books which they attribute to some +of the antediluvian prophets. And of those four the Pentateuch, Psalms, and +Gospel, they say, have undergone so many alterations and corruptions, that +though there may possibly be some part of the true word of GOD therein, yet +no credit is to be given to the present copies in the hands of the Jews and +Christians. The Jews in particular are frequently reflected on in the Koran +for falsifying and corrupting their copies of their law; and some instances +of such pretended corruptions, both in that book and the two others, are +produced by Mohammedan writers, wherein they merely follow their own +prejudices, and the fabulous accounts of spurious legends. Whether they +have any copy of the Pentateuch among them different from that of the +Jews or not, I am not entirely satisfied, since a person who travelled into the +east was told that they had the books of Moses, though very much corrupted; +but I know nobody that has ever seen them. However, they certainly have +and privately read a book which they call the Psalms of David, in Arabic and +Persian, to which are added some prayers of Moses, Jonas, and others. This +Mr. Reland supposes to be a translation from our copies (though no doubt +falsified in more places than one); but M. D'Herbelot says it contains not the +same Psalms which are in our Psalter, being no more than an extract from +thence mixed with other very different pieces. The easiest way to reconcile +these two learned gentlemen, is to presume that they speak of different +copies. The Mohammedans have also a Gospel in Arabic, attributed to St. +Barnabas, wherein the history of Jesus Christ is related in a manner very +different from what we find in the true Gospels, and correspondent to those +traditions which Mohammed has followed in his Koran. Of this Gospel the +Moriscoes in Africa have a translation in Spanish; and there is in the library +of Prince Eugene of Savoy, a manuscript of some antiquity, containing +an Italian translation of the same Gospel, made, it is to be supposed, for +the use of renegades. This book appears to be no original forgery of the +Mohammedans, though they have no doubt interpolated and altered it since, +the better to serve their purpose; and in particular, instead of the Paraclete +or Comforter, they have in this apocryphal gospel inserted the word Periclyte, +that is, the famous or illustrious, by which they pretend their prophet was +foretold by name, that being the signification of Mohammed in Arabic: and this +they say to justify that passage of the Koran, where Jesus Christ is formally +asserted to have foretold his coming, under his other name of Ahmed; which +is derived from the same root as Mohammed, and of the same import. From +these or some other forgeries of the same stamp it is that the Mohammedans +quote several passages, of which there are not the least footsteps in the New +Testament. But after all we must not hence infer that the Mohammedans, +much less all of them, hold these copies of theirs to be the ancient and +genuine scriptures themselves. If any argue, from the corruption which +they insist has happened to the Pentateuch and Gospel, that the Koran may +possibly be corrupted also; they answer, that GOD has promised that he will +take care of the latter, and preserve it from any addition or diminution; but +that he left the two other to the care of men. However, they confess there +are some various readings in the Korân, as has been observed. + Besides the books above mentioned, the Mohammedans also take notice of +the writings of Daniel and several other prophets, and even make quotations +thence; but these they do not believe to be divine scripture, or of any +authority in matters of religion. + The number of the prophets, which have been from time to time sent +by GOD into the world, amounts to no less than 224,000, according to one +Mohammedan tradition, or to 124,000, according to another; among whom +313 were apostles, sent with special commissions to reclaim mankind from +infidelity and superstition; and six of them brought new laws or dispensations, +which successively abrogated the preceding: these were Adam, Noah, +Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed. All the prophets in general the +Mohammedans believe to have been free from great sins and errors of +consequence, and professors of one and the same religion, that is Islâm, +notwithstanding the different laws and institutions which they observed. +They allow of degrees among them, and hold some of them to be more +excellent and honourable than others. The first place they give to the +revealers and establishers of new dispensations, and the next to the apostles. + In this great number of prophets, they not only reckon divers patriarchs +and persons named in scripture, but not recorded to have been prophets +(wherein the Jewish and Christian writers have sometimes led the way), as +Adam, Seth, Lot, Ismael, Nun, Joshua, &c., and introduce some of them under +different names, as Enoch, Heber, and Jethro, who are called in the Koran, +Edris, Hud, and Shoaib; but several others whose very names do not appear in +scripture (though they endeavour to find some persons there to fix them on), +as Saleh, Khedr, Dhu'lkefl, &c. Several of their fabulous traditions +concerning these prophets we shall occasionally mention in the notes on +the Koran. + As Mohammed acknowledged the divine authority of the Pentateuch, Psalms, +and Gospel, he often appeals to the consonancy of the Koran with those +writings, and to the prophecies which he pretended were therein concerning +himself, as proofs of his mission; and he frequently charges the Jews and +Christians with stifling the passages which bear witness to him. His followers +also fail not to produce several texts even from our present copies of the Old +and New Testament, to support their master's cause. + The next article of faith required by the Koran is the belief of a general +resurrection and a future judgment. But before we consider the Mohammedan +tenets in those points, it will be proper to mention what they are taught to +believe concerning the intermediate state, both of the body and of the soul, +after death. + When a corpse is laid in the grave, they say he is received by an angel, who +gives him notice of the coming of the two examiners; who are two black livid +angels, of a terrible appearance, named Monker and Nakir. These order the +dead person to sit upright, and examine him concerning his faith, as to the +unity of GOD, and the mission of Mohammed: if he answer rightly, they suffer +the body to rest in peace, and it is refreshed by the air of paradise; but +if not, they beat him on the temples with iron maces, till he roars out for +anguish so loud, that he is heard by all from east to west, except men and +genii. Then they press the earth on the corpse, which is gnawed and stung +till the resurrection by ninety-nine dragons, with seven heads each; or as +others say, their sins will become venomous beasts, the grievous ones +stinging like dragons, the smaller like scorpions, and the others like serpents: +circumstances which some understand in a figurative sense. + The examination of the sepulchre is not only founded on an express +tradition of Mohammed, but is also plainly hinted at, though not directly +taught, in the Koran, as the commentators agree. It is therefore believed by +the orthodox Mohammedans in general, who take care to have their graves +made hollow, that they may sit up with more ease while they are examined by +the angels; but is utterly rejected by the sect of the Mutazalites, and perhaps +by some others. + These notions Mohammed certainly borrowed from the Jews, among whom +they were very anciently received. They say that the angel of death coming +and sitting on the grave, the soul immediately enters the body and raises it on +its feet; that he then examines the departed person, and strikes him with a +chain half of iron and half of fire; at the first blow all his limbs are loosened, +at the second his bones are scattered, which are gathered together again by +the angels, and the third stroke reduces the body to dust and ashes, and it +returns into the grave. This rack or torture they call Hibbut hakkeber, or the +beating of the sepulchre, and pretend that all men in general must undergo it, +except only those who die on the evening of the sabbath, or have dwelt in the +land of Israel. + It it be objected to the Mohammedans that the cry of the persons under +such examination has been never heard; or if they be asked how those can +undergo it whose bodies are burnt or devoured by beasts or birds, or +otherwise consumed without burial; they answer, that it is very possible +notwithstanding, since men are not able to perceive what is transacted on +the other side the grave; and that it is sufficient to restore to life any part +of the body which is capable of understanding the questions put by the angels. + As to the soul, they hold that when it is separated from the body by the +angel of death, who performs his office with ease and gentleness towards the +good, and with violence towards the wicked, it enters into that state which +they call Al Berzakh, or the interval between death and the resurrection. If +the departed person was a believer, they say two angels meet it, who convey +it to heaven, that its place there may be assigned, according to its merit and +degree. For they distinguish the souls of the faithful into three classes: +the first of prophets, whose souls are admitted into paradise immediately; +the second of martyrs; whose spirits, according to a tradition of Mohammed, +rest in the crops of green birds which eat of the fruits and drink of the rivers +of paradise; and the third of other believers, concerning the state of whose +souls before the resurrection there are various opinions. For, I. Some say +they stay near the sepulchres, with liberty, however, of going wherever they +please; which they confirm with Mohammed's manner of saluting them at their +graves, and his affirming that the dead heard those salutations as well as the +living, though they could not answer. Whence perhaps proceeded the custom +of visiting the tombs of relations, so common among the Mohammedans. +2. Others imagine they are with Adam, in the lowest heaven; and also support +their opinion by the authority of their prophet, who gave out that in his return +from the upper heavens in his pretended night journey, he saw there the souls +of those who were destined to paradise on the right hand of Adam, and of +those who were condemned to hell on his left. 3. Others fancy the souls of +believers remain in the well Zemzem, and those of infidels in a certain well in +the province of Hadramaut, called Borhut; but this opinion is branded as +heretical. 4. Others say they stay near the graves for seven days; but that +whither they go afterwards is uncertain. 5. Others that they are all in the +trumpet whose sound is to raise the dead. And, 6. Others that the souls of +the good dwell in the forms of white birds, under the throne of GOD. As to +the condition of the souls of the wicked, besides the opinions that have been +already mentioned, the more orthodox hold that they are offered by the +angels to heaven, from whence being repulsed as stinking and filthy, they are +offered to the earth, and being also refused a place there, are carried down +to the seventh earth, and thrown into a dungeon, which they call Sajin, under +a green rock, or according to a tradition of Mohammed, under the devil's jaw, +to be there tormented, till they are called up to be joined again to their bodies. + Though some among the Mohammedans have thought that the resurrection +will be merely spiritual, and no more than the returning of the soul to the +place whence it first came (an opinion defended by Ebn Sina, and called by +some the opinion of the philosophers); and others, who allow man to consist +of body only, that it will be merely corporeal; the received opinion is, that +both body and soul will be raised, and their doctors argue strenuously for the +possibility of the resurrection of the body, and dispute with great subtlety +concerning the manner of it. But Mohammed has taken care to preserve one +part of the body, whatever becomes of the rest, to serve for a basis of the +future edifice, or rather a leaven for the mass which is to be joined to it. +For he taught that a man's body was entirely consumed by the earth, except +only the bone called al Ajb, which we name the os coccygis, or rump-bone; and +that as it was the first formed in the human body, it will also remain +uncorrupted till the last day, as a seed from whence the whole is to be +renewed: and this he said would be effected by a forty days' rain which GOD +should send, and which would cover the earth to the height of twelve cubits, +and cause the bodies to sprout forth like plants. Herein also is Mohammed +also beholden to the Jews, who say the same things of the bone Luz, excepting +that what he attributes to a great rain, will be effected according to them by +a dew, impregnating the dust of the earth. + The time of the resurrection the Mohammedans allow to be a perfect secret +to all but GOD alone: the angel Gabriel himself acknowledging his ignorance +on this point when Mohammed asked him about it. However, they say the +approach of that day may be known from certain signs which are to precede +it. These signs they distinguish into two sorts--the lesser and the greater-- +which I shall briefly enumerate after Dr. Pocock. + The lesser signs are: I. They decay of faith among men. 2. The advancing +of the meanest persons to eminent dignity. 3. That a maid-servant shall +become the mother of her mistress (or master); by which is meant either +that towards the end of the world men shall be much given to sensuality, +or that the Mohammedans shall then take many captives. 4. Tumults and +seditions. 5. A war with the Turks. 6. Great distress in the world, so that +a man when he passes by another's grave shall say "Would to GOD I were in +his place." 7. That the provinces of Irâk and Syria shall refuse to pay their +tribute. And, 8. That the buildings of Medina shall reach to Ahâb, or Yahâb. + The greater signs are: + 1. The sun's rising in the west: which some have imagined it originally did. + 2. The appearance of the beast, which shall rise out of the earth, in the +temple of Mecca, or on Mount Safâ, or in the territory of Tâyef, or some +other place. This beast they say is to be sixty cubits high: though others, +not satisfied with so small a size, will have her reach to the clouds and to +heaven when her head only is out; and that she will appear for three days, +but show only a third part of her body. They describe this monster, as to +her form, to be a compound of various species, having the head of a bull, +the eyes of a hog, the ears of an elephant, the horns of a stag, the neck of +an ostrich, the breast of a lion, the colour of a tiger, the back of a cat, the +tail of a ram, the legs of a camel, and the voice of an ass. Some say this +beast is to appear three times in several places, and that she will bring with +her the rod of Moses and the seal of Solomon; and being so swift that none +can overtake or escape her, will with the first strike all the believers on the +face and mark them with the word Mumen, i.e., believer; and with the latter +will mark the unbelievers, on the face likewise, with the word Câfer, i.e., +infidel, that every person may be known for what he really is. They add that +the same beast is to demonstrate the vanity of all religions except Islâm, and +to speak Arabic. All this stuff seems to be the result of a confused idea of +the beast in the Revelations. + 3. War with the Greeks, and the taking of Constantinople by 70,000 of the +posterity of Isaac, who shall not win that city by force of arms, but the walls +shall fall down while they cry out, "There is no god but GOD: GOD is most great!" +As they are dividing the spoil, news will come to them of the appearance of +the Antichrist, whereupon they shall leave all, and return back. + 4. The coming of Anti-christ, whom the Mohammedans call al Masih al Dajjâl, +i.e., the false or lying Christ, and simply al Dajjâl. He is to be one-eyed, and +marked on the forehead with the letters C.F.R., signifying Câfer, or infidel. +They say that the Jews give him the name of Messiah Ben David, and pretend +he is to come in the last days and to be lord both of land and sea, and that he +will restore the kingdom to them. According to the traditions of Mohammed, +he is to appear first between Irâk and Syria, or according to others, in the +province of Khorasân; they add that he is to ride on an ass, that he will be +followed by 70,000 Jews of Ispahân, and continue on earth forty days, of +which one will be equal in length to a year, another to a month, another to a +week, and the rest will be common days; that he is to lay waste all places, +but will not enter Mecca or Medina, which are to be guarded by angels; and +that at length he will be slain by Jesus, who is to encounter him at the gate +of Lud. It is said that Mohammed foretold several Anti-christs, to the number +of about thirty, but one of greater note than the rest. + 5. The descent of Jesus on earth. They pretend that he is to descend near +the white tower to the east of Damascus, when the people are returned from +the taking of Constantinople; that he is to embrace the Mohammedan religion, +marry a wife, get children, kill Antichrist, and at length die after forty years', +or, according to others, twenty-four years', continuance on earth. Under him +they say there will be great security and plenty in the world, all hatred and +malice being laid aside; when lions and camels, bears and sheep, shall live in +peace, and a child shall play with serpents unhurt. + 6. War with the Jews; of whom the Mohammedans are to make a religious +slaughter, the very trees and stones discovering such of them as hide +themselves, except only the tree called Gharkad, which is the tree of the +Jews. + 7. The eruption of Gog and Magog, or, as they are called in the east, Yâjuj +and Mâjuj; of whom many things are related in the Koran, and the traditions +of Mohammed. These barbarians, they tell us, having passed the lake of +Tiberias, which the vanguard of their vast army will drink dry, will come to +Jerusalem, and there greatly distress Jesus and his companions; till at his +request GOD will destroy them, and fill the earth with their carcasses, which +after some time GOD will send birds to carry away, at the prayers of Jesus +and his followers. Their bows, arrows, and quivers the Moslems will burn for +seven years together; and at last GOD will send a rain to cleanse the earth, +and to make it fertile. + 8. A smoke, which shall fill the whole earth. + 9. An eclipse of the moon. Mohammed is reported to have said that there +would be three eclipses before the last hour; one to be seen in the east, +another in the west, and the third in Arabia. + 10. The returning of the Arabs to the worship of Allât and al Uzza, and the +rest of their ancient idols; after the decrease of every one in whose heart +there was faith equal to the grain of mustard-seed, none but the very worst +of men being left alive. For GOD, they say, will send a cold odoriferous wind, +blowing from Syria Damascena, which shall sweep away the souls of all the +faithful, and the Koran itself, so that men will remain in the grossest +ignorance for a hundred years. + 11. The discovery of a vast heap of gold and silver by the retreating of +the Euphrates, which will be the destruction of many. + 12. The demolition of the Caaba, or temple of Mecca, by the Ethiopians. + 13. The speaking of beasts and inanimate things. + 14. The breaking out of fire in the province of Hejâz; or, according to +others, in Yaman. + 15. The appearance of a man of the descendants of Kahtân, who shall drive +men before him with his staff. + 16. The coming of the Mohdi, or director; concerning whom Mohammed +prophesied that the world should not have an end till one of his own family +should govern the Arabians, whose name should be the same with his own +name, and whose father's name should also be the same with his father's +name; and who should fill the earth with righteousness. This person the +Shiites believe to be now alive, and concealed in some secret place, till the +time of his manifestation; for they suppose him to be no other than the last +of the twelve Imâms, named Mohammed Abu'lkasem, as their prophet was, +and the son of Hassan al Askeri, the eleventh of that succession. He was +born at Sermanrai in the 255th year of the Hejra. From this tradition, it is +to be presumed, an opinion pretty current among the Christians took its rise, +that the Mohammedans are in expectation of their prophet's return. + 17. A wind which shall sweep away the souls of all who have but a grain of +faith in their hearts, as has been mentioned under the tenth sign. + These are the greater signs, which, according to their doctrine, are to +precede the resurrection, but still leave the hour of it uncertain: for the +immediate sign of its being come will be the first blast of the trumpet; which +they believe will be sounded three times. The first they call the blast of +consternation; at the hearing of which all creatures in heaven and earth shall +be struck with terror, except those whom GOD shall please to exempt from it. +The effects attributed to this first sound of the trumpet are very wonderful: +for they say the earth will be shaken, and not only all buildings, but the +very mountains levelled; that the heavens shall melt, the sun be darkened, +the stars fall, on the death of the angels, who, as some imagine, hold them +suspended between heaven and earth, and the sea shall be troubled and dried +up, or, according ot others, turned into flames, the sun, moon, and stars +being thrown into it: the Koran, to express the greatness of the terror of +that day, adds that women who give suck shall abandon the care of their +infants, and even the she-camels which have gone ten months with young (a +most valuable part of the substance of that nation) shall be utterly neglected. +A farther effect of this blast will be that concourse of beasts mentioned in +the Koran, though some doubt whether it be to precede the resurrection or +not. They who suppose it will precede, think that ll kinds of animals, forgetting +their respective natural fierceness and timidity, will run together into one +place, being terrified by the sound of the trumpet and the sudden shock of +nature. + The Mohammedans believe that this first blast will be followed by a second, +which they call the blast of examination, when all creatures, both in heaven +and earth, shall die or be annihilated, except those which GOD shall please to +exempt from the common fate; and this, they say, shall happen in the +twinkling of an eye, nay, in an instant; nothing surviving except GOD alone, +with paradise and hell, and the inhabitants of those two places, and throne +of glory. The last who shall die will be the angel of death. + Forty years after this will be heard the blast of resurrection, when the +trumpet shall be sounded the third time by Israfil, who, together with Gabriel +and Michael, will be previously restored to life, and standing on the rock of +the temple of Jerusalem, shall, at GOD'S command, call together all the dry +and rotten bones, and other dispersed parts of the bodies, and the very hairs, +to judgment. This angel having, by the divine order, set the trumpet to his +mouth, and called together all the souls from all parts, will throw them into +his trumpet, from whence, on his giving the last sound, at the command of +GOD, they will fly forth like bees, and fill the whole space between heaven and +earth, and then repair to their respective bodies, which the opening earth +will suffer to arise; and the first who shall so arise, according to a tradition +of Mohammed, will be himself. For this birth the earth will be prepared by +the rain above mentioned, which is to fall continually for forty years, and will +resemble the seed of a man, and be supplied from the water under the throne +of GOD, which is called living water; by the efficacy and virtue of which the +dead bodies shall spring forth from their graves, as they did in their mother's +womb, or as corn sprouts forth by common rain, till they become perfect; +after which breath will be breathed into them, and they will sleep in their +sepulchres till they are raised to life at the last trump. + As to the length of the last day of judgment the Koran in one place tells +us that it will last 1,000 years, and in another 50,000. To reconcile this +apparent contradiction, the commentators use several shifts: some saying +they know not what measure of time GOD intends in those passages; others, +that these forms of speaking are figurative and not to be strictly taken, and +were designed only to express the terribleness of that day, it being usual for +the Arabs to describe what they dislike as of long continuance, and what they +like, as the contrary; and others suppose them spoken only in reference to +the difficulty of the business of the day, which, if GOD should commit to any +of his creatures, they would not be able to go through it in so many thousand +years; to omit some other opinions which we may take notice of elsewhere. + Having said so much in relation to the time of the resurrection, let us now +see who are to be raised from the dead, in what manner and form they shall +be raised, in what place they shall be assembled, and to what end, according +to the doctrine of the Mohammedans. + That the resurrection will be general, and extend to all creatures both +angels, genii, men, and animals, is the received opinion, which they support +by the authority of the Koran, though that passage which is produced to prove +the resurrection of brutes be otherwise interpreted by some. + The manner of their resurrection will be very different. Those who are +destined to be partakers of eternal happiness will arise in honour and +security; and those who are doomed to misery, in disgrace and under dismal +apprehensions. As to mankind, they say that they will be raised perfect in +all their parts and members, and in the same state as they came out of their +mother's wombs, that is, barefooted, naked, and uncircumcised; which +circumstances when Mohammed was telling his wife Ayesha, she, fearing the +rules of modesty might be thereby violated, objected that it would be very +indecent for men and women to look upon one another in that condition; but he +answered her, that the business of the day would be too weighty and serious +to allow them the making use of that liberty. Others, however, allege the +authority of their prophet for a contrary opinion as to their nakedness, and +pretend he asserted that the dead should arise dressed in the same clothes +in which they died; unless we interpret these words, as some do, not so much +of the outward dress of the body, as the inward clothing of the mind; and +understand thereby that every person will rise again in the same state as +to his faith or infidelity, his knowledge or ignorance, his good or bad works. +Mohammed is also said to have farther taught, by another tradition, that +mankind shall be assembled at the last day, distinguished into three classes. +The first, of those who go on foot; the second, of those who ride; and the +third, of those who creep groveling with their faces on the ground. The first +class is to consist of those believers whose good works have been few; the +second of those who are in greater honour with GOD, and more acceptable +to him; whence Ali affirmed that the pious when they come forth from their +sepulchres, shall find ready prepared for them white-winged camels, with +saddles of gold; wherein are to be observed some footsteps of the doctrine +of the ancient Arabians; and the third class, they say, will be composed of the +infidels, whom GOD shall cause to make their appearance with their faces on +the earth, blind, dumb, and deaf. But the ungodly will not be thus only +distinguished; for, according to a tradition of the prophet, there will be ten +sorts of wicked men on whom GOD shall on that day fix certain discretory +marks. The first will appear in the form of apes; these are the professors of +Zendicism: the second in that of swine; these are they who have been greedy +of filthy lucre, and enriched themselves by public oppression: the third will be +brought with their heads reversed and their feet distorted; these are the +usurers: the fourth will wander about blind; these are unjust judges: the +fifth will be deaf, dumb, and blind, understanding nothing; these are they +who glory in their own works: the sixth will gnaw their tongues, which will +hang down upon their breasts, corrupted blood flowing from their mouths like +spittle, so that everybody shall detest them; these are the learned men and +doctors, whose actions contradict their sayings: the seventh will have their +hands and feet cut off; these are they who have injured their neighbours: the +eighth will be fixed to the trunks of palm trees or stakes of wood; these are +the false accusers and informers: the ninth will stink worse than a corrupted +corpse; these are they who have indulged their passions and voluptuous +appetites, but refused GOD such part of their wealth as was due to him: +the tenth will be clothed with garments daubed with pitch; and these are +the proud, the vainglorious, and the arrogant. + As to the place where they are to be assembled to judgment, the Koran and +the traditions of Mohammed agree that it will be on the earth, but in what +part of the earth it is not agreed. Some say their prophet mentioned Syria +for the place; others, a white and even tract of land, without inhabitants or +any signs of buildings. Al Ghazâli imagines it will be a second earth, which +he supposes to be of silver; and others, an earth which has nothing in common +with ours but the name; having, it is possible, heard something of the new +heavens and new earth mentioned in scripture: whence the Koran has this +expression, "on the day wherein the earth shall be changed into another +earth." + The end of the resurrection the Mohammedans declare to be, that they who +are so raised may give an account of their actions, and receive the reward +thereof. And they believe that not only mankind, but the genii and irrational +animals also, shall be judged on this great day; when the unarmed cattle +shall take vengeance on the horned, till entire satisfaction shall be given +to the injured. + As to mankind, they hold that when they are all assembled together, they +will not be immediately brought to judgment, but the angels will keep them in +their ranks and order while they attend for that purpose; and this attendance +some say is to last forty years, others seventy, others 300, nay, some say +no less than 50,000 years, each of them vouching their prophet's authority. +During this space they will stand looking up to heaven, but without receiving +any information or orders thence, and are to suffer grievous torments, both +the just and the unjust, though with manifest difference. For the limbs of +the former, particularly those parts which they used to wash in making the +ceremonial ablution before prayer, shall shine gloriously, and their sufferings +shall be light in comparison, and shall last no longer than the time necessary +to say the appointed prayers; but the latter will have their faces obscured +with blackness, and disfigured with all the marks of sorrow and deformity. +What will then occasion not the least of their pain, is a wonderful and +incredible sweat, which will even stop their mouths, and in which they will +be immersed in various degrees according to their demerits, some to the +ankles only, some to the knees, some to the middle, some so high as their +mouth, and others as their ears. And this sweat, they say, will be provoked +not only by that vast concourse of all sorts of creatures mutually pressing +and treading on one another's feet, but by the near and unusual approach of +the sun, which will be then no farther from them than the distance of a mile, +or, as some translate the word, the signification of which is ambiguous, than +the length of a bodkin. So that their skulls will boil like a pot, and they will +be all bathed in sweat. From this inconvenience, however, the good will be +protected by the shade of GOD'S throne; but the wicked will be so miserably +tormented with it, and also with hunger, and thirst, and a stifling air, that +they will cry out, "Lord, deliver us from this anguish, though thou send us +into hell fire." What they fable of the extraordinary heat of the sun on this +occasion, the Mohammedans certainly borrowed from the Jews, who say, that +for the punishment of the wicked on the last day, that planet shall be drawn +from its sheath, in which it is now put up, lest it should destroy all things by +its excessive heat. + When those who have risen shall have waited the limited time, the +Mohammedans believe GOD will at length appear to judge them; Mohammed +undertaking the office of intercessor, after it shall have been declined by +Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Jesus, who shall beg deliverance only for their own +souls. They say that on this solemn occasion GOD will come in the clouds, +surrounded by angels, and will produce the books wherein the actions of every +person are recorded by their guardian angels, and will command the prophets +to bear witness against those to whom they have been respectively sent. +Then every one will be examined concerning all his words and actions, uttered +and done by him in this life; not as if GOD needed any information in those +respects, but to oblige the person to make public confession and +acknowledgment of GOD'S justice. The particulars of which they shall give +an account, as Mohammed himself enumerated them, are--of their time, +how they spent it; of their wealth, by what means they acquired it, and how +they employed it; of their bodies, wherein they exercised them; of their +knowledge and learning, what use they made of them. It is said, however, +that Mohammed has affirmed that no less than 70,000 of his followers +should be permitted to enter paradise without any previous examination, +which seems to be contradictory to what is said above. To the questions +we have mentioned each person shall answer, and make his defence in the +best manner he can, endeavouring to excuse himself by casting the blame +of his evil deeds on others, so that a dispute shall arise even between the +soul and the body, to which of them their guilt ought to be imputed, the +soul saying, "O Lord, my body I received from thee; for thou createdst me +without a hand to lay hold with, a foot to walk with, an eye to see with, or +an understanding to apprehend with, till I came and entered into this body; +therefore, punish it eternally, but deliver me." The body, on the other side, +will make this apology: "O Lord, thou createdst me like a stock of wood, +having neither hand that I could lay hold with, nor foot that I could walk with, +till this soul, like a ray of light, entered into me, and my tongue began to +speak, my eye to see, and my foot to walk; therefore, punish it eternally, +but deliver me." But GOD will propound to them the following parable of the +blind man and the lame man, which, as well as the preceding dispute, was +borrowed by the Mohammedans from the Jews: A certain king, having a +pleasant garden, in which were ripe fruits, set two persons to keep it, one +of whom was blind and the other lame, the former not being able to see +the fruit nor the latter to gather it; the lame man, however, seeing the +fruit, persuaded the blind man to take him upon his shoulders; and by that +means he easily gathered the fruit, which they divided between them. The +lord of the garden, coming some time after, and inquiring after his fruit, +each began to excuse himself; the blind man said he had no eyes to see with, +and the lame man that he had no feet to approach the trees. But the king, +ordering the lame man to be set on the blind, passed sentence on and punished +them both. And in the same manner will GOD deal with the body and the soul. +As these apologies will not avail on that day, so will it also be in vain for +any one to deny his evil actions, since men and angels and his own members, +nay, the very earth itself, will be ready to bear witness against him. + Though the Mohammedans assign so long a space for the attendance of +the resuscitated before their trial, yet they tell us the trial itself will be over +in much less time, and, according to an expression of Mohammed, familiar +enough to the Arabs, will last no longer than while one may milk an ewe, or +than the space between the two milkings of a she-camel. Some, explaining +those words so frequently used in the Koran, "GOD will be swift in taking an +account," say that he will judge all creatures in the space of half a day, and +others that it will be done in less time than the twinkling of an eye. + At this examination they also believe that each person will have the book, +wherein all the actions of his life are written, delivered to him; which books +the righteous will receive in their right hand, and read with great pleasure +and satisfaction; but the ungodly will be obliged to take them against their +wills in their left, which will be bound behind their backs, their right hand +being tied up to their necks. + To show the exact justice which will be observed on this great day of +trial, the next thing they describe is the balance, wherein all things shall +be weighted. They say it will be held by Gabriel, and that it is of so vast a +size, that its two scales, one of which hangs over paradise, and the other +over hell, are capacious enough to contain both heaven and earth. Though +some are willing to understand what is said in the Koran concerning this +balance, allegorically, and only as a figurative representation of GOD'S equity, +yet the more ancient and orthodox opinion is that it is to be taken literally; +and since words and actions, being mere accidents, are not capable of being +themselves weighed, they say that the books wherein they are written will be +thrown into the scales, and according as those wherein the good or the evil +actions are recorded shall preponderate, sentence will be given; those whose +balance laden with their good works shall be heavy, will be saved, but those +whose balances are light will be condemned. Nor will any one have cause to +complain that GOD suffers any good action to pass unrewarded, because the +wicked for the good they do have their reward in this life, and therefore can +expect no favour in the next. + The old Jewish writers make mention as well of the books to be produced at +the last day, wherein men's actions are registered, as of the balance wherein +they shall be weighed; and the scripture itself seems to have given the first +notion of both. But what the Persian Magi believe of the balance comes +nearest to the Mohammedan opinion. They hold that on the day of judgment +two angels, named Mihr and Sorush, will stand on the bridge we shall describe +by-and-bye, to examine every person as he passes; that the former, who +represents the divine mercy, will hold a balance in his hand, to weigh the +actions of men; that according to the report he shall make thereof to GOD, +sentence will be pronounced, and those whose good works are found more +ponderous, if they turn the scale but by the weight of a hair, will be permitted +to pass forward to paradise; but those whose good works shall be found light, +will be by the other angel, who represents GOD'S justice, precipitated from +the bridge into hell. + This examination being passed, and every one's works weighed in a just +balance, that mutual retaliation will follow, according to which every creature +will take vengeance one of another, or have satisfaction made them for the +injuries which they have suffered. And since there will then be no other way +of returning like for like, the manner of giving this satisfaction will be by +taking away a proportionable part of the good works of him who offered the +injury, and adding it to those of him who suffered it. Which being done, if the +angels (by whose ministry this is to be performed) say, "Lord, we have given +to every one his due; and there remaineth of this person's good works so +much as equalleth the weight of an ant," GOD will of his mercy cause it to +be doubled unto him, that he may be admitted into paradise; but if, on the +contrary, his good works be exhausted, and there remain evil works only, and +there be any who have not yet received satisfaction from him, GOD will order +that an equal weight of their sins be added unto his, that he may be punished +for them in their stead, and he will be sent to hell laden with both. This will +be the method of GOD'S dealing with mankind. As to brutes, after they shall +have likewise taken vengeance of one another, as we have mentioned above, +he will command them to be changed into dust; wicked men being reserved to +more grievous punishment: so that they shall cry out, on hearing this sentence +passed on the brutes, "Would to GOD that we were dust also." As to the genii, +many Mohammedans are of opinion that such of them as are true believers will +undergo the same fate as the irrational animals, and have no other reward +than the favour of being converted into dust; and for this they quote +the authority of their prophet. But this, however, is judged not so very +reasonable, since the genii, being capable of putting themselves in the +state of believers as well as men, must consequently deserve, as it seems, +to be rewarded for their faith, as well as to be punished for infidelity. +Wherefore some entertain a more favourable opinion, and assign the believing +genii a place near the confines of paradise, where they will enjoy sufficient +felicity, though they be not admitted into that delightful mansion. But the +unbelieving genii, it is universally agreed, will be punished eternally, and be +thrown into hell with the infidels of mortal race. It may not be improper to +observe, that under the denomination of unbelieving genii, the Mohammedans +comprehend also the devil and his companions. + The trials being over and the assembly dissolved, the Mohammedans hold +that those who are to be admitted into paradise will take the right-hand way, +and those who are destined to hell fire will take the left; but both of them +must first pass the bridge, called in Arabic al Sirât, which they say is laid over +the midst of hell, and described to be finer than a hair, and sharper than the +edge of a sword: so that it seems very difficult to conceive how any one shall +be able to stand upon it: for which reason most of the sect of the Mutazalites +reject it as a fable, though the orthodox think it a sufficient proof of the +truth of this article, that it was seriously affirmed by him who never +asserted a falsehood, meaning their prophet; who to add to the difficulty of +the passage, has likewise declared that this bridge is beset on each side with +briars and hooked thorns; which will, however, be no impediment to the good, +for they shall pass with wonderful ease and swiftness, like lightning or the +wind, Mohammed and his Moslems leading the way; whereas the wicked, what +with the slipperiness and extreme narrowness of the path, the entangling of +the thorns, and the extinction of the light, which directed the former to +paradise, will soon miss their footing, and fall down headlong into hell, which +is gaping beneath them. + This circumstance Mohammed seems also to have borrowed from the +Magians, who teach that on the last day all mankind will be obliged to pass a +bridge which they call Pul Chinavad, or Chinavar, that is, the straight bridge, +leading directly into the other world; on the midst of which they suppose the +angels, appointed by GOD to perform that office, will stand, who will require +of every one a strict account of his actions, and weigh them in the manner we +have already mentioned. It is true the Jews speak likewise of the bridge of +hell, which they say is no broader than a thread; but then they do not tell us +that any shall be obliged to pass it, except the idolaters, who will fall thence +into perdition. + As to the punishment of the wicked, the Mohammedans are taught that hell +is divided into seven stories, or apartments, one below another, designed for +the reception of as many distinct classes of the damned. The first which they +call Jehennam, they say, will be the receptacle of those who acknowledged one +GOD, that is, the wicked Mohammedans, who after having there been punished +according to their demerits, will at length be released. The second, named +Ladhâ, they assign to the Jews; the third, named al Hotama, to the Christians; +the fourth named al Sair, to the Sabians; the fifth, named Sakar, to the +Magians; the sixth, named al Jahim, to the idolaters; and the seventh, which +is the lowest and worst of all, and is called al Hâwiyat, to the hypocrites, or +those who outwardly professed some religion, but in their hearts were of +none. Over each of these apartments they believe there will be set a guard +of angels, nineteen in number; to whom the damned will confess the just +judgment of GOD, and beg them to intercede with him for some alleviation +of their pain, or that they may be delivered by being annihilated. + Mohammed has, in his Koran and traditions, been very exact in describing +the various torments of hell, which, according to him, the wicked will suffer +both from intense heat and excessive cold. We shall, however, enter into no +detail of them here, but only observe that the degrees of these pains will +also vary, in proportion to the crimes of the sufferer, and the apartment he +is condemned to; and that he who is punished the most lightly of all will be +shod with shoes of fire, the fervour of which will cause his skull to boil like +a cauldron. The condition of these unhappy wretches, as the same prophet +teaches, cannot be properly called either life or death; and their misery will +be greatly increased by their despair of being ever delivered from that place, +since, according to that frequent expression in the Koran, "they must remain +therein for ever." It must be remarked, however, that the infidels alone will +be liable to eternity of damnation, for the Moslems, or those who have +embraced the true religion, and have been guilty of heinous sins, will be +delivered thence after they shall have expiated their crimes by their +sufferings. The contrary of either of these opinions is reckoned heretical; +for it is the constant orthodox doctrine of the Mohammedans that no +unbeliever or idolater will ever be released, nor any person who in his lifetime +professed an believed the unity of GOD be condemned to eternal punishment. +As to the time and manner of the deliverance of those believers whose evil +actions shall outweigh their good, there is a tradition of Mohammed that they +shall be released after they shall have been scorched and their skins burnt +black, and shall afterwards be admitted into paradise; and when the +inhabitants of that place shall, in contempt, call them infernals, GOD will, +on their prayers, take from them that opprobrious appellation. Others say he +taught that while they continue in hell they shall be deprived of life, or (as +his words are otherwise interpreted) be cast into a most profound sleep, that +they may be the less sensible of their torments; and that they shall +afterwards be received into paradise, and there revive on their being washed +with the water of life; though some suppose they will be restored to life +before they come forth from their place of punishment, that at their bidding +farewell to their pains, they may have some little taste of them. The time +which these believers shall be detained there, according to a tradition handed +down from their prophet, will not be less than 900 years, nor more than +7,000. And as to the manner of their delivery, they say that they shall be +distinguished by the marks of prostration on those parts of their bodies with +which they used to touch the ground in prayer, and over which the fire will, +therefore, have no power; and that being known by this characteristic, they +will be relieved by the mercy of GOD, at the intercession of Mohammed and +the blessed; whereupon those who shall have been dead will be restored to life, +as has been said; and those whose bodies shall have contracted any sootiness +or filth from the flames and smoke of hell, will be immersed in one of the +rivers of paradise, called the river of life, which will wash them whiter than +pearls. + For most of these circumstances relating to hell and the state of the +damned, Mohammed was likewise, in all probability, indebted to the Jews, +and in part to the Magians; both of whom agree in making seven distinct +apartments in hell, though they vary in other particulars. The former place +an angel as a guard over each of these infernal apartments, and suppose he +will intercede for the miserable wretches there imprisoned, who will openly +acknowledge the justice of GOD in their condemnation. They also teach that +the wicked will suffer a diversity of punishments, and that by intolerable cold +as well as heat, and that their faces shall become black; and believe those of +their own religion shall also be punished in hell hereafter, according to their +crimes (for they hold that few or none will be found so exactly righteous as +to deserve no punishment at all), but will soon be delivered thence, when they +shall be sufficiently purged from their sins, by their father Abraham, or at +the intercession of him or some other of the prophets. The Magians allow but +one angel to preside over all the seven hells, who is named by them Vanand +Yezad, and, as they teach, assigns punishments proportionate to each +person's crimes, restraining also the tyranny and excessive cruelty of the +devil, who would, if left to himself, torment the damned beyond their sentence. +Those of this religion do also mention and describe various kinds of torments, +wherewith the wicked will be punished in the next life; among which though +they reckon extreme cold to be one, yet they do not admit fire, out of +respect, as it seems, to that element, which they take to be the +representation of the divine nature; and, therefore, they rather choose to +describe the damned souls as suffering by other kinds of punishments: such +as an intolerable stink, the stinging and biting of serpents and wild beasts, the +cutting and tearing of the flesh by the devils, excessive hunger and thirst, +and the like. + Before we proceed to a description of the Mohammedan paradise, we must +not forget to say something of the wall or partition which they imagine to be +between that place and hell, and seems to be copied from the great gulf of +separation mentioned in scripture. They call it al Orf, and more frequently +in the plural, al Arâf, a word derived from the verb arafa, which signifies to +distinguish between things, or to part them; though some commentators give +another reason for the imposition of this name, because, they say, those who +stand on this partition will know and distinguish the blessed from the damned, +by their respective marks or characteristics: and others say the word +properly intends anything that is high raised or elevated, as such a wall of +separation must be supposed to be. The Mohammedan writers greatly differ +as to the persons who are to be found on al Arâf. Some imagine it to be a +sort of limbo for the patriarchs and prophets, or for the martyrs and those +who have been most eminent for sanctity, among whom, they say, there will +be also angels in the form of men. Others place here such whose good and +evil works are so equal that they exactly counterpoise each other, and, +therefore, deserve neither reward nor punishment; and these, they say, will, +on the last day, be admitted into paradise, after they shall have performed +an act of adoration, which will be imputed to them as a merit, and will +make the scale of their good works to overbalance. Others suppose this +intermediate space will be a receptacle for those who have gone to war +without their parents' leave, and therein suffered martyrdom; being excluded +paradise for their disobedience, and escaping hell because they are martyrs. +The breadth of this partition wall cannot be supposed to be exceeding great, +since not only those who shall stand thereon will hold conference with the +inhabitants both of paradise and of hell, but the blessed and the damned +themselves will also be able to talk to one another. + If Mohammed did not take his notions of the partition we have been +describing from scripture, he must at least have borrowed it at second-hand +from the Jews, who mention a thin wall dividing paradise form hell. + The righteous, as the Mohammedans are taught to believe, having +surmounted the difficulties, and passed the sharp bridge above mentioned, +before they enter paradise will be refreshed by drinking at the pond of their +prophet, who describes it to be an exact square, of a month's journey in +compass: its water, which is supplied by two pipes from al Cawthar, one of +the rivers of paradise, being whiter than milk or silver and more odoriferous +than musk, with as many cups set around it as there are stars in the +firmament, of which water, whoever drinks will thirst no more for ever. +This is the first taste which the blessed will have of their future and now +near-approaching felicity. + Though paradise be so very frequently mentioned in the Koran, yet it is +a dispute among Mohammedans whether it be already created, or be to be +created hereafter: the Mutazalites and some other sectaries asserting that +there is not at present any such place in nature, and that the paradise which +the righteous will inhabit in the next life, will be different form that form +which Adam was expelled. However, the orthodox profess the contrary, +maintaining that it was created even before the world, and describe it, from +their prophet's traditions, in the following manner. + They say it is situate above the seven heavens (or in the seventh heaven) +and next under the throne of GOD: and to express the amenity of the place, +tell us that the earth of it is of the finest wheat flour, or of the purest +musk, or, as others will have it, of saffron; that its stones are pearls and +jacinths, the walls of its buildings enriched with gold and silver, and that +the trunks of all its trees are of gold, among which the most remarkable is +the tree called Tuba, or the tree of happiness. Concerning this tree they +fable that it stands in the palace of Mohammed, though a breach of it will +reach to the house of every true believer; that it will be laden with +pomegranates, grapes, dates, and other fruits of surprising bigness, and of +tastes unknown to mortals. So that if a man desire to eat of any particular +kind of fruit, it will immediately be presented him, or if he choose flesh, +birds ready dressed will be set before him according to his wish. They add +that the boughs of this tree will spontaneously bend down to the hand of the +person who would gather of its fruits, and that it will supply the blessed not +only with food, but also with silken garments, and beasts to ride on ready +saddled and bridled, and adorned with rich trappings, which will burst forth +from its fruits; and that this tree is so large, that a person mounted on the +fleetest horse would not be able to gallop from one end of its shade to the +other in a hundred years. + As plenty of water is one of the greatest additions to the pleasantness +of any place, the Koran often speaks of the rivers of paradise as a principal +ornament thereof; some of these rivers, they say, flow with water, some with +milk, some with wine, and others with honey, all taking their rise from the +roof of the tree Tuba: two of which rivers, named al Cawthar and the river of +life, we have already mentioned. And lest these should not be sufficient, we +are told this garden is also watered by a great number of lesser springs and +fountains, whose pebbles are rubies and emeralds, their earth of camphire, +their beds of musk, and their sides of saffron, the most remarkable among +them being Salsabil and Tasnim. + But all these glories will be eclipsed by the resplendent and ravishing girls +of paradise, called, from their large black eyes, Hur al oyun, the enjoyment +of whose company will be a principal felicity of the faithful. These, they say, +are created not of clay, as mortal women are, but of pure musk: being, as +their prophet often affirms in his Koran, free from all natural impurities, +defects, and inconveniences incident to the sex, of the strictest modesty, +and secluded from public view in pavilions of hollow pearls, so large, that, as +some traditions have it, one of them will be no less than four parasangs (or, +as others say, sixty miles) long, and as many broad. + The name which the Mohammedans usually give to this happy mansion, is +al Jannat, or the garden; and sometimes they call it, with an addition, Jannat +al Ferdaws, the garden of paradise, Jannet Aden, the garden of Eden (though +they generally interpret the word Eden, not according to its acceptation in +Hebrew, but according to its meaning in their own tongue, wherein it signifies +a settled or perpetual habitation), Jannat al Mawa, the garden of abode, +Jannat al Naim, the garden of pleasure, and the like; by which several +appellations some understand so many different gardens, or at least places +of different degrees of felicity (for they reckon no less than a hundred such +in all), the very meanest whereof will afford its inhabitants so many pleasures +and delights, that one would conclude they must even sink under them, had +not Mohammed declared, that in order to qualify the blessed for a full +enjoyment of them, GOD will give to every one the abilities of a hundred men. + We have already described Mohammed's pond, whereof the righteous are +to drink before their admission into this delicious seat; besides which some +authors mention two fountains, springing from under a certain tree near the +gate of paradise, and say, that the blessed will also drink of one of them, to +purge their bodies and carry off all excrementitious dregs, and will wash +themselves in the other. When they are arrived at the gate itself, each +person will there be met and saluted by the beautiful youths appointed to +serve and wait upon him, one of them running before, to carry the news of +his arrival to the wives destined for him; and also by two angels, bearing the +presents sent him by GOD, one of whom will invest him with a garment of +paradise, and the other will put a ring on each of his fingers, with inscriptions +on them alluding to the happiness of his condition. By which of the eight +gates (for so many they suppose paradise to have) they are respectively +to enter, is not worth inquiry; but it must be observed that Mohammed has +declared that no person's good works will gain him admittance, and that even +himself shall be saved, not by his merits, but merely by the mercy of GOD. +It is, however, the constant doctrine of the Koran, that the felicity of each +person will be proportioned to this deserts, and that there will be abodes of +different degrees of happiness; the most eminent degree being reserved for +the prophets, the second for the doctors and teachers of GOD's worship, the +next for the martyrs, and the lower for the rest of the righteous, according +to their several merits. There will also some distinction be made in respect +to the time of their admission; Mohammed (to whom, if you will believe him, +the gates will first be opened) having affirmed, that the poor will enter +paradise five hundred years before the rich: nor is this the only privilege +which they will enjoy in the next life; since the same prophet has also declared, +that when he took a view of paradise, he saw the majority of its inhabitants +to be the poor, and when he looked down into hell, he saw the greater part +of the wretches confined there to be women. + For the first entertainment of the blessed on their admission, they fable +that the whole earth will then be as one loaf of bread, which GOD will reach +to them with his hand, holding it like a cake; and that for meat they will +have the ox Balâm, and the fish Nun, the lobs of whose livers will suffice +70,000 men, being, as some imagine to be set before the principal guests, +viz., those who, to that number, will be admitted into paradise without +examination; though others suppose that a definite number is here put for +an indefinite, and that nothing more is meant thereby, than to express a +great multitude of people. + From this feast every one will be dismissed to the mansion designed for +him, where (as has been said) he will enjoy such a share of felicity as will be +proportioned to his merits, but vastly exceed comprehension or expectation; +since the very meanest in paradise (as he who, it is pretended, must know +best, has declared) will have eighty thousand servants, seventy-two wives +of the girls of paradise, besides the wives he had in this world, and a tent +erected for him of pearls, jacinths, and emeralds, of a very large extent; +and, according to another tradition, will be waited on by three hundred +attendants while he eats, will be served in dishes of gold, whereof three +hundred shall be set before him at once, containing each a different kind of +food, the last morsel of which will be as grateful as the first; and will also +be supplied with as many sorts of liquors in vessels of the same metal: and, +to complete the entertainment, there will be no want of wine, which, though +forbidden in this life, will yet be freely allowed to be drunk in the next, and +without danger, since the wine of paradise will not inebriate, as that we +drink here. The flavour of this wine we may conceive to be delicious without +a description, since the water of Tasnim and the other fountains which will be +used to dilute it, is said to be wonderfully sweet and fragrant. If any object +to these pleasures, as an impudent Jew did to Mohammed, that so much +eating and drinking must necessarily require proper evacuations, we answer, +as the prophets did, that the inhabitants of paradise will not need to ease +themselves, nor even to blow their nose, for that all superfluities will be +discharged and carried off by perspiration, or a sweat as odoriferous as +musk, after which their appetite shall return afresh. + The magnificence of the garments and furniture promised by the Koran to +the godly in the next life, is answerable to the delicacy of their diet. For they +are to be clothed in the richest of silks and brocades, chiefly of green, which +will burst forth from the fruits of paradise, and will be also supplied by the +leaves of the tree Tuba; they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and silver, +and crowns set with pearls of incomparable lustre; and will make use of silken +carpets, litters of a prodigious size, couches, pillows, and other rich furniture +embroidered with gold and precious stones. + That we may the more readily believe what has been mentioned of the +extraordinary abilities of the inhabitants of paradise to taste these pleasures +in their height, it is said they will enjoy a perpetual youth; that in whatever +age they happen to die, they will be raised in their prime and vigour, that is, +of about thirty years of age, which age they will never exceed (and the same +they say of the damned); and that when they enter paradise they will be of +the same stature with Adam, who, as they fable, was no less than sixty +cubits high. And to this age and stature their children, if they shall desire +any (for otherwise their wives will not conceive), shall immediately attain; +according to that saying of their prophet, "If any of the faithful in paradise +be desirous of issue, it shall be conceived, born, and grown up within the space +of an hour." And in the same manner, if any one shall have a fancy to employ +himself in agriculture (which rustic pleasure may suit the wanton fancy of +some), what he shall sow will spring up and come to maturity in a moment. + Lest any of the senses should want their proper delight, we are told the +ear will there be entertained, not only with the ravishing songs of the angel +Israfil, who has the most melodious voice of all GOD'S creatures, and of the +daughters of paradise; but even the trees themselves will celebrate the divine +praises with a harmony exceeding whatever mortals have heard; to which will +be joined the sound of the bells hanging on the trees, which will be put in +motion by the wind proceeding from the throne of GOD, so often as the +blessed wish for music: nay, the very clashing of the golden-bodied trees, +whose fruits are pearls and emeralds, will surpass human imagination; so +that the pleasures of this sense will not be the least of the enjoyments of +paradise. + The delights we have hitherto taken a view of, it is said, will be common +to all the inhabitants of paradise, even those of the lowest order. What +then, think we, must they enjoy who shall obtain a superior degree of honour +and felicity? To these, they say, there are prepared, besides all this, "such +things as eye hath not seen, nor hath ear heard, nor hath it entered into the +heart of man to conceive;" an expression most certainly borrowed from +scripture. That we may know wherein the felicity of those who shall attain +the highest degree will consist, Mohammed is reported to have said, that the +meanest of the inhabitants of paradise will see his gardens, wives, servants, +furniture, and other possessions take up the space of a thousand years' +journey (for so far and farther will the blessed see in the next life); but that +he will be in the highest honour with GOD, who shall behold his face morning +and evening: and this favour al Ghazâli supposes to be that additional or +superabundant recompense, promised in the Koran, which will give such +exquisite delight, that in respect thereof all the other pleasures of paradise +will be forgotten and lightly esteemed; and not without reason, since, as the +same author says, every other enjoyment is equally tasted by the very brute +beast who is turned loose into luxuriant pasture. The reader will observe, +by the way, that this is a full confutation of those who pretend that the +Mohammedans admit of no spiritual pleasure in the next life, but make the +happiness of the blessed to consist wholly in corporeal enjoyments. + Whence Mohammed took the greatest part of his paradise it is easy to +show. The Jews constantly describe the future mansion of the just as a +delicious garden, and make it also reach to the seventh heaven. They also +say it has three gates, or, as others will have it, two, and four rivers (which +last circumstance they copied, to be sure, from those of the garden of Eden), +flowing with milk, wine, balsam, and honey. Their Behemoth and Leviathan, +which they pretend will be slain for the entertainment of the blessed, are so +apparently the Balâm and Nun of Mohammed, that his followers themselves +confess he is obliged to them for both. The Rabbins likewise mention seven +different degrees of felicity, and say that the highest will be of those who +perpetually contemplate the face of GOD. The Persian Magi had also an idea +of the future happy estate of the good, very little different from that of +Mohammed. Paradise they called Behisht, and Minu, which signifies crystal, +where they believe the righteous shall enjoy all manner of delights, and +particularly the company of the Hurâni behisht, or black-eyed nymphs of +paradise, the care of whom, they say, committed to the angel Zamiyâd; and +hence Mohammed seems to have taken the first hint of his paradisiacal ladies. + It is not improbable, however, but that he might have been obliged, in some +respect, to the Christian accounts of the felicity of the good in the next +life. As it is scarce possible to convey, especially to the apprehensions of +the generality of mankind, an idea of spiritual pleasures without introducing +sensible objects, the scriptures have been obliged to represent the celestial +enjoyments by corporeal images; and to describe the mansion of the blessed +as a glorious and magnificent city, built of gold and precious stones, with +twelve gates; through the streets of which there runs a river of water of +life, and having on either side the tree of life, which bears twelve sorts of +fruits, and leaves of a healing virtue. Our Saviour likewise speaks of the +future state of the blessed as of a kingdom where they shall eat and drink +at his table. But then these descriptions have none of those puerile +imaginations which reign throughout that of Mohammed, much less any the +most distant intimation of sensual delights, which he was so fond of; on the +contrary, we are expressly assured, that "in the resurrection they will +neither marry nor be given in marriage, but will be as the angels of GOD in +heaven." Mohammed, however, to enhance the value of paradise with his +Arabians, chose rather to imitate the indecency of the Magians than the +modesty of the Christians in this particular, and lest his beatified Moslems +should complain that anything was wanting, bestows on them wives, as well +as the other comforts of life; judging, it is to be presumed, from his own +inclinations, that like Panurgus's ass, they would think all the other +enjoyments not worth their acceptance if they were to be debarred from this. + Had Mohammed, after all, intimated to his followers, that what he had told +them of paradise was to be taken, not literally, but in a metaphorical sense +(as it is said the Magians do the description of Zoroaster's), this might, +perhaps make some atonement; but the contrary is so evident from the +whole tenour of the Koran, that although some Mohammedans, whose +understandings are too refined to admit such gross conceptions, look on +their prophet's descriptions as parabolical, and are willing to receive them +in an allegorical or spiritual acceptation, yet the general and orthodox +doctrine is, that the whole is to be strictly believed in the obvious and +literal acceptation; to prove which I need only urge the oath they exact +from Christians (who they know abhor such fancies) when they would bind +them in the most strong and sacred manner; for in such a case they make +them swear that if they falsify their engagement, they will affirm that there +will be black-eyed girls in the next world, and corporeal pleasures. + Before we quite this subject it may not be improper to observe the +falsehood of a vulgar imputation on the Mohammedans, who are by several +writers reported to hold that women have no souls, or, if they have, that +they will perish, like those of brute beasts, and will not be rewarded in the +next life. But whatever may be the opinion of some ignorant people among +them, it is certain that Mohammed had too great a respect for the fair sex +to teach such a doctrine; and there are several passages in the Koran which +affirm that women, in the next life, will not only be punished for their evil +actions, but will also receive the rewards of their good deeds, as well as the +men, and that in this case GOD will make no distinction of sexes. It is true, +the general notion is, that they will not be admitted into the same abode as +the men are, because their places will be supplied by the paradisiacal females +(though some allow that a man will there also have the company of those who +were his wives in this world, or at least such of them as he shall desire); but +that good women will go into a separate place of happiness, where they will +enjoy all sorts of delights; but whether one of those delights will be the +enjoyment of agreeable paramours created for them, to complete the +economy of the Mohammedan system, is what I have nowhere found decided. +One circumstance relating to these beatified females, conformable to what +he had asserted of the men, he acquainted his followers with in the answer +he returned to an old woman, who, desiring him to intercede with GOD that +she might be admitted into paradise, he told her that no old woman would +enter that place; which setting the poor woman a-crying, he explained himself +by saying that GOD would then make her young again. + The sixth great point of faith, which the Mohammedans are taught by the +Koran to believe, is GOD'S absolute decree, and predestination both of good +and evil. For the orthodox doctrine is, that whether it be bad, proceedeth +entirely from the divine will, and is irrevocably fixed and recorded from all +eternity in the preserved table; GOD having secretly predetermined not only +the adverse and prosperous fortune of every person in this world, in the +most minute particulars, but also his faith or infidelity, his obedience or +disobedience, and consequently his everlasting happiness or misery after +death; which fate or predestination it is not possible, by any foresight or +wisdom, to avoid. + Of this doctrine Mohammed makes great use in his Koran for the +advancement of his designs; encouraging his followers to fight without fear, +and even desperately, for the propagation of their faith, by representing to +them that all their caution could not avert their inevitable destiny, or prolong +their lives for a moment; and deterring them from disobeying or rejecting him +as an impostor, by setting before them the danger they might thereby incur +of being, by the just judgment of GOD, abandoned to seduction, hardness of +heart, and a reprobate mind, as a punishment for their obstinacy. + As this doctrine of absolute election and reprobation has been thought +by many of the Mohammedan divines to be derogatory to the goodness and +justice of GOD, and to make GOD the author of evil, several subtle distinctions +have been invented, and disputes raised, to explicate or soften it; and +different sects have been formed, according to their several opinions or +methods of explaining this point: some of them going so far as even to hold +the direct contrary position of absolute free will in man, as we shall see +hereafter. + Of the four fundamental points of religious practice required by the Koran, +the first is prayer, under which, as has been said, are also comprehended +those legal washings or purifications which are necessary preparations +thereto. + Of these purifications there are two degrees, one called Ghosl, being a total +immersion or bathing of the body in water; and the other called Wodu (by the +Persians, Abdest), which is the washing of their faces, hands, and feet, after +a certain manner. The first is required in some extraordinary cases only, as +after having lain with a woman, or been polluted by emission of seed, or by +approaching a dead body; women also being obliged to it after their courses +or childbirth. The latter is the ordinary ablution in common cases and before +prayer, and must necessarily be used by every person before he can enter +upon that duty. It is performed with certain formal ceremonies, which have +been described by some writers, but are much easier apprehended by seeing +them done than by the best description. + These purifications were perhaps borrowed by Mohammed of the Jews; at +least they agree in a great measure with those used by that nation, who in +process of time burdened the precepts of Moses in this point, with so many +traditionary ceremonies, that whole books have been written about them, and +who were so exact and superstitious therein, even in our Saviour's time, that +they are often reproved by him for it. But as it is certain that the pagan +Arabs used lustrations of this kind long before the time of Mohammed, as +most nations did, and still do in the east, where the warmth of the climate +requires a greater nicety and degree of cleanliness than these colder parts; +perhaps Mohammed only recalled his countrymen to a more strict observance +of those purifying rites, which had been probably neglected by them, or at +least performed in a careless and perfunctory manner. The Mohammedans, +however, will have it that they are as ancient as Abraham, who, they say, +was enjoined by GOD to observe them, and was shown the manner of making +the ablution by the angel Gabriel, in the form of a beautiful youth. Nay, some +deduce the matter higher, and imagine that these ceremonies were taught +our first parents by the angels. + That his followers might be the more punctual in this duty, Mohammed is +said to have declared, that "the practice of religion is founded on cleanliness," +which is the one-half of the faith, and the key of prayer, without which it will +not be heard by GOD. That these expressions may be the better understood, +al Ghazâli reckons four degrees of purification; of which the first is, the +cleansing of the body from all pollution, filth, and excrements; the second, +the cleansing of the members of the body from all wickedness and unjust +actions; the third, the cleansing of the heart from all blamable inclinations +and odious vices; and the fourth, the purging a man's secret thoughts from +all affections which may divert their attendance on GOD: adding, that the body +is but as the outward shell in respect to the heart, which is as the kernel. +And for this reason he highly complains of those who are superstitiously +solicitous in exterior purifications, avoiding those persons as unclean who +are not so scrupulously nice as themselves, and at the same time have their +minds lying waste, and overrun with pride, ignorance, and hypocrisy. Whence +it plainly appears with how little foundation the Mohammedans have been +charged, by some writers, with teaching or imagining that these formal +washings alone cleanse them for their sins. + Lest so necessary a preparation to their devotions should be omitted, either +where water cannot be had, or when it may be of prejudice to a person's +health, they are allowed in such cases to make use of fine sand or dust in +lieu of it; and then they perform this duty by clapping their open hands on +the sand, and passing them over the parts, in the same manner as if they +were dipped in water. But for this expedient Mohammed was not so much +indebted to his own cunning, as to the example of the Jews, or perhaps that +of the Persian Magi, almost as scrupulous as the Jews themselves in their +lustrations, who both of them prescribe the same method in cases of +necessity; and there is a famous instance, in ecclesiastical history, of sand +being used, for the same reason, instead of water, in the administration of +the Christian sacrament of baptism, many years before Mohammed's time. + Neither are the Mohammedans contented with bare washing, but think +themselves obliged to several other necessary points of cleanliness, which +they make also parts of this duty; such as combing the hair, cutting the +beard, paring the nails, pulling out the hairs of their armpits, shaving their +private parts, and circumcision; of which last I will add a word or two, lest +I should not find a more proper place. + Circumcision, though it be not so much as once mentioned in the Koran, is +yet held by the Mohammedans to be an ancient divine institution, confirmed by +the religion of Islâm, and though not so absolutely necessary but that it may +be dispensed with in some cases, yet highly proper and expedient. The Arabs +used this rite for many ages before Mohammed, having probably learned it +from Ismael, though not only his descendants, but the Hamyarites, and other +tribes, practised the same. The Ismaelites, we are told, used to circumcise +their children, not on the eighth day, as is the custom of the Jews, but when +about twelve or thirteen years old, at which age their father underwent that +operation: and the Mohammedans imitate them so far as not to circumcise +children before they be able, at least, distinctly to pronounce that profession +of their faith, "There is no GOD but GOD, Mohammed is the apostle of GOD;" +but pitch on what age they please for the purpose, between six and sixteen +or thereabouts. Though the Moslem doctors are generally of opinion, +conformably to the scripture, that this precept was originally given to +Abraham, yet some have imagined that Adam was taught it by the angel +Gabriel, to satisfy an oath he had made to cut off that flesh which, after his +fall, had rebelled against his spirit; whence an odd argument has been drawn +for the universal obligation of circumcision. Though I cannot say the Jews +led the Mohammedans the way here, yet they seem so unwilling to believe +any of the principal patriarchs or prophets before Abraham were really +uncircumcised, that they pretend several of them, as well as some holy men +who lived after his time, were born ready circumcised, or without a foreskin, +and that Adam, in particular, was so created; whence the Mohammedans +affirm the same thing of their prophet. + Prayer was by Mohammed thought so necessary a duty, that he used to call +it the pillar of religion and the key of paradise; and when the Thakifites, who +dwelt at Tâyef, sending in the ninth year of the Hejra to make their submission +to that prophet, after the keeping of their favourite idol had been denied +them, begged, at least, that they might be dispensed with as to their saying +of the appointed prayers, he answered, "That there could be no good in that +religion wherein was no prayer." + That so important a duty, therefore, might not be neglected, Mohammed +obliged his followers to pray five times every twenty-four hours, at certain +state times; viz., I. In the morning, before sunrise; 2. When noon is past, +and the sun begins to decline form the meridian; 3. In the afternoon, before +sunset; 4. In the evening, after sunset, and before day be shut in; and 5. +After the day is shut in, and before the first watch of the night. For this +institution he pretended to have received the divine command from the throne +of GOD himself, when he took his night journey to heaven; and the observing of +the stated times of prayer is frequently insisted on in the Koran, though they +be not particularly prescribed therein. Accordingly, at the aforesaid times, +of which public notice is given by the Muedhdhins, or Criers, from the +steeples of their mosques (for they use no bell), every conscientious Moslem +prepares himself for prayer, which he performs either in the mosque or any +other place, provided it be clean, after a prescribed form, and with a certain +number of phrases or ejaculations (which the more scrupulous count by a +string of beads) and using certain postures of worship; all which have been +particularly set down and described, though with some few mistakes, by other +writers, and ought not to be abridged, unless in some special cases; as on a +journey, on preparing for battle, &c. + For the regular performance of the duty of prayer among the Mohammedans, +besides the particulars above mentioned, it is also requisite that they turn +their faces, while they pray, towards the temple of Mecca; the quarter where +the same is situate being, for that reason, pointed out within their mosques +by a niche, which they call al Mehrâb, and without, by the situation of the +doors opening into the galleries of the steeples: there are also tables +calculated for the ready finding out their Kebla, or part towards which they +ought to pray, in places where they have no other direction. + But what is principally to be regarded in the discharge of this duty, say the +Moslem doctors, is the inward disposition of the heart, which is the life and +spirit of prayer; the most punctual observance of the external rites and +ceremonies before mentioned being of little or no avail, if performed without +due attention, reverence, devotion, and hope: so that we must not think the +Mohammedans, or the considerate part of them at least, content themselves +with the mere opu. operatum, or imagine their whole religion to be placed +therein. + I had like to have omitted two things which in my mind deserve mention on +this head, and may, perhaps, be better defended than our contrary practice. +One is, that the Mohammedans never address themselves to GOD in sumptuous +apparel, though they are obliged to be decently clothed; but lay aside their +costly habits and pompous ornaments, if they wear any, when they approach +the divine presence, lest they should seem proud and arrogant. The other is, +that they admit not their women to pray with them in public; that sex being +obliged to perform their devotions at home, or if they visit the mosques, it +must be at a time when the men are not there: for the Moslems are of opinion +that their presence inspires a different kind of devotion from that which is +requisite in a place dedicated to the worship of GOD. + The greater part of the particulars comprised in the Mohammedan institution +of prayer, their prophet seems to have copied from others, and especially the +Jews; exceeding their institutions only in the number of daily prayer. The Jews +are directed to pray three times a day, in the morning, in the evening, and +within night; in imitation of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and the practice was +as early, at least, as the time of Daniel. The several postures used by the +Mohammedans in their prayers are also the same with those prescribed by +the Jewish Rabbins, and particularly the most solemn act of adoration, by +prostrating themselves so as to touch the ground with their forehead; +notwithstanding, the latter pretend the practice of the former, in this +respect, to be a relic of their ancient manner of paying their devotions +to Baal-Peor. The Jews likewise constantly pray with their faces turned +towards the temple of Jerusalem, which has been their Kebla from the time +it was first dedicated by Solomon; for which reason Daniel, praying in Chaldea, +had the windows of his chamber open towards that city: and the same was +the Kebla of Mohammed and his followers for six or seven months, and till he +found himself obliged to change it for the Caaba. The Jews, moreover, are +obliged by the precepts of their religion to be careful that the place they +pray in, and the garments they have on when they perform their duty, be +clean: the men and women also among them pray apart (in which particular +they were imitated by the eastern Christians); and several other conformities +might be remarked between the Jewish public worship and that of the +Mohammedans. + The next point of the Mohammedan religion is the giving of alms, which +are of two sorts, legal and voluntary. The legal alms are of indispensable +obligation, being commanded by the law, which directs and determines both +the portion which is to be given, and of what things it ought to be given; but +the voluntary alms are left to every one's liberty, to give more or less, as +he shall see fit. The former kind of alms some think to be properly called +Zacât, and the latter Sadakat; though this name be also frequently given to +the legal alms. They are called Zacât, either because they increase a man's +store, by drawing down a blessing thereon, and produce in his soul the virtue +of liberality, or because they purify the remaining part of one's substance +from pollution, and the soul from the filth of avarice; and Sadakat, because +they are a proof of a man's sincerity in the worship of GOD. Some writers +have called the legal alms tithes, but improperly, since in some cases they +fall short, and in others exceed that proportion. + The giving of alms is frequently commanded in the Koran, and often +recommended therein jointly with prayer; the former being held of great +efficacy in causing the latter to be heard of GOD: for which reason the Khalif +Omar Ebn Abd'alaziz used to say, "that prayer and alms carries us half-way +to GOD, fasting brings us to the door of his palace, and alms procures us +admission." The Mohammedans, therefore, esteem almsdeeds to be highly +meritorious, and many of them have been illustrious for the exercise thereof. +Hasan, the son of Ali, and grandson of Mohammed, in particular is related to +have thrice in his life divided his substance equally between himself and the +poor, and twice to have given away all he had: and the generality are so +addicted to the doing of good, that they extend their charity even to brutes. + Alms, according to the prescriptions of the Mohammedan law, are to be +given of five things--I. Of cattle, that is to say, of camels, kine, and sheep. +2. Of money. 3. Of corn. 4. Of fruits, viz., dates and raisins. And 5. Of +wares sold. Of each of these a certain portion is to be given in alms, usually +one part in forty, or two and a half per cent of the value. But no alms are due +for them, unless they amount to a certain quantity or number; nor until a man +has been in possession of them eleven months, he not being obliged to give +alms thereout before the twelfth month is begun: nor are alms due for cattle +employed in tilling the ground, or in carrying of burdens. In some cases a +much larger portion than the before-mentioned is reckoned due for alms: thus +of what is gotten out of mines, or the sea, or by any art or profession over +and above what is sufficient for the reasonable support of a man's family, and +especially where there is a mixture or suspicion of unjust gain, a fifth part +ought to be given in alms. Moreover, at the end of the fast of Ramadân, every +Moslem is obliged to give in alms for himself and for every one of his family, +if he has any, a measure of wheat, barley, dates, raisins, rice, or other +provisions commonly eaten. + The legal alms were at first collected by Mohammed himself, who employed +them as he thought fit, in the relief of his poor relations and followers, but +chiefly applied them to the maintenance of those who served in his wars, and +fought, as he termed it, in the way of GOD. His successors continued to do +the same, till, in the process of time, other taxes and tributes being imposed +for the support of the government, they seem to have been weary of acting +as almoners to their subjects, and to have left the paying them to their +consciences. + In the foregoing rules concerning alms, we may observe also footsteps of +what the Jews taught and practised in respect thereto. Alms, which they +also call Sedaka, i.e., justice, or righteousness, are greatly recommended +by their Rabbins, and preferred even to sacrifices; as a duty, the frequent +exercise whereof will effectually free a man from hell fire, and merit +everlasting life: wherefore, besides the corners of the field, and the +gleanings of their harvest and vineyard, commanded to be left for the poor +and the stranger by the law of Moses, a certain portion of their corn and +fruits is directed to be set apart for their relief, which portion is called the +tithes of the poor. The Jews likewise were formerly very conspicuous for +their charity. Zaccheus gave the half of his goods to the poor; and we are +told that some gave their whole substance: so that their doctors, at length, +decreed that no man should give above a fifth part of his goods in alms. +There were also persons publicly appointed in every synagogue to collect +and distribute the people's contributions. + The third point of religious practice is fasting; a duty of so great moment, +that Mohammed used to say it was "the gate of religion," and that "the odour +of the mouth of him who fasteth is more grateful to GOD than that of musk;" +and al Ghazâli reckons fasting one-fourth part of the faith. According to the +Mohammedan divines, there are three degrees of fasting: I. The restraining +the belly and other parts of the body from satisfying their lusts; 2. The +restraining the ears, eyes, tongue, hands, feet, and other members from +sin; and 3. The fasting of the heart from worldly cares, and refraining the +thoughts from everything besides GOD. + The Mohammedans are obliged, by the express command of the Koran, to +fast the whole month of Ramadân, from the time the new moon first appears, +till the appearance of the next new moon; during which time they must abstain +from eating, drinking, and women, from daybreak till night, or sunset. And +this injunction they observe so strictly, that while they fast they suffer +nothing to enter their mouths, or other parts of their body, esteeming the +fast broken and null if they smell perfumes, take a clyster or injection, bathe, +or even purposely swallow their spittle; some being so cautious that they will +not open their mouths to speak, lest they should breathe the air too freely: +the fast is also deemed void if a man kiss or touch a woman, or if he vomit +designedly. But after sunset they are allowed to refresh themselves, and to +eat and drink, and enjoy the company of their wives till daybreak; though the +more rigid begin the fast again at midnight. This fast is extremely rigorous +and mortifying when the month of Ramadân happens to fall in summer, for +the Arabian year being lunar, each month runs through all the different +seasons in the course of thirty-three years, the length and heat of the days +making the observance of it much more difficult and uneasy then than + The reason given why the month of Ramadân was pitched on for this purpose +is, that on the month the Koran was sent down from heaven. Some pretend +that Abraham, Moses, and Jesus received their respective revelations in the +same month. + From the fast of Ramadân none are excused, except only travellers and sick +persons (under which last denomination the doctors comprehend all whose +health would manifestly be injured by their keeping the fast; as women with +child and giving suck, ancient people, and young children); but then they are +obliged, as soon as the impediment is removed, to fast an equal number of +other days: and the breaking the fast is ordered to be expiated by giving alms +to the poor. + Mohammed seems to have followed the guidance of the Jews in his +ordinances concerning fasting, no less than in the former particulars. That +nation, when they fast, abstain not only from eating and drinking, but from +women, and from anointing themselves, from daybreak until sunset, and the +stars begin to appear; spending the night in taking what refreshments they +please. And they allow women with child and giving suck, old persons, and +young children to be exempted from keeping most of the public fasts. + Though my design here be briefly to treat of those points only which are +of indispensable obligation on a Moslem, and expressly required by the Koran, +without entering into their practice as to voluntary and supererogatory works; +yet to show how closely Mohammed's institutions follow the Jewish, I shall add +a word or two of the voluntary fasts of the Mohammedans. These are such as +have been recommended either by the example or approbation of their prophet; +and especially certain days of those months which they esteem sacred: there +being a tradition that he used to say, That a fast of one day in a sacred +month was better than a fast of thirty days in another month; and that the +fast of one day in Ramadân was more meritorious than a fast of thirty days in +a sacred month. Among the more commendable days is that of Ashura, the +tenth of Moharram; which, though some writers tell us it was observed by the +Arabs, and particularly the tribe of Koreish, before Mohammed's time, yet, as +others assure us, that prophet borrowed both the name and the fast from +the Jews; it being with them the tenth of the seventh month, or Tisri, and the +great day of expiation commanded to be kept by the law of Moses. Al Kazwini +relates that when Mohammed came to Medina, and found the Jews there +fasted on the day of Ashura, he asked them the reason of it; and they told +him it was because on that day Pharaoh and his people were drowned, Moses +and those who were with him escaping: whereupon he said that he bore a +nearer relation to Moses than they, and ordered his followers to fast on that +day. However, it seems afterwards he was not so well pleased in having +imitated the Jews herein; and therefore declared that, if he lived another +year, he would alter the day, and fast on the ninth, abhorring so near an +agreement with them. + The pilgrimage to Mecca is so necessary a point of practice that, according +to a tradition of Mohammed, he who dies without performing it, may as well +die a Jew or a Christian; and the same is expressly commanded in the Koran. +Before I speak of the time and manner of performing this pilgrimage, it may +be proper to give a short account of the temple of Mecca, the chief scene of +the Mohammedan worship; in doing which I need be the less prolix, because that +edifice has been already described by several writers, though they, following +different relations, have been led into some mistakes, and agree not with one +another in several particulars: nor, indeed, do the Arab authors agree in all +things, one great reason whereof is their speaking of different times. + The temple of Mecca stands in the midst of the city, and is honoured with +the title of Masjad al alharâm, i.e., the sacred or inviolable temple. What is +principally reverenced in this place, and gives sanctity to the whole, is a +square stone building, called the Caaba, as some fancy, from its height, which +surpasses that of the other buildings in Mecca, but more probably from its +quadrangular form, and Beit Allah, i.e., the house of GOD, being peculiarly +hallowed and set apart for his worship. The length of this edifice, from +north to south, is twenty-four cubits, its breadth from east to west twenty- +three cubits, and its height twenty-seven cubits: the door, which is on the +east side, stands about four cubits from the ground; the floor being level +with the bottom of the door. In the corner next this door is the black stone, +of which I shall take notice by-and-bye. On the north side of the Caaba, +within a semicircular enclosure fifty cubits long, lies the white stone, said +to be the sepulchre of Ismael, which receives the rain-water that falls off +the Caaba by a spout, formerly of wood, but now of gold. The Caaba has +a double roof, supported within by three octangular pillars of aloes wood; +between which, on a bar of iron, hang some silver lamps. The outside is +covered with rich black damask, adorned with an embroidered band of gold, +which is changed every year, and was formerly sent by the Khalifs, +afterwards by the Soltâns of Egypt, and is now provided by the Turkish +emperors. At a small distance from the Caaba, on the east side, is the +Station or Place of Abraham, where is another stone much respected by +the Mohammedans, of which something will be said hereafter. + The Caaba, at some distance, is surrounded but not entirely, by a circular +enclosure of pillars, joined towards the bottom by a low balustrade, and +towards the top by bars of silver. Just without this inner enclosure, on the +south, north, and west sides of the Caaba, are three buildings, which are the +oratories, or places where three of the orthodox sects assemble to perform +their devotions (the fourth sect, viz., that of al Shâfei, making use of the +station of Abraham for that purpose), and towards the southeast stands the +edifice which covers the well Zemzem, the treasury, and cupola of al Abbas. + All these buildings are enclosed, a considerable distance, by a magnificent +piazza, or square colonnade, like that of the Royal Exchange in London, but +much larger, covered with small domes or cupolas, from the four corners +whereof rise as many minârets or steeples, with double galleries, and adorned +with gilded spires and crescents, as are the cupolas which cover the piazza +and the other buildings. Between the pillars of both enclosures hang a great +number of lamps, which are constantly lighted at night. The first foundations +of this outward enclosure were laid by Omar, the second Khalif, who built no +more than a low wall to prevent the court of the Caaba, which before lay open, +from being encroached on by private buildings; but the structure has been +since raised, by the liberality of many succeeding princes and great men, to +its present lustre. + This is properly all that is called the temple, but the whole territory of +Mecca being also Harâm, or sacred, there is a third enclosure, distinguished +at certain distances by small turrets, some five, some seven, and others ten +miles distant from the city. Within this compass of ground it is not lawful +to attack an enemy, or even to hunt or fowl, or cut a branch from a tree: +which is the true reason why the pigeons at Mecca are reckoned sacred, and +not that they are supposed to be of the race of that imaginary pigeon which +some authors, who should have known better, would persuade us Mohammed +made pass for the Holy Ghost. + The temple of Mecca was a place of worship, and in singular veneration with +the Arabs from great antiquity, and many centuries before Mohammed. +Though it was most probably dedicated at first to an idolatrous use, yet the +Mohammedans are generally persuaded that the Caaba is almost coeval with +the world: for they say that Adam, after his expulsion from paradise, begged +of GOD that he might erect a building like that he had seen there, called Beit +al Mamur, or the frequented house, and al Dorâh, towards which he might direct +his prayers, and which he might compass, as the angels do the celestial one. +Whereupon GOD let down a representation of that house in curtains of light, +and set it in Mecca, perpendicularly under its original, ordering the patriarch +to turn towards it when he prayed, and to compass it by way of devotion. +After Adam's death, his son Seth built a house in the same form of stones +and clay, which being destroyed by the Deluge, was rebuilt by Abraham and +Ismael, at GOD'S command, in the place where the former had stood, and +after the same model, they being directed therein by revelation. + After this edifice had undergone several reparations, it was, a few years +after the birth of Mohammed, rebuilt by the Koreish on the old foundation, +and afterwards repaired by Abd'allah Ebn Zobeir, the Khalif of Mecca, and at +length again rebuilt by al Hejâj Ebn Yusof, in the seventy-fourth year of the +Hejra, with some alterations, in the form wherein it now remains. Some years +after, however, the Khalif Harun al Rashid (or, as others write, his father al +Mohdi, or his grandfather al Mansur) intended again to change what had been +altered by al Hejâj, and to reduce the Caaba to the old form in which it was +left by Abd'allah, but was dissuaded from meddling with it, lest so holy a +place should become the sport of princes, and being new modelled after +every one's fancy, should lose that reverence which was justly paid it. But +notwithstanding the antiquity and holiness of this building, they have a +prophecy, by tradition from Mohammed, that in the last times the Ethiopians +shall come and utterly demolish it, after which it will not be rebuilt again +for ever. + Before we leave the temple of Mecca, two or three particulars deserve +further notice. One is the celebrated black stone, which is set in silver, +and fixed in the southeast corner of the Caaba, being that which looks +towards Basra, about two cubits and one-third, or, which is the same thing, +seven spans from the ground. This stone is exceedingly respected by the +Mohammedans, and is kissed by the pilgrims with great devotion, being called +by some the right hand of GOD on earth. They fable that it is one of the +precious stones of paradise, and fell down to the earth with Adam, and being +taken up again, or otherwise preserved at the Deluge, the angel Gabriel +afterwards brought it back to Abraham when he was building the Caaba. +It was at first whiter than milk, but grew black long since by the touch of a +menstruous woman, or, as others tell us, by the sins of mankind, or rather by +the touches and kisses of so many people, the superficies only being black, +and the inside still remaining white. When the Karmatians, among other +profanations by them offered to the temple of Mecca, took away this stone, +they could not be prevailed on, for love or money, to restore it, though those +of Mecca offered no less than five thousand pieces of gold for it. However, +after they had kept it twenty-two years, seeing they could not thereby draw +the pilgrims from Mecca, they sent it back of their own accord; at the same +time bantering its devotees by telling them it was not the true stone: but, +as it is said, it was proved to be no counterfeit by its peculiar quality of +swimming on water. + Another thing observable in this temple is the stone in Abraham's place, +wherein they pretend to show his footsteps, telling us he stood on it when +he built the Caaba, and that it served him for a scaffold, rising and falling +of itself as he had occasion, though another tradition says he stood upon +it while the wife of his son Ismael, whom he paid a visit to, washed his head. +It is now enclosed in an iron chest, out of which the pilgrims drink the water +of Zemzem, and are ordered to pray at it by the Koran. The officers of the +temple took care to hide this stone when the Karmatians took the other. + The last thing I shall take notice of in the temple is the well Zemzem, on +the east side of the Caaba, and which is covered with a small building and +cupola. The Mohammedans are persuaded it is the very spring which gushed +out for the relief of Ismael, when Hagar his mother wandered with him in the +desert; and some pretend it was so named from her calling to him, when she +spied it, in the Egyptian tongue, Zem, zem, that is, "Stay, stay," though it +seems rather to have had the name from the murmuring of its waters. The +water of this will is reckoned holy, and is highly reverenced, being not only +drunk with particular devotion by the pilgrims, but also sent in bottles, as +a great rarity, to most parts of the Mohammedan dominions. Abd'allah, +surnamed al Hâfedh, from his great memory, particularly as to the traditions +of Mohammed, gave out that he acquired that faculty by drinking large +draughts of Zemzem water, to which I really believe it as efficacious as that +of Helicon to the inspiring of a poet. + To this temple every Mohammedan, who has health and means sufficient +ought once, at least, in his life to go on pilgrimage; nor are women excused +from the performance of this duty. The pilgrims meet at different places +near Mecca, according to the different parts from whence they come, during +the months of Shawâl and Dhu'lkaada, being obliged to be there by the beginning +of Dhu'lhajja, which month, as its name imports, is peculiarly set apart for the +celebration of this solemnity. + At the places above mentioned the pilgrims properly commence such; when +the men put on the Ihrâm, or sacred habit, which consists only of two woolen +wrappers, one wrapped about the middle to cover their privities, and the other +thrown over their shoulders, having their heads bare, and a kind of slippers +which cover neither the heel nor the instep, and so enter the sacred territory +in their way to Mecca. While they have this habit on they must neither hunt +nor fowl (though they are allowed to fish), which precept is so punctually +observed, that they will not kill even a louse or a flea, if they find them on +their bodies: there are some noxious animals, however, which they have +permission to kill during the pilgrimage, as kites, ravens, scorpions, mice, +and dogs given to bite. During the pilgrimage it behoves a man to have a +constant guard over his words and actions, and to avoid all quarrelling or ill +language, and all converse with women and obscene discourse, and to apply +his whole intention to the good work he is engaged in. + The pilgrims, being arrived at Mecca, immediately visit the temple, and +then enter on the performance of the prescribed ceremonies, which consist +chiefly in going in procession round the Caaba, in running between the Mounts +Safâ and Merwâ, in making the station on Mount Arafat, and slaying the +victims, and shaving their heads in the valley of Mina. These ceremonies +have been so particularly described by others, that I may be excused if I but +just mention the most material circumstances thereof. + In compassing the Caaba, which they do seven times, beginning at the +corner where the black stone is fixed, they use a short, quick pace the three +first times they go round it, and a grave, ordinary pace, the four last; which, it +is said, was ordered by Mohammed, that his followers might show themselves +strong and active, to cut off the hopes of the infidels, who gave out that the +immoderate heats of Medina had rendered them weak. But the aforesaid quick +pace they are not obliged to use every time they perform this piece of +devotion, but only at some particular times. So often as they pass by the +black stone, they either kiss it, or touch it with their hand, and kiss that. + The running between Safâ and Merwâ is also performed seven times, partly +with a slow pace, and partly running: for they walk gravely till they come to +a place between two pillars; and there they run, and afterwards walk again; +sometimes looking back, and sometimes stopping, like one who has lost +something, to represent Hagar seeking water for her son:3 for the ceremony +is said to be as ancient as her time. + On the ninth of Dhu'lhajja, after morning prayer, the pilgrims leave the +valley of Mina, whither they come the day before, and proceed in a tumultuous +and rushing manner to Mount Arafat, where they stay to perform their +devotions till sunset: then they go to Mozdalifa, an oratory between Arafat +and Mina, and there spend the night in prayer and reading the Koran. The next +morning, by daybreak, they visit al Masher al harâm, or the sacred monument, +and departing thence before sunrise, haste by Batn Mohasser to the valley of +Mina, where they throw seven stones at three marks, or pillars, in imitation +of Abraham, who, meeting the devil in that place, and being by him disturbed +in his devotions, or tempted to disobedience, when he was going to sacrifice +his son, was commanded by GOD to drive him away by throwing stones at him; +though others pretend this rite to be as old as Adam, who also put the devil +to flight in the same place and by the same means. + This ceremony being over, on the same day, the tenth of Dhu'lhajja, the +pilgrims slay their victims in the said valley of Mina; of which they and their +friends eat part, and the rest is given to the poor. These victims must be +either sheep, goats, kine, or camels; males, if of either of the two former +kinds, and females if of either of the latter, and of a fit age. The sacrifices +being over, they shave their heads and cut their nails, burying them in the +same place; after which the pilgrimage is looked on as completed: though +they again visit the Caaba, to take their leave of that sacred building. + The above-mentioned ceremonies, by the confession of the Mohammedans +themselves, were almost all of them observed by the pagan Arabs many ages +before their prophet's appearance; and particularly the compassing of the +Caaba, the running between Safâ and Merwâ, and the throwing of the stones in +Mina; and were confirmed by Mohammed, with some alterations in such points +as seemed most exceptionable: thus, for example, he ordered that when they +compassed the Caaba they should be clothed; whereas, before his time, they +performed that piece of devotion naked, throwing off their clothes as a mark +that they had cast off their sins, or as signs of their disobedience towards +GOD. + It is also acknowledged that the greater part of these rites are of no +intrinsic worth, neither affecting the soul, nor agreeing with natural reason, +but altogether arbitrary, and commanded merely to try the obedience of +mankind, without any further view; and are therefore to be complied with; +not that they are good in themselves, but because GOD has so appointed. +Some, however, have endeavoured to find out some reason for the arbitrary +injunctions of this kind; and one writer, supposing men ought to imitate the +heavenly bodies, not only in their purity, but in their circular motion, seems +to argue the procession round the Caaba to be therefore a rational practice. +Reland has observed that the Romans had something like this in their worship, +being ordered by Numa to use a circular motion in the adoration of the Gods, +either to represent the orbicular motion of the world, or the perfecting the +whole office of prayer to that GOD who is maker of the universe, or else in +allusion to the Egyptian wheels, which were hieroglyphics of the instability +of human fortune. + The pilgrimage to Mecca, and the ceremonies prescribed to those +who perform it, are, perhaps, liable to greater exception than other of +Mohammed's institutions; not only as silly and ridiculous in themselves, but +as relics of idolatrous superstition. Yet whoever seriously considers how +difficult it is to make people submit to the abolishing of ancient customs, +how unreasonable soever, which they are fond of, especially where the +interest of a considerable party is also concerned, and that a man may +with less danger change many things than one great one, must excuse +Mohammed's yielding some points of less moment, to gain the principal. +The temple of Mecca was held in excessive veneration by all the Arabs in +general (if we except only the tribes of Tay, and Khathaam, and some of +the posterity of al Hareth Ebn Caab, who used not to go in pilgrimage thereto), +and especially by those of Mecca, who had a particular interest to support +that veneration; and as the most silly and insignificant things are generally +the objects of the greatest superstition, Mohammed found it much easier +to abolish idolatry itself, than to eradicate, the superstitious bigotry with +which they were addicted to that temple, and the rites performed there; +wherefore, after several fruitless trials to wean them therefrom, he thought +it best to compromise the matter, and rather than to frustrate his whole +design, to allow them to go on pilgrimage thither, and to direct their prayers +thereto; contenting himself with transferring the devotions there paid from +their idols to the true GOD, and changing such circumstances therein as he +judged might give scandal. And herein he followed the example of the most +famous legislators, who instituted not such laws as were absolutely the best +in themselves, but the best their people were capable of receiving: and we +find GOD himself had the same condescendence for the Jews, whose hardness +of heart he humoured in many things, giving them therefore statutes that +were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live. + + + + + +_______ + + +SECTION V. + +OF CERTAIN NEGATIVE PRECEPTS IN THE KORAN. + +HAVING in the preceeding section spoken of the fundamental points of the +Mohammedan religion, relating both to faith and to practice, I shall in this +and the two following discourses, speak in the same brief method of some +other precepts and institutions of the Koran which deserve peculiar notice, +and first of certain things which are thereby prohibited. + The drinking of wine, under which name all sorts of strong and inebriating +liquors are comprehended, is forbidden in the Koran in more places than one. +Some, indeed, have imagined that excess therein is only forbidden, and that +the moderate use of wine is allowed by two passages in the same book: but +the more received opinion is, that to drink any strong liquors, either in a lesser +quantity, or in a greater, is absolutely unlawful; and though libertines indulge +themselves in a contrary practice, yet the more conscientious are so strict, +especially if they have performed the pilgrimage to Mecca, that they hold it +unlawful not only to taste wine, but to press grapes for the making of it, to +buy or to sell it, or even to maintain themselves with the money arising by +the sale of that liquor. The Persians, however, as well as the Turks, are +very fond of wine; and if one asks them how it comes to pass that they +venture to drink it, when it is so directly forbidden by their religion, they +answer, that it is with them as with the Christians, whose religion prohibits +drunkenness and whoredom as great sins, and who glory, notwithstanding, +some in debauching girls and married women, and others in drinking to excess. + It has been a question whether coffee comes not under the above-mentioned +prohibition, because the fumes of it have some effect on the imagination. +This drink, which was first publicly used at Aden in Arabia Felix, about the +middle of the ninth century of the Hejra, and thence gradually introduced into +Mecca, Medina, Egypt, Syria, and other parts of the Levant, has been the +occasion of great disputes and disorders, having been sometimes publicly +condemned and forbidden, and again declared lawful and allowed. At present +the use of coffee is generally tolerated, if not granted, as is that of tobacco, +though the more religious make a scruple of taking the latter, not only +because it inebriates, but also out of respect to a traditional saying of +their prophet (which, if it could be made out to be his, would prove him a +prophet indeed), "That in the latter days there should be men who should bear +the name of Moslems, but should not be really such; and that they should +smoke a certain weed, which should be called TOBACCO." However, the +eastern nations are generally so addicted to both, that they say, "A dish of +coffee and a pipe of tobacco are a complete entertainment;" and the Persians +have a proverb that coffee without tobacco is meat without salt. + Opium and beng (which latter is the leaves of hemp in pills or conserve) +are also by the rigid Mohammedans esteemed unlawful, though not mentioned +in the Koran, because they intoxicate and disturb the understanding as wine +does, and in a more extraordinary manner: yet these drugs are now commonly +taken in the east; but they who are addicted to them are generally looked +upon as debauchees. + Several stories have been told as the occasion of Mohammed's prohibiting +the drinking of wine: but the true reasons are given in the Koran, viz., because +the ill qualities of that liquor surpass its good ones, the common effects +thereof being quarrels and disturbances in company, and neglect, or at least +indecencies, in the performance of religious duties. For these reasons it +was that the priests were, by the Levitical law, forbidden to drink wine or +strong drink when they entered the tabernacle, and that the Nazarites and +Rechabites, and many pious persons among the Jews and primitive Christians, +wholly abstained therefrom; nay, some of the latter went so far as to condemn +the use of wine as sinful. But Mohammed is said to have had a nearer example +than any of these, in the more devout persons of his own tribe. + Gaming is prohibited by the Koran in the same passages, and for the same +reasons, as wine. The word al Meisar, which is there used, signifies a +particular manner of casting lots by arrows, much practised by the pagan +Arabs, and performed in the following manner. A young camel being bought +and killed, and divided into ten or twenty-eight parts, the persons who cast +lots for them, to the number of seven, met for that purpose; and eleven +arrows were provided, without heads or feathers, seven of which were marked, +the first with one notch, the second with two, and so on, and the other four +had no mark at all. These arrows were put promiscuously into a bag, and then +drawn by an indifferent person, who had another near him to receive them, +and to see he acted fairly; those to whom the marked arrows fell won shares +in proportion to their lot, and those to whom the blanks fell were entitled to +no part of the camel at all, but were obliged to pay the full price of it. The +winners, however, tasted not of the flesh, any more than the losers, but the +whole was distributed among the poor; and this they did out of pride and +ostentation, it being reckoned a shame for a man to stand out, and not +venture his money on such an occasion. This custom, therefore, though it +was of some use to the poor and diversion to the rich, was forbidden by +Mohammed as the source of great inconveniences, by occasioning quarrels +and heart-burnings, which arose from the winners insulting of those who lost. + Under the name of lots the commentators agree that all other games +whatsoever, which are subject to hazard or chance, are comprehended and +forbidden, as dice, cards, tables, &c. And they are reckoned so ill in +themselves, that the testimony of him who plays at them, is by the more +rigid judged to be of no validity in a court of justice. Chess is almost the only +game which the Mohammedan doctors allow to be lawful (though it has been a +doubt with some), because it depends wholly on skill and management, and not +at all on chance: but then it is allowed under certain restrictions, viz., that it +be no hindrance to the regular performance of their devotions, and that no +money or other thing be played for or betted; which last the Turks and +Sonnites religiously observe, but the Persians and Mogols do not. But what +Mohammed is supposed chiefly to have dislike in the game of chess, was the +carved pieces, or men, with which the pagan Arabs played, being little figures +of men, elephants, horses, and dromedaries; and these are thought, by some +commentators, to be truly meant by the images prohibited in one of the +passages of the Koran quoted above. + That the Arabs in Mohammed's time actually used such images for +chess-men appears from what is related, in the Sonna, of Ali, who passing +accidentally by some who were playing at chess, asked, "What images they +were which they were so intent upon?" for they were perfectly new to him, +that game having been but very lately introduced into Arabia, and not long +before into Persia, whither it was first brought from India in the reign of +Khosru Nushirwân. Hence the Mohammedan doctors infer that the game was +disapproved only for the sake of the images: wherefore the Sonnites always +play with plain pieces of wood or ivory; but the Persians and Indians, who are +not so scrupulous, continue to make use of the carved ones. + The Mohammedans comply with the prohibition of gaming much better than +they do with that of win; for though the common people among the Turks more +frequently, and the Persians more rarely, are addicted to play, yet the better +sort are seldom guilty of it. + Gaming, at least to excess, has been forbidden in all well-ordered states. +Gaming-houses were reckoned scandalous places among the Greeks, and a +gamester is declared by Aristotle to be no better than a thief: the Roman +senate made very severe laws against playing at games of hazard, except +only during the Saturnalia; though the people played often at other times, +notwithstanding the prohibition: the civil law forbad all pernicious games; and +though the laity were, in some cases, permitted to play for money, provided +they kept within reasonable bounds, yet the clergy were forbidden to play at +tables (which is a game of hazard), or even to look on while others played. +Accursius, indeed, is of opinion they may play at chess, notwithstanding that +law, because it is a game not subject to chance, and being but newly invented +in the time of Justinian, was not then known in the western parts. However, +the monks for some time were not allowed even chess. + As to the Jews, Mohammed's chief guides, they also highly disapprove +gaming: gamesters being severely censured in the Talmud, and their +testimony declared invalid. + Another practice of the idolatrous Arabs forbidden also in one of the +above-mentioned passages, was that of divining by arrows. The arrows used +by them for this purpose were like those with which they cast lots, being +without heads or feathers, and were kept in the temple of some idol, in whose +presence they were consulted. Seven such arrows were kept at the temple +of Mecca; but generally in divination they made use of three only, on one of +which was written, "My LORD hath commanded me," on another, "My LORD hath +forbidden me," and the third was blank. If the first was drawn, they looked on +it as an approbation of the enterprise in question; if the second, they made a +contrary conclusion; but if the third happened to be drawn, they mixed them +and drew over again, till a decisive answer was given by one of the others. +These divining arrows were generally consulted before anything of moment +was undertaken; as when a man was about to marry, or about to go a journey, +or the like. This superstitious practice of divining by arrows was used by the +ancient Greeks, and other nations; and is particularly mentioned in scripture, +where it is said, that "the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at +the head of the two ways, to use divination; he made his arrows bright" (or, +according to the version of the Vulgate, which seems preferable in this place, +"he mixed together, or shook the arrows"), "he consulted with images," &c.; +the commentary of St. Jerome on which passage wonderfully agrees with +what we are told of the aforesaid custom of the old Arabs: "He shall stand," +says he, "in the highway, and consult the oracle after the manner of his +nation, that he may cast arrows into a quiver, and mix them together, being +written upon or marked with the names of each people, that he may see +whose arrow will come forth, and which city he ought first to attack." + A distinction of meats was so generally used by the eastern nations, +that it is no wonder that Mohammed made some regulations in that matter. +The Koran, therefore, prohibits the eating of blood, and swine's flesh, and +whatever dies of itself, or is slain in the name or in honour of any idol, or +is strangled, or killed by a blow, or a fall, or by any other beast. In which +particulars Mohammed seems chiefly to have imitated the Jews, by whose +law, as is well known, all those things are forbidden; but he allowed some +things to be eaten which Moses did not, as camels' flesh in particular. In +cases of necessity, however, where a man may be in danger of starving, he +is allowed by the Mohammedan law to eat any of the said prohibited kinds of +food; and the Jewish doctors grant the same liberty in the same case. +Though the aversion to blood and what dies of itself may seem natural, yet +some of the pagan Arabs used to eat both: of their eating of the latter some +instances will be given hereafter; and as to the former, it is said they used +to pour blood, which they sometimes drew from a live camel, into a gut, and +then broiled it in the fire, or boiled it, and ate it: this food they called +Moswadd, from Aswad which signifies black; the same nearly resembling our +black puddings in name as well as composition. The eating of meat offered +to idols I take to be commonly practised by all idolaters, being looked on as +a sort of communion in their worship, and for that reason esteemed by +Christians, if not absolutely unlawful, yet as what may be the occasion of +great scandal: but the Arabs were particularly superstitious in this matter, +killing what they ate on stones erected on purpose around the Caaba, or near +their own houses, and calling, at the same time, on the name of some idol. +Swine's flesh, indeed, the old Arabs seem not to have eaten; and their +prophet, in prohibiting the same, appears to have only confirmed the common +aversion of the nation. Foreign writers tell us that the Arabs wholly abstained +from swine's flesh, thinking it unlawful to feed thereon, and that very few, if +any, of those animals are found in their country, because it produces not +proper food for them; which has made one writer imagine that if a hog were +carried thither, it would immediately die. + In the prohibition of usury I presume Mohammed also followed the Jews, who +are strictly forbidden by their law to exercise it among one another, though +they are so infamously guilty of it in their dealing with those of a different +religion: but I do not find the prophet of the Arabs has made any distinction +in this matter. + Several superstitious customs relating to cattle, which seem to have been +peculiar to the pagan Arabs, were also abolished by Mohammed. The Koran +mentions four names by them given to certain camels or sheep, which for +some particular reasons were left at free liberty, and were not made use of +as other cattle of the same kind. These names are Bahira, Sâiba, Wasila, and +Hâmi: of each whereof in their order. + As to the first, it is said that when a she-camel, or a sheep, had borne +young ten times, they used to slit her ear, and turn her loose to feed at full +liberty; and when she died, her flesh was eaten by the men only, the women +being forbidden to eat thereof: and such a camel or sheep, from the slitting +of her ear, they called Bahira. Or the Bahira was a she-camel, which was +turned loose to feed, and whose fifth young one, if it proved a male, was +killed and eaten by men and women promiscuously; but if it proved a female, +had its ear slit, and was dismissed to free pasture, none being permitted to +make use of its flesh or milk, or to ride on it; though the women were allowed +to eat the flesh of it when it died: or it was the female young of the Sâiba, +which was used in the same manner as its dam; or else an ewe, which had +yeaned five times. These, however, are not all the opinions concerning the +Bahira: for some suppose that name was given to a she-camel, which, after +having brought forth young five times, if the last was a male, had her ear slit, +as a mark thereof, and was let go loose to feed, none driving her from pasture +or water, nor using her for carriage; and others tell us, that when a camel had +newly brought forth, they used to slit the ear of her young one, saying, "O +GOD, if it live, it shall be for our use, but if it die, it shall be deemed rightly +slain;" and when it died, they ate it. + Sâiba signifies a she-camel turned loose to go where she will. And this was +done on various accounts: as when she had brought forth females ten times +together; or in satisfaction of a vow; or when a man had recovered from +sickness, or returned safe from a journey, or his camel had escaped some +signal danger either in battle or otherwise. A camel so turned loose was +declared to be Sâiba, and, as a mark of it, one of the vertebrae or bones +was taken out of her back, after which none might drive her from pasture +or water, or ride on her. Some say that the Sâiba, when she had ten times +together brought forth females, was suffered to go at liberty, none being +allowed to ride on her, and that her milk was not to be drank by any but her +young one, or a guest, till she died; and then her flesh was eaten by men as +well as women, and her last female young one had her ear slit, and was called +Bahira, and turned loose as her dam had been. + This appellation, however, was not so strictly proper to female camels, but +that it was given to the male when his young one had begotten another young +one: nay, a servant set at liberty and dismissed by his master, was also +called Sâiba; and some are of opinion that the word denotes an animal which +the Arabs used to turn loose in honour of their idols, allowing none to make +uses of them, thereafter, except women only. + Wasila is, by one author, explained to signify a she-camel which had +brought forth ten times, or an ewe which had yeaned seven times, and every +time twin; and if the seventh time she brought forth a male and a female, +they said, "Wosilat akhâha," i.e., "She is joined," or, "was brought forth with +her brother," after which none might drink the dam's milk, except men only; +and she was used as the Sâiba. Or Wasila was particularly meant of sheep; +as when an ewe brought forth a female, they took it to themselves, but when +she brought forth a male, they consecrated it to their gods, but if both a male +and a female, they said, "She is joined to her brother," and did not sacrifice +that male to their gods: or Wasila was an ewe which brought forth first a +male, and then a female, on which account, or because she followed her +brother, the male was not killed; but if she brought forth a male only, they +said, "Let this be an offering to our gods." Another writes, that if an ewe +brought forth twins seven times together, and the eighth time a male, they +sacrificed that male to their gods; but if the eighth time she brought both a +male and a female, they used to say, "She is joined to her brother," and for +the female's sake they spared the male, and permitted not the dam's milk to +be drunk by women. A third writer tell us, that Wasila was an ewe, which +having yeaned seven times, if that which she brought forth the seventh time +was a male, they sacrificed it, but if a female, it was suffered to go loose, and +was made use of by women only; and if the seventh time she brought forth +both a male and a female, they held them both to be sacred, so that men only +were allowed to make any use of them, or to drink the milk of the female: and +a fourth describes it to be an ewe which brought forth ten females at five +births one after another, i.e., every time twins, and whatever she brought +forth afterwards was allowed to men, and not to women, &c. + Hâmi was a male camel used for a stallion, which, if the females had +conceived ten times by him, was afterwards freed from labour, and let go +loose, none driving him from pasture or from water; nor was any allowed to +receive the least benefit from him, not even to shear his hair. + These things were observed by the old Arabs in honour of their false gods, +and as part of the worship which they paid them, and were ascribed to the +divine institution; but are all condemned in the Koran, and declared to be +impious superstitions. + The law of Mohammed also put a stop to the inhuman custom which had been +long practised by the Pagan Arabs, of burying their daughters alive, lest they +should be reduced to poverty by providing for them, or else to avoid the +displeasure and the disgrace which would follow, if they should happen to be +made captives, or to become scandalous by their behaviour; the birth of a +daughter being, for these reasons, reckoned a great misfortune, and the death +of one as a great happiness. The manner of their doing this is differently +related: some say that when an Arab had a daughter born, if he intended to +bring her up, he sent her, clothed in a garment of wool or hair, to keep +camels or sheep in the desert; but if he designed to put her to death, he let +her live till she became six years old, and then said to her mother, "Perfume +her, and adorn her, that I may carry her to her mothers;" which being done, +the father led her to a well or pit dug for that purpose, and having bid her +to look down into it, pushed her in headlong, as he stood behind her, and then +filling up the pit, levelled it with the rest of the ground; but others say, +that when a woman was ready to fall in labour, they dug a pit, on the brink +whereof she was to be delivered, and if the child happened to be a daughter, +they threw it into the pit, but if a son, they saved it alive. This custom, +though not observed by all the Arabs in general, was yet very common among +several of their tribes, and particularly those of Koreish and Kendah; the +former using to bury their daughters alive in Mount Abu Dalâma, near Mecca. +In the time of ignorance, while they used this method to get rid of their +daughters, Sasaa, grandfather to the celebrated poet al Farazdak, frequently +redeemed female children from death, giving for every one two she-camels +big with young, and a he-camel; and hereto al Farazdak alluded when, vaunting +himself before one of the Khalifs of the family of Omeyya, he said, "I am the +son of the giver of life to the dead;" for which expression being censured, he +excused himself by alleging the following words of the Koran, "He who saveth +a soul alive, shall be as if he had saved the lives of all mankind." The Arabs, +in thus murdering of their children, were far from being singular; the practice +of exposing infants and putting them to death being so common among the +ancients, that it is remarked as a thing very extraordinary in the Egyptians, +that they brought up all their children; and by the laws of Lycurgus no child +was allowed to be brought up without the approbation of public officers. At +this day, it is said, in China, the poorer sort of people frequently put their +children, the females especially, to death with impunity. + This wicked practice is condemned by the Koran in several passages; one +of which, as some commentators judge, may also condemn another custom +of the Arabians, altogether as wicked, and as common among other nations +of old, viz., the sacrificing of their children to their idols; as was frequently +done, in particular, in satisfaction of a vow they used to make, that if they +had a certain number of sons born, they would offer one of them in sacrifice. + Several other superstitious customs were likewise abrogated by Mohammed, +but the same being of less moment, and not particularly mentioned in the +Koran, or having been occasionally taken notice of elsewhere, I shall say +nothing of them in this place. + + + + + +______ + + +SECTION VI. + +OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE KORAN IN CIVIL AFFAIRS. + +THE Mohammedan civil law is founded on the precepts and determinations of +the Koran, as the civil laws of the Jews were on those of the Pentateuch; +yet being variously interpreted, according to the different decisions of their +civilians, and especially of their four great doctors, Abu Hanifa, Malec, al +Shâfei, and Ebn Hanbal, to treat thereof fully and distinctly in the manner +the curiosity and usefulness of the subject deserves, would require a large +volume; wherefore the most that can be expected here, is a summary view of +the principal institutions, without minutely entering into a detail of particulars. +We shall begin with those relating to marriage and divorce. + That polygamy, for the moral lawfulness of which the Mohammedan doctors +advance several arguments, is allowed by the Koran, every one knows, though +few are acquainted with the limitations with which it is allowed. Several +learned men have fallen into the vulgar mistake that Mahommed granted to +his followers an unbounded plurality; some pretending that a man may have +as many wives, and others as many concubines, as he can maintain: whereas, +according to the express words of the Koran, no man can have more than +four, whether wives or concubines; and if a man apprehend any inconvenience +from even that number of ingenuous wives, it is added, as an advice (which is +generally followed by the middling and inferior people), that he marry one only, +or, if he cannot be contented with one, that he take up with his she-slaves, +not exceeding, however, the limited number; and this is certainly the utmost +Mohammed allowed his followers: nor can we urge as an argument against +so plain a precept, the corrupt manners of his followers, many of whom, +especially men of quality and fortune, indulge themselves in criminal +excesses; nor yet the example of the prophet himself, who had peculiar +privileges in this and other points, as will be observed hereafter. In making +the above-mentioned limitation, Mohammed was directed by the decision of +the Jewish doctors, who, by way of counsel, limit the number of wives to four, +though their law confines them not to any certain number. + Divorce is also well known to be allowed by the Mohammedan law, as it was +by the Mosaic, with this difference only, that, according to the latter, a man +could not take again a woman whom he had divorced, and who had been married +or betrothed to another; whereas Mohammed, to prevent his followers from +divorcing their wives on every light occasion, or out of an inconstant humour, +ordained that, if a man divorced his wife the third time (for he might divorce +her twice without being obliged to part with her, if he repented of what he had +done), it should not be lawful for him to take her again until she had been first +married and bedded by another, and divorced by such second husband. And +this precaution has had so good an effect that the Mohammedans are seldom +known to proceed to the extremity of divorce, notwithstanding the liberty +given them, it being reckoned a great disgrace so to do; and there are but +few, besides those who have little or no sense of honour, that will take a +wife again on the condition enjoined. It must be observed that, though a man +is allowed by the Mohammedan, as by the Jewish law, to repudiate his wife +even on the slightest disgust, yet the women are not allowed to separate +themselves from their husbands, unless it be for ill-usage, want of proper +maintenance, neglect of conjugal duty, impotency, or some cause of equal +import; but then she generally loses her dowry, which she does not if +divorced by her husband, unless she has been guilty of impudicity or +notorious disobedience. + When a woman is divorced she is obliged, by the direction of the Koran, to +wait till she hath had her courses thrice, or, if there be a doubt whether she +be subject to them or not, by reason of her age, three months, before she +marry another; after which time expired, in case she be found not with child, +she is at full liberty to dispose of herself as she pleases; but if she prove +with child, she must wait till she be delivered; and during her whole term of +waiting she may continue in the husband's house, and is to be maintained at +his expense, it being forbidden to turn the woman out before the expiration of +the term, unless she be guilty of dishonesty. Where a man divorces a woman +before consummation, she is not obliged to wait any particular time, nor is +he obliged to give her more than one-half of her dower. If the divorced +woman have a young child, she is to suckle it till it be two years old; the +father, in the meantime, maintaining her in all respects: a widow is also +obliged to do the same, and to wait four months and ten days before she +marry again. + These rules ar also copied form those of the Jews, according to whom a +divorced woman, or a widow, cannot marry another man, till ninety days be +past, after the divorce or death of the husband: and she who gives suck is +to be maintained for two years, to be computed from the birth of the child; +within which time she must not marry, unless the child die, or her milk be +dried up. + Whoredom, in single women as well as married, was, in the beginning +Mohammedism, very severely punished; such being ordered to be shut up in +prison till they died: but afterwards it was ordained by the Sonna, that an +adulteress should be stoned, and an unmarried woman guilty of fornication +scourged with a hundred stripes, and banished for a year. A she-slave, if +convicted of adultery, is to suffer but half the punishment of a free woman, +viz., fifty stripes, and banishment for six months; but is not to be put to +death. To convict a woman of adultery, so as to make it capital, four +witnesses are expressly required, and those, as the commentators say, ought +to be men: and if a man falsely accuse a woman of reputation of whoredom of +any kind, and is not able to support the charge by that number of witnesses, +he is to receive fourscore stripes, and his testimony is to be held invalid +for the future. Fornication, in either sex, is by the sentence of the Koran +to be punished with a hundred stripes. + If a man accuse his wife of infidelity, and is not able to prove it by +sufficient evidence, and will swear four times that it is true, and the fifth +time imprecate GOD'S vengeance on him if it be false, she is to be looked +on as convicted, unless she will take the like oaths, and make the like +imprecation, in testimony of her innocency; which is she do, she is free +from punishment, though the marriage ought to be dissolved. + In most of the last-mentioned particulars the decisions of the Koran also +agree with those of the Jews. By the law of Moses, adultery, whether in a +married women or a virgin betrothed, was punished with death; and the man +who debauched them was to suffer the same punishment. The penalty of +simple fornication was scourging, the general punishment in cases where none +is particularly appointed: and a betrothed bondmaid, if convicted of adultery, +underwent the same punishment, being exempted from death, because she +was not free. By the same law no person was to be put to death on the oath +of one witness: and a man who slandered his wife was also to be chastised, +that is scourged, and fined one hundred shekels of silver. The method of +trying a woman suspected of adultery where evidence was wanting, by forcing +her to drink the bitter water of jealousy, though disused by the Jews long +before the time of Mohammed, yet, by reason of the oath of cursing with +which the woman was charged, and to which she was obliged to say "Amen," +bears great resemblance to the expedient devised by that prophet on the +like occasion. + The institutions of Mohammed relating to the pollution of women during +their courses, the taking of slaves to wife, and the prohibiting of marriage +within certain degrees, have likewise no small affinity with the institutions +of Moses; and the parallel might be carried farther in several other +particulars. + As to the prohibited degrees, it may be observed, that the pagan Arabs +abstained from marrying their mothers, daughters, and aunts both on the +father's side and on the mother's, and held it a most scandalous thing to +marry two sister, or for a man to take his father's wife; which last was, +notwithstanding, too frequently practised, and is expressly forbidden in the +Koran. + Before I leave the subject of marriages, it may be proper to take notice +of some peculiar privileges in relation thereto, which were granted by GOD to +Mohammed, as he gave out, exclusive of all other Moslems. One of them was, +that he might lawfully marry as many wives and have as many concubines +as he pleased, without being confined to any particular number; and this he +pretended to have been the privilege of the prophets before him. Another +was, that he might alter the turns of his wives, and take such of them to +his bed as he thought fit, without being tied to that order and equality which +others are obliged to observe. A third privilege was, that no man might marry +any of his wives, either such as he should divorce during his lifetime, or such +as he should leave widows at his death: which last particular exactly agrees +with what the Jewish doctors have determined concerning the wives of their +princes; it being judged by them to be a thing very indecent, and for that +reason unlawful, for another to marry either the divorced wife or the widow +of a king; and Mohammed, it seems, thought an equal respect, at least, due +to the prophetic as to the regal dignity, and therefore ordered that his +relicts should pass the remainder of their lives in perpetual widowhood. + The laws of the Koran concerning inheritances are also in several respects +conformable to those of the Jews, though principally designed to abolish +certain practices of the pagan Arabs, who used to treat widows and orphan +children with great injustice, frequently denying them any share in the +inheritance of their fathers or their husbands, on pretence that the same +ought to be distributed among those only who were able to bear arms, and +disposing of the widows, even against their consent, as part of their +husbands' possessions. To prevent such injuries for the future, Mohammed +ordered that women should be respected, and orphans have no wrong done +them; and in particular that women should not be taken against their wills, +as by right of inheritance, but should themselves be entitled to a distributive +part of what their parents, husbands, and near relations should leave behind +them, in a certain proportion. + The general rule to be observed in the distribution of the deceased's estate +is, that a male shall have twice as much as a female: but to this rule there +are some few exceptions; a man's parents, for example, and also his brothers +and sisters, where they are entitled not to the whole, but a small part of the +inheritance, being to have equal shares with one another in the distribution +thereof, without making any difference on account of sex. The particular +proportions, in several cases, distinctly and sufficiently declare the intention +of Mohammed; whose decisions expressed in the Koran seem to be pretty +equitable, preferring a man's children first, and then his nearest relations. + If a man dispose of any part of his estate by will, two witnesses, at the +least, are required to render the same valid; and such witnesses ought to be +of his own tribe, and of the Mohammedan religion, if such can be had. Though +there be no express law to the contrary, yet the Mohammedan doctors reckon +it very wrong for a man to give away any part of his substance from his family, +unless it be in legacies for pious uses; and even in that case a man ought not +to give all he has in charity, but only a reasonable part in proportion to his +substance. On the other hand, though a man make no will, and bequeath +nothing for charitable uses, yet the heirs are directed, on the distribution +of the estate, if the value will permit, to bestow something on the poor, +especially such as are of kin to the deceased, and to the orphans. + The first law, however, laid down by Mohammed touching inheritances, was +not very equitable; for he declared that those who had fled with him from +Mecca, and those who had received and assisted him at Medina, should be +deemed the nearest of kin, and consequently heirs to one another, preferably +to and in exclusion of their relations by blood; nay, though a man were a true +believer, yet if he had not fled his country for the sake of religion and joined +the prophet, he was to be looked on as a stranger: but this law continued not +long in force, being quickly abrogated. + It must be observed that among the Mohammedans the children of their +concubines or slaves are esteemed as equally legitimate with those of their +legal and ingenuous wives; none being accounted bastards, except such only +as are born of common women, and whose fathers are unknown. + As to private contracts between man and man, the conscientious +performance of them is frequently recommended in the Koran. For the +preventing of disputes, all contracts are directed to be made before +witnesses, and in case such contracts are not immediately executed, the +same ought to be reduced into writing in the presence of two witnesses at +least, who ought to be Moslems and of the male sex; but if two men cannot +be conveniently had, then one man and two women may suffice. The same +method is also directed to be taken for the security of debts to be paid at +a future day; and where a writer is not to be found, pledges are to be taken. +Hence, if people trust one another without writing, witnesses, or pledge, +the party on whom the demand is made is always acquitted if he denies the +charge on oath, and swears that he owes the plaintiff nothing, unless the +contrary be proved by very convincing circumstances. + Wilful murder, though forbidden by the Koran under the severest penalties +to be inflicted in the next life, is yet, by the same book, allowed to be +compounded for, on payment of a fine to the family of the deceased, and +freeing a Moslem from captivity; but it is in the election of the next of kin, +or the revenger of blood, as he is called in the Pentateuch, either to accept +of such satisfaction, or to refuse it; for he may, if he pleases, insist on +having the murderer delivered into his hands, to be put to death in such +manner as he shall think fit. In this particular Mohammed has gone against +the express letter of the Mosaic law, which declare that no satisfaction shall +be taken for the life of a murderer; and he seems, in so doing, to have had +respect to the customs of the Arabs in his time, who, being of a vindictive +temper, used to revenge murder in too unmerciful a manner, whole tribes +frequently engaging in bloody wars on such occasions, the natural +consequence of their independency, and having no common judge of superior. + If the Mohammedan laws seem light in case of murder, they may perhaps +be deemed too rigorous in case of manslaughter, or the killing of a man +undesignedly, which must be redeemed by fine (unless the next of kin shall +think fit to remit it out of charity), and the freeing of a captive: but if a +man be not able to do this, he is to fast two months together, by way of +penance. The fine for a man's blood is set in the Sonna at a hundred camels, +and is to be distributed among the relations of the deceased, according to +the laws of inheritances; but it must be observed that, though the person +slain be a Moslem, yet if he be of a nation or party at enmity, or not in +confederacy with those to whom the slayer belongs, he is not then bound +to pay any fine at all, the redeeming a captive being, in such case, declared +a sufficient penalty. I imagine that Mohammed, by these regulations, laid +so heavy a punishment on involuntary manslaughter, not only to make +people beware incurring the same, but also to humour, in some degree, the +revengeful temper of his countrymen, which might be with difficulty, if at all, +prevailed on to accept a lighter satisfaction. Among the Jews, who seem to +have been no less addicted to revenge than their neighbours, the manslayer +who had escaped to a city of refuge was obliged to keep himself within that +city, and to abide there till the death of the person who was high priest at +the time the fact was committed, that his absence and time might cool the +passion and mitigate the resentment of the friends of the deceased; but if +he quitted his asylum before that time, the revenger of blood, if he found him, +might kill him without guilt; nor could any satisfaction be made for the slayer +to return home before the prescribed time. + Theft is ordered to be punished by cutting off the offending part, the hand, +which, at first sight, seems just enough; but the law of Justinian, forbidding a +thief to be maimed, is more reasonable; because, stealing being generally the +effect of indigence, to cut off that limb would be to deprive him of the means +of getting his livelihood in an honest manner. The Sonna forbids the inflicting +of this punishment, unless the thing stolen be of a certain value. I have +mentioned in another place the further penalties which those incur who +continue to steal, and of those who rob or assault people on the road. + As to injuries done to men in their persons, the law of retaliation, which +was ordained by the law of Moses, is also approved by the Koran: but this +law, which seems to have been allowed by Mohammed to his Arabians for the +same reasons as it was to the Jews, viz., to prevent particular revenges, to +which both nations were extremely addicted, being neither strictly just nor +practicable in many cases, is seldom put in execution, the punishment being +generally turned into a mulct or fine, which is paid to the party injured. Or +rather Mohammed designed the words of the Koran relating thereto should +be understood in the same manner as those of the Pentateuch most probably +ought to be; that is, not of an actual retaliation, according to the strict literal +meaning, but of a retribution proportionable to the injury: for a criminal had +not his eyes put out, nor was a man mutilated, according to the law of Moses, +which, besides, condemned those who had wounded any person, where death +did not ensue, to pay a fine only, the expression "eye for eye and tooth for +tooth" being only a proverbial manner of speaking, the sense whereof amounts +to this, that every one shall be punished by the judges according to the +heinousness of the fact. + In injuries and crimes of an inferior nature, where no particular punishment +is provided by the Koran, and where a pecuniary compensation will not do, the +Mohammedans, according to the practice of the Jews in the like case, have +recourse to stripes or drubbing, the most common chastisement used in the +east at this day, as well as formerly; the cudgel, which for its virtue and +efficacy in keeping their people in good order, and within the bounds of duty, +they say came down from heaven, being the instrument wherewith the judge's +sentence is generally executed. + Notwithstanding the Koran is by the Mohammedans in general regarded +as the fundamental apart of their civil law, and the decisions of the Sonna +among the Turks, and of the Imâms among those of the Persian sect, with +the explications of their several doctors, are usually followed in judicial +determinations, yet the secular tribunals do not think themselves bound +to observe the same in all cases, but frequently give judgment against +those decisions, which are not always consonant to equity and reason; +and therefore distinction is to be made between the written civil law, as +administered in the ecclesiastical courts, and the law of nature or common +law (if I may so call it) which takes place in the secular courts, and has the +executive power on its side. + Under the head of civil laws may be comprehended the injunction of warring +against infidels, which is repeated in several passages of the Koran, and +declared to be of high merit in the sight of GOD, those who are slain fighting +in defence of the faith being reckoned martyrs, and promised immediate +admission into paradise. Hence this duty is greatly magnified by the +Mohammedan divines, who call the sword the key of heaven and hell, and +persuade their people that the least drop of blood spilt in the way of GOD, +as it is called, is most acceptable unto him, and that the defending the +territories of the Moslems for one night is more meritorious than a fast of +two months: on the other hand, desertion, or refusing to serve in these holy +wars, or to contribute towards the carrying them on, if a man has ability, is +accounted a most heinous crime, being frequently declaimed against in the +Koran. Such a doctrine, which Mohammed ventured not to teach till his +circumstances enabled him to put it in practice, it must be allowed, was well +calculated for his purpose, and stood him and his successors in great stead: +for what dangers and difficulties may not be despised and overcome by the +courage and constancy which these sentiments necessarily inspire? Nor +have the Jews and Christians, how much soever they detest such principles +in others, been ignorant of the force of enthusiastic heroism, or omitted to +spirit up their respective partisans by the like arguments and promises. +"Let him who has listed himself in defence of the law," says Maimonides, +"rely on him who is the hope of Israel, and the saviour thereof in the time +of trouble; and let him know that he fights for the profession of the divine +unity: wherefore let him put his life in his hand, and think neither of wife +nor children, but banish the memory of them from his heart, having his mind +wholly fixed on the war. For if he should begin to waver in his thoughts, he +would not only confound himself, but sin against the law; nay, the blood of the +whole people hangeth on his neck; for if they are discomfited, and he has not +fought stoutly with all his might, it is equally the same as if he had shed the +blood of them all; according to that saying, let him return, lest his brethren's +heart fail as his own." To the same purpose doth the Kabala accommodate +that other passage, "Cursed be he who doth the work of the LORD negligently, +and cursed be he who keepeth back his sword from blood. On the contrary, +he who behaveth bravely in battle, to the utmost of his endeavour, without +trembling, with intent to glorify GOD'S name, he ought to expect the victory +with confidence, and to apprehend no danger or misfortune, but may be +assured that he will have a house built him in Israel, appropriated to him and +his children for ever; as it is said, GOD shall certainly make my lord a sure +house, because he hath fought the battles of the LORD, and his life shall be +bound up in the bundle of life with the LORD his GOD." More passages of this +kind might be produced from the Jewish writers; and the Christians come not +far behind them. "We are desirous of knowing," says one writing to the Franks +engaged in the holy war, "the charity of you all; for that every one (which we +speak not because we wish it) who shall faithfully lose his life in this warfare, +shall be by no means denied the kingdom of heaven." And another gives the +following exhortation: "Laying aside all fear and dread, endeavour to act +effectually against the enemies of the holy faith, and the adversaries of +all religions: for the Almighty knoweth, if any of you die, that he dieth for +the truth of the faith, and the salvation of his country, and the defence of +Christians; and therefore he shall obtain of him a celestial reward." The Jews, +indeed, had a divine commission, extensive and explicit enough, to attack, +subdue, and destroy the enemies of their religion; and Mohammed pretended +to have received one in favour of himself and his Moslems, in terms equally +plain and full; and therefore it is no wonder that they should act consistently +with their avowed principles: but that Christians should teach and practise a +doctrine so opposite to the temper and whole tenour of the Gospel, seems +very strange; and yet the latter have carried matters farther, and shown +a more violent spirit of intolerance than either of the former. + The laws of war, according to the Mohammedans, have been already so +exactly set down by the learned Reland, that I need say very little of them. +I shall, therefore, only observe some conformity between their military laws +and those of the Jews. + While Mohammedism was in its infancy, the opposers thereof taken in battle +were doomed to death, without mercy; but this was judged too severe to be +put in practice when that religion came to be sufficiently established, and past +the danger of being subverted by its enemies. The same sentence was +pronounced not only against the seven Canaanitish nations, whose possessions +were given to the Israelites, and without whose destruction, in a manner, they +could not have settled themselves in the country designed them, but against +theAmalekites and Midianites, who had done their utmost to cut them off in +their passage thither. When the Mohammedans declare war against people of +a different faith, they give them their choice of three offers, viz., either to +embrace Mohammedism, in which case they become not only secure in their +persons, families, and fortunes, but entitled to all the privileges of other +Moslems; or to submit and pay tribute, by doing which they are allowed to +profess their own religion, provided it be not gross idolatry or against the +moral law; or else to decide the quarrel by the sword, in which last case, if +the Moslems prevail, the women and children which are made captives become +absolute slaves, and the men taken in the battle may either be slain, unless +they turn Mohammedans, or otherwise disposed of at the pleasure of the +prince. Herewith agree the laws of war given to the Jews, which relate to +the nations not devoted to destruction; and Joshua is said to have sent even +to the inhabitants of Canaan, before he entered the land, three schedules, in +one of which was written, "Let him fly, who will;" in the second, "Let him who +surrender, who will;" and in the third, "Let him fight, who will;" though none of +those nations made peace with the Israelites (except only the Gibeonites, who +obtained terms of security by stratagem, after they had refused those +offered by Joshua), "it being of the LORD to harden their hearts, that he +might destroy them utterly." + On the first considerable success of Mohammed in war, the dispute which +happened among his followers in relation to the dividing of the spoil, rendered +it necessary for him to make some regulation therein; he therefore pretended +to have received the divine commission to distribute the spoil among his +soldiers at his own discretion, reserving thereout, in the first place, +one-fifth part for the uses after mentioned; and, in consequence hereof, he +took himself to be authorized on extraordinary occasions, to distribute it as +he thought fit, without observing an equality. Thus he did, for example, with +the spoil of the tribe of Hawâzen taken at the battle of Honein, which he +bestowed by way of presents on the Meccans only, passing by those of Medina, +and highly distinguishing the principal Korashites, that he might ingratiate +himself with them, after he had become master of their city. He was also +allowed in the expedition against those of al Nadir to take the whole booty to +himself, and to dispose thereof as he pleased, because no horses or camels +were made use of in that expedition, but the whole army went on foot; and +this became thenceforward a law: the reason of which seems to be, that the +spoil taken by a party consisting of infantry only, should be considered as the +more immediate gift of GOD, and therefore properly left to the disposition of +his apostle. According to the Jews, the spoil ought to be divided into two equal +parts, one to be shared among the captors, and the other to be taken by the +prince, and by him employed for his own support and the use of the public. +Moses, it is true, divided one-half of the plunder of the Midianites among those +who went to battle, and the other half among all congregation: but this, they +say, being a peculiar case, and done by the express order of GOD himself, must +not be looked on as a precedent. It should seem, however, from the words of +Joshua to the two tribes and a half, when he sent them home into Gilead after +the conquest and division of the land of Canaan , that they were to divide the +spoil of their enemies with their brethren, after their return: and the half +which was in succeeding times taken by the king, was in all probability taken +by him as head of the community, and representing the whole body. It is +remarkable that the dispute among Mohammed's men about sharing the booty +at Bedr, arose on the same occasion as did that among David's soldiers in +relation to the spoils recovered from the Amalekites; those who had been +in the action insisting that they who tarried by the stuff should have no +part of the spoil; and that the same decision was given in both cases, which +became a law for the future, to wit, that they should part alike. + The fifth part directed by the Koran to be taken out of the spoil before it +be divided among the captors, is declared to belong to GOD, and to the apostle +and his kindred, and the orphans, and the poor, and the traveller: which +words are variously understood. al Shâfei was of opinion that the whole ought +to be divided into five parts; the first, which he called GOD'S part, to go to +the treasury, and be employed in building and repairing fortresses, bridges, +and other public works, and in paying salaries to magistrates, civil officers, +professors of learning, ministers of public worship, &c.: the second part to +be distributed among the kindred of Mohammed, that is, the descendants of +his grandfather Hâshem, and of his great-uncle al Motalleb, as well the rich +as the poor, the children as the adult, the women as the men; observing only +to give a female but half the share of a male: the third part to go to the +orphans: the fourth part to the poor, who have not wherewithal to maintain +themselves the year round, and are not able to get their livelihood: and the +fifth part to travellers, who are in want on the road, notwithstanding they +may be rich men in their own country. According to Malec Ebn Ans the whole +is at the disposition of the Imâm or prince, who may distribute the same at +his own discretion, where he sees most need. Abu'l Aliya wen according to +the letter of the Koran, and declared his opinion to be that the whole should +be divided into six parts, and that GOD'S part should be applied to the service +of the Caaba: while others supposed GOD'S part and the apostle's to be one +and the same. Abu Hanifa thought that the share of Mohammed and his +kindred sank at that prophet's death, since which the whole ought to be +divided among the orphans, the poor, and the traveller. Some insist that +the kindred of Mohammed entitled to a shire of the spoils are the posterity +of Hâshem only; but those who think the descendants of his brother al Motalleb +have also a right to a distributive part, allege a tradition in their favour +purporting that Mohammed himself divided the share belonging to his relations +among both families, and when Othmân Ebn Assân and Jobeir Ebn Matam (who +were descended from Abdshams and Nawfal the other brothers of Hâshem) +told him, that though they disputed not the preference of the Hâshemites, +they could not help taking it ill to see such difference made between the +family of al Motalleb and themselves, who were related to him in an equal +degree, and yet had no part in the distribution, the prophet replied that the +descendants of al Motalleb had forsaken him neither in the time of ignorance, +nor since the revelation of Islâm; and joined his fingers together in token of +the strict union between them and the Hâshemites. Some exclude none of +the tribe of Koreish from receiving a part in the division of the spoil, and +make no distinction between the poor and the rich; though, according to the +more reasonable opinion, such of them as are poor only are intended by the +text of the Koran, as is agreed in the case of the stranger: and others go +so far as to assert that the whole fifth commanded to be reserved belongs +to them only, and that the orphans, and the poor, and the traveller, are to be +understood of such as are of that tribe. It must be observed that immovable +possessions, as lands, &c., taken in war, are subject to the same laws as +the movable; excepting only that the fifth part of the former is not actually +divided, but the income and profits thereof, or of the price thereof, if sold, +are applied to public and pious uses, and distributed once a year, and that the +prince may either take the fifth part of the land itself, or the fifth part of +the income and produce of the whole, as he shall make his election. + + + + + +_______ + + +SECTION VII. + +OF THE MONTHS COMMANDED BY THE KORAN TO BE KEPT SACRED; AND + OF THE SETTING APART OF FRIDAY FOR THE ESPECIAL SERVICE OF + GOD. + +IT was a custom among the ancient Arabs to observe four months in the year +as sacred, during which they held it unlawful to wage war, and took off the +heads from their spears, ceasing from incursions and other hostilities. During +those months whoever was in fear of his enemy lived in full security; so that +if a man met the murderer of his father or his brother, he durst not offer +him any violence: A great argument," says a learned writer, "of a humane +disposition in that nation; who being by reason of the independent +governments of their several tribes, and for the preservation of their just +rights, exposed to frequent quarrels with one another, had yet learned to +cool their inflamed breasts with moderation, and restrain the rage of war by +stated times of truce." + This institution obtained among all the Arabian tribes, except only those +of Tay and Khathaam, and some of the descendants of Al Hareth Ebn Caab +(who distinguished no time or place as sacred), and was so religiously +observed, that there are but few instances in history (four, say some, six, +say others), of its having been transgressed; the wars which were carried +on without regard thereto being therefore termed impious. One of those +instances was in the war between the tribes of Koreish and Kais Ailân, wherein +Mohammed himself served under his uncles, being then fourteen, or, as others +say, twenty years old. + The months which the Arabs held sacred were al Moharram, Rajeb. +Dhu'lkaada, and Dhu'lhajja; the first, the seventh, the eleventh, and the +twelfth in the year. Dhu'lhajja being the month wherein they performed the +pilgrimage to Mecca, not only that month, but also the preceding and the +following, were for that reason kept inviolable, that every one might safely +and without interruption pass and repass to and from the festival. Rajeb +is said to have been more strictly observed than any of the other three, +probably because in that month the pagan Arabs used to fast; Ramadân, +which was afterwards set apart by Mohammed for that purpose, being in +the time of ignorance dedicated to drinking in excess. By reason of the +profound peace and security enjoyed in this month, one part of the provisions +brought by the caravans of purveyors annually set out by the Koreish for the +supply of Mecca, was distributed among the people; the other part being, for +the like reason, distributed at the pilgrimage. + The observance of the aforesaid months seemed so reasonable to +Mohammed, that it met with his approbation; and the same is accordingly +confirmed and enforced by several passages of the Koran, which forbid war +to be waged during those months against such as acknowledge them to be +sacred, but grant, at the same time, full permission to attack those who +make no such distinction, in the sacred months as well as in the profane. + One practice, however, of the pagan Arabs, in relation to these sacred +months, Mohammed thought proper to reform: for some of them, weary of +sitting quiet for three months together, and eager to make their accustomed +incursions for plunder, used, by way of expedient, whenever it suited their +inclinations or conveniency, to put off the observing of al Moharram to the +following month Safar, thereby avoiding to keep the former, which they +supposed it lawful for them to profane, provided they sanctified another +month in lieu of it, and gave public notice thereof at the preceding pilgrimage. +This transferring the observation of a sacred month to a profane month, is +what is truly meant by the Arabic word al Nasi, and is absolutely condemned, +and declared to be an impious innovation, in a passage of the Koran which Dr. +Prideaux, misled by Golius, imagines to relate to the prolonging of the year, +by adding an intercalary month thereto. It is true, the Arabs, who imitated +the Jews in their manner of computing by lunar years, had also learned their +method of reducing them to solar years, by intercalating a month sometimes +in the third, and sometimes in the second year; by which means they fixed the +pilgrimage of Mecca (contrary to the original institution) to a certain season +of the year, viz., to autumn, as most convenient for the pilgrims, by reason +of the temperateness of the weather, and the plenty of provisions; and it is +also true that Mohammed forbade such intercalation by a passage in the same +chapter of the Koran; but then it is not the passage above mentioned, which +prohibits a different thing, but one a little before it, wherein the number of +months in the year, according to the ordinance of GOD, is declared to be +twelve; whereas, if the intercalation of a month were allowed, every third +or second year would consist of thirteen, contrary to GOD'S appointment. + The setting apart of one day in the week for the more peculiar attendance +on GOD'S worship, so strictly required by the Jewish and Christian religions, +appeared to Mohammed to be so proper an institution, that he could not but +imitate the professors thereof in that particular; though, for the sake of +distinction, he might think himself obliged to order his followers to observe +a different day form either. Several reasons are given why the sixth day of +the week was pitched on for this purpose; but Mohammed seems to have +preferred that day chiefly because it was the day on which the people used to +be assembled long before his time, though such assemblies were had, perhaps, +rather on a civil than a religious account. However it be, the Mohammedan +writers bestow very extraordinary encomiums on this day, calling it the prince +of day, and the most excellent day on which the sun rises; pretending also +that it will be the day whereon the last judgment will be solemnized; and +they esteem it a peculiar honour to Islâm, that GOD has been pleased to +appoint this day to be the feast-day of the Moslems, and granted them the +advantage of having first observed it. + Though the Mohammedans do not think themselves bound to keep their day +of public worship so holy as the Jews and Christians are certainly obliged to +keep theirs, there being a permission, as is generally supposed, in the Koran, +allowing them to return to their employments or diversion after divine service +is over; yet the more devout disapprove the applying of any part of that day +to worldly affairs, and require it to be wholly dedicated to the business of the +life to come. + Since I have mentioned the Mohammedan weekly feast, I beg leave just +to take notice of their two Beirâms, or principal annual feasts. The first +of them is called, in Arabic, Id al fetr, i.e., The feast of breaking the fast, +and begins the first of Shawâl, immediately succeeding the fast of Ramadân; +and the other is called Id al korbân, or Id al adhâ, i.e., The feast of the +sacrifice, and begins on the tenth of Dhu'lhajja, when the victims are slain +at the pilgrimage of Mecca. The former of these feasts is properly the +lesser Beirâm, and the latter, the greater Beirâm: but the vulgar, and +most authors who have written of the Mohammedan affairs, exchange +the epithets, and call that which follows Ramadân the greater Beirâm, because +it is observed in an extraordinary manner, and kept for three days together +at Constantinople and in other parts of Turkey, and in Persia for five or six +days, by the common people, at least, with great demonstrations of public +joy, to make themselves amends, as it were, for the mortification of the +preceding month; whereas, the feast of sacrifices, though it be also kept for +three days, and the first of them be the most solemn day of the pilgrimage, +the principal act of devotion among the Mohammedans is taken much less +notice of by the generality of people, who are not struck therewith, because +the ceremonies with which the same is observed are performed at Mecca, +the only scene of that solemnity. + + + + + +_______ + + +SECTION VIII. + +OF THE PRINCIPAL SECTS AMONG THE MOHAMMEDANS; AND OF THOSE + WHO HAVE PRETENDED TO PROPHECY AMONG THE ARABS, IN OR + SINCE THE TIME OF MOHAMMED. + +BEFORE we take a view of the sects of the Mohammedans, it will be necessary +to say something of the two sciences by which all disputed questions among +them are determined, viz., their Scholastic and Practical Divinity. + Their scholastic divinity is a mongrel science, consisting of logical, +metaphysical, theological, and philosophical disquisitions, and built on +principles and methods of reasoning very different from what are used by +those who pass among the Mohammedans themselves for the sounder divines +or more able philosophers, and, therefore, in the partition of the sciences +this is generally left out, as unworthy a place among them. The learned +Maimonides has laboured to expose the principles and systems of the +scholastic divines, as frequently repugnant to the nature of the world and +the order of the creation, and intolerably absurd. + This art of handling religious disputes was not known in the infancy of +Mohammedism, but was brought in when sects sprang up, and articles of +religion began to be called in question, and was at first made use of to defend +the truth o those articles against innovators; and while it keeps within those +bounds is allowed to be a commendable study, being necessary for the +defence of the faith: but when it proceeds farther, out of an itch of +disputation, it is judged worthy of censure. + This is the opinion of al Ghazâli, who observes a medium between those who +have too high a value for this science, and those who absolutely reject it. +Among the latter was al Shâfei, who declared that, in his judgment, if any man +employed his time that way, he deserved to be fixed to a stake, and carried +about through all the Arab tribes, with the following proclamation to be made +before him: 'This is the reward of him who, leaving the Koran and the Sonna, +applied himself to the study of scholastic divinity." Al Ghazâli, on the other +hand, thinks that as it was introduced by the invasion of heresies, it is +necessary to be retained in order to quell them: but then in the person who +studies this science he requires three things, diligence, acuteness of +judgment, and probity of manners; and is by no means for suffering the same +to be publicly explained. This science, therefore, among the Mohammedans, is +the art of controversy, by which they discuss points of faith concerning the +essence and attributes of GOD, and the conditions of all possible things, +either in respect to their creation, or final restoration, according to the +rules of the religion of Islâm. + The other science is practical divinity or jurisprudence, and is the +knowledge of the decisions of the law which regard practice, gathered from +distinct proofs. + Al Ghazâli declares that he had much the same opinion of this science as of +the former, its original being owing to the corruption of religion and morality; +and therefore judged both sciences to be necessary, not in themselves, but +by accident only, to curb the irregular imaginations and passions of mankind +(as guards become necessary in the highways by reason of robbers), the end +of the first being the suppressing of heresies, and of the other the decision +of legal controversies, for the quiet and peaceable living of mankind in this +world, and for the preserving the rule by which the magistrate may prevent +one man from injuring another, by declaring what is lawful and what is +unlawful, by determining the satisfaction to be given, or punishment to be +inflicted, and by regulating other outward actions; and not only so, but to +decide of religion itself, and its conditions, so far as relates to the profession +made by the mouth, it not being the business of the civilian to inquire into the +heart: the depravity of men's manners, however, has made this knowledge of +the laws so very requisite, that it is usually called the Science, by way of +excellence, nor is any man reckoned learned who has not applied himself +thereto. + The points of faith, subject to the examination and discussion of the +scholastic divines, are reduced to four general heads, which they call the +four bases, or great fundamental articles. + The first basis relates to the attributes of GOD, and his unity consistent +therewith. Under this head are comprehended the questions concerning the +eternal attributes, which are asserted by some, and denied by others; and +also the explication of the essential attributes, and attributes of action; +what is proper for GOD to do, and what may be affirmed of him, and what it +is impossible for him to do. These things are controverted between the +Asharians, the Kerâmians, the Mojassemians or Corporalists, and the +Mutazalites. + The second basis regards predestination, and the justice thereof: which +comprises the questions concerning GOD'S purpose and decree, man's +compulsion or necessity to act, and his co-operation in producing actions, +by which he may gain to himself good or evil; and also those which concern +GOD'S willing good and evil, and what things are subject to his power, and +what to his knowledge; some maintaining the affirmative, and others the +negative. These points are disputed among the Kadarians, the Najarians, +the Jabarians, the Asharians, and the Kerâmians. + The third basis concerns the promises and threats, the precise acceptation +of names used in divinity, and the divine decisions; and comprehends questions +relating to faith, repentance, promises, threats, forbearance, infidelity, and +error. The controversies under this head are on foot between the Morgians, +the Waidians, the Mutazalites, the Asharians, and the Kerâmians. + The fourth basis regards history and reason, that is, the just weight they +ought to have in matters belonging to faith and religion; and also the mission +of prophets, and the office of Imâm, or chief pontiff. Under this head are +comprised all casuistical questions relating to the moral beauty or turpitude +of actions; inquiring whether things are allowed or forbidden by reason of +their own nature, or by the positive law; and also questions concerning the +preference of actions, the favour or grace of GOD, the innocence which ought +to attend the prophetical office, and the conditions requisite in the office +of Imâm; some asserting it depends on right of succession, others on the +consent of the faithful; and also the method of transferring it with the +former, and of confirming it with the latter. These matters are the subjects +of dispute between the Shiites, the Mutazalites, the Kerâmians, and the +Asharians. + The different sects of Mohammedans may be distinguished into two sorts; +those generally esteemed orthodox, and those which are esteemed heretical. + The former, by a general name, are called Sonnites or Traditionists; +because they acknowledge the authority of the Sonna, or collection of moral +traditions of the sayings and actions of their prophet, which is a sort of +supplement to the Koran, directing the observance of several things omitted +in that book, and in name, as well as design, answering to the Mishna of the +Jews. + The Sonnites are subdivided into four chief sects, which, notwithstanding +some differences as to legal conclusions in their interpretation of the Koran, +and matters of practice, are generally acknowledge to be orthodox in radicals, +or matters of faith, and capable of salvation, and have each of them their +several stations or oratories in the temple of Mecca. The founders of these +sects are looked upon as the great masters of jurisprudence, and are said to +have been men of great devotion and self-denial, well versed in the knowledge +of those things which belong to the next life and to man's right conduct here, +and directing all their knowledge to the glory of GOD. This is al Ghazâli's +encomium of them, who thinks it derogatory to their honour that their names +should be used by those who, neglecting to imitate the other virtues which +make up their character, apply themselves only to attain their skill, and +follow their opinions in matters of legal practice. + The first of the four orthodox sects is that of the Hanefites, so named +from their founder, Abu Hanifa al Numân Ebn Thâbet, who was born at Cufa, +in the 80th year of the Hejra, and died in the 150th, according to the more +preferable opinion as to the time. He ended his life in prison at Baghdâd, +where he had been confined because he refused to be made Kâdi or judge; on +which account he was very hardly dealt with by his superiors, yet could not +be prevailed on, either by threats or ill-treatment, to undertake the charge, +"choosing rather to be punished by them than by GOD," says Al Ghazâli; who +adds, that when he excused himself from accepting the office by alleging that +he was unfit for it, being asked the reason, he replied, "If I speak the truth, +I am unfit; but if I tell a lie, a liar is not fit to be a judge." It is said that he +read the Koran in the prison where he died, no less than 7,000 times. + The Hanefites are called by an Arabian writer the followers of reason, and +those of the three other sects, followers of tradition; the former being +principally guided by their own judgment in their decisions, and the latter +adhering more tenaciously to the traditions of Mohammed. + The sect of Abu Hanifa heretofore obtained chiefly in Irâk, but now generally +prevails among the Turks and Tartars: his doctrine was brought into great +credit by Abu Yusof, chief justice under the Khalifs al Hâdi and Harun al Rashid. + The second orthodox sect is that of Mâlec Ebn Ans, who was born at Medina, +in the year of the Hejra 90, 93, 94, or 95, and died there in 177, 178, or +179 (for so much do authors differ). This doctor is said to have paid great +regard to the traditions of Mohammed. In his last illness, a friend going to +visit him found him in tears, and asking him the reason of it, he answered, +"How should I not weep? and who has more reason to weep than I? Would to +GOD that for every question decided by me according to my own opinion, I had +received so many stripes! then would my accounts be easier. Would to GOD +I had never given any decision of my own!" Al Ghazâli thinks it a sufficient +proof of Malec's directing his knowledge to the glory of GOD, that being once +asked his opinion as to forty-eight questions, his answer to thirty-two of +them was, that he did not know; it being no easy matter for one who has any +other view than GOD's glory to make so frank a confession of his ignorance. + The doctrine of Malec is chiefly followed in Barbary and other parts of +Africa. + The author of the third orthodox sect was Mohammed Ebn Edris al Shâfei, +born either at Gaza or Ascalon, in Palestine, in the year of the Hejra 150, +the same day (as some will have it) that Abu Hanifa died, and was carried to +Mecca at two years of age, and there educated. He died in 204, in Egypt, +whither he went about five years before. This doctor is celebrated for his +excellency in all parts of learning, and was much esteemed by Ebn Hanbal his +contemporary, who used to say that "he was as the sun to the world, and as +health to the body." Ebn Hanbal, however, had so ill an opinion of al Shâfei +at first, that he forbad his scholars to go near him; but some time after one +of them, meeting his master trudging on foot after al Shâfei, who rode on a +mule, asked him how it came about that he forbad them to follow him, and did +it himself? to which Ebn Hanbal replied, "Hold thy peace; if thou but attend +his mule thou wilt profit thereby." + Al Shâfei is said to have been the first who discoursed of jurisprudence, +and reduced that science into a method; one wittily saying, that the relators +of the traditions of Mohammed were asleep till al Shâfei came and waked them. +He was a great enemy to the scholastic divines, as has been already observed. +Al Ghazâli tells us that al Shâfei used to divide the night into three parts, one +for study, another for prayer, and the third for sleep. It is also related of +him that he never so much as once swore by GOD, either to confirm a truth, +or to affirm a falsehood; and that being once asked his opinion, he remained +silent for some time, and when the reason of his silence was demanded, he +answered, "I am considering first whether it be better to speak or to hold my +tongue." The following saying is also recorded of him, viz., "Whoever pretends +to love the world and its Creator at the same time, is a liar." The followers +of this doctor are from him called Shâfeites, and were formerly spread into +Mâwara'lnahr and other parts eastward, but are now Ahmed Ebn Hanbal, the +founder of the fourth sect, was born in the year of the Hejra 164; but as to +the place of his birth there are two traditions: some say he was born at Meru +in Khorasân, of which city his parents were, and that his mother brought him +from thence to Baghdâd at her breast; while others assure us that she was +with child of him when she came to Baghdâd, and that he was born there. +Ebn Hanbal in process of time attained a great reputation on account of his +virtue and knowledge; being so well versed in the traditions of Mohammed, +in particular, that it is said he could repeat no less than a million of them. +He was very intimate with al Shâfei, from whom he received most of his +traditionary knowledge, being his constant attendant till his departure for +Egypt. Refusing to acknowledge the Koran to be created, he was, by order +of the Khalif al Mutasem, severely scourged and imprisoned. Ebn Hanbal died +at Baghdâd, in the year 241, and was followed to his grave by eight hundred +thousand men, and sixty thousand women. It is relate, as something very +extraordinary, if not miraculous, that on the day of his death no less than +twenty thousand Christians, Jews, and Magians, embraced the Mohammedan +faith. This sect increased so fast, and became so powerful and bold, that +in the year 323, in the Khalifat of al Râdi, they raised a great commotion in +Baghdâd, entering people's houses, and spilling their wine, if they found any, +and beating the singing-women they met with, and breaking their instruments; +and a severe edict was published against them, before they could be reduced +to their duty: but the Hanbalites at present are not very numerous, few of +them being to be met with out of the limits of Arabia. + The heretical sects among the Mohammedans are those which hold +heterodox opinions in fundamental, or matters of faith. + The first controversies relating to fundamentals began when most of the +companions of Mohammed were dead: for in their days was no dispute, unless +about things of small moment, if we except only the dissensions concerning +the Imâms, or rightful successors of their prophet, which were stirred up and +fomented by interest and ambition; the Arabs' continual employment in the +wars, during that time, allowing them little or no leisure to enter into nice +inquiries and subtle distinctions: but no sooner was the ardour of conquest a +little abated than they began to examine the Koran more nearly; whereupon +differences in opinion became unavoidable, and at length so greatly multiplied, +that the number of their sects, according to the common opinion, are +seventy-three. For the Mohammedans seem ambitious that their religion +should exceed others even in this respect; saying, that the Magians are +divided into seventy sects, the Jews into seventy-one, the Christians into +seventy-two, and the Moslems into seventy-three, as Mohammed had +foretold; of which sects they reckon one to be always orthodox, and entitled +to salvation. + The first heresy was that of the Khârejites, who revolted from Ali in the +thirty-seventh year of the Hejra; and not long after, Mabad a. Johni, Ghailân +of Damascus, and Jonas al Aswâri broached heterodox opinions concerning +predestination, and the ascribing of good and evil unto GOD; whose opinions +were followed by Wâsel Ebn Atâ. This latter was the scholar of Hasan of +Basra, in whose school a question being proposed, whether he who had +committed a grievous sin was to be deemed an infidel or not, the Khârejites +(who used to come and dispute there) maintaining the affirmative, and the +orthodox the negative, Wâsel, without waiting his master's decision, withdrew +abruptly, and began to publish among his fellow-scholars a new opinion of his +own, to wit, that such a sinner was in a middle state; and he was thereupon +expelled the school; he and his followers being thenceforth called Mutazalites, +or Separatists. + The several sects which have arisen since this time are variously +compounded and decompounded of the opinions of four chief sects, the +Mutazalites, the Sefâtians, the Khârejites, and the Shiites. + I. The Mutazalites were the followers of the before-mentioned Wâsel +Ebn Atâ. As to their chief and general tenets, I. They entirely rejected all +eternal attributes of GOD, to avoid the distinction of persons made by the +Christians; saying that eternity is the proper or formal attribute of his +essence; that GOD knows by his essence, and not by his knowledge; and the +same they affirmed of his other attributes (though all the Mutazalites do not +understand these words in one sense); and hence this sect were also named +Moattatlites, from their divesting GOD of his attributes: and they went so +far as to say, that to affirm these attributes is the same thing as to make +more eternals than one, and that the unity of GOD is inconsistent with such +an opinion; and this was the true doctrine of Wâsel their master, who declared +that whoever asserted an eternal attribute, asserted there were two GODS. +This point of speculation concerning the divine attributes was not ripe at +first, but was at length brought to maturity by Wâsel's followers, after they +had read the books of the philosophers. 2. They believed the word of GOD to +have been created in subjecto (as the schoolmen term it), and to consist of +letters and sound; copies thereof being written in books to express or imitate +the original. They also went farther, and affirmed that whatever is created +in subjecto is also an accident, and liable to perish. 3. They denied absolute +predestination, holding that GOD was not the author of evil, but of good only; +and that man was a free agent: which being properly the opinion of the +Kadarians, we defer what may be farther said thereof till we come to speak +of that sect. On account of this tenet and the first, the Mutazalites look on +themselves as the defenders of the unity and justice of GOD. 4. They held +that if a professor of the true religion be guilty of a grievous sin, and die +without repentance, he will be eternally damned, though his punishment +will be lighter than that of the infidels. 5. They denied all vision of GOD in +paradise by the corporeal eye, and rejected all comparisons or similitudes +applied to GOD. + This sect are said to have been the first inventors of scholastic divinity, +and are subdivided into several inferior sects, amounting, as some reckon, +to twenty, which mutually brand one another with infidelity: the most +remarkable of them are:-- + I. The Hodeilians, or followers of Hamdân Abu Hodeil, a Mutazalite doctor, +who differed something from the common form of expression used by this +sect, saying that GOD knew by his knowledge, but that his knowledge was +his essence; and so of the other attributes: which opinion he took from the +philosophers, who affirm the essence of GOD to be simple and without +multiplicity, and that his attributes are not posterior or accessory to his +essence, or subsisting therein, but are his essence itself: and this the more +orthodox take to be next kin to making distinctions in the deity, which is the +thing they so much abhor in the Christians. As to the Koran's being created, +he made some distinction; holding the word of GOD to be partly not in subjecto +(and therefore uncreated), as when he spake the word Kun, i.e., Fiat, at the +creation, and partly in subjecto, as the precepts, prohibitions, &c. Marracci +mentions an opinion of Abu Hodeil's concerning predestination, from an Arab +writer, which being by him expressed in a manner not very intelligible, I choose +to omit. + 2. The Jobbâians, or followers of Abu Ali Mohammed Ebn Abd al Wahhâb, +surnamed al Jobbâi, whose meaning when he made use of the common +expression of the Mutazalites, that "GOD knows by his essence," &c., was, +that GOD'S being knowing is not an attribute, the same with knowledge, nor +such a state as rendered his being knowing necessary. He held GOD'S word +to be created in subjecto, as in the preserved table, for example, the memory +of Gabriel, Mohammed, &c. This sect, if Marracci has given the true sense of +his author, denied that GOD could be seen in paradise without the assistance +of corporeal eyes; and held that man produced his acts by a power superadded +to health of body and soundness of limbs; that he who was guilty of a mortal +sin was neither a believer nor an infidel, but a transgressor (which was the +original opinion of Wâsel), and if he died in his sins, would be doomed to hell +for eternity; and that GOD conceals nothing of whatever he knows from his +servants. + 3. The Hashemians, who were so named from their master Abu Hâshem +Abd al Salâm, the son of Abu Ali al Jabbâi, and whose tenets nearly agreed +with those of the preceding sect. Abu Hâshem took the Mutazalite form of +expression, that "GOD knows by his essence," in a different sense from +others, supposing it to mean that GOD hath or is endued with a disposition, +which is a known property, or quality, posterior or accessory to his existence. +His followers were so much afraid of making GOD the author of evil that they +would not allow him to be said to create an infidel; because, according to their +way of arguing, an infidel is a compound of infidelity and man, and GOD is not +the creator of infidelity. Abu Hâshem, and his father Abu Ali al Jobbâi, were +both celebrated for their skill in scholastic divinity. + 4. The Nodhâmians, or followers of Ibrahim al Nodhâm, who having read +books of philosophy, set up a new sect, and imagining he could not sufficiently +remove GOD from being the author of evil, without divesting him of his power +in respect thereto, taught that no power ought to be ascribed to GOD +concerning evil and rebellious actions: but this he affirmed against the opinion +of his own disciples, who allowed that GOD could do evil, but did not, because +of its turpitude. Of his opinion as to the Koran's being created we have +spoken elsewhere. + 5. The Hâyetians, so named from Ahmed Ebn Hâyet, who had been of the +sect of the Nodhâmians, but broached some new notions on reading the +philosophers. His peculiar opinions were--I. That Christ was the eternal Word +incarnate, and took a true and real body, and will judge all creatures in the life +to come: he also farther asserted that there are two GODS or Creators--the +one eternal, viz., the most high GOD, and the other not eternal, viz., Christ-- +which opinion, though Dr. Pocock urges the same as an argument that he did +not rightly understand the Christian mysteries is not much different from +that of the Arians and Socinians. 2. That there is successive transmigration +of the soul from one body into another; and that the last body will enjoy the +reward or suffer the punishment due to each soul: and, 3. That GOD will +be seen at the resurrection, not with the bodily eyes, but those of the +understanding. + 6. The Jâhedhians, or followers of Amru Ebn Bahr, surnamed al Jâhedh, +a great doctor of the Mutazalites, and very much admired for the elegance +of his composures; who differed from his brethren in that he imagined the +damned would not be eternally tormented in hell, but would be changed into +the nature of fire, and that the fire would of itself attract them, without +any necessity of their going into it. He also taught that if a man believed +GOD to be his Lord, and Mohammed the apostle of GOD, he became one of +the faithful, and was obliged to nothing farther. His peculiar opinion as to +the Koran has been taken notice of before. + 7. The Mozdârians, who embraced the opinions of Isa Ebn Sobeih al Mozdâr, +and those very absurd ones: for, besides his notions relating to the Koran, +he went so directly counter to the opinion of those who abridged GOD of the +power to do evil, that he affirmed it possible for GOD to be a liar and unjust. +He also pronounced him to be an infidel who thrust himself into the supreme +government: nay, he went so far as to assert men to be infidels while they +said "There is no GOD but GOD," and even condemned all the rest of mankind +as guilty of infidelity; upon which Ibrahim Ebn al Sendi asked him whether +paradise, whose breadth equals that of heaven and earth, was created only +for him and two or three more who thought as he did? to which it is said he +could return no answer. + 8. The Basharians, who maintained the tenets of Bashar Ebn Mutamer, the +master of al Mozdâr, and a principal man among the Mutazalites. He differed +in some things from the general opinion of that sect, carrying man's free +agency to a great excess, making it even independent: and yet he thought God +might doom an infant to eternal punishment, but granted he would be unjust in +so doing. He taught that God is not always obliged to do that which is best, +for, if he pleased, he could make all men true believers. These sectaries +also held that if a man repent of a mortal sin, and afterwards return to it, +he will be liable to suffer the punishment due to the former transgression. + 9. The Thamamians, who follow Thamâma Ebn Bashar, a chief Mutazalite. +Their peculiar opinions were--I. That sinners should remain in hell for ever. +2. That free actions have no producing author. 3. That at the resurrection +all infidels, idolaters, atheists, Jews, Christians, Magians, and heretics +shall be reduced to dust. + 10. The Kadarians, which is really a more ancient name than that of +Mutazalites, Mabad al Johni and his adherents being so called, who disputed +the doctrine of predestination before Wâsel quitted his master: for which +reason some use the denomination of Kadarians as more extensive than the +other, and comprehend all the Mutazalites under it. This sect deny absolute +predestination, saying that evil and injustice ought not to be attributed to +GOD, but to man, who is a free agent, and may therefore be rewarded or +punished for his actions, which GOD has granted him power either to do or to +be let alone. And hence it is said they are called Kadarians, because they +deny al Kadr, or GOD'S absolute decree; though others, thinking it not so +proper to come from Kadr, or Kodrat, i.e., power, because they assert man's +power to act freely. Those, however, who give the name of Kadarians to the +Mutazalites are their enemies, for they disclaim it, and give it to their +antagonists the Jabarians, who likewise refuse it as an infamous appellation, +because Mohammed is said to have declared the Kadarians to be the Magians +of his followers. But what the opinion of these Kadarians in Mohammed's time +was, is very uncertain: the Mutazalites say the name belongs to those who +assert predestination, and make GOD the author of good and evil, viz., the +Jabarians; but all the other Mohammedan sects agree to fix it on the +Mutazalites, who, they say, are like the Magians in establishing two +principles, light, or GOD, the author of good; and darkness, or the devil, the +author of evil: but this cannot absolutely be said of the Mutazalites, +for they (at least the generality of them) ascribe men's good deeds to GOD, +but their evil deeds to themselves; meaning thereby that man has a free +liberty and power to do either good or evil, and is master of his actions; and +for this reason it is that the other Mohammedans call them Magians, because +they assert another author of actions besides GOD. And, indeed, it is a +difficult matter to say what Mohammed's own opinion was in this matter; for +on the one side the Koran itself is pretty plain for absolute predestination, +and many sayings of Mohammed are recorded to that purpose, and one in +particular, wherein he introduces Adam and Moses disputing before GOD in +this manner: "Thou," says Moses, "art Adam; whom GOD created, and animated +with the breath of life, and caused to be worshipped by the angels, and placed +in paradise, from whence mankind have been expelled for thy fault:" whereto +Adam answered, "Thou art Moses; whom GOD chose for his apostle, and +entrusted with his word, by giving thee the tables of the law, and whom he +vouchsafed to admit to discourse with himself: how many years dost thou +find the law was written before I was created?" Says Moses, "Forty." "And +dost thou not find," replied Adam, "these words therein: 'And Adam rebelled +against his Lord and transgressed'?" which Moses confessing, "Dost thou +therefore blame me," continued he, "for doing that which GOD wrote of me +that I should do forty years before I was created? nay, for what was decreed +concerning me fifty thousand years before the creation of heaven and earth?" +In the conclusion of which dispute Mohammed declared that Adam had the +better of Moses. On the other side, it is urged in the behalf of the +Mutazalites, that Mohammed declaring that the Kadarians and Morgians had +been cursed by the tongues of seventy prophets, and being asked who the +Kadarians were, answered, "Those who assert that GOD predestinated them +to be guilty of rebellion, and yet punishes them for it:" al Hasan is also said +to have declared, that GOD sent Mohammed to the Arabs while they were +Kadarians, or Jabarians, and laid their sins upon GOD: and to confirm the +matter, this sentence of the Koran is quoted: "When they commit a filthy +action, they say, We found our fathers practising the same, and GOD hath +commanded us so to do: Say, Verily GOD commandeth not filthy actions." + 11. The Sefâtians held the opposite opinion to the Mutazalites in respect +to the eternal attributes of GOD, which they affirmed; making no distinction +between the essential attributes and those of operation: and hence they +were named Sefâtians, or Attributists. Their doctrine was that of the first +Mohammedans, who were not yet acquainted with these nice distinctions: but +this sect afterwards introduced another species of declarative attributes, +or such as were necessarily used in historical narration, as hands, face, +eyes, &c., which they did not offer to explain, but contented themselves with +saying they were in the law, and that they called them declarative attributes. +However, at length, by giving various explications and interpretations of +these attributes they divided into many different opinions: some, by taking +the words in the literal sense, fell into the notion of a likeness or similitude +between GOD and created beings; to which it is said the karaites among the +Jews, who are for the literal interpretation of Moses's law, had shown them +the way: others explained them in another manner, saying that no creature +was like GOD, but that they neither understood nor thought it necessary to +explain the precise signification of the words which seem to affirm the same +of both; it being sufficient to believe that GOD hath no companion or similitude. +Of this opinion was Malec Ebn Ans, who declared as to the expression of GOD'S +sitting on his throne, in particular, that though the meaning is known, yet the +manner is unknown; and that it is necessary to believe it, but heresy to make +any questions about it. + The sects of the Sefâtians are: + I. The Asharians, the followers of Abu'l Hasan al Ashari, who was first a +Mutazalite, and the scholar of Abu Ali al Jobbâi, but disagreeing from his +master in opinion as to GOD'S being bound (as the Mutazalites assert) to do +always that which is best or most expedient, left him, and set up a new sect +of himself. The occasion of this difference was the putting a case concerning +three brothers, the first of whom lived in obedience to GOD, the second in +rebellion against him, and the third died an infant. Al Jobbâi being asked +what he thought would become of them, answered, that the first would be +rewarded in paradise, the second punished in hell, and the third neither +rewarded nor punished: "But what," objected al Ashari, "if the third say, O +LORD, if thou hadst given me longer life, that I might have entered paradise +with my believing brother, it would have been better for me?" to which al +Jobbâi replied, "That GOD would answer, I knew that if thou hadst lived +longer, thou wouldst have been a wicked person, and therefore cast into hell." +"Then," retorted al Ashari, "the second will say, O LORD, why didst thou not +take me away while I was an infant, as thou didst my brother, that I might not +have deserved to be punished for my sins, nor to be cast into hell?" To which +al Jobbâi could return no other answer than that GOD prolonged his life to +give him an opportunity of obtaining the highest degree of perfection, which +was best for him: but al Ashari demanding farther, why he did not for the +same reason grant the other a longer life, to whom it would have been equally +advantageous, al Jobbâi was so put to it, that he asked whether the devil +possessed him? "No," says al Ashari, "but the master's ass will not pass the +bridge;" i.e., he is posed. + The opinions of the Asharians were--I. That they allowed the attributes of +GOD to be distinct from his essence, yet so as to forbid any comparison to be +made between GOD and his creatures. This was also the opinion of Ahmed Ebn +Hanbal, and David al Ispahâni, and others, who herein followed Malec Ebn Ans, +and were so cautious of any assimilation of GOD to created beings, that they +declared whoever moved his hand while he read these words, "I have created +with my hand," or "stretched forth his finger," in repeating this saying +of Mohammed, "The heart of the believer is between two fingers of the +Merciful," ought to have his hand and finger cut off; and the reasons they +gave for not explaining any such words were, that it is forbidden in the +Koran, and that such explications were necessarily founded on conjecture +and opinion, from which no man ought to speak of the attributes of GOD, +because the words of the Koran might by that means come to be understood +differently form the author's meaning: nay, some have been so superstitiously +scrupulous in this matter as not to allow the words hand, face, and the like, +when they occur in the Koran, to be rendered into Persian or any other +language, but require them to be read in the very original words, and this +they call the safe way. 2. As to predestination, they held that GOD hath +one eternal will which is applied to whatsoever he willeth, both of his own +actions and, those of men, so far as they are created by him, but not as +they are acquired or gained by them; that he willeth both their good and their +evil, their profit and their hurt, and as he willeth and knoweth, he willeth +concerning men that which he knoweth, and hath commanded the pen to write +the same in the preserved table: and this is his decree, and eternal immutable +counsel and purpose. They also went so far as to say, that it may be +agreeable to the way of GOD that man should be commanded what he is +not able to perform. But while they allow man some power, they seem to +restrain it to such a power as cannot produce anything new; only GOD, say +they, so orders his providence that he creates, after, or under, and together +with every created or new power, an action which is ready whenever a man +will sit, and sets about it: and this action is called Casb, i.e., Acquisition, +being in respect to its creation, from GOD, but in respect to its being +produced, employed, and acquired, from man. And this being generally +esteemed the orthodox opinion, it may not be improper farther to explain +the same in the words of some other writers. The elective actions of men, +says one, fall under the power of GOD alone; nor is their own power effectual +thereto; but GOD causeth to exist in man power and choice; and if there be +no impediment, he causeth his action to exist also, subject to his power, and +joined with that and his choice; which action, as created, is to be ascribed +to GOD, but as produced, employed, or acquired, to man. So that by the +acquisition of an action is properly meant a man's joining or connecting +the same with his power and will, yet allowing herein no impression or +influence on the existence thereof, save only that it is subject to his power. +Others, however, who are also on the side of al Ashari, and reputed orthodox, +explain the matter in a different manner, and grant the impression or +influence of the created power of man on his action, and that this power is +what is called Acquisition. But the point will be still clearer if we hear a third +author, who rehearses the various opinions, or explications of the opinion of +this sect, in the following words, viz.: Abu'l Hasan al Ashari asserts all the +actions of men to be subject to the power of GOD, being created by him, and +that the power of man hath no influence at all on that which he is empowered +to do; but that both the power, and what is subject thereto, fall under the +power of GOD:al Kâdi Abu Becr says that the essence or substance of the +action is the effect of the power of GOD, but its being either an action +of obedience, as prayer, or an action of disobedience, as fornication, are +qualities of the action, which proceed from the power of man: Abd'almalec, +known by the title of Imâm al Haramein, Abu'l Hosein of Basra, and other +learned men, held that the actions of men are effected by the power which +GOD hath created in man, and that GOD causeth to exist in man both power +and will, and that this power and will do necessarily produce that which man +is empowered to do: and Abu Ishâk al Isfarâyeni taught that that which maketh +impression, or hath influence on an action, is a compound of the power of +GOD and the power of man. The same author observes that their ancestors, +perceiving a manifest difference between those things which are the effects +of the election of man and those things which are the necessary effects of +inanimate agents, destitute both of knowledge and choice, and being at the +same time pressed by the arguments which prove that GOD is the Creator +of all things, and consequently of those things which are done by men, to +conciliate the matter, chose the middle way, asserting actions to proceed +from the power of GOD, and the acquisition of man; GOD'S way of dealing with +his servants being, that when man intendeth obedience, GOD createth in him +an action of obedience, and when he intendeth disobedience, he createth in +him an action of disobedience; so that man seemeth to be the effective +producer of his action, though he really be not. But this, proceeds the same +writer, is again pressed with its difficulties, because the very intention of the +mind is the work of GOD, so that no oman hath any share in the production +of his own actions; for which reason the ancients disapproved of too nice an +inquiry into this point, the end of the dispute concerning the same being, +for the most part, either the taking away of all precepts positive as well as +negative, or else the associating of a companion with GOD, by introducing +some other independent agent besides him. Those, therefore, who would +speak more accurately, use this form: there is neither compulsion nor free +liberty, but the way lies between the two; the power and will in man being both +created by GOD, though the merit or guilt be imputed unto man. Yet, after all, +it is judged the safest way to follow the steps of the primitive Moslems, and, +avoiding subtle disputations and too curious inquiries, to leave the knowledge +of this matter wholly unto GOD. 3. As to mortal sin, the Asharians taught, +that if a believer guilty of such sin die without repentance, his sentence is to +be left with GOD, whether he pardon him out of mercy, or whether the prophet +intercede for him (according to that saying recorded of him, "My intercession +shall be employed for those among my people who shall have been guilty of +grievous crimes"), or whether he punish him in proportion to his demerit, and +afterwards, through his mercy, admit him into paradise: but that it is not to +be supposed he will remain for ever in hell with the infidels, seeing it is declared +that whoever shall have faith in his heart but of the weight of an ant, shall +be delivered from hell fire. And this is generally received for the orthodox +doctrine in this point, and is diametrically opposite to that of the Mutazalites. + These were the more rational Sefâtians, but the ignorant part of them, not +knowing how otherwise to explain the expressions of the Koran relating to the +declarative attributes, fell into most gross and absurd opinions, making GOD +corporeal, and like created beings. Such were-- + 2. The Moshabbehites, or Assimilators; who allowed a resemblance between +GOD and his creatures, supposing him to be a figure composed of members or +parts, either spiritual or corporeal, and capable of local motion, of ascent +and descent, &c. Some of this sect inclined to the opinion of the Holulians, +who believed that the divine nature might be united with the human in the +same person; for they granted it possible that GOD might appear in a human +form, as Gabriel did: and to confirm their opinion they allege Mohammed's +words, that he saw his LORD in a most beautiful form, and Moses talking with +GOD face to face. And-- + 3. The Kerâmians, or followers of Mohammed Ebn Kerâm, called also +Mojassemians, or Corporalists; who not only admitted a resemblance between +GOD and created beings, but declared GOD to be corporeal. The more sober +among them, indeed, when they applied the word body to GOD, would be +understood to mean, that he is a self-subsisting being, which with them is +the definition of body: but yet some of them affirmed him to be finite, and +circumscribed, either on all sides, or on some only (as beneath, for example), +according to different opinions; and others allowed that he might be felt by +the hand, and seen by the eye. Nay, one David al Jawâri went so far as to +say, that his deity was body composed of flesh and blood, and that he had +members, as hands, feet, a head, a tongue, eyes, and ears; but that he was +a body, however, not like other bodies, neither was he like to any created +being: he is also said farther to have affirmed that from the crown of the +head to the breast he was hollow, and from the breast downward solid, and +that he had black curled hair. These most blasphemous and monstrous +notions were the consequence of the literal acceptation of those passages +in the Koran which figuratively attribute corporeal actions to GOD, and of the +words of Mohammed, when he said, that GOD created man in his own image, +and that himself had felt the fingers of GOD, which he laid on his back, to be +cold: besides which, this sect are charged with fathering on their prophet a +great number of spurious and forged traditions to support their opinion, the +greater part whereof they borrowed from the Jews, who are accused as +naturally prone to assimilate GOD to men, so that they describe him as +weeping for Noah's flood till his eyes were sore. And, indeed, though we +grant the Jews may have imposed on Mohammed and his followers in many +instances, and told them as solemn truths things which themselves believed +not or had invented, yet many expressions of this kind are to be found in +their writings; as when they introduce GOD roaring like a lion at every watch +of the night, and crying, "Alas! that I have laid waste my house, and suffered +my temple to be burnt, and sent my children into banishment among the +heathen," &c. + 4. The Jabarians--who are the direct opponents of the Kadarians--denying +free agency in man, and ascribing his actions wholly unto GOD. They take +their denomination from al Jabr, which signifies necessity, or compulsion; +because they hold man to be necessarily and inevitably constrained to act +as he does, by force of GOD'S eternal and immutable decree. This sect is +distinguished into several species; some being more rigid and extreme in +their opinion, who are thence called pure Jabarians, and others more +moderate, who are therefore called middle Jabarians. The former will +not allow men to be said either to act, or to have any power at all, either +operative or acquiring; asserting that man can do nothing, but produces +all his actions by necessity, having neither power, nor will, nor choice, any +more than an inanimate agent: they also declare that rewarding and punishing +are also the effects of necessity; and the same they say of the imposing of +commands. This was the doctrine of the Jahmians, the followers of Jahm Ebn +Safwân, who likewise held that paradise and hell will vanish, or be annihilated, +after those who are destined thereto respectively shall have entered them, +so that at last there will remain no existing being besides GOD; supposing +those words of the Koran which declare that the inhabitants of paradise and +of hell shall remain therein for ever, to be hyperbolical only, and intended for +corroboration, and not to denote an eternal duration in reality. The moderate +Jabarians are those who ascribe some power to man, but such a power as +hath no influence on the action: for as to those who grant the power of man +to have a certain influence on the action, which influence is called Acquisition, +some will not admit them to be called Jabarians; though others reckon those +also to be called middle Jabarians, and to contend for the middle opinion +between absolute necessity and absolute liberty, who attribute to man +acquisition, or concurrence in producing the action, whereby he gaineth +commendation or blame (yet without admitting it to have any influence on the +action), and, therefore, make the Asharians a branch of this sect. Having +again mentioned the term Acquisition, we may, perhaps, have a clearer idea of +what the Mohammedans mean thereby, when told, that it is defined to be an +action directed to the obtaining of profit, or the removing of hurt, and for +that reason never applied to any action of GOD, who acquireth to himself +neither profit nor hurt. Of the middle or moderate Jabarians were the +Najârians and the Derârians. The Najârians were the adherents of al Hasan Ebn +Mohammed al Najâr, who taught that GOD was he who created the actions of +men, both good and bad, and that man acquired them, and also that man's +power had an influence on the action, or a certain co-operation, which he +called acquisition; and herein he agreed with al Ashari. The Derârians were +the disciples of Derâr Ebn Amru, who held also that men's actions are really +created by GOD, and that man really acquired them. The Jabarians also say, +that GOD is absolute Lord of his creatures, and may deal with them according +to his own pleasure, without rendering account to any, and that if he should +admit all men, without distinction, into paradise, it would be no impartiality, +or if he should cast them all into hell it would be no injustice. And in this +particular, likewise, they agree with the Asharians, who assert the same, +and say that reward is a favour from GOD, and punishment a piece of justice; +obedience being by them considered as a sign only of future reward, and +transgression as a sign of future punishment. + 5. The Morgians; who are said to be derived from the Jabarians. These +teach that the judgment of every true believer, who hath been guilty of a +grievous sin, will be deferred till the resurrection; for which reason they +pass no sentence on him in this world, either of absolution or condemnation. +They also hold that disobedience with faith hurteth not; and that, on the +other hand, obedience with infidelity profiteth not. As to the reason of +their name the learned differ, because of the different significations of its +root, each of which they accommodate to some opinion of the sect. Some +think them so called because they postpone works to intention, that is, +esteem works to be inferior in degree to intention and profession of the +faith; others, because they allow hope, by asserting that disobedience with +faith hurteth not, &c.; others take the reason of the name to be, their +deferring the sentence of the heinous sinner till the resurrection; and others, +their degrading of Ali, or removing him from the first degree to the fourth: +for the Morgians, in some points relating to the office of Imâm, agree with the +Khârejites, the Kadarians, or the Jabarians, are distinguished as Morgians of +those sects, and the fourth is that of the pure Morgians; which last species +is again subdivided into five others. The opinions of Mokâtel and Bashar, +both of a sect of the Morgians called Thaubanians, should not be omitted. +The former asserted that disobedience hurts not him who professes the unity +of GOD, and is endued with faith; and that no true believer shall be cast into +hell: he also taught that GOD will surely forgive all crimes besides infidelity; +and that a disobedient believer will be punished, at the day of resurrection, on +the bridge laid over the midst of hell, where the flames of hell fire shall catch +hold on him, and torment him in proportion to his disobedience, and that he +shall then be admitted into paradise. The latter held that if GOD do cast the +believers guilty of grievous sins into hell, yet they will be delivered thence +after they shall have been sufficiently punished; but that it is neither +possible nor consistent with justice that they should remain therein for ever; +which, as has been observed, was the opinion of al Ashari. + III. The Khârejites are they who depart or revolt from the lawful prince +established by public consent; and thence comes their name, which signifies +revolters or rebels. The first who were so called were twelve thousand men +who revolted from Ali, after they had fought under him at the battle of +Seffein, taking offence at his submitting the decision of his right to the +Khalifat, which Moâwiyah disputed with him, to arbitration, though they +themselves had first obliged him to it. These were also called Mohakkemites, +or Judiciarians; because the reason which they gave for their revolt was, that +Ali had referred a matter concerning the religion of GOD to the judgment of +men, whereas the judgment, in such case, belonged only unto GOD. The heresy +of the Khârejites consisted chiefly in two things. I. In that they affirmed +a man might be promoted to the dignity of the Imâm, or prince, though he was +not of the tribe of Koreish, nor even a freeman, provided he was a just and +pious person, and endued with the other requisite qualifications; and also +held that if the Imâm turned aside from the truth, he might be put to death or +deposed; and that there was no absolute necessity for any Imâm at all in the +world. 2. In that they charged Ali with sin, for having left an affair to +the judgment of men, which ought to have been determined by GOD alone; and +went so far as to declare him guilty of infidelity, and to curse him on that +account. In the 38th year of the Hejra, which was the year following the +revolt, all these Khârejites who persisted in their rebellion, to the number +of four thousand, were cut to pieces by Ali, and, as several historians +write, even to a man: but others say nine of them escaped, and that two fled +into Omân, two into Kermân, two into Sejestân, two into Mesopotamia, and one +to Tel Mawrun; and that these propagated their heresy in those places, the +same remaining there to this day. The principal sects of the Khârejites, +besides the Mohakkemites above mentioned, are six; which, though they greatly +differ among themselves in other matters, yet agree in these, viz., that they +absolutely reject Othmân and Ali, preferring the doing of this to the greatest +obedience, and allowing marriages to be contracted on no other terms; that +they account those who are guilty of grievous sins to be infidels; and that +they hold it necessary to resist the Imâm when he transgresses the law. One +sect of them deserves more particular notice, viz.-- + The Waidians, so called from al Waid, which signifies the threats denounced +by GOD against the wicked. These are the antagonists of the Morgians, and +assert that he who is guilty of a grievous sin ought to be declared an infidel +or apostate, and will be eternally punished in hell, though he were a true +believer: which opinion of theirs, as has been observed, occasioned the first +rise of the Mutazalites. One Jaafar Ebn Mobashshar, of the sect of the +Nodhâmians, was yet more severe than the Waidians, pronouncing him to be +a reprobate and an apostate who steals but a grain of corn. + IV. The Shiites are the opponents of the Khârejites: their name properly +signifies sectaries or adherents in general, but is peculiarly used to denote +those of Ali Ebn Tâleb; who maintain him to be lawful Khalif and Imâm, and +that the supreme authority, both in spirituals and temporals, of right belongs +to his descendants, notwithstanding they may be deprived of it by the +injustice of others, or their own fear. They also teach that the office of +Imâm is not a common thing, depending on the will of the vulgar, so that they +may set up whom they please; but a fundamental affair of religion, and an +article which the prophet could not have neglected, or left to the fancy of +the common people: nay, some, thence called Imâmians, go so far as to +assert, that religion consists solely in the knowledge of the true Imâm. The +principal sects of the Shiites are five, which are subdivided into an almost +innumerable number; so that some understand Mohammed's prophecy of the +seventy odd sects, of the Shiites only. Their general opinions are--I. That +the peculiar designation of the Imâm, and the testimonies of the Koran and +Mohammed concerning him, are necessary points. 2. That the Imâms ought +necessarily to keep themselves free from light sins as well as more grievous. +3. That every one ought publicly to declare who it is that he adheres to, and +from whom he separates himself, by word, deed, and engagement; and that +herein there should be no dissimulation. But in this last point some of the +Zeidians, a sect so named from Zeid, the son of Ali surnamed Zein al âbedin, +and great-grandson of Ali, dissented from the rest of the Shiites. As to +other articles, wherein they agreed not, some of them came pretty near to +the notions of the Mutazalites, others to those of the Moshabbehites, and +others to those of the Sonnites. Among the latter of these Mohammed al +Bâker, another son of Zein al âbedin's, seems to claim a place: for his opinion +as to the will of GOD was, that GOD willeth something in us, and something +from us, and that what he willeth from us he hath revealed to us; for which +reason he thought it preposterous that we should employ our thoughts about +those things which GOD willeth in us, and neglect those which he willeth from +us: and as to GOD'S decree, he held that the way lay in the middle, and that +there was neither compulsion nor free liberty. A tenet of the Khattâbians, +or disciples of one Abu'l Khattab, is too peculiar to be omitted. These +maintained paradise to be no other than the pleasures of this world, and +hell fire to be the pains thereof, and that the world will never decay: which +proposition being first laid down, it is no wonder they went farther, and +declared it lawful to indulge themselves in drinking wine and whoring, and to +do other things forbidden by the law, and also to omit doing the things +commanded by the law. + Many of the Shiites carried their veneration for Ali and his descendants so +far, that they transgressed all bounds of reason and decency; though some +of them were less extravagant than others. The Gholâites, who had their +name from their excessive zeal for their Imâms, were so highly transported +therewith, that they raised them above the degree of created beings, and +attributed divine properties to them; transgressing on either hand, by deifying +of mortal men, and by making GOD corporeal: for one while they liken one of +their Imâms to GOD, and another while they liken GOD to a creature. The sects +of these are various, and have various appellations in different countries. +Abd'allah Ebn Saba (who had been a Jew, and had asserted the same thing of +Joshua the son of Nun) was the ringleader of one of them. This man gave +the following salutation to Ali, viz., "Thou art Thou," i.e., Thou art GOD: and +hereupon the Gholâites became divided into several species; some maintaining +the same thing, or something like it, of Ali, and others of some of one of his +descendants; affirming that he was not dead, but would return again in the +clouds, and fill the earth with justice. But howmuchsoever they disagreed in +other things, they unanimously held a metempsychosis, and what they call +al Holul, or the descent of GOD on his creatures; meaning thereby that GOD +is present in every place, and speaks with every tongue, and appears in +some individual person: and hence some of them asserted their Imâms to be +prophets, and at length gods. The Nosairians and the Ishâkians taught that +spiritual substances appear in grosser bodies; and that the angels and the +devil have appeared in this manner. They also assert that GOD hath appeared +in this manner. They also assert that GOD hath appeared in the form of +certain men; and since, after Mohammed, there hath been no man more +excellent than Ali, and, after him, his sons have excelled all other men, that +GOD hath appeared in their form, spoken with their tongue, and made use of +their hands; for which reason, say they, we attribute divinity to them. And +to support these blasphemies, they tell several miraculous things of Ali, as +his moving the gates of Khaibar, which they urge as a plain proof that he was +endued with a particle of divinity and with sovereign power, and that he was +the person in whose form GOD appeared, with whose hands he created all +things, and with whose tongue he published his commands; and therefore +they say he was in being before the creation of heaven and earth. In so +impious a manner do they seem to wrest those things which are said in +scripture of CHRIST by applying them to Ali. These extravagant fancies of +the Shiites, however, in making their Imâms in laying claim thereto, are so +far from being peculiar to this sect, that most of the other Mohammedan +sects are tainted with the same madness; there being many found among +them, and among the Sufis especially, who pretend to be nearly related to +heaven, and who boast of strange revelations before the credulous people. +It may not be amiss to hear what al Ghazâli has written on this occasion. +"Matters are come to that pass," says he, "that some boast of an union with +GOD, and of discoursing familiarly with him, without the interposition of a veil, +saying, 'It hath been thus said to us,' and 'We have thus spoken;' affecting to +imitate Hosein al Hallâj, who was put to death for some words of this kind +uttered by him, he having said (as was proved by credible witnesses), 'I am +the Truth,' or Abu Yazid al Bastâmi, of whom it is related that he often used +the expression, 'Sobhâni,' i.e., 'Praise be unto me!' But this way of talking is +the cause of great mischief among the common people; insomuch that +husbandmen, neglecting the tillage of their land, have pretended to the like +privileges; nature being tickled with discourses of this kind, which furnish men +with an excuse for leaving their occupations, under pretence of purifying their +souls, and attaining I know not what degrees and conditions. Nor is there +anything to hinder the most stupid fellows from forming the like pretensions +and catching at such vain expressions: for whenever what they say is denied +to be true, they fail not to reply that our unbelief proceeds from learning +and logic; affirming learning to be a veil, and logic the work of the mind; +wherein what they tell us appears only within, being discovered by the light +of truth. But this is that truth the sparks whereof have flown into several +countries and occasioned great mischiefs; so that it is more for the +advantage of GOD'S true religion to put to death one of those who utter +such things than to bestow life on ten others." + Thus far have we treated of the chief sects among the Mohammedans of +the first ages, omitting to say anything of the more modern sects, because +the same are taken little or no notice of by their own writers, and would be +of no use to our present design. It may be proper, however, to mention a +word or two of the great schism at this day subsisting between the Sonnites +and the Shiites, or partisans of Ali, and maintained on either side with +implacable hatred and furious zeal. Though the difference arose at first +on a political occasion, it has, notwithstanding, been so well improved by +additional circumstances and the spirit of contradiction, that each party +detest and anathematize the other as abominable heretics, and farther from +the truth than either the Christians or the Jews. The chief points wherein +they differ are--I. That the Shiites reject Abu Becr, Omar, and Othmân, the +three first Khalifs, as usurpers and intruders; whereas the Sonnites +acknowledge and respect them as rightful Imâms. 2. The Shiites prefer +Ali to Mohammed, or, at least, esteem them both equal; but the Sonnites +admit neither Ali nor any of the prophets to be equal to Mohammed. 3. The +Sonnites charge the Shiites with corrupting the Koran and neglecting its +precepts, and the Shiites retort the same charge on the Sonnites. 4. The +Sonnites receive the Sonna, or book of traditions of their prophet, as of +canonical authority; whereas the Shiites reject it as apocryphal and unworthy +of credit. And to these disputes, and some others of less moment, is +principally owing to the antipathy which has long reigned between the Turks, +who are Sunnites, and the Persians, who are of the sect of Ali. It seems +strange that Spinosa, had he known of no other schism among the +Mohammedans, should yet never have heard of one so publicly notorious +as this between the Turks and Persians; but it is plain he did not, or he would +never have assigned it as the reason of his preferring the order of the +Mohammedan church to that of the Roman, that there have arisen no +schisms in the former since its birth. + As success in any project seldom fails to draw in imitators, Mohammed's +having raised himself to such a degree of power and reputation by acting the +prophet, induced others to imagine they might arrive at the same height by +the same means. His most considerable competitors in the prophetic office +were Moseilama and al Aswad, whom the Mohammedans usually call the two +liars. + The former was of the tribe of Honeifa, who inhabited the province of +Yamâma, and a principal man among them. He headed an embassy sent by his +tribe to Mohammed in the ninth year of the Hejra, and professed himself a +Moslem: but on his return home, considering that he might possibly share with +Mohammed in his power, the next year he set up for a prophet also, pretending +to be joined with him the commission to recall mankind from idolatry to the +worship of the true GOD; and he published written revelations, in imitation +of the Koran, of which Abulfargius has preserved the following passage, viz.: +"now hath GOD been gracious unto her that was with child, and hath brought +forth from her the soul, which runneth between the peritonaeum and the +bowels." Moseilama, having formed a considerable party among those of +Honeifa, began to think himself upon equal terms with Mohammed, and sent +him a letter, offering to go halves with him, in these words: "From Moseilama +the apostle of GOD, to Mohammed the apostle of GOD. Now let the earth be +half mine, and half thine." But Mohammed, thinking himself too well +established to need a partner, wrote him this answer: "From Mohammed +the apostle of GOD, to Moseilama the liar. The earth is GOD'S: he giveth the +same for inheritance unto such of his servants as he pleaseth; and the happy +issue shall attend those who fear him." During the few months which +Mohammed lived after this revolt, Moseilama rather gained than lost ground, +and grew very formidable; but Abu Becr, his successor, in the eleventh year +of the Hejra, sent a great army against him, under the command of that +consummate general, Khâled Ebn al Walid, who engaged Moseilama in a bloody +battle, wherein the false prophet, happening to be slain by Wahsha, the negro +slave who had killed Hamza at Ohod, and by the same lance, the Moslems +gained an entire victory, ten thousand of the apostates being left dead on +the spot, and the rest returning to Mohammedism. + Al Aswad, whose name was Aihala, was of the tribe of Ans, and governed +that and the other tribes of Arabs descended from Madhhaj. This man was +likewise an apostate from Mohammedism, and set up for himself the very year +that Mohammed died. He was surnamed Dhu'lhemâr, or the master of the ass, +because he used frequently to say, "The master of the ass is coming unto +me;" and pretended to receive his revelations from two angels, named Sohaik +and Shoraik. Having a good hand at legerdemain, and a smooth tongue, he +gained mightily on the multitude by the strange feats which he showed them, +and the eloquence of his discourse: by these means he greatly increased his +power, and having made himself master of Najrân, and the territory of al +Tâyef, on the death of Badhân, the governor of Yaman for Mohammed, he +seized that province also, killing Shahr, the son of Badhân, and taking to wife +his widow, whose father, the uncle of Firuz the Deilamite, he had also slain. +These news being brought to Mohammed, he sent to his friends, and to those +of Hamdân, a party of whom, conspiring with Kais Ebn Abd'al Yaghuth, who bore +Al Aswad a grudge, and with Firuz, and al Aswad's wife, broke by night into his +house, where Firuz surprised him and cut off his head. While he was +dispatching he roared like a bull; at which his guards came to the chamber +door, but were sent away by his wife, who told them the prophet was only +agitated by the divine inspiration. This was done the very night before +Mohammed died. The next morning the conspirators caused the following +proclamation to be made, viz.: "I bear witness that Mohammed is the apostle +of GOD, and that Aihala is a liar;" and letters were immediately sent away to +Mohammed, with an account of what had been done: but a messenger from +heaven outstripped them, and acquainted the prophet with the news, which +he imparted to his companions but a little before his death; the letters +themselves not arriving till Abu Becr was chosen Khalif. It is said that +Mohammed, on this occasion, told those who attended him that before the +day of judgment thirty more impostors, besides Moseilama and al Aswad, +should appear, and every one of them set up for a prophet. The whole time, +from the beginning of al Aswad's rebellion to his death, was about four +months. + In the same eleventh year of the Hejra, but after the death of Mohammed, +as seems most probable, Toleiha Ebn Khowailed set up for a prophet, and Sejâj +Bint al Mondar for a prophetess. + Toleiha was of the tribe of Asad, which adhered to him, together with great +numbers of the tribes of Ghatfân and Tay. Against them likewise was Khâled +sent, who engaged and put them to flight, obliging Toleiha, with his shattered +troops, to retire into Syria, where he stayed till the death of Abu Becr: then +he went to Omar and embraced Mohammedism in his presence, and, having +taken the oath of fidelity to him, returned to his own country and people. + Sejâj, surnamed Omm Sâder, was of the tribe of Tamim, and the wife of Abu +Cahdala, a soothsayer of Yamâma. She was followed not only by those of her +own tribe, but by several others. Thinking a prophet the most proper husband +for her, she went to Moseilama, and married him; but after she had stayed +with him three days, she left him and returned home. What became of her +afterwards I do not find. Ebn Shohnah has given us part of the conversation +which passed at the interview between those two pretenders to inspiration; +but the same is a little too immodest to be translated. + In succeeding ages several impostors from time to time started up most +of whom quickly came to nothing: but some made a considerable figure, and +propagated sects which continued long after their decease. I shall give a brief +account of the most remarkable of them, in order of time. + In the reign of al Mohdi, the third Khalif of the race of al Abbâs, one +Hakem Ebn Hâshem, originally of Meru, in Khorasân, who had been an under- +secretary to Abu Moslem, the governor of that province, and afterwards +turned soldier, passed thence into Mawarâlnahr, where he gave himself out +for a prophet. He is generally named by the Arab writers al Mokanna, and +sometimes al Borkaí, that is, "the veiled," because he used to cover his face +with a veil, or a gilded mask, to conceal his deformity, having lost an eye in +the ward, and being otherwise of a despicable appearance; though his +followers pretended he did it for the same reasons as Moses did, viz., lest +the splendour of his countenance should dazzle the eyes of the beholders. +He made a great many proselytes at Nakhshab and Kash, deluding the people +with several juggling performances, which they swallowed for miracles, and +particularly by causing the appearance of a moon to rise out of a well, for +many nights together; whence he was also called, in the Persian tongue, +Sâzendeh mah, or the moonmaker. This impious impostor, not content with +being reputed a prophet, arrogated divine honours to himself, pretending +that the deity resided in his person: and the doctrine whereon he built this +was the same with that of the Gholâites above mentioned, who affirmed a +transmigration or successive manifestation of the divinity through and in +certain prophets and holy men, from Adam to these latter days (of which +opinion was also Abu Moslem himself); but the particular doctrine of al +Mokanna was, that the person in whom the deity had last resided was the +aforesaid Abu Moslem, and that the same had, since his death, passed into +himself. The faction of al Mokanna, who had made himself master of several +fortified places in the neighbourhood of the cities above mentioned, growing +daily more and more powerful, the Khalif was at length obliged to send an +army to reduce him; at the approach whereof al Mokanna retired into one of +his strongest fortresses, which he had well provided for a siege, and sent his +emissaries abroad to pursuade people that he raised the dead to life, and +knew future events. But, being straitly besieged by the Khalif's forces, +when he found there was no possibility for him to escape, he gave poison, +in wine, to his whole family, and all that were with him in the castle; and when +they were dead he burnt their bodies, together with their clothes, and all the +provisions and cattle; and then, to prevent his own body's being found, he +threw himself into the flames, or, as others say, into a tub of aqua fortis, or +some other preparation, which consumed every part of him, except only his +hair: so that when the besiegers entered the place, they found no creature +in it, save one of al Mokanna's concubines, who, suspecting his design, had hid +herself, and discovered the whole matter. This contrivance, however, failed +not to produce the effect which the impostor designed among the remaining +part of his followers; for he had promised them that his soul should +transmigrate into the form of a grey-headed man riding on a greyish beast, +and that after so many years he would return to them, and give them the +earth for their possession: the expectation of which promise kept the sect +in being for several ages after under the name of Mobeyyidites, or, as the +Persians call them, Sefid jâmehghiân, i.e., the clothed in white, because they +wore their garments of that colour, in opposition, as is supposed, to the +Khalifs of the family of Abbâs, whose banners and habits were black. The +historians place the death of al Mokanna in the 162nd or 163rd year of +the Hejra. + In the year of the Hejra 201, Bâbec, surnamed al Khorremi, and Khorremdin, +either because he was of a certain district near Ardebil in Adherbijân, called +Khorrem, or because he instituted a merry religion, which is the signification +of the word in Persian, began to take on him the title of a prophet. I do not +find what doctrine he taught; but it is said he professed none of the +religions then known in Asia. He gained a great number of devotees in +Adherbijân and the Persian Irâk, and grew powerful enough to wage war with the +Khalif al Mamún, whose troops he often beat, killing several of his generals, +and one of them with his own hand; and by these victories he became so +formidable that al Mutasem, the successor of al Mamun, was obliged to employ +the forces of the whole empire against him. The general sent to reduce Bâbec +was Afshid, who having overthrown him in battle, took his castles one after +another with invincible patience, notwithstanding the rebels gave him great +annoyance, and at last shut up the impostor in his principal fortress; which +being taken, Bâbec found means to escape thence in disguise, with some of his +family and principal followers; but taking refuge in the territories of the +Greeks, was betrayed in the following manner. Sahel, an Armenian officer, +happening to know Bâbec, enticed him, by offers of service and respect, into +his power, and treated him as a mighty prince, till, when he sat down to eat, +Sahel clapped himself down by him; at which Bâbec being surprised, asked him +how he dared to take that liberty unasked? "It is true, great king," replied +Sahel, "I have committed a fault; for who am I, that I should sit at your +majesty's table?" And immediately sending for a smith, he made use of this +bitter sarcasm, "Stretch forth your legs, great king, that this man may put +fetters on them." After this Sahel sent him to Afshid, though he had offered +a large sum for his liberty, having first served him in his own kind, by +causing his mother, sister, and wife to be ravished before his face; for so +Bâbec used to treat his prisoners. Afshid, having the arch-rebel in his +power, conducted him to al Mutasem, by whose order he was put to an +ignominious and cruel death. This man had maintained his ground against the +power of the Khalifs for twenty years, and had cruelly put to death above two +hundred and fifty thousand people; it being his custom never to spare man, +woman, or child, either of the Mohammedans or their allies. The sectaries of +Bâbec which remained after his death seem to have been entirely dispersed, + About the year 235, one Mahmud Ebn Faraj pretended to be Moses +resuscitated, and played his part so well that several people believed on him, +and attended him when he was brought before the Khalif al Motawakkel. That +prince, having been an ear-witness of his extravagant discourses, condemned +him to receive ten buffets from every one of his followers, and then to be +drubbed to death; which was accordingly executed; and his disciples were +imprisoned till they came to their right minds. + The Karmatians, a sect which bore an inveterate malice against the +Mohammedans, began first to raise disturbances in the year of the Hejra +278, and the latter end of the reign of al Mutamed. Their origin is not well +known; but the common tradition is, that poor fellow, whom some call +Karmata, came from Khuzistân to the villages near Cufa, and there feigned +great sanctity and strictness of life, and that GOD had enjoined him to pray +fifty times a day, pretending also to invite people to the obedience of a +certain Imâm of the family of Mohammed: and this way of life he continued +till he had made a very great party, out of whom he chose twelve, as his +apostles, to govern the rest, and to propagate his doctrines. But the +governor of the province, finding men neglected their work, and their +husbandry in particular, to say those fifty prayers a day, seized the fellow, +and having put him into prison, swore that he should die; which being overheard +by a girl belonging to the governor, she, pitying the man, at night took the key +of the dungeon from under her master's head as he slept, and having let the +prisoner out, returned the key to the place whence she had it. The next +morning the governor found the bird flown; and the accident being publicly +known, raised great admiration, his adherents giving it out that GOD had +taken him into heaven. Afterwards he appeared in another province, and +declared to a great number of people he had got about him that it was not +in the power of any to do him hurt; notwithstanding which, his courage failing +him, he retired into Syria, and was not heard of any more. His sect, however, +continued and increased, pretending that their master had manifested himself +to be a true prophet, and had left them a new law, wherein he had change the +ceremonies and form of prayer used by the Moslems, and introduced a new +kind of fast; and that he had also allowed them to drink wine, and dispensed +with several things commanded in the Koran. They also turned the precepts +of that book into allegory; teaching that prayer was the symbol of obedience +to their Imâm, and fasting that of silence, or concealing their dogmas from +strangers: they also believed fornication to be the sin of infidelity; and the +guilt thereof to be incurred by those who revealed the mysteries of their +religion, or paid not a blind obedience to their chief. They are said to have +produced a book, wherein was written (among other things), "In the name of +the most merciful GOD. Al Faraj Ebn Othmân of the town of Nasrâna, saith +that Christ appeared unto him in a human form, and said, 'Thou art the +invitation: thou art the demonstration: thou art the camel: thou art the +beast: thou art John the son of Zacharias: thou art the Holy Ghost.'" From +the year above mentioned the Karmatians, under several leaders, gave almost +continual disturbance to the Khalifs and their Mohammedan subjects for +several years; committing great disorders and outrages in Chaldea, Arabia, +Syria, and Mesopotamia, and at length establishing a considerable principality, +the power whereof was in its meridian in the reign of Abu Dhâher, famous +for his taking of Mecca, and the indignities by him offered to the temple +there, but which declined soon after his time and came to nothing. + To the Karmatians the Ismaelians of Asia were very near of kin, if they +were not a branch of them. For these, who were also called al Molâhedah, or +the Impious, and by the writers of the history of the holy wars, Assassins, +agreed with the former in many respects; such as their inveterate malice +against those of other religions, and especially the Mohammedan, their +unlimited obedience to their prince, at whose command they were ready for +assassinations, or any other bloody and dangerous enterprise, their pretended +attachment to a certain Imâm of the house of Ali, &c. These Ismaelians in +the year 483 possessed themselves of al Jebâl, in the Persian Irâk, under the +conduct of Hasan Sabah; and that prince and his descendants enjoyed the +same for a hundred and seventy-one years, till the whole race of them was +destroyed by Holagu the Tartar. + The Bâtenites, which name is also given to the Ismaelians by some authors, +and likewise to the Karmatians, were a sect which professed the same +abominable principles, and were dispersed over several parts of the east. +The word signifies Esoterics, or people of inward or hidden light or +knowledge. + Abu'l Teyyeb Ahmed, surnamed al Motanabbi, of the tribe of Jufa, is too +famous on another account not to claim a place here. He was one of the most +excellent poets among the Arabians, there being none besides Abu Temâm +who can dispute the prize with him. His poetical inspiration was so warm and +exalted that he either mistook it or thought he could persuade others to +believe it to be prophetical, and therefore gave himself out to be a prophet +indeed; and thence acquired his surname, by which he is generally known. +His accomplishments were too great not to have some success; for several +tribes of the Arabs of the deserts, particularly that of Kelâb, acknowledged +him to be what he pretended. But Lulu, governor in those parts for Akhshid +king of Egypt and Syria, soon put a stop to the further progress of this new +sect by imprisoning their prophet and obliging him to renounce his chimerical +dignity; which having done, he regained his liberty, and applied himself solely +to his poetry, by means whereof he got very considerable riches, being in +high esteem at the courts of several princes. Al Motanabbi lost his life, +together with his son, on the bank of the Tigris, in defending the money which +had been given him by Adado'ddawla, soltân of Persia, against some Arabian +robbers who demanded it of him, with which money he was returning to Cufa, +his native city. This accident happened in the year 354. + The last pretender to prophecy I shall now take notice of is one who +appeared in the city of Amasia, in Natolia, in the year 638, and by his +wonderful feats seduced a great multitude of people there. He was by nation +a Turkmân, and called himself Bâba, and had a disciple named Isaac, whom he +sent about to invite those of his own nation to join him. Isaac accordingly, +coming to the territory of Someisat, published his commission, and prevailed +on many to embrace his master's sect, especially among the Turkmâns; so +that at last he had six thousand horse at his heels, besides foot. With these +Baba and his disciple made open war on all who would not cry out with them, +"There is no GOD but GOD; Bâba is the apostle of GOD:" and they put great +numbers of Mohammedans, as well as Christians, to the sword in those parts; +till at length both Mohammedans and Christians, joining together, gave them +battle, and having entirely routed them, put them all to the sword, except +their two chiefs, who being taken alive, had their heads struck off by the +executioner. + I could mention several other impostors of the same kind, which have arisen +among the Mohammedans since their prophet's time, and very near enough to +complete the number foretold by him: but I apprehend the reader is by this +time tired as well as myself, and shall therefore here conclude this +discourse, which may be thought already too long for an introduction. + + + + + +AL KORAN. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER I. + +ENTITLED, THE PREFACE, OR INTRODUCTION; REVEALED AT MECCA. + + IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD + PRAISE be to GOD, the LORD of all creatures; + the most merciful, + the king of the day of judgment. + Thee do we worship, and of thee do we beg assistance. + Direct us in the right way, + in the way of those to whom thou hast been gracious; not of those against +whom thou art incensed, nor of those who go astray. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER II. + +ENTITLED, THE COW; REVEALED PARTLY AT MECCA, AND PARTLY AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + A.L.M. + There is no doubt in this book; it is a direction to the pious, + who believe in the mysteries of faith, who observe the appointed times +of prayer, and distribute alms out of what we have bestowed on them, + and who believe in that revelation, which hath been sent down unto thee +and that which hath been sent down unto the prophets before thee, and have +firm assurance of the life to come: + these are directed by their LORD, and they shall prosper. + As for the unbelievers, it will be equal to them whether thou admonish +them, or do not admonish them; they will not believe. + GOD hath sealed up their hearts and their hearing; a dimness covereth +their sight, and they shall suffer a grievous punishment. + There are some who say, We believe in GOD, and the last day; but are not +really believers: + they seek to deceive GOD, and those who do believe, but they deceive +themselves only, and are not sensible thereof. +10 There is an infirmity in their hearts, and GOD hath increased that +infirmity; and they shall suffer a most painful punishment, because they have +disbelieved. + When one saith unto them, Act not corruptly in the earth; they reply, +Verily we are men of integrity. + Are not they themselves corrupt doers? but they are not sensible thereof. + And when one saith unto them, Believe ye as others believe; they answer, +Shall we believe as fools believe? Are not they themselves fools? but they +know it not. + When they meet those who believe, they say, We do believe: but when they +retire privately to their devils, they say, We really hold with you, and only +mock at those people: + GOD shall mock at them, and continue them in their impiety; they shall +wander in confusion. + There are the the men who have purchased error at the price of true +direction: but their traffic hath not been gainful, neither have they been +rightly directed. + They are like unto one who kindleth a fire, and when it hath enlightened +all around him, GOD taketh away their light and leaveth them in darkness, +they shall not see; + they are deaf, dumb, and blind, therefore will they not repent. + Or like a stormy cloud from heaven, fraught with darkness, thunder, and +lightning, they put their fingers in their ears because of the noise of the +thunder, for fear of death; GOD encompasseth the infidels: +20 the lightning wanteth but little of taking away their sight; so often as +it enlighteneth them, they walk therein, but when darkness cometh on them, +they stand still; and if GOD so pleased, he would certainly deprive them of +their hearing and their sight, for GOD is almighty. + O men of Mecca, serve your LORD who hath created you, and those who +have been before you: peradventure ye will fear him; + who hath spread the earth as a bed for you, and the heaven as a +covering, and hath caused water to descend from heaven, and thereby produced +fruits for your sustenance. Set not up therefore any equals unto GOD, against +your own knowledge. + If ye be in doubt concerning that revelation which we have sent down unto +our servant, produce a chapter like unto it, and call upon your witnesses +besides GOD, if ye say truth. + But if ye do it not, nor shall ever be able to do it; justly fear the +fire whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the unbelievers. + But bear good tidings unto those who believe, and do good works, that +they shall have gardens watered by rivers; so often as they eat of the fruit +thereof for sustenance, they shall say, this is what we have formerly eaten +of; and they shall be supplied with several sorts of fruit having a mutual +resemblance to one another. There shall they enjoy wives subject to no +impurity, and there shall they continue forever. + Moreover, GOD will not be ashamed to propound in a parable a gnat, or +even a more despicable thing: for they who believe will know it to be the +truth from their LORD; but the unbelievers will say, What meaneth GOD by this +parable? he will thereby mislead many, and will direct many thereby: but he +will not mislead any thereby, except the transgressors, + who make void the covenant of GOD after the establishing thereof, and cut +in sunder that which GOD hath commanded to be joined, and act corruptly in the +earth; they shall perish. + How is it that ye believe not in GOD? Since ye were dead, and he gave +you life; he will hereafter cause you to die, and will again restore you to +life; then shall ye return unto him. + It is he who hath created for you whatsoever is on earth, and then set +his mind to the creation of heaven, and formed it into seven heavens; he +knoweth all things. +30 When thy LORD said unto the angels, I am going to place a substitute on +earth; they said, Wilt thou place there one who will do evil therein, and +shed blood? but we celebrate thy praise, and sanctify thee. GOD answered, +Verily I know that which ye know not; + and he taught Adam the names of all things, and then proposed them to the +angels, and said, Declare unto me the names of these things if ye say truth. + They answered, Praise be unto thee; we have no knowledge but what thou +teachest us, for thou art knowing and wise. + GOD said, O Adam, tell them their names. And when he had told them their +names, GOD said, Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and +earth, and know that which ye discover, and that which ye conceal? + And when we said unto the angels, Worship Adam, they all worshipped him, +except Eblis, who refused, and was puffed up with pride, and became of the +number of unbelievers. + And we said, O Adam, dwell thou and thy wife in the garden, and eat of +the fruit thereof plentifully wherever ye will; but approach not this tree, +lest ye become of the number of the transgressors. + But Satan caused them to forfeit paradise, and turned them out of the +state of happiness wherein they had been; whereupon we said, Get ye down, the +one of you an enemy unto the other; and there shall be a dwelling-place for +you on earth, and a provision for a season. + And Adam learned words of prayer from his LORD, and GOD turned unto him, +for he is easy to be reconciled and merciful. + We said, Get ye all down from hence; hereafter shall there come unto you +a direction from me, and whoever shall follow my direction, on them shall no +fear come, neither shall they be grieved; + but they who shall be unbelievers, and accuse our signs of falsehood, +they shall be the companions of hell fire, therein shall they remain forever. +40 O children of Israel, remember my favor wherewith I have favored you; +and perform your covenant with me, and I will perform my covenant with you; +and revere me: + and believe in the revelation which I have sent down, confirming that which +is with you, and be not the first who believe not therein, neither exchange my +signs for a small price; and fear me. + Clothe not the truth with vanity, neither conceal the truth against your +own knowledge; + observe the stated times of prayer, and pay your legal alms, and bow +down yourselves with those who bow down. + Will ye command men to do justice, and forget your own souls? yet ye +read the book of the law: do ye not therefore understand? + Ask help with perseverance and prayer; this indeed is grievous unless to +the humble, + who seriously think they shall meet their LORD and that to him they shall +return. + O children of Israel, remember my favor wherewith I have favored you, and +that I have preferred you above all nations; + dread the day wherein one soul shall not make satisfaction for another +soul, neither shall any intercession be accepted from them, nor shall any +compensation be received, neither shall they be helped. + Remember when we delivered you from the people of Pharaoh, who grievously +oppressed you, they slew your male children, and let your females live: +therein was a great trial from your LORD. +50 And when we divided the sea for you and delivered you, and drowned +Pharaoh's people while ye looked on. + And when we treated with Moses forty nights; then ye took the calf for +your God, and did evil; + yet afterwards we forgave you, that peradventure ye might give thanks. + And when we gave Moses the book of the law, and the distinction between +good and evil, that peradventure ye might be directed. + And when Moses said unto his people, O my people, verily ye have injured +your own souls, by your taking the calf for your God; therefore be turned unto +your Creator, and slay those among you who have been guilty of that crime; +this will be better for you in the sight of your Creator: and thereupon he +turned unto you, for he is easy to be reconciled, and merciful. + And when ye said, O Moses, we will not believe thee, until we see GOD +manifestly; therefore a punishment came upon you, while ye looked on; + then we raised you to life after ye had been dead, that peradventure ye +might give thanks. + And we caused clouds to overshadow you, and manna and quails to descend +upon you, saying, Eat of the good things which we have given you for food: and +they injured not us, but injured their own souls. + And when we said, Enter into this city, and eat of the provisions +thereof plentifully as ye will; and enter the gate worshipping, and say, +Forgiveness! we will pardon you your sins, and give increase unto the well- +doers. + But the ungodly changed the expression into another, different from what +had been spoken unto them; and we sent down upon the ungodly indignation from +heaven, because they had transgressed. +60 And when Moses asked drink for his people, we said, Strike the rock with +thy rod; and there gushed thereout twelve fountains according to the number +of the tribes, and all men knew their respective drinking-place. Eat and +drink of the bounty of GOD, and commit not evil on the earth, acting unjustly. + And when ye said, O Moses, we will by no means be satisfied with one kind +of food; pray unto thy LORD therefore for us, that he would produce for us of +that which the earth bringeth forth, herbs and cucumbers, and garlic, and +lentils, and onions; Moses answered, Will ye exchange that which is better, +for that which is worse? Get ye down into Egypt, for there shall ye find what +ye desire: and they were smitten with vileness and misery, and drew on +themselves indignation from GOD. This they suffered, because they believed +not in the signs of GOD, and killed the prophets unjustly; this, because they +rebelled and transgressed. + Surely those who believe, and those who Judaize, and Christians, and +Sabians, whoever believeth in GOD, and the last day, and doth that which is +right, they shall have their reward with their LORD; there shall come no fear +on them, neither shall they be grieved. + Call to mind also when we accepted your covenant, and lifted up the +mountain of Sinai over you, saying, Receive the law which we have given you, +with a resolution to keep it, and remember that which is contained therein, +that ye may beware. + After this ye again turned back, so that if it had not been for GOD's +indulgence and mercy towards you, ye had certainly been destroyed. + Moreover ye know what befell those of your nation who transgressed on +the sabbath day; We said unto them, Be ye changed into apes, driven away +from the society of men. + And we made them an example unto those who were contemporary with +them, and unto those who came after them, and a warning to the pious. + And when Moses said unto his people, Verily GOD commandeth you to +sacrifice a cow; they answered, Dost thou make a jest of us! Moses said, GOD +forbid that I should be one of the foolish. + They said, Pray for us unto thy LORD, that he would show us what cow it is. +Moses answered, He saith, She is neither an old cow, nor a young heifer, but +of a middle age between both: do ye therefore that which ye are commanded. + They said, Pray for us unto thy LORD, that he would show us what colour +she is of. Moses answered, He saith, She is a red cow, intensely red, her +colour rejoiceth the beholders. +70 They said, Pray for us unto thy LORD, that he would further show us what +cow it is, for several cows with us are like one another, and we, if GOD +please, will be directed. + Moses answered, He saith, She is a cow not broken to plough the earth, or +water the field, a sound one, there is no blemish in her. They said, Now hast +thou brought the truth. Then they sacrificed her; yet they wanted but little +of leaving it undone. + And when ye slew a man, and contended among yourselves concerning him, +GOD brought forth to light that which ye concealed. + For we said, Strike the dead body with part of the sacrificed cow: so +GOD raiseth the dead to life, and showeth you his signs, that peradventure ye +may understand. + Then were your hearts hardened after this, even as stones, or exceeding +them in hardness: for from some stones have rivers bursted forth, others have +been rent in sunder, and water hath issued from them, and others have fallen +down for fear of GOD. But GOD is not regardless of that which ye do. + Do ye therefore desire that the Jews should believe you? yet a part of +them heard the word of GOD, and then perverted it, after they had understood +it, against their own conscience. + And when they meet the true believers, they say, We believe: but when +they are privately assembled together, they say, Will ye acquaint them with +what GOD hath revealed unto you, that they may dispute with you concerning it +in the presence of your LORD? Do ye not therefore understand? + Do not they know that GOD knoweth that which they conceal as well as that +which they publish? + But there are illiterate men among them, who know not the book of the +law, but only lying stories, although they think otherwise. + And woe unto them, who transcribe corruptly the book of the law with their +hands, and then say, This is from GOD: that they may sell it for a small price. +Therefore woe unto them because of that which their hands have written; and +woe unto them for that which they have gained. +80 They say, The fire of hell shall not touch us but for a certain number of +days. Answer, Have ye received any promise from GOD to that purpose? for GOD +will not act contrary to his promise: or do ye speak concerning GOD that which +ye know not? + Verily whoso doth evil, and is encompassed by his iniquity, they shall +be the companions of hell fire, they shall remain therein forever: + but they who believe and do good works, they shall be the companions of +paradise, they shall continue therein forever. + Remember also, when we accepted the covenant of the children of Israel, +saying, Ye shall not worship any other except GOD, and ye shall show kindness +to your parents and kindred, and to orphans, and to the poor, and speak that +which is good unto men, and be constant at prayer, and give alms. Afterwards +ye turned back, except a few of you, and retired afar off. + And when we accepted your covenant, saying, Ye shall not shed your +brother's blood nor dispossess one another of your habitations; then ye +confirmed it, and were witnesses thereto. + Afterwards ye were they who slew one another, and turned several of your +brethren out of their houses, mutually assisting each other against them with +injustice and enmity; but if they come captives unto you, ye redeem them: yet +it is equally unlawful for you to dispossess them. Do ye therefore believe in +part of the book of the law, and reject other part thereof? But whoso among +you doth this, shall have no other reward than shame in this life, and on the +day of resurrection they shall be sent to a most grievous punishment; for GOD +is not regardless of that which ye do. + These are they who have purchased this present life, at the price of +that which is to come; wherefore their punishment shall not be mitigated, +neither shall they be helped. + We formerly delivered the book of the law unto Moses, and caused apostles +to succeed him, and gave evident miracles to Jesus the son of Mary, and +strengthened him with the holy spirit. Do ye therefore, whenever an apostle +cometh unto you with that which your souls desire not, proudly reject him, and +accuse some of imposture, and slay others? + The Jews say, Our hearts are uncircumcised: but GOD hath cursed them with +their infidelity; therefore few shall believe. + And when a book came unto them from GOD, confirming the scriptures which +were with them, although they had before prayed for assistance against those +who believed not, yet when that came unto them which they knew to be from +God, they would not believe therein: therefore the curse of GOD shall be on +the infidels. +90 For a vile price have they sold their souls, that they should not believe +in that which GOD hath sent down; out of envy, because GOD sendeth down his +favors to such of his servants as he pleaseth: therefore they brought on +themselves indignation on indignation; and the unbelievers shall suffer an +ignominious punishment. + When one saith unto them, Believe in that which GOD hath sent down; they +answer, We believe in that which hath been sent down unto us: and they reject +what hath been revealed since, although it be the truth, confirming that which +is with them. Say, Why therefore have ye slain the prophets of GOD in times +past, if ye be true believers? + Moses formerly came unto you with evident signs, but ye afterwards took +the calf for your god and did wickedly. + And when we accepted your covenant, and lifted the mountain of Sinai over +you, saying Receive the law which we have given you, with a resolution to +perform it, and hear; they said, We have heard, and have rebelled: and they +were made to drink down the calf into their hearts for their unbelief. Say, +A grievous thing hath your faith commanded you, if ye be true believers? + Say, if the future mansion with GOD be prepared peculariarly for you, +exclusive of the rest of mankind, wish for death, if ye say truth; + but they will never wish for it, because of that which their hands have +sent before them; GOD knoweth the wicked-doers; + and thou shalt surely find them of all men the most covetous of life, +even more than the idolaters: one of them would desire his life to be +prolonged a thousand years, but none shall reprieve himself from punishment, +that his life may be prolonged: GOD seeth that which they do. + Say, Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel (for he hath caused the Koran to +descend on thy heart, by the permission of GOD, confirming that which was +before revealed, a direction, and good tidings to the faithful); + whosoever is an enemy to GOD, or his angels, or his apostles, or to +Gabriel, or Michael, verily GOD is an enemy to the unbelievers. + And now we have sent down unto thee evident signs, and none will +disbelieve them but the evil-doers. +100 Whenever they make a covenant, will some of them reject it? yea, the +greater part of them do not believe. + And when there came unto them an apostle from GOD, confirming that +scripture which was with them, some of those to whom the scriptures were given +cast the book of GOD behind their backs, as if they knew it not: + and they followed the device which the devils devised against the kingdom +of Solomon; and Solomon was not an unbeliever; but the devils believed not, +they taught men sorcery, and that which was sent down to the two angels at +Babel, Harut and Marut: yet those two taught no man until they had said, +Verily we are a temptation, therefore be not an unbeliever. So men learned +from those two a charm by which they might cause division between a man and +his wife; but they hurt none thereby, unless by GOD'S permission, and they +learned that which would hurt them, and not profit them; and yet they knew +that he who bought that art should have no part in the life to come, and woful +is the price for which they have sold their souls, if they knew it. + But if they had believed, and feared GOD, verily the reward they would +have had from GOD would have been better, if they had known it. + O true believers, say not to our apostle, Raina; but say Ondhorna; and +hearken: the infidels shall suffer a grievous punishment. + It is not the desire of the unbelievers, either among those unto whom the +scriptures have been given, or among the idolaters, that any good should be +sent down unto you from your LORD: but GOD will appropriate his mercy unto +whom he pleaseth; for GOD is exceeding beneficent. + Whatever verse we shall abrogate, or cause thee to forget, we will bring +a better than it, or one like unto it. Dost thou not know that God is +almighty? + Dost thou not know that unto GOD belongeth the kingdom of heaven and +earth? neither have ye any protector or helper except GOD. + Will ye require of your apostle according to that which was formerly +required of Moses? but he that hath exchanged faith for infidelity, hath +already erred from the straight way. + Many of those unto whom the scriptures have been given, desire to render +you again unbelievers, after ye have believed; out of envy from their souls, +even after the truth is become manifest unto them; but forgive them, and avoid +them, till GOD shall send his command; for GOD is omnipotent. +110 Be constant in prayer, and give alms; and what good ye have sent before +for your souls, ye shall find it with GOD; surely GOD seeth that which ye do. + They say, Verily none shall enter paradise, except they who are Jews or +Christians: this is their wish. Say, Produce your proof of this, if ye speak +truth. + Nay, but he who resigneth himself to GOD, and doth that which is right, +he shall have his reward with his LORD: there shall come no fear on them, +neither shall they be grieved. + The Jews say, The Christians are grounded on nothing; and the Christians +say, The Jews are grounded on nothing; and the Christians say, The Jews are +grounded on nothing; yet they both read the scriptures. So likewise say they +who know not the scripture, according to their saying. But GOD shall judge +between them on the day of the resurrection, concerning that about which they +now disagree. + Who is more unjust than he who prohibiteth the temples of GOD, that his +name should be remembered therein, and who hasteth to destroy them? Those men +cannot enter therein, but with fear: they shall have shame in this world, and +in the next a grievous punishment. + To GOD belongeth the east and the west; therefore whithersoever ye turn +yourselves to pray, there is the face of GOD; for GOD is omnipresent and +omniscient. + They say, GOD hath begotten children: GOD forbid! To him belongeth +whatever is in heaven, and on earth; all is possessed by him, + the Creator of heaven and earth; and when he decreeth a thing, he only +saith unto it, Be, and it is. + And they who know not the scriptures say, Unless GOD speak unto us, or +thou show us a sign, we will not believe. So said those before them, +according to their saying: their hearts resemble each other. We have already +shown manifest signs unto people who firmly believe; + we have sent thee in truth, a bearer of good tidings and a preacher; and +thou shalt not be questioned concerning the companions of hell. +120 But the Jews will not be pleased with thee, neither the Christians, until +thou follow their religion; say, The direction of GOD is the true direction. +And verily if thou follow their desires, after the knowledge which hath been +given thee, thou shalt find no patron or protector against GOD. + They to whom we have given the book of the Koran, and who read it with +its true reading, they believe therein; and whoever believeth not therein, +they shall perish. + O children of Israel, remember my favor wherewith I have favored you, and +that I have preferred you before all nations; + and dread the day wherein one soul shall not make satisfaction for +another soul, neither shall any compensation be accepted from them, nor shall +any intercession avail, neither shall they be helped. + Remember when the LORD tried Abraham by certain words, which he +fulfilled: GOD said, Verily I will constitute thee a model of religion unto +mankind; he answered, And also of my posterity; GOD said, My covenant doth not +comprehend the ungodly. + And when we appointed the holy house of Mecca to be a place of resort +for mankind, and a place of security; and said, Take the station of Abraham +for a place of prayer; and we covenanted with Abraham for a place of prayer; +and we covenanted with Abraham and Ismael, that they should cleanse my house +for those who should compass it, and those who should be devoutly assiduous +there, and those who should bow down and worship. + And when Abraham said, LORD make this a territory of security, and +bounteously bestow fruits on its inhabitants, such of them as believe in GOD +and the last day; GOD answered, And whoever believeth not, I will bestow on +him little; after wards I will drive him to the punishment of hell fire; an +ill journey shall it be! + And when Abraham and Ismael raised the foundations of the house, saying, +LORD, accept it from us, for thou art he who heareth and knoweth: + LORD, make us also resigned unto thee, and of our posterity a people +resigned unto thee, and show us our holy ceremonies, and be turned unto us, +for thou art easy to be reconciled, and merciful: + LORD, send them likewise an apostle from among them, who may declare thy +signs unto them, and teach them the book of the Koran and wisdom, and may +purify them; for thou art mighty and wise. +130 Who will be averse to the religion of Abraham, but he whose mind is +infatuated? Surely we have chosen him in this world, and in that which is to +come he shall be one of the righteous. + When his LORD said unto him, Resign thyself unto me; he answered, I have +resigned myself unto the LORD of all creatures. + And Abraham bequeathed this religion to his children, and Jacob did the +same, saying, My children, verily GOD hath chosen this religion for you, +therefore die not, unless ye also be resigned. + Were ye present when Jacob was at the point of death? when he said to his +sons, Whom will ye worship after me? They answered, We will worship thy GOD, +and the GOD of thy fathers Abraham, and Ismael, and Isaac, one GOD, and to him +will we be resigned. + That people are now passed away, they have what they have gained, and ye +shall have what ye gain; and ye shall not be questioned concerning that which +they have done. + They say, Become Jews or Christians that ye may be directed. Say, Nay we +follow the religion of Abraham the orthodox, who was no idolater. + Say, We believe in GOD, and that which hath been sent down unto us, and +that which hath been sent down unto Abraham, and Ismael, and Isaac, and Jacob, +and the tribes, and that which was delivered unto Moses, and Jesus, and that +which was delivered unto the prophets from their LORD: We make no distinction +between any of them, and to GOD are we resigned. + Now if they believe according to what ye believe, they are surely +directed, but if they turn back, they are in schism. GOD shall support thee +against them, for he is in the hearer, the wise. + The baptism of GOD have we received, and who is better than GOD to +baptize? him do we worship. + Say, Will ye dispute with us concerning GOD, who is our LORD, and your +LORD? we have our works, and ye have your works, and unto him are we sincerely +devoted. +140 Will ye say, truly Abraham, and Ismael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the +tribes were Jews or Christians? Say, are ye wiser, or GOD? And who is more +unjust than he who hideth the testimony which he hath received from GOD? But +GOD is not regardless of that which ye do. + That people are passed away, they have what they have gained, and ye +shall have what ye gain, nor shall ye be questioned concerning that which they +have done. + The foolish men will say, What hath turned them from their Keblah, +towards which they formerly prayed? Say unto GOD belongeth the east and the +west: he directeth whom he pleaseth into the right way. + Thus have we placed you, O Arabians, an intermediate nation, that ye may +be witness against the rest of mankind, and that the apostle may be a witness +against you. We appointed the Keblah, towards which thou didst formerly pray, only +that we might know him who followeth the apostle, from him who turneth back on +the heels; though this change seem a great matter, unless unto those whom GOD +hath directed. But GOD will not render your faith of none effect; for GOD is +gracious and merciful unto man. + We have seen thee turn about thy face towards heaven with uncertainty, +but we will cause thee to turn thyself towards a Keblah that will please thee. +Turn, therefore, thy face towards the holy temple of Mecca; and wherever ye +be, turn your faces towards that place. They to whom the scripture hath been +given, know this to be truth from their LORD. GOD is not regardless of that +which ye do. + Verily although thou shouldest show unto those to whom the scripture +hath been given all kinds of signs, yet they will not follow thy Keblah, +neither shalt thou follow their Keblah; nor will one part of them follow the +Keblah of the other. And if thou follow their desires, after the knowledge +which hath been given thee, verily thou wilt become one of the ungodly. + They to whom we have given the scripture know our apostle, even as they +know their own children, but some of them hide the truth, against their own +knowledge. + Truth is from thy LORD, therefore thou shalt not doubt. + Every sect hath a certain tract of heaven to which they turn themselves +in prayer; but do ye strive to run after good things; wherever ye be, GOD will +bring you all back at the resurrection, for GOD is almighty. + And from what place soever thou comest forth, turn thy face towards the +holy temple, for this is truth from thy LORD; neither is GOD regardless of +that which ye do. +150 From what place soever thou comest forth, turn thy face towards the holy +temple; and wherever ye be, thitherward turn your faces, lest men have matter +of dispute against you; but as for those among them who are unjust doers, fear +them not, but fear me, that I may accomplish my grace upon you, and that ye +may be directed. + As we have sent unto you an apostle from among you, to rehearse our +signs unto you, and to purify you, and to teach you the book of the Koran and +wisdom, and to teach you that which ye knew not: + therefore remember me, and I will remember you, and give thanks unto me, +and be not unbelievers. + O true believers, beg assistance with patience and prayer, for GOD is +with the patient. + And say not of those who are slain in fight for the religion of GOD, +that they are dead; yea, they are living: but ye do not understand. + We will surely prove you by afflicting you in some measure with fear, +and hunger, and decrease of wealth, and loss of lives, and scarcity of fruits: +but bear good tidings unto the patient, + who, when a misfortune befalleth them, say, We are GOD'S and unto him +shall we surely return. + Upon them shall be blessings from their LORD and mercy, and they are the +rightly directed. + Moreover Safa and Merwah are two of the monuments of God: whoever +therefore goeth on pilgrimage to the temple of Mecca or visiteth it, it shall +be no crime in him, if he compass them both. And as for him who voluntarily +performeth a good work; verily GOD is grateful and knowing. + They who conceal any of the evident signs, or the direction which we have +sent down, after what we have manifested unto men in the scripture, GOD shall +curse them; and they who curse shall curse them. +160 But as for those who repent and amend, and make known what they +concealed, I will be turned unto them, for I am easy to be reconciled and +merciful. + Surely they who believe not, and die in their unbelief, upon them shall +be the curse of GOD, and of the angels, and of all men; + they shall remain under it forever, their punishment shall not be +alleviated, neither shall they be regarded. + Your GOD is one GOD; there is no GOD but He, the most merciful. + Now in the creation of heaven and earth, and the vicissitude of night and +day, and in the ship which saileth in the sea, loaden with what is profitable +for mankind, and in the rain water which GOD sendeth from heaven, quickening +thereby the dead earth, and replenishing the same with all sorts of cattle, +and in the change of winds, and the clouds that are compelled to do service +between heaven and earth, are signs to people of understanding: + yet some men take idols beside GOD, and love them as with the love due +to GOD; but the true believers are more fervent in love towards GOD. Oh that +they who act unjustly did perceive, when they behold their punishment, that +all power belongeth unto GOD, and that he is severe in punishing! + When those who have been followed shall separate themselves from their +followers, and shall see the punishment, and the cords of relation between +them shall be cut in sunder; + the followers shall say, If we could return to life, we would separate +ourselves from them, as they have now separated themselves from us. So GOD +will show them their works; they shall sigh grievously, and shall not come +forth from the fire of hell. + O men, eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth; and tread not +in the steps of the devil, for he is your open enemy. + Verily he commandeth you evil and wickedness, and that ye should say that +of GOD which ye know not. +170 And when it is said unto them who believe not, Follow that which GOD hath +sent down; they answer, Nay, but we will follow that which we found our +fathers practise. What? though their fathers knew nothing, and were not +rightly directed? + The unbelievers are like unto one who crieth aloud to that which heareth +not so much as his calling, or the sound of his voice. They are deaf, dumb, +and blind, therefore do they not understand. + O true believers, eat of the good things which we have bestowed on you +for food, and return thanks unto GOD, if ye serve him. + Verily he hath forbidden you to eat that which dieth of itself, and blood +and swine's flesh, and that on which any other name but GOD'S hath been +invocated. But he who is forced by necessity, not lusting, nor returning to +transgress, it shall be no crime in him if he eat of those things, for GOD is +gracious and merciful. + Moreover they who conceal any part of the scripture which GOD hath sent +down unto them, and sell it for a small price, they shall swallow into their +bellies nothing but fire; GOD shall not speak unto them on the day of +resurrection, neither shall he purify them, and they shall suffer a grievous +punishment. + These are they who have sold direction for error, and pardon for +punishment: but how great will their suffering be in the fire! + This they shall endure, because GOD sent down the book of the Koran with +truth, and they who disagree concerning that book are certainly in a wide +mistake. + It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces in prayer towards the +east and the west, but righteousness is of him who believeth in GOD and the +last day, and the angels, and the scriptures, and the prophets; who giveth +money for GOD'S sake unto his kindred, and unto orphans, and the needy, and +the stranger, and those who ask, and for redemption of captives; who is +constant at prayer, and giveth alms; and of those who perform their covenant, +when they have covenanted, and who behave themselves patiently in adversity, +and hardships, and in time of violence; these are they who are true, and these +are they who fear GOD. + O true believers, the law of retaliation is ordained you for the slain: +the free shall die for the free, and the servant for the servant, and a woman +for a woman: but he whom his brother shall forgive may be prosecuted, and +obliged to make satisfaction according to what is just, and a fine shall be +set on him with humanity. This is indulgence from your LORD, and mercy. +And he who shall transgress after this, by killing the murderer, shall suffer +a grievous punishment. + And in this law or retaliation ye have life, O ye of understanding, that +peradventure ye may fear. +180 It is ordained you, when any of you is at the point of death, if he leave +any goods, that he bequeath a legacy to his parents, and kindred, according to +what shall be reasonable. This is a duty incumbent on those who fear GOD. + But he who shall change the legacy, after he hath heard it bequeathed by the +dying person, surely the sin thereof shall be on those who change it, for GOD +is he who heareth and knoweth. + Howbeit he who apprehendeth from the testator any mistake or injustice, +and shall compose the matter between them, that shall be no crime in him, for +GOD is gracious and merciful. + O true believers, a fast is ordained you, as it was ordained unto those +before you, that ye may fear GOD. + A certain number of days shall ye fast: but he among you who shall be +sick, or on a journey, shall fast an equal number of other days. And those +who can keep it, and do not, must redeem their neglect by maintaining of a +poor man. And he who voluntarily dealeth better with the poor man than he is +obliged, this shall be better for him. But if ye fast, it will be better for +you, if ye knew it. + The month of Ramadan shall ye fast, in which the Koran was sent down +from heaven, a direction unto men, and declarations of direction, and the +distinction between good and evil. Therefore, let him among you who shall be +present in this month, fast the same month; but he who shall be sick, or on a +journey, shall fast the like number of other days. GOD would make this an +ease unto you, and would not make it a difficulty unto you; that ye may fulfil +the number of days, and glorify GOD, for that he hath directed you, and that +ye may give thanks. + When my servants ask thee concerning me, Verily I am near; I will hear +the prayer of him that prayeth, when he prayeth unto me: but let them hearken +unto me, and believe in me, that they may be rightly directed. + It is lawful for you, on the night of the fast, to go in unto your +wives; they are a garment unto you, and ye are a garment unto them. GOD +knoweth that ye defraud yourselves therein, wherefore he turneth unto you, and +forgiveth you. Now, therefore, go in unto them; and earnestly desire that +which GOD ordaineth you, and eat and drink, until ye can plainly distinguish a +white thread from a black thread by the daybreak: then keep the fast until +night, and go not in unto them, but be constantly present in the places of +worship. These are the prescribed bounds of GOD, therefore draw not near them +to transgress them. Thus GOD declareth his signs unto men, that ye may fear +him. + Consume not your wealth among yourselves in vain; nor present it unto +judges, that ye may devour part of men's substance unjustly, against your own +consciences. + They will ask thee concerning the phases of the moon: Answer, They are +times appointed unto men, and to show the season of the pilgrimage to Mecca. +It is not righteousness that ye enter your houses by the back parts thereof, +but righteousness is of him who feareth GOD. Therefore enter your houses by +their doors; and fear GOD, that ye may be happy. +190 And fight for the religion of GOD against those who fight against you; +but transgress not by attacking them first, for GOD loveth not the +transgressors. + And kill them wherever ye find them, and turn them out of that whereof +they have dispossessed you; for temptation to idolatry is more grievous than +slaughter; yet fight not against them in the holy temple, until they attack +you therein; but if they attack you, slay them there. This shall be the +reward of infidels. + But if they desist, GOD is gracious and merciful. + Fight therefore against them, until there be no temptation to idolatry, +and the religion be GOD'S; but if they desist, then let there be no hostility, +except against the ungodly. + A sacred month for a sacred month, and the holy limits of Mecca, if they +attack you therein, do ye also attack them therein in retaliation; and whoever +transgresseth against you by so doing, do ye transgress against him in like +manner as he hath transgressed against you, and fear GOD, and know that GOD is +with those who fear him. + Contribute out of your substance toward the defence of the religion of +GOD, and throw not yourselves with your own hands into perdition; and do +good, for GOD loveth those who do good. + Perform the pilgrimage of Mecca, and the visitation of GOD; and, if ye be +besieged, send that offering which shall be the easiest; and shave not your +heads, until your offering reacheth the place of sacrifice. But, whoever +among you is sick, or is troubled with any distemper of the head, must redeem +the shaving his head, by fasting, or alms, or some offering. When ye are +secure from enemies, he who tarrieth in the visitation of the temple of Mecca +until the pilgrimage, shall bring that offering which shall be the easiest. +But he who findeth not anything to offer, shall fast three days in the +pilgrimage, and seven when ye are returned: they shall be ten days complete. +This is incumbent on him whose family shall not be present at the holy temple. +And fear GOD, and know that GOD is severe in punishing. + The pilgrimage must be performed in the known months: whosoever +therefore purposeth to go on pilgrimage therein, let him not know a woman, nor +transgress, nor quarrel in the pilgrimage. The good which ye do, GOD knoweth +it. Make provision for your journey; but the best provision is piety and fear +me, O ye of understanding. + It shall be no crime in you, if ye seek an increase from your LORD, by +trading during the pilgrimage. And when ye go in procession from Arafat, +remember GOD near the holy monument; and remember him for that he hath +directed you, although ye were before this of the number of those who go +astray. + Therefore go in procession from whence the people go in procession, and +ask pardon of GOD, for GOD is gracious and merciful. +200 And when ye have finished your holy ceremonies, remember GOD, according +as ye remember your fathers, or with a more reverent commemoration. There are +some men who say, O LORD, give us our portion in this world; but such shall +have no portion in the next life: + and there are others who say, O LORD, give us good in this world and also +good in the next world, and deliver us from the torment of hell fire. + They shall have a portion of that which they have gained: GOD is swift in +taking an account. + Remember GOD the appointed number of days: but if any haste to depart +from the valley of Mina in two days, it shall be no crime in him. And if any +tarry longer, it shall be no crime in him, in him who feareth GOD. Therefore +fear GOD, and know that unto him ye shall be gathered. + There is a man who causeth thee to marvel by his speech concerning this +present life, and calleth God to witness that which is in his heart, yet he is +most intent in opposing thee; + and when he turneth away from thee, he hasteth to act corruptly in the +earth, and to destroy that which is sown, and springeth up: but GOD loveth +not corrupt doing. + And if one say unto him, Fear GOD; pride seizeth him, together with +wickedness; but hell shall be his reward, and an unhappy couch shall it be. + There is also a man who selleth his soul for the sake of those things +which are pleasing unto GOD; and GOD is gracious unto his servants. + O true believers, enter into the true religion wholly, and follow not the +steps of Satan, for he is your open enemy. + If ye have slipped after the declarations of our will have come unto you, +know that GOD is mighty and wise. +210 Do the infidels expect less than that GOD should come down to them +overshadowed with clouds, and the angels also? but the thing is decreed, and +to GOD shall all things return. + Ask the children of Israel how many evident signs we have showed them; +and whoever shall change the grace of GOD after it shall have come unto him, +verily GOD will be severe in punishing him. + The present life was ordained for those who believe not, and they laugh +the faithful to scorn; but they who fear GOD shall be above them, on the day +of the resurrection: for GOD is bountiful unto whom he pleaseth without +measure. + Mankind was of one faith, and GOD sent prophets bearing good tidings, and +denouncing threats and sent down with them the scripture in truth, that it +might judge between men of that concerning which they disagreed: and none +disagreed concerning it, except those to whom the same scriptures were +delivered, after the declarations of GOD'S will had come unto them, out of +envy among themselves. And GOD directed those who believed, to that truth +concerning which they disagreed, by his will: for GOD directeth whom he +pleaseth into the right way. + Did ye think ye should enter paradise, when as yet no such thing had +happened unto you, as hath happened unto those who have been before you? +They suffered calamity, and tribulation, and were afflicted; so that the apostle, +and they who believed with him, 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: Answer, The good +which ye bestow, let it be given to parents, and kindred, and orphans, and the +poor and the stranger. Whatsoever good ye do, GOD knoweth it. + War is enjoined you against the Infidels; but this is hateful unto you: +yet perchance ye hate a thing which is better for you, and perchance ye +love a thing which is worse for you: but GOD knoweth and ye know not. + They will ask thee concerning the sacred month, whether they may war +therein: Answer, To war therein is grievous; but to obstruct the way of GOD, +and infidelity towards him, and to keep men from the holy temple, and to drive +out his people from thence, is more grievous in the sight of GOD, and the +temptation to idolatry is more grievous than to kill in the sacred months. +They will not cease to war against you, until they turn you from your +religion, if they be able: but whoever among you shall turn back from his +religion, and die an infidel, their works shall be vain in this world, and the +next; they shall be the companions of hell fire, they shall remain therein +forever. + But they who believe, and who fly for the sake of religion, and fight in +GOD's cause, they shall hope for the mercy of GOD; for GOD is gracious and +merciful. + They will ask thee concerning wine and lots: Answer, In both there is +great sin, and also some things of use unto men; but their sinfulness is +greater than their use. They will ask thee also what they shall bestow in +alms: Answer, What ye have to spare. Thus GOD showeth his signs unto you, +that peradventure ye might seriously think +220 of this present world, and of the next. They will also ask thee +concerning orphans: Answer, To deal righteously with them is best; and if ye +intermeddle with the management of what belongs to them, do them no wrong; +they are your brethren: GOD knoweth the corrupt dealer from the righteous; +and if GOD please, he will surely distress you, for GOD is mighty and wise. + Marry not women who are idolaters, until they believe: verily a maid- +servant who believeth, is better than an idolatress, although she please you +more. And give not women who believe in marriage to the idolaters, until they +believe: for verily a servant who is a true believer, is better than an idolater, +though he please you more. They invite unto hell fire, but GOD inviteth unto +paradise and pardon through his will, and declareth his signs unto men, that +they may remember. + They will ask thee also concerning the courses of women: Answer, They are +a pollution: therefore separate yourselves from women in their courses, and go +not near them, until they be cleansed. But when they are cleansed, go in unto +them as GOD hath commanded you, for GOD loveth those who repent, and loveth +those who are clean. + Your wives are your tillage, go in therefore unto your tillage in what +manner soever ye will: and do first some act that may be profitable unto your +souls; and fear GOD, and know that ye must meet him; and bear good tidings +unto the faithful. + Make not GOD the object of your oaths, that ye will deal justly, and be +devout, and make peace among men; for God is he who heareth and knoweth. + GOD will not punish you for an inconsiderate word in your oaths; but he +will punish you for that which your hearts have assented unto: GOD is merciful +and gracious. + They who vow to abstain from their wives, are allowed to wait four +months: but if they go back from their vow, verily GOD is gracious and +merciful; + and if they resolve on a divorce, GOD is he who heareth and knoweth. + The women who are divorced shall wait concerning themselves until they +have their courses thrice, and it shall not be lawful for them to conceal +that which GOD hath created in their wombs, if they believe in GOD and the +last day; and their husbands will act more justly to bring them back at this +time, if they desire a reconciliation. The women ought also to behave towards +their husbands in like manner as their husbands should behave towards them, +according to what is just: but the men ought to have a superiority over them. +GOD is mighty and wise. + Ye may divorce your wives twice; and then either retain them with +humanity, or dismiss them with kindness. But it is not lawful for you to take +away anything of what ye have given them, unless both fear that they cannot +observe the ordinances of GOD. And if ye fear that they cannot observe the +ordinance of GOD, it shall be no crime in either of them on account of that +for which the wife shall redeem herself. These are the ordinances of GOD; +therefore transgress them not; for whoever transgresseth the ordinances of +GOD, they are unjust doers. +230 But if the husband divorce her a third time, she shall not be lawful for +him again, until she marry another husband. But if he also divorce her, it +shall be no crime in them if they return to each other, if they think they can +observe the ordinances of GOD, and these are the ordinances of GOD, he +declareth them to people of understanding. + But when ye divorce women, and they have fulfilled their pre-scribed +time, either retain them with humanity, or dismiss them with kindness; and +retain them not by violence, so that ye transgress; for he who doth this +surely injureth his own soul. And make not the signs of GOD a jest: but +remember GOD'S favor towards you, and that he hath sent down unto you the book +of the Koran, and wisdom admonishing you thereby; and fear GOD, and know that +GOD is omniscient. + But when ye have divorced your wives, and they have fulfilled their +prescribed time, hinder them not from marrying their husbands, when they have +agreed among themselves according to what is honourable. This is given in +admonition unto him among you who believeth in GOD, and the last day. This is +most righteous for you, and most pure. GOD knoweth, but ye know not. + Mothers after they are divorced shall give suck unto their children two +full years, to him who desireth the time of giving suck to be completed; and +the father shall be obliged to maintain them and clothe them in the mean time, +according to that which shall be reasonable. No person shall be obliged +beyond his ability. A mother shall not be compelled to what is unreasonable +on account of her child nor a father on account of his child. And the heir of +the father shall be obliged to do in like manner. But if they choose to wean +the child before the end of two years, by common consent, and on mutual +consideration, it shall be no crime in them. And if ye have a mind to provide +a nurse for your children, it shall be no crime in you, in case ye fully pay +what ye offer her, according to that which is just. And fear GOD, and know +that GOD seeth whatsoever ye do. + Such of you as die, and leave wives, their wives must wait concerning +themselves four months and ten days, and when they shall have fulfilled their +term, it shall be no crime in you, for that which they shall do with themselves, +according to what is reasonable. GOD well knoweth that which ye do. + And it shall be no crime in you, whether ye make public overtures of +marriage unto such women, within the said four months and ten days, or whether +ye conceal such your designs in your minds: GOD knoweth that ye will remember +them. But make no promises unto them privately, unless ye speak honourable +words; and resolve not on the knot of marriage until the prescribed time be +accomplished; and know that GOD knoweth that which is in your minds, therefore +beware of him and know that GOD is gracious and merciful. + It shall be no crime in you, if ye divorce your wives, so long as ye have +not touched them, nor settled any dowry on them. And provide for them (he who +is at his ease must provide according to his circumstances) necessaries, +according to what shall be reasonable. This is a duty incumbent on the +righteous. + But if ye divorce them before ye have touched them, and have already +settled a dowry on them, ye shall give them half of what ye have settled, +unless they release any part, or he release part in whose hand the knot of +marriage is; and if ye release the whole, it will approach nearer unto piety. +And not forget liberality among you, for GOD seeth that which ye do. + Carefully observe the appointed prayers, and the middle prayer, and be +assiduous therein, with devotion towards GOD. + But if ye fear any danger, pray on foot or on horseback; and when ye are +safe remember GOD, how he hath taught you what as yet ye knew not. +240 And such of you as shall die and leave wives ought to bequeath their +wives a year's maintenance, without putting them out of their houses: but if +they go out voluntarily, it shall be no crime in you, for that which they +shall do with themselves, according to what shall be reasonable; GOD is mighty +and wise. + And unto those who are divorced, a reasonable provision is also due; this +is a duty incumbent on those who fear GOD. + Thus GOD declareth his signs unto you, that ye may understand. + Hast thou not considered those, who left their habitations, (and they +were thousands,) for fear of death? And GOD said unto them, Die; then he +restored them to life, for GOD is gracious towards mankind; but the greater +part of men do not give thanks. + Fight for the religion of GOD, and know that GOD is he who heareth and +knoweth. + Who is he that will lend unto GOD on good usury? verily he will double +it unto him manifold; for GOD contracteth and extendeth his hand as he +pleaseth, and to him shall ye return. + Hast thou not considered the assembly of the children of Israel, after +the time of Moses; when they said unto their prophet Samuel, Set a king over +us, that we may fight for the religion of GOD. The prophet answered, If ye +are enjoined to go to war, will ye be near refusing to fight? They answered, +And what should ail us that we should not fight for the religion of GOD, +seeing we are dispossessed of our habitations, and deprived of our children? +But when they were enjoined to go to war, they turned back, except a few of +them: and GOD knew the ungodly. + And their prophet said unto them, Verily GOD hath set Talut, king over +you: they answered, How shall he reign over us, seeing we are more worthy of +the kingdom than he, neither is he possessed of great riches? Samuel said, +Verily GOD hath chosen him before you, and hath caused him to increase in +knowledge and stature, for GOD giveth his kingdom unto whom he pleaseth; GOD +is bounteous and wise. + And their prophet said unto them, Verily the sign of his kingdom shall +be, that the ark shall come unto you: therein shall be tranquility from your +LORD, and the relics which have been left by the family of Moses and the +family of Aaron; the angels shall bring it. Verily this shall be a sign unto +you, if ye believe. + And when Talut departed with his soldiers he said, Verily GOD will prove +you by the river: for he who drinketh thereof, shall not be on my side (but he +who shall not taste thereof he shall be on my side), except he who drinketh a +draught out of his hand. And they drank thereof, except a few of them. And +when they had passed the river, he and those who believed with him, they said, +We have no strength to-day, against Jalut and his forces. But they who +considered that they should meet GOD at the resurrection, said, How often hath +a small army discomfited a great one, by the will of GOD! and GOD is with +those who patiently persevere. +250 And when they went forth to battle against Jalut and his forces, they +said, O LORD, pour on us patience, and confirm our feet, and help us against +the unbelieving people. + Therefore they discomfited them, by the will of GOD, and David slew +Jalut. And GOD gave him the kingdom and wisdom, and taught him his will; and +if GOD had not prevented men, the one by the other, verily the earth had been +corrupted: but GOD is beneficent towards his creatures. + These are the signs of GOD: we rehearse them unto thee with truth, and +thou art surely one of those who have been sent by GOD. + These are the apostles; we have preferred some of them before others; +some of them hath GOD spoken unto, and hath exalted the degree of others of +them. And we gave unto Jesus the son of Mary manifest signs, and strengthened +him with the holy spirit. And if GOD had pleased, they who came after those +apostles would not have contended among themselves, after manifest signs had +been shown unto them. But they fell to variance; therefore some of them +believed, and some of them believed not; and if GOD had so pleased, they would +not have contended among themselves; but GOD doth what he will. + O true believers, give alms of that which we have bestowed unto you, +before the day cometh wherein there shall be no merchandizing, nor friendship, +nor intercession. The infidels are unjust doers. + GOD! there is no GOD but he; the living, the self--subsisting: neither +slumber nor sleep seizeth him; to him belongeth whatsoever is in heaven, and +on earth. Who is he than can intercede with him, but through his good +pleasure? He knoweth that which is past, and that which is to come unto them, +and they shall not comprehend anything of his knowledge, but so far as he +pleaseth. His throne is extended over heaven and earth, and the preservation +of both is no burden unto him. He is the high, the mighty. + Let there be no violence in religion. Now is right direction manifestly +distinguished from deceit: whoever therefore shall deny Tagut, and believe in +GOD, he shall surely take hold on a strong handle, which shall not be broken; +GOD is he who heareth and seeth. + GOD is the patron of those who believe; he shall lead them out of +darkness into light: but as to those who believe not, their patrons are Tagut; +they shall lead them from the light into darkness; they shall be the companions +of hell fire, they shall remain therein forever. + Hast thou not considered him who disputed with Abraham concerning his +LORD, because GOD had given him the kingdom? When Abraham said, My LORD is +he who giveth life, and killeth: he answered, I give life, and I kill. Abraham said, +Verily GOD bringeth the sun from the east, now do thou bring it from the west. +Whereupon the infidel was confounded; for GOD directeth not the ungodly people. + Or hast thou not considered how he behaved who passed by a city which +had been destroyed, even to her foundations? He said, How shall GOD quicken +this city, after she hath been dead? And GOD caused him to die for an hundred +years, and afterwards raised him to life. And GOD said, how long hast thou +tarried here? He answered, A day, or part of a day. GOD said, Nay, thou hast +tarried here a hundred years. Now look on thy food and thy drink, they are +not yet corrupted; and look on thine ass: and this have we done that we might +make thee a sign unto men. And look on the bones of thine ass, how we raise +them, and afterwards clothe them with flesh. And when this was shown unto +him, he said, I know that GOD is able to do all things. +260 And when Abraham said, O LORD, show me how thou wilt raise the dead; God +said, Dost thou not yet believe? He answered, Yea, but I ask this that my +heart may rest at ease. GOD said, take therefore four birds, and divide +them; then lay a part of them on every mountain; then call them, and they +shall come swiftly unto thee: and know that GOD is mighty and wise. + The similitude of those who lay out their substance, for advancing the +religion of GOD, is as a grain of corn which produceth seven ears, and in +every ear an hundred grains; for GOD giveth twofold unto whom he pleaseth: GOD +is bounteous and wise. + They who lay out their substance for the religion of GOD, and afterwards +follow not what they have so laid out by reproaches or mischief, they shall +have their reward with their LORD; upon them shall no fear come, neither shall +they be grieved. + A fair speech and to forgive, is better than alms followed by mischief. +GOD is rich and merciful. + O true believers, make not your alms of none effect by reproaching, or +mischief, as he who layeth out what he hath to appear unto men to give alms, +and believeth not in GOD and the last day. The likeness of such a one is as a +flint covered with earth, on which a violent rain falleth, and leaveth it +hard. They cannot prosper in anything which they have gained, for GOD +directeth not the unbelieving people. + And the likeness of those who lay out their substance from a desire to +please GOD, and for an establishment for their souls, is as a garden on a +hill, on which a violent rain falleth, and it bringeth forth its fruits +twofold; and if a violent rain falleth not on it, yet the dew falleth thereon: +and GOD seeth that which ye do. + Doth any of you desire to have a garden of palm-trees and vines, through +which rivers flow, wherein ye may have all kinds of fruits, and that he may +attain to old age, and have a weak offspring? then a violent fiery wind shall +strike it, so that it shall be burned. Thus GOD declareth his signs unto you, +that ye may consider. + O true believers, bestow alms of the good things which ye have gained, +and of that which we have produced for you out of the earth, and choose not +the bad thereof, to give it in alms, such as ye would not accept yourselves, +otherwise than by connivance: and know that GOD is rich and worthy to be +praised. + The devil threateneth you with poverty, and commandeth you filthy +covetousness; but GOD promiseth you pardon from himself and abundance: +GOD is bounteous and wise. + He giveth wisdom unto whom he pleaseth; and he unto whom wisdom is given +hath received much good: but none will consider, except the wise of heart. +270 And whatever alms ye shall give, or whatever vow ye shall vow, verily +GOD knoweth it; but the ungodly shall have none to help them. + If ye make your alms to appear, it is well; but if ye conceal them, and give +them unto the poor, this will be better for you, and will atone for your sins; +and GOD is well informed of that which ye do. + The direction of them belongeth not unto thee; but GOD directeth whom he +pleaseth. The good that ye shall give in alms shall redound unto yourselves; +and ye shall not give unless out of desire of seeing the face of GOD. And +what good thing ye shall give in alms, it shall be repaid you, and ye shall +not be treated unjustly; + unto the poor who are wholly employed in fighting for the religion of GOD, +and cannot go to and fro on the earth; whom the ignorant man thinketh rich, +because of their modesty: thou shalt know them by this mark, they ask not +men with importunity; and what good ye shall give in alms, verily GOD knoweth it. + They who distribute alms of their substance night and day, in private and +in public, shall have their reward with the LORD; on them shall no fear come, +neither shall they be grieved. + They who devour usury shall not arise from the dead, but as he ariseth +whom Satan hath infected by a touch: this shall happen to them because they +say, Truly selling is but as usury: and yet GOD hath permitted selling and +forbidden usury. He therefore who when there cometh unto him an admonition +from his LORD abstaineth from usury for the future, shall have what is past +forgiven him, and his affair belongeth unto GOD. But whoever returneth to +usury, they shall be the companions of hell fire, they shall continue therein +forever. + GOD shall take his blessing from usury, and shall increase alms: for GOD +loveth no infidel, or ungodly person. + But they who believe and do that which is right, and observe the stated +times of prayer, and pay their legal alms, they shall have their reward with +their LORD: there shall come no fear on them, neither shall they be grieved. + O true believers, fear GOD, and remit that which remaineth of usury, if +ye really believe; + but if ye do it not, hearken unto war, which is declared against you from +GOD and his apostle: yet if ye repent, ye shall have the capital of your +money. Deal not unjustly with others, and ye shall not be dealt with +unjustly. +280 If there be any debtor under a difficulty of paying his debt, let his +creditor wait till it be easy for him to do it; but if ye remit it as alms, it +will be better for you, if ye knew it. + And fear the day wherein ye shall return unto GOD; then shall every soul +be paid what it hath gained, and they shall not be treated unjustly. + O true believers, when ye bind yourselves one to the other in a debt for +a certain time, write it down; and let a writer write between you according to +justice, and let not the writer refuse writing according to what GOD hath +taught him; but let him write, 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 +agent dictate according to equity; and call to witness two witnesses of your +neighboring men; but if there be not two men, let there be a man and two women +of those whom ye shall choose for witnesses: if one of those women should +mistake, the other of them will cause her to recollect. And the witnesses +shall not refuse, whensoever they shall be called. And disdain not to write +it down, be it a large debt, or be it a small one, until its time of payment: +this will be more just in the sight of GOD, and more right for bearing +witness, and more easy, that ye may not doubt. But if it be a present bargain +which ye transact between yourselves, it shall be no crime in you, if ye write +it not down. And take witnesses when ye sell one to the other, and let no +harm be done to the writer, nor to the witness; which if ye do, it will surely +be injustice in you: and fear GOD, and GOD will instruct you, for GOD knoweth +all things. + And if ye be on a journey, and find no writer, let pledges be taken: but +if one of you trust the other, let him who is trusted return what he is +trusted with, and fear GOD his LORD. And conceal not the testimony, for he +who concealeth it hath surely a wicked heart: GOD knoweth that which ye do. + Whatever is in heaven and on earth is GOD'S: and whether ye manifest that +which is in your minds, or conceal it, GOD will call you to account for it, +and will forgive whom he pleaseth, and will punish whom he pleaseth, for GOD +is almighty. + The apostle believeth in that which hath been sent down unto him from his +LORD, and the faithful also. Every one of them believeth in GOD, and his +angels, and his scriptures, and his apostles: we make no distinction at all +between his apostles. And they say, We have heard, and do obey: we implore +thy mercy, O LORD, for unto thee must we return. + GOD will not force any one beyond its capacity: it shall have the good +which it gaineth, and it shall suffer the evil which it gaineth. O LORD, +punish us not, if we forget, or act sinfully: O LORD, lay not on us a burden +like that which thou hast laid on those who have been before us; neither make +us, O LORD, to bear what we have not strength to bear, but be favorable unto +us, and spare us, and be merciful unto us. Thou art our patron, help us +therefore against the unbelieving nations. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER III. + +ENTITLED, THE FAMILY OF IMRAN; REVEALED AT MEDINA + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + A.L.M. + There is no GOD but GOD, the living, the self-subsisting: + he hath sent down unto thee the book of the Koran with truth, confirming +that which was revealed before it; for he had formerly sent down the law, and +the gospel + a direction unto men; and he had also sent down the distinction between +good and evil. Verily those who believe not the signs of GOD shall suffer a +grievous punishment; for GOD is mighty, able to revenge. + Surely nothing is hidden from GOD, of that which is on earth, or in heaven: + it is he who formeth you in the wombs, as he pleaseth; there is no GOD +but he, the mighty, the wise. + It is he who hath sent down unto thee the book, wherein are some verses +clear to be understood, they are the foundation of the book; and others are +parabolical. But they whose hearts are perverse will follow that which is +parabolical therein, out of love of schism, and a desire of the interpretation +thereof; yet none knoweth the interpretation thereof, except God. But they +who are well grounded in the knowledge say, We believe therein, the whole is +from our LORD; and none will consider except the prudent. + O LORD, cause not our hearts to swerve from truth, after thou hast +directed us: and give us from thee mercy, for thou art he who giveth. + O LORD, thou shalt surely gather mankind together, unto a day of +resurrection: there is no doubt of it, for GOD will not be contrary to the +promise. +10 As for the infidels, their wealth shall not profit them anything, nor +their children, against GOD: they shall be the fuel of hell fire. + According to the wont of the people of Pharaoh, and of those who went +before them, they charged our signs with a lie; but GOD caught them in their +wickedness, and GOD is severe in punishing. + Say unto those who believe not, Ye shall be overcome, and thrown +together into hell; and an unhappy couch shall it be. + Ye have already had a miracle shown you in two armies, which attacked +each other: one army fought for GOD'S true religion, but the other were +infidels; they saw the faithful twice as many as themselves in their eyesight; +for GOD strengthened with his help whom he pleaseth. Surely herein was an +example unto men of understanding. + The love and eager desire of wives, and children, and sums heaped up of +gold and silver, and excellent horses, and cattle, and land, is prepared for +men: this is the provision of the present life; but unto GOD shall be the most +excellent return. + Say, Shall I declare unto you better things than this? For those who are +devout are prepared with their LORD gardens through which rivers flow; therein +shall they continue forever: and they shall enjoy wives free from impurity, +and the favor of GOD; for GOD regardeth his servants + who say, O LORD, we do sincerely believe; forgive us therefore our sins, +and deliver us from the pain of hell fire: + the patient, and the lovers of truth, and the devout, and the almsgivers, +and those who ask pardon early in the morning. + GOD hath borne witness that there is no GOD but he; and the angels, and +those who are endowed with wisdom, profess the same; who executeth +righteousness; there is no GOD but he; the mighty, the wise. + Verily the true religion in the sight of GOD is Islâm; and they who had +received the scriptures dissented not therefrom, until after the knowledge of +GOD's unity had come unto them, out of envy among themselves; but whosoever +believeth not in the signs of GOD, verily GOD will be swift in bringing him to +account. +20 If they dispute with thee, say, I have resigned myself unto GOD, and he +who followeth me doth the same; and say unto them who have received the +scriptures, and to the ignorant, Do ye profess the religion of Islam? now if they +embrace Islam, they are surely directed; but if they turn their backs, verily +unto thee belongeth preaching only; for GOD regardeth his servants. + And unto those who believe not in the signs of GOD, and slay the +prophets without a cause, and put those men to death who teach justice; +denounce unto them a painful punishment. + These are they whose works perish in this world, and in that which is to +come; and they shall have none to help them. + Hast thou not observed those unto whom part of the scripture was given? +They were called unto the book of GOD, that it might judge between them; then +some of them turned their backs, and retired afar off. + This they did because they said, the fire of hell shall by no means touch +us, but for a certain number of days; and that which they had falsely devised +hath deceived them in their religion. + How then will it be with them, when we shall gather them together at the +day of judgment, of which there is no doubt; and every soul shall be paid +that which it hath gained, neither shall they be treated unjustly? + Say, O GOD, who possessest the kingdom; thou givest the kingdom unto whom +thou wilt, and thou takest away the kingdom from whom thou wilt: thou exaltest +whom thou wilt, and thou humblest whom thou wilt: in thy hand is good, for +thou art almighty. + Thou makest the night to succeed the day: thou bringest forth the living +out of the dead, and thou bringest forth the dead out of the living; and +providest food for whom thou wilt without measure. + Let not the faithful take the infidels for their protectors, rather than +the faithful: he who doth this shall not be protected of GOD at all; unless ye +fear any danger from them: but GOD warneth you to beware of himself; for unto +GOD must ye return. + Say, Whether ye conceal that which is in your breasts, or whether ye declare +it, GOD knoweth it; for he knoweth whatever is in heaven, and whatever is on +earth: GOD is almighty. +30 On the last day every soul shall find the good which it hath wrought, +present; and the evil which it hath wrought, it shall wish that between itself +and that were a wide distance: but GOD warneth you to beware of himself; for +GOD is gracious unto his servants. + Say, If ye love GOD, follow me: then GOD shall love you, and forgive you +your sins; for GOD is gracious and merciful. + Say, Obey GOD, and his apostle; but if ye go back, verily GOD loveth not the +unbelievers. + GOD hath surely chosen Adam, and Noah, and the family of Abraham, and +the family of Imrân above the rest of the world; + a race descending the one from the other: GOD is he who heareth and knoweth. + Remember when the wife of Imrân said, LORD, verily I have vowed unto +thee that which is in my womb, to be dedicated to thy service; accept it +therefore of me; for thou art he who heareth and knoweth. + And when she was delivered of it, she said, LORD, verily I have brought forth +a female (and GOD well knew what she had brought forth), and a male is not as a +female. I have called her MARY; and I commend her to thy protection, and also +her issue, against Satan driven away with stones. + Therefore the LORD accepted her with a gracious acceptance, and caused +her to bear an excellent offspring. And Zacharias took care of the child; +whenever Zacharias went into the chamber to her, he found provisions with +her: and he said, O Mary, whence hadst thou this? she answered, This is from +GOD, for GOD provideth for whom he pleaseth without measure. + There Zacharias called on his LORD, and said, LORD, give me from thee a +good offspring, for thou art the hearer of prayer. + And the angels called to him, while he stood praying in the chamber, saying, +Verily GOD promiseth thee a son named John, who shall bear witness to the +Word which cometh from GOD; and honourable person, chaste, and one of the +righteous prophets. +40 He answered, LORD, how shall I have a son, when old age hath overtaken +me, and my wife is barren? The angel said, So GOD doth that which he +pleaseth. + Zacharias answered, LORD, give me a sign. The angel said, Thy sign shall +be, that thou shalt speak unto no man for three days, otherwise than by +gesture: remember thy LORD often, and praise him evening and morning. + And when the angels said, O Mary, verily GOD hath chosen thee, and hath +purified thee and hath chosen thee above all the women of the world: + O Mary, be devout towards thy LORD, and worship, and bow down with those +who bow down. + This is a secret history: we reveal it unto thee, although thou wast not +present with them when they threw in their rods to cast lots which of them +should have the education of Mary; neither wast thou with them, when they +strove among themselves. + When the angels said; O Mary, verily GOD sendeth thee good tidings, that +thou shalt bear the Word proceeding from himself; his name shall be CHRIST +JESUS the son of Mary, honourable in this world and in the world to come, and +one of those who approach near to the presence of GOD; + and he shall speak unto men in the cradle, and when he is grown up; and +he shall be one of the righteous: + she answered, LORD, how shall I have a son, since a man hath not touched +me? the angel said, So GOD createth that which he pleaseth: when he decreeth +a thing, he only saith unto it, Be, and it is: + GOD shall teach him the scripture, and wisdom, and the law, and the gospel; + and shall appoint him his apostle to the children of Israel; and he shall say, +Verily I come unto you with a sign from your LORD; for I will make before you, +of clay, as it were the figure of a bird; then I will breathe thereon, and it shall +become a bird, by the permission of GOD; and I will heal him that hath been blind +from his birth; and the leper: and I will raise the dead by the permission of GOD: +and I will prophesy unto you what ye eat, and what ye lay up for store in your +houses. Verily herein will be a sign unto you, if ye believe. +50 And I come to confirm the law which was revealed before me and to allow +unto you as lawful part of that which hath been forbidden you: and I come +unto you with a sign from your LORD; therefore fear GOD, and obey me. + Verily GOD is my LORD, and your LORD; therefore serve him. This is the +right way. + But when Jesus perceived their unbelief, he said, Who will be my helpers +towards GOD? The apostles answered, We will be the helpers of GOD; we +believe in GOD, and do thou bear witness that we are true believers. + O LORD, we believe in that which thou hast sent down, and we have +followed thy apostle; write us down therefore with those who bear witness of +him. + And the Jews devised a stratagem against him; but GOD devised a +stratagem against them; and GOD is the best deviser of stratagems. + When GOD said, O Jesus, verily I will cause thee to die, and I will take +thee up unto me, and I will deliver thee from the unbelievers; and I will +place those who follow thee above the unbelievers, until the day of +resurrection: then unto me shall ye return, and I will judge between you of +that concerning which ye disagree. + Moreover, as for the infidels, I will punish them with a grievous +punishment in this world, and in that which is to come; and there shall be +none to help them. + But they who believe, and do that which is right, he shall give them +their reward: for GOD loveth not the wicked doers. + These signs and this prudent admonition do we rehearse unto thee. + Verily the likeness of Jesus in the sight of GOD is as the likeness of +Adam; he created him out of the dust, and then said unto him, Be; and he was. +60 This is the truth from thy LORD; be not therefore one of those who doubt; + and whoever shall dispute with thee, concerning him, after the knowledge +which hath been given thee, say unto them, Come, let us call together our sons +and your sons, and our wives and your wives, and ourselves and yourselves; +then let us make imprecations, and lay the curse of GOD on those who lie. + Verily this is a true history: and there is no GOD, but GOD; and GOD is +most mighty and wise. + If they turn back, GOD well knoweth the evil doers. + Say, O ye who have received the scripture, come to a just determination +between us and you; that we worship not any except GOD, and associate no +creature with him; and that the one of us take not the other for lords, +beside GOD. But if they turn back, say, Bear witness that we are true +believers. + O ye to whom the scriptures have been given, why do ye dispute concerning +Abraham, since the Law and the Gospel were not sent down until after him? Do +ye not therefore understand? + Behold ye are they who dispute concerning that which ye have some +knowledge in; why therefore do you dispute concerning that which ye have no +knowledge of? GOD knoweth, but ye know not. + Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian; but he was of the true +religion, one resigned unto God, and was not of the number of the idolaters. + Verily the men who are the nearest of kin unto Abraham are they who +follow him; and this prophet, and they who believed on him: GOD is the patron +of the faithful. + Some of those who have received the scriptures desire to seduce you; but +they seduce themselves only, and they perceive it not. +70 O ye who have received the scriptures, why do ye not believe in the signs +of GOD, since ye are witnesses of them? + O ye who have received the scriptures, why do you clothe truth with +vanity, and knowingly hide the truth? + And some of those to whom the scriptures were given say, Believe in that +which hath been sent down unto those who believe, in the beginning of the day, +and deny it in the end thereof; that they may go back from their faith; + and believe him only who followeth your religion. Say, Verily the true +direction is the direction of GOD, that there may be given unto some other a +revelation like unto what hath been given unto you. Will they dispute with +you before your Lord? Say, Surely excellence is in the hand of GOD, he giveth +it unto whom he pleaseth; GOD is bounteous and wise: + he will confer peculiar mercy on whom he pleaseth; for GOD is endued with +great beneficence. + There is of those who have received the scriptures, unto whom if thou +trust a talent he will restore it unto thee; and there is also of them, unto +whom if thou trust a dinâr, he will not restore it unto thee, unless thou +stand over him continually with great urgency. This they do because they say, +We are not obliged to observe justice with the heathen: but they utter a lie +against GOD, knowingly. + Yea, whoso keepeth his covenant, and feareth God, GOD surely loveth +those who fear him. + But they who make merchandise of GOD'S covenant, and of their oaths, for +a small price, shall have no portion in the next life, neither shall GOD speak +to them or regard them on the day of resurrection, nor shall he cleanse them; +but they shall suffer a grievous punishment. + And there are certainly some of them who read the scriptures perversely, +that ye may think what they read to be really in the scriptures, yet it is not +in the scripture; and they say, This is from GOD; but it is not from GOD: and +they speak that which is false concerning GOD, against their own knowledge. + It is not fit for a man, that GOD should give him a book of revelations, +and wisdom, and prophecy; and then he should say unto men, Be ye worshippers +of me, besides GOD; but he ought to say, Be ye perfect in knowledge and in +works, since ye know the scriptures, and exercise yourselves therein. +80 GOD hath not commanded you to take the angels and the prophets for +your lords: Will he command you to become infidels, after ye have been true +believers? + And remember when GOD accepted the covenant of the prophets, saying, +This verily is the scripture and the wisdom which I have given you: hereafter +shall an apostle come unto you, confirming the truth of that scripture which +is with you; ye shall surely believe in him, and ye shall assist him. GOD said, +Are ye firmly resolved, and do ye accept my covenant on this condition? They +answered, We are firmly resolved: God said, Be ye therefore witnesses; +and I also bear witness with you: + and whosoever turneth back after this, they are surely the transgressors. + Do they therefore seek any other religion but GOD'S? since to him is resigned +whosoever is in heaven or on earth, voluntarily or of force: and to him shall +they return. + Say, We believe in GOD, and that which hath been sent down unto us, and +that which was sent down unto Abraham, and Ismael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and +the tribes, and that which was delivered to Moses, and Jesus, and the prophets +from their LORD; we make no distinction between any of them; and to him are +we resigned. + Whoever followeth any other religion than Islam, it shall not be accepted +of him: and in the next life he shall be of those who perish. + How shall GOD direct men who have become infidels after they had believed, +and borne witness that the apostle was true, and manifest declarations of the +divine will had come unto them? for GOD directeth not the ungodly people. + Their reward shall be, that on them shall fall the curse of GOD and of +angels, and of all mankind: + they shall remain under the same forever; their torment shall not be +mitigated, neither shall they be regarded; + except those who repent after this, and amend; for GOD is gracious and +merciful. +90 Moreover they who become infidels after they have believed, and yet +increase in infidelity, their repentance shall in no wise be accepted, and +they are those who go astray. + Verily they who believe not, and die in their unbelief, the world full of +gold shall in nowise be accepted from any of them, even though he should give +it for his ransom; they shall suffer a grievous punishment, and they shall +have none to help them. Ye will never attain unto righteousness until ye give +in alms of that which ye love: and whatever ye give, GOD knoweth it. + All food was permitted unto the children of Israel, except what Israel +forbade unto himself, before the Pentateuch was sent down. Say unto the +Jews, Bring hither the Pentateuch and read it, if ye speak truth. + Whoever therefore contriveth a lie against GOD after this, they will be +evil doers. + Say, GOD is true: follow ye therefore the religion of Abraham the orthodox; +for he was no idolater. + Verily the first house appointed unto men to worship in was that which +was in Becca; blessed, and a direction to all creatures. + Therein are manifest signs: the place where Abraham stood; and whoever +entereth therein, shall be safe. And it is a duty towards GOD, incumbent on +those who are able to go thither, to visit this house; but whosoever disbelieveth, +verily GOD needeth not the service of any creature. + Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, why do ye not believe in the +signs of GOD? + Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, why do ye keep back from the +way of GOD, him who believeth? Ye seek to make it crooked, and yet are +witnesses that it is the right: but GOD will not be unmindful of what ye do. +100 O true believers, if ye obey some of those who have received the +scripture, they will render you infidels, after ye have believed: + and how can ye be infidels, when the signs of GOD are read unto you, and +his apostle is among you? But he who cleaveth firmly unto GOD, is already +directed in the right way. + O believers, fear GOD with his true fear, and die not unless ye also be +true believers. + And cleave all of you unto the covenant of GOD, and depart not from it, +and remember the favor of GOD towards you: since ye were enemies, and he +reconciled your hearts, and ye became companions and brethren by his favor: +and ye were on the brink of a pit of fire, and he delivered you thence. Thus +GOD declareth unto you his signs, that ye may be directed. + Let there be people among you who invite to the best religion; and +command that which is just, and forbid that which is evil; and they shall be +happy. + And be not as they who are divided, and disagree in matters of religion, +after manifest proofs have been brought unto them: they shall suffer a great +torment. + On the day of resurrection some faces shall become white, and other faces +shall become black. And unto them whose faces shall become black, GOD will +say, Have ye returned unto your unbelief, after ye had believed? therefore +taste the punishment, for that ye have been unbelievers: + but they whose faces shall become white shall be in the mercy of GOD, +therein shall they remain for ever. + These are the signs of GOD: we recite them unto thee with truth. GOD +will not deal unjustly with his creatures. + And to GOD belongeth whatever is in heaven and on earth; and to GOD shall +all things return. +110 Ye are the best nation that hath been raised up unto mankind: ye command +that which is just, and ye forbid that which is unjust, and ye believe in GOD. +And if they who have received the scriptures had believed, it had surely been +the better for them: there are believers among them, but the greater part of +them are transgressors. + They shall not hurt you, unless with a slight hurt; and if they fight +against you, they shall turn their backs to you; and they shall not be +helped. + They are smitten with vileness wheresoever they are found; unless they +obtain security by entering into a treaty with GOD, and a treaty with men: +and they draw on themselves indignation from GOD, and they are afflicted with +poverty. This they suffer, because they disbelieved the signs of GOD, and +slew the prophets unjustly; this, because they were rebellious, and +transgressed. + Yet they are not all alike: there are of those who have received the +scriptures, upright people; they meditate on the signs of GOD in the night +season, and worship; + they believe in GOD, and the last day; and command that which is just, +and forbid that which is unjust, and zealously strive to excel in good works; +these are of the righteous. + And ye shall not be denied the reward of the good which ye do; for GOD +knoweth the pious. + As for the unbelievers, their wealth shall not profit them at all, +neither their children, against GOD: they shall be the companions of hell +fire; they shall continue therein forever. + The likeness of that which they lay out in this present life, is as a +wind wherein there is a scorching cold: it falleth on the standing corn of +those men who have injured their own souls, and destroyeth it. And GOD +dealeth not unjustly with them; but they injure their own souls. + O true believers, contract not an intimate friendship with any besides +yourselves; they will not fail to corrupt you. They wish for that which may +cause you to perish: their hatred hath already appeared from out of their +mouths; but what their breasts conceal is yet more inveterate. We have +already shown you signs of their ill will towards you, if ye understand. + Behold, ye love them, and they do not love you: ye believe in all the +scriptures, and when they meet you, they say, We believe; but when they +assemble privately together, they bite their fingers' ends out of wrath +against you. Say unto them, Die in your wrath: verily GOD knoweth the +innermost part of your breasts. +120 If good happen unto you, it grieveth them; and if evil befall you, they +rejoice at it. But if ye be patient, and fear God, their subtlety shall not +hurt you at all; for GOD comprehendeth whatever they do. + Call to mind when thou wentest forth early from thy family, that thou +mightest prepare the faithful a camp for war; and GOD hear and knew it; + when two companies of you were anxiously thoughtful, so that ye became +faint-hearted; but GOD was the supporter of them both; and in GOD let the +faithful trust. + And GOD had already given you the victory at Bedr, when ye were inferior +in number; therefore fear GOD, that ye may be thankful. + When thou saidst unto the faithful, Is it not enough for you, that your +LORD should assist you with three thousand angels sent down from heaven? + Verily if ye persevere, and fear God, and your enemies come upon you +suddenly, your LORD will assist you with five thousand angels, distinguished +by their horses and attire. + And this GOD designed only as good tidings for you that your hearts +might rest secure; for victory is from GOD alone, the mighty, the wise. + That he should cut off the uttermost part of the unbelievers, or cast +them down, or that they should be overthrown and unsuccessful is nothing +to thee. + It is no business of thine; whether God be turned unto them, or whether +he punish them; they are surely unjust doers. + To GOD belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth: he spareth whom he +pleaseth, and he punisheth whom he pleaseth; for GOD is merciful. +130 O true believers, devour nor usury, doubling it twofold; but fear GOD, +that ye may prosper: + and fear the fire which is prepared for the unbelievers; + and obey GOD, and his apostle that ye may obtain mercy. + And run with emulation to obtain remission from your LORD, and paradise, +whose breath equalleth the heavens and the earth, which is prepared for the +godly; + who give alms in prosperity and adversity; who bridle their anger, and +forgive men; for GOD loveth the beneficent. + And who, after they have committed a crime, or dealt unjustly with their +own souls, remember GOD, and ask pardon for their sins, (for who forgiveth +sins except GOD?) and persevere not in what they have done knowingly; + their reward shall be pardon from their LORD, and gardens wherein rivers +flow, they shall remain therein forever: and how excellent is the reward of +those who labor! + There have already been before you examples of punishment of infidels, +therefore go through the earth, and behold what hath been the end of those +who accuse GOD's apostles of imposture. + This book is a declaration unto men, and a direction and an admonition to +the pious. + And be not dismayed, neither be ye grieved; for ye shall be superior to +the unbelievers if ye believe. +140 If a wound hath happened unto you in war, a like wound hath already +happened unto the unbelieving people: and we cause these days of different +success interchangeably to succeed each other among men; that GOD may +know those who believe, and may have martyrs from among you: (GOD loveth +not the workers of iniquity;) + and that GOD might prove those who believe, and destroy the infidels. + Did ye imagine that ye should enter paradise, when as yet GOD knew not +those among you who fought strenuously in his cause; nor knew those who +persevered with patience? + Moreover ye did sometimes wish for death before that ye met it; but ye +have now seen it, and ye looked on, but retreated from it. + Mohammed is no more than an apostle; the other apostles have already +deceased before him: if he die, therefore, or be slain, will ye turn back on +your heels? but he who turneth back on his heels will not hurt God at all; +and GOD will surely reward the thankful. + No soul can die unless by the permission of GOD, according to what is +written in the book containing the determination of things. And whoso +chooseth the reward of this world, we will give him thereof: but whoso +chooseth the reward of the world to come, we will give him thereof: and we +will surely reward the thankful. + How many prophets have encountered those who had many myriads of +troops: and yet they desponded not in their mind for what had befallen them +in fighting for the religion of GOD; and were not weakened, neither behaved +themselves in an abject manner? GOD loveth those who persevere patiently. + And their speech was no other than what they said, Our LORD forgive us +our offences, and our transgressions in our business; and confirm our feet, +and help us against the unbelieving people. + And GOD gave them the reward of this world, and a glorious reward in the +life to come; for GOD loveth the well-doers. + O ye who believe, if you obey the infidels, they will cause you to turn +back on your heels, and ye will be turned back and perish: +150 but GOD is your LORD; and he is the best helper. + We will surely cast a dread into the hearts of the unbelievers, because +they have associated with GOD that concerning which he sent them down no +power: their dwelling shall be the fire of hell; and the receptacle of the +wicked shall be miserable. + GOD had already made good unto you his promise, when ye destroyed them +by his permission, until ye became faint-hearted, and disputed concerning the +command of the apostle, and were rebellious; after God had shown you what ye +desired. Some of you chose this present world, and others of you chose the +world to come. Then he turned you to flight from before them, that he might +make trial of you: (but he hath now pardoned you: for GOD is endued with +beneficence towards the faithful;) + when ye went up as ye fled, and looked not back on any: while the apostle +called you, in the uttermost part of you. Therefore God rewarded you with +affliction on affliction, that ye be not grieved hereafter for the spoils +which ye fail of, nor for that which befalleth you, for GOD is well +acquainted with whatever ye do. + Then he sent down upon you after affliction security; a soft sleep which +fell on some part of you; but other part were troubled by their own souls; +falsely thinking of GOD, a foolish imagination saying, Will anything of the +matter happen unto us? Say, Verily, the matter belongeth wholly unto GOD. +They concealed in their minds what they declared not unto thee; saying, If +anything of the matter had happened unto us, we had not been slain here. +Answer, If ye had been in your houses, verily they would have gone forth to +fight, whose slaughter was decreed, to the places where they died, and this +came to pass that GOD might try what was in your breasts, and might discern +what was in your hearts; for GOD knoweth the innermost parts of the breasts of +men. + Verily they among you who turned their backs on the day whereon the two +armies met each other at Ohod, Satan caused them to slip for some crime which +they had committed: but now hath GOD forgiven them; for GOD is gracious and +merciful. + O true believers, be not as they who believed not, and said of their +brethren when they had journeyed in the land or had been at war, If they had +been with us, those had not died, nor had these been slain: whereas what +befell them was so ordained that GOD might take it matter of sighing in their +hearts. GOD giveth life, and causeth to die: and GOD seeth that which ye do. + Moreover if ye be slain, or die in defence of the religion of GOD, verily +pardon from GOD, and mercy, is better than what they heap together of worldly +riches. + And if ye die, or be slain, verily unto GOD shall ye be gathered. + And as to the mercy granted unto the disobedient from GOD, thou O +Mohammed, hast been mild towards them; but if thou hadst been severe, and +hard-hearted, they had surely separated themselves from about thee. Therefore +forgive them, and ask pardon for them: and consult them in the affair of war; +and after thou hast deliberated, trust in GOD; for GOD loveth those who trust +in him. +160 If GOD help you, none shall conquer you; but if he desert you, who is it +that will help you after him? Therefore in GOD let the faithful trust. + It is not the part of a prophet to defraud, for he who defraudeth shall +bring with him what he hath defrauded any one of, on the day of the +resurrection. Then shall every soul be paid what he hath gained; and they +shall not be treated unjustly. + Shall he therefore who followeth that which is well-pleasing unto GOD be +as he who bringeth on himself wrath from GOD, and whose receptacle is hell? +an evil journey shall it be thither. + There shall be degrees of rewards and punishments with GOD, for GOD seeth +what they do. + Now hath GOD been gracious unto the believers when he raised up among +them an apostle of their own nation, who should recite his signs unto them, +and purify them, and teach them the book of the Koran and wisdom: whereas +they were before in manifest error. + After a misfortune had befallen you at Ohod, (ye had already obtained two +equal advantages) do ye say, Whence cometh this? Answer, This is from +yourselves: for GOD is almighty. + And what happened unto you, on the day whereon the two armies met, was +certainly by the permission of GOD; + and that he might know the ungodly. It was said unto them, Come, fight for +the religion of GOD, or drive back the enemy: they answered, if we had known +ye went out to fight, we had certainly followed you. They were on that day +nearer unto unbelief, than they were to faith; they spake with their mouths, +what was not in their hearts: but GOD perfectly knew what they concealed; + who said of their brethren, while themselves stayed at home, if they had +obeyed us, they had not been slain. Say, Then keep back death from +yourselves, if ye say truth. + Thou shalt in nowise reckon those who have been slain at Ohod, in the +cause of GOD, dead; nay, they are sustained alive with their LORD, +170 rejoicing for what GOD of his favor hath granted them; and being glad for +those who, coming after them, have not as yet overtaken them; because there +shall no fear come on them, neither shall they be grieved. + They are filled with joy for the favor which they have received from GOD +and his bounty; and for that GOD suffereth not the reward of the faithful to +perish. + They who hearkened unto GOD and his apostle, after a wound had befallen +them at Ohod, such of them as do good works, and fear God, shall have a great +reward; + unto whom certain men said, Verily the men of Mecca have already gathered +forces against you, be ye therefore afraid of them: but this increased their +faith, and they said, GOD is our support, and the most excellent patron. + Wherefore they returned with favor from GOD, and advantage: no evil +befell them: and they followed what was well pleasing unto GOD: for GOD is +endowed with great liberality. + Verily that devil would cause you to fear his friends: but be ye not +afraid of them: but fear me, if ye be true believers. + They shall not grieve thee, who emulously hasten unto infidelity; for +they shall never hurt GOD at all. GOD will not give them a part in the next +life, and they shall suffer a great punishment. + Surely those who purchase infidelity with faith shall by no means hurt +GOD at all, but they shall suffer a grievous punishment. + And let not the unbelievers think, because we grant them lives long and +prosperous, that it is better for their souls: we grant them long and +prosperous lives only that their iniquity may be increased; and they shall +suffer an ignominious punishment. + GOD is not disposed to leave the faithful in the condition which ye are +now in, until he sever the wicked from the good; nor is GOD disposed to make +you acquainted with what is a hidden secret, but GOD chooseth such of his +apostles as he pleaseth, to reveal his mind unto: believe therefore in GOD, and +his apostles; and if ye believe, and fear God, ye shall receive a great reward. +180 And let not those who are covetous of what GOD of his bounty hath +granted them imagine that their avarice is better for them: nay, rather it is +worse for them. That which they have covetously reserved shall be bound as +a collar about their neck, on the day of the resurrection: unto GOD belongeth +the inheritance of heaven and earth; and GOD is well acquainted with what ye do. + GOD hath already heard the saying of those who said, Verily GOD is poor, +and we are rich: we will surely write down what they have said, and the +slaughter which they have made of the prophets without a cause; and we will +say unto them, Taste ye the pain of burning. + This shall they suffer for the evil which their hands have sent before +them, and because GOD is not unjust towards mankind; + who also say, Surely GOD hath commanded us, that we should not give +credit to any apostle, until one should come unto us with a sacrifice, which +should be consumed by fire. Say, Apostles have already come unto you before +me, with plain proofs, and with the miracle which ye mention: why therefore +have ye slain them, if ye speak truth? + If they accuse thee of imposture, the apostles before thee have also been +accounted impostors, who brought evident demonstrations, and the scriptures, +and the book which enlighteneth the understanding. + Every soul shall taste of death, and ye shall have your reward on the day +of resurrection; and he who shall be far removed from hell fire, and shall be +admitted into paradise, shall be happy: but the present life is only a +deceitful provision. + Ye shall surely be proved in your possessions, and in your persons; and +ye shall bear from those unto whom the scripture was delivered before you, and +from the idolaters, much hurt: but if ye be patient and fear God, this is a +matter that is absolutely determined. + And when GOD accepted the covenant of those to whom the book of the law +was given, saying, Ye shall surely publish it unto mankind, ye shall not hide +it: yet they threw it behind their backs, and sold it for a small price: but +woful is the price for which they have sold it. + Think not that they who rejoice at what they have done, and expect to be +praised for what they have not done; think not, O prophet, that they shall +escape from punishment, for they shall suffer a painful punishment; + and unto GOD belongeth the kingdom of heaven and earth: GOD is almighty. +190 Now in the creation of heaven and earth, and the vicissitude of night and +day, are signs unto those who are endued with understanding; + who remember GOD standing, and sitting, and lying on their sides; and +meditate on the creation of heaven and earth, saying, O LORD, thou hast not +created this in vain; far be it from thee: therefore deliver us from the +torment of hell fire: + O LORD, surely whom thou shalt throw into the fire, thou wilt also cover +with shame: nor shall the ungodly have any to help them. + O LORD, we have heard a preacher inviting us to the faith and saying, +Believe in your LORD: and we believed. O LORD, forgive us therefore our sins, +and expiate our evil deeds from us, and make us to die with the righteous. + O LORD, give us also the reward which thou hast promised by thy apostles; +and cover us not with shame on the day of resurrection; for thou art not +contrary to the promise. + Their LORD therefore answered them, saying, I will not suffer the work of +him among you who worketh to be lost, whether he be male, or female: the one +of you is from the other. They therefore who have left their country, and have +been turned out of their houses, and have suffered for my sake, and have been +slain in battle; verily I will expiate their evil deeds from them, and I will surely +bring them into gardens watered by rivers; a reward from GOD; and with GOD +is the most excellent reward. + Let not the prosperous dealing of the unbelievers in the land deceive +thee; + it is but a slender provision; and then their receptacle shall be +hell; an unhappy couch shall it be. + But they who fear the LORD shall have gardens through which rivers flow, +they shall continue therein forever: this is the gift of GOD for what is with +GOD shall be better for the righteous than short-lived worldly prosperity. + There are some of those who have received the scriptures, who believe in +GOD, and that which hath been sent down unto you, and that which hath been +sent down to them, submitting themselves unto GOD; they tell not the signs of +GOD for a small price: these shall have their reward with their LORD; for GOD +is swift in taking an account. +200 O true believers, be patient and strive to excel in patience, and be +constant-minded, and fear GOD, that ye may be happy. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ENTITLED, WOMEN; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD + + O MEN, fear your LORD, who hath created you out of one man, and out of +him created his wife, and from them two hath multiplied many men, and women: +and fear GOD by whom ye beseech one another; and respect women who have +borne you, for GOD is watching over you. + And give the orphans when they come to age their substance; and render +them not in exchange bad for good: and devour not their substance, by adding +it to your own substance; for this is a great sin. + And if ye fear that ye shall not act with equity towards orphans of the +female sex, take in marriage of such other women as please you, two, or three, +or four, and not more. But if ye fear that ye cannot act equitably towards so +many, marry one only, or the slaves which ye shall have acquired. This will be +easier, that ye swerve not from righteousness. + And give women their dowry freely; but if they voluntarily remit unto you any +part of it, enjoy it with satisfaction and advantage. + And give not unto those who are weak of understanding the substance which +GOD hath appointed you to preserve for them; but maintain them thereout, and +clothe them, and speak kindly unto them. + And examine the orphans until they attain the age of marriage: but if +ye perceive they are able to manage their affairs well, deliver their +substance unto them; and waste it not extravagantly, or hastily, because they +grow up. Let him who is rich abstain entirely from the orphans' estates; and let +him who is poor take thereof according to what shall be reasonable. And when +ye deliver their substance unto them, call witnesses thereof in their presence: +GOD taketh sufficient account of your actions. + Men ought to have a part of what their parents and kindred leave behind +them when they die: and women also ought to have a part of what their parents +and kindred leave, whether it be little, or whether it be much; a determinate +part is due to them. + And when they who are of kin are present at the dividing of what is left, +and also the orphans, and the poor; distribute unto them some part thereof; +and if the estate be too small, at least speak comfortably unto them. + And let those fear to abuse orphans, who if they leave behind them a +weak offspring, are solicitous for them; let them therefore fear GOD, and +speak that which is convenient. +10 Surely they who devour the possessions of orphans unjustly shall swallow +down nothing but fire into their bellies, and shall broil in raging flames. + GOD hath thus commanded you concerning your children. A male shall have +as much as the share of two females: but if they be females only, and above +two in number, they shall have two third parts of what the deceased shall +leave; and if there be but one, she shall have the half. And the parents of +the deceased shall have each of them a sixth part of what he shall leave, if +he have a child; but if he have no child, and his parents be his heirs, then +his mother shall have the third part. And if he have brethren, his mother +shall have a sixth part, after the legacies which he shall bequeath, and his +debts be paid. Ye know not whether your parents or your children be of +greater use unto you. This is an ordinance from GOD, and GOD is knowing and +wise. + Moreover ye may claim half of what your wives shall leave, if they have +no issue; but if they have issue, then ye shall have the fourth part of what +they shall leave, after the legacies which they shall bequeath, and the debts +be paid. They also shall have the fourth part of what ye shall leave, in case +ye have no issue; but if ye have issue, then they shall have the eighth part of +what ye shall leave, after the legacies which ye shall bequeath, and your debts +be paid. And if a man or woman's substance be inherited by a distant relation, +and he or she have a brother or sister; each of them two shall have a sixth +part of the estate. But if there be more than this number, they shall be +equal sharers in a third part, after payment of the legacies which shall be +bequeathed, and the debts, without prejudice to the heirs. This is an ordinance +from GOD: and GOD is knowing and gracious. + These are the statutes of GOD. And whoso obeyeth GOD and his apostle, +God shall lead him into gardens wherein rivers flow, they shall continue +therein forever; and this shall be great happiness. + But whoso disobeyeth GOD, and his apostle, and transgresseth his +statutes, God shall cast him into hell fire; he shall remain therein forever, +and he shall suffer a shameful punishment. + If any of your women be guilty of whoredom, produce four witnesses from +among you against them, and if they bear witness against them, imprison them +in separate apartments until death release them, or GOD affordeth them a way +to escape. + And if two of you commit the like wickedness, punish them both: but if +they repent and amend, let them both alone; for GOD is easy to be reconciled +and merciful. + Verily repentance will be accepted with GOD, from those who do evil +ignorantly, and then repent speedily; unto them will GOD be turned: for GOD is +knowing and wise. + But no repentance shall be accepted from those who do evil until the time +when death presenteth itself unto one of them, and he saith, Verily I repent +now; nor unto those who die unbelievers; for them have we prepared a grievous +punishment. + O true believers, it is not lawful for you to be heirs of women against +their will, nor to hinder them from marrying others, that ye may take away +part of what ye have given them in dowry; unless they have been guilty of a +manifest crime: but converse kindly with them. And if ye hate them, it may +happen that ye may hate a thing wherein GOD hath placed much good. +20 If ye be desirous to exchange a wife for another wife, and ye have +already given one of them a talent, take not away anything therefrom: will +ye take it by slandering her, and doing her manifest injustice? + And how can ye take it, since the one of you hath gone in unto the other, +and they have received from you a firm covenant? + Marry not women whom your fathers have had to wife; (except what is +already past:) for this is uncleanness, and an abomination, and an evil way. + Ye are forbidden to marry your mothers, and your daughters, and your +sisters, and your aunts both on the father's and on the mother's side, and +your brothers' daughters, and your sisters' daughters, and your mothers who +have given you suck, and your foster-sisters, and your wives' mothers, and +your daughters-in-law which are under your tuition, born of your wives unto +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 are also forbidden to take to wife two sisters, except what is +already past: for GOD is gracious and merciful. + Ye are also forbidden to take to wife free women who are married, except +those women whom your right hands shall possess as slaves. This is ordained +you from GOD. Whatever is beside this is allowed you; that ye may with your +substance provide wives for yourselves, acting that which is right, and +avoiding whoredom. And for the advantage which ye receive from them, give +them their reward, according to what is ordained: but it shall be no crime in +you to make any other agreement among yourselves, after the ordinance shall +be complied with; for GOD is knowing and wise. + Whoso among you hath not means sufficient that he may marry free women, +who are believers, let him marry with such of your maid-servants whom your +right hands possess, as are true believers; for GOD well knoweth your faith. +Ye are the one from the other: therefore marry them with the consent of their +masters; and give them their dower according to justice; such as are modest, +not guilty of whoredom, nor entertaining lovers. And when they are married, +if they be guilty of adultery, they shall suffer half the punishment which is +appointed for the free women. This is allowed unto him among you, who feareth +to sin by marrying free women; but if ye abstain from marrying slaves, it will be +better for you; GOD is gracious and merciful. + GOD is willing to declare these things unto you, and to direct you +according to the ordinances of those who have gone before you, and to be +merciful unto you. GOD is knowing and wise. + GOD desireth to be gracious unto you; but they who follow their lusts, +desire that ye should turn aside from the truth with great deviation. + GOD is minded to make his religion light unto you: for man was created weak. + O true believers, consume not your wealth among yourselves in vanity; +unless there be merchandising among you by mutual consent: neither slay +yourselves; for GOD is merciful towards you: +30 and whoever doth this maliciously and wickedly, he will surely cast him +to be broiled in hell fire; and this is easy with GOD. + If ye turn aside from the grievous sins, of those which ye are forbidden +to commit, we will cleanse you from your smaller faults; and will introduce +you into paradise with an honourable entry. + Covet not that which GOD hath bestowed on some of you preferably to +others. Unto the men shall be given a portion of what they shall have +gained, and unto the women shall be given a portion of what they shall have +gained: therefore ask GOD of his bounty; for GOD is omniscient. + We have appointed unto every one kindred, to inherit part of what their +parents and relations shall leave at their deaths. And unto those with whom +your right hands have made an alliance, give their part of the inheritance; +for GOD is witness of all things. + Men shall have the preeminence above women, because of those advantages +wherein GOD hath caused the one of them to excel the other, and for that +which they expend of their substance in maintaining their wives. The honest +women are obedient. careful in the absence of their husbands, for that GOD +preserveth them, by committing them to the care and protection of the men. +But those, whose perverseness ye shall be apprehensive of, rebuke; and remove +them into separate apartments, and chastise them. But if they shall be +obedient unto you, seek not an occasion of quarrel against them: for GOD is +high and great. + And if ye fear a breach between the husband and wife, send a judge out +of his family, and a judge out of her family: if they shall desire a +reconciliation, GOD will cause them to agree; for GOD is knowing and wise. + Serve GOD, and associate no creature with him; and show kindness unto +parents, and relations, and orphans, and the poor, and your neighbor who is of +kin to you, and also your neighbor who is a stranger, and to your familiar +companion, and the traveller, and the captives whom your right hands shall +possess; for GOD loveth not the proud or vain-glorious, + who are covetous, and recommend covetousness unto men, and conceal that +which GOD of his bounty hath given them (we have prepared a shameful +punishment for the unbelievers;) + and who bestow their wealth in charity to be observed of men, and believe +not in GOD, nor in the last day; and whoever hath Satan for a companion, an +evil companion hath he! + And what harm would befall them if they should believe in GOD, and the last +day, and give alms out of that which GOD hath bestowed on them? since GOD +knoweth them who do this. +40 Verily GOD will not wrong any one even the weight of an ant: and if it be +a good action, he will double it, and will recompense it in his sight with a great +reward. + How will it be with the unbelievers when we shall bring a witness out of each +nation against itself, and shall bring thee, O Mohammed, a witness against +these people? + In that day they who have not believed, and have rebelled against the +apostle of God, shall wish the earth was levelled with them; and they shall not +be able to hide any matter from GOD. + O true believers, come not to prayers when ye are drunk, until ye +understand what ye say; nor when ye are polluted by emission of seed, unless +ye be travelling on the road, until ye wash yourselves. But if ye be sick or +on a journey, or any of you come from easing nature, or have touched women, +and find no water; take fine clean sand and rub your faces and your hands +therewith; for GOD is merciful and inclined to forgive. + Hast thou not observed those unto whom part of the scripture was +delivered? they sell error, and desire that ye may wander from the right way; + but GOD well knoweth your enemies. GOD is a sufficient patron; and GOD is +a sufficient helper. + Of the Jews there are some who pervert words from their places; and say, +We have heard, and have disobeyed; and do thou hear without understanding our +meaning, and look upon us: perplexing with their tongues, and reviling the true +religion. But if they had said, We have heard, and do obey; and do thou hear, +and regard us: certainly it were better for them, and more right. But GOD hath +cursed them by reason of their infidelity; therefore a few of them only shall +believe. + O ye to whom the scriptures have been given, believe in the revelation +which we have sent down, confirming that which is with you; before we deface +your countenances, and render them as the back parts thereof; or curse them, +as we cursed those who transgressed on the sabbath day; and the command of +GOD was fulfilled. + Surely GOD will not pardon the giving him an equal; but will pardon any +other sin except that, to whom he pleaseth and whoso giveth a companion unto +GOD, hath devised a great wickedness. + Hast thou not observed those who justify themselves? But GOD justifieth +whomsoever he pleaseth, nor shall they be wronged a hair. +50 Behold, how they imagine a lie against GOD; and therein is iniquity +sufficiently manifest. + Hast thou not considered those to whom part of the scripture hath been +given? They believe in false gods and idols, and say of those who believe +not, These are more rightly directed in the way of truth, than they who +believe on Mohammed. + Those are the men whom God hath cursed and unto him whom GOD shall curse, +thou shalt surely find no helper. + Shall they have a part of the kingdom, since even then they would not +bestow the smallest matterr on men? + Do they envy other men that which GOD of his bounty hath given them? We +formerly gave unto the family of Abraham a book of revelations and wisdom; and +we gave them a great kingdom. + There is of them who believeth on him; and there is of them who turneth +aside from him: but the raging fire of hell is a sufficient punishment. + Verily those who disbelieve our signs, we will surely cast to be broiled +in hell fire; so often as their skins shall be well burned, we will give them +other skins in exchange, that they may taste the sharper torment; for GOD is +mighty and wise. + But those who believe and do that which is right, we will bring into +gardens watered by rivers, therein shall they remain forever, and there shall +they enjoy wives free from all impurity; and we will lead them into perpetual +shades. + Moreover GOD commandeth you to restore what ye are trusted with, to the +owners; and when ye judge between men, that ye judge according to equity: and +surely an excellent virtue it is to which GOD exhorteth you; for GOD both +heareth and seeth. + O true believers, obey GOD, and obey the apostle; and those who are in +authority among you: and if ye differ, in anything, refer it unto GOD and the +apostle, if ye believe in GOD, and the last day: this is better, and a fairer +method of determination. +60 Hast thou not observed those who pretend they believe in what hath been +revealed unto thee, and what hath been revealed before thee? They desire to +go to judgment before Taghut, although they have been commanded not to +believe in him; and Satan desireth to seduce them into a wide error. + And when it is said unto them, Come unto the book which GOD hath sent +down, and to the apostle; thou seest the ungodly turn aside from thee, with +great aversion. + But how will they behave when a misfortune shall befall them, for that +which their hands have sent before them? Then will they come unto thee, and +swear by GOD, saying, If we intended any other than to do good, and to +reconcile the parties. + GOD knoweth what is in the hearts of these men; therefore let them alone, +and admonish them, and speak unto them a word which may affect their souls. + We have not sent any apostle, but that he might be obeyed by the +permission of GOD: but if they, after they have injured their own souls, come +unto thee, and ask pardon of GOD, and the apostle ask pardon for them, they +shall surely find GOD easy to be reconciled and merciful. + And by thy LORD they will not perfectly believe, until they make thee +judge of their controversies; and shall not afterwards find in their own minds +any hardship in what thou shalt determine, but shall acquiesce therein with +entire submission. + And if we had commanded them, saying, Slay yourselves, or depart from +your houses; they would not have done it except a few of them. And if they +had done what they were admonished, it would certainly have been better for +them, and more efficacious for confirming their faith; + and we should then have surely given them in our sight an exceeding +great reward, + and we should have directed them in the right way. + Whoever obeyeth GOD and the apostle, they shall be with those unto whom +GOD hath been gracious, of the prophets, and the sincere, and the martyrs, and +the righteous; and these are the most excellent company. +70 This is bounty from GOD; and GOD is sufficiently knowing. + O true believers, take your necessary precaution against your enemies, +and either go forth to war in separate parties, or go forth all together in a +body. + There is of you who tarrieth behind; and if a misfortune befall you, he +saith, Verily GOD hath been gracious unto me, that I was not present with +them: + but if success attend you from GOD, he will say (as if there was no +friendship between you and him), Would to GOD I had been with them, for I +should have acquired great merit. + Let them therefore fight for the religion of GOD, who part with the +present life in exchange for that which is to come; for whosoever fighteth +for the religion of GOD, whether he be slain, or be victorious, we will +surely give him a great reward. + And what ails you, that ye fight not for GOD'S true religion, and in defence +of the weak among men, women, and children, who say, O LORD, bring us forth +from this city, whose inhabitants are wicked; grant us from before thee a +protector, and grant us from before thee a defender. + They who believe fight for the religion of GOD; but they who believe not +fight for the religion of Taghut. Fight therefore against the friends of +Satan, for the stratagem of Satan is weak. + Hast thou not observed those unto whom it was said, Withhold your hands +from war, and be constant at prayers, and pay the legal alms? But when war +is commanded them, behold a part of them fear men as they should fear GOD, or +with a great fear, and say, O LORD, wherefore hast thou commanded us to go to +war, and hast not suffered us to wait our approaching end? Say unto them, +The provision of this life is but small; but the future shall be better for +him who feareth God; and ye shall not be in the least injured at the day of +judgment. + Wheresoever ye be, death will overtake you, although ye be in lofty +towers. If good befall them, they say, This is from GOD; but if evil befall +them, they say, This is from thee, O Mohammed: say, All is from GOD; and what +aileth these people, that they are so far from understanding what is said unto +them? + Whatever good befalleth thee, O man, it is from GOD; and whatever evil +befalleth thee, it is from thyself. We have sent thee an apostle unto men, +and GOD is a sufficient witness thereof. +80 Whoever obeyeth the apostle, obeyeth GOD; and whoever turneth back, we +have not sent thee to be a keeper over them. + They say, Obedience: yet when they go forth from thee, part of them +meditate by night a matter different from what thou speakest; but GOD shall +write down what they meditate by night: therefore let them alone, and trust in +GOD, for GOD is a sufficient protector. + Do they not attentively consider the Koran? if it had been from any +besides GOD, they would certainly have found therein many contradictions. + When any news cometh unto them, either of security or fear, they +immediately divulge it; but if they told it to the apostle and to those who +are in authority among them, such of them would understand the truth of the +matter, as inform themselves thereof from the apostle and his chiefs. And if +the favor of GOD and his mercy had not been upon you, ye had followed the +devil, except a few of you. + Fight therefore for the religion of GOD, and oblige not any to what is +difficult, except thyself; however excite the faithful to war, perhaps GOD +will restrain the courage of the unbelievers; for GOD is stronger than they, +and more able to punish. + He who intercedeth between men with a good intercession shall have a +portion thereof; and he who intercedeth with an evil intercession shall have a +portion thereof; for GOD overlooketh all things. + When ye are saluted with a salutation, salute the person with a better +salutation, or at least return the same; for GOD taketh an account of all +things. + GOD! there is no GOD but he; he will surely gather you together on the +day of resurrection; there is no doubt of it: and who is more true than GOD in +what he saith? + Why are ye divided concerning the ungodly into two parties; since GOD +hath overturned them for what they have committed? Will ye direct him whom +GOD hath led astray; since for him whom GOD shall lead astray, thou shalt find +no true path? + They desire that ye should become infidels, as they are infidels, and +that ye should be equally wicked with themselves. Therefore take not friends +from among them, until they fly their country for the religion of GOD; and if +they turn back from the faith, take them, and kill them wherever ye find them; +and take no friend from among them, nor any helper, +90 except those who go unto a people who are in alliance with you, or those +who come unto you, their hearts forbidding them either to fight against you, +or to fight against their own people. And if GOD pleased he would have +permitted them to have prevailed against you, and they would have fought +against you. But if they depart from you, and fight not against you, and +offer you peace, GOD doth not allow you to take or kill them. + Ye shall find others who are desirous to enter into confidence with you, +and at the same time to preserve a confidence with their own people: so often +as they return to sedition, they shall be subverted therein; and if they +depart not from you, and offer you peace, and restrain their hands from +warring against you, take them and kill them wheresoever ye find them; over +these have we granted you a manifest power. + It is not lawful for a believer to kill a believer, unless it happen by +mistake; and whoso killeth a believer by mistake, the penalty shall be the +freeing of a believer from slavery, and a fine to be paid to the family of the +deceased, unless they remit it as alms: and if the slain person be of a +people at enmity with you, and be a true believer, the penalty shall be the +freeing of a believer; but if he be of a people in confederacy with you, a +fine to be paid to his family, and the freeing of a believer. And he who +findeth not wherewith to do this shall fast two months consecutively as a +penance enjoined from GOD; and GOD is knowing and wise. + But whoso killeth a believer designedly, his reward shall be hell; he +shall remain therein for ever; and GOD shall be angry with him, and shall +curse him, and shall prepare for him a great punishment. + O true believers, when ye are on a march in defence of the true religion, +justly discern such as ye shall happen to meet, and say not unto him who +saluteth you, thou art not a true believer; seeking the accidental goods of +the present life; for with GOD is much spoil. Such have ye formerly been; +but GOD hath been gracious unto you; therefore make a just discernment, for +GOD is well acquainted with that which ye do. + Those believers who sit still at home, not having any hurt, and those +who employ their fortunes and their persons for the religion of GOD, shall not +be held equal. GOD hath preferred those who employ their fortunes and their +persons in that cause to a degree of honour above those who sit at home; GOD +hath indeed promised every one paradise, but GOD hath preferred those who +fight for the faith before those who sit still, by adding unto them a great +reward, + by degrees of honour conferred on them from him, and by granting them +forgiveness and mercy; for GOD is indulgent and merciful. + Moreover unto those whom the angels put to death, having injured their +own souls, the angels said, Of what religion were ye? they answered, We were +weak in the earth. The angels replied, Was not GOD'S earth wide enough, that +ye might fly therein to a place of refuge? Therefore their habitation shall +be hell; and an evil journey shall it be thither: + except the weak among men, and women, and children, who were not able to +find means, and were not directed in the way; + these peradventure GOD will pardon, for GOD is ready to forgive, and +gracious. +100 Whosoever flieth from his country for the sake of GOD'S true religion, +shall find in the earth many forced to do the same, and plenty of provisions. +And whoever departeth from his house, and flieth unto GOD and his apostle, if +death overtake him in the way, GOD will be obliged to reward him, for GOD is +gracious and merciful. + When ye march to war in the earth, it shall be no crime in you if ye +shorten your prayers, in case ye fear the infidels may attack you; for the +infidels are your open enemy. + But when thou, O prophet, shalt be among them, and shalt pray with them, +let a party of them arise to prayer with thee, and let them take their arms; +and when they shall have worshipped, let them stand behind you,o and let +another party come that hath not prayed, and let them pray with thee, and let +them be cautious and take their arms. The unbelievers would that ye should +neglect your arms and your baggage while ye pray, that they might turn upon +you at once. It shall be no crime in you, if ye be incommoded by rain, or be +sick, that ye lay down your arms; but take your necessary precaution: GOD +hath prepared for the unbelievers an ignominious punishment. + And when ye shall have ended your prayer, remember GOD, standing, and +sitting, and lying on your sides. But when ye are secure from danger, +complete your prayers: for prayer is commanded the faithful, and appointed to +be said at the stated times. + Be not negligent in seeking out the unbelieving people, though ye suffer +some inconvenience; for they also shall suffer as ye suffer, and ye hope for a +reward from GOD which they cannot hope for; and GOD is knowing and wise. + We have sent down unto thee the book of the Koran with truth, that thou +mayest judge between men through that wisdom which GOD showeth thee therein; +and be not an advocate for the fraudulent; but ask pardon of GOD for thy +wrong intention, since GOD is indulgent and merciful. + Dispute not for those who deceive one another, for GOD loveth not him who +is a deceiver or unjust. + Such conceal themselves from men, but they conceal not themselves from +GOD; for he is with them when they imagine by night a saying which pleaseth +him not, and GOD comprehendeth what they do. + Behold, ye are they who have disputed for them in this present life; but +who shall dispute with GOD for them on the day of resurrection, or who will +become their patron? +110 yet he who doth evil, or injureth his own soul, and afterwards asketh +pardon of God, shall find God gracious and merciful. + Whoso committeth wickedness, committeth it against his own soul: GOD is +knowing and wise. + And whoso committeth a sin or iniquity, and afterwards layeth it on the +innocent, he shall surely bear the guilt of calumny and manifest injustice. + If the indulgence and mercy of GOD had not been upon thee, surely a part +of them had studied to seduce thee; but they shall seduce themselves only, +and shall not hurt thee at all. GOD hath sent down unto thee the book of the +Koran and wisdom, and hath taught thee that which thou knewest not; for the +favor of GOD hath been great towards thee. + There is no good in the multitude of their private discourses, unless in +the discourse of him who recommendeth alms, or that which is right, or +agreement amongst men: whoever doth this out of a desire to please GOD, we +will surely give him a great reward. + But whoso separateth himself from the apostle, after true direction hath +been manifested unto him, and followeth any other way than than of the true +believers, we will cause him to obtain that to which he is inclined, and will +cast him to be burned in hell; and an unhappy journey shall it be thither. + Verily GOD will not pardon the giving him a companion, but he will pardon +any crime besides that, unto whom he pleaseth: and he who giveth a companion +unto GOD is surely led aside into a wide mistake; + the infidels invoke beside him only female deities; and only invoke +rebellious Satan. + GOD cursed him; and he said, Verily I will take of thy servants a part +cut off from the rest, and I will seduce them, and will insinuate vain +desires into them, and I will command them and they shall cut off the ears of +cattle; and I will command them and they shall change GOD'S creature. But +whoever taketh Satan for his patron, besides GOD, shall surely perish with a +manifest destruction. +120 He maketh them promises, and insinuateth into them vain desires; yet +Satan maketh them only deceitful promises. + The receptacle of these shall be hell, they shall find no refuge from +it. + But they who believe, and do good works, we will surely lead them into +gardens, through which rivers flow, they shall continue therein forever, +according to the true promise of GOD; and who is more true than GOD in what he +saith? + It shall not be according to your desires, nor according to the desires +of those who have received the scriptures. Whoso doth evil shall be rewarded +for it; and shall not find any patron or helper, beside GOD; + but whoso doth good works, whether he be male or female, and is a true +believer, they shall be admitted into paradise, and shall not in the least be +unjustly dealt with. + Who is better in point of religion than he who resigneth himself unto +GOD, and is a worker of righteousness, and followeth the law of Abraham the +orthodox? since GOD took Abraham for his friend: + and to God belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth; GOD +comprehendeth all things. + They will consult thee concerning women; Answer, GOD instructeth you +concerning them, and that which is read unto you in the book of the Koran +concerning female orphans, to whom ye give not that which is ordained them, +neither will ye marry them, and concerning weak infants, and that ye observe +justice towards orphans: whatever good ye do, GOD knoweth it. + If a woman fear ill usage, or aversion from her husband, it shall be no +crime in them if they agree the matter amicably between themselves; for a +reconciliation is better than a separation. Men's souls are naturally +inclined to covetousness: but if ye be kind towards women, and fear to wrong +them, GOD is well acquainted with what ye do. + Ye can by no means carry yourselves equally between women in all +respects, although ye study to do it; therefore turn not from a wife with all +manner of aversion, nor leave her like one in suspense: if ye agree, and +fear to abuse your wives, GOD is gracious and merciful; +130 but if they separate, GOD will satisfy them both of his abundance; for +GOD is extensive and wise, + and unto GOD belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth. We have +already commanded those unto whom the scriptures were given before you, and we +command you also, saying, Fear GOD; but if ye disbelieve, unto GOD belongeth +whatsoever is in heaven and on earth; and GOD is self-sufficient, and to be +praised; + for unto GOD belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth, and GOD is a +sufficient protector. + If he pleaseth he will take you away, O men, and will produce others in +your stead; for GOD is able to do this. + Whoso desireth the reward of this world, verily with GOD is the reward of +this world, and also of that which is to come; GOD both heareth and seeth. + O true believers, observe justice when ye bear witness before GOD, +although it be against yourselves, or your parents, or relations; whether the +party be rich, or whether he be poor; for GOD is more worthy than them both: +therefore follow not your own lust in bearing testimony so that ye swerve from +justice. And whether ye wrest your evidence, or decline giving it, GOD is +well acquainted with that which ye do. + O true believers, believe in GOD and his apostle, and the book which he +hath caused to descend unto his apostle, and the book which he hath formerly +sent down. And whosoever believeth not in GOD, and his angels, and his +scriptures, and his apostles, and the last day, he surely erreth in a wide +mistake. + Moreover they who believed, and afterwards became infidels, and then +believed again, and after that disbelieved, and increased in infidelity, GOD +will by no means forgive them, nor direct them into the right way. + Declare unto the ungodly that they shall suffer a painful punishment. + They who take the unbelievers for their protectors, besides the faithful, +do they seek for power with them? since all power belongeth unto GOD. +140 And he hath already revealed unto you, in the book of the Koran, the +following passage--When ye shall hear the signs of GOD, they shall not be +believed, but they shall be laughed to scorn. Therefore sit not with them who +believe not, until they engage in different discourse; for if ye do ye will +certainly become like unto them. GOD will surely gather the ungodly and the +unbelievers together in hell. + They who wait to observe what befalleth you, if victory be granted you +from GOD, say, Were we not with you? But if any advantage happen to the +infidels, they say unto them, Were we not superior to you, and have we not +defended you against the believers? GOD shall judge between you on the day of +resurrection: and GOD will not grant the unbelievers means to prevail over the +faithful. + The hypocrites act deceitfully with GOD, but he will deceive them; and +when they stand up to pray, they stand carelessly, affecting to be seen of +men, and remember not GOD, unless a little, + wavering between faith and infidelity, and adhering neither unto these +nor unto those: and for him whom GOD shall lead astray thou shalt find no +true path. + O true believers, take not the unbelievers for your protectors besides +the faithful. Will ye furnish GOD with an evident argument of impiety against +you? + Moreover the hypocrites shall be in the lowest bottom of hell fire, and +thou shalt not find any to help them thence. + But they who repent and amend, and adhere firmly unto GOD, and approve +the sincerity of their religion to GOD, they shall be numbered with the +faithful; and GOD will surely give the faithful a great reward. + And how should GOD go about to punish you, if ye be thankful and believe? +for GOD is grateful and wise. + GOD loveth not the speaking ill of any one in public, unless he who is +injured call for assistance; and GOD heareth and knoweth: + whether ye publish a good action, or conceal it, or forgive evil, verily +GOD is gracious and powerful. +150 They who believe not in GOD, and his apostles, and would make a +distinction between GOD and his apostles, and say, We believe in some of the +prophets and reject others of them, and seek to take a middle way in this +matter; + these are really unbelievers: and we have prepared for the unbelievers +an ignominious punishment. + But they who believe in GOD and his apostles, and make no distinction +between any of them, unto those will we surely give their reward; and GOD is +gracious and merciful. + They who have received the scriptures will demand of thee, that thou +cause a book to descend unto them from heaven: they formerly asked of Moses a +greater thing than this: for they said, Show us GOD visibly. Wherefore a +storm of fire from heaven destroyed them, because of their iniquity. Then +they took the calf for their God, after that evident proofs of the divine +unity had come unto them: but we forgave them that, and gave Moses a manifest +power to punish them. + And we lifted the mountain of Sinai over them, when we exacted from them +their covenant; and said unto them, Enter the gate of the city worshipping. +We also said unto them, Transgress not on the Sabbath-day. And we received +from them a firm covenant, that they would observe these things. + Therefore for that they have made void their covenant, and have not +believed in the signs of GOD, and have slain the prophets unjustly, and have +said, Our hearts are circumcised; (but GOD hath sealed them up, because of +their unbelief; therefore they shall not believe, except a few of them:) + and for that they have not believed in Jesus, and have spoken against +Mary a grievous calumny; + and have said, Verily we have slain Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the +apostle of GOD; yet they slew him not, neither crucified him, but he was +represented by one in his likeness; and verily they who disagreed concerning +him were in a doubt as to this matter, and had no sure knowledge thereof, but +followed only an uncertain opinion. They did not really kill him; + but GOD took him up unto himself: and GOD is mighty and wise. + And there shall not be one of those who have received the scriptures, who +shall not believe in him, before his death; and on the day of resurrection he +shall be a witness against them. +160 Because of the iniquity of those who Judaize, we have forbidden them +good things, which had been formerly allowed them; and because they shut out +many from the way of GOD, + and have taken usury, which was forbidden them by the law, and devoured +men's substance vainly: we have prepared for such of them as are unbelievers +a painful punishment. + But those among them who are well grounded in knowledge, and the +faithful, who believe in that which hath been sent down unto thee, and that +which hath been sent down unto the prophets before thee, and who observe the +stated times of prayer, and give alms, and believe in GOD and the last day +unto these will we give a great reward. + Verily we have revealed our will unto thee, as we have revealed it unto +Noah and the prophets who succeeded him; and as we revealed it unto Abraham, +and Ismael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and unto Jesus, and Job, and +Jonas, and Aaron, and Solomon; and we have given thee the Koran, as we gave +the psalms unto David: + some apostles have we sent, whom we have formerly mentioned unto thee; +and other apostles have we sent, whom we have not mentioned unto thee; and +GOD spake unto Moses, discoursing with him; + apostles declaring good tidings, and denouncing threats, lest men should +have an argument of excuse against GOD, after the apostles had been sent +unto them; GOD is mighty and wise. + GOD is witness of that revelation which he hath sent down unto thee; he +sent it down with his special knowledge: the angels also are witnesses +thereof; but GOD is a sufficient witness. + They who believe not, and turn aside others from the way of GOD, have +erred in a wide mistake. + Verily those who believe not, and act unjustly, GOD will by no means +forgive, neither will he direct them into any other way, + than the way of hell; they shall remain therein forever: and this is easy +with GOD. +170 O men, now is the apostle come unto you, with truth from your LORD; +believe therefore, it will be better for you. But if ye disbelieve, verily +unto GOD belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth; and GOD is knowing +and wise. + O ye who have received the scriptures, exceed not the just bounds in your +religion, neither say of GOD any other than the truth. Verily Christ Jesus +the son of Mary is the apostle of GOD, and his Word, which he conveyed into +Mary, and a spirit proceeding from him. Believe therefore in GOD, and his +apostles, and say not, There are three Gods; forbear this; it will be better +for you. GOD is but one GOD. Far be it from him that he should have a son! +unto him belongeth whatever is in heaven and on earth; and GOD is a sufficient +protector. + Christ doth not proudly disdain to be a servant unto GOD; neither the +angels who approach near to his presence: and whoso disdaineth his service, +and is puffed up with pride, God will gather them all to himself, on the last day. + Unto those who believe, and do that which is right, he shall give their +rewards, and shall superabundantly add unto them of his liberality: but those +who are disdainful and proud, he will punish with a grievous punishment; and +they shall not find any to protect or to help them, besides GOD. + O men, now is an evident proof come unto you from your LORD, and we have +sent down unto you manifest light. + They who believe in GOD and firmly adhere to him, he will lead them into mercy +from him, and abundance; and he will direct them in the right way to himself. + They will consult thee for thy decision in certain cases; say unto them, +GOD giveth you these determinations, concerning the more remote degrees of +kindred. If a man die without issue, and have a sister, she shall have the +half of what he shall leave: and he shall be heir to her, in case she have +no issue. But if there be two sisters they shall have between them two third +parts of what he shall leave; and if there be several, both brothers and +sisters, a male shall have as much as the portion of two females. GOD +declareth unto you these precepts, lest ye err: and GOD knoweth all things. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER V. + +ENTITLED, THE TABLE; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + O TRUE believers, perform your contracts. Ye are allowed to eat the +brute cattle, other than what ye are commanded to abstain from; except the +game which ye are allowed at other times, but not while ye are on pilgrimage +to Mecca; GOD ordaineth that which he pleaseth. + O true believers, violate not the holy rites of GOD, nor the sacred +month, nor the offering, nor the ornaments hung thereon, nor those who are +travelling to the holy house, seeking favor from their LORD, and to please +him. But when ye shall have finished your pilgrimage; then hunt. And let not +the malice of some, in that they hindered you from entering the sacred +temple, provoke you to transgress, by taking revenge on them in the sacred +months. Assist one another according to justice and piety, but assist not one +another in injustice and malice: therefore fear GOD; for GOD is severe in +punishing. + Ye are forbidden to eat that which dieth of itself, and blood, and +swine's flesh, and that on which the name of any besides GOD hath been +invocated; and that which hath been strangled, or killed by a blow, or by a +fall, or by the horns of another beast, and that which hath been eaten by a +wild beast, except what ye shall kill yourselves; and that which hath been +sacrificed unto idols. It is likewise unlawful for you to make division by +casting lots with arrows. This is an impiety. On this day, woe be unto +those who have apostatized from their religion; therefore fear not them, but +fear me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, and have completed +my mercy upon you; and I have chosen for you Islam, to be your religion. But +whosoever shall be driven by necessity through hunger, to eat of what we +have forbidden, not designing to sin, surely GOD will be indulgent and merciful +unto him. + They will ask thee what is allowed them as lawful to eat? Answer, Such +things as are good are allowed you; and what ye shall teach animals of prey +to catch, training them up for hunting after the manner of dogs, and teaching +them according to the skill which GOD hath taught you. Eat therefore of that +which they shall catch for you; and commemorate the name of GOD thereon; and +fear GOD, for GOD is swift in taking an account. + This day are ye allowed to eat such things as are good, and the food of +those to whom the scriptures were given is also allowed as lawful unto you; +and your food is allowed as lawful unto them. And ye are also allowed to +marry free women that are believers, and also free women of those who have +received the scriptures before you, when ye shall have assigned them their +dower; living chastely with them, neither committing fornication, nor taking +them for concubines. Whoever shall renounce the faith, his work shall be +vain, and in the next life he shall be of those who perish. + O true believers, when ye prepare yourselves to pray, wash your faces, +and your hands unto the elbows; and rub your heads, and your feet unto the +ankles; and if ye be polluted by having lain with a woman, wash yourselves all +over. But if ye be sick, or on a journey, or any of you cometh from the +privy, or if ye have touched women, and ye find no water, take fine clean +sand, and rub your faces and your hands therewith; GOD would not put a +difficulty upon you; but he desireth to purify you, and to complete his favor +upon you, that ye may give thanks. + Remember the favor of GOD towards you, and his covenant which he hath +made with you, when ye said, We have heard, and will obey. Therefore fear +God, for God knoweth the innermost parts of the breasts of men. + O true believers, observe justice when ye appear as witnesses before GOD, +and let not hatred towards any induce you to do wrong: but act justly; this +will approach nearer unto piety; and fear GOD, for GOD is fully acquainted +with what ye do. + GOD hath promised unto those who believe, and do that which is right, +that they shall receive pardon and a great reward. +10 But they who believe not, and accuse our signs of falsehood, they shall +be the companions of hell. + O true believers, remember GOD's favor towards you, when certain men +designed to stretch forth their hands against you, but he restrained their +hands from hurting you; therefore fear GOD and in GOD let the faithful trust. + GOD formerly accepted the covenant of the children of Israel, and we +appointed out of them twelve leaders: and GOD said, Verily I am with you: if +ye observe prayer, and give alms, and believe in my apostles, and assist them, +and lend unto GOD on good usury, I will surely expiate your evil deeds from +you, and I will lead you into gardens, wherein rivers flow: but he among you +who disbelieveth after this, erreth from the straight path. + Wherefore because they have broken their covenant, we have cursed them, +and hardened their hearts; they dislocate the words of the Pentateuch from +their places, and have forgotten part of what they were admonished; and thou +wilt not cease to discover deceitful practices among them, except a few of +them. But forgive them, and pardon them, for GOD loveth the beneficent. + And from those who say, We are Christians, we have received their +covenant; but they have forgotten part of what they were admonished; wherefore +we have raised up enmity and hatred among them, till the day of resurrection; +and GOD will then surely declare unto them what they have been doing. + O ye who have received the scriptures, now is our apostle come unto you, +to make manifest unto you many things which ye concealed in the scriptures; +and to pass over many things. Now is light and a perspicuous book of +revelations come unto you from God. + Thereby will GOD direct him who shall follow his good pleasure, into the paths +of peace; and shall lead them out of darkness into light, by his will, and shall +direct them in the right way. + They are infidels, who say, Verily GOD is Christ the son of Mary. Say +unto them, And who could obtain anything from GOD to the contrary, if he +pleased to destroy Christ the son of Mary, and his mother, and all those who +are on the earth? For unto GOD belongeth the kingdom of heaven and earth, +and whatsoever is contained between them; he createth what he pleaseth, +and GOD is almighty. + The Jews and the Christians say, We are the children of GOD and his +beloved. Answer, Why therefore doth he punish you for your sins? Nay, but ye +are men, of those whom he hath created. He forgiveth whom he pleaseth, and +punisheth whom he pleaseth; and unto GOD belongeth the kingdom of heaven and +earth, and of what is contained between them both; and unto him shall all +things return. + O ye who have received the scriptures, now is our apostle come unto you, +declaring unto you the true religion, during the cessation of apostles, lest +ye should say, There came unto us no bearer of good tidings, nor any warner: +but now is a bearer of good tidings, and a warner come unto you; for GOD is +almighty. +20 Call to mind when Moses said unto his people, O my people, remember the +favor of GOD towards you, since he hath appointed prophets among you, and +constituted you kings, and bestowed on you what he hath given to no other +nation in the world. + O my people, enter the holy land, which GOD hath decreed you, and turn +not your backs, lest ye be subverted and perish. + They answered, O Moses, verily there are a gigantic people in the land; +and we will by no means enter it, until they depart thence; but if they depart +thence, then will we enter therein. + And two men of those who feared GOD, unto whom GOD had been gracious, +said, Enter ye upon them suddenly by the gate of the city; and when ye shall +have entered the same, ye shall surely be victorious: therefore trust in GOD, +if ye are true believers. + They replied, O Moses, we will never enter the land, while they remain +therein: go therefore thou, and thy LORD, and fight; for we will sit here. + Moses said, O LORD, surely I am not master of any except myself, and my +brother; therefore make a distinction between us and the ungodly people. + GOD answered, Verily the land shall be forbidden them forty years; during +which time they shall wander like men astonished on the earth; therefore be +not thou solicitous for the ungodly people. + Relate unto them also the history of the two sons of Adam, with truth. +When they offered their offering, and it was accepted from one of them, and +was not accepted from the other, Cain said to his brother, I will certainly +kill thee. Abel answered, GOD only accepteth the offering of the pious; + if thou stretchest forth thy hand against me, to slay me, I will not +stretch forth my hand against thee, to slay thee; for I fear GOD, the LORD of +all creatures. + I choose that thou shouldest bear my iniquity and thine own iniquity; and +that thou become a companion of hell fire; for that is the reward of the +unjust. +30 But his soul suffered him to slay his brother, and he slew him; +wherefore he became of the number of those who perish. + And GOD sent a raven, which scratched the earth, to show him how he +should hide the shame of his brother, and he said, Woe is me! am I unable to +be like this raven, that I may hide my brother's shame? and he became one of +those who repent. + Wherefore we commanded the children of Israel, that he who slayeth a +soul, without having slain a soul, or committed wickedness in the earth, shall +be as if he had slain all mankind: but he who saveth a soul alive, shall be as if +he had saved the lives of all mankind. Our apostles formerly came unto them, +with evident miracles; then were many of them after this, transgressors on +the earth. + But the recompense of those who fight against GOD and his apostle, and +study to act corruptly in the earth, shall be, that they shall be slain, or +crucified, or have their hands and their feet cut off on the opposite sides, +or be banished the land. This shall be their disgrace in this world, and in +the next world they shall suffer a grievous punishment; + except those who shall repent, before ye prevail against them; for know +that GOD is inclined to forgive, and merciful. + O true believers, fear GOD, and earnestly desire a near conjunction with +him, and fight for his religion, that ye may be happy. + Moreover they who believe not, although they had whatever is in the +earth, and as much more withal, that they might therewith redeem themselves +from punishment on the day of resurrection; it shall not be accepted from +them, but they shall suffer a painful punishment. + They shall desire to go forth from the fire, but they shall not go forth +from it, and their punishment shall be permanent. + If a man or a woman steal, cut off their hands, in retribution for that +which they have committed; this is an exemplary punishment appointed by GOD; +and GOD is mighty and wise. + But whoever shall repent after his iniquity, and amend, verily GOD will +be turned unto him, for GOD is inclined to forgive, and merciful. +40 Dost thou not know that the kingdom of heaven and earth is GOD'S? He +punisheth whom he pleaseth, and he pardoneth whom he pleaseth; for GOD is +almighty. + O apostle, let not them grieve thee, who hasten to infidelity, either of +those who say, We believe, with their mouths, but whose hearts believe not; +or of the Jews, who hearken to a lie, and hearken to other people; who come +unto thee: they pervert the words of the law from their true places, and say, +If this be brought unto you, receive it; but if it be not brought unto you, +beware of receiving aught else; and in behalf of him whom GOD shall resolve +to seduce, thou shalt not prevail with GOD at all. They whose hearts GOD +shall not please to cleanse shall suffer shame in this world, and a grievous +punishment in the next: + who hearken to a lie, and eat that which is forbidden. But if they come +unto thee for judgment, either judge between them, or leave them; and if thou +leave them, they shall not hurt thee at all. But if thou undertake to judge, +judge between them with equity; for GOD loveth those who observe justice. + And how will they submit to thy decision, since they have the law, +containing the judgment of GOD? Then will they turn their backs, after this; +but those are not true believers. + We have surely sent down the law, containing direction, and light: +thereby did the prophets, who professed the true religion, judge those who +judaized; and the doctors and priests also judged by the book of GOD, which +had been committed to their custody; and they were witnesses thereof. +Therefore fear not men, but fear me; neither sell my signs for a small price. +And whoso judgeth not according to what GOD hath revealed, they are infidels. + We have therein commanded them, that they should give life for life, and +eye for eye, and nose for nose, and ear for ear, and tooth for tooth; and that +wounds should also be punished by retaliation: but whoever should remit it as +alms, it should be accepted as an atonement for him. And whoso judgeth not +according to what GOD hath revealed, they are unjust. + We also caused Jesus the son of Mary to follow the footsteps of the +prophets, confirming the law which was sent down before him; and we gave him +the gospel, containing direction and light; confirming also the law which was +given before it, and a direction and admonition unto those who fear God: + that they who have received the gospel might judge according to what GOD +hath revealed therein: and whoso judgeth not according to what GOD hath +revealed, they are transgressors. + We have also sent down unto thee the book of the Koran with truth, +confirming that scripture which was revealed before it; and preserving the +same safe from corruption. Judge therefore between them according to that +which GOD hath revealed; and follow not their desires, by swerving from the +truth which hath come unto thee. Unto every of you have we given a law, and +an open path; and if GOD had pleased, he had surely made you one people; but +he hath thought fit to give you different laws, that he might try you in that +which he hath given you respectively. Therefore strive to excel each other +in good works: unto GOD shall ye all return, and then will he declare unto you +that concerning which ye have disagreed. + Wherefore do thou, O prophet, judge between them according to that which +GOD hath revealed, and follow not their desires; but beware of them, lest they +cause thee to err from part of those precepts which GOD hath sent down unto +thee; and if they turn back, know that GOD is pleased to punish them for some +of their crimes; for a great number of men are transgressors. +50 Do they therefore desire the judgment of the time of ignorance? but who +is better than GOD, to judge between people who reason aright? + O true believers, take not the Jews or Christians for your friends; they +are friends the one to the other; but whoso among you taketh them for his +friends, he is surely one of them: verily GOD directeth not unjust people. + Thou shalt see those in whose hearts there is an infirmity, to hasten +unto them, saying, We fear lest some adversity befall us; but it is easy for +GOD to give victory, or a command from him, that they may repent of that +which they concealed in their minds. + And they who believe will say, Are these the men who have sworn by GOD, +with a most firm oath, that they surely held with you? their works are become +vain, and they are of those who perish. + O true believers, whoever of you apostatizeth from his religion, GOD will +certainly bring other people to supply his place, whom he will love, and who +will love him; who shall be humble towards the believers; but severe to the +unbelievers: they shall fight for the religion of GOD, and shall not fear the +obloquy of the detractor. This is the bounty of GOD, he bestoweth it on whom +he pleaseth: GOD is extensive and wise. + Verily your protector is GOD, and his apostle, and those who believe, +who observe the stated times of prayer, and give alms, and who bow down to +worship. + And whoso taketh GOD, and his apostle, and the believers for his friends, +they are the party of GOD, and they shall be victorious. + O true believers, take not such of those to whom the scriptures were +delivered before you, or of the infidels, for your friends, who make a +laughing-stock, and a jest of your religion; but fear GOD, if ye be true +believers; + nor those who when ye call to prayer, make a laughing-stock and a jest of +it; this they do, because they are people who do not understand. + Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, do ye reject us for any other +reason than because we believe in GOD, and that revelation which hath been +sent down unto us, and that which was formerly sent down, and for that the +greater part of you are transgressors? +60 Say, Shall I denounce unto you a worse thing than this, as to the reward +which ye are to expect with GOD? He whom GOD hath cursed, and with whom he +hath been angry, having changed some of them into apes and swine, and who +worship Taghut, they are in the worse condition, and err more widely from the +straightness of the path. + When they came unto you, they said, We believe: yet they entered into +your company with infidelity, and went forth from you with the same; but GOD +well knew what they concealed. + Thou shalt see many of them hastening unto iniquity and malice, and to +eat things forbidden; and woe unto them for what they have done. + Unless their doctors and priests forbid them uttering wickedness, and +eating things forbidden; woe unto them for what they shall have committed. + The Jews say, The hand of GOD is tied up. Their hands shall be tied +up, and they shall be cursed for that which they have said. Nay his hands +are both stretched forth; he bestoweth as he pleaseth: that which hath been +sent down unto thee from thy LORD shall increase the transgression and +infidelity of many of them; and we have put enmity and hatred between them, +until the day of resurrection. So often as they shall kindle a fire for war +GOD shall extinguish it; and they shall set their minds to act corruptly in +the earth, but GOD loveth not the corrupt doers. + Moreover if they who have received the scriptures believe, and fear God, +we will surely expiate their sins from them, and we will lead them into +gardens of pleasure; + and if they observe the law, and the gospel, and the other scriptures which +have been sent down unto them from their LORD, they shall surely eat of good +things both from above them, and from under their feet. Among them there +are people who act uprightly; but how evil is that which many of them do work! + O apostle, publish the whole of that which hath been sent down unto thee +from thy LORD: for if thou do not, thou dost not in effect publish any part +thereof; and GOD will defend thee against wicked men; for GOD directeth not +the unbelieving people. + Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, ye are not grounded on +anything, until ye observe the law and the gospel and that which hath been +sent down unto you from your LORD. That which hath been sent down unto thee +from thy LORD will surely increase the transgression and infidelity of many of +them: but be not thou solicitous for the unbelieving people. + Verily they who believe, and those who Judaize, and the Sabians, and the +Christians, whoever of them believeth in GOD and the last day, and doth that +which is right, there shall come no fear on them, neither shall they be +grieved. +70 We formerly accepted the covenant of the children of Israel, and sent +apostles unto them. So often as an apostle came unto them with that which +their souls desired not, they accused some of them of imposture, and some of +them they killed: + and they imagined that there should be no punishment for those crimes, +and they became blind, and deaf. Then was GOD turned unto them; afterwards +many of them again became blind and deaf; but GOD saw what they did. + They are surely infidels, who say, Verily GOD is Christ the son of Mary; +since Christ said, O children of Israel, serve GOD, my LORD and your LORD; +whoever shall give a companion unto GOD, GOD shall exclude him from paradise, +and his habitation shall be hell fire; and the ungodly shall have none to help +them. + They are certainly infidels, who say, GOD is the third of three: for +there is no GOD, besides one GOD; and if they refrain not from what they say, +a painful torment shall surely be inflicted on such of them as are +unbelievers. + Will they not therefore be turned unto GOD, and ask pardon of him? since +GOD is gracious and merciful. + Christ the son of Mary is no more than an apostle; other apostles have +preceded him; and his mother was a woman of veracity: they both ate food. +Behold, how we declare unto them the signs of GOD's unity; and then behold how +they turn aside from the truth. + Say unto them, Will ye worship, besides GOD, that which can cause you +neither harm nor profit? GOD is he who heareth and seeth. + Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, exceed not the just bounds in +your religion, by speaking beside the truth; neither follow the desires of +people who have heretofore erred, and who have seduced many, and have gone +astray from the straight path. + Those among the children of Israel who believe not were cursed by the +tongue of David, and of Jesus the son of Mary. This befell them because they +were rebellious and transgressed: + they forbade not one another the wickedness which they committed; and woe +unto them for what they committed. +80 Thou shalt see many of them take for their friends those who believe not. +Woe unto them for what their souls have sent before them, for that GOD is +incensed against them, and they shall remain in torment forever. + But, if they had believed in GOD, and the prophet, and that which hath +been revealed unto him, they had not taken them for their friends; but many of +them are evil-doers. + Thou shalt surely find the most violent of all men in enmity against the +true believers to be the Jews, and the idolaters: and thou shalt surely find +those among them to be the most inclinable to entertain friendship for the +true believers, who say, We are Christians. This cometh to pass, because +there are priests and monks among them; and because they are not elated with +pride: + And when they hear that which hath been sent down to the apostle read +unto them, thou shalt see their eyes overflow with tears, because of the truth +which they perceive therein, saying, O LORD, we believe; write us down +therefore with those who bear witness to the truth, + and what should hinder us from believing in GOD, and the truth which hath +come unto us, and from earnestly desiring that our LORD would introduce us +into paradise with the righteous people? + Therefore hath GOD rewarded them, for what they have said, with gardens +through which rivers flow; they shall continue therein forever; and this is +the reward of the righteous. + But they who believe not, and accuse our signs of falsehood, they shall be +the companions of hell. + O true believers, forbid not the good things which GOD hath allowed you; +but transgress not, for GOD loveth not the transgressors. + And eat of what GOD hath given you for food that which is lawful and +good: and fear GOD, in whom ye believe. + GOD will not punish you for an inconsiderate word in your oaths; but he +will punish you for what ye solemnly swear with deliberation. And the +expiation of such an oath shall be the feeding of ten poor men with such +moderate food as ye feed your own families withal; or to clothe them; or to +free the neck of a true believer from captivity: but he who shall not find +wherewith to perform one of these three things shall fast three days. This +is the expiation of your oaths, when ye swear inadvertently. Therefore keep +your oaths. Thus GOD declareth unto you his signs, that ye may give thanks. +90 O true believers, surely wine, and lots, and images, and divining +arrows, are an abomination of the work of Satan; therefore avoid them that ye +may prosper. + Satan seeketh to sow dissension and hatred among you, by means of wine +and lots, and to divert you from remembering GOD, and from prayer: will ye not +therefore abstain from them? + Obey GOD, and obey the apostle, and take heed to yourselves: but if ye turn +back, know that the duty of our apostle is only to preach publicly. + In those who believe and do good works, it is no sin that they have +tasted wine or gaming before they were forbidden; if they fear God, and +believe, and do good works, and shall for the future fear God, and believe, +and shall persevere to fear him, and to do good; for GOD loveth those who do +good. + O true believers, GOD will surely prove you in offering you plenty of +game, which ye may take with your hands or your lances, that GOD may know who +feareth him in secret; but whoever transgresseth after this shall suffer a +grievous punishment. + O true believers, kill no game while ye are on pilgrimage; whosoever +among you shall kill any designedly shall restore the like of what he shall +have killed, in domestic animals, according to the determination of two just +persons among you, to be brought as an offering to the Caaba; or in atonement +thereof shall feed the poor; or instead thereof shall fast, that he may taste +the heinousness of his deed. GOD hath forgiven what is past, but whoever +returneth to transgress, GOD will take vengeance on him; for GOD is mighty and +able to avenge. + It is lawful for you to fish in the sea, and to eat what ye shall catch, +as a provision for you and for those who travel; but it is unlawful for you to +hunt by land, while ye are performing the rights of pilgrimage; therefore +fear GOD, before whom ye shall be assembled at the last day. + GOD hath appointed the Caaba, the holy house, an establishment for +mankind; and hath ordained the sacred month, and the offering, and the +ornaments hung thereon.q This hath he done that ye might know that GOD +knoweth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth, and that GOD is omniscient. + Know that GOD is severe in punishing, and that GOD is also ready to forgive, +and merciful. + The duty of our apostle is to preach only; and GOD knoweth that which ye +discover, and that which ye conceal. +100 Say, Evil and good shall not be equally esteemed of, though the +abundance of evil pleaseth thee; therefore fear GOD, O ye of understanding, +that ye may be happy. + O true believers, inquire not concerning things, which, if they be +declared unto you, may give you pain; but if ye ask concerning them when the +Koran is sent down, they will be declared unto you: GOD pardoneth you as to +these matters; for GOD is ready to forgive, and gracious. + People who have been before you formerly inquired concerning them; and +afterwards disbelieved therein. + God hath not ordained anything concerning Bahira, nor Sâiba, nor Wasila, +nor Hâmi, but the unbelievers have invented a lie against GOD: and the +greater part of them do not understand. + And when it was said unto them, Come unto that which GOD hath revealed, +and to the apostle; they answered, That religion which we found our fathers to +follow is sufficient for us. What, though their fathers knew nothing and were +not rightly directed? + O true believers, take care of your souls! He who erreth shall not hurt +you, while ye are rightly directed: unto GOD shall ye all return, and he will +tell you that which ye have done. + O true believers, let witnesses be taken between you, when death +approaches any of you, at the time of making the testament; let there be two +witnesses, just men, from among you; or two others of a different tribe or +faith from yourselves, if ye be journeying in the earth, and the accident of +death befall you. Ye shall shut them both up, after the afternoon prayer, +and they shall swear by GOD, if ye doubt them, and they shall say, We will not +sell our evidence for a bribe, although the person concerned be one who is +related to us, neither will we conceal the testimony of GOD, for then should +we certainly be of the number of the wicked. + But if it appear that both have been guilty of iniquity, two others shall +stand up in their place, of those who have convicted them of falsehood, the +two nearest in blood, and they shall swear by GOD, saying, Verily our +testimony is more true than the testimony of these two, neither have we +prevaricated; for then should we become of the number of the unjust. + This will be easier, that men may give testimony according to the plain +intention thereof, or fear lest a different oath be given, after their oath. +Therefore fear GOD, and hearken; for GOD directeth not the unjust people. + On a certain day shall GOD assemble the apostles, and shall say unto +them, What answer was returned you, when ye preached unto the people to +whom ye were sent? They shall answer, We have no knowledge, but thou art +the knower of secrets. +110 When GOD shall say, O Jesus son of Mary, remember my favor towards +thee, and towards thy mother; when I strengthened thee with the holy spirit, that +thou shouldest speak unto men in the cradle, and when thou wast grown up; and +when I taught thee the scripture, and wisdom and the law, and the gospel: and +when thou didst create of clay as it were the figure of a bird, by my permission, +and didst breathe thereon, and it became a bird, by my permission, and thou didst +heal one blind from his birth, and the leper, by my permission; and when thou didst +bring forth the dead from their graves by my permission; and when I withheld the +children of Israel from killing thee, when thou hadst come unto them with evident +miracles, and such of them as believed not said, This is nothing but manifest +sorcery. + And when I commanded the apostles of Jesus saying, Believe in me, and in +my messenger; they answered, We do believe; and do thou bear witness that we +are resigned unto thee. + Remember when the apostles said, O Jesus son of Mary, is thy LORD able to +cause a table to descend unto us from heaven? He answered, Fear GOD, if ye +be true believers. + They said, We desire to eat thereof, and that our hearts may rest at +ease, and that we may know that thou hast told us the truth, and that we may +be witnesses thereof. + Jesus the son of Mary said, O GOD our LORD, cause a table to descend unto +us from heaven, that the day of its descent may become a festival day unto +us, unto the first of us, and unto the last of us, and a sign from thee; and +do thou provide food for us, for thou art the best provider. + GOD said, Verily I will cause it to descend unto you; but whoever among +you shall disbelieve hereafter, I will surely punish him with a punishment, +wherewith I will not punish any other creature. + And when GOD shall say unto Jesus, at the last day, O Jesus son of Mary, +hast thou said unto men, Take me and my mother for two gods, beside GOD? He +shall answer, Praise be unto thee! it is not for me to say that which I ought +not; if I had said so, thou wouldest surely have known it: thou knowest what +is in me, but I know not what is in thee; for thou art the knower of secrets. + I have not spoken to them any other than what thou didst command me; +namely, Worship GOD, my LORD and your LORD: and I was a witness of their +actions while I staid among them; but since thou hast taken me to thyself, +thou hast been the watcher over them; for thou art witness of all things. + If thou punish them, they are surely thy servants; and if thou forgive +them, thou art mighty and wise. + GOD will say, This day shall their veracity be of advantage unto those +who speak truth; they shall have gardens wherein rivers flow, they shall +remain therein forever: GOD hath been well pleased in them, and they have been +well pleased in him. This shall be great felicity. +120 Unto GOD belongeth the kingdom of heaven and of earth, and of whatever +therein is; and he is almighty. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ENTITLED, CATTLE; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + PRAISE be unto GOD, who hath created the heavens and the earth, and hath +ordained the darkness and the light; nevertheless they who believe not in the +LORD equalize other gods with him. + It is he who hath created you of clay; and then decreed the term of your +lives; and the prefixed term is with him: yet do ye doubt thereof. + He is GOD in heaven and in earth; he knoweth what ye keep secret, and +what ye publish, and knoweth what ye deserve. + There came not unto them any sign, of the signs of their LORD, but they +retired from the same; + and they have gainsaid the truth, after that it hath come unto them: but +a message shall come unto them, concerning that which they have mocked at. + Do they not consider how many generations we have destroyed before them? +We had established them in the earth in a manner wherein we have not +established you; we sent the heaven to rain abundantly upon them, and we gave +them rivers which flowed under their feet: yet we destroyed them in their +sins, and raised up other generations after them. + Although we had caused to descend unto thee a book written on paper, and +they had handled it with their hands, the unbelievers had surely said, This is +no other than manifest sorcery. + They said, Unless an angel be sent down unto him, we will not believe. +But if we had sent down an angel, verily the matter had ben decreed, and they +should not have been borne with, by having time granted them to repent. + And if we had appointed an angel for our messenger, we should have sent +him in the form of a man, and have clothed him before them, as they are +clothed. +10 Other apostles have been laughed to scorn before thee, but the judgment +which they made a jest of encompassed those who laughed them to scorn. + Say, Go through the earth, and behold what hath been the end of those, +who accused our prophets of imposture. + Say, Unto whom belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and earth? Say, Unto +GOD, He hath prescribed unto himself mercy. He will surely gather you +together on the day of resurrection; there is no doubt of it. They who +destroy their own souls are those who will not believe. + Unto him is owing whatsoever happeneth by night or by day; it is he who +heareth and knoweth. + Say, Shall I take any other protector than GOD, the creator of heaven and +earth, who feedeth all and is not fed by any? Say, Verily I am commanded to +be the first who professeth Islâm, and it was said unto me, Thou shalt by no +means be one of the idolaters. + Say, Verily I fear, if I should rebel against my LORD, the punishment of +the great day: + from whomsoever it shall be averted on that day, God will have been +merciful unto him; this will be manifest salvation. + If GOD afflict thee with any hurt, there is none who can take it off from +thee, except himself; but if he cause good to befall thee, he is almighty; + he is the supreme Lord over his servants, and he is wise and knowing. + Say, What thing is the strongest in bearing testimony? Say, GOD; he is +witness between me and you. And this Koran was revealed unto me, that I should +admonish you thereby, and also those unto whom it shall reach. Do ye really +profess that there are other gods together with GOD? Say, I do not profess +this. Say, Verily he is one GOD; and I am guiltless of what ye associate with +him. +20 They unto whom we have given the scripture know our apostle, even as +they know their own children; but they who destroy their own souls will not +believe. + Who is more unjust than he who inventeth a lie against GOD, or chargeth +his signs with imposture? Surely, the unjust shall not prosper. + And on the day of resurrection we will assemble them all; then will we +say unto those who associated others with God, Where are your companions, +whom ye imagined to be those of God? + But they shall have no other excuse, than that they shall say, by GOD our +LORD, we have not been idolaters. + Behold, how they lie against themselves, and what they have blasphemously +imagined to be the companion of God flieth from them. + There is of them who hearkeneth unto thee when thou readest the Koran; +but we have cast veils over their hearts, that they should not understand it, +and a deafness in their ears: and though they should see all kinds of signs, +they will not believe therein; and their infidelity will arrive to that height +that they will even come unto thee, to dispute with thee. The unbelievers +will say, This is nothing but silly fables of ancient times. + And they will forbid others from believing therein, and will retire afar +off from it; but they will destroy their own souls only, and they are not +sensible thereof. + If thou didst see when they shall be set over the fire of hell! and they +shall say, Would to GOD we might be sent back into the world; we would not +charge the signs of our LORD with imposture, and we would become true +believers: + nay, but that is become manifest unto them, which they formerly +concealed; and though they should be sent back into the world, they would +surely return to that which was forbidden them; and they are surely liars. + And they said, There is no other life than our present life; neither +shall we be raised again. +30 But if thou couldest see, when they shall be set before their LORD! He +shall say unto them, Is not this in truth come to pass? They shall answer, +Yea, by our LORD. God shall say, Taste therefore the punishment due unto you, +for that ye have disbelieved. + They are lost who reject as a falsehood the meeting of GOD in the next +life, until the hour cometh suddenly upon them. Then will they say, Alas! +for that we have behaved ourselves negligently in our lifetime; and they shall +carry their burdens on their backs; will it not be evil which they shall be +loaden with? + This present life is no other than a play and a vain amusement; but +surely the future mansion shall be better for those who fear God: will they +not therefore understand? + Now we know that what they speak grieveth thee: yet they do not accuse +thee of falsehood; but the ungodly contradict the signs of GOD. + And apostles before thee have been accounted liars: but they patiently +bore their being accounted liars, and their being vexed, until our help came +unto them; for there is none who can change the words of GOD: and thou hast +received some information concerning those who have been formerly sent from +him. + If their aversion to thy admonitions be grievous unto thee, if thou canst +seek out a den whereby thou mayest venetrate into the inward parts of the +earth, or a ladder by which thou mayest ascend into heaven, that thou mayest +show them a sign, do so, but thy search will be fruitless; for if GOD pleased +he would bring them all to the true direction: be not therefore one of the +ignorant. + He will give a favorable answer unto those only who shall hearken with +attention: and GOD will raise the dead; then unto him shall they return. + The infidels say, Unless some sign be sent down unto him from his LORD, +we will not believe: answer, Verily GOD is able to send down a sign: but the +greater part of them know it not. + There is no kind of beast on earth, nor fowl which flieth with its wings, +but the same is a people like unto you; we have not omitted anything in the +book of our decrees: then unto their LORD shall they return. + They who accuse our signs of falsehood are deaf and dumb, walking in +darkness: GOD will lead into error whom he pleaseth, and whom he pleaseth he +will put in the right way. +40 Say, What think ye? if the punishment of GOD come upon you, or the hour +of the resurrection come upon you, will ye call upon any other than GOD, if ye +speak truth? + yea, him shall ye call upon, and he shall free you from that which ye +shall ask him to deliver you from, if he pleaseth; and ye shall forget that +which ye associated with him. + We have already sent messengers unto sundry nations before thee, and we +afflicted them with trouble and adversity that they might humble themselves: + yet when the affliction which we sent came upon them, they did not humble +themselves; but their hearts became hardened, and Satan prepared for them +that which they committed. + And when they had forgotten that concerning which they had been +admonished, we opened unto them the gates of all things; until, while they +were rejoicing for that which had been given them, we suddenly laid hold on +them, and behold, they were seized with despair; + and the utmost part of the people which had acted wickedly was cut off: +praise be unto GOD, the LORD of all creatures! + Say, what think ye? if GOD should take away your hearing and your sight, +and should seal up your hearts; what god besides GOD will restore them unto +you? See how variously we show forth the signs of GOD's unity; yet do they +turn aside from them. + Say unto them, What think ye? if the punishment of GOD come upon you +suddenly, or in open view; will any perish, except the ungodly people? + We send not our messengers otherwise than bearing good tidings and +denouncing threats. Whoso therefore shall believe and amend, on them shall no +fear come, neither shall they be grieved: + but whoso shall accuse our signs of falsehood, a punishment shall fall on +them, because they have done wickedly. +50 Say, I say not unto you, The treasures of GOD are in my power: neither +do I say, I know the secrets of God: neither do I say unto you, Verily I am an +angel: I follow only that which is revealed unto me. Say, Shall the blind and +the seeing be held equal? do ye not therefore consider? + Preach it unto those who fear that they shall be assembled before their +LORD: they shall have no patron nor intercessor, except him; that peradventure +they may take heed to themselves. + Drive not away those who call upon their LORD morning and evening, +desiring to see his face; it belongeth not unto thee to pass any judgment on +them, nor doth it belong unto them to pass any judgment on thee: therefore if +thou drive them away, thou wilt become one of the unjust. + Thus have we proved some part of them by other part, that they may say, +Are these the people among us unto whom GOD hath been gracious? Doth not GOD +most truly know those who are thankful? + And when they who believe in our signs shall come unto thee, say, Peace +be upon you. Your LORD hath prescribed unto himself mercy; so whoever among +you worketh evil through ignorance, and afterwards repenteth and amendeth; +unto him will he surely be gracious and merciful. + Thus have we distinctly propounded our signs, that the path of the wicked +might be made known. + Say, Verily I am forbidden to worship the false deities which ye invoke, +besides GOD. Say, I will not follow your desires; for then should I err, +neither should I be one of those who are rightly directed. + Say, I behave according to the plain declaration, which I have received +from my LORD; but ye have forged lies concerning him. That which ye desire +should be hastened, is not in my power; judgment belongeth only unto GOD; he +will determine the truth; and he is the best discerner. + Say, If what ye desire should be hastened were in my power, the matter +had been determined between me and you: but GOD well knoweth the unjust. + With him are the keys of the secret things; none knoweth them besides +himself: he knoweth that which is on the dry land and in the sea; there +falleth no leaf, but he knoweth it; neither is there a single grain in the +dark parts of the earth, neither a green thing, nor a dry thing, but it is +written in the perspicuous book. +60 It is he who causeth you to sleep by night, and knoweth what ye merit by +day; he also awaketh you therein, that the prefixed term of your lives may be +fulfilled; then unto him shall ye return, and he shall declare unto you that +which ye have wrought. + He is supreme over his servants, and sendeth the guardian angels to watch +over you, until, when death overtaketh one of you, our messengers cause him +to die: and they will not neglect our commands. + Afterwards shall they return unto GOD, their true LORD: doth not judgment +belong unto him? he is the most quick in taking an account. + Say, Who delivereth you from the darkness of the land, and of the sea, +when ye call upon him humbly and in private, saying, Verily if thou deliver +us from these dangers, we will surely be thankful? + Say, GOD delivereth you from them, and from every grief of mind; yet +afterwards ye give him companions. + Say, He is able to send on you a punishment from above you, or from +under your feet, or to engage you in dissension, and to make some of you +taste the violence of others. Observe how variously we show forth our signs, +that peradventure they may understand. + This people hath accused the revelation which thou hast brought of +falsehood, although it be the truth. Say, I am not a guardian over you: + every prophecy hath its fixed time of accomplishment; and he will hereafter +know it. + When thou seest those who are engaged in cavilling at, or ridiculing our +signs, depart from them, until they be engaged in some other discourse: and if +Satan cause thee to forget this precept, do not sit with the ungodly people +after recollection. + They who fear God are not at all accountable for them, but their duty is +to remember that they may take heed to themselves. +70 Abandon those who make their religion a sport and a jest; and whom the +present life hath deceived: and admonish them by the Koran, that a soul +becometh liable to destruction for that which it committeth: it shall have no +patron nor intercessor besides GOD: and if it could pay the utmost price of +redemption, it would not be accepted from it. They who are delivered over to +perdition for that which they have committed shall have boiling water to +drink, and shall suffer a grievous punishment, because they have disbelieved. + Say, Shall we call upon that, besides GOD, which can neither profit us, +nor hurt us? and shall we turn back on our heels, after that GOD hath directed +us; like him whom the devils have infatuated, wandering amazedly in the earth, +and yet having companions who call him into the true direction, saying, Come +unto us? Say, the direction of GOD is the true direction; we are commanded to +resign ourselves unto the LORD of all creatures; + and it is also commanded us, saying, Observe the stated times of prayer, +and fear him; for it is he before whom ye shall be assembled. + It is he who hath created the heavens and the earth in truth; and +whenever he saith unto a thing, Be, it is. His word is the truth; and his will be +the kingdom on the day whereon the trumpet shall be sounded: he knoweth +whatever is secret, and whatever is public; he is the wise, the knowing. + Call to mind when Abraham said unto his father Azer, Dost thou take +images for gods? Verily I perceive that thou and thy people are in a +manifest error. + And thus did we show unto Abraham the kingdom of heaven and earth, that +he might become one of those who firmly believe. + And when the night overshadowed him, he saw a star, and he said, This is +my LORD; but when it set, he said, I like not gods which set. + And when he saw the moon rising, he said, This is my LORD; but when he +saw it set, he said, Verily if my LORD direct me not, I shall become one of +the people who go astray. + And when he saw the sun rising, he said, This is my LORD, this is the +greatest; but when it set, he said, O my people, verily I am clear of that +which ye associate with God: + I direct my face unto him who hath created the heavens and the earth; I +am orthodox, and am not one of the idolaters. +80 And his people disputed with him: and he said, Will ye dispute with me +concerning GOD? since he hath now directed me, and I fear not that which ye +associate with him, unless that my LORD willeth a thing; for my LORD +comprehendeth all things by his knowledge: will ye not therefore consider? + And how should I fear that which ye associate with God, since ye fear not +to have associated with GOD that concerning which he hath sent down unto you +no authority? which therefore of the two parties is the more safe, if ye +understand aright? + They who believe, and clothe not their faith with injustice, they shall +enjoy security, and they are rightly directed. + And this is our argument wherewith we furnished Abraham that he might +make use of it against his people: we exalt unto degrees of wisdom and +knowledge whom we please; for thy LORD is wise and knowing. + And we gave unto them Isaac and Jacob; we directed them both: and Noah +had we before directed, and of his posterity David and Solomon; and Job, and +Joseph, and Moses, and Aaron: thus do we reward the righteous: + and Zacharias, and John, and Jesus, and Elias; all of them were upright +men: + and Ismael, and Elisha, and Jonas, and Lot; all these have we favored +above the rest of the world; + and also divers of their fathers, and their issue, and their brethren; +and we chose them, and directed them into the right way. + This is the direction of GOD, he directeth thereby such of his servants +as he pleaseth; but if they had been guilty of idolatry, that which they +wrought would have become utterly fruitless unto them. + Those were the persons unto whom we gave the scripture, and wisdom, and +prophecy; but if these believe not therein, we will commit the care of them +to a people who shall not disbelieve the same. +90 Those were the persons whom GOD hath directed, therefore follow their +direction. Say unto the inhabitants of Mecca, I ask of you no recompense for +preaching the Koran; it is no other than an admonition unto all creatures. + They make not a due estimation of GOD, when they say, GOD hath not sent +down unto man anything at all: Say, Who sent down the book which Moses +brought, a light and a direction unto men; which ye transcribe on papers, +whereof ye publish some part, and great part whereof ye conceal? and ye have +been taught by Mohammed what ye knew not, neither your fathers. Say, GOD sent +it down: then leave them to amuse themselves with their vain discourse. + This book which we have sent down is blessed; confirming that which was +revealed before it; and is delivered unto thee that thou mayest preach it unto +the metropolis of Mecca and to those who are round about it. And they who +believe in the next life will believe therein, and they will diligently +observe their times of prayer. + Who is more wicked than he who forgeth a lie concerning GOD? or saith +This was revealed unto me; when nothing hath been revealed unto him? and who +saith, I will produce a revelation like unto that which GOD hath sent down? +If thou didst see when the ungodly are in the pangs of death, and the angels +reach out their hands saying, Cast forth your souls; this day shall ye receive +an ignominious punishment for that which ye have falsely spoken concerning +GOD; and because ye have proudly rejected his signs. + And now are ye come unto us alone, as we created you at first, and ye +have left that which we had bestowed on you, behind your backs; neither do we +see with you your intercessors, whom ye thought to have been partners with +God among you: now is the relation between you cut off, and what ye imagined +hath deceived you. + GOD causeth the grain and the date-stone to put forth: he bringeth forth +the living from the dead, and he bringeth forth the dead from the living. +This is GOD. Why therefore are ye turned away from him? + He causeth the morning to appear; and hath ordained the night for rest, +and the sun and the moon for the computing of time. This is the disposition +of the mighty, the wise God. + It is he who hath ordained the stars for you, that ye may be directed +thereby in the darkness of the land and of the sea. We have clearly shown +forth our signs, unto people who understand. + It is he who hath produced you from one soul; and hath provided for you a +sure receptacle and a repository. We have clearly shown forth our signs, +unto people who are wise. + It is he who sendeth down water from heaven, and we have thereby produced +the springing buds of all things, and have thereout produced the green thing, +from which we produce the grain growing in rows, and palm-trees from whose +branches proceed clusters of dates hanging close together; and gardens of +grapes, and olives, and pomegranates, both like and unlike to one another. +Look on their fruits, when they bear fruit, and their growing to maturity. +Verily herein are signs, unto people who believe. +100 Yet they have set up the genii as partners with GOD, although he +created them: and they have falsely attributed unto him sons and daughters, +without knowledge. Praise be unto him; and far be that from him which they +attribute unto him! + He is the maker of heaven and earth: how should he have issue since he +hath no consort? he hath created all things, and he is omniscient. + This is GOD your LORD; there is no GOD but he, the creator of all things; +therefore serve him: for he taketh care of all things. + The sight comprehendeth him not, but he comprehendeth the sight; he is +the gracious, the wise. + Now have evident demonstrations come unto you from your LORD; whoso seeth +them, the advantage thereof will redound to his own soul: and whoso is +wilfully blind, the consequence will be to himself. I am not a keeper over +you. + Thus do we variously explain our signs; that they may say, Thou hast +studied diligently; and that we may declare them unto people of +understanding. + Follow that which hath been revealed unto thee from thy LORD; there is no +GOD but he: retire therefore from the idolaters. + If GOD had so pleased, they had not been guilty of idolatry. We have not +appointed thee a keeper over them; neither art thou a guardian over them. + Revile not the idols which they invoke besides GOD, lest they maliciously +revile GOD, without knowledge. Thus have we prepared for every nation their +works: hereafter unto GOD shall they return, and he shall declare unto them +that which they have done. + They have sworn by GOD, by the most solemn oath, that if a sign came unto +them, they would certainly believe therein: Say, Verily signs are in the power +of GOD alone; and he permitteth you not to understand, that when they come, +they will not believe. +110 And we will turn aside their hearts and their sight from the truth, as +they believed not therein the first time; and we will leave them to wander in +their error. + And though we had sent down angels unto them, and the dead had spoken +unto them, and we had gathered together before them all things in one view; +they would not have believed, unless GOD had so pleased: but the greater part +of them know it not. + Thus have we appointed unto every prophet an enemy; the devils of men, +and of genii: who privately suggest the one to the other specious discourses +to deceive; but if thy LORD pleased, they would not have done it. Therefore +leave them, and that which they have falsely imagined; + and let the hearts of those be inclined thereto, who believe not in the +life to come; and let them please themselves therein, and let them gain that +which they are gaining. + Shall I seek after any other judge besides GOD to judge between us? It +is he who hath sent down unto you the book of the Koran distinguishing between +good and evil; and they to whom we gave the scripture know that it is sent +down from thy LORD, with truth. Be not therefore one of those who doubt +thereof. + The words of thy LORD are perfect, in truth and justice; there is none +who can change his words: he both heareth and knoweth. + But if thou obey the greater part of them who are in the earth, they will +lead thee aside from the path of GOD: they follow an uncertain opinion only, +and speak nothing but lies; + verily thy LORD well knoweth those who go astray from his path, and well +knoweth those who are rightly directed. + Eat of that whereon the name of GOD hath been commemorated, if ye +believe in his signs: + and why do ye not eat of that whereon the name of GOD hath been +commemorated? since he hath plainly declared unto you what he hath forbidden +you; except that which ye be compelled to eat of by necessity; many lead +others into error, because of their appetites, being void of knowledge; but +thy LORD well knoweth who are the transgressors. +120 Leave both the outside of iniquity and inside thereof: for they who +commit iniquity shall receive the reward of that which they shall have gained. + Eat not therefore of that whereon the name of GOD hath not been +commemorated; for this is certainly wickedness: but the devils will suggest +unto their friends, they they dispute with you concerning this precept; but if +ye obey them, ye are surely idolaters. + Shall he who hath been dead, and whom we have restored unto life, and +unto whom we have ordained a light, whereby he may walk among men, be as he +whose similitude is in darkness, from whence he shall not come forth? Thus +was that which the infidels are doing prepared for them. + And thus have we placed in every city chief leaders of the wicked men +thereof, that they may act deceitfully therein; but they shall act +deceitfully against their own souls only; and they know it not. + And when a sign cometh unto them, they say, We will by no means believe +until a revelation be brought unto us, like unto that which hath been +delivered unto the messengers of GOD. GOD best knoweth whom he will appoint +for his messenger. Vileness in the sight of GOD shall fall upon those who +deal wickedly, and a grievous punishment, for that they have dealt +deceitfully. + And whomsoever GOD shall please to direct, he will open his breast to +receive the faith of Islam: but whomsoever he shall please to lead into error, +he will render his breast straight and narrow, as though he were climbing up +to heaven. Thus doth GOD inflict a terrible punishment on those who believe +not. + This is the right way of thy LORD. Now have we plainly declared our +signs unto those people who will consider. + They shall have a dwelling of peace with their LORD, and he shall be +their patron, because of that which they have wrought. + Think on the day whereon God shall gather them all together, and shall +say, O company of genii, ye have been much concerned with mankind; and their +friends from among mankind shall say, O LORD, the one of us hath received +advantage from the other, and we are arrived at our limited term which thou +hast appointed us. God will say, Hell fire shall be your habitation, therein +shall ye remain forever; unless as GOD shall please to mitigate your pains, +for thy LORD is wise and knowing. + Thus do we set some of the unjust over others of them, because of that +which they have deserved. +130 O company of genii and men, did not messengers from among yourselves +come unto you, rehearsing my signs unto you, and forewarning you of the +meeting of this your day? They shall answer, We bear witness against +ourselves: the present life deceived them: and they shall bear witness against +themselves that they were unbelievers. + This hath been the method of GOD's dealing with his creatures, because +thy LORD would not destroy the cities in their iniquity, while their +inhabitants were careless. + Every one shall have degrees of recompense of that which they shall do; +for thy LORD is not regardless of that which they do, + and thy LORD is self-sufficient and endued with mercy. If he pleaseth he +can destroy you, and cause such as he pleaseth to succeed you, in like manner +as he produced you from the posterity of other people. + Verily that which is threatened you, shall surely come to pass; neither +shall ye cause it to fail. + Say unto those of Mecca, O my people, act according to your power; verily +I will act according to my duty: and hereafter shall ye know whose will be the +reward of paradise. The ungodly shall not prosper. + Those of Mecca set apart unto GOD a portion of that which he hath +produced of the fruits of the earth, and of cattle; and say, This belongeth +unto GOD (according to their imagination), and this unto our companions. And +that which is destined for their companions cometh not unto GOD; yet that +which is set apart unto GOD cometh unto their companions. How ill do they +judge! + In like manner have their companions induced many of the idolaters to +slay their children, that they might bring them to perdition, and that they +might render their religion obscure and confused unto them. But if GOD had +pleased, they had not done this: therefore leave them and that which they +falsely imagine. + They also say, These cattle and fruits of the earth are sacred; none +shall eat thereof but who we please (according to their imagination); and +there are cattle whose backs are forbidden to be rode on, or laden with +burdens; and there are cattle on which they commemorate not the name of GOD +when they slay them; devising a lie against him; God shall reward them for +that which they falsely devise. + And they say, That which is in the bellies of these cattle is allowed +to our males to eat, and is forbidden to our wives: but if it prove abortive, +they they are both partakers thereof. God shall give them the reward of +their attributing these things to him: he is knowing and wise. +140 They are utterly lost who have slain their children foolishly, without +knowledge; and have forbidden that which GOD hath given them for food, +devising a lie against GOD. They have erred, and were not rightly directed. + He it is who produceth gardens of vines, both those which are supported +on trails of wood, and those which are not supported, and palm-trees, and the +corn affording various food, and olives, and pomegranates, alike and unlike +unto one another. Eat of their fruit, when they bear fruit, and pay the due +thereof on the day whereon ye shall gather it; but be not profuse, for GOD +loveth not those who are too profuse. + And God hath given you some cattle fit for bearing of burdens, and some +fit for slaughter only. Eat of what GOD hath given you for food; and follow +not the steps of Satan, for he is your declared enemy. + Four pair of cattle hath God given you; of sheep one pair, and of goats +one pair. Say unto them, Hath God forbidden the two males, of sheep and of +goats, or the two females; or that which the wombs of the two females contain? +Tell me with certainty, if ye speak truth. + And of camels hath God given you one pair, and of oxen one pair. Say, +Hath he forbidden the two males of these, or the two females; or that which +the wombs of the two females contain? Were ye present when GOD commanded you +this? And who is more unjust than he who deviseth a lie against GOD, that he +may seduce men without understanding? Verily GOD directed not unjust people. + Say, I find not in that which hath been revealed unto me anything +forbidden unto the eater, that he eat it not, except it be that which dieth of +itself, or blood poured forth, or swine's flesh: for this is an abomination: +or that which is profane, having been slain in the name of some other than of +GOD. But whoso shall be compelled by necessity to eat of these things, not +lusting, nor wilfully transgressing, verily thy LORD will be gracious unto him +and merciful. + Unto the Jews did we forbid every beast having an undivided hoof; and of +bullocks and sheep, we forbade them the fat of both; except that which should +be on their backs, or their inwards, or which should be intermixed with the +bone. This have we rewarded them with, because of their iniquity; and we are +surely speakers of truth. + If they accuse thee of imposture, say, Your LORD is endued with extensive +mercy; but his severity shall not be averted from wicked people. + The idolaters will say, If GOD had pleased, we had not been guilty of +idolatry, neither our fathers; and pretend that we have not forbidden them +anything. Thus did they who were before them accuse the prophets of +imposture, until they tasted our severe punishment. Say, Is there with you +any certain knowledge of what ye allege, that ye may produce it unto us? Ye +follow only a false imagination; and ye utter only lies. + Say, therefore, Unto GOD belongeth the most evident demonstration; for +if he had pleased, he had directed you all. +150 Say, Produce your witnesses, who can bear testimony that GOD hath +forbidden this. But if they bear testimony of this, do not thou bear +testimony with them, nor do thou follow the desires of those who accuse our +signs of falsehood, and who believe not in the life to come, and equalize +idols with their LORD. + Say, Come; I will rehearse that which your LORD hath forbidden you; that +is to say, that ye be not guilty of idolatry, and that ye show kindness to +your parents, and that ye murder not your children for fear lest ye be reduced +to poverty; we will provide for you and them; and draw not near unto heinous +crimes, neither openly nor in secret; and slay not the soul which God hath +forbidden you to slay, unless for a just cause. This hath he enjoined you +that ye may understand. + And meddle not with the substance of the orphan, otherwise than for the +improving thereof, until he attain his age of strength: and use a full +measure, and a just balance. We will not impose a task on any soul beyond its +ability. And when ye pronounce judgment observe justice, although it be for +or against one who is near of kin, and fulfil the covenant of GOD. This hath +God commanded you, that ye may be admonished; + and that ye may know that this is my right way: therefore follow it, and +follow not the path of others, lest ye be scattered from the path of God. +This hath he commanded you that ye may take heed. + We gave also unto Moses the book of the law; a perfect rule unto him who +should do right, and a determination concerning all things needful, and a +direction, and mercy; that the children of Israel might believe the meeting of +their LORD. + And this book which we have now sent down is blessed; therefore follow +it, and fear God that ye may obtain mercy: + lest ye should say, The scriptures were only sent down unto two people +before us; and we neglected to peruse them with attention: + or lest ye should say, If a book of divine revelations had been sent down +unto us, we would surely have been better directed than they. And now hath a +manifest declaration come unto you from your LORD, and a direction and mercy: +and who is more unjust than he who deviseth lies against the signs of GOD, and +turneth aside from them? We will reward those who turn aside from our signs +with a grievous punishment, because they have turned aside. + Do they wait for any other than that the angels should come unto them, to +part their souls from their bodies; or that thy LORD should come to punish +them; or that some of the signs of thy LORD should come to pass, showing the +day of judgment to be at hand? On the day whereon some of thy LORD'S signs +shall come to pass, its faith shall not profit a soul which believed not +before, or wrought not good in its faith. Say, Wait ye for this day; we +surely do wait for it. + They who make a division in their religion, and become sectaries, have +thou nothing to do with them; their affair belongeth only unto GOD. Hereafter +shall he declare unto them that which they have done. +160 He who shall appear with good works, shall receive a tenfold recompense +for the same; but he who shall appear with evil works, shall receive only an +equal punishment for the same; and they shall not be treated unjustly. + Say, Verily my LORD hath directed me into a right way, a true religion, +the sect of Abraham the orthodox; and he was no idolater. + Say, Verily my prayers, and my worship, and my life, and my death are +dedicated unto GOD, the LORD of all creatures: + he hath no companion. This have I been commanded: I am the first Moslem. + Say, shall I desire any other LORD besides GOD? since he is the LORD of +all things; and no soul shall acquire any merits or demerits but for itself; +and no burdened soul shall bear the burden of another. Moreover unto your +LORD shall ye return; and he shall declare unto you that concerning which ye +now dispute. + It is he who hath appointed you to succeed your predecessors in the +earth, and hath raised some of you above others by various degrees of worldly +advantages, that he might prove you by that which he hath bestowed on you. +Thy LORD is swift in punishing; and he is also gracious and merciful. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ENTITLED, AL ARAF; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + A.L.M.S. + A book hath been sent down unto thee: and therefore let there +be no doubt in thy breast concerning it; that thou mayest preach the same, +and that it may be an admonition unto the faithful. + Follow that which hath been sent down unto you from your LORD; and follow +no guides besides him: how little will ye be warned! + How many cities have we destroyed; which our vengeance overtook by +night, or while they were reposing themselves at noon-day! + And their supplication, when our punishment came upon them, was no other +than that they said, Verily we have been unjust. + We will surely call those to an account, unto whom a prophet hath been +sent; and we will also call those to account who have been sent unto them. + And we will declare their actions unto them with knowledge; for we are +not absent from them. + The weighing of men's actions on that day shall be just; and they whose +balances laden with their good works shall be heavy, are those who shall be +happy; + but they whose balances shall be light, are those who have lost their +souls, because they injured our signs. +10 And now have we placed you on the earth, and have provided you food +therein: but how little are ye thankful! + We created you, and afterwards formed you; and then said unto the +angels, Worship Adam; and they all worshipped him, except Eblis, who was not +one of those who worshipped. + God said unto him, What hindered thee from worshipping Adam, since I had +commanded thee? He answered, I am more excellent than he: thou hast created +me of fire, and hast created him of clay. + God said, Get thee down therefore from paradise; for it is not fit that +thou behave thyself proudly therein: get thee hence; thou shalt be one of the +contemptible. + He answered, Give me respite until the day of resurrection. + God said, Verily thou shalt be one of those who are respited. + The devil said, Because thou hast depraved me, I will lay wait for men in +thy strait way; + then will I come upon them from before, and from behind, and from their +right hands, and from their left; and thou shalt not find the greater part of +them thankful. + God said unto him, Get thee hence, despised, and driven far away: verily +whoever of them shall follow thee, I will surely fill hell with you all: + but as for thee, O Adam, dwell thou and thy wife in paradise; and eat of +the fruit thereof wherever ye will; but approach not this tree, lest ye become +of the number of the unjust. +20 And Satan suggested to them both, that he would discover unto them their +nakedness, which was hidden from them; and he said, Your LORD hath not +forbidden you this tree, for any other reason but lest ye should become +angels, or lest ye become immortal. + And he sware unto them, saying, Verily I am one of those who counsel you +aright. + And he caused them to fall through deceit. And when they had tasted of +the tree, their nakedness appeared unto them; and they began to join together +the leaves of paradise, to cover themselves. And their LORD called to them, +saying, Did I not forbid you this tree: and did I not say unto you, Verily +Satan is your declared enemy? + They answered, O LORD, we have dealt unjustly with our own souls; and if +thou forgive us not, and be not merciful unto us, we shall surely be of those +who perish. + God said, Get ye down, the one of you an enemy unto the other; and ye +shall have a dwelling-place upon the earth, and a provision for a season. + He said, Therein shall ye live, and therein shall ye die, and from thence +shall ye be taken forth at the resurrection. + O children of Adam, we have sent down unto you apparel, to conceal your +nakedness, and fair garments; but the clothing of piety is better. This is one +of the signs of God; that peradventure ye may consider. + O children of Adam, let not Satan seduce you, as he expelled your parents +out of paradise, by stripping them of their clothing, that he might show them +their nakedness: verily he seeth you, both he and his companions, whereas ye +see not them. We have appointed the devils to be patrons of those who believe +not: + and when they commit a filthy action, they say, We found our fathers +practising the same; and GOD hath commanded us to do it. Say, Verily GOD +commandeth not filthy actions. Do ye speak concerning GOD that which ye know +not? + Say, My LORD hath commanded me to observe justice; therefore set your +faces to pray at every place of worship, and call upon him, approving unto him +the sincerity of your religion. As he produced you at first, so unto him +shall ye return. +30 A part of mankind hath he directed; and a part hath been +justly led into error, because they have taken the devils for their patrons +besides GOD, and imagine they are rightly directed. + O children of Adam, take your decent apparel at every place of worship, +and eat and drink, but be not guilty of excess; for he loveth not those who +are guilty of excess. + Say, Who hath forbidden the decent apparel of GOD, which he hath +produced for his servants, and the good things which he hath provided for +food? Say, these things are for those who believe, in this present life, but +peculiarly on the day of resurrection. Thus do we distinctly explain our +signs unto people who understand. + Say, Verily my LORD hath forbidden filthy actions, both that which is +discovered thereof, and that which is concealed, and also iniquity, and unjust +violence; and hath forbidden you to associate with GOD that concerning which +he hath sent you down no authority, or to speak of GOD that which ye know not. + Unto every nation there is a prefixed term; therefore when their term is +expired, they shall not have respite for an hour, neither shall they be +anticipated. + O children of Adam, verily apostles from among you shall come unto you, +who shall expound my signs unto you: whosoever therefore shall fear God and +amend, there shall come no fear on them, neither shall they be grieved. + But they who shall accuse our signs of falsehood, and shall proudly +reject them, they shall be the companions of hell fire; they shall remain +therein forever. + And who is more unjust than he who deviseth a lie concerning GOD, or +accuseth his signs of imposture? Unto these shall be given their portion of +worldly happiness, according to what is written in the book of GOD's decrees, +until our messengers come unto them, and shall cause them to die; saying, +Where are the idols which ye called upon, besides GOD? They shall answer, +They have disappeared from us. And they shall bear witness against themselves +that they were unbelievers. + God shall say unto them at the resurrection, Enter ye with the nations +which have preceded you, of genii and of men, into hell fire; so often as one +nation shall enter, it shall curse its sister, until they shall all have +successively entered therein. The latter of them shall say of the former of +them: O LORD, these have seduced us; therefore inflict on them a double +punishment of the fire of hell. God shall answer, It shall be doubled unto +all: but ye know it not: + and the former of them shall say unto the latter of them, Ye have not +therefore any favor above us; taste the punishment for that which ye have +gained. +40 Verily they who shall charge our signs with falsehood, and shall proudly +reject them, the gates of heaven shall not be opened unto them, neither shall +they enter into paradise, until a camel pass through the eye of a needle, and +thus will we reward the wicked doers. + Their couch shall be in hell, and over them shall be coverings of fire; +and thus will we reward the unjust. + But they who believe, and do that which is right (we will not load any +soul but according to its ability,) they shall be the companions of paradise; +they shall remain therein forever. + And we will remove all grudges from their minds; rivers shall run at +their feet, and they shall say, Praised be GOD, who hath directed us unto this +felicity, for we should not have been rightly directed, if GOD had not +directed us; now are we convinced by demonstration that the Apostles of our +LORD came unto us with truth. And it shall be proclaimed unto them, This is +paradise, whereof ye are made heirs, as a reward for that which ye have +wrought. + And the inhabitants of paradise shall call out to the inhabitants of +hell fire, saying, Now have we found that which our LORD promised us to be +true: have ye also found that which your LORD promised you to be true? They +shall answer, Yea. And a crier shall proclaim between them, The curse of GOD +shall be on the wicked; + who turn men aside from the way of GOD, and seek to render it crooked, +and who deny the life to come. + And between the blessed and the damned there shall be a veil; and men +shall stand on Al Arâf who shall know every one of them by their marks; and +shall call unto the inhabitants of paradise, saying, Peace be upon you: yet +they shall not enter therein, although they earnestly desire it. + And when they shall turn their eyes towards the companions of hell fire, +they say, O LORD, place us not with the ungodly people! + And those who stand on Al Arâf shall call unto certain men, whom they +shall know by their marks, and shall say, What hath your gathering of riches +availed you, and that ye were puffed up with pride? + Are these the men on whom ye sware that GOD would not bestow mercy? +Enter ye into paradise; there shall come no fear on you, neither shall ye be +grieved. +50 And the inhabitants of hell fire shall call unto the inhabitants of +paradise, saying, Pour upon us some water, or of those refreshments which GOD +hath bestowed on you. They shall answer, Verily GOD hath forbidden them unto +the unbelievers; + who made a laughing-stock and a sport of their religion, and whom the +life of the world hath deceived: therefore this day will we forget them, as +they did forget the meeting of this day, and for that they denied our signs to +be from God. + And now have we brought unto those of Mecca a book of divine +revelations: we have explained it with knowledge; a direction and mercy unto +people who shall believe. + Do they wait for any other than the interpretation thereof? On the day +whereon the interpretation thereof shall come, they who had forgotten the same +before shall say, Now are we convinced by demonstration that the messengers of +our LORD came unto us with truth: shall we therefore have any intercessors, +who will intercede for us? or shall we be sent back into the world, that we +may do other works than what we did in our life-time? But now have they lost +their souls; and that which they impiously imagined hath fled from them. + Verily, your LORD is GOD, who created the heavens and the earth in six +days; and then ascended his throne: he causeth the night to cover the day; it +succeedeth the same swiftly: he also created the sun and the moon, and the +stars, which are absolutely subject unto his command. Is not the whole +creation, and the empire thereof, his? Blessed be GOD, the LORD of all +creatures! + Call upon your LORD humbly and in secret; for he loveth not those who +transgress. + And act not corruptly in the earth, after its reformation; and call upon +him with fear and desire: for the mercy of GOD is near unto the righteous. + It is he who sendeth the winds, spread abroad before his mercy, until +they bring a cloud heavy with rain, which we drive into a dead country; and +we cause water to descend thereon, by which we cause all sorts of fruits to +spring forth. Thus will we bring forth the dead from their graves; that +peradventure ye may consider. + From a good country shall its fruit spring forth abundantly, by the +permission of its LORD; but from the land which is bad, it shall not spring +forth otherwise than scarcely. Thus do we explain the signs of divine +providence unto people who are thankful. + We formerly sent Noah unto his people: and he said, O my people, worship +GOD: ye have no other GOD than him. Verily I fear for you the punishment of +the great day. +60 The chiefs of his people answered him, We surely perceive thee to be in a +manifest error. + He replied, O my people, there is no error in me; but I am a messenger +from the LORD of all creatures. + I bring unto you the messages of my LORD; and I counsel you aright: for +I know from GOD, that which ye know not. + Do ye wonder that an admonition hath come unto you from your LORD by a +man from among you, to warn you, that ye may take heed to yourselves, and +that peradventure ye may obtain mercy? + And they accused him of imposture: but 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 unto the tribe of Ad we sent their brother Hud. He said, O my +people, worship GOD: ye have no other GOD than him; will ye not fear him? + The chiefs of those among his people who believed not, answered, Verily +we perceive that thou art guided by folly; and we certainly esteem thee to be +one of the liars. + He replied, O my people, I am not guided by folly; but I am a messenger +unto you from the LORD of all creatures: + I bring unto you the messages of my LORD; and I am a faithful counsellor +unto you. + Do ye wonder that an admonition hath come unto you from your LORD, by a +man from among you, that he may warn you? Call to mind how he hath appointed +you successors unto the people of Noah, and hath added unto you in stature +largely. Remember the benefits of GOD, that ye may prosper. +70 They said, Art thou come unto us, that we should worship GOD alone, and +leave the deities which our fathers worshipped? Now bring down that judgment +upon us, with which thou threatenest us, if thou speakest truth. + Hud answered, Now shall there suddenly fall upon you from your LORD +vengeance and indignation. Will ye dispute with me concerning the names which +ye have named, and your fathers; as to which GOD hath not revealed unto you +any authority? Do ye wait therefore, and I will be one of those who wait with +you. + And we delivered him, and them who believed with him by our mercy; and +we cut off the uttermost part of those who charged our signs with falsehood, +and were not believers. + And unto the tribe of Thamud we sent their brother Sâleh. He said, O +my people, worship GOD: ye have no GOD besides him. Now hath a manifest proof +come unto you from your LORD. This she-camel of GOD is a sign unto you: +therefore dismiss her freely, that she may feed in GOD's earth; and do her no +hurt, lest a painful punishment seize you. + And call to mind how he hath appointed you successors unto the tribe of +Ad, and hath given you a habitation on earth; ye build yourselves castles on +the plains thereof, and cut out the mountains into houses. Remember +therefore the benefits of GOD, and commit not violence in the earth, acting +corruptly. + The chiefs among his people who were puffed up with pride, said unto +those who were esteemed weak, namely unto those who believed among them, Do ye +know that Sâleh hath been sent from his LORD? They answered, We do surely +believe in that wherewith he hath been sent. + Those who were elated with pride replied, Verily we believe not in that +wherein ye believe. + And they cut off the feet of the camel, and insolently transgressed the +command of their LORD, and said, O Sâleh, cause that to come upon us which +thou hast threatened us, if thou art one of those who have been sent by God. + Whereupon a terrible noise from heaven assailed them; and in the morning +they were found in their dwellings prostrate on their breasts and dead. + And Sâleh departed from them, and said, O my people, now have I +delivered unto you the message of my LORD and I advised you well, but ye love +not those who advise you well. +80 And remember Lot, when he said unto his people, Do ye commit a +wickedness, wherein no creature hath set you an example? + Do ye approach lustfully unto men, leaving the women? Certainly ye are +people who transgress all modesty. + But the answer of his people was no other than that they said the one to +the other, Expel them your city; for they are men who preserve themselves +pure from the crimes which ye commit. + Therefore we delivered him and his family, except his wife; she was one +of those who stayed behind: + and we rained a shower of stones upon them. Behold therefore what was +the end of the wicked. + And unto Madian we sent their brother Shoaib. He said unto them, O my +people, worship GOD; ye have no GOD besides him. Now hath an evident +demonstration come unto you from your LORD. Therefore give full measure and +just weight, and diminish not unto men aught of their matters: neither act +corruptly in the earth, after its reformation. This will be better for you, +if ye believe. + And beset not every way, threatening the passenger; and turning aside +from the path of GOD him who believeth in him, and seeking to make it crooked. +And remember, when ye were few, and God multiplied you: and behold, what hath +been the end of those who acted corruptly. + And if part of you believe in that wherewith I am sent, and part believe +not, wait patiently until GOD judge between us; for he is the best judge. + The chiefs of his people, who were elated with pride, answered, We will +surely cast thee, O Shoaib, and those who believe with thee, out of our city: +or else thou shalt certainly return unto our religion. He said, What, though +we be averse thereto? + We shall surely imagine a lie against GOD, if we return unto your +religion, after that GOD hath delivered us from the same: and we have no +reason to return unto it, unless GOD our LORD shall please to abandon us. Our +LORD comprehendeth every thing by his knowledge. In GOD do we put our trust. +O LORD do thou judge between us and our nation with truth; for thou art the +best judge. +90 And the chiefs of his people who believed not said, If ye follow Shoaib, +ye shall surely perish. + Therefore a storm from heaven assailed them, and in the morning they +were found in their dwellings dead and prostrate. + They who accused Shoaib of imposture became as though they had never +dwelt therein; they who accused Shoaib of imposture perished themselves. + And he departed from them, and said, O my people, now have I performed +unto you the messages of my LORD; and I advised you aright: but why should I +be grieved for an unbelieving people. + We have never sent any prophet unto a city, but we afflicted the +inhabitants thereof with calamity and adversity, that they might humble +themselves. + Then we gave them in exchange good in lieu of evil, until they abounded, +and said, Adversity and prosperity formerly happened unto our fathers, as unto +us. Therefore we took vengeance on them suddenly, and they perceived it not +beforehand. + But if the inhabitants of those cities had believed and feared God, we +would surely have opened to them blessings both from heaven and earth. But +they charged our apostles with falsehood, wherefore we took vengeance on them, +for that which they had been guilty of. + Were the inhabitants therefore of those cities secure that our punishment +should not fall on them by night, while they slept? + Or were the inhabitants of those cities secure that our punishment should +not fall on them by day, while they sported? + Were they therefore secure from the stratagem of GOD? But none will +think himself secure from the stratagem of GOD, except the people who perish. +100 And hath it not manifestly appeared unto those who have inherited the +earth after the former inhabitants thereof, that if we please, we can afflict +them for their sins? But we will seal up their hearts; and they shall not +hearken. + We will relate unto thee some stories of these cities. Their apostles +had come unto them with evident miracles, but they were not disposed to +believe in that which they had before gainsaid. Thus will GOD seal up the +hearts of the unbelievers. + And we found not in the greater part of them any observance of their +covenant; but we found the greater part of them wicked doers. + Then we sent after the above named apostles, Moses with our signs unto +Pharaoh and his princes; who treated them unjustly: but behold what was the +end of the corrupt doers. + And Moses said, O Pharaoh, verily I am an apostle sent from the LORD of +all creatures. + It is just that I should not speak of GOD other than the truth. Now am I +come unto you with an evident sign from your LORD: send therefore the children +of Israel away with me. + Pharaoh answered, If thou comest with a sign, produce it, if thou speakest +truth. + Wherefore he cast down his rod; and behold, it became a visible serpent. + And he drew forth his hand out of his bosom; and behold, it appeared +white unto the spectators. + The chiefs of the people of Pharaoh said, This man is certainly an expert +magician: +110 he seeketh to dispossess you of your land; what therefore do ye direct? + They answered, Put off him and his brother by fair promises for some +time, and in the mean while send unto the cities persons who may assemble + and bring unto thee every expert magician. + So the magicians came unto Pharaoh; and they said, Shall we surely +receive a reward, if we do overcome? + He answered, Yea; and ye shall certainly be of those who approach near +unto my throne. + They said, O Moses, either do thou cast down thy rod first, or we will +cast down ours. + Moses answered, Do ye cast down your rods first. And when they had cast +them down, they enchanted the eyes of the men who were present, and terrified +them: and they performed a great enchantment. + And we spake by revelation unto Moses, saying, Throw down thy rod. And +behold, it swallowed up the rods which they had caused falsely to appear +changed into serpents. + Wherefore the truth was confirmed, and that which they had wrought +vanished. + And Pharaoh and his magicians were overcome there, and were rendered +contemptible. +120 And the magicians prostrated themselves, worshipping; + and they said, We believe in the LORD of all creatures, + the LORD of Moses and Aaron. + Pharaoh said, Have ye believed on him, before I have given you +permission? Verily this is a plot which ye have contrived in the city, that +ye might cast forth from thence the inhabitants thereof. But ye shall surely +know that I am your master; + for I will cause your hands and your feet to be cut off on the opposite +sides, then will I cause you all to be crucified. + The magicians answered, We shall certainly return unto our LORD, in the +next life; + for thou takest vengeance on us only because we have believed in the +signs of our LORD, when they have come unto us. O LORD, pour on us patience; +and cause us to die Moslems. + And the chiefs of Pharaoh's people said, Wilt thou let Moses and his +people go, that they may act corruptly in the earth, and leave thee and thy +gods? Pharaoh answered, We will cause their male children to be slain, and +we will suffer their females to live; and by that means we shall prevail over +them. + Moses said unto his people, Ask assistance of GOD, and suffer patiently: +for the earth is GOD's, he giveth it for an inheritance unto such of his +servants as he pleaseth; and the prosperous end shall be unto those who fear +him. + They answered, We have been afflicted by having our male children slain, +before thou camest unto us, and also since thou hast come unto us. Moses +said, Peradventure it may happen that our LORD will destroy your enemy, and +will cause you to succeed him in the earth, that he may see how ye will act +therein. +130 And we formerly punished the people of Pharaoh with dearth and scarcity +of fruits, that they might be warned. + Yet when good happened unto them, they said, This is owing unto us: but +if evil befell them, they attributed the same to the ill luck of Moses, and +those who were with him. Was not their ill luck with GOD? But most of them +knew it not. + And they said unto Moses, Whatever sign thou show unto us, to enchant us +therewith, we will not believe on thee. + Wherefore we sent upon them a flood and locusts, and lice, and frogs, +and blood; distinct miracles: but they behaved proudly, and became a wicked +people. + And when the plague fell on them, they said, O Moses, entreat thy LORD +for us, according to that which he hath covenanted with thee; verily if thou +take the plague from off us, we will surely believe thee, and we will let the +children of Israel go with thee. + But when we had taken the plague from off them until the term which God +had granted them was expired, behold they broke their promise. + Wherefore we took vengeance on them, and drowned them in the Red Sea; +because they charged our signs with falsehood, and neglected them. + And we caused the people who had been rendered weak to inherit the +eastern parts of the earth and the western parts thereof, which we blessed +with fertility; and the gracious word of thy LORD was fulfilled on the +children of Israel, for that they had endured with patience: and we destroyed +the structures which Pharaoh and his people had made, and that which they had +erected. + And we caused the children of Israel to pass through the sea, and they +came unto a people who gave themselves up to the worship of their idols, and +they said, O Moses, make us a god, in like manner as these people have gods. + Moses answered, Verily ye are an ignorant people: for the religion which +these follow will be destroyed, and that which they do is vain. +140 He said, Shall I seek for you any other god than GOD; since he hath +preferred you to the rest of the world? + And remember when we delivered you from the people of Pharaoh, who +grievously oppressed you; they slew your male children, and let your females +live: therein was a great trial from your LORD. + And we appointed unto Moses a fast of thirty nights before we gave him +the law, and we completed them by adding of ten more; and the stated time of +his LORD was fulfilled in forty nights. And Moses said unto his brother +Aaron, Be thou my deputy among my people during my absence; and behave +uprightly, and follow not the way of the corrupt doers. + And when Moses came at our appointed time, and his LORD spake unto him, +he said, O LORD, show me thy glory, that I may behold thee. God answereth, +Thou shalt in no wise behold me; but look towards the mountain, and if it +stand firm in its place, then thou shalt see me. But when his LORD appeared +with glory in the mount, he reduced it to dust. And Moses fell down in a +swoon. And when he came to himself, he said, Praise be unto thee! I turn unto +thee with repentence, and I am the first of true believers. + God said unto him, O Moses, I have chosen thee above all men, by +honouring thee with my commissions, and by my speaking unto thee: receive +therefore that which I have brought thee, and be one of those who give +thanks. + And we wrote for him on the tables an admonition concerning every +matter, and a decision in every case, and said, Receive this with reverence; +and command thy people that they live according to the most excellent precepts +thereof. I will show you the dwelling of the wicked. + I will turn aside from my signs those who behave themselves proudly in +the earth, without justice: and although they see every sign, yet they shall +not believe therein; and although they see the way of righteousness, yet they +shall not take that way; but if they see the way of error, they shall take +that way. This shall come to pass because they accuse our signs of imposture, +and neglect the same. + But as for them who deny the truth of our signs and the meeting of the +life to come, their works shall be vain: shall they be rewarded otherwise than +according to what they shall have wrought? + And the people of Moses, after his departure, took a corporeal calf, +made of their ornaments, which lowed. Did they not see that it spake not +unto them, neither directed them in the way? Yet they took it for their god, +and acted wickedly. + But when they repented with sorrow, and saw that they had gone astray, +they said, Verily if our LORD have not mercy upon us, and forgive us not, we +shall certainly become of the number of those who perish. +150 And when Moses returned unto his people, full of wrath and indignation, +he said, An evil thing is it that ye have committed after my departure; have +ye hastened the command of your LORD? And he threw down the tables, and +took his brother by the hair of the head, and dragged him unto him. And Aaron +said unto him, Son of my mother, verily the people prevailed against me, and +it wanted little but they had slain me: make not my enemies therefore to +rejoice over me, neither place me with the wicked people. + Moses said, O LORD, forgive me and my brother, and receive us into thy +mercy; for thou art the most merciful of those who exercise mercy. + Verily as for them who took the calf for their god, indignation shall +overtake them from their LORD, and ignominy in this life: thus will we reward +those who imagine falsehood. + But unto them who do evil, and afterwards repent, and believe in God, +verily thy LORD will thereafter be clement and merciful. + And when the anger of Moses was appeased, he took the tables; and in +what was written thereon was a direction and mercy, unto those who feared +their LORD. + And Moses chose out of his people seventy men, to go up with him to the +mountain at the time appointed by us: and when a storm of thunder and +lightning had taken them away, he said, O LORD, if thou hadst pleased, thou +hadst destroyed them before, and me also; wilt thou destroy us for that which +the foolish men among us have committed? This is only thy trial; thou wilt +thereby lead into error whom thou pleasest, and thou wilt direct whom thou +pleasest. Thou art our protector, therefore forgive us, and be merciful unto +us; for thou art the best of those who forgive. + And write down for us good in this world, and in the life to come; for +unto thee are we directed. God answered, I will inflict my punishment on whom +I please; and my mercy extendeth over all things; and I will write down good +unto those who shall fear me, and give alms, and who shall believe in our +signs; + who shall follow the apostle, the illiterate prophet, whom they shall +find written down with them in the law and the gospel: he will command them +that which is just, and will forbid them that which is evil; and will allow +them as lawful the good things which were before forbidden, and will prohibit +those which are bad; and he will ease them of their heavy burden, and of the +yokes which were upon them. And those who believe in him, and honour him, +and assist him, and follow the light, which hath been sent down with him, +shall be happy. + Say, O men, Verily I am the messenger of GOD unto you all: unto him +belongeth the kingdom of heaven and earth; there is no GOD but he: he giveth +life, and he causeth to die. Believe therefore in GOD and his apostle, the +illiterate prophet, who believeth in GOD and his word; and follow him, that +ye may be rightly directed. + Of the people of Moses there is a party who direct others with truth, +and act justly according to the same. +160 And we divided them into twelve tribes, as into so many nations. And +we spake by revelation unto Moses, when his people asked drink of him, and we +said, Strike the rock with thy rod; and there gushed thereout twelve +fountains, and men knew their respective drinking-place. And we caused +clouds to overshadow them, and manna and quailsto descend upon them, saying, +Eat of the good things which we have given you for food: and they injured not +us, but they injured their own souls. + And call to mind when it was said unto them, Dwell in this city, and eat +of the provisions thereof wherever ye will, and say, Forgiveness; and enter +the gate worshipping: we will pardon you your sins, and will give increase +unto the well-doers. + But they who were ungodly among them changed the expression into +another, which had not been spoken unto them. Wherefore we went down upon +them indignation from heaven, because they transgressed. + And ask them concerning the city, which was situate on the sea, when +they transgressed on the Sabbath-day: when their fish came unto them on their +Sabbath-day, appearing openly on the water: but on the day whereon they +celebrated no Sabbath, they came not unto them. Thus did we prove them, +because they were wicked-doers. + And when a party of them said unto the others, Why do ye warn a people +whom GOD will destroy, or will punish with a grievous punishment? They +answered, This is an excuse for us unto your LORD, and peradventure they will +beware. + But when they had forgotten the admonitions which had been given them, +we delivered those who forbade them to do evil; and we inflicted on those who +had transgressed a severe punishment, because they had acted wickedly. + And when they proudly refused to desist from what had been forbidden +them, we said unto them, Be ye transformed into apes, driven away from the +society of men. + And remember when thy LORD declared that he would surely send against +the Jews until the day of resurrection, some nation who should afflict them +with a grievous oppression: for thy LORD is swift in punishing, and he is also +ready to forgive, and merciful: + and we dispersed them among the nations in the earth. Some of them are +upright persons, and some of them are otherwise. And we proved them with +prosperity and with adversity, that they might return from their disobedience; + and a succession of their posterity hath succeeded after them, who have +inherited the book of the law, who receive the temporal goods of this world, +and say, It will surely be forgiven us: and if a temporal advantage like the +former be offered them, they accept it also. Is it not the covenant of the +book of the law established with them, that they should not speak of GOD aught +but the truth? Yet they diligently read that which is therein. But the +enjoyment of the next life will be better for those who fear God than the +wicked gains of these people: (Do ye not therefore understand?) +170 and for those who hold fast the book of the law, and are constant at +prayer: for we will by no means suffer the reward of the righteous to perish. + And when we shook the mountain of Sinai over them, as though it had +been a covering, and they imagined, that it was falling upon them; and we +said, Receive the law which we have brought you with reverence; and remember +that which is contained therein, that ye may take heed. + And when thy LORD drew forth their posterity from the loins of the sons +of Adam, and took them to witness against themselves, saying, Am not I your +LORD? They answered, Yea: we do bear witness. This was done lest ye should +say, at the day of resurrection, Verily we were negligent as to this matter, +because we were not apprised thereof: + or lest ye should say, Verily our fathers were formerly guilty of +idolatry, and we are their posterity who have succeeded them; wilt thou +therefore destroy us for that which vain men have committed? + Thus do we explain our signs, that they may return from their vanities. + And relate unto the Jews the history of him unto whom we brought our +signs, and the departed from them; wherefore Satan followed him, and he +became one of those who were seduced. + And if we had pleased, we had surely raised him thereby unto wisdom; but +he inclined unto the earth, and followed his own desire. Wherefore his +likeness as the likeness of a dog, which, if thou drive him away, putteth +forth his tongue, or, if thou let him alone, putteth forth his tongue also. +This is the likeness of the people, who accuse our signs of falsehood. +Rehearse therefore this history unto them, that they may consider. + Evil is the similitude of those people who accuse our signs of falsehood, +and injure their own souls. + Whomsoever GOD shall direct, he will be rightly directed; and whomsoever +he shall lead astray, they shall perish. + Moreover we have created for hell many of the genii and of men; they have +hearts by which they understand not, and they have eyes by which they see not: +and they have ears by which they hear not. These are like the brute beasts; +yea they go more astray: these are the negligent. +180 GOD hath most excellent names; therefore call on him by the same; and +withdraw from those who use his name perversely: they shall be rewarded for +that which they shall have wrought. + And of those whom we have created there are a people who direct others +with truth, and act justly according thereto. + But those who devise lies against our signs, we will suffer them to fall +gradually into ruin, by a method which they knew not: + and I will grant them to enjoy a long and prosperous life; for my +stratagem is effectual. + Do they not consider that there is no devil in their companion? He is +no other than a public preacher. + Or do they not contemplate the kingdom of heaven and earth, and the +things which GOD hath created; and consider that peradventure it may be that +their end draweth nigh? And in what new declaration will they believe, after +this? + He whom GOD shall cause to err, shall have no director; and he shall +leave them in their impiety, wandering in confusion. + They will ask thee concerning the last hour; at what time its coming is +fixed? Answer, Verily the knowledge thereof is with my LORD; none shall +declare the fixed time thereof, except he. The expectation thereof is +grievous in heaven and on earth: it shall come upon you no otherwise than +suddenly. They will ask thee, as though thou wast well acquainted therewith. +Answer, Verily the knowledge thereof is with GOD alone: but the greater part +of men know it not. + Say, I am able neither to procure advantage unto myself, nor to avert +mischief from me, but as GOD pleaseth. If I knew the secrets of God, I should +surely enjoy abundance of good, neither should evil befall me. Verily I am no +other than a denouncer of threats, and a messenger of good tidings unto people +who believe. + It is he who hath created you from one person, and out of him produced +his wife, that he might dwell with her: and when he had known her, she carried +a light burden for a time, wherefore she walked easily therewith. But when it +became more heavy, she called upon GOD their LORD, saying, If thou give us a +child rightly shaped, we will surely be thankful. +190 Yet when he had given them a child rightly shaped, they attributed +companions unto him, for that which he had given them. But far be that from +GOD, which they associated with him! + Will they associate with him false gods which create nothing but are +themselves created: and can neither give them assistance, nor help themselves? + And if ye invite them to the true direction, they will not follow you: it +will be equal unto you, whether ye invite them, or whether ye hold your peace. + Verily the false deities whom ye invoke besides GOD are servants like +unto you. Call therefore upon them, and let them give you an answer, if ye +speak truth. + Have they feet, to walk with? Or have they hands, to lay hold with? Or +have they eyes, to see with? Or have they ears, to hear with? Say, Call upon +your companions, and then lay a snare for me, and defer it not; + for GOD is my protector, who sent down the book of the Koran; and he +protecteth the righteous. + But they whom ye invoke besides him cannot assist you, neither do they +help themselves; + and if ye call on them to direct you, they will not hear. Thou seest +them look towards thee, but they see not. + Use indulgence, and command that which is just, and withdraw far from +the ignorant. +200 And if an evil suggestion from Satan be suggested unto thee, to divert +thee from thy duty, have recourse unto GOD: for he heareth and knoweth. + Verily they who fear God, when a temptation from Satan assaileth them, +remember the divine commands, and behold, they clearly see the danger of sin +and the wiles of the devil. + But as for the brethren of the devils, they shall continue them in error; +and afterwards they shall not preserve themselves therefrom. + And when thou bringest not a verse of the Koran unto them, they say, Hast +thou not put it together? Answer, I follow that only which is revealed unto +me from my LORD. This book containeth evident proofs from your LORD, and is a +direction and mercy unto people who believe. + And when the Koran is read, attend thereto, and keep silence; that ye may +obtain mercy. + And meditate on thy LORD in thine own mind, with humility and fear, and +without loud speaking, evening and morning; and be not one of the negligent. + Moreover the angels who are with my LORD do not proudly disdain his +service, but they celebrate his praise and worship him. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ENTITLED, THE SPOILS; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + THEY will ask thee concerning the spoils: Answer, The division of the +spoils belongeth unto GOD and the apostle. Therefore fear GOD, and compose +the matter amicably among you: and obey GOD and his apostle, if ye are true +believers. + Verily the true believers are those whose hearts fear when GOD is +mentioned, and whose faith increaseth when his signs are rehearsed unto them, +and who trust in their LORD; + who observe the stated times of prayer, and give alms out of that which +we have bestowed on them. + These are really believers: they shall have superior degrees of felicity +with their LORD, and forgiveness, and an honourable provision. + As thy LORD brought thee forth from thy house, with truth; and part of +the believers were averse to thy directions: + they disputed with thee concerning the truth, after it had been made +known unto them; no otherwise than as if they had been led forth to death, +and had seen it with their eyes. + And call to mind when GOD promised you one of the two parties, that it +should be delivered unto you, and ye desired that the party which was not +furnished with arms should be delivered unto you: but GOD purposed to make +known the truth in his words, and to cut off the uttermost part of the +unbelievers; + that he might verify the truth, and destroy falsehood, although the +wicked were averse thereto. + When ye asked assistance of your LORD, and he answered you, Verily I +will assist you with a thousand angels, following one another in order. +10 And this GOD designed only as good tidings for you, and that your +hearts might thereby rest secure: for victory is from GOD alone; and GOD is +mighty and wise. + When a sleep fell on you as a security from him, and he sent down upon +you water from heaven, that he might thereby purify you, and take from you the +abomination of Satan, and that he might confirm your hearts, and establish +your feet thereby. + Also when thy LORD spake unto the angels, saying, Verily I am with you; +wherefore confirm those who believe. I will cast a dread into the hearts of +the unbelievers. Therefore strike off their heads, and strike off all the +ends of their fingers. + This shall they suffer, because they have resisted GOD and his apostle: +and whosoever shall oppose GOD and his apostle, verily GOD will be severe in +punishing him. + This shall be your punishment; taste it therefore: and the infidels shall +also suffer the torment of hell fire. + O true believers, when ye meet the unbelievers marching in great numbers +against you, turn not your backs unto them: + for whoso shall turn his back unto them in that day, unless he turneth +aside to fight, or retreateth to another party of the faithful, shall draw on +himself the indignation of GOD, and his abode shall be in hell; an ill journey +shall it be thither! + And ye slew not those who were slain at Bedr yourselves, but GOD slew +them. Neither didst thou, O Mohammed cast the gravel into their eyes, when +thou didst seem to cast it; but GOD cast it, that he might prove the true +believers by a gracious trial from himself, for GOD heareth and knoweth. + This was done that GOD might also weaken the crafty devices of the +unbelievers. + If ye desire a decision of the matter between us, now hath a decision +come unto you: and if ye desist from opposing the apostle, it will be better +for you. But if ye return to attack him, we will also return to his +assistance; and your forces shall not be of advantage unto you at all, +although they be numerous; for GOD is with the faithful. +20 O true believers, obey GOD and his apostle, and turn not back from him, +since ye hear the admonitions of the Koran. + And be not as those who say, We hear, when they do not hear. + Verily the worst sort of beasts in the sight of GOD are the deaf and the +dumb, who understand not. + If GOD had known any good in them, he would certainly have caused them to +hear: and if he had caused them to hear, they would surely have turned back, +and have retired afar off. + O true believers, answer GOD and his apostle, when he inviteth you unto +that which giveth you life; and know that GOD goeth between a man and his +heart, and that before him ye shall be assembled. + Beware of sedition; it will not affect those who are ungodly among you +particularly, but all of you in general; and know that GOD is severe in +punishing. + And remember when ye were few, and reputed weak in the land; ye feared +lest men should snatch you away: but God provided you a place of refuge, and +he strengthened you with his assistance, and bestowed on you good things, that +ye might give thanks. + O true believers, deceive not GOD and his apostle; neither violate your +faith against your own knowledge. + And know that your wealth and your children are a temptation unto you; +and that with GOD is a great reward. + O true believers, if ye fear GOD, he will grant you a distinction, and +will expiate your sins from you, and will forgive you; for GOD is endued with +great liberality. +30 And call to mind when the unbelievers plotted against thee, that they +might either detain thee in bonds, or put to death, or expel thee the city; +and they plotted against thee: but GOD laid a plot against them; and GOD is +the best layer of plots. + And when our signs are repeated unto them, they say, We have heard; if we +pleased we would certainly pronounce a composition like unto this: this is +nothing but fables of the ancients. + And when they said, O GOD, if this be the truth from thee, rain down +stones upon us from heaven, or inflict on us some other grievous punishment. + But GOD was not disposed to punish them, while thou wast with them: nor +was GOD disposed to punish them when they asked pardon. + But they have nothing to offer in excuse why GOD should not punish them, +since they hindered the believers from visiting the holy temple, although +they are not the guardians thereof. The guardians thereof are those only who +fear God; but the greater part of them know it not. + And their prayer at the house of God is no other than whistling and +clapping of the hands. Taste therefore the punishment, for that ye have been +unbelievers. + They who believe not expend their wealth to obstruct the way of GOD: +they shall expend it, but afterwards it shall become matter of sighing and +regret unto them, and at length they shall be overcome; and the unbelievers +shall be gathered together into hell; + that GOD may distinguish the wicked from the good, and may throw the +wicked one upon the other, and may gather them all in a heap, and cast them +into hell. These are they who shall perish. + Say unto the unbelievers, that if they desist from opposing thee, what is +already past shall be forgiven them; but if they return to attack thee, the +exemplary punishment of the former opposers of the prophets is already past, +and the like shall be inflicted on them. + Therefore fight against them until there be no opposition in favor of +idolatry, and the religion be wholly GOD'S. If they desist, verily GOD seeth +that which they do: +40 but if they turn back, know that GOD is your patron; he is the best +patron, and the best helper. + And know that whenever ye gain any spoils, a fifth part thereof belongeth +unto GOD, and to the apostle, and his kindred, and the orphans, and the poor, +and the traveller; if ye believe in GOD, and that which we have sent down +unto our servant on the day of distinction, on the day whereon the two armies +met: and GOD is almighty. + When ye were encamped on the hithermost side of the valley, and they +were encamped on the farther side, and the caravan was below you; and if ye +had mutually appointed to come to a battle ye would certainly have declined +the appointment; but ye were brought to an engagement without any previous +appointment, that GOD might accomplish the thing which was decreed to be +done; that he who perisheth hereafter may perish after demonstrative evidence, +and that he who liveth may live by the same evidence; GOD both heareth and +knoweth. + When thy LORD caused the enemy to appear unto thee in thy sleep few in +number; and if he had caused them to appear numerous unto thee, ye would have +been disheartened, and would have disputed concerning the matter: but GOD +preserved you from this; for he knoweth the innermost parts of the breasts of +men. + And when he caused them to appear unto you when ye met, to be few in your +eyes; and diminished your numbers in their eyes; that GOD might accomplish +the thing which was decreed to be done; and unto GOD shall all things return. + O true believers, when ye meet a party of the infidels, stand firm, and +remember GOD frequently, that ye may prosper: + and obey GOD and his apostle, and be not refractory, lest ye be +discouraged, and your success depart from you; but persevere with patience, +for GOD is with those who persevere. + And be not as those who went out of their houses in an insolent manner, +and to appear with ostentation unto men, and turned aside from the way of +GOD; for GOD comprehendeth that which they do. + And remember when Satan prepared their works for them, and said, No man +shall prevail against you to-day; and I will surely be near to assist you. +But when the two armies appeared in sight of each other, he turned back on his +heels, and said, Verily I am clear of you: I certainly see that which ye see +not; I fear GOD, for GOD is severe in punishing. + When the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts there was an infirmity, +said, Their religion hath deceived these men: but whosoever confideth in GOD +cannot be deceived; for GOD is mighty and wise. +50 And if thou didst behold when the angels caused the unbelievers to die: +they strike their faces and their backs, and say unto them, Taste ye the pain +of burning: + this shall ye suffer for that which your hands have sent before you; and +because GOD is not unjust towards his servants. + These have acted according to the wont of the people of Pharaoh, and of +those before them, who disbelieved in the signs of GOD: therefore GOD took +them away in their iniquity; for GOD is mighty and severe in punishing. + This hath come to pass because GOD changeth not his grace, wherewith he +hath favored any people, until they change that which is in their souls; and +for that GOD both heareth and seeth. + According to the wont of the people of Pharaoh, and of those before them, +who charged the signs of their LORD with imposture, have they acted: wherefore +we destroyed them in their sins, and we drowned the people of Pharaoh; for +they were all unjust persons. + Verily the worst cattle in the sight of GOD are those who are obstinate +infidels, and will not believe. + As to those who enter into a league with thee, and afterwards violate +their league at every convenient opportunity, and fear not God; + if thou take them in war, disperse, by making them an example, those who +shall come after them, that they may be warned; + or if thou apprehend treachery from any people, throw back their league +unto them with like treatment; for GOD loveth not the treacherous. + And think not that the unbelievers have escaped GOD's vengeance, for +they shall not weaken the power of God. +60 Therefore prepare against them what force ye are able, and troops of +horse, whereby ye may strike a terror into the enemy of GOD, and your enemy, +and into other infidels besides them, whom ye know not, but GOD knoweth them. +And whatsoever ye shall expend in the defence of the religion of GOD, it shall +be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly. + And if they incline unto peace, do thou also incline thereto; and put thy +confidence in GOD, for it is he who heareth and knoweth. + But if they seek to deceive thee, verily GOD will be thy support. It is +he who hath strengthened thee with his help, and with that of the faithful; +and hath united their hearts. If thou hadst expended whatever riches are in +the earth, thou couldst not have united their hearts, but GOD united them; +for he is mighty and wise. + O prophet, GOD is thy support, and such of the true believers who +followeth thee. + O prophet stir up the faithful to war: if twenty of you persevere with +constancy, they shall overcome two hundred, and if there be one hundred of +you, they shall overcome a thousand of those who believe not; because they are +a people which do not understand. + Now hath GOD eased you, for he knew that ye were weak. If there be an +hundred of you who persevere with constancy, they shall overcome two hundred; +and if there be a thousand of you, they shall overcome two thousand, by the +permission of GOD; for GOD is with those who persevere. + It hath not been granted unto any prophet, that he should possess +captives, until he hath made a great slaughter of the infidels in the earth. +Ye seek the accidental goods of this world, but GOD regardeth the life to +come; and GOD is mighty and wise. + Unless a revelation had been previously delivered from GOD, verily a +severe punishment had been inflicted on you, for the ransom which ye took from +the captives at Bedr. + Eat therefore of what ye have acquired, that which is lawful and good; +for GOD is gracious and merciful. +70 O prophet, say unto the captives who are in your hands. If GOD shall know +any good to be in your hearts, he will give you better than what hath been +taken from you; and he will forgive you, for GOD is gracious and merciful. + But if they seek to deceive thee, verily they have deceived GOD; +wherefore he hath given thee power over them: and GOD is knowing and wise. + Moreover, they who have believed, and have fled their country, and +employed their substance and their persons in fighting for the religion of +GOD, and they who have given the prophet a refuge among them, and have +assisted him, these shall be deemed the one nearest of kin to the other. But +they who have believed, but have not fled their country, shall have no right +of kindred at all with you, until they also fly. Yet if they ask assistance +of you on account of religion, it belongeth unto you to give them assistance; +except against a people between whom and yourselves there shall be a league +subsisting: and GOD seeth that which ye do. + And as to the infidels let them be deemed of kin the one to the other. +Unless ye do this, there will be a sedition in the earth, and grievous +corruption. + But as for them who have believed, and left their country, and have +fought for GOD's true religion, and who have allowed the prophet a retreat +among them, and have assisted him, these are really believers; they shall +receive mercy, and an honourable provision. + And they who have believe since, and have fled their country, and have +fought with you, these also are of you. And those who are related by +consanguinity shall be deemed the nearest of kin to each other preferably to +strangers according to the book of GOD; GOD knoweth all things. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER IX. + +ENTITLED, THE DECLARATION OF IMMUNITY; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + + A DECLARATION of immunity from GOD and his apostle, unto the idolaters, +with whom ye have entered into league. + Go to and fro in the earth securely four months; and know that ye shall +not weaken GOD, and that GOD will disgrace the unbelievers. + And a declaration from GOD and his apostle unto the people, on the day of +the greater pilgrimage, that GOD is clear of the idolaters, and his apostle +also. Wherefore if ye repent, this will be better for you; but if ye turn +back, know that ye shall not weaken GOD: and denounce unto those who believe +not, a painful punishment. + Except such of the idolaters with whom ye shall have entered into a +league, and who afterwards shall not fail you in any instance, nor assist any +other against you. Wherefore perform the covenant which ye shall have made +with them, until their time shall be elapsed; for GOD loveth those who fear +him. + And when the months wherein ye are not allowed to attack them shall be +past, kill the idolaters wheresoever ye shall find them, and take them +prisoners, and besiege them, and lay wait for them in every convenient place. +But if they shall repent, and observe the appointed times of prayer, and pay +the legal alms, dismiss them freely: for GOD is gracious and merciful. + And if any of the idolaters shall demand protection of thee, grant him +protection, that he may hear the word of GOD: and afterwards let him reach the +place of his security. This shalt thou do, because they are people which +know not the excellency of the religion thou preachest. + How shall the idolaters be admitted into a league with GOD and with his +apostle; except those with whom ye entered into a league at the holy temple? +So long as they behave with fidelity towards you, do ye also behave with +fidelity towards them; for GOD loveth those who fear him. + How can they be admitted into a league with you, since, if they prevail +against you, they will not regard in you either consanguinity or faith? They +will please you with their mouths, but their hearts will be averse from you; +for the greater part of them are wicked doers. + They sell the signs of GOD for a small price, and obstruct his way; it is +certainly evil which they do. +10 They regard not in a believer either consanguinity or faith; and these +are the transgressors. + Yet if they repent, and observe the appointed times of prayer, and give +alms, they shall be deemed your brethren in religion. We distinctly propound +our signs unto people who understand. + But if they violate their oaths, after their league, and revile your +religion, oppose the leaders of infidelity (for there is no trust in them), +that they may desist from their treachery. + Will ye not fight against people who have violated their oaths, and +conspired to expel the apostle of God; and who of their own accord assaulted +you the first time? Will ye fear them? But it is more just that ye should +fear GOD, if ye are true believers. + Attack them therefore; GOD shall punish them by your hands, and will +cover them with shame, and will give you the victory over them; and he will +heal the breasts of the people who believe, + and will take away the indignation of their hearts: for GOD will be +turned unto whom he pleaseth; and GOD is knowing and wise. + Did ye imagine that ye should be abandoned, whereas GOD did not yet know +those among you who fought for his religion, and took not any besides GOD, and +his apostle, and the faithful for their friends? GOD is well acquainted with +that which ye do. + It is not fitting that the idolaters should visit the temples of GOD, +being witnesses against their own souls of their infidelity. The works of +these men are vain: and they shall remain in hell fire forever. + But he only shall visit the temples of GOD, who believeth in GOD and the +last day, and is constant at prayer, and payeth the legal alms, and feareth +GOD alone. These perhaps may become of the number of those who are rightly +directed. + Do ye reckon the giving drink to the pilgrims, and the visiting of the +holy temple, to be actions as meritorious as those performed by him who +believeth in GOD and the last day, and fighteth for the religion of GOD? +They shall not be held equal with GOD: for GOD directeth not the unrighteous +people. +20 They who have believed, and fled their country and employed their +substance and their persons in the defence of GOD'S true religion, shall be in +the highest degree of honour with GOD; and these are they who shall be happy. + Their LORD sendeth them good tidings of mercy from him, and good will, +and of gardens wherein they shall enjoy lasting pleasure: + they shall continue therein forever; for with GOD is a great reward. + O true believers, take not your fathers or your brethren for friends, if +they love infidelity above faith; and whosoever among you shall take them for +his friends, they will be unjust doers. + Say, if your fathers, and your sons, and your brethren, and your wives, +and your relations, and your substance which ye have acquired, and your +merchandise which ye apprehend may not be sold off, and your dwellings wherein +ye delight, be more dear unto you than GOD, and his apostle, and the +advancement of his religion; wait until GOD shall send his command: for GOD +directeth not the ungodly people. + Now hath GOD assisted you in many engagements, and particularly at the +battle of Honein, when ye pleased yourselves in your multitude, but it was no +manner of advantage unto you, and the earth became too strait for you, +notwithstanding it was spacious; then did ye retreat, and turn your backs. + Afterwards GOD sent down his security upon his apostle and upon the +faithful, and sent down troops of angels, which ye saw not; and he punished +those who disbelieved; and this was the reward of the unbelievers. + Nevertheless GOD will hereafter be turned unto whom he pleaseth; for GOD +is gracious and merciful. + O true believers, verily the idolaters are unclean; let them not +therefore come near unto the holy temple after this year. And if ye fear +want, by the cutting off trade and communication with them, GOD will enrich +you of his abundance, if he pleaseth; for GOD is knowing and wise. + Fight against them who believe not in GOD, nor the last day, and forbid +not that which GOD and his apostle have forbidden, and profess not the true +religion, of those unto whom the scriptures have been delivered, until they +pay tribute by right of subjection, and they be reduced low. +30 The Jews say, Ezra is the son of GOD: and the Christians say, Christ is +the Son of GOD. This is their saying in their mouths; they imitate the saying +of those who were unbelievers in former times. May GOD resist them. How are +they infatuated! + They take their priests and their monks for their lords, besides GOD, +and Christ the son of Mary; although they are commanded to worship one GOD +only: there is no GOD but he; far be that from him which they associate with +him! + They seek to extinguish the light of GOD with their mouths; but GOD +willeth no other than to perfect his light, although the infidels be averse +thereto. + It is he who hath sent his apostle with the direction, and true religion: +that he may cause it to appear superior to every other religion; although the +idolaters be averse thereto. + O true believers, verily many of the priests and monks devour the +substance of men in vanity, and obstruct the way of GOD. But unto those who +treasure up gold and silver, and employ it not for the advancement of GOD'S +true religion, denounce a grievous punishment. + On the day of judgment their treasures shall be intensely heated in the +fire of hell, and their foreheads, and their sides, and their backs shall be +stigmatized therewith; and their tormentors shall say, This is what ye have +treasured up for your souls; taste therefore that which ye have treasured up. + Moreover, the complete number of months with GOD, is twelve months, +which were ordained in the book of GOD, on the day whereon he created the +heavens and the earth: of these, four are sacred. This is the right +religion: therefore deal not unjustly with yourselves therein. But attack the +idolaters in all the months, as they attack you in all; and know that GOD is +with those who fear him. + Verily the transferring of a sacred month to another month, is an +additional infidelity. The unbelievers are led into an error thereby: they +allow a month to be violated one year, and declare it sacred another year, +that they may agree in the number of months which GOD hath commanded to be +kept sacred; and they allow that which GOD hath forbidden. The evil of their +actions hath been prepared for them: for GOD directeth not the unbelieving +people. + O true believers, what ailed you, that when it was said unto you, Go +forth to fight for the religion of GOD, ye inclined heavily towards the +earth? Do ye prefer the present life to that which is to come? But the +provision of this life, in respect of that which is to come, is but slender. + Unless ye go forth when ye are summoned to war, God will punish you with +a grievous punishment; and he will place another people in your stead, and ye +shall not hurt him at all; for GOD is almighty. +40 If ye assist not the prophet, verily GOD will assist him, as he assisted +him formerly, when the unbelievers drove him out of Mecca, the second of two: +when they were both in the cave: when he said unto his companion, Be not +grieved, for GOD is with us. And GOD sent down his security upon him, and +strengthened him with armies of angels, whom ye saw not. And he made the +word of those who believed not to be abased, and the word of GOD was exalted: +for GOD is mighty and wise. + Go forth to battle, both light and heavy, and employ your substance and +your persons for the advancement of GOD's religion. This will be better for +you, if ye know it. + If it had been a near advantage, and a moderate journey, they had surely +followed thee; but the way seemed tedious unto them: and yet they will swear +by GOD, saying, If we had been able, we had surely gone forth with you. They +destroy their own souls; for GOD knoweth that they are liars. + GOD forgive thee! why didst thou give them leave to stay at home, until +they who speak the truth, when they excuse themselves, had become manifested +unto thee, and thou hadst known the liars. + They who believe in GOD and the last day, will not ask leave of thee to +be excused from employing their substance and their persons for the +advancement of GOD's true religion; and GOD knoweth those who fear him. + Verily they only will ask leave of thee to stay behind, who believe not +in GOD and the last day, and whose hearts doubt concerning the faith: +wherefore they are tossed to and fro in their doubting. + If they had been willing to go forth with thee, they had certainly +prepared for that purpose a provision of arms and necessaries: but GOD was +averse to their going forth; wherefore he rendered them slothful, and it was +said unto them, Sit ye still with those who sit still. + If they had gone forth with you, they had only been a burden unto you, +and had run to and fro between you, stirring you up to sedition; and there +would have been some among you, who would have given ear unto them: and GOD +knoweth the wicked. + They formerly sought to raise a sedition, and they disturbed thy +affairs, until the truth came, and the decree of GOD was made manifest; +although they were adverse thereto. + There is of them who saith unto thee, Give me leave to stay behind, and +expose me not to temptation.a Have they not fallen into temptation at home?b +But hell will surely encompass the unbelievers. +50 If good happen unto thee, it grieveth them: but if a misfortune befall +thee, they say, We ordered our business before;c and they turn their backs, +and rejoice at thy mishap. + Say, Nothing shall befall us, but what GOD hath decreed for us; he is our +patron; and on GOD let the faithful trust. + Say, Do ye expect any other should befall us, than one of the two most +excellent things; either victory or martyrdom? But we expect concerning you, +that GOD inflict a punishment on you, either from himself, or by our hands. +Wait, therefore, to see what will be the end of both; for we will wait for +you. + Say, Expend your money in pious uses, either voluntarily, or by +constraint, it shall not be accepted of you; because ye are wicked people. + And nothing hindereth their contributions from being accepted of them, +but that they believe not in GOD and his apostle, and perform not the duty of +prayer, otherwise than sluggishly; and expend not their money for GOD's +service, otherwise than unwillingly. + Let not therefore their riches, or their children cause thee to marvel. +Verily GOD intendeth only to punish them by these things in this world; and +that their souls may depart while they are unbelievers. + They swear by GOD that they are of you; yet they are not of you, but are +people who stand in fear. + If they find a place of refuge, or caves, or a retreating hole, they +surely turn towards the same, and in a headstrong manner, haste thereto. + There is of them also who spreadeth ill reports of thee, in relation to +thy distribution of the alms: yet if they receive part thereof, they are well +pleased; but if they receive not a part thereof, behold, they are angry. + But if they had been pleased with that which GOD and his apostle had +given them, and had said, GOD is our support; GOD will give unto us of his +abundance, and his prophet also; verily unto GOD do we make our supplications: +it would have been more decent. +60 Alms are to be distributed only unto the poor, and the needy, and +those who are employed in collecting and distributing the same, and unto those +whose hearts are reconciled, and for the redemption of captives, and unto +those who are in debt and insolvent, and for the advancement of GOD'S +religion, and unto the traveller. This is an ordinance from GOD: and GOD is +knowing and wise. + There are some of them who injure the prophet, and say, He is an ear. +Answer, He is an ear of good unto you: he believeth in GOD, and giveth credit +to the faithful, and is a mercy unto such of you who believe. But they who +injure the apostle of GOD, shall suffer a painful punishment. + They swear unto you by GOD, that they may please you; but it is more just +that they should please GOD and his apostle, if they are true believers. + Do they not know that he who opposeth GOD and his apostle, shall without +doubt be punished with the fire of hell; and shall remain therein forever? +This will be great ignominy. + The hypocrites are apprehensive lest a Sura should be revealed +concerning them, to declare unto them that which is in their hearts. Say unto +them, Scoff ye; but GOD will surely bring to light that which ye fear should +be discovered. + And if thou ask them the reason of this scoffing, they say, Verily we +were only engaged in discourse; and jesting among ourselves. Say, Do ye +scoff at GOD and his signs, and at his apostle? + offer not an excuse: now are ye become infidels, after your faith. If we +forgive a part of you, we will punish a part, for that they have been wicked +doers. + Hypocritical men and women are the one of them of the other: they command +that which is evil, and forbid that which is just, and shut their hands from +giving alms. They have forgotten GOD; wherefore he hath forgotten them: +verily the hypocrites are those who act wickedly. + GOD denounceth unto the hypocrites, both men and women, and to the +unbelievers, the fire of hell; they shall remain therein forever: this will be +their sufficient reward; GOD hath cursed them, and they shall endure a lasting +torment. + As they who have been before you, so are ye. They were superior to you +in strength, and had more abundance of wealth and of children; and they +enjoyed their portion in this world; and ye also enjoy your portion here, as +they who have preceded you enjoyed their portion. And ye engage yourselves in +vain discourses, like unto those wherein they engaged themselves. The works +of these are vain both in this world and in that which is to come; and these +are they who perish. +70 Have they not been acquainted with the history of those who have been +before them? of the people of Noah, and of Ad, and of Thamud, and of the +people of Abraham, and of the inhabitants of Madian, and of the cities which +were overthrown? Their apostles came unto them with evident demonstrations: +and GOD was not disposed to treat them unjustly; but they dealt unjustly with +their own souls. + And the faithful men, and the faithful women, are friends one to another: +they command that which is just, and they forbid that which is evil; and they +are constant at prayer, and pay their appointed alms; and they obey GOD and +his apostle: unto these will GOD be merciful; for he is mighty and wise. + GOD promiseth unto the true believers, both men and women, gardens +through which rivers flow, wherein they shall remain forever; and delicious +dwellings in gardens of perpetual abode: but good-will from GOD shall be +their most excellent reward. This will be great felicity. + O prophet, wage war against the unbelievers and the hypocrites, and be +severe unto them: for their dwelling shall be hell; an unhappy journey shall +it be thither! + They swear by GOD that they said not what they are charged with: yet they +spake the word of infidelity, and became unbelievers after they had embraced +Islâm. And they designed that which they could not effect; and they did not +disapprove the design for any other reason than because GOD and his apostle +had enriched them of his bounty. If they repent, it will be better for them; +but if they relapse, GOD will punish them with a grievous torment, in this +world and in the next; and they shall have no portion on earth, nor any +protector. + There are some of them who made a covenant with GOD, saying, Verily if he +give us of his abundance, we will give alms, and become righteous people. + Yet when they had given unto him of his abundance, they became covetous +thereof, and turned back, and retired afar off. + Wherefore he hath caused hypocrisy to succeed in their hearts, until the +day whereon they shall meet him; for that they failed to perform unto GOD that +which they had promised him, and for that they prevaricated. + Do they not know that GOD knoweth whatever they conceal, and their +private discourses; and that GOD is the knower of secrets? + They who traduce such of the believers as are liberal in giving alms +beyond what they are obliged, and those who find nothing to give, but what +they gain by their industry; and therefore scoff at them: GOD shall scoff at +them, and they shall suffer a grievous punishment. +80 Ask forgiveness for them, or do not ask forgiveness for them; it will be +equal. If thou ask forgiveness for them seventy times, GOD will by no means +forgive them. This is the divine pleasure, for that they believe not in GOD, +and his apostle; and GOD directeth not the ungodly people. + They who were left at home in the expedition of Tabuc, were glad of their +staying behind the apostle of GOD, and were unwilling to employ their +substance and their persons for the advancement of GOD's true religion; and +they said, Go not forth in the heat. Say, the fire of hell will be hotter; +if they understood this. + Wherefore let them laugh little, and weep much, as a reward for that +which they have done. + If GOD bring thee back unto some of them, and they ask thee leave to go +forth to war with thee, say, Ye shall not go forth with me for the future, +neither shall ye fight an enemy with me; ye were pleased with sitting at home +the first time; sit ye at home therefore with those who stay behind. + Neither do thou ever pray over any of them who shall die, neither stand +at his grave for that they believed not in GOD and his apostle, and die in +their wickedness. + Let not their riches or their children cause thee to marvel: for GOD +intendeth only to punish them therewith in this world, and that their souls +may depart, while they are infidels. + When a Sura is sent down, wherein it is said, Believe in GOD, and go +forth to war with his apostle; those who are in plentiful circumstances among +them ask leave of thee to stay behind, and say, Suffer us to be of the number +of those who sit at home. + They are well pleased to be with those who stay behind, and their hearts +are sealed up; wherefore they do not understand. + But the apostle, and those who have believed with him, expose their +fortunes and their lives for GOD's service; they shall enjoy the good things +of either life, and they shall be happy. + GOD hath prepared for them gardens through which rivers flow; they shall +remain therein forever. This will be great felicity. +90 And certain Arabs of the desert came to excuse themselves, praying that +they might be permitted to stay behind; and they sat at home who had renounced +GOD and his apostle. But a painful punishment shall be inflicted on such of +them as believe not. + In those who are weak, or are afflicted with sickness, or in those who +find not wherewith to contribute to the war, it shall be no crime if they +stay at home; provided they behave themselves faithfully towards GOD and his +apostle. There is no room to lay blame on the righteous; for GOD is gracious +and merciful: + nor on those, unto whom, when they came unto thee, requesting that thou +wouldest supply them with necessaries for travelling, thou didst answer, I +find not wherewith to supply you, returned, their eyes shedding tears for +grief, that they found not wherewith to contribute to the expedition. + But there is reason to blame those who ask leave of thee to sit at home, +when they are rich. They are pleased to be with those who stay behind, and +GOD hath sealed up their hearts; wherefore they do not understand. + They will excuse themselves unto you, when ye are returned unto them. +Say, Excuse not yourselves; we will by no means believe you: GOD hath +acquainted us with your behavior; and GOD will observe his actions, and his +apostle also: and hereafter shall ye be brought before him who knoweth that +which is hidden, and that which is manifest; and he will declare unto you that +which ye have done. + They will swear unto you by GOD, which ye have done. They will swear +unto you by GOD, when ye are returned unto them, that ye may let them alone. +Let them alone, therefore, for they are an abomination, and their dwelling +shall be hell, a reward for that which they have deserved. + They will swear unto you, that ye may be well pleased with them; but if +ye be well pleased with them, verily GOD will not be well pleased with people +who prevaricate. + The Arabs of the desert are more obstinate in their unbelief and +hypocrisy; and it is easier for them to be ignorant of the ordinances of that +which GOD hath sent down unto his apostle; and GOD is knowing and wise. + Of the Arabs of the desert there is who reckoneth that which he expendeth +for the service of God, to be as tribute, and waiteth that some change of +fortune may befall you. A change for evil shall happen unto them; for GOD +both heareth and knoweth. + And of the Arabs of the desert there is who believeth in GOD, and in the +last day; and esteemeth that which he layeth out for the service of God to be +the means of bringing him near unto GOD, and the prayers of the apostle. Is +it not unto them the means of a near approach? GOD shall lead them into his +mercy; for GOD is gracious and merciful. +100 As for the leaders and the first of the Mohâjerin, and the Ansârs, and +those who have followed them in well doing; GOD is well pleased with them, and +they are well pleased in him: and he hath prepared for them gardens watered by +rivers; they shall remain therein forever. This shall be great felicity. + And of the Arabs of the desert who dwell round about you, there are +hypocritical persons: and of the inhabitants of Medina there are some who are +obstinate in hypocrisy. Thou knowest them not, O prophet, but we know them: +we will surely punish them twice: afterwards shall they be sent to a grievous +torment. + And others have acknowledged their crimes. They have mixed a good +action with another which is bad: peradventure GOD will be turned unto them; +for GOD is gracious and merciful. + Take alms of their substance, that thou mayest cleanse them, and purify +them thereby; and pray for them: for thy prayers shall be a security of mind +unto them; and GOD both heareth and knoweth. + Do they not know that GOD accepteth repentance from his servants, and +accepteth alms; and that GOD is easy to be reconciled, and merciful? + Say unto them, Work as ye will; but GOD will behold your work, and his +apostle also, and the true believers: and ye shall be brought before him who +knoweth that which is kept secret, and that which is made public: and he will +declare unto you whatever ye have done. + And there are others who wait with suspense the decree of GOD: whether he +will punish them, or whether he will be turned unto them: but GOD is knowing +and wise, + There are some who have built a temple to hurt the faithful, and to +propagate infidelity, and to foment division among the true believers, and +for a lurking place for him who hath fought against GOD and his apostle in +time past; and they swear, saying, Verily we intended no other than to do for +the best: but GOD is witness that they do certainly lie. + Stand not up to pray therein forever. There is a temple founded on +piety, from the first day of its building. It is more just that thou stand +up to pray therein: therein are men who love to be purified; for GOD loveth +the clean. + Whether therefore is he better, who hath founded his building on the +fear of GOD and his good will; or he who hath founded his building on the +brink of a bank of earth which is washed away by waters, so that it falleth +with him into the fire of hell? God directeth not the ungodly people. +110 Their building which they have built will not cease to be an occasion of +doubting in their hearts, until their hearts be cut in pieces; and GOD is +knowing and wise. + Verily GOD hath purchased of the true believers their souls, and their +substance, promising them the enjoyment of paradise; on condition that they +fight for the cause of GOD: whether they slay or be slain, the promise for the +same is assuredly due by the law, and the gospel, and the Koran. And who +performeth his contract more faithfully than GOD? Rejoice therefore in the +contract which ye have made. This shall be great happiness. + The penitent, and those who serve God, and praise him, and who fast, and +bow down, and worship; and who command that which is just, and forbid that +which is evil, and keep the ordinances of GOD, shall likewise be rewarded with +paradise: wherefore bear good tidings unto the faithful. + It is not allowed unto the prophet, nor those who are true believers, +that they pray for idolaters, although they be of kin, after it is become +known unto them, that they are inhabitants of hell. + Neither did Abraham ask forgiveness for his father, otherwise than in +pursuance of a promise which he had promised unto him: but when it became +known unto him, that he was an enemy unto GOD, he declared himself clear of +him. Verily Abraham was pitiful and compassionate. + Nor is GOD disposed to lead people into error, after that he hath +directed them, until that which they ought to avoid is become known unto them; +for GOD knoweth all things. + Verily unto GOD belongeth the kingdom of heaven and of earth; he giveth +life, and he causeth to die; and ye have no patron or helper besides GOD. + GOD is reconciled unto the prophet, and unto the Mohâjerin and the +Ansârs, who followed him in the hour of distress, after that it had wanted +little but that the hearts of a part of them had swerved from their duty: +afterwards was he turned unto them: for he was compassionate and merciful +towards them. + And he is also reconciled unto the three who were left behind, so that +the earth became too straight for them, notwithstanding its spaciousness, and +their souls became straightened within them, and they considered that there +was no refuge from GOD, otherwise than by having recourse unto him. Then was +he turned unto them, that they might repent; for GOD is easy to be reconciled +and merciful. + O true believers, fear GOD and be with the sincere. +120 There was no reason why the inhabitants of Medina, and the Arabs of the +desert who dwell around them, should stay behind the apostle of GOD, or should +prefer themselves before him. This is unreasonable: because they are not +distressed either by thirst, or labor, or hunger, for the defence of GOD'S +true religion; neither do they stir a step, which may irritate the +unbelievers; neither do they receive from the enemy any damage, but a good +work is written down unto them for the same; for GOD suffereth not the reward +of the righteous to perish. + And they contribute not any sum either small or great, nor do they pass a +valley; but it is written down unto them that GOD may reward them with a +recompense exceeding that which they have wrought. + The believers are not obliged to go forth to war altogether: if a part of +every band of them go not forth, it is that they may diligently instruct +themselves in their religion; and may admonish their people, when they return +unto them, that they may take heed to themselves. + O true believers, wage war against such of the infidels as are near you; +and let them find severity in you: and know that GOD is with those who fear +him. + Whenever a Sura is sent down, there are some of them who say, Which of +you hath this caused to increase in faith? It will increase the faith of +those who believe, and they shall rejoice: + but unto those in whose hearts there is an infirmity, it will add further +doubt unto their present doubt; and they shall die in their infidelity. + Do they not see that they are tried every year once or twice? yet they +repent not, neither are they warned. + And whenever a Sura is sent down, they look at one another, saying, Doth +any one see you? then do they turn aside. GOD shall turn aside their hearts +from the truth; because they are a people who do not understand. + Now hath an apostle come unto you of our own nation, an excellent +person: it is grievous unto him that ye commit wickedness; he is careful over +you, and compassionate and merciful towards the believers. + If they turn back, say, GOD is my support: there is no GOD but he. On +him do I trust; and he is the LORD of the magnificent throne. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER X. + +ENTITLED, JONAS; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + A.L.R. These are the signs of the wise book. + Is it a strange thing unto the men of Mecca, that we have revealed our +will unto a man from among them, saying, Denounce threats unto men if they +believe not; and bear good tidings unto those who believe, that on the merit +of their sincerity they have an interest with their LORD? The unbelievers +say, This is manifest sorcery. + Verily your LORD is GOD, who hath created the heavens and the earth in +six days; and then ascended his throne, to take on himself the government of +all things. There is no intercessor, but by his permission. This is GOD, +your LORD; therefore serve him. Will ye not consider? + Unto him shall ye all return according to the certain promise of GOD; for +he produceth a creature, and then causeth it to return again; that he may +reward those who believe and do that which is right, with equity. But as for +the unbelievers, they shall drink boiling water, and they shall suffer a +grievous punishment, for that they have disbelieved. + It is he who hath ordained the sun to shine by day, and the moon for a +light by night; and had appointed her stations, that ye might know the number +of years, and the computation of time. GOD hath not created this, but with +truth. He explaineth his signs unto people who understand. + Moreover in the vicissitudes of night and day, and whatever GOD hath +created in heaven and earth, are surely signs unto men who fear him. + Verily they who hope not to meet us at the last day, and delight in this +present life, and rest securely in the same, and who are negligent of our +signs; + their dwelling shall be hell fire, for that which they have deserved. + But as to those who believe, and work righteousness, their LORD will +direct them because of their faith; they shall have rivers flowing through +gardens of pleasure. +10 Their prayer therein shall be Praise be unto thee O GOD! and their +salutation therein shall be Peace! and the end of their prayer shall be, +Praise be unto GOD, the LORD of all creatures! + If GOD should cause evil to hasten unto men, according to their desire of +hastening good, verily their end had been decreed. Wherefore we suffer those +who hope not to meet us at the resurrection, to wander amazedly in their +error. + When evil befalleth a man, he prayeth unto us lying on his side, or +sitting, or standing: but when we deliver him from his affliction, he +continueth his former course of life, as though he had not called upon us to +defend him against the evil which had befallen him. Thus was that which the +transgressors committed prepared for them. + We have formerly destroyed the generations who were before you, O men of +Mecca, when they had acted unjustly, and our apostles had come unto them with +evident miracles and they would not believe. Thus do we reward the wicked +people. + Afterwards did we cause you to succeed them in the earth; that we might +see how ye would act. + When our evident signs are recited unto them, they who hope not to meet +us at the resurrection, say, Bring a different Koran from this; or make some +change therein. Answer, It is not fit for me, that I should change it at my +pleasure: I follow that only which is revealed unto me. Verily I fear if I +should be disobedient unto my LORD, the punishment of the great day. + Say, If GOD had so pleased, I had not read it unto you, neither had I +taught you the same. I have already dwelt among you to the age of forty +years, before I received it. Do ye not therefore understand? + And who is more unjust than he who deviseth a lie against GOD, or +accuseth his signs of falsehood? Surely the wicked shall not prosper. + They worship besides GOD, that which can neither hurt them or profit +them, and they say, These are our intercessors with GOD. Answer, Will ye +tell GOD that which he knoweth not, neither in heaven nor in earth? Praise +be unto him! and far be that from him, which they associate with him! + Men were professors of one religion only, but they dissented therefrom; +and if a decree had not previously issued from thy LORD, deferring their +punishment, verily the matter had been decided between them, concerning which +they disagreed. +20 They say, Unless a sign be sent down unto him from his LORD, we will not +believe. Answer, Verily that which is hidden is known only unto GOD: wait, +therefore, the pleasure of God; and I also will wait with you. + And when we caused the men of Mecca to taste mercy, after an affliction +which had befallen them, behold, they devised a stratagem against our signs. +Say unto them, GOD is more swift in executing a stratagem, than ye. Verily +our messengers write down that which ye deceitfully devise. + It is he who hath given you conveniences for travelling by land and by +sea; so that ye be in ships, which sail with them, with a favorable wind, and +they rejoice therein. And when a tempestuous wind overtaketh them, and waves +come upon them from every side, and they think themselves encompassed with +inevitable dangers; they call upon GOD, exhibiting the pure religion unto +him, and saying, Verily if thou deliver us from this peril, we will be of +those who give thanks. + But when he hath delivered them, behold, they behave themselves +insolently in the earth, without justice. O men, verily the violence which ye +commit against your own souls, is for the enjoyment of this present life only; +afterwards unto us shall ye return, and we will declare unto you that which ye +have done. + Verily the likeness of this present life is no other than as water, which +we send down from heaven, and wherewith the productions of the earth are +mixed, of which men eat, and cattle also, until the earth receive its vesture, +and be adorned with various plants: the inhabitants thereof imagine that they +have power over the same; but our command cometh unto it by night, or by day, +and we render it as though it had been mowen, as though it had not yesterday +abounded with fruits. Thus do we explain our signs unto people who consider. + GOD inviteth unto the dwelling of peace, and directeth whom he pleaseth +into the right way. + They who do right shall receive a most excellent reward, and a +superabundant addition; neither blackness nor shame shall cover their faces. +These shall be the inhabitants of paradise; they shall continue therein +forever. + But they who commit evil shall receive the reward of evil, equal +thereunto, and they shall be covered with shame, (for they shall have no +protector against GOD); as though their faces were covered with the profound +darkness of the night. These shall be the inhabitants of hell fire: they +shall remain therein forever. + On the day of the resurrection we will gather them altogether; then will +we say unto the idolaters, Get ye to your place, ye and your companions: and +we will separate them from one another; and their companions will say unto +them, Ye do not worship us; + and GOD is a sufficient witness between us and you; neither did we mind +your worshipping of us. +30 There shall every soul experience that which it shall have sent before +it; and they shall be brought before GOD their true LORD; and the false +deities which they vainly imagined, shall disappear from before them. + Say, Who provideth you food from heaven and earth? or who hath the +absolute power over the hearing and the sight? and who bringeth forth the +living from the dead, and bringeth forth the dead from the living? and who +governeth all things? They will surely answer, GOD. Say, Will ye not +therefore fear him? + This is therefore GOD your true LORD: and what remaineth there after +truth, except error? How therefore are ye turned aside from the truth? + Thus is the word of thy LORD verified upon them who do wickedly; that +they believe not. + Say, Is there any of your companions who produceth a creature, and then +causeth it to return unto himself? Say, GOD produceth a creature, and then +causeth it to return unto himself. How therefore are ye turned aside from his +worship? + Say, Is there any of your companions who directeth unto the truth. Say, +GOD directeth unto the truth. Whether is he, therefore, who directeth unto +the truth, more worthy to be followed; or he who directeth not, unless he be +directed? What aileth you therefore, that ye judge as ye do? + And the greater part of them follow an uncertain opinion only; but a mere +opinion attaineth not unto any truth. Verily GOD knoweth that which they do. + This Koran could not have been composed by any except GOD; but it is a +confirmation of that which was revealed before it, and an explanation of the +scripture; there is no doubt thereof; sent down from the LORD of all +creatures. + Will they say, Mohammed hath forged it? Answer, Bring therefore a +chapter like unto it; and call whom you may to your assistance, besides GOD, +if ye speak truth. + But they have charged that with falsehood, the knowledge whereof they do +not comprehend, neither hath the interpretation thereof come unto them. In +the same manner did those who were before them accuse their prophets of +imposture; but behold, what was the end of the unjust! +40 There are some of them who believe therein; and there are some of them +who believe not therein: and thy LORD well knoweth the corrupt doers. + If they accuse thee of imposture, say, I have my work, and ye have your +work; ye shall be clear of that which I do, and I will be clear of that which +ye do. + There are some of them who hearken unto thee; but wilt thou make the deaf +to hear, although they do not understand? + And there are some of them who look at thee; but wilt thou direct the +blind, although they see not? + Verily GOD will not deal unjustly with men in any respect: but men deal +unjustly with their own souls. + On a certain day he will gather them together, as though they had not +tarried above an hour of a day: they shall know one another. Then shall +they perish who have denied the meeting of GOD; and were not rightly directed. + Whether we cause thee to see a part of the punishment wherewith we have +threatened them, or whether we cause thee to die before thou see it; unto us +shall they return: then shall GOD be witness of that which they do. + Unto every nation hath an apostle been sent; and when their apostle came, +the matter was decided between them with equity; and they were not treated +unjustly. + The unbelievers say, When will this threatening be made good, if ye speak +truth? + Answer, I am able neither to procure advantage unto myself, nor to avert +mischief from me, but as GOD pleaseth. Unto every nation is a fixed term +decreed; when their term therefore is expired, they shall not have respite for +an hour, neither shall their punishment be anticipated. +50 Say, Tell me, if the punishment of GOD overtake you by night, or by day, +what part thereof will the ungodly wish to be hastened? + When it falleth on you, do ye then believe it? Now do ye believe, and +wish it far from you, when as ye formerly desired it should be hastened? + Then shall it be said unto the wicked, Taste the punishment of eternity; +would ye receive other than the reward of that which ye have wrought? + They will desire to know of thee, whether this be true. Answer, Yea, by +my LORD, it is certainly true; neither shall ye weaken GOD's power so as to +escape it. + Verily, if every soul which hath acted wickedly had whatever is on the +earth, it would willingly redeem itself therewith at the last day. Yet they +will conceal their repentance, after they shall have seen the punishment; and +the matter shall be decided between them with equity, and they shall not be +unjustly treated. + Doth not whatsoever is in heaven and on earth belong unto GOD? Is not +the promise of GOD true? But the greater part of them know it not. + He giveth life, and he causeth to die: and unto him shall ye all return. + O men, now hath an admonition come unto you from your LORD, and a remedy +for the doubts which are in your breasts; and a direction, and mercy unto the +true believers. + Say, Through the grace of GOD, and his mercy; therein therefore let them +rejoice; this will be better than what they heap together of worldly riches. + Say, Tell me; of that which GOD hath sent down unto you for food, have +ye declared part to be lawful, and other part to be unlawful? Say, Hath GOD +permitted you to make this distinction? or do ye devise a lie concerning GOD? +60 But what will be the opinion of those who devise a lie concerning GOD, on +the day of the resurrection? Verily GOD is endued with beneficence towards +mankind; but the greater part of them do not give thanks. + Thou shalt be engaged in no business, neither shalt thou be employed in +meditating on any passage of the Koran; nor shall ye do any action, but we +will be witnesses over you, when ye are employed therein. Nor is so much as +the weight of an ant hidden from thy LORD, in earth or in heaven: neither is +there anything lesser than that, or greater, but it is written in the +perspicuous book. + Are not the friends of GOD the persons on whom no fear shall come, and +who shall not be grieved? + They who believe and fear God + shall receive good tidings in this life, and in that which is to come. +There is no change in the words of GOD. This shall be great felicity. + Let not their discourse grieve thee; for all might belongeth unto GOD: +he both heareth and knoweth. + Is not whoever dwelleth in heaven and on earth subject unto GOD? What +therefore do they follow, who invoke idols, besides GOD? They follow nothing +but a vain opinion; and they only utter lies. + It is he who hath ordained the night for you, that ye may take your rest +therein, and the clear day for labor: verily herein are signs unto people who +hearken. + They say, GOD hath begotten children; GOD forbid! He is self-sufficient. +Unto him belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth: ye have no +demonstrative proof of this. Do ye speak of GOD that which ye know not? + Say, Verily they who imagine a lie concerning GOD shall not prosper. +70 They may enjoy a provision in this world; but afterwards unto us shall +they return, and we will then cause them to taste a grievous punishment, for +that they were unbelievers. + Rehearse unto them the history of Noah: when he said unto his people, O +my people, if my standing forth among you, and my warning you of the signs of +GOD, be grievous unto you; in GOD do I put my trust. Therefore lay your +design against me, and assemble your false gods; but let not your design be +carried on by you in the dark: then come forth against me, and delay not. + And if ye turn aside from my admonitions, I ask not any reward of you for +the same; I expect my reward from GOD alone, and I am commanded to be one of +those who are resigned unto him. + But they accused him of imposture, wherefore we delivered him, and those +who were with him in the ark, and we caused them to survive the flood, but we +drowned those who charged our signs with falsehood. Behold therefore, what +was the end of those who were warned by Noah. + Then did we send, after him, apostles unto their respective people, and +they came unto them with evident demonstrations: yet they were not disposed to +believe in that which they had before rejected as false. Thus do we seal up +the hearts of the transgressors. + Then did we send, after them, Moses and Aaron unto Pharaoh and his +princes with our signs: but they behaved proudly, and were a wicked people. + And when the truth from us had come unto them, they said, Verily this is +manifest sorcery. + Moses said unto them, Do ye speak this of the truth, after it hath come +unto you? Is this sorcery? but sorcerers shall not prosper. + They said, Art thou come unto us to turn us aside from that religion, +which we found our fathers practise; and that ye two may have the command in +the land? But we do not believe you. + And Pharaoh said, Bring unto me every expert magician. +80 And when the magicians were come, Moses said unto them, Cast down +that which ye are about to cast down. + And when they had cast down their rods and cords, Moses said unto them, +The enchantment which ye have performed shall GOD surely render vain; for GOD +prospereth not the work of the wicked doers, + and GOD will verify the truth of his words, although the wicked be +adverse thereto. + And there believed not any on Moses, except a generation of his people, +for fear of Pharaoh and of his princes, lest he should afflict them. And +Pharaoh was lifted up with pride in the earth, and was surely one of the +transgressors. + And Moses said, O my people, if ye believe in GOD, put your trust in him, +if ye be resigned to his will. + They answered, We put our trust in GOD: O LORD, suffer us not to be +afflicted by unjust people; + but deliver us, through thy mercy, from the unbelieving people. + And we spake by inspiration unto Moses and his brother, saying, Provide +habitations for your people in Egypt, and make your houses a place of +worship, and be constant at prayer: and bear good news unto the true +believers. + And Moses said, O LORD, verily thou hast given unto Pharaoh and his +people pompous ornaments, and riches in this present life, O LORD, that they +may be seduced from thy way: O LORD, bring their riches to nought, and harden +their hearts; that they may not believe, until they see their grievous +punishment. + God said, Your petition is hear; be ye upright therefore, and follow +not the way of those who are ignorant. +90 And we caused the children of Israel to pass through the sea; and +Pharaoh and his army followed them in a violent and hostile manner; until, +when he was drowning, he said, I believe that there is no GOD but he, on whom +the children of Israel believe; and I am one of the resigned. + Now dost thou believe; when thou hast been hitherto rebellious, and one +of the wicked doers? + This day will we raise thy body from the bottom of the sea, that thou +mayest be a sign unto those who shall be after thee; and verily a great number +of men are negligent of our signs. + And we prepared for the children of Israel an established dwelling in the +land of Canaan, and we provided good things for their sustenance; and they +differed not in point of religion, until knowledge had come unto them; verily +thy LORD will judge between them on the day of resurrection, concerning that +wherein they disagreed. + If thou art in a doubt concerning any part of that which we have sent +down unto thee, ask them who have read the book of the law before thee. Now +hath the truth come unto thee from thy LORD; be not therefore one of those who +doubt; + neither be thou one of those who charge the signs of GOD with falsehood, +lest thou become one of those who perish. + Verily those against whom the word of thy LORD is decreed, shall not +believe, + although there come unto them every kind of miracle, until they see the +grievous punishment prepared for them. + And if it were not so, some city, among the many which have been +destroyed, would have believed; and the faith of its inhabitants would have +been of advantage unto them; but none of them believed, before the execution +of their sentence, except the people of Jonas. When they believed, we +delivered them from the punishment of shame in this world, and suffered them +to enjoy their lives and possessions for a time. + But if thy LORD had pleased, verily all who are in the earth would have +believed in general. Wilt thou therefore forcibly compel men to be true +believers? +100 No soul can believe, but by the permission of GOD: and he shall pour out +his indignation on those who will not understand. + Say, Consider whatever is in heaven and on earth: but signs are of no +avail, neither preachers, unto people who will not believe. + Do they therefore expect any other than some terrible judgment, like unto +the judgments which have fallen on those who have gone before them? Say, Wait +ye the issue; and I also will wait with you; + then will we deliver our apostles and those who believe. Thus is it a +justice due from us, that we should deliver the true believers. + Say, O men of Mecca, if ye be in doubt concerning my religion, verily I +worship not the idols which ye worship, besides GOD; but I worship GOD, who +will cause you to die: and I am commanded to be one of the true believers. + And it was said unto me, Set thy face towards the true religion, and be +orthodox; and by no means be one of those who attribute companions unto God; + neither invoke, besides GOD, that which can neither profit thee nor hurt +thee: for if thou do, thou wilt then certainly become one of the unjust. + If GOD afflict thee with hurt, there is none who can relieve thee from +it, except he; and if he willeth thee any good, there is none who can keep +back his bounty: he will confer it on such of his servants as he pleaseth; and +he is gracious and merciful. + Say, O men, now hath the truth come unto you from your LORD. He +therefore who shall be directed, will be directed to the advantage of his own +soul: but he who shall err, will err only against the same. I am no guardian +over you. + Do thou, O prophet, follow that which is revealed unto thee: and +persevere with patience, until GOD shall judge; for he is the best judge. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XI. + +ENTITLED, HUD; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + A.L.R. THIS book, the verses whereof are guarded against corruption, +and are also distinctly explained, is a revelation from the wise, the knowing +God: + that ye serve not any other GOD: (verily I am a denouncer of threats, and +a bearer of good tidings unto you from him;) + and that ye ask pardon of your LORD, and then be turned unto him. He +will cause you to enjoy a plentiful provision, until a prefixed time: and unto +every one that hath merit by good works will he give his abundant reward. +But if ye turn back, verily I fear for you the punishment of the great day: + unto GOD shall ye return; and he is almighty. + Do they not double the folds of their breasts, that they may conceal +their designs from him? When they cover themselves with their garments, +doth not he know that which they conceal, and that which they discover? +For he knoweth the innermost parts of the breasts of men. + There is no creature which creepeth on the earth, but GOD provideth its +food; and he knoweth the place of its retreat, and where it is laid up. The +whole is written in the perspicuous book of his decrees. + It is he who hath created the heavens and the earth in six days, (but his +throne was above the waters before the creation thereof), that he might prove +you, and see which of you would excel in works. If thou say, Ye shall surely be +raised again, after death; the unbelievers will say, This is nothing but manifest +sorcery. + And verily if we defer their punishment unto a determined season, they +will say, What hindereth it from falling on us? Will it not come upon them on +a day, wherein there shall be none to avert it from them; and that which they +scoffed at shall encompass them? + Verily, if we cause man to taste mercy from us, and afterwards take it +away from him; he will surely become desperate, and ungrateful. +10 And if we cause him to taste favor, after an affliction hath befallen +him, he will surely say, The evils which I suffered are passed from me, and he +will become joyful and insolent: + except those who persevere with patience, and do that which is right; +they shall receive pardon, and a great reward. + Peradventure thou wilt omit to publish part of that which hath been +revealed unto thee, and thy breast will become straitened, lest they say, +Unless a treasure be sent down unto him, or an angel come with him, to bear +witness unto him, we will not believe. Verily thou art a preacher only; and +GOD is the governor of all things. + Will they say, He hath forged the Koran? Answer, Bring therefore ten +chapters like unto it, forged by yourselves: and call on whomsoever ye may to +assist you, except GOD, if ye speak truth. + But if they whom ye call to your assistance hear you not; know that this +book hath been revealed by the knowledge of GOD only, and that there is no +GOD but he. Will ye therefore become Moslems? + Whoso chooseth the present life, and the pomp thereof, unto them will we +give the recompense of their works therein, and the same shall not be +diminished unto them. + These are they for whom no other reward is prepared in the next life, +except the fire of hell: that which they have done in this life shall perish; +and that which they have wrought shall be vain. + Shall he therefore be compared with them, who followeth the evident +declaration of his LORD, and whom a witness from him attendeth, preceded by +the book of Moses, which was revealed for a guide, and out of mercy to +mankind? These believe in the Koran: but whosoever of the confederate +infidels believeth not therein, is threatened the fire of hell, which threat +shall certainly be executed: be not therefore in a doubt concerning it; for it +is the truth from thy LORD: but the greater part of men will not believe. + Who is more unjust than he who imagineth a lie concerning GOD? They +shall be set before the LORD, at the day of judgment, and the witnesses shall +say, These are they who devised lies against their LORD. Shall not the curse +of GOD fall on the unjust; + who turn men aside from the way of GOD, and seek to render it crooked, +and who believe not in the life to come? +20 These were not able to prevail against God on earth, so as to escape +punishment; neither had they any protectors besides GOD: their punishment +shall be doubled unto them. They could not hear, neither did they see. + These are they who have lost their souls; and the idols which they +falsely imagined have abandoned them. + There is no doubt but they shall be most miserable in the world to come. + But as for those who believe and do good works, and humble themselves +before their LORD, they shall be the inhabitants of paradise; they shall +remain therein forever. + The similitude of the two parties is as the blind and the deaf, and as +he who seeth and heareth: shall they be compared as equal? Will ye not +therefore consider? + We formerly sent Noah unto his people; and he said, Verily I am a public +preacher unto you; + that ye worship GOD alone; verily I fear for you the punishment of the +terrible day. + But the chiefs of the people, who believed not, answered, We see thee to +be no other than a man, like unto us; and we do not see that any follow thee, +except those who are the most abject among us, who have believed on thee by a +rash judgment; neither do we perceive any excellence in you above us: but we +esteem you to be liars. + Noah said, O my people, tell me; if I have received an evident +declaration from my LORD, and he hath bestowed on me mercy from himself, which +is hidden from you, do we compel you to receive the same, in case ye be averse +thereto? + O my people, I ask not of you riches, for my preaching unto you: my +reward is with GOD alone. I will not drive away those who have believed: +verily they shall meet their LORD, at the resurrection; but I perceive that ye +are ignorant men. +30 O my people, who shall assist me against GOD, if I drive them away? Will +ye not therefore consider? + I say not unto you, The treasures of GOD are in my power; neither do I +say, I know the secrets of God: neither do I say, Verily I am an angel; +neither do I say of those whom your eyes do contemn, GOD will by no means +bestow good on them: (GOD best knoweth that which is in their souls;) for then +should I certainly be one of the unjust. + They answered, O Noah, thou hast already disputed with us, and hast +multiplied disputes with us; now therefore do thou bring that punishment upon +us wherewith thou hast threatened us, if thou speakest truth. + Noah said, Verily GOD alone shall bring it upon you, if he pleaseth; and +ye shall not prevail against him, so as to escape the same. + Neither shall my counsel profit you, although I endeavour to counsel you +aright, if GOD shall please to lead you into error. He is your LORD, and unto +him shall ye return. + Will the Meccans say, Mohammed hath forged the Koran? Answer, If I have +forged it, on me be my guilt: and let me be clear of that which ye are guilty +of. + And it was revealed unto Noah, saying, Verily none of thy people shall +believe, except he who hath already believed: be not therefore grieved, for +that which they are doing. + But make an ark in our presence, according to the form and dimensions +which we have revealed unto thee: and speak not unto me in behalf of those who +have acted unjustly; for they are doomed to be drowned. + And he built the ark; and so often as a company of his people passed by +him, they derided him: but he said, Though ye scoff at us now, we will scoff +at you hereafter, as ye scoff at us; and ye shall surely know + on whom a punishment shall be inflicted, which shall cover him with +shame, and on whom a lasting punishment shall fall. +40 Thus were they employed until our sentence was put in execution, and the +oven poured forth water. And we said unto Noah, Carry into the ark of every +species of animals one pair; and thy family, (except him on whom a previous +sentence of destruction hath passed), and those who believe. But there +believed not with him except a few. + And Noah said, Embark thereon, in the name of GOD; while it moveth +forward, and while it standeth still; for my LORD is gracious and merciful. + And the ark swam with them between waves like mountains: and Noah called +unto his son, who was separated from him, saying, Embark with us, my son, and +stay not with the unbelievers. + He answered, I will get on a mountain, which will secure me from the +water. Noah replied, There is no security this day from the decree of GOD, +except for him on whom he shall have mercy. And a wave passed between them, +and he became one of those who were drowned. + And it was said, O earth, swallow up thy waters, and thou, O heaven, +withhold thy rain. And immediately the water abated, and the decree was +fulfilled, and the ark rested on the mountain Al Judi; and it was said, Away +with the ungodly people! + And Noah called upon his LORD, and said, O LORD, verily my son is of my +family, and thy promise is true; for thou art the most just of those who +exercise judgment. + God answered, O Noah, verily he is not of thy family; this intercession +of thine for him is not a righteous work. Ask not of me therefore that +wherein thou hast no knowledge: I admonish thee that thou become not one of +the ignorant. + Noah said, O LORD, I have recourse unto thee for the assistance of thy +grace, that I ask not of thee that wherein I have no knowledge; and unless +thou forgive me, and be merciful unto me, I shall be one of those who perish. + It was said unto him, O Noah, come down from the ark, with peace from +us, and blessings upon thee, and upon part of those who are with thee: but as +for a part of them, we will suffer them to enjoy the provision of this world; +and afterwards shall a grievous punishment from us be inflicted on them, in +the life to come. + This is a secret history, which we reveal unto thee: thou didst not know +it, neither did thy people, before this. Wherefore persevere with patience: +for the prosperous issue shall attend the pious. +50 And unto the tribe of Ad we sent their brother Hud. He said, O my +people, worship GOD; ye have no GOD besides him: ye only imagine falsehood, +in setting up idols and intercessors of your own making. + O my people, I ask not of you for this my preaching, any recompense: my +recompense do I expect from him only who hath created me. Will ye not +therefore understand? + O my people, ask pardon of your LORD; and be turned unto him: he will +send the heaven to pour forth rain plentifully upon you, and he will increase +your strength by giving unto you farther strength: therefore turn not aside, +to commit evil. + They answered, O Hud, thou hast brought us no proof of what thou sayest; +therefore we will not leave our gods for thy saying, neither do we believe +thee + We say no other than that some of our gods have afflicted thee with +evil. He replied, Verily I call GOD to witness, and do ye also bear witness +that I am clear of that which ye associate + with God, besides him. Do ye all therefore join to devise a plot against +me, and tarry not; + for I put my confidence in GOD, my LORD and your LORD. There is no +beast, but he holdeth it by its forelock: verily my LORD proceedeth in the +right way. + But if ye turn back, I have already declared unto you that with which I +was sent unto you: and my LORD shall substitute another nation in your stead; +and ye shall not hurt him at all: for my LORD is guardian over all things. + And when our sentence came to be put in execution, we delivered Hud, and +those who had believed with him, through our mercy; and we delivered them +from a grievous punishment. + And this tribe of Ad wittingly rejected the signs of their LORD, and were +disobedient unto his messengers, and they followed the command of every +rebellious perverse person. +60 Wherefore they were followed in this world by a curse, and they shall be +followed by the same on the day of resurrection. Did not Ad disbelieve in +their LORD? Was it not said, Away with Ad, the people of Hud? + And unto the tribe of Thamud we sent their brother Saleh. He said unto +them, O my people, worship GOD; ye have no GOD besides him. It is he who hath +produced you out of the earth, and hath given you an habitation therein. Ask +pardon of him therefore, and be turned unto him; for my LORD is near, and +ready to answer. + They answered, O Saleh, thou wast a person on whom we placed our hopes +before this. Dost thou forbid us to worship that which our fathers +worshipped? But we are certainly in doubt concerning the religion to which +thou dost invite us, as justly to be suspected. + Saleh said, O my people, tell me; if I have received an evident +declaration from my LORD, and he hath bestowed on me mercy from himself; who +will protect me from the vengeance of GOD, if I be disobedient unto him? For +ye shall not add unto me, other than loss. + And he said, O my people, this she-camel of GOD is a sign unto you; +therefore dismiss her freely, that she may feed in GOD'S earth, and do her no +harm, lest a swift punishment seize you. + Yet they killed her; and Saleh said, Enjoy yourselves in your dwellings +for three days: after which ye shall be destroyed. This is an infallible +prediction. + And when our decree came to be executed, we delivered Saleh and those who +believed with him, through our mercy, from the disgrace of that day; for thy +LORD is the strong, the mighty God. + But a terrible noise from heaven assailed those who had acted unjustly; +and in the morning they were found in their houses, lying dead and prostrate: + as though they had never dwelt therein. Did not Thamud disbelieve in +their LORD? Was not Thamud cast far away? + Our messengers also came formerly unto Abraham, with good tidings: they +said, Peace be upon thee. And he answered, and on you be Peace! And he +tarried not, but brought a roasted calf. +70 And when he saw that their hands did not touch the meat, he misliked +them, and entertained a fear of them. But they said, Fear not: for we are +sent unto the people of Lot. + And his wife Sarah was standing by, and she laughed; and we promised +her Isaac, and after Isaac, Jacob. + She said, Alas! shall I bear a son, who am old; this my husband also +being advanced in years? Verily this would be a wonderful thing. + The angels answered, Dost thou wonder at the effect of the command of +GOD? The mercy of God and his blessings be upon you, the family of the +house: for he is praiseworthy, and to be glorified. + And when his apprehension had departed from Abraham, and the good tidings +of Isaac's birth had come unto him, he disputed with us concerning the people +of Lot; + for Abraham was a pitiful, compassionate, and devout person. + The angels said unto him, O Abraham, abstain from this; for now is the +command of thy LORD come, to put their sentence in execution, and an +inevitable punishment is ready to fall upon them. + And when our messengers came unto Lot, he was troubled for them, and his +arm was straightened concerning them; and he said, This is a grievous day. + And his people came unto him, rushing upon him, and they had formerly +been guilty of wickedness. Lot said unto them, O my people, these my +daughters are more lawful for you: therefore fear GOD, and put me not to shame +by wronging my guests. Is there not a man of prudence among you? + They answered, Thou knowest that we have no need of thy daughters; and +thou well knowest what we would have. +80 He said, If I had strength sufficient to oppose you, or I could have +recourse unto a powerful support, I would certainly do it. + The angels said, O Lot, verily we are the messengers of thy LORD; they +shall by no means come in unto thee. Go forth, therefore, with thy family, +in some part of the night, and let not any of you turn back: but as for thy +wife, that shall happen unto her, which shall happen unto them. Verily the +prediction of their punishment shall be fulfilled in the morning: is not the +morning near? + And when our command came, we turned those cities upside down, and we +rained upon them stones of baked clay, one following another, + and being marked from thy LORD; and they are not far distant from those +who act unjustly. + And unto Madian we sent their brother Shoaib: he said, O people, worship +GOD: ye have no GOD but him: and diminish not measure and weight. Verily I +see you to be in a happy condition: but I fear for you the punishment of the +day which will encompass the ungodly. + O my people, give full measure and just weight; and diminish not unto men +aught of their matters; neither commit injustice in the earth, acting +corruptly. + The residue which shall remain unto you as the gift of GOD, after ye +shall have done justice to others, will be better for you, than wealth gotten +by fraud, if ye be true believers. I am no guardian over you. + They answered, O Shoaib, do thy prayers enjoin thee, that we should leave +the gods which our fathers worshipped; or that we should not do what we please +with our substance? Thou only, it seems, art the wise person, and fit to +direct. + He said, O my people, tell me: if I have received an evident declaration +from my LORD, and he hath bestowed on me an excellent provision, and I will +not consent unto you in that which I forbid you; do I seek any other than your +reformation, to the utmost of my power? My support is from GOD alone: on him +do I trust, and unto him do I turn me. + O my people, let not your opposing of me draw on you a vengeance like +unto that which fell on the people of Noah, or the people of Hud, or the +people of Saleh: neither was the people of Lot far distant from you. +90 Ask pardon, therefore, of your LORD; and be turned unto him: for my LORD +is merciful and loving. + They answered, O Shoaib, we understand not much of what thou sayest; and +we see thee to be a man of no power among us: if it had not been for the sake +of thy family, we had surely stoned thee, neither couldst thou have prevailed +against us. + Shoaib said, O my people, is my family more worthy in your opinion than +GOD? and do ye cast him behind you with neglect? Verily my LORD comprehendeth +that which ye do. + O my people, do ye work according to your condition; I will surely work +according to my duty. And ye shall certainly know on whom will be inflicted a +punishment which shall cover him with shame, and who is a liar. Wait, therefore, +the event; for I also will wait it with you. + Wherefore, when our decree came to be executed, we delivered Shoaib and +those who believed with him, through our mercy: and a terrible noise from +Heaven assailed those who had acted unjustly; and in the morning they were +found in their houses lying dead and prostrate, + as though they had never dwelt therein. Was not Madian removed from off +the earth, as Thamud had been removed? + And we formerly sent Moses with our signs, and manifest power + unto Pharaoh and his princes; but they followed the command of Pharaoh; +although the command of Pharaoh did not direct them aright. + Pharaoh shall precede his on the day of resurrection, and he shall lead +them into hell fire; an unhappy way shall it be which they shall be led. + They were followed in this life by a curse, and on the day of +resurrection miserable shall be the gift which shall be given them. +100 This is a part of the histories of the cities, which we rehearse unto +thee. Of them there are some standing; and others which are utterly +demolished. + And we treated them not unjustly, but they dealt unjustly with their own +souls: and their gods which they invoked, besides GOD, were of no advantage +unto them at all, when the decree of thy LORD came to be executed on them, +neither were they any other than a detriment unto them. + And thus was the punishment of thy LORD inflicted, when he punished the +cities which were unjust; for his punishment is grievous and severe. + Verily herein is a sign unto him who feareth the punishment of the last +day: that shall be a day, whereon all men shall be assembled, and that shall +be a day whereon witness shall be borne; + we defer it not, but to a determined time. + When that day shall come, no soul shall speak to excuse itself, or to +intercede for another, but by the permission of God. Of them, one shall be +miserable, and another shall be happy. + And they who shall be miserable, shall be thrown into hell fire; there +shall they wail and bemoan themselves: + they shall remain therein so long as the heavens and the earth shall +endure; except what thy LORD shall please to remit of their sentence; for +thy LORD effecteth that which he pleaseth. + But they who shall be happy, shall be admitted into paradise; they shall +remain therein so long as the heavens and the earth endure: besides what thy +LORD shall please to add unto their bliss; a bounty which shall not be +interrupted. + Be not therefore in doubt concerning that which these men worship: they +worship no other than what their fathers worshipped before them; and we will +surely give them their full portion, not in the least diminished. +110 We formerly gave unto Moses the book of the law; and disputes arose +among his people concerning it: and unless a previous decree had proceeded +from thy LORD, to bear with them during this life, the matter had been surely +decided between them. And thy people are also jealous and in doubt concerning +the Koran. + But unto every one of them will thy LORD render the reward of their +works; for he well knoweth that which they do. + Be thou steadfast, therefore, as thou hast been commanded; and let him +also be steadfast who shall be converted with thee; and transgress not; for he +seeth that which ye do. + And incline not unto those who act unjustly, lest the fire of hell touch +you: for ye have no protectors, except GOD; neither shall ye be assisted +against him. + Pray regularly morning and evening; and in the former part of the +night, for good works drive away evils. This is an admonition unto those who +consider: + wherefore persevere with patience; for GOD suffereth not the reward of +the righteous to perish. + Were such of the generations before you, endued with understanding and +virtue, who forbade the acting corruptly in the earth, any more than a few +only of those whom we delivered; but they who were unjust followed the +delights which they enjoyed in this world, and were wicked doers: + and thy LORD was not of such a disposition as to destroy the cities +unjustly, while their inhabitants behaved themselves uprightly. + And if thy LORD pleased, he would have made all men of one religion: but +they shall not cease to differ among themselves, + unless those on whom thy LORD shall have mercy: and unto this hath he +created them; for the word of thy LORD shall be fulfilled, when he said, Verily +I will fill hell altogether with genii and men. +120 The whole which we have related of the histories of our apostles do we +relate unto thee, that we may confirm thy heart thereby; and herein is the +truth come unto thee, and an admonition, and a warning unto the true +believers. + Say unto those who believe not, Act ye according to your condition; we +surely will act according to our duty: + and wait the issue; for we certainly wait it also. + Unto GOD is known that which is secret in heaven and earth; and unto him +shall the whole matter be referred. Therefore worship him, and put thy trust +in him; for thy LORD is not regardless of that which ye do. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ENTITLED, JOSEPH; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + A.L.R. These are the signs of the perspicuous book; + which we have sent down in the Arabic tongue, that, peradventure, ye +might understand. + We relate unto thee a most excellent history, by revealing unto thee this +Koran, whereas thou wast before one of the negligent. + When Joseph said unto his father, O my father, verily I saw in my dream +eleven stars, and the sun and the moon; I saw them make obeisance unto me: + Jacob said, O my child, tell not thy vision to thy brethren, lest they +devise some plot against thee; for the devil is a professed enemy unto man; + and thus, according to thy dream, shall thy LORD choose thee, and teach +thee the interpretation of dark sayings, and he shall accomplish his favor +upon thee and upon the family of Jacob, as he hath formerly accomplished it +upon thy fathers Abraham and Isaac; for thy LORD is knowing and wise. + Surely in the history of Joseph and his brethren there are signs of GOD's +providence to the inquisitive; + when they said to one another, Joseph and his brother are dearer to our +father than we, who are the greater number: our father certainly maketh a +wrong judgment. + Wherefore slay Joseph, or drive him into some distant or desert part of +the earth, and the face of your father shall be cleared towards you; and ye +shall afterwards be people of integrity. +10 One of them spoke and said; Slay not Joseph, but throw him to the +bottom of the well; and some travellers will take him up, if ye do this. + They said unto Jacob, O father, why dost thou not intrust Joseph with us, +since we are sincere well-wishers unto him? + Send him with us to-morrow, into the field, that he may divert himself, +and sport, and we will be his guardians. + Jacob answered, It grieveth me that ye take him away; and I fear lest the +wolf devour him, while ye are negligent of him. + They said, Surely if the wolf devour him, when there are so many of us, +we shall be weak indeed. + And when they had carried him with them, and agreed to set him at the +bottom of the well, they executed their design: and we sent a revelation unto +him, saying, Thou shalt hereafter declare this their action unto them; and +they shall not perceive thee to be Joseph. + And they came to their father at even, weeping, + and said, Father, we went and ran races with one another, and we left +Joseph with our baggage, and the wolf hath devoured him; but thou wilt not +believe us, although we speak the truth. + And they produced his inner garment stained with false blood. Jacob +answered, Nay, but ye yourselves have contrived the thing for your own sakes: +however patience is most becoming, and GOD'S assistance is to be implored to +enable me to support the misfortune which ye relate. + And certain travellers came, and sent one to draw water for them; and +he let down his bucket, and said, Good news! this is a youth. And they +concealed him, that they might sell him as a piece of merchandise: but GOD +knew that which they did. +20 And they sold him for a mean price, for a few pence, and valued him +lightly. + And the Egyptian who bought him said to his wife, Use him honourably; +peradventure he may be serviceable to us, or we may adopt him for our son. +Thus did we prepare an establishment for Joseph in the earth, and we taught +him the interpretation of dark sayings: for GOD is well able to effect his +purpose; but the greater part of men do not understand. + And when he had attained his age of strength, we bestowed on him wisdom, +and knowledge; for thus do we recompense the righteous. + And she, in whose house he was, desired him to lie with her; and she shut +the doors and said, Come hither. He answered, GOD forbid! verily my lord +hath made my dwelling with him easy; and the ungrateful shall not prosper. + But she resolved within herself to enjoy him, and he would have resolved +to enjoy her, had he not seen the evident demonstration of his LORD. So we +turned away evil and filthiness from him, because he was one of our sincere +servants. + And they ran to get one before the other to the door; and she rent his +inner garment behind. And they met her lord at the door. She said, What +shall be the reward of him who seeketh to commit evil in thy family, but +imprisonment, and a painful punishment? + And Joseph said, She asked me to lie with her. And a witness of her +family bore witness, saying, If his garment be rent before, she speaketh +truth, and he is a liar: + but if his garment be rent behind, she lieth, and he is a speaker of +truth. + And when her husband saw that his garment was torn behind, he said, This +is a cunning contrivance of your sex; for surely your cunning is great. + O Joseph, take no farther notice of this affair: and thou, O woman, ask +pardon for thy crime; for thou art a guilty person. +30 And certain women said publicly in the city, The nobleman's wife asked +her servant to lie with her; he hath inflamed her breast with his love; and we +perceive her to be in manifest error. + And when she heard of their subtle behaviour, she sent unto them, and +prepared a banquet for them, and she gave to each of them a knife; and she +said unto Joseph, Come forth unto them. And when they saw him, they praised +him greatly; and they cut their own hands, and said, O GOD! this is not a +mortal; he is no other than an angel, deserving the highest respect. + And his mistress said, This is he, for whose sake ye blamed me: I asked +him to lie with me, but he constantly refused. But if he do not perform that +which I command him, he shall surely be cast into prison, and he shall be made +one of the contemptible. + Joseph said, O LORD, a prison is more eligible unto me than the crime to +which they invite me; but unless thou turn aside their snares from me, I shall +youthfully incline unto them, and I shall become one of the foolish. + Wherefore his LORD heard him, and turned aside their snare from him; for +he both heareth and knoweth. + And it seemed good unto them even after they had seen the signs of +innocency, to imprison him for a time. + And there entered into the prison with him two of the king's servants. +One of them said, it seemed to me in my dream that I pressed wine out of +grapes. And the other said, It seemed unto me in my dream that I carried +bread on my head, whereof the birds did eat. Declare unto us the +interpretation of our dreams, for we perceive that thou art a beneficent +person. + Joseph answered, No food, wherewith ye may be nourished, shall come unto +you, but I will declare unto you the interpretation thereof, before it come +unto you. This knowledge is a part of that which my LORD hath taught me: for +I have left the religion of people 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. +It is not lawful for us to associate anything with GOD. This knowledge of the +divine unity hath been given us of the bounty of GOD towards us, and towards +mankind; but the greater part of men are not thankful. + O my fellow-prisoners, are sundry lords better, or the only true and +mighty GOD? +40 Ye worship not, besides him other than the names which ye have named, +ye and your fathers, concerning which GOD hath sent down no authoritative +proof: yet judgment belongeth unto GOD alone; who hath commanded that ye +worship none besides him. This is the right religion; but the greater part of +men know it not. + O my fellow-prisoners, verily the one of you shall serve wine unto his +lord, as formerly; but the other shall be crucified, and the birds shall eat +from off his head. The matter is decreed, concerning which ye seek to be +informed. + And Joseph said unto him whom he judged to be the person who should +escape of the two, Remember me in the presence of thy lord. But the devil +caused him to forget to make mention of Joseph unto his lord; wherefore he +remained in the prison some years. + And the king of Egypt said, Verily, I saw in my dream seven fat kine, +which seven lean kine devoured, and seven green ears of corn, and other seven +withered ears. O nobles, expound my vision unto me, if ye be able to +interpret a vision. + They answered, They are confused dreams, neither are we skilled in the +interpretation of such kind of dreams. + And Joseph's fellow-prisoner who had been delivered, said, (for he +remembered Joseph after a certain space of time,) I will declare unto you the +interpretation thereof; wherefore let me go unto the person who will interpret +it unto me. + And he went to the prison, and said, O Joseph, thou man of veracity, +teach us the interpretation of seven fat kine, which seven lean kine devoured; +and of seven green ears of corn, and other seven withered ears, which the king +saw in his dream; that I may return unto the men who have sent me, that +peradventure they may understand the same. + Joseph answered, Ye shall sow seven years as usual: and the corn which ye +shall reap, do ye leave in its ear, except a little whereof ye may eat. + Then shall there come, after this, seven grievous years of famine, which +shall consume what ye shall have laid up as a provision for the same, except a +little which ye shall have kept. + Then shall there come, after this, a year wherein men shall have plenty +of rain, and wherein they shall press wine and oil. +50 And when the chief butler had reported this, the king said, Bring him +unto me. And when the messenger came unto Joseph, he said, Return unto thy +lord, and ask of him, what was the intent of the women who cut their hands; +for my LORD well knoweth the snare which they laid for me. + And when the women were assembled before the king, he said unto them, +What was your design, when ye solicited Joseph to unlawful love? They +answered, GOD be praised! we know not any ill of him. The nobleman's wife +said, Now is the truth become manifest: I solicited him to lie with me; and he +is one of those who speak truth. + And when Joseph was acquainted therewith, he said, This discovery hath +been made, that my lord might know that I was not unfaithful unto him in his +absence, and that God directeth not the plot of the deceivers. + Neither do I absolutely justify myself: since every soul is prone unto +evil, except those on whom my LORD shall show mercy; for my LORD is gracious +and merciful. + And the king said, Bring him unto me: I will take him into my own +peculiar service. And when Joseph was brought unto the king, and he had +discoursed with him, he said, Thou art this day firmly established with us, +and shalt be intrusted with our affairs. + Joseph answered, Set me over the storehouses of the land; for I will be a +skilful keeper thereof. + Thus did we establish Joseph in the land, that he might provide himself a +dwelling therein, where he pleased. We bestow our mercy on whom we please, +and we suffer not the reward of the righteous to perish: + and certainly the reward of the next life is better, for those who +believe, and fear God. + Moreover, Joseph's brethren came, and went in unto him; and he knew +them, but they knew not him. + And when he had furnished them with their provisions, he said, Bring unto +me your brother, the son of your father; do ye not see that I give full +measure, and that I am the most hospitable receiver of guests? +60 But if ye bring him not unto me, there shall be no corn measured unto +you from me, neither shall ye approach my presence. + They answered, We will endeavour to obtain him of his father, and we will +certainly perform what thou requirest. + And Joseph said to his servants, Put their money, which they have paid +for their corn; into their sacks, that they may perceive it, when they shall +be returned to their family: peradventure they will come back unto us. + And when they were returned unto their father, they said, O father, it is +forbidden to measure out corn unto us any more, unless we carry our brother +Benjamin with us: wherefore send our brother with us, and we shall have corn +measured unto us; and we will certainly guard him from any mischance. + Jacob answered, Shall I trust him with you with any better success than I +trusted your brother Joseph with you heretofore? But GOD is the best +guardian; and he is the most merciful of those that show mercy. + And when they opened their provision, they found their money had been +returned unto them; and they said, O father, what do we desire farther? this +our money hath been returned unto us; we will therefore return, and provide +corn for our family: we will take care of our brother; and we shall receive a +camel's burden more than we did the last time. This is a small quantity. + Jacob said, I will by no means send him with you, until ye give me a +solemn promise, and swear by GOD that ye will certainly bring him back unto +me, unless ye be encompassed by some inevitable impediment. And when they +had given him their solemn promise, he said, GOD is witness of what we say. + And he said, My sons, enter not into the city by one and the same gate; +but enter by different gates. But this precaution will be of no advantage +unto you against the decree of GOD; for judgment belongeth unto GOD alone: +in him do I put my trust, and in him let those confide who seek in whom to put +their trust. + And when they entered the city, as their father had commanded them, it +was of no advantage unto them against the decree of GOD; and the same +served only to satisfy the desire of Jacob's soul, which he had charged them +to perform: for he was endued with knowledge of that which we had taught him; +but the greater part of men do not understand. + And when they entered into the presence of Joseph, he received his +brother Benjamin as his guest, and said, Verily I am thy brother, be not +therefore afflicted for that which they have committed against us. +70 And when he had furnished them with their provisions, he put his cup in +his brother Benjamin's sack. Then a crier cried after them, saying, O company +of travellers, ye are surely thieves. + They said, (and turned back unto them,) What is it that ye miss? + They answered, We miss the prince's cup: and unto him who shall produce +it, shall be given a camel's load of corn, and I will be surety for the same. + Joseph's brethren replied, By GOD, ye do well know, that we come not to +act corruptly in the land, neither are we thieves. + The Egyptians said, What shall be the reward of him, who shall appear to +have stolen the cup, if ye be found liars? + Joseph's brethren answered, As to the reward of him, in whose sack it +shall be found, let him become a bondman in satisfaction of the same: thus do +we reward the unjust, who are guilty of theft. + Then he began by their sacks, before he searched the sack of his +brother; and he drew out the cup from his brother's sack. Thus did we +furnish Joseph with a stratagem. It was not lawful for him to take his +brother for a bondman, by the law of the king of Egypt, had not GOD pleased +to allow it, according to the offer of his brethren. We exalt to degrees of +knowledge and honour whom we please: and there is one who is knowing above all +those who are endued with knowledge. + His brethren said, If Benjamin be guilty of theft, his brother Joseph +hath been also guilty of theft heretofore. But Joseph concealed these things +in his mind, and did not discover them unto them: and he said within himself, +Ye are in a worse condition than us two; and GOD best knoweth what ye +discourse about. + They said unto Joseph, Noble lord, verily this lad hath an aged father; +wherefore take one of us in his stead; for we perceive that thou art a +beneficent person. + Joseph answered, GOD forbid that we should take any other than him with +whom we found our goods; for then should we certainly be unjust. +80 And when they despaired of obtaining Benjamin, they retired to confer +privately together. And the elder of them said, Do ye not know that your +father hath received a solemn promise from you, in the name of GOD, and how +perfidiously ye behaved heretofore towards Joseph? Wherefore I will by no +means depart the land of Egypt, until my father give me leave to return unto +him, or GOD maketh known his will to me; for he is the best judge. + Return ye to your father, and say, O father, verily thy son hath +committed theft; we bear witness of no more than what we know, and we could +not guard against what we did not foresee: + and do thou inquire in the city, where we have been, and of the company +of merchants, with whom we are arrived, and thou wilt find that we speak the +truth. + And when they were returned, and had spoken thus to their father, he +said, Nay, but rather ye yourselves have contrived the thing for your own +sakes, but patience is most proper for me; peradventure GOD will restore them +all unto me; for he is knowing and wise. + And he turned from them and said, Oh how I am grieved for Joseph! And +his eyes became white with mourning, he being oppressed with deep sorrow. + His sons said, By GOD, thou wilt not cease to remember Joseph until thou +be brought to death's door, or thou be actually destroyed by excessive +affliction. + He answered, I only represent my grief, which I am not able to contain, +and my sorrow unto GOD, but I know by revelation from GOD that which ye +know not. + O my sons, go and make inquiry after Joseph and his brother; and despair +not of the mercy of GOD; for none despaireth of GOD's mercy, except the +unbelieving people. + Wherefore Joseph's brethren returned into Egypt: and when they came +into his presence, they said, Noble lord, the famine is felt by us and our family, +and we are come with a small sum of money: yet give unto us full measure, +and bestow corn upon us as alms; for GOD rewardeth the almsgivers. + Joseph said unto them, Do ye know what ye did unto Joseph and his +brother, when ye were ignorant of the consequences thereof? +90 They answered, Art thou really Joseph? He replied, I am Joseph; and +this is my brother. Now hath GOD been gracious unto us. For whoso feareth +God, and persevereth with patience, shall at length find relief; since GOD +will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish. + They said, By GOD, now hath GOD chosen thee above us; and we have surely +been sinners. + Joseph answered, Let there be no reproach cast on you this day. GOD +forgiveth you; for he is the most merciful of those who show mercy. + Depart ye with this my inner garment, and throw it on my father's face; +and he shall recover his sight: and then come unto me with all your family. + And when the company of travellers was departed from Egypt on their +journey towards Canaan, their father said, unto those who were about him, +Verily I perceive the smell of Joseph; although ye think that I dote. + They answered, By GOD, thou art in thy old mistake. + But when the messenger of good tidings was come with Joseph's inner +garment, he threw it over his face; and he recovered his eyesight. + And Jacob said, Did I not tell you that I knew from GOD, that which ye +knew not? + They answered, O father, ask pardon of our sins for us, for we have +surely been sinners. + He replied, I will surely ask pardon for you of my LORD; for he is +gracious and merciful. + And when Jacob and his family arrived in Egypt, and were introduced unto +Joseph, he received his parents unto him, and said, Enter ye into Egypt, by +GOD'S favor, in full security. +100 And he raised his parents to the seat of state, and they, together with +his brethren, fell down and did obeisance unto him. And he said, O my father, +this is the interpretation of my vision, which I saw heretofore: now hath my +LORD rendered it true. And he hath surely been gracious unto me, since he +took me forth from the prison, and hath brought you hither from the desert; +after that the devil had sown discord between me any my brethren: for my +LORD is gracious unto whom he pleaseth; and he is the knowing, the wise God. + O LORD, thou hast given me a part of the kingdom, and hast taught me the +interpretation of dark sayings. The Creator of heaven and earth! thou art my +protector in this world, and in that which is to come: make me to die a +Moslem, and join me with the righteous. + This is a secret history which we reveal unto thee, O Mohammed, although +thou wast not present with the brethren of Joseph, when they concerted their +design, and contrived a plot against him. + But the greater part of men, although they earnestly desire it, will not +believe. + Thou shalt not demand of them any reward for thy publishing the Koran; it +is no other than an admonition unto all creatures. + And how many signs soever there be of the being, unity, and providence of +God, in the heavens and the earth; they will pass by them, and will retire +afar off from them. + And the greater part of them believe not in GOD, without being also +guilty of idolatry. + Do they not believe that some overwhelming affliction shall fall on them, +as a punishment from GOD; or that the hour of judgment shall overtake them +suddenly, when they consider not its approach? + Say unto those of Mecca, This is my way: I invite you unto GOD, by an +evident demonstration; both I and he who followeth me; and, praise be unto +GOD! I am not an idolater. + We sent not any apostles before thee, except men, unto whom we revealed +our will, and whom we chose out of those who dwelt in cities. Will they not +go through the earth, and see what hath been the end of those who have +preceded them? But the dwelling of the next life shall surely be better for +those who fear God. Will they not therefore understand? +110 Their predecessors were borne with for a time, until, when our apostles +despaired of their conversion, and they thought that they were liars, our help +came unto them, and we delivered whom we pleased; but our vengeance was not +turned away from the wicked people. + Verily in the histories of the prophets and their people, there is an +instructive example unto those who are endued with understanding. The Koran +is not a new invented fiction: but a confirmation of those scriptures which +have been revealed before it, and a distinct explication of everything +necessary in respect either to faith or practice, and a direction and mercy +unto people who believe. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +ENTITLED, THUNDER; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + A.L.M.R. These are the signs of the book of the Koran: and that which +hath been sent down unto thee from thy LORD is the truth; but the greater part +of men will not believe. + It is GOD who hath raised the heavens without visible pillars; and then +ascended his throne, and compelled the sun and the moon to perform their +services; every of the heavenly bodies runneth an appointed course. He +ordereth all things. He showeth his signs distinctly, that ye may be assured +ye must meet your LORD at the last day. + It is he who hath stretched forth the earth, and placed therein steadfast +mountains, and rivers; and hath ordained therein of every fruit two different +kinds. He causeth the night to cover the day. Herein are certain signs unto +people who consider. + And in the earth are tracts of land of different natures, though +bordering on each other; and also vineyards, and seeds, and palm-trees +springing several from the same root, and singly from distinct roots. They +are watered with the same water, yet we render some of them more excellent +than others to eat. Herein are surely signs unto people who understand. + If thou dost wonder at the infidels denying the resurrection, surely +wonderful is their saying, After we shall have been reduced to dust, shall we +be restored in a new creature? These are they who believe not in their LORD: +these shall have collars on their necks, and these shall be the inhabitants of +hell fire: therein shall they abide for ever. + They will ask of thee to hasten evil rather than good: although there +have already been examples of the divine vengeance before them. Thy LORD is +surely endued with indulgence towards men, notwithstanding their iniquity; but +thy LORD is also severe in punishing. + The infidels say, Unless a sign be sent down unto him from his LORD, we +will not believe. Thou art commissioned to be a preacher only, and not a +worker of miracles: and unto every people hath a director been appointed. + GOD knoweth what every female beareth in her womb; and what the wombs +want or exceed of their due time, or number of young. With him is everything +regulated according to a determined measure. + He knoweth that which is hidden, and that which is revealed. He is the +great, the most high. +10 He among you who concealeth his words, and he who proclaimeth them in +public; he also who seeketh to hide himself in the night, and he who goeth +forth openly in the day, is equal in respect to the knowledge of God. + Each of them hath angels mutually succeeding each other, before him, and +behind him; they watch him by the command of GOD. Verily GOD will not change +his grace which is in men, until they change the disposition in their souls by +sin. When GOD willeth evil on a people there shall be none to avert it; +neither shall they have any protector beside him. + It is he who causeth the lightning to appear unto you, to strike fear, +and to raise hope, and who formeth the pregnant clouds. + The thunder celebrateth his praise, and the angels also, for fear of +him. He sendeth his thunderbolts, and striketh therewith whom he pleaseth, +while they dispute concerning GOD; for he is mighty in power. + It is he who ought of right to be invoked; and the idols, which they +invoke besides him, shall not hear them at all; otherwise than as he is heard, +who stretcheth forth his hands to the water that it may ascend to his mouth, +when it cannot ascend thither: the supplication of the unbelievers is utterly +erroneous. + Whatsoever is in heaven and on earth worshippeth GOD, voluntarily or of +force; and their shadows also, morning and evening. + Say, Who is the LORD of heaven and earth? Answer, GOD. Say, Have ye, +therefore, taken unto yourselves protectors beside him, who are unable either +to help, or to defend themselves from hurt? Say, Shall the blind and the +seeing be esteemed equal? or shall darkness and light be accounted the same? +or have they attributed companions unto GOD who have created as he hath +created, so that their creation bear any resemblance unto his? Say, GOD is +the creator of all things; he is the one, the victorious God. + He causeth water to descend from heaven, and the brooks flow according to +their respective measure, and the floods bear the floating froth: and from the +metals which they melt in the fire, seeking to cast ornaments or vessels for +use, there ariseth a scum like unto it. Thus GOD setteth forth truth and +vanity. But the scum is thrown off, and that which is useful to mankind +remaineth on the earth. Thus doth GOD put forth parables. + Unto those who obey their LORD shall be given the most excellent reward: +but those who obey him not, although they were possessed of whatever is in +the whole earth and as much more, they would give it all for their ransom. +These will be brought to a terrible account: their abode shall be hell; an unhappy +couch shall it be! + Shall he, therefore, who knoweth that what hath been sent down unto thee +from thy LORD, is truth, be rewarded as he who is blind? The prudent only +will consider; +20 who fulfil the covenant of GOD, and break not their contract; + and who join that which GOD hath commanded to be joined, and who fear +their LORD, and dread an ill account; + and who persevere out of a sincere desire to please their LORD, and +observe the stated times of prayer, and give alms out of what we have bestowed +on them, in secret and openly, and who turn away evil with good: the reward of +these shall be paradise, + gardens of eternal abode, which they shall enter, and also whoever shall +have acted uprightly, of their fathers, and their wives, and their posterity: +and the angels shall go in unto them by every gate, + saying, Peace be upon you, because ye have endured with patience; how +excellent a reward is paradise! + But as for those who violate the covenant of GOD, after the establishment +thereof, and who cut in sunder that which GOD hath commanded to be joined, and +act corruptly in the earth, on them shall a curse fall, and they shall have a +miserable dwelling in hell. + GOD giveth provision in abundance unto whom he pleaseth, and is sparing +unto whom he pleaseth. Those of Mecca rejoice in the present life; although +the present life, in respect of the future, is but a precarious provision. + The infidels say, Unless a sign be sent down unto him from his LORD, we +will not believe. Answer, Verily, GOD will lead into error whom he pleaseth, +and will direct unto himself him who repenteth, + and those who believe, and whose hearts rest securely in the meditation +of GOD; shall not men's hearts rest securely in the meditation of GOD? They +who believe and do that which is right shall enjoy blessedness, and partake of +a happy resurrection. +30 Thus have we sent thee to a nation which other nations have preceded +unto whom prophets have likewise been sent, that thou mayest rehearse unto +them that which we have revealed unto thee, even while they believe not in the +merciful God. Say unto them, He is my LORD; there is no GOD but he: in him do +I trust, and unto him must I return. + Though a Koran were revealed by which mountains should be removed, or +the earth cleaved in sunder, or the dead be caused to speak, it would be in +vain. But the matter belongeth wholly unto GOD. Do not, therefore, the +believers know, that if GOD pleased, he would certainly direct all men? Adversity +shall not cease to afflict the unbelievers for that which they have committed, +or to sit down near their habitations, until GOD'S promise come; for GOD is not +contrary to the promise. + Apostles before thee have been laughed to scorn; and I permitted the +infidels to enjoy a long and happy life: but afterwards I punished them; and +how severe was the punishment which I inflicted on them! + Who is it, therefore, that standeth over every soul, to observe that +which it committeth? They attribute companions unto GOD. Say, Name them: +will ye declare unto him that which he knoweth not in the earth? or will ye +name them in outward speech only? But the deceitful procedure of the +infidels was prepared for them; and they are turned aside from the right path: +for he whom GOD shall cause to err, shall have no director. + They shall suffer a punishment in this life; but the punishment of the +next shall be more grievous: and there shall be none to protect them against +GOD. + This is the description of paradise, which is promised to the pious. It +is watered by rivers; its food is perpetual, and its shade also: this shall be +the reward of those who fear God. But the reward of the infidels shall be +hell fire. Those to whom we have given the scriptures, rejoice at what hath +been revealed unto thee. Yet there are some of the confederates who deny +part thereof. Say unto them, Verily I am commanded to worship GOD alone; +and to give him no companion: upon him do I call, and unto him shall I return. + To this purpose have we sent down the Koran a rule of judgment, in the +Arabic language. And verily, if thou follow their desires, after the +knowledge which hath been given thee, there shall be none to defend or protect +thee against GOD. + We have formerly sent apostles before thee, and bestowed on them wives +and children; and no apostle had the power to come with a sign, unless by the +permission of GOD. Every age hath its book of revelation: + GOD shall abolish and shall confirm what he pleaseth. With him is the +original of the book. +40 Moreover, whether we cause thee to see any part of that punishment +wherewith we have threatened them, or whether we cause thee to die before +it be inflicted on them, verily unto thee belongeth preaching only, but unto us +inquisition. + Do they not see that we come into their land, and straighten the borders +thereof, by the conquests of the true believers? When GOD judgeth, there is +none to reverse his judgment: and he will be swift in taking an account. + Their predecessors formerly devised subtle plots against their prophets; +but GOD is master of every subtle device. He knoweth that which every soul +deserveth: and the infidels shall surely know, whose will be the reward of +paradise. + The unbelievers will say, Thou art not sent of God. Answer, GOD is a +sufficient witness between me and you, and he who understandeth the +scriptures. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ENTITLED, ABRAHAM; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + A.L.R. This book have we sent down unto thee, that thou mayest lead men +forth from darkness into light, by the permission of their LORD, into the +glorious and laudable way. + GOD is he unto whom belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth: and +woe be to the infidels, because a grievous punishment waiteth them; + who love the present life above that which is to come, and turn men aside +from the way of GOD, and seek to render it crooked: these are in an error far +distant from the truth. + We have sent no apostle but with the language of his people, that he +might declare their duty plainly unto them; for GOD causeth to err whom he +pleaseth, and directeth whom he pleaseth; and he is the mighty, the wise. + We formerly sent Moses with our signs, and commanded him saying, Lead +forth thy people from darkness into light, and remind them of the favors of +GOD: verily therein are signs unto every patient and grateful person. + And call to mind when Moses said unto his people, Remember the favor of +GOD towards you, when he delivered you from the people of Pharaoh: they +grievously oppressed you; and they slew your male children, but let your +females live: therein was a great trial from your LORD. + And when your LORD declared by the mouth of Moses, saying, If ye be +thankful, I will surely increase my favors towards you; but if ye be +ungrateful, verily my punishment shall be severe. + And Moses said, If ye be ungrateful, and all who are in the earth +likewise; verily GOD needeth not your thanks, though he deserveth the +highest praise. + Hath not the history of the nations your predecessors reached you; +namely, of the people of Noah, and of Ad, and of Thamud, and of those who +succeeded them; whose number none knoweth except GOD? Their apostles +came unto them with evident miracles; but they clapped their hands to their +mouths out of indignation, and said, We do not believe the message with +which ye pretend to be sent; and we are in a doubt concerning the religion +to which ye invite us, as justly to be suspected. +10 Their apostles answered, Is there any doubt concerning GOD, the creator +of heaven and earth? He inviteth you to the true faith that he may forgive +you part of your sins, and may respite your punishment, by granting you space +to repent, until an appointed time. They answered, Ye are but men, like unto +us: ye seek to turn us aside from the gods which our fathers worshipped: +wherefore bring us an evident demonstration by some miracle, that ye speak +truth. + Their apostles replied unto them, We are no other than men like unto you; +but GOD is bountiful unto such of his servants as he pleaseth: and it is not +in our power to give you a miraculous demonstration of our mission, unless by +the permission of GOD; in GOD therefore let the faithful trust. + And what excuse have we to allege, that we should not put our trust in +GOD; since he hath directed us our paths? Wherefore we will certainly suffer +with patience the persecution wherewith ye shall afflict us: in GOD therefore +let those put their confidence who seek in whom to put their trust. + And those who believed not said unto their apostles, We will surely expel +you out of our land; or ye shall return unto our religion. And their LORD +spake unto them by revelation, saying, We will surely destroy the wicked +doers; + and we will cause you to dwell in the earth, after them. This shall be +granted unto him who shall dread the appearance at my tribunal, and shall fear +my threatening. + And they asked assistance of God, and every rebellious perverse person +failed of success. + Hell lieth unseen before him, and he shall have filthy water given him +to drink: + he shall sup it up by little and little, and he shall not easily let it +pass his throat because of its nauseousness; death also shall come upon him +from every quarter, yet he shall not die; and before him shall there stand +prepared a grievous torment. + This is the likeness of those who believe not in their LORD. Their works +are as ashes, which the wind violently scattereth in a stormy day: they shall +not be able to obtain any solid advantage from that which they have wrought. +This is an error most distant from truth. + Dost thou not see that GOD hath created the heavens and the earth in +wisdom? If he please, he can destroy you, and produce a new creature in your +stead: +20 neither will this be difficult with GOD. + And they shall all come forth into the presence of GOD at the last day: +and the weak among them shall say unto those who behaved themselves +arrogantly, Verily we were your followers on earth; will ye not therefore +avert from us some part of the divine vengeance? They shall answer, If +GOD had directed us aright, we had certainly directed you. It is equal unto +us whether we bear our torments impatiently, or whether we endure them +with patience: for we have no way to escape. + And Satan shall say, after judgment shall have been given, Verily GOD +promised you a promise of truth: and I also made you a promise; but I deceived +you. Yet I had not any power over you to compel you; but I called you only, and +ye answered me: wherefore accuse not me, but accuse yourselves. I cannot +assist you; neither can ye assist me. Verily I do now renounce your having +associated me with God heretofore. A grievous punishment is prepared for +the unjust. + But they who shall have believed and wrought righteousness shall be +introduced into gardens, wherein rivers flow, they shall remain therein +forever, by the permission of their LORD; and their salutation therein shall +be, Peace! + Dost thou not see how GOD putteth forth a parable; representing a good +word, as a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed in the earth, and whose +branches reach unto heaven; + which bringeth forth its fruit in all seasons, by the will of its LORD? +GOD propoundeth parables unto men, that they may be instructed. + And the likeness of an evil word is as an evil tree; which is torn up +from the face of the earth, and hath no stability. + GOD shall confirm them who believe, by the steadfast word of faith, both +in this life and in that which is to come: but GOD shall lead the wicked into +error; for GOD doth that which he pleaseth. + Hast thou not considered those who have changed the grace of GOD to +infidelity, and cause their people to descend into the house of perdition, + namely, into hell? They shall be thrown to burn therein; and an unhappy +dwelling shall it be. +30 They also set up idols as co-partners with GOD, that they might cause men +to stray from his path. Say, unto them, Enjoy the pleasures of this life for +a time; but your departure hence shall be into hell fire. + Speak unto my servants who have believed, that they be assiduous at +prayer, and give alms out of that which we have bestowed on them, both +privately and in public; before the day cometh, wherein there shall be no +buying nor selling, neither any friendship. + It is GOD who hath created the heavens and the earth; and causeth water +to descend from heaven, and by means thereof produceth fruits for your +sustenance: and by his command he obligeth the ships to sail in the sea for +your service; and he also forceth the rivers to supply your uses: + he likewise compelleth the sun and the moon, which diligently perform +their courses, to serve you; and hath subjected the day and the night to +your service. + He giveth you of everything which ye ask him; and if ye attempt to reckon +up the favors of GOD, ye shall not be able to compute the same. Surely man +is unjust and ungrateful. + Remember when Abraham said, O LORD, make this land a place of security; +and grant that I and my children may avoid the worship of idols; + for they, O LORD, have seduced a great number of men. Whoever therefore +shall follow me, he shall be of me; and whosoever shall disobey me, verily +thou wilt be gracious and merciful. + O LORD, I have caused some of my offspring to settle in an unfruitful +valley, near the holy house, O LORD, that they may be constant at prayer. +Grant, therefore, that the hearts of some men may be affected with kindness +toward them; and do thou bestow on them all sorts of fruits, that they may +give thanks. + O LORD, thou knowest whatsoever we conceal, and whatsoever we publish; +for nothing is hidden from GOD, either on earth or in heaven. + Praise be unto GOD, who hath given me, in my old age, Israel and Isaac: +for my LORD is the hearer of supplication. +40 O LORD, grant that I may be an observer of prayer, and a part of my +posterity also, O LORD, and receive my supplication. + O LORD, forgive me, and my parents, and the faithful, on the day whereon +an account shall be taken. + Think not, O prophet, that GOD is regardless of what the ungodly do. He +only deferreth their punishment unto the day whereon men's eyes shall be +fixed: + they shall hasten forward, at the voice of the angel calling to judgment, +and shall lift up their heads; they shall not be able to turn their sight from +the object whereon it shall be fixed, and their hearts shall be void of sense, +through excessive terror. + Wherefore do thou threaten men with the day, whereon their punishment +shall be inflicted on them, and whereon those who have acted unjustly shall +say, O LORD, give us respite unto a term near at hand; and we will obey thy +call, and we will follow thy apostles. But it shall be answered unto them, Did +ye not swear heretofore, that no reverse should befall you? + yet ye dwelt in the dwellings of those who had treated their own souls +unjustly; and it appeared plainly unto you how we had dwelt with them; and +we propounded their destruction as examples unto you. + They employ their utmost subtlety to oppose the truth; but their subtlety +is apparent unto GOD, who is able to frustrate their designs; although their +subtlety were so great, that the mountains might be moved thereby. + Think not, therefore, O prophet, that GOD will be contrary to his promise +of assistance, made unto his apostles; for GOD is mighty, able to avenge. + The day will come, when the earth shall be changed into another earth, +and the heavens into other heavens; and men shall come forth from their +graves to appear before the only, the mighty GOD. + And thou shalt see the wicked on that day bound together in fetters: +50 their inner garments shall be of pitch, and fire shall cover their faces; + that GOD may reward every soul according to what it shall have deserved; for +GOD is swift in taking an account. + This is a sufficient admonition unto men, that they may be warned +thereby, and that they may know that there is but one GOD; and that those who +are endued with understanding may consider. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XV. + +ENTITLED, AL HEJR; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + A.L.R. These are the signs of the book, and of the perspicuous Koran. + The time may come when the unbelievers shall wish that they had been +Moslems. + Suffer them to eat, and to enjoy themselves in this world; and let hope +entertain them, but they shall hereafter know their folly. + We have not destroyed any city, but a fixed term of repentance was +appointed them. + No nation shall be punished before their time shall be come; neither +shall they be respited after. + The Meccans say, O thou to whom the admonition hath been sent down, thou +art certainly possessed with a devil: + wouldest thou not have come unto us with an attendance of angels, if thou +hadst spoken truth? + Answer, We send not down the angels, unless on a just occasion; nor +should they be then respited any longer. + We have surely sent down the Koran; and we will certainly preserve the +same from corruption. +10 We have heretofore sent apostles before thee among the ancient sects: + and there came no apostle unto them, but they laughed him to scorn. + In the same manner will we put it into the hearts of the wicked Meccans +to scoff at their prophet: + they shall not believe on him; and the sentence of the nations of old +hath been executed heretofore. + If we should open a gate in the heaven above them, and they should ascend +theretom all the day long, + they should rather say, Our eyes are only dazzled; or rather we are a +people deluded by enchantments. + We have placed the twelve signs in the heaven, and have set them out in +various figures, for the observation of spectators: + and we guard them from every devil driven away with stones; + except him who listeneth by stealth, at whom a visible flame is darted. + We have also spread forth the earth, and thrown thereon stable mountains, +and we have caused every kind of vegetable to spring forth in the same, +according to a determinate weight: +20 and we have provided therein necessaries of life for you, and for him +whom ye do not sustain. + There is not one thing but the storehouses thereof are in our hands; and +we distribute not the same otherwise than in a determinate measure. + We also send the winds driving the pregnant clouds, and we send down from +heaven water, whereof we give you to drink, and which ye keep not in store. + Verily we give life, and we put to death: and we are the heirs of all +things. + We know those among you who go before; and we know those who stay +behind. + And thy LORD shall gather them together at the last day: for he is +knowing and wise. + We created man of dried clay, of black mud, formed into shape: + and we had before created the devil of subtle fire. + And remember when thy LORD said unto the angels, Verily I am about to +create man of dried clay, of black mud, wrought into shape; + when, therefore, I shall have completely formed him, and shall have +breathed of my spirit into him; do ye fall down and worship him. +30 And all the angels worshipped Adam together, + except Eblis, who refused to be with those who worshipped him. + And God said unto him, O Eblis, what hindered thee from being with those +who worshipped Adam? + He answered, It is not fit that I should worship man, whom thou hast +created of dried clay, of black mud, wrought into shape. + God said, Get thee therefore hence: for thou shalt be driven away with +stones: + and a curse shall be on thee, until the day of judgment. + The devil said, O LORD, Give me respite until the day of resurrection. + God answered, Verily thou shalt be one of those who are respited + until the day of the appointed time. + The devil replied, O LORD, because thou hast seduced me, I will surely +tempt them to disobedience in the earth; +40 and I will seduce such of them as shall be thy chosen servants. + God said, This is the right way with me. + Verily as to my servants, thou shalt have no power over them; but over +those only who shall be seduced, and who shall follow thee. + And hell is surely denounced unto them all: + it hath seven gates; unto every gate a distinct company of them shall be +assigned. + But those who fear God shall dwell in gardens, amidst fountains. + The angels shall say unto them, Enter ye therein in peace and security, + and we will remove all grudges from their breasts; they shall be as +brethren, sitting over against one another on couches; + weariness shall not affect them therein, neither shall they be cast out +thence forever. + Declare unto my servants that I am the gracious, the merciful God; +50 and that my punishment is a grievous punishment. + And relate unto them the history of Abraham's guests. + When they went in unto him, and said, Peace be unto thee, he answered, +Verily we are afraid of you: + and they replied, Fear not; we bring thee the promise of a wise son. + He said, Do ye bring me the promise of a son now old age hath overtaken +me? what is it therefore that ye tell me? + They said, We have told thee the truth; be not therefore one of those who +despair. + He answered, And who despaireth of the mercy of GOD, except those who +err? + And he said, What is your errand, therefore, O messengers of God? + They answered, Verily we are sent to destroy a wicked people; + but as for the family of Lot, we will save them all, +60 except his wife; we have decreed that she shall be one of those who +remain behind to be destroyed with the infidels. + And when the messengers came to the family of Lot, + he said unto them, Verily ye are a people who are unknown to me. + They answered, But we are come unto thee to execute that sentence, +concerning which your fellow-citizens doubted: + we tell thee a certain truth; and we are messengers of veracity. + Therefore lead forth thy family, in some time of the night; and do thou +follow behind them, and let none of you turn back; but go whither ye are +commanded. + And we gave him this command; because the utmost remnant of those people +was to be cut off in the morning. + And the inhabitants of the city came unto Lot, rejoicing at the news of +the arrival of some strangers. + And he said unto them, Verily these are my guests: wherefore do not +disgrace me by abusing them; + but fear GOD, and put me not to shame. +70 They answered, Have we not forbidden thee from entertaining or protecting +any man? + Lot replied, These are my daughters: therefore rather make use of them, +if ye be resolved to do what ye purpose. + As thou livest they wander in their folly. + Wherefore a terrible storm from heaven assailed them at sunrise, + and we turned the city upside down: and we rained on them stones of baked +clay. + Verily herein are signs unto men of sagacity: + and those cities were punished, to point out a right way for men to walk +in. + Verily herein is a sign unto the true believers. + The inhabitants of the wood near Midian were also ungodly. + Wherefore we took vengeance on them. And both of them were destroyed, +to serve as a manifest rule for men to direct their actions by. +80 And the inhabitants of Al Hejr likewise heretofore accused the +messengers of God of imposture: + and we produced our signs unto them, but they retired afar off from the +same. + And they hewed houses out of the mountains, to secure themselves. + But a terrible noise from heaven assailed them in the morning; + neither was what they had wrought of any advantage unto them. + We have not created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is contained +between them, otherwise than in justice: and the hour of judgment shall surely +come. Wherefore O Mohammed, forgive thy people with a gracious forgiveness. + Verily thy LORD is the creator of thee and of them, and knoweth what is +most expedient. + We have already brought unto thee seven verses which are frequently to be +repeated, and the glorious Koran. + Cast not thine eyes on the good things which we have bestowed on several +of the unbelievers, so as to covet the same: neither be thou grieved on their +account. Behave thyself with meekness towards the true believers; + and say, I am a public preacher. +90 If they believe not, we will inflict a like punishment on them, as we +have inflicted on the dividers, + who distinguished the Koran into different parts, + for by thy LORD, we will demand an account from them all + of that which they have wrought. + Wherefore publish that which thou hast been commanded, and withdraw from +the idolaters. + We will surely take thy part against the scoffers, + who associate with GOD another god; they shall surely know their folly. + And now we well know that thou art deeply concerned on account of that +which they say; + but do thou celebrate the praise of thy LORD; and be one of those who +worship; + and serve thy LORD until death shall overtake thee. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +ENTITLED, THE BEE; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + THE sentence of GOD will surely come to be executed; wherefore do not +hasten it. Praise be unto him! and far be that from him which they associate +with him! + He shall cause the angels to descend with a revelation by his command, +unto such of his servants as he pleaseth, saying, Preach that there is no GOD, +except myself; therefore fear me. + He hath created the heavens and the earth, to manifest his justice; far +be that from him which they associate with him! + He hath created man of seed; and yet behold he is a professed disputer +against the resurrection. + He hath likewise created the cattle for you; from them ye have wherewith +to keep yourselves warm, and other advantages; and of them do ye also eat. + And they are likewise a credit unto you, when ye drive them home in the +evening, and when ye lead them forth to feed in the morning: + and they carry your burdens to a distant country, at which ye could not +otherwise arrive, unless with great difficulty to yourselves; for your LORD is +compassionate and merciful. + and he hath also created horses, and mules, and asses, that ye may ride +thereon, and for an ornament unto you; and he likewise created other things +which ye know not. + It appertaineth unto GOD to instruct men in the right way; and there is +who turneth aside from the same: but if he had pleased, he would certainly +have directed you all. +10 It is he who sendeth down from heaven rain water, whereof ye have to +drink, and from which plants, whereon ye feed your cattle, receive their +nourishment. + And by means thereof he causeth corn, and olives, and palm-trees, and +grapes, and all kinds of fruits, to spring forth for you. Surely herein is a +sign of the divine power and wisdom unto people who consider. + And he hath subjected the night and the day to your service; and the sun, +and the moon, and the stars, which are compelled to serve by his command. +Verily herein are signs unto people of understanding. + And he hath also given you dominion over whatever he hath created for you +in the earth, distinguished by its different colour. Surely herein is a sign +unto people who reflect. + It is he who hath subjected the sea unto you, that ye might eat fish +thereout, and take from thence ornaments for you to wear; and thou seest the +ships ploughing the waves thereof, that ye may seek to enrich yourselves of +his abundance, by commerce; and that ye might give thanks. + And he hath thrown upon the earth mountains firmly rooted, lest it should +move with you, and also rivers, and paths, that ye might be directed: + and he hath likewise ordained marks whereby men may know their way; and +they are directed by the stars. + Shall God therefore, who createth, be as he who createth not? Do ye not +therefore consider? + If ye attempt to reckon up the favors of GOD, ye shall not be able to +compute their number; GOD is surely gracious and merciful; + and GOD knoweth that which ye conceal, and that which ye publish. +20 But the idols which ye invoke, besides GOD, create nothing, but are +themselves created. + They are dead, and not living; neither do they understand when they shall +be raised. + Your GOD is one GOD. As to those who believe not in the life to come, +their hearts deny the plainest evidence, and they proudly reject the truth. + There is no doubt but GOD knoweth that which they conceal and that which +they discover. Verily he loveth not the proud. + And when it is said unto them, What hath your LORD sent down unto +Mohammed? they answer, Fables of ancient times. + Thus are they given up to error, that they may bear their own burdens +without diminution on the day of resurrection, and also a part of the burdens +of those whom they caused to err, without knowledge. Will it not be an evil +burden which they shall bear? + Their predecessors devised plots heretofore: but GOD came into their +building, to overthrow it from the foundations; and the roof fell on them from +above, and a punishment came upon them, from whence they did not expect. + Also on the day of resurrection he will cover them with shame; and will +say, Where are my companions, concerning whom ye disputed? Those unto whom +knowledge shall have been given, shall answer, This day shall shame and +misery fall upon the unbelievers. + They whom the angels shall cause to die, having dealt unjustly with +their own souls, shall offer to make their peace in the article of death, +saying, We have done no evil. But the angels shall reply. Yea; verily GOD +well knoweth that which ye have wrought: + wherefore enter the gates of hell, therein to remain forever; and +miserable shall be the abode of the proud. +30 And it shall be said unto those who shall fear God, What hath your LORD +sent down? They shall answer, Good; unto those who do right shall be given an +excellent reward in this world; but the dwelling of the next life shall be +better; and happy shall be the dwelling of the pious! + namely gardens of eternal abode, into which they shall enter; rivers +shall flow beneath the same; therein shall they enjoy whatever they wish. +Thus will GOD recompense the pious. + Unto the righteous, whom the angels shall cause to die, they shall say, +Peace be upon you; enter ye into paradise, as a reward for that which ye have +wrought. + Do the unbelievers expect any other than that the angels come unto them, +to part their souls from their bodies; or that the sentence of thy LORD come +to be executed on them? So did they act who were before them; and GOD was not +unjust towards them in that he destroyed them; but they dealt unjustly with +their own souls: + the evils of that which they committed reached them; and the divine +judgment which they scoffed at fell upon them. + The idolaters say, If GOD had pleased, we had not worshipped anything +besides him, neither had our fathers: neither had we forbidden anything, +without him. So did they who were before them. But is the duty of the +apostles any other than public preaching? + We have heretofore raised up in every nation an apostle to admonish them, +saying, Worship GOD, and avoid TAGHUT. And of them there were some whom GOD +directed, and there were others of them who were decreed to go astray. +Wherefore go through the earth, O tribe of Koreish, and see what hath been the +end of those who accused their apostles of imposture. + If thou, O prophet, dost earnestly wish for their direction; verily GOD +will not direct him whom he hath resolved to lead into error; neither shall +they have any helpers. + And they swear most solemnly by GOD, saying, GOD will not raise the +dead. Yea; the promise thereof is true: but the greater part of men know it +not. + He will raise them that he may clearly show them the truth concerning +which they now disagree, and that the unbelievers may know that they are +liars. +40 Verily our speech unto anything, when we will the same, is, that we only +say unto it, Be; and it is. + As for those who have fled their country for the sake of GOD, after they +had been unjustly persecuted; we will surely provide them an excellent +habitation in this world, but the reward of the next life shall be greater; if +they knew it. + They who persevere patiently, and put their trust in their LORD, shall +not fail of happiness in this life and in that which is to come. + We have not sent any before thee, as our apostles, other than men, unto +whom we spake by revelation. Inquire therefore of those who have the custody +of the scriptures, if ye know not this to be truth. + We sent them with evident miracles, and written revelations; and we have +sent down unto thee this Koran, that thou mayest declare unto mankind that +which hath been sent down unto them, and that they may consider. + Are they who have plotted evil against their prophet secure that GOD will +not cause the earth to cleave under them, or that a punishment will not come +upon them, from whence they do not expect; + or that he will not chastise them while they are busied in travelling +from one place to another, and in traffic? (for they shall not be able to +elude the power of God,) + or that he will not chastise them by a gradual destruction? But your +LORD is truly gracious and merciful in granting you respite. + Do they not consider the things which GOD hath created; whose shadows +are cast on the right hand and on the left, worshipping God, and become +contracted? + Whatever moveth both in heaven and on earth worshippeth GOD, and the +angels also; and they are not elated with pride, so as to disdain his service: +50 they fear their LORD, who is exalted above them, and perform that which +they are commanded. + GOD said, Take not unto yourselves two gods; for there is but one GOD: +and revere me. + Unto him belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth; and unto him is +obedience eternally due. Will ye therefore fear any besides GOD? + Whatever favors ye have received are certainly from GOD; and when evil +afflicteth you, unto him do ye make your supplication; + yet when he taketh the evil from off you, behold, a part of you give a +companion unto their LORD, + to show their ingratitude for the favors we have bestowed on them. +Delight yourselves in the enjoyments of this life: but hereafter shall ye know +that ye cannot escape the divine vengeance. + And they set apart unto idols which have no knowledge, a part of the +food which we have provided for them. By GOD, ye shall surely be called to +account for that which ye have falsely devised. + They attribute daughters unto GOD (far be it from him!) but unto +themselves children of the sex which they desire. + And when any of them is told the news of the birth of a female, his face +becometh black, and he is deeply afflicted: + he hideth himself from the people, because of the ill tidings which have +been told him; considering within himself whether he shall keep it with +disgrace, or whether he shall bury it in the dust. Do they not make an ill +judgment? +60 Unto those who believe not in the next life, the similitude of evil ought +to be applied, and unto GOD the most sublime similitude: for he is mighty and +wise. + If GOD should punish men for their iniquity, he would not leave on the +earth any moving thing: but he giveth them respite unto an appointed time; and +when their time shall come, they shall not be respited an hour, neither shall +their punishment be anticipated. + They attribute unto GOD that which they dislike themselves, and their +tongues utter a lie; namely, that the reward of paradise is for them. There +is no doubt but that the fire of hell is prepared for them, and that they +shall be sent thither before the rest of the wicked. + By GOD, we have heretofore sent messengers unto the nations before thee: +but Satan prepared their works for them; he was their patron in this world, +and in that which is to come they shall suffer a grievous torment. + We have not sent down the book of the Koran unto thee, for any other +purpose, than that thou shouldest declare unto them that truth concerning +which they disagree; and for a direction and mercy unto people who believe. + GOD sendeth down water from heaven, and causeth the earth to revive after +it hath been dead. Verily herein is a sign of the resurrection unto people +who hearken. + Ye have also in cattle an example of instruction: we give you to drink of +that which is in their bellies; a liquor between digested dregs, and blood; +namely, pure milk, which is swallowed with pleasure by those who drink it. + And of the fruits of palm-trees, and of grapes, ye obtain an inebriating +liquor, and also good nourishment. Verily herein is a sign unto people who +understand. + Thy LORD spake by inspiration unto the bee, saying, Provide thee houses +in the mountains, and in the trees, and of those materials wherewith men build +hives for thee: + then eat of every kind of fruit, and walk in the beaten paths of thy +LORD. There proceedeth from their bellies a liquor of various colours, +wherein is a medicine for men. Verily herein is a sign unto people who +consider. +70 GOD hath created you, and he will hereafter cause you to die: and some of +you shall have his life prolonged to a decrepit age, so that he shall forget +whatever he knew; for GOD is wise and powerful. + GOD causeth some of you to excel others in worldly possessions: yet they +who are caused to excel do not give their wealth unto the slaves whom their +right hands possess, that they may become equal sharers therein. Do they +therefore deny the beneficence of GOD? + GOD hath ordained you wives from among yourselves, and of your wives +hath granted you children and grand-children; and hath bestowed on you good +things for food. Will they therefore believe in that which is vain, and +ungratefully deny the goodness of GOD? + They worship, besides GOD, idols which possess nothing wherewith to +sustain them, either in heaven, or on earth; and have no power. + Wherefore liken not anything unto GOD: for GOD knoweth, but ye know not. + GOD propoundeth as a parable a possessed slave, who hath power over +nothing, and him on whom we have bestowed a good provision from us, and who +giveth alms thereout both secretly and openly: shall these two be esteemed +equal? GOD forbid! But the greater part of men know it not. + GOD also propoundeth as a parable two men; one of them born dumb, who is +unable to do or understand anything, but is a burden unto his master; +whithersoever he shall send him, he shall not return with any good success: +shall this man, and he who hath his speech and understanding, and who +commandeth that which is just, and followeth the right way, be esteemed +equal? + Unto GOD alone is the secret of heaven and earth known. And the business +of the last hour shall be only as the twinkling of an eye, or even more +quick: for GOD is almighty. + GOD hath brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers; ye knew +nothing, and he gave you the senses of hearing and seeing, and understandings, +that ye might give thanks. + Do they not behold the fowls which are enabled to fly in the open +firmament of heaven? none supporteth them except GOD. Verily herein are signs +unto people who believe. +80 GOD hath also provided you houses for habitations for you; and hath also +provided you tents of the skins of cattle, which ye find light to be removed +on the day of your departure to new quarters, and easy to be pitched on the +day of your sitting down therein: and of their wool, and their fur, and their +hair, hath he supplied you with furniture and household-stuff for a season. + And GOD hath provided for you, of that which he hath created, +conveniences to shade you from the sun, and he hath also provided you places +of retreat in the mountains, and he hath given you garments to defend you +from the heat, and coats of mail to defend you in your wars. Thus doth he +accomplish his favor towards you, that ye may resign yourselves unto him. + But if they turn back, verily thy duty is public preaching only. + They acknowledge the goodness of GOD, and afterwards they deny the same; +but the greater part of them are unbelievers. + On a certain day we will raise a witness out of every nation: then they +who shall have been unbelievers shall not be suffered to excuse themselves, +neither shall they be received into favor. + And when they who shall have acted unjustly shall see the torment +prepared for them; (it shall not be mitigated unto them, neither shall they be +respited): + and when those who shall have been guilty of idolatry shall see their +false gods, they shall say, O LORD, these are our idols which we invoked, +besides thee. But they shall return an answer unto them, saying, Verily ye +are liars. + And on that day shall the wicked offer submission unto GOD; and the false +deities which they imagined shall abandon them. + As for those who shall have been infidels, and shall have turned aside +others from the way of GOD, we will add unto them punishment upon punishment +because they have corrupted others. + On a certain day we will raise up in every nation a witness against them, +from among themselves; and we will bring thee, O Mohammed, as a witness +against these Arabians. We have sent down unto thee the book of the Koran, +for an explication of everything necessary both as to faith and practice, and +a direction, and mercy, and good tidings unto the Moslems. +90 Verily GOD commandeth justice, and the doing of good, and the giving unto +kindred what shall be necessary; and he forbiddeth wickedness, and iniquity, +and oppression: he admonisheth you that ye may remember. + Perform your covenant with GOD, when ye enter into covenant with him; +and violate not your oaths, after the ratification thereof; since ye have made +GOD a witness over you. Verily GOD knoweth that which ye do. + And be not like unto her who undoeth that which she hath spun, untwisting +it after she hath twisted it strongly; taking your oaths between you +deceitfully, because one party is more numerous than another party. Verily +GOD only tempteth you therein; and he will make that manifest unto you, on the +day of resurrection, concerning which ye now disagree. + If GOD had pleased, he would surely have made you one people: but he +will lead into error whom he pleaseth, and he will direct whom he pleaseth; +and ye shall surely give an account of that which ye have done. + Therefore take not your oaths between you deceitfully lest your foot +slip, after it hath been steadfastly fixed, and ye taste evil in this life, +for that ye have turned aside from the way of GOD; and ye suffer a grievous +punishment in the life to come. + And sell not the covenant of GOD for a small price; for with GOD is a +better recompense prepared for you, if ye be men of understanding. + That which is with you will fail; but that which is with GOD is +permanent: and we will surely reward those who shall persevere, according to +the utmost merit of their actions. + Whoso worketh righteousness, whether he be male or female, and is a true +believer, we will surely raise him to a happy life; and we will give them +their reward, according to the utmost merit of their actions. + When thou readest the Koran, have recourse unto GOD, that he may +preserve thee from Satan driven away with stones; + he hath no power over those who believe, and who put confidence in their +LORD; +100 but his power is over those only who take him for their patron, and who +give companions unto God. + When we substitute in the Koran an abrogating verse in lieu of a verse +abrogated (and GOD best knoweth the fitness of that which he revealeth), the +infidels say, Thou art only a forger of these verses: but the greater part of +them know not truth from falsehood. + Say, The holy spirit hath brought the same down from thy LORD with +truth; that he may confirm those who believe, and for a direction and good +tidings unto the Moslems. + We also know that they say, Verily, a certain man teacheth him to compose +the Koran. The tongue of the person unto whom they incline is a foreign +tongue; but this, wherein the Koran is written, is the perspicuous Arabic +tongue. + Moreover as for those who believe not the signs of GOD, GOD will not +direct them, and they shall suffer a painful torment: + verily they imagine a falsehood who believe not in the signs of GOD, and +they are really the liars. + Whoever denieth GOD, after he hath believed, except him who shall be +compelled against his will, and whose heart continueth steadfast in the faith, +shall be severely chastised: but whoever shall voluntarily profess +infidelity, on those shall the indignation of GOD fall, and they shall suffer +a grievous punishment. + This shall be their sentence, because they have loved the present life +above that which is to come, and for that GOD directeth not the unbelieving +people. + These are they whose hearts, and hearing, and sight, GOD hath sealed up; +and these are the negligent: + there is no doubt but that in the next life they shall perish. +110 Moreover thy LORD will be favorable unto those who have fled their +country, after having suffered persecution, and had been compelled to deny +the faith by violence, and who have since fought in defence of the true +religion, and have persevered with patience; verily unto these will thy LORD +be gracious and merciful, after they shall have shown their sincerity. + On a certain day shall every soul come to plead itself, and every soul +shall be repaid that which it shall have wrought; and they shall not be +treated unjustly. + GOD propoundeth as a parable a city which was secure and quiet, unto +which her provisions came in abundance from every side; but she ungratefully +denied the favor of GOD: wherefore GOD caused her to taste the extreme famine, +and fear, because of that which they had done. + And now is an apostle come unto the inhabitants of Mecca from among +themselves; and they accuse him of imposture: wherefore a punishment shall be +inflicted on them, while they are acting unjustly. + Eat of what GOD hath given you for food, that which is lawful and good; +and be thankful for the favors of GOD, if ye serve him. + He hath only forbidden you that which dieth of itself, and blood, and +swine's flesh, and that which hath been slain in the name of any, besides +GOD. But unto him who shall be compelled by necessity to eat of these +things, not lusting nor wilfully transgressing, GOD will surely be gracious +and merciful. + And say not that wherein your tongues utter a lie; This is lawful, and +this is unlawful; that ye may devise a lie concerning GOD: for they who +devise concerning GOD shall not prosper. + They shall have small enjoyment in this world, and in that which is to +come they shall suffer a grievous torment. + Unto the Jews did we forbid that which we have told thee formally: and +we did them no injury in that respect; but they injured their own souls. + Moreover thy LORD will be favorable unto those who do evil through +ignorance, and afterwards repent and amend: verily unto these will thy LORD be +gracious and merciful, after their repentance. +120 Abraham was a model of true religion, obedient unto GOD, orthodox, and +was not an idolater: + he was also grateful for his benefits: wherefore God chose him, and +directed him into the right way. + And we bestowed on him good in this world; and in the next he shall +surely be one of the righteous. + We have also spoken unto thee, O Mohammed, by revelation, saying, Follow +the religion of Abraham, who was orthodox, and was no idolater. + The sabbath was only appointed unto those who differed with their prophet +concerning it; and thy LORD will surely judge between them, on the day of +resurrection, as to that concerning which they differed. + Invite men unto the way of thy LORD, by wisdom, and mild exhortation; and +dispute with them in the most condescending manner: for thy LORD well knoweth +him who strayeth from his path, and he well knoweth those who are rightly +directed. + If ye take vengeance on any, take a vengeance proportionable to the wrong +which hath been done you; but if ye suffer wrong patiently, verily this will +be better for the patient. + Wherefore, do thou bear opposition with patience; but thy patience shall +not be practicable, unless with GOD'S assistance. And be thou not grieved on +account of the unbelievers; neither be thou troubled for that which they +subtilely devise; + for GOD is with those who fear him, and are upright. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ENTITLED, THE NIGHT JOURNEY; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + PRAISE be unto him who transported his servant by night, from the sacred +temple of Mecca to the farther temple of Jerusalem, the circuit of which we +have blessed, that we might show some of our signs; for God is he who heareth, +and seeth. + And we gave unto Moses the book of the law, and appointed the same to be +a direction unto the children of Israel, commanding them, saying, Beware that +ye take not any other patron besides me. + O posterity of those whom we carried in the ark with Noah: verily he was +a grateful servant. + And we expressly declared unto the children of Israel in the book of the +law, saying, Ye will surely commit evil in the earth twice, and ye will be +elated with great insolence. + And when the punishment threatened for the first of those transgressions +came to be executed, we sent against you our servants, endued with exceeding +strength in war, and they searched the inner apartments of your houses; and +the prediction became accomplished. + Afterwards we gave you the victory over them, in your turn, and we +granted you increase of wealth and children, and we made you a more numerous +people, + saying, If ye do well, ye will do well to your own souls; and if ye do +evil, ye will do it unto the same. And when the punishment threatened for +your latter transgression came to be executed, we sent enemies against you to +afflict you, and to enter the temple, as they entered it the first time, and +utterly to destroy that which they had conquered. + Peradventure your LORD will have mercy on you hereafter: but if ye return +to transgress a third time, we also will return to chastise you; and we have +appointed hell to be the prison of the unbelievers. + Verily this Koran directeth unto the way which is most right, and +declareth unto the faithful, who do good works, that they shall receive a great +reward; +10 and that for those who believe not in the life to come, we have prepared +a grievous punishment. + Man prayeth for evil, as he prayeth for good; for man is hasty. + We have ordained the night and the day for two signs of our power: +afterwards we blot out the sign of the night, and we cause the sign of the day +to shine forth, that ye may endeavour to obtain plenty from your LORD by doing +your business therein, and that ye may know the number of years, and the +computation of time; and everything necessary have we explained by a +perspicuous explication. + The fate of every man have we bound about his neck; and we will produce +unto him, on the day of resurrection, a book wherein his actions shall be +recorded: it shall be offered him open, + and the angels shall say unto him, Read thy book; thine own soul will be +a sufficient accountant against thee, this day. + He who shall be rightly directed, shall be directed to the advantage only +of his own soul; and he who shall err shall err only against the same: neither +shall any laden soul be charged with the burden of another. We did not punish +any people, until we had first sent an apostle to warn them. + And when we resolved to destroy a city, we commanded the inhabitants +thereof, who lived in affluence, to obey our apostle; but they acted corruptly +therein: wherefore the sentence was justly pronounced against that city; and +we destroyed it with an utter destruction. + And how many generations have we consumed since Noah? for thy LORD +sufficiently knoweth and seeth the sins of his servants. + Whosoever chooseth this transitory life, we will bestow on him therein +beforehand that which we please; on him, namely, whom we please: afterwards +will we appoint him hell for his abode; he shall be thrown into the same to be +scorched, covered with ignominy, and utterly rejected from mercy. + But whosoever chooseth the life to come, and directeth his endeavour +towards the same, being also a true believer; the endeavour of these shall be +acceptable unto God. +20 On all will we bestow the blessings of this life, both on these and on +those, of the gift of thy LORD; for the gift of thy LORD shall not be denied +unto any. + Behold, how we have caused some of them to surpass others in wealth and +dignity: but the next life shall be more considerable in degrees of honour, +and greater in excellence. + Set not up another god with the true GOD, lest thou sit down in disgrace, +and destitute. + Thy LORD hath commanded that ye worship none besides him; and that ye +show kindness unto your parents, whether the one of them, or both of them +attain to old age with thee. Wherefore, say not unto them, Fie on you! +neither reproach them, but speak respectfully unto them + and submit to behave humbly towards them, out of tender affection and +say, O LORD, have mercy on them both, as they nursed me when I was little. + Your LORD well knoweth that which is in your souls; whether ye be men of +integrity: and he will be gracious unto those who sincerely return unto him. + And give unto him who is of kin to you his due, and also unto the poor, +and the traveller. And waste not thy substance profusely: + for the profuse are brethren of the devils: and the devil was ungrateful +unto his LORD. + But if thou turn from them, in expectation of the mercy which thou +hopest from thy LORD; at least, speak kindly unto them. + And let not thy hand be tied up to thy neck; neither open it with an +unbounded expansion, lest thou become worthy of reprehension, and be reduced +to poverty. +30 Verily thy LORD will enlarge the store of whom he pleaseth, and will be +sparing unto whom he pleaseth; for he knoweth and regardeth his servants. + Kill not your children for fear of being brought to want; we will provide +for them and for you; verily the killing them is a great sin. + Draw not near unto fornication; for it is wickedness, and an evil way. + Neither slay the soul which GOD hath forbidden you to slay, unless for a +just cause; and whosoever shall be slain unjustly, we have given his heir +power to demand satisfaction; but let him not exceed the bounds of moderation +in putting to death the murderer in too cruel a manner, or by revenging his +friend's blood on any other than the person who killed him; since he is +assisted by this law. + And meddle not with the substance of the orphan, unless it be to improve +it, until he attain his age of strength: and perform your covenant; for the +performance of your covenant shall be inquired into hereafter. + And give full measure, when you measure aught; and weigh with a just +balance. This will be better, and more easy for determining every man's due. + And follow not that whereof thou hast no knowledge; for the hearing, and +the sight, and the heart, every of these shall be examined at the last day. + Walk not proudly in the land, for thou canst not cleave the earth, +neither shalt thou equal the mountains in stature. + All this is evil, and abominable in the sight of thy LORD. + These precepts are a part of the wisdom which they LORD hath revealed +unto thee. Set not up any other god as equal unto GOD, lest thou be cast into +hell, reproved and rejected. +40 Hath your LORD preferably granted unto you sons, and taken for himself +daughters from among the angels? Verily in asserting this ye utter a +grievous saying. + And now have we used various arguments and repetitions in this Koran, +that they may be warned: yet it only rendereth them more disposed to fly from +the truth. + Say unto the idolaters, If there were other gods with him, as ye say, +they would surely seek an occasion of making some attempt against the +possessor of the throne: + GOD forbid! and far, very far, be that from him which they utter! + The seven heavens praise him, and the earth, and all who are therein: +neither is there anything which doth not celebrate his praise; but ye +understand not their celebration thereof: he is gracious and merciful. + When thou readest 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 thickness of hearing. And when thou makest mention, in +repeating the Koran, of thy LORD only, they turn their backs, flying the doctrine +of his unity. + We well know with what design they hearken, when they hearken unto thee, +and when they privately discourse together: when the ungodly say, Ye follow no +other than a madman. + Behold! what epithets they bestow on thee. But they are deceived; +neither can they find any just occasion to reproach thee. + They also say, After we shall have become bones and dust, shall we surely +be raised a new creature? +50 Answer, Be ye stones, or iron, + or some creature more improbable in your opinions to be raised to life. +But they will say, Who shall restore us to life? Answer, He who created you +the first time: and they will wag their heads at thee, saying, When shall this +be? Answer, Peradventure it is nigh. + On that day shall GOD call you forth from your sepulchres, and ye shall +obey, with celebration of his praise; and ye shall think that ye tarried but +a little while. + Speak unto my servants, that they speak mildly unto the unbelievers, lest +ye exasperate them; for Satan soweth discord among them, and Satan is a +declared enemy unto man. + your LORD well knoweth you; if he pleaseth, he will have mercy on you, +or, if he pleaseth, he will punish you: and we have not sent thee to be a +steward over them. + Thy LORD well knoweth all persons in heaven and on earth. We have +bestowed peculiar favors on some of the prophets, preferably to others; and we +gave unto David the psalms. + Say, Call upon those whom ye imagine to be gods besides him; yet they +will not be able to free you from harm, or to turn it on others. + Those whom ye invoke, do themselves desire to be admitted to a near +conjunction with their LORD; striving which of them shall approach nearest +unto him: they also hope for his mercy, and dread his punishment; for the +punishment of thy LORD is terrible. + There is no city but we will destroy the same before the day of +resurrection, or we will punish it with a grievous punishment. This is +written in the book of our eternal decrees. + Nothing hindered us from sending thee with miracles, except that the +former nations have charged them with imposture. We gave unto the tribe of +Thamud, at their demand, the she-camel visible to their sight: yet they dealt +unjustly with her: and we send not a prophet with miracles, but to strike +terror. +60 Remember when we said unto thee, Verily thy LORD encompasseth men by his +knowledge and power. We have appointed the vision which we showed thee, and +also the tree cursed in the Koran, only for an occasion of dispute unto men, +and to strike them with terror; but it shall cause them to transgress only the +more enormously. + And remember when we said unto the angels, Worship Adam; and they all +worshipped him except Eblis, who said, Shall I worship him whom thou hast +created of clay? + And he said, What thinkest thou, as to this man whom thou hast honoured +above me? verily, if thou grant me respite until the day of resurrection, I +will extirpate his offspring, except a few. + God answered, Begone, I grant thee respite: but whosoever of them shall +follow thee, hell shall surely be your reward; an ample reward for your +demerits! + And entice to vanity such of them as thou canst, by thy voice; and +assault them on all sides with thy horsemen and thy footmen; and partake with +them in their riches, and their children; and make them promises; (but the +devil shall make them no other than deceitful promises:) + as to my servants, thou shalt have no power over them; for thy LORD is a +sufficient protector of those who trust in him. + It is your LORD who driveth forward the ships for you in the sea, that ye +may seek to enrich yourselves of his abundance by commerce; for he is merciful +towards you. + When a misfortune befalleth you at sea, the false deities whom ye invoke +are forgotten by you, except him alone: yet when he bringeth you safe to dry +land, ye retire afar off from him, and return to your idols; for man is +ungrateful. + Are ye therefore secure that he will not cause the dry land to swallow +you up, or that he will not send against you a whirlwind driving the sands to +overwhelm you? Then shall ye find none to protect you. + Or are ye secure that he will not cause you again to commit yourselves to +the sea another time, and send against you a tempestuous wind, and drown you; +for that ye have been ungrateful? then shall ye find none to defend you +against us, in that distress. +70 And now have we honoured the children of Adam by sundry peculiar +privileges and endowments; and we have given them conveniences of carriage by +land and by sea, and have provided food for them of good things; and we have +preferred them before many of our creatures which we have created, by granting +them great prerogatives. + On a certain day we will call all men to judgment with their respective +leader: and whosoever shall have his book given him into his right hand, they +shall read their book with joy and satisfaction; and they shall not be +wronged a hair. + And whoever hath been blind in this life shall be also blind in the next, +and shall wander more widely from the path of salvation. + It wanted little but the unbelievers had tempted thee to swerve from the +instructions which we had revealed unto thee, that thou shouldest devise +concerning us a different thing; and then would they have taken thee for +their friend: + and unless we had confirmed thee, thou hadst certainly been very near +inclining unto them a little. + Then would we surely have caused thee to taste the punishment of life, +and the punishment of death; and thou shouldest not have found any to protect +thee against us. + The unbelievers had likewise almost caused thee to depart the land, that +they might have expelled thee thence: but then should they not have tarried +therein after thee, except a little while. + This is the method of dealing which we have prescribed ourselves in +respect to our apostles, whom we have already sent before thee: and thou shalt +not find any change in our prescribed method. + Regularly perform thy prayer at the declension of the sun, at the first +darkness of the night, and the prayer of daybreak; for the prayer of +daybreak is borne witness unto by the angels. + And watch some part of the night in the same exercise, as a work of +supererogation for thee: peradventure thy LORD will raise thee to an +honourable station. +80 And say, O LORD, cause me to enter with a favorable entry, and cause me +to come forth with a favorable coming forth; and grant me from thee an +assisting power. + And say, Truth is come, and falsehood is vanished: for falsehood is of +short continuance. + We send down of the Koran that which is a medicine and mercy unto the +true believers; but it shall only increase the perdition of the unjust. + When we bestow favors on man, he retireth and withdraweth himself +ungratefully from us: but when evil toucheth him, he despaireth of our mercy. + Say, Every one acteth after his own manner: but your LORD best knoweth +who is most truly directed in his way. + They will ask thee concerning the spirit: answer, The spirit was created +at the command of my LORD: but ye have no knowledge given unto you, except a +little. + If we pleased, we should certainly take away that which we have revealed +unto thee; in such case thou couldst not find any to assist thee therein +against us, + unless through mercy from thy LORD; for his favor towards thee hath been +great. + Say, Verily if men and genii were purposely assembled, that they might +produce a book like this Koran, they could not produce one like unto it, +although the one of them assisted the other. + And we have variously propounded unto men in this Koran every kind of +figurative argument; but the greater part of men refuse to receive it, merely +out of infidelity. +90 And they say, We will by no means believe on thee, until thou cause a +spring of water to gush forth for us out of the earth; + or thou have a garden of palm-trees and vines, and thou cause rivers to +spring forth from the midst thereof in abundance; + or thou cause the heaven to fall down upon us, as thou hast given out, in +pieces; or thou bring down GOD and the angels to vouch for thee; + or thou have a house of gold; or thou ascend by a ladder to heaven: +neither will we believe thy ascending thither alone, until thou cause a book +to descend unto us, bearing witness of thee, which we may read. Answer My +LORD be praised! Am I other than a man, sent as an apostle? + And nothing hindereth men from believing, when a direction is come unto +them, except that they say, Hath GOD sent a man for his apostle? + Answer, If the angels had walked on earth as familiar inhabitants +thereof, we had surely sent down unto them from heaven an angel for our +apostle. + Say, GOD is a sufficient witness between me and you: for he knoweth and +regardeth his servants. + Whom GOD shall direct, he shall be the rightly directed; and whom he +shall cause to err, thou shalt find none to assist, besides him. And we will +gather them together on the day of resurrection, creeping on their faces, +blind, and dumb, and deaf: their abode shall be hell; so often as the fire +thereof shall be extinguished, we will rekindle a burning flame to torment +them. + This shall be their reward, because they disbelieve in our signs, and +say, When we shall have been reduced to bones and dust, shall we surely be +raised new creatures? + Do they not perceive that GOD, who created the heavens and the earth, is +able to create other bodies, like their present? And he hath appointed them a +limited term; there is no doubt thereof: but the ungodly reject the truth, +merely out of unbelief. +100 Say, If ye possessed the treasures of the mercy of my LORD, ye would +surely refrain from using them, for fear of spending them; for man is +covetous. + We heretofore gave unto Moses the power of working nine evident signs. +And do thou ask the children of Israel, as to the story of Moses; when he +came unto them, and Pharaoh said unto him, Verily I esteemed thee, O Moses, to +be deluded by sorcery. + Moses answered, Thou well knowest that none hath sent down these evident +signs except the LORD of heaven and earth; and I surely esteem thee, O +Pharaoh, a lost man. + Wherefore Pharaoh sought to drive them out of the land; but we drowned +him and all those who were with him. + And we said unto the children of Israel, after his destruction, Dwell ye +in the land: and when the promise of the next life shall come to be fulfilled, +we will bring you both promiscuously to judgment. We have sent down the Koran +with truth, and it hath descended with truth: and we have not sent thee +otherwise than to be a bearer of good tidings, and a denouncer of threats. + And we have divided the Koran, revealing it by parcels, that thou +mightest read it unto men with deliberation: and we have sent it down, causing +it to descend as occasion required. + Say, Whether ye believe therein, or do not believe, verily those who have +been favored with the knowledge of the scriptures which were revealed before +it, when the same is rehearsed unto them, fall down on their faces, worshipping, + and say, Our LORD be praised, for that the promise of our LORD is surely +fulfilled! + and they fall down on their faces, weeping; and the hearing thereof +increaseth their humility. +110 Say, call upon GOD, or call on the Merciful: by whichsoever of the two +names ye invoke him, it is equal; for he hath most excellent names. +Pronounce not thy prayer aloud, neither pronounce it with too low a voice, +but follow a middle way between these: + and say, Praise be unto GOD, who hath not begotten any child; who hath no +partner in the kingdom, nor hath any to protect him from contempt: and magnify +him by proclaiming his greatness. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +ENTITLED, THE CAVE; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + PRAISE be unto GOD, who hath sent down unto his servant the book of the +Koran, and hath not inserted therein any crookedness, + but hath made it a straight rule: that he should threaten a grievous +punishment unto the unbelievers, from his presence; and should bear good +tidings unto the faithful, who work righteousness, that they should receive an +excellent reward, namely, paradise, + wherein they shall remain forever: + and that he should warn those who say, GOD hath begotten issue; + of which matter they have no knowledge, neither had their fathers. A +grievous saying it is, which proceedeth from their mouths: they speak no other +than a lie. + Peradventure thou wilt kill thyself with grief after them, out of thy +earnest zeal for their conversion, if they believe not in this new revelation +of the Koran. + Verily we have ordained whatsoever is on the earth for the ornament +thereof, that we might make trial of men, and see which of them excelleth in +works: + and we will surely reduce whatever is thereon to dry dust. + Dost thou consider that the companions of the cave, and Al Rakim, were +one of our signs, and a great miracle? +10 When the young men took refuge in the cave, they said, O LORD, grant us +mercy from before thee, and dispose our business for us to a right issue. + Wherefore we struck their ears with deafness, so that they slept without +disturbance in the cave for a great number of years: + then we awaked them, that we might know which of the two parties was +more exact in computing the space which they had remained there. + We will relate unto thee their history with truth. Verily they were +young men who had believed in their LORD: and we had abundantly directed them: + and we fortified their hearts with constancy when they stood before the +tyrant; and they said, Our LORD is the LORD of heaven and earth: we will by no +means call on any god besides him; for then should we surely utter an +extravagance. + These our fellow people have taken other gods, besides him; although they +bring no demonstrative argument for them: and who is more unjust than he who +deviseth a lie concerning GOD? + And they said the one to the other, When ye shall separate yourselves +from them, and from the deities which they worship, except GOD, fly into the +cave: your LORD will pour his mercy on you abundantly, and will dispose your +business for you to advantage. + And thou mightest have seen the sun, when it had risen, to decline from +their cave towards the right hand, and when it went down, to leave them on the +left hand: and they were in the spacious part of the cave. This was one of +the signs of GOD. Whomsoever GOD shall direct, he shall be rightly directed: +and whomsoever he shall cause to err, thou shalt not find any to defend, or to +direct. + And thou wouldest have judged them to have been awake, while they were +sleeping; and we caused them to turn themselves to the right hand, and to the +left. And their dog stretched forth his forelegs in the mouth of the cave: +if thou hadst come suddenly upon them, verily thou wouldest have turned thy +back and fled from them, and thou wouldest have been filled with fear at the +sight of them. + And so we awaked them from their sleep, that they might ask questions of +one another. One of them spake and said, How long have ye tarried here? They +answered, We have tarried a day, or part of a day. The others said, Your LORD +best knoweth the time ye have tarried: and now send one of you with this your +money into the city; and let him see which of its inhabitants hath the best +and cheapest food, and let him bring you provision from him; and let him +behave circumspectly, and not discover you to any one. +20 Verily if they come up against you, they will stone you, or force you to +return to their religion; and then shall ye not prosper forever. + And so we made their people acquainted with what had happened to them; +that they might know that the promise of GOD is true, and that there is no +doubt of the last hour; when they disputed among themselves concerning their +matter. And they said, Erect a building over them: their LORD best knoweth +their condition. Those who prevailed in their affair answered, We will surely +build a chapel over them. + Some say, The sleepers were three; and their dog was the fourth; and +others say, They were five; and their dog was the sixth; guessing at a secret +matter: and others say, They were seven; and their dog was the eighth. Say, +My LORD best knoweth their number: none shall know them, except a few. +Wherefore dispute not concerning them, except with a clear disputation, +according to what hath been revealed unto thee: and ask not any of the +Christians concerning them. + Say not of any matter, I will surely do this to-morrow; + unless thou add, If GOD please. And remember thy LORD, when thou +forgettest, and say, My LORD is able to direct me with ease, that I may draw +near unto the truth of this matter rightly. + And they remained in their cave three hundred years, and nine years +over. + Say, GOD best knoweth how long they continued there: unto him are the +secrets of heaven and earth known; do thou make him to see and to hear. The +inhabitants thereof have no protector besides him; neither doth he suffer any +one to have a share in the establishment or knowledge of his decree. + Read that which hath been revealed unto thee, of the book of thy LORD, +without presuming to make any change therein: there is none who hath power to +change his words; and thou shalt not find any to fly to, besides him, if thou +attempt it. + Behave thyself with constancy towards those who call upon their LORD +morning and evening, and who seek his favor; and let not thine eyes be turned +away from them, seeking the pomp of this life; neither obey him whose heart +we have caused to neglect the remembrance of us, and who followeth his lusts, +and leaveth the truth behind him. + And say, The truth is from your LORD; wherefore let him who will, +believe, and let him who will, be incredulous. We have surely prepared for +the unjust hell fire, the flame and smoke whereof shall surround him like a +pavilion: and if they beg relief, they shall be relieved with water like +molten brass, which shall scald their faces: O how miserable a potion, and how +unhappy a couch! +30 As to those who believe, and do good works, we will not suffer the reward +of him who shall work righteousness to perish; + for them are prepared gardens of eternal abode, which shall be watered +by rivers; they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and they +shall be clothed in green garments of fine silk and brocades, reposing +themselves therein on thrones. O how happy a reward, and how easy a couch! + And propound unto them as a parable two men: on the one of whom we had +bestowed two vineyards, and had surrounded them with palm-trees, and had +caused corn to grow between them. + Each of the gardens brought forth its fruit every season, and failed not at +all; and we caused a river to flow in the midst thereof: + and he had great abundance. And he said unto his companion by way of +debate, I am superior to thee in wealth, and have a more powerful family. + And he went into his garden, being guilty of injustice against his own +soul, and said, I do not think that this garden will decay forever; + neither do I think that the last hour will come: and although I should +return unto my LORD, verily I shall find a better garden than this in +exchange. + And his companion said unto him, by way of debate, Dost thou not believe +in him who created thee of the dust, and afterwards of seed; and then +fashioned thee into a perfect man? + But as for me, GOD is my LORD; and I will not associate any other deity +with my LORD. + And when thou enterest thy garden, wilt thou not say, What GOD pleaseth +shall come to pass; there is no power but in GOD alone? Although thou seest +me to be inferior to thee in wealth and number of children, +40 my LORD is well able to bestow on me a better gift than thy garden, and +to shoot his arrows against the same from heaven, so that it shall become +barren dust; + or its water may sink deep into the earth, that thou canst not draw +thereof. + And his possessions were encompassed with destruction, as his companion +had forewarned him; wherefore he began to turn down the palms of his hands out +of sorrow and regret for that which he had expended thereon; for the vines +thereof were fallen down on their trails: and he said, Would to GOD that I had +not associated any other deity with my LORD! + And he had no party to assist him besides GOD, neither was he able to +defend himself against his vengeance. + In such case protection belongeth of right unto GOD alone; he is the best +rewarder, and the best giver of success. + And propound to them a similitude of the present life. It is like water +which we send down from heaven; and the herb of the earth is mixed therewith, +and after it hath been green and flourishing, in the morning it becometh dry +stubble, which the winds scatter abroad: and GOD is able to do all things. + Wealth and children are the ornament of this present life: but good +works, which are permanent, are better in the sight of thy LORD, with respect +to the reward, and better with respect to hope. + On a certain day we will cause the mountains to pass away, and thou +shalt see the earth appearing plain and even; and we will gather mankind +together, and we will not leave any one of them behind. + And they shall be set before thy LORD in distinct order, and he shall say +unto them, Now are ye come unto us naked, as we created you the first time: +but ye thought that we should not perform our promise unto you. + And the book wherein every one's actions are recorded shall be put into +his hand; and thou shalt see the wicked in great terror, because of that which +is written therein, and they shall say, Alas for us! what meaneth this book? +it omitteth neither a small action nor a great one, but it compriseth the +same; and they shall find that which they have wrought, present before their +eyes: and thy LORD will not deal unjustly with any one. +50 Remember when we said unto the angels, Worship ye Adam: and they all +worshipped him, except Eblis, who was one of the genii, and departed from +the command of his LORD. Will ye therefore take him and his offspring for +your patrons besides me, notwithstanding they are your enemies? Miserable +shall such a change be to the ungodly! + I called not them to be present at the creation of the heavens and of the +earth, nor at the creation of themselves, neither did I take those seducers +for my assistants. + On a certain day, God shall say unto the idolaters, Call those whom ye +imagined to be my companions, to protect you: and they shall call them, but +they shall not answer them; and we will place a valley of destruction between +them: + and the wicked shall see hell fire: and they shall know that they shall +be thrown into the same, and they shall find no way to avoid it. + And now have we variously propounded unto men, in this Koran, a parable +of every kind; but man cavilleth at most things therein. + Yet nothing hindereth men from believing, now a direction is come unto +them, and from asking pardon of their LORD, excepting that they wait until the +punishment of their predecessors come to be inflicted on them, or that the +chastisement of the next life come upon them publicly. + We send not our messengers, but to bear good tidings, and to denounce +threats. Those who believe not dispute with vain arguments, that they may +thereby render the truth of no effect; and they hold my signs, and the +admonitions which have been made them, in derision. + And who is more unjust than he who hath been acquainted with the signs of +his LORD, and retireth afar off from the same, and forgetteth that which his +hands have formerly committed? Verily we have cast veils over their hearts, +lest they should understand the Koran, and into their ears thickness of hearing: +if thou invite them to the true direction, yet will they not therefore be directed +forever. + Thy LORD is gracious, endued with mercy; if he would have punished them +for that which they have committed, he would doubtless have hastened their +punishment: but a threat hath been denounced against them, and they shall +find no refuge, besides him. + And those former cities did we destroy, when they acted unjustly; and we +gave them previous warning of their destruction. +60 And remember when Moses said unto his servant Joshua the son of Nun, I +will not cease to go forward, until I come to the place where the two seas +meet; or I will travel for a long space of time. + But when they were arrived at the meeting of the two seas, they forgot +their fish, which they had taken with them; and the fish took its way freely +in the sea. + And when they had passed beyond that place, Moses said unto his servant, +Bring us our dinner; for now are we fatigued with this our journey. + His servant answered, Dost thou know what has befallen me? When we took +up our lodging at the rock, verily I forgot the fish: and none made me to +forget it, except Satan, that I should not remind thee of it. And the fish +took its way into the sea, in a wonderful manner. + Moses said, This is what we sought after. And they both went back, +returning by the way they came. + And coming to the rock they found one of our servants, unto whom we had +granted mercy from us, and whom we had taught wisdom from before us. + And Moses said unto him, Shall I follow thee, that thou mayest teach me +part of that which thou hast been taught, for a direction unto me? + He answered, Verily thou canst not bear with me: + for how canst thou patiently suffer those things, the knowledge whereof +thou dost not comprehend? + Moses replied, Thou shalt find me patient, if GOD please; neither will I +be disobedient unto thee in anything. +70 He said, If thou follow me, therefore, ask me not concerning anything, +until I shall declare the meaning thereof unto thee. + So they both went on by the sea-shore, until they went up into a ship; +and he made a hole therein. And Moses said unto him, Hast thou made a hole +therein, that thou mightest drown those who are on board? now hast thou done a +strange thing. + He answered, Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not bear with me? + Moses said, Rebuke me not, because I did forget; and impose not on me a +difficulty in what I am commanded. + Wherefore they left the ship and proceeded, until they met with a youth; +and he slew him. Moses said, Hast thou slain an innocent person, without his +having killed another? now hast thou committed an unjust action. + He answered, Did I not tell thee that thou couldest not bear with me? + Moses said, If I ask thee concerning anything hereafter, suffer me not to +accompany thee: now hast thou received an excuse from me. + They went forwards, therefore, until they came to the inhabitants of a +certain city: and they asked food of the inhabitants thereof; but they +refused to receive them. And they found therein a wall, which was ready to +fall down; and he set it upright. Whereupon Moses said unto him, If thou +wouldest thou mightest doubtless have received a reward for it. + He answered, This shall be a separation between me and thee; but I will +first declare unto thee the signification of that which thou couldest not bear +with patience. + The vessel belonged to certain poor men, who did their business in the +sea: and I was minded to render it unserviceable, because there was a king +behind them, who took every sound ship by force. +80 As to the youth, his parents were true believers; and we feared, lest he, +being an unbeliever, should oblige them to suffer his perverseness and +ingratitude: + wherefore we desired that their LORD might give them a more righteous +child in exchange for him, and one more affectionate towards them. + And the wall belonged to two orphan youths in the city, and under it was +a treasure hidden which belonged to them; and their father was a righteous +man: and thy LORD was pleased that they should attain their full age, and take +forth their treasure, through the mercy of thy LORD, and I did not what thou +hast seen of mine own will, but by GOD's direction. This is the +interpretation of that which thou couldest not bear with patience. + The Jews will ask thee concerning Dhu'lkarnein. Answer I will rehearse +unto you an account of him. + We made him powerful in the earth, and we gave him means to accomplish +everything he pleased. + And he followed his way, + until he came to the place where the sun setteth; and he found it to set +in a spring of black mud; and he found near the same a certain people. And +we said, O Dhu'lkarnein, either punish this people, or use gentleness towards +them. + He answered, Whosoever of them shall commit injustice, we will surely +punish him in this world; afterwards shall he return unto his LORD, and he +shall punish him with a severe punishment. + But whosoever believeth, and doth that which is right, shall receive the +most excellent reward, and we will give him in command that which is easy. + Then he continued his way, +90 until he came to the place where the sun riseth; and he found it to rise +on certain people, unto whom we had not given anything wherewith to shelter +themselves therefrom. + Thus it was; and we comprehended with our knowledge the forces which +were with him. + And he prosecuted his journey from south to north, + until he came between the two mountains; beneath which he found certain +people, who could scarce understand what was said. + And they said, O Dhu'lkarnein, verily, Gog and Magog waste the land; +shall we therefore pay thee tribute, on condition that thou build a rampart +between us and them? + He answered, The power wherewith my LORD has strengthened me is better +than your tribute: but assist me strenuously, and I will set a strong wall +between you and them. + Bring me iron in large pieces, until it fill up the space between the two +sides of these mountains. And he said to the workmen, Blow with your bellows, +until it make the iron red hot as fire. And he said further, Bring me molten +brass, that I may pour upon it. + Wherefore, when this wall was finished, Gog and Magog could not scale it, +neither could they dig through it. + And Dhu'lkarnein said, This is a mercy from my LORD: but when the +prediction of my LORD shall come to be fulfilled, he shall reduce the wall to +dust; and the prediction of my LORD is true. + On that day we will suffer some of them to press tumultuously like waves +on others: and the trumpet shall be sounded, and we will gather them in a +body together. +100 And we will set hell on that day before the unbelievers; + whose eyes have been veiled from my remembrance, and who could not hear +my words. + Do the unbelievers think that I will not punish them, for that they take +my servants for their protectors besides me? Verily we have prepared hell for +the abode of the infidels. + Say, Shall we declare unto you those whose works are vain, + whose endeavour in the present life hath been wrongly directed, and who +think they do the work which is right? + These are they who believe not in the signs of their LORD, or that they +shall be assembled before him; wherefore their works are vain, and we will not +allow them any weight on the day of resurrection. + This shall be their reward, namely, hell; for that they have disbelieved, +and have held my signs and apostles in derision. + But as for those who believe and do good works, they shall have the +gardens of paradise for their abode: + they shall remain therein forever; they shall wish for no change therein. + Say, If the sea were ink to write the words of my LORD, verily the sea +would fail, before the words of my LORD would fail; although we added another +sea like unto it as a further supply. +110 Say, Verily I am only a man as ye are. It is revealed unto me that your +GOD is one only GOD: let him therefore who hopeth to meet his LORD work a +righteous work; and let him not make any other to partake in the worship of +his LORD. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +ENTITLED, MARY; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + C.H.Y.A.S. + A COMMEMORATION of the mercy of thy LORD towards his +servant Zacharias. + When he called upon his LORD, invoking him in secret, + and said, O LORD, verily my bones are weakened, and my head is become +white with hoariness, and I have never been unsuccessful in my prayers to +thee, O LORD. + But now I fear my nephews, who are to succeed after me, for my wife is +barren: + wherefore, give me a successor of my own body from before thee; who +may be my heir, and may be an heir of the family of Jacob; and grant, O LORD, +that he may be acceptable unto thee. + And the angel answered him, O Zacharias, verily we bring thee tidings of +a son, whose name shall be John; we have not caused any to bear the same +name before him. + Zacharias said, LORD, how shall I have a son, seeing my wife is barren, +and I am now arrived at a great age, and am decrepit? + The angel said, So shall it be: thy LORD saith, This is easy with me; +since I created thee heretofore, when thou wast nothing. +10 Zacharias answered, O LORD, give me a sign. The angel replied, Thy sign +shall be that thou shalt not speak to men for three nights, although thou be +in perfect health. + And he went forth unto his people, from the chamber, and he made signs +unto them, as if he should say, Praise ye God in the morning and in the +evening. + And we said unto his son, O John, receive the book of the law, with a +resolution to study and observe it. And we bestowed on him wisdom, when he +was yet a child, + and mercy from us, and purity of life; and he was a devout person, + and dutiful towards his parents, and was not proud or rebellious. + Peace be on him the day whereon he was born, and the day whereon he shall +die, and the day whereon he shall be raised to life. + And remember in the book of the Koran the story of Mary; when she retired +from her family to a place towards the east, + and took a veil to conceal herself from them; and we sent our spirit +Gabriel unto her, and he appeared unto her in the shape of a perfect man. + She said, I fly for refuge unto the merciful God, that he may defend me +from thee: if thou fearest him, thou wilt not approach me. + He answered, Verily I am the messenger of thy LORD, and am sent to give +thee a holy son. +20 She said, How shall I have a son, seeing a man hath not touched me, and I +am no harlot? + Gabriel replied, So shall it be: thy LORD saith, This is easy with me; +and we will perform it, that we may ordain him for a sign unto men, and a +mercy from us: for it is a thing which is decreed. + Wherefore she conceived him; and she retired aside with him in her womb +to a distant place; + and the pains of child-birth came upon her near the trunk of a palm- +tree. She said, Would to GOD I had died before this, and had become a thing +forgotten, and lost in oblivion. + And he who was beneath her called to her, saying, be not grieved; now +hath GOD provided a rivulet under thee; + and do thou shake the body of the palm-tree, and it shall let fall ripe +dates upon thee ready gathered. + And eat, and drink, and calm thy mind. Moreover, if thou see any man, +and he question thee, say, Verily I have vowed a fast unto the Merciful: +wherefore I will by no means speak to a man this day. + So she brought the child to her people, carrying him in her arms. And +they said unto her, O Mary, now hast thou done a strange thing: + O sister of Aaron, thy father was not a bad man, neither was thy mother +a harlot. + But she made signs unto the child to answer them; and they said, How +shall we speak to him, who is an infant in the cradle? +30 Whereupon the child said, Verily I am the servant of GOD; he hath given +me the book of the gospel, and hath appointed me a prophet. + And he hath made me blessed, wheresoever I shall be; and hath commanded +me to observe prayer, and to give alms, so long as I shall live; + and he hath made me dutiful towards my mother, and hath not made me proud +or unhappy. + And peace be on me the day whereon I was born, and the day whereon I +shall die, and the day whereon I shall be raised to life. + This was JESUS, the son of Mary; the Word of truth, concerning whom they +doubt. + It is not meet for GOD, that he should have any son; GOD forbid! When he +decreeth a thing, he only saith unto it, Be; and it is. + And verily GOD is my LORD and your LORD; wherefore, serve him: this is +the right way. + Yet the sectaries differ among themselves concerning Jesus; but woe be +unto those who are unbelievers, because of their appearance at the great day. + Do thou cause them to hear, and do thou cause them to see, on the day +whereon they shall come unto us to be judged: but the ungodly are this day in +a manifest error. + And do thou forewarn them of the day of sighing, when the matter shall +be determined, while they are now sunk in negligence, and do not believe. +40 Verily we will inherit the earth, and whatever creatures are therein; +and unto us shall they all return. + And remember Abraham in the book of the Koran; for he was one of great +veracity, and a prophet. + When he said unto his father, O my fatherf why dost thou worship that +which heareth not, neither seeth, nor profiteth thee at all? + O my father, verily a degree of knowledge hath been bestowed on me, which +hath not been bestowed on thee: wherefore follow me; I will lead thee into an +even way. + O my father, serve not Satan; for Satan was rebellious unto the Merciful. + O my father, verily I fear lest a punishment be inflicted on thee from +the Merciful, and thou become a companion of Satan. + His father answered, Dost thou reject my gods, O Abraham? If thou +forbear not, I will surely stone thee: wherefore leave me for a long time. + Abraham replied, Peace be on thee: I will ask pardon for thee of my LORD; +for he is gracious unto me. + And I will separate myself from you, and from the idols which ye invoke +besides GOD; and I will call upon my LORD; it may be that I shall not be +unsuccessful in calling on my LORD, as ye are in calling upon them. + And when he had separated himself from them, and from the idols which +they worshipped besides GOD, we gave him Isaac and jacob; and we made each of +them a prophet, +50 and we bestowed on them, through our mercy, the gift of prophecy, and +children and wealth; and we caused them to deserve the highest commendations. + And remember Moses in the book of the Koran: for he was sincerely +upright, and was an apostle and a prophet. + And we called unto him from the right side of Mount Sinai, and caused him +to draw near, and to discourse privately with us. + And we gave him, through our mercy, his brother Aaron a prophet, for his +assistant. + Remember also Ismael in the same book; for he was true to his promise, +and was an apostle, and a prophet. + And he commanded his family to observe prayer, and to give alms; and he +was acceptable unto his LORD. + And remember Edris in the same book; for he was a just person, and a +prophet: + and we exalted him to a high place. + These are they unto whom GOD hath been bounteous, of the prophets of the +posterity of Adam, and of those whom we carried in the ark with Noah; and of +the posterity of Abraham, and of Israel, and of those whom we have directed +and chosen. When the signs of the Merciful were read unto them, they fell +down, worshipping, and wept: + but a succeeding generation have come after them, who neglect prayer, +and follow their lusts; and they shall surely fall into evil: +60 except him who repenteth, and believeth, and doth that which is right; +these shall enter paradise, and they shall not in the least be wronged: + gardens of perpetual abode shall be their reward, which the Merciful hath +promised unto his servants, as an object of faith; for his promise will surely +come to be fulfilled. + Therein shall they hear no vain discourse, but peace; and their +provision shall be prepared for them therein morning and evening. + This is paradise, which we will give for an inheritance unto such of our +servants as shall be pious. + We descend not from heaven, unless by the command of thy LORD: unto him +belongeth whatsoever is before us, and whatsoever is behind us, and whatsoever +is in the intermediate space; neither is thy LORD forgetful of thee. + He is the LORD of heaven and earth, and of whatsoever is between them: +wherefore worship him, and be constant in his worship. Dost thou know any +named like him? + Man saith, After I shall have been dead, shall I really be brought forth +alive from the grave? + Doth not man remember that we created him heretofore, when he was +nothing? + But by thy LORD we will surely assemble them and the devils to judgment; +then will we set them round about hell on their knees: + afterwards we will draw forth from every sect such of them as shall have +been a more obstinate rebel against the Merciful; +70 and we best know which of them are more worthy to be burned therein. + There shall be none of you but shall approach near the same: this is an +established decree with thy LORD. + Afterwards we will deliver those who shall have been pious, but we will +leave the ungodly therein on their knees. + When our manifest signs are read unto them, the infidels say unto the +true believers, Which of the two parties is in the more eligible condition, +and formeth the more excellent assembly? + But how many generations have we destroyed before them, which excelled +them in wealth, and in outward appearance? + Say, Whosoever is in error, the Merciful will grant him a long and +prosperous life, until they see that with which they are threatened, whether +it be the punishment of this life, or that of the last hour; and hereafter they +shall know who is in the worse condition, and the weaker in forces. + GOD shall more fully direct those who receive direction; and the good +works which remain forever are better in the sight of thy LORD than worldly +possessions, in respect to the reward, and more eligible in respect to the +future recompense. + Hast thou seen him who believeth not in our signs, and saith, I shall +surely have riches and children bestowed on me? + Is he acquainted with the secrets of futurity; or hath he received a +covenant from the Merciful that it shall be so? + By no means. We will surely write down that which he saith; and +increasing we will increase his punishment; +80 and we will be his heir as to that which he speaketh of, and on the last +day he shall appear before us alone and naked. + They have taken other gods, besides GOD, that they may be a glory unto +them. + By no means. Hereafter shall they deny their worship; and they shall +become adversaries unto them. + Dost thou not see that we send the devils against the infidels, to incite +them to sin by their instigations? + Wherefore be not in haste to call down destruction upon them; for we +number unto them a determined number of days of respite. + On a certain day we will assemble the pious before the Merciful in an +honourable manner, as ambassadors come into the presence of a prince: + but we will drive the wicked into hell, as cattle are driven to water: + they shall obtain no intercession, except he only who hath received a +covenant from the Merciful. + They say, The Merciful hath begotten issue. + Now have ye uttered an impious thing: +90 it wanteth little but that on occasion thereof the heavens be rent, +and the earth cleave in sunder, and the mountains be overthrown and fall, + for that they attribute children unto the Merciful; + whereas it becometh not GOD to beget children. + Verily there is none in heaven or on earth but shall approach the +Merciful as his servant. + He encompasseth them by his knowledge and power, and numbereth them +with an exact computation: + and they shall all come unto him on the day of resurrection, destitute +both of helpers and followers. + But as for those who believe and do good works, the Merciful will bestow +on them love. + Verily we have rendered the Koran easy for thy tongue, that thou mayest +thereby declare our promises unto the pious, and mayest thereby denounce +threats unto contentious people. + And how many generations have we destroyed before them? Dost thou find +one of them remaining? Or dost thou hear so much as a whisper concerning +them? + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XX. + +ENTITLED, T.H.; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + T.H. + WE have not sent down the Koran unto thee, that thou shouldest be +unhappy; + but for an admonition unto him who feareth God: + being sent down from him who created the earth, and the lofty heavens. + The Merciful sitteth on his throne: + unto him belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth, and whatsoever +is between them, and whatsoever is under the earth. + If thou pronounce thy prayers with a loud voice, know that it is not +necessary in respect to God; for he knoweth that which is secret, and what is +yet more hidden. + GOD! there is no GOD but he, he hath most excellent names. + Hast thou been informed of the history of Moses? +10 When he saw fire, and said unto his family, Tarry ye here; for I perceive +fire: peradventure I may bring you a brand thereout, or may find a direction +in our way by the fire. + And when he was come near unto it, a voice called unto him, saying, O +Moses, + verily I am thy LORD: wherefore put off thy shoes; for thou art in the +sacred valley Towa. + And I have chosen thee; therefore hearken with attention unto that which +is revealed unto thee. + Verily I am GOD; there is no god besides me; wherefore worship me, and +perform thy prayer in remembrance of me. + Verily the hour cometh: I will surely manifest the same, that every soul +may receive its reward for that which it hath deliberately done. + Let not him who believeth not therein, and who followeth his lust, +prevent thee from believing in the same, lest thou perish. + Now what is that in thy right hand, O Moses? + He answered, It is my rod whereon I lean, and with which I beat down +leaves for my flock; and I have other uses for it. + God said unto him, Cast it down, O Moses. +20 And he cast it down, and behold, it became a serpent, which ran about. + God said, Take hold on it, and fear not: we will reduce it to its former +condition. + And put thy right hand under thy left arm: it shall come forth white, +without any hurt. This shall be another sign: + that we may show thee some of our greatest signs. + Go unto Pharaoh: for he is exceedingly impious. + Moses answered, LORD, enlarge my breast, + and make what thou hast commanded me easy unto me: + and loose the knot of my tongue, + that they may understand my speech. + And give me a counsellor of my family, +30 namely, Aaron my brother. + Gird up my loins by him, + and make him my colleague in the business: + that we may praise thee greatly, + and may remember thee often; + for thou regardest us. + God replied, Now hast thou obtained thy request, O Moses: + and we have heretofore been gracious unto thee, another time; + when we revealed unto thy mother that which was revealed unto her, + saying, Put him into the ark, and cast him into the river and the river +shall throw him on the shore; and my enemy and his enemy shall take him and +bring him up; and I bestowed on thee love from me, that thou mightest be bred +up under my eye. +40 When thy sister went and said, Shall I bring you unto one who will nurse +the child? So we returned thee unto thy mother, that her mind might be set +at ease, and that she might not be afflicted. And thou slewest a soul, and we +delivered thee from trouble; and we proved thee by several trials: and +afterwards thou didst dwell some years among the inhabitants of Madian. +Then thou camest hither according to our decree, O Moses; + and I have chosen thee for myself; + wherefore go thou and thy brother with my signs; and be not negligent in +remembering me. + Go ye unto Pharaoh, for he is excessively impious: + and speak mildly unto him; peradventure he will consider, or will fear +our threats. + They answered, O LORD, verily we fear lest he be precipitately violent +against us, or lest he transgress more exorbitantly. + God replied, Fear not; for I am with you: I will hear and will see. + Go ye therefore unto him, and say, Verily we are the messengers of thy +LORD: wherefore send the children of Israel with us, and do not afflict them. +Now are we come unto thee with a sign from thy LORD: and peace be upon him who +shall follow the true direction. + Verily it hath been revealed unto us, that a punishment shall be +inflicted on him who shall charge us with imposture, and shall turn back. + And when they had delivered their message, Pharaoh said, Who is your +LORD, O Moses? +50 He answered, Our LORD is he who giveth all things: he hath created them, +and directeth them by his providence. + Pharaoh said, What therefore is the condition of the former generations? + Moses answered, The knowledge thereof is with my LORD, in the book of his +decrees: my LORD erreth not, neither doth he forget. + It is he who hath spread the earth as a bed for you, and hath made you +paths therein; and who sendeth down rain from heaven, whereby we cause various +kinds of vegetables to spring forth: + saying, Eat of part, and feed your cattle with other part thereof. +Verily herein are signs unto those who are endued with understanding. + Out of the ground have we created you; and to the same will we cause you +to return, and we will bring you forth from thence another time. + And we showed Pharaoh all our signs which we had empowered Moses to +perform: but he accused him of imposture, and refused to believe; + and he said, Art thou come unto us that thou mayest dispossess us of our +land by the enchantments, O Moses? + Verily we will meet thee with the like enchantments; wherefore fix an +appointment between us and thee; we will not fail it, neither shalt thou, in +an equal place. + Moses answered, Let your appointment be on the day of your solemn feast; +and let the people be assembled in open day. +60 And Pharaoh turned away from Moses, and gathered together the most +expert magicians to execute his stratagem; and then came to the appointment. + Moses said unto them, Woe be unto you! do not devise a lie against GOD, lest +he utterly destroy you by some judgment: for he shall not prosper who deviseth +lies. + And the magicians disputed concerning their affair among themselves, and +discoursed in private: + and they said, These two are certainly magicians: they seek to dispossess +you of your land by their sorcery; and to lead away with them your chiefest +and most considerable men. + Wherefore collect all your cunning, and then come in order: for he shall +prosper this day, who shall be superior. + They said, O Moses, whether wilt thou cast down thy rod first, or shall +we be the first who cast down our rods? + He answered, Do ye cast down your rods first. And behold, their cords +and their rods appeared unto him, by their enchantment, to run about like +serpents; + wherefore Moses conceived fear in his heart. + But we said unto him, Fear not; for thou shalt be superior: + therefore cast down the rod which is in thy right hand; and it shall +swallow up the seeming serpents which they have made: for what they have made +is only the deceit of an enchanter; and an enchanter shall not prosper, +withersoever he cometh. +70 And the magicians, when they saw the miracle which Moses performed, fell +down and worshipped, saying, We believe in the LORD of Aaron and of Moses. + Pharaoh said unto them, Do ye believe in him before I give you +permission? Verily this is your master, who hath taught you magic. But I +will surely cut off your hands and your feet on the opposite sides; and I will +crucify you on trunks of palm-trees: and ye shall know which of us is more +severe in punishing, and can longer protract your pains. + They answered, We will by no means have greater regard unto thee than +unto those evident miracles which have been shown us, or than unto him who +hath created us. Pronounce therefore that sentence against us which thou art +about to pronounce: for thou canst only give sentence as to this present life. + Verily we believe in our LORD, that he may forgive us our sins, and the +sorcery which thou hast forced us to exercise: for GOD is better to reward, +and more able to prolong punishment than thou. + Verily whosoever shall appear before his LORD on the day of judgment, +polluted with crimes, shall have hell for his reward; he shall not die +therein, neither shall he live. + But whoever shall appear before him, having been a true believer, and +shall have worked righteousness, for these are prepared the highest degrees of +happiness; + namely, gardens of perpetual abode, which shall be watered by rivers; +they shall remain therein forever: and this shall be the reward of him who +shall be pure. + And we spake by revelation unto Moses, saying, Go forth with my servants +out of Egypt by night; and smite the waters with thy rod, and make them a dry +path through the sea: be not apprehensive of Pharaoh's overtaking thee; +neither be thou afraid. + And when Moses had done so, Pharaoh followed them with his forces; and +the waters of the sea overwhelmed them. And Pharaoh caused his people to err, +neither did he direct them aright. +80 Thus, O children of Israel, we delivered you from your enemy; and we +appointed you the right side of Mount Sinai to discourse with Moses and to +give him the law; and we caused manna and quails to descend upon you, + saying, Eat of the good things which we have given you for food; and +transgress not therein, lest my indignation fall on you; and on whomsoever my +indignation shall fall, he shall go down headlong into perdition. + But I will be gracious unto him who shall repent and believe, and shall +do that which is right; and who shall be rightly directed. + What hath caused thee to hasten from thy people, O Moses, to receive the +law? + He answered, These follow close on my footsteps; but I have hastened unto +thee, O LORD, that thou mightest be well pleased with me. + God said, We have already made a trial of thy people, since thy +departure; and al Sâmeri hath seduced them to idolatry. + Wherefore Moses returned unto his people in great wrath, and exceedingly +afflicted. And he said, O my people, had not your LORD promised you a most +excellent promise? Did the time of my absence seem long unto you? Or did ye +desire that indignation from your LORD should fall on you, and therefore failed +to keep the promise which ye made me? + They answered, We have not failed in what we promised thee of our own +authority; but we were made to carry in several loads of gold and silver, of +the ornaments of the people, and we cast them into the fire; and in like +manner al Sâmeri also cast in what he had collected, + and he produced unto them a corporeal calf, which lowed. And al Sâmeri +and his companions said, This is your god, and the god of Moses; but he hath +forgotten him, and is gone to seek some other. + Did they not therefore see that their idol returned them no answer, and +was not able to cause them either hurt or profit? +90 And Aaron had said unto them before, O my people, verily ye are only +proved by this calf; for your LORD is the Merciful: wherefore, follow me, and +obey my command. + They answered, We will by no means cease to be devoted to its worship, +until Moses return unto us. + And when Moses was returned, he said, O Aaron, what hindered thee, when +thou sawest that they went astray, + that thou didst not follow me? Hast thou, therefore, been disobedient to +my command? + Aaron answered, O son of my mother, drag me not by the beard, nor by the +hair of my head. Verily I feared lest thou shouldest say, Thou hast made a +division among the children of Israel, and thou hast not observed my saying. + Moses said unto al Sâmeri, What was thy design, O Sâmeri? He answered, I +saw that which they saw not; wherefore I took a handful of dust from the +footsteps of the messenger of God, and I cast it into the molten calf; for so +did my mind direct me. + Moses said, Get thee gone; for thy punishment in this life shall be, that +thou shalt say unto those who shall meet thee, Touch me not; and a threat is +denounced against thee of more terrible pains, in the life to come, which thou +shalt by no means escape. And behold now thy god, to whose worship thou hast +continued assiduously devoted; verily we will burn it; and we will reduce it +to powder, and scatter it in the sea. + Your GOD is the true GOD, besides whom there is no other god: he +comprehendeth all things by his knowledge. + Thus do we recite unto thee, O Mohammed, relations of what hath passed +heretofore; and we have given thee an admonition from us. +100 He who shall turn aside from it shall surely carry a load of guilt on the +day of resurrection: + they shall continue thereunder forever; and a grievous burden shall it be +unto them on the day of resurrection; + On that day the trumpet shall be sounded; and we will gather the wicked +together on that day, having grey eyes. + They shall speak with a low voice to one another, saying, Ye have not +tarried above ten days. + We well know what they will say; when the most conspicuous among them for +behavior shall say, Ye have not tarried above one day. + They will ask thee concerning the mountains: Answer, My LORD will reduce +them to dust, and scatter them abroad; + and he will leave them a plain equally extended: + thou shalt see no part of them higher or lower than another. + On that day mankind shall follow the angel who will call them to +judgment, none shall have power to turn aside from him; and their voices +shall be low before the Merciful, neither shalt thou hear any more than the +hollow sound of their feet. + On that day, the intercession of none shall be of advantage unto another, +except the intercession of him to whom the Merciful shall grant permission, +and who shall be acceptable unto him in what he saith. +110 God knoweth that which is before them, and that which is behind them; +but they comprehend not the same by their knowledge: + and their faces shall be humbled before the living, the self-subsisting +God; and he shall be wretched who shall bear his iniquity. + But whosoever shall do good works, being a true believer, shall not fear +any injustice, or any diminution of his reward from God. + And thus have we sent down this book, being a Koran in the Arabic tongue; +and we have inserted various threats and promises therein, that men may fear +God, or that it may awaken some consideration in them: + wherefore, let GOD be highly exalted, the King, the Truth! Be not over- +hasty in receiving or repeating the Koran before the revelation thereof be +completed unto thee; and say, LORD, increase my knowledge. + We heretofore gave a command unto Adam; but he forgot the same, and +ate of the forbidden fruit; and we found not in him a firm resolution. + And remember when we said unto the angels, Worship ye Adam; and they +worshipped him: but Eblis refused. + And we said, O Adam, verily this is an enemy unto thee, and thy wife: +wherefore, beware lest he turn you out of paradise; for then shalt thou be +miserable. + Verily we have made a provision for thee, that thou shalt not hunger +therein, neither shalt thou be naked: + and there is also a provision made for thee, that thou shalt not thirst +therein, neither shalt thou be incommoded by heat. +120 But Satan whispered evil suggestions unto him, saying, O Adam, shall I +guide thee to the tree of eternity, and a kingdom which faileth not? + And they both ate thereof: and their nakedness appeared unto them; and +they began to sew together the leaves of paradise, to cover themselves. And +thus Adam became disobedient unto his LORD, and was seduced. + Afterwards his LORD accepted him, on his repentance, and was turned unto +him, and directed him. + And God said, Get ye down hence, all of you: the one of you shall be an +enemy unto the other. But hereafter shall a direction come unto you from me: +and whosoever shall follow my direction shall not err, neither shall he be +unhappy; + but whosoever shall turn aside from my admonition, verily he shall lead a +miserable life, and we will cause him to appear before us on the day of +resurrection, blind. + And he shall say, O LORD, why hast thou brought me before thee blind, +whereas before I saw clearly? + God shall answer, Thus have we done, because our signs came unto thee, +and thou didst forget them; and in the same manner shalt thou be forgotten +this day. + And thus will we reward him who shall be negligent, and shall not believe +in the signs of his LORD: and the punishment of the life to come shall be more +severe, and more lasting, than the punishment of this life. + Are not the Meccans, therefore, acquainted how many generations we have +destroyed before them; in whose dwellings they walk? Verily herein are signs +unto those who are endued with understanding. + And unless a decree had previously gone forth from thy LORD for their +respite, verily their destruction had necessarily followed: but there is a +certain time determined by God for their punishment. +130 Wherefore, do thou, O Mohammed, patiently bear that which they say; and +celebrate the praise of thy LORD before the rising of the sun, and before the +setting thereof, and praise him in the hours of the night, and in the +extremities of the day, that thou mayest be well-pleased with the prospect of +receiving favor from God. + And cast not thine eyes on that which we have granted divers of the +unbelievers to enjoy, namely, the splendor of this present life, that we may +prove them thereby; for the provision of thy LORD is better, and more +permanent. + Command thy family to observe prayer; and do thou persevere therein. We +require not of thee that thou labor to gain necessary provisions for thyself +and family; we will provide for thee; for the prosperous issue shall attend on +piety. + The unbelievers say, Unless he come unto us with a sign from his LORD, we +will not believe on him. Hath not a plain declaration come unto them, of that +which is contained in the former volumes of scripture, by the revelation of +the Koran? + if we had destroyed them by a judgment before the same had been revealed, +they would have said, at the resurrection, O LORD, how could we believe since +thou didst not send unto us an apostle, that we might follow thy signs, before +we were humbled and covered with shame? + Say, Each of us wait the issue: wait, therefore; for ye shall surely know +hereafter who have been the followers of the even way, and who hath been +rightly directed. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +ENTITLED, THE PROPHETS; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + THE time of giving up their account draweth nigh unto the people of +Mecca; while they are sunk in negligence, turning aside from the consideration +thereof. + No admonition cometh unto them from their LORD, being lately revealed in +the Koran, but when they hear it, they turn it to sport: + their hearts are taken up with delights. And they who act unjustly discourse +privately together, saying, Is this Mohammed any more than a man like +yourselves? Will ye therefore come to hear a piece of sorcery, when ye plainly +perceive it to be so? + Say, My LORD knoweth whatever is spoken in heaven and on earth: it is he +who heareth and knoweth. + But they say, The Koran is a confused heap of dreams: nay, he hath forged +it; nay, he is a poet: let him come unto us therefore with some miracle, in +like manner as the former prophets were sent. + None of the cities which we have destroyed believed the miracles which +they saw performed before them: will these therefore believe, if they see a +miracle? + We sent none as our apostles before them, other than men, unto whom we +revealed our will. Ask those who are acquainted with the scripture, if ye +know not this. + We gave them not a body which could be supported without their eating +food; neither were they immortal. + But we made good our promise unto them: wherefore we delivered them, and +those whom we pleased; but we destroyed the exorbitant transgressors. +10 Now have we sent down unto you, O Koreish, the book of the Koran; +wherein there is honourable mention of you: will ye not therefore understand? + And how many cities have we overthrown, which were ungodly; and caused +other nations to rise up after them? + And when they felt our severe vengeance, behold, they fled swiftly from +those cities. + And the angels said scoffingly unto them, Do not fly; but return to that +wherein ye delighted, and to your habitations; peradventure ye will be asked. + They answered, Alas for us! verily we have been unjust. + And this their lamentation ceased not, until we had rendered them like +corn which is mown down and utterly extinct. + We created not the heavens and the earth, and that which is between them, +by way of sport. + If we had pleased to take diversion, verily we had taken it with that +which beseemeth us; if we had resolved to have done this. + But we will oppose truth to vanity, and it shall confound the same; and +behold, it shall vanish away. Woe be unto you, for that which ye impiously +utter concerning God! + since whoever is in heaven and on earth is subject unto him; and the +angels who are in his presence do not insolently disdain his service, neither +are they tired therewith. +20 They praise him night and day; they faint not. + Have they taken gods from the earth? Shall they raise the dead to life? + If there were either in heaven or on earth gods besides GOD, verily both +would be corrupted. But far be that which they utter from GOD, the LORD of +the throne! + No account shall be demanded of him for what he shall do; but an account +shall be demanded of them. + Have they taken other gods besides him! Say, Produce your proof thereof. +This is the admonition of those who are contemporary with me, and the +admonition of those who have been before me: but the greater part of them +know not the truth, and turn aside from the same. + We have sent no apostle before thee, but we revealed unto him that there +is no god beside myself, wherefore serve me. + They say, The Merciful hath begotten issue; and the angels are his +daughters. GOD forbid! They are his honoured servants, + they prevent him not in anything which they say; and they execute his +command. + He knoweth that which is before them, and that which is behind them; they +shall not intercede for any, except for whom it shall please him; and they +tremble for fear of him. + Whoever of them shall say, I am a god besides him; that angel will we +reward with hell: for so will we reward the unjust. +30 Do not the unbelievers therefore know, that the heavens and the earth +were solid, and we clave the same in sunder; and made every living thing of +water? Will they not therefore believe? + And we placed stable mountains on the earth, lest it should move with +them; and we made broad passages between them for paths, that they might be +directed in their journeys: + and we made the heaven a roof well supported. Yet they turn aside from +the signs thereof, not considering that they are the workmanship of God. + It is he who hath created the night, and the day, and the sun, and the +moon; all the celestial bodies move swiftly, each in its respective orb. + We have not granted unto any man before thee eternal permanency in this +world; if thou die, therefore, will they be immortal? + Every soul shall taste of death: and we will prove you with evil, and +with good, for a trial of you; and unto us shall ye return. + When the unbelievers see thee, they receive thee only with scoffing, +saying, Is this he who mentioneth your gods with contempt? Yet themselves +believe not what is mentioned to them of the Merciful. + Man is created of precipitation. Hereafter will I show you my signs, so +that ye shall not wish them to be hastened. + They say, When will this threat be accomplished, if ye speak truth? + If they who believe not knew that the time will surely come, when they +shall not be able to drive back the fire of hell from their faces, nor from +their backs, neither shall they be helped, they would not hasten it. +40 But the day of vengeance shall come upon them suddenly, and shall strike +them with astonishment: they shall not be able to avert it, neither shall they +be respited. + Other apostles have been mocked before thee; but the punishment which +they scoffed at fell upon such of them as mocked. + Say unto the scoffers, Who shall save you by night and by day from the +Merciful? Yet they utterly neglect the remembrance of their LORD. + Have they gods who will defend them, besides us? They are not able to +help themselves; neither shall they be assisted against us by their +companions, + But we have permitted these men and their fathers to enjoy worldly +prosperity, so long as life was continued unto them. Do they not perceive +that we come unto the land of the unbelievers, and straiten the borders +thereof? Shall they therefore be the conquerors? + Say, I only preach unto you the revelation of God: but the deaf will not +hear thy call, whenever they are preached unto. + Yet if the least breath of the punishment of thy LORD touch them, they +will surely say, Alas for us! verily we have been unjust. + We will appoint just balances for the day of resurrection; neither shall +any soul be injured at all: although the merit or guilt of an action be of the +weight of a grain of mustard-seed only, we will produce it publicly; and there +will be sufficient accountants with us. + We formerly gave unto Moses and Aaron the law, being a distinction +between good and evil, and a light and admonition unto the pious; + who fear their LORD in secret, and who dread the hour of judgment. +50 And this book also is a blessed admonition, which we have sent down from +heaven: will ye therefore deny it? + And we gave unto Abraham his direction heretofore, and we knew him to be +worthy of the revelations wherewith he was favored. + Remember when he said unto his father, and his people, What are these +images, to which ye are so entirely devoted? + They answered, We found our fathers worshipping them. + He said, Verily both ye and your fathers have been in a manifest error. + They said, Dost thou seriously tell us the truth, or art thou one who +jestest with us? + He replied, Verily your LORD is the LORD of the heavens and the earth; it +is he who hath created them: and I am one of those who bear witness thereof. + By GOD, I will surely devise a plot against your idols, after ye shall +have retired from them, and shall have turned your backs. + And in the people's absence he went into the temple where the idols +stood, and he brake them all in pieces, except the biggest of them; that they +might lay the blame upon that. And when they were returned, and saw the +havoc which had been made, + they said, Who hath done this to our gods? He is certainly an impious +person. +60 And certain of them answered, We heard a young man speak reproachfully +of them: he is named Abraham. + They said, Bring him therefore before the people, that they may bear +witness against him. + And when he was brought before the assembly, they said unto him, Hast +thou done this unto our gods, O Abraham? + He answered, Nay, that biggest of them hath done it: but ask them, if +they can speak. + And they returned unto themselves, and said the one to the other, Verily +ye are the impious persons. + Afterwards they relapsed into their former obstinacy, and said, Verily +thou knowest that these speak not. + Abraham answered, Do ye therefore worship, besides GOD, that which cannot +profit you at all, neither can it hurt you? + Fie on you: and upon that which ye worship besides GOD! Do ye not understand? + They said, Burn him, and avenge your gods: if ye do this it will be +well. + And when Abraham was cast into the burning pile, we said, O fire, be thou +cold, and a preservation unto Abraham. +70 And they sought to lay a plot against him: but we caused them to be the +sufferers. + And we delivered him, and Lot, by bringing them into the land wherein we +have blessed all creatures. + And we bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, as an additional gift: and we +made all of them righteous persons. + We also made them models of religion, that they might direct others by +our command: and we inspired into them the doing of good works, and the +observance of prayer, and the giving of alms; and they served us. + And unto Lot we gave wisdom and knowledge, and we delivered him out of +the city which committed filthy crimes; for they were a wicked and insolent +people; + and we led him into our mercy; for he was an upright person. + And remember Noah, when he called for destruction on his people, before +the prophets above mentioned: and we heard him, and delivered him and his +family from a great strait: + and we protected him from the people who accused our signs of falsehood; +for they were a wicked people, wherefore we drowned them all. + And remember David and Solomon, when they pronounced judgment concerning +a field, when the sheep of certain people had fed therein by night, having no +shepherd; and we were witnesses of their judgment: + and we gave the understanding thereof unto Solomon. And on all of them +we bestowed wisdom, and knowledge. And we compelled the mountains to praise +us, with David; and the birds also: and we did this. +80 And we taught him the art of making coats of mail for you, that they +may defend you in your wars: will ye therefore be thankful? + And unto Solomon we subjected a strong wind: it ran at his command to +the land whereon we had bestowed our blessing: and we knew all things. + And we also subjected unto his command divers of the devils, who might +dive to get pearls for him, and perform other work besides this; and we +watched over them. + And remember Job; when he cried unto his LORD, saying, Verily evil hath +afflicted me: but thou art the most merciful of those who show mercy. + Wherefore we heard him, and relieved him from the evil which was upon +him: and we restored unto him his family, and as many more with them, through +our mercy, and for an admonition unto those who serve God. + And remember Ismael, and Edris, and Dhu'lkefl. All these were patient +persons; + wherefore we led them into our mercy; for they were righteous doers. + And remember Dhu'lnun, when he departed in wrath, and thought that we +could not exercise our power over him. And he cried out in the darkness, +saying, There is no GOD, besides thee: praise be unto thee! Verily I have +been one of the unjust. + Wherefore we heard him, and delivered him from affliction; for so do we +deliver the true believers. + And remember Zacharias, when he called upon his LORD, saying, O LORD, +leave me not childless: yet thou art the best heir. +90 Wherefore we heard him, and we gave him John; and we rendered his wife +fit for bearing a child unto him. These strove to excel in good works, and +called upon us with love, and with fear; and humbled themselves before us. + And remember her who preserved her virginity, and into whom we breathed +of our spirit; ordaining her and her son for a sign unto all creatures. + Verily this your religion is one religion, and I am your LORD; wherefore +serve me. + But the Jews and Christians have made schisms in the affair of their +religion among themselves; but all of them shall appear before us. + Whosoever shall do good works, being a true believer, there shall be no +denial of the reward due to his endeavours; and we will surely write it down +unto him. + An inviolable prohibition is laid on every city which we shall have +destroyed; for that they shall not return any more into the world, + until Gog and Magog shall have a passage opened for them, and they shall +hasten from every high hill, + and the certain promise shall draw near to be fulfilled: and behold, the +eyes of the infidels shall be fixed with astonishment, and they shall say, +Alas for us! we were formerly regardless of this day; yea, we were wicked +doers. + Verily both ye, O men of Mecca, and the idols which ye worship besides +GOD, shall be cast as fuel into hell fire: ye shall go down into the same. + If these were really gods, they would not go down into the same: and all +of them shall remain therein forever. +100 In that place shall they groan for anguish; and they shall not hear +ought therein. + As for those unto whom the most excellent reward of paradise hath been +predestinated by us, they shall be transported far off from the same; + they shall not hear the least sound thereof: and they shall continue +forever in the felicity which their souls desire. + The greatest terror shall not trouble them; and the angels shall meet +them to congratulate them, saying, This is your day which ye were promised. + On that day we will roll up the heavens, as the angel al Sijil rolleth +up the book wherein every man's actions are recorded. As we made the first +creature out of nothing, so we will also reproduce it at the resurrection. +This is a promise which it lieth on us to fulfil: we will surely perform it. + And now have we written in the psalms, after the promulgation of the law, +that my servants the righteous shall inherit the earth. + Verily in this book are contained sufficient means of salvation, unto +people who serve God. + We have not sent thee, O Mohammed, but as a mercy unto all creatures. + Say, No other hath been revealed unto me, than that your GOD is one GOD: +will ye therefore be resigned unto him? + But if they turn their backs to the confession of GOD's unity, say, I +proclaim war against you all equally: but I know not whether that which ye +are threatened with be nigh, or whether it be far distant. +110 Verily God knoweth the discourse which is spoken in public; and he also +knoweth that which ye hold in private. + I know not but peradventure the respite granted you is for a trial of +you; and that he may enjoy the prosperity of this world for a time. + Say, LORD, judge between me and my adversaries with truth. Our LORD is +the Merciful; whose assistance is to be implored against the blasphemies and +calumnies which ye utter. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +ENTITLED, THE PILGRIMAGE; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + O MEN of Mecca, fear your LORD. Verily the shock of the last hour will +be a terrible thing. + On the day whereon ye shall see it, every woman who giveth suck shall +forget the infant which she suckleth, and every female that is with young +shall cast her burden; and thou shalt see men seemingly drunk, yet they shall +not be really drunk: but the punishment of GOD will be severe. + There is a man who disputeth concerning GOD without knowledge, and +followeth every rebellious devil: + against whom it is written, that whoever shall take him for his patron, +he shall surely seduce him, and shall lead him into the torment of hell. + O men, if ye be in doubt concerning the resurrection, consider that we +first created you of the dust of the ground; afterwards, of seed; afterwards, +of a little coagulated blood; afterwards, of a piece of flesh, perfectly +formed in part, and in part imperfectly formed; that we might make our power +manifest unto you: and we caused that which we please to rest in the wombs, +until the appointed time of delivery. Then we bring you forth infants; and +afterwards we permit you to attain your age of full strength: and one of you +dieth in his youth, and another of you is postponed to a decrepit age, so that +he forgetteth whatever he knew. Thou seest the earth sometimes dried up and +barren: but when we send down rain thereon, it is put in motion and swelleth, +and produceth every kind of luxuriant vegetables. + This showeth that GOD is the truth, and that he raiseth the dead to life, +and that he is almighty; + and that the hour of judgment will surely come (there is no doubt +thereof), and that GOD will raise again those who are in the graves. + There is a man who disputeth concerning GOD without either knowledge, or +a direction, or an enlightening book; + proudly turning his side, that he may seduce men from the way of GOD. +Ignominy shall attend him in this world; and on the day of resurrection we +will make him taste the torment of burning, +10 when it shall be said unto him. This thou sufferest because of that +which thy hands have formerly committed; for GOD is not unjust towards +mankind. + There are some men who serve GOD in a wavering manner, standing, as it +were, on the verge of the true religion. If good befall one of them, he +resteth satisfied therein; but if any tribulation befall him, he turneth +himself round, with the loss both of this world, and of the life to come. +This is manifest perdition. + He will call upon that, besides GOD, which can neither hurt him, nor +profit him. This is an error remote from truth. + He will invoke him who will sooner be of hurt to his worshipper than of +advantage. Such is surely a miserable patron, and a miserable companion. + But GOD will introduce those who shall believe, and do righteous works, +into gardens through which rivers flow; for GOD doth that which he pleaseth. + Whoso thinketh that GOD will not assist his apostle in this world, and in +the world to come, let him strain a rope towards heaven, then let him put an +end to his life, and see whether his devices can render that ineffectual, for +which he was angry. + Thus do we send down the Koran, being evident signs: for GOD directeth +whom he pleaseth. + As to the true believers, and those who Judaize, and the Sabians, and the +Christians, and the Magians, and the idolaters; verily GOD shall judge between +them on the day of resurrection; for GOD is witness of all things. + Dost thou not perceive that all creatures both in heaven and on earth +adore GOD; and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and +the trees, and the beasts, and many men? but many are worthy of chastisement: +and whomsoever GOD shall render despicable, there shall be none to honour; for +GOD doth that which he pleaseth. + These are two opposite parties, who dispute concerning their LORD. And +they who believe not shall have garments of fire fitted unto them: boiling +water shall be poured on their heads; +20 their bowels shall be dissolved thereby, and also their skins; + and they shall be beaten with maces of iron. + So often as they shall endeavour to get out of hell, because of the +anguish of their torments, they shall be dragged back into the same; and their +tormentors shall say unto them, Taste ye the pain of burning. + GOD will introduce those who shall believe, and act righteously, into +gardens through which rivers flow: they shall be adorned therein with +bracelets of gold, and pearls; and their vestures therein shall be silk. + They are directed unto a good saying; and are directed into the +honourable way. + But they who shall disbelieve, and obstruct the way of GOD, and hinder +men from visiting the holy temple of Mecca, which we have appointed for a +place of worship unto all men: the inhabitant thereof, and the stranger have +an equal right to visit it: and whosoever shall seek impiously to profane it, +we will cause him to taste a grievous torment. + Call to mind when we gave the site of the house of the Caaba for an abode +unto Abraham, saying, Do not associate anything with me; and cleanse my house +for those who compass it, and who stand up, and who bow down to worship. + And proclaim unto the people a solemn pilgrimage; let them come unto +thee on foot, and on every lean camel, arriving from every distant road; + that they may be witnesses of the advantages which accrue to them from +the visiting this holy place, and may commemorate the name of GOD on the +appointed days, in gratitude for the brute cattle which he hath bestowed on +them. Wherefore eat thereof, and feed the needy, and the poor. + Afterwards let them put an end to the neglect of their persons; and let +them pay their vows, and compass the ancient house. +30 This let them do. And whoever shall regard the sacred ordinances of +GOD; this will be better for him in the sight of his LORD. All sorts of +cattle are allowed you to eat, except what hath been read unto you, in former +passages of the Koran, to be forbidden. But depart from the abomination of +idols, and avoid speaking that which is false: + being orthodox in respect to GOD, associating no other god with him; for +whoever associateth, any other with GOD is like that which falleth from +heaven, and which the birds snatch away, or the wind bloweth to a far distant +place. + This is so. And whoso maketh valuable offerings unto GOD; verily they +proceed from the piety of men's hearts. + Ye receive various advantages from the cattle designed for sacrifices, +until a determined time for slaying them: then the place of sacrificing them +is at the ancient house. + Unto the professors of every religion have we appointed certain rites, +that they may commemorate the name of GOD on slaying the brute cattle which +he hath provided for them. Your GOD is one GOD: wherefore resign yourselves +wholly unto him. And do thou bear good tidings unto those who humble +themselves; + whose hearts, when mention is made of GOD, are struck with fear; and unto +those who patiently endure that which befalleth them; and who duly perform +their prayers, and give alms out of what we have bestowed on them. + The camels slain for sacrifice have we appointed for you as symbols of +your obedience unto GOD: ye also receive other advantages from them. +Wherefore commemorate the name of GOD over them, when ye slay them, +standing on their feet disposed in right order: and when they are fallen down +dead, eat of them; and give to eat thereof both unto him who is content with +what is given him, without asking, and unto him who asketh. Thus have we +given you dominion over them, that ye might return us thanks. + Their flesh is not accepted of GOD, neither their blood; but your piety +is accepted of him. Thus have we given you dominion over them, that ye might +magnify GOD, for the revelations whereby he hath directed you. And bear good +tidings unto the righteous, + that GOD will repel the ill designs of the infidels from the true +believers; for GOD loveth not every perfidious unbeliever. + Permission is granted unto those who take arms against the unbelievers, +for that they have been unjustly persecuted by them (and GOD is certainly able +to assist them): +40 who have been turned out of their habitations injuriously, and for no +other reason than because they say, Our LORD is GOD. And if GOD did not +repel the violence of some men by others, verily monasteries, and churches, +and synagogues, and the temples of the Moslems, wherein the name of GOD is +frequently commemorated, would be utterly demolished. And GOD will certainly +assist him who shall be on his side: for GOD is strong and mighty. + And he will assist those who, if we establish them in the earth, will +observe prayer, and give alms, and command that which is just, and forbid that +which is unjust. And unto GOD shall be the end of all things. + If they accuse thee, O Mohammed, of imposture; consider that, before +them, O Mohammed, of imposture; consider that, before them, the people of +Noah, and the tribes of Ad and Thamud, + and the people of Abraham, and the people of Lot, + and the inhabitants of Madian, accused their prophets of imposture: and +Moses was also charged with falsehood. And I granted a long respite unto the +unbelievers: but afterwards I chastised them; and how different was the change +I made in their condition! + How many cities have we destroyed, which were ungodly, and which are now +fallen to ruin on their roofs? And how many wells have been abandoned, and +lofty castles? + Do they not therefore journey through the land? And have they not hearts +to understand with, or ears to hear with? Surely as to these things their +eyes are not blind, but the hearts are blind which are in their breasts. + They will urge thee to hasten the threatened punishment; but GOD will not +fail to perform what he hath threatened: and verily one day with thy LORD is +as a thousand years, of those which ye compute. + Unto how many cities have I granted respite, though they were wicked? +Yet afterwards I chastised them: and unto me shall they come to be judged at +the last day. + Say, O men, verily I am only a public preacher unto you. +50 And they who believe, and do good works, shall obtain forgiveness and an +honourable provision. + But those who endeavour to make our signs of none effect shall be the +inhabitants of hell. + We have sent no apostle, or prophet, before thee, but, when he read, +Satan suggested some error in his reading. But GOD shall make void that +which Satan hath suggested: then shall GOD confirm his signs; for GOD is +knowing and wise. + But this he permitteth, that he may make that which Satan hath suggested, +a temptation unto those in whose hearts there is an infirmity, and whose +hearts are hardened (for the ungodly are certainly in a wide disagreement from +the truth): + and that they on whom knowledge hath been bestowed may know that this +book is the truth from thy LORD, and may believe therein; and that their +hearts may acquiesce in the same: for GOD is surely the director of those who +believe, into the right way. + But the infidels will not cease to doubt concerning it, until the hour of +judgment cometh suddenly upon them; or until the punishment of a grievous day +overtake them. + On that day the kingdom shall be GOD'S: he shall judge between them. And +they who shall have believed, and shall have wrought righteousness, shall be +in gardens of pleasure; + but they who shall have disbelieved, and shall have charged our signs +with falsehood, those shall suffer a shameful punishment. + And as to those who shall have fled their country for the sake of GOD'S +true religion, and afterwards shall have been slain, or shall have died; on +them will GOD bestow an excellent provision; and GOD is the best provider. + He will surely introduce them with an introduction with which they shall +be well pleased; for GOD is knowing and gracious. +60 This is so. Whoever shall take a vengeance equal to the injury which +hath been done him, and shall afterwards be unjustly treated; verily GOD +will assist him: for GOD is merciful, and ready to forgive. + This shall be done, for that GOD causeth the night to succeed the day, +and he causeth the day to succeed the night; and for that GOD both heareth and +seeth. + This, because GOD is truth, and because what they invoke besides him is +vanity; and for that GOD is the high, the mighty. + Dost thou not see that GOD sendeth down water from heaven, and the earth +becometh green? for GOD is gracious and wise. + Unto him belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth: and GOD is self- +sufficient, worthy to be praised. + Dost thou not see that GOD hath subjected whatever is in the earth to +your service, and also the ships which sail in the sea, by his command? And +he withholdeth the heaven that it fall not on the earth, unless by his +permission: for GOD is gracious unto mankind, and merciful. + It is he who hath given you life, and will hereafter cause you to die; +afterwards he will again raise you to life, at the resurrection: but man is +surely ungrateful. + Unto the professors of every religion have we appointed certain rites, +which they observe. Let them not therefore dispute with thee concerning this +matter: but invite them unto thy LORD: for thou followest the right direction. + But if they enter into debate with thee, answer, GOD well knoweth that +which ye do: + GOD will judge between you on the day of resurrection, concerning that +wherein ye now disagree. +70 Dost thou not know that GOD knoweth whatever is in heaven and on earth? +Verily this is written in the book of his decrees: this is easy with GOD. + They worship, besides GOD, that concerning which he hath sent down no +convincing proof, and concerning which they have no knowledge: but the unjust +doers shall have none to assist them. + And when our evident signs are rehearsed unto them, thou mayest perceive, +in the countenances of the unbelievers, a disdain thereof: it wanteth little +but that they rush with violence on those who rehearse our signs unto them. +Say, Shall I declare unto you a worse thing than this? The fire of hell, +which GOD hath threatened unto those who believe not, is worse; and an unhappy +journey shall it be thither. + O men, a parable is propounded unto you; wherefore hearken unto it. +Verily the idols which ye invoke, besides GOD, can never create a single fly, +although they were all assembled for that purpose: and if the fly snatch +anything from them, they cannot recover the same from it. Weak is the +petitioner, and the petitioned. + They judge not of GOD according to his due estimation: for GOD is +powerful and mighty. + GOD chooseth messengers from among the angels, and from among men: for +GOD is he who heareth and seeth. + He knoweth that which is before them, and that which is behind them: and +unto GOD shall all things return. + O true believers, bow down, and prostrate yourselves, and worship your +LORD; and work righteousness, that ye may be happy: + and fight in defence of GOD'S true religion, as it behooveth you to fight +for the same. He hath chosen you, and hath not imposed on you any difficulty +in the religion which he hath given you, the religion of your father Abraham: +he hath named you Moslems heretofore, and in this book; that our apostle may +be a witness against you at the day of judgment, and that ye may be witnesses +against the rest of mankind. Wherefore be ye constant at prayer; and give +alms: and adhere firmly unto GOD. He is your master; and he is the best +master, and the best protector. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +ENTITLED, THE TRUE BELIEVERS; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + NOW are the true believers happy: + who humble themselves in their prayer, + and who eschew all vain discourse, + and who are doers of alms-deeds; + and who keep themselves from carnal knowledge of any women + except their wives, or the captives which their right hands possess (for +as to them they shall be blameless: + but whosoever coveteth any woman beyond these, they are transgressors): + and who acquit themselves faithfully of their trust, and justly perform +their covenant; + and who observe their appointed times of prayer: +10 these shall be the heirs, + who shall inherit paradise; they shall continue therein forever. + We formerly created man in a finer sort of clay; + afterwards we placed him in the form of seed in a sure receptacle: + afterwards we made the seed coagulated blood; and we formed the +coagulated blood into a piece of flesh: then we formed the piece of flesh into +bones: and we clothed those bones with flesh: then we produced the same by +another creation. Wherefore blessed be GOD, the most excellent Creator! + After this shall ye die: + and afterwards shall ye be restored to life, on the day of resurrection. + And we have created over you seven heavens: and we are not negligent of +what we have created. + And we send down rain from heaven, by measure; and we cause it to remain +on the earth: we are also certainly able to deprive you of the same. + And we cause gardens of palm-trees, and vineyards, to spring forth for +you by means thereof; wherein ye have many fruits, and whereof ye eat. +20 And we also raise for you a tree springing from Mount Sinai; which +produceth oil, and a sauce for those who eat. + Ye have likewise an instruction in the cattle; we give you to drink of +the milk which is in their bellies, and ye receive many advantages from them; +and of them do ye eat: + and on them, and on ships, are ye carried. + We sent Noah heretofore unto his people, and he said, O my people, serve +GOD: ye have no GOD besides him; will ye therefore not fear the consequence +of your worshipping other gods? + And the chiefs of his people, who believed not, said, This is no other +than a man, as ye are: he seeketh to raise himself to a superiority over you. +If GOD had pleased to have sent a messenger unto you, he would surely have +sent angels: we have not heard this of our fore-fathers. + Verily he is no other than a man disturbed with frenzy: wherefore wait +concerning him for a time. + Noah said, O LORD, do thou protect me; for that they accuse me of +falsehood. + And we revealed our orders unto him, saying, Make the ark in our sight; +and according to our revelation. And when our decree cometh to be executed, +and the oven shall boil and pour forth water, carry into it of every species of +animals one pair; and also thy family, except such of them on whom a previous +sentence of destruction hath passed: and speak not unto me in behalf of those +who have been unjust; 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 delivered us from the ungodly people! + And say, O LORD, cause me to come down from this ark with a blessed +descent; for thou art the best able to bring me down from the same with +safety. +30 Verily herein were signs of our omnipotence; and we proved mankind +thereby. + Afterwards we raised up another generation after them; + and we sent unto them an apostle from among them, who said, Worship GOD: +ye have no GOD besides him; will ye therefore not fear his vengeance? + And the chiefs of his people, who believed not, and who denied the +meeting of the life to come, and on whom we had bestowed affluence in this +present life, said, This is no other than a man, as ye are; he eateth of that +whereof ye eat, and he drinketh of that whereof ye drink: + and if ye obey a man like unto yourselves, ye will surely be sufferers. + Doth he threaten you that after ye shall be dead, and shall become dust +and bones, ye shall be brought forth alive from your graves? + Away, away with that ye are threatened with! + There is no other life besides our present life: we die, and we live; and +we shall not be raised again. + This is no other than a man, who deviseth a lie concerning GOD: but we +will not believe him. + Their apostle said, O LORD, defend me; for that they have accused me of +imposture. +40 God answered, After a little while they shall surely repent their +obstinacy. + Wherefore a severe punishment was justly inflicted on them, and we +rendered them like the refuse which is carried down by a stream. Away +therefore with the ungodly people! + Afterwards we raised up other generations after them. + No nation shall be punished before their determined time; neither shall +they be respited after. + Afterwards we sent our apostles, one after another. So often as their +apostle came unto any nation, they charged him with imposture: and we caused +them successively to follow one another to destruction; and we made them only +subjects of traditional stories. Away therefore with the unbelieving nations! + Afterwards we sent Moses, and Aaron his brother, with our signs and +manifest power, + unto Pharaoh and his princes: but they proudly refused to believe on him; +for they were a haughty people. + And they said, Shall we believe on two men like unto ourselves; whose +people are our servants? + And they accused them of imposture: wherefore they became of the number +of those who were destroyed. + And we heretofore gave the book of the law unto Moses, that the children +of Israel might be directed thereby. +50 And we appointed the son of Mary, and his mother, for a sign: and we +prepared an abode for them in an elevated part of the earth, being a place of +quiet and security, and watered with running springs. + O apostles, eat of those things which are good; and work righteousness: +for I well know that which ye do. + This your religion is one religion; and I am your LORD: wherefore fear +me. + But men have rent the affair of their religion into various sects: every +party rejoiceth in that which they follow. + Wherefore leave them in their confusion, until a certain time. + Do they think that we hasten unto them the wealth and children which we +have abundantly bestowed on them, + for their good? But they do not understand. + Verily they who stand in awe, for fear of their LORD, + and who believe in the signs of their LORD, + and who attribute not companions unto their LORD; +60 and who give that which they give in alms, their hearts being struck with +dread, for that they must return unto their LORD: + these hasten unto good, and are foremost to obtain the same. + We will not impose any difficulty on a soul, except according to its +ability; with us is a book, which speaketh the truth; and they shall not be +injured. + But their hearts are drowned in negligence, as to this matter: and they have +works different from those we have mentioned; which they will continue to do, + until when we chastise such of them as enjoy an affluence of fortune, by +a severe punishment, behold, they cry aloud for help: + but it shall be answered them, Cry not for help to-day: for ye shall not +be assisted by us. + My signs were read unto you, but ye turned back on your heels: + proudly elating yourselves because of your possessing the holy temple; +discoursing together by night, and talking foolishly. + Do they not therefore attentively consider that which is spoken unto +them; whether a revelation is come unto them which came not unto their fore-- +fathers? + Or do they not know their apostle; and therefore reject him? +70 Or do they say, He is a madman? Nay, he hath come unto them with the +truth; but the greater part of them detest the truth. + If the truth had followed their desires, verily the heavens and the +earth, and whoever therein is, had been corrupted. But we have brought them +their admonition; and they turn aside from their admonition. + Dost thou ask of them any maintenance for thy preaching? since the +maintenance of thy LORD is better; for he is the most bounteous provider. + Thou certainly invitest them to the right way: + and they who believe not in the life to come, do surely deviate from that +way. + If we had had compassion on them, and taken off from them the calamity +which had befallen them, they would surely have more obstinately persisted in +their error, wandering in confusion. + We formerly chastised them with a punishment: yet they did not humble +themselves before their LORD, neither did they make supplications unto him; + until, when we have opened upon them a door, from which a severe +punishment hath issued, behold they are driven to despair thereat. + It is God who hath created in you the senses of hearing and of sight, +that ye may perceive our judgments, and hearts, that ye may seriously consider +them: yet how few of you give thanks! + It is he who hath produced you in the earth; and before him shall ye be +assembled. +80 It is he who giveth life, and putteth to death; and to him is to be +attributed the vicissitude of night and day: do ye not therefore understand? + But the unbelieving Meccans say as their predecessors said: + they say, When we shall be dead, and shall have become dust and bones, +shall we really be raised to life? + We have already been threatened with this, and our fathers also +heretofore: this is nothing but fables of the ancients. + Say, Whose is the earth, and whoever therein is, if ye know? + They will answer, GOD'S. Say, Will ye not therefore consider? + Say, Who is the LORD of the seven heavens, and the LORD of the +magnificent throne? + They will answer, They are GOD'S. Say, Will ye not therefore fear him? + Say, In whose hand is the kingdom of all things; who protecteth whom he +pleaseth, but is himself protected of none; if ye know? + They will answer, In GOD'S. Say, How therefore are ye bewitched? +90 Yea, we have brought them the truth; and they are certainly liars in +denying the same. + GOD hath not begotten issue; neither is there any other god with him: +otherwise every god had surely taken away that which he had created; and some +of them had exalted themselves above the others. Far be that from GOD, which +they affirm of him! + He knoweth that which is concealed, and that which is made public: +wherefore far be it from him to have those sharers in his honour which they +attribute to him! + Say, O LORD, If thou wilt surely cause me to see the vengeance with which +they have been threatened; + O LORD, set me not among the ungodly people: + for we are surely able to make thee see that with which we have +threatened them. + Turn aside evil with that which is better: we well know the calumnies +which they utter against thee. + And say, O LORD I fly unto thee for refuge, against the suggestions of +the devils + and I have recourse unto thee, O LORD, to drive them away, that they be +not present with me. + The gainsaying of the unbelievers ceaseth not until, when death +overtaketh any of them, he saith, O LORD, suffer me to return to life, +100 that I may do that which is right; in professing the true faith which +I have neglected. By no means. Verily these are the words which ye shall +speak: but behind them there shall be a bar, until the day of resurrection. + When therefore the trumpet shall be sounded, there shall be no relation +between them which shall be regarded on that day; neither shall they ask +assistance of each other. + They whose balances shall be heavy with good works shall be happy; but +they whose balances shall be light are those who shall lose their souls, and +shall remain in hell for ever. + The fire shall scorch their faces, and they shall writhe their mouths +therein for anguish: + and it shall be said unto them, Were not my signs rehearsed unto you; and +did ye not charge them with falsehood? + They shall answer, O LORD, our unhappiness prevailed over us, and we were +people who sent astray. + O LORD, take us forth from this fire: if we return to our former +wickedness, we shall surely be unjust. + God will say unto them, Be ye driven away with ignominy thereinto: and +speak not unto me to deliver you. + Verily there were a party of my servants, who said, O LORD, we believe: +wherefore forgive us, and be merciful unto us; for thou art the best of those +who show mercy. +110 But ye received them with scoffs, so that they suffered you to forget +my admonition, and ye laughed them to scorn. + I have this day rewarded them, for that they suffered the injuries ye +offered them with patience: verily they enjoy great felicity. + God will say, What number of years have ye continued on earth? + They will answer, We have continued there a day, or part of a day: but +ask those who keep account. + God will say, Ye have tarried but a while, if ye knew it. + Did ye think that we had created you in sport, and that ye should not be +brought again before us? + Wherefore let GOD be exalted, the King, the Truth! There is no GOD besides +him, the LORD of the honourable throne. + Whoever together with the true GOD shall invoke another god, concerning +whom he hath no demonstrative proof, shall surely be brought to an account +for the same before his LORD. Verily the infidels shall not prosper. + Say, O LORD, pardon, and show mercy; for thou art the best of those who +show mercy. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +ENTITLED, LIGHT; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + THIS Sura have we sent down from heaven; and have ratified the same; and +we have revealed evident signs, that ye may be warned. + The whore, and the whoremonger, shall ye scourge with a hundred stripes. +And let not compassion towards them prevent you from executing the judgment +of GOD; if ye believe in GOD and the last day: and let some of the true +believers be witnesses of their punishment. + The whoremonger shall not marry any other than a harlot, or an +idolatress. And a harlot shall no man take in marriage, except a whoremonger, +or an idolater. And this kind of marriage is forbidden the true believers. + But as to those who accuse women of reputation of whoredom, and produce +not four witnesses of the fact, scourge them with fourscore stripes, and +receive not their testimony forever; for such are infamous prevaricators; + excepting those who shall afterwards repent, and amend; for unto such +will GOD be gracious and merciful. + They who shall accuse their wives of adultery, and shall have no +witnesses thereof, besides themselves; the testimony which shall be required +of one of them shall be, that he swear four times by GOD that he speaketh the +truth: + and the fifth time that he imprecate the curse of GOD on him if he be a +liar. + And it shall avert the punishment from the wife, if she swear four times +by GOD that he is a liar; + and if the fifth time she imprecate the wrath of GOD on her, if he +speaketh the truth. +10 If it were not for the indulgence of GOD towards you, and his mercy, and +that GOD is easy to be reconciled, and wise, he would immediately discover +your crimes. + As to the party among you who have published the falsehood concerning +Ayesha, think it not to be an evil unto you: on the contrary, it is better +for you. Every man of them shall be punished according to the injustice of +which he hath been guilty; and he among them who hath undertaken to aggravate +the same shall suffer a grievous punishment. + Did not the faithful men, and the faithful women, when ye heard this, +judge in their own minds for the best; and say, This is a manifest falsehood? + Have they produced four witnesses thereof? wherefore since they have not +produced the witnesses, they are surely liars in the sight of GOD. + Had it not been for the indulgence of GOD towards you, and his mercy, in +this world and in that which is to come, verily a grievous punishment had been +inflicted on you, for the calumny which ye have spread: + when ye published that with your tongues, and spoke that with your mouths, +of which ye had no knowledge; and esteemed it to be light, whereas it was a +matter of importance in the sight of GOD. + When ye heard it, did ye say, It belongeth not unto us, that we should +talk of this matter: GOD forbid! this is a grievous calumny. + GOD warneth you, that ye return not to the like crime forever; if ye be +true believers. + And GOD declareth unto you his signs; for GOD is knowing and wise. + Verily they who love that scandal be published of those who believe, +shall receive a severe punishment both in this world and in the next. GOD +knoweth, but ye know not. +20 Had it not been for the indulgence of GOD towards you and his mercy, and +that GOD is gracious and merciful, ye had felt his vengeance. + O true believers, follow not the steps of the devil: for whosoever shall +follow the steps of the devil, he will command them filthy crimes, and that +which is unlawful. If it were not for the indulgence of GOD, and his mercy +towards you, there had not been so much as one of you cleansed from his guilt +forever: but GOD cleanseth whom he pleaseth; for GOD both heareth and knoweth. + Let not those among you, who possess abundance of wealth and have +ability, swear that they will not give unto their kindred, and the poor, and +those who have fled their country for the sake of GOD'S true religion: but let +them forgive, and act with benevolence towards them. Do ye not desire that +GOD should pardon you? And GOD is gracious and merciful. + Moreover they who falsely accuse modest women, who behave in a negligent +manner, and are true believers, shall be cursed in this world, and in the +world to come; and they shall suffer a severe punishment. + One day their own tongues shall bear witness against them, and their +hands, and their feet, concerning that which they have done. + On that day shall GOD render unto them their just due; and they shall +know that GOD is the evident truth. + The wicked women should be joined to the wicked men, and the wicked men +to the wicked women; but the good women should be married to the good men, and +the good men to the good women. These shall be cleared from the calumnies +which slanderers speak of them; they shall obtain pardon, and an honourable +provision. + O true believers, enter not any houses, besides your own houses, until ye +have asked leave, and have saluted the family thereof: this is better for +you; peradventure ye will be admonished. + And if ye shall find no person in the houses, yet do not enter them, +until leave be granted you: and if it be said unto you, Return back, do ye +return back. This will be more decent for you: and GOD knoweth that which ye +do. + It shall be no crime in you, that ye enter uninhabited houses, wherein +ye may meet with a convenience. GOD knoweth that which ye discover, and that +which ye conceal. +30 Speak unto the true believers, that they restrain their eyes, and keep +themselves from immodest actions: this will be more pure for them; for GOD is +well acquainted with that which they do. + And speak unto the believing women, that they restrain their eyes, and +preserve their modesty, and discover not their ornaments, except what +necessarily appeareth thereof; and let them throw their veils over their +bosoms, and not show their ornaments, unless 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 the captives which their right hands shall possess, or unto such +men as attend them, and have no need of women, or unto children, who +distinguish not the nakedness of women. And let them not make a noise with +their feet, that their ornaments which they hide may thereby be discovered. +And be ye all turned unto GOD, O true believers, that ye may be happy. + Marry those who are single among you, and such as are honest of your +men-servants and your maid-servants: if they be poor, GOD will enrich them of +his abundance; for GOD is bounteous and wise. + And let those who find not a match, keep themselves from fornication, +until GOD shall enrich them of his abundance. And unto such of your slaves +as desire a written instrument allowing them to redeem themselves on paying a +certain sum, write one, if ye know good in them; and give them of the riches +of GOD, which he hath given you. And compel not your maid-servants to +prostitute themselves, if they be willing to live chastely; that ye may seek +the casual advantage of this present life; but whoever shall compel them +thereto, verily GOD will be gracious and merciful unto such women after their +compulsion. + And now have we revealed unto you evident signs, and a history like unto +some of the histories of those who have gone before you, and an admonition +unto the pious. + GOD is the light of heaven and earth: the similitude of his light is as a +niche in a wall, wherein a lamp is placed, and the lamp enclosed in a case of +glass; the glass appears as it were a shining star. It is lighted with the +oil of a blessed tree, an olive neither of the east, nor of the west: it +wanteth little but that the oil thereof would give light, although no fire +touched it. This is light added unto light: GOD will direct unto his light +whom he pleaseth. GOD propoundeth parables unto men; for GOD knoweth all +things. + In the houses which GOD hath permitted to be raised, and that his name +be commemorated therein! men celebrate his praise in the same, morning and +evening, + whom neither merchandising nor selling diverteth from the remembering of +GOD, and the observance of prayer, and the giving of alms; fearing the day +whereon men's hearts and eyes shall be troubled; + that GOD may recompense them according to the utmost merit of what they +shall have wrought, and may add unto them of his abundance a more excellent +reward; for GOD bestoweth on whom he pleaseth without measure. + But as to the unbelievers, their works are like the vapor in a plain, +which the thirsty traveller thinketh to be water, until, when he cometh +thereto, he findeth it to be nothing; but he findeth GOD with him, and he +will fully pay him his account; and GOD is swift in taking an account; +40 or, as the darkness in a deep sea, covered by waves riding on waves, +above which are clouds, being additions of darkness one over the other; when +one stretcheth forth his hand, he is far from seeing it. And unto whomsoever +GOD shall not grant his light, he shall enjoy no light at all. + Dost thou not perceive that all creatures both in heaven and earth praise +GOD: and the birds also, extending their wings? Every one knoweth his prayer, +and his praise: and GOD knoweth that which they do. + Unto GOD belongeth the kingdom of heaven and earth; and unto GOD shall be +the return at the last day. + Dost thou not see that GOD gently driveth forward the clouds, and +gathereth them together, and then layeth them on heaps? Thou also seest the +rain, which falleth from the midst thereof; and God sendeth down from heaven +as it were mountains, wherein there is hail; he striketh therewith whom he +pleaseth, and turneth the same away from whom he pleaseth: the brightness of +his lightning wanteth but little of taking away the sight. + GOD shifteth the night, and the day: verily herein is an instruction unto +those who have sight. + And GOD hath created every animal of water; one of them goeth on his belly, +and another of them walketh upon two feet, and another of them walketh upon +four feet: GOD createth that which he pleaseth; for GOD is almighty. + Now have we sent down evident signs: and GOD directeth whom he pleaseth +into the right way. + The hypocrites say, We believe in GOD, and on his apostle; and we obey +them: yet a part of them turneth back, after this; but these are not really +believers. + And when they are summoned before GOD and his apostle, that he may judge +between them; behold, a part of them retire: + but if the right had been on their side, they would have come and +submitted themselves unto him. +50 Is there an infirmity in their hearts? Do they doubt? Or do they fear +lest GOD and his apostle act unjustly towards them? But themselves are the +unjust doers. + The saying of the true believers, when they are summoned before GOD and +his apostle, that he may judge between them, is no other than that they say, +We have heard, and do obey: and these are they who shall prosper. + Whoever shall obey GOD and his apostle, and shall fear GOD, and shall be +devout towards him; these shall enjoy great felicity. + They swear by GOD, with a most solemn oath, that if thou commandest them, +they will go forth from their houses and possessions. Say, Swear not to a +falsehood: obedience is more requisite: and GOD is well acquainted with that +which ye do. + Say, Obey GOD, and obey the apostle: but if ye turn back, verily it is +expected of him that he perform his duty, and of you that ye perform your +duty; and if ye obey him, ye shall be directed, but the duty of our apostle is +only public preaching. + GOD promiseth unto such of you as believe, and do good works, that he +will cause them to succeed the unbelievers in the earth, as he caused those +who were before you to succeed the infidels of their time; and that he will +establish for them their religion which pleaseth them, and will change their +fear into security. They shall worship me; and shall not associate any other +with me. But whoever shall disbelieve after this, they will be the wicked +doers. + Observe prayer, and give alms, and obey the apostle; that ye may obtain +mercy. + Think not that the unbelievers shall frustrate the designs of God on +earth: and their abode hereafter shall be hell fire; a miserable journey shall +it be thither! + O true believers, let your slaves and those among you who shall not have +attained the age of puberty, ask leave of you, before they come into your +presence, three times in the day; namely, before the morning prayer, and +when ye lay aside your garments at noon, and after the evening prayer. +These are the three times for you to be private: it shall be no crime in you, +or in them, if they go in to you without asking permission after these times, +while ye are in frequent attendance, the one of you on the other. Thus GOD +declareth his signs unto you; for GOD is knowing and wise. + And when your children attain the age of puberty, let them ask leave to +come into your presence at all times, in the same manner as those who have +attained that age before them, ask leave. Thus GOD declareth his signs unto +you; and GOD is knowing and wise. +60 As to such women as are past child-bearing, who hope not to marry again, +because of their advanced age; it shall be no crime in them, if they lay aside +their outer garments, not showing their ornaments; but if they abstain from +this, it will be better for them. GOD both heareth and knoweth. + It shall be no crime in the blind, nor shall it be any crime in the +lame, neither shall it be any crime in the sick, or in yourselves, that ye eat +in your houses, or in the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your +mothers, or in the houses of your brothers, or the houses of your sisters, or +the houses of your uncles on the father's side, or the houses of your aunts on +the father's side, or the houses of your uncles on the mother's side, the +houses of your aunts on the mother's side, or in those houses the keys whereof +ye have in your possession, or in the house of your friend. It shall not be +any crime in you whether ye eat together, or separately. And when ye enter +any houses, salute one another on the part of GOD, with a blessed and a +welcome salutation. Thus GOD declareth his signs unto you, that ye may +understand. + Verily they only are true believers, who believe in GOD and his apostle, +and when they are assembled with him on any affair, depart not, until they +have obtained leave of him. Verily they who ask leave of thee are those who +believe in GOD and his apostle. When therefore they ask leave of thee to +depart, on account of any business of their own, grant leave unto such of them +as thou shalt think fit, and ask pardon for them of GOD; for GOD is gracious +and merciful. + Let not the calling of the apostle be esteemed among you, as your calling +the one to the other. GOD knoweth such of you as privately withdraw +themselves from the assembly, taking shelter behind one another. But let +those who withstand his command take heed, lest some calamity befall them in +this world, or a grievous punishment be inflicted on them in the life to come. + Doth not whatever is in heaven and on earth belong unto GOD? He well +knoweth what ye are about: and on a certain day they shall be assembled before +him; and he shall declare unto them that which they have done; for GOD knoweth +all things. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +ENTITLED, AL FORKAN; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BLESSED be he who hath revealed the Forkan unto his servant, that he may +be a preacher to all creatures: + unto whom belongeth the kingdom of heaven and of earth: who hath begotten +no issue; and hath no partner in his kingdom: who hath created all things, and +disposed the same according to his determinate will. + Yet have they taken other gods besides him; which have created nothing, +but are themselves created: and are able neither to avert evil from, nor to +procure good unto themselves; and have not the power of death, or of life, +or of raising the dead. + And the unbelievers say, This Koran is no other than a forgery which he +hath contrived; and other people have assisted him therein: but they utter an +unjust thing, and a falsehood. + They also say, These are fables of the ancients, which he hath caused to +be written down; and they are dictated unto him morning and evening. + Say, He hath revealed it, who knoweth the secrets in heaven and earth: +verily he is gracious and merciful. + And they say, What kind of apostle is this? He eateth food, and walketh +in the streets, as we do: unless an angel be sent down unto him, and become a +fellow preacher with him; + or unless a treasure be cast down unto him; or he have a garden, of the +fruit whereof he may eat; we will not believe. The ungodly also say, Ye +follow no other than a man who is distracted. + Behold what they liken thee unto. But they are deceived; neither can +they find a just occasion to reproach thee. +10 Blessed be he, who, if he pleaseth, will make for thee a better provision +than this which they speak of; namely, gardens through which rivers flow: and +he will provide thee palaces. + But they reject the belief of the hour of judgment, as a falsehood: and +we have prepared for him, who shall reject the belief of that hour, burning +fire; + when it shall see them from a distant place, they shall hear it furiously +raging and roaring. + And when they shall be cast, bound together, into a strait place thereof, +they shall there call for death; + but it shall be answered them, Call not this day for one death, but call +for many deaths. + Say, Is this better, or a garden of eternal duration, which is promised +unto the pious? It shall be given unto them for a reward, and a retreat: + therein shall they have whatever they please, continuing in the same +forever. This is a promise to be demanded at the hands of thy LORD. + On a certain day he shall assemble them, and whatever they worship, +besides GOD; and shall say unto the worshipped, Did ye seduce these my +servants; or did they wander of themselves from the right way? + They shall answer, GOD forbid! It was not fitting for us, that we should +take any protectors besides thee: but thou didst permit them and their fathers +to enjoy abundance; so that they forgot thy admonition, and became lost +people. + And God shall say unto their worshippers, Now have these convinced you +of falsehood, in that which ye say: they can neither avert your punishment, +nor give you any assistance. And whoever of you shall be guilty of injustice, +him will we cause to taste a grievous torment. +20 We have sent no messengers before thee, but they ate food, and walked +through the streets: and we make some of you an occasion of trial unto +others. Will ye persevere with patience? since the LORD regardeth your +perseverance. + They who hope not to meet us at the resurrection say, Unless the angels +be sent down unto us, or we see our LORD himself, we will not believe. Verily +they behave themselves arrogantly; and have transgressed with an enormous +transgression. + The day whereon they shall see the angels, there shall be no glad +tidings on that day for the wicked; and they shall say, Be this removed far +from us? + and we will come unto the work which they shall have wrought, and we will +make it as dust scattered abroad. + On that day shall they who are destined to paradise be more happy in an +abode, and have a preferable place of repose at noon. + On that day the heaven shall be cloven in sunder by the clouds, and the +angels shall be sent down, descending visibly therein. + On that day the kingdom shall of right belong wholly unto the Merciful; +and that day shall be grievous for the unbelievers. + On that day the unjust person shall bite his hand for anguish and +despair, and shall say, Oh that I had taken the way of truth with the apostle! + Alas for me! Oh that I had not taken such a one for my friend! + He seduced me from the admonition of God, after it had come unto me: for +the devil is the betrayer of man. +30 And the apostle shall say, O LORD, verily my people esteemed this Koran +to be a vain composition. + In like manner did we ordain unto every prophet an enemy from among the +wicked: but thy LORD is a sufficient director and defender. + The unbelievers say, Unless the Koran be sent down unto him entire at +once, we will not believe. But in this manner have we revealed it, that we +might confirm thy heart thereby, and we have dictated it gradually, by +distinct parcels. + They shall not come unto thee with any strange question; but we will +bring thee the truth in answer, and a most excellent interpretation. + They who shall be dragged on their faces into hell shall be in the worst +condition, and shall stray most widely from the way of salvation. + We heretofore delivered unto Moses the book of the law; and we appointed +him Aaron his brother for a counsellor. + And we said unto them, Go ye to the people who charge our signs with +falsehood. And we destroyed them with a signal destruction. + And remember the people of Noah, when they accused our apostles of +imposture: we drowned them, and made them a sign unto mankind. And we have +prepared for the unjust a painful torment. + Remember also Ad, and Thamud, and those who dwelt at al Rass; and many +other generations within this period. + Unto each of them did we propound examples for their admonition; and each +of them did we destroy with an utter destruction. +40 The Koreish have passed frequently near the city which was rained on by a +fatal rain; have they not seen where it once stood? Yet have they not +dreaded the resurrection. + When they see thee, they will receive thee only with scoffing, saying, Is +this he whom GOD hath sent as his apostle? + Verily he had almost drawn us aside from the worship of our gods, if we +had not firmly persevered in our devotion towards them. But they shall know +hereafter, when they shall see the punishment prepared for them, who hath +strayed more widely from the right path. + What thinkest thou? He who taketh his lust for his god; canst thou be +his guardian? + Dost thou imagine that the greater part of them hear, or understand? +They are no other than like the brute cattle; yea, they stray more widely from +the true path. + Dost thou not consider the works of thy LORD, how he stretcheth forth the +shadow before sunrise? If he had pleased, he would have made it immovable +forever. Then we cause the sun to rise, and to show the same; + and afterwards we contract it by an easy and gradual contraction. + It is he who hath ordained the night to cover you as a garment; and sleep +to give you rest; and hath ordained the day for waking. + It is he who sendeth the winds, driving abroad the pregnant clouds, as +the forerunners of his mercy: and we send down pure water from heaven, + that we may thereby revive a dead country, and give to drink thereof unto +what we have created, both of cattle and men, in great numbers; +50 and we distribute the same among them at various times, that they may +consider: but the greater part of men refuse to consider, only out of +ingratitude. + If we had pleased, we had sent a preacher unto every city: + wherefore, do not thou obey the unbelievers; but oppose them herewith, +with a strong opposition. + It is he who hath let loose the two seas; this fresh and sweet, and that +salt and bitter; and hath placed between them a bar, and a bound which cannot +be passed. + It is he who hath created man of water, and hath made him to bear the +double relation of consanguinity and affinity; for thy LORD is powerful. + They worship, besides GOD, that which can neither profit them nor hurt +them: and the unbeliever is an assistant of the devil against his LORD. + We have sent thee to be no other than a bearer of good tidings, and a +denouncer of threats. + Say, I ask not of you any reward for this my preaching; besides the +conversion of him who shall desire to take the way unto his LORD. + And do thou trust in him who liveth, and dieth not; and celebrate his +praise: (he is sufficiently acquainted with the faults of his servants): + who hath created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between +them, in six days; and then ascended his throne: the Merciful. Ask now the +knowing concerning him. +60 When it is said unto the unbelievers, Adore the Merciful; they reply, And +who is the Merciful? Shall we adore that which thou commandest us? And +this precept causeth them to fly the faster from the faith. + Blessed be he who hath placed the twelve signs in the heavens; and hath +placed therein a lamp by day, and the moon which shineth by night! + It is he who hath ordained the night and the day to succeed each other, +for the observation of him who will consider, or desireth to show his +gratitude. + The servants of the Merciful are those who walk meekly on the earth, and +when the ignorant speak unto them, answer, Peace: + and who pass the night adoring their LORD, and standing up to pray unto +him; + and who say, O LORD, avert from us the torment of hell, for the torment +thereof is perpetual; + verily the same is a miserable abode and a wretched station: + and who, when they bestow, are neither profuse nor niggardly; but observe +a just medium between these; + and who invoke not another god together with the true GOD; neither slay +the soul which GOD hath forbidden to be slain, unless for a just cause: and +who are not guilty of fornication. But he who shall do this shall meet the +reward of his wickedness: + his punishment shall be doubled unto him on the day of resurrection; and +he shall remain therein, covered with ignominy, forever: +70 except him who shall repent and believe, and shall work a righteous +work; unto them will GOD change their former evils into good; for GOD is +ready to forgive, and merciful. + And whoever repenteth, and doth that which is right; verily he turneth +unto GOD with an acceptable conversion. + And they who do not bear false witness; and when they pass by vain +discourse, pass by the same with decency; + and who, when they are admonished by the signs of their LORD, fall not +down as if they were deaf and blind, but stand up and are attentive thereto: + and who say, O LORD, grant us of our wives and our offspring such as may +be the satisfaction of our eyes; and make us patterns unto those who fear +thee. + These shall be rewarded with the highest apartments in paradise, because +they have persevered with constancy; and they shall meet therein with greeting +and salutation; + they shall remain in the same forever: it shall be an excellent abode, +and a delightful station. + Say, My LORD is not solicitous on your account, if ye do not invoke him: +ye have already charged his apostle with imposture; but hereafter shall there +be a lasting punishment inflicted on you. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +ENTITLED, THE POETS; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + T.S.M. + THESE are the signs of the perspicuous book. + Peradventure thou afflictest thyself unto death, lest the Meccans become +not believers. + If we pleased, we could send down unto them a convincing sign from +heaven, unto which their necks would humbly submit. + But there cometh unto them no admonition from the Merciful, being newly +revealed as occasions require, but they turn aside from the same; + and they have charged it with falsehood: but a message shall come unto +them, which they shall not laugh to scorn. + Do they not behold the earth, how many vegetables we cause to spring up +therein, of every noble species? + Verily herein is a sign: but the greater part of them do not believe. + Verily thy LORD is the mighty, the merciful God. +10 Remember when thy LORD called Moses, saying, Go to the unjust people, + the people of Pharaoh; will they not dread me? + Moses answered, O LORD, verily I fear lest they accuse me of falsehood, + and lest my breast become straitened, and my tongue be not ready in +speaking: send therefore unto Aaron, to be my assistant. + Also they have a crime to object against me: and I fear they will put me +to death. + God said, They shall by no means put thee to death: wherefore go ye with +our signs; for we will be with you, and will hear what passes between you and +them. + Go ye therefore unto Pharaoh, and say, Verily we are the apostle of the +LORD of all creatures: + send away with us the children of Israel. + And when they had delivered their message, Pharaoh answered, Have we not +brought thee up, among us, when a child; and hast thou not dwelt among us for +several years of thy life? + Yet hast thou done thy deed which thou hast done, and thou art an +ungrateful person. +20 Moses replied, I did it indeed, and I was one of those who erred; + wherefore I fled from you, because I feared you: but my LORD hath +bestowed on me wisdom, and hath appointed me one of his apostles. + And this is the favor which thou hast bestowed on me, that thou hast +enslaved the children of Israel. + Pharaoh said, And who is the LORD of all creatures? + Moses answered, The LORD of heaven and earth, and whatever is between +them: if ye are men of sagacity. + Pharaoh said unto those who were about him, Do ye not hear? + Moses said, Your LORD, and the LORD of your forefathers. + Pharaoh said unto those who were present, Your apostle, who is sent unto +you, is certainly distracted. + Moses said, The LORD of the east, and of the west, and of whatever is +between them; if ye are men of understanding. + Pharaoh said unto him, Verily if thou take any god besides me, I will +make thee one of those who are imprisoned. +30 Moses answered, What, although I come unto you with a convincing miracle? + Pharaoh replied, Produce it therefore, if thou speakest truth. + And he cast down his rod, and behold, it became a visible serpent: + and he drew forth his hand out of his bosom; and behold, it appeared +white unto the spectators. + Pharaoh said unto the princes who were about him, Verily this man is a +skilful magician: + he seeketh to dispossess you of your land by his sorcery; what therefore +do ye direct? + They answered , Delay him and his brother by good words for a time; and +send through the cities men to assemble + and bring unto thee every skilful magician. + So the magicians were assembled at an appointed time, on a solemn day. + And it was said unto the people, Are ye assembled together? +40 Perhaps we may follow the magicians, if they do get the victory. + And when the magicians were come, they said unto Pharaoh, Shall we +certainly receive a reward, if we do get the victory? + He answered, Yea; and ye shall surely be of those who approach my person. + Moses said unto them, Cast down what ye are about to cast down. + Wherefore they cast down their ropes and their rods, and said, By the +might of Pharaoh, verily we shall be the conquerors. + And Moses cast down his rod, and behold, it swallowed up that which they +had caused falsely to appear changed into serpents. + Whereupon the magicians prostrated themselves, worshipping, + and said, We believe in the LORD of all creatures, + the LORD of Moses and of Aaron. + Pharaoh said unto them, Have ye believed on him, before I have given you +permission? Verily he is your chief who hath taught you magic: but hereafter +ye shall surely know my power. I will cut off your hands and your feet, on the +opposite sides, and I will crucify you all. +50 They answered, It will be no harm unto us; for we shall return unto our +LORD. + We hope that our LORD will forgive us our sins, since we are the first +who have believed. + And we spake by revelation unto Moses, saying, March forth with my +servants by night; for ye will be pursued. + And Pharaoh sent officers through the cities to assemble forces, saying, + Verily these are a small company; + and they are enraged against us: + but we are a multitude well provided. + So we caused them to quit their gardens, and fountains, + and treasures, and fair dwellings: + thus did we do; and we made the children of Israel to inherit the same. +60 And they pursued them at sunrise. + And when the two armies were come in sight of each other, the companions +of Moses said, We shall surely be overtaken. + Moses answered, By no means; for my LORD is with me, who will surely +direct me. + And we commanded Moses by revelation, saying, Smite the sea with thy rod. +And when he had smitten it, it became divided into twelve parts, between which +were as many paths, and every part was like a vast mountain. + And we drew thither the others; + and we delivered Moses and all those who were with him: + then we drowned the others. + Verily herein was a sign; but the greater part of them did not believe. + Verily thy LORD is the mighty and the merciful. + And rehearse unto them the story of Abraham: +70 when he said unto his father, and his people, What do ye worship? + They answered, We worship idols; and we constantly serve them all the day +long. + Abraham said, Do they hear you, when ye invoke them? + Or do they either profit you, or hurt you? + They answered, But we found our fathers do the same. + He said, What think ye? The gods which ye worship, + and your forefathers worshipped, + are my enemy: except only the LORD of all creatures, + who hath created me, and directeth me; + and who giveth me to eat, and to drink, +80 and when I am sick, healeth me; + and who will cause me to die, and will afterwards restore me to life; + and who, I hope, will forgive my sins on the day of judgment. + O LORD, grant me wisdom; and join me with the righteous: + and grant that I may be spoken of with honour among the latest +posterity; + and make me an heir of the garden of delight: + and forgive my father, for that he hath been one of those who go astray. + And cover me not with shame on the day of resurrection; + on the day in which neither riches nor children shall avail, + unless unto him who shall come unto GOD with a sincere heart: +90 when paradise shall be brought near to the view of the pious, + and hell shall appear plainly to those who shall have erred: + and it shall be said unto them, Where are your deities which ye served + besides GOD? will they deliver you from punishment, or will they deliver +themselves? + And they shall be cast into the same, both they, and those who have been +seduced to their worship; + and all the host of Eblis. + The seduced shall dispute therein with their false gods, + saying, By GOD, we were in a manifest error, + when we equalled you with the LORD of all creatures: + and none seduced us but the wicked. +100 We have now no intercessors, + nor any friend who careth for us. + If we were allowed to return once more into the world, we would certainly +become true believers. + Verily herein was a sign; but the greater part of them believed not. + The LORD is the mighty, the merciful. + The people of Noah accused GOD's messengers of imposture: + when their brother Noah said unto them, Will ye not fear God? + Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you; + wherefore fear GOD, and obey me. + I ask no reward of you for my preaching unto you; I expect my reward from +no other than the LORD of all creatures: +110 wherefore fear GOD, and obey me. + They answered, Shall we believe on thee, when only the most abject +persons have followed thee? + Noah said, I have no knowledge of that which they did; + it appertaineth unto my LORD alone to bring them to account, if ye +understand; + wherefore I will not drive away the believers: + I am no more than a public preacher. + They replied, Assuredly, unless thou desist, O Noah, thou shalt be +stoned. + He said, O LORD, verily my people take me for a liar; + wherefore judge publicly between me and them; and deliver me and the true +believers who are with me. + Wherefore we delivered him, and those who were with him, in the ark +filled with men and animals; +120 and afterwards we drowned the rest. + Verily herein was a sign; but the greater part of them believed not. + Thy LORD is the mighty, the merciful. + The tribe of Ad charged GOD's messengers with falsehood: + when their brother Hud said unto them, Will ye not fear God? + Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you; + wherefore fear GOD, and obey me. + I demand not of you any reward for my preaching unto you: I expect my +reward from no other than the LORD of all creatures. + Do ye build a landmark on every high place, to divert yourselves? + And do ye erect magnificent works, hoping that ye may continue in their +possession forever? +130 And when ye exercise your power, do ye exercise it with cruelty and +rigour? + Fear GOD, by leaving these things; and obey me. + And fear him who hath bestowed on you that which ye know: + he hath bestowed on you cattle, and children, + and gardens, and springs of water. + Verily I fear for you the punishment of a grievous day. + They answered, It is equal unto us whether thou admonish us, or dost not +admonish us: + this which thou preachest is only a device of the ancients; + neither shall we be punished for what we have done. + And they accused him of imposture: wherefore we destroyed them. Verily +herein was a sign: but the greater part of them believed not. +140 Thy LORD is the mighty, the merciful. + The tribe of Thamud also charged the messengers of God with falsehood. + When their brother Saleh said unto them, Will ye not fear God? + Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you: + wherefore fear GOD, and obey me. + I demand no reward of you for my preaching unto you: I expect my reward +from no other than the LORD of all creatures. + Shall ye be left forever secure in the possession of the things which are +here; + among gardens, and fountains, + and corn, and palm-trees, whose branches sheathe their flowers. + And will ye continue to cut habitations for yourselves out of the +mountains, behaving with insolence? +150 Fear GOD, and obey me; + and obey not the command of the transgressors, + who act corruptly in the earth, and reform not the same. + They answered, Verily thou art distracted: + thou art no other than a man like unto us: produce now some sign, if thou +speakest truth. + Saleh said, This she-camel shall be a sign unto you: she shall have her +portion of water, and ye shall have your portion of water alternately, on a +several day appointed for you; + and do her no hurt, lest the punishment of a terrible day be inflicted on +you. + But they slew her; and were made to repent of their impiety: + for the punishment which had been threatened overtook them. Verily +herein was a sign; but the greater part of them did not believe. + Thy LORD is the mighty, the merciful. +160 The people of Lot likewise accused GOD's messengers of imposture. + When their brother Lot said unto them, Will ye not fear God? + Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you: + wherefore fear GOD, and obey me. + I demand no reward of you for my preaching: I expect my reward from no +other than the LORD of all creatures. + Do ye approach unto the males among mankind, + and leave your wives which your LORD hath created for you. Surely ye are +people who transgress. + They answered, Unless thou desist, O Lot, thou shalt certainly be +expelled our city. + He said, Verily I am one of those who abhor your doings: + O LORD, deliver me, and my family, from that which they act. +170 Wherefore we delivered him, and all his family, + except an old woman, his wife, who perished among those who remained +behind; + then we destroyed the rest; + and we rained on them a shower of stones; and terrible was the shower +which fell on those who had been warned in vain. + Verily herein was a sign; but the greater part of them did not believe. + Thy LORD is the mighty, the merciful. + The inhabitants of the wood also accused GOD'S messengers of imposture. + When Shoaib said unto him, Will ye not fear God? + Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you: + wherefore fear GOD, and obey me. +180 I ask no reward of you for my preaching: I expect my reward from no +other than the LORD of all creatures. + Give just measure, and be not defrauders; + and weigh with an equal balance; + and diminish not unto men aught of their matters; neither commit violence +in the earth, acting corruptly. + And fear him who hath created you, and also the former generations. + They answered, Certainly thou art distracted; + thou art no more than a man, like unto us; and we do surely esteem thee +to be a liar. + Cause now a part of the heaven to fall upon us, if thou speakest truth. + Shoaib said, My LORD best knoweth that which ye do. + And they charged him with falsehood: wherefore the punishment of the day +of the shadowing cloud overtook them; and this was the punishment of a +grievous day. +190 Verily herein was a sign; but the greater part of them did not believe. + Thy LORD is the mighty, the merciful. + This book is certainly a revelation from the LORD of all creatures, + which the faithful spirit hath caused to descend + upon thy heart, that thou mightest be a preacher to thy people, + in the perspicuous Arabic tongue; + and it is borne witness to in the scriptures of former ages. + Was it not a sign unto them, that the wise men among the children of +Israel knew it? + Had we revealed it unto any of the foreigners, + and he had read the same unto them, yet they would not have believed +therein. +200 Thus have we caused obstinate infidelity to enter the hearts of the +wicked: + they shall not believe therein, until they see a painful punishment. + It shall come suddenly upon them, and they shall not foresee it: + and they shall say, Shall we be respited? + Do they therefore desire our punishment to be hastened? + What thinkest thou? If we suffer them to enjoy the advantage of this +life for several years, + and afterwards that with which they are threatened come upon them; + what will that which they have enjoyed profit them? + We have destroyed no city, but preachers were first sent unto it, + to admonish the inhabitants thereof; neither did we treat them unjustly. +210 The devils did not descend with the Koran, as the infidels give out: + it is not for their purpose, neither are they able to produce such a +book; + for they are far removed from hearing the discourse of the angels in +heaven. + Invoke no other god with the true GOD, lest thou become one of those who +are doomed to punishment. + And admonish thy more near relations. + And behave thyself with meekness towards the true believers who follow +thee: + and if they be disobedient unto thee, say, Verily, I am clear of that +which ye do. + And trust in the most mighty, the merciful God; + who seeth thee when thou risest up, + and thy behavior among those who worship; +220 for he both heareth and knoweth. + Shall I declare unto you upon whom the devils descend? + They descend upon every lying and wicked person: + they learn what is heard; but the greater part of them are liars. + And those who err follow the steps of the poets: + dost thou not see that they rove as bereft of their senses through every +valley; + and that they say that which they do not? + except those who believe, and do good works, and remember GOD frequently; +and who defend themselves, after they have been unjustly treated. And they +who act unjustly shall know hereafter with what treatment they shall be treated. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +ENTITLED, THE ANT; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + T.S. THESE are the signs of the Koran, and of the perspicuous book: + a direction, and good tidings unto the true believers? + who regularly perform their prayer, and give alms, and firmly believe in the +life to come. + As to those who believe not in the life to come, we have prepared their +works for them; and they shall be struck with astonishment at their +disappointment, when they shall be raised again: + these are they whom an evil punishment awaiteth in this life; and in that +which is to come they shall be the greatest losers. + Thou hast certainly received the Koran from the presence of a wise, a +knowing God. + Remember when Moses said unto his family, Verily I perceive fire; I will +bring you tidings thereof, or I will bring you a lighted brand, that ye may be +warmed. + And when he was come near unto it, a voice cried unto him, saying, +Blessed be he who is in the fire, and whoever is about it; and praise be unto +GOD, the LORD of all creatures! + O Moses, verily I am GOD, the mighty, the wise: +10 cast down now thy rod. And when he saw it, that it moved, as though it +had been a serpent, he retreated, and fled, and returned not. And God said, O +Moses, fear not; for my messengers are not disturbed with fear in my sight: + except he who shall have done amiss, and shall have afterwards +substituted good in lieu of evil; for I am gracious and merciful. + Moreover put thy hand into thy bosom; it shall come forth white, without +hurt: this shall be one among the nine signs unto Pharaoh and his people: for +they are a wicked people. + And when our visible signs had come unto them, they said, This is a +manifest sorcery. + And they denied them, although their souls certainly knew them to be from +God, out of iniquity and pride: but behold what was the end of the corrupt +doers. + We heretofore bestowed knowledge on David and Solomon; and they said, +Praise be unto GOD, who hath made us more excellent than many of his faithful +servants! + And Solomon was David's heir; and he said, O men, we have been taught +the speech of birds, and have had all things bestowed on us; this is manifest +excellence. + And his armies were gathered together unto Solomon, consisting of genii, +and men, and birds; and they were led in distinct bands, + until they came unto the valley of ants. And an ant, seeing the hosts +approaching, said, O ants, enter ye into your habitations, lest Solomon and +his army tread you under foot, and perceive it not. + And Solomon smiled, laughing at her words, and said, O LORD, excite me +that I may be thankful for thy favor, wherewith thou hast favored me, and my +parents; and that I may do that which is right, and well-pleasing unto thee: +and introduce me, through thy mercy, into paradise, among thy servants the +righteous. +20 And he viewed the birds, and said, What is the reason that I see not the +lapwing? Is she absent? + Verily I will chastise her with a severe chastisement, or I will put her +to death; unless she bring me a just excuse. + And she tarried not long before she presented herself unto Solomon, and +said, I have viewed a country which thou hast not viewed; and I come unto thee +from Saba, with a certain piece of news. + I found a woman to reign over them, who is provided with everything +requisite for a prince, and hath a magnificent throne. + I found her and her people to worship the sun, besides GOD: and Satan +hath prepared their works for them, and hath turned them aside from the way of +truth (wherefore they are not rightly directed), + lest they should worship GOD, who bringeth to light that which is hidden +in heaven and earth, and knoweth whatever they conceal, and whatever they +discover. + GOD! there is no GOD but he; the LORD of the magnificent throne. + Solomon said, We shall see whether thou hast spoken the truth, or whether +thou art a liar. + Go with this my letter, and cast it down unto them; then turn aside from +them, and wait to know what answer they will return. + And when the Queen of Saba had received the letter, she said, O nobles, +verily an honourable letter hath been delivered unto me; +30 it is from Solomon, and this is the tenor thereof: In the name of the +most merciful GOD, + Rise not up against me: but come and surrender yourselves unto me. + She said, O nobles, advise me in my business: I will not resolve on +anything, until ye be witnesses and approve thereof. + The nobles answered, We are endued with strength, and are endued with +great prowess in war; but the command appertaineth unto thee: see therefore +what thou wilt command. + She said, Verily kings, when they enter a city by force, waste the same, +and abase the most powerful of the inhabitants hereof: and so will these do +with us. + But I will send gifts unto them; and will wait for what further +information those who shall be sent shall bring back. + And when the queen's ambassador came unto Solomon, that prince said, +Will ye present me with riches? Verily that which GOD hath given me is better +than what he hath given you: but ye do glory in your gifts. + Return unto the people of Saba. We will surely come unto them with +forces, which they shall not be able to withstand; and we will drive them out +from their city, humbled; and they shall become contemptible. + And Solomon said, O nobles, which of you will bring unto me her throne, +before they come and surrender themselves unto me? + A terrible genius answered, I will bring it unto thee, before thou arise +from thy place: for I am able to perform it, and may be trusted. +40 And one with whom was the knowledge of the scriptures said, I will +bring it unto thee, in the twinkling of an eye. And when Solomon saw the +throne placed before him, he said, This is a favor of my LORD, that he may +make trial of me, whether I will be grateful, or whether I will be ungrateful; +and he who is grateful is grateful to his own advantage, but if any shall be +ungrateful, verily my LORD is self-sufficient and munificent. + And Solomon said unto his servants, Alter her throne, that she may not +know it, to the end we may see whether she be rightly directed, or whether she +be one of those who are not rightly directed. + And when she was come unto Solomon, it was said unto her, is thy throne +like this? She answered, As though it were the same. And we have had +knowledge bestowed on us before this, and have been resigned unto God. + But that which she worshipped, besides GOD, had turned her aside from the +truth; for she was of an unbelieving people. + It was said unto her, Enter the palace. And when she saw it, she +imagined it to be a great water; and she discovered her legs, by lifting up +her robe to pass through it. Whereupon Solomon said unto her, Verily this is +a palace evenly floored with glass. Then said the queen, O LORD, verily I have +dealt unjustly with my own soul; and I resign myself, together with Solomon, +unto GOD, the LORD of all creatures. + Also we heretofore sent unto the tribe of Thamud their brother Saleh; who +said unto them, Serve ye GOD. And behold, they were divided into two parties, +who disputed among themselves. + Saleh said, O my people why do ye hasten evil rather than good? Unless +ye ask pardon of GOD, that ye may obtain mercy, ye are lost. + They answered, We presage evil from thee, and from those who are with +thee. Saleh replied, The evil which ye presage is with GOD: but ye are a +people who are proved by a vicissitude of prosperity and adversity. + And there were nine men in the city, who acted corruptly in the earth, +and behaved not with integrity. + And they said unto one another, Swear ye reciprocally by GOD, that we +will fall upon Saleh and his family by night: and afterwards we will say unto +him who hath right to avenge his blood, We were not so much as present at the +destruction of his family; and we certainly speak the truth. +50 And they devised a plot against him: but we devised a plot against them; +and they perceived it not. + And see what was the issue of their plot: we utterly destroyed them and +their whole people; + and these their habitations remain empty, because of the injustice which +they committed. Verily herein is a sign unto people who understand. + And we delivered those who believed, and feared God. + And remember Lot; when he said unto his people, Do ye commit a +wickedness, though ye see the heinousness thereof? + Do ye approach lustfully unto men, leaving the women? Ye are surely an +ignorant people. + But the answer of his people was no other than that they said, Cast the +family of Lot out of your city: for they are men who preserve themselves pure +from the crimes of which ye are guilty. + Wherefore we delivered him and his family, except his wife, whom we +decreed to be one of those who remained behind to be destroyed. + And we rained on them a shower of stones: and dreadful was the shower +which fell on those who had been warned in vain. + Say, Praise be unto GOD; and peace be upon his servants whom he hath +chosen! Is GOD more worthy, or the false gods which they associate with him? +60 Is not he to be preferred, who hath created the heavens and the earth, +and sendeth down rain for you from heaven, whereby we cause delicious groves +to spring up? It is not in your power to cause the trees thereof to shoot +forth. Is there any other god partner with the true GOD? Verily these are a +people who deviate from the truth. + Is not he more worthy to be adored, who hath established the earth, and +hath caused rivers to flow through the midst thereof, and placed thereon +immovable mountains, and set a bar between the two seas? Is there any other +god equal with the true GOD? Yet the greater part of them know it not. + Is not he more worthy who heareth the afflicted, when he calleth upon +him, and taketh off the evil which distressed him: and who hath made you the +successors of your forefathers in the earth? Is there any other god who can +be equalled with the true GOD? How few consider these things! + Is not he more worthy who directeth you in the dark paths of the land and +of the sea; and who sendeth the winds driving abroad the clouds, as the +forerunners of his mercy! Is there any other god who can be equalled with +the true God? Far be GOD from having those partners in his power, which ye +associate with him. + Is not he more worthy, who produceth a creature, and after it hath been +dead restoreth it to life; and who giveth you food from heaven and earth? Is +there any other god with the true GOD, who doth this? Say, Produce your proof +thereof, if ye speak truth. + Say, None either in heaven or earth knoweth that which is hidden, besides +GOD: neither do they understand when they shall be raised. + However, their knowledge attaineth some notion of the life to come: yet +they are in an uncertainty concerning the same; yea, they are blind as to the +real circumstances thereof. + And the unbelievers say, When we and our fathers shall have been reduced +to dust, shall we be taken forth from the grave? + Verily we have been threatened with this, both we and our fathers, +heretofore. This is no other than fables of the ancients. + Say unto them, pass through the earth, and see what hath been the end of +the wicked. +70 And be not thou grieved for them; neither be thou in any concern on +account of the plots which they are contriving against thee. + And they say, When will this threat be accomplished, if ye speak true? + Answer, Peradventure some part of that punishment, which ye desire to be +hastened may follow close behind you: + verily thy LORD is endued with indulgence towards mankind; but the +greater part of them are not thankful. + Verily thy LORD knoweth what their breasts conceal, and what they +discover: + and there is nothing hidden in heaven or on earth, but it is written in a +clear book. + Verily this Koran declareth unto the children of Israel most of those +points concerning which they disagree: + and it is certainly a direction, and a mercy unto the true believers. + Thy LORD will decide the controversy between them, by his definitive +sentence: and he is the mighty, the wise. + Therefore, put thy trust in GOD; for thou art in the manifest truth. +80 Verily thou shalt not make the dead to hear, neither shalt thou make the +deaf to hear thy call to the true faith, when they retire and turn their +backs: + neither shalt thou direct the blind to extricate themselves out of their +error. Thou shalt make none to hear thee, except him who shall believe in our +signs: and they are wholly resigned unto us. + When the sentence shall be ready to fall upon them, we will cause a +beast to come forth unto them from out of the earth, which shall speak unto +them: verily men do not firmly believe in our signs. + On the day of resurrection we will assemble, out of every nation, a +company of those who shall have charged our signs with falsehood; and they +shall be prevented from mixing together, + until they shall arrive at the place of judgment. And God shall say unto +them, Have ye charged my signs with falsehood, although ye comprehended them +not with your knowledge. Or what is it that ye were doing? + And the sentence of damnation shall fall on them, for that they have +acted unjustly: and they shall not speak in their own excuse. + Do they not see that we have ordained the night, that they may rest +therein, and the day giving open light? Verily herein are signs unto people +who believe. + On that day the trumpet shall be sounded; and whoever are in heaven and +on earth shall be struck with terror, except those whom GOD shall please to +exempt therefrom: and all shall come before him in humble guise. + And thou shalt see the mountains, and shalt think them firmly fixed; but +they shall pass away, even as the clouds pass away. This will be the work of +GOD, who hath rightly disposed all things: and he is well acquainted with that +which ye do. + Whoever shall have wrought righteousness, shall receive a reward beyond +the desert thereof; and they shall be secure from the terror of that day; +90 but whoever shall have wrought evil, shall be thrown on their faces into +hell fire. Shall ye receive the reward of any other than of that which ye +shall have wrought? + Verily I am commanded to worship the LORD of this territory of Mecca, who +hath sanctified the same: unto him belong all things. And I am commanded to +be a Moslem, + and to rehearse the Koran: he who shall be directed thereby will be +directed to his own advantage; + and to him who shall go astray, say, Verily I am a warner only. And say, +Praise be unto GOD! he will show you his signs, and ye shall know them: and +thy LORD is not regardless of that which they do. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +ENTITLED, THE STORY; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + T.S.M. + THESE are the signs of the perspicuous book. + We will dictate unto thee, O Mohammed, some parts of the history of Moses +and Pharaoh, with truth; for the sake of people who believe. + Now Pharaoh lifted himself up in the land of Egypt; and he caused his +subjects to be divided into parties; he weakened one party of them, by +slaying their male children, and preserving their females alive; for he was an +oppressor. + And we were minded to be gracious unto those who were weakened in the +land, and to make them models of religion; and to make them the heirs of the +wealth of Pharaoh and his people, + and to establish a place for them in the earth; and to show Pharaoh and +Haman, and their forces, that destruction of their kingdom and nation by +them, which they sought to avoid. + And we directed the mother of Moses by revelation, saying, give him suck: +and if thou fearest for him, cast him into the river; and fear not, neither be +afflicted; for we will restore him unto thee, and will appoint him one of our +apostles. + And when she had put the child in the ark, and had cast it into the +river, the family of Pharaoh took him up; providence designing that he should +become an enemy, and a sorrow unto them. Verily Pharaoh and Haman, and their +forces were sinners. + And the wife of Pharaoh said, This child is a delight of the eye to me, +and to thee: kill him not; peradventure it may happen that he may be +serviceable unto us; or we may adopt him for our son. And they perceived not +the consequence of what they were doing. +10 And the heart of the mother of Moses became oppressed with fear; and she +had almost discovered him, had we not armed her heart with constancy, that she +might be one of those who believe the promises of God. + And she said unto his sister, Follow him. And she watched him at a +distance; and they perceived it not. + And we suffered him not to take the breasts of the nurses who were +provided before his sister came up; and she said, Shall I direct you unto +some of his nation, who may nurse him for you, and will be careful of him? + And, at their desire, she brought his mother to them. So we restored him +to his mother, that her mind might be set at ease, and that she might not be +afflicted; and that she might know that the promise of GOD was true: but the +greater part of mankind know not the truth. + And when Moses had attained his age of full strength, and was become a +perfect man, we bestowed on him wisdom and knowledge: and thus do we reward +the upright. + And he went into the city, at a time when the inhabitants thereof +observed not what passed in the streets: and he found therein two men +fighting; the one being of his own party, and the other of his enemies. And +he who was of his party begged his assistance against him who was of the +contrary party; and Moses struck him with his fist, and slew him: but being +sorry for what had happened, he said, This is of the work of the devil; for +he is a seducing and an open enemy. + And he said, O LORD, verily I have injured my own soul: wherefore forgive +me. So God forgave him; for he is ready to forgive, and merciful. + He said, O LORD, by the favors with which thou hast favored me, I will +not be an assistant to the wicked for the future. + And the next morning he was afraid in the city, and looked about him, as +one apprehensive of danger: and behold, he whom he had assisted the day before +cried out unto him for help a second time. But Moses said unto him, Thou art +plainly a quarrelsome fellow. + And when he sought to lay hold on him who was an enemy unto them both, he +said, O Moses, dost thou intend to kill me, as thou killedst a man yesterday? +Thou seekest only to be an oppressor in the earth, and seekest not to be a +reconciler of quarrels. +20 And a certain man came from the farther part of the city, running +hastily, and said, O Moses, verily the magistrates are deliberating concerning +thee, to put thee to death: depart therefore; I certainly advise thee well. + Wherefore he departed out of the city in great fear, looking this way +and that, lest he should be pursued. And he said, O LORD, deliver me from the +unjust people. + And when he was journeying towards Madian, he said, Peradventure my LORD +will direct me in the right way. + And when he arrived at the water of Madian, he found about the well a +company of men, who were watering their flocks. + And he found, besides them, two women, who kept off their sheep at a +distance. And he said unto them, What is the matter with you? They answered, +We shall not water our flock, until the shepherds shall have driven away +theirs; for our father is an old man, stricken in years. + So Moses watered their sheep for them; and afterwards retired to the +shade, saying, O LORD, verily I stand in need of the good which thou shalt +send down unto me. + And one of the damsels came unto him, walking bashfully, and said, My +father calleth thee, that he may recompense thee for the trouble which thou +hast taken in watering our sheep for us. And when he was come unto Shoaib, +and had told him the story of his adventures, he said unto him, Fear not: thou +hast escaped from unjust people. + And one of the damsels said, My father, hire him for certain wages: the +best servant thou canst hire is an able and trusty person. + And Shoaib said unto Moses, Verily I will give thee one of these my two +daughters in marriage, on condition that thou serve me for hire eight years; +and if thou fulfil ten years, it is in thine own breast; for I seek not to +impose a hardship on thee: and thou shalt find me, if GOD please, a man of +probity. + Moses answered, Let this be the covenant between me and thee: whichsoever +of the two terms I shall fulfil let it be no crime in me if I then quit thy +service; and GOD is witness of that which we say. + And when Moses had fulfilled the term, and was journeying with his +family towards Egypt, he saw fire on the side of Mount Sinai. And he said +unto his family, Tarry ye here; for I see fire: peradventure I may bring you +thence some tidings of the way, or at least a brand out of the fire, that ye +may be warmed. +30 And when he was come thereto, a voice cried unto him from the right side +of the valley, in the sacred bottom, from the tree, saying, O Moses, verily I +am GOD, the LORD of all creatures: + cast down now thy rod. And when he saw it that it moved, as though it +had been a serpent, he retreated and fled, and returned not. And God said +unto him, O Moses, draw near, and fear not; for thou art safe. + Put thy hand into thy bosom, and it shall come forth white, without any +hurt: and draw back thy hand unto thee which thou stretchest forth for fear. +These shall be two evident signs from thy LORD, unto Pharaoh and his princes; +for they are a wicked people. + Moses said, O LORD, verily I have slain one of them; and I fear they will +put me to death: + but my brother Aaron is of a more eloquent tongue than I am; wherefore +send him with me for an assistant, that he may gain me credit; for I fear lest +they accuse me of imposture. + God said, We will strengthen thine arm by thy brother, and we will give +each of you extraordinary power, so that they shall not come up to you, in our +signs. Ye two, and whoever shall follow you, shall be the conquerors. + And when Moses came unto them with our evident signs, they said, This is +no other than a deceitful piece of sorcery: neither have we heard of anything +like this among our forefathers. + And Moses said, My LORD best knoweth who cometh with a direction from +him; and who shall have success in this life, as well as the next: but the +unjust shall not prosper. + And Pharaoh said, O princes, I did not know that ye had any other god +besides me. Wherefore do thou, O Haman, burn me clay into bricks; and build +me a high tower, that I may ascend unto the GOD of Moses: for I verily +believe him to be a liar. + And both he and his forces behaved themselves insolently and unjustly in +the earth; and imagined that they should not be brought before us to be +judged. +40 Wherefore we took him and his forces, and cast them into the sea. +Behold, therefore, what was the end of the unjust. + And we made them deceitful guides, inviting their followers to hell fire; +and on the day of resurrection they shall not be screened from punishment. + We pursued them with a curse in this life; and on the day of resurrection +they shall be shamefully rejected. + And we gave the book of the law unto Moses, after he had destroyed the +former generations, to enlighten the minds of men, and for a direction, and a +mercy; that peradventure they might consider. + Thou, O prophet, wast not on the west side of Mount Sinai, when we +delivered Moses his commission: neither wast thou one of those who were +present at his receiving it: + but we raised up several generations after Moses; and life was prolonged +unto them. Neither didst thou dwell among the inhabitants of Madian, +rehearsing unto them our signs; but we have sent thee fully instructed in +every particular. + Nor wast thou present on the side of the mount, when we called unto +Moses; but thou art sent as a mercy from thy LORD; that thou mightest preach +unto a people to whom no preacher hath come before thee, that peradventure +they may be warned; + and lest, if a calamity had befallen them, for that which their hands had +previously committed, they should have said, O LORD, since thou hast not sent +an apostle unto us, that we might follow thy signs, and become true believers, +are we not excusable? + Yet when the truth is come unto them from before us, they say, Unless he +receive the same power to work miracles as Moses received, we will not +believe. Have they not likewise rejected the revelation which was heretofore +given unto Moses? They say, Two cunning impostures have mutually assisted +one another: and they say, Verily we reject them both. + Say, Produce therefore a book from GOD, which is more right than these +two, that I may follow it; if ye speak truth. +50 But if they return thee no answer, know that they only follow their own +desires: and who erreth more widely from the truth than he who followeth his +own desire, without a direction from GOD? Verily GOD directeth not the unjust +people. + And now have we caused our word to come unto them, that they may be +admonished. + They unto whom we have given the scriptures which were revealed before +it, believe in the same; + and when it is read unto them, say, We believe therein; it is certainly +the truth from our LORD: verily we were Moslems before this. + These shall receive their reward twice, because they have persevered, +and repel evil by good, and distribute alms out of that which we have bestowed +on them; + and when they hear vain discourse, avoid the same, saying, We have our +works, and ye have your works; peace be on you; we covet not the acquaintance +of the ignorant. + Verily thou canst not direct whom thou wilt: but GOD directeth whom he +pleaseth; and he best knoweth those who will submit to be directed. + The Meccans say, If we follow the same direction with thee, we shall be +forcibly expelled our land. Have we not established for them a secure +asylum, to which fruits of every sort are brought, as a provision for our +bounty? but the greater part of them do not understand. + How many cities have we destroyed, whose inhabitants lived in ease and +plenty? and these their dwellings are not inhabited after them, unless for a +little while; and we were the inheritors of their wealth. + But thy LORD did not destroy those cities, until he had sent unto their +capital an apostle, to rehearse our signs unto them: neither did we destroy +those cities, unless their inhabitants were injurious to their apostle. +60 The things which are given you are the provisions of this present life, +and the pomp thereof; but that which is with GOD is better and more durable: +will ye not therefore understand? + Shall he then, unto whom we have promised an excellent promise of future +happiness, and who shall attain the same, be as he on whom we have bestowed +the provision of this present life, and who, on the day of resurrection, shall +be one of those who are delivered up to eternal punishment? + On that day God shall call unto them, and shall say, Where are my +partners, which ye imagined to be so? + And they upon whom the sentence of damnation shall be justly pronounced +shall answer, These, O LORD, are those whom we seduced: but now we clearly +quit them, and turn unto thee. They did not worship us, but their own lusts. + And it shall be said unto the idolaters, Call now upon those whom ye +associated with God: and they shall call upon them, but they shall not answer +them; and they shall see the punishment prepared for them, and shall wish that +they had submitted to be directed. + On that day, God shall call unto them, and shall say, What answer did ye +return to our messengers? + But they shall not be able to give an account thereof on that day; +neither shall they ask one another for information. + Howbeit whoso shall repent and believe, and shall do that which is right, +may expect to be happy. + Thy LORD createth what he pleaseth; and chooseth freely: but they have no +free choice. Praise be unto GOD; and far be he removed from the idols which +they associate with him! + Thy LORD knoweth both the secret malice which their breasts conceal, and +the open hatred which they discover. +70 He is GOD; there is no GOD but he. Unto him is the praise due, both in +this life and in that which is to come: unto him doth judgment belong; and +before him shall ye be assembled at the last day. + Say, What think ye? If GOD should cover you with perpetual night, until +the day of resurrection; what god, besides GOD, would bring you light? Will +ye not therefore hearken? + Say, What think ye? If GOD should give you continual day, until the day +of resurrection; what god, besides GOD, would bring you night, that ye might +rest therein? Will ye not therefore consider? + Of his mercy he hath made for you the night and the day, that ye may rest +in the one, and may seek to obtain provision for yourselves of his abundance, +by your industry, in the other; and that ye may give thanks. + On a certain day God shall call unto them, and shall say, Where are my +partners, which ye imagined to share the divine power with me? + And we will produce a witness out of every nation, and will say, Bring +hither your proof of what ye have asserted. And they shall know that the +right is GOD'S alone; and the deities which they have devised shall abandon +them. + Karun was of the people of Moses; but he behaved insolently towards +them: for we had given him so much treasure, that his keys would have loaded +several strong men. When his people said unto him, Rejoice not immoderately; +for GOD loveth not those who rejoice in their riches immoderately: + but seek to attain by means of the wealth which GOD hath given thee, the +future mansion of paradise. And forget not thy portion in this world; but be +thou bounteous unto others, as GOD hath been bounteous unto thee; and seek not +to act corruptly in the earth; for GOD loveth not the corrupt doers. + He answered, I have received these riches, only because of the knowledge +which is with me. Did he not know that GOD had already destroyed, before +him, several generations, who were mightier than he in strength, and had +amassed more abundance of riches? And the wicked shall not be asked to +discover their crimes. + And Karun went forth unto his people, in his pomp. And they who loved +this present life said, Oh that we had the like wealth, as hath been given +unto Karun? verily he is master of a great fortune. +80 But those on whom knowledge had been bestowed answered, Alas for you! +the reward of GOD in the next life will be better unto him who shall believe +and do good works; but none shall attain the same, except those who persevere +with constancy. + And we caused the ground to cleave in sunder, and to swallow up him and +his palace: and he had no forces to defend him, besides GOD; neither was he +rescued from punishment. + And the next morning, those who had coveted his condition the day before +said, Aha! verily GOD bestoweth abundant provision on such of his servants as +he pleaseth; and he is sparing unto whom he pleaseth. Unless GOD had been +gracious unto us, certainly the earth had swallowed us up also. Aha! the +unbelievers shall not prosper. + As to this future mansion of paradise, we will give it unto them who seek +not to exalt themselves in the earth, or to do wrong; for the happy issue +shall attend the pious. + Whoso doth good shall receive a reward which shall exceed the merit +thereof: but as to him who doth evil, they who work evil shall be rewarded +according to the merit only of that which they shall have wrought. + Verily he who hath given thee the Koran for a rule of faith and practice +will certainly bring thee back home unto Mecca. Say, My LORD best knoweth +who cometh with a true direction, and who is in a manifest error. + Thou didst not expect that the book of the Koran should be delivered unto +thee: but thou hast received it through the mercy of thy LORD. Be not +therefore assisting to the unbelievers; + neither let them turn thee aside from the signs of GOD, after they have +been sent down unto thee: and invite men unto thy LORD. And be not thou an +idolater; + neither invoke any other god, together with the true GOD: there is no god +but he. Everything shall perish, except himself: unto him belongeth judgment: +and before him shall ye be assembled at the last day. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +ENTITLED, THE SPIDER; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + A.L.M. + Do men imagine that it shall be sufficient for them to say, +We believe; will they not be proved? + We heretofore proved those who were before them; for GOD will surely know +them who are sincere, and he will surely know the liars. + Do they who work evil think that they shall prevent us from taking +vengeance on them? An ill judgment do they make. + Whoso hopeth to meet GOD, verily GOD'S appointed time will certainly +come; and he both heareth and knoweth. + Whoever striveth to promote the true religion, striveth for the advantage +of his own soul; for GOD needeth not any of his creatures: + and as to those who believe and work righteousness, we will expiate their +evil deeds from them; and we will give them a reward according to the utmost +merit of their actions. + We have commanded man to show kindness towards his parents: but if they +endeavour to prevail with thee to associate with me that concerning which thou +hast no knowledge, obey them not. Unto me shall ye return; and I will +declare unto you what ye have done. + Those who shall believe, and shall work righteousness, we will surely +introduce into paradise, among the upright. +10 There are some men who say, We believe in GOD: but when such a one is +afflicted for GOD'S sake, he esteemeth the persecution of men to be as +grievous as the punishment of GOD. Yet if success cometh from thy LORD, they +say, Verily we are with you. Doth not GOD well know that which is in the +breasts of his creatures? + Verily GOD well knoweth the true believers, and he well knoweth the +hypocrites. + The unbelievers say unto those who believe, Follow our way, and we will +bear your sins. Howbeit they shall not bear any part of their sins; for they +are liars: + but they shall surely bear their own burdens, and other burdens besides +their own burdens; and they shall be examined, on the day of resurrection, +concerning that which they have falsely devised. + We heretofore sent Noah unto his people; and he tarried among them one +thousand years, save fifty years: and the deluge took them away, while they +were acting unjustly; + but we delivered him and those who were in the ark, and we made the same +a sign unto all creatures. + We also sent Abraham; when he said unto his people, Serve GOD, and fear +him; this will be better for you; if ye understand. + Ye only worship idols besides GOD, and forge a lie. Verily those which +ye worship, besides GOD, are not able to make any provision for you: seek +therefore your provision from GOD; and serve him, and give thanks unto him; +unto him shall ye return. + If he charge me with imposture, verily sundry nations before you +likewise charged their prophets with imposture: but public preaching only is +incumbent on an apostle. + Do they not see how GOD produceth creatures, and afterwards restoreth +them? Verily this is easy with GOD. +20 Say, go through the earth, and see how he originally produceth creatures: +afterwards will GOD reproduce another production; for GOD is almighty. + He will punish whom he pleaseth, and he will have mercy on whom he +pleaseth. Before him shall ye be brought at the day of judgment: + and ye shall not escape his reach, either in earth, or in heaven: +neither shall ye have any patron or defender besides GOD. + As for those who believe not in the signs of GOD, or that they shall meet +him at the resurrection, they shall despair of my mercy, and for them is a +painful punishment prepared. + And the answer of his people was no other than that they said, Slay him, +or burn him. But GOD saved him from the fire. Verily herein were signs unto +people who believed. + And Abraham said, Ye have taken idols, besides GOD, to cement affection +between you in this life: but on the day of resurrection, the one of you shall +deny the other, and the one of you shall curse the other; and your abode shall +be hell fire, and there shall be none to deliver you. + And Lot believed on him. And Abraham said, Verily I fly from my people, +unto the place which my LORD hath commanded me; or he is the mighty, the wise. + And we gave him Isaac and Jacob; and we placed among his descendants the +gift of prophecy and the scriptures: and we gave him his reward in this world; +and in the next he shall be one of the righteous. + We also sent Lot; when he said unto his people, Do ye commit filthiness +which no creature hath committed before you? + Do ye approach lustfully unto men, and lay wait in the highways, and +commit wickedness in your assembly? And the answer of his people was no +other than that they said, Bring down the vengeance of GOD upon us, if thou +speakest truth. +30 Lot said, O LORD, defend me against the corrupt people. + And when our messengers came unto Abraham with good tidings, they said, +We will surely destroy the inhabitants of this city: for the inhabitants +thereof are unjust doers. + Abraham answered, Verily Lot dwelleth there. They replied, We well know +who dwelleth therein: we will surely deliver him and his family, except his +wife; she shall be one of those who remain behind. + And when our messengers came unto Lot, he was troubled for them, and his +arm was straitened concerning them. But they said, Fear not, neither be +grieved; for we will deliver thee and thy family, except thy wife; for she +shall be one of those who remain behind. + We will surely bring down upon the inhabitants of this city vengeance +from heaven, for that they have been wicked doers; + and we have left thereof a manifest sign unto people who understand. + And unto the inhabitants of Madian we sent their brother Shoaib; and he +said unto them, O my people, serve GOD, and expect the last day; and +transgress not, acting corruptly in the earth. + But they accused him of imposture; wherefore a storm from heaven +assailed them, and in the morning they were found in their dwellings dead and +prostrate. + And we also destroyed the tribes of Ad, and Thamud; and this is well +known unto you from what yet remains of their dwellings. And Satan prepared +their works for them, and turned them aside from the way of truth, although +they were sagacious people. + And we likewise destroyed Karun, and Pharaoh, and Haman. Moses came unto +them with evident miracles, and they behaved themselves insolently in the +earth: but they could not escape our vengeance. +40 Every of them did we destroy in his sin. Against some of them we sent a +violent wind: some of them did a terrible noise from heaven destroy: some of +them did we cause the earth to swallow up:k and some of them we drowned. +Neither was GOD disposed to treat them unjustly; but they dealt unjustly with +their own souls. + The likeness of those who take other patrons besides GOD is as the +likeness of the spider, which maketh herself a house: but the weakest of all +houses surely is the house of the spider; if they knew this. + Moreover GOD knoweth what things they invoke, besides him; and he is the +mighty, the wise. + These similitudes do we propound unto men: but none understand them, +except the wise. + GOD hath created the heavens and the earth in truth; verily herein is a +sign unto the true believers. + Rehearse that which hath been revealed unto thee of the book of the +Koran: and be constant at prayer; for prayer preserveth a man from filthy +crimes, and from that which is blamable; and the remembering of GOD is surely +a most important duty. GOD knoweth that which ye do. + Dispute not against those who have received the scriptures, unless in the +mildest manner; except against such of them as behave injuriously towards +you: and say, We believe in the revelation which hath been sent down unto us, +and also in that which hath been sent down unto you; our GOD and your GOD is +one, and unto him are we resigned. + Thus have we sent down the book of the Koran unto thee: and they unto +whom we have given the former scriptures believe therein; and of these +Arabians also there is who believeth therein: and none reject our signs, +except the obstinate infidels. + Thou couldest not read any book before this; neither couldest thou write +it with thy right hand: then had the gainsayers justly doubted of the divine +original thereof. + But the same is evident signs in the breasts of those who have received +understanding: for none reject our signs except the unjust. +50 They say, Unless a sign be sent down unto him from his LORD, we will not +believe. Answer, Signs are in the power of GOD alone; and I am no more than a +public preacher. + Is it not sufficient for them that we have sent down unto thee the book +of the Koran, to be read unto them? Verily herein is a mercy, and an +admonition unto people who believe. + Say GOD is a sufficient witness between me and you: he knoweth whatever +is in heaven and earth; and those who believe in vain idols, and deny GOD, they +shall perish. + They will urge thee to hasten the punishment which they defy thee to +bring down upon them: if there had not been a determined time for their +respite, the punishment had come upon them before this; but it shall surely +overtake them suddenly, and they shall not foresee it. + They urge thee to bring down vengeance swiftly upon them: but hell shall +surely encompass the unbelievers. + On a certain day their punishment shall suddenly assail them, both from +above them, and from under their feet; and God shall say, Taste ye the reward +of that which ye have wrought. + O my servants who have believed, verily my earth is spacious: wherefore +serve me. + Every soul shall taste death: afterwards shall ye return unto us; + and as for those who shall have believed, and wrought righteousness, we +will surely lodge them in the higher apartments of paradise; rivers shall flow +beneath them, and they shall continue therein forever. How excellent will be +the reward of the workers of righteousness; + who persevere with patience, and put their trust in their LORD! +60 How many beasts are there, which provide not their food? It is GOD who +provideth for them, and for you; and he both heareth and knoweth. + Verily, if thou ask the Meccans, who hath created the heavens and the +earth, and hath obliged the sun and the moon to serve in their courses? they +will answer, GOD. How therefore do they lie, in acknowledging of other gods? + GOD maketh abundant provision for such of his servants as he pleaseth; +and is sparing unto him, if he pleaseth: for GOD knoweth all things. + Verily if thou ask them, who sendeth rain from heaven, and thereby +quickeneth the earth, after it hath been dead? they will answer, GOD. Say, +GOD be praised! But the greater part of them do not understand. + This present life is no other than a toy, and a plaything; but the future +mansion of paradise is life indeed: if they knew this they would not prefer +the former to the latter. + When they sail in a ship, they call upon GOD, sincerely exhibiting unto +him the true religion: but when he bringeth them safe to land, behold, they +return to their idolatry; + to show themselves ungrateful for that which we have bestowed on them, +and that they may enjoy the delights of this life; but they shall hereafter +know the issue. + Do they not see that we have made the territory of Mecca an inviolable +and secure asylum, when men are spoiled in the countries round about them? Do +they therefore believe in that which is vain, and acknowledge not the goodness +of GOD? + But who is more unjust than he who deviseth a lie against GOD, or denieth +the truth, when it hath come unto him? Is there not in hell an abode for the +unbelievers? + Whoever do their utmost endeavour to promote our true religion, we will +direct them into our ways; for GOD is with the righteous. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +ENTITLED, THE GREEKS; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + A.L.M. + THE Greeks have been overcome by the Persians, + in the nearest part of the land; but after their defeat, they shall +overcome the others in their turn, + within a few years. Unto GOD belongeth the disposal of this matter, both +for what is past, and for what is to come: and on that day shall the believers +rejoice + in the success granted by GOD; for he granteth success unto whom he +pleaseth, and he is the mighty, the merciful. + This is the promise of GOD: GOD will not act contrary to his promise: but +the greater part of men know not the veracity of GOD. + They know the outward appearance of this present life; but they are +careless as to the life to come. + Do they not consider within themselves that GOD hath not created the +heavens and the earth, and whatever is between them, otherwise than in truth, +and hath set them a determined period? Verily a great number of men reject +the belief of their future meeting their LORD at the resurrection. + Do they not pass through the earth, and see what hath been the end of +those who were before them? They excelled the Meccans in strength, and broke +up the earth, and inhabited it in greater affluence and prosperity than they +inhabit the same: and their apostles came unto them with evident miracles; and +GOD was not disposed to treat them unjustly, but they injured their own souls +by their obstinate infidelity; +10 and the end of those who had done evil was evil, because they charged the +signs of GOD with falsehood, and laughed the same to scorn. + GOD produceth creatures, and will hereafter restore them to life: then +shall ye return unto him. + And on the day whereon the hour shall come, the wicked shall be struck +dumb for despair; + and they shall have no intercessors from among the idols which they +associated with God. And they shall deny the false gods which they associated +with him. + On the day whereon the hour shall come, on that day shall the true +believers and the infidels be separated: + and they who shall have believed, and wrought righteousness, shall take +their pleasure in a delightful meadow; + but as for those who shall have disbelieved, and rejected our signs, and +the meeting of the next life, they shall be delivered up to punishment. + Wherefore glorify GOD, when the evening overtaketh you, and when ye rise +in the morning: + and unto him be praise in heaven and earth; and at sunset, 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 after it hath been dead: +and in like manner shall ye be brought forth from your graves. +20 Of his signs one is, that he hath created you of dust; and behold, ye are +become men, spread over the face of the earth. + And of his signs another is, that he hath created you, out of +yourselves, wives, that ye may cohabit with them; and hath put love and +compassion between you: verily herein are signs unto people who consider. + And of his signs are also the creation of the heavens and the earth, and +the variety of your languages, and of your complexions: verily herein are +signs unto men of understanding. + And of his signs are your sleeping by night and by day, and your seeking +to provide for yourselves of his abundance: verily herein are signs unto +people who hearken. + Of his signs others are, that he showeth you the lightning, to strike +terror, and to give hope of rain, and that he sendeth down water from heaven, +and quickeneth thereby the earth, after it hath been dead; verily herein are +signs unto people who understand. + And of his signs this also is one, namely, that the heaven and the earth +stand firm at command: hereafter, when he shall call you out of the earth at +one summons, behold, ye shall come forth. + Unto him are subject whosoever are in the heavens and on earth: all are +obedient unto him. + It is he who originally produceth a creature, and afterwards restoreth +the same to life: and this is most easy with him. He justly challengeth the +most exalted comparison, in heaven and earth; and he is the mighty, the wise. + He propoundeth unto a comparison taken from yourselves. Have ye, among +the slaves whom your right hands possess, any partner in the substance which +we have bestowed on you, so that ye become equal sharers therein with them, or +that ye fear them as ye fear one another? Thus we distinctly explain our +signs, unto people who understand. + But those who act unjustly, by attributing companions unto God, follow +their own lusts, without knowledge: and who shall direct him whom GOD shall +cause to err? They shall have none to help them. +30 Wherefore be thou orthodox, and set thy face towards the true religion, +the institution of GOD, to which he hath created mankind disposed: there is no +change in what GOD hath created. This is the right religion; but the greater +part of men know it not. + And be ye turned unto him, and fear him, and be constant at prayer, and +be not idolaters. + Of those who have made a schism in their religion, and are divided into +various sects, every sect rejoice in their own opinion. + When adversity befalleth men, they call upon their LORD, turning unto +him: afterwards, when he hath caused them to taste of his mercy, behold, a +part of them associate other deities with their LORD: + to show themselves ungrateful for the favors which we have bestowed on +them. Enjoy therefore the vain pleasures of this life; but hereafter shall ye +know the consequence. + Have we sent down unto them any authority, which speaketh of the false +gods which they associate with him? + When we cause men to taste mercy, they rejoice therein; but if evil +befalleth them, for that which their hands have before committed, behold, they +despair. + Do they not see that GOD bestoweth provision abundantly on whom he +pleaseth, and is sparing unto whom he pleaseth? Verily herein are signs unto +people who believe. + Give unto him who is of kin to thee his reasonable due; and also to the +poor, and the stranger: this is better for those who seek the face of GOD; and +they shall prosper. + Whatever ye shall give in usury, to be an increase of men's substance, +shall not be increased by the blessing of GOD: but whatever ye shall give in +alms, for GOD'S sake, they shall receive a twofold reward. +40 It is GOD who hath created you, and hath provided food for you: hereafter +will he cause you to die; and after that will he raise you again to life. Is +there any of your false gods, who is able to do the least of these things? +Praise be unto him; and far be he removed from what they associate with him! + Corruption hath appeared by land and by sea, for the crimes which men's +hands have committed; that it might make them to taste a part of the fruits +of that which they have wrought, that peradventure they might turn from their +evil ways. + Say, Go through the earth, and see what hath been the end of those who +have been before you: the greater part of them were idolaters. + Set thy face therefore towards the right religion, before the day cometh, +which none can put back from GOD. On that day shall they be separated into +two companies: + whoever shall have been an unbeliever, on him shall his unbelief be +charged; and whoever shall have done that which is right, shall spread +themselves couches of repose in paradise; + that he may reward those who shall believe, and work righteousness, of +his abundant liberality; for he loveth not the unbelievers. + Of his signs one is, that he sendeth the winds, bearing welcome tidings +of rain, that he may cause you to taste of his mercy; and that ships may sail +at his command, that ye may seek to enrich yourselves of his abundance by +commerce; and that ye may give thanks. + We sent apostles, before thee, unto their respective people, and they +came unto them with evident proofs: and we took vengeance on those who did +wickedly; and it was incumbent on us to assist the true believers. + It is GOD who sendeth the winds, and raiseth the clouds, and spreadeth +the same in the heaven, as he pleaseth; and afterwards disperseth the same: +and thou mayest see the rain issuing from the midst thereof; and when he +poureth the same down on such of his servants as he pleaseth, behold, they are +filled with joy; + although before it was sent down unto them, before such relief, they were +despairing. +50 Consider therefore the traces of GOD'S mercy; how he quickeneth the +earth, after its state of death: verily the same will raise the dead; for he +is almighty. + Yet if we should send a blasting wind, and they should see their corn +yellow and burnt up, they would surely become ungrateful, after our former +favors. + Thou canst not make the dead to hear, neither canst thou make the deaf to + neither canst thou direct the blind out of their error: thou shalt make +none to hear, except him who shall believe in our signs; for they are resigned +unto us. + It is GOD who created you in weakness, and after weakness hath given you +strength; and after strength, he will again reduce you to weakness, and gray +hairs: he createth that which he pleaseth; and he is the wise, the powerful. + On the day whereon the last hour shall come, the wicked will swear that +they have not tarried above an hour: in like manner did they utter lies in their +lifetime. + But those on whom knowledge hath been bestowed, and faith, will say, Ye +have tarried, according to the book of GOD, until the day of resurrection; +for this is the day of resurrection; but ye knew it not. + On that day their excuse shall not avail those who have acted unjustly; +neither shall they be invited any more to make themselves acceptable unto God. + And now have we propounded unto men, in this Koran, parables of every +kind: yet if thou bring them a verse thereof, the unbelievers will surely say, +Ye are no other than publishers of vain falsehoods. + Thus hath GOD sealed up the hearts of those who believe not: +60 But do thou, O Mohammed, persevere with constancy, for GOD is true; and +let not those induce thee to waver, who have no certain knowledge. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +ENTITLED, LOKMAN; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + A.L.M. + THESE are the signs of the wise book, + a direction, and a mercy unto the righteous; + who observe the appointed times of prayer, and give alms, and have firm +assurance in the life to come: + these are directed by their LORD, and they shall prosper. + There is a man who purchaseth a ludicrous story, that he may seduce men +from the way of GOD, without knowledge, and may laugh the same to scorn: these +shall suffer a shameful punishment. + And when our signs are rehearsed unto him, he disdainfully turneth his +back as though he heard them not, as though there were a deafness in his ears: +wherefore denounce unto him a grievous punishment. + But they who shall believe and work righteousness, shall enjoy gardens of +pleasure: + they shall continue therein forever: this is the certain promise of GOD; +and he is the mighty, the wise. +10 He hath created the heavens without visible pillars to sustain them, and +thrown on the earth mountains firmly rooted, lest it should move with you; +and he hath replenished the same with all kinds of beasts; and we send down +rain from heaven, and cause every kind of noble vegetable to spring forth +therein. + This is the creation of GOD: show me now what they have created, who are +worshipped besides him? verily the ungodly are in a manifest error. + We heretofore bestowed wisdom on Lokmân, and commanded him, saying, Be +thou thankful unto GOD: for whoever is thankful, shall be thankful to the +advantage of his own soul; and if any shall be unthankful, verily GOD is self- +sufficient, and worthy to be praised. + And remember when Lokmân said unto his son, as he admonished him, Oh my +son, give not a partner unto GOD; for polytheism is a great impiety. + We have commanded man concerning his parents, (his mother carrieth him +in her womb with weakness and faintness, and he is weaned in two years), +saying, Be grateful unto me, and to thy parents. Unto me shall all come to be +judged. + But if thy parents endeavour to prevail on thee to associate with me that +concerning which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not: bear them company in +this world in what shall be reasonable; but follow the way of him who +sincerely turneth unto me. Hereafter unto me shall ye return, and then will +I declare unto you that which ye have done. + Oh my son, verily every matter, whether good or bad, though it be of the +weight of a grain of mustard-seed, and be hidden in a rock, or in the heavens, +or in the earth, GOD will bring the same to light; for GOD is clear-sighted +and knowing. + Oh my son, be constant at prayer, and command that which is just, and +forbid that which is evil: and be patient under the afflictions which shall +befall thee; for this is a duty absolutely incumbent on all men. + Distort not thy face out of contempt to men, neither walk in the earth +with insolence; for GOD loveth no arrogant, vain-glorious person. + And be moderate in thy pace; and lower thy voice; for the most ungrateful +of all voices surely is the voice of asses. +20 Do ye not see that GOD hath subjected whatever is in heaven and on earth +to your service, and hath abundantly poured on you his favors, both outwardly +and inwardly? There are some who dispute concerning GOD without knowledge, +and without a direction, and without an enlightening book. + And when it is said unto them, Follow that which GOD hath revealed, they +answer, Nay, we will follow that which we found our fathers to practise. +What, though the devil invite them to the torment of hell? + Whosoever resigneth himself unto GOD, being a worker of righteousness, +taketh hold on a strong handle; and unto GOD belongeth the issue of all +things. + But whoever shall be an unbeliever, let not his unbelief grieve thee: +unto us shall they return; then will we declare unto them that which they have +done, for GOD knoweth the innermost parts of the breasts of men. + We will suffer them to enjoy this world for a little while: afterwards we +will drive them to a severe punishment. + If thou ask them who hath created the heavens and the earth, they will +surely answer, GOD. Say, GOD be praised! but the greater part of them do not +understand. + Unto GOD belongeth whatever is in heaven and earth: for GOD is the self- +sufficient, the praiseworthy. + If whatever trees are in the earth were pens, and he should after that +swell the sea into seven seas of ink, the words of GOD would not be +exhausted; for GOD is mighty and wise. + Your creation and your resuscitation are but as the creation and +resuscitation of one soul: verily GOD both heareth and seeth. + Dost thou not see that GOD causeth the night to succeed the day, and +causeth the day to succeed the night, and compelleth the sun and the moon to +serve you? Each of those luminaries hasteneth in its course to a determined +period: and GOD is well acquainted with that which ye do. +30 This is declared concerning the divine knowledge and power, for that GOD +is the true Being, and for that whatever ye invoke, besides him is vanity; and +for that GOD is the high, the great God. + Dost thou not see that the ships run in the sea, through the favor of +GOD, that he may show you of his signs? Verily herein are signs unto every +patient, grateful person. + When waves cover them, like overshadowing clouds, they call upon GOD, +exhibiting the pure religion unto him; but when he bringeth them safe to land, +there is of them who halteth between the true faith and idolatry. Howbeit, +none rejecteth our signs, except every perfidious, ungrateful person. + O men, fear your LORD, and dread the day whereon a father shall not make +satisfaction for his father at all: the promise of GOD is assuredly true. Let +not this present life, therefore, deceive you; neither let the deceiver deceive +you concerning GOD. + Verily the knowledge of the hour of judgment is with GOD; and he causeth +the rain to descend at his own appointed time; and he knoweth what is in the +wombs of females. No soul knoweth what it shall gain on the morrow; neither +doth any soul know in what land it shall die; but GOD is knowing and fully +acquainted with all things. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +ENTITLED, ADORATION; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + A.L.M. + THE revelation of this book, there is no doubt thereof, is +from the LORD of all creatures. + Will they say, Mohammed hath forged it? Nay it is the truth from thy +LORD, that thou mayest preach to a people, unto whom no preacher hath come +before thee; peradventure they will be directed. + It is GOD who hath created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is +between them, in six days; and then ascended his throne. Ye have no patron or +intercessor besides him. Will ye not therefore consider? + He governeth all things from heaven even to the earth: hereafter shall +they return unto him, on the day whose length shall be a thousand years, of +those which ye compute. + This is he who knoweth the future, and the present; the mighty, the +merciful. + It is he who hath made everything which he hath created exceeding good; +and first created man of clay, + and afterwards made his posterity of an extract of despicable water; + and then formed him into proper shape, and breathed of his spirit into +him; and hath given you the senses of hearing and seeing, and hearts to +understand. How small thanks do ye return! +10 And they say, When we shall lie hidden in the earth, shall we be raised +thence a new creature? Yea, they deny the meeting of their LORD at the +resurrection. + Say, The angel of death, who is set over you, shall cause you to die: +then shall ye be brought back unto your LORD. + If thou couldest see, when the wicked shall bow down their heads before +their LORD, saying, O LORD, we have seen, and have heard: suffer us therefore +to return into the world, and we will work that which is right; since we are +now certain of the truth of what hath been preached to us: thou wouldest see +an amazing sight. + If we had pleased we had certainly given unto every soul its direction: +but the word which hath proceeded from me must necessarily be fulfilled, when +I said, Verily I will fill hell with genii and men, altogether. + Taste therefore the torment prepared for you, because ye have forgotten +the coming of this your day: we also have forgotten you; taste therefore the +punishment of eternal duration, for that which ye have wrought. + Verily they only believe in our signs, who, when they are warned thereby, +fall down adoring, and celebrate the praise of their LORD, and are not elated +with pride; + their sides are raised from their beds, calling on their LORD with fear +and with hope; and they distribute alms out of what we have bestowed on them. + No soul knoweth the complete satisfaction which is secretly prepared +for them, as a reward for that which they have wrought. + Shall he, therefore, who is a true believer, be as he who is an impious +transgressor? They shall not be held equal. + As to those who believe and do that which is right, they shall have +gardens of perpetual abode, an ample recompense for that which they shall have +wrought: +20 but as for those who impiously transgress, their abode shall be hell +fire; so often as they shall endeavour to get thereout, they shall be dragged +back into the same, and it shall be said unto them, Taste ye the torment of +hell fire, which ye rejected as a falsehood. + And we will cause them to taste the nearer punishment of this world, +besides the more grievous punishment of the next; peradventure they will +repent. + Who is more unjust than he who is warned by the signs of his LORD, and +then turneth aside from the same? We will surely take vengeance on the +wicked. + We heretofore delivered the book of the law unto Moses; wherefore be not +thou in doubt as to the revelation thereof: and we ordained the same to be a +direction unto the children of Israel; + and we appointed teachers from among them, who should direct the people +at our command, when they had persevered with patience, and had firmly +believed in our signs. + Verily thy LORD will judge between them, on the day of resurrection, +concerning that wherein they have disagreed. + Is it not known unto them how many generations we have destroyed before +them, through whose dwellings they walk? Verily herein are signs: will they +not therefore hearken? + Do they not see that we drive rain unto a land bare of grass and parched +up, and thereby produce corn, of which their cattle eat, and themselves also? +Will they not therefore regard? + The infidels say to the true believers, When will this decision be made +between us, if ye speak truth? + Answer, On the day of that decision, the faith of those who shall have +disbelieved shall not avail them; neither shall they be respited any longer. +30 Wherefore avoid them, and expect the issue: verily they expect to obtain +some advantage over thee. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +ENTITLED, THE CONFEDERATES; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + O PROPHET, fear GOD, and obey not the unbelievers and the hypocrites: +verily GOD is knowing and wise. + But follow that which is revealed unto thee from thy LORD; for GOD is +well acquainted with that which ye do; + and put thy trust in GOD; for GOD is a sufficient protector. + GOD hath not given a man two hearts within him; neither hath he made your +wives (some of whom ye divorce, regarding them thereafter as your mothers) +your true mothers; not hath he made your adopted sons your true sons. This +is your saying in your mouths: but GOD speaketh the truth; and he directed the +right way. + Call such as are adopted, the sons of their natural fathers: this will be +more just in the sight of GOD. And if ye know not their fathers, let them be +as your brethren in religion, and your companions: and it shall be no crime in +you, that ye err in this matter; but that shall be criminal which your hearts +purposely design; for GOD is gracious and merciful. + The prophet is nigher unto the true believers than their own souls; and +his wives are their mothers. Those who are related by consanguinity are +nigher of kin the one of them unto the others, according to the book of GOD, +than the other true believers, and the Mohâjerun: unless that ye do what is +fitting and reasonable to your relations in general. This is written in the +book of God. + Remember when we accepted their covenant from the prophets, and from +thee, O Mohammed, and from Noah, and Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus the son of +Mary, and received from them a firm covenant; + that God may examine the speakers of truth concerning their veracity: +and he hath prepared a painful torment for the unbelievers. + O true believers, remember the favor of GOD towards you, when armies of +infidels came against you, and we sent against them a wind, and hosts of +angels which ye saw not: and GOD beheld that which ye did. +10 When they came against you from above you, and from below you, and when +your sight became troubled, and your hearts came even to your throats for +fear, and ye imagined of GOD various imaginations. + There were the faithful tried, and made to tremble with a violent +trembling. + And when the hypocrites, and those in whose heart was an infirmity, said, +GOD and his apostle have made you no other than a fallacious promise. + And when a party of them said, O inhabitants of Yathreb, there is no +place of security for you here; wherefore return home. And a part of them +asked leave of the prophet to depart, saying, Verily our houses are +defenceless and exposed to the enemy: but they were not defenceless; and their +intention was no other than to fly. + If the city had been entered upon them by the enemy from the parts +adjacent, and they had been asked to desert the true believers, and to fight +against them; they had surely consented thereto: but they had not, in such +case, remained in the same but a little while. + They had before made a covenant with GOD, that they would not turn their +backs: and the performance of their covenant with GOD shall be examined into +hereafter. + Say, Flight shall not profit you, if ye fly from death or from slaughter: +and if it would, yet shall ye not enjoy this world but a little. + Say, Who is he who shall defend you against GOD, if he is pleased to +bring evil on you, or is pleased to show mercy towards you? They shall find +none to patronize or protect them, besides GOD. + GOD already knoweth those among you who hinder others from following his +apostle, and who say unto their brethren, Come hither unto us; and who come +not to battle, except a little: + being covetous towards you: but when fear cometh on them, thou seest +them look unto thee for assistance, their eyes rolling about like the eyes of +him who fainteth by reason of the agonies of death: yet when their fear is +past they inveigh against you with sharp tongues; being covetous of the best +and most valuable part of the spoils. These believe not sincerely; wherefore +GOD hath rendered their works of no avail; and this is easy with GOD. +20 They imagined that the confederates would not depart and raise the +siege: and if the confederates should come another time, they would wish to +live in the deserts among the Arabs who dwell in tents, and there to inquire +after news concerning you; and although they were with you this time, yet they +fought not, except a little. + Ye have in the apostle of GOD an excellent example, unto him who hopeth +in GOD, and the last day, and remembereth GOD frequently. + When the true believers saw the confederates, they said, This is what GOD +and his apostle have foretold us; and GOD and his apostle have spoken the +truth: and it only increased their faith and resignation. + Of the true believers some men justly performed what they had promised +unto GOD; and some of them have finished their course, and some of them wait +the same advantage; and they changed not their promise by deviating therefrom +in the least: + that GOD may reward the just performers of their covenant for their +fidelity; and may punish the hypocritical, if he pleaseth, or may be turned +unto them; for GOD is ready to forgive, and merciful. + GOD hath driven back the infidels in their wrath: they obtained no +advantage; and GOD was a sufficient protector unto the faithful in battle; for +GOD is strong and mighty. + And he hath caused such of those who have received the scriptures, as +assisted the confederates, to come down out of their fortresses, and he cast +into their hearts terror and dismay: a part of them ye slew, and a part ye +made captives; + and God hath caused you to inherit their land, and their houses, and +their wealth, and a land on which ye have not trodden; for GOD is almighty. + O prophet, say unto thy wives, If ye seek this present life, and the pomp +thereof, come, I will make a handsome provision for you, and I will dismiss +you with an honourable dismission; + but if ye seek GOD and his apostle, and the life to come, verily GOD hath +prepared for such of you as work righteousness a great reward. +30 O wives of the prophet, whosoever of you shall commit a manifest +wickedness, the punishment thereof shall be doubled unto her twofold; and +this is easy with GOD: + but whosoever of you shall be obedient unto GOD and his apostle, and +shall do that which is right, we will give her her reward twice, and we have +prepared for her an honourable provision in paradise. + O wives of the prophet, ye are not as other women: if ye fear God, be not +too complaisant in speech, lest he should covet, in whose heart is a disease +of incontinence; but speak the speech which is convenient. + And sit still in your houses; and set not out yourselves with the +ostentation of the former time of ignorance: and observe the appointed times +of prayer, and give alms; and obey GOD, and his apostle; for GOD desireth only +to remove from you the abomination of vanity, since ye are the household of +the prophet, and to purify you by a perfect purification. + And remember that which is read in your houses, of the signs of GOD, and +of the wisdom revealed in the Koran; for GOD is clear-sighted, and well +acquainted with your actions. + Verily the Moslems of either sex, and the true believers of either sex, +and the devout men, and the devout women, and the men of veracity, and the +women of veracity, and the patient men, and the patient women, and the humble +men, and the humble women, and the alms-givers of either sex, and the men who +fast, and the women who fast, and the chaste men, and the chaste women, and +those of either sex who remember GOD frequently; for them hath GOD prepared +forgiveness, and a great reward. + It is not fit for a true believer of either sex, when GOD and his apostle +have decreed a thing, that they should have the liberty of choosing a +different matter of their own: and whoever is disobedient unto GOD and his +apostle surely erreth with a manifest error. + And remember when thou saidst to him unto whom GOD had been gracious, +and on whom thou also hadst conferred favours, Keep thy wife to thyself, and +fear GOD: and thou didst conceal that in thy mind which GOD had determined to +discover, and didst fear men; whereas it was more just that thou shouldest +fear GOD. But when Zeid had determined the matter concerning her, and had +resolved to divorce her, we joined her in marriage unto thee; lest a crime +should be charged on the true believers, in marrying the wives of their +adopted sons, when they have determined the matter concerning them; and the +command of GOD is to be performed. + No crime is to be charged on the prophet, as to what GOD hath allowed +him, conformable to the ordinance of GOD with regard to those who preceded him +(for the command of GOD is a determinate decree), + who brought the messages of GOD, and feared him, and feared none besides +GOD: and GOD is a sufficient accountant. +40 Mohammed is not the father of any man among you; but the apostle of GOD, +and the seal of the prophets: and GOD knoweth all things. + O true believers, remember GOD with a frequent remembrance, + and celebrate his praise morning and evening. + It is he who is gracious unto you, and his angels intercede for you, that +he may lead you forth from darkness into light; and he is merciful towards the +true believers. + Their salutation, on the day whereon they shall meet him, shall be, +Peace! and he hath prepared for them an honourable recompense. + O prophet, verily we have sent thee to be a witness, and a bearer of good +tidings, and a denouncer of threats, + and an inviter unto GOD, through his good pleasure, and a shining light. + Bear good tidings therefore unto the true believers, that they shall +receive great abundance from GOD. + And obey not the unbelievers, and the hypocrites, and mind not their evil +treatment: but trust in GOD; and GOD is a sufficient protector. + O true believers, when ye marry women who are believers, and afterwards +put them away, before ye have touched them, there is no term prescribed you to +fulfil towards them after their divorce: but make them a present, and +dismiss them freely with an honourable dismission. +50 O prophet, we have allowed thee thy wives unto whom thou hast given their +dower, and also the slaves which thy right hand possesseth, of the booty which +GOD hath granted thee; and the daughters of thy uncle, and the daughters of +thy aunts, both on thy father's side, and on thy mother's side, who have fled +with thee from Mecca, and any other believing woman, if she give herself unto +the prophet; in case the prophet desireth to take her to wife. This is a peculiar +privilege granted unto thee above the rest of the true believers. We know what +we have ordained them concerning their wives, and the slaves which their right +hands possess: lest it should be deemed a crime in thee to make use of the +privilege granted thee; for GOD is gracious and merciful. + Thou mayest postpone the turn of such of thy wives as thou shalt please, +in being called to thy bed; and thou mayest take unto thee her whom thou shalt +please, and her whom thou shalt desire of those whom thou shalt have before +rejected: and it shall be no crime in thee. This will be more easy, that +they may be entirely content, and may not be grieved, but may be well pleased +with what thou shalt give every of them: GOD knoweth whatever is in your +hearts; and GOD is knowing and gracious. + It shall not be lawful for thee to take other women to wife hereafter, +nor to exchange any of thy wives for them, although their beauty please thee; +except the slaves whom thy right hand shall possess: and GOD observeth all +things. + O true believer, enter not the houses of the prophet, unless it be +permitted you to eat meat with him, without waiting his convenient time; but +when ye are invited, then enter. And when ye shall have eaten, disperse +yourselves; and stay not to enter into familiar discourse: for this +incommodeth the prophet. He is ashamed to bid you depart; but GOD is not +ashamed of the truth. And when ye ask of the prophet's wives what ye may have +occasion for, ask it of them from behind a curtain. This will be more pure +for your hearts and their hearts. Neither is it fit for you to give any +uneasiness to the apostle of GOD, or to marry his wives after him for ever: +for this would be a grievous thing in the sight of GOD. + Whether ye divulge a thing or conceal it, verily GOD knoweth all things. + It shall be no crime in them, as to their fathers, or their sons, or +their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their +women, or the slaves which their right hands possess, if they speak to them +unveiled: and fear ye GOD; for GOD is witness of all things. + Verily GOD and his angels bless the prophet. O true believers, do ye +also bless him, and salute him with a respectful salutation. + As to those who offend GOD and his apostle, GOD shall curse them in this +world and in the next; and he hath prepared for them a shameful punishment. + And they who shall injure the true believers of either sex, without their +deserving it, shall surely bear the guilt of calumny and a manifest +injustice. + O prophet, speak unto thy wives, and thy daughters, and the wives of the +true believers, that they cast their outer garments over them when they walk +abroad; this will be more proper, that they may be known to be matrons of +reputation, and may not be affronted by unseemly words or actions. GOD is +gracious and merciful. +60 Verily if the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is an infirmity, and +they who raise disturbances in Medina, do not desist, we will surely stir thee +up against them, to chastise them: henceforth they shall not be suffered to +dwell near thee therein, except for a little time, + and being accursed; wherever they are found they shall be taken, and +killed with a general slaughter, + according to the sentence of GOD concerning those who have been before; +and thou shalt not find any change in the sentence of GOD. + Men will ask thee concerning the approach of the last hour; answer, +Verily the knowledge thereof is with GOD alone; and he will not inform thee: +peradventure the hour is nigh at hand. + Verily GOD hath cursed the infidels, and hath prepared for them a fierce +fire, + wherein they shall remain forever: they shall find no patron or defender. + On the day whereon their faces shall be rolled in hell fire, they shall +say, Oh that we had obeyed GOD, and had obeyed his apostle! + And they shall say, O LORD, verily we have obeyed our lords, and our +great men; and they have seduced us from the right way. + O LORD, give them the double of our punishment; and curse them with a +heavy curse! + O true believers, be not as those who injured Moses; but GOD cleared him +from the scandal which they had spoken concerning him; and he was of great +consideration in the sight of GOD. +70 O true believers, fear GOD, and speak words well directed: + that God may correct your works for you, and may forgive you your sins: +and whoever shall obey GOD and his apostle shall enjoy great felicity. + We proposed the faith unto the heavens, and the earth, and the mountains: +and they refused to undertake the same, and were afraid thereof; but man +undertook it: verily he was unjust to himself, and foolish; + that GOD may punish the hypocritical men, and the hypocritical women, and +the idolaters, and the idolatresses; and that GOD may be turned unto the true +believers, both men and women; for GOD is gracious and merciful. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +ENTITLED, SABA; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + PRAISE be unto GOD, unto whom belongeth whatever is in the heavens and on +earth: and unto him be praise in the world to come; for he is wise and +intelligent. + He knoweth whatsoever entereth into the earth, and whatsoever cometh out +of the same, and whatsoever descendeth from heaven, and whatsoever ascendeth +thereto: and he is merciful and ready to forgive. + The unbelievers say, The hour of judgment will not come unto us. Answer, +Yea, by my LORD, it will surely come unto you; it is he who knoweth the hidden +secret: the weight of an ant, either in heaven or in earth, is not absent from +him, nor anything lesser than this or greater, but the same is written in the +perspicuous book of his decrees; + that he may recompense those who shall have believed, and wrought +righteousness: they shall receive pardon, and an honourable provision. + But they who endeavour to render our signs of none effect shall receive a +punishment of painful torment. + Those unto whom knowledge hath been given, see that the book which hath +been revealed unto thee from thy LORD is the truth, and directeth into the +glorious and laudable way. + The unbelievers say to one another, Shall we show you a man who shall +prophesy unto you, that when ye shall have been dispersed with a total +dispersion, ye shall be raised a new creature? + He hath forged a lie concerning GOD, or rather he is distracted. But +they who believe not in the life to come shall fall into punishment and a wide +error. + Have they not therefore considered what is before them, and what is +behind them, of the heaven and the earth? If we please, we will cause the +earth to open and swallow them up, or will cause a piece of the heaven to fall +upon them: verily herein is a sign unto every servant, who turneth unto God. +10 We heretofore bestowed on David excellence from us: and we said, O +mountains, sing alternate praises with him; and we obliged the birds also to +join therein. And we softened the iron for him, + saying, Make thereof complete coats of mail, and rightly dispose the small +plates which compose the same: and work ye righteousness, O family of David; +for I see that which ye do. + And we made the wind subject unto Solomon: it blew in the morning for a +month, and in the evening for a month. And we made a fountain of molten brass +to flow for him. And some of the genii were obliged to work in his presence, +by the will of his LORD; and whoever of them turned aside from our command, we +will cause him to taste the pain of hell fire. + They made for him whatever he pleased of palaces, and statues, and large +dishes like fishponds, and caldrons standing firm on their trevets; and we +said, Work righteousness, O family of David, with thanksgiving; for few of my +servants are thankful. + And when we had decreed that Solomon should die, nothing discovered his +death unto them, except the creeping thing of the earth, which gnawed his +staff. And when his body fell down, the genii plainly perceived that if they +had known that which is secret, they had not continued in a vile punishment. + The descendants of Saba had heretofore a sign in their dwelling; namely, +two gardens on the right hand and on the left, and it was said unto them, Eat +ye of the provision of your LORD, and give thanks unto him; ye have a good +country, and a gracious LORD. + But they turned aside from what we had commanded them; wherefore we sent +against them the inundation of al Arem, and we changed their two gardens for +them into two gardens producing bitter fruit, and tamarisks, and some little +fruit of the lote-tree. + This we gave them in reward, because they were ungrateful: is any thus +rewarded except the ungrateful? + And we placed between them and the cities which we have blessed, cities +situated near each other; and we made the journey easy between them, saying, +Travel through the same by night and by day, in security. + But they said, O LORD, put a greater distance between our journeys: and +they were unjust unto themselves; and we made them the subject of discourse, +and dispersed them with a total dispersion. Verily, herein are signs unto +every patient, grateful person. +20 And Eblis found his opinion of them to be true: and they followed him, +except a party of the true believers: + and he had no power over them, unless to tempt them, that we might know +him who believed in the life to come, from him who doubted thereof. Thy LORD +observeth all things. + Say unto the idolaters, Call upon those whom ye imagine to be gods, +besides GOD: they are not masters of the weight of an ant in heaven or on +earth, neither have they any share in the creation or government of the same; +nor is any of them assistant to him therein. + No intercession will be of service in his presence, except the +intercession of him to whom he shall grant permission to intercede for +others: and they shall wait in suspense until, when the terror shall be taken +off from their hearts, they shall say to one another: What doth your LORD +say? They shall answer, That which is just: and he is the high, the great +God. + Say, Who provideth food for you from heaven and earth? Answer, GOD: and +either we, or ye, follow the true direction, or are in a manifest error. + Say, Ye shall not be examined concerning what we shall have committed: +neither shall we be examined concerning what ye shall have done. + Say, Our LORD will assemble us together at the last day: then he will +judge between us with truth; and he is the judge, the knowing. + Say, Show me those whom ye have joined as partners with him? Nay; rather +he is the mighty, the wise GOD. + We have not sent thee otherwise than unto mankind in general, a bearer of +good tidings, and a denouncer of threats; but the greater part of men do not +understand. + And they say, When will this threat be fulfilled, if ye speak truth? +30 Answer, A threat is denounced unto you of a day which ye shall not retard +one hour, neither shall ye hasten. + The unbelievers say, We will by no means believe in this Koran, nor in +that which hath been revealed before it. But if thou couldest see when the +unjust doers shall be set before their LORD! They will iterate discourse with +one another: those who were esteemed weak shall say unto those who behaved +themselves arrogantly, Had it not been for you, verily we had been true +believers. + They who behaved themselves arrogantly shall say unto those who were +esteemed weak, Did we turn you aside from the true direction, after it had +come unto you? On the contrary, ye acted wickedly of your own free choice. + And they who were esteemed weak shall say unto those who behaved with +arrogance, Nay, but the crafty plot which ye devised by night and by day, +occasioned our ruin: when ye commanded us that we should not believe in GOD, +and that we should set up other gods as equals unto him. And they shall +conceal their repentance, after they shall have seen the punishment prepared +for them. And we will put yokes on the necks of those who shall have +disbelieved: shall they be rewarded any otherwise than according to what they +shall have wrought? + We have sent no warner unto any city, but the inhabitants thereof who +lived in affluence said, Verily we believe not that with which ye are sent. + And those of Mecca also say, We abound in riches and children, more than +ye; and we shall not be punished hereafter. + Answer, Verily my LORD will bestow provision in abundance unto whom he +pleaseth, and will be sparing unto whom he pleaseth: but the greater part of +men know not this. + Neither your riches nor your children are the things which shall cause +you to draw nigh unto us with a near approach: only whoever believeth, and +worketh righteousness, they shall receive a double reward for that which they +shall have wrought: and they shall dwell in security, in the upper apartments +of paradise. + But they who shall endeavour to render our signs of none effect shall be +delivered up to punishment. + Say, Verily my LORD will bestow provision in abundance unto whom he +pleaseth of his servants, and will be sparing unto whom he pleaseth: and +whatever thing ye shall give in alms, he will return it; and he is the best +provider of food. +40 On a certain day he shall gather them altogether: then shall he say unto +the angels, Did these worship you? + And the angels shall answer, GOD forbid! thou art our friend, and not +these: but they worshipped devils; the greater part of them believed in them. + On this day the one of you shall not be able either to profit or to hurt +the other. And we will say unto those who have acted unjustly, Taste ye the +pain of hell fire, which ye rejected as a falsehood. + When our evident signs are read unto them, they say of thee, O Mohammed, +This is no other than a man who seeketh to turn you aside from the gods which +your fathers worshipped. And they say of the Koran, This is no other than a +lie blasphemously forged. And the unbelievers say of the truth, when it is +come unto them, This is no other than manifest sorcery: + yet we have given them no books of scripture wherein to exercise +themselves, nor have we sent unto them any warner before thee. + They who were before them in like manner accused their prophets of +imposture: but these have not arrived unto the tenth part of the riches and +strength which we had bestowed on the former: and they accused my apostles of +imposture; and how severe was my vengeance! + Say, Verily I advise you unto one thing, namely, that ye stand before GOD +by two and two, and singly; and then consider seriously and you will find +that there is no madness in your companion Mohammed: he is no other than a +warner unto you, sent before a severe punishment. + Say, I ask not of you any reward for my preaching; it is your own, +either to give or not: my reward is to be expected from GOD alone; and he is +witness over all things. + Say, Verily my LORD sendeth down the truth to his prophets: he is the +knower of secrets. + Say, Truth is come, and falsehood is vanished, and shall not return any +more. +50 Say, If I err, verily I shall err only against my own soul: but if I be +rightly directed, it will be by that which my LORD revealeth unto me; for he +is ready to hear, and nigh unto those who call upon him. + If thou couldest see, when the unbelievers shall tremble, and shall +find no refuge, and shall be taken from a near place, + and shall say, We believe in him! But how shall they receive the faith +from a distant place: + since they had before denied him, and reviled the mysteries of faith, +from a distant place? + And a bar shall be placed between them and that which they shall desire; +as it hath been done with those who behaved like them heretofore: because +they have been in a doubt which hath caused scandal. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +ENTITLED, THE CREATOR; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + PRAISE be unto GOD the Creator of heaven and earth; who maketh the angels +his messengers, furnished with two, and three, and four pair of wings: GOD +maketh what addition he pleaseth unto his creatures; for GOD is almighty. + The mercy which GOD shall freely bestow on mankind, there is none who can +withhold; and what he shall withhold, there is none who can bestow, besides +him; and he is the mighty, the wise. + O men, remember the favor of GOD towards you: is there any creator, +besides GOD, who provideth food for you from heaven and earth? There is no +GOD but he: how therefore are ye turned aside from acknowledging his unity? + If they accuse thee of imposture, apostles before thee have also been +accused of imposture: and unto GOD shall all things return. + O men, verily the promise of GOD is true: let not therefore the present +life deceive you, neither let the deceiver deceive you concerning GOD: + for Satan is an enemy unto you; wherefore hold him for an enemy: he only +inviteth his confederates to be the inhabitants of hell. + For those who believe not there is prepared a severe torment: but for +those who shall believe and do that which is right, is prepared mercy and a +great reward. + Shall he therefore for whom his evil work hath been prepared, and who +imagineth it to be good, be as he who is rightly disposed, and discerneth the +truth? Verily GOD will cause to err whom he pleaseth, and will direct whom he +pleaseth. Let not thy soul therefore be spent in sighs for their sakes, on +account of their obstinacy; for GOD well knoweth that which they do. + It is God who sendeth the winds, and raiseth a cloud; and we drive the +same unto a dead country, and thereby quicken the earth after it hath been +dead; so shall the resurrection be. +10 Whoever desireth excellence; unto GOD doth all excellence belong: unto +him ascendeth the good speech; and the righteous work will he exalt. But as +for them who devise wicked plots, they shall suffer a severe punishment; and +the device of those men shall be rendered vain. + GOD created you first of the dust, and afterwards of seed; and he hath +made you man and wife. No female conceiveth, or bringeth forth, but with his +knowledge. Nor is anything added unto the age of him whose life is prolonged, +neither is anything diminished from his age, but the same is written in the +book of GOD's decrees. Verily this is easy with GOD. + The two seas are not to be held in comparison: this is fresh and sweet, +pleasant to drink: but that is salt and bitter: yet out of each of them ye +eat fish, and take ornaments for you to wear. Thou seest the ships also +ploughing the waves thereof, that ye may seek to enrich yourselves by +commerce, of the abundance of God: peradventure ye will be thankful. + He causeth the night to succeed the day, and he causeth the day to +succeed the night; and he obligeth the sun and the moon to perform their +services: each of them runneth an appointed course. This is GOD, your LORD: +his is the kingdom. But the idols which ye invoke besides him have not the +power even over the skin of a date-stone: + if ye invoke them, they will not hear your calling; and although they +should hear, yet they would not answer you. On the day of resurrection they +shall disclaim your having associated them with God: and none shall declare +unto thee the truth, like one who is well acquainted therewith. + O men, ye have need of GOD; but GOD is self-sufficient, and to be +praised. + If he pleaseth, he can take you away, and produce a new creature in your +stead: + neither will this be difficult with GOD. + A burdened soul shall not bear the burden of another: and if a heavy- +burdened soul call on another to bear part of its burden, no part thereof +shall be borne by the person who shall be called on, although he be ever so +nearly related. Thou shalt admonish those who fear their LORD in secret and +are constant at prayer: and whoever cleanseth himself from the guilt of +disobedience, cleanseth himself to the advantage of his own soul; for all +shall be assembled before GOD at the last day. + The blind and the seeing shall not be held equal; +20 neither darkness and light; + nor the cool shade and the scorching wind: + neither shall the living and the dead be held equal. GOD shall cause +him to hear whom he pleaseth; but thou shalt not make those to hear who are in +their graves. + Thou art no other than a preacher: + verily we have sent thee with truth, a bearer of good tidings, and a +denouncer of threats. There hath been no nation, but a preacher hath in past +times been conversant among them: + if they charge thee with imposture, they who were before them likewise +charged their apostles with imposture. Their apostles came unto them with +evident miracles, and with divine writings, and with the enlightening book: + afterwards I chastised those who were unbelievers; and how severe was my +vengeance! + Dost thou not see that GOD sendeth down rain from heaven, and that we +thereby produce fruits of various colours? In the mountain also there are +some tracts white and red, of various colours; and others are of a deep +black: + and of men, and beasts, and cattle there are whose colours are in like +manner various. Such only of his servants fear GOD as are endued with +understanding: verily GOD is mighty and ready to forgive. + Verily they who read the book of GOD, and are constant at prayer, and +give alms out of what we have bestowed on them, both in secret and openly, +hope for a merchandise which shall not perish: +30 that God may fully pay them their wages, and make them a superabundant +addition of his liberality; for he is ready to forgive the faults of his +servants, and to requite their endeavours. + That which we have revealed unto thee of the book of the Koran is the +truth, confirming the scriptures which were revealed before it: for GOD +knoweth and regardeth his servants. + And we have given the book of the Koran in heritage unto such of our +servants as we have chosen: of them there is one who injureth his own soul; +and there is another of them who keepeth the middle way; and there is another +of them who outstrippeth others in good works, by the permission of GOD. This +is the great excellence. + They shall be introduced into gardens of perpetual abode; they shall be +adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their clothing therein +shall be of silk: + and they shall say, Praise be unto GOD, who hath taken away sorrow from +us! verily our LORD is ready to forgive the sinners, and to reward the +obedient; + who hath caused us to take up our rest in a dwelling of eternal +stability, through his bounty, wherein no labor shall touch us, neither shall +any weariness affect us. + But for the unbelievers is prepared the fire of hell: it shall not be +decreed them to die a second time; neither shall any part of the punishment +thereof be made lighter unto them. Thus shall every infidel be rewarded. + And they shall cry out aloud in hell, saying, LORD, take us hence, and we +will work righteousness, and not what we have formerly wrought. But it shall +be answered them, Did we not grant you lives of length sufficient, that +whoever would be warned might be warned therein; and did not the preacher +come unto you? taste therefore the pains of hell. And the unjust shall have +no protector. + Verily GOD knoweth the secrets both of heaven and earth, for he knoweth +the innermost parts of the breasts of men. + It is he who hath made you to succeed in the earth. Whoever shall +disbelieve, on him be his unbelief; and their unbelief shall only gain the +unbelievers greater indignation in the sight of their LORD; and their unbelief +shall only increase the perdition of the unbelievers. +40 Say, What think ye of your deities which ye invoke besides GOD? Show me +what part of the earth they have created. Or had they any share in the +creation of the heavens? Have we given unto the idolaters any book of +revelations, so that they may rely on any proof therefrom to authorize their +practice? Nay; but the ungodly make unto one another only deceitful promises. + Verily GOD sustaineth the heavens and the earth, lest they fail: and if +they should fail, none could support the same besides him; he is gracious and +merciful. + The Koreish swore by GOD, with a most solemn oath, that if a preacher +had come unto them, they would surely have been more willingly directed than +any nation: but now a preacher is come unto them, it hath only increased in +them their aversion from the truth, + their arrogance in the earth, and their contriving of evil; but the +contrivance of evil shall only encompass the authors thereof. Do they expect +any other than the punishment awarded against the unbelievers of former times? +For thou shalt not find any change in the ordinance of GOD; neither shalt thou +find any variation in the ordinance of GOD. + Have they not gone through the earth, and seen what hath been the end of +those who were before them; although they were more mighty in strength than +they? GOD is not to be frustrated by anything either in heaven or on earth; +for he is wise and powerful. + If GOD should punish men according to what they deserve, he would not +leave on the back of the earth so much as a beast: but he respiteth them to a +determined time; and when their time shall come, verily GOD will regard his +servants. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +ENTITLED, Y.S.; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + Y.S. + I SWEAR by the instructive Koran, + that thou art one of the messengers of God, + sent to show the right way. + This is a revelation of the most mighty, the merciful God: + that thou mayest warn a people whose fathers were not warned, and who +live in negligence. + Our sentence hath justly been pronounced against the greater part of +them; wherefore they shall not believe. + We have put yokes on their necks, which come up to their chins; and they +are forced to hold up their heads; + and we have set a bar before them, and a bar behind them; and we have +covered them with darkness; wherefore they shall not see. +10 It shall be equal unto them whether thou preach unto them, or do not +preach unto them; they shall not believe. + But thou shalt preach with effect unto him only who followeth the +admonition of the Koran, and feareth the Merciful in secret. Wherefore bear +good tidings unto him, of mercy, and an honourable reward. + Verily we will restore the dead to life, and will write down their works +which they shall have sent before them, and their footsteps which they shall +have left behind them: and everything do we set down in a plain register. + Propound unto them as an example the inhabitants of the city of Antioch, +when the apostles of Jesus came thereto: + when we sent unto them two of the said apostles; but they charged them +with imposture. Wherefore we strengthened them with a third. And they said, +Verily we are sent unto you by God. + The inhabitants answered, Ye are no other than men, as we are; ye only +publish a lie. + The apostles replied, Our LORD knoweth that we are really sent unto you: + and our duty is only public preaching. + Those of Antioch said, Verily we presage evil from you: if ye desist not +from preaching, we will surely stone you, and a painful punishment shall be +inflicted on you by us. + The apostles answered, Your evil presage is with yourselves: although ye +be warned, will ye persist in yours errors? Verily ye are a people who +transgress exceedingly. +20 And a certain man came hastily from the farther parts of the city, and +said, O my people, follow the messengers of God; + follow him who demandeth not any reward of you: for these are rightly +directed. + What reason have I that I should not worship him who hath created me? for +unto him shall ye return. + Shall I take other gods besides him? If the Merciful be pleased to +afflict me, their intercession will not avail me at all, neither can they +deliver me: + then should I be in a manifest error. + Verily I believe in your LORD; wherefore hearken unto me. + But they stoned him: and as he died, it was said unto him, Enter thou +into paradise. And he said, O that my people knew + how merciful GOD hath been unto me! for he hath highly honoured me. + And we sent not down against his people, after they had slain him, an +army from heaven, nor the other instruments of destruction which we sent down +on unbelievers in former days: + there was only one cry of Gabriel from heaven, and behold, they became +utterly extinct. +30 Oh the misery of men! No apostle cometh unto them, but they laugh him to +scorn. + Do they not consider how many generations we have destroyed before them? +Verily they shall not return unto them: + but all of them in general shall be assembled before us. + One sign of the resurrection unto them is the dead earth: we quicken the +same by the rain, and produce thereout various sorts of grain, of which they +eat. + And we make therein gardens of palm-trees, and vines; and we cause +springs to gush forth in the same: + that they may eat of the fruits thereof, and of the labor of their hands. +Will they not therefore give thanks? + Praise be unto him who hath created all the different kinds, both of +vegetables, which the earth bringeth forth, and of their own species, by +forming the two sexes, and also the various sorts of things which they know +not. + The night also is a sign unto them: we withdraw the day from the same, +and behold, they are covered with darkness: + and the sun hasteneth to his place of rest. This is the disposition of +the mighty, the wise God. + and for the moon have we appointed certain mansions, until she change +and return to be like the old branch of a palm-tree. +40 It is not expedient that the sun should overtake the moon in her course: +neither doth the night outstrip the day: but each of these luminaries moving +in a peculiar orbit. + It is a sign also unto them, that they carry their offspring in the ship +filled with merchandise; + and that we have made for them other conveniences like unto it, whereon +they ride. + If we please, we drown them, and there is none to help them; neither are +they delivered, + unless through our mercy, and that they may enjoy life for a season. + When it is said unto them, Fear that which is before you, and that which +is behind you, that ye may obtain mercy: they withdraw from thee: + and thou dost not bring them one sign, of the signs of their LORD, but +they turn aside from the same. + And when it is said unto them, Give alms of that which GOD hath bestowed +on you; the unbelievers say unto those who believe, by way of mockery, Shall +we feed him whom GOD can feed, if he pleaseth? Verily ye are in no other +than a manifest error. + And they say, When will this promise of the resurrection be fulfilled, if +ye speak truth? + They only wait for one sounding of the trumpet, which shall overtake +them while they are disputing together; +50 and they shall not have time to make any disposition of their effects, +neither shall they return to their family. + And the trumpet shall be sounded again; and behold they shall come forth +from their graves, and hasten unto their LORD. + They shall say, Alas for us! who hath awakened us from our bed? This is +what the Merciful promised us; and his apostles spoke the truth. + It shall be but one sound of the trumpet, and behold, they shall be all +assembled before us. + On this day no soul shall be unjustly treated in the least; neither shall +ye be rewarded, but according to what ye shall have wrought. + On this day the inhabitants of paradise shall be wholly taken up with +joy: + they and their wives shall rest in shady groves, leaning on magnificent +couches. + There shall they have fruit, and they shall obtain whatever they shall +desire. + Peace shall be the word spoken unto the righteous, by a merciful LORD: + but he shall say unto the wicked, Be ye separated this day, O ye wicked, +from the righteous. +60 Did I not command you, O sons of Adam, that ye should not worship Satan; +because he was an open enemy unto you? + And did I not say, Worship me; this is the right way? + But now hath he seduced a great multitude of you: did ye not therefore +understand? + This is hell, with which ye were threatened: + be ye cast into the same this day to be burned; for that ye have been +unbelievers. + On this day we will seal up their mouths, that they shall not open them +in their own defence; and their hands shall speak unto us, and their feet +shall bear witness of that which they have committed. + If we pleased we could put out their eyes, and they might run with +emulation in the way they use to take; and how should they see their error? + And if we pleased we could transform them into other shapes, in their +places when they should be found; and they should not be able to depart; +neither should they repent. + Unto whomsoever we grant a long life, him do we cause to bow down his +body through age. Will they not therefore understand? + We have not taught Mohammed the art of poetry; nor is it expedient for +him to be a poet. This book is no other than an admonition from God, and a +perspicuous Koran; +70 that he may warn him who is living: and the sentence of condemnation +will be justly executed on the unbelievers. + Do they not consider that we have created for them, among the things +which our hands have wrought, cattle of several kinds, of which they are +possessors; + and that we have put the same in subjection under them? Some of them are +for their riding; and on some of them do they feed: + and they receive other advantages therefrom; and of their milk do they +drink. Will they not, therefore, be thankful? + They have taken other gods, besides GOD, in hopes that they may be +assisted by them; + but they are not able to give them any assistance: yet are they a party +of troops ready to defend them. + Let not their speech, therefore, grieve thee: we know that which they +privately conceal, and that which they publicly discover. + Doth not man know that we have created him of seed? yet behold, he is an +open disputer against the resurrection; + and he propoundeth unto us a comparison, and forgetteth his creation. He +saith, Who shall restore bones to life, when they are rotten? + Answer, He shall restore them to life, who produced them the first time: +for he is skilled in every kind of creation: +80 who giveth you fire out of the green tree, and behold, ye kindle your +fuel from thence. + Is not he who hath created the heavens and the earth able to create new +creatures like unto them? Yea certainly: for he is the wise Creator. + His command, when he willeth a thing, is only that he saith unto it, Be; +and it is. + Wherefore praise be unto him, in whose hand is the kingdom of all things, +and unto whom ye shall return at the last day. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +ENTITLED, THOSE WHO RANK THEMSELVES IN ORDER; +REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the angels who rank themselves in order; + and by those who drive forward and dispel the clouds; + and by those who read the Koran for an admonition; + verily your GOD is one: + the LORD of heaven and earth, and of whatever is between them, and the +LORD of the east. + We have adorned the lower heaven with the ornament of the stars: + and we have placed therein a guard against every rebellious devil; + that they may not listen to the discourse of the exalted princes (for +they are darted at from every side, + to repel them, and a lasting torment is prepared for them); +10 except him who catcheth a word by stealth, and is pursued by a shining +flame. + Ask the Meccans, therefore, whether they be stronger by nature, or the +angels, whom we have created? We have surely created them of stiff clay. + Thou wonderest at GOD's power and their obstinacy; but they mock at the +arguments urged to convince them: + when they are warned, they do not take warning; + and when they see any sign, they scoff thereat, + and say, This is no other than manifest sorcery: + after we shall be dead, and become dust and bones, shall we really be +raised to life, + and our forefathers also? + Answer, Yea: and ye shall then be despicable. + There shall be but one blast of the trumpet, and they shall see +themselves raised: +20 and they shall say, Alas for us! this is the day of judgment, + this is the day of distinction between the righteous and the wicked, +which ye rejected as a falsehood. + Gather together those who have acted unjustly, and their comrades, and +the idols which they worshipped + besides GOD, and direct them in the way to hell; + and set them before GOD's tribunal; for they shall be called to account. + What aileth you that ye defend not one another? + But on this day they shall submit themselves to the judgment of God: + and they shall draw nigh unto one another, and shall dispute among +themselves. + And the seduced shall say unto those who seduced them, Verily ye came +unto us with presages of prosperity; + and the seducers shall answer, Nay, rather ye were not true believers: +30 for we had no power over you to compel you; but ye were people who +voluntarily transgressed: + wherefore the sentence of our LORD hath been justly pronounced against +us, and we shall surely taste his vengeance. + We seduced you; but we also erred ourselves. + They shall both therefore be made partakers of the same punishment on +that day. + Thus will we deal with the wicked: + because, when it is said unto them, There is no god besides the true GOD, +they swell with arrogance, + and say, Shall we abandon our gods for a distracted poet? + Nay: he cometh with the truth, and beareth witness to the former +apostles. + Ye shall surely taste the painful torment of hell; + and ye shall not be rewarded, but according to your works. +40 But as for the sincere servants of GOD, + they shall have a certain provision in paradise, + namely, delicious fruits: and they shall be honoured: + they shall be placed in gardens of pleasure, + leaning on couches, opposite to one another: + a cup shall be carried round unto them, filled from a limpid fountain, + for the delight of those who drink: + it shall not oppress the understanding, neither shall they be inebriated +therewith. + And near them shall lie the virgins of paradise, refraining their looks from +beholding any besides their spouses, having large black eyes, + and resembling the eggs of an ostrich covered with feathers from the dust. +50 And they shall turn the one unto the other, and shall ask one another +questions. + And one of them shall say, Verily I had an intimate friend while I lived +in the world, + who said unto me, Art thou one of those who assertest the truth of the +resurrection? + After we shall be dead, and reduced to dust and bones, shall we surely be +judged? + Then he shall say to his companions, Will ye look down? + And he shall look down, and shall see him in the midst of hell: + and he shall say unto him, By GOD, it wanted little but thou hadst drawn +me into ruin: + and had it not been for the grace of my LORD, I had surely been one of +those who have been delivered up to eternal torment. + Shall we die + any other than our first death; or do we suffer any punishment? +60 Verily this is great felicity: + for the obtaining a felicity like this let the laborers labor. + Is this a better entertainment, or the tree of al Zakkum? + Verily we have designed the same for an occasion of dispute unto the +unjust. + It is a tree which issueth from the bottom of hell: + the fruit thereof resembleth the heads of devils; + and the damned shall eat of the same, and shall fill their bellies +therewith; + and there shall be given them thereon a mixture of filthy and boiling +water to drink: + afterwards shall they return into hell. + They found their fathers going astray, +70 and they trod hastily in their footsteps: + for the greater part of the ancients erred before them. + And we sent warners unto them heretofore: + and see how miserable was the end of those who were warned; + except the sincere servants of GOD. + Noah called on us in former days: and we heard him graciously: + and we delivered him and his family out of the great distress; + and we caused his offspring to be those who survived to people the earth: + and we left the following salutation to be bestowed on him by the latest +posterity, + namely, Peace be on Noah among all creatures! +80 Thus do we reward the righteous; + for he was one of our servants the true believers. + Afterwards we drowned the others. + Abraham also was of his religion: + when he came unto his LORD with a perfect heart. + When he said unto his father and his people, What do ye worship? + Do ye choose false gods preferably to the true GOD? + What therefore is your opinion of the LORD of all creatures? + And he looked and observed the stars, + and said, Verily I shall be sick, and shall not assist at your +sacrifices: +90 and they turned their backs and departed from him. + And Abraham went privately to their gods, and said, scoffingly unto them, +Do ye not eat of the meat which is set before you? + What aileth you that ye speak not? + And he turned upon them, and struck them with his right hand, and +demolished them. + And the people came hastily unto him: + and he said, Do ye worship the images which ye carve? + whereas GOD hath created you, and also that which ye make. + They said, Build a pile for him, and cast him into the glowing fire. + And they devised a plot against him; but we made them the inferior, and +delivered him. + And Abraham said, Verily I am going unto my LORD, who will direct me. +100 O LORD, grant me a righteous issue. + Wherefore we acquainted him that he should have a son, who should be a +meek youth. + And when he had attained to years of discretion, and could join in acts +of religion with him, Abraham said unto him, O my son, verily I saw in a dream +that I should offer thee in sacrifice: consider therefore what thou art of +opinion I should do. He answered, O my father, do what thou art commanded: +thou shalt find me, if GOD please, a patient person. + And when they had submitted themselves to the divine will, and Abraham +had laid his son prostrate on his face, + we cried unto him, O Abraham, + now hast thou verified the vision. Thus do we reward the righteous. + Verily this was a manifest trial. + And we ransomed him with a noble victim. + And we left the following salutation to be bestowed on him by the latest +posterity, + namely, Peace be on Abraham! +110 Thus do we reward the righteous: + for he was one of our faithful servants. + And we rejoiced him with the promise of Isaac: + and of their offspring were some righteous doers, and others who +manifestly injured their own souls. + We were also gracious unto Moses and Aaron, heretofore: + and we delivered them and their people from a great distress. + And we assisted them against the Egyptians; and they became the +conquerors. + And we gave them the perspicuous book of the law, + and we directed them into the right way, + and we left the following salutation to be bestowed on them by the latest +posterity, +120 namely, Peace be on Moses and Aaron! + Thus do we reward the righteous; + for they were two of our faithful servants. + And Elias was also one of those who were sent by us. + When he said unto his people, Do ye not fear God? + Do ye invoke Baal, and forsake the most excellent Creator? + GOD is your LORD, and the LORD of your forefathers. + But they accused him of imposture: wherefore they shall be delivered up +to eternal punishment; + except the sincere servants of GOD. + And we left the following salutation to be bestowed on him by the latest +posterity, +130 namely, Peace be on Ilyâsin! + Thus do we reward the righteous: + for he was one of our faithful servants. + And Lot was also one of those who were sent by us. + When we delivered him and his whole family, + except an old woman, his wife, who perished, among those that remained +behind: + afterwards we destroyed the others. + And ye, O people of Mecca, pass by the places where they once dwelt, as +ye journey in the morning, + and by night; will ye not therefore understand? + Jonas was also one of those who were sent by us. +140 When he fled into the loaded ship; + and those who were on board cast lots among themselves, and he was +condemned: + and the fish swallowed him; for he was worthy of reprehension. + And if he had not been one those who praised GOD, + verily he had remained in the belly thereof until the day of +resurrection. + And we cast him on the naked shore, and he was sick: + and we caused a plant of a gourd to grow up over him; + and we went him to an hundred thousand persons, or they were a greater +number, + and they believed: wherefore we granted them to enjoy this life for a +season. + Inquire of the Meccans whether thy LORD hath daughters, and they sons? +150 Have we created the angels of the female sex? and were they witnesses +thereof? + Do they not say of their own false invention, + GOD hath begotten issue? and are they not really liars? + Hath he chosen daughters preferably to sons? + Ye have no reason to judge thus. + Will ye therefore not be admonished? + Or have ye a manifest proof of what ye say? + Produce now your book of revelations, if ye speak truth. + And they make him to be of kin unto the genii; whereas the genii know +that they who affirm such things shall be delivered up to eternal punishment; + (far be that from GOD, which they affirm of him!) +160 except the sincere servants of GOD. + Moreover ye and that which ye worship + shall not seduce any concerning God, + except him who is destined to be burned in hell. + There is none of us but hath an appointed place: + we range ourselves in order, attending the commands of God; + and we celebrate the divine praise. + The infidels said, + If we had been favored with a book of divine revelations, of those which +were delivered to the ancients, + we had surely been sincere servants of GOD: +170 yet now the Koran is revealed, they believe not therein; but hereafter +shall they know the consequence of their unbelief. + Our word hath formerly been given unto our servants the apostles; + that they shall certainly be assisted against the infidels, + and that our armies should surely be the conquerors. + Turn aside therefore from them, for a season: + and see the calamities which shall afflict them; for they shall see thy +future success and prosperity. + Do they therefore seek to hasten our vengeance? + Verily when it shall descend into their courts, an evil morning shall it +be unto those who were warned in vain. + Turn aside from them therefore for a season, + and see: hereafter shall they see thy success and their punishment. +180 Praise be unto thy LORD, the LORD who is far exalted above what they +affirm of him! + And peace be on his apostles! + And praise be unto GOD, the LORD of all creatures! + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +ENTITLED, S.; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + S. BY the Koran full of admonition. + Verily the unbelievers are addicted to pride and contention. + How many generations have we destroyed before them; and they cried for +mercy, but it was not a time to escape. + They wonder that a warner from among themselves hath come unto them. And +the unbelievers said, This man is a sorcerer, and a liar: + doth he affirm the gods to be but one GOD. Surely this is a wonderful +thing. + And the chief men among them departed, saying to one another, Go, and +persevere in the worship of your gods: verily this is the thing which is +designed. + We have not heard anything like this in the last religion: this is no +other than a false contrivance. + Hath an admonition been sent unto him preferable to any other among us? +Verily they are in a doubt concerning my admonition: but they have not yet +tasted my vengeance. + Are the treasures of the mercy of thy LORD, the mighty, the munificent +God, in their hands? +10 Is the kingdom of the heavens, and the earth, and of whatever is between +them, in their possession? If it be so, let them ascend by steps unto heaven. + But any army of the confederates shall even here be put to flight. + The people of Noah, and the tribe of Ad, and Pharaoh the contriver of the +stakes, + and the tribe of Thamud, and the people of Lot, and the inhabitants of +the wood near Madian, accused the prophets of imposture before them; these +were the confederates against the messengers of God. + All of them did no other than accuse their apostles of falsehood: +wherefore my vengeance hath been justly executed upon them. + And these wait only for one sounding of the trumpet; which there shall be +no deferring. + And they scoffingly say, O LORD, hasten our sentence unto us, before the +day of account. + Do thou patiently bear that which they utter: and remind them of our +servant David, endued with strength; for he was one who seriously turned +himself unto God. + We compelled the mountains to celebrate our praise with him, in the +evening and at sunrise, + and also the birds, which gathered themselves together unto him: all of +them returned frequently unto him for this purpose. +20 And we established his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and eloquence of +speech. + Hath the story of the two adversaries come to thy knowledge; when they +ascended over the wall into the upper apartment, + when they went in unto David, and he was afraid of them. They said, +Fear not: we are two adversaries who have a controversy to be decided. The +one of us hath wronged the other: wherefore judge between us with truth, and +be not unjust; and direct us into the even way. + This my brother had ninety and nine sheep: and I had only one ewe: and he +said, Give her me to keep; and he prevailed against me in the discourse which +we had together. + David answered, Verily he hath wronged thee in demanding thine ewe as an +addition to his own sheep: and many of them who are concerned together in +business wrong one another, except those who believe and do that which is +right; but how few are they! And David perceived that we had tried him by +this parable, and he asked pardon of his LORD: and he fell down and bowed +himself, and repented. + Wherefore we forgave him this fault; and he shall be admitted to approach +near unto us, and shall have an excellent place of abode in paradise. + O David, verily we have appointed thee a sovereign prince in the earth: +judge therefore between men with truth; and follow not thy own lust, lest it +cause thee to err from the way of GOD: for those who err from the way of GOD +shall suffer a severe punishment, because they have forgotten the day of +account. + We have not created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between +them, in vain. This is the opinion of the unbelievers: but woe unto those +who believe not, because of the fire of hell. + Shall we deal with those who believe and do good works, as with those who +act corruptly in the earth? Shall we deal with the pious as with the wicked? + A blessed book have we sent down unto thee, O Mohammed, that they may +attentively meditate on the signs thereof, and that men of understanding may +be warned. +30 And we gave unto David Solomon; how excellent a servant! for he +frequently turned himself unto God. + When the horses standing on three feet, and touching the ground with the +edge of the fourth foot, and swift in the course, were set in parade before +him in the evening, + he said, Verily I have loved the love of earthly good above the +remembrance of my LORD: and have spent the time in viewing these horses, until +the sun is hidden by the veil of night; + bring the horses back unto me. And when they were brought back, he began +to cut off their legs and their necks. + We also tried Solomon, and placed on his throne a counterfeit body: +afterwards he turned unto God, + and said, O LORD, forgive me, and give me a kingdom which may not be +obtained by any after me; for thou art the giver of kingdoms. + And we made the wind subject to him; it ran gently at his command, +whithersoever we directed. + And we also put the devils in subjection under him; and among them such +as were every way skilled in building, and in diving for pearls: + and others we delivered to him bound in chains, + saying, This is our gift: therefore be bounteous, or be sparing unto whom +thou shalt think fit, without rendering an account. +40 And he shall approach near unto us, and shall have an excellent abode in +paradise. + And remember our servant Job, when he cried unto his LORD, saying, +Verily Satan hath afflicted me with calamity and pain. + And it was said unto him, Strike the earth with thy foot; which when he +had done, a fountain sprang up, and it was said to him, This is for thee to +wash in, to refresh thee, and to drink. + And we restored unto him his family, and as many more with them, through +our mercy; and for an admonition unto those who are endued with understanding. + And we said unto him, Take a handful of rods in thy hand, and strike thy +wife therewith; and break not thine oath. Verily we found him a patient +person: how excellent a servant was he! for he was one who frequently turned +himself unto us. + Remember also our servants Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, who were men +strenuous and prudent. + Verily we purified them with a perfect purification, through the +remembrance of the life to come; + and they were in our sight, elect and good men. + And remember Ismael, and Elisha, and Dhu'lkefl: for all these were good +men. + This is an admonition. Verily the pious shall have an excellent place to +return unto, +50 namely, gardens of perpetual abode, the gates whereof shall stand open +unto them. + As they lie down therein, they shall there ask for many sorts of fruits, +and for drink; + and near them shall sit the virgins of paradise, refraining their looks +from beholding any besides their spouses, and of equal age with them. + This is what ye are promised, at the day of account. + This is our provision, which shall not fail. + This shall be the reward of the righteous. But for the transgressors is +prepared an evil receptacle, + namely, hell: they shall be cast into the same to be burned, and a +wretched couch shall it be. + This let them taste, to wit, scalding water, and corruption flowing from +the bodies of the damned, + and divers other things of the same kind. + And it shall be said to the seducers, This troop which was guided by you +shall be thrown, together with you, headlong into hell: they shall not be +bidden welcome: for they shall enter the fire to be burned. +60 And the seduced shall say to their seducers, Verily ye shall not be +bidden welcome: ye have brought it upon us; and a wretched abode is hell. + They shall say, O LORD, doubly increase the torment of him who hath +brought this punishment upon us, in the fire of hell. + And the infidels shall say, Why do we not see the men whom we numbered +among the wicked, + and whom we received with scorn? Or do our eyes miss them? + Verily this is a truth; to wit, the disputing of the inhabitants of hell +fire. + Say, O Mohammed, unto the idolaters, Verily I am no other than a warner: +and there is no god, except the one only GOD, the Almighty, + the LORD of heaven and earth, and of whatsoever is between them; the +mighty, the forgiver of sins. + Say, it is a weighty message, + from which ye turn aside. + I had no knowledge of the exalted princes, when they disputed concerning +the creation of man: +70 (it hath been revealed unto me only as a proof that I am a public +preacher:) + when thy LORD said unto the angels, Verily I am about to create man of +clay: + when I shall have formed him, therefore, and shall have breathed my +spirit into him, do ye fall down and worship him. + And all the angels worshipped him, in general, + except Eblis, who was puffed up with pride, and became an unbeliever. + God said unto him, O Eblis, what hindereth thee from worshipping that +which I have created with my hands? Art thou elated with vain pride? +Or art thou really one of exalted merit? + He answered, I am more excellent than he: thou hast created me of fire, +and thou hast created him of clay. + God said unto him, Get thee hence therefore; for thou shalt be driven +away from mercy; + and my curse shall be upon thee, until the day of judgment. + He replied, O LORD, respite me, therefore, until the day of +resurrection. +80 God said, Verily thou shalt be one of those who are respited + until the day of the determined time. + Eblis said, By thy might do I swear, I will surely seduce them all, + except thy servants who shall be peculiarly chosen from among them. + God said, It is a just sentence; and I speak the truth: + I will surely fill hell with thee, and with such of them as shall follow thee, +altogether. + Say unto the Meccans, I ask not of you any reward for this my preaching: +neither am I one of those who assume a part which belongs not to them. + The Koran is no other than an admonition unto all creatures: + and ye shall surely know what is delivered therein to be true, after a +season. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +ENTITLED, THE TROOPS; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + THE revelation of this book is from the mighty, the wise GOD. + Verily we have revealed this book unto thee with truth: wherefore serve +GOD, exhibiting the pure religion unto him. + Ought not the pure religion to be exhibited unto GOD? But as to those +who take other patrons besides him, saying, We worship them only that +they may bring us nearer unto GOD; verily GOD will judge between them +concerning that wherein they disagree. Surely GOD will not direct him who +is a liar, or ungrateful. + If GOD had been minded to have had a son, he had surely chosen what he +pleased out of that which he hath created. But far be such a thing from him! +He is the sole, the almighty God. + He hath created the heavens and the earth with truth: he causeth the +night to succeed the day, and he causeth the day to succeed the night, and he +obligeth the sun and the moon to perform their services; each of them +hastening to an appointed period. Is not he the mighty, the forgiver of sins? + He created you of one man, and afterwards out of him formed his wife: and +he hath bestowed on you four pair of cattle. He formeth you in the wombs of +your mothers, by several gradual formations, within three veils of darkness. +This is GOD, your LORD: his is the kingdom: there is no GOD but he. Why +therefore are ye turned aside from the worship of him to idolatry? + If ye be ungrateful, verily GOD hath no need of you; yet he liketh not +ingratitude in his servants: but if ye be thankful, he will be well pleased +with you. A burdened soul shall not bear the burden of another; hereafter +shall ye return unto your LORD, and he shall declare unto you that which ye +have wrought, and will reward you accordingly; for he knoweth the innermost +parts of your breasts. + When harm befalleth a man, he calleth upon his LORD, and turneth unto +him: yet afterwards, when God hath bestowed on him favor from himself, he +forgetteth that Being which he invoked before, and setteth up equals unto +GOD, that he may seduce men from his way. Say unto such a man, Enjoy this +life in thy infidelity for a little while; but hereafter shalt thou surely be +one of the inhabitants of hell fire. + Shall he who giveth himself up to prayer in the hours of the night, +prostrate, and standing, and who taketh heed as to the life to come, and +hopeth for the mercy of his LORD, be dealt with as the wicked unbeliever? +Say, Shall they who know their duty and they who know it not, be held equal? +Verily the men of understanding only will be warned. +10 Say, O my servants who believe, fear your LORD. They who do good in +this world shall obtain good in the next; and GOD'S earth is spacious: verily +those who persevere with patience shall receive their recompense without +measure. + Say, I am commanded to worship GOD, and to exhibit the pure religion +unto him: + and I am commanded to be the first Moslem. + Say, Verily I fear, if I be disobedient unto my LORD, the punishment of +the great day. + Say, I worship GOD, exhibiting my religion pure unto him; + but do ye worship that which ye will, besides him. Say, Verily they will +be the losers, who shall lose their own souls, and their families, on the day +of resurrection: is not this manifest loss? + Over them shall be roofs of fire, and under them shall be floors of fire. +With this doth GOD terrify his servants: wherefore, oh my servants, fear him. + But those who eschew the worship of idols, and are turned unto GOD, shall +receive good tidings. Bear good tidings therefore unto my servants, + who hearken unto my word, and follow that which is most excellent therein: +these are they whom GOD directeth, and these are men of understanding. + Him, therefore, on whom the sentence of eternal punishment shall be +justly pronounced, canst thou, O Mohammed, deliver him who is destined to +dwell in the fire of hell? +20 But for those who fear their LORD will be prepared high apartments in +paradise, over which shall be other apartments built; and rivers shall run +beneath them: this is the promise of GOD; and GOD will not be contrary to the +promise. + Dost thou not see that GOD sendeth down water from heaven, and causeth +the same to enter and form sources in the earth; and produceth thereby corn of +various sorts? Afterwards he causeth the same to wither; and thou seest it +become yellow: afterwards he maketh it crumble into dust. Verily, herein is +an instruction to men of understanding. + Shall he, therefore, whose breast GOD hath enlarged to receive the +religion of Islam, and who followeth the light from his LORD, be as he whose +heart is hardened? But woe unto those whose hearts are hardened against the +remembrance of GOD! they are in a manifest error. + GOD hath revealed a most excellent discourse; a book conformable to +itself, and containing repeated admonitions. The skins of those who fear +their LORD shrink for fear thereat; afterwards their skins grow soft, and +their hearts also, at the remembrance of their LORD. This is the direction of +GOD: he will direct thereby whom he pleaseth; and whomsoever GOD shall cause +to err, he shall have no director. + Shall he therefore who shall be obliged to screen himself with his face +from the severity of the punishment on the day of resurrection, be as he who +is secure therefrom? And it shall be said unto the ungodly, Taste that which +ye have deserved. + Those who were before them accused their apostles of imposture; wherefore +a punishment came upon them from whence they expected it not: + and GOD caused them to take shame in this present life; but the +punishment of the life to come will certainly be greater. If they were men of +understanding, they would know this. + Now have we proposed unto mankind, in this Koran, every kind of parable; +that they may be warned: + an Arabic Koran, wherein there is no crookedness; that they may fear God. + GOD propoundeth as a parable a man who hath several companions which are +at mutual variance, and a man who committeth himself wholly to one person: +shall these be held in equal comparison? GOD forbid! But the greater part of +them do not understand. +30 Verily thou, O Mohammed, shalt die, and they also shall die: + and ye shall debate the matter with one another before your LORD, at the +day of resurrection. + Who is more unjust than he who uttereth a lie concerning GOD, and denieth +the truth when it cometh unto him? Is there not a dwelling provided in hell +for the unbelievers? + But he who bringeth the truth, and giveth credit thereto, these are they +who fear God; + they shall obtain whatever they shall desire, in the sight of their LORD: +this shall be the recompense of the righteous; + that GOD may expiate from them the very worst of that which they have +wrought, and may render them their reward according to the utmost merit of the +good which they have wrought. + Is not GOD a sufficient protector of his servant? yet they will attempt +to make thee afraid of the false deities which they worship besides GOD. But +he whom GOD shall cause to err, shall have none to direct him: + and he whom GOD shall direct, shall have none to mislead him. Is not GOD +most mighty, able to avenge? + If thou ask them who hath created the heavens and the earth, they will +surely answer, GOD. Say, Do ye think, therefore, that the deities which ye +invoke besides GOD, if GOD be pleased to afflict me, are able to relieve me +from his affliction? or if he be pleased to show mercy unto me, that they are +able to withhold his mercy? Say, GOD is my sufficient support: in him let +those put their trust, who seek in whom to confide. + Say, O my people, do ye act according to your state; verily I will act +according to mine: hereafter shall ye know +40 on which of us will be inflicted a punishment that shall cover him with +shame, and on whom a lasting punishment shall fall. + Verily we have revealed unto thee the book of the Koran, for the +instruction of mankind, with truth. Whoso shall be directed thereby shall be +directed to the advantage of his own soul; and whoso shall err, shall only err +against the same: and thou art not a guardian over them. + GOD taketh unto himself the souls of men at the time of their death; and +those which die not he also taketh in their sleep: and he withholdeth those +on which he hath passed the decree of death, but sendeth back the others till +a determined period. Verily herein are signs unto the people who consider. + Have the Koreish taken idols for their intercessors with God? Say, What, +although they have not dominion over anything, neither do they understand? + Say, Intercession is altogether in the disposal of GOD: his is the +kingdom of heaven and earth; and hereafter shall ye return unto him. + When the one sole GOD is mentioned, the hearts of those who believe not +in the life to come, shrink with horror: but when the false gods, which are +worshipped besides him, are mentioned, behold they are filled with joy. + Say, O GOD, the creator of heaven and earth, who knowest that which is +secret, and that which is manifest; thou shalt judge between thy servants +concerning that wherein they disagree. + If those who act unjustly were masters of whatever is in the earth, and +as much more therewith, verily they would give it to ransom themselves from +the evil of the punishment, on the day of resurrection: and there shall appear +unto them, from GOD, terrors which they never imagined; + and there shall appear unto them the evils of that which they shall have +gained; and that which they mocked at shall encompass them. + When harm befalleth man, he calleth upon us; yet afterwards, when we +have bestowed on him favor from us, he saith, I have received it merely +because of GOD's knowledge of my deserts. On the contrary, it is a trial; +but the greater part of them know it not. +50 Those who were before them said the same: but that which they had +gained, profited them not: + and the evils which they had deserved, fell upon them. And whoever of +these Meccans shall have acted unjustly, on them likewise shall fall the evils +which they shall have deserved; neither shall they frustrate the divine +vengeance. + Do they not know that GOD bestoweth provision abundantly on whom he +pleaseth, and is sparing unto whom he pleaseth? Verily herein are signs unto +people who believe. + Say, O my servants who have transgressed against your own souls, despair +not of the mercy of GOD: seeing that GOD forgiveth all sins, for he is +gracious and merciful. + And be turned unto your LORD, and resign yourselves unto him, before the +threatened punishment overtake you; for then ye shall not be helped. + And follow the most excellent instructions which have been sent down unto +you from your LORD, before the punishment come suddenly upon you, and ye +perceive not the approach thereof; + and a soul say, Alas! for that I have been negligent in my duty to GOD; +verily I have been one of the scorners: + or say, If GOD had directed me, verily I had been one of the pious: + or say, when it seeth the prepared punishment, If I could return once +more into the world, I would become one of the righteous. + But God shall answer, My signs came unto thee heretofore, and thou didst +charge them with falsehood, and wast puffed up with pride; and thou becamest +one of the unbelievers. +60 On the day of resurrection, thou shalt see the faces of those who have +uttered lies concerning GOD, become black: is there not an abode prepared in +hell for the arrogant? + But GOD shall deliver those who shall fear him, and shall set them in +their place of safety: evil shall not touch them, neither shall they be +grieved. + GOD is the creator of all things, and he is the governor of all things. + His are the keys of heaven and earth: and they who believe not in the signs +of GOD, they shall perish. + Say, Do ye therefore bid me to worship other than GOD, oh ye fools? + since it hath been spoken by revelation unto thee, and also unto the +prophets who have been before thee, saying, Verily if thou join any partners +with God, thy work will be altogether unprofitable, and thou shalt certainly +be one of those who perish: + wherefore rather fear GOD, and be one of those who give thanks. + But they make not a due estimation of GOD: since the whole earth shall +be but his handful, on the day of resurrection; and the heavens shall be +rolled together in his right hand. Praise be unto him! and far be he exalted +above the idols which they associate with him! + the trumpet shall be sounded, and whoever are in heaven, and whoever are +on earth, shall expire; except those whom GOD shall please to exempt from the +common fate. Afterwards it shall be sounded again; and behold, they shall +arise and look up. + And the earth shall shine by the light of its LORD: and the book shall be +laid open, and the prophets and the martyrs shall be brought as witnesses; +and judgment shall be given between them with truth, and they shall not be +treated unjustly. +70 And every soul shall be fully rewarded, according to that which it shall +have wrought; for he perfectly knoweth whatever they do. + And the unbelievers shall be driven unto hell by troops, until, when they +shall arrive at the same, the gates thereof shall be opened: and the keepers +thereof shall say unto them, Did not apostles from among you come unto you, +who rehearsed unto you the signs of your LORD, and warned you of the meeting +of this your day? They shall answer, Yea: but the sentence of eternal +punishment hath been justly pronounced on the unbelievers. + It shall be said unto them, Enter ye the gates of hell, to dwell therein +forever; and miserable shall be the abode of the proud! + But those who shall have feared their LORD shall be conducted by troops +towards paradise, until they shall arrive at the same: and the gates thereof +shall be ready set open; and the guards thereof shall say unto them, Peace be +on you! ye have been good: wherefore enter ye into paradise, to remain therein +forever. + And they shall answer, Praise be unto GOD, who hath performed his promise +unto us, and hath made us to inherit the earth, that we may dwell in paradise +wherever we please! How excellent is the reward of those who work +righteousness! + And thou shalt see the angels going in procession round the throne, +celebrating the praises of their LORD: and judgment shall be given between +them with truth; and they shall say, Praise be unto GOD, the LORD of all +creatures! + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XL. + +ENTITLED, THE TRUE BELIEVER; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + H.M. + THE revelation of this book is from the mighty, the wise GOD; + the forgiver of sin and the accepter of repentance; severe in punishing; +long suffering. There is no GOD but he: before him shall be the general +assembly at the last day. + None disputeth against the signs of GOD, except the unbelievers: but let +not their prosperous dealing in the land deceive thee with vain allurement. + The people of Noah, and the confederated infidels which were after them, +accused their respective prophets of imposture before these; and each nation +hatched ill designs against their apostle, that they might get him into their +power; and they disputed with vain reasoning, that they might thereby +invalidate the truth: wherefore I chastised them; and how severe was my +punishment! + Thus hath the sentence of thy LORD justly passed on the unbelievers; and +they shall be the inhabitants of hell fire. + The angels who bear the throne of God, and those who stand about it, +celebrate the praise of their LORD, and believe in him; and they ask pardon +for the true believers, saying, O LORD, thou encompassest all things by thy +mercy and knowledge; wherefore forgive those who repent, and follow thy +path, and deliver them from the pains of hell: + O LORD, lead them also into gardens of eternal abode, which thou hast +promised unto them, and unto every one who shall do right, of their fathers, +and their wives, and their children; for thou art the mighty, the wise God. + And deliver them from evil; for whomsoever thou shalt deliver from evil +on that day, on him wilt thou show mercy; and this will be great salvation. +10 But the infidels at the day of judgment, shall hear a voice crying unto +them, Verily the hatred of GOD towards you is more grievous than your hatred +towards yourselves: since ye were called unto the faith, and would not +believe. + They shall say, O LORD, thou hast given us death twice, and thou hast +twice given us life; and we confess our sins: is there therefore no way to +get forth from this fire? + And it shall be answered them, This hath befallen you, for that when one +GOD was preached unto you, ye believed not; but if a plurality of gods had +been associated with him, ye had believed: and judgment belongeth unto the +high, the great GOD. + It is he who showeth you his signs, and sendeth down food unto you from +heaven: but none will be admonished, except he who turneth himself unto God. + Call therefore upon GOD, exhibiting your religion pure unto him, although +the infidels be averse thereto. + He is the Being of exalted degree, the possessor of the throne; who +sendeth down the spirit, at his command, on such of his servants as he +pleaseth: that he may warn mankind of the day of meeting, + the day whereon they shall come forth out of their graves, and nothing of +what concerneth them shall be hidden from GOD. Unto whom will the kingdom +belong, on that day? Unto the only, the almighty GOD. + On that day shall every soul be rewarded according to its merits: there +shall be no injustice done on that day. Verily GOD will be swift in taking an +account. + Wherefore warn them, O prophet, of the day which shall suddenly approach; +when men's hearts shall come up to their throats, and strangle them. The +ungodly shall have no friend or intercessor who shall be heard. + GOD will know the deceitful eye, and that which their breasts conceal; +20 and GOD will judge with truth: but the false gods which they invoke, +besides him, shall not judge at all: for GOD is he who heareth and seeth. + Have they not gone through the earth, and seen what hath been the end of +those who were before them? They were more mighty than these in strength, +and left more considerable footsteps of their power in the earth: yet GOD +chastised them for their sins, and there was none to protect them from GOD. + This they suffered, because their apostles had come unto them with +evident signs, and they disbelieved: wherefore GOD chastised them; for he is +strong, and severe in punishing. + We heretofore sent Moses with our signs and manifest power, + unto Pharaoh, and Haman, and Karun; and they said, He is a sorcerer, and +a liar. + And when he came unto them with the truth from us, they said, Slay the +sons of those who have believed with him, and save their daughters alive: but +the stratagem of the infidels was no other than vain. + And Pharaoh said, Let me alone, that I may kill Moses; and let him call +upon his LORD: verily I fear lest he change your religion, or cause violence +to appear in the earth. + And Moses said unto his people, Verily I have recourse unto my LORD and +your LORD, to defend me against every proud person, who believeth not in the +day of account. + And a man who was a true believer, of the family of Pharaoh, and +concealed in his faith, said, Will ye put a man to death, because he saith, +GOD is my LORD; seeing he is come unto you with evident signs from your +LORD? If he be a liar, on him will the punishment of his falsehood light; but if +he speaketh the truth, some of those judgments with which he threateneth +you will fall upon you: verily GOD directeth not him who is a transgressor, +or a liar: + O my people, the kingdom is yours this day; and ye are conspicuous in +the earth; but who shall defend us from the scourge of GOD, if it come unto +us? Pharaoh said, I only propose to you what I think to be most expedient; +and I guide you only into the right path. +30 And he who had believed said, O my people, Verily I fear for you a day +like that of the confederates against the prophets in former times; + a condition like that of the people of Noah, and the tribes of Ad and +Thamud, and of those who have lived after them; for GOD willeth not that +any injustice be done unto his servants. + O my people, verily I fear for you the day whereon men shall call unto +one another; + the day whereon ye shall be turned back from the tribunal, and driven to +hell: then shall ye have none to protect you against GOD. And he whom GOD +shall cause to err shall have no director. + Joseph came unto you, before Moses, with evident signs; but ye ceased not +to doubt of the religion which he preached unto you, until, when he died, ye +said, GOD will by no means send another apostle after him. Thus doth GOD +cause him to err, who is a transgressor, and a sceptic. + They who dispute against the signs of GOD, without any authority which +hath come unto them, are in great abomination with GOD, and with those who +believe. Thus doth GOD seal up every proud and stubborn heart. + And Pharaoh said, O Haman, build me a tower, that I may reach the tracts, + the tracts of heaven, and may view the GOD of Moses; for verily I think +him to be a liar. And thus the evil of his work was prepared for Pharaoh, +and he turned aside from the right path: and the stratagems of Pharaoh +ended only in loss. + And he who had believed said, O my people, follow me: I will guide you +into the right way. + O my people, verily this present life is but a temporary enjoyment; but +the life to come is the mansion of firm continuance. +40 Whoever worketh evil shall only be rewarded in equal proportion to the +same: but whoever worketh good, whether male or female, and is a true +believer, they shall enter paradise: they shall be provided for therein +superabundantly. + And, O my people, as for me, I invite you to salvation; but ye invite me +to hell fire: + ye invite me to deny GOD, and to associate with him that whereof I have +no knowledge; but I invite you to the most mighty, the forgiver of sins. + There is no doubt but that the false gods to which ye invite me deserve +not to be invoked, either in this world or in the next; and that we must +return unto GOD; and that the transgressors shall be the inhabitants of hell +fire: + and ye shall then remember what I now say unto you. And I commit my +affair unto GOD; for GOD regardeth his servants. + Wherefore GOD delivered him from the evils which they had devised; and a +grievous punishment encompassed the people of Pharaoh. + They shall be exposed to the fire of hell morning and evening: and the +day whereon the hour of judgment shall come, it shall be said unto them, +Enter, O people of Pharaoh, into a most severe torment. + And think on the time when the infidels shall dispute together in hell +fire; and the weak shall say unto those who behaved with arrogance, Verily we +were your followers: will ye therefore relieve us from any part of this fire? + Those who behaved with arrogance shall answer, Verily we are all doomed +to suffer therein: for GOD hath now judged between his servants. + And they who shall be in the fire shall say unto the keepers of hell, +Call ye on your LORD, that he would ease us, for one day, from this +punishment. +50 They shall answer, Did not your apostles come unto you with evident +proofs? They shall say, Yea. The keepers shall reply, Do ye therefore call +on God: but the calling of the unbelievers on him shall be only in vain. + We will surely assist our apostles, and those who believe, in this +present life, and on the day whereon the witnesses shall stand forth: + a day, whereon the excuse of the unbelievers shall not avail them; but a +curse shall attend them, and a wretched abode. + We heretofore gave unto Moses a direction; and we left as an inheritance +unto the children of Israel the book of the law; + a direction, and an admonition to men of understanding. + Wherefore do thou, O prophet, bear the insults of the infidels with +patience; for the promise of GOD is true; and ask pardon for thy fault; and +celebrate the praise of thy LORD, in the evening and in the morning. + As to those who impugn the signs of GOD, without any convincing proof +which hath been revealed unto them, there is nothing but pride in their +breasts; but they shall not attain their desire: wherefore fly for refuge +unto GOD; for it is he who heareth and seeth. + Verily the creation of heaven and earth is more considerable than the +creation of man: but the greater part of men do not understand. + The blind and the seeing shall not be held equal; nor they who believe +and work righteousness, and the evil doer: how few revolve these things in +their mind! + The last hour will surely come; there is no doubt thereof: but the +greater part of men believe it not. +60 Your LORD said, Call upon me, and I will hear you: but they who proudly +disdain my service shall enter with ignominy into hell. + It is GOD who hath appointed the night for you to take your rest therein, +and the day to give you light: verily GOD is endued with beneficence towards +mankind: but the greater part of men do not give thanks. + This is GOD, your LORD, the Creator of all things; there is no GOD +besides him: how therefore are ye turned aside from his worship? + Thus are they turned aside, who oppose the signs of GOD. + It is GOD who hath given you the earth for a stable floor, and the heaven +for a ceiling; and who hath formed you, and made your forms beautiful, and +feedeth you with good things. This is GOD, your LORD. Wherefore blessed be +GOD, the LORD of all creatures! + He is the living God: there is no GOD but he. Wherefore call upon him, +exhibiting unto him the pure religion. Praise be unto GOD, the LORD of all +creatures! + Say, Verily I am forbidden to worship the deities which ye invoke, +besides GOD, after that evident proofs have come unto me from my LORD; and I +am commanded to resign myself unto the LORD of all creatures. + It is he who first created you of dust, and afterwards of seed, and +afterwards of coagulated blood; and afterwards brought you forth infants out +of your mothers' wombs: then he permitteth you to attain your age of full +strength, and afterwards to grow old men (but some of you die before that +age), and to arrive at the determined period of your life; that peradventure +ye may understand. + It is he who giveth life, and causeth to die: and when he decreeth a +thing, he only saith unto it, Be, and it is. + Dost thou not observe those who dispute against the signs of GOD, how +they are turned aside from the true faith? +70 They who charge with falsehood the book of the Koran, and the other +scriptures and revealed doctrines which we have sent our former apostles to +preach, shall hereafter know their folly, + when the collars shall be on their necks, and the chains by which they +shall be dragged into hell; + then shall they be burned in the fire. + And it shall be said unto them, Where are the gods which ye associated, + besides GOD? They shall answer, They have withdrawn themselves from us: yea, +we called on nothing heretofore. Thus doth GOD lead the unbelievers into +error. + This hath befallen you, for that ye rejoiced insolently on earth, in that +which was false; and for that ye were elated with immoderate joy. + Enter the gates of hell, to remain therein forever: and wretched shall be +the abode of the haughty! + Wherefore persevere with patience, O Mohammed; for the promise of GOD is +true. Whether we cause thee to see any part of the punishment with which we +have threatened them, or whether we cause thee to die before thou see it; +before us shall they be assembled at the last day. + We have sent a great number of apostles before thee; the histories of +some of whom we have related unto thee, and the histories of others of them we +have not related unto thee: but no apostle had the power to produce a sign, +unless by the permission of GOD. When the command of GOD, therefore, shall +come, judgment shall be given with truth; and then shall they perish who +endeavour to render the signs of God of no effect. + It is GOD who hath given you the cattle, that ye may ride on some of +them, and may eat of others of them; +80 (ye also receive other advantages therefrom;) and that on them ye may +arrive at the business proposed in your mind: and on them are ye carried by +land, and on ships by sea. + And he showeth you his signs; which, therefore, of the signs of GOD, will +ye deny? + Do they not pass through the earth, and see what hath been the end of +those who were before them? They were more numerous than these, and more +mighty in strength, and left more considerable monuments of their power in the +earth: yet that which they had acquired profited them not. + And when their apostles came unto them with evident proofs of their +mission, they rejoiced in the knowledge which was with them: but that which +they mocked at encompassed them. + And when they beheld our vengeance, they said, We believe in GOD alone, +and we renounce the idols which we associated with him: + but their faith availed them not, after they had beholden our vengeance. +This was the ordinance of GOD, which was formerly observed in respect to his +servants and then did the unbelievers perish. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +ENTITLED, ARE DISTINCTLY EXPLAINED; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + H.M. + This is a revelation from the most Merciful; + a book, the verses whereof are distinctly explained, an Arabic Koran, +for the instruction of people who understand; + bearing good tidings, and denouncing threats: but the greater part of +them turn aside, and hearken not thereto. + And they say, Our hearts are veiled from the doctrine to which thou +invitest us; and there is a deafness in our ears, and a curtain between us and +thee: wherefore act thou as thou shalt think fit; for we shall act according +to our own sentiments. + Say, Verily I am only a man like you. It is revealed unto me, that your +GOD is one GOD: wherefore direct your way straight unto him; and ask pardon +of him for what is past. And woe be to the idolaters: + who give not the appointed alms, and believe not in the life to come! + But as to those who believe and work righteousness, they shall receive an +everlasting reward. + Say, Do ye indeed disbelieve in him who created the earth in two days; +and do ye set up equals unto him? He is the LORD of all creatures. +10 And he placed in the earth mountains firmly rooted, rising above the +same: and he blessed it; and provided therein the food of the creatures +designed to be the inhabitants thereof, in four days; equally, for those who +ask. + Then he set his mind to the creation of heaven, and it was smoke; and +he said unto it, and to the earth, Come, either obediently, or against your +will. They answered, We come, obedient to thy command. + And he formed them into seven heavens, in two days; and revealed unto +every heaven its office. And we adorned the lower heaven with lights, and +placed therein, a guard of angels. This is the disposition of the mighty, +the wise God. + If the Meccans withdraw from these instructions, say, I denounce unto you +a sudden destruction, like the destruction of Ad and Thamud. + When the apostles came unto them before them and behind them, saying, +Worship GOD alone; they answered, If our LORD had been pleased to send +messengers, he had surely sent angels; and we believe not the message with +which ye are sent. + As to the tribe of Ad, they behaved insolently in the earth, without +reason, and said, Who is more mighty than we in strength? Did they not see +that GOD, who had created them, was more mighty than they in strength? +And they knowingly rejected our signs. + Wherefore we sent against them a piercing wind, on days of ill luck, +that we might make them taste the punishment of shame in this world: but +the punishment of the life to come will be more shameful; and they shall not +be protected therefrom. + And as to Thamud, we directed them; but they loved blindness better than +the true direction: wherefore the terrible noise of an ignominious punishment +assailed them, for that which they had deserved; + but we delivered those who believed, and feared God. + And warn them of the day, on which the enemies of GOD shall be gathered +together unto hell fire, and shall march in distinct bands; +20 until, when they shall arrive thereat, their ears, and their eyes, and +their skins, shall bear witness against them of that which they shall have +wrought. + And they shall say unto their skins, Wherefore do ye bear witness +against us? They shall answer, GOD hath caused us to speak, who giveth +speech unto all things: he created you the first time; and unto him are ye +returned. + Ye did not hide yourselves, while ye sinned, so that your ears, and your +eyes, and your skins could not bear witness against you: but ye thought that +GOD was ignorant of many things which ye did. + This was your opinion, which ye imagined of your LORD: it hath ruined +you; and ye are become lost people. + Whether they bear their torment, hell fire shall be their abode; or +whether they beg for favor, they shall not obtain favor. + And we will give them the devils to be their companions; for they dressed +up for them the false notions which they entertained of this present world, +and of that which is to come; and the sentence justly fitteth them, which was +formerly pronounced on the nations of genii and men who were before them; +for they perished. + The unbelievers say, Hearken not unto this Koran: but use vain discourse +during the reading thereof; that ye may overcome the voice of the reader by +your scoffs and laughter. + Wherefore we will surely cause the unbelievers to taste a grievous +punishment, and we will certainly reward them for the evils which they shall +have wrought. + This shall be the reward of the enemies of GOD, namely, hell fire; +therein is prepared for them an everlasting abode, as a reward for that they +have wittingly rejected our signs. + And the infidels shall say in hell, O LORD, show us the two that seduced +us, of the genii and men, and we will cast them under our feet, that they may +become most base and despicable. +30 As for those who say, Our LORD is GOD, and who behave uprightly; the +angels shall descend unto them, and shall say, Fear not, neither be ye +grieved; but rejoice in the hopes of paradise which ye have been promised. + We are your friends in this life, and in that which is to come: therein +shall ye have that which your souls shall desire, and therein shall ye obtain +whatever ye shall ask for; + as a gift from a gracious and merciful God. + Who speaketh better than he who inviteth unto GOD, and worketh +righteousness, and saith, I am a Moslem? + Good and evil shall not be held equal. Turn away evil with that which is +better; and behold, the man between whom and thyself there was enmity shall +become, as it were, thy warmest friend: + but none shall attain to this perfection, except they who are patient; +nor shall any attain thereto, except he who is endued with a great happiness +of temper. + And if a malicious suggestion be offered unto thee from Satan, have +recourse unto GOD; for it is he who heareth and knoweth. + Among the signs of his power are the night, and the day, and the sun, and +the moon. Worship not the sun, neither the moon: but worship GOD, who hath +created them; if ye serve him. + But if they proudly disdain his service; verily the angels, who are with +thy LORD, praise him night and day, and are not wearied. + And among his signs another is, that thou seest the land waste; but when +we send down rain thereon, it is stirred and fermenteth. And he who +quickeneth the earth will surely quicken the dead; for he is almighty. +40 Verily those who impiously wrong our signs are not concealed from us. +Is he, therefore, better, who shall be cast into hell fire, or he who shall +appear secure on the day of resurrection? Work that which ye will: he +certainly beholdeth whatever ye do. + Verily they who believe not in the admonition of the Koran, after it hath +come unto them, shall one day be discovered. It is certainly a book of +infinite value: + vanity shall not approach it, either from before it, or from behind it: +it is a revelation from a wise God, whose praise is justly to be celebrated. + No other is said unto thee by the infidels of Mecca than what hath been +formerly said unto the apostles before thee: verily thy LORD is inclined to +forgiveness, and is also able to chastise severely. + If we had revealed the Koran in a foreign language, they had surely +said, Unless the signs thereof be distinctly explained, we will not receive +the same: is the book written in a foreign tongue, and the person unto whom it +is directed an Arabian? Answer, It is, unto those who believe, a sure guide, +and a remedy for doubt unto those who believe, a sure guide, and a remedy for +doubt and uncertainty: but unto those who believe not, it is a thickness of +hearing in their ears, and it is a darkness which covereth them; these are as +they who are called unto from a distant place. + We heretofore gave the book of the law unto Moses; and a dispute arose +concerning the same: and if a previous decree had not proceeded from thy LORD, +to respite the opposers of that revelation, verily the matter had been decided +between them, by the destruction of the infidels; for they were in a very +great doubt as to the same. + He who doth right, doth it to the advantage of his own soul; and he who +doth evil, doth it against the same: for thy LORD is not unjust towards his +servants. + Unto him is reserved the knowledge of the hour of judgment: and no fruit +cometh forth from the knops which involve it; neither doth any female conceive +in her womb, nor is she delivered of her burden, but with his knowledge. On +the day whereon he shall call them to him, saying, Where are my companions +which ye ascribed unto me? they shall answer, We assure thee there is no +witness of this matter among us: + and the idols which they called on before shall withdraw themselves from +them; and they shall perceive that there will be no way to escape. + Man is not wearied with asking good; but if evil befall him, he +despondeth, and despaireth. +50 And if we cause him to taste mercy from us, after affliction hath +touched him, he surely saith, This is due to me on account of my deserts: I do +not think the hour of judgment will ever come: and if I be brought before my +LORD, I shall surely attain, with him, the most excellent condition. But we +will then declare unto those who shall not have believed, that which they have +wrought; and we will surely cause them to taste a most severe punishment. + When we confer favors on man, he turneth aside, and departeth without +returning thanks: but when evil toucheth him, he is frequent at prayer. + Say, What think ye? if the Koran be from GOD, and ye believe not therein; +who will lie under a greater error, than he who dissenteth widely therefrom? + Hereafter we will show them our signs in the regions in the regions of +the earth, and in themselves; until it become manifest unto them that this +book is the truth. Is it not sufficient for thee that thy LORD is witness of +all things? + Are they not in a doubt as to the meeting of their LORD at the +resurrection? Doth not he encompass all things? + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +ENTITLED, CONSULTATION; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + H.M. + A.S.K. + THUS doth the mighty, the wise GOD reveal his will unto +thee; and in like manner did he reveal it unto the prophets who were before +thee. + Unto him belongeth whatever is in heaven, and in earth; and he is the +high, the great God. + It wanteth little but that the heavens be rent in sunder from above, at +the awfulness of his majesty: the angels celebrate the praise of their LORD, +and ask pardon for those who dwell in the earth. Is not GOD the forgiver of +sins, the merciful? + But as to those who take other gods for their patrons, besides him, GOD +observeth their actions: for thou art not a steward over them. + Thus have we revealed unto thee an Arabic Koran, that thou mayest warn +the metropolis of Mecca, and the Arabs who dwell round about it; and mayest +threaten them with the day of the general assembly, of which there is no +doubt: one part shall then be placed in paradise, and another part in hell. + If GOD had pleased, he had made them all of one religion; but he leadeth +whom he pleaseth into his mercy; and the unjust shall have no patron or +helper. + Do they take other patrons, besides him? whereas GOD is the only true +patron: he quickeneth the dead; and he is almighty. +10 Whatever matter ye disagree about, the decision thereof appertaineth +unto GOD. This is GOD, my LORD: in him do I trust, and unto him do I turn me: + the Creator of heaven and earth: he hath given you wives of your own +species, and cattle both male and female; by which means he multiplieth you: +there is nothing like him; and it is he who heareth and seeth. + His are the keys of heaven and earth; he bestoweth provision abundantly +on whom he pleaseth, and he is sparing unto whom he pleaseth; for he knoweth +all things. + He hath ordained you the religion which he commanded Noah, and which we +have revealed unto thee, O Mohammed, and which we commanded Abraham, +and Moses, and Jesus: saying, Observe this religion, and be not divided therein. +The worship of one God, to which thou invitest them, is grievous unto the +unbelievers: GOD will elect thereto whom he pleaseth, and will direct unto the +same him who shall repent. + Those who lived in times past were not divided among themselves, until +after that the knowledge of GOD's unity had come unto them; through their own +perverseness: and unless a previous decree had passed from thy LORD, to bear +with them till a determined time, verily the matter had been decided between +them, by the destruction of the gainsayers. They who have inherited the +scriptures after them, are certainly in a perplexing doubt concerning the +same. + Wherefore invite them to receive the sure faith, and be urgent with them, +as thou hast been commanded; and follow not their vain desires: and say, I +believe in all the scriptures which GOD hath sent down; and I am commanded to +establish justice among you: GOD is our LORD and your LORD: unto us will our +works be imputed, and unto you will your works be imputed: let there be no +wrangling between us and you; for GOD will assemble us all at the last day, +and unto him shall we return. + As to those who dispute concerning GOD, after obedience hath been paid +him by receiving his religion, their disputing shall be vain in the sight of +their LORD; and wrath shall fall on them, and they shall suffer a grievous +punishment. + It is GOD who hath sent down the scripture with truth; and the balance of +true judgment: and what shall inform with truth; and the balance of true +judgment: and what shall inform thee whether the hour be nigh at hand? + They who believe not therein wish it to be hastened by way of mockery: +but they who believe dread the same, and know it to be the truth. Are not +those who dispute concerning the last hour in a wide error? + GOD is bounteous unto his servants; he provideth for whom he pleaseth; +and he is the strong, the mighty. +20 Whoso chooseth the tillage of the life to come, unto him will we give +increase in his tillage: and whoso chooseth the tillage of this world, we will +give him the fruit thereof; but he shall have no part in the life to come. + Have the idolaters deities which ordain them a religion which GOD hath +not allowed? But had it not been for the decree of respiting their punishment +to the day of separating the infidels from the true believers, judgment had +been already given between them: for the unjust shall surely suffer a painful +torment. + On that day thou shalt see the unjust in great terror, because of their +demerits; and the penalty thereof shall fall upon them: but they who believe +and do good works shall dwell in the delightful meadows of paradise; they +shall obtain whatever they shall desire, with their LORD. This is the +greatest acquisition. + This is what GOD promiseth unto his servants who believe and do good +works. Say, I ask not of you, for this my preaching, any reward, except the +love of my relations: and whoever shall have deserved well by one good action, +unto him will we add the merit of another action thereto; for GOD is inclined +to forgive, and ready to reward. + Do they say, Mohammed hath blasphemously forged a lie concerning GOD? If +GOD pleaseth, he will seal up thy heart: and GOD will absolutely abolish +vanity, and will establish the truth in his words; for he knoweth the +innermost part of men's breasts. + It is he who accepteth repentance from his servants, and forgiveth sins, +and knoweth that which ye do. + He will incline his ear unto those who believe and work righteousness, +and will add unto them above what they shall ask or deserve, of his bounty: +but the unbelievers shall suffer a severe punishment. + If GOD should bestow abundance upon his servants they would certainly +behave insolently in the earth: but he sendeth down by measure unto every one +that which he pleaseth; for he well knoweth and seeth the condition of his +servants. + It is he who sendeth down the rain, after men have despaired thereof, and +spreadeth abroad his mercy; and he is the patron, justly to be praised. + Among his signs is the creation of heaven and earth, and of the living +creatures with which he hath replenished them both; and he is able to gather +them together before his tribunal, whenever he pleaseth. +30 Whatever misfortune befalleth you is sent unto you by God, for that which +your hands have deserved; and yet he forgiveth many things: + ye shall not frustrate the divine vengeance in the earth; neither shall +ye have any protector or helper, against GOD. + Among his signs also are the ships running in the sea, like high +mountains: + if he pleaseth, he causeth the wind to cease, and they lie still on +the back of the water: (verily herein are signs unto every patient and +grateful person): + or he destroyeth them by shipwreck, be cause of that which their crews +have merited; though he pardoneth many things. + And they who dispute against our signs shall know that there will be no +way for them to escape our vengeance. + Whatever things are given you, they are the provision of this present +life: but the reward which is with GOD is better, and more durable, for those +who believe, and put their trust in their LORD; + and who avoid heinous and filthy crimes, and when they are angry, +forgive; + and who hearken unto their LORD, and are constant at prayer, and whose +affairs are directed by consultation among themselves, and who give alms out +of what we have bestowed on them; + and who, when an injury is done them, avenge themselves +40 (and the retaliation of evil ought to be an evil proportionate thereto): +but he who forgiveth and is reconciled unto his enemy, shall receive his +reward from GOD; for he loveth not the unjust doers. + And whoso shall avenge himself, after he hath been injured; as to these, +it is not lawful to punish them for it: + but it is only lawful to punish those who wrong men, and act insolently +in the earth, against justice; these shall suffer a grievous punishment. + And whoso beareth injuries patiently, and forgiveth; verily this is a +necessary work. + Whom GOD shall cause to err, he shall afterwards have no protector. +And thou shalt see the ungodly, who shall say, when they behold the +punishment prepared for them, Is there no way to return back into the world? + And thou shalt see them exposed unto hell fire; dejected, because of the +ignominy they shall undergo: they shall look at the fire sideways, and by +stealth; and the true believers shall say, Verily the losers are they who have +lost their own souls, and their families, on the day of resurrection: shall +not the ungodly continue in eternal torment? + They shall have no protectors to defend them against GOD: and whom GOD +shall cause to err, he shall find no way to the truth. + Hearken unto your LORD, before the day come, which GOD will not keep +back: ye shall have no place of refuge on that day; neither shall ye be able +to deny your sins. + But if those to whom thou preachest turn aside from thy admonitions, +verily we have not sent thee to be a guardian over them: thy duty is preaching +only. When we cause man to taste mercy from us, he rejoiceth thereat: but +if evil befall them, for that which their hands have formerly committed, verily +man becometh ungrateful. + Unto GOD appertaineth the kingdom of heaven and earth: he createth that +which he pleaseth; he giveth females unto whom he pleaseth, and he giveth +males unto whom he pleaseth; +50 or he giveth them males and females jointly: and he maketh whom he +pleaseth to be childless; for he is wise and powerful. + It is not fit for man that GOD should speak unto him otherwise than by +private revelation, or from behind a veil, or by his sending of a messenger +to reveal, by his permission, that which he pleaseth; for he is high and wise. + Thus have we revealed unto thee a revelation, by our command. Thou +didst not understand, before this, what the book of the Koran was, nor what +the faith was: but we have ordained the same for a light; we will thereby +direct such of our servants as we please: and thou shalt surely direct them +into the right way, + the way of GOD, unto whom belongeth whatever is in heaven and in earth. +Shall not all things return unto GOD? + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +ENTITLED, THE ORNAMENTS OF GOLD; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + H.M. + BY the perspicuous book; + verily we have ordained the same an Arabic Koran that ye may understand: + and it is certainly written in the original book, kept with us, being +sublime and full of wisdom. + Shall we therefore turn away from you the admonition, and deprive you +thereof, because ye are a people who transgress? + And how many prophets have we sent among those of old? + and no prophet came unto them, out they laughed him to scorn: + wherefore we destroyed nations who were more mighty than these in +strength; and the example of those who were of old hath been already set +before them. + If thou ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they will +certainly answer, The mighty, the wise God created them: +10 who hath spread the earth as a bed for you, and hath made you paths +therein, that ye may be directed: + and who sendeth down rain from heaven by measure, whereby we quicken a +dead country; (so shall ye be brought forth from your graves:) + and who hath created all the various species of things, and hath given +you ships and cattle, whereon ye are carried; + that ye may sit firmly on the backs thereof, and may remember the favor +of your LORD, when ye sit thereon, and may say, Praise be unto him, who hath +subjected these unto our service! for we could not have mastered them by our +own power: + and unto our LORD shall we surely return. + Yet have they attributed unto him some of his servants as his offspring: +verily man is openly ungrateful. + Hath God taken daughters out of those beings which he hath created; and +hath he chosen sons for you? + But when one of them hath the news brought of the birth of a child of +that sex which they attribute unto the Merciful, as his similitude, his face +becometh black, and he is oppressed with sorrow. + Do they therefore attribute unto God female issue, which are brought up +among ornaments, and are contentious without cause? + And do they make the angels, who are the servants of the Merciful, +females? Were they present at their creation? Their testimony shall be +written down, and they shall be examined concerning the same, on the day of +judgment. +20 And they say, If the Merciful had pleased, we had not worshipped them. +They have no knowledge herein: they only utter a vain lie. + Have we given them a book of revelations before this; and do they keep +the same in their custody? + But they say, Verily we found our fathers practising a religion; and we +are guided in their footsteps. + Thus we sent no preacher before thee, unto any city, but the inhabitants +thereof who lived in affluence, said, Verily we found our fathers practising a +religion: and we tread in their footsteps. + And the preacher answered, What, although I bring you a more right +religion than that which ye found your fathers to practise? And they replied, +Verily we believe not that which ye are sent to preach. + Wherefore we took vengeance on them: and behold what hath been the end of +those who accused our apostles of imposture. + Remember when Abraham said unto his father, and his people, Verily I am +clear of the gods which ye worship, + except him who hath created me; for he will direct me aright. + And he ordained this to be a constant doctrine among his posterity; that +they should be turned from idolatry to the worship of the only true God. + Verily I have permitted these Meccans and their fathers to live in +prosperity, until the truth should come unto them, and a manifest apostle: +30 but now the truth is come unto them, they say, This is a piece of +sorcery; and we believe not therein. + And they say, Had this Koran been sent down unto some great man of +either of the two cities, we would have received it. + Do they distribute the mercy of thy LORD? We distribute the necessary +provision among them, in this present life, and we raise some of them several +degrees above the others, that the one of them may take the other to serve +him: and the mercy of thy LORD is more valuable than the riches which they +gather together. + If it were not that mankind would have become one sect of infidels, +verily we had given unto those who believe not in the Merciful, roofs of +silver to their houses, and stairs of silver, by which they might ascend +thereto, + and doors of silver to their houses, and couches of silver, for them to +lean on; + and ornaments of gold: for all this is the provision of the present life; +but the next life with thy LORD shall be for those who fear him. + Whoever shall withdraw from the admonition of the Merciful, we will chain +a devil unto him; and he shall be his inseparable companion: + (and the devils shall turn them aside from the way of truth; yet they +shall imagine themselves to be rightly directed:) + until, when he shall appear before us at the last day, he shall say unto +the devil, Would to GOD that between me and thee there was the distance of +the east from the west! Oh how wretched a companion art thou! + But wishes shall not avail you on this day, since ye have been unjust; +for ye shall be partakers of the same punishment. +40 Canst thou, O prophet, make the deaf to hear, or canst thou direct the +blind, and him who is in a manifest error? + Whether we take thee away, we will surely take vengeance on them; + or whether we cause thee to see the punishment with which we have +threatened them executed, we will certainly prevail over them. + Wherefore hold fast the doctrine which hath been revealed unto thee; for +thou art in a right way: + and it is a memorial unto thee and thy people, and hereafter shall ye be +examined concerning your observance thereof. + And ask our apostles whom we have sent before thee, whether we have +appointed gods for them to worship, besides the Merciful. + We formerly sent Moses with our signs unto Pharaoh and his princes, and +he said, Verily I am the apostle of the LORD of all creatures. + And when he came unto them with our signs, behold, they laughed him to +scorn; + although we showed them no sign, but it was greater than the other: and +we inflicted a punishment on them, that peradventure they might be converted. + And they said unto Moses, O magician, pray unto thy LORD for us, +according to the covenant which he hath made with thee; for we will certainly +be directed. +50 But when we took the plague from off them, behold, they brake their +promise. + And Pharaoh made proclamation among his people, saying, O my people, is +not the kingdom of Egypt mine, and these rivers, which flow beneath me? Do +ye not see? + Am not I better than this Moses, who is a contemptible person, and can +scarce express himself intelligibly? + Have bracelets of gold, therefore, been put upon him; or do the angels +attend him in orderly procession? + And Pharaoh persuaded his people to light behavior; and they obeyed him: +for they were a wicked people. + And when they had provoked us to wrath, we took vengeance on them: and we +drowned them all: + and we made them a precedent, and an example unto others. + And when the son of Mary was proposed for an example, behold, thy people +cried out through excess of joy thereat; + and they said, Are our gods better, or he? They have proposed this +instance unto thee no otherwise than for an occasion of dispute: yea, they are +contentious men. + Jesus is no other than a servant, whom we favored with the gift of +prophecy; and we appointed him for an example unto the children of Israel: +60 (if we pleased, verily we could from ourselves produce angels, to +succeed you in the earth): + and he shall be a sign of the approach of the last hour; wherefore doubt +not thereof. And follow me: this is the right way. + And let not Satan cause you to turn aside: for he is your open enemy. + And when Jesus came with evident miracles, he said, Now am I come unto +you with wisdom, and to explain unto you part of those things concerning +which ye disagree; wherefore fear GOD, and obey me. + Verily GOD is my LORD, and your LORD; wherefore worship him: this is the +right way. + And the confederated sects among them fell to variance: but woe unto +those who have acted unjustly, because of the punishment of a grievous day. + Do the unbelievers wait for any other than the hour of judgment; that it +may come upon them suddenly, while they foresee it not? + The intimate friends, on that day, shall be enemies unto one another; +except the pious. + O my servants, there shall no fear come on you this day, neither shall ye +be grieved: + who have believed in our signs, and have been Moslems: +70 enter ye into paradise, ye and your wives, with great joy. + Dishes of gold shall be carried round unto them, and cups without +handles: and therein shall they enjoy whatever their souls shall desire, and +whatever their eyes shall delight in: and ye shall remain therein forever. + This is paradise, which ye have inherited as a reward for that which ye +have wrought. + Therein shall ye have fruits in abundance, of which ye shall eat. + But the wicked shall remain forever in the torment of hell: + it shall not be made lighter unto them; and they shall despair therein. + We deal not unjustly with them, but they deal unjustly with their own +souls. + And they shall call aloud, saying, O Malec, intercede for us that thy +LORD would end us by annihilation. He shall answer, Verily ye shall remain +here forever. + We brought you the truth heretofore, but the greater part of you abhorred +the truth. + Have the infidels fixed on a method to circumvent our apostle? Verily we +will fix on a method to circumvent them. +80 Do they imagine that we hear not their secrets, and their private +discourse? Yea; and our messengers who attend thems write down the same. + Say, If the Merciful had a son, verily I would be the first of those who +should worship him. + Far be the LORD of heaven and earth, the LORD of the throne, from that +which they affirm of him! + Wherefore let them wade in their vanity, and divert themselves until they +arrive at their day with which they have been threatened. + He who is GOD in heaven, is GOD on earth also: and he is the wise, the +knowing. + And blessed be he unto whom appertaineth the kingdom of heaven and earth, +and of whatever is between them; with whom is the knowledge of the last hour; +and before whom ye shall be assembled. + They whom they invoke besides him have not the privilege to intercede for +others; except those who bear witness to the truth, and know the same. + If thou ask them who hath created them, they will surely answer, GOD. +How therefore are they turned away to the worship of others? + God also heareth the saying of the prophet, O LORD, verily these are +people who believe not: + and he answereth, Therefore turn aside from them; and say, Peace: +hereafter shall they know their folly. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +ENTITLED, SMOKE; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + H.M. + BY the perspicuous book of the Koran; + verily we have sent down the same on a blessed night (for we had engaged +so to do), + on the night wherein is distinctly sent down the decree of every +determined thing, + as a command from us. Verily we have ever used to send apostles with +revelations, at proper intervals, + as a mercy from thy LORD; for it is he who heareth and knoweth: + the LORD of heaven and earth, and of whatever is between them; if ye are +men of sure knowledge. + There is no GOD but he: he giveth life, and he causeth to die; he is your +LORD, and the LORD of your forefathers. + Yet do they amuse themselves with doubt. +10 But observe them, on the day whereon the heaven shall produce a visible +smoke, + which shall cover mankind: this will be a tormenting plague. + They shall say, O LORD, take this plague from off us: verily we will +become true believers. + How should an admonition be of avail to them in this condition; when a +manifest apostle came unto them, + but they retired from him, saying, This man is instructed by others, or +is a distracted person? + We will take the plague from off you, a little: but ye will certainly +return to your infidelity. + On the day whereon we shall fiercely assault them with great power, +verily we will take vengeance on them. + We made trial of the people of Pharaoh before them, and an honourable +messenger came unto them, + saying, Send unto me the servants of GOD; verily I am a faithful +messenger unto you: + and lift not yourselves up against GOD; for I come unto you with manifest +power. +20 And I fly for protection unto my LORD, and your LORD, that ye stone me +not. + If ye do not believe me, at least depart from me. + And when they accused him of imposture, he called upon his LORD, saying, +These are a wicked people. + And God said unto him, March forth with my servants by night; for ye will +be pursued: + and leave the sea divided, that the Egyptians may enter the same; for +they are a host doomed to be drowned. + How many gardens, and fountains, + and fields of corn, and fair dwellings, + and advantages which they enjoyed, did they leave behind them! + Thus we dispossessed them thereof; and we gave the same for an +inheritance unto another people. + Neither heaven nor earth wept for them; neither were they respited any +longer. +30 And we delivered the children of Israel from a shameful affliction; + from Pharaoh; for he was haughty, and a transgressor: + and we chose them, knowingly, above all people; + and we showed them several signs, wherein was an evident trial. + Verily these Meccans say, + Assuredly our final end will be no other than our first natural death; +neither shall we be raised again: + bring now our forefathers back to life, if ye speak truth. + Are they better, or the people of Tobba, and those who were before +them? we destroyed them, because they wrought wickedness. + We have not created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between +them, by way of sport: + we have created them no otherwise than in truth; but the greater part of +them do not understand. +40 Verily the day of separation shall be the appointed term of them all: + a day, whereon the master and the servant shall be of no advantage to one +another, neither shall they be helped; + excepting those on whom GOD shall have mercy; for he is the mighty, the +merciful. + Verily, the fruit of the tree of al Zakkum + shall be the food of the impious: + as the dregs of oil shall it boil in the bellies of the damned, + like the boiling of the hottest water. + And it shall be said to the tormentors, Take him, and drag him into the +midst of hell: + and pour on his head the torture of boiling water, + saying, Taste this; for thou art that mighty and honourable person. +50 Verily this is the punishment of which ye doubted. + But the pious shall be lodged in a place of security, + among gardens and fountains: + they shall be clothed in fine silk, and in satin; and they shall sit +facing one another. + Thus shall it be: and we will espouse them to fair damsels, having large +black eyes. + In that place shall they call for all kinds of fruits, in full security: + they shall not taste death therein, after the first death; and God shall +deliver from the pains of hell: + through the gracious bounty of thy LORD. This will be great felicity. + Moreover we have rendered the Koran easy for thee, by revealing it in +thine own tongue; to the end that they may be admonished: + wherefore do thou wait the event; for they wait to see some misfortune +befall thee. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +ENTITLED, THE KNEELING; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + H.M. + THE revelation of this book is from the mighty, the wise GOD. + Verily both in heaven and earth are signs of the divine power unto the +true believers: + and in the creation of yourselves, and of the beasts which are scattered +over the face of the earth, are signs unto people of sound judgment; + and also in the vicissitude of night and day, and the rain which GOD +sendeth down from heaven, whereby he quickeneth the earth after it hath been +dead: in the change of the winds also are signs unto people of understanding. + These are the signs of GOD; we rehearse them unto thee with truth. In +what revelation therefore will they believe, after they have rejected GOD and +his signs? + Woe unto every lying and impious person; + who heareth the signs of GOD, which are read unto him, and afterwards +proudly persisteth in infidelity, as though he heard them not: (denounce unto +him a painful punishment:) + and who, when he cometh to the knowledge of any of our signs, receiveth +the same with scorn. For these is prepared a shameful punishment: +10 before them lieth hell; and whatever they shall have gained shall not +avail them at all, neither shall the idols which they have taken for their +patrons, besides GOD; and they shall suffer a grievous punishment. + This is a true direction: and for those who disbelieve the signs of +their LORD, is prepared the punishment of a painful torment. + It is GOD who hath subjected the sea unto you, that the ships may sail +therein, at his command; and that ye may seek advantage unto yourselves by +commerce; of his bounty; and that ye may give thanks: + and he obligeth whatever is in heaven and on earth to serve you; the +whole being from him. Verily herein are signs unto people who consider. + Speak unto the true believers, that they forgive those who hope not for +the days of GOD, that he may reward people according to what they shall have +wrought. + Whoso doeth that which is right doth it to the advantage of his own soul; +and whoso doeth evil doth it against the same: hereafter shall ye return unto +your LORD. + We gave unto the children of Israel the book of the law, and wisdom, and +prophecy; and we fed them with good things, and preferred them above all +nations: + and we gave them plain ordinances concerning the business of religion; +neither do they fall to variance, except after that knowledge had come unto +them, through envy among themselves: but thy LORD will decide the controversy +between them, on the day of resurrection, concerning that wherein they +disagree. + Afterwards we appointed thee, O Mohammed, to promulgate a law concerning +the business of religion: wherefore follow the same, and follow not the +desires of those who are ignorant. + Verily they shall not avail thee against GOD at all; the unjust are the +patrons of one another; but GOD is the patron of the pious. +20 This Koran delivereth evident precepts unto mankind; and is a direction, +and a mercy, unto people who judge aright. + Do the workers of iniquity imagine that we will deal with them as with +those who believe and do good works; so that their life and their death shall +be equal? An ill judgment do they make. + GOD hath created the heavens and the earth in truth; that he may +recompense every soul according to that which it shall have wrought: and they +shall not be treated unjustly. + What thinkest thou? He who taketh his own lust for his GOD, and whom GOD +causeth knowingly to err, and whose ears and whose heart he hath sealed up, +and over whose eyes he hath cast a veil; who shall direct him, after GOD shall +have forsaken him? Will ye therefore not be admonished? + They say, There is no other life, except our present life: we die, and we +live; and nothing but time destroyeth us. But they have no knowledge in this +matter; they only follow a vain opinion. + And when our evident signs are rehearsed unto them, their argument which +they offer against the same is no other than that they say, Bring to life our +fathers who have been dead; if ye speak truth. + Say, GOD giveth you life; and afterwards causeth you to die: hereafter +will he assemble you together on the day of resurrection; there is no doubt +thereof; but the greater part of men do not understand. + Unto GOD appertaineth the kingdom of heaven and earth; and the day +whereon the hour shall be fixed, on that day shall those who charge the Koran +with vanity perish. + And thou shalt see every nation kneeling: every nation shall be called +unto its book of account; and it shall be said unto them, This day shall ye be +rewarded according to that which ye have wrought. + This our book will speak concerning you with truth; therein have we +written down whatever ye have done. +30 As to those who shall have believed and done good works, their LORD shall +lead them into his mercy: this shall be manifest felicity. + But as to the infidels, it shall be said unto them, Were not my signs +rehearsed unto you? but ye proudly rejected them, and became a wicked people! + And when it was said unto you, Verily the promise of GOD is true: and as +to the hour of judgment, there is no doubt thereof: ye answered, We know not +what the hour of judgment is: we hold an uncertain opinion only; and we are +not well assured of this matter. + But on that day the evils of that which they have wrought shall appear +unto them; and that which they mocked at shall encompass them: + and it shall be said unto them, This day will we forget you, as ye did +forget the meeting of this your day: and your abode shall be hell fire; and ye +shall have none to deliver you. + This shall ye suffer, because ye turned the signs of GOD to ridicule; and +the life of the world deceived you. On this day, therefore, they shall not be +taken forth from thence, neither shall they be asked any more to render +themselves well-pleasing unto God. + Wherefore praise be unto GOD, the LORD of the heavens, and the LORD of +the earth; + the LORD of all creatures: and unto him be glory in heaven and earth; for +he is the mighty, the wise God. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +ENTITLED, AL AHKAF; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + H.M. + THE revelation of this book is from the mighty, the wise GOD. + We have not created the heavens, and the earth, and whatever is between +them, otherwise than in truth, and for a determined period: but the +unbelievers turn away from the warning which is given them. + Say, What think ye? Show me what part of the earth the idols which ye +invoke, besides GOD, have created? Or, had they any share in the creation of +the heavens? Bring me a book of scripture revealed before this, or some +footstep of ancient knowledge, to countenance your idolatrous practices; if ye +are men of veracity. + Who is in a wider error than he who invoketh, besides GOD, that which +cannot return him an answer, to the day of resurrection; and idols which +regard not their calling on them: + and which, when men shall be gathered together to judgment, will become +their enemies, and will ungratefully deny their worship? + When our evident signs are rehearsed unto them, the unbelievers say of +the truth, when it cometh unto them, This is a manifest piece of sorcery. + Will they say, Mohammed hath forged it? Answer, If I have forged it, +verily ye shall not obtain for me any favor from GOD: he well knoweth the +injurious language which ye utter concerning it: he is a sufficient witness +between me and you; and he is gracious and merciful. + Say, I am not singular among the apostles; neither do I know what will +be done with me or with you hereafter: I follow no other than what is revealed +unto me; neither am I any more than a public warner. +10 Say, What is your opinion? If this book be from GOD, and ye believe not +therein; and a witness of the children of Israel bear witness to its +consonancy with the law, and believeth therein; and ye proudly reject the +same: are ye not unjust doers? Verily GOD directeth not unjust people. + But those who believe not say of the true believers, If the doctrine of +the Koran had been good, they had not embraced the same before us. And when +they are not guided thereby, they say, This is an antiquated lie. + Whereas the book of Moses was revealed before the Koran, to be a guide +and a mercy: and this is a book confirming the same, delivered in the Arabic +tongue; to denounce threats unto those who act unjustly, and to bear good +tidings unto the righteous doers. + As to those who say, Our LORD is GOD; and who behave uprightly: on them +shall no fear come, neither shall they be grieved. + These shall be the inhabitants of paradise, they shall remain therein +forever: in recompense for that which they have wrought. + We have commanded man to show kindness to his parents: his mother beareth +him in her womb with pain, and bringeth him forth with pain: and the space of +his being carried in her womb, and of his weaning, is thirty months; until, +when he attaineth his age of strength, and attaineth the age of forty years, +he saith, O LORD, excite me, by the inspiration, that I may be grateful for +their favors, wherewith thou hast favored me and my parents; and that I may +work righteousness, which may please thee: and be gracious unto me in my +issue; for I am turned unto thee, and am a Moslem. + These are they from whom we accept the good work which they have wrought, +and whose evil works we pass by; and they shall be among the inhabitants of +paradise: this is a true promise, which they are promised in this world. + He who saith unto his parents, Fie on you! Do ye promise me that I shall +be taken forth from the grave, and restored to life; when many generations +have passed away before me, and none of them have returned back? And his +parents implore GOD'S assistance, and say to their son, Alas for thee! +Believe: for the promise of GOD is true. But he answereth, This is no other +than silly fables of the ancients. + These are they whom the sentence passed on the nations which have been +before them, of genii and of men, justly fitteth: they shall surely perish. + For every one is prepared a certain degree of happiness or misery, +according to that which they shall have wrought: that God may recompense them +for their works: and they shall not be treated unjustly. +20 On a certain day, the unbelievers shall be exposed before the fire of +hell; and it shall be said unto them, Ye received your good things in your +lifetime, while ye were in the world; and ye enjoyed yourselves therein: +wherefore this day ye shall be rewarded with the punishment of ignominy; for +that ye behaved insolently in the earth, without justice, and for that ye +transgressed. + Remember the brother of Ad, when he preached unto his people in Al +Ahkaf (and there were preachers before him, and after him), saying, Worship +none but GOD: verily I fear for you the punishment of a great day. + They answered, Art thou come unto us that thou mayest turn us aside from +the worship of our gods? Bring on us now the punishment with which thou +threatenest us, if thou art a man of veracity. + He said, Verily the knowledge of the time when your punishment will be +inflicted is with GOD; and I only declare unto you that which I am sent to +preach; but I see ye are an ignorant people. + And when they saw the preparation made for their punishment, namely, a +cloud traversing the sky, and tending towards their valleys, they said, This +is a traversing cloud, which bringeth us rain. Hud answered, Nay; it is what +ye demanded to be hastened: a wind, wherein is a severe vengeance: + it will destroy everything, at the command of its LORD. And in the +morning nothing was to be seen, besides their empty dwellings. Thus do we +reward wicked people. + We had established them in the like flourishing condition wherein we have +established you, O men of Mecca; and we had given them ears, and eyes, and +hearts: yet neither their ears, nor their eyes, nor their hearts profited them +at all, when they rejected the signs of GOD; but the vengeance which they +mocked at fell upon them. + We heretofore destroyed the cities which were round about you; and we +variously proposed our signs unto them, that they might repent. + Did those protect them, whom they took for gods, besides GOD, and +imagined to be honoured with his familiarity? Nay; they withdrew from them: +yet this was their false opinion which seduced them, and the blasphemy which +they had devised. + Remember when we caused certain of the genii to turn aside unto thee, +that they might hear the Koran: and when they were present at the reading of +the same, they said to one another, Give ear: and when it was ended, they +returned back unto their people, preaching what they had heard. +30 They said, Our people, verily we have heard a book read unto us, which +hath been revealed since Moses, confirming the scripture which was delivered +before it; and directing unto the truth, and the right way. + Our people, obey GOD'S preacher: and believe in him; that he may forgive +you your sins, and may deliver you from a painful punishment. + And whoever obeyeth not GOD'S preacher shall by no means frustrate GOD's +vengeance on earth: neither shall he have any protectors besides him. These +will be in a manifest error. + Do they not know that GOD, who hath created the heavens and the earth, +and was not fatigued with the creation thereof, is able to raise the dead to +life? Yea verily; for he is almighty. + On a certain day the unbelievers shall be exposed unto hell fire; and it +shall be said unto them, Is not this really come to pass? They shall answer, +Yea, by our LORD. God shall reply, Taste, therefore, the punishment of hell, +for that ye have been unbelievers. + Do thou, O prophet, bear the insults of thy people with patience, as our +apostles, who were endued with constancy, bear the injuries of their people: +and require not their punishment to be hastened unto them. On the day +whereon they shall see the punishment wherewith they have been threatened, +it shall seem as though they had tarried in the world but an hour of a day. +This is a fair warning. Shall they perish except the people who transgress? + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +ENTITLED, MOHAMMED; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + GOD will render of none effect the works of those who believe not, and +who turn away men from the way of GOD: + but as to those who believe, and work righteousness, and believe the +revelation which hath been sent down unto Mohammed (for it is the truth +from their LORD), he will expiate their evil deeds from them, and will dispose +their heart aright. + This will he do, because those who believe not follow vanity, and because +those who believe follow the truth from their LORD. Thus GOD propoundeth +unto men their examples. + When ye encounter the unbelievers, strike off their heads, until ye have +made a great slaughter among them; and bind them in bonds; and either give +them a free dismission afterwards, or exact a ransom; until the war shall +have laid down its arms. This shall ye do. Verily if GOD pleased he could +take vengeance on them, without your assistance; but he commandeth you +to fight his battles, that he may prove the one of you by the other. And as +to those who fight in defence of GOD'S true religion, God will not suffer their +works to perish: + he will guide them, and will dispose their heart aright; + and he will lead them into paradise, of which he hath told them. + O true believers, if ye assist GOD, by fighting for his religion, he will +assist you against your enemies; and will set your feet fast: + but as for the infidels, let them perish; and their works shall God +render vain. + This shall befall them, because they have rejected with abhorrence that +which GOD hath revealed: wherefore their works shall become of no avail. +10 Do they not travel through the earth, and see what hath been the end +of those who were before them? GOD utterly destroyed them: and the like +catastrophe awaiteth the unbelievers. + This shall come to pass, for that GOD is the patron of the true +believers, and for that the infidels have no protector. + Verily GOD will introduce those who believe, and do good works, into +gardens beneath which rivers flow: but the unbelievers indulge themselves in +pleasures, and eat as beasts eat; and their abode shall be hell fire. + How many cities were more mighty in strength than thy city which hath +expelled thee; yet have we destroyed them, and there was none to help them? + Shall he therefore, who followeth the plain declaration of his LORD, be +as he whose evil works have been dressed up for him by the devil; and who +follow their own lusts? + The description of paradise, which is promised unto the pious: therein +are rivers of incorruptible water; and rivers of milk, the taste whereof +changeth not; and rivers of wine, pleasant unto those who drink; and rivers +of clarified honey: and therein shall they have plenty of all kinds of fruits; +and pardon from their LORD. Shall the man for whom these things are +prepared be as he who must dwell forever in hell fire; and will have the +boiling water given him to drink, which shall burst their bowels? + Of the unbelievers there are some who give ear unto thee, until, when +they go out from thee, they say, by way of derision, unto those to whom +knowledge hath been given, What hath he said now? These are they whose +hearts GOD hath sealed up, and who follow their own lusts: + but as to those who are directed, God will grant them a more ample +direction, and he will instruct them what to avoid. + Do the infidels wait for any other than the last hour, that it may come +upon them suddenly? Some signs thereof are already come: and when it shall +actually overtake them, how can they then receive admonition? + Know therefore, that there is no god but GOD: and ask pardon for thy +sin, and for the true believers, both men and women. GOD knoweth your busy +employment in the world, and the place of your abode hereafter. +20 The true believers say, Hath not a Sura been revealed commanding war +against the infidels? But when a Sura without any ambiguity is revealed, and +war is mentioned therein, thou mayest see those in whose hearts is an +infirmity, look towards thee with the look of one whom death overshadoweth. +But obedience would be more eligible for them, and to speak that which is +convenient. + And when the command is firmly established, if they give credit unto GOD, +it will be better for them. + Were ye ready, therefore, if ye had been put in authority, to commit +outrages in the earth, and to violate the ties of blood? + These are they whom GOD hath cursed, and hath rendered deaf, and whose +eyes he hath blinded. + Do they not therefore attentively meditate on the Koran? Are there locks +upon their hearts? + Verily they who turn their backs, after the true direction is made +manifest unto them, Satan shall prepare their wickedness for them, and God +shall bear with them for a time. + This shall befall them, because they say privately unto those who detest +what GOD hath revealed, We will obey you in part of the matter. But GOD +knoweth their secrets. + How therefore will it be with them, when the angels shall cause them to +die, and shall strike their faces, and their backs? + This shall they suffer, because they follow that which provoketh GOD to +wrath, and are averse to what is well pleasing unto him: and he will render +their works vain. + Do they in whose hearts is an infirmity imagine that GOD will not bring +their malice to light? +30 If we pleased, we could surely show them unto thee, and thou shouldest +know them by their marks; but thou shalt certainly know them by their perverse +pronunciation of their words. GOD knoweth your actions: + and we will try you, until we know those among you who fight valiantly, +and who persevere with constancy: and we will try the reports of your +behavior. + Verily those who believe not, and turn away men from the way of GOD, and +make opposition against the apostle, after the divine direction hath been +manifested unto them, shall not hurt GOD at all; but he shall make their works +to perish. + O true believers, obey GOD; and obey the apostle: and render not your +works of no effect. + Verily those who believe not, and who turn away men from the way of GOD, +and then die, being unbelievers, GOD will by no means forgive. + Faint not therefore, neither invite your enemies to peace, while ye are +the superior: for GOD is with you, and will not defraud you of the merit of +your works. + Verily this present life is only a play and a vain amusement; but if ye +believe, and fear God, he will give you your rewards. He doth not require of +you your whole substance: + if he should require the whole of you, and earnestly press you, ye would +become niggardly, and it would raise your hatred against his apostle. + Behold, ye are those who are invited to expend part of your substance +for the support of GOD'S true religion; and there are some of you who are +niggardly. But whoever shall be niggardly shall be niggardly towards his own +soul: for GOD wanteth nothing, but ye are needy: and if ye turn back, he will +substitute another people in your stead, who shall not be like unto you. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +ENTITLED, THE VICTORY; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + VERILY we have granted thee a manifest victory: + that GOD may forgive thee thy preceding and thy subsequent sin, and may +complete his favour on thee, and direct thee in the right way; + and that GOD may assist thee with a glorious assistance. + It is he who sendeth down secure tranquility into the hearts of the true +believers, that they may increase in faith, beyond their former faith; (the +hosts of heaven and earth are GOD'S; and GOD is knowing and wise) + that he may lead the true believers of both sexes into gardens beneath +which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever; and may expiate their evil deeds +from them: (this will be great felicity with GOD): + and that he may punish the hypocritical men, and the hypocritical women, +and the idolaters, and the idolatresses, who conceive an ill opinion of GOD. +They shall experience a turn of evil fortune: and GOD shall be angry with +them, and shall curse them, and hath prepared hell for them; and ill journey +shall it be thither! + Unto GOD belong the hosts of heaven and earth; and GOD is mighty and +wise. + Verily we have sent thee to be a witness, and a bearer of good tidings, +and a denouncer of threats; + that ye may believe in GOD, and his apostle; and may assist him, and +revere him, and praise him morning and evening. +10 Verily they who swear fealty unto thee, swear fealty unto GOD: the hand +of GOD is over their hands. Whoever shall violate his oath, will violate the +same to the hurt only of his own soul: but whoever shall perform that which he +hath covenanted with GOD, he will surely give him a great reward. + The Arabs of the desert who were left behind will say unto thee, Our +substance and our families employed us, so that we went not forth with thee to +war; wherefore, ask pardon for us. They speak that with their tongues, which +is not in their hearts. Answer, Who shall be able to obtain for you anything +from GOD to the contrary, if he is pleased to afflict you, or is pleased to be +gracious unto you? Yea, verily, GOD is well acquainted with that which ye do. + Truly ye imagined that the apostle and the true believers would never +return to their families: and this was prepared in your hearts: but ye +imagined an evil imagination; and ye are a corrupt people. + Whoso believeth not in GOD and his apostle, verily we have prepared +burning fire for the unbelievers. + Unto GOD belongeth the kingdom of heaven and earth: he forgiveth whom he +pleaseth: and he punisheth whom he pleaseth: and GOD is inclined to forgive, +and merciful. + Those who were left behind will say, when ye go forth to take the spoil, +Suffer us to follow you. They seek to change the word of GOD. Say, Ye shall +by no means follow us: thus hath GOD said heretofore. They will reply, Nay: +ye envy us a share of the booty. But they are men of small understanding. + Say unto the Arabs of the desert who were left behind, Ye shall be called +forth against a mighty and a warlike nation; ye shall fight against them, or +they shall profess Islâm. If ye obey, GOD will give you a glorious reward: +but if ye turn back, as ye turned back heretofore, he will chastise you with a +grievous chastisement. + It shall be no crime in the blind, neither shall it be a crime in the +lame, neither shall it be a crime in the sick, if they go not forth to war: +and whoso shall obey GOD and his apostle, he shall lead them into gardens +beneath which rivers flow; but whoso shall turn back, he will chastise him +with a grievous chastisement. + Now GOD was well pleased with the true believers, when they sware +fidelity to thee under the tree; and he knew that which was in their hearts; +wherefore he sent down on them tranquility of mind, and rewarded them with a +speedy victory, + and many spoils which they took: for GOD is mighty and wise. +20 GOD promised you many spoils which ye should take; but he have you these +by way of earnest; and he restrained the hands of men from you: that the same +may be a sign unto the true believers; and that he may guide you into the +right way. + And he also promiseth you other spoils, which ye have not yet been able +to take: but now hath GOD encompassed them for you; and GOD is almighty. + If the unbelieving Meccans had fought against you, verily they had turned +their backs; and they would not have found a patron or protector: + according to the ordinance of GOD, which hath been put in execution +heretofore against opposers of the prophets; for thou shalt not find any +change in the ordinance of GOD. + It was he who restrained their hands from you, and your hands from them, +in the valley of Mecca; after that he had given you the victory over them: +and GOD saw that which ye did. + These are they who believed not, and hindered you from visiting the holy +temple, and also hindered the offering being detained, that it should not +arrive at the place where it ought to be sacrificed. Had it not been that ye +might have trampled on divers true believers, both men and women, whom ye know +not, being promiscuously assembled with the infidels, and that a crime might +therefore have lighted on you on their account, without your knowledge, he had +not restrained your hands from them: but this was done, that GOD might lead +whom he pleased into his mercy. If they had been distinguished from one +another, we had surely chastised such of them as believed not, with a severe +chastisement. + When the unbelievers had put in their hearts an affected preciseness, the +preciseness of ignorance, and GOD sent down his tranquility on his apostle and +on the true believers; and firmly fixed in them the word of piety, and they +were the most worthy of the same, and the most deserving thereof: for GOD +knoweth all things. + Now hath GOD in truth verified unto his apostle the vision, wherein he +said, Ye shall surely enter the holy temple of Mecca, if GOD please, in full +security; having your heads shaved, and your hair cut: ye shall not fear: for +God knoweth that which ye know not; and he hath appointed you, besides this, a +speedy victory. + It is he who hath sent his apostle with the direction, and the religion +of truth; that he may exalt the same above every religion: and GOD is a +sufficient witness hereof. + Mohammed is the apostle of GOD: and those who are with him are fierce +against the unbelievers, but compassionate towards one another. Thou mayest +see them bowing down, prostrate, seeking a recompense from GOD, and his good- +will. Their signs are in their faces, being marks of frequent prostration. +This is their description in the pentateuch, and their description in the +gospel: they are as seed which putteth forth its stalk and strengtheneth it, +and swelleth in the ear, and riseth upon its stem; giving delight unto the +sower. Such are the Moslems described to be: that the infidels may swell with +indignation at them. GOD hath promised unto such of them as believe, and do +good works, pardon and a great reward. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +ENTITLED, THE INNER APARTMENTS; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + O TRUE believers, anticipate not any matter in the sight of GOD and his +apostle: and fear GOD; for GOD both heareth and knoweth. + O true believers, raise not your voices above the voice of the prophet; +neither speak loud unto him in discourse, as ye speak loud unto one another, +lest your works become vain, and ye perceive it not. + Verily they who lower their voices in the presence of the apostle of GOD +are those whose hearts GOD hath disposed unto piety: they shall obtain pardon, +and a great reward. + As to those who call unto thee from without the inner apartments; the +greater part of them do not understand the respect due to thee. + If they wait with patience, until thou come forth unto them, it will +certainly be better for them: but GOD is inclined to forgive, and merciful. + O true believers, if a wicked man come unto you with a tale, inquire +strictly into the truth thereof; lest ye hurt people through ignorance, and +afterwards repent of what ye have done; + and know that the apostle of GOD is among you: if he should obey you in +many things, ye would certainly be guilty of a crime, in leading him into a +mistake. But GOD hath made the faith amiable unto you, and hath prepared the +same in your hearts; and hath rendered infidelity, and iniquity, and +disobedience hateful unto you. These are they who walk in the right way; + through mercy from GOD, and grace: and GOD is knowing, and wise. + If two parties of the believers contend with one another, do ye endeavour +to compose the matter between them: and if the one of them offer an insult +unto the other, fight against that party which offered the insult, until they +return unto the judgment of GOD; and if they do return, make peace between +them with equity: and act with justice; for GOD loveth those who act justly. +10 Verily the true believers are brethren; wherefore reconcile your +brethren; and fear GOD, that ye may obtain mercy. + O true believers, let not men laugh other men to scorn; who peradventure +may be better than themselves: neither let women laugh other women to scorn; +who may possibly be better than themselves. Neither defame one another; nor +call one another by opprobrious appellations. An ill name it is to be charged +with wickedness, after having embraced the faith: and whoso repenteth not, +they will be the unjust doers. + O true believers, carefully avoid entertaining a suspicion of another: +for some suspicions are a crime. Inquire not too curiously into other men's +failings: neither let the one of you speak ill of another in his absence. +Would any of you desire to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Surely ye would +abhor it. And fear GOD; for GOD is easy to be reconciled, and merciful. + O men, verily we have created you of a male and a female; and we have +distributed you into nations and tribes, that ye might know one another. +Verily the most honourable of you, in the sight of GOD, is the most pious of +you: and GOD is wise and knowing. + The Arabs of the desert say, We believe. Answer, Ye do by no means +believe; but say, We have embraced Islâm: for the faith hath not yet entered +into your hearts. If ye obey GOD and his apostle, he will not defraud you of +any part of the merit of your works: for GOD is inclined to forgive, and +merciful. + Verily the true believers are those only who believe in GOD and his +apostle, and afterwards doubt not; and who employ their substance and their +persons in the defence of GOD'S true religion: these are they who speak +sincerely. + Say, Will ye inform GOD concerning your religion? But GOD knoweth +whatever is in heaven and in earth: for GOD is omniscient. + They upbraid thee that they have embraced Islâm. Answer, Upbraid me not +with your having embraced Islâm: rather GOD upbraideth you, that he hath +directed you to the faith; if ye speak sincerely. + Verily GOD knoweth the secrets of heaven and earth: and GOD beholdeth +that which ye do. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER L. + +ENTITLED, K; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + K. BY the glorious Koran: + verily they wonder that a preacher from among themselves is come unto +them; and the unbelievers say, This is a wonderful thing: + after we shall be dead, and become dust, shall we return to life? This is a +return remote from thought. + Now we know what the earth consumeth of them; and with us is a book +which keepeth an account thereof. + But they charge falsehood on the truth, after it hath come unto them: +wherefore they are plunged in a confused business. + Do they not look up to the heaven above them, and consider how we have +raised it and adorned it; and that there are no flaws therein? + We have also spread forth the earth, and thrown thereon mountains firmly +rooted: and we caused every beautiful kind of vegetables to spring up +therein; + for a subject of meditation, and an admonition unto every man who turneth +unto us. + And we send down rain as a blessing from heaven, whereby we cause gardens +to spring forth, and the grain of harvest, +10 and tall palm-trees having branches laden with dates hanging one above +another, + as a provision for mankind; and we thereby quicken a dead country: so +shall be the coming forth of the dead from their graves. + The people of Noah, and those who dwelt at Al Rass, and Thamud, + and Ad, and Pharaoh, accused the prophets of imposture before the +Meccans; and also the brethren of Lot, + and the inhabitants of the wood near Midian, and the people of Tobba: all +these accused the apostles of imposture; wherefore the judgments which I +threatened were justly inflicted on them. + Is our power exhausted by the first creation? Yea; they are in a +perplexity, because of a new creation which is foretold them, namely the +raising of the dead. + We created man, and we know what his soul whispereth within him; and we +are nearer unto him than his jugular vein. + When the two angels deputed to take account of a man's behavior, take an +account thereof; one sitting on the right hand, and the other on the left: + he uttereth not a word, but there is with him a watcher, ready to note +it. + And the agony of death shall come in truth: this, O man, is what thou +soughtest to avoid. +20 And the trumpet shall sound: this will be the day which hath been +threatened. + And every soul shall come; and therewith shall be a driver and a +witness. + And the former shall say unto the unbeliever, Thou wast negligent +heretofore of this day: but we have removed thy veil from off thee; and thy +sight is become piercing this day. + And his companions shall say, This is what is ready with me to be +attested. + And God shall say, Cast into hell every unbeliever, and perverse person, + and every one who forbade good, and every transgressor, and doubter of +the faith, + who set up another god with the true GOD; and cast him into a grievous +torment. + His companion shall say, O LORD, I did not seduce him; but he was in a +wide error. + God shall say, Wrangle not in my presence: since I threatened you +beforehand with the torments which ye now see prepared for you. + The sentence is not changed with me: neither do I treat my servants +unjustly. +30 On that day we will say unto hell, Art thou full? and it shall answer, Is +there yet any addition? + And paradise shall be brought near unto the pious; + and it shall be said unto them, This is what ye have been promised; unto +every one who turned himself unto God, and kept his commandments; + who feared the Merciful in secret, and came unto him with a converted +heart: + enter the same in peace: this is the day of eternity. + Therein shall they have whatever they shall desire; and there will be a +superabundant addition of bliss with us. + How many generations have we destroyed before the Meccans, which were +more mighty than they in strength? Pass, therefore, through the regions of +the earth, and see whether there be any refuge from our vengeance. + Verily herein is an admonition unto him who hath a heart to understand, +or giveth ear, and is present with an attentive mind. + We created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between them, in +six days, and no weariness affected us. + Wherefore patiently suffer what they say; and celebrate the praise of +thy LORD before sunrise, and before sunset, +40 and praise him in some part of the night: and perform the additional +parts of worship. + And hearken unto the day whereon the crier shall call men to judgment +from a near place: + the day whereon they shall hear the voice of the trumpet in truth: this +will be the day of men's coming forth from their graves: + we give life, and we cause to die; and unto us shall be the return of all +creatures: + the day whereon the earth shall suddenly cleave in sunder over them. +This will be an assembly easy for us to assemble. + We well know what the unbelievers say; and thou art not sent to compel +them forcibly to the faith. Wherefore warn, by the Koran, him who feareth +my threatening. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LI. + +ENTITLED, THE DISPERSING; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the winds dispersing and scattering the dust; + and by the clouds bearing a load of rain; + by the ships running swiftly in the sea; + and by the angels who distribute things necessary for the support of all +creatures; + verily that wherewith ye are threatened is certainly true; + and the last judgment will surely come. + By the heaven furnished with paths; + ye widely differ in what ye say. + He will be turned aside from the faith, who shall be turned aside by the +divine decree. +10 Cursed be the liars; + who wade in deep waters of ignorance, neglecting their salvation. + They ask, When will the day of judgment come? + On that day shall they be burned in hell fire; + and it shall be said unto them, Taste your punishment; this is what ye +demanded to be hastened. + But the pious shall dwell among gardens and fountains, + receiving that which their LORD shall give them; because they were +righteous doers before this day. + They slept but a small part of the night; + and early in the morning they asked pardon of God: + and a due portion of their wealth was given unto him who asked, and unto +him who was forbidden by shame to ask. +20 There are signs of the divine power and goodness in the earth, unto men +of sound understanding; + and also in your own selves: will ye not therefore consider? + Your sustenance is in the heaven; and also that which ye are promised. + Wherefore by the LORD of heaven and earth I swear that this is certainly +the truth; according to what ye yourselves speak. + Hath not the story of Abraham's honoured guests come to thy knowledge? + When they went in unto him, and said, Peace: he answered Peace; saying +within himself, These are unknown people. + And he went privately unto his family, and brought a fatted calf. + And he set it before them, and when he saw they touched it not, he said, +Do ye not eat? + And he began to entertain a fear of them. They said, Fear not: and they +declared unto him the promise of a wise youth. + And his wife drew near with exclamation, and she smote her face, and +said, I am an old woman, and barren. +30 The angels answered, Thus saith thy LORD: verily he is the wise, the +knowing. + And Abraham said unto them, What is your errand, therefore, O messengers +of God? + They answered, Verily we are sent unto a wicked people: + that we may send down upon them stones of baked clay, + marked from thy LORD, for the destruction of transgressors. + And we brought forth the true believers who were in the city: + but we found not therein more than one family of Moslems. + And we overthrew the same, and left a sign therein unto those who dread +the severe chastisement of God. + In Moses also was a sign: when we sent him unto Pharaoh with manifest +power. + But he turned back, with his princes, saying, This man is a sorceror, or +a madman. +40 Wherefore we took him and his forces, and cast them into the sea: and he +was one worthy of reprehension. + And in the tribe of Ad also was a sign: when we sent against them a +destroying wind; + it touched not aught whereon it came, but it rendered the same as a thing +rotten, and reduced to dust. + In Thamud likewise was a sign: when it was said unto them, Enjoy +yourselves for a time. + But they insolently transgressed the command of their LORD: wherefore a +terrible noise from heaven assailed them, while they looked on; + and they were not able to stand on their feet, neither did they save +themselves from destruction. + And the people of Noah did we destroy before these: for they were a +people who enormously transgressed. + We have built the heaven with might; and we have given it a large extent: + and we have stretched forth the earth beneath; and how evenly have we +spread the same! + And of everything have we created two kinds, that peradventure ye may +consider. +50 Fly, therefore, unto GOD; verily I am a public warner unto you, from +him. + And set not up another god with the true GOD: verily I am a public warner +unto you, from him. + In like manner there came no apostle unto their predecessors, but they +said, This man is a magician, or a madman. + Have they bequeathed this behavior successively the one to the other? +Yea; they are a people who enormously transgress. + Wherefore withdraw from them; and thou shalt not be blameworthy in so +doing. + Yet continue to admonish: for admonition profiteth the true believers. + I have not created genii and men for any other end than that they should +serve me. + I require not any sustenance from them; neither will I that they feed me. + Verily GOD is he who provideth for all creatures; possessed of mighty +power. + Unto those who shall injure our apostle shall be given a portion like +unto the portion of those who behaved like them in times past; and they shall +not wish the same to be hastened. +60 Woe, therefore, to the unbelievers, because of their day with which they +are threatened! + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LII. + +ENTITLED, THE MOUNTAIN; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the mountain of Sinai; + and by the book written + in an expanded scroll; + and by the visited house; + and by the elevated roof of heaven; + and by the swelling ocean: + verily the punishment of thy LORD will surely descend; + there shall be none to withhold it. + On that day the heaven shall be shaken, and shall reel; +10 and the mountains shall walk and pass away. + And on that day woe be unto those who accused GOD's apostles of +imposture; + who amused themselves in wading in vain disputes! + On that day shall they be driven and thrust into the fire of hell; + and it shall be said unto them, This is the fire which ye denied as a +fiction. + Is this a magic illusion? Or do ye not see? + Enter the same to be scorched: whether ye bear your torments patiently, +or impatiently, it will be equal unto you: ye shall surely receive the reward +of that which ye have wrought. + But the pious shall dwell amidst gardens and pleasures; + delighting themselves in what their LORD shall have given them: and their +LORD shall deliver them from the pains of hell. + And it shall be said unto them, Eat and drink with easy digestion; +because of that which ye have wrought: +20 leaning on couches disposed in order: and we will espouse them unto +virgins having large black eyes. + And unto those who believe, and whose offspring follow them in the faith, +we will join their offspring in paradise: and we will not diminish unto them +aught of the merit of their works. (Every man is given in pledge for that +which he shall have wrought.) + And we will give them fruits in abundance, and flesh of the kinds which +they shall desire. + They shall present unto one another therein a cup of wine, wherein there +shall be no vain discourse, nor any incitement unto wickedness. + And youths appointed to attend them shall go round them: beautiful as +pearls hidden in their shell. + And they shall approach unto one another, and shall ask mutual questions. + And they shall say, Verily we were heretofore amidst our family, in great +dread with regard to our state after death: + but GOD hath been gracious unto us, and hath delivered us from the pain +of burning fire: + for we called on him heretofore; and he is the beneficent, the merciful. + Wherefore do thou, O prophet, admonish thy people. Thou art not, by the +grace of thy LORD, a soothsayer, or a madman. +30 Do they say, He is a poet; we wait, concerning him, some adverse turn of +fortune? + Say, Wait ye my ruin: verily I wait, with you, the time of your +destruction. + Do their mature understandings bid them say this; or are they people who +perversely transgress? + Do they say, He hath forged the Koran? Verily they believe not. + Let them produce a discourse like unto it, if they speak truth. + Were they created by nothing; or were they creators of themselves? + Did they create the heavens and the earth? Verily they are not firmly +persuaded that God hath created them. + Are the stores of thy LORD in their hands? Are they the supreme +dispensers of all things? + Have they a ladder whereby they may ascend to heaven, and hear the +discourses of angels? Let one, therefore, who hath heard them, produce an +evident proof thereof. + Hath God daughters, and have ye sons? +40 Dost thou ask them a reward for thy preaching? but they are laden with +debts. + Are the secrets of futurity with them; and do they transcribe the same +from the table of GOD's degrees? + Do they seek to lay a plot against thee? But the unbelievers are they +who shall be circumvented. + Have they any god, besides GOD? Far be GOD exalted above the idols which +they associate with him! + If they should see a fragment of the heaven falling down upon them, they +would say, It is only a thick cloud. + Wherefore leave them, until they arrive at their day wherein they shall +swoon for fear: + a day, in which their subtle contrivances shall not avail them at all, +neither shall they be protected. + And those who act unjustly shall surely suffer another punishment besides +this: but the greater part of them do not understand. + And wait thou patiently the judgment of thy LORD concerning them; for +thou art in our eye: and celebrate the praise of thy LORD, when thou risest +up; + and praise him in the night-season, and when the stars begin to +disappear. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +ENTITLED, THE STAR; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the star, when it setteth; + your companion Mohammed erreth not; nor is he led astray: + neither doth he speak of his own will. + It is no other than a revelation, which hath been revealed unto him. + One mighty in power, endued with understanding, taught it him: + and he appeared + in the highest part of the horizon. + Afterwards he approached the prophet, and near unto him; + until he was at the distance of two bows' length from him, or yet +nearer; +10 and he revealed unto his servant that which he revealed. + The heart of Mohammed did not falsely represent that which he saw. + Will ye therefore dispute with him concerning that which he saw? + He also saw him another time, + by the lote-tree beyond which there is no passing: + near it is the garden of eternal abode. + When the lote-tree covered that which it covered, + his eyesight turned not aside, neither did it wander: + and he really beheld some of the greatest signs of his LORD. + What think ye of Allat, and Al Uzza, +20 and Manah, that other third goddess? + Have ye male children, and God female? + This, therefore, is an unjust partition. + They are no other than empty names, which ye and your fathers have +named goddesses. GOD hath not revealed concerning them anything to +authorize their worship. They follow no other than a vain opinion, and +what their souls desire: yet hath the true direction come unto them from +their LORD. + Shall man have whatever he wisheth for? + The life to come and the present life are GOD'S: + and how many angels soever there be in the heavens, their intercession +shall be of no avail, until after GOD shall have granted permission unto +whom he shall please and shall accept. + Verily they who believe not in the life to come give unto the angels a +female appellation. + But they have no knowledge herein: they follow no other than a bare +opinion; and a bare opinion attaineth not anything of truth. + Wherefore withdraw from him who turneth away from our admonition, +and seeketh only the present life. +30 This is their highest pitch of knowledge. Verily thy LORD well knoweth +him who erreth from his way; and he well knoweth him who is rightly directed. + Unto GOD belongeth whatever is in heaven and earth: that he may reward +those who do evil, according to that which they shall have wrought; and may +reward those who do well, with the most excellent reward. + As to those who avoid great crimes, and heinous sins, and are guilty only +of lighter faults; verily thy LORD will be extensive in mercy towards them. +He well knew you when he produced you out of the earth, and when ye were +embryos in your mothers' wombs: wherefore justify not yourselves: he best +knoweth the man who feareth him. + What thinkest thou of him who turneth aside from following the truth, + and giveth little, and covetously stoppeth his hand? + Is the knowledge of futurity with him, so that he seeth the same? + Hath he not been informed of that which is contained in the books of +Moses, + and of Abraham who faithfully performed his engagements? + To wit: that a burdened soul shall not bear the burden of another; + and that nothing shall be imputed to a man for righteousness, except his +own labor; +40 and that his labor shall surely be made manifest hereafter, + and that he shall be rewarded for the same with a most abundant reward; + and that unto thy LORD will be the end of all things; + and that he causeth to laugh, and causeth to weep; + and that he putteth to death, and giveth life: + and that he createth the two sexes, the male and the female, + of seed when it is emitted; + and that unto him appertaineth another production, namely, the raising of +the dead again to life hereafter; + and that he enricheth, and causeth to acquire possessions; + and that he is the LORD of the dog-star; +50 and that he destroyed the ancient tribe of Ad, + and Thamud, and left not any of them alive; + and also the people of Noah, before them; for they were most unjust and +wicked: + and he overthrew the cities which were turned upside down; + and that which covered them, covered them. + Which, therefore, of thy LORD'S benefits, O man, wilt thou call in +question? + This our apostle is a preacher like the preachers who preceded him. + The approaching day of judgment draweth near: + there is none who can reveal the exact time of the same, besides GOD. + Do ye, therefore, wonder at this new revelation, +60 and do ye laugh, and not weep, + spending your time in idle diversions? + But rather worship GOD, and serve him. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +ENTITLED, THE MOON; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + THE hour of judgment approacheth; and the moon hath been split in +sunder: + but if the unbelievers see a sign, they turn aside, saying, This is a +powerful charm. + And they accuse thee, O Mohammed, of imposture, and follow their own +lusts: but everything will be immutably fixed. + And now hath a message come unto them, wherein is a determent from +obstinate infidelity; + the same being consummate wisdom: but warners profit them not; + wherefore do thou withdraw from them. The day whereon the summoner shall +summon mankind to an ungrateful business, + they shall come forth from their graves with downcast looks: numerous as +locusts scattered far abroad; + hastening with terror unto the summoner. The unbelievers shall say, This +is a day of distress. + The people of Noah accused that prophet of imposture, before thy people +rejected thee: they accused our servant of imposture, saying, He is a madman; +and he was rejected with reproach. +10 He called, therefore, upon his LORD, saying, Verily I am overpowered; +wherefore avenge me. + So we opened the gates of heaven, with water pouring down, + and we caused the earth to break forth into springs; so that the water of +heaven and earth met, according to the decree which had been established. + And we bare him on a vessel composed of planks and nails; + which moved forward under our eyes: as a recompense unto him who had +been ungratefully rejected. + And we left the said vessel for a sign: but is any one warned thereby? + And how severe was my vengeance, and my threatening! + Now have we made the Koran easy for admonition: but is any one admonished +thereby? + Ad charged their prophet with imposture: but how severe was my vengeance, +and my threatening! + Verily we sent against them a roaring wind, on a day of continued ill +luck; +20 it carried men away, as though they had been roots of palm-trees +forcibly torn up. + And how severe was my vengeance and my threatening! + Now have we made the Koran easy for admonition: but is any one admonished +thereby? + Thamud charged the admonitions of their prophet with falsehood, + and said, Shall we follow a single man among us? verily we should then be +guilty of error, and preposterous madness: + is the office of admonition committed unto him preferably to the rest of +us? Nay; he is a liar, and an insolent fellow. + But God said to Saleh, to-morrow shall they know who is the liar, and the +insolent person: + for we will surely send the she-camel for a trial of them: and do thou +observe them, and bear their insults with patience: + and prophesy unto them that the water shall be divided between them, and +each portion shall be sat down to alternately. + And they called their companion: and he took a sword, and slew her. +30 But how severe was my vengeance, and my threatening! + For we sent against them one cry of the angel Gabriel; and they became +like the dry sticks used by him who buildeth a fold for cattle. + And now have we made the Koran easy for admonition: but is any one +admonished thereby? + The people of Lot charged his preaching with falsehood: + but we sent against them a wind driving a shower of stones, which +destroyed them all except the family of Lot; whom we delivered early in the +morning, + through favor from us. Thus do we reward those who are thankful. + And Lot had warned them of our severity in chastising; but they doubted +of that warning. + And they demanded his guests of him, that they might abuse them: but we +put out their eyes, saying, Taste my vengeance, and my threatening. + And early in the morning a lasting punishment surprised them. + Taste, therefore, my vengeance, and my threatening. +40 Now have we made the Koran easy for admonition: but is any one +admonished thereby? + The warning of Moses also came unto the people of Pharaoh; + but they charged every one of our signs with imposture: wherefore we +chastised them with a mighty and irresistible chastisement. + Are your unbelievers, O Meccans, better than these? Is immunity from +punishment promised unto you in the scriptures? + Do they say, We are a body of men able to prevail against our enemies? + The multitude shall surely be put to flight, and shall turn their back. + But the hour of judgment is their threatened time of punishment: and +that hour shall be more grievous and more bitter than their afflictions in +this life. + Verily the wicked wander in error, and shall be tormented hereafter in +burning flames. + On that day they shall be dragged into the fire on their faces; and it +shall be said unto them, Taste ye the touch of hell. + All things have we created bound by a fixed decree: +50 and our command is no more than a single word, like the twinkling of +an eye. + We have formerly destroyed nations like unto you; but is any of you +warned by their example? + Everything which they do is recorded in the books kept by the guardian +angels: + and every action both small and great, is written down in the preserved +table. + Moreover the pious shall dwell among gardens and rivers, + in the assembly of truth, in the presence of a most potent king. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LV. + +ENTITLED, THE MERCIFUL; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + THE Merciful + hath taught his servant the Koran. + He created man: + he hath taught him distinct speech. + The sun and the moon run their courses according to a certain rule: + and the vegetables which creep on the ground, and the trees submit to +his disposition. + He also raised the heaven; and he appointed the balance, + that ye should not transgress in respect to the balance: + wherefore observe a just weight; and diminish not the balance. +10 And the earth hath he prepared for living creatures: + therein are various fruits, and palm-trees bearing sheaths of flowers; + and grain having chaff, and leaves. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + He created man of dried clay like an earthen vessel: + but he created the genii of fire clear from smoke. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + He is the LORD of the east, and the LORD of the west. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + He hath let loose the two seas, that they meet each another: +20 between them is placed a bar which they cannot pass. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + From them are taken forth unions and lesser pearls. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + His also are the ships, carrying their sails aloft in the sea like +mountains. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + Every creature which liveth on the earth is subject to decay: + but the glorious and honourable countenance of thy LORD shall remain +forever. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + Unto him do all creatures which are in heaven and earth make petition: +every day is he employed in some new work. +30 Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + We will surely attend to judge you, O men and genii, at the last day. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + O ye collective body of genii and men, if ye be able to pass out of the +confines of heaven and earth, pass forth: ye shall not pass forth but by +absolute power. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + A flame of fire without smoke, and a smoke without flame shall be sent +down upon you; and ye shall not be able to defend yourselves therefrom. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + And when the heaven shall be rent in sunder, and shall become red as +a rose, and shall melt like ointment. + (Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny?) + On that day neither man nor genius shall be asked concerning his sin. +40 Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + The wicked shall be known by their marks; and they shall be taken by +the forelocks, and the feet, and shall be cast into hell. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + This is hell, which the wicked deny as a falsehood: + they shall pass to and fro between the same and hot boiling water. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + But for him who dreadeth the tribunal of his LORD are prepared two +gardens: + (Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny?) + planted with shady trees. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? +50 In each of them shall be two fountains flowing. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + In each of them shall there be of every fruit two kinds. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + They shall repose on couches, the linings whereof shall be of thick +silk interwoven with gold: and the fruit of the two gardens shall be near +at hand together. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + Therein shall receive them beauteous damsels, refraining their eyes +from beholding any besides their spouses: whom no man shall have +deflowered before them, neither any genius: + (Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny?) + Having complexions like rubies and pearls. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? +60 Shall the reward of good works be any other good? + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + And besides these there shall be two other gardens: + (Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny?) + Of a dark green. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + In each of them shall be two fountains pouring forth plenty of water. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + In each of them shall be fruits, and palm-trees, and pomegranates. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? +70 Therein shall be agreeable and beauteous damsels: + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + Having fine black eyes, and kept in pavilions from public view: + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + Whom no man shall have deflowered before their destined spouses, +nor any genius. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + Therein shall they delight themselves, lying on green cushions and +beautiful carpets. + Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? + Blessed be the name of thy LORD, possessed of glory and honour! + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +ENTITLED, THE INEVITABLE; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WHEN the inevitable day of judgment shall suddenly come, + no soul shall charge the prediction of its coming with falsehood: + it will abase some, and exalt others. + When the earth shall be shaken with a violent shock; + and the mountains shall be dashed in pieces, + and shall become as dust scattered abroad; + and ye shall be separated into three distinct classes: + the companions of the right hand; (how happy shall the companions of the +right hand be!) + and the companions of the left hand (how miserable shall the companions +of the left hand be!), +10 and those who have preceded others in the faith shall precede them to +paradise. + These are they who shall approach near unto God: + they shall dwell in gardens of delight: + (There shall be many of the former religions; + and few of the last.) + Reposing on couches adorned with gold and precious stones; + sitting opposite to one another thereon. + Youths which shall continue in their bloom forever, shall go round about +to attend them, + with goblets, and beakers, and a cup of flowing wine: + their heads shall not ache by drinking the same, neither shall their +reason be disturbed: +20 and with fruits of the sorts which they shall choose, + and the flesh of birds of the kind which they shall desire. + And there shall accompany them fair damsels having large black eyes; +resembling pearls hidden in their shells: + as a reward for that which they shall have wrought. + They shall not hear therein any vain discourse, or any charge of sin; + but only the salutation, Peace! Peace! + And the companions of the right hand (how happy shall the companions of +the right hand be!) + shall have their abode among lote-trees free from thorns, + and trees of mauz loaded regularly with their produce from top to +bottom; +30 under an extended shade, + near a flowing water, + and amidst fruits in abundance, + which shall not fail, nor shall be forbidden to be gathered: + and they shall repose themselves on lofty beds. + Verily we have created the damsels of paradise by a peculiar creation; + and we have made them virgins, + beloved by their husbands, of equal age with them; + for the delight of the companions of the right hand. + There shall be many of the former religions, +40 and many of the latter. + And the companions of the left hand (how miserable shall the companions +of the left hand be!) + shall dwell amidst burning winds, and scalding water, + under the shade of a black smoke, + neither cool nor agreeable. + For they enjoyed the pleasures of life before this, while on earth; + and obstinately persisted in a heinous wickedness: + and they said, + After we shall have died, and become dust and bones, shall we surely be +raised to life? + Shall our forefathers also be raised with us? + Say, Verily both the first and the last +50 shall surely be gathered together to judgment, at the prefixed time +of a known day. + Then ye, O men, who have erred, and denied the resurrection as a +falsehood, + shall surely eat of the fruit of the tree of al Zakkum, + and shall fill your bellies therewith: + and ye shall drink thereon boiling water; + and ye shall drink as a thirsty camel drinketh. + This shall be their entertainment on the day of judgment. + We have created you: will ye not therefore believe that we can raise you +from the dead? + What think ye? The seed which ye emit, + do ye create the same, or are we the creators thereof? +60 We have decreed death unto you all: and we shall not be prevented. + We are able to substitute others like unto you in your stead, and to +produce you again in the condition or form which ye know not. + Ye know the original production by creation; will ye not therefore +consider that we are able to produce you by resuscitation? + What think ye? The grain which ye sow, + do ye cause the same to spring forth, or do we cause it to spring forth? + If we pleased, verily we could render the same dry and fruitless, so that +ye would not cease to wonder, + saying, Verily we have contracted debts for seed and labor, + but we are not permitted to reap the fruit thereof. + What think ye? The water which ye drink, + do ye send down the same from the clouds, or are we the senders thereof? +70 If we pleased, we could render the same brackish: will ye not therefore +give thanks? + What think ye? The fire which ye strike, + do ye produce the tree whence ye obtain the same, or are we the +producers thereof? + We have ordained the same for an admonition, and an advantage to those +who travel through the deserts. + Wherefore praise the name of thy LORD, the great God. + Moreover I swear by the setting of the stars; + (and it is surely a great oath, if ye knew it;) + that this is the excellent Koran, + the original whereof is written in the preserved book: + none shall touch the same, except those who are clean. +80 It is a revelation from the LORD of all creatures. + Will ye, therefore, despise this new revelation? + And do ye make this return for your food which ye receive from God, that +ye deny yourselves to be obliged to him for the same? + When the soul of a dying person cometh up to his throat, + and ye at the same time are looking on; + (and we are nigher unto him than ye, but ye see not his true condition;) + would ye not, if ye are not to be rewarded for your action hereafter, + cause the same to return into the body, if ye speak the truth? + And whether he be of those who shall approach near unto God, + his reward shall be rest, and mercy, and a garden of delights: +90 or whether he be of the companions of the right hand, + he shall be saluted with the salutation, Peace be unto thee! by the +companions of the right hand, his brethren: + or whether he be of those who have rejected the true faith, and gone +astray, + his entertainment shall consist of boiling water, + and the burning of hell fire. + Verily this is a certain truth. + Wherefore praise the name of thy LORD, the great God. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LVII. + +ENTITLED, IRON; REVEALED AT MECCA, OR AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WHATEVER is in heaven and earth singeth praise unto GOD; and he is mighty +and wise. + His is the kingdom of heaven and earth; he giveth life, and he putteth to +death; and he is almighty. + He is the first, and the last; the manifest and the hidden: and he +knoweth all things. + It is he who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and then +ascended his throne. He knoweth that which entereth into the earth, and that +which issueth out of the same, and that which descendeth from heaven, and that +which ascendeth thereto; and he is with you, wheresoever ye be: for GOD seeth +that which ye do. + His is the kingdom of heavens and earth; and unto GOD shall all things +return. + He causeth the night to succeed the day, and he causeth the day to +succeed the night; and he knowest the innermost part of men's breasts. + Believe in GOD and his apostle, and lay out in alms a part of the wealth +whereof GOD hath made you inheritors: for unto such of you as believe, and +bestow alms, shall be given a great reward. + And what aileth you, that ye believe not in GOD, when the apostle +inviteth you to believe in your LORD; and he hath received your covenant +concerning this matter, if ye believe any proposition? + It is he who hath sent down unto his servant evident signs, that he may +lead you out of darkness into light; for GOD is compassionate and merciful +unto you. +10 And what aileth you, that ye contribute not of your substance for the +defence of GOD'S true religion? Since unto GOD appertaineth the inheritance +of heaven and earth. Those among you who shall have contributed and fought +in defence of the faith, before the taking of Mecca, shall not be held equal with +those who shall contribute and fight for the same afterwards. These shall be +superior in degree unto those who shall contribute and fight for the +propagation of the faith, after the above-mentioned success; but unto all hath +GOD promised a most excellent reward; and GOD well knoweth that which ye do. + Who is he that will lend unto GOD an acceptable loan? for he will double +the same unto him, and he shall receive moreover an honourable reward. + On a certain day, thou shalt see the true believers of both sexes: their +light shall run before them, and on their right hands; and it shall be said +unto them, Good tidings unto you this day: gardens through which rivers +flow; ye shall remain therein forever. This will be great felicity. + On that day the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women shall say +unto those who believe, Stay for us, what we may borrow some of your light. +It shall be answered, Return back into the world, and seek light. And a high +wall shall be set betwixt them, wherein shall be a gate, within which shall be +mercy; and without it, over against the same, the torment of hell. + The hypocrites shall call out unto the true believers, saying, Were we not +with you? They shall answer, Yea; but ye seduced your own souls by your +hypocrisy; and ye waited our ruin; and ye doubted concerning the faith; and +your wishes deceived you, until the decree of GOD came, and ye died: and +the deceiver deceived you concerning GOD. + This day, therefore, a ransom shall not be accepted of you, nor of those +who have been unbelievers. Your abode shall be hell fire: this is what ye +have deserved; and an unhappy journey shall it be thither! + Is not the time yet come unto those who believe, that their hearts should +humbly submit to the admonition of GOD, and to that truth which hath been +revealed; and that they be not as those unto whom the scripture was given +heretofore, and to whom the time of forbearance was prolonged, but their +hearts were hardened, and many of them were wicked doers? + Know that GOD quickeneth the earth, after it hath been dead. Now have +we distinctly declared our signs unto you, that ye may understand. + Verily as to the almsgivers, both men and women, and those who lend unto +GOD an acceptable loan, he will double the same unto them; and they shall +moreover receive an honourable reward. + And they who believe in GOD and his apostles, these are the men of +veracity, and the witnesses in the presence of their LORD: they shall have +their reward, and their light. But as to those who believe not, and accuse +our signs of falsehood, they shall be the companions of hell. +20 Know that this present life is only a toy and a vain amusement: and +worldly pomp, and the affectation of glory among you, and the multiplying of +riches and children, are as the plants nourished by the rain, the springing up +whereof delighteth the husbandmen; afterwards they wither, so that thou +seest the same turned yellow, and at length they become dry stubble. And +in the life to come will be a severe punishment for those who covet worldly +grandeur;and pardon from GOD, and favor for those who renounce it: for this +present life is no other than a deceitful provision. + Hasten with emulation to obtain pardon from your LORD, and paradise, the +extent whereof equalleth the extent of heaven and earth, prepared for those +who believe in GOD and his apostles. This is the bounty of GOD: he will give +the same unto whom he pleaseth; and GOD is endued with great bounty. + No accident happeneth in the earth, nor in your persons, but the same was +entered in the book of our decrees, before we created it: verily this is easy +with GOD: + and this is written lest ye immoderately grieve for the good which +escapeth you, or rejoice for that which happened unto you; for GOD loveth no +proud or vain-glorious person, + or those who are covetous, and command men covetousness. And whoso +turneth aside from giving alms; verily GOD is self-sufficient, worthy to be +praised. + We formerly sent our apostles with evident miracles and arguments; and we +sent down with them the scriptures and the balance, that men might observe +justice: and we sent them down iron, wherein is mighty strength for war, and +various advantages unto mankind: that GOD may know who assisteth him and his +apostles in secret; for GOD is strong and mighty. + We formerly sent Noah and Abraham, and we established in their posterity +the gift of prophecy, and the scripture: and of them some were directed, but +many of them were evil-doers. + Afterwards we caused our apostles to succeed in their footsteps; and we +caused Jesus the son of Mary to succeed them, and we gave him the gospel: and +we put in the hearts of those that followed him compassion and mercy: but as +to the monastic state, they instituted the same (we did not prescribe it to +them) only out of a desire to please GOD; yet they observed not the same as it +ought truly to have been observed. And we gave unto such of them as believed +their reward: but many of them were wicked doers. + O ye who believe in the former prophets, fear GOD, and believe in his +apostle Mohammed: he will give you two portions of his mercy, and he will +ordain a light wherein ye may walk, and he will forgive you; for GOD is ready +to forgive, and merciful: + that those who have received the scriptures may know that they have not +power over any of the favours of GOD, and that good is in the hand of GOD; he +bestoweth the same on whom he pleaseth; for GOD is endued with great +beneficence. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + +ENTITLED, SHE WHO DISPUTED; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + NOW hath GOD heard the speech of her who disputed with thee concerning +her husband, and made her complaint unto GOD; and GOD hath heard your +mutual discourse: for GOD both heareth and seeth. + As to those among you who divorce their wives, by declaring that they +will thereafter regard them as their mothers; let them know that they are not +their mothers. They only are their mothers who brought them forth; and they +certainly utter an unjustifiable saying and a falsehood: but GOD is gracious and +ready to forgive. + Those who divorce their wives by declaring that they will for the future +regard them as their mothers, and afterwards would repair what they have +said, shall be obliged to free a captive, before they touch one another. +That is what ye are warned to perform: and GOD is well apprised of that which +ye do. + And whoso findeth not a captive to redeem, shall observe a fast of two +consecutive months, before they touch one another. And whoso shall not be +able to fast that time, shall feed threescore poor men. This is ordained you, +that ye may believe in GOD and his apostle. These are the statutes of GOD: +and for the unbelievers is prepared a grievous torment. + Verily they who oppose GOD and his apostle shall be brought low, as the +unbelievers who preceded them were brought low. And now have we sent down +manifest signs: and an ignominious punishment awaiteth the unbelievers. + On a certain day GOD shall raise them all to life, and shall declare unto +them that which they have wrought. GOD hath taken an exact account thereof; +but they have forgotten the same: and GOD is witness over all things. + Dost thou not perceive that GOD knoweth whatever is in heaven and in +earth? There is no private discourse among three persons, but he is the +fourth of them; nor among five, but he is the sixth of them; neither among a +smaller number than this, nor a larger, but he is with them, wheresoever they +be: and he will declare unto them that which they have done, on the day of +resurrection; for GOD knoweth all things. + Hast thou not observed those who have been forbidden to use clandestine +discourse, but afterwards return to what they have been forbidden, and +discourse privily among themselves of wickedness, and enmity, and disobedience +towards the apostle? And when they come unto thee, they salute thee with +that form of salutation wherewith GOD doth not salute thee; and they say +among themselves, by way of derision, Would not GOD punish us for what we say, +if this man were a prophet? Hell shall be their sufficient punishment: they +shall go down into the same to be burned; and an unhappy journey shall it be! + O true believers, when ye discourse privily together, discourse not of +wickedness, and enmity, and disobedience towards the apostle; but discourse of +justice and piety: and fear GOD, before whom ye shall be assembled. +10 Verily the clandestine discourse of the infidels proceedeth from Satan, +that he may grieve the true believers: but there shall be none to hurt them in +the least, unless by the permission of GOD; wherefore in GOD let the faithful +trust. + O true believers, when it is said unto you, Make room in the assembly; +make room: GOD will grant you ample room in paradise. And when it is said +unto you, Rise up; rise up: GOD will raise those of you who believe, and those +to whom knowledge is given, to superior degrees of honour; and GOD is fully +apprised of that which ye do. + O true believers, when ye go to speak with the apostle, give alms +previously to your discoursing with him; this will be better for you, and +more pure. But if ye find not what to give, verily GOD will be gracious and +merciful unto you. + Do ye fear to give alms previously to your discoursing with the prophet, +lest ye should impoverish yourselves? Therefore if ye do it not, and GOD is +gracious unto you, by dispensing with the said precept for the future, be +constant at prayer, and pay the legal alms; and obey GOD and his apostle in +all other matters: for GOD well knoweth that which ye do. + Hast thou not observed those who have taken for their friends a people +against whom GOD is incensed? They are neither of you, nor of them: and +they swear to a lies knowingly. + GOD hath prepared for them a grievous punishment; for it is evil which +they do. + They have taken their oaths for a cloak, and they have turned men aside +from the way of GOD: wherefore a shameful punishment awaiteth them; + neither their wealth nor their children shall avail them at all against +GOD. These shall be the inhabitants of hell fire; they shall abide therein +forever. + On a certain day GOD shall raise them all: then will they swear unto him, +as they swear now unto you, imagining that it will be of service to them. +Are they not liars? + Satan hath prevailed against them, and hath caused them to forget the +remembrance of GOD. These are the party of the devil; and shall not the +party of the devil be doomed to perdition? +20 Verily they who oppose GOD and his apostle shall be placed among +the most vile. + GOD hath written, Verily I will prevail, and my apostles: for GOD is strong +and mighty. + Thou shalt not find people who believe in GOD and the last day to love +him who opposeth GOD and his apostle; although they be their fathers, or +their sons, or their brethren, or their nearest relations. In the hearts of +these hath GOD written faith; and he hath strengthened them with his +spirit: and he will lead them into gardens, beneath which rivers flow, to +remain therein forever. GOD is well pleased in them; and they are well +pleased in him. These are the party of GOD: and shall not the party of +GOD prosper? + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LIX. + +ENTITLED, THE EMIGRATION; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WHATEVER is in heaven and earth celebrateth the praise of GOD: and he is +the mighty, the wise. + It was he who caused those who believed not, of the people who receive +the scripture, to depart from their habitations at the first emigration. Ye +did not think that they would go forth: and they thought that their fortresses +would protect them against GOD. But the chastisement of GOD came upon them, +from whence they did not expect; and he cast terror into their hearts. They +pulled down their houses with their own hands, and the hands of the true +believers. Wherefore take example from them, O ye who have eyes. + And if GOD had not doomed them to banishment, he had surely punished them +in this world: and in the world to come they shall suffer the torment of hell +fire. + This, because they opposed GOD and his apostle: and whoso opposeth GOD, +verily GOD will be severe in punishing him. + What palm-trees ye cut down, or left standing on their roots, were so cut +down or left by the will of GOD; and that he might disgrace the wicked doers. + And as to the spoils of these people which GOD hath granted wholly to his +apostle, ye did not push forward any horses or camels against the same; but +GOD giveth unto his apostles dominion over whom he pleaseth: for GOD is +almighty. + The spoils of the inhabitants of the towns which GOD hath granted to his +apostle are due unto GOD and to the apostle, and to him who is of kin to the +apostle, and the orphans, and the poor, and the traveller; that they may not +be forever divided in a circle among such of you as are rich. What the +apostle shall give you, that accept; and what he shall forbid you, that +abstain from: and fear GOD; for GOD is severe in chastising. + A part also belongeth to the poor Mohâjerin, who have been dispossessed +of their houses and their substance, seeking favor from GOD, and his good- +will, and assisting GOD and his apostle. These are the men of veracity. + And they who quietly possessed the town of Medina, and professed the +faith without molestation, before them, love him who hath fled unto them, and +find in their breasts no want of that which is given the Mohâjerin, but +prefer them before themselves, although there be indigence among them. And +whoso is preserved from the covetousness of his own soul, those shall surely +prosper. +10 And they who have come after them say, O LORD, forgive us and our +brethren who have preceded us in the faith, and put not into our hearts ill- +will against those who have believed: O LORD, verily thou art compassionate +and merciful. + Hast thou not observed them who play the hypocrites? They say unto their +brethren who believe not, of those who have received the scriptures, Verily +if ye be expelled your habitations, we will surely go forth with you; and we +will not pay obedience, in your respect, unto any one forever: and if ye be +attacked, we will certainly assist you. But GOD is witness that they are +liars. + Verily if they be expelled, they will not go forth with them: and if they +be attacked, they will not assist them; and if they do assist them, they will +surely turn their backs: and they shall not be protected. + Verily ye are stronger than they, by reason of the terror cast into their +breasts from GOD. This, because they are not people of prudence. + They will not fight against you in a body, except in fenced towns, or +from behind walls. Their strength in war among themselves is great: thou +thinkest them to be united; but their hearts are divided. This, because they +are people who do not understand. + Like those who lately preceded them, they have tasted the evil +consequence of their deed; and a painful torment is prepared for them +hereafter. + Thus have the hypocrites deceived the Jews: like the devil, when he saith +unto a man, Be thou an infidel; and when he is become an infidel, he saith, +Verily I am clear of thee; for I fear GOD, the LORD of all creatures. + Wherefore the end of them both shall be that they shall dwell in hell +fire, abiding therein forever: and this shall be the recompense of the unjust. + O true believers, fear GOD; and let a soul look what it sendeth before +for the morrow: and fear GOD, for GOD is well acquainted with that which ye +do. + And be not as those who have forgotten GOD, and whom he hath caused to +forget their own souls: these are the wicked doers. +20 The inhabitants of hell fire and the inhabitants of paradise shall not +be held equal. The inhabitants of paradise are they who shall enjoy felicity. + If we had sent down this Koran on a mountain, thou wouldest certainly +have seen the same humble itself, and cleave in sunder for fear of GOD. These +similitudes do we propose unto men, that they may consider. + He is GOD, besides whom there is no GOD; who knoweth that which is +future, and that which is present: he is the most Merciful; + he is GOD, besides whom there is no GOD: the King, the Holy, the Giver of +peace, the Faithful, the Guardian, the Powerful, the Strong, the most High. +Far be GOD exalted above the idols which they associate with him! + He is GOD, the Creator, the Maker, the Former. He hath most excellent +names. Whatever is in heaven and in earth praiseth him: and he is the +Mighty, the Wise. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LX. + +ENTITLED, SHE WHO IS TRIED; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + O TRUE believers, take not my enemy and your enemy for your friends, +showing kindness towards them; since they believe not in the truth which hath +come unto you, having expelled the apostle and yourselves from your native +city, because ye believe in GOD, your LORD. If ye go forth to fight in +defence of my religion, and out of a desire to please me, and privately show +friendship unto them; verily I well know that which ye conceal, and that +which ye discover: and whoever of you doth this, hath already erred from the +straight path. + If they get the better of you, they will be enemies unto you, and they +will stretch forth their hands and their tongues against you with evil: and +they earnestly desire that ye should become unbelievers. + Neither your kindred nor your children will avail you at all on the day +of resurrection, which will separate you from one another: and GOD seeth that +which ye do. + Ye have an excellent pattern in Abraham, and those who were with him, +when they said unto their people, Verily we are clear of you, and of the idols +which ye worship, besides GOD: we have renounced you; and enmity and hatred is +begun between us and you forever, until ye believe in GOD alone: except +Abraham's saying unto his father, Verily I will beg pardon for thee: but I +cannot obtain aught of GOD in thy behalf. O LORD, in thee do we trust, and +unto thee are we turned; and before thee shall we be assembled hereafter. + O LORD, suffer us not to be put to trial by the unbelievers: and forgive +us, O LORD; for thou art mighty and wise. + Verily ye have in them an excellent example, unto him who hopeth in GOD +and the last day: and whoso turneth back; verily GOD is self-sufficient, and +praiseworthy. + Peradventure GOD will establish friendship between yourselves and such of +them as ye now hold for enemies: for GOD is powerful; and GOD is inclined to +forgive, and merciful. + As to those who have not borne arms against you on account of religion, +nor turned you out of your dwellings, GOD forbiddeth you not to deal kindly +with them, and to behave justly towards them: for GOD loveth those who act +justly. + But as to those who have borne arms against you on account of religion, +and have dispossessed you of your habitations, and have assisted in +dispossessing you, GOD forbiddeth you to enter into friendship with them: and +whosoever of you entereth into friendship with them, those are unjust doers. +10 O true believers, when believing women come unto you as refugees, try +them: GOD well knoweth their faith. And if ye know them to be true believers, +send them not back to the infidels: they are not lawful for the unbelievers to +have in marriage; neither are the unbelievers lawful for them. But give their +unbelieving husbands what they shall have expended for their dowers. Nor +shall it be any crime in you if ye marry them, provided ye give them their +dowries. And retain not the patronage of the unbelieving women: but demand +back that which ye have expended for the dowry of such of your wives as go +over to the unbelievers; and let them demand back that which they have +expended for the dowry of those who come over to you. This is the judgment of +GOD, which he establisheth among you: and GOD is knowing and wise. + If any of your wives escape from you to the unbelievers, and ye have +your turn by the coming over of any of the unbelievers' wives to you; give +unto those believers whose wives shall have gone away, out of the dowries of +the latter, so much as they shall have expended for the dowers of the former: +and fear GOD, in whom ye believe. + O prophet, when believing women come unto thee, and plight their faith +unto thee, that they will not associate anything with GOD, nor steal, nor +commit fornication, nor kill their children, nor come with a calumny which +they have forged between their hands and their feet, nor be disobedient to +thee in that which shall be reasonable: then do thou plight thy faith unto +them, and ask pardon for them of GOD; for GOD is inclined to forgive, and +merciful. + O true believers, enter not into friendship with a people against whom +GOD is incensed; they despair of the life to come, as the infidels despair +of the resurrection of those who dwell in the graves. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXI. + +ENTITLED, BATTLE-ARRAY; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WHATEVER is in heaven and in earth celebrateth the praise of GOD; for he +is mighty and wise. + O true believers, why do ye say that which ye do not? + It is most odious in the sight of GOD, that ye say that which ye do not. + Verily GOD loveth those who fight for his religion in battle-array, as +though they were a well-compacted building. + Remember when Moses said unto his people, O my people, why do ye injure +me; since ye know that I am the apostle of GOD sent unto you? And when they +had deviated from the truth, GOD made their hearts to deviate from the right +way; for GOD directeth not wicked people. + And when Jesus the Son of Mary said, O children of Israel, verily I am +the apostle of GOD sent unto you, confirming the law which was delivered +before me, and bringing good tidings of an apostle who shall come after me, +and whose name shall be Ahmed. And when he produced unto them evident +miracles, they said, This is manifest sorcery. + But who is more unjust than he who forgeth a lie against GOD, when he is +invited unto Islam? And GOD directeth not the unjust people. + They seek to extinguish GOD'S light with their mouths: but GOD will +perfect his light, though the infidels be averse thereto. + It is he who hath sent his apostle with the direction, and the religion +of truth, that he may exalt the same above every religion, although the +idolaters be averse thereto. +10 O true believers, shall I show you a merchandise which will deliver you +from a painful torment hereafter? + Believe in GOD and his apostle; and defend GOD'S true religion with your +substance, and in your own persons. This will be better for you, if ye knew +it. + He will forgive you your sins, and will introduce you into gardens +through which rivers flow, and agreeable habitations in gardens of perpetual +abode. This will be great felicity. + And ye shall obtain other things which ye desire, namely, assistance from +GOD, and a speedy victory. And do thou bear good tidings to the true +believers. + O true believers, be ye assistants of GOD; as Jesus the son of Mary said +to the apostles, Who will be my assistants with respect to GOD? The apostles +answered, We will be the assistants of GOD. So a part of the children of +Israel believed, and a part believed not: but we strengthened those who +believed, above their enemy; wherefore they became victorious over them. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXII. + +ENTITLED, THE ASSEMBLY; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WHATEVER is in heaven and earth praiseth GOD; the King, the Holy, the +Mighty, the Wise. + It is he who hath raised up amidst the illiterate Arabians an apostle +from among themselves, to rehearse his signs unto them, and to purify them, +and to teach them the scriptures and wisdom; whereas before they were +certainly in a manifest error; + and others of them have not yet attained unto them, by embracing the +faith; though they also shall be converted in GOD's good time; for he is +mighty and wise. + This is the free grace of GOD: he bestoweth the same on whom he pleaseth: +and GOD is endued with great beneficence. + The likeness of those who were charged with the observance of the law, +and then observed it not, is as the likeness of an ass laden with books. How +wretched is the likeness of the people who charge the signs of GOD with +falsehood! and GOD directeth not the unjust people. + Say, O ye who follow the Jewish religion, if ye say that ye are the +friends of GOD above other men, wish for death, if ye speak truth. + But they will never wish for it, because of that which their hands have +sent before them: and GOD well knoweth the unjust. + Say, Verily death, from which ye fly, will surely meet you: then shall ye +be brought before him who knoweth as well what is concealed as what is +discovered; and he will declare unto you that which ye have done. + O true believers, when ye are called to prayer on the day of assembly, +hasten to the commemoration of GOD and leave merchandising. This will be +better for you, if you knew it. +10 And when prayer is ended, then disperse yourselves through the land as +ye list, and seek gain of the liberality of GOD: and remember GOD frequently, +that ye may prosper. + But when they see any merchandising, or sport, they flock thereto, and +leave thee standing up in the pulpit. Say, The reward which is with GOD is +better than any sport or merchandise: and GOD is the best provider. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + +ENTITLED, THE HYPOCRITES; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WHEN the hypocrites come unto thee, they say, We bear witness that thou +art indeed the apostle of GOD. And GOD knoweth that thou art indeed his +apostle: but GOD beareth witness that the hypocrites are certainly liars. + They have taken their oaths for a protection, and they turn others aside +from the way of GOD: it is surely evil which they do. + This is testified of them, because they believed, and afterwards became +unbelievers: wherefore a seal is set on their hearts, and they shall not +understand. + When thou beholdest them, their persons please thee: and if they speak, +thou hearest their discourse with delight. They resemble pieces of timber set +up against a wall. They imagine every shout to be against them. They are +enemies: wherefore beware of them. GOD curse them: how are they turned aside +from the truth! + And when it is said unto them, Come, that the apostle of GOD may ask +pardon for you; they turn away their heads, and thou seest them retire big +with disdain. + It shall be equal unto them, whether thou ask pardon for them, or do not +ask pardon for them: GOD will by no means forgive them; for GOD directeth not +the prevaricating people. + These are the men who say to the inhabitants of Medina, Do not bestow +anything on the refugees who are with the apostle of GOD, that they may be +obliged to separate from him. Whereas unto GOD belong the stores of heaven +and earth: but the hypocrites do not understand. + They say, Verily, if we return to Medina, the worthier shall expel thence +the meaner. Whereas superior worth belongeth unto GOD and his apostle, and +the true believers: but the hypocrites know it not. + O true believers, let not your riches or your children divert you from +the remembrance of GOD: for whosoever doth this, they will surely be losers. +10 And give alms out of that which we have bestowed on you; before death +come unto one of you, and he say, O LORD, wilt thou not grant me respite for a +short term: that I may give alms, and become one of the righteous? + For GOD will by no means grant further respite to a soul, when its +determined time is come: and GOD is fully apprised of that which ye do. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + +ENTITLED, MUTUAL DECEIT; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WHATEVER is in heaven and earth celebrateth the praises of GOD: his is +the kingdom, and unto him is the praise due; for he is almighty. + It is he who hath created you; and one of you is predestined to be an +unbeliever, and another of you is predestined to be a believer: and GOD +beholdeth that which ye do. + He hath created the heavens and the earth with truth; and he hath +fashioned you, and given you beautiful forms: and unto him must ye all go. + He knoweth whatever is in heaven and earth: and he knoweth that which ye +conceal, and that which ye discover; for GOD knoweth the innermost part of +men's breasts. + Have ye not been acquainted with the story of those who disbelieved +heretofore, and tasted the evil consequence of their behavior? And for them +is prepared in the life to come a tormenting punishment. + This shall they suffer, because their apostles came unto them with +evident proofs of their mission, and they said, Shall men direct us? +Wherefore they believed not, and turned their backs. But GOD standeth in need +of no person: for GOD is self-sufficient, and worthy to be praised. + The unbelievers imagine that they shall not be raised again. Say, Yea, +by my LORD, ye shall surely be raised again; then shall ye be told that which +ye have wrought; and this is easy with GOD. + Wherefore believe in GOD and his apostle, and the light which we have +sent down: for GOD is well acquainted with that which ye do. + On a certain day he shall assemble you, at the day of the general +assembly: that will be the day of mutual deceit. And whoso shall believe in +GOD, and shall do that which is right, from him will he expiate his evil +deeds, and he will lead him into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to remain +therein forever. This will be great felicity. +10 But they who shall not believe, and shall accuse our signs of falsehood, +those shall be the inhabitants of hell fire, wherein they shall remain +forever; and a wretched journey shall it be thither! + No misfortune happeneth but by the permission of GOD; and whoso believeth +in GOD, he will direct his heart: and GOD knoweth all things. + Wherefore obey GOD, and obey the apostle: but if ye turn back, verily the +duty incumbent on our apostle is only public preaching. + GOD! there is no GOD but he: wherefore in GOD let the faithful put their +trust. + O true believers, verily of your wives and your children ye have an +enemy: wherefore beware of them. But if ye pass over their offences, and +pardon, and forgive them; GOD is likewise inclined to forgive, and merciful. + Your wealth and your children are only a temptation; but with GOD is a +great reward. + Wherefore fear GOD, as much as ye are able; and hear, and obey: and give +alms, for the good of your souls; for whoso is preserved from the covetousness +of his own soul, they shall prosper. + If ye lend unto GOD an acceptable loan, he will double the same unto you, +and will forgive you: for GOD is grateful, and long-suffering, + knowing both what is hidden, and what is divulged; the Mighty, the Wise. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXV. + +ENTITLED, DIVORCE; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + O PROPHET, when ye divorce women, put them away at their appointed term; +and compute the term exactly: and fear GOD, your LORD. Oblige them not to go +out of their apartments, neither let them go out, until the term be expired, +unless they be guilty of manifest uncleanness. These are the statutes of GOD: +and whoever transgresseth the statutes of GOD assuredly injureth his own soul. +Thou knowest not whether GOD will bring something new to pass, which may +reconcile them after this. + And when they shall have fulfilled their term, either retain them with +kindness, or part from them honourably: and take witnesses from among you, +men of integrity; and give your testimony as in the presence of GOD. This +admonition is given unto him who believeth in GOD and the last day: and whoso +feareth GOD, unto him will he grant a happy issue out of all his afflictions, + and he will bestow on him an ample provision from whence he expecteth it +not: and whoso trusteth in GOD, he will be his sufficient support; for GOD +will surely attain his purpose. Now hath GOD appointed unto everything a +determined period. + As to such of your wives as shall despair having their courses, by reason +of their age; if ye be in doubt thereof, let their term be three months: and +let the same be the term of those who have not yet had their courses. But as +to those who are pregnant, their term shall be, until they be delivered of +their burden. And whoso feareth GOD, unto him will he make his command easy. + This is the command of GOD, which he hath sent down unto you. And whoso +feareth GOD, he will expiate his evil deeds from him, and will increase his +reward. + Suffer the women whom ye divorce to dwell in some part of the houses +wherein ye dwell; according to the room and conveniences of the habitations +which ye possess: and make them not uneasy, that ye may reduce them to +straits. And if they be with child, expend on them what shall be needful, +until they be delivered of their burden. And if they suckle their children +for you, give them their hire; and consult among yourselves, according to +what shall be just and reasonable. And if ye be put to a difficulty herein, +and another woman shall suckle the child for him, + let him who hath plenty expend proportionably in the maintenance of the +mother and the nurse, out of his plenty: and let him whose income is scanty +expend in proportion out of that which GOD hath given him. GOD obligeth no +man to more than he hath given him ability to perform: GOD will cause ease to +succeed hardship. + How many cities have turned aside from the command of the LORD and his +apostles! Wherefore we brought them to a severe account; and we chastised +them with a grievous chastisement: + and they tasted the evil consequence of their business; and the end of +their business was perdition. +10 GOD hath prepared for them a severe punishment: wherefore fear GOD, +O ye who are endued with understanding. True believers, now hath GOD sent +down unto you an admonition, + an apostle who may rehearse unto you the perspicuous signs of GOD; that +he may bring forth those who believe and do good works, from darkness into +light. And whoso believeth in GOD, and doth that which is right, him will he lead +into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to remain therein forever: now hath +GOD made an excellent provision for him. + It is GOD who hath created seven heavens, and as many different stories +of the earth: the divine command descendeth between them; that ye may know +that GOD is omnipotent, and that GOD comprehendeth all things by his +knowledge. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + +ENTITLED, PROHIBITION; REVEALED AT MEDINA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + O PROPHET, why holdest thou that to be prohibited which GOD hath allowed +thee, seeking to please thy wives; since GOD is inclined to forgive, and +merciful? + GOD hath allowed you the dissolution of your oaths: and GOD is your +master; and he is knowing and wise. + When the prophet intrusted as a secret unto one of his wives a certain +accident; and when she disclosed the same, and GOD made it known unto him; he +acquainted her with part of what she had done, and forbore to upbraid her with +the other part thereof. And when he had acquainted her therewith, she said, +Who hath discovered this unto thee? He answered, The knowing, the sagacious +God hath discovered it unto me. + If ye both be turned unto GOD (for your hearts have swerved) it is well: +but if ye join against him, verily GOD is his patron; and Gabriel, and the +good man among the faithful, and the angels also are his assistants. + If he divorce you, his LORD can easily give him in exchange other wives +better than you, women resigned unto God, true believers, devout, penitent, +obedient, given to fasting, both such as have been known by other men, and +virgins. + O true believers, save your souls, and those of your families, from the +fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which are set angels fierce and +terrible; who disobey not GOD in what he hath commanded them, but perform +what they are commanded. + O unbelievers, excuse not yourselves this day; ye shall surely be +rewarded for what ye have done. + O true believers, turn unto GOD with a sincere repentance: peradventure +your LORD will do away from you your evil deeds, and will admit you into +gardens, through which rivers flow; on the day whereon GOD will not put to +shame the prophet, or those who believe with him: their light shall run before +them, and on their right hands, and they shall say, LORD, make our light +perfect, and forgive us: for thou art almighty. + O prophet, attack the infidels with arms, and the hypocrites with +arguments; and treat them with severity: their abode shall be hell, and an ill +journey shall it be thither. +10 GOD propoundeth as a similitude unto the unbelievers, the wife of Noah, +and the wife of Lot: they were under two of our righteous servants, and they +deceived them both; wherefore their husbands were of no advantage unto them +at all, in the sight of GOD: and it shall be said unto them, at the last day, +Enter ye into hell fire, with those who enter therein. + GOD also propoundeth as a similitude unto those who believe, the wife of +Pharaoh; when she said, LORD, build me a house with thee in paradise; and +deliver me from Pharaoh and his doings, and deliver me from the unjust people: + and Mary the daughter of Imran; who preserved her chastity, and into +whose womb we breathed of our spirit, and who believed in the words of her +LORD, and his scriptures, and was a devout and obedient person. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + +ENTITLED, THE KINGDOM; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BLESSED be he in whose hand is the kingdom, for he is almighty! + Who hath created death and life, that he might prove you, which of you is +most righteous in his actions: and he is mighty, and ready to forgive. + Who hath created seven heavens, one above another: thou canst not see in +a creature of the most Merciful any unfitness or disproportion. + Lift up thine eyes again to heaven, and look whether thou seest any flaw: +then take two other views; and thy sight shall return unto thee dull and +fatigued. + Moreover we have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and have appointed +them to be darted at the devils, for whom we have prepared the torment of +burning fire: + and for those who believe not in their LORD is also prepared the torment +of hell; and ill journey shall it be thither. + When they shall be thrown thereinto, they shall hear it bray like an +ass; and it shall boil, + and almost burst for fury. So often as a company of them shall be thrown +therein, the keepers thereof shall ask them, saying, Did not a warner come +unto you? + They shall answer, Yea, a warner came unto us: but we accused him of +imposture, and said, GOD hath not revealed anything; ye are in no other than a +great error: +10 and they shall say, If we had hearkened, or had rightly considered, we +should not have been among the inhabitants of burning fire: + and they shall confess their sins; but far be the inhabitants of burning +fire from obtaining mercy! + Verily they who fear their LORD in secret shall receive pardon and a +great reward. + Either conceal your discourse, or make it public; he knoweth the +innermost part of your breasts: + shall not he know all things who hath created them; since he is the +sagacious, the knowing? + It is he who hath levelled the earth for you: therefore walk through the +regions thereof, and eat of his provision; unto him shall be the resurrection. + Are ye secure that he who dwelleth in heaven will not cause the earth to +swallow you up? and behold, it shall shake. + Or are you secure that he who dwelleth in heaven will not send against +you an impetuous whirlwind, driving the sands to overwhelm you? then shall ye +know how important my warning was. + Those also who were before you disbelieved; and how grievous was my +displeasure! + Do they not behold the birds above them, extending and drawing back their +wings? None sustaineth them, except the Merciful; for he regardeth all +things. +20 Or who is he that will be as an army unto you, to defend you against the +Merciful? Verily the unbelievers are in no other than a mistake. + Or who is he that will give you food, if he withholdeth his provision? +yet they persist in perverseness, and flying from the truth. + Is he, therefore, who goeth grovelling upon his face, better directed +than he who walketh upright in a straight way? + Say, It is he who hath given you being, and endued you with hearing, and +sight, and understanding; yet how little gratitude have ye! + Say, It is he who hath sown you in the earth, and unto him shall ye be +gathered together. + They say, When shall this menace be put in execution, if ye speak truth? + Answer, The knowledge of this matter is with GOD alone: for I am only a +public warner. + But when they shall see the same nigh at hand, the countenance of the +infidels shall grow sad: and it shall be said unto them, This is what ye have +been demanding. + Say, What think ye? Whether GOD destroy me and those who are with me, or +have mercy on us; who will protect the unbelievers from a painful punishment? + Say, He is the Merciful; in him do we believe, and in him do we put our +trust. Ye shall hereafter know who is in a manifest error. +30 Say, What think ye? If your water be in the morning swallowed up by the +earth, who will give you clear and running water? + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. + +ENTITLED, THE PEN; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + N. BY the pen, and what they write, + thou, O Mohammed, through the grace of thy LORD, art not distracted. + Verily there is prepared for thee an everlasting reward: + for thou art of a noble disposition. + Thou shalt see, and the infidels shall see, + which of you are bereaved of your senses. + Verily thy LORD well knoweth him who wandereth from his path; and he well +knoweth those who are rightly directed: + wherefore obey not those who charge thee with imposture. + They desire that thou shouldest be easy with them, and they will be easy +with thee. +10 But obey not any who is a common swearer, a despicable fellow, + a defamer, going about with slander, + who forbiddeth that which is good, who is also a transgressor, a wicked +person, + cruel, and besides this, of spurious birth: + although he be possessed of wealth and many children: + when our signs are rehearsed unto him, he saith, They are fables of the +ancients. + We will stigmatize him on the nose. + Verily we have tried the Meccans, as we formerly tried the owners of the +garden; when they swore that they would gather the fruit thereof in the +morning, + and added not the exception, if it please God: + wherefore a surrounding destruction from thy LORD encompassed it, while +they slept; +20 and in the morning it became like a garden whose fruits had been +gathered. + And they called the one to the other as they rose in the morning, + saying, Go out early to your plantation, if ye intend to gather the fruit +thereof: + so they went on, whispering to one another, + No poor man shall enter the garden upon you, this day. + And they went forth early, with a determined purpose. + And when they saw the garden blasted and destroyed, they said, We have +certainly mistaken our way: + but when they found it to be their own garden, they cried, Verily we are +not permitted to reap the fruit thereof. + The worthier of them said, Did I not say unto you, Will ye not give +praise unto GOD? + They answered, Praise be unto our LORD! Verily we have been unjust +doers. +30 And they began to blame one another, + and they said, Woe be unto us! verily we have been transgressors: + peradventure our LORD will give us in exchange a better garden than this: +and we earnestly beseech our LORD to pardon us. + Thus is the chastisement of this life: but the chastisement of the next +shall be more grievous: if they had known it, they would have taken heed. + Verily for the pious are prepared, with their LORD, gardens of delight. + Shall we deal with the Moslems, as with the wicked? + What aileth you that ye judge thus? + Have ye a book from heaven, wherein ye read + that ye are therein promised that which ye shall choose? + Or have ye received oaths which shall be binding upon us to the day of +resurrection, that ye shall enjoy what ye imagine? +40 Ask them, which of them will be the voucher of this. + Or have they companions who will vouch for them? Let them produce their +companions, therefore, if they speak truth. + On a certain day the leg shall be made bare; and they shall be called +upon to worship, but they shall not be able. + Their looks shall be cast down: ignominy shall attend them; for that they +were invited to the worship of God, while they were in safety, but would not +hear. + Let me alone, therefore, with him who accuseth this new revelation of +imposture. We will lead them gradually to destruction, by ways which they +know not: + and I will bear with them for a long time; for my stratagem is effectual. + Dost thou ask them any reward for thy preaching? But they are laden with +debts. + Are the secrets of futurity with them; and do they transcribe the same +from the table of GOD's decrees? + Wherefore patiently wait the judgment of thy LORD: and be not like him +who was swallowed by the fish; when he cried unto God, being inwardly vexed. + Had not grace from his LORD reached him, he had surely been cast forth on +the naked shore, covered with shame: +50 but his LORD chose him, and made him one of the righteous. + It wanteth little but that the unbelievers strike thee down with their +malicious looks, when they hear the admonition of the Koran; and they say, He +is certainly distracted: + but it is no other than an admonition unto all creatures. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXIX. + +ENTITLED, THE INFALLIBLE; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + THE infallible! + What is the infallible? + And what shall cause thee to understand what the infallible is? + The tribes of Thamud and Ad denied as a falsehood the day which shall +strike men's hearts with terror. + But Thamud were destroyed by a terrible noise: + and Ad were destroyed by a roaring and furious wind; + which God caused to assail them for seven nights and eight days +successively: thou mightest have seen people during the same, lying prostrate, +as though they had been the roots of hollow palm-trees; + and couldest thou have seen any of them remaining? + Pharaoh also, and those who were before him, and the cities which were +overthrown, were guilty of sin: +10 and they severally were disobedient to the apostle of their LORD; +wherefore he chastised them with an abundant chastisement. + When the water of the deluge arose, we carried you in the ark which swam +thereon; + that we might make the same a memorial unto you, and the retaining ear +might retain it. + And when one blast shall sound the trumpet, + and the earth shall be moved from its place, and the mountains also, and +shall be dashed in pieces at one stroke: + on that day the inevitable hour of judgment shall suddenly come; + and the heavens shall cleave in sunder, and shall fall in pieces, on that +day: + and the angels shall be on the sides thereof; and eight shall bear the +throne of thy LORD above them, on that day. + On that day ye shall be presented before the judgment-seat of God; and +none of your secret actions shall be hidden. + And he who shall have his book delivered into his right hand shall say, +Take ye, read this my book; +20 verily I thought that I should be brought to this my account: + he shall lead a pleasing life, + in a lofty garden, + the fruits whereof shall be near to gather. + Eat and drink with easy digestion; because of the good works which ye +sent before you, in the days which are past. + But he who shall have his book delivered into his left hand shall say, Oh +that I had not received this book; + and that I had not known what this my account was! + Oh that death had made an end of me! + My riches have not profited me; + and my power is passed from me. +30 And God shall say to the keepers of hell, Take him, and bind him, + and cast him into hell to be burned: + then put him into a chain of the length of seventy cubits: + because he believed not in the great GOD; + and was not solicitous to feed the poor: + wherefore this day he shall have no friend here; + nor any food, but the filthy corruption flowing from the bodies of the +damned, + which none shall eat but the sinners. + I swear by that which ye see, + and that which ye see not, +40 that this is the discourse of an honourable apostle + and not the discourse of a poet: how little do ye believe! + Neither is it the discourse of a soothsayer: how little are ye +admonished! + It is a revelation from the LORD of all creatures. + If Mohammed had forged any part of these discourses concerning us, + verily we had taken him by the right hand, + and had cut in sunder the vein of his heart; + neither would we have withheld any of you from chastising him. + And verily this book is an admonition unto the pious; + and we well know that there are some of you who charge the same with +imposture: +50 but it shall surely be an occasion of grievous sighing unto the +infidels; + for it is the truth of a certainty. + Wherefore praise the name of thy LORD, the great God. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXX. + +ENTITLED, THE STEPS; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + ONE demanded and called for vengeance to fall + on the unbelievers: there shall be none to avert the same + from being inflicted by GOD, the possessor of the steps: + by which the angels ascend unto him, and the spirit Gabriel also, in a +day whose space is fifty thousand years: + wherefore bear the insults of the Meccans with becoming patience; + for they see their punishment afar off, + but we see it nigh at hand. + On a certain day the heaven shall become like molten brass, + and the mountains like wool of various colours, scattered abroad by the +wind: +10 and a friend shall not ask a friend concerning his condition, + although they see one another. The wicked shall wish to redeem himself +from the punishment of that day, by giving up his children, + and his wife, and his brother, + and his kindred who showed kindness unto him, + and all who are in the earth; and that this might deliver him: + by no means: for hell fire, + dragging them by their scalps, + shall call him who shall have turned his back, and fled from the faith, + and shall have amassed riches, and covetously hoarded them. + Verily man is created extremely impatient: +20 when evil toucheth him, he is full of complaint; + but when good befalleth him, he becometh niggardly: + except those who are devoutly given, + and who persevere in their prayers; + and those of whose substance a due and certain portion + is ready to be given unto him who asketh, and him who is forbidden by +shame to ask: + and those who sincerely believe the day of judgment, + and who dread the punishment of their LORD: + (for there is none secure from the punishment of their LORD:) + and who abstain from the carnal knowledge of women +30 other than their wives, or the slaves which their right hands possess: +(for as to them they shall be blameless; + but whoever coveteth any woman besides these, they are transgressors:) + and those who faithfully keep what they are intrusted with, and their +covenant; + and who are upright in their testimonies, + and who carefully observe the requisite rites in their prayers: + these shall dwell amidst gardens, highly honoured. + What aileth the unbelievers, that they run before thee in companies, + on the right hand and on the left? + Doth every man of them wish to enter into a garden of delight? + By no means: verily we have created them of that which they know. +40 I swear by the LORD of the east and of the west, that we are able to +destroy them, + and to substitute better than them in their room; neither are we to be +prevented, if we shall please so to do. + Wherefore suffer them to wade in vain disputes, and to amuse themselves +with sport: until they meet their day with which they have been threatened; + the day whereon they shall come forth hastily from their graves, as +though they were troops hastening to their standard: + their looks shall be downcast; ignominy shall attend them. This is the +day with which they have been threatened. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXI. + +ENTITLED, NOAH; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + VERILY we sent Noah unto his people, saying, Warn thy people, before a +grievous punishment overtake them. + Noah said, O my people, verily I am a public warner unto you; + wherefore serve GOD, and fear him, and obey me; + he will forgive you part of your sins; and will grant you respite until +a determined time: for GOD'S determined time, when it cometh, shall not be +deferred; if ye were men of understanding, ye would know this. + He said, LORD, verily I have called my people night and day; but my +calling only increaseth their aversion: + and whensoever I call them to the true faith, that thou mayest forgive +them, they put their fingers in their ears, and cover themselves with their +garments, and persist in their infidelity, and proudly disdain my counsel. + Moreover I invited them openly, + and I spake to them again in public; and I also secretly admonished them +in private; +10 and I said, Beg pardon of your LORD; for he is inclined to forgive: + and he will cause the heaven to pour down rain plentifully upon you, + and will give you increase of wealth and of children; and he will +provide you gardens, and furnish you with rivers. + What aileth you, that ye hope not for benevolence in GOD; + since he hath created you variously? + Do ye not see how GOD hath created the seven heavens, one above another; + and hath placed the moon therein for a light, and hath appointed the sun +for a taper? + GOD hath also produced and caused you to spring forth from the earth: + hereafter he will cause you to return into the same; and he will again +take you thence, by bringing you forth from your graves. + And GOD hath spread the earth as a carpet for you, +20 that ye may walk therein through spacious paths. + Noah said, LORD, verily they are disobedient unto me; and they follow +him whose riches and children do no other than increase his perdition. + And they devised a dangerous plot against Noah: + and the chief men said to the others, Ye shall by no means leave your +gods; neither shall ye forsake Wadd, nor Sowa, nor Yaghuth, and Yauk, and +Nesr. + And they seduced many; (for thou shalt only increase error in the +wicked:) + because of their sins they were drowned, and cast into the fire of hell; +and they found none to protect them against GOD. + And Noah said, LORD, leave not any families of the unbelievers on the +earth: + for if thou leave them, they will seduce thy servants, and will beget +none but a wicked and unbelieving offspring. + LORD, forgive me and my parents, and every one who shall enter my +house, being a true believer, and the true believers of both sexes; and add +unto the unjust doers nothing but destruction. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXII. + +ENTITLED, THE GENII; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + SAY, It hath been revealed unto me that a company of genii attentively +heard me reading the Koran, and said, Verily we have heard an admirable +discourse; + which directeth unto the right institution; wherefore we believe therein, +and we will by no means associate any other with our LORD. + He (may the majesty of our LORD be exalted!) hath taken no wife, nor hath +he begotten any issue. + Yet the foolish among us hath spoken that which is extremely false of +GOD; + but we verily thought that neither man nor genius would by any means have +uttered a lie concerning GOD. + And there are certain men who fly for refuge unto certain of the genii; +but they increase their folly and transgression: + and they also thought, as ye thought, that GOD would not raise any one +to life. + And we formerly attempted to pry into what was transacting in heaven; but +we found the same filled with a strong guard of angels, and with flaming +darts: + and we sat on some of the seats thereof to hear the discourse of its +inhabitants; but whoever listeneth now, findeth a flame laid in ambush for +him, to guard the celestial confines. +10 And we know not whether evil be hereby intended against those who are in +the earth, or whether their LORD intendeth to direct them aright. + There are some among us who are upright; and there are some among us who +are otherwise: we are of different ways. + And we verily thought that we could by no means frustrate GOD in the +earth, neither could we escape him by flight: + wherefore, when we had heard the direction contained in the Koran, we +believed therein. And whoever believeth in his LORD, need not fear any +diminution of his reward, nor any injustice. + There are some Moslems among us; and there are others of us who swerve +from righteousness. And whoso embraceth Islam, they earnestly seek true +direction: + but those who swerve from righteousness shall be fuel for hell. + If they tread in the way of truth, we will surely water them with +abundant rain: + that we may prove them thereby: but whoso turneth aside from the +admonition of his LORD, him will he send into a severe torment. + Verily the places of worship are set apart unto GOD: wherefore invoke not +any other therein together with GOD. + When the servant of GOD stood up to invoke him, it wanted little but +that the genii had pressed on him in crowds, to hear him rehearse the Koran. +20 Say, Verily I call upon my LORD only, and I associate no other god with +him. + Say, Verily I am not able, of myself, to procure you either hurt, or a +right institution. + Say, Verily none can protect me against GOD; neither shall I find any refuge +besides him. + I can do no more than publish what hath been revealed unto me from GOD, +and his messages. And whosoever shall be disobedient unto GOD, and his +apostle, for him is the fire of hell prepared; they shall remain therein +forever. + Until they see the vengeance with which they are threatened, they will +not cease their opposition: but then shall they know who were the weaker in a +protector, and the fewer in number. + Say, I know not whether the punishment with which ye are threatened be +nigh, or whether my LORD will appoint for it a distant term. + He knoweth the secrets of futurity; and he doth not communicate his +secrets unto any, + except an apostle in whom he is well pleased: and he causeth a guard of +angels to march before him, and behind him; + that he may know that they have executed the commissions of their LORD; +he comprehendeth whatever is with them; and counteth all things by number. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXIII. + +ENTITLED, THE WRAPPED UP; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + O THOU wrapped up, + arise to prayer, and continue therein during the night, except a small +part; + that is to say, during one half thereof: or do thou lessen the same a +little + or add thereto. And repeat the Koran with a distinct and sonorous +voice: + for we will lay on thee a weighty word. + Verily the rising by night is more efficacious for steadfast continuance +in devotion, and more conducive to decent pronunciation: + for in the day-time thou hast long employment. + And commemorate the name of thy LORD; and separate thyself unto him, +renouncing worldly vanities. + He is the LORD of the east, and of the west; there is no GOD but he. +Wherefore take him for thy patron: +10 and patiently suffer the contumelies which the infidels utter against +thee; and depart from them with a decent departure. + And let me alone with those who charge the Koran with falsehood, who +enjoy the blessings of this life; and bear with them for a while: + verily with us are heavy fetters, and a burning fire, + and food ready to choke him who swalloweth it, and painful torment. + On a certain day the earth shall be shaken, and the mountains also, and +the mountains shall become a heap of sand poured forth. + Verily we have sent unto you an apostle, to bear witness against you; as +we sent an apostle unto Pharaoh; + but Pharaoh was disobedient unto the apostle; wherefore we chastised him +with a heavy chastisement. + How, therefore, will ye escape, if ye believe not, the day which shall +make children become gray-headed through terror? + The heaven shall be rent in sunder thereby: the promise thereof shall +surely be performed. + Verily this is an admonition; and whoever is willing to be admonished +will take the way unto his LORD. +20 Thy LORD knoweth that thou continuest in prayer and meditation sometimes +near two third parts of the night, and sometimes one half thereof, and at +other times one third part thereof; and a part of thy companions, who are with +thee, do the same. But GOD measureth the night and the day; he knoweth that +ye cannot exactly compute the same: wherefore he turneth favourably unto you. +Read, therefore, so much of the Koran as may be easy unto you. He knoweth +that there will be some infirm among you; and others travel through the earth, +that they may obtain a competency of the bounty of GOD; and others fight in +the defence of GOD'S faith. Read, therefore, so much of the same as may be +easy. And observe the stated times of prayer, and pay the legal alms; and +lend unto GOD an acceptable loan; for whatever good ye send before your souls, +ye shall find the same with GOD. This will be better, and will merit a +greater reward. And ask GOD forgiveness; for GOD is ready to forgive, and +merciful. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXIV. + +ENTITLED, THE COVERED; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + O THOU covered, + arise and preach, + and magnify thy LORD. + And cleanse thy garments: + and fly every abomination: + and be not liberal in hopes to receive more in return: + and patiently wait for thy LORD. + When the trumpet shall sound, + verily that day shall be a day of distress +10 and uneasiness unto the unbelievers. + Let me alone with him whom I have created, + on whom I have bestowed abundant riches, + and children dwelling in his presence, + and for whom I have disposed affairs in a smooth and easy manner, + and who desireth that I will yet add other blessings unto him. + By no means: because he is an adversary to our signs. + I will afflict him with grievous calamities: + for he hath devised and prepared contumelious expressions to ridicule the +Koran. + May he be cursed: how maliciously hath he prepared the same! +20 And again, may he be cursed: how maliciously hath he prepared the same! + Then he looked, + and frowned, and put on an austere countenance: + then he turned back, and was elated with pride; + and he said, This is no other than a piece of magic, borrowed from +others: + these are only the words of a man. + I will cast him to be burned in hell. + And what shall make thee to understand what hell is? + It leaveth not anything unconsumed, neither doth it suffer anything to +escape: + it scorcheth men's flesh: +30 over the same are nineteen angels appointed. + We have appointed none but angels to preside over hell fire: and we have +expressed the number of them only for an occasion of discord to the +unbelievers; that they to whom the scriptures have been given may be certain +of the veracity of this book, and the true believers may increase in faith; +and that those to whom the scriptures have been given, and the true +believers, may not doubt hereafter; and that those in whose hearts there is +an infirmity, and the unbelievers, may say, What mystery doth GOD intend +by this number? Thus doth GOD cause to err whom he pleaseth; and he +directeth whom he pleaseth. None knoweth the armies of thy LORD, +besides him; and this is no other than a memento unto mankind. + Assuredly. By the moon, + and the night when it retreateth, + and the morning when it reddeneth, + I swear that this is one of the most terrible calamities, + giving warning unto men, + as well as unto him among you who desireth to go forward, as unto him +who chooseth to remain behind. + Every soul is given in pledge for that which it shall have wrought: + except the companions of the right hand; +40 who shall dwell in gardens, and shall ask one another questions + concerning the wicked, + and shall also ask the wicked themselves, saying, What hath brought you +into hell? + They shall answer, We were not of those who were constant at prayer, + neither did we feed the poor; + and we waded in vain disputes with the fallacious reasoners; + and we denied the day of judgment, + until death overtook us: + and the intercession of the interceders shall not avail them. + What aileth them, therefore, that they turn aside from the admonition +of the Koran, +50 as though they were timorous asses + flying from a lion? + But every man among them desireth that he may have expanded scrolls +delivered to him from God. + By no means. They fear not the life to come. + By no means: verily this is a sufficient warning. + Whoso is willing to be warned, him shall it warn: + but they shall not be warned, unless GOD shall please. He is worthy to +be feared; and he is inclined to forgiveness. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXV. + +ENTITLED, THE RESURRECTION; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + VERILY I swear by the day of resurrection; + and I swear by the soul which accuseth itself: + doth man think that we will not gather his bones together? + Yea: we are able to put together the smallest bones of his fingers. + But man chooseth to be wicked, for the time which is before him. + He asketh, When will the day of resurrection be? + But when the sight shall be dazzled, + and the moon shall be eclipsed, + and the sun and the moon shall be in conjunction; +10 on that day man shall say, Where is a place of refuge? + By no means: there shall be no place to fly unto. + With thy LORD shall be the sure mansion of rest on that day: + on that day shall a man be told that which he hath done first and last. + Yea; a man shall be an evidence against himself: + and though he offer his excuses, they shall not be received. + Move not thy tongue, O Mohammed, in repeating the revelations brought +thee by Gabriel, before he shall have finished the same, that thou mayest +quickly commit them to memory: + for the collecting the Koran in thy mind, and the teaching thee the true +reading thereof, are incumbent on us. + But when we shall have read the same unto thee by the tongue of the +angel, do thou follow the reading thereof: + and afterwards it shall be our part to explain it unto thee. +20 By no means shalt thou be thus hasty for the future. But ye love that +which hasteneth away, + and neglect the life to come. + Some countenances on that day shall be bright, + looking towards their LORD: + and some countenances, on that day, shall be dismal: + they shall think that a crushing calamity shall be brought upon them. + Assuredly. When a man's soul shall come up to his throat, in his last +agony, + and the standers-by shall say, Who bringeth a charm to recover him? + and shall think it to be his departure out of this world; + and one leg shall be joined with the other leg: +30 on that day unto thy LORD shall he be driven. + For he believed not, neither did he pray; + but he accused GOD's apostle of imposture, and turned back from obeying +him: + then he departed unto his family, walking with a haughty mien. + Wherefore, woe be unto thee; woe! + And again, woe be unto thee; woe! + Doth man think that he shall be left at full liberty, without control? + Was he not a drop of seed, which was emitted? + Afterwards he became a little coagulated blood, and God formed him, and +fashioned him with just proportion; + and made of him two sexes, the male and the female. +40 Is not he who hath done this able to quicken the dead? + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXVI. + +ENTITLED, MAN; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + DID there not pass over man a long space of time; during which he was a +thing not worthy of remembrance? + Verily we have created man of the mingled seed of both sexes, that we +might prove him: and we have made him to hear and to see. + We have surely directed him in the way; whether he be grateful, or +ungrateful. + Verily we have prepared for the unbelievers chains, and collars, and +burning fire. + But the just shall drink of a cup of wine, mixed with the water of +Cafur, + a fountain whereof the servants of GOD shall drink; they shall convey the +same by channels whithersoever they please. + These fulfil their vow, and dread the day, the evil whereof will disperse +itself far abroad; + and give food unto the poor, and the orphan, and the bondman, for his +sake, + saying, We feed you for GOD'S sake only: we desire no recompense from +you, nor any thanks: +10 verily we dread, from our LORD, a dismal and calamitous day. + Wherefore GOD shall deliver them from the evil of that day, and shall +cast on them brightness of countenance, and joy; + and shall reward them, for their patient persevering, with a garden and +silk garments: + therein shall they repose themselves on couches; they shall see therein +neither sun nor moon; + and the shades thereof shall be near spreading above them, and the fruits +thereof shall hang low, so as to be easily gathered. + And their attendants shall go round about unto them, with vessels of +silver, and goblets: + the bottles shall be bottles of silver shining like glass; they shall +determine the measure thereof by their wish. + And therein shall they be given to drink of a cup of wine, mixed with the +water of Zenjebil, + a fountain in paradise named Salsabil: + and youths, which shall continue forever in their bloom, shall go round +to attend them; when thou seest them, thou shalt think them to be scattered +pearls: +20 and when thou lookest, there shalt thou behold delights, and a great +kingdom. + Upon them shall be garments of fine green silk, and of brocades, and they +shall be adorned with bracelets of silver: and their LORD shall give them to +drink of a most pure liquor; + and shall say unto them, Verily this is your reward: and your endeavour is +gratefully accepted. + Verily we have sent down unto thee the Koran, by a gradual revelation. + Wherefore patiently wait the judgment of thy LORD; and obey not any +wicked person or unbeliever among them. + And commemorate the name of thy LORD, in the morning, and in the evening: + and during some part of the night worship him, and praise him a long part +of the night. + Verily these men love the transitory life, and leave behind them the +heavy day of judgment. + We have created them, and have strengthened their joints; and when we +please, we will substitute others like unto them, in their stead. + Verily this is an admonition: and whoso willeth, taketh the way unto his +LORD: +30 but ye shall not will, unless GOD willeth; for GOD is knowing and wise. + He leadeth whom he pleaseth into his mercy; but for the unjust hath he +prepared a grievous punishment. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXVII. + +ENTITLED, THOSE WHICH ARE SENT; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the angels which are sent by God, following one another in a continual +series; + and those which move swiftly, with a rapid motion; + and by those which disperse his commands, by divulging them through the +earth; + and by those which separate truth from falsehood, by distinguishing the +same; + and by those which communicate the divine admonitions, + to excuse, or to threaten: + verily that which ye are promised is inevitable. + When the stars, therefore, shall be put out, + and when the heaven shall be cloven in sunder, +10 and when the mountains shall be winnowed, + and when the apostles shall have a time assigned to them to appear and +bear testimony against their respective people; + to what a day shall that appointment be deferred! + to the day of separation: + and what shall cause thee to understand what the day of separation is? + On that day, woe be unto them who accused the prophets of imposture! + Have we not destroyed the obstinate unbelievers of old? + We will also cause those of the latter times to follow them. + Thus do we deal with the wicked. + Woe be, on that day, unto them who accused the prophets of imposture! +20 Have we not created you of a contemptible drop of seed, + which we placed in a sure repository, + until the fixed term of delivery? + And we were able to do this: for we are most powerful. + On that day, woe be unto those who accused the prophets of imposture: + Have we not made the earth to contain + the living and the dead, + and placed therein stable and lofty mountains, and given you fresh water +to drink? + Woe be, on that day, unto those who accused the prophets of imposture! + It shall be said unto them, Go ye to the punishment which ye denied as a +falsehood: +30 go ye into the shadow of the smoke of hell, which shall ascend in three +columns, + and shall not shade you from the heat, neither shall it be of service +against the flame; + but it shall cast forth sparks as big as towers, + resembling yellow camels in colour. + Woe be, on that day, unto those who accused the prophets of imposture! + This shall be a day whereon they shall not speak to any purpose; + neither shall they be permitted to excuse themselves. + Woe be, on that day, unto those who accused the prophets of imposture! + This shall be the day of separation: we will assemble both you and your +predecessors. + Wherefore, if ye have any cunning stratagem, employ stratagems against +me. +40 Woe be, on that day, unto those who accused the prophets of imposture! + But the pious shall dwell amidst shades and fountains, + and fruits of the kinds which they shall desire: + and it shall be said unto them, Eat and drink with easy digestion, in +recompense for that which ye have wrought; + for thus do we reward the righteous doers. + Woe be, on that day, unto those who accused the prophets of imposture! + Eat, O unbelievers, and enjoy the pleasures of this life, for a little +while: verily ye are wicked men. + Woe be, on that day, unto those who accused the prophets of imposture! + And when it is said unto them, Bow down; they do not bow down. + Woe be, on that day, unto those who accused the prophets of imposture! +50 In what new revelation will they believe, after this. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXVIII. + +ENTITLED, THE NEWS; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + CONCERNING what do the unbelievers ask questions of one another? + Concerning the great news of the resurrection, + about which they disagree. + Assuredly they shall hereafter know the truth thereof. + Again, Assuredly they shall hereafter know the truth thereof. + Have we not made the earth for a bed, + and the mountains for stakes to fix the same? + And have we not created you of two sexes; + and appointed your sleep for rest; +10 and made the night a garment to cover you; + and destined the day to the gaining your livelihood; + and built over you seven solid heavens; + and placed therein a burning lamp? + And do we not send down from the clouds pressing forth rain, water +pouring down in abundance, + that we may thereby produce corn, and herbs, + and gardens planted thick with trees? + Verily the day of separation is a fixed period: + the day whereon the trumpet shall sound, and ye shall come in troops to +judgment; + and the heaven shall be opened, and shall be full of gates for the angels +to pass through; +20 and the mountains shall pass away, and become as a vapor; + verily hell shall be a place of ambush, + a receptacle for the transgressors, + who shall remain therein for ages: + they shall not taste any refreshment therein, or any drink, + except boiling water, and filthy corruption: + a fit recompense for their deeds! + For they hope that they should not be brought to an account, + and they disbelieved our signs, accusing them of falsehood. + But everything have we computed, and written down. +30 Taste, therefore: we will not add unto you any other than torment. + But for the pious is prepared a place of bliss: + gardens planted with trees, and vineyards, + and damsels with swelling breasts, of equal age with themselves, + and a full cup. + They shall hear no vain discourse there, nor any falsehood. + This shall be their recompense from thy LORD; a gift fully sufficient: + from the LORD of heaven and earth, and of whatever is between them; the +Merciful. The inhabitants of heaven or of earth shall not dare to demand +audience of him: + the day whereon the spirit Gabriel and the other angels shall stand in +order, they shall not speak in behalf of themselves or others, except he only +to whom the Merciful shall grant permission, and who shall say that which is +right. + This is the infallible day. Whoso, therefore, willeth, let him return +unto his LORD. +40 Verily we threaten you with a punishment nigh at hand: + the day whereon a man shall behold the good or evil deeds which his hands +have sent before him; and the unbeliever shall say, Would to GOD I were dust! + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXIX. + +ENTITLED, THOSE WHO TEAR FORTH; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the angels who tear forth the souls of some with violence; + and by those who draw forth the souls of others with gentleness; + by those who glide swimmingly through the air with the commands of God; + and those who precede and usher the righteous to paradise; + and those who subordinately govern the affairs of this world: + on a certain day, the disturbing blast of the trumpet shall disturb the +universe; + and the subsequent blast shall follow it. + On that day men's hearts shall tremble: + their looks shall be cast down. +10 The infidels say, Shall we surely be made to return whence we came? + After we shall have become rotten bones, shall we be again raised to +life? + They say, This then will be a return to loss. + Verily it will be but one sounding of the trumpet, + and, behold, they shall appear alive on the face of the earth. + Hath not the story of Moses reached thee? + When his LORD called unto him in the holy valley Towa, + saying, Go unto Pharaoh; for he is insolently wicked: + and say, Hast thou a desire to become just and holy; + and I will direct thee unto thy LORD, that thou mayest fear to +transgress. +20 And he showed him the very great sign of the rod turned into a serpent: + but he charged Moses with imposture, and rebelled against God. + Then he turned back hastily; + and he assembled the magicians, and cried aloud, + saying, I am your supreme LORD. + Wherefore GOD chastised him with the punishment of the life to come, and +also of this present life. + Verily herein is an example unto him who feareth to rebel. + Are ye more difficult to create, or the heaven which God hath built? + He hath raised the height thereof, and hath perfectly formed the same: + and he hath made the night thereof dark, and hath produced the light +thereof. +30 After this, he stretched out the earth, + whence he caused to spring forth the water thereof, and the pasture +thereof; + and he established the mountains, + for the use of yourselves, and of your cattle. + When the prevailing, the great day shall come, + on that day shall a man call to remembrance what he hath purposely done: + and hell shall be exposed to the view of the spectator. + And whoso shall have transgressed, + and shall have chosen this present life; + verily hell shall be his abode; +40 but whoso shall have dreaded the appearing before his LORD, and shall +have refrained his soul from lust, + verily paradise shall be his abode. + They will ask thee concerning the last hour, when will be the fixed time +thereof? + By what means canst thou give any information of the same? + Unto thy LORD belongeth the knowledge of the period thereof: + and thou art only a warner, who fearest the same. + The day whereon they shall see the same, it shall seem to them as though +they had not tarried in the world longer than an evening, or a morning +thereof. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXX. + +ENTITLED, HE FROWNED; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + THE prophet frowned, and turned aside, + because the blind man came unto him: + and how dost thou know whether he shall peradventure be cleansed from his sins, + or whether he shall be admonished, and the admonition shall profit him? + The man who is wealthy, + thou receivest respectfully; + whereas it is not to be charged on thee, that he is not cleansed: + but him who cometh unto thee earnestly, seeking his salvation, + and who feareth God, +10 dost thou neglect. + By no means shouldst thou act thus. Verily the Koran is an admonition + (and he who is willing retaineth the same;) + written in volumes honourable, + exalted, and pure; + by the hands of scribes + honoured, and just. + May man be cursed! What hath seduced him to infidelity? + Of what thing doth God create him? + Of a drop of seed doth he create him; and he formeth him with proportion; +20 and then facilitateth his passage out of the womb: + afterwards he causeth him to die, and layeth him in the grave; + hereafter, when it shall please him, he shall raise him to life. + Assuredly, He hath not hitherto fully performed what God hath commanded +him. + Let man consider his food; in what manner it is provided. + We pour down water by showers; + afterwards we cleave the earth in clefts, + and we cause corn to spring forth therein, + and grapes, and clover, + and the olive, and the palm, +30 and gardens planted thick with trees, + and fruits, and grass, + for the use of yourselves and of your cattle. + When the stunning sound of the trumpet shall be heard; + on that day shall a man fly from his brother, + and his mother, and his father, + and his wife, and his children. + Every man of them, on that day, shall have business of his own sufficient +to employ his thoughts. + On that day the faces of some shall be bright, + laughing, and joyful: +40 and upon the faces of others, on that day, shall there be dust; + darkness shall cover them. + These are the unbelievers, the wicked. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXXI. + +ENTITLED, THE FOLDING UP; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WHEN the sun shall be folded up; + and when the stars shall fall; + and when the mountains shall be made to pass away; + and when the camels ten months gone with young shall be neglected; + and when the wild beasts shall be gathered together; + and when the seas shall boil; + and when the souls shall be joined again to their bodies; + and when the girl who hath been buried alive shall be asked + for what crime she was put to death; +10 and when the books shall be laid open; + and when the heaven shall be removed; + and when hell shall burn fiercely; + and when paradise shall be brought near; + every soul shall know what it hath wrought. + Verily I swear by the stars which are retrograde, + which move swiftly, and which hide themselves; + and by the night, when it cometh on; + and by the morning, when it appeareth; + these these are the words of an honourable messenger, +20 endued with strength, of established dignity in the sight of the +possessor of the throne, + obeyed by the angels under his authority, and faithful: + and your companion Mohammed is not distracted. + He had already seen him in the clear horizon: + and he suspected not the secrets revealed unto him. + Neither are these the words of an accursed devil. + Whither, therefore, are you going? + This is no other than an admonition unto all creatures; + unto him among you who shall be willing to walk uprightly: + but ye shall not will, unless GOD willeth, the LORD of all creatures. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXXII. + +ENTITLED, THE CLEAVING IN SUNDER; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WHEN the heaven shall be cloven in sunder; + and when the stars shall be scattered; + and when the seas shall be suffered to join their waters; + and when the graves shall be turned upside down: + every soul shall know what it hath committed, and what it hath omitted. + O man, what hath seduced thee against thy gracious LORD, + who hath created thee, and put thee together, and rightly disposed thee? + In what form he pleased hath he fashioned thee. + Assuredly. But ye deny the last judgment as a falsehood. +10 Verily there are appointed over you guardian angels, + honourable in the sight of God, writing down your actions; + who know that which ye do. + The just shall surely be in a place of delight: + but the wicked shall surely be in hell; + they shall be cast therein to be turned, on the day of judgment, + and they shall not be absent therefrom forever. + What shall cause thee to understand what the day of judgment is? + Again, What shall cause thee to understand what the day of judgment is? + It is a day whereon one soul shall not be able to obtain anything in +behalf of another soul: and the command, on that day, shall be GOD'S. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXXIII. + +ENTITLED, THOSE WHO GIVE SHORT MEASURE OR WEIGHT; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WOE be unto those who give short measure or weight: + who, when they receive by measure from other men, take the full; + but when they measure unto them, or weigh unto them, defraud! + Do not these think they shall be raised again, + at the great day, + the day whereon mankind shall stand before the LORD of all creatures? + By no means. Verily the register of the actions of the wicked is surely +in Sejjin. + And what shall make thee to understand what Sejjin is? + It is a book distinctly written. +10 Woe be on that day, unto those who accused the prophets of imposture; + who denied the day of judgment as a falsehood! + And none denieth the same as a falsehood, except every unjust and +flagitious person: + who, when our signs are rehearsed unto him, saith, They are fables of the +ancients. + By no means: but rather their lusts have cast a veil over their hearts. + By no means. Verily they shall be shut out from their LORD on that day; + and they shall be sent into hell to be burned: + then shall it be said unto them by the infernal guards, This is what ye +denied as a falsehood. + Assuredly. But the register of the actions of the righteous is Illiyyun: + and what shall cause thee to understand what Illiyyun is? +20 It is a book distinctly written: + those who approach near unto God are witnesses thereto. + Verily the righteous shall dwell among delights: + seated on couches they shall behold objects of pleasure; + thou shalt see in their faces the brightness of joy. + They shall be given to drink of pure wine, sealed; + the seal whereof shall be musk: and to this let those aspire, who aspire +to happiness: + and the water mixed therewith shall be of Tasnim, + a fountain whereof those shall drink who approach near unto the divine +presence. + They who act wickedly laugh the true believers to scorn: +30 and when they pass by them, they wink at one another: + and when they turn aside to their people, they turn aside making +scurrilous jests; + and when they see them, they say, Verily these are mistaken men. + But they are not sent to be keepers over them. + Wherefore one day the true believers, in their turn, shall laugh the +infidels to scorn: + lying on couches they shall look down upon them in hell. + Shall not the infidels be rewarded for that which they have done? + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXXIV. + +ENTITLED, THE RENDING IN SUNDER; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WHEN the heaven shall be rent in sunder, + and shall obey its LORD, and shall be capable thereof; + and when the earth shall be stretched out, + and shall cast forth that which is therein, and shall remain empty, + and shall obey its LORD, and shall be capable thereof: + O man, verily laboring thou laborest to meet thy LORD, and thou shalt +meet him. + And he who shall have his book given into his right hand + shall be called to an easy account, + and shall turn unto his family with joy: +10 but he who shall have his book given him behind his back, + shall invoke destruction to fall upon him, + and he shall be sent into hell to be burned; + because he rejoiced insolently amidst his family on earth. + Verily he thought he should never return unto God: + yea verily, but his LORD beheld him. + Wherefore I swear by the redness of the sky after sunset, + and by the night, and the animals which it driveth together, + and by the moon when she is in the full; + ye shall surely be transferred successively from state to state. +20 What aileth them, therefore, that they believe not the resurrection; + and that, when the Koran is read unto them, they worship not? + Yea: the unbelievers accuse the same of imposture: + but GOD well knoweth the malice which they keep hidden in their breasts. + Wherefore denounce unto them a grievous punishment, + except those who believe and do good works: for them is prepared a never- +failing reward. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXXV. + +ENTITLED, THE CELESTIAL SIGNS; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the heaven adorned with signs; + by the promised day of judgment; + by the witness, and the witnessed; + cursed were the contrivers of the pit, + of fire supplied with fuel; + when they sat around the same, + and were witnesses of what they did against the true believers: + and they afflicted them for no other reason, but because they believed in +the mighty, the glorious GOD, + unto whom belongeth the kingdom of heaven and earth: and GOD is witness +of all things. +10 Verily for those who persecute the true believers of either sex, and +afterwards repent not, is prepared the torment of hell; and they shall suffer +the pain of burning. + But for those who believe, and do that which is right, are destined +gardens beneath which rivers flow: this shall be great felicity. + Verily the vengeance of thy LORD is severe. + He createth, and he restoreth to life: + he is inclined to forgive, and gracious; + the possessor of the glorious throne, + who effecteth that which he pleaseth. + Hath not the story of the hosts + of Pharaoh and of Thamud reached thee? + Yet the unbelievers cease not to accuse the divine revelations of +falsehood: +20 but GOD encompasseth them behind, that they cannot escape. + Verily that which they reject is a glorious Koran; + the original whereof is written in a table kept in heaven. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXXVI. + +ENTITLED, THE STAR WHICH APPEARED BY NIGHT; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the heaven, and that which appeareth by night: + but what shall cause thee to understand what that which appeareth by +night is? + it is the star of piercing brightness: + every soul hath a guardian set over it. + Let a man consider, therefore, of what he is created. + He is created of seed poured forth, + issuing from the loins, and the breastbones. + Verily God is able to restore him to life, + the day whereon all secret thoughts and actions shall be examined into; +10 and he shall have no power to defend himself, nor any protector. + By the heaven which returneth the rain; + and by the earth which openeth to let forth vegetables and springs: + verily this is a discourse distinguishing good from evil: + and it is not composed with lightness. + Verily the infidels are laying a plot to frustrate my designs: + but I will lay a plot for their ruin. + Wherefore, O prophet, bear with the unbelievers: let them alone a while. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXXVII. + +ENTITLED, THE MOST HIGH; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + PRAISE the name of thy LORD, the most high; + who hath created, and completely formed his creatures: + and who determineth them to various ends, and directeth them to attain +the same; + and who produceth the pasture for cattle, + and afterwards rendereth the same dry stubble of a dusky hue. + We will enable thee to rehearse our revelations; and thou shalt not +forget any part thereof, + except what GOD shall please; for he knoweth that which is manifest, and +that which is hidden. + And we will facilitate unto thee the most easy way. + Wherefore admonish thy people, if thy admonition shall be profitable unto +them. +10 Whoso feareth God, he will be admonished: + but the most wretched unbeliever will turn away therefrom; + who shall be cast to be broiled in the greater fire of hell, + wherein he shall not die, neither shall he live. + Now hath he attained felicity, who is purified by faith, + and who remembereth the name of his LORD, and prayeth. + But ye prefer this present life: + yet the life to come is better, and more durable. + Verily this is written in the ancient books, + the books of Abraham and Moses. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXXVIII. + +ENTITLED, THE OVERWHELMING; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + HATH the news of the overwhelming day of judgment reached thee? + The countenances of some, on that day, shall be cast down; + labouring and toiling: + they shall be cast into scorching fire to be broiled: + they shall be given to drink of a boiling fountain: + they shall have no food, but of dry thorns and thistles: + which shall not fatten, neither shall they satisfy hunger. + But the countenances of others, on that day, shall be joyful; + well pleased with their past endeavour: +10 they shall be placed in a lofty garden, + wherein thou shalt hear no vain discourse: + therein shall be a running fountain; + therein shall be raised beds, + and goblets placed before them, + and cushions laid in order, + and carpets ready spread. + Do they not consider the camels, how they are created; + and the heaven, how it is raised; + and the mountains, how they are fixed; +20 and the earth, how it is extended? + Wherefore warn thy people; for thou art a warner only: + thou art not impowered to act with authority over them. + But whoever shall turn back, and disbelieve, + GOD shall punish him with the greater punishment of the life to come. + Verily unto us shall they return: + then shall it be our part to bring them to account. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER LXXXIX. + +ENTITLED, THE DAYBREAK; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the daybreak, + and ten nights; + by that which is double, and that which is single; + and by the night when it cometh on: + is there not in this an oath formed with understanding? + Hast thou not considered how thy LORD dealt with Ad, + the people of Irem, adorned with lofty buildings, + the like whereof hath not been erected in the land; + and with Thamud, who hewed the rocks in the valley into houses; +10 and with Pharaoh, the contriver of the stakes: + who had behaved insolently in the earth, + and multiplied corruption therein? + Wherefore thy LORD poured on them various kinds of chastisement: + for thy LORD is surely in a watch-tower, whence he observeth the actions +of men. + Moreover man, when his LORD trieth him by prosperity, and honoureth him, +and is bounteous unto him, saith, My LORD honoureth me; + but when he proveth him by afflictions, and withholdeth his provisions +from him, he saith, My LORD despiseth me. + By no means: but ye honour not the orphan, + neither do ye excite one another to feed the poor; + and ye devour the inheritance of the weak, with undistinguishing +greediness, +20 and ye love riches with much affection. + By no means should ye do thus. When the earth shall be minutely ground +to dust; + and thy LORD shall come, and the angels rank by rank; + and hell, on that day, shall be brought nigh: on that day shall man call +to remembrance his evil deeds; but how shall remembrance avail him? + He shall say, Would to GOD that I had heretofore done good works in my +lifetime! + On that day none shall punish with his punishment; + nor shall any bind with his bonds. + O thou soul which art at rest, + return unto thy LORD, well pleased with thy reward, and well pleasing +unto God: + enter among my servants; +30 and enter my paradise. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XC. + +ENTITLED, THE TERRITORY; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + I SWEAR by this territory, + (and thou, O prophet, residest in this territory,) + and by the begetter, and that which he hath begotten; + verily we have created man in misery. + Doth he think that none shall prevail over him? + He saith, I have wasted plenty of riches. + Doth he think that none seeth him? + Have we not made him two eyes, + and a tongue, and two lips; +10 and shown him the two highways of good and evil? + Yet he attempteth not the cliff. + What shall make thee to understand what the cliff is? + It is to free the captive; + or to feed, in the day of famine, + the orphan who is of kin, + or the poor man who lieth on the ground. + Whoso doth this, and is one of those who believe, and recommend +perseverance unto each other, and recommend mercy unto each other; + these shall be the companions of the right hand. + But they who shall disbelieve our signs shall be the companions of +the left hand: +20 above them shall be arched fire. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XCI. + +ENTITLED, THE SUN; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the Sun, and its rising brightness; + by the moon when she followeth him; + by the day, when it showeth its splendor; + by the night, when it covereth him with darkness; + by the heaven, and him who built it; + by the earth, and him who spread it forth; + by the soul, and him who completely formed it, + and inspired into the same its faculty of distinguishing, and power of +choosing, wickedness and piety: + now is he who hath purified the same, happy; +10 but he who hath corrupted the same, is miserable. + Thamud accused their prophet Saleh of imposture, through the excess of +their wickedness: + when the wretch among them was sent to slay the camel; + and the apostle of GOD said unto them, Let alone the camel of GOD; and +hinder not her drinking. + But they charged him with imposture; and they slew her. Wherefore their +LORD destroyed them, for their crime, and made their punishment equal unto +them all: + and he feareth not the issue thereof. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XCII. + +ENTITLED, THE NIGHT; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the night, when it covereth all things with darkness; + by the day, when it shineth forth; + by his who hath created the male, and the female: + verily your endeavour is different. + Now whoso is obedient, and feareth God, + and professeth the truth of that faith which is most excellent; + unto him will we facilitate the way to happiness: + but whoso shall be covetous, and shall be wholly taken up with this +world, + and shall deny the truth of that which is most excellent; +10 unto him will we facilitate the way to misery; + and his riches shall not profit him, when he shall fall headlong into +hell. + Verily unto us appertaineth the direction of mankind: + and ours is the life to come, and the present life. + Wherefore I threaten you with fire which burneth fiercely, + which none shall enter to be burned except the most wretched; + who shall have disbelieved, and turned back. + But he who strictly bewareth idolatry and rebellion shall be removed far +from the same; + who giveth his substance in alms, + and by whom no benefit is bestowed on any, that it may be recompensed, +20 but who bestoweth the same for the sake of his LORD, the most High, + and hereafter he shall be well satisfied with his reward. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XCIII. + +ENTITLED, THE BRIGHTNESS; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the brightness of the morning; + and by the night, when it groweth dark: + thy LORD hath not forsaken thee, neither doth he hate thee. + Verily the life to come shall be better for thee than this present life: + and thy LORD shall give thee a reward wherewith thou shalt be well +pleased. + Did he not find thee an orphan, and hath he not taken care of thee? + And did he not find thee wandering in error, and hath he not guided thee +into the truth? + And did he not find thee needy, and hath he not enriched thee? + Wherefore oppress not the orphan: +10 neither repulse the beggar: + but declare the goodness of thy LORD. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XCIV. + +ENTITLED, HAVE WE NOT OPENED; REVEALED AT MECCA + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + HAVE we not opened thy breast; + and eased thee of thy burden, + which galled thy back; + and raise thy reputation for thee? + Verily a difficulty shall be attended with ease. + Verily a difficulty shall be attended with ease. + When thou shalt have ended thy preaching; labor to serve God in return +for his favours; + and make thy supplication unto thy LORD. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XCV. + +ENTITLED, THE FIG; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the fig, and the olive; + and by mount Sinai, + and this territory of security; + verily we created man of a most excellent fabric; + afterwards we rendered him the vilest of the vile: + except those who believe, and work righteousness; for they shall receive +an endless reward. + What, therefore, shall cause thee to deny the day of judgment after +this? + Is not GOD the most wise judge? + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XCVI. + +ENTITLED, CONGEALED BLOOD; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + READ, in the name of thy LORD, who hath created all things; + who hath created man of congealed blood. + Read, by thy most beneficent LORD; + who taught the use of the pen; + who teacheth man that which he knoweth not. + Assuredly. Verily man becometh insolent, + because he seeth himself abound in riches. + Verily unto thy LORD shall be the return of all. + What thinkest thou as to him who forbiddeth +10 our servant, when he prayeth? + What thinkest thou; if he follow the right direction; + or command piety? + What thinkest thou; if he accuse the divine revelations of falsehood, and +turn his back? + Doth he not know that GOD seeth? + Assuredly. Verily, if he forbear not, we will drag him by the forelock, + the lying, sinful forelock. + And let him call his council to his assistance: + we also will call the infernal guards to cast him into hell. + Assuredly. Obey him not: but continue to adore God; and draw nigh unto +him. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XCVII. + +ENTITLED, AL KADR; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + VERILY we sent down the Koran in the night of al Kadr. + And what shall make thee understand how excellent the night of al Kadr +is? + The night of al Kadr is better than a thousand months. + Therein do the angels descend, and the spirit of Gabriel also, by the +permission of their LORD, with his decrees concerning every matter. + It is peace until the rising of the morn. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XCVIII. + +ENTITLED, THE EVIDENCE; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + THE unbelievers among those to whom the scriptures were given, and among +the idolaters, did not stagger, until the clear evidence had come unto them: + an apostle from GOD, rehearsing unto them pure books of revelations; + wherein are contained right discourses. + Neither were they unto whom the scriptures were given divided among +themselves, until after the clear evidence had come unto them. + And they were commanded no other in the scriptures than to worship GOD, +exhibiting unto him the pure religion, and being orthodox; and to be constant +at prayer, and to give alms; and this is the right religion. + Verily those who believe not, among those who have received the +scriptures, and among the idolaters, shall be cast into the fire of hell, to +remain therein forever. These are the worst of creatures. + But they who believe, and do good works; these are the best of creatures: + their reward with their LORD shall be gardens of perpetual abode, through +which rivers flow; they shall remain therein forever. GOD will be well pleased in +them; and they shall be well pleased in him. This is prepared for him who shall +fear his LORD. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER XCIX. + +ENTITLED, THE EARTHQUAKE; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WHEN the earth shall be shaken by an earthquake; + and the earth shall cast forth her burdens; + and a man shall say, What aileth her? + On that day the earth shall declare her tidings, + for that thy LORD will inspire her. + On that day men shall go forward in distinct classes, that they may +behold their works. + And whoever shall have wrought good of the weight of an ant, shall +behold the same. + And whoever shall have wrought evil of the weight of an ant, shall behold +the same. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER C. + +ENTITLED, THE WAR-HORSES WHICH RUN SWIFTLY; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the war-horses which run swiftly to the battle, with a panting noise; + and by those which strike fire, by dashing their hoofs against the +stones; + and by those which make a sudden incursion on the enemy early in the +morning, + and therein raise the dust, + and therein pass through the midst of the adverse troops: + verily man is ungrateful unto his LORD; + and he is witness thereof: + and he is immoderate in the love of worldly good. + Doth he not know, therefore, when that which is in the graves shall be +taken forth, +10 and that which is in men's breasts shall be brought to light, + that their LORD will, on that day, be fully informed concerning them? + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CI. + +ENTITLED, THE STRIKING; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + THE striking! + What is the striking? + And what shall make thee to understand how terrible the striking will be? + On that day men shall be like moths scattered abroad, + and the mountains shall become like carded wool of various colours driven +by the wind. + Moreover he whose balance shall be heavy with good works, + shall lead a pleasing life: + but as to him whose balance shall be light, + his dwelling shall be the pit of hell. +10 What shall make thee to understand how frightful the pit of hell is? + It is a burning fire. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CII. + +ENTITLED, THE EMULOUS DESIRE OF MULTIPLYING; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS +DISPUTED. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + THE emulous desire of multiplying riches and children employeth you, + until ye visit the graves. + By no means should ye thus employ your time: hereafter shall ye know your +folly. + Again, By no means: hereafter shall ye know your folly. + By no means: if ye knew the consequence hereof with certainty of +knowledge, ye would not act thus. + Verily ye shall see hell: + again, ye shall surely see it with the eye of certainty. + Then shall ye be examined, on that day, concerning the pleasures with +which ye have amused yourselves in this life. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CIII. + +ENTITLED, THE AFTERNOON; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + BY the afternoon; + verily man employeth himself in that which will prove of loss: + except those who believe, and do that which is right; and who mutually +recommend the truth, and mutually recommend perseverance unto each other. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CIV. + +ENTITLED, THE SLANDERER; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WOE unto every slanderer, and backbiter: + who heapeth up riches, and prepareth the same for the time to come! + He thinketh that his riches will render him immortal. + By no means. He shall surely be cast into Al Hotama. + And who shall cause thee to understand what Al Hotama is? + It is the kindled fire of GOD; + which shall mount above the hearts of those who shall be cast therein. + Verily it shall be as an arched vault above them + on columns of vast extent. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CV. + +ENTITLED, THE ELEPHANT; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + HAST thou not seen how thy LORD dealt with the masters of the elephant? + Did he not make their treacherous design an occasion of drawing them into +error; + and send against them flocks of birds, + which casts down upon them stones of baked clay; + and render them like the leaves of corn eaten by cattle? + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CVI. + +ENTITLED, KOREISH; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + FOR the uniting of the tribe of Koreish; + their uniting in sending forth the caravan of merchants and purveyors in +winter and summer; + let them serve the LORD of this house; + who supplieth them with food against hunger, + and hath rendered them secure from fear. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CVII. + +ENTITLED, NECESSARIES; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WHAT thinkest thou of him who denieth the future judgment as a falsehood? + It is he who pusheth away the orphan; + and stirreth not up others to feed the poor. + Woe be unto those who pray, + and who are negligent at their prayer: + who play the hypocrites, + and deny necessaries to the needy. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CVIII. + +ENTITLED, AL CAWTHAR; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + VERILY we have given thee al Cawthar. + Wherefore pray unto thy LORD, and slay the victims. + Verily he who hateth thee shall be childless. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CIX. + +ENTITLED, THE UNBELIEVERS; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + SAY: O unbelievers, + I will not worship that which ye worship; + nor will ye worship that which I worship. + Neither do I worship that which ye worship; + neither do ye worship that which I worship. + Ye have your religion, and I my religion. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CX. + +ENTITLED, ASSISTANCE; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + WHEN the assistance of GOD shall come, and the victory; + and thou shalt see the people enter into the religion of GOD by troops: + celebrate the praise of thy LORD, and ask pardon of him; for he is +inclined to forgive. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CXI. + +ENTITLED, ABU LAHEB; REVEALED AT MECCA. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + THE hands of Abu Laheb shall perish, and he shall perish. + His riches shall not profit him, neither that which he hath gained. + He shall go down to be burned into flaming fire; + and his wife also, bearing wood, + having on her neck a cord of twisted fibres of a palm-tree. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CXII. + +ENTITLED, THE DECLARATION OF GOD'S UNITY; +WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + SAY, God is one GOD; + the eternal GOD: + be begetteth not, neither is he begotten: + and there is not any one like unto him. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CXIII. + +ENTITLED, THE DAYBREAK; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + SAY, I fly for refuge unto the LORD of the daybreak, + that he may deliver me from the mischief of those things which he hath +created; + and from the mischief of the night, when it cometh on; + and from the mischief of women blowing on knots; + and from the mischief of the envious, when he envieth. + + + +________ + + +CHAPTER CXIV. + +ENTITLED, MEN; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED. + +IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. + + SAY, I fly for refuge unto the LORD of men, + the king of men, + the GOD of men, + that he may deliver me from the mischief of the whisperer who slyly +withdraweth, + who whispereth evil suggestions into the breasts of men: + from genii and men. + + + + + *** FINIS *** + + + +________ + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE KORAN *** + +This file should be named koran09b.txt or koran09b.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, koran10b.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, koran10c.txt + +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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