THE KORAN
550 AD
Translated by E.H. Palmer
THE OPENING CHAPTER
(I. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Praise belongs to God, the Lord of the worlds, the merciful, the
compassionate, the ruler of the day of judgment! Thee we serve and
Thee we ask for aid. Guide us in the right path, the path of those
Thou art gracious to; not of those Thou art wroth with; nor of those
who err.
THE CHAPTER OF THE HEIFER
(II. Medina.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
ALIF LAM MIM. That is the book! there is no doubt therein; a guide
to the pious, who believe in the unseen, and are steadfast in
prayer, and of what we have given them expend in alms; who believe
in what is revealed to thee, and what was revealed before thee, and of
the hereafter they are sure. These are in guidance from their Lord,
and these are the prosperous. Verily, those who misbelieve, it is
the same to them if ye warn them or if ye warn them not, they will not
believe. God has set a seal upon their hearts and on their hearing;
and on their eyes is dimness, and for them is grievous woe. And
there are those among men who say, 'We believe in God and in the
last day;' but they do not believe. They would deceive God and those
who do believe; but they deceive only themselves and they do not
perceive. In their hearts is a sickness, and God has made them still
more sick, and for them is grievous woe because they lied. And when it
is said to them, 'Do not evil in the earth,' they say, 'We do but what
is right.' Are not they the evildoers? and yet they do not perceive.
And when it is said to them, 'Believe as other men believe,' they say,
'Shall we believe as fools believe?' Are not they themselves the
fools? and yet they do not know. And when they meet those who believe,
they say, 'We do believe;' but when they go aside with their devils,
they say, 'We are with you; we were but mocking!' God shall mock at
them and let them go on in their rebellion, blindly wandering on.
Those who buy error for guidance, their traffic profits not, and
they are not guided. Their likeness is as the likeness of one who
kindles a fire; and when it lights up all around, God goes off with
their light, and leaves them in darkness that they cannot see.
Deafness, dumbness, blindness, and they shall not return! Or like a
storm-cloud from the sky, wherein is darkness and thunder and
lightning; they put their fingers in their ears at the thunder-clap,
for fear of death, for God encompasses the misbelievers. The lightning
well-nigh snatches off their sight, whenever it shines for them they
walk therein; but when it is dark for them they halt; and if God
willed He would go off with their hearing and their sight; verily, God
is mighty over all.
O ye folk! serve your Lord who created you and those before you;
haply ye may fear! who made the earth for you a bed and the heaven a
dome; and sent down from heaven water, and brought forth therewith
fruits as a sustenance for you; so make no peers for God, the while ye
know!
And if ye are in doubt of what we have revealed unto our servant,
then bring a chapter like it, and call your witnesses other than God
if ye tell truth. But if ye do it not, and ye shall surely do it
not, then fear the fire whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for
misbelievers. But bear the glad tidings to those who believe and
work righteousness, that for them are gardens beneath which rivers
flow; whenever they are provided with fruit therefrom they say,
'This is what we were provided with before,' and they shall be
provided with the like; and there are pure wives for them therein, and
they shall dwell therein for aye.
Why, God is not ashamed to set forth a parable of a gnat, or
anything beyond; and as for those who believe, they know that it is
truth from the Lord; but as for those who disbelieve, they say,
'What is it that God means by this as a parable? He leads astray
many and He guides many;'- but He leads astray only the evildoers; who
break God's covenant after the fixing thereof, and cut asunder what
God has ordered to be joined, and do evil in the earth;- these it is
who lose.
How can ye disbelieve in God, when ye were dead and He made you
alive, and then He will kill you and then make you alive again, and
then to Him will ye return? It is He who created for you all that is
in the earth, then he made for the heavens and fashioned them seven
heavens; and He knows all things.
And when thy Lord said unto the angels, 'I am about to place a
vicegerent in the earth,' they said, 'Wilt Thou place therein one
who will do evil therein and shed blood? we celebrate Thy praise and
hallow Thee.' Said (the Lord), 'I know what ye know not.' And He
taught Adam the names, all of them; then He propounded them to the
angels and said, 'Declare to me the names of these, if ye are
truthful.' They said, 'Glory be to Thee! no knowledge is ours but what
Thou thyself hast taught us, verily, Thou art the knowing, the
wise.' Said the Lord, 'O Adam declare to them their names;' and when
he had declared to them their names He said, 'Did I not say to you,
I know the secrets of the heavens and of the earth, and I know what ye
show and what ye were hiding?' And when we said to the angels,
'Adore Adam,' they adored him save only Iblis, who refused and was too
proud and became one of the misbelievers. And we said, 'O Adam
dwell, thou and thy wife, in Paradise, and eat therefrom amply as
you wish; but do not draw near this tree or ye will be of the
transgressors. And Satan made them backslide therefrom and drove
them out from what they were in, and we said, 'Go down, one of you the
enemy of the other, and in the earth there is an abode and a provision
for a time.' And Adam caught certain words from 'his Lord, and He
turned towards him, for He is the compassionate one easily turned.
We said, 'Go down therefrom altogether and haply there may come from
me a guidance, and whoso follows my guidance, no fear is theirs, nor
shall they grieve. But those who misbelieve, and call our signs
lies, they are the fellows of the Fire, they shall dwell therein for
aye.'
O ye children of Israel! remember my favours which I have favoured
you with; fulfil my covenant and I will fulfil your covenant; me
therefore dread. Believe in what I have revealed, verifying what ye
have got, and be not the first to disbelieve in it, and do not
barter my signs for a little price, and me do ye fear. Clothe not
truth with vanity, nor hide the truth the while ye know. Be
steadfast in prayer, give the alms, and bow down with those who bow.
Will ye order men to do piety and forget yourselves? ye read the Book,
do ye not then understand? Seek aid with patience and prayer, though
it is a hard thing save for the humble, who think that they will
meet their Lord, and that to Him will they return.
O ye children of Israel! remember my favours which I have favoured
you with, and that I have preferred you above the worlds. Fear the day
wherein no soul shall pay any recompense for another soul, nor shall
intercession be accepted for it, nor shall compensation be taken
from it, nor shall they be helped.
When we saved you from Pharaoh's people who sought to wreak you evil
and woe, slaughtering your sons and letting your women live; in that
was a great trial for you from your Lord. When we divided for you
the sea and saved you and drowned Pharaoh's people while ye looked on.
When we treated with Moses forty nights, then ye took the calf after
he had gone and ye did wrong. Yet then we forgave you after that;
perhaps ye may be grateful. And when we gave Moses the Scriptures
and the Discrimination; perhaps ye will be guided. When Moses said
to his people, 'O my people! Ye have wronged yourselves in taking this
calf; repent unto your Creator and kill each other; that will be
better for you in your Creator's eyes; and He turned unto you, for
He is the compassionate one easily turned.' And when ye said to Moses,
'O Moses! we will not believe in thee until we see God manifestly,'
and the thunderbolt caught you while ye yet looked on. Then we
raised you up after your death; perhaps ye may be grateful. And we
overshadowed you with the cloud, and sent down the manna and the
quails; 'Eat of the good things we have given you.' They not wrong us,
but it was themselves they were wronging. And when we said, 'Enter
this city and eat therefrom as plentifully as ye wish; and enter the
gate worshipping and say 'hittatun. So will we pardon you your sins
and give increase unto those who do well.'
But those who did wrong changed it for another word than that
which was said to them: and we sent down upon those who did wrong,
wrath from heaven for that they had so sinned.
When Moses, too, asked drink for his people and we said, 'Strike
with thy staff the rock,' and from it burst forth twelve springs; each
man among them knew his drinking place. 'Eat and drink of what God has
provided, and transgress not on the earth as evildoers.'
And when they said, Moses, we cannot always bear one kind of food;
pray then thy Lord to bring forth for us of what the earth grows,
its green herbs, its cucumbers, its garlic, its lentils, and its
onions.' Said he, 'Do ye ask what is meaner instead of what is best?
Go down to Egypt,- there is what ye ask.' Then were they smitten
with abasement and poverty, and met with wrath from God. That was
because they had misbelieved in God's signs and killed the prophets
undeservedly; that was for that they were rebellious and had
transgressed.
Verily, whether it be of those who believe, or those who are Jews or
Christians or Sabaeans, whosoever believe in God and the last day
and act aright, they have their reward at their Lord's hand, and there
is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve.
And when we took a covenant with you and held the mountain over you;
'Accept what we have brought you with strong will, and bear in mind
what is therein, haply ye yet may fear.'
Then did ye turn aside after this, and were it not for God's grace
towards you and His mercy, ye would have been of those who lose. Ye
know too of those among you who transgressed upon the Sabbath, and
we said, 'I Become ye apes, despised and spurned.'
Thus we made them an example unto those who stood before them, and
those who should come after them, and a warning unto those who fear.
And when Moses said to his people, 'God bids you slaughter a cow,'
they said, 'Art thou making a jest of us?' Said he, 'I seek refuge
with God from being one of the unwise.' They said, 'Then pray thy Lord
for us to show us what she is to be.' He answered, 'He saith it is a
cow, nor old, nor young, of middle age between the two; so do as ye
are bid.' They said, 'Pray now thy Lord to show us what her colour
is to be.' He answered, 'He saith it is a dun cow, intensely dun,
her colour delighting those who look upon her.'
Again they said, 'Pray thy Lord to show us what she is to be; for
cows appear the same to us; then we, if God will, shall be guided.' He
answered, He saith, it is a cow, not broken in to plough the earth
or irrigate the tilth, a sound one with no blemish on her.' They said,
'Now hast thou brought the truth.' And they slaughtered her, though
they came near leaving it undone.
When too ye slew a soul and disputed thereupon, and God brought
forth that which ye had hidden, then we said, 'Strike him with part of
her.' Thus God brings the dead to life and shows you His signs, that
haply ye may understand.
Yet were your hearts hardened even after that, till they were as
stones or harder still, for verily of stones are some from which
streams burst forth, and of them there are some that burst asunder and
the water issues out, and of them there are some that fall down for
fear of God; but God is never careless of what ye do.
Do ye crave that they should believe you when already a sect of them
have heard the word of God and then perverted it after they had
understood it, though they knew?
And when they meet those who believe they say, 'We believe,' but
when one goes aside with another they say, 'Will ye talk to them of
what God has opened up to you, that they may argue with you upon it
before your Lord? Do ye not therefore understand?' Do they not then
know that God knoweth what they keep secret and what they make known
abroad?
And some of them there are, illiterate folk, that know not the Book,
but only idle tales; for they do but fancy. But woe to those who write
out the Book with their hands and say 'this is from' God; to buy
therewith a little price! and woe to them for what their hands have
written, and woe to them for what they gain!
And then they say, 'Hell fire shall not touch us save for a number
of days.' Say, 'Have ye taken a covenant with God?' but God breaks not
His covenant. Or do ye say of God that which ye do not know?
Yea! whoso gains an evil gain, and is encompassed by his sins, those
are the fellows of the Fire, and they shall dwell therein for aye! But
such as act aright, those are the fellows of Paradise, and they
shall dwell therein for aye!
And when we took from the children of Israel a covenant, saying,
'Serve ye none but God, and to your two parents show kindness, and
to your kindred and the orphans and the poor, and speak to men kindly,
and be steadfast in prayer, and give alms;' and then ye turned back,
save a few of you, and swerved aside.
And when we took covenant from you, 'shed ye not your kinsman's
blood, nor turn your kinsmen out of their homes:' then did ye
confirm it and were witnesses thereto. Yet ye were those who slay your
kinsmen and turn a party out of their homes, and back each other up
against them with sin and enmity. But if they come to you as
captives ye ransom them!- and yet it is as unlawful for you to turn
them out. Do ye then believe in part of the Book and disbelieve in
part? But the reward of such among you as do that shall be. nought
else but disgrace in this worldly life, and on the day of the
resurrection shall they be driven to the most grievous torment, for
God is not unmindful of what ye do.
Those who have bought this worldly life with the Future, the torment
shall not be lightened from them nor shall they be helped.
We gave Moses the Book and we followed him up with other apostles,
and we gave Jesus the son of Mary manifest signs and aided him with
the Holy Spirit. Do ye then, every time an apostle comes to you with
what your souls love not, proudly scorn him, and charge a part with
lying and slay a part?
They say, 'Our hearts are uncircumcised;' nay, God has cursed them
in their unbelief, and few it is who do believe. And when a book
came down from God confirming what they had with them, though they had
before prayed for victory over those who misbelieve, yet when that
came to them which they knew, then they disbelieved it,- God's curse
be on the misbelievers.
For a bad bargain have they sold their souls, not to believe in what
God has revealed, grudging because God sends down of His grace on
whomsoever of His servants He will; and they have brought on
themselves wrath after wrath and for the misbelievers is there
shameful woe.
And when they are told to believe in what God has revealed, they
say, 'We believe in what has been revealed to us;' but they disbelieve
in all beside, although it is the truth confirming what they have.
Say, 'Wherefore did ye kill God's prophets of yore if ye were true
believers?
Moses came to you with manifest signs, then ye took up with the calf
when he had gone and did so wrong. And when we took a covenant with
you and raised the mountain over you, 'Take what we have given you
with resolution and hear;' they said, 'We hear but disobey;' and
they were made to drink the calf down into their hearts for their
unbelief. Say, 'An evil thing is it which your belief bids you do,
if ye be true believers.' Say, 'If the abode of the future with God is
yours alone and not mankind's: long for death then if ye speak the
truth.' But they will never long for it because of what their hands
have sent on before; but God is knowing as to the wrong doers.
Why, thou wilt find them the greediest of men for life; and of those
who associate others with God one would fain live for a thousand
years,- but he will not be reprieved from punishment by being let
live, for God seeth what they do.
Say, 'Who is an enemy to Gabriel? for he hath revealed to thy heart,
with God's permission, confirmation of what had been before, and a
guidance and glad tidings to believers. Who is an enemy to God and His
angels and His apostles and Gabriel and Michael?- Verily, God is an
enemy to the unbelievers. We have sent down to thee conspicuous signs,
and none will disbelieve therein except the evildoers. Or every time
they make a covenant, will a part of them repudiate it? Nay, most of
them do not believe.
And when there comes to them an apostle confirming what they have, a
part of those who have received the Book repudiate God's book, casting
it behind their backs as though they did not know. And they follow
that which the devils recited against Solomon's kingdom;- it was not
Solomon who misbelieved, but the devils who misbelieved, teaching
men sorcery,- and what has been revealed to the two angels at Babylon,
Harut and Marut; yet these taught no one until they said, 'We are
but a temptation, so do not misbelieve.' Men learn from them only that
by which they may part man and wife; but they can harm no one
therewith, unless with the permission of God, and they learn what
hurts them and profits them not. And yet they knew that he who
purchased it would have no portion in the future; but sad is the price
at which they have sold their souls, had they but known. But had
they believed and feared, a reward from God were better, had they
but known.
O ye who believe! say not 'rahina,' but say 'unthurna,' hearken; for
unto misbelievers shall be grievous woe.
They who misbelieve, whether of those who have the Book or of the
idolaters, would fain that no good were sent down to you from your
Lord; but God specially favours with His mercy whom He will, for God
is Lord of mighty grace.
Whatever verse we may annul or cause thee to forget, we will bring a
better one than it, or one like it; dost thou not know that God is
mighty over all? Dost thou not know that God's is the kingdom of the
heavens and the earth? nor have ye besides God a patron or a help.
Do ye wish to question your apostle as Moses was questioned
aforetime? but whoso takes misbelief in exchange for faith has erred
from the level road.
Many of those who have the Book would fain turn you back into
misbelievers after ye have once believed, through envy from
themselves, after the truth has been made manifest to them; but pardon
and shun them till God brings His command; verily, God is mighty
over all.
Be ye steadfast in prayer, and give alms; and whatsoever good ye
send before for your own souls, ye shall find it with God, for God
in all ye do doth see.
They say, 'None shall enter Paradise save such as be Jews or
Christians;' that is their faith. Say thou, 'Bring your proofs, if
ye be speaking truth.'
Aye, he who resigns his face to God, and who is kind, he shall
have his reward from his Lord, and no fear shall be on them, and
they shall not grieve.
The Jews say, 'The Christians rest on nought;' and the Christians
say, 'The Jews rest on nought; and yet they read the Book. So, too,
say those who know not, like to what these say; but God shall judge
between them' on the resurrection day concerning that whereon they
do dispute.
But who is more unjust than he who prohibits God's mosques, that His
name should not be mentioned there, and who strives to ruin them? 'Tis
not for such to enter into them except in fear, for them is disgrace
in this world, and in the future mighty woe.
God's is the east and the west, and wherever ye turn there is
God's face; verily, God comprehends and knows.
They say, 'God takes unto Himself a son.' Celebrated be His
praise! Nay, His is what is in the heavens and the earth, and Him
all things obey. The Originator of the heavens and the earth, when
He decrees a matter He doth but say unto it, 'BE,' and it is.
And those who do not know (the Scriptures) say, Unless God speak
to us, or there comes a sign. So spake those before them like unto
their speech. Their hearts are all alike. We have made manifest the
signs unto a people that are sure.
We have sent thee with the truth, a bearer of good tidings and of
warning, and thou shalt not be questioned as to the fellows of hell.
The Jews will not be satisfied with thee, nor yet the Christians,
until thou followest their creed. Say, 'God's guidance is the
guidance;' and if thou followest their lusts after the knowledge
that has come to thee, thou hast not then from God a patron or a help.
They to whom we have brought the Book and who read it as it should
be read, believe therein; and whoso disbelieve therein, 'tis they
who lose thereby.
O children of Israel! remember my favours with which I favoured you,
and that I have preferred you over the worlds. And fear the day when
no soul shall pay a recompense for a soul, nor shall an equivalent
be received therefrom, nor any intercession avail; and they shall
not be helped.
And when his Lord tried Abraham with words, and he fulfilled them,
He said, 'Verily, I will set thee as a high priest for men.' Said
he, 'And of my seed?' God said, 'My covenant touches not the
evildoers.'
And when we made the House a place of resort unto men, and a
sanctuary, and (said) take the station of Abraham for a place of
prayer; and covenanted with Abraham and Ishmael, saying, 'Do ye two
cleanse my house for those who make the circuit, for those who pay
devotions there, for those who bow down, and for those too who adore.'
When Abraham said, 'Lord, make this a town of safety, and provide
the dwellers there with fruits, such as believe in God and the last
day!' (God) said, 'And he who misbelieves, I will give him but
little to enjoy, then will drive him to the torment of the fire, an
evil journey will it be.'
And when Abraham raised up the foundations of the House with
Ishmael, 'Lord! receive it from us, verily, thou art hearing and
dost know. Lord! and make us too resigned unto Thee, and of our seed
also a nation resigned unto Thee, and show us our rites, and turn
towards us, verily, Thou art easy to be turned and merciful. Lord! and
send them an apostle from amongst themselves, to read to them Thy
signs and teach them the Book and wisdom, and to purify them;
verily, Thou art the mighty and the wise.'
Who is averse from the faith of Abraham save one who is foolish of
soul? for we have chosen him in this world, and in the future he is
surely of the righteous.
When his Lord said to him, 'Be resigned,' he said, 'I am resigned
unto the Lord of the worlds.'
And Abraham instructed his sons therein, and Jacob (saying), 'O my
sons! verily, God has chosen for you a religion, do not therefore
die unless ye be resigned.'
Were ye then witnesses when Jacob was facing death, when he said
to his sons, 'What will ye serve when I am gone?' They said, 'We
will serve thy God, the God of thy fathers Abraham, and Ishmael, and
Isaac, one God; and we are unto Him resigned.'
That is a nation that has passed away, theirs is what they gained;
and yours shall be what ye have gained; ye shall not be questioned
as to that which they have done.
They say, 'Be ye Jews or Christians so shall ye of Abraham be
guided.' Say, 'Not so! but the faith of Abraham he was not of the
idolaters.'
Say ye, 'We believe in God, and what has been revealed to us, and
what has been revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and
Jacob, and the Tribes, and what was brought to Moses and Jesus, and
what was brought unto the Prophets from their Lord; we will not
distinguish between any one of them, and unto Him are we resigned.'
If they believe in that in which ye believe, then are they guided;
but if they turn back, then are they only in a schism, and God will
suffice thee against them, for He both hears and knows.
The dye of God! and who is better than God at dyeing? and we are
worshippers of Him.
Say, 'Do ye dispute with us concerning God, and He is our Lord and
your Lord? Ye have your works and we have ours, and unto Him are we
sincere.'
Do ye say that Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the
Tribes were Jews or Christians? Say, 'Are ye more knowing than God?
Who is more unjust than one who conceals a testimony that he has
from God? But God is not careless of what ye do.
That is a nation that has passed away; theirs is what they gained,
and yours shall be what ye have gained; ye shall not be questioned
as to that which they have done.
The fools among men will say, 'What has turned them from their
qiblah, on which they were agreed?'
Say, 'God's is the east and the west, He guides whom He will unto
the right path.' Thus have we made you a middle nation, to be
witnesses against men, and that the Apostle may be a witness against
you.
We have not appointed the qiblah on which thou wert agreed, save
that we might know who follows the Apostle from him who turns upon his
heels although it is a great thing save to those whom God doth
guide. But God will not waste your faith, for verily, God with men
is kind and merciful.
We see thee often turn about thy face in the heavens, but we will
surely turn thee to a qiblah thou shalt like. Turn then thy face
towards the Sacred Mosque; wherever ye be, turn your faces towards it;
for verily, those who have the Book know that it is the truth from
their Lord;- God is not careless of that which ye do.
And if thou shouldst bring to those who have been given the Book
every sign, they would not follow your qiblah; and thou art not to
follow their qiblah; nor do some of them follow the qiblah of the
others: and if thou followest their lusts after the knowledge that has
come to thee then art thou of the evildoers.
Those whom we have given the Book know him as they know their
sons, although a sect of them do surely hide the truth, the while they
know.
The truth (is) from thy Lord; be not therefore one of those who
doubt thereof.
Every sect has some one side to which they turn (in prayer); but
do ye hasten onwards to good works; wherever ye are God will bring you
all together; verily, God is mighty over all.
From whencesoever thou comest forth, there turn thy face towards the
Sacred Mosque, for it is surely truth from thy Lord; God is not
careless about what ye do. And from whencesoever thou comest forth,
there turn thy face towards the Sacred Mosque, and wheresoever ye are,
turn your faces towards it, that men may have no argument against you,
save only those of them who are unjust; and fear them not, but fear me
and I will fulfil my favours to you, perchance ye may be guided yet.
Thus have we sent amongst you an apostle of yourselves, to recite to
you our signs, to purify you and teach you the Book and wisdom, and to
teach you what ye did not know; remember me, then, and I will remember
you; thank me, and do not misbelieve.
O ye who do believe! seek aid from patience and from prayer, verily,
God is with the patient. And say not of those who are slain in God's
way (that they are) dead, but rather living; but ye do not perceive.
We will try you with something of fear, and hunger and loss of
wealth, and souls and fruit; but give good tidings to the patient, who
when there falls on them a calamity say, 'Verily, we are God's and,
verily, to Him do we return.' These, on them are blessings from
their Lord and mercy, and they it is who are guided.
Verily, Zafa and Merwah are of the beacons of God, and he who
makes the pilgrimage unto the House, or visits it, it is no crime
for him to compass them both about; and he who obeys his own impulse
to a good work,- God is grateful and doth know.
Verily, those who hide what we have revealed of manifest signs and
of guidance after we have manifested it to men in the Book, them God
shall curse, and those who curse shall curse them too. Save those
who turn and do right and make (the signs) manifest; these will I turn
to again, for I am easy to be turned and merciful.
Verily, those who misbelieve and die while still in misbelief, on
them is the curse of God, and of the angels, and of mankind
altogether; to dwell therein for aye; the torment shall not be
lightened for them, nor shall they be looked upon.
Your God is one God; there is no God but He, the merciful, the
compassionate.
Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the
alternation of night and day, and in the ship that runneth in the
sea with that which profits man, and in what water God sends down from
heaven and quickens therewith the earth after its death, and spreads
abroad therein all kinds of cattle, and in the shifting of the
winds, and in the clouds that are pressed into service betwixt
heaven and earth, are signs to people who can understand.
Yet are there some amongst mankind who take to themselves peers
other than God; they love them as they should love God while those who
believe love God more. O that those who are unjust could only see,
when they see the torment, that power is altogether God's! Verily, God
is keen to torment.
When those who are followed clear themselves of those who followed
them, and see the torment, and the cords are cut asunder, those who
followed shall say, 'Had we but another turn, then would we clear
ourselves of them as they have cleared themselves of us.' So will
God show them their works; for them are sighs, and they shall not come
forth from out the fire.
O ye folk! eat of what is in the earth, things lawful and things
good, and follow not the footsteps of Satan, verily, to you he is an
open foe. He does but bid you evil and sin, and that ye should speak
against God what ye do not know.
When it is said to them, 'Follow what God has revealed,' they say,
'Nay, we will follow what we found our fathers agreed upon.' What! and
though their fathers had no sense at all or guidance-?
The likeness of those who misbelieve is as the likeness of him who
shouts to that which hears him not, save only a call and a cry;
deafness, dumbness, blindness, and they shall not understand.
O ye who do believe! eat of the good things wherewith we have
provided you, and give thanks unto God if it be Him ye serve. He has
only forbidden for you what is dead, and blood, and flesh of swine,
and whatsoever has been consecrated to other than God; but he who is
forced, neither revolting nor transgressing, it is in no sin for
him; verily, God is forgiving and merciful.
Verily, those who hide what God has revealed of the Book, and sell
it for a little price, they shall eat nothing in their bellies save
fire; and God will not speak to them on the day of resurrection, nor
will He purify them, but for them is grievous woe.
They who sell guidance for error, and pardon for torment, how
patient must they be of fire!
That (is), because God has revealed the Book with truth, and
verily those who disagree about the Book are in a wide schism.
Righteousness is not that ye turn your faces towards the east or the
west, but righteousness is, one who believes in God, and the last day,
and the angels, and the Book, and the prophets, and who gives wealth
for His love to kindred, and orphans, and the poor, and the son of the
road, beggars, and those in captivity; and who is steadfast in prayer,
and gives alms; and those who are sure of their covenant when they
make a covenant; and the patient in poverty, and distress, and in time
of violence; these are they who are true, and these are those who
fear.
O ye who believe! Retaliation is prescribed for you for the slain:
the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the female for the
female; yet he who is pardoned at all by his brother, must be
prosecuted in reason, and made to pay with kindness.
That is an alleviation from your Lord, and a mercy; and he who
transgresses after that for him is grievous woe.
For you in retaliation is there life, O ye possessors of minds! it
may be ye will fear.
It is prescribed for you that when one of you is face to face with
death, if he leave (any) goods, the legacy is to his parents, and to
his kinsmen, in reason. A duty this upon all those that fear.
But he who alters it after that he has heard it, the sin thereof
is only upon those who alter it; verily, God doth hear and know.
And he who fears from the testator a wrong intention, or a crime,
and doth make up the matter between the parties, it is no sin to
him; verily, God is forgiving and merciful.
O ye who believe! There is prescribed for you the fast as it was
prescribed for those before you; haply ye may fear. A certain number
of days, but he amongst you who is ill or on a journey, then (let
him fast) another number of days. And those who are fit to fast may
redeem it by feeding a poor man; but he who follows an impulse to a
good work it is better for him; and if ye fast it is better for you,
if ye did but know.
The month of Ramadhan, wherein was revealed the Koran, for a
guidance to men, and for manifestations of guidance, and for a
Discrimination. And he amongst you who beholds this month then let him
fast it; but he who is sick or on a journey, then another number of
days;- God desires for you what is easy, and desires not for you
what is difficult,- that ye may complete the number, and say, 'Great
is God,' for that He has guided you; haply ye may give thanks.
When my servants ask thee concerning me, then, verily, I am near;
I answer the prayer's prayer whene'er he prays to me. So let them
ask me for an answer, and let them believe in me; haply they may be
directed aright.
Lawful for you on the night of the fast is commerce with your wives;
they are a garment unto you, and ye a garment unto them. God knows
that ye did defraud yourselves, wherefore He has turned towards you
and forgiven you; so now go in unto them and crave what God has
prescribed for you, and eat and drink until a white thread can be
distinguished by you from a black one at the dawn. Then fulfil the
fast until the night, and go not in unto them, and ye at your
devotions in the mosques the while. These are the bounds that God
has set, so draw not near thereto. Thus does God make manifest His
signs to men, that haply they may fear.
Devour not your wealth among yourselves vainly, nor present it to
the judges that ye may devour a part of the wealth of men sinfully,
the while ye know.
They will ask thee about the phases of the moon; say, 'They are
indications of time for men and for the pilgrimage.' And it is not
righteousness that ye should enter into your houses from behind
them, but righteousness is he who fears; so enter into your houses
by the doors thereof and fear God; haply ye may prosper yet.
Fight in God's way with those who fight with you, but transgress
not; verily, God loves not those who do transgress.
Kill them wherever ye find them, and drive them out from whence they
drive you out; for sedition is worse than slaughter; but fight them
not by the Sacred Mosque until they fight you there; then kill them,
for such is the recompense of those that misbelieve.
But if they desist, then, verily, God is forgiving and merciful.
But fight them that there be no sedition and that the religion may
be God's; but, if they desist, then let there be no hostility save
against the unjust.
The sacred month for the sacred month; for all sacred things
demand retaliation; and whoso transgresses against you, transgress
against him like as he transgressed against you; but fear ye God,
and know that God is with those who fear.
Expend in alms in God's way and be not cast by your own hands into
perdition; but do good, for God loves those who do good.
And fulfil the pilgrimage and the visitation to God; but if ye be
besieged, then what is easiest for you by way of gift. But shave not
your heads until your gift shall reach its destination; and he amongst
you who is sick or has a hurt upon his head, then the redemption is by
fasting or by alms or by an offering. But when ye are safe again, then
let him who would enjoy the visitation until the pilgrimage (bring)
what is easiest as a gift. And he who cannot find (anything to bring),
then let him fast three days on the pilgrimage and seven when ye
return; these make ten days complete. That is, for him whose family
are not present in the Sacred Mosque; and fear God and know that God
is keen to punish.
The pilgrimage is (in) well-known months: whosoever then makes it
incumbent on himself (let him have neither) commerce with women, nor
fornication, nor a quarrel on the pilgrimage; and whatsoever of good
ye do, God knoweth it; then provide yourself for your journey; but the
best provision is piety. Fear ye me ye who possess minds.
It is no crime to you that ye seek good from your Lord; but when
ye pour forth from 'Arafat, remember God by the sacred beacon.
Remember Him how He guided you, although ye were surely before of
those who err.
Then pour ye forth from whence men do pour forth and ask pardon of
God; verily, God is forgiving and merciful.
And when ye have performed your rites, remember God as ye remember
your fathers, or with a keener memory still.
There is among men such as says, 'Our Lord! give us in this
world;' but of the future life no portion shall he have.
And some there be who say, 'Our Lord! give us in this world good and
in the future good; and keep us from the torment of the fire!'
These,- they have their portion from what they have earned; for
God is swift at reckoning up.
Remember God for a certain number of days; but whoso hastens off
in two days, it is no sin to him, and he who lingers on it is no sin
to him,- for him who fears. So fear ye God and know that unto Him
shall ye be gathered.
There is among men one whose speech about the life of this world
pleases thee, and he calls on God to witness what is in his heart; yet
is he most fierce in opposition unto thee. And when he turns away,
he strives upon the earth to do evil therein, and to destroy the tilth
and the stock; verily, God loves not evil doing. And when it is said
to him, 'Fear God,' then pride takes hold upon him in sin; but hell is
enough for him! surely an evil couch is that.
And there is among men one who selleth his soul craving, those
things that are pleasing unto God and God is kind unto His servants.
O ye who believe! enter ye into the peace, one and all, and follow
not the footsteps of Satan; verily, to you he is an open foe. And if
ye slip after that the manifest signs have come to you, then know that
God is the mighty, the wise.
What can they expect but that God should come unto them in the
shadow of a cloud, and the angels too? But the thing is decreed, and
unto God do things return.
Ask the children of Israel how many a manifest sign we gave to them;
and whoso alters God's favours after that they have come to him,
then God is keen at following up.
Made fair to those who misbelieve is this world's life; they jest at
those who do believe. But those who fear shall be above them on the
resurrection day. God gives provision unto whom He will without
account.
Men were one nation once, and God sent prophets with good tidings
and with warnings, and sent down with them the Book in truth, to judge
between men in that wherein they disagreed; but none did disagree
therein save those who had been given it after that manifest signs had
come to them, through greed amongst themselves; and God guided those
who did believe to that truth concerning which they disagreed by His
permission, for God guides whom He will unto the right path.
Did ye count to enter Paradise, while there had nothing come to
you like those who passed away before you; there touched them violence
and harm, and they were made to quake, until the Apostle and those who
believed with him said, 'When (comes) God's help? Is not God's help
then surely nigh?'
They will ask thee what they are to expend in alms: say, 'Whatsoever
good ye expend it should be for parents and kinsmen, and the orphan
and the poor, and the son of the road; and whatsoever good ye do,
verily, of it God knows.'
Prescribed for you is fighting, but it is hateful to you. Yet
peradventure that ye hate a thing while it is good for you, and
peradventure that ye love a thing while it is bad for you; God
knows, and ye,- ye do not know!
They will ask thee of the sacred month,- of fighting therein. Say,
'Fighting therein is a great sin; but turning folks off God's way, and
misbelief in Him and in the Sacred Mosque, and turning His people
out therefrom, is a greater in God's sight; and sedition is a
greater sin than slaughter.'
They will not cease from fighting you until they turn you from
your religion if they can; but whosoever of you is turned from his
religion and dies while still a misbeliever; these are those whose
works are vain in this world and the next; they are the fellows of the
Fire, and they shall dwell therein for aye.
Verily, those who believe, and those who flee, and those who wage
war in God's way; these may hope for God's mercy, for God is forgiving
and merciful.
They will ask thee about wine and el maisar, say, 'In them both is
sin and profit to men; but the sin of both is greater than the
profit of the same.'
They will ask thee what they shall expend in alms: say, 'The
surplus.' Thus does God manifest to you His signs; haply ye may
reflect on this world and the next! They will ask thee about
orphans: say, 'To do good to them is best.' But if ye interfere with
them- they are your brethren, and God knows the evildoer from the well
doer; and if God will He will surely trouble you. Verily, God is
mighty, wise.
Wed not with idolatrous women until they believe, for surely a
believing handmaid is better than an idolatrous woman, even though she
please you. And wed not to idolatrous men until they believe, for a
believing slave is better than an idolater, even though he please you.
Those invite you to the fire, but God invites you to paradise and
pardon by His permission, and makes clear His signs to men; haply they
may remember.
They will ask thee about menstruation: say, 'It is a hurt.' So
keep apart from women in their menstruation, and go not near them till
they be cleansed; but when they are cleansed come in to them by
where God has ordered you verily, God loves those who turn to Him, and
those who keep themselves clean.
Your women are your tilth, so come into your tillage how you choose;
but do a previous good act for yourselves, and fear God, and know that
ye are going to meet Him; and give good tidings unto those who do
believe.
Make not God the butt of your oaths, that ye will keep clear and
fear and make peace amongst men, for God both hears and knows.
He will not catch you up for a casual word in your oaths, but He
will catch you up for what your hearts have earned; but God is
forgiving and clement.
Those who swear off from their women, they must wait four months;
but if they break their vow God is forgiving and merciful.
And if they intend to divorce them, verily, God hears and knows.
Divorced women must wait for themselves three courses; and it is not
lawful to them that they hide what God has created in their wombs,
if they believe in God and in the last day. Their husbands will do
better to take them back in that (case) if they wish for
reconciliation; for, the same is due to them as from them; but the men
should have precedence over them. God is mighty and wise.
Divorce (may happen) twice; then keep them in reason, or let them go
with kindness. It is not lawful for you to take from them anything
of what you have given them, unless both fear that they cannot keep
within God's bounds. So if ye fear that ye cannot keep within God's
bounds there is no crime in you both about what she ransoms herself
with. These are God's bounds, do not transgress them; and whoso
transgresses God's bounds, they it is who are unjust.
But if he divorce her (a third time) she shall not be lawful to
him after that, until she marry another husband; but, if he divorce
her too, it is no crime in them both to come together again, if they
think that they can keep within God's bounds. These are God's bounds
which He explains to a people who know.
When ye divorce women, and they have reached the prescribed time,
then keep them kindly, or let them go in reason, but do not keep
them by force to transgress; for whoso does that, he is unjust to
his own soul: and do not take God's signs in jest; and remember
God's favours to you, and what He has sent down to you of the Book and
wisdom, to admonish you thereby; and fear God, and know that God
doth all things know.
When ye divorce women, and they have reached their prescribed
term, do not prevent them from marrying their (fresh) husbands, when
they have agreed with each other reasonably. That is what he is
admonished with who amongst you believes in God and in the last day.
That is more pure for you and cleaner. But God knows, and ye know not.
Mothers must suckle their children two whole years for one who
wishes to complete the time of suckling; and on him to whom it is born
its sustenance and clothing are incumbent; but in reason, for no
soul shall be obliged beyond its capacity. A mother shall not be
forced for her child; nor he to whom it is born for his child. And the
same (is incumbent) on the heir (of the father). But if both parties
wish to wean, by mutual consent and counsel, then it is no crime in
them. And if ye wish to provide a wet-nurse for your children, it is
no crime in you when you pay what you have promised her, in reason.
Fear God, and know that God on what ye do doth look.
Those of you who die and leave wives behind, let these wait by
themselves for four months and ten days; and when they have reached
their prescribed time, there is no crime in them for what they do with
themselves in reason; for God of what ye do is well aware.
Nor is there any crime in you for that ye make them an offer of
marriage, or that ye keep it secret, in your minds. God knows that
ye will remember them; but do not propose to them in secret, unless ye
speak a reasonable speech; and resolve not on marriage tie until the
Book shall reach its time; but know that God knows what is in your
souls; so beware! and know that God is forgiving and clement.
It is no crime in you if ye divorce your women ere you have yet
touched them, or settled for them a settlement. But provide
maintenance for them; the wealthy according to his power, and the
straitened in circumstances according to his power, must provide, in
reason;- a duty this upon the kind.
And if ye divorce them before ye have touched them, but have already
settled for them a settlement; the half of what ye have settled,
unless they remit it, or he in whose hand is the marriage tie remits
it; and that ye should remit is nearer to piety, and forget not
liberality between you. Verily, God on what ye do doth look.
Observe the prayers, and the middle prayer, and stand ye attent
before God.
And if ye fear, then afoot or on horseback; but when ye are in
safety remember God, how He taught you while yet ye did not know.
Those of you who die and leave wives, should bequeath to their wives
maintenance for a year, without expulsion (from their home); but if
they go out, there is no crime in you for what they do of
themselves, in reason; but God is mighty and wise.
And divorced women should have a maintenance in reason,- a duty this
on those that fear. Thus does God explain to you His signs; haply ye
may understand.
Dost thou not look at those who left their homes by thousands, for
fear of death; and God said to them 'Die,' and then He quickened
them again? Verily God is Lord of grace to men, but most men give no
thanks.
Fight then in God's way, and know that God both hears and knows.
Who is there that will lend to God a good loan? He will redouble
it many a double; God closes His hand and holds it out, and unto Him
shall ye return.
Dost thou not look at the crowd of the children of Israel after
Moses' time, when they said to a prophet of theirs, 'Raise up for us a
king, and we will fight in God's way?' He said, 'Will ye perhaps, if
it be written down for you to fight, refuse to fight?' They said, 'And
why should we not fight in God's way, now that we are dispossessed
of our homes and sons? But when it was written down for them to
fight they turned back, save a few of them, and God knows who are
evildoers. Then their prophet said to them, 'Verily, God has raised up
for you Talut as a king;' they said, How can the kingdom be his over
us; we have more right to the kingdom than he, for he has not an
amplitude of wealth?' He said, 'Verily, God has chosen him over you,
and has provided him with an extent of knowledge and of form. God
gives the kingdom unto whom He will; God comprehends and knows.'
Then said to them their prophet, 'The sign of his kingdom is that
there shall come to you the ark with the shechina in it from your
Lord, and the relics of what the family of Moses and the family of
Aaron left; the angels shall bear it.' In that is surely a sign to you
if ye believe.
And when Talut set out with his soldiery, he said, 'God will try you
with a river, and he who drinks therefrom, he is not of mine; but
whoso tastes it not, he is of mine, save he who laps it lapping with
his hand.'
And they drank from it save a few of them, and when he crossed it,
he and those who believed with him, they said, 'We have no power
this day against Galut and his soldiery, 'those who thought that
they should meet their Lord said, 'How many a small division of men
have conquered a numerous division, by the permission of God, for
God is with the patient.'
And when they went out against a Galut and his soldiery, they
said, 'Lord, pour out patience over us, and make firm our steps, and
help us against the misbelieving people!'
And they put them to flight by the permission of God, and David
killed Galut, and God gave him the kingdom and wisdom, and taught
him of what He willed. And were it not for God's repelling men one
with another the earth would become spoiled; but God is Lord of
grace over the worlds.
These are the signs of God, we recite them to thee in truth, for,
verily, thou art of those who are sent.
These apostles have we preferred one of them above another. Of
them is one to whom God spake; and we have raised some of them
degrees; and we have given Jesus the son of Mary manifest signs, and
strengthened him by the Holy Spirit. And, did God please, those who
came after them would not have fought after there came to them
manifest signs. But they did disagree, and of them are some who
believe, and of them some who misbelieve, but, did God please, they
would not have fought, for God does what He will.
O ye who believe! expend in alms of what we have bestowed upon
you, before the day comes in which is no barter, and no friendship,
and no intercession; and the misbelievers, they are the unjust.
God, there is no god but He, the living, the self-subsistent.
Slumber takes Him not, nor sleep. His is what is in the heavens and
what is in the earth. Who is it that intercedes with Him save by His
permission? He knows what is before them and what behind them, and
they comprehend not aught of His knowledge but of what He pleases. His
throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and it tires Him not to
guard them both, for He is high and grand.
There is no compulsion in religion; the right way has been
distinguished from the wrong, and whoso disbelieves in Taghut and
believes in God, he has got hold of the firm handle in which is no
breaking off; but God both hears and knows.
God is the patron of those who believe, He brings them forth from
darkness into light. But those who misbelieve, their patrons are
Taghut, these bring them forth from light to darkness,- fellows of the
Fire, they dwell therein for aye.
Do you not look at him who disputed with Abraham about his Lord,
that God had given him the kingdom? When Abraham said, 'My Lord is
He who giveth life and death,' he said, 'I give life and death.'
Abraham said, 'But verily, God brings the sun from the east, do thou
then bring it from the west? And he who misbelieved was dumbfounded,
for God does not guide unjust folk.
Or like him who passed by a village, when it was desolate and turned
over on its roofs, and said, 'How will God revive this after its
death?' And God made him die for a hundred years, then He raised
him, and said, 'How long hast thou tarried?' Said he, 'I have
tarried a day, or some part of a day.' He said, 'Nay, thou hast
tarried a hundred years; look at thy food and drink, they are not
spoiled, and look at thine ass; for we will make thee a sign to men.
And look at the bones how we scatter them and then clothe them with
flesh.' And when it was made manifest to him, he said, 'I know that
God is mighty over all.'
And when Abraham said, 'Lord, show me how thou wilt revive the
dead,' He said, 'What, dost thou not yet believe?' Said he, 'Yea,
but that my heart may be quieted.' He said, 'Then take four birds, and
take them close to thyself; then put a part of them on every mountain;
then call them, and they will come to thee in haste; and know that God
is mighty, wise.'
The likeness of those who expend their wealth in God's way is as the
likeness of a grain that grows to seven ears, in every ear a hundred
grains, for God will double unto whom He pleases; for God both
embraces and knows.
Those who expend their wealth in God's way, then do not follow up
what they expend by taunting with it and by annoyance, these have
their hire with their Lord, and no fear is on them, neither shall they
grieve.
Kind speech and pardon are better than almsgiving followed by
annoyance, and God is rich and clement.
O ye who believe! make not your almsgiving vain by taunts and
annoyance, like him who expends what he has for the sake of
appearances before men, and believes not in God and the last day;
for his likeness is as the likeness of a flint with soil upon it,
and a heavy shower falls on it and leaves it bare rock; they can do
nought with what they earn, for God guides not the misbelieving folk.
But the likeness of those who expend their wealth craving the
goodwill of God, and as an insurance for their souls, is as the
likeness of a garden on a hill. A heavy shower falls on it, and it
brings forth its eatables twofold; and if no heavy shower falls on it,
the dew does; and God on what ye do doth look.
Would one of you fain have a garden of palms and vines, with
rivers flowing beneath it, in which is every fruit; and when old age
shall reach him, have weak seed, and there fall on it a storm wind
with fire therein, and it gets burnt?
Thus does God manifest to you His signs, mayhap ye will reflect.
O ye who believe! expend in alms of the good things that ye have
earned, and of what we have brought forth for you out of the earth,
and do not take the vile thereof to spend in alms,- what you would not
take yourselves save by connivance at it; but know that God is rich
and to be praised.
The devil promises you poverty and bids you sin, but God promises
you pardon from Him and grace, for God both embraces and knows. He
bringeth wisdom unto whom He will, and he who is brought wisdom is
brought much good; but none will remember save those endowed with
minds.
Whatever expense ye expend, or vow ye vow, God knows it; but the
unjust have no helpers. If ye display your almsgiving, then well is
it; but if ye hide it and bring it to the poor, then is it better
for you, and will expiate for you your evil deeds; for God of what
ye do is well aware.
Thou art not bound to guide them; but God guides whom He will; and
whatever good ye expend it is for yourselves, and do not expend save
craving for God's face.
And what ye expend of good, it shall be repaid you, and ye shall not
be wronged,- unto the poor who are straitened in God's way, and cannot
knock about in the earth. The ignorant think them to be rich because
of their modesty; you will know them by their mark, they do not beg
from men importunately; but what ye spend of good God knows.
Those who expend their wealth by night and day, secretly and openly,
they shall have their hire with their Lord. No fear shall come on
them, nor shall they grieve.
Those who devour usury shall not rise again, save as he riseth
whom Satan hath paralysed with a touch; and that is because they say
'selling is only like usury,' but God has made selling lawful and
usury unlawful; and he to whom the admonition from his Lord has
come, if he desists, what has gone before is his: his matter is in
God's hands. But whosoever returns (to usury) these are the fellows of
the Fire, and they shall dwell therein for aye. God shall blot out
usury, but shall make almsgiving profitable, for God loves not any
sinful misbeliever.
Verily, those who believe, and act righteously, and are steadfast in
prayer, and give alms, theirs is their hire with their Lord; there
is no fear on them, nor shall they grieve.
O ye who believe! fear God, and remit the balance of usury, if ye be
believers; and if ye will not do it, then hearken to the
proclamation of war from God and His Apostle; but if ye repent, your
capital is yours. Ye shall not wrong, nor shall ye be wronged.
And if it be one in difficulties, then wait for easy
circumstances; but that ye remit it as alms is better for you, if ye
did but know.
Fear the day wherein ye shall return to God; then shall each soul be
paid what it has earned, and they shall not be wronged.
O ye who believe! if ye engage to one another in a debt for a stated
time, then write it down, and let a scribe write it down between you
faithfully; nor let a scribe refuse to write as God taught him, but
let him write, and let him who owes dictate; but let him fear God
his Lord, and not diminish therefrom aught; but if he who owes be a
fool, or weak, or cannot dictate himself, then let his agent dictate
faithfully, and let them call two witnesses out from amongst their
men; or if there be not two men, then a man and two women, from
those whom he chooses for witnesses, so that if one of the two
should err, the second of the two may remind the other; and let not
the witnesses refuse when they are summoned; and let them not tire
of writing it, be it small or great, with its time of payment. That is
more just in the sight of God, and more upright for testimony, and
brings you nearer to not doubting. Unless, indeed, it be a ready-money
transaction between you, which ye arrange between yourselves, then
it is no crime against you that ye do not write it down; but bring
witnesses to what ye sell one to another, and let not either scribe or
witness come to harm, for if ye do it will be abomination in you;
but fear God, for God teaches you, and God knows all things. But if ye
be upon a journey, and ye cannot find a scribe, then let a pledge be
taken. But if one of you trust another, then let him who is trusted
surrender his trust, and let him fear God his Lord, and conceal not
testimony, for he who conceals it, verily, sinful is his heart: God
knows what ye do.
God's is what is in heaven and in the earth, and if ye show what
is in your souls, or hide it, God will call you to account; and He
forgives whom He will, and punishes whom He will, for God is mighty
over all.
The Apostle believes in what is sent down to him from his Lord,
and the believers all believe on God, and His angels, and His Books,
and His apostles,- we make no difference between any of His apostles,-
they say, 'We hear and obey, Thy pardon, O Lord! for to Thee our
journey tends. God will not require of the soul save its capacity.
It shall have what it has earned, and it shall owe what has been
earned from it. Lord, catch us not up, if we forget or make mistake;
Lord, load us not with a burden, as Thou hast loaded those who were
before us. Lord, make us not to carry what we have not strength for,
but forgive us, and pardon us, and have mercy on us. Thou art our
Sovereign, then help us against the people who do not believe!'
THE CHAPTER OF IMRAN'S FAMILY
(III. Medina.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
ALIF LAM MIM. God, there is no god but He, the living, the
self-subsistent. He has sent down to thee the Book, in truth,
confirming what was before it, and has revealed the law, and the
gospel before for the guidance of men, and has revealed the
Discrimination.
Verily, those who disbelieve in the signs of God, for them is severe
torment, for God is mighty and avenging.
Verily, God, there is nothing hidden from Him in the earth, nor in
the heaven; He it is who fashions you in the womb as He pleases. There
is no God but He, the mighty, the wise.
He it is who has revealed to thee the Book, of which there are
some verses that are decisive, they are the mother of the Book; and
others ambiguous; but as for those in whose hearts is perversity, they
follow what is ambiguous, and do crave for sedition, craving for
(their own) interpretation of it; but none know the interpretation
of it except God. But those who are well grounded in knowledge say,
'We believe in it; it is all from our Lord; but none will remember
save those who possess minds.
'O Lord! pervert not our hearts again when Thou hast guided them,
and grant us mercy from Thee, for Thou art He who grants. O Lord! Thou
shalt gather together men unto the day wherein is no doubt. Verily,
God will not depart from His promise.'
Verily, those who misbelieve, their wealth shall not help them,
nor their children, against God at all; and they it is who are the
fuel of the fire.
As was the wont of Pharaoh's people, and those before them, they
said our signs were lies, and God caught them up in their sins, for
God is severe to punish.
Say to those who misbelieve, 'Ye shall be overcome and driven
together to hell, an ill couch will it be.
'Ye have had a sign in the two parties who met; one party fighting
in the way of God, the other misbelieving; these saw twice the same
number as themselves to the eye-sight, for God aids with His help
those whom He pleases.' Verily, in that is a lesson for those who have
perception. Seemly unto men is a life of lusts, of women, and
children, and hoarded talents of gold and silver, and of horses
well-bred, and cattle, and tilth;- that is the provision for the
life of this world; but God, with Him is the best resort.
Say, 'But shall we tell you of a better thing than this?' For
those who fear are gardens with their Lord, beneath which rivers flow;
they shall dwell therein for aye, and pure wives and grace from God;
the Lord looks on His servants, who say, 'Lord, we believe, pardon
Thou our sins and keep us from the torment of the fire,' the
patient, the truthful, the devout, and those who ask for pardon at the
dawn.
God bears witness that there is no god but He, and the angels, and
those possessed of knowledge standing up for justice. There is no
God but He, the mighty, the wise.
Verily, (the true) religion in God's sight is Islam, and those to
whom the Book was given disagreed not until after that there was given
to them knowledge, through mutual envy. But whoso disbelieves in God's
signs, truly God is quick at reckoning up.
And if they would dispute with thee, then say, 'I turn my face
with resignation unto God, and whoso follows me.'
And say to those who have been given the Book, unto the Gentiles,
'Are ye, too, resigned' and if they are resigned, then are they
guided. But if they turn their backs, then thou hast only to preach,
and God looks on his servants.
Verily, those who disbelieve in God's signs, and kill the prophets
without right, and kill those from among men, who bid what is just,-
to them give the glad tidings of grievous woe! These are they whose
works are void in this world and the next, and helpers have they none.
Did ye not see those who have been given a portion of the Book? they
were called unto the Book of God to decide between them; and then a
sect of them turned their backs and turned away;- that is because they
say the fire shall not touch us save for a certain number of days. But
that deceived them in their religion which they had invented. How will
it be when we have gathered them together for a day whereof there is
no doubt, when each soul shall be paid what it has earned, and they
shall not be wronged?
Say, 'O God, Lord of the kingdom! Thou givest the kingdom to
whomsoever Thou pleasest, and strippest the kingdom from whomsoever
Thou pleasest; Thou honourest whom Thou pleasest, and abasest whom
Thou pleasest; in Thy hand is good. Verily, Thou art mighty over
all. Thou dost turn night to day, and dost turn day to night, and dost
bring forth the living from the dead, and dost provide for whom Thou
pleasest without taking count.'
Those who believe shall not take misbelievers for their patrons,
rather than believers, and he who does this has no part with God at
all, unless, indeed, ye fear some danger from them. But God bids you
beware of Himself, for unto Him your journey is.
Say, 'If ye hide that which is in your breasts, or if ye show it,
God knows it: He knows what is in the heavens and what is in the
earth, for God is mighty over all.'
The day that every soul shall find what it has done of good
present before it; and what it has done of evil, it would fain that
there were between itself and that a wide interval. 'God bids you
beware of Himself, but God is gentle with His servants.'
Say, 'If ye would love God then follow me, and God will love you and
forgive you your sins, for God is forgiving and merciful.'
Say, 'Obey God and the Apostle; but if ye turn your backs God
loves not misbelievers.'
Verily, God has chosen Adam, and Noah, and Abraham's people, and
Imran's people above the world,- a seed, of which one succeeds the
other, but God both hears and knows.
When Imran's wife said, 'Lord! I have vowed to Thee what is within
my womb, to be dedicated unto Thee, receive it then from me. Verily,
Thou dost hear and know.' And when she brought it forth she said,
'Verily, I have brought it forth a female'- but God knew best what she
brought forth; and a male is not like a female- 'I have called her
Mary, and I seek a refuge in Thee for her and for her seed from
Satan the pelted.'
And her Lord received her with a good reception, and made her grow
up with a good growth, and Zachariah took care of her. Whenever
Zachariah entered the chamber to her he found beside her a
provision, and said, 'O Mary, how hast thou this?' She said, 'It is
from God, for God provides for whom He pleases without count.'
Therefore prayed Zachariah to his Lord, and said, 'Lord, grant me from
Thee a good seed. Verily, Thou hearest prayer.' And an angel cried out
to him as he was standing praying in the chamber (and said) that
'God gives thee the glad tidings of John, to confirm the Word from
God,- of a chief and a chaste one, and a prophet from amongst the
righteous.'
He said, 'My Lord, how can there be to me a boy when old age has
reached me, and my wife is barren?' Said he, 'Thus God does what He
pleaseth.' He said, 'My Lord, make for me a sign.' He said, 'Thy
sign is that thou shalt not speak to men for three days, save by
gesture; but remember thy Lord much, and celebrate His praises in
the evening and the morning.'
And when the angels said, 'O Mary! verily, God has chosen thee,
and has purified thee, and has chosen thee above the women of the
world. O Mary! be devout unto thy Lord, and adore and bow down with
those who bow. That is (one) of the declarations of the unseen world
which we reveal to thee, though thou wert not by them when they
threw their lots which of them should take care of Mary, nor were ye
by them when they did dispute.'
When the angel said, 'O Mary! verily, God gives thee the glad
tidings of a Word from Him; his name shall be the Messiah Jesus the
son of Mary, regarded in this world and the next and of those whose
place is nigh to God. And he shall speak to people in his cradle,
and when grown up, and shall be among the righteous.' She said, 'Lord!
how can have a son, when man has not yet touched me?' He said, 'Thus
God creates what He pleaseth. When He decrees a matter He only says BE
and it is; and He will teach him the Book, and wisdom, and the law,
and the gospel, and he shall be a prophet to the people of Israel
(saying), that I have come to you, with a sign from God, namely,
that I will create for you out of clay as though it were the form of a
bird, and I will blow thereon and it shall become a bird by God's
permission; and I will heal the blind from birth, and lepers; and I
will bring the dead to life by God's permission; and I will tell you
what you eat and what ye store up in your houses. Verily, in that is a
sign for you if ye be believers. And I will confirm what is before you
of the law, and will surely make lawful for you some of that which was
prohibited from you. I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so
fear God and follow me, for God is my Lord, and your Lord, so
worship Him:- this is the right path.'
And when Jesus perceived their unbelief, He said, 'Who are my
helpers for God?' Said the apostles, 'We are God's helpers. We believe
in God, so bear witness that we are resigned. Lord, we have believed
in what Thou hast revealed, and we have followed the Apostle, so write
us down with those which bear witness.' But they (the Jews) were
crafty, and God was crafty, for God is the best of crafty ones!
When God said, 'O Jesus! I will make Thee die and take Thee up again
to me and will clear thee of those who misbelieve, and will make those
who follow thee above those who misbelieve, at the day of judgment,
then to me is your return. I will decide between you concerning that
wherein ye disagree. And as for those who misbelieve, I will punish
them with grievous punishment in this world and the next, and they
shall have none to help them.' But as for those who believe and do
what is right, He will pay them their reward, for God loves not the
unjust.
That is what we recite to thee of the signs and of the wise
reminder. Verily the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness
of Adam. He created him from earth, then He said to him BE, and he
was;- the truth from thy Lord, so be thou not of those who are in
doubt. And whoso disputeth with thee after what has come to thee of
knowledge, say, 'Come, let us call our sons and your sons, and our
women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves: then we will
imprecate and put God's curse on those who lie.'
Verily, those are the true stories, and there is no god but God,
and, verily, God He is the mighty, the wise; but if they turn back,
God knows the evildoers.
Say, 'O ye people of the Book, come to a word laid down plainly
between us and you, that we will not serve other than God, nor
associate aught with him, nor take each other for lords rather than
God.' But if they turn back then say, 'Bear witness that we are
resigned.'
O people of the Book, why do ye dispute about Abraham, when the
law and the gospel were not revealed until after him? What! do ye
not understand? Here ye are, disputing about what ye have some
knowledge of; why then do ye dispute about what ye have no knowledge
of? God knows and ye know not.
Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian, but he was a 'Hanif
resigned, and not of the idolaters. Verily, the people most worthy
of Abraham are those who follow him and his prophets, and those who
believe;- God is the patron of the believers.
A sect of the people of the Book would fain they could lead you
astray, but they only lead themselves astray, and they do not
perceive.
O people of the Book! why do ye disbelieve in the signs of God,
the while ye witness them? O people of the Book! why do ye clothe
the truth with falsehood and hide the truth the while ye know? A
sect of the people of the Book say, 'Believe in what was revealed to
those who believed at the first appearance of the day, and
disbelieve it at the end thereof,'- that (others) may perchance go
back (from their faith)- 'do not believe save one who followeth your
religion.'
Say, 'Verily, the (true) guidance is the guidance of God, that one
should be given like what ye are given.' Or would they dispute with
you before your Lord, say, 'Grace is in the hand of God, He gives it
to whom he pleases, for God both comprehends and knows. He specially
favours with his mercy whom he pleases, for God is Lord of mighty
grace.
And of the people of the Book, there are some of them who, if thou
entrust them with a talent give it back to you; and some of them, if
thou entrust them with a dinar, he will not give it back to thee
except so long as thou dost stand over him. That is because they
say, We owe no duty to the Gentiles;' but they tell a lie against God,
the while they know.
Yea, whoso fulfils his covenant and fears,- verily, God loves
those who fear. Those who sell God's covenant and their oaths for a
little price, these have no portion in the future life. God will not
speak to them, and will not look upon them on the resurrection day,
and will not purify them; but for them is grievous woe.
And, verily, amongst them is a sect who twist their tongues
concerning the Book, that ye may reckon it to be from the Book, but it
is not from the Book. They say, 'It is from God, 'but it is not from
God, and they tell a lie against God, the while they know.
It is not right for a man that God should give him a Book, and
judgment, and prophecy, and that then he should say to men, 'Be ye
servants of mine rather than of God;' but be ye rather masters of
teaching the Book and of what ye learn.
He does not bid you take the angels and the prophets for your lords;
shall He bid you misbelieve again when you are once resigned?
And when God took the compact from the prophets '(this is) surely
what we have given you of the Book and wisdom. Then shall come to
you the Apostle confirming what is with you. Ye must believe in him
and help him.' He said, moreover, 'Are ye resolved and have ye taken
my compact on that (condition) They say, 'We are resolved.' He said,
'Then bear witness, for I am witness with you; but he who turns back
after that, these are sinners.'
What is it other than God's religion that they crave? when to Him is
resigned whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, will he or nill
he, and to him shall they return!
Say, 'We believe in God, and what has been revealed to thee, and
what was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and
the tribes, and what was given to Moses, and Jesus, and the prophets
from their Lord,- we will make no distinction between any of them,-
and we are unto Him resigned. Whosoever craves other than Islam for
a religion, it shall surely not be accepted from him, and he shall, in
the next world, be of those who lose.'
How shall God guide people who have disbelieved after believing
and bearing witness that the Apostle is true, and after there come
to them manifest signs? God guides the unjust folk.
These, their reward is, that on them is the curse of God, and of the
angels, and of men together; they shall dwell therein for aye- the
torment shall not be alleviated from them, nor shall they be respited;
save those who repent after that, and act aright, for verily, God is
forgiving and merciful.
Verily, those who misbelieve after believing, and then increase in
misbelief, their repentance shall not be accepted; these are those who
err.
Verily, those who misbelieve and die in misbelief, there shall not
be accepted from any one of them the earth-full of gold, though he
should give it as a ransom. For them is grievous woe, and helpers have
they none.
Ye cannot attain to righteousness until ye expend in alms of what ye
love. But what ye expend in alms, that God knows.
All food was lawful to the children of Israel save what Israel
made unlawful to himself before that the law was revealed. Say, 'Bring
the law and recite it, if ye speak the truth.' But whoso forges
against God a lie, after that, they are the unjust. Say, 'God speaks
the truth, then follow the faith of Abraham, a 'hanif, who was not
of the idolaters.'
Verily, the first House founded for men was surely that at Bekkah,
for a blessing and a guidance to the worlds. Therein are manifest
signs,- Abraham's station, and whosoever enters in is safe. There is
due to God from man a pilgrimage unto the House, for whosoever can
find his way there. But whoso misbelieves- God is independent of the
worlds.
Say, 'O people of the Book! why do ye misbelieve in God's signs,
while God is witness of what ye do?'
Say, 'O people of the Book! why do ye turn from the way of God him
who believes, craving to make it crooked, while ye are witnesses?
But God is not careless of what ye do.'
O ye who believe! if ye obey the sect of those to whom the Book
was brought, they will turn you, after your faith, to unbelievers
again. How can ye misbelieve while unto you are recited the signs of
God, and among you is His Apostle? But whoso takes tight hold on
God, he is guided into the right way.
O ye who believe! fear God with the fear that He deserves, and die
not save ye be resigned.
Take tight hold of God's rope altogether, and do not part in
sects; but remember the favours of God towards you, when ye were
enemies and He made friendship between your hearts, and on the
morrow ye were, by His favour, brothers. Ye were on the edge of a
pit of fire, but he rescued you therefrom. Thus does God show to you
His signs, perchance ye may be guided; and that there may be of you
a nation who shall invite to good, and bid what is reasonable, and
forbid what is wrong; these are the prosperous.
Be not like those who parted in sects and disagreed after there came
to them manifest signs; for them is mighty woe, on the day when
faces shall be whitened and faces shall be blackened. As for those
whose faces are blackened,- 'Did ye misbelieve after your faith,
then taste the torment for your misbelief But as for those whose faces
are whitened, they are in God's mercy, and they shall dwell therein
for aye.
These are the signs of God. We recite them to you in truth, for
God desires not wrong unto the worlds.
God's is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and unto
God affairs return.
Ye were the best of nations brought forth unto man. Ye bid what is
reasonable, and forbid what is wrong, believing in God. Had the people
of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. There are
believers among them, though most of them are sinners.
They shall surely not harm you save a hurt; and if they fight you,
they shall show you their backs, then they shall not be helped.
They are smitten with abasement wherever they be found, save for the
rope of God and the rope of man; and they draw on themselves wrath
from God. They are smitten, too, with poverty; that is because they
did disbelieve in God's signs, and kill the prophets undeservedly.
That is because they did rebel and did transgress.
They are not all alike. Of the people of the Book there is a
nation upright, reciting God's signs throughout the night, as they
adore the while. They believe in God, and in the last day, and bid
what is reasonable, and forbid what is wrong, and vie in charity;
these are among the righteous.
What ye do of good surely God will not deny, for God knows those who
fear.
Verily, those who misbelieve, their wealth is of no service to them,
nor their children either, against God; they are the fellows of the
Fire, and they shall dwell therein for aye.
The likeness of what they expend in this life of the world, is as
the likeness of wind wherein is a cold blast that falls upon a
people's tilth who have wronged themselves and destroys it. It is
not God who wrongs them, but it is themselves they wrong.
O ye who believe! take not to intimacy with others than
yourselves; they will not fail to spoil you; they would fain ye came
to trouble,- hatred is shown by their mouths; but what their breasts
conceal is greater still. We have made manifest to you our signs,
did ye but understand.
Ye it is who love them, but they love not you; and ye believe in the
Book, all of it. But when they meet you they say, 'We believe;' and
when they go aside they bite their finger tips at you through rage.
Say, 'Die in your rage, for God doth know the nature of men's
breasts.'
If good luck touch you it is bad for them, but if bad luck befal you
they rejoice therein; yet if ye are patient and fear, their tricks
shall not harm you, for what they do God comprehends.
When thou didst set forth early from thy people to settle for the
believers a camp to fight;- but God both hears and knows;- when two
companies of you were on the point of showing cowardice; but God was
their guardian, for on God surely the believers do rely. Why! God gave
you victory at Bedr when ye were in a poor way; fear God, then,
haply ye may give thanks. When thou didst say unto the believers,
'Is it not enough for you that your Lord assists you with three
thousand of the angels sent down from on high? Yea, if ye are
patient and fear God, and they come upon you on a sudden, now, your
Lord will assist you with five thousand of His angels, (angels) of
mark. God only made this as glad tidings for you to comfort your
hearts withal,- for victory is but from God, the mighty, the wise;- to
cut off the flank of those who misbelieve, or make them downcast, that
they may retire disappointed.'
Thou hast nothing to do with the affair at all, whether He turn
towards them again or punish them; for, verily, they are unjust.
God's is what is in the heavens and in the earth. He forgives whom
He pleases, and punishes whom He pleases; for God is forgiving and
merciful.
O ye who believe! devour not usury doubly doubled, but fear God,
perchance ye may be prosperous; fear the fire which is prepared for
the unbelievers, and obey God and His Apostle, perchance ye may get
mercy. And vie with one another for pardon from your Lord, and for
Paradise, the breadth of which is as the heaven and the earth,
prepared for those who fear;- for those who expend in alms, in
prosperity and adversity, for those who repress their rage, and
those who pardon men; God loves the kind. Those who when they do a
crime, or wrong themselves, remember God, and ask forgiveness for
their sins,- and who forgives sins save God?- and do not persevere
in what they did, the while they know;- these have their reward:-
pardon from their Lord, and gardens beneath which rivers flow,
dwelling therein for aye; for pleasant is the hire of those who act
like this.
Incidents have passed before your time, go on then in the earth, and
see what was the end of those who called (the prophets) liars.
This is an explanation unto men, and a guidance and a warning unto
those who fear. Do not give way nor grieve, for ye shall have the
upper hand if ye but be believers.
If a sore touch you, a sore like it has touched people: these are
days which we make to alternate amongst mankind that God may know
who it is that believe, and may take from you witnesses, for God loves
not the unjust; and that God may assay those who believe, and blot out
the misbelievers. Do ye think that ye can enter Paradise and God not
know those of you who have fought well, or know the patient? Why, ye
longed for death before ye met it! Now ye have looked upon it and ye
halt!
Mohammed is but an apostle; apostles have passed away before his
time; what if he die or is killed, will ye retreat upon your heels? He
who retreats upon his heels does no harm to God at all; but God will
recompense the thankful. It is not for any soul to die, save by
God's permission written down for an appointed time; but he who wishes
for the reward of this world we will give him of it, and he who wishes
for the reward of the future we will give him of it, and we will
recompense the grateful.
How many prophets have myriads fought against! yet they did not give
way at what befel them in God's way Nor were they weak, nor did they
demean themselves:- God loves the patient. And their word was only
to say, 'Lord, forgive us our sins and our extravagance in our
affairs; and make firm our footing, and help us against the
misbelieving folk!' and God gave them the reward of this world, and
good reward for the future too, for God doth love the kind.
O ye who believe! if ye obey those who misbelieve, they will turn
you back upon your heels, and ye will retreat the losers. Nay, God
is your Lord, He is the best of helpers. We will throw dread into
the hearts of those who misbelieve, for that they associate that
with God which He has sent down no power for; but their resort is
fire, and evil is the resort of the unjust.
God has truly kept His promise, when ye knocked them senseless by
His permission, until ye showed cowardice, and wrangled, and rebelled,
after he had shown you what ye loved. Amongst you are those who love
this world, and amongst you are those who love the next. Then He
turned you away from them to try you; but He has pardoned you, for God
is Lord of grace unto believers,- when ye went up and looked not round
upon any one, although the Apostle was calling you from your rear.
Therefore did God reward you with trouble on trouble that ye should
not grieve after what ye had missed, nor for what befel you, for God
is well aware of what ye do. Then He sent down upon you after
trouble safety,- drowsiness creeping over one company of you, and
one company of you getting anxious about themselves, suspecting
about God other than the truth, with the suspicion of the ignorant,
and saying, 'Have we any chance in the affair?' Say, 'Verily, the
affair is God's.' They conceal in themselves what they will not show
to thee, and say, 'If we had any chance in the affair we should not be
killed here.' Say, 'If ye were in your houses, surely those against
whom slaughter was written down, would have gone forth to fight even
to where they are lying now; that God may try what is in your
breasts and assay what is in your hearts, for God doth know the nature
of men's breasts.'
Verily, those of you who turned your backs on that day when the
two armies met, it was but Satan who made them slip for something they
had earned. But God has now pardoned them; verily, God is forgiving
and clement.
O ye who believe! be not like those who misbelieve, and say unto
their brethren when they knock about in the earth, or are upon a raid,
'Had they but been at home, they had not died and had not been
killed.' It was that God might make a sighing in their hearts, for God
gives life and death; and God on what ye do doth look.
And if, indeed, ye be killed in God's way or die, surely forgiveness
from God and mercy is better than what ye gather; and if ye die or
be killed it is to God ye shall be assembled. It was by a sort of
mercy from God thou didst deal gently with them, for hadst thou been
rough and rude of heart they had dispersed from around thee. But
pardon them, and ask forgiveness for them, and take counsel with
them in the affair. As for what thou hast resolved, rely upon God;
verily, God loves those who do rely. If God help you, there is none
can overcome you; but if He leave you in the lurch, who is there can
help you after Him? Upon God then let believers rely.
It is not for the prophet to cheat; and he who cheats shall bring
what he has cheated on the resurrection day. Then shall each soul be
paid what it has earned, and they shall not be wronged. Is he who
follows the pleasure of God, like him who has drawn on himself anger
from God, whose resort is hell? An evil journey shall it be! These are
degrees with God, and God sees what ye do.
God was surely very gracious to the believers, when He sent
amongst them an apostle from themselves, to recite to them His
signs, and purify them, and teach them the Book and wisdom, although
they surely were before his time in manifest error. Or when an
accident befals you, and ye have fallen on twice as much, ye say, 'How
is this?' Say, 'It is from yourselves. Verily, God is mighty over
all.'
And what befel you the day when the two armies met, it was by
God's permission; that He might know the believers, and might know
those who behaved hypocritically; for it was said to them, 'Come,
fight in God's way,' or 'repel (the foe);' they said, 'If we knew
how to fight we would surely follow you.' They were that day far
nigher unto misbelief than they were to faith. They say with their
mouths what is not in their hearts, but God doth know best what they
hid. Those who said of their brethren, whilst they themselves stayed
at home, 'Had they obeyed us they would not have been killed.' Say,
'Ward off from yourselves death, if ye do speak the truth.'
Count not those who are killed in the way of God as dead, but living
with their Lord;- provided for, rejoicing in what God has brought them
of His grace, and being glad for those who have not reached them yet,-
those left behind them; there is no fear for them, and they shall
not be grieved; glad at favour from God and grace, and that God
wasteth not the hire of the believers. Whoso answered to the call of
God and of His prophet after sorrow had befallen them, for those, if
they do good and fear God, is a mighty hire. To whom when men said,
'Verily, men have gathered round you, fear then them,' it only
increased their faith, and they said, 'God is enough for us, a good
guardian is He.' Then they retired in favour from God and grace; no
evil touched them; they followed the pleasure of God, and God is
Lord of mighty grace.
It is only that Satan who frightens his friends. Do not ye fear
them, but fear me, if ye be believers.
Let them not grieve thee who vie with each other in misbelief
Verily, they cannot hurt God at all. God wills not to make for them
a portion in the future life; but for them is mighty woe.
Verily, those who purchase misbelief for faith, they do not hurt God
at all, and for them is grievous woe.
Let not those who misbelieve reckon that our letting them range is
good for themselves. We only let them have their range that they may
increase in sin. And for them is shameful woe. God would not leave
believers in the state which ye are in, until He discerns the vile
from the good. And God would not inform you of the unseen, but God
chooses of His apostles whom He pleases. Wherefore believe ye in God
and His Apostle; and if ye believe and fear, for you is mighty hire.
And let not those who are niggard of what God has given them of
His grace, count that it is best for them;- nay, it is worse for them.
What they have been niggard of shall be a collar round their necks
upon the resurrection day. And God's is the heritage of the heavens
and the earth, and God of what ye do is well aware.
God heard the speech of those who said, 'Verily, God is poor and
we are rich.' We will write down what they said, and how they killed
the prophets undeservedly, and say, 'Taste ye the torment of burning;'
this shall they suffer for what their hands have sent on before;- for,
verily, God is no unjust one to His servants,- who say, 'Verily, God
has covenanted with us that we should not believe in an apostle
until he gives us a sacrifice which fire devours.'
Say, 'There have come to you apostles before me with manifest signs,
and with what ye talk about; why then did ye kill them, if ye speak
the truth?
And if they did call thee a liar, apostles before thee have been
called liars too, who came with manifest signs, and with scriptures,
and with the illuminating Book.
Every soul must taste of death; and ye shall only be paid your
hire upon the resurrection day. But he who is forced away from the
fire and brought into Paradise is indeed happy; but the life of this
world is but a possession of deceit. Ye shall surely be tried in
your wealth, and in your persons, and ye shall surely hear from
those who have had the Book brought them before you, and from those
who associate others with God, much harm. But if ye be patient and
fear,- verily, that is one of the determined affairs.
When God took the compact from those who have had the Book brought
them that 'Ye shall of a surety manifest it unto men, and not hide
it,' they cast it behind their backs, and bought therewith a little
price,- but evil is what they buy.
Count not that those who rejoice in what they have produced, and
love to be praised for what they have not done,- think not that they
are in safety from woe,- for them is grievous woe!
God's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and God is mighty
over all.
Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the
succession of night and day, are signs to those possessed of minds;
who remember God standing and sitting or lying on their sides, and
reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth. 'O Lord! thou
hast not created this in vain. We celebrate Thy praise; then keep us
from the torment of the fire! Lord! verily, whomsoever Thou hast
made to enter the fire, Thou hast disgraced him; and the unjust
shall have none to help them.
'Lord! verily, we heard a crier calling to the faith, "Believe in
your Lord," and we did believe. Lord! forgive us our sins and cover
our offences, and let us die with the righteous. Lord! and bring us
what Thou hast promised us by Thy apostles, and disgrace us not upon
the resurrection day; for, verily, Thou dost not break Thy
promises!' And the Lord shall answer them, 'I waste not the works of a
worker amongst you, be it male or female,- one of you is from the
other.
'Those who fled, and were turned out of their houses, and were
harmed in my way, and who fought and were killed, I will cover their
offences, and I will make them enter into gardens beneath which rivers
flow.' A reward from God; for God, with Him are the best of rewards.
Let it not deceive you that those who misbelieve go to and fro in
the earth. It is a slight possession, and then their resort is Hell;
an evil couch shall it be. But those who fear their Lord, for them are
gardens beneath which rivers flow, and they shall dwell therein for
aye,- an entertainment from God; and that which is with God is best
for the righteous.
Verily, of the people of the Book are some who do believe in God,
and in what has been revealed to you, and what was revealed to them,
humbling themselves before God, and selling not the signs of God for a
little price. These shall have their reward with their Lord; verily,
God is quick at reckoning up.
O ye who believe! be patient and vie in being patient, and be on the
alert, and fear God, that haply ye may prosper.
THE CHAPTER OF WOMEN
(IV. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
O ye folk! fear your Lord, who created you from one soul, and
created therefrom its mate, and diffused from them twain many men
and women. And fear God, in whose name ye beg of one another, and
the wombs; verily, God over you doth watch.
And give unto the orphans their property, and give them not the vile
in exchange for the good, and devour not their property to your own
property; verily, that were a great sin. But if ye fear that ye cannot
do justice between orphans, then marry what seems good to you of
women, by twos, or threes, or fours; and if ye fear that ye cannot
be equitable, then only one, or what your right hands possess. That
keeps you nearer to not being partial.
And give women their dowries freely; and if they are good enough
to remit any of it of themselves, then devour it with good digestion
and appetite.
But do not give up to fools their property which God has made you to
stand by; but maintain them from it, and clothe them, and speak to
them with a reasonable speech. Prove orphans until they reach a
marriageable age, and if ye perceive in them right management, then
hand over to them their property, and do not devour it extravagantly
in anticipation of their growing up. And he who is rich, let him
abstain; but he who is poor, let him devour in reason, and when ye
hand over to them their property, then take witnesses against them;
but God sufficeth for taking account.
Men should have a portion of what their parents and kindred leave,
and women should have a portion of what their parents and kindred
leave, whether it be little or much, a determined portion. And when
the next of kin and the orphans and the poor are present at the
division, then maintain them out of it, and speak to them a reasonable
speech And let these fear lest they leave behind them a weak seed, for
whom they would be afraid; and let them fear God, and speak a
straightforward speech. Verily, those who devour the property of
orphans unjustly, only devour into their bellies fire, and they
shall broil in flames.
God instructs you concerning your children; for a male the like of
the portion of two females, and if there be women above two, then
let them have two-thirds of what (the deceased) leaves; and if there
be but one, then let her have a half; and as to the parents, to each
of them a sixth of what he leaves, if he has a son; but if he have
no son, and his parents inherit, then let his mother have a third, and
if he have brethren, let his mother have a sixth after payment of
the bequest he bequeaths and of his debt.
Your parents or your children, ye know not which of them is
nearest to you in usefulness:- an ordinance this from God; verily, God
is knowing and wise! And ye shall have half of what your wives
leave, if they have no son; but if they have a son, then ye shall have
a fourth of what they leave, after payment of the bequests they
bequeath or of their debts. And they shall have a fourth of what ye
leave, if ye have no son; but if ye have a son, then let them have
an eighth of what ye leave, after payment of the bequest ye bequeath
and of your debts.
And if the man's or the woman's (property) be inherited by a kinsman
who is neither parent nor child, and he have a brother or sister, then
let each of these two have a sixth; but if they are more than that,
let them share in a third after payment of the bequest he bequeaths
and of his debts, without predjudice,- an ordinance this from God, and
God is knowing and clement!
These be God's bounds, and whoso obeys God and the Apostle He will
make him enter into gardens beneath which rivers flow, and they
shall dwell therein for aye;- that is the mighty happiness.
But whoso rebels against God and His Apostle, and transgresses His
bounds, He will make him enter into fire, and dwell therein for aye;
and for him is shameful woe.
Against those of your women who commit adultery, call witnesses four
in number from among yourselves; and if these bear witness, then
keep the women in houses until death release them, or God shall make
for them a way.
And if two of you commit it, then hurt them both; but if they turn
again and amend, leave them alone, verily, God is easily turned,
compassionate.
God is only bound to turn again towards those who do evil through
ignorance and then turn again. Surely, these will God turn again to,
for God is knowing, wise. His turning again is not for those who do
evil, until, when death comes before one of them, he says, 'Now I turn
again;' nor yet for those who die in misbelief. For such as these have
we prepared a grievous woe.
O ye who believe! It is not lawful for you to inherit women's
estates against their will; nor to hinder them, that ye may go off
with part of what ye brought them, unless they commit fornication
manifestly; but associate with them in reason, for if ye are averse
from them, it may be that ye are averse from something wherein God has
put much good for you.
But if ye wish to exchange one wife for another, and have given
one of them a talent, then take not from it anything. What! would
you take it for a calumny and a manifest crime?
How can ye take it when one of you has gone in unto the other, and
they have taken from you a rigid compact?
And do not marry women your fathers married,- except bygones,- for
it is abominable and hateful, and an evil way; unlawful for you are
your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your
paternal aunts and maternal aunts, and your brother's daughters, and
your sister's daughters, and your foster mothers, and your foster
sisters, and your wives' mothers, and your step daughters who are your
wards, born of your wives to whom ye have gone in; but if ye have
not gone in unto them, then it is no crime in you; and the lawful
spouses of your sons from your own loins, and that ye form a connexion
between two sisters,- except bygones,- verily, God is forgiving,
merciful; and married women, save such as your right hands possess,-
God's Book against you!- but lawful for you is all besides this, for
you to seek them with your wealth, marrying them and not
fornicating; but such of them as ye have enjoyed, give them their hire
as a lawful due; for there is no crime in you about what ye agree
between you after such lawful due, verily, God is knowing and wise.
But whosoever of you cannot go the length of marrying marriageable
women who believe, then take of what your right hands possess, of your
maidens who believe;- though God knows best about your faith. Ye
come one from the other; then marry them with the permission of
their people, and give them their hire in reason, they being chaste
and not fornicating, and not receivers of paramours.
But when they are married, if they commit fornication, then
inflict upon them half the penalty for married women; that is for
whomsoever of you fears wrong; but that ye should have patience is
better for you, and God is forgiving and merciful.
God wishes to explain to you and to guide you into the ordinances of
those who were before you, and to turn towards you, for God is
knowing, wise. God wishes to turn towards you, but those who follow
their lusts wish that ye should swerve with a mighty swerving! God
wishes to make it light for you, for man was created weak.
O ye who believe! devour not your property amongst yourselves
vainly, unless it be a merchandise by mutual consent. And do not
kill yourselves; verily, God is compassionate unto you.
But whoso does that maliciously and unjustly, we will broil him with
fire; for that is easy with God.
If ye avoid great sins from which ye are forbidden, we will cover
your offences and make you enter with a noble entrance.
And do not covet that by which God has preferred one of you over
another. The men shall have a portion of what they earn, and the women
a portion of what they earn; ask God for His grace, verily, God
knows all.
To every one have we appointed kinsfolk as heirs of what parents and
relatives and those with whom ye have joined right hands leave; so
give them their portion, for, verily, God is over all a witness.
Men stand superior to women in that God hath preferred some of
them over others, and in that they expend of their wealth: and the
virtuous women, devoted, careful (in their husbands) absence, as God
has cared for them. But those whose perverseness ye fear, admonish
them and remove them into bedchambers and beat them; but if they
submit to you, then do not seek a way against them; verily, God is
high and great.
And if ye fear a breach between the two, then send a judge from
his people and a judge from her people. If they wish for
reconciliation, God will arrange between them; verily, God is
knowing and aware.
And serve God, and do not associate aught with Him; and to your
parents show kindness, and to kindred, and orphans, and the poor, and'
the neighbour who is akin, and the neighbour who is a stranger, and
the companion who is strange, and the son of the road, and what your
right hands possess, verily, God loves not him who is proud and
boastful; who are miserly and bid men be miserly too, and who hide
what God has given them of His grace;- but we have prepared for the
misbelievers shameful woe.
And those who expend their wealth in alms for appearance sake before
men, and who believe not in God nor in the last day;- but whosoever
has Satan for his mate, an evil mate has he.
What harm would it do them if they believed in God and in the last
day, and expended in alms of what God has provided them with? but
God knows about them.
Verily, God would not wrong by the weight of an atom; and if it's
a good work, He will double it and bring from Himself a mighty hire.
How then when we bring from every nation a witness, and bring thee
as a witness against these on the day when those who misbelieve and
rebel against the Apostle would fain that the earth were levelled with
them? but they cannot hide the news from God.
O ye who believe! approach not prayer while ye are drunk, until ye
well know what ye say; nor yet while polluted,- unless ye be passing
by the way,- until ye have washed yourselves. But if ye are sick, or
on a journey, or one of you come from the privy, or if ye have touched
a woman, and ye cannot find water, then use good surface sand and wipe
your faces and your hands therewith; verily, God pardons and forgives.
Do ye not see those who have been given a portion of the Book?
they buy error, and they wish that ye may err from the way! But God
knows best who your enemies are, and God suffices as a patron, and
sufficient is God as a help.
And those who are Jews, and those who pervert the words from their
places, and say, 'We hear but we rebel, and do thou listen without
hearing,' and (who say) 'ra'hina,' distorting it with their tongues
and taunting about religion. But had they said, 'We hear and we
obey, so listen and look upon us,' it would have been better for
them and more upright;- but may God curse them in their misbelief, for
they will not believe except a few.
O ye who have been given the Book! believe in what we have revealed,
confirming what ye had before; ere we deface your faces and turn
them into hinder parts, or curse you as we cursed the fellows of the
Sabbath when God's command was done.
Verily, God pardons not associating aught with Him, but He pardons
anything short of that to whomsoever He pleases; but he who associates
aught with God, he hath devised a mighty sin.
Do ye not see those who purify themselves? nay, God purifies whom He
will, and they shall not be wronged a straw.
Behold, how they devise against God a lie, and that is manifest
sin enough.
Do ye not see those to whom a portion of the Book has been given?
They believe in Gibt and Taghut, and they say of those who misbelieve,
'These are better guided in the way than those who believe.' These are
those whom God has cursed, and whom God has cursed no helper shall
he find.
Shall they have a portion of the kingdom? Why even then they would
not give to men a jot.
Do they envy man for what God has given of His grace? We have
given to Abraham's people the Book and wisdom, and we have given
them a mighty kingdom. And of them are some who believe therein, and
of them are some who turn from it, but Hell is flaming enough for
them.
Verily, those who disbelieve in our signs, we will broil them with
fire; whenever their skins are well done, then we will change them for
other skins, that they may taste the torment. Verily, God is
glorious and wise.
But those who believe and do aright, we will make them enter gardens
beneath which rivers flow, and they shall dwell therein for ever and
aye, for them therein are pure wives, and we will make them enter into
a shady shade. Verily, God bids you pay your trusts to their owners,
and when ye judge between men to judge with justice. Verily, God,
excellent is what He admonishes you with; verily, God both hears and
sees.
O ye who believe! obey God, and obey the Apostle and those in
authority amongst you; and if ye quarrel about anything, refer to
God and the Apostle, if ye believe in God and the last day; that is
better and fairer as a settlement.
Do ye not see those who pretend that they believe in what has been
revealed to them, and what was revealed before thee; they wish to
refer their judgment to Taghut, but they are bidden to disbelieve
therein, and Satan wishes to lead them into a remote error. And when
it is said to them, 'Come round to what God has sent down and unto the
Apostle,' thou seest the hypocrites turning from thee, turning away.
How then when there befalls them a mischance through what their
hands have sent on before? then will they come to you, and swear by
God, 'We meant naught but good and concord.' These, God knows what
is in their hearts. Turn thou away from them and admonish them, and
speak to them into their souls with a searching word.
We have never sent an apostle save that he should be obeyed by the
permission of God; and if they, when they have wronged themselves,
come to thee and ask pardon of God, and the Apostle asks pardon for
them, then they will find God easy to be turned, compassionate.
But no! by thy Lord! they will not believe, until they have made
thee judge of what they differ on; then they will not find in
themselves aught to hinder what thou hast decreed, and they will
submit with submission. But had we prescribed for them, 'Kill
yourselves, or go ye forth out of your houses,' they would not have
done it, save only a few of them; but had they done what they are
admonished, then it would have been better for them, and a more firm
assurance.
And then we would surely have brought them from ourselves a mighty
hire, and would have guided them into a right path.
Whoso obeys God and the Apostle, these are with those God has been
pleased with, of prophets and confessors and martyrs and the
righteous;- a fair company are they.
That is grace from God, and God knows well enough.
O ye who believe! take your precautions and sally in detachments
or altogether. Verily, there is of you who tarries behind, and, if a
mischance befalls you, says, 'God has been gracious to me, since I
am not with them a martyr.'
But if there befalls you grace from God, he would say- as though
there were no friendship between you and him- 'O would that I had been
with thee to attain this mighty happiness!' Let those then fight in
God's way who sell this life of the world for the next; and whoso
fights in God's way, then, be he killed or be he victorious, we will
give him a mighty hire.
What ails you that ye do not fight in God's way, and for the weak
men and women and children, who say, 'Lord, bring us out of this
town of oppressive folk, and make for us from Thee a patron, and
make for us from Thee a help?'
Those who believe fight in the way of God; and those who
disbelieve fight in the way of Taghut; fight ye then against the
friends of Satan, verily, Satan's tricks are weak.
Do ye not see those to whom it is said, 'Restrain your hands, and be
steadfast in prayer and give alms;' and when it is prescribed for them
to fight then a band of them fear men, as though it were the fear of
God or a still stronger fear, and they say, 'O our Lord! why hast thou
prescribed for us to fight, couldst thou not let us abide till our
near appointed time?' Say, 'The enjoyment of this world is but slight,
and the next is better for him who fears;'- but they shall not be
wronged a straw.
Wheresoe'er ye be death will overtake you, though ye were in lofty
towers. And if a good thing befall them, they say, 'This is from God,'
but if a bad thing, they say, 'This is from thee.' Say, 'It is all
from God.' What ails these people? they can hardly understand a tale.
What befalls thee of good it is from God; and what befalls thee of
bad it is from thyself. We have sent thee to mankind as an apostle,
and God sufficeth for a witness.
Whoso obeys the prophet he has obeyed God; and he who turns back- we
have not sent thee to watch over them.
They say, 'Obedience!' but when they sally forth from you, a company
of them brood by night over something else than that which thou hast
said; but God writes down that over which they brood. Turn then from
them and rely on God, for God sufficeth for a guardian. Do they not
meditate on the Koran? if it were from other than God they would
find in it many a discrepancy.
And when there comes to them a matter of security or fear they
publish it; but if they were to report it to the Apostle and to
those in authority amongst them, then those of them who would elicit
it from them would know it; but were it not for God's grace upon you
and His mercy ye had followed Satan, save a few.
Fight, then, in the way of God; impose not aught on any but thyself,
and urge on the believers; it may be that God will restrain the
violence of those who misbelieve, for God is more violent and more
severe to punish.
Whoso intercedes with a good intercession shall have a portion
therefrom; but he who intercedes with a bad intercession shall have
the like thereof, for God keeps watch over all things.
And when ye are saluted with a salutation, salute with a better than
it, or return it;- verily, God of all things takes account.
God, there is no God but He! He will surely assemble you on the
resurrection day, there is no doubt therein; who is truer than God
in his discourse?
Why are ye two parties about the hypocrites, when God hath
overturned them for what they earned? Do ye wish to guide those whom
God hath led astray? Whoso God hath led astray ye shall not surely
find for him a path. They would fain that ye misbelieve as they
misbelieve, that ye might be alike; take ye not patrons from among
them until they too flee in God's way; but if they turn their backs,
then seize them and kill them wheresoever ye find them, and take
from them neither patron nor help,- save those who reach a people
betwixt whom and you is an alliance- or who come to you while their
bosoms prevent them from fighting you or fighting their own people.
But had God pleased He would have given you dominion over them, and
they would surely have fought you. But if they retire from you and
do not fight you, and offer you peace,- then God hath given you no way
against them.
Ye will find others who seek for quarter from you, and quarter
from their own people; whenever they return to sedition they shall
be overturned therein: but if they retire not from you, nor offer
you peace, nor restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them
wheresoever ye find them;- over these we have made for you manifest
power.
It is not for a believer to kill a believer save by mistake; and
whosoever kills a believer by mistake then let him free a believing
neck; and the blood-money must be paid to his people save what they
shall remit as alms. But if he be from a tribe hostile to you and
yet a believer, then let him free a believing neck. And if it be a
tribe betwixt whom and you there is an alliance, then let the
blood-money be paid to his friends, and let him free a believing neck;
but he who cannot find the means, then let him fast for two
consecutive months- a penance this from God, for God is knowing, wise.
And whoso kills a believer purposely, his reward is hell, to dwell
therein for aye; and God will be wrath with him, and curse him, and
prepare for him a mighty woe.
O ye who believe! when ye are knocking about in the way of God be
discerning, and do not say to him who offers you a salutation, 'Thou
art no believer,' craving after the chances of this world's life,
for with God are many spoils! So were ye aforetime, but God was
gracious to you, be ye then discerning; verily, God of what ye do is
well aware.
Not alike are those of the believers who sit at home without harm,
and those who are strenuous in God's way with their wealth and their
persons. God hath preferred those who are strenuous with their
wealth and their persons to those who sit still, by many degrees,
and to each hath God promised good, but God hath preferred the
strenuous for a mighty hire over those who sit still,- degrees from
him, and pardon and mercy, for God is forgiving and merciful.
Verily, the angels when they took the souls of those who had wronged
themselves, said, What state were ye in? they say, 'We were but weak
in the earth;' they said, 'Was not God's earth wide enough for you
to flee away therein?' These are those whose resort is hell, and a bad
journey shall it be!
Save for the weak men, and women, and children, who could not
compass any stratagem, and were not guided to a way; these it may be
God will pardon, for God both pardons and forgives.
Whosoever flees in the way of God shall find in the earth many a
spacious refuge; and he who goes forth from his house, fleeing unto
God and His prophet, and then death catches him up,- his hire devolves
on God, and God is forgiving and merciful.
And when ye knock about in the earth, it is no crime to you that
ye come short in prayer, if ye fear that those who disbelieve will set
upon you verily, the misbelievers are your obvious foes.
When thou art amongst them, and standest up to pray with them,
then let a, party of them stand up with thee, and let them take
their arms; and when they adore, let them go behind you, and let
another party who have not yet prayed come forward and pray with thee;
and let them take their precautions and their arms.
Fain would those who misbelieve that ye were careless of your arms
and your baggage, that they might turn upon you with a single turning.
And it is no crime to you if ye be annoyed with rain or be sick,
that ye lay down your arms; but take your precautions,- verily, God
has prepared for those who misbelieve a shameful woe.
But when ye have fulfilled your prayer, remember God standing and
sitting and lying on your sides; and when ye are in safety then be
steadfast in prayer; verily, prayer is for the believers prescribed
and timed!
And do not give way in pursuit of the people; if ye suffer they
shall surely suffer too, even. as ye suffer; and ye hope from God, but
they hope not! and God is knowing, wise.
Verily, we have revealed to thee the Book in truth that thou
mayest judge between men of what God has shown thee; so be not with
the treacherous a disputant; but ask God's pardon: verily, God is
forgiving, merciful.
And wrangle not for those who defraud themselves; for God loves
not him who is a fraudulent sinner. They hide themselves from men; but
they cannot hide themselves from God, for He is with them while they
brood at night over speeches that please Him not;- but God doth
compass what they do!
Here are ye, wrangling for them about this world's life;- but who
shall wrangle with God for them on the day of judgment, or who shall
be a guardian over them?
Yet whoso does evil and wrongs himself, and then asks pardon of God,
shall find God forgiving and merciful; and whoso commits a crime, he
only commits it against himself, for God is knowing, wise.
And whoso commits a fault or a sin and throws it on the innocent, he
hath to bear a calumny and a manifest sin.
Were it not for God's grace upon thee, and His mercy, a party of
them would have tried to lead thee astray; but they only lead
themselves astray; they shall not hurt you in aught: for God hath sent
down upon thee the Book and the wisdom, and taught thee what thou
didst not know, for God's grace was mighty on thee.
There is no good in most of what they talk in private; save in his
who bids almsgiving, or kindness, or reconciliation between men; and
whoso does this, craving the good pleasure of God, we will give to him
a mighty hire.
But he who severs himself from the prophet after that we have made
manifest to him the guidance, and follows other than the way of the
believers, we will turn our backs on him as he hath turned his back;
and we will make him reach hell, and a bad journey shall it be.
Verily, God forgives not associating aught with Him, but He
pardons anything short of that, to whomsoever He will; but whoso
associates aught with God, he hath erred a wide error.
Verily, they call not beside Him on aught save females; and they
do not call on aught save a rebellious devil.
God curse him! for he said, 'I will take from thy servants a portion
due to me and I will lead them astray; and I will stir up vain desires
within them; and I will order them and they shall surely crop the ears
of cattle; and I will order them and they shall surely alter God's
creation;' but he who takes the devil for his patron instead of God,
he loses with a manifest loss. He promises them, and stirs up vain
desires within them; but the devil promises only to deceive.
These, their resort is hell; they shall not find an escape
therefrom! But those who believe, and do what is right, we will make
them enter into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein
for aye,- God's promise in truth; and who is truer than God in speech?
Not for your vain desires, nor the vain desires of the people of the
Book. He who doeth evil shall be recompensed therewith, and shall
not find for him beside God a patron, or a help. But he who doeth good
works,- be it male or female,- and believes, they shall enter into
Paradise, and they shall not be wronged a jot.
Who has a better religion than he who resigns his face to God, and
does good, and follows the faith of Abraham, as a 'Hanif?- for God
took Abraham as a friend.
And God's is what is in the heavens and in the earth, and God
encompasses all things!
They will ask thee a decision about women; say, 'God decides for you
about them, and that which is rehearsed to you in the Book; about
orphan women to whom ye do not give what is prescribed for them, and
whom ye are averse from marrying; and about weak children; and that ye
stand fairly by orphans;- and what ye do of good, verily, that God
knows.'
And if a woman fears from her husband perverseness or aversion, it
is no crime in them both that they should be reconciled to each other,
for reconciliation is best. For souls are prone to avarice; but if
ye act kindly and fear God, of what ye do He is aware.
Ye are not able, it may be, to act equitably to your wives, even
though ye covet it; do not however be quite partial, and leave one
as it were in suspense; but if ye be reconciled and fear, then God
is forgiving and merciful; but if they separate, God can make both
independent out of His abundance; for God is abundant, wise.
God's is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth! We have
ordained to those who have been given the Book before you, and to
you too that ye fear God;- but if ye misbelieve, verily, God's is what
is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and God is rich and to
be praised!
God's is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth! and God
sufficeth for a guardian!
If He will He can make ye pass away, O men! and can bring others;-
God is able to do all that.
He who wishes for a reward in this world,- with God is the reward of
this world and of the next, and God both hears and sees.
O ye who believe! be ye steadfast in justice, witnessing before
God though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kindred,
be it rich or poor, for God is nearer akin than either.
Follow not, then, lusts, so as to act partially; but if ye swerve or
turn aside, God of what ye do is well aware.
O ye who believe! believe in God and His apostles, and the Book
which He hath revealed to His Apostle, and the Book which He sent down
before; for whoso disbelieves in God, and His angels, and His Apostle,
and the last day, has erred a wide error.
Verily, those who believe and then misbelieve, and then believe
and then misbelieve, and then increase in misbelief, God will never
pardon them, nor will He guide them in the path.
Give to the hypocrites the glad tidings that for them is grievous
woe!
Those who take the misbelievers for their patron rather than
believers,- do they crave honour from them? Verily, honour is
altogether God's!
He hath revealed this to you in the Book, that when ye hear the
signs of God disbelieved in and mocked at, then sit ye not down with
them until they plunge into another discourse, for verily, then ye
would be like them. Verily, God will gather the hypocrites and
misbelievers into hell together.
Those who lie in wait for you, and if the victory be yours from God,
say, 'Were we not with you?' and if the misbelievers have a chance,
they say, 'Did we not get the mastery over you, and defend you from
the believers?' But God shall judge between you on the resurrection
day; for God will not give the misbelievers a way against believers.
Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive God, but He deceives them;
and when they rise up to pray, they rise up lazily to be seen of
men, and do not remember God, except a few; wavering between the
two, neither to these nor yet to those! but whomsoever God doth lead
astray thou shall not find for him a way.
O ye who believe! take not misbelievers for patrons rather than
believers; do ye wish to make for God a power against you?
Verily, the hypocrites are in the lowest depths of hell-fire, and
thou shalt not find for them a help.
Save those who turn again, and do right, and take tight hold on God,
and are sincere in religion to God; these are with the believers,
and God will give to the believers mighty hire.
Why should God punish you, if ye are grateful and believe? for God
is grateful and knowing.
God loves not publicity of evil speech, unless one has been wronged;
for God both hears and knows.
If ye display good or hide it, or pardon evil, verily, God is
pardoning and powerful!
Verily, those who disbelieve in God and His apostles desire to
make a distinction between God and His apostles, and say, 'We
believe in part and disbelieve in part, and desire to take a midway
course between the two:' these are the misbelievers, and we have
prepared for misbelievers shameful woe! But those who believe in God
and His apostles, and who do not make a distinction between any one of
them,- to these we will give their hire, for God is forgiving and
merciful!
The people of the Book will ask thee to bring down for them a book
from heaven; but they asked Moses a greater thing than that, for
they said, 'Show us God openly;' but the thunderbolt caught them in
their injustice. Then they took the calf, after what had come to
them of manifest signs; but we pardoned that, and gave Moses obvious
authority. And we held over them the mountain at their compact, and
said to them, 'Enter ye the door adoring;' and we said to them,
'Transgress not on the Sabbath day, and we took from them a rigid
compact.
But for that they broke their compact, and for their misbelief in
God's signs, and for their killing the prophets undeservedly, and
for their saying, 'Our hearts are uncircumcised,'- nay, God hath
stamped on them their misbelief, so that they cannot believe except
a few,- and for their misbelief, and for their saying about Mary a
mighty calumny, and for their saying, 'Verily, we have killed the
Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the apostle of God,'...but they did
not kill him, and they did not crucify him, but a similitude was
made for them. And verily, those who differ about him are in doubt
concerning him; they have no knowledge concerning him, but only follow
an opinion. They did not kill him, for sure! nay, God raised him up
unto Himself; for God is mighty and wise!
And there shall not be one of the people of the Book but shall
believe in him before his death; and on the day of judgment he shall
be a witness against them.
And for the injustice of those who are Jews have we forbidden them
good things which we had made lawful for them, and for their
obstructing so much the way of God, and for their taking usury when we
had forbidden it, and for their devouring the wealth of people in
vain,- but we have prepared for those of them who misbelieve a
grievous woe.
But those amongst them who are firm in knowledge, and the
believers who believe in what is revealed to thee, let what is
revealed before thee, and the steadfast in prayer, and the givers of
alms, and the believers in God and the last day,- unto these we will
give a mighty hire.
Verily, we have inspired thee as we inspired Noah and the prophets
after him, and as we inspired Abraham, and Ishmael, and Jacob, and the
tribes, and Jesus, and Job, and Jonas, and Aaron, and Solomon; and
to David did we give Psalms.
Of apostles we have already told thee of some before; and of
apostles some we have not told thee of;-
But Moses did God speak to, speaking;- apostles giving glad
tidings and warning, that men should have no argument against God,
after the apostles, for God is mighty, wise!
But God bears witness to what He has revealed to thee: He revealed
it in His knowledge, and the angels bear witness too; though God is
witness enough.
Verily, those who misbelieve and obstruct the way of God, have erred
a wide error.
Verily, those who misbelieve and are unjust, God will not pardon
them, nor will He guide them on the road- save the road to hell, to
dwell therein for aye;- that is easy enough to God!
O ye folk! the Apostle has come to you with truth from your Lord:
believe then, for it is better for you. But if ye misbelieve, then
God's is what is in the heavens and the earth, and God is knowing,
wise.
O ye people of the Book! do not exceed in your religion, nor say
against God aught save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus the son of
Mary, is but the apostle of God and His Word, which He cast into
Mary and a spirit from Him; believe then in God and His apostles,
and say not 'Three.' Have done! it were better for you. God is only
one God, celebrated be His praise that He should beget a Son! His is
what is in the heavens and what is in the earth and God sufficeth
for a guardian.
The Messiah doth surely not disdain to be a servant of God, nor do
the angels who are nigh to Him; and whosoever disdains His service and
is too proud, He will gather them altogether to Himself.
But as for those who believe and do what is right, He will pay their
hire and will give increase to them of His grace. But as for those who
disdain and are too proud, He will punish them with a grievous woe,
and they shall not find for them other than God a patron or a help.
O ye folk! proof has come to you from your Lord, and we have sent
down to you manifest light. As for those who believe in God, and
take tight hold of Him, He will make them enter into mercy from Him
and grace; and He will guide them to Himself by a right way.
They will ask thee for a decision; say, 'God will give you a
decision concerning remote kinship.'
If a man perish and have no child, but have a sister, let her have
half of what he leaves; and he shall be her heir, if she have no
son. But if there be two sisters, let them both have two thirds of
what he leaves; and if there be brethren, both men and women, let
the male have like the portion of two females. God makes this manifest
to you lest ye err; for God all things doth know.
THE CHAPTER OF THE TABLE
(V. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
O ye who believe! fulfil your compacts.- Lawful for you are brute
beasts, save what is here recited to you, not allowing you the chase
while ye are on pilgrimage; verily, God ordaineth what He will.
O ye who believe! do not deem the monuments of God to be lawful, nor
the sacred month, nor the offering, nor its neck garlands, nor those
who sojourn at the sacred house, craving grace from their Lord and His
pleasure.
But when ye are in lawful state again, then chase; and let not
ill-will against the people who turned you from the Sacred Mosque make
you transgress; but help one another in righteousness and piety, and
do not help one another to sin and enmity; but fear God,- verily,
God is keen to punish.
Forbidden to you is that which dies of itself, and blood, and the
flesh of swine, and that which is devoted to other than God, and the
strangled and the knocked down, and that which falls down, and the
gored, and what wild beasts have eaten- except what ye slaughter in
time- and what is sacrificed to idols, and dividing carcases by
arrows.
To-day shall those who disbelieve in your religion despair; do ye
not then fear them, but fear me- To-day is perfected for you your
religion, and fulfilled upon you is my favour, and I am pleased for
you to have Islam for a religion. But he who is forced by hunger,
not inclined wilfully to sin, verily, God is forgiving, compassionate.
They will ask thee what is lawful for them? say, 'Lawful for you are
good things and what ye have taught beasts of prey (to catch),
training them like dogs;- ye teach them as God taught you;- so eat
of what they catch for you, and mention the name of God over it, and
fear God, for verily, God is swift in reckoning up.'
Lawful for you to-day are good things, and the food of those to whom
the Book has been given is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for
them; and chaste women of those who believe, and chaste women of those
to whom the Book has been given before you,- when you have given
them their hire, living chastely and not fornicating, and not taking
paramours. But whoso disbelieves in the faith, of a truth his work
is vain, and he shall be in the next life of those who lose.
O ye who believe! when ye rise up to prayer wash your faces, and
your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads, and your feet
down to the ankles. And if ye are polluted, then purify yourselves.
But if ye are sick, or on a journey, or if one of you comes from the
privy, or if ye have touched women and cannot find water, then take
fine surface sand and wipe your faces and your hands therewith. God
does not wish to make any hindrance for you; but He wishes. to
purify you and to fulfil his favour upon you; haply ye may give
thanks.
Remember the favour of God to you and His covenant which He
covenanted with you, when ye said, 'We hear and we obey;' and fear
God, verily, God knows the nature of men's breasts.
O ye who believe! stand steadfast to God as witnesses with
justice; and let not ill-will towards people make you sin by not
acting with equity. Act with equity, that is nearer to piety, and fear
God; for God is aware of what ye do.
God has promised to those who believe and work righteousness, that
for them is pardon and a mighty hire. But those who disbelieve and
call our signs lies, these are the fellows of hell.
O ye who believe! remember God's favour towards you, when a people
intended to stretch their hands against you, but He withheld their
hands from you; and upon God let believers rely.
God did take a compact from the children of Israel, and raised up of
them twelve wardens; and God said, 'Verily, I am with you, if ye be
steadfast in prayer, and give alms, and believe in my apostles, and
assist them, and lend to God a goodly loan; then will I cover your
offences and make you enter gardens beneath which rivers flow: and
whoso disbelieves after that, he hath erred from the level way.
And for that they broke their compact, we cursed them, and placed in
their hearts hardness, so that they perverted the words from their
places, and forgot a portion of what they were reminded of.
But thou wilt not cease to light upon treachery amongst them, save a
few of them; but pardon them and shun them; verily, God loves the
kind.
And of those who say, 'Verily we are Christians,' we have taken a
compact; but they have forgotten a portion of what they were
reminded of; wherefore have we excited amongst them enmity and
hatred till the resurrection day; but God will tell them of what
they have done.
O ye people of the Book! our Apostle has come to you to explain to
you much of what ye had hidden of the Book, and to pardon much.
There has come to you from God a light, and a perspicuous Book; God
guides thereby those who follow His pleasure to the way of peace,
and brings them into a right way.
They misbelieve who say, 'Verily, God is the Messiah the son of
Mary;' say, 'Who has any hold on God, if he wished to destroy the
Messiah the son of Mary, and his mother, and those who are on earth
altogether?'
God's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is
between the two; He createth what He will, for God is mighty over all!
But the Jews and the Christians say, 'We are the sons of God and His
beloved.' Say, 'Why then does He punish you for your sins? nay, ye are
mortals of those whom He has created! He pardons whom He pleases,
and punishes whom He pleases; for God's is the kingdom of the
heavens and the earth, and what is between the two, and unto Him the
journey is.
O people of the Book! our Apostle has come to you, explaining to you
the interval of apostles; lest ye say, 'There came not to us a
herald of glad tidings nor a warner.' But there has come to you now
a herald of glad tidings and a warner, and God is mighty over all!
When Moses said to his people, 'O my people! remember the favour
of God towards you when He made amongst you prophets, and made for you
kings, and brought you what never was brought to anybody in the
worlds. O my people! enter the Holy Land which God has prescribed
for you; and be ye not thrust back upon your hinder parts and
retreat losers. They said, 'O Moses! verily, therein is a people,
giants; and we will surely not enter therein until they go out from
thence; but if they go out then we will enter in.' Then said two men
of those who fear,- God had been gracious to them both,- 'Enter ye
upon them by the door, and when ye have entered it, verily, ye shall
be victorious; and upon God do ye rely if ye be believers.' They said,
'O Moses! we shall never enter it so long as they are therein; so,
go thou and thy Lord and fight ye twain; verily, we will sit down
here.' Said he, 'My Lord, verily, I can control only myself and my
brother; therefore part us from these sinful people.' He said,
'Then, verily, it is forbidden them; for forty years shall they wander
about in the earth; so vex not thyself for the sinful people.'
Recite to them the story of the two sons of Adam; truly when they
offered an offering and it was accepted from one of them, and was
not accepted from the other, that one said, 'I will surely kill thee
he said, 'God only accepts from those who fear. If thou dost stretch
forth to me thine hand to kill me, I will not stretch forth mine
hand to kill thee; verily, I fear God the Lord of the worlds;
verily, I wish that thou mayest draw upon thee my sin and thy sin, and
be of the fellows of the Fire, for that is the reward of the
unjust.' But his soul allowed him to slay his brother, and he slew
him, and in the morning he was of those who lose. And God sent a
crow to scratch in the earth and show him how he might hide his
brother's shame, he said, 'Alas, for me! Am I too helpless to become
like this crow and hide my brother's shame?' and in the morning he was
of those who did repent.
For this cause have we prescribed to the children of Israel that
whoso kills a soul, unless it be for another soul or for violence in
the land, it is as though he had killed men altogether; but whoso
saves one, it is as though he saved men altogether.
Our apostles came to them with manifest signs; then, verily, many of
them did after that commit excesses in the earth.
The reward of those who make war against God and His Apostle, and
strive after violence in the earth, is only that they shall be
slaughtered or crucified, or their hands cut off and their feet on
alternate sides, or that they shall be banished from the land;- that
is a disgrace for them in this world, and for them in the next is
mighty woe; save for those who repent before ye have them in your
power, for know ye that God is forgiving, merciful.
O ye who believe! fear God and crave the means to approach Him,
and be strenuous in His way, haply ye will prosper then.
Verily, those who disbelieve, even though they had what is in the
earth, all of it, and the like thereof with it, to offer as a ransom
from the punishment of the resurrection day, it would not be
accepted from them; but for them is grievous woe. They may wish to
go forth from the Fire, but they shall not go forth therefrom, for
them is lasting woe.
The man thief and the woman thief, cut off the hands of both as a
punishment, for that they have erred;- an example from God, for God is
mighty, wise.
But whoso turns again after his injustice and acts aright, verily,
God will turn to him, for, verily, God is forgiving, merciful.
Do ye not know that God, His is the kingdom of the heavens and the
earth; He punishes whom He pleases, and forgives whom He pleases,
for God is mighty over all?
O thou Apostle! let not those grieve thee who vie in misbelief; or
those who say with their mouths 'We believe,' but their hearts do
not believe; or of those who are Jews, listeners to a lie,-
listeners to other people, but who come not to thee. They pervert
the words from their places and say, 'If this is what ye are given,
take it; but if ye are not given it, then beware!' but he whom God
wishes to mislead, thou canst do nothing with God for him; these are
those whose hearts God wishes not to purify, for them in this world is
disgrace, and for them in the next is mighty woe,- listeners to a lie,
eaters of unlawful things!
But if they come to thee, then judge between them or turn aside from
them; but if thou turnest aside from them they shall not harm thee
at all, but if thou judgest, then judge between them with justice,
verily, God loves the just. But how should they make thee their judge,
when they have the law wherein is God's judgment? Yet they turn back
after that, for they do not believe.
Verily, we have revealed the law in which is guidance and light; the
prophets who were resigned did judge thereby those who were Jews, as
did the masters and doctors by what they remembered of the Book of God
and by what they were witnesses of. Fear not men, but fear me, and
sell not my signs for a little price; for whoso will not judge by what
God has revealed, these be the misbelievers. We have prescribed for
thee therein 'a life for a life, and an eye for an eye, and a nose for
a nose, and an ear for an ear, and a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds
retaliation;' but whoso remits it, it is an expiation for him, but
he whoso will not judge by what God has revealed, these be the unjust.
And we followed up the footsteps of these (prophets) with Jesus
the son of Mary, confirming that which was before him and the law, and
we brought him the gospel, wherein is guidance and light, verifying
what was before it of the law, and a guidance and an admonition unto
those who fear.
Then let the people of the gospel judge by that which is revealed
therein, for whoso will not judge by what God has revealed, these be
the evildoers.
We have revealed to thee the Book in truth verifying what was before
it, and preserving it; judge then between them by what God has
revealed, and follow not their lusts, turning away from what is
given to thee of the truth.
For each one of you have we made a law and a pathway; and had God
pleased He would have made you one nation, but He will surely try
you concerning that which He has brought you. Be ye therefore
emulous in good deeds; to God is your return altogether, and He will
let you know concerning that wherein ye do dispute.
Wherefore judge thou between them by what God has revealed, and
follow not their lusts; but beware lest they mislead thee from part of
what God has revealed to thee; yet if they turn back, then know that
God wishes to fall on them for some sins of theirs,- verily, many
men are evildoers.
Is it the judgment of the Ignorance they crave? but who is better
than God to judge for people who are sure?
O ye who believe! take not the Jews and Christians for your patrons:
they are patrons of each other; but whoso amongst you takes them for
patrons, verily, he is of them, and, verily, God guides not an
unjust people.
Thou wilt see those in whose hearts is a sickness vieing with
them; they say, 'We fear lest there befall us a reverse.' It may be
God will give the victory, or an order from Himself, and they may
awake repenting of what they thought in secret to themselves.
Those who believe say, 'Are these they who swore by God with their
most strenuous oath that they were surely with you?'- their works
are in vain and they shall wake the losers.
O ye who believe! whoso is turned away from his religion- God will
bring (instead) a people whom He loves and who love Him, lowly to
believers, lofty to unbelievers, strenuous in the way of God,
fearing not the blame of him who blames. That is God's grace! He gives
it unto whom He pleases, for God both comprehends and knows.
God only is your patron, and His Apostle and those who believe,
who are steadfast in prayer and give alms, bowing down. Whoso taketh
as patrons God and His apostles and those who believe;- verily,
God's crew, they are victorious!
O ye who believe! take not for patrons those who take your
religion for a jest or a sport, from amongst those who have been given
the Book before and the misbelievers; but fear God if ye be believers.
Nor those who, when ye call to prayer, take it for a jest and a sport;
that is because they are a people who do not understand.
Say, 'O people of the Book! do ye disavow us, for aught but that
we believe in God, and what was revealed to us before, and for that
most of you are evildoers?'
Say, 'Can I declare unto you something worse than retribution from
God?' Whomsoever God has cursed and been wroth with- and he has made
of them apes and swine- and who worship Taghut, they are in a worse
plight and are more erring from the level path. When they come to
you they say, 'We believe;' but they entered in with unbelief, and
they went out therewith, and God knows best what they did hide.
Thou wilt see many of them vieing in sin and enmity, and in eating
unlawful things,- evil is it that they have done. The masters and
their doctors prohibit them from speaking sin and eating unlawful
things,- evil is what they have performed.
The Jews say, 'God's hand is fettered;' their hands are fettered and
they are cursed for what they said; nay! His hands are outspread, He
expends how He pleases! and that which has been sent down to thee from
thy Lord will surely increase many of them in their rebellion and
misbelief, for we have cast amongst them enmity and hatred till the
resurrection day. Whenever they light a fire for war, God puts it out;
they strive for corruption in the earth, but God loves not the
corrupt.
But did the people of the Book believe and fear, we would cover
their offences, and we would make them enter into gardens of pleasure;
and were they steadfast in the law and the gospel, and what has been
sent down to them from their Lord, they should eat from above them and
below them. Amongst them are a nation who are moderate, but many of
them- bad is what they do.
O thou Apostle! preach what has been revealed to thee from thy Lord;
if thou do it not thou hast not preached His message, and God will not
hold thee free from men; for God guides not people who misbelieve.
Say, 'O people of the Book! ye rest on naught until ye stand fast by
the law and the gospel, and what is revealed to you from your Lord.'
But what has been revealed to thee from thy Lord will of a surety
increase many of them in rebellion and misbelief, vex not thyself then
for a people who misbelieve.
Verily, those who believe and those who are Jews, and the
Sabaeans, and the Christians, whosoever believes in God and the last
day, and does what is right, there is no fear for them, nor shall they
grieve.
We took a compact of the children of Israel, and we sent to them
apostles; every time there. came to them an apostle with what their
souls loved not, a part of them they did call liars and a part of them
they slew.
And they reckoned that there would be no disturbance; but they
were blind and deaf! and then God turned again towards them: and
then many amongst them were blind and deaf! but God saw what they did.
They misbelieve who say, 'Verily, God is the Messiah the son of
Mary;' but the Messiah said, 'O children of Israel! worship God, my
Lord and your Lord;' verily, he who associates aught with God, God
hath forbidden him Paradise, and his resort is the Fire, and the
unjust shall have none to help them.
They misbelieve who say, 'Verily, God is the third of three;' for
there is no God but one, and if they do not desist from what they say,
there shall touch those who misbelieve amongst them grievous woe.
Will they not turn again towards God and ask pardon of Him? for
God is forgiving and merciful.
The Messiah the son of Mary is only a prophet: prophets before him
have passed away; and his mother was a confessor; they used both to
eat food.- See how we explain to them the signs, yet see how they turn
aside!
Say, 'Will ye serve, other than God, what can neither hurt you nor
profit you?' but God, He both hears and knows.
Say, 'O people of the Book! exceed not the truth in your religion,
and follow not the lusts of a people who have erred before, and who
lead many astray, and who go away from the level path.'
Those of the children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the
tongue of David and Jesus the son of Mary; that is because they
rebelled and did transgress; they would not desist from the wrong they
did; evil is that which they did. Thou wilt see many of them taking
those who disbelieve for their patrons; evil is that which their souls
have sent before them, for God's wrath is on them, and in the
torment shall they dwell for aye. But had they believed in God and the
prophet, and what was revealed to him, they had not taken these for
their patrons; but many of them are evildoers.
Thou wilt surely find that the strongest in enmity against those who
believe are the Jews and the idolaters; and thou wilt find the nearest
in love to those who believe to be those who say, 'We are Christians;'
that is because there are amongst them priests and monks, and
because they are not proud.
And when they hear what has been revealed to the prophet, you will
see their eyes gush with tears at what they recognise as truth
therein; and they will say, 'O our Lord! we believe, so write us
down amongst the witnesses. Why should we not believe in God and the
truth that is given to us, nor desire that our Lord should make us
enter with the upright people?'
Therefore has God rewarded them, for what they said, with gardens
beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye; that is the
reward of those who do good; but those who disbelieve and say our
signs are lies, they are the fellows of hell.
O ye who believe! forbid not the good things which God has made
lawful for you, nor transgress; verily, God loves not the
transgressors.
But eat of what God has provided you lawfully of good things; and
fear God, in whom ye believe.
God will not catch you up for a casual word in your oaths, but He
will catch you up for having what ye make deliberate oaths about;
and the expiation thereof is to feed ten poor men with the middling
food ye feed your families withal, or to clothe them, or to free a
neck; but he who has not the means, then let him fast three days. That
is the expiation of your oaths, when ye have sworn to keep your oaths;
thus does God explain to you His signs,- haply ye may be grateful.
O ye who believe! verily, wine, and el maisar, and statues, and
divining (arrows) are only an abomination of Satan's work; avoid
them then that haply ye may prosper. Satan only desires to place
enmity and hatred between you by wine and maisar, and to turn you from
the remembrance of God and from prayer; but will ye not desist, and
obey God, and obey the apostles, and beware, for if ye turn back
then know that our Apostle has only his message to preach?
There is no crime in those who believe and do right, for having
tasted food, when they fear God, and believe, and do what is right,
and then fear Him, and believe, and then fear, and do good, for God
loves those who do good.
O ye who believe! God will try you with something of the game that
your hands and your lances take, that God may know who fears Him in
secret; and whoso transgresses after that, for him is grievous woe.
O ye who believe! kill not game while ye are on pilgrimage. But he
amongst you who kills it purposely, his compensation is the like of
that which he has killed, in sheep- of which two equitable persons
amongst you shall be judge- an offering brought to the Kaabah; or as
an expiation, the food of poor persons, or an equivalent thereof in
fasting, that he may taste the evil result of his deed. God pardons
bygones; but whoso returns, God will take vengeance on him, for God is
mighty and the avenger.
Lawful for you is the game of the sea, and to eat thereof; a
provision for you and for travellers; but forbidden you is the game of
the land while ye are on pilgrimage; so fear God to whom ye shall be
gathered.
God has made the Kaabah, the sacred House, to be a station for
men, and the sacred month, and the offering and its neck garland; this
is that ye may know that God knows what is in the heavens and what
is in the earth, and that God knows all things. Know that God is
keen to punish, but that God is forgiving, merciful.
The Apostle has only to preach his message, but God knows what ye
show and what ye hide.
Say, 'The vile shall not be deemed equal with the good, although the
abundance of the vile please thee.' Fear God then, O ye who have
minds! haply ye may prosper.
O ye who believe! ask not about things which if they be shown to you
will pain you; but if ye ask about them when the (whole) Koran is
revealed, they shall be shown to you. God pardons that, for God is
forgiving and clement. People before you have asked about that, yet on
the morrow did they disbelieve therein.
And God has not ordained any Bahirah or Saibah, nor Wazilah nor
'Hami, but those who misbelieve invent a lie against God, for most
of them do not understand.
And when it is said to them, 'Come round to what God has revealed
unto His Apostle,' they say, 'Enough for us is what we found our
fathers agreed upon.' What! though their fathers knew nothing and were
not guided.
O ye who believe! mind yourselves; he who errs can do you no hurt
when ye are guided: unto God is your return altogether, and He will
declare to you that which ye do not know.
O ye who believe! let there be a testimony between you when any
one of you is on the point of death- at the time he makes his will-
two equitable persons from amongst you; or two others from some
other folk, if ye be knocking about in the land, and the calamity of
death befall you; ye shall shut them both up after prayer, and they
shall both swear by God, if ye doubt them, (saying), 'We will not sell
(our testimony) for a price, though it were to a relative, nor will we
hide God's testimony, verily, then, we should be among sinners.' But
if it shall be lit upon that they too have deserved the imputation
of sin, then let two others stand up in their place with those who
think them deserving of the imputation, the nearest two in kin, and
they shall both swear by God, 'Indeed, our testimony is truer than the
testimony of those two, and we have not transgressed, for then we
should surely be of the unjust: thus is it easier for men to bear
testimony according to the purport thereof, else must they fear lest
an oath be given to rebut their own oath; but let them fear God and
listen, for God guides not the people who do ill.
On the day when God shall assemble the apostles and shall say,
'How were ye answered?' they will say, 'We have no knowledge;
verily, thou art He who knoweth the unseen.'
When God said, 'O Jesus, son of Mary! remember my favours towards
thee and towards thy mother, when I aided thee with the Holy Ghost,
till thou didst speak to men in the cradle and when grown up.
'And when I taught thee the Book and wisdom and the law and the
gospel; when thou didst create of clay, as it were, the likeness of
a bird, by my power, and didst blow thereon, it became a bird; and
thou didst heal the blind from birth, and the leprous by my
permission; and when thou didst bring forth the dead by my permission;
and when I did ward off the children of Israel from thee, when thou
didst come to them with manifest signs, and those who misbelieved
amongst them said, "This is naught but obvious magic."
'And when I inspired the apostles that they should believe in him
and in my Apostle, they said, "We believe; do thou bear witness that
we are resigned."'
When the apostles said, 'O Jesus, son of Mary! is thy Lord able to
send down to us a table from heaven?' he said, 'Fear God, if ye be
believers and they said, 'We desire to eat therefrom that our hearts
may be at rest, and that we may know that what thou hast told us is
the truth, and that we may be thereby amongst the witnesses.' Said
Jesus the son of Mary, 'O God, our Lord! send down to us a table
from heaven to be to us as a festival,- to the first of us and to
the last, and a sign from Thee,- and grant us provision, for Thou
art the best of providers.'
God said, 'Verily, I am about to send it down to you; but whoso
disbelieves amongst you after that, verily, I will torment him with
the torment which I have not tormented any one with in all the
worlds.'
And when God said, 'O Jesus, son of Mary! is it thou who didst say
to men, take me and my mother for two gods, beside God?' He said, 'I
celebrate Thy praise! what ails me that I should say what I have no
right to? If I had said it, Thou wouldst have known it; Thou knowest
what is in my soul, but I know not what is in Thy soul; verily, Thou
art one who knoweth the unseen. I never told them save what Thou didst
bid me,- "Worship God, my Lord and your Lord," and I was a witness
against them so long as I was amongst them; but when Thou didst take
me away to thyself Thou wert the watcher over them, for Thou art
witness over all. If Thou shouldst punish them, verily, they are Thy
servants; if Thou shouldst forgive them, verily, Thou art the mighty
and the wise.' God said, 'This is the day when their confession
shall profit the confessors, for them are gardens beneath which rivers
flow, to dwell therein for ever and for aye.'
God is well pleased with them, and they well pleased with Him;
that is the mighty happiness.
God's is the kingdom of the heavens, and the earth, and all that
is therein, and He is mighty over all.
THE CHAPTER OF CATTLE
(VI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate, God!
Praise belongs to God who created the heavens and the earth, and
brought into being the darkness and the light. Yet do those who
misbelieve hold Him to have peers.
He it is who created you from clay; then He decreed a term,- a
term ordained with Him. And yet ye doubt thereof.
He is God in the heavens and the earth. He knows your secret conduct
and your plain, and He knows what ye earn.
There came not to them any sign of the signs of their Lord, but they
turned away; and they have called the truth a lie now that it has come
to them, but there shall come to them the message of that at which
they mocked.
Do not they see how many a generation we have destroyed before them,
whom we had settled in the earth as we have not settled for you, and
sent the rain of heaven upon them in copious showers, and made the
waters flow beneath them? Then we destroyed them in their sins, and
raised up other generations after them.
Had we sent down to thee a book on paper, and they had touched it
with their hands, still those who misbelieve would have said, 'This is
naught but obvious magic.' They say, 'Why has not an angel been sent
down to him?' but if we had sent down an angel, the affair would
have been decided, and then they would have had no respite.
And had we made him an angel, we should have made him as a man
too; and we would have made perplexing for them that which they deem
perplexing now.
There have been prophets before thee mocked at, but that encompassed
them which the scoffers among them mocked at.
Say, 'Go about in the earth, then wilt thou see how has been the end
of those who called them liars.'
Say, 'Whose is what is in the heavens and the earth?
Say, 'God's, who has imposed mercy on himself.' He will surely
gather you together for the resurrection day. There is no doubt in
that, but those who waste their souls will not believe.
His is whatsoever dwells in the night or in the day, He both hears
and knows.
Say, 'Other than God shall I take for a patron, the Originator of
the heavens and the earth? He feedeth men, but is not fed.' Say, 'I am
bidden to be the first of those resigned;' and it was said to me,
'Be not thou of the idolaters.' Say, 'I fear, if I rebel against my
Lord, the torment of the mighty day.'
Whomsoever it is averted from on that day, God will have had mercy
on; and that is obvious happiness.
And if God touch thee with harm, there is none to take it off but
He; and if He touch thee with good, He is mighty over all. He is
sovereign over His servants, He is the wise, the aware!
Say, 'What is the greatest witness?' Say, 'God is witness between
you and me.' This Koran was inspired to me to warn you and those it
reaches. Do ye really bear witness that with God are other gods?
Say, 'I bear not witness thereto:' say, 'He is but one God, and I am
clear of your associating (gods with him).'
Those to whom we have brought the Book know him as they know their
sons;- those who lose their souls do not believe.
Who is more unjust than he who forges against God a lie, or says His
signs are lies? verily, the unjust shall not prosper.
On the day when we shall gather them all together, then shall we say
to those who have associated others with ourself, 'Where are your
associates whom ye did pretend?' Then they will have no excuse but
to say, 'By God our Lord, we did not associate (others with thee)!'
See how they lie against themselves, and how what they did forge
deserts them! And they are some who listen unto thee, but we have
placed a veil upon their hearts lest they should understand it, and in
their ears is dulness of hearing; and though they saw each sign they
would not believe therein; until when they come to thee to wrangle
with thee, the unbelievers say, 'These are but old folks' tales.'
They forbid it and they avoid it;- but they destroy none but
themselves; yet they do not perceive.
But couldst thou see when they are set over the fire and say, 'Would
that we were sent back! we would not call our Lord's signs lies, but
we would be of the believers?' Nay! now is shown to them what they did
hide before; and could they be sent back, they would return to that
they were forbidden, for they are very liars.
They say there is naught but this life of ours in the world and we
shall not be raised. But couldst thou see when they are set before
their Lord; he says, 'Is not this the truth?' They say, Yea, by our
Lord!' he says, 'Then taste the torment, for that ye did misbelieve!'
Losers are they who disbelieved in meeting God, until when the
hour comes suddenly upon them they say, 'Woe is us for our neglect
thereof!' for they shall bear their burdens on their backs, evil is
what they bear.
The life of this world is nothing but a game and a sport, and surely
the next abode were better for those who fear. What! do they not
understand?
Full well we know that verily that which they say grieves thee;
but they do not call thee only a liar, for the unjust gainsay the
signs of God. Called liars too were apostles before thee; but they
were patient of being called liars and of being hurt until our help
came to them; for there is none to change the words of God- now has
there come to thee the story of those He sent.
And if their turning from thee be hard for thee, and if thou canst
seek for a shaft down into the earth, or a ladder up into the sky,
to bring them a sign- but if God pleased He would bring them all to
guidance, be thou not then of the ignorant.
He only answers the prayer of those who listen; but the dead will
God raise up, then unto Him shall they return. They say, 'Unless there
be sent down some sign from his Lord'- say, 'Verily, God is able to
send down a sign, but most of them do not know.'
There is not a beast upon the earth nor a bird that flies with
both its wings, but is a nation like to you; we have omitted nothing
from the Book; then to their Lord shall they be gathered. Those who
say our signs are lies- deafness, dumbness, in the dark! whom He
pleases does God lead astray, and whom He pleases He places on the
right way.
Say, 'Look you now! if there should come God's torment, or there
should come to you the hour, on other than God would ye call, if ye do
tell the truth?' Nay, it is on Him that ye would call, and He will
avert that which ye call upon Him for if He but please; and ye shall
forget that which ye did associate with Him.
Ere this we sent unto nations before thee, and we caught them in
distress and trouble that haply they might humble themselves. And do
they not, when our violence falls upon them, humble themselves?- but
their hearts were hard, and Satan made seemly to them that which
they had done.
And when they forgot what they were reminded of, we opened for
them the gates of everything, until when they rejoiced at what they
had, we caught them up suddenly, and lo! they were in despair.
And the uttermost part of the people who did wrong were cut off;
praise be to God, Lord of the worlds!
Say, 'Look you now! if God should catch your hearing and your sight,
and should set a seal upon your hearts- who is god but God to bring
you it again?'
Say, 'Look you now! if God's torment should come you suddenly or
openly, would any perish save the people who do wrong?'
We do not send our messengers save as heralds of glad tidings and of
warning, and whoso believes and acts aright, there is no fear for
them, and they shall not be grieved, but those who say our signs are
lies, torment shall touch them, for that they have done so wrong.
Say, 'I do not say to you, mine are the treasuries of God, nor
that I know the unseen; I do not say to you, I am an angel-if I follow
aught but what I am inspired with-:' say, 'Is the blind equal to him
who sees-?' what! do ye not reflect?
Admonish therewith those who fear that they shall be gathered unto
their Lord; there is no patron for them but Him, and no intercessor;
haply they may fear.
Repulse not those who call upon their Lord in the morning and in the
evening, desiring His face; they have no reckoning against thee at
all, and thou hast no reckoning against them at all;- repulse them and
thou wilt be of the unjust.
So have we tried some of them by others, that they may say, 'Are
these those unto whom God has been gracious amongst ourselves?' Does
not God know those who give thanks?
And when those who believe in our signs come to thee, say, 'Peace be
on you! God hath prescribed for Himself mercy; verily, he of you who
does evil in ignorance, and then turns again and does right,-
verily, He is forgiving and merciful.'
Thus do we detail our signs, that the way of the sinners may be made
plain.
Say, 'I am forbidden to worship those ye call upon beside God;' say,
'I will not follow your lusts, for then should I err and not be of the
guided.'
Say, 'I stand on a manifestation from my Lord, which ye call a
lie. I have not with me what ye fain would hasten on, that the
matter might be settled between me and you; but God knows best who are
the unjust.'
With Him are the keys of the unseen. None knows them save He; He
knows what is in the land and in the sea; and there falls not a leaf
save that He knows it; nor a grain in the darkness of the earth, nor
aught that is moist, nor aught that is dry, save that is in His
perspicuous Book.
He it is who takes you to Himself at night, and knows what ye have
gained in the day; then He raises you up again, that your appointed
time may be fulfilled; then unto Him is your return, and then will
He inform you of what ye have done.
He triumphs over His servants; He sends to them guardian angels,
until, when death comes to any one of you, our messengers take him
away; they pass not over any one, and then are they returned to God,
their true sovereign.
Is not His the rule? but He is very quick at reckoning up.
Say, 'Who rescues you from the darkness of the land and of the sea?'
ye call upon Him in humility and in secret, 'Indeed, if He would
rescue us from this, we will surely be of those who give Him
thanks.' Say, 'God rescues from the darkness thereof, and from every
trouble, yet ye associate others with Him.'
Say, 'He is able to send torment on you from above you and from
beneath your feet, and to confuse you in sects, and to make some of
you taste the violence of others.'
See how we turn about the signs, that haply they may discriminate.
Thy people called it a lie, and yet it is the truth. Say, 'I have
not charge over you; to every prophecy is a set time, and in the end
ye shall know.'
When thou dost see those who plunge deeply into the discussion of
our signs, turn from them until they plunge deeply into some other
discourse; for it may be that Satan may make thee forget; but sit not,
after thou hast remembered, with the unjust people.
Those who fear are not bound to take account of them at all, but
mind!- haply they may fear.
Leave those who have taken their religion for a play and a sport,
whom this world's life hath deceived, and remind them thereby that a
soul shall be given up for what it has earned; nor has it, beside God,
patron or intercessor; and though it should compensate with the
fullest compensation, it would not be accepted. Those who are given up
for what they have gained, for them is a drink of boiling water, and
grievous woe for that they have misbelieved.
Say, 'Shall we call on what neither profits us nor harms us, and
be thrown back upon our heels after God has guided us, like him whom
Satan hath led away bewildered in the earth, who has companions who
call him to guidance, "Come to us? "' Say, 'Verily, God's guidance
is the guidance, and we are bidden to resign ourselves unto the Lord
of the worlds, and be ye steadfast in prayer and fear Him, for He it
is to whom we shall be gathered.'
He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in truth; and
on the day when He says, 'BE,' then it is. His word is truth; to Him
is the kingdom on the day when the trumpets shall be blown; the knower
of the unseen and of the evident; He is wise and well aware.
When Abraham said to his father Azar, 'Dost thou take idols for
gods? verily, I see thee and thy people in obvious error.' Thus did we
show Abraham the kingdom of heaven and of the earth, that he should be
of those who are sure. And when the night overshadowed him he saw a
star and said, 'This is my Lord;' but when it set he said, 'I love not
those that set.' And when he saw the moon beginning to rise he said,
'This is my Lord;' but when it set he said, 'If God my Lord guides
me not I shall surely be of the people who err.' And when he saw the
sun beginning to rise he said, 'This is my Lord, this is greatest of
all;' but when it set he said, 'O my people! verily, I am clear of
what ye associate with God; verily, I have turned my face to him who
originated the heaven and the earth, as a 'Hanif, and I am not of
the idolaters.' And his people disputed with him;- he said, 'Do ye
dispute with me concerning God, when He has guided me? but I fear
not what ye associate with Him unless my Lord should wish for
anything. My Lord doth comprehend all things in His knowledge, will ye
not then remember? How should I fear what ye associate with Him,
when ye yourselves fear not to associate with God what He has sent
down to you no power to do? Which then of the two sects is worthier of
belief, if indeed ye know?'
Those who believe and do not obscure their faith with wrong, they
are those who shall have security, and they are guided.
These are our arguments which we gave to Abraham against his
people;- we raise the rank of whom we will; verily, thy Lord is wise
and knowing. And we gave to him Isaac and Jacob, each did we guide.
And Noah we guided before and all his seed,- David and Solomon and Job
and Joseph and Moses and Aaron,- for thus do we reward those who do
good. And Zachariah and John and Jesus and Elias, all righteous
ones; and Ishmael and Elisha and Jonas and Lot, each one have we
preferred above the worlds; and of their fathers and their seed and
brethren; we have chosen them and guided them into a right way.
That is God's guidance; He guides those whom He will of His
servants; and if they associate aught with Him,- vain is that which
they have worked.
It is to these we give the Book and judgment and prophecy; and if
these disbelieve therein we have given them in charge to a people
who shall not disbelieve.
It is these that God hath guided, and by their guidance be thou led.
Say, 'I will not ask you for it a hire: it is naught save a reminder
to the worlds.'
They do not prize God at His true worth when they say, 'God has
never revealed to mortal anything.' Say, 'Who revealed the Book
wherewith Moses came, a light and a guidance unto men? Ye put it on
papers which ye show, though ye hide much; and ye are taught what ye
knew not, neither you nor your fathers.' Say, 'God,' then leave them
in their discussion to play.
This is the Book which we have revealed, a blessing and a
confirmation to those which were before it, and that the mother of
cities may be warned, with those who are round about her. Those who
believe in the last day believe therein, and they unto their prayers
will keep.
Who is more unjust than he who devises against God a lie, or says,
'I am inspired,' when he was not inspired at all? and who says, 'I
will bring down the like of what God has sent down;' but didst thou
see when the unjust are in the floods of death, and the angels stretch
forth their hands, 'Give ye forth your souls; to-day shall ye be
recompensed with the torment of disgrace, for that ye did say
against God what was not true, and were too proud to hear His signs
And ye come now single-handed as we created you at first, and ye
have left behind your backs that which we granted you; and we see
not with you your intercessors whom ye pretended were partners amongst
you; betwixt you have the ties been cut asunder; and strayed away from
you is what ye did pretend.'
Verily, God it is who cleaves out the grain and the date-stone; He
brings forth the living from the dead, and it is He who brings the
dead from the living. There is God! how then can ye be beguiled?
He it is who cleaves out the morning, and makes night a repose,
and the sun and the moon two reckonings- that is the decree of the
mighty, the wise!
He it is who made for you stars that ye might be guided thereby in
the darkness of the land and of the sea. Now have we detailed the
signs unto a people who do know.
He it is who made you spring from one soul, and gave you a
settlement and a depository. Now have we detailed the signs unto a
people who discern.
He it is who sends down from the heavens water; and we bring forth
therewith growths of everything; and we bring forth therefrom green
things, wherefrom we bring forth grain in full ear; and the palm, from
its spathe come clusters within reach; and gardens of grapes and
olives and pomegranates, alike and unlike;- behold its fruit when it
fruits and ripens! verily, in that ye have a sign for the people who
believe.
Yet they made the ginn partners with God, though He created them!
and they ascribed to Him sons and daughters, though they have no
knowledge; celebrated be His praise! and exalted be He above what they
attribute to Him! The inventor of the heavens and the earth! how can
He have a son, when He has no female companion, and when He has
created everything, and everything He knows?
There is God for you,- your Lord! There is no god but He, the
Creator of everything; then worship Him, for He o'er everything
keeps guard!
Sight perceives Him not, but He perceives men's sights; for He is
the subtle, the aware.
Now has an insight from your Lord come unto you, and he who looks
therewith it is for himself; but he who is blind thereto, it is
against his soul and I am not your keeper.
Thus do we turn about the signs, that they may say, 'Thou hast
studied,' and that we may explain to those who know.
Follow what is revealed to thee from thy Lord; there is no god but
He, and shun the idolaters.
But had God pleased, they would not have associated aught with
Him; but we have not made thee a keeper over them, nor art thou for
them a warder.
Do not abuse those who call on other than God, for then they may
abuse God openly in their ignorance. So do we make seemly to every
nation their work, then unto their Lord is their return, and He will
inform them of what they have done.
They swore by God with their most strenuous oath, that if there come
to them a sign they will indeed believe therein. Say, 'Signs are
only in God's hands;- but what will make you understand that even when
one has come, they will not believe?'
We will overturn their hearts and their eyesights, even as they
believed not at first; and we will leave them, in their rebellion,
blindly wandering on.
And had we sent down unto them the angels, or the dead had spoken to
them, or we had gathered everything unto them in hosts, they would not
have believed unless that God pleased- but most of them are ignorant.
So have we made for every prophet an enemy,- devils of men and
ginns; some of them inspire others with specious speech to lead
astray; but had thy Lord pleased they would not have done it; so leave
them with what they do devise.
And let the hearts of those who believe not in the hereafter
listen to it; and let them be well pleased with it; and let them
gain what they may gain!
Of other than God shall I crave a decree, when it is He who has sent
down to you the Book in detail, and those to whom we gave the Book
know that it is sent down from thy Lord, in truth? be thou not then of
those who doubt.
The words of thy Lord are fulfilled in truth and justice; there is
none to change His words, for He both hears and knows.
But if thou followest most of those who are in the land, they will
lead thee astray from the path of God; they only follow suspicion
and they only (rest on) conjecture.
Thy Lord, He knows best who errs from His path, and He knows best
the guided.
Eat then of what God's name has been pronounced over, if ye
believe in His signs. What ails you that ye do not eat from what God's
name is pronounced over, when He has detailed to you what is
unlawful for you? Save what ye are forced to; but, verily, many will
lead you astray by their fancies, without knowledge. Verily, thy
Lord knows best the transgressors.
Leave alone the outside of sin and the inside thereof; verily, those
who earn sin shall be recompensed for what they have gained.
But eat not of what the name of God has not been pronounced over,
for, verily, it is an abomination. Verily, the devils inspire their
friends that they may wrangle with you; but if ye obey them, verily,
ye are idolaters.
Is he who was dead and we have quickened him, and made for him a
light, that he might walk therein amongst men, like him whose likeness
is in the darkness whence he cannot come forth? Thus is made seemly to
the misbelievers what they have done.
And thus have we placed in every town the great sinners thereof,
that they may use craft therein; but they use not craft except against
themselves, although they do not understand.
And when there comes to them a sign, they say, 'We will not
believe until we are brought like what the apostles were brought;' God
knows best where to put His message. There shall befall those who sin,
meanness in God's eyes, and grievous torment for the craft they used.
Whomsoever God wishes to guide, He expands His breast to Islam;
but whomsoever wishes to lead astray, He makes his breast tight and
straight, as though he would mount up into heaven; thus does God set
His horror on those who do not believe.
This is the way of thy Lord- straight. We have detailed the signs
unto a mindful people; for them is an abode of peace; and their
Lord, He is their patron for what they have done.
And on the day when He shall gather them all together, 'O assembly
of the ginns! ye have got much out of mankind.' And their clients from
among mankind shall say, 'O our Lord! much advantage had we one from
another;' but we reached our appointed time which thou hadst appointed
for us. Says He, 'The fire is your resort, to dwell therein for aye!
save what God pleases; verily, thy Lord is wise and knowing.'
Thus do we make some of the unjust patrons of the others, for that
which they have earned.
O assembly of ginns and men! did there not come to you apostles from
among yourselves, relating to you our signs, and warning you of the
meeting of this very day of yours? They say, 'We bear witness
against ourselves.' The life of this world deceived them, and they
bear witness against themselves that they were unbelievers.
That is because thy Lord would never destroy towns unjustly while
their people are careless; but for every one are degrees of what
they have done; and thy Lord is not careless of that which they do.
Thy Lord is rich, merciful; if He pleases He will take you off,
and will cause what He pleases to succeed you; even as He raised you
up from the seed of other people.
Verily, what ye are promised will surely come, nor can ye
frustrate it.
Say, 'O my people! act according to your power, verily, I am
acting too; and soon shall ye know whose is the future of the
abode!' verily, the unjust shall not prosper.
They set apart for God, from what He raises of tilth and of
cattle, a portion, and they say, 'This is God's;'- as they pretend-
'and this is for our associates;' but that which is for their
associates reaches not to God, and that which was for God does reach
to their associates;- evil is it what they judge.
Thus too have their associates made seemly to many of the
idolaters the killing of their children, to destroy them, and to
obscure for them their religion; but had God pleased they would not
have done it, leave them alone and that which they have forged.
And they say, 'These cattle and tilth are inviolable; none shall
taste thereof, save such as we please'- as they pretend- and there are
cattle whose backs are prohibited, and cattle over whom God's name
is not pronounced,- forging a lie against Him! He shall reward them
for what they have forged.
And they say, 'What is in the wombs of these cattle is unlawful
for our wives, but if it be (born) dead, then are they partners
therein.' He will reward them for their attribution; verily, He is
wise and knowing.
Losers are they who kill their children foolishly, without
knowledge, and who prohibit what God has bestowed upon them, forging a
lie against God; they have erred and are not guided.
He it is who brought forth gardens with trailed and untrailed vines,
and the palms and corn land, with various food, and olives, and
pomegranates, alike and unlike. Eat from the fruit thereof whene'er it
fruits, and bring the dues thereof on the day of harvest, and be not
extravagant; verily, He loves not the extravagant.
Of cattle are there some to ride on and to spread. Eat of what God
has bestowed upon you, and follow not the footsteps of Satan;
verily, he is to you an open foe.
Eight pairs,- of sheep two, and of goats two; say, 'Are the two
males unlawful, or the two females, or what the wombs of the two
females contain? inform me with knowledge if ye tell the truth.' And
of camels two, and cows two; say, 'Are the two males unlawful, or
the two females, or what the wombs of the two females contain? Were ye
witnesses when God ordained for you these?- Then who is more unjust
than he who devises a lie against God, to lead men astray without
knowledge? verily, God guides not the unjust people.'
Say, 'I cannot find in what I am inspired with anything unlawful for
the taster to taste; unless it be dead (of itself), or blood that
has been shed, or the flesh of swine,- for that is a horror- or an
abomination that is consecrated to other than God. But he who is
forced, not wilfully nor transgressing,- then, verily, thy Lord is
forgiving and merciful.'
To those who were Jews did we prohibit everything that hath a
solid hoof; and of oxen and sheep did we prohibit to them the fat,
save what the backs of both do bear, or the inwards, or what is
mixed with bone; with that did we recompense them for their rebellion,
for, verily, we are true.
And if they give thee the lie, say, 'Your Lord is of ample mercy,
nor shall His violence be turned back from the sinful people.'
Those who associate others with God will say, 'Had God pleased, we
had not so associated, nor our fathers; nor should we have forbidden
aught.' Thus did they give the lie to those who came before them,
until they tasted of our violence! Say, 'Have ye any knowledge? if so,
bring it forth to us: ye only follow suspicion, and ye do but
conjecture.'
Say, 'God's is the searching argument; and had He pleased He would
have guided you all.'
Say, 'Come on then with your witnesses, who bear witness that God
has prohibited these!' but if they do bear witness, bear thou not
witness with them; nor follow the lust of those who say our signs
are lies, and those who do not believe in the last day, or those who
for their Lord make peers.
Say, 'Come! I will recite what your Lord has forbidden you, that
ye may not associate aught with Him, and (may show) kindness to your
parents, and not kill your children through poverty;- we will
provide for you and them;- and draw not nigh to flagrant sins,
either apparent or concealed, and kill not the soul, which God hath
forbidden save by right; that is what God ordains you, haply ye may
understand.'
And draw not nigh unto the wealth of the orphan, save so as to
better it, until he reaches full age; and give weight and measure with
justice. We do not compel the soul save what it can compass; and
when ye pronounce, then be just, though it be in the case of a
relative.
And God's compact fulfil ye; that is what He ordained you, haply
ye may be mindful. Verily, this is my right way; follow it then, and
follow not various paths, to separate yourselves from His way; that is
what He has ordained you, haply ye may fear!
Then we gave Moses the Book, complete for him who acts aright, and a
decision and a guidance and a mercy; haply in the meeting of their
Lord they will believe.
This is the Book which we have sent down; it is a blessing; follow
it then and fear; haply ye may obtain mercy. Lest ye say, 'The Book
was only sent down to two sects before us; verily, we, for what they
read, care naught.' Or, lest ye should say, 'Had we had a book
revealed to us we should surely have been more guided than they;'
but there is come to them a manifest sign from their Lord, and a
guidance and a mercy; who then is more unjust than he who calls
God's signs lies, and turns from them? we will reward those who turn
from our signs with an evil punishment for that they turned away.
What do they expect but that the angels should come for them, or
that thy Lord should come, or that some signs of thy Lord should come?
On the day when some signs do come, its faith shall profit no soul
which did not believe before, unless it has earned some good by its
faith. Say, 'Wait ye expectant, then we wait expectant too.'
Verily, those who divided their religion and became sects, thou hast
not to do with them, their matter is in God's hands, He will yet
inform them of that which they have done.
He who brings a good work shall have ten like it; but he who
brings a bad work shall be recompensed only with the like thereof, for
they shall not be wronged.
Say, 'As for me, my Lord has guided me to the right way, a right
religion,- the faith of Abraham the 'Hanif, for he was not of the
idolaters.'
Say, 'Verily, my prayers and my devotion and my life and my death
belong to God, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partner; that is what
I am bidden; for I am first of those who are resigned.'
Say, Other than God shall I crave for a Lord when He is Lord of
all?' but no soul shall earn aught save against itself; nor shall
one bearing a burden bear the burden of another; and then unto your
Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that whereon ye
do dispute.
He it is who made you vicegerents, and raised some of you above
others in degree, to try you by that which he has brought you;-
verily, thy Lord is swift to punish, but, verily, He is forgiving
and merciful.
THE CHAPTER OF AL AARAF
(VII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
ALIF LAM MIM SAD. A book revealed to thee,- so let there be no
straitness in thy breast, that thou mayest warn thereby,- and a
reminder to the believers.
Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord, and follow
not beside Him patrons; little is it that ye mind.
Yet how many a town have we destroyed, and our violence came upon it
by night, or while they slept at noon; and their cry, when our
violence came upon them, was only to say, 'Verily, we were unjust!'
But we will of a surety question those to whom the prophets were sent,
and we will narrate to them with knowledge, for we were not absent.
The balance on that day is true, and whosesoever scales are heavy,
they are prosperous; but whosesoever scales are light, they it is
who lose themselves, for that they did act unjustly by our signs.
We have established you in the earth, and we have made for you
therein livelihoods; little is it that ye thank; and we created you,
then we fashioned you, then we said unto the angels, 'Adore Adam,' and
they adored, save Iblis, who was not of those who did adore.
Said He, 'What hinders thee from adoring when I order thee?' he
said, 'I am better than he; Thou hast created me from fire, and him
Thou hast created out of clay.'
Said He, 'Then go down therefrom; what ails thee that thou
shouldst be big with pride therein? go forth! verily, thou art of
the little ones.'
He said, 'Respite me until the day when they shall be raised.' He
said 'Verily, thou art of the respited;' said he, 'For that Thou
hast led me into error, I will lie in wait for them in Thy straight
path; then I will surely come to them, from before them and from
behind them; and most of them Thou shalt not find thankful.' He
said, 'Go forth therefrom, despised, expelled; whoso follows thee, I
will surely fill hell with you altogether. But, O Adam, dwell thou and
thy wife in Paradise and eat from whence ye will, but draw not nigh
unto this tree or ye will be of the unjust.'
But Satan whispered to them to display to them what was kept back
from them of their shame, and he said, 'Your Lord has only forbidden
you this tree lest ye should be twain angels, or should become of
the immortals;' and he swore to them both, 'Verily, I am unto you a
sincere adviser;' and he beguiled them by deceit, and when they
twain tasted of the tree, their shame was shown them, and they began
to stitch upon themselves the leaves of the garden. And their Lord
called unto them, 'Did I not forbid you from that tree there, and
say to you, Verily, Satan is to you an open foe?' They said, 'O our
Lord! we have wronged ourselves- and if Thou dost not forgive us and
have mercy on us, we shall surely be of those who are lost!' He
said, 'Go ye down, one of you to the other a foe; but for you in the
earth there is an abode, and a provision for a season.' He said,
'Therein shall ye live and therein shall ye die, from it shall ye be
brought forth.'
O sons of Adam! we have sent down to you garments wherewith to cover
your shame, and plumage; but the garment of piety, that is better.
That is one of the signs of God, haply ye may remember.
O sons of Adam! let not Satan infatuate you as he drove your parents
out of Paradise, stripping from them their garments, and showing
them their shame; verily, he sees you- he and his tribe, from whence
ye cannot see them. Verily, we have made the devils patrons of those
who do not believe, and when they commit an abomination they say,
'We found our fathers at this, and God bade us do it.'
Say, 'God bids you not to do abomination; do ye say against God that
which ye do not know?'
Say, 'My Lord bids only justice:- set steadfastly you faces at every
mosque and pray to Him, being sincere in your religion. As He
brought you forth in the beginning, shall ye return. A sect He guides,
and for a sect of them was error due; verily, they did take the devils
for their patrons instead of God, and they did count that they were
guided.'
O sons of Adam! take your ornaments to every mosque and eat and
drink, but do not be extravagant, for He loves not the extravagant.
Say, 'Who has prohibited the ornaments of God which He brought forth
for His servants, and good things of His providing?' say, 'On the
day of judgment they shall only be for those who believed when in
the life of this world.' Thus do we detail the signs unto a people
that do know.
Say, 'My Lord has only prohibited abominable deeds, the apparent
thereof and the concealed thereof, and sin, and greed for that which
is not right, and associating with God what He has sent down no
power for, and saying against God that which ye do not know.'
Every nation has its appointed time, and when their appointed time
comes they cannot keep it back an hour, nor can they bring it on.
O sons of Adam! verily, there will come to you apostles from amongst
you, narrating unto you my signs; then whoso fears God and does what
is right, there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve. But
those who say my signs are lies, and who are too big with pride for
them, these are the fellows of the Fire, they shall dwell therein
for aye!
Who is more unjust than he who devises against God a lie, or says
His signs are lies? These, their portion of the Book shall reach
them until when our messengers come to take their souls away, and say,
'Where is what ye used to call upon instead of God?' they say, 'They
have strayed away from us;' and they shall bear witness against
themselves that they have been misbelievers.
He will say, 'Enter ye- amongst the nations who have passed away
before you, both of ginns and men- into the fire;' whenever a nation
enters therein, it curses its mate; until, when they have all
reached it, the last of them will say unto the first, 'O our Lord!
these it was who led us astray, give them double torment of the fire!'
He will say, 'To each of you double! but ye do not know.' And the
first of them will say unto the last, 'Ye have no preference over
us, so taste ye the torment for that which ye have earned!'
Verily, those who say our signs are lies and are too big with
pride for them; for these the doors of heaven shall not be opened, and
they shall not enter into Paradise until a camel shall pass into a
needle's eye.
It is thus that we reward the sinners; for them is a couch of
hell-fire, with an awning above them! thus do we reward the unjust!
But those who believe and do what is right- we will not oblige a
soul more than its capacity- they are the fellows of Paradise, they
shall dwell therein for aye.
We will strip away what ill feeling is in their breasts- there shall
flow beneath them rivers, and they shall say, 'Praise belongs to God
who guided us to this! for we should not have been guided had not
God guided us!- the apostles of our Lord did come to us with truth!'
And it shall be cried out to them, 'This is Paradise which ye have
as an inheritance for that which ye have done!' And the fellows of
Paradise will call out to the fellows of the Fire, 'We have now
found that what our Lord promised us is true; have ye found that
what your Lord promised you is true?' They will say, 'Yea!' And a
crier from amongst them will cry out, 'The curse of God is on the
unjust who turn from the way of God and crave to make it crooked,
while in the hereafter they do disbelieve!'
And betwixt the two there is a veil, and on al Aaraf are men who
know each by marks; and they shall cry out to the fellows of Paradise,
'Peace] be upon you!' they cannot enter it although they so desire.
But when their sight is turned towards the fellows of the Fire, they
say, 'O our Lord! place us not with the unjust people.' And the
fellows on al Aaraf will cry out to the men whom they know by their
marks, and say, 'Of no avail to you were your collections, and what ye
were so big with pride about; are these those ye swore that God
would not extend mercy to? Enter ye Paradise; there is no fear for
you, nor shall ye be grieved.'
But the fellows of the Fire shall cry out to the fellows of
Paradise, 'Pour out upon us water, or something of what God has
provided you with.' They will say, 'God has prohibited them both to
those who misbelieve; who took their religion for a sport and a
play; whom the life of the world beguiled.'- To-day do we forget
them as they forgot the meeting of this day, and for that they did
deny our signs!
Now we have brought them a book explaining it in knowledge, a
guidance and a mercy to a people who believe.
Do they wait now for aught but its interpretation?- on the day
when its interpretation shall come, those who forgot it before will
say, 'There did come to us the apostles of our Lord in truth, have
we intercessors to intercede for us? or, could we return, we would
do otherwise than we did.' They have lost themselves, and that which
they devised has strayed away from them.
Verily, your Lord is God who created the heavens and the earth in
six days; then He made for the Throne. He covers night with the day-
it pursues it incessantly- and the sun and the moon and the stars
are subject to His bidding. Aye!- His is the creation and the
bidding,- blessed be God the Lord of the worlds!
Call on your Lord humbly and secretly, verily, He loves not the
transgressors. And do not evil in the earth after it has been righted;
and call upon Him with fear and earnestness; verily, the mercy of
God is nigh unto those who do well.
He it is who sends forth the winds as heralds before His mercy;
until when they lift the heavy cloud which we drive to a dead land,
and send down thereon water, and bring forth therewith every kind of
fruit;- thus do we bring forth the dead; haply ye may remember.
And the good land brings forth its vegetation by the permission of
its Lord; and that which is vile brings forth naught but scarcity.
Thus do we turn about our signs for a people who are grateful.
We did send Noah unto his people, and he said, 'O my people I
serve God, ye have no god but Him; verily, I fear for you the
torment of the mighty day.' Said the chiefs of his people, 'Verily, we
do surely see you in obvious error.' Said he, 'O my people! there is
no error in me; but I am an apostle from the Lord of the worlds. I
preach to you the messages of my Lord, and I give you sincere
advice; and I know from God what ye know not. What! do ye wonder
that there came to you a reminder from your Lord by a man from amongst
yourselves, to warn you, and that ye may fear? but haply ye may
receive mercy.'
But they called him a liar, and we rescued him and those who were
with him in the ark; and we drowned those who said our signs were
lies, verily, they were a blind people.
And unto 'Ad (we sent) their brother Hud, who said, 'O my people!
serve God, ye have no god save Him; what! will ye not then fear?' Said
the chiefs of those who misbelieved amongst his people, 'Verily, we
see thee in folly, and, verily, we certainly think thou art of the
liars.' He said, 'O my people! there is no folly in me; but I am an
apostle from the Lord the worlds; I preach to you the messages of your
Lord; and, verily, I am to you a faithful adviser. What! do ye then
wonder that there comes to you a reminder from your Lord by a man from
amongst yourselves, to warn you? remember when He made you vicegerents
after Noah's people and increased you in length of stature;
remember, then, the benefits of God,- haply ye may prosper!' They
said, 'Hast thou come to us that we may worship God alone, and leave
what our fathers used to worship? then bring us what thou dost
threaten us with, if thou art of those who tell the truth!' He said,
'There shall fall upon you from your Lord horror and wrath; do ye
wrangle with me about names, which ye and your fathers have named
yourselves, for which God sent down no power; wait then expectant, and
I with you will wait expectant too! But we rescued him and those
with him, by mercy from ourselves, and we cut off the hindermost parts
of those who said our signs were lies and who were not believers.'
Unto Thamud (we sent) their brother Zali'h, who said, 'O my
people! worship God; ye have no god but Him: there has come to you a
manifest sign from your Lord. This she-camel of God's is a sign for
you; leave her then to eat in the land of God, and touch her not
with evil, or there will overtake you grievous woe. And remember how
he made you vicegerents after 'Ad and stablished you in the earth so
that ye took for yourselves castles on its plains and hewed out
mountains into houses; and remember the benefits of God, and waste not
the land, despoiling it.' Said the chiefs of those who were big with
pride from amongst his people to those who were weak,- to those
amongst them who believed, 'Do ye know that Zali'h is sent from his
Lord? They said, 'We do believe in that with which he is sent.' Said
those who were big with pride, 'Verily, in what ye do believe we
disbelieve.' Then they did hamstring the camel, and rebelled against
the bidding of their Lord and said, 'O Zali'h! bring us what thou
didst threaten us with, if thou art of those who are sent.' Then the
earthquake took them, and in the morning they lay prone in their
dwellings; and he turned away from them and said, 'O my people! I
did preach to you the message of my Lord, and I gave you good
advice; but ye love not sincere advisers.'
And Lot, when he said to his people, 'Do ye approach an
abomination which no one in all the world ever anticipated you in?
verily, ye approach men with lust rather than women- nay, ye are a
people who exceed.' But his people's answer only was to say, 'Turn
them out of your village, verily, they are a people who pretend to
purity.' But we saved him and his people, except his wife, who was
of those who lingered; and we rained down upon them a rain;- see
then how was the end of the sinners!
And unto Midian did we send their brother Sho'haib, who said, 'O
my people! serve God, ye have no god save Him. There has come to you a
manifest sign from your Lord; then give good weight and measure, and
be not niggardly of your gifts to men, and do not evil in the earth
after it has been righted. That is better for you if ye are believers;
and sit not down in every path, threatening and turning from the
path of God those who believe in Him, and craving to make it
crooked. Remember when ye were few and He multiplied you; and see what
was the end of thee evildoers! And if there be a party of you who
believe in what I am sent with, and a party who believe not, then wait
patiently until God judges between us, for He is the best of
judges.' Said the crowd of those who were big with pride amongst His
people, 'We will of a surety turn thee out, O Sho'haib! and those
who believe with thee, from our village; or else thou shalt return
unto our faith.' Said he, 'What even if we be averse therefrom? We
shall have devised a lie against God if we return unto your faith,
after God has saved us from it; and what should ail us that we
should return thereto, unless that God our Lord should please? our
Lord embraces everything in His knowledge;- on God do we rely. O our
Lord! open between us and between our people in truth, for Thou art
the best of those who open. And the chiefs of those who disbelieved
amongst his people said, 'If ye follow Sho'haib, verily, ye shall be
the losers;' then there took them the earthquake, and in the morning
they lay in their dwellings prone. Those who called Sho'haib a liar,
(were) as though they had not dwelt therein!- Those who called
Sho'haib a liar, they were the losers then! And he turned away from
them and said, 'O my people! I preached to you the messages of my
Lord, and I gave you 'good advice; how should I be vexed for a
people who do misbelieve?
We have not sent unto a city any prophet except we overtook the
people thereof with trouble and distress, that haply they might humble
themselves; and then did we give them, in exchange for evil, good,
until they increased and said, 'Distress and joy both touched our
fathers;' then we overtook them suddenly ere they could perceive.- Had
the people of the town but believed and feared, we would have opened
up for them blessings from the heavens and from the earth; but they
said it was a lie, so we overtook them for that which they had earned.
Were the people of these cities then secure that our violence
would not come on them by night, while they slept? were the people
of these cities secure that our violence would not come on them in the
morning whilst they played? were they secure from the craft of God.?
none feel secure from the craft of God except a people that shall
lose.
Is it not shown to those who inherit the earth after its (former)
people, that, did we please, we would smite them in their sins, and
would set a stamp upon their hearts, and then they should not hear?
These cities, we do relate to thee their stories. There came to them
our apostles with manifest signs; but they did not at all believe in
what they called a lie before.- Thus doth God set a stamp upon the
hearts of those who misbelieve.
Nor did we find in most of them a covenant; but we did find most
of them workers of abomination.
Then we raised up after them Moses with our signs to Pharaoh and his
chiefs; but they dealt unjustly therewith, and see what was the end of
the evildoers!
Moses said, 'O Pharaoh! verily, I am an apostle from the Lord of the
worlds; it is not right for me to speak against God aught but the
truth. I have come to you with a manifest sign from my Lord; send then
the children of Israel with me.' Said he, 'If thou hast come with a
sign, then bring it, if thou art of those who speak the truth.' Then
he threw his rod down, and lo! it was an obvious snake; and he drew
out his hand, and lo! it was white to the beholders. Said the chiefs
of Pharaoh's people, 'Verily, this is surely a knowing magician; he
desires to turn you out of your land;- What is it then ye bid? They
said, 'Give him and his brother some hope; and send into the cities to
collect and bring you every knowing magician.' And the magician came
to Pharaoh and said, 'Is there indeed a reward for us if we are
conquerors? He said, 'Yea! and ye shall be of those who draw nigh unto
me.' They said, 'O Moses! wilt thou cast down (thy rod) or shall we be
(first) to throw?' Said he, 'Throw down;' and when they threw down,
they did enchant the people's eyes, and made them dread, and brought a
mighty magic. But we inspired Moses (saying), 'Throw down thy rod, and
it will gulp down that which they devise;' and the truth stood fast,
and vain was that which they had done; and they were conquered
there, and turned back feeling small! and the magicians threw
themselves down adoring. Said. they, 'We believe in the Lord of the
worlds, the Lord of Moses and Aaron! Said Pharaoh, 'Do ye believe in
him ere I give you leave? This is craft which ye have devised in the
land, to turn its people out therefrom, but soon shall ye know! I will
cut off your hands and your feet from opposite sides, then I will
crucify you altogether!' They said, 'Verily, we unto our Lord
return! nor dost thou take vengeance on us, save for that we believe
in the signs of our Lord, when they come to us.
'O our Lord! pour out upon us patience, and take us to Thyself
resigned.' And the chiefs of Pharaoh's people said, 'Will ye leave
Moses and his people to do evil in the land, and to leave thee and thy
gods?' Said he, 'We will have their sons slain and their women we will
let live, for, verily, we are triumphant over them.'
Said Moses unto his people, 'Ask for aid from God and be patient;
verily, the earth is God's! He gives it for an inheritance to whom
He pleases of His servants, and the future is for those who fear.'
They said, 'We have been hurt before thou didst come to us, and
since thou hast come to us.' Said he, 'It may be that your Lord will
destroy your foe, and will make you succeed him in the earth; and He
will see how ye act.'
We had overtaken Pharaoh's people with the years (of dearth) and
scarcity of fruits, that haply they might remember; but when there
came to them a 'good thing they said, 'This is ours;' and if there
befel them an evil, they took the augury from Moses and those with
him;- is not their augury only in God's hands?- but most of them
know not.
And they said, 'Whatever thou dost bring us as a sign to enchant
us therewith, yet will we not believe in thee.'
Then we sent upon them the flood and the locusts and the lice and
the frogs and the blood,- signs detailed; but they were big with pride
and were a people who did sin.
And when there fell upon them the plague, they said, 'O Moses!
call upon thy Lord for us, as He has covenanted with thee; verily,
if thou dost remove the plague from us, we will believe in thee; and
we will assuredly send with thee the children of Israel.' But when
we removed from them the plague until the appointed time which they
should reach, lo! then they broke their promise. But we took vengeance
on them, and we drowned them in the sea, for that they said our
signs were lies and were careless thereof. And we gave as an
inheritance unto the people who had been weak, the eastern quarters of
the earth and the western quarters thereof, which we had blest; and
the good word of thy Lord was fulfilled on the children of Israel, for
that they were patient; and we destroyed that which Pharaoh and his
people had made and that which they had piled. And with the children
of Israel we passed across the sea; and they came unto a people
devoted to their idols, and said, 'O Moses! make for us a god as
they have gods.' Said he, 'Verily, ye are ignorant people.' Verily,
these- destroyed shall be that which they are given to; and vain is
that which they have done.
He said, 'Other than God then do ye crave for a god, when He has
preferred you above the worlds?'
And when we saved you from Pharaoh's people who wrought you evil
woe, killing your sons, and letting your women live; and in that was a
mighty trial from your Lord.
And we appointed for Moses thirty nights, and completed them with
ten (more), so that the time appointed by his Lord was completed to
forty nights. And Moses said unto his brother Aaron, 'Be thou my
vicegerent amongst my people, and do what is right, and follow not the
path of the evildoers.'
And when Moses came to our appointment, and his Lord spake unto him,
he said, 'O my Lord! show me,- that I may look on thee!' He said,
'Thou canst not see me; but look upon the mountain, and if it remain
steady in its place, thou shalt see me;' but when his Lord appeared
unto the mountain He made it dust, and Moses fell down in a swoon!
And when he came to himself, he said, 'Celebrated be thy praise! I
turn repentant unto Thee, and I am the first of those who are
resigned.'
He said, 'O Moses! verily, I have chosen thee over the people with
my messages and my words, take then what I have brought thee, and be
of those who thank.' And we wrote for him upon tablets an admonition
concerning everything, and a detailing of everything: 'Take them
then with firmness, and bid thy people take them for what is best
thereof. I will show you the abode of those who work abominations; I
will turn from my signs those who are big with pride in the earth
without right; and if they see every sign they shall not believe
therein, and if they see the path of rectitude they shall not take
it for a path; but if they see the path of error they shall take it
for a path;- that is because they have said our signs are lies and
have been careless of them.'
But those who say our signs and the meeting of the last day are
lies,- vain are their works: shall they be rewarded save for that
which they have done?
And Moses' people after him took to themselves of their ornaments
a corporeal calf that lowed; did they not see that it could not
speak with them, nor could it guide them in the path? They took it and
they were unjust; but when they bit their hands with fruitless rage
and saw that they had gone astray, they said, 'Verily, if our Lord
have not compassion on us and forgive us we shall surely be of those
who lose!'
And when Moses returned unto his people angry and grieved, he
said, Evil is it that ye have done after me! Would ye hasten on the
bidding of your Lord?' and he threw down the tablets and took his
brother by the head to drag him towards him, but he said, 'O son of my
mother! verily, the people weakened me and well-nigh killed me; make
not then mine enemies glad about me, and put me not with the unjust
people.' He said, 'O Lord! pardon me and my brother, and let us
enter into Thy mercy; for Thou art the most merciful of the
merciful. Verily, these have taken to themselves a calf; there shall
reach them wrath from their Lord, and abasement in the life of this
world; for thus do we reward those who forge a lie. But those who have
done bad works, and then turn again after them and believe,- verily,
thy Lord, after that, is forgiving and merciful.'
And when Moses' wrath calmed down he took the tables, in the
inscription of which was guidance and mercy for those who dread
their Lord.
And Moses chose from his people seventy men for our appointment; and
when the earthquake took them he said, 'O my Lord! hadst Thou
willed, Thou hadst destroyed them before and me. Wilt Thou destroy
us for what the fools amongst us have done? This is naught but Thy
trial, wherewith Thou dost lead astray whom Thou pleasest and
guidest whom Thou pleasest; Thou art our patron! forgive us and have
mercy on us, for Thou art the best of those who do forgive!
And write down for us in this world good, and in the future too;
verily, we are guided unto Thee.' He said, 'My punishment- with it I
fall on whom I will; and my mercy embraceth everything; and I will
write it down for those who fear, and who give alms, and those who
in our signs believe,- who follow the Apostle- the illiterate prophet,
whom they find written down with them in the law and the gospel,
bidding them what is reasonable and forbidding them what is wrong, and
making lawful for them what is good, and making unlawful evil
things; and setting down for them their burdens and the yokes which
were upon them;- to those who believe in him and aid him and help
him and follow the law which has been sent down with him- they shall
be the prosperous.'
Say, 'O ye folk! verily, I am the Apostle of God unto you all,'-
of Him whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, there is
no god but He! He quickens and He kills! believe then in God and His
Apostle, the illiterate prophet,- who believes in God and in His
words- then follow him that haply ye may be guided.
Amongst Moses' people is a nation guided in truth, and thereby act
they justly.
And we cut them up into twelve tribes, each a nation; and we
revealed unto Moses, when his people asked him for drink, 'Strike with
thy staff the rock!' and there gushed forth from it twelve springs,
each folk knew their drinking place. And we overshadowed them with the
cloud; and sent down upon them the manna and the quails, 'Eat of the
good things we have provided you with!'- Yet they did not wrong us,
but it was themselves they wronged.
And when it was said unto them, 'Dwell in this city and eat
therefrom as ye will, and say 'hittatun and enter the gate adoring; so
will we pardon you your sins;- we will increase those who do well.'
But those amongst them who did wrong changed it for another word
than which was said to them; and we sent upon them a plague from
heaven for that they were unjust.
Ask them too about the city which stood by the sea, when they
transgressed upon the Sabbath; when their fish came to them on the
Sabbath day sailing straight up to them; but on the days when they
kept not the Sabbath, they came not to them, thus did we try them
for the abominations that they wrought.
And when a nation from amongst them said, 'Why do ye warn a people
whom God would destroy, or punish with severe torment?' they said, 'As
an excuse to your Lord, that haply they may fear.' But when they
forgot what they had been reminded of, we saved those who forbade
evil, but we overtook those who did wrong with punishment;- evil was
the abomination that they did, but when they rebelled against what
they were forbidden, we said to them, 'Become ye apes, despised and
spurned!' and then thy Lord proclaimed that He would surely send
against them till the resurrection day, those who should wreak them
evil torment; verily, thy Lord is quick at following up, but,
verily, He is forgiving, merciful.
We cut them up in the earth into nations. Of them are the righteous,
and of them are the reverse of that; we have tried them with good
things and with bad things; haply they may return.
But there succeeded them successors who inherited the Book! They
take the goods of this lower world and say, 'It will be forgiven
us.' But if the like goods came to them they would take them too!
Was there not taken from them a covenant by the Book, that they should
not say against God aught but the truth? Yet they study therein! But
the abode of the future life is better for those who fear- do ye not
then understand? But those who hold fast by the Book and are steadfast
in prayer- verily, we will not waste the hire of those who do right.
And when we shook the mountain over them, as though it were a
shadow, and they thought it would fall upon them (saying), 'Take ye
what we have given you with firmness, and remember what is therein;
haply ye may fear.'
And when thy Lord took from the children of Adam out of their
loins their seed, and made them bear witness against themselves, 'Am I
not your Lord?' They said, 'Yea! we do bear witness'- lest ye should
say on the day of resurrection, 'Verily, for this we did not care;' or
say, Verily, our fathers associated others with God before us, and
we were but their seed after them: wilt Thou then destroy us for
what vaindoers did?'- Thus do we detail the signs; haply they may
return.
Read to them the declaration of him to whom we brought our signs,
and who stepped away therefrom, and Satan followed him, and he was
of those who were beguiled. Had we pleased we would have exalted him
thereby, but he crouched upon the earth and followed his lust, and his
likeness was as the likeness of a dog, whom if thou shouldst attack he
hangs out his tongue, or if thou should leave him, hangs out his
tongue too. That is the likeness of the people who say our signs are
lies. Tell them then these tales- haply they may reflect.
Evil is the likeness of a people who say our signs are lies;
themselves it is they wrong!
We have created for hell many of the ginn and of mankind; they
have hearts and they discern not therewith; they have eyes and they
see not therewith; they have ears and they hear not therewith; they
are like cattle, nay, they go more astray! these it is who care not.
But God's are the good names; call on Him then thereby, and leave
those who pervert His names; they shall be rewarded for that which
they have done.
And of those whom we have created is a nation who are guided in
truth and thereby act with equity; but they who say our signs are
lies, we will bring them down by degrees from whence they know not.
I will let them range;- verily, my stratagem is efficacious!
Do they not then reflect that their companion is not possessed? he
is but an obvious warner! Do they not behold the kingdoms of the
heavens and of the earth, and what things God has created, and (see
that), it may be, their time is already drawing nigh? in what relation
then will they believe? He whom God leads astray there is no guide for
him! He leaves them in their rebellion, blindly wandering on.
They will ask you about the Hour, for what time it is fixed?- say,
'The knowledge thereof is only with my Lord; none shall manifest it at
its time but He; it is heavy in the heavens and the earth, it will not
come to you save on a sudden.'
They will ask as though thou wert privy to it, say,' knowledge
thereof is only with God,'- but most folk do not know.
Say, 'I cannot control profit or harm for myself, save what God
will. If I knew the unseen I should surely have much that is good, nor
would evil touch me; I am but a warner and a herald of good tidings
unto a people who believe.'
He it is who created you from one soul, and made therefrom its
mate to dwell therewith; and when he covered her she bore a light
burden and went about therewith; but when it grew heavy they called on
God, Lord of them both, 'Surely if thou givest us a rightly-shaped
child we shall of a surety be of those who thank.' And when He gave
them both a rightly-shaped child they joined partners with Him for
that which He had given them, but exalted be God above that which they
associate with Him. Will they associate with Him those cannot create
aught, but are themselves created, which have no power to help them,
and cannot even help themselves?
But if ye call them unto guidance they will not follow you. It is
the same to them if Thou dost call them or if Thou dost hold thy
tongue.
Those whom ye call on other than God are servants like yourselves.
Call on them then, and let them answer you, if so be ye tell the
truth! Have they feet to walk with? or have they hands to hold with?
or have they eyes to see with? or have they ears to hear with? Call
upon your partners; then plot against me, and do not wait.
Verily, my patron is God, who hath sent down the Book, and He is the
patron of the righteous. But those whom ye call on beside Him cannot
help you, nor can they even help themselves. But if ye call them
unto the guidance they will not hear, thou mayest see them looking
towards thee, yet they do not see. Take to pardon, and order what is
kind, and shun the ignorant; and if an incitement from the devil
incites you, then seek refuge in God: verily, He both hears and knows.
Verily, those who fear God, if a wraith from the devil touch,
mention Him, and lo! they see.
And their brethren he shall increase in error, then they shall not
desist.
Shouldst Thou not bring them a sign they say, 'Hast Thou not yet
made choice of one? Say, 'I only follow what is inspired to me by my
Lord. These are perceptions from my Lord, and a guidance and a mercy
to a people who believe.'
And when the Koran is read, then listen thereto and keep silence;
haply ye may obtain mercy.
And remember thy Lord within thyself humbly and with fear, not
openly in words, in the morning and in the evening; and be not of
those who do not care. Verily, they who are with my Lord are not too
big with pride for His service, but they do celebrate His praise,
and Him they do adore.
THE CHAPTER OF THE SPOILS
(VIII. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
They will ask thee about the spoils. Say, 'The spoils are God's
and the Apostle's; fear God and settle it amongst yourselves; obey God
and the Apostle if ye do believe.'
Verily, the believers are those who, when God's name is mentioned,
their hearts sink with fear; and when His signs are rehearsed to
them they increase them in faith; and on their Lord do they rely;
who are steadfast in prayer, and of what we have bestowed upon them
give in alms; these are in truth believers; to them are degrees with
their Lord, and forgiveness, and a generous provision.
As thy Lord caused thee to go forth from thy house with the truth,
although a sect of the believers were averse therefrom. They
wrangled with thee about the truth after it was made plain, as
though they were being driven on to death and looked thereon; and when
God promised you that one of the two troops should be yours, and ye
would fain have had those who had no arms. God wished to prove the
truth true by His words, and to cut off the hindermost parts of
those who misbelieve- to prove the truth true, and to make vain the
vain, although the sinners are averse.
When ye asked for succour from your Lord, and He answered you, I
will assist you with a thousand angels, with others in reserve.'
God made it only glad tidings to quiet your hearts therewith; for
victory is only from God! verily, God is mighty and wise.
When drowsiness covered you as a security from Him, and He sent down
upon you from the heavens water to purify you withal, and to take away
from you the plague of Satan, and to tie up your hearts and to make
firm your footsteps.
When your Lord inspired the angels- 'Verily, I am with you; make
ye firm then those who believe; I will cast dread into the hearts of
those who misbelieve,- strike off their necks then, and strike off
from them every finger tip.'
That is, because they went into opposition against God and His
Apostle; for he who goes into opposition against God and His
Apostle- verily, God is keen to punish.
There, taste it! since for the misbelievers is the torment of the
Fire.
O ye who believe! when ye meet those who misbelieve in swarms,
turn not to them your hinder parts; for he who turns to them that
day his hinder parts, save turning to fight or rallying to a troop,
brings down upon himself wrath from God, and his resort is hell, and
an ill journey shall it be!
Ye did not slay them, but it was God who slew them; nor didst thou
shoot when thou didst shoot, but God did shoot to try the believers
from Himself with a goodly trial; verily, God both hears and knows.
There! verily, God weakens the stratagem of the misbelievers.
If ye wish the matter to be decided, a decision has now come to you;
but if ye desist, it is better for you; and if ye turn back we will
turn too, and your troop shall avail nothing, great in number though
it be, since God is with the believers!
O ye who believe! obey God and His Apostle, and turn not from Him
while ye hear, and be not like those who say, 'We hear,' and yet
they hear not.
Verily, the worst of beasts in God's sight are the deaf, the dumb
who do not understand. Had God known any good in them, He would have
made them hear; but had He made them hear, they would have turned back
and have swerved aside.
O ye who believe! answer God and His Apostle when He calls you to
that which quickens you; and know that God steps in between man and
his heart; and that to Him ye shall be gathered. And fear
temptation, which will not light especially on those of you who have
done wrong; but know that God is keen to punish.
Remember when ye were few in number and weak in the land, fearing
lest people should snatch you away; then He sheltered you and aided
you with victory, and provided you with good things; haply ye may give
thanks.
O ye who believe! be not treacherous to God and His Apostle; nor
be treacherous to your engagement while ye know!
Know that your wealth and your children are but a temptation, and
that God- with Him is mighty hire!
O ye who believe! if ye fear God He will make for you a
discrimination, and will cover for you your offences, and will forgive
you; for God is Lord of mighty grace.
And when those who misbelieve were crafty with thee to detain thee a
prisoner, or kill thee, or drive thee forth; they were crafty, but God
was crafty too, for God is best of crafty ones!
But when our verses were rehearsed to them they said, 'We have
already heard.- If we pleased we could speak like this; verily, this
is nothing but tales of those of yore.'
When they said, 'O God! if this be truth, and from Thee, then rain
upon us stones from heaven or bring us grievous woe!'
But God would not torment them while thou art amongst them; nor
was God going to torment them while they asked Him to forgive. But
what ails them that God should not torment them while they turn folk
away from the Holy Mosque, though they are not the guardians
thereof- its guardians are only the pious?- but most of them know not.
Their prayer at the House was naught but whistling and clapping
hands!- taste then the torment for that ye misbelieved!
Verily, those who misbelieve expend their wealth to turn folk from
the path of God; but they shall spend it, and then it shall be for
them sighing, and then they shall be overcome! Those who misbelieve,
into hell shall they be gathered!- that God may distinguish the vile
from the good, and may put the vile, some on the top of the other, and
heap all up together, and put it into hell!- These are those who lose!
Say to those who misbelieve, if they desist they will be forgiven
what is past; but if they return,- the course of those of former
days has passed away.
Fight them then that there should be no sedition, and that the
religion may be wholly God's; but if they desist, then God on what
they do doth look. But if they turn their backs, then know that God is
your Lord; a good Lord is He, and a good help; and know that
whenever ye seize anything as a spoil, to God belongs a fifth thereof,
and to His Apostle, and to kindred and orphans, and the poor and the
wayfarer; if ye believe in God and what we have revealed unto our
servants on the day of the discrimination,- the day when the two
parties met; and God is mighty over all. When ye were on the near side
of the valley, and they were on the far side, and the camels were
below you; had ye made an appointment then ye would have failed to
keep your appointment- but it was that God might accomplish a thing
that was as good as done! that he who was to. perish might perish with
a manifest sign; and that he who was to live might live with a
manifest sign; for, verily, God hears and knows!
When God showed thee them in thy dream as though they were but
few; but had He shown thee them as though they were many, ye would
have been timid, and ye would have quarrelled about the matter;- but
God preserved you; verily, He knows the nature of men's breasts!
And when He showed them to you, as ye encountered them, as few in
your eyes; and made you seem few in their eyes; that God might
accomplish a thing that was as good as done; for unto God do things
return!
O ye who believe! when ye encounter a troop, then stand firm and
remember God; and haply ye may prosper! and fear God and His
Apostle, and do not quarrel or be timid, so that your turn of luck
go from you; but be ye patient, verily, God is with the patient. And
be not like those who went forth from their homes with insolence,
and for appearance sake before men, and to turn folks off God's way;
for all they do God comprehends.
And when Satan made their works appear seemly to them, and said,
'There is none amongst mankind to conquer you to-day, for, verily, I
am your neighbour!' and when the two troops came in sight of each
other, he turned upon his heels and said, 'Verily, I am clear of
you! verily, I see what you see not! verily, I fear God, for God is
keen to punish!
And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was sickness said,
'Their religion hath beguiled these men, but he who relies upon God,
verily, God is mighty and wise.'
Couldst thou see when the angels take away the souls of those who
misbelieve; they smite them on their faces and hinder parts.- 'Taste
ye the torment of burning! that is for what your hands have sent on
before; and for that God is no unjust one towards his servants.'
As was the wont of Pharaoh's people and those before them! they
disbelieved in the signs of God, and God overtook them in their
sins; verily, God is strong and keen to punish.
That is because God is not one to change a favour He has favoured
a people with, until they change what they have in themselves, and for
that God both hears and knows.
As was the wont of Pharaoh's people and those before them! they said
our signs were lies, and we destroyed them in their sins, and
drowned Pharaoh's people; and all of them were evildoers.
Verily, the worst of beasts in God's eyes are those who misbelieve
and will not believe; with whom if thou dost make a league, they break
their league each time, for they fear not God; but shouldst thou
ever catch them in war, then make those who come after them run by
their example, haply they may remember then.
And shouldst thou ever fear from any people treachery, then throw it
back to them in like manner; verily, God loves not the treacherous.
Deem not that those who misbelieve can win; verily, they cannot make
(God) powerless!
Prepare ye against them what force and companies of horse ye can, to
make the enemies of God, and your enemies, and others beside them,
in dread thereof. Ye do not know them, but God knows them! and
whatever ye expend in God's way He will repay you; and ye shall not be
wronged. But if they incline to peace, incline thou to it too, and
rely upon God; verily, He both hears and knows.
But if they wish to betray thee, then God is enough for thee! He
it is who supports thee with His help and with the believers; and
reconciles their hearts! Didst thou expend all that is in the earth
thou couldst not reconcile their hearts, but God reconciled them,
verily, He is mighty and wise!
O thou prophet! God is sufficient for thee, with those of the
believers who follow thee! O thou prophet! urge on the believers to
fight. If there be of you twenty patient men, they shall conquer two
hundred; if there be of you a hundred, they shall conquer a thousand
of those who misbelieve, because they are a people who did not
discern.- Now has God made it light for you; He knows that there is
a weakness amongst you: but if there be amongst you but a patient
hundred, they will conquer two hundred; and if there be of you a
thousand, they will conquer two thousand, by the permission of God,-
for God is with the patient!
It has not been for any prophet to take captives until he hath
slaughtered in the land! Ye wish to have the goods of this world,
but God wishes for the next, for God is mighty, wise! Were it not
for a book from God that had gone before, there would have touched
you, for that which ye took, a mighty punishment.
Eat of what spoils ye have taken, what is lawful and good; and
fear God, verily, God is forgiving and merciful.
O thou prophet! say to such of the captives as are in your hands,
'If God knows of any good in your hearts, he will give you better than
that which is taken from you, and will forgive you; for God is
forgiving and merciful.
But if they desire to betray thee,- they have betrayed God before!
but He hath given you power over them; for God is knowing, wise!
Verily, those who believe and have fled and fought strenuously
with their wealth and persons in God's way, and those who have given
refuge and help, these shall be next of kin to each other. But those
who believe, but have not fled, ye have naught to do with their claims
of kindred, until they flee as well. But if they ask you for aid for
religion's sake, then help is due from you, except against a people
between whom and you there is an alliance; for God on what ye do
doth look.
And those who misbelieve, some of them are next of kin to others-
unless ye act the same there will be sedition in the land, and great
corruption.
Those who believe and have fled and fought strenuously in. God's
cause, and those who have given a refuge and a help, those it is who
believe; to them is forgiveness and generous provision due. And
those who have believed afterwards and have fled and fought
strenuously with you; these too are of you, but blood relations are
nearer in kin by the Book of God. Verily, God all things doth know.
THE CHAPTER OF REPENTANCE OR IMMUNITY
(IX. Medinah.)
AN immunity from God and His Apostle to those idolaters with whom ye
have made a league.
Roam ye at large in the land for four months, but know that ye
cannot make God helpless, and that God disgraces the misbelievers.
A proclamation from God and His Apostle to the people on the day
of the greater pilgrimage, that God is clear of the idolaters as is
His Apostle! If then ye repent it is better for you; but if ye turn
your backs, then know that ye cannot make God helpless. Give to
those who misbelieve glad tidings of grievous woe!- Except to those of
the idolaters with whom ye have made a league, and who then have not
failed you at all, and have not back-ed up any one against you. Fulfil
for them then your covenant until the time agreed upon with them;
verily, God loves those who fear.
But when the sacred months are passed away, kill the idolaters
wherever ye may find them; and take them, and besiege them, and lie in
wait for them in every place of observation; but if they repent, and
are steadfast in prayer, and give alms, then let them go their way;
verily, God is forgiving and merciful.
And if any one of the idolaters ask thee for aid, then aid him, in
order that he may hear the word of God; then let him reach his place
of safety,- that is, because they are a folk who do not know.
How can there be for the idolaters a treaty with God and with His
Apostle, save those with whom ye have made a league at the Sacred
Mosque! Then while they stand by you, stand ye by them; verily, God
loves those who fear.
How!- if they prevail against you, they will not observe either ties
of blood or ties of clientship; they please you with their mouths, but
their hearts refuse; and most of them do work abomination. They barter
God's signs for a little price, and they turn folk from His way;
verily, they- evil is that which they have done.
They will not observe in a believer ties of kindred nor ties of
clientship; but they it is are the transgressors.
But if they repent and are steadfast in prayer and give alms, then
they are your brethren in religion- we detail the signs unto a
people that do know.
But if they break faith with you after their treaty, and taunt
your religion, then fight the leaders of misbelief; verily, they
have no faith, haply they may desist.
Will ye not fight a people who broke their oaths, and intended to
expel the Apostle? They began with you at first, are ye afraid of
them? God is more deserving that ye should fear Him! If ye be
believers, kill them! God will torment them by your hands, and
disgrace them, and aid you against them, and heal the breasts of a
people who believe; and will remove rage from their hearts; for God
turns unto Him whomsoever He pleases, and God is knowing, wise!
Did ye reckon that ye would be left, when God knows not as yet those
of you who fought strenuously, and who did not take other than God and
His Apostle, and the believers for an intimate friend? for God is well
aware of what ye do. It is not for idolaters to repair to the
mosques of God, bearing witness against themselves to unbelief; they
it is whose works are vain, and in the Fire shall they dwell for aye!
He only shall repair to the mosques of God who believes in God and
the last day, and is steadfast in prayer, and gives the alms, and
fears only God;- it may be that these will be of those who are guided.
Have ye made out the giving drink to the pilgrims and the
repairing to the Sacred Mosque to be like being one who believes in
God and in the last day, and is strenuous in the way of God?- they are
not equal in God's sight, and God guides not an unjust people.
Those who believe and who have fled and been strenuous in the way of
God, with their wealth and with their persons, are highest in rank
with God, and these it is who are happy. Their Lord gives them glad
tidings of mercy from Himself, and goodwill; and gardens shall they
have therein and lasting pleasure, to dwell therein for aye! Verily,
God, with Him is mighty here.
O ye who believe! take not your fathers and your brothers for
patrons if they love misbelief rather than faith; for whosoever
amongst you takes them for patrons these are the unjust.
Say, 'If your fathers, and your sons, and your brethren, and your
wives, and your clansmen, and the wealth which ye have gained, and the
merchandise which ye fear may be slack, and the dwellings which ye
love are dearer to you than God and His Apostle, and than fighting
strenuously in His way,- then wait awhile, until God brings His
bidding, for God guides not a people who work abomination!'
God has helped you in many a place, and on the day of 'Honein when
ye were so pleased with your numbers; but it did not serve you at all,
and the road grew too strait for you, where it had been broad; and
then ye turned your backs retreating; then God sent down His
shechina upon His Apostle and upon the believers; and sent down armies
which ye could not see, and punished those who misbelieved; for that
is the reward of the misbelievers, then God turns after that to whom
He will, for God is forgiving and merciful!
O ye who believe! it is 'Only the idolaters who are unclean; they
shall not then approach the Sacred Mosque after this year. But if ye
fear want then God will enrich you from His grace if He will;
verily, God is knowing, wise!
Fight those who believe not in God and in the last day, and who
forbid not what God and His Apostle have forbidden, and who do not
practice the religion of truth from amongst those to whom the Book has
been brought, until they pay the tribute by their hands and be as
little ones.
The Jews say Ezra is the son of God; and the Christians say that the
Messiah is the son of God; that is what they say with their mouths,
imitating the sayings of those who misbelieved before.- God fight
them! how they lie!
They take their doctors and their monks for lords rather than God,
and the Messiah the son of Mary; but they are bidden to worship but
one God, there is no god but He; celebrated be His praise, from what
they join with Him!
They desire to put out the light of 'God with their mouths, but
God will not have it but that we should perfect His light, averse
although the misbelievers be!
He it is who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of
truth, to make it prevail over every other religion, averse although
idolaters may be!
O ye who believe! verily, many of the doctors and the monks devour
the wealth of men openly, and turn folk from God's way; but those
who store up gold and silver and expend it not in God's way,- give
them glad tidings of grievous woe! On the day when it shall be
heated in the fire of hell, and their brows shall be branded
therewith, and their sides and their backs!- 'This is what ye stored
up for yourselves, taste then what ye stored up!'
Verily, the number of months with God is twelve months in God's
Book, on the day when He created the heavens and the earth; of these
are four that are sacred; that is the subsisting religion. Then do not
wrong yourselves therein, but fight the idolaters one and all, as they
fight you one and all, and know that God is with those who fear.
Verily, putting off is but an increase in misbelief to lead astray
therewith those who misbelieve. They make it lawful one year, but they
make it unlawful another year, that they may come to an
understanding as to the number which God has made sacred, and make
lawful what God has prohibited. Seemly to them are their evil works,
but God guides not a misbelieving people.
O ye who believe! what ailed you when ye were told to march forth in
God's way, that ye sank down heavily upon the earth? were ye content
with the life of this world instead of the next? but the provision
of this world's life is but a little to the next. Unless ye march
forth He will punish you with grievous woe, and will put in. your
stead a people other than you! ye cannot hurt Him at all, for God is
mighty over all!
Unless ye help him- and God did help him, when those who misbelieved
drove him forth the second of two. When they twain were in the cave;
when he said to his comrade, 'Grieve not, verily, God is with us;' and
God sent down His shechina upon him, and aided him with hosts ye could
not see, and made the word of those who misbelieved inferior, and
the word of God superior; for God is mighty and wise. March ye then,
light and heavy, and fight strenuously with your wealth and persons in
God's way; that is better for you if ye did but know!
Were there goods nigh at hand, and a moderate journey, they would
have followed you; but the distance was too far for them; they will
swear by God, 'If we could, we would have gone forth with you.' They
destroy themselves, but God knows that they lie!
God forgive thee; why didst thou give them leave (to stay) until
it was made manifest to thee who spake the truth- until thou
mightest know the liars?
Those who believe in God and in the last day will not beg off from
fighting strenuously with their wealth and their persons; but God
knows those who fear.
It is only those who believe not in God and in the last day who
beg off from thee, and those whose hearts are in doubt, and in their
doubt do hesitate.
Had they wished to go forth, they would have prepared for it a
preparation; but God was averse from their starting off, and made them
halt, and they were told to sit with those who sit. Had they gone
forth with you they would but have made you more trouble, and they
would have hurried about amongst you craving a sedition; amongst you
are some who would have listened to them; but God knows those who
are unjust! They used to crave sedition before and upset thy
affairs; until the truth came, and God's bidding was made manifest,
averse although they were.
Of them are some who say, 'Permit me, and do not try me!' Have
they not fallen into the trial already, but hell shall encompass the
misbelievers.
If good befall thee it seems ill to them; but if a calamity befall
thee they say, 'We had taken care for our affair before;' and they
turn their backs and they are glad.
Say, 'Nought shall befall us save what God has written down for
us; He is our Lord, and upon God believers do rely!'
Say, 'Do ye await for us aught but one of the two best things?' we
too await for you that God will inflict on you torment from Himself,
or by our hands. Wait then; and we with you are waiting too!
Say, 'Expend ye in alms, whether ye will or no, it shall not be
accepted from you; verily, ye are a people who do work abomination.'
But nought hinders their alms-giving from being accepted save that
they misbelieve in God and His Apostle, and perform not prayer save
lazily, and expend not in alms save reluctantly.
Let not their wealth please you nor their children, God only
wishes to torment them therewith in the life of this world, and that
their souls may pass away while still they misbelieve.
They swear by God that, verily, they are of you; but they are not of
you, and they are a people who do stand aside in fear. Could they
but have found a refuge, or some caves, or a place in which to
creep, they would have turned round in haste thereto.
Of them are some who defame thee, with respect to alms; though if
they are given a part thereof, they are content; and if they are not
given a part thereof, then are they in a rage. Would that they were
content with what God and His Apostle had brought them, and would say,
'God is enough for us! God will bring us of His grace, and so will His
Apostle; verily, unto God is our desire!'
Alms are only for the poor and needy, and those who work for them,
and those whose hearts are reconciled, and those in captivity, and
those in debt, and those who are on God's path, and for the wayfarer;-
an ordinance this from God, for God is knowing, wise.
And of them are some who are by the ears with the prophet, and
say, 'He is all ear.' Say, 'An ear of good for you!' he believes in
God, and believes in those who do believe, and is a mercy unto such of
you as believe; but those who are by the ears with the Apostle of God,
for them is grievous woe!
They swear by God to please you; but God and His Apostle are more
worthy for them to please if they be believers. Do they not know
that whoso setteth himself against God and His Apostle, for him is the
fire of hell, to dwell therein for aye? and that is mighty shame!
The hypocrites are cautious lest there be revealed against them a
surah to inform them of what is in their hearts; say, 'Mock ye!
verily, God will bring forth that of which ye are so cautious!' But if
thou shouldst ask them, they will say, 'We did but discuss and
jest;' say, 'Was it at God and His signs, and His Apostle, that ye
mocked?'
Make no excuse! Ye have misbelieved after your faith; if we
forgive one sect of you, we will torment another sect, for that they
sinned!
The hypocrites, men and women, some of them follow others, bidding
what is wrong and forbidding what is right, and they clench their
hands. They forget God and He forgets them! Verily, the hypocrites,
they are the doers of abomination!
God has promised unto the hypocrites, men and women, and unto the
misbelievers, hell-fire, to dwell therein for aye; it is enough for
them! God shall curse them, and theirs shall be enduring woe.
Ye are like those who were before you. They were stronger than you
and more abundant in wealth and children; they enjoyed their portion
then, and ye enjoy your portion, as they enjoyed their portion
before you; and ye discuss as they discussed. Their works are vain
in this world and the next, and they it is who lose.
Did there not come to them the declaration of those who were
before them? of the people of Noah and 'Ad and Thamud, and of the
people of Abraham, and the people of Midian? and of the overturned
(cities)? Their apostles came to them with manifest signs; for God
would not wrong them, but it was themselves they wronged.
And the believers, men and women, are some the patrons of others;
they bid what is reasonable, and forbid what is wrong, and are
steadfast in prayer, and give alms, and obey God and His Apostle. On
these will God have mercy; verily, God is mighty, wise!
God has promised to believers, men and women, gardens beneath
which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye; and goodly places in
the garden of Eden, But good-will from God is the greatest of all!
that is the mighty happiness!
O thou prophet! strive strenuously against the misbelievers and
the hypocrites, and be stern against them; for their resort is hell,
and an ill journey shall it be.
They swear by God they did not speak it, but they did speak the word
of misbelief; and they disbelieved after they had embraced Islam,
and they designed what they could not attain; and they only
disapproved it because God and His Apostle had enriched them of His
grace. If they turn again 'tis better for them; but if they turn their
backs, God will torment them with mighty woe in this world and in
the next, nor shall they have upon the earth a patron or protector.
And of them are some who make a treaty with God, that 'If He bring
us of His grace, we will give alms and we will surely be among the
righteous.' But when He gave them of His grace they were niggardly
thereof, and turned their backs and swerved aside. So He caused
hypocrisy to pursue them in their hearts unto the day when they
shall meet Him,- for that they did fail God in what they promised Him,
and for that they were liars!
Do they not know that God knows their secrets and their whisperings,
and that God knows the unseen things?
Those who defame such of the believers as willingly give their alms,
and such as can find nothing to give but their exertions, and who mock
at them,- God will mock at them, and for them is grievous woe!
Ask forgiveness for them or ask not forgiveness for them! if they
shouldst ask forgiveness for them seventy times, yet would not God
forgive them; that is because they disbelieved in God and His Apostle,
for God guides not a people who work abomination.
Those who were left behind rejoiced in staying behind the Apostle of
God, and were averse from fighting strenuously with their wealth and
their persons in God's way, and said, 'March not forth in the heat.'
Say, 'The fire of hell is hotter still, if ye could but discern!'
Let them then laugh little, and let them weep much, as a recompense
for that which they have earned!
But if God bring thee back to a sect of them, and they ask thee then
for leave to sally forth; say, 'Ye shall by no means ever sally
forth with me, nor shall ye ever fight a foe with me! verily, ye
were content to sit at home the first time, sit ye then now with those
who stay behind.'
Pray not for any one of them who dies, and stand not by his tomb;
verily, they disbelieved in God and His Apostle and died workers of
abomination!
Let not their wealth and their children please you, God only
wishes to torment them therewith in this world, and that their souls
may pass away the while they misbelieve.
Whenever a surah is sent down to them, 'Believe ye in God, and fight
strenuously together with His Apostle,' those of them who have the
means will ask thee for leave to stay at home and say, 'Let us be
amongst those who stay behind.' They are content to be with those
who are left behind. A stamp is set upon their hearts that they should
not discern.
But the Apostle and those who believe with him are strenuous with
their wealth and with their persons; these shall have good things, and
these it is shall prosper.
God has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, to
dwell therein for aye; that is the mighty happiness!
There came certain desert Arabs that they might be excused; and
those stayed behind who had called God and His Apostle liars. There
shall befall those of them who misbelieved, a mighty woe. For the
weak, and the sick, and those who cannot find wherewith to expend in
alms there is no hindrance, so they be only sincere towards God and
His Apostle. There is no way against those who do well; for God is
forgiving and merciful. Nor against those to whom, when they came to
thee that thou shouldst mount them, thou didst say, 'I cannot find
wherewith to mount you,' turned their backs while their eyes poured
forth with tears, for grief that they could not find wherewith to
expend. Only is there a way against those who ask thee for leave to
stay at home while they are rich; content to be with those who are
left behind; on whose hearts God has set a stamp, so that they
should not know.
They make excuses to you when ye return to them: say, 'Make no
excuse, we believe you not; God has informed us concerning you. God
sees your works and His Apostle too!' Then shall ye be brought back
unto Him who knows the unseen and the seen; and He shall inform you of
that which ye have done.
They will adjure you by God when ye have come back to them, to
turn aside from them; turn ye aside then from them; verily, they are a
plague, and their resort is hell! a recompense for that which they
have earned!
They will adjure you to be pleased with them; but if ye are
pleased with them, God will not be pleased with a people who work
abomination.
The Arabs of the desert are keener in misbelief and hypocrisy, and
are more likely not to know the bounds which God has sent down to
His Apostle; but God is knowing and wise.
And of the Arabs of the desert are some who take what they expend to
be a forced loan, and they wait a turn of fortune against you; against
them shall a turn of evil fortune be; for God both hears and knows.
And of the Arabs of the desert are some who believe in God and
the last day, and who take what they expend in alms to be a means of
approach to God and to the Apostle's prayers,- is it not a means of
approach for them? God will make them enter into His mercy; verily,
God is forgiving and merciful.
As for the foremost in the race, the first of those who fled, and
the helpers, and those who followed them in their kindness, God is
well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him; He has
prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell
therein for aye; that is the mighty happiness.
And of those who are round about you of the Arabs of the desert,
some are hypocrites, and of the people of Medinah, some are stubborn
in hypocrisy; thou dost not know them- we know them; we will torment
them twice over; then shall they be sent off into mighty woe.
And others have confessed their sins,- that they have mixed with a
righteous action another evil action;- haply it may be God will turn
again to them; verily, God is forgiving and merciful.
Take from their wealth alms to cleanse and purify them thereby;
and pray for them; verily, thy prayer is a repose for them; for God
both hears and knows.
Do they not know that God accepts repentance from His servants,
and takes alms; and that God is He who is easily turned and merciful.
And say, 'Act ye;' and God and His Apostle and the believers shall
see your acts, and ye shall be brought back to Him who knows the
seen and 'the unseen, and He shall inform you of that which ye have
done.
And others are in hopes of God's bidding; whether He will torment
them, or whether He turn again towards them; for God is knowing, wise.
And there are those who have taken to a mosque for mischief, and for
misbelief, and to make a breach amongst the believers, and for an
ambush for him who made war against God and His Apostle before; they
surely swear, 'We only wished for what was good;' but God bears
witness that they are liars.
Never stand up therein!- there is a mosque founded on piety from the
first day: it is more right that thou shouldst stand therein;- therein
are men who love to be clean; for God doth love the clean.
Is he who has laid his foundation upon the fear of God and of His
good-will better, or he who has laid his foundation upon a crumbling
wall of sand, which crumbles away with him into the fire of hell?- but
God guides not a people who do wrong.
The building which they have built will not cease to be a source
of doubt in their hearts until their hearts are cut asunder; but God
is knowing, wise.
Verily, God hath bought of the believers their persons and their
wealth, for the paradise they are to have; they shall fight in the way
of God, and they shall slay and be slain: promised in truth, in the
law and the gospel and the Koran;- and who is more faithful to His
covenant than God?
Be ye glad then in the covenant which ye have made with Him, for
that is the mighty happiness! Those who repent, those who worship,
those who praise, those who fast, those who bow down, those who adore,
those who bid what is right and forbid what is wrong, and those who
keep the bounds of God,- glad tidings to those who believe!
It is not for the prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness
for the idolaters, even though they be their kindred, after it has
been made manifest to them that they are the fellows of hell.
Nor was Abraham's asking pardon for his father aught else but
through a promise he had promised him; but when it was made manifest
to him that he wa's an enemy to God, he cleansed himself of him;
verily, Abraham was pitiful and clement.
Nor will God lead astray a people after He has guided them until
that is made manifest to them which they have to fear; verily, God all
things doth know.
Verily, God's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth! He
quickens and He kills! Nor have ye beside God a patron or protector.
God has now turned towards the prophet and those who fled with
him, and towards the helpers who followed him in the hour of
difficulty, after that the hearts of a part of them had well-nigh gone
amiss.
Then He turned unto them; verily, to them He is kind and
merciful:- unto the three who were left behind, so that the earth with
all its ample space was too strait for them, and their souls were
straitened for them, and they thought that there was no refuge for
them from God save unto Him.
Then He turned again towards them that they might also turn; verily,
God, He is easily turned and merciful!
O ye who believe! fear God and be with those who speak the truth.
It was not for the people of Medinah, and those around about them of
the Arabs of the desert, to stay behind the Apostle of God and not
to prefer their souls to his: that is because neither thirst, nor
toil, nor heat, nor hunger befel them on God's way. Nor do they stop
to anger the misbelievers, nor do they get any (harm) from the enemy
without a good work being written down to them; verily, God wastes not
the hire of those who do well.
Nor do they expend in alms a small or great expense, nor do they
cross a wady without it being written down to them; that God may
reward them with better than that which they have done.
The believers should not march forth altogether; and if a troop of
every division of them march not forth, it is only that they may study
their religion and warn their people when they return to them, that
haply they may beware.
O ye who believe! fight those who are near to you of the
misbelievers, and let them find in you sternness; and know that God is
with those who fear.
And whenever a surah is sent down, there are some of them who say,
'Which of you has this increased in faith?' But as for those who
believe, it does increase them in faith, and they shall rejoice: but
as for those in whose hearts is sickness, it only adds a plague to
their plague, and they die misbelievers.
Do they not see that they are tried in every year once or twice? Yet
they do not turn again, nor do they mind!
And whenever a surah is: sent down, some of them look at the others-
'Does any one see you?'- Then they turn away! God has turned their
hearts, for that they are a people who do not discern.
There has come to you an apostle from amongst yourselves; hard for
him to bear is it that ye commit iniquity; he is anxious over you
after the believers, pitiful, compassionate.
But if they turn their backs, then say, God is enough for me!
there is no god but He! upon Him do I rely, for He is Lord of the
mighty throne!'
THE CHAPTER OF JONAH, (PEACE BE ON HIM!)
(X. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
ALIF LAM RA. Those are the signs of the wise Book! was it a wonder
to the folk that we inspired a man from amongst themselves, 'Warn thou
the folk; and give glad tidings to those who believe, that for them
there is an advance of sincerity gone before them with their Lord?'
The misbelievers say, 'Verily, this is an obvious sorcerer!'
Verily, your Lord is God, who created the heavens and the earth in
six days; then He made for the throne, to govern the affair; there
is no intercessor, except after His permission. That is God for you-
your Lord! Then worship Him- do ye not mind?
To Him is your return all of you- God's promise in truth; verily, He
produces the creature, then He makes it return again, that He may
recompense those who believe and do what is right with justice; but
those who misbelieve, for them is a drink of boiling water, and
grievous woe, for that they did misbelieve.
He it is who made the sun for a brightness, and the moon for a
light, and decreed for it mansions, that ye may know the number of the
years and the reckoning.- God only created that in truth. He details
the signs unto a people who do know.
Verily, in the alternation of night and day, and in what God has
created of the heavens and the earth, are signs unto a people who do
fear.
Verily, those who hope not for our meeting, and are content with the
life of this world, and are comforted thereby, and those who are
neglectful of our signs,- these, their resort is fire for that which
they have earned!
Verily, those Who believe and do what is right, their Lord guides
them by their faith; beneath them shall rivers flow in the gardens
of pleasure.
Their cry therein shall be, 'Celebrated be Thy praises, O God!'
and their salutation therein shall be, 'Peace!' and the end of their
cry shall be, 'Praise (belongs) to God, the Lord of the worlds!'
And if God should hasten on the bad to men as they would hasten on
the good, their appointed time would surely be fulfilled. But we
will let those who hope not for our meeting go on in their
rebellion, blindly wandering on.
When distress touches man, he calls us to his side, whether
sitting or standing; but when we have removed from him his distress,
he passes on as though he had not called on us in a distress that
touched him. Thus unto the extravagant is made seemly that which
they have done.
We have already destroyed generations before you when they did
wrong, and there came to them their apostles with manifest signs,
but they would not believe. Thus do we reward the sinful people.
Then we made you their successors in the earth after them, that we
may see how ye will act.
But when our evident signs are recited to them, those who hope not
for our meeting say, 'Bring a Koran other than this; or change it.'
Say, 'It is not for me to, change it of my own accord; I do not follow
aught but what I am inspired with; verily, I fear, if I rebel
against my Lord, the torment of a mighty day!'
Say, 'Had God pleased, should not have recited it to you, nor taught
you therewith. I have tarried a lifetime amongst you before it;-
have ye not then any sense?'
Who is more unjust than he who forges against God a lie, or says His
signs are lies? verily, the sinners shall not prosper.
They worship beside God what can neither harm them nor profit
them, and they say, 'These are our intercessors with God!' Say,
'Will ye inform God of aught in the heavens or the earth, that He
knows not of?' Celebrated be His praise! and exalted be He, above what
they associate with Him!
People were but one nation once, then they disagreed; and had it not
been for thy Lord's word already passed, there would have been decided
between them that concerning which they disagreed.
They say, 'Why is not a sign sent down upon him from his Lord?' Say,
'The unseen is only God's; but wait ye for a while, verily, I with you
am one of those who wait!'
When we have let men taste of mercy after distress which has touched
them, lo! they use a stratagem against our signs! Say, 'God is quicker
at stratagem.' Verily, our messengers write down what stratagem ye
use.'
He it is who makes you travel in the land and sea, until when ye are
in the ships- and these carry them afloat with a favouring wind, and
they rejoice therein, there comes to them a violent wind, and there
comes to them the wave from every place, and they think that they
are encompassed about; then they call on God, sincere in religion
towards Him, 'If thou dost save from this we will surely be of those
who thank.' But when He has saved them, lo! they are wilful in the
earth unjustly;- O ye folk! your wilfulness against yourselves is
but a provision of this world's life; then unto us is your return, and
we will inform you of that which ye have done!
Verily, the likeness of this world's life is like water which we
send down from the sky, and the plants of the earth, from which men
and cattle eat, are mingled therewith; until when the earth puts on
its gilding and is adorned, the people thereof think that they have
power over it. Our order comes to it by night or day, and we make it
as it were mown down- as though it had not yesterday been rich!-
Thus do we detail the signs unto a people who reflect.
God calls unto the abode of peace, and guides whom He will into
the right path.
To those who do what is good, goodness and increase! nor shall
blackness or abasement cover their faces! these are the fellows of
Paradise, they shall dwell therein for aye.
But, as for those who have earned ill, the reward of evil is the
like thereof; abasement shall cover them! they shall have none to
defend them against God;- as though their faces were veiled with the
deep darkness of the night; these are the fellows of the Fire, and
they shall dwell therein for aye.
And on the day we gather them all together then we will say to those
who associated other gods (with us), your places, ye and your
associates!' and we will part them; and their associates will say, 'It
was not us ye worshipped.- But God is witness enough between us and
you, that we were heedless of your worshipping us.' There shall
every soul prove what it has sent on before; and they shall be
returned unto God, their God, their true sovereign, and that which
they devised shall stray away from them.
Say, 'Who provides you from the heaven and the earth? who has
dominion over hearing and sight? and who brings forth the living
from the dead, and brings forth the dead from the living? and who
governs the affair?' And they will say, 'God.' Say, 'Do ye not then
fear?'
That is God, your true Lord! and what is there after the truth but
error? how then can ye turn away?
Thus is the word of thy Lord verified against those who commit
abomination; verily, they will not believe. Say, 'Is there any of your
associates who can produce a creature and then turn it back again?'
Say, 'God produces a creature, then turns it back again; how then
can ye lie?' Say, 'Is there any of your associates who guides unto the
truth?' Say, 'God guides unto the truth.' Is then He who guides unto
the truth more worthy to be followed, or he that guides not except
he be himself guided? What ails you then, how ye judge?
But most of them follow only suspicion; verily, suspicion does not
avail against the truth. at all verily, God knows what they do.
This Koran could not have been devised by any beside God; but it
verifies that which was before it, and details the Book- there is no
doubt therein- from the Lord of the worlds.
Do they say, 'He hath devised it?' say then, 'Bring a surah like
it,- and call, if ye can, on other than God, if ye do tell the truth!'
Yet they call that a lie, the knowledge of which they cannot
compass, while its interpretation has not yet come to them; so did
those before them charge with lying, and see what was the end of the
unjust!
Of them are some who believe therein; and of them are some who do
not believe therein; but thy Lord knows best who are corrupters.
But if they call thee liar, say, 'I have my work, and ye have your
work; ye are clear of what I work, and I am clear of what ye work.'
There are some of them who listen to thee- canst thou make the
deaf to hear, although they have no sense? And of them are some who
look at thee- canst thou guide the blind, although they cannot see?
Verily, God wrongs not man at all, but men do wrong themselves.
And on the day when we will gather them together it will be as
though they had not tarried save an hour of the day, they shall know
each other. Lost are those who called the meeting with God a lie,
and were not guided!
Either we will show thee something of that with which we
threatened them, or we will take thee to ourself, for unto us is their
return; then is God a witness to what they do.
Every nation has its apostle; and when their apostle comes to
them, it is decided between them with justice, and they are not
wronged.
But they say, 'When is this threat (to come), if ye tell the truth?'
Say, 'I have no power over myself for harm or for profit, save
what God will. Every nation has its appointed time; when their
appointed time comes to them they cannot delay it for an hour or bring
it on.'
Say, 'Let us see now when the torment comes to you, by night or day,
what will the sinners fain bring on thereof? And when it has fallen-
will ye believe in it now!- And yet ye wish to bring it on! Then shall
it be said to those who have done wrong, Taste ye the torment of
eternity! shall ye be recompensed except for that which ye have
earned? They will ask thee to inform them whether it be true. Say,
'Aye, by my Lord! verily, it is the truth, nor can ye weaken him.'
And if every soul that hath done wrong had whatever is in the earth,
it would give it as a ransom. They will utter their repentance when
they see the torment; and it shall be decided between them with
justice, nor shall they be wronged.
Is not indeed what is in the heavens and what is in the earth God's?
is not indeed the promise of God true? Though most of them know not.
He quickens and He kills, and unto Him are ye returned!
O ye folk! there has come to you a warning from your Lord, and a
balm for what is in your breasts, and a guidance and a mercy to
believers.
Say, 'By the grace of God and by His mercy,- and in that let them
rejoice! It is better than that which they collect!'
Let us see now what God has sent down to you of provision! and yet
ye have made of it unlawful and lawful. Say, 'Does God permit you,
or against God do ye forge lies?
What will those who forge lies against God think on the resurrection
day? Verily, God is Lord of grace towards men, but most of them do not
give thanks!
Nor shalt thou be in any affair, nor shalt thou recite concerning it
a Koran- nor shall ye do a work, without our being witness against
you, when ye are engaged therein: nor does the weight of an atom
escape thy Lord in earth or in heaven; nor is there less than that
or greater, but it is in the perspicuous Book.
Are not, verily, the friends of God those on whom there is no
fear, neither shall they be grieved?- They who believed and who did
fear- for them are good tidings in the life of this world, and in
the future too; there is no changing the words of God! That is the
mighty happiness!
Let not their speech grieve thee; verily, power is wholly God's!
He both hears and knows.
Is not, verily, whoever is in the heavens and whoever is in the
earth God's? What then do they follow who call on associates other
than God?
Verily, they follow nothing but suspicion, and verily, they are
telling naught but lies.
He it is who made for you the night, that ye might rest therein, and
the day to see therein verily, in that are signs unto a people who can
hear.
They say, 'God has taken to Himself a son.' Celebrated be His
praises! He is the rich one! His is whatever is in the heavens, and
whatever is in the earth. Ye have no authority for this! will ye say
against God, that which ye do not know?
Say, 'Verily, those who forge against God a lie shall not prosper!'
A provision in this world- then unto us is their return! then we
will make them taste keen torment for that they misbelieved.
Recite to them the story of Noah, when he said to his people, 'O
my people! if my stay with you be grievous to you, and my reminding
you of the signs of God, yet upon God do I rely! Collect then your
affairs and your associates; nor let your affair (be ordered) for
you in the dark; then decide respecting me, and do not wait; and if ye
turn your backs, I ask you not for hire; my hire is only due from God,
and I am bidden to be of those resigned.' But they called him a
liar; and we saved him, and those with him, in the ark; and we made
these successors, and drowned those who had said our signs were
lies; see then how was the end of those who had been warned!
Then we raised up after him apostles unto their people, and they
came to them with manifest signs; but they would not believe in what
they had called a lie before. Thus do we set a stamp upon the hearts
of the transgressors.
Then we raised up after them Moses and Aaron, unto Pharaoh and his
chiefs with our signs; but they were too big with pride, and were a
sinful people; and when the truth came to them from us they said,
verily, 'This is obvious sorcery.'
Moses said, 'Will ye say of the truth when it comes to you, Is
this sorcery? But sorcerers shall not prosper.'
They said, 'Hast thou come to turn us away from what we found our
fathers at, that there may be for you twain grandeur in the earth? but
we will not believe you.'
And Pharaoh said, 'Bring me every knowing sorcerer;' and when the
sorcerers came, Moses said to them, 'Throw down what ye have to
throw!' and when they threw down, Moses said, 'What ye have brought is
sorcery! verily, God will make it vain; verily, God rights not the
work of evildoers!'
But God verifies the truth by His words, although the sinners are
averse therefrom.
But none believed in Moses, save a race of his own people, through
fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs; lest he should afflict them, for
verily, Pharaoh was lofty in the earth, and verily, he was
extravagant.
And Moses said, 'O my people! if ye did believe in God, then on
Him rely, if ye be resigned.' They said, 'Upon God do we rely. O our
Lord! make us not a cause of trial for a people who do wrong, but save
us by Thy mercy from the people who misbelieve!'
And we inspired Moses and his brother thus, 'Establish, ye twain,
houses for your people in Egypt; and make ye your houses a qiblah; and
be ye steadfast in prayer, and give glad tidings to those who
believe.'
Moses said, 'O our Lord! verily, Thou hast brought to Pharaoh and
his chiefs ornaments and wealth in the life of this world; O our Lord!
that they may err from Thy way! O our Lord! confound their wealth
and harden their hearts that they may not believe until they see
grievous woe!' He said, 'Your prayer is answered; be upright then,
ye two, and follow not the path of those who do not know!'
And we brought the children of Israel across the sea; and Pharaoh
and his hosts followed them eager and hostile, until when drowning
overtook him, he said, 'I believe that there is no god but He in
whom the children of Israel believe, and I am of those who are
resigned!'- 'Now! but thou didst rebel aforetime, and wert of those
who do evil; but to-day we will save thee in thy body, that thou
mayest be to those who come after thee a sign, for verily, many men
are careless of our signs!'
And we established the people of Israel with a sure establishment,
and we provided them with good things; nor did they disagree until
there came to them the knowledge. Verily, thy Lord shall decide
between them on the resurrection day concerning that whereon they
did dispute.
And if thou art in doubt of that which we have sent down unto
thee, ask those who read the Book before thee; verily, the truth is
come to thee from thy Lord, be not then of those who are in doubt. And
be not of those who say the signs of God are lies, or thou wilt be
of those who lose! Verily, those against whom God's word is pronounced
will not believe, even though there come to them every sign, until
they see the grievous woe. Were it not so, a city would have
believed and its faith would have profited it. But (none did) except
the people of Jonas; when they believed we removed from them the
torment of disgrace in this world, and we gave them provision for a
while. But had thy Lord pleased, all who are in the earth would have
believed altogether; as for thee, wilt thou force men to become
believers?
It is not for any person to believe save by the permission of God;
He puts horror on those who have no sense.
Say, 'Behold what is in the heavens and in the earth! but signs
and warners avail not a people who do not believe. Do they await aught
but the like of the days of those who passed away before them?' Say,
'Wait ye then! verily, I am with you one of those who wait.' Then we
will save our apostles and those who believe; thus is it due from us
to save believers.
Say, 'O ye folk! if ye are in doubt concerning my religion, I will
not worship those ye worship other than Cod; but I worship God, who
takes you to Himself, and I am bidden to be of the believers!' And,
'Make steadfast thy face to the religion as a 'Hanif; and be not of
the idolaters; and call not besides God on what can neither profit
thee nor harm thee; for if thou dost, verily, thou art then of the
unjust!'
And should God touch thee with harm, there is none to remove it save
He; and if He wish thee well, there is none to repel His grace; He
makes it fall on whom He will of His servants; for He is pardoning and
merciful!
Say, 'O ye people! there has come to you the truth from your Lord,
and he who is guided, his guidance is only for his soul; and he who
errs, errs only against it; and I am not a guardian over you.'
Follow what is revealed to thee, and be patient until God judges,
for He is the best of judges.
THE CHAPTER OF HUD
(XI. Mecca.)
ALIF LAM RA. A book whose signs are confirmed and then detailed,
from the wise one, the aware: that ye worship not other than God,-
verily, I am to you from Him a warner and a herald of glad tidings;
and that ye seek pardon from your Lord, then turn again to Him! He
will cause you to enjoy a good provision to a named and appointed
time, and will give His grace to every one deserving grace; but if
ye turn your backs, I fear for you the torment of a great day.
Unto God is your return, and He is mighty over all.
Do they not, verily, fold up their breasts, that the' may hide
from Him? But when they cover themselves with their garments, does
He not know what they conceal and what they display? verily, He
knows the nature of men's breasts!
There is no beast that walks upon the earth but its provision is
from God. He knows its settlement and its resting-place; all is in the
perspicuous Book.
He it is who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and
His throne was upon the water that He might try you, which of you
did best.
But shouldst thou say, 'Ye will be raised up after death,' those who
misbelieve will surely say, 'This is naught but obvious sorcery;'
and if we keep back from them the torment to a stated generation, they
will surely say, 'What hinders it?'- Aye! on the day it comes to
them there is no turning it away from them, but that shall close in on
them at which they mocked.
And if we make man taste of mercy from us and then strip it off from
him, verily, he is despairing, ungrateful; and if we make him taste of
comfort after distress has touched him, he will surely say, 'The evils
have gone away from me;' verily, then he is joyful and boasting.
Save those who are patient and do right; these- for them is pardon and
a mighty hire!
Haply thou art leaving part of what is revealed to thee and thy
breast is straitened thereby, lest they should say, 'Why is not a
treasure sent down to him? or why did not an angel come with him?-
thou art only a warner, and God is guardian over all.'
Or they will say, 'He hath devised it;' say, 'Bring ten surahs
like it devised; and call upon whom ye can beside God, if ye do tell
the truth!' And if they do not answer, then know that it is revealed
by the knowledge of God, and that there is no god but He- are ye
then resigned?
Whosoever shall wish for the life of this world and its ornaments,
we will pay them their works therein, and they shall not be cheated.
These are those for whom there is nothing in the hereafter save the
Fire; and void is what they made therein, and vain what they were
doing!
Is he (like them) who stands upon a manifest sign from his Lord,
which is a witness from Him, and recites it, with the book of Moses
before him for a model and a mercy? These believe in it; and whosoever
of the crews disbelieves in him, the Fire is his promise.
Be not thou in doubt about it; verily, it is truth from thy Lord,
though most men do not believe.
Who is more unjust than he who forges against God a lie? they
shall be set before their Lord, and the witnesses shall say, 'These it
is who lied against their Lord.' Aye! God's curse is on the unjust who
turn men away from the path, and crave to make it crooked, and in
the hereafter disbelieve! They cannot make Him helpless in the
earth, nor have they other than God for patrons. Doubled for them is
the torment. They could not hear, nor did they see! Those it is who
lose themselves; and that which they did devise has strayed away
from them. No doubt but that in the hereafter these are those who
lose!
Verily, those who believe and do what is right, and humble
themselves to their Lord, they are the fellows of Paradise; they shall
dwell therein for aye. The two parties' likeness is as the blind and
the deaf, and the seeing and the hearing; shall they two be equal in
likeness? will ye not mind?
We did send Noah unto his people, 'Verily, I am to you an obvious
warner; that ye should not worship any save God. Verily, I fear for
you the torment of the grievous day. But the chiefs of those who
misbelieved amongst his people said, 'We only see in thee a mortal
like ourselves; nor do we see that any follow thee except the
reprobates amongst us by a rash judgment; nor do we see that you
have any preference over us; nay more, we think you liars!' said, 'O
my people! let us see! if I stand upon a manifest sign from my Lord,
and there come to me mercy from him, and ye are blinded to it; shall
we force you to it while ye are averse therefrom?
'O my people! I do not ask you for wealth in return for it; my
hire is only from God; nor do I repulse those who believe; verily,
they shall meet their Lord. But I see you, a people who are
ignorant. O my people! who will help me against God, were I to repulse
you? do ye not then mind? I do not say that I have the treasures of
God; nor do I know the unseen; nor do I say, "Verily, I am an
angel;" nor do I say of those whom your eyes despise, "God will
never give them any good!"- God knows best what is in their souls-
verily, then should I be of the unjust.'
They said, 'O Noah! thou hast wrangled with us, and hast
multiplied wranglings with us; bring us then what thou hast threatened
us with, if thou art of those who tell the truth.' Said he, 'God
will only bring it on you if He pleases, nor can ye make Him helpless;
nor will my advice profit you, should I wish to. advise you, if God
wish to lead you into error. He is your Lord, and unto Him shall ye be
returned.'
Do they say, 'He has devised it?' Say, 'If I have devised it, then
on me be my sin. But I am clear of that wherein ye sin.'
And Noah was inspired, 'None shall surely believe amongst thy people
but those who have believed already; take not then ill that which they
do. And make the ark under our eyes, and at our inspiration; and plead
not with me for those who have done wrong; verily, they shall be
drowned.'
So he made the ark, and every time the chiefs of his people passed
by him they jested at him. Said he, 'If ye jest at us, verily, we
shall jest at you even as ye are jesting, and ye shall surely know.
'He to whom a torment comes, it shall shame him, and there shall
light upon him lasting torment.'
Until at length when our order came, and the oven boiled, we said,
'Load therein of every kind two, and likewise thy family,- save
those on whom the sentence has already been passed- likewise those who
believe;' but there believed not with him save a few. And he said,
'Ride ye therein; in the name of God is its course, and its mooring.
Verily, my Lord is forgiving and merciful.'
And it floated on with them mid waves like mountains; and Noah cried
to his son who had gone aside, 'O my boy! ride with us and be not with
the misbelievers.' Said he, 'I will betake me to a mountain that shall
save me from the water.' Said he, 'There is none to save to-day from
the command of God, except for him on whom He may have mercy.' And the
wave came between them, and he was amongst the drowned.
And it was said, 'O earth! swallow down thy water!' and, 'O
heaven! hold!' and the water abated; and the affair was decided, and
it settled on Gudi, it was said, 'Away with the people who are
evildoers!'
And Noah went unto his Lord and said, 'My Lord, verily, my son is of
my people, and, verily, Thy promise is true, and Thou art the
justest of judges.' He said, 'O Noah! he is not of thy people; verily,
it is a work that is not right. Then, ask me not for that of which
thou knowest naught. Verily, I. admonish thee that thou shouldst not
be of the ignorant.' He said, 'My Lord, verily, I seek refuge in
Thee from asking Thee for aught of which I know nothing; and, unless
Thou dost forgive me and have mercy on, me, I shall be of those who
lose.'
It was said, 'O Noah! descend in safety from us, and blessings
upon thee and upon (some) nations of those who are with thee; but
(some) nations we will allow to enjoy prosperity and then there
shall touch, them, from us grievous woe.' These are, stories of the
unseen which we reveal to thee; thou didst not know them, thou nor thy
people before this. Be patient, then; verily, the issue is for those
who fear.
And unto 'Ad (we sent) their brother Hud, he said, 'O my people!
serve God; ye have no god but Him. Ye do but devise a lie. O my
people! I do not ask you for hire in return; my hire is only from
Him who created me: have ye then no sense?
'O my people! ask pardon of your Lord; then turn to Him; He will
send the skies down on you in torrents; and He will add strength to
your strength: do not then turn back sinners.'
They said, 'O Hud! thou hast not come to us with a manifest sign;
nor will we leave our gods at thy word; nor will we believe in thee.
We can only say that some of our gods have attacked thee with evil.'
Said he, 'Verily, I call God to witness, and do ye bear witness too,
that I am free from that which ye associate beside Him.
'Plot then against me altogether, and give me no delay. Verily, I
rely upon God, my Lord and your Lord. There is no beast that walks,
but He taketh it by its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the right way!
'But if ye turn your backs,- then I have conveyed to you what I
was sent to you with; and my Lord will make another people your
successors. Ye cannot harm Him at all; verily, my Lord is guardian
over all!'
And when our order came we saved Hud, and those who believed with
him, by mercy from us; and we saved them from harsh torment. That
(tribe of) 'Ad denied the signs of their Lord, and rebelled against
His apostles, and followed the bidding of every headstrong tyrant.
They were followed in this world by curse, and on the resurrection
day- Did not 'Ad disbelieve their Lord? Aye! away with 'Ad the
people of Hud!'
And unto Thamud (we sent) their brother Zali'h; said he, 'O my
people! worship God; ye have no god but Him. He it is that produced
you from the earth, and made you live therein! Then ask pardon of Him;
then turn again to Him: verily, my Lord is nigh and answers!'
They said, 'O Zali'h! thou wert amongst us one we hoped in before
this: dost thou forbid us to worship what our fathers worshipped?
verily, we are in hesitating doubt as to that to which thou callest
us.'
He said, 'O my people! let us see; if I stand upon a manifest sign
from my Lord, and there come from Him mercy, who will help me
against God if I rebel against Him? Ye will add only to my loss.
'O my people! this she-camel of God is a sign for you; leave her,
then, to feed in God's earth, and touch her not with evil, or there
will catch you torment that is nigh.' But they did hamstring her,
and he said, 'Enjoy yourselves in your houses for three days;- that is
the promise that shall not be belied.'
And when our order came we saved Zali'h, and those who believed with
him, by our mercy, from disgrace upon that day. Verily, thy Lord He is
powerful and mighty.
And the noise caught those who had done wrong; and on the morrow
they were lying corpses in their houses, as though they had never
dwelt therein. Did not Thamud indeed disbelieve in their Lord? Aye!
away with Thamud!
Our messengers did come to Abraham with glad tidings; they said,
'Peace!' He said, 'Peace be it!' nor did he delay to bring the roasted
calf. But when he saw that their hands reached not thereto, he could
not understand them, and harboured fear of them. They said, 'Fear not.
Verily, we are sent unto the people of Lot.' And his wife was standing
by, laughing; and we gave her the glad tidings of Isaac, and of
Jacob after Isaac. Said she, 'Alas for me! shall I bear a son when I
am an old woman, and this husband of mine an old man? Verily, this
is a wonderful thing!' They said,' Dost thou wonder at the bidding
of God? God's mercy and blessings upon you, ye people of the house!
Verily, He is to be praised and glorified.'
And when his terror left Abraham, and the glad tidings came to
him, he wrangled with us about the people of Lot; verily, Abraham
was clement, pitiful, relenting.
'O Abraham! avoid this; verily, the bidding of thy Lord has come;
verily, there is coming to them torment that cannot be put off.'
And when our messengers came to Lot, he was grieved for them; but
his arm was straitened for them, and he said, 'This is a troublesome
day!' And his people came to him, rushing at him, for before that they
used to work evil. He 'Said, 'O my people! here are my daughters, they
are purer for you; then, fear God, and do not disgrace me through my
guests;- is there not among you one right-thinking man?'
They said, 'Thou knowest that we have no claim on thy daughters;
verily, thou knowest what we want!' He said, 'Had I but power over
you; or could I but resort to some strong column....!' (The angels)
said, 'O Lot! verily, we are the messengers of thy Lord, they shall
certainly not reach thee; then travel with thy people in the
darkness of the night, and let none of you look round except thy wife:
verily, there shall befall her what befalls them. Verily, their
appointment is for the morning! and is not the morning nigh?'
And when our bidding came, we made their high parts their low parts.
And we rained down upon them stones and baked clay one after
another, marked, from thy Lord, and these are not so far from the
unjust!
And unto Midian (we sent) their brother Sho'haib. He said, 'O my
people! serve God; ye have no god but Him, and give not short
measure and weight. Verily, 'I see you well off; but, verily, I fear
for you the torments of an encompassing day. O my people! give measure
and weight fairly, and defraud not men of their things; and wreak
not wrong in the earth, corrupting it. God's residue is better for you
if ye be believers. But I am not a guardian over you.'
They said, 'O Sho'haib! Do thy prayers bid thee that we should
forsake what our fathers served, or that we should not do as we please
with our wealth? Thou art, forsooth, the clement and
straight-forward one!'
He said, 'O my people! Do ye see? If I stand upon a manifest sign
from my Lord, and He provides me from Himself with a goodly provision,
and I consent not with you to that which I forbid you, I only wish
to better you so far as I can,- nor comes my grace through any one but
God; on Him do I rely, and unto Him I turn. O my people! let not a
breach with me make you so sin that there befall you the like of
that which befel the people of Noah, or the people of Hud, or the
people of Zali'h- nor are the people of Lot so far from you! Ask
pardon, then, from your Lord, then turn to Him; verily, my Lord is
merciful, loving!'
They said, 'O Sho'haib! we do not understand much of what thou
sayest, and 'we see that thou art weak amongst us; and were it not for
thy family we would stone thee, nor couldst thou be powerful over us.'
He said, 'O my people! are my family more esteemed by you than
God? or have you taken Him as something to cast behind your backs?
Verily, my Lord, whate'er ye do, doth comprehend. O my people! act
according to your power; verily, I too will act, and ye at length
shall know! To whomsoever torment comes it shall disgrace him, and him
who is a liar. Watch then; verily, I with you am watching too!'
And when our bidding came we saved Sho'haib, and those who
believed with him, by our mercy; and the noise caught those who had
done wrong, and on the morrow they were in their houses prone, as
though they had not dwelt therein. Aye! 'Away with Midian!' as it was,
'Away with Thamud!'
And we sent Moses with our signs and with obvious power unto Pharaoh
and his chiefs; but they followed Pharaoh's bidding, and Pharaoh's
bidding was not straightforward.
He shall approach his people on the resurrection day, and take
them down to water at the Fire,- an evil watering-place to water at!
In this (world) were they followed by a curse; and on the
resurrection day evil shall be the aid they are aided with!
That is one of the stories of the cities which we recite to thee-
some of them are standing now and some mown down!
We did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves. Their gods
availed them naught, on which they called instead of God, when once
the bidding of thy Lord had come; nor did they add save to their
downfall!
Thus is thy Lord's overtaking when He overtakes the cities that have
done wrong; verily, His overtaking is grievous, keen.
Verily, in that is a sign to him who fears the torment of the last
day;- that is a day unto which men shall be gathered;- that is a
witnessed day!
We will not delay it, save unto a numbered and appointed time. The
day when it shall come no soul shall speak save by His permission, and
amongst them (shall be) the wretched and the glad.
And as for those who are wretched-why, in the Fire! there shall they
groan and sob! to dwell therein for aye, so long as the heavens and
the earth endure; save what thy Lord will. Verily, thy Lord is one who
works His will.
And as for those who are glad- why, in Paradise! to dwell therein
for aye, so long as the heavens and the earth endure; save what thy
Lord will,- a ceaseless boon!
Be not then in doubt concerning what these men do serve;- they
only serve as their fathers served before; and we will give them their
portion undiminished.
We gave Moses the Book before, and then they disagreed concerning
it, and, had it not been for a word that had been passed by thy
Lord, it would have been decided between them; but, verily, they are
(still) in hesitating doubt concerning it.
But, verily, every one thy Lord will surely repay for their works;
verily, He of what they do is well aware!
Do thou then be upright, as thou art bidden, and whosoever turns
repentantly with thee; and transgress ye not:- verily, He on what ye
do doth look.
Lean not unto those who do wrong, lest the Fire touch you, for ye
have no patrons but God; and, moreover, ye shall not be helped!
And be thou steadfast in prayer at the two ends of the day, and
the (former and latter) parts of the night. Verily, good works
remove evil works;- that is a reminder to the mindful! And be thou
patient, for God wastes not the hire of those who do good.
And were there among the generations before you any endowed with a
remnant (of piety) forbidding evildoing in the earth, save a few of
those whom we saved; but the evildoers followed what they enjoyed, and
were sinners.
Thy Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while the
people of them were welldoers.
Had thy Lord pleased, He would have made men one nation; but they
will not cease to differ, save those they Lord has had mercy on. For
this has He created them, and the word of thy Lord is fulfilled, 'I
will surely fill hell with ginns and mankind altogether.'
And all that we relate to thee of the stories of the apostles is
what will stablish thy heart: and herein has the truth come to thee,
and an admonition and a reminder to the believers.
Say to those who believe not, 'Act according to your power,
verily, we are acting too! And wait ye, verily, we are waiting too!'
God's are the unseen things of the heavens and of the earth; and
unto Him the affair doth all return. Then serve Him and rely on Him;
for thy Lord is not heedless of that which ye do.
THE CHAPTER OF JOSEPH, (PEACE BE ON HIM!)
(XII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
ALIF LAM RA. Those are the signs of the perspicuous Book. Verily, we
have revealed it, an Arabic Koran; haply ye may understand.
We tell thee the best of stories, in inspiring thee with this Koran,
though thou wert before it among the heedless.
When Joseph said to his father, 'O my sire! verily, I saw eleven
stars, and the sun, and the moon,- I saw them adoring me!'
He said, 'O my boy! toll not thy vision to thy brethren, for they
will plot a plot against thee; verily, the devil is to man an open
foe.'
Thus does thy Lord choose thee, and teach thee the interpretation of
sayings, and fulfil His favour upon thee, and upon Jacob's people,
as He fulfilled it upon thy two forefathers before thee, Abraham and
Isaac,- verily, thy Lord is knowing, wise!
In Joseph and his brethren were signs to those who enquire!
When they said, 'Surely, Joseph and his brother are dearer to our
father than we, a band although we be; verily, our father is in
obvious error.
'Slay Joseph, or cast him in some land; that your father's face
may be free for you, and ye may be, after he is gone, a people who
do right.'
A speaker from amongst them spake, 'Slay not Joseph, but throw him
into the bottom of the pit; some of the travellers may pick him up, if
so ye do.'
Said they, 'O our father! what ails thee that thou wilt not trust us
with Joseph while we are unto him sincere? Send him with us
to-morrow to revel and to play, and, verily, we over him will keep
good guard.'
Said he, 'Verily, it grieves me that ye should go off with him,
for I fear lest the wolf devour him while ye of him do take no heed.'
Said they, 'Why, if the wolf should devour him while we are (such) a
band, verily, we then should deserve to lose!'
And when they had gone off with him and agreed to put him in the
depths of the pit, and we inspired him, 'Thou shalt surely inform them
of this affair of theirs and they shall not perceive.'
And they came to their father at eve and weeping said, 'O our
father! verily, we went forth to race and left Joseph by our goods,
and the wolf devoured him,- but thou wilt not believe us, truth
tellers though we be.'
And they brought his shirt with lying blood upon it. Said he,
'Nay, but your souls have induced you to do this; but patience is
fair! and God is He whom I ask for aid against that which ye
describe.'
And travellers came and sent their water-drawer; and he let down his
bucket. Said he, 'O glad tidings! this is a youth.' And they kept
him secret, as a chattel; but God knew what they were doing.
And they sold him for a mean price,- drachmae counted out,- and they
parted with him cheaply.
And the man from Egypt who had bought him said to his wife,
'Honour his abiding here; it may be he will be of use to us, or we may
adopt him as a son.
Thus did we stablish Joseph in the land; and we did surely teach him
the interpretation of sayings; for God can overcome His affairs,
though most men do not know.
And when he had reached his strength we brought him judgment and
knowledge, for thus do we reward those who do good.
And she in whose house he was desired him for his person; and she
locked the doors and said, 'Come along with thee!' Said he, 'Refuge in
God! verily, my Lord has made good my abiding here; verily, the
wrong-doers shall not prosper.'
And she was anxious for him, and he would have been anxious for her,
had it not been that he saw the demonstration of his Lord; thus did we
turn evil and fornication from him; verily, he was of our sincere
servants.
And they raced to the door and she rent his shirt from behind; and
they met her master at the door. Said she, 'What is the recompense
of him who wishes evil for thy family, but that imprisonment or a
grievous torment?'
Said he, 'She desired me for my person.' And a witness from among
her family bore witness: 'If his shirt be rent from in front, then she
speaks the truth and he is of the liars; but if his shirt be rent from
behind, then she lies and he is of the truth tellers.'
And when he saw his shirt rent from behind he said, 'This is one
of your tricks; verily, your tricks are mighty! Joseph! turn aside
from this. And do thou, woman, ask pardon for thy fault; verily,
thou wert of the sinners.'
And women in the city said, 'The wife of the prince desires her
young man for his person; he has infatuated her with love: verily,
we see her in obvious error.' And when she heard of their
craftiness, she sent to them, and prepared for them a banquet, and
gave each of them a knife; and she said, 'Come forth to them!' And
when they saw him they said, 'Great God!' and cut their hands and
said, 'God forbid! This is no mortal, this is nothing but an
honourable angel.' Said she, 'This is he concerning whom ye blamed me.
I did desire him for his person, but he was too continent. But if he
do not what I bid him he shall surely be imprisoned and shall surely
be among the small!' Said he, 'My Lord! Prison is dearer to me than
what they call on me to do; and unless Thou turn from me their
craftiness I shall feel a passion for them and shall be among the
ignorant!' And his Lord answered him and turned from him their
craftiness; verily, He both hears and knows!
Then it appeared good to them, even after they had seen the signs,
to imprison him until a time.
And there entered the prison with him two young men. Said one of
them, 'Verily, I see myself pressing wine.' And the other said,
'Verily, I see myself bearing on my head loaves from which the birds
do eat; inform us of the interpretation thereof; verily, we see that
thou art of those who do good.'
He said, 'There shall not come to you any food with which ye are
provided, but I will inform you both of its interpretation before it
comes to you. That is (some) of what my Lord has taught me; verily,
I have left the faith of a people who do not believe in God, while
in the future too they disbelieve. And I have followed the faith of my
fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob; we could not associate aught
with God; that is from God's grace upon us and upon men: but most
men give not thanks. O ye twain fellow-prisoners! Are manifold lords
better, or God, the one, the dominant? What ye worship beside Him
are naught but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for
which God has sent down no authority. Judgment is only God's; He
bids you worship only Him. That is the standard of religion,- but most
men do not know. O ye twain fellow-prisoners! as for one of you, he
shall pour out wine for his lord: and as for the other, he shall be
crucified, and the birds shall eat of his head. The matter is
decreed whereon ye asked me for a decision!'
And he said to him whom he thought would escape of those two,
Remember me with thy lord!' But Satan made him forget the
remembrance of his lord, so he tarried in prison a few years.
Then said the king, 'Verily, I see seven fat kine which seven lean
kine devoured; and seven green ears of corn and others dry. O ye
chiefs! Explain to me my vision, if a vision ye can expound!'
Said they, 'Confused dreams, and naught of the exposition of such
dreams know we!'
Then he who had escaped of those twain said,- remembering after a
while,- 'Verily, I will inform you of the interpretation thereof, so
send me.'
'Joseph! O thou truth teller! explain to us the seven fat kine which
seven lean devoured; and the seven green ears of corn and others
dry. Haply I may go back to the men, haply they then may know!'
He said, 'Ye shall sow for seven years, as is your wont; but what ye
reap, let it remain in the ear, except a little whereof ye shall
eat. Then there shall come after that seven severe (years) which shall
devour what ye have put by before for them, save a little of what ye
shall preserve. Then there will come after that a year in which men
shall have rain and in which they shall press.'
Then said the king, 'Bring him to me.'
And when the messenger came to him, he said, Go back to thy lord,
and ask him, "What meant the women who cut their hands? Verily, my
lord knows their craftiness!"'
He said, 'What was your design when ye desired Joseph for his
person? They said, 'God forbid! we know no bad of him.' Said the
wife of the prince, Now does the truth appear! I desired him for his
person and, verily, he is of those who tell the truth.'
'That' (said Joseph) 'was that he might know that I did not betray
him in his absence, and that God guides not the craft of those who
do betray! Yet I do not clear myself, for the soul is very urgent to
evil, save what my Lord has had mercy on; verily, my Lord is forgiving
and merciful!'
And the king said, 'Bring him to me. I will take him specially for
myself.' And when he had spoken with him he said, 'Verily, to-day thou
art with us in a permanent place of trust.'
He said, 'Place me over the treasures of the land; verily, I will be
a knowing keeper.'
Thus did we stablish Joseph in the land that he might settle in what
part thereof he pleased- we overtake with our mercy whom we will,
nor do we waste the hire of those who do good; and surely the hire
of the future life is better for those who believe and who have
feared.
And his brethren came to Joseph, and they entered in unto him and he
knew them, but they recognised not him.
And when he had equipped them with their equipment he said, 'Bring
me a brother that ye have from your father; do ye not see that I
give good measure, and that I am the best of entertainers? But if ye
bring him not to me, no measure shall ye have with me, nor shall ye
come nigh me.'
They said, 'We will desire him of our father, and we will surely
do it.'
Then he said to his young men, 'Put their chattels in their packs,
haply they may know it when they are come back to their family;
haply they may return.'
And when they returned to their father, they said, 'O our father!
Measure is withheld from us; so send with us our brother that we may
get measure, and, verily, him we will keep!'
He said, 'Shall I entrust you with him, save as entrusted you with
his brother before? but God is the best of keepers, and He is the most
merciful of the merciful.'
And when they opened their goods they found their chattels
restored to them. Said they, 'O our father! What more can we crave?
Here are our chattels restored to us, and we shall guard our
brother, and shall have an additional measure beside that- a small
measure.'
He said, 'I will by no means send him with you until you give me a
compact from God that ye will surely bring him to me, unless ye be
encompassed.'
So when they had given him their compact he said, 'God over what
ye say has charge.'
And he said, 'O my sons! enter not by one gate, but enter by several
gates; but I cannot avail you aught against God. Judgment is only
God's; upon Him do I rely, and on Him do the reliant rely.'
And when they had entered as their father bade them, it availed them
nothing against God, save for a want in Jacob's soul which it
fulfilled; for, verily, he was possessed of knowledge, for that we had
taught him;- but most men do not know.
And when they entered in unto Joseph, he took his brother to stay
with him, and said, 'Verily, I am thy brother- then take not ill
that which they have been doing.'
And when he had equipped them with their equipment he placed the
drinking cup in his brother's pack; then a crier cried out, 'O ye
caravan! verily, ye are thieves!'
They said, approaching them, 'What is it that ye miss?'
Said they, 'We miss the goblet of the king, and whoso brings it
shall have a camel-load, and I am guarantee thereof.'
They said, 'By God! Ye knew we came not to do evil in the land,
and that we were not thieves.'
They said, 'And what shall be the recompense thereof if ye be
liars?'
They said, 'The recompense thereof is he in whose pack it is
found- he shall be the recompense thereof; thus do we recompense the
unjust.'
And he began with their sacks before the sacks of his brother;
then he drew it forth from his brother's sack. Thus did we devise a
stratagem for Joseph. He could not take his brother by the king's
religion except God pleased;- we raise the degrees of whomsoever we
please, and over every possessor of knowledge is one who knows.
They said, 'If he has stolen, a brother of his has stolen before
him.'
But Joseph kept it secret in his soul and disclosed it not to
them. Said he, 'Ye are in a bad case, and God knows best about what ye
describe.'
They said, 'O prince! Verily, he has a father, a very old man;
take then one of us instead of him; verily, we can see that thou art
of those who do good.'
Said he, '(I seek) refuge in God from taking any save him with
whom we found our property; verily, we should then be certainly
unjust.'
And when they despaired of him they retired to consult privately.
Said the eldest of them, 'Do ye not know that your father has taken
a compact from God against you? Aforetime ye exceeded in the matter of
Joseph- I will surely not quit the land until my father give me leave,
or God judge for me, for He is the best of judges.
'Return ye to your father and say, "O our father! verily, thy son
has committed theft, and we bore testimony to naught but what we knew;
for of the unforeseen we were not keepers!"
'Ask then in the city where we were, and of the caravan in which
we approached it, for, verily, we tell the truth.'
Said he, 'Nay, your souls have induced you to do this thing. But
patience is fair. It may be that God will give me them all
together;- verily, He is knowing, wise.'
And he turned away from them and said, 'O my lament for Joseph!' and
his eyes grew white with grief, for he repressed (his woe).
They said, 'By God! thou wilt not cease to remember Joseph till thou
art at the point of death, or art of those who perish!'
Said he, 'I only complain of my emotion and my grief to God, for I
know that from God which ye know nothing of.
'O my sons! go and enquire concerning Joseph and his brother, and
despair not of God's comfort; for, verily, none need despair of
God's comfort save a misbelieving people!'
And when they entered in unto him they said, 'O prince! distress has
touched both us and our families, and we have brought trifling
chattels. So give us full measure and bestow upon us in charity;
verily, God rewards the charitable.'
He said, 'Do ye know what ye did with Joseph and his brother,
while ye were ignorant?'
They said, 'Art thou then indeed Joseph?' He said, 'I am Joseph, and
this is my brother; God has been gracious towards us. Verily, whoso
fears God and is patient,- verily, God wastes not the hire of those
who do good!'
They said, 'By God! God has chosen thee over us; and we indeed
were sinners.'
He said, 'No reproach against you to-day! God will pardon you, for
He is the most merciful of the merciful. Take this my shirt, and throw
it over the face of my father, he will become able to see; and bring
me your families all together.'
And when the caravan departed, their father said, 'Verily, I find
the smell of Joseph, unless ye think I dote!
They said, 'By God! thou art in thy old error.' And when the
herald of glad tidings came he threw it on his face, and he was
restored to sight.
Said he, 'Did I not tell you that I know from God that of which ye
know not?
They said, 'O our father! ask pardon for us of our sins;- verily, we
were sinners!'
He said, 'I will ask pardon for you from my Lord; verily, He is
the pardoning and merciful.'
And when they entered in unto Joseph, he took his father to stay
with him, and said, 'Enter ye into Egypt, if it please God, safe.' And
he raised his father upon the throne, and they fell down before him
adoring.
And he said, 'O my sire! This is the interpretation of my vision
aforetime; my Lord has made it come true, and He has been good to
me, in bringing me forth out of prison, and bringing you from the
desert, after Satan had made a breach between me and my brethren;-
verily, my Lord is kind to whomsoever He will;- verily, He is the
knowing, the wise!
'O my Lord! thou hast given me dominion, and hast taught me the
interpretation of sayings; O originator of the heavens and the
earth! Thou art my patron in this world and the next; take me to
Thyself resigned, and let me reach the righteous!'
That is one of the stories of the unseen which we inspire thee with,
though thou wert not with them when they agreed in their affair,
when they were so crafty.- And yet most men, though thou shouldst be
urgent, will not believe.
Thou dost not ask them for it a hire; it is naught but a reminder to
the world.
How many a sign in the heavens and the earth do they pass by and
turn away therefrom!
Nor do most of them believe in God without associating (other
gods) with Him.
Are they safe, then, from overwhelming vengeance coming on them from
the torment of God? or from the Hour coming upon them suddenly while
they do not perceive?
Say, 'This is my way; I call now unto God on clear proof, I and
those who follow me; and celebrated be God's praises, for I am not
of the idolaters.'
Nor did we ever send before thee any save men whom we inspired, of
the people of the cities. Have they not journeyed on in the earth
and beheld how was the end of those before them? But the abode of
the future is surely better for those who believe;- what! have they
then no sense?
Until when the apostles despaired and they thought that they were
proved liars, our help came to them, and whosoever we pleased was
saved; but our violence is not averted from the sinful people.
Their stories were a lesson to those endowed with minds. It was
not a tale forged, but a verification of what was before it, and a
detailing of everything, and a guide and a mercy to a people who
believe.
THE CHAPTER OF THUNDER
(XIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
ALIF LAM MIM RA. Those are the signs of the Book, and that which
is sent down to thee from thy Lord is the truth; but most people
will not believe. God it is who has raised the heavens without columns
that ye can see; then He made for the throne, and subjected the sun
and the moon; each one runs on to a stated and appointed time; He
governs the affair, details the signs;- haply of the meeting with your
Lord ye will be sure.
And He it is who has stretched out the earth and placed therein firm
mountains and rivers, and of every fruit has He placed therein two
kinds. He makes the night cover the day;- verily, in that are signs
unto a people who reflect.
And on the earth are neighbouring portions, and gardens of grapes
and corn and palms growing together (from one root) and not growing
together; they are watered with one water, yet we distinguish one over
the other as food;- verily, in that are signs unto a people who have
sense.
And if thou shouldst wonder, wondrous is their speech: 'What! when
we have become dust, shall we really then be created anew?
These are they who disbelieve in their Lord, and these are they with
fetters round their necks, and these are the fellows of the Fire; they
shall dwell therein for aye!
They will wish thee to hasten on the evil rather than the good;
examples have passed away before them: but thy Lord is possessor of
forgiveness unto men, notwithstanding their injustice; but, verily,
thy Lord is keen to punish.
Those who misbelieve say, 'Unless a sign be sent down upon him
from his Lord....'- Thou art only a warner, and every people has its
guide.
God knows what each female bears, and what the wombs fall short of
or add; for dimensions of everything are with Him.
He who knows the unseen and the visible,- the great, the lofty one.
Alike among you is he who keeps secret his speech and he who
displays it; and he who hides by night and he who stalks abroad by
day. Each of them has pursuers before him and behind him, to keep
guard over him at the command of God; verily, God changes not what a
people has until they change it for themselves. And when God wishes
evil to a people there is no averting it, nor have they a protector
beside Him.
He it is who shows you the lightning for fear and hope; and He
brings up the heavy clouds.
And the thunder celebrates His praise, and the angels too for fear
of Him; and He sends the thunder-clap and overtakes therewith whom
He will;- yet they wrangle about God! But He is strong in might.
On Him is the call of truth, and those who call on others than Him
shall not be answered at all, save as one who stretches out his hand
to the water that it may reach his mouth, but it reaches it not! The
call of the misbelievers is only in error.
And God do those who are in the heavens and the earth adore, whether
they will or no! as do their shadows also morn and eve.
Say, 'Who is Lord of the heavens and the earth say, 'God;' say,
'Do ye take beside God patrons who cannot control profit or harm for
themselves?' say, 'Shall the blind and the seeing be held equal? or
shall the darkness and the light be held equal? or have they made
associates with God who can create as He creates, so that the creation
seem familiar to them?' say, 'God is the creator of everything, and He
is the one, the dominant.'
He sends down from the sky water, and the water-courses flow
according to their bulk, and the torrent bears along the floating
scum: and from what they set fire to, craving ornaments or utensils,
comes a scum like that;- thus does God hit the truth and the
falsehood;- and as for the scum it is thrown off, and as for what
profits man it stays on the earth. Thus does God strike out parables!
For those who respond to their Lord is good; but those who respond
not to Him, had they all that is in the earth and the like thereof
as well, they would give it for a ransom; these shall have an evil
reckoning up! and their resort is hell,- an evil couch shall it be!
Is he who knows that naught but the truth is sent down upon thee
from thy Lord like him who is blind? Only those possessed of minds
will remember!
Those who fulfil God's covenant and break not the compact, and those
who attain what God has bidden to be attained, and dread their Lord
and fear the evil reckoning up; and those who are patient, craving
their Lord's face, and are steadfast in prayer, and expend in alms
of what we have bestowed upon them secretly and openly, and ward off
evil with good,- these shall have the recompense of the abode, gardens
of Eden, into which they shall enter with the righteous amongst
their fathers and their wives and their seed; and the angels shall
enter in unto them from every gate:- 'Peace be upon you! for that ye
were patient; and goodly is the recompense of the abode.'
And those who break God's covenant after compacting for it, and
who cut asunder what God hath bidden to be joined, and who do evil
in the earth, these- upon them is the curse of God, and for them is an
evil abode.
God extends his bounty freely to whomsoever He will, or He metes
it out; and they rejoice in the life of this world, but the life of
this world is naught but a (temporary) provision compared with the
next.
Those who misbelieve say, 'Unless a sign is sent down upon him
from his Lord....' Say, 'God leads whom He will astray, but guides
unto Him those who turn again.
'Those who believe and whose hearts are comforted by the mention
of God,- aye! by the mention of God shall their hearts be comforted,
who believe and do what is right. Good cheer for them and an excellent
resort.'
Thus have we sent thee to a nation before which other nations have
passed away, to recite to them that which we have inspired thee
with; yet they misbelieve in the merciful! Say, 'He He my Lord;
there is no god but He; upon Him do I rely, and unto Him is my
repentance.'
And though it were a Koran by which the mountains were moved, or
by which the earth were cut up, or the dead made to speak- nay,
God's is the command altogether! Did not those who believed know
that if God had pleased He would have guided men altogether?
And a striking calamity shall not cease to overtake those who
misbelieve for what they have wrought, or to alight close by their
dwellings; until God's promise comes- verily, God fails not in His
promise.
Before thee have apostles been mocked at; and those who
misbelieved have I allowed to range at large; and then it caught
them up! How then was my punishment?
Shall He who is standing over every soul (to note) what it has
earned-? And they join partners with God! Say, 'Name them; can ye
inform Him of what He does not know in the earth? or is it for
name's sake only (that ye call upon them)?
Nay, then, stratagem is made seemly to those who misbelieve, and
they turn folks from the path of God! But whomsoever God doth lead
astray, no guide has he.'
For them is torment in this world's life; but surely the torment
of the next is more wretched still- nor have they against God a
keeper.
The likeness of the Paradise which those who fear God are
promised, beneath it rivers flow, its food is enduring, and likewise
its shade! That is the recompense of those who fear; but the
recompense of misbelievers is the Fire!
And those to whom we brought the Book rejoice in that which we
have sent down to thee; but of the confederates are some who deny a
part thereof.
Say, 'I am only bidden to serve God and not to associate any with
Him; on Him I call and to Him is my recourse.'
Thus have we sent it down, an Arabic judgment, but hadst thou
followed their lusts, after the knowledge that has come to thee,
thou hadst not had against God a patron or a keeper.
And we sent apostles before thee, and we made for them wives and
seed; and no apostle could bring a sign save by God's permission;- for
every period there is a book.
God blots out what He will, or He confirms; and with Him is the
Mother of the Book.
Either we will let thee see a part of what we threaten them with, or
we will take thee to Ourself; but thy duty is only to deliver thy
message, and ours to reckon up.
Did they not see that we come to the land and diminish the borders
thereof? God judges, and there is none to reverse His judgment, and He
is swift at reckoning up!
And those who were before them were crafty too; but God's is the
craft altogether! He knows what every soul earns; and the misbelievers
shall know whose is the recompense of the abode.
And those who misbelieve say, 'Thou art not sent!' Say, 'God is
witness enough between me and you; and so is he who has the
knowledge of the Book!'
THE CHAPTER OF ABRAHAM, (PEACE BE ON HIM!)
(XIV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
ALIF LAM MIM. A book which we have sent down to thee, to bring men
forth from darkness into light, by permission of their Lord, unto
the way of the mighty and praiseworthy one.
God is He whose is whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in
the earth. Alas for the misbelievers, for their torment is keen! Who
love this world's life better than the next, and turn folks from the
path of God, and crave to make it crooked; these are in remote error.
We have not sent any apostle save with the language of his people,
that he might explain to them. But God leads whom He will astray,
and guides whom He will; and He is the mighty, the wise.
We did send Moses with our signs, 'Bring forth thy people from the
darkness into the light, and remind them of the days of God!'
verily, in that are signs to every patient, grateful one.
When Moses said to his people, 'Remember the favours of God
towards you, when He saved you from Pharaoh's people, who sought to
wreak you evil woe, slaughtering your sons and letting your women
live;' in that was a great trial for you from your Lord. When your
Lord proclaimed, 'If ye give thanks I will surely give you increase;
but if ye misbelieve, verily, my torment is severe!' And Moses said,
'If ye misbelieve, ye and those who are on the earth altogether- then,
verily, God is rich, and to be praised!'
Has not the story come to you of those who were before you, of the
people of Noah, and 'Ad, and Thamud,and those who came after them?
none knows them save God. Apostles came unto them with manifest signs;
but they thrust their hands into their mouths and said, 'Verily, we
disbelieve in that which ye are sent with, and we are in hesitating
doubt concerning that to which ye call us!' Their apostles said, 'Is
there doubt about God, the originator of the heavens and the earth? He
calls you to pardon you for your sins, and to respite you until an
appointed time.'
They said, 'Ye are but mortals like ourselves; ye wish to turn us
from what our fathers used to serve. Bring us, then, obvious
authority!'
Their apostles said unto them, 'We are only mortals like yourselves;
but God is gracious unto whomsoever He will of His servants, and it is
not for us to bring you an authority, save by His permission; but upon
God do the believers rely!' What ails us that we should not rely on
God when He has guided us in our paths? we will be surely patient in
your hurting us; for upon God rely those do rely.
And those who misbelieved said to their apostles, 'We will drive you
forth from our land; or else ye shall return to our faith!' And
their Lord inspired them, 'We will surely destroy the unjust; and we
will make you to dwell in the land after them. That is for him who
fears my place and fears my threat!'
Then they asked for an issue; and disappointed was every rebel
tyrant! Behind such a one is hell, and he shall be given to drink
liquid pus! He shall try to swallow it, but cannot gulp it down; and
death shall come upon him from every place, and yet he shall not
die; and behind him shall be rigorous woe!
The likeness of those who disbelieve on their Lord,- their works are
as ashes whereon the wind blows fiercely on a stormy day. They have no
power at all over that which they have earned.- That is the remote
error!
Dost not thou see that God created the heavens and the earth in
truth? If He please He can take you off and bring a new creation;
nor is that hard for God!
They all come out to God; and the weak say to those who were big
with pride, 'We were followers of yours, can ye now avail us aught
against God's torment?'
They say, 'If God had guided us we would have guided you. It is
the same to us if we are agonized or if we are penitent, we have no
escape.'
And Satan says, when the affair is decided, 'Verily, God promised
you a promise of truth; but I promised you and failed you; for I had
no authority over you. I only called you, and ye did answer me; then
blame me not, but blame yourselves; I cannot help you, nor can you
help me. I disbelieved in your associating me (with God) before;
verily, the wrong-doers, for them is grievous woe!'
But I will cause those who believe and do aright to enter gardens
beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye by the
permission of their Lord; their salutation therein is 'Peace!'
Dost thou not see how God strikes out a parable? A good word is like
a good tree whose root is firm, and whose branches are in the sky;
it gives its fruit at every season by the permission of its Lord-
but God strikes out parables for men that haply they may be mindful.
And the likeness of a bad word is as a bad tree, which is felled
from above the earth, and has no staying place.
God answers those who believe with the sure word in this world's
life and in the next; but God leads the wrong-doers astray; for God
does what He will.
Dost not thou see those who have changed God's favours for
misbelief, and have made their people to alight at the abode of
perdition?- in hell they shall broil, and an ill resting-place shall
it be!
And they made peers for God, to lead men astray from His path.
Say, 'Enjoy yourselves, for, verily, your journey is to the Fire.'
Say to my servants who believe, that they be steadfast in prayer and
expend in alms of what we have bestowed upon them in secret and in
public, before there comes the day when there shall be no buying and
no friendship.
God it is who created the heavens and the earth; and sent down
from the sky water, and brought forth therewith fruits as a
provision for you; and subjected to you the ships, to float therein
upon the sea at His bidding; and subjected for you the rivers; and
subjected for you the sun and the moon, constant both; and subjected
for you the night and the day; and brought you of everything ye
asked Him: but if ye try to number God's favours, ye cannot count
them;- verily, man is very unjust and ungrateful.
And when Abraham said, 'My Lord, make this land safe, and turn me
and my sons away from serving idols!
'My Lord, verily, they have led many men astray; but he who
follows me, verily, he is of me; but he who rebels against me,-
verily, thou art pardoning, merciful!
'O our Lord! verily, I have made some of my seed dwell in a valley
without corn, by thy Sacred House. O our Lord! let them be steadfast
in prayer and make the hearts of men yearn towards them, and provide
them with fruits, haply they may give thanks.
'O our Lord! verily, Thou knowest what we hide and what we
publish; for naught is hid from God in the earth or in the sky. Praise
to God who hath bestowed on me, notwithstanding my old age, Ishmael
and Isaac!- verily, my Lord surely hears prayer.
'O my Lord! make me steadfast in prayer, and of my seed likewise!
O our Lord! and accept my prayer! O our Lord! pardon me and my parents
and the believers on the reckoning day!'
So think not God careless of what the unjust do; He only respites
them until the day on which all eyes shall stare!
Hurrying on, raising up their heads, with their looks not turned
back to them, and their hearts void; and warn men of the day when
the torment shall come!
And those who have done wrong shall say, 'O our Lord! respite us
until an appointed time nigh at hand, and we will respond to Thy call,
and follow the apostles!'- 'What! did ye not swear before, ye should
have no decline?'
And ye dwelt in the dwellings of those who had wronged themselves;
and it was made plain to you how we did with them; and we struck out
parables for you: but they plotted their stratagems, but with God is a
stratagem for them, although at their stratagem the mountains should
give way.
Think then not indeed that God fails in his promise to his
apostles;- verily, God is mighty, the Lord of vengeance; on the day
when the earth shall be changed for another earth, and the heavens
too; and (all) shall go forth unto God, the one, the dominant.
Thou shalt see the sinners on that day bound together in fetters;
with shirts of pitch, and fire covering their faces;- that God may
reward each soul according to what it has earned verily, God is
swift at reckoning up!
This is a message to be delivered to men that they may be warned
thereby, and know that only He is God,- one,- and that those who
have minds may remember.
THE CHAPTER OF EL 'HAGR
(XV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God!
ALIF LAM RA. Those are the signs of the Book and of a perspicuous
Koran.
Many a time will those who disbelieve fain they had been resigned.
Leave them to eat and enjoy themselves and let hope beguile them,
but they at length shall know!
We never destroyed a city without it had its noted doom.
No nation can hasten on its appointed time, nor put it off.
But they say, 'O thou to whom the Reminder has been sent down!
verily, thou art possessed. Why dost thou not bring us the angels if
thou dost tell the truth?'
We sent not down the angels save by right; nor even then would these
be respited.
Verily, we have sent down the Reminder, and, verily, we will guard
it.
And we sent before thee among the sects of those of yore. But
there never came an apostle to them but they mocked at him. Such
conduct also will we put into the hearts of the sinners. They will not
believe therein, but the course of those of yore is run. But had we
opened to them a door of the sky and they had mounted up into it all
the while; then also had they said, 'Our eye-sight is only
intoxicated; nay, we are an enchanted people!'
And we have placed in the sky the signs of the zodiac, and have made
them seemly to the beholders; and we have guarded them from every
pelted devil; save from such as steal a hearing, and there follows him
an obvious shooting-star.
And the earth we have stretched out and have thrown on it firm
mountains, and have caused to grow upon it of everything a measured
quantity. And we have made for you means of livelihood therein, and
for those for whom ye have not to provide.
Nor is there aught but the treasuries of it are with us, and we do
not send it down save in a noted quantity.
And we send forth the impregnating winds, and we send down water
from the sky, and we give it to you to drink, nor is it ye who store
it up.
And we, verily, we quicken and kill; and we are of (all things)
heirs.
And we already know the foremost of you, and we know the laggards
too!
And, verily, it is your Lord who will gather you; verily, He is wise
and knowing.
And we did create man from crackling clay of black mud wrought in
form.
And the ginns had we created before of smokeless fire.
And when thy Lord said to the angels, 'Verily, I am creating a
mortal from crackling clay of black mud wrought into shape;
And when I have fashioned it, and breathed into it of my spirit,
then fall ye down before it adoring.'
And the angels adored all of them together, save Iblis, who
refused to be among those who adored.
He said, 'O Iblis! what ails thee that thou art not among those
who adore?'
Said he, 'I would not adore a mortal whom Thou hast created from
crackling clay of black mud wrought into form.'
He said, 'Then get thee forth therefrom, and, verily, thou art to be
pelted! And, verily, the curse is upon thee until the day of
judgment.'
Said he, 'O my Lord! respite me until the day when they shall be
raised.' He said, 'Then, verily, thou art of the respited until the
day of the noted time.'
He said, 'O my Lord! for that Thou hast seduced me I will surely
make it seem seemly for them on earth, and I will surely seduce them
all together; save such of Thy servants amongst them as are
sincere.' Said He, 'This is a right way against me. Verily, my
servants thou hast no authority over, save over those who follow
thee of such as are seduced: and, verily, hell is promised to them all
together. It has seven doors; at every door is there a separate
party of them.'
Verily, those who fear God shall dwell amidst gardens and springs:
'Enter ye therein with peace in safety!' And we will strip off
whatever ill-feeling is in their breasts; as brethren on couches
face to face.
No toil shall touch them therein, nor shall they be brought forth
therefrom.
Inform my servants that I am the pardoning, the merciful; and that
my woe is the grievous woe.
And inform them concerning Abraham's guests when they entered in
unto him and said, 'Peace!' he said, 'Verily, we are afraid of you.'
They said, 'Be not afraid! verily, we give thee glad tidings of a
knowing boy.' He said, 'Do ye give me this glad tidings although old
age has touched me? give me the glad tidings then!' They said, 'We
give the glad tidings of the truth, then be not of those who despair!'
He said, 'Who would despair of the mercy of his Lord save those who
err?' He said, 'What is your business, O ye messengers?' They said,
'Verily, we are sent unto a sinful people; save only Lot's family,
them will we save all together, except his wife; we have decreed,
verily, she shall be of those who linger.'
And when the messengers came unto Lot's family, he said, 'Verily, ye
are a people whom I recognise not.' They said, 'Nay, but we have
come to thee with that whereof they did doubt. And we have brought
thee the truth, and, verily, we speak the truth! Travel then with
thy family in the deep darkness of the night, and follow thou their
rear; and let not any one of you turn round to look; but go on to
where ye are bidden.'
And we decided for him this affair because the uttermost one of
these people should be cut off on the morrow.
Then the people of the city came, glad at the tidings. Said he,
'Verily, these are my guests, therefore disgrace me not; but fear God,
and put me not to shame.'
They said, 'Have we not forbidden thee everybody in the world?' He
said, 'Here are my daughters, if do it ye must.'- By thy life! verily,
they were surely in their intoxication blindly wandering on!-
And the noise caught them at the dawn. And we made the higher
parts (of the cities) their lower parts, and rained down on them
stones of baked clay. Verily, in that is a sign to those who mark.
And, verily, the (cities) are on a path that still remains. Verily, in
that is a sign to the believers.
And the fellows of the Grove too were unjust; and we took
vengeance on them, and, verily, they both are for an obvious example.
And the fellows of El 'Hagr called the messengers liars, and we
brought them our signs, but they therefrom did turn away. And they did
hew them in the mountain houses to dwell in in safety.
But the noise caught them in the morn; and that which they had
earned availed them naught.
We did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is
between them both, save in truth. And, verily, the Hour is surely
coming; then do thou pardon with a fair pardon,
Verily, thy Lord He is the creator, the knowing! We have already
brought thee Seven of the Repetition, and the mighty Koran.
Let not thine eyes strain after what we have allowed a few pairs
of them to enjoy, nor grieve for them; but lower thy wing to the
believers, and say, 'Verily, I am an obvious warner.'
As we sent down (punishment) on the separatists who dismember the
Koran.
But, by thy Lord! we will question them, one and all, about what
they have done.
Therefore, publish what thou art bidden, and turn aside from the
idolaters.
Verily, we are enough for thee against the scoffers.
Who place with God other gods; but they at length shall know! And we
knew that thy breast was straitened at what they say.
Then celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and be thou of those who
adore.
And serve thy Lord until the certainty shall come to thee.
THE CHAPTER OF THE BEE
(XVI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
God's bidding will come; seek not then to hasten it on. Celebrated
be His praises from what they join with Him!
He sends down the angels with the Spirit at His bidding upon whom He
will of His servants (to say), 'Give warning that there is no god
but Me; Me therefore do ye fear.' He created the heavens and the earth
in truth! Exalted be He above that which they join with Him!
He created man from a clot; and yet, behold, he is an open opponent!
The cattle too have we created for you; in them is warmth and
profit, and from them do ye eat.
In them is there beauty for you when ye drive them home to rest, and
when ye drive them forth to graze. And they bear your heavy burdens to
towns which ye could not otherwise reach, except with great
wretchedness of soul;- verily, your Lord is kind and merciful.
And horses too, and mules, and asses, for you to ride upon and for
an ornament.- He creates also what ye know not of. God's it is to show
the path; from it some turn aside: but had He pleased He would have
guided you one and all.
He it is who sends down water from the sky, whence ye have drink,
and whence the trees grow whereby ye feed your flocks.
He makes the corn to grow, and the olives, and the palms, and the
grapes, and some of every fruit;- verily, in that is a sign unto a
people who reflect.
And He subjected to you the night and the day, and the sun, and
the moon, and the stars are subjected to His bidding. Verily, in
that are signs to a people who have sense.
And what He has produced for you in the earth varying in hue,
verily, in that is a sign for a people who are mindful.
He it is who has subjected the sea, that ye may eat fresh flesh
therefrom; and ye bring forth from it ornaments which ye wear,- and
thou mayest see the ships cleaving through it,- and that ye may search
after His grace,- and haply ye may give thanks.
And He has cast firm mountains on the earth lest it move with you;
and rivers and roads; haply ye may be guided.
And landmarks; and by the stars too are they guided.
Is He who creates like him who creates not?- are they then
unmindful?
But if ye would number the favours of God, ye cannot count them.
Verily, God is forgiving, merciful.
God knows what ye keep secret, and what ye disclose.
And those on whom ye call beside God cannot create anything, for
they are themselves created. Dead, not living, nor can they perceive!
When shall they be raised?
Your God is one God, and those who believe not in the hereafter
their hearts are given to denial, and they are big with pride!
Without a doubt God knows what ye keep secret and what ye disclose!
Verily, He does not love those big with pride!
And when it is said to them, 'What is it that your Lord has sent
down?' they say, 'Old folks' tales!'
Let them bear the burden of their sins entirely on the
resurrection day, and some of the burdens of those whom they led
astray without knowledge.- Aye! an ill burden shall they bear.
Those who were before them devised a stratagem, but God brought
their building off its foundations, and the roof fell over them, and
the torment came to them, from whence they could not perceive.
Then on the resurrection day He will put them to shame, and say,
'Where are your associates whom ye divided into parties about?'
Those to whom knowledge is brought will say, 'Verily, disgrace to-day,
and evil are upon the misbelievers!'
Those whom the angels took away were wronging themselves; then
they offered peace: 'We have done no evil.'- 'Yea! verily, God knows
what ye did. Wherefore enter ye the doors of hell, to dwell therein
for aye; for ill is the resort of the proud.'
And it will be said to those who fear God, 'What is it that your
Lord has sent down?' They will say, 'The best,' for those who do good,
good in this world; but certainly the abode of the next is best, and
surely pleasant is the abode of those who fear.
Gardens of Eden which they shall enter, beneath them rivers flow;
therein shall they have what they please;- thus does God reward
those who fear Him.
To those whom the angels take off in a goodly state they shall
say, 'Peace be upon you! enter ye into Paradise for that which ye have
done.'
Do they expect other than that the angels should come to take them
off, or that thy Lord's bidding should come?- thus did those before
them; God did not wrong them; but it was themselves they wronged.
And the evil which they had done befel them, and that environed them
at which they used to mock!
And those who associated (others with God) said, 'Had God pleased we
had not served aught beside Him, neither we nor our fathers; nor had
we prohibited aught without Him;'- thus did those before them: but
have messengers aught to do but to deliver their message plainly?
We have sent in every nation an apostle (to say), 'Serve ye God, and
avoid Taghut!' and amongst them are some whom God has guided, and
amongst them are some for whom error is due;- go ye about then on
the earth, and behold how was the end of those who called (the
apostles) liars!
If thou art ever so eager for their guidance, verily, God guides not
those who go astray, nor have they any helpers.
They swear by their most strenuous oath, 'God will not raise up
him who dies.'- Yea! a promise binding on him true!- but most men do
not know. To explain to them that which they disputed about, and
that those who misbelieved may know that they are liars.
We only say unto a thing we wish, 'BE,' and it is.
But those who fled for God's sake, after they were wronged, we
will surely establish them in this world with good things; but the
hire of the future life is greater, if ye did but know.
Those who are patient, and upon their Lord rely!
And we have not sent before thee any but men whom we inspire,- ask
ye those who have the Reminder, if ye know not yourselves,- with
manifest signs and with scriptures; and we have sent down the Reminder
to thee too, that thou mayest explain to men what has been sent down
to them, and haply they may reflect.
Are those who were so crafty in evil sure that God will not cleave
open the earth with them, or bring them torment from whence they
cannot perceive, or seize them in their going to and fro? for they
cannot make Him helpless.
Or that He should seize them with a gradual destruction? for,
verily, your Lord is kind, merciful.
Do they not regard whatever thing God has created; its shadow
falls on the right or the left, adoring God and shrinking up?
Whatever is in the heavens and in the earth, beast or angel,
adores God; nor are they big with pride!
They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are bidden.
And God says, 'Take not to two gods; God is only one; me then do
ye fear!'
His is what is in the heavens and in the earth to Him is obedience
due unceasingly; other than God then will ye fear?
And whatever favours ye have, they are from God; then, whenever
distress touches you, unto Him ye turn for succour. Yet, when He
removes the distress from you, lo! a party of you join partners with
their Lord.
That they may disbelieve in what we have brought them and may
enjoy,- but at length they shall know!
And they set aside for what they know not a portion of what we
have bestowed upon them.- By God! ye shall be questioned concerning
that which ye have devised.
They make for God daughters;- celebrated be His praise!-and for
themselves they like them not.
When any one of them has tidings of a female child, his face is
overclouded and black, and he has to keep back his wrath.
He skulks away from the people, for the evil tidings he has
heard;- is he to keep it with its disgrace, or to bury it in the
dust?- aye! evil is it that they judge!
For those who disbelieve in the future life is a similitude of evil:
but for God is the loftiest similitude; for He is the mighty, the
wise!
If God were to punish men for their wrong-doing He would not leave
upon the earth a single beast; but He respites them until a stated
time; and when their time comes they cannot put it off an hour, nor
can they bring it on.
They set down to God what they abhor themselves; and their tongues
describe the lie that good is to be theirs.' Without a doubt theirs is
the Fire, for, verily, they shall be sent on there!
By God! we sent (messengers) to nations before thee, but Satan
made their works seemly to them, for he is their patron to-day, and
for them is grievous woe!
We have only sent down to thee the Book, that thou mayest explain to
them that which they did dispute about, and as a guidance and a
mercy to a people who believe.
And God sends down water from the sky, and quickens therewith the
earth after its death; verily, in that is a sign to a people who can
hear.
Verily, ye have in cattle a lesson; we give you to drink from that
which is in their bellies, betwixt chyme and blood,- pure milk,-
easy to swallow for those who drink.
And of the fruit of the palms and the grapes ye take therefrom an
intoxicant and a goodly provision; verily, in that is a sign to a
people who have sense!
And thy Lord inspired the bee, 'Take to houses in the mountains, and
in the trees, and in the hives they build.
'Then eat from every fruit, and walk in the beaten paths of thy
Lord;' there cometh forth from her body a draught varying in hue, in
which is a cure for men; verily, in that are signs unto a people who
reflect.
God created you; then He will take you to Himself; but amongst you
are some whom He will thrust into the most decrepit age; so that he
may not know aught that once he knew. Verily, God is knowing,
powerful.
And God has preferred some of you over others in providing for
you; but those who have been preferred will not restore their
provision to those whom their right hands possess that they may
share equally therein:- is it God's favours they gainsay?
And God has made for you from amongst yourselves wives, and has made
for you from your wives sons and grandchildren; and has provided you
with good things;- is it in vanity that they believe, while for
God's favour they are ungrateful?
And they serve beside God what cannot control for them any provision
from the heavens or the earth, and have no power at all.
Do not then strike out parables for God! Verily, God knows, but ye
do not know.
God has struck out a parable; an owned slave, able to do nothing;
and one whom we have provided with a good provision, and who expends
therefrom in alms secretly and openly:- shall they be held equal?-
Praise be to God, most of them do not know!
And God has struck out a parable: two men, one of them dumb, able to
do nothing, a burden to his lord; wherever he directs him he comes not
with success; is he to be held equal with him who bids what is just
and who is on the right way?
God's are the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; nor is the
matter of the Hour aught but as the twinkling of an eye, or nigher
still! Verily, God is mighty over all!
God brings you forth out of the wombs of your mothers knowing
naught; and He makes for you hearing, and sight, and hearts,- haply ye
may give thanks!
Do they not see the birds subjected in the vault of the sky?- none
holds them in but God: verily, in that is a sign unto a people who
believe.
God made for you in your houses a repose; and made for you, of the
skins of cattle, houses, that ye may find them light, on the day ye
move your quarters and the day when ye abide; and from their wool, and
from their fur, and from their hair come furniture and chattels for
a season.
And God has made for you, of what He has created, shades; and has
made for you shelters in the mountains; and He has made for you shirts
to keep you from the heat, and shirts to keep you from each other's
violence:- thus does He fulfil His favours towards you,- haply ye
yet may be resigned.
But if they turn their backs,- thine is only to preach thy plain
message.
They recognise the favours of God, and yet they deny them, for
most men are ungrateful.
And on the day when we shall send from every nation a witness;
then shall those who misbelieve not be allowed (to excuse themselves),
and they shall not be taken back into favour.
And when those who join their partners with God say, 'Our Lord!
these be our partners on whom we used to call beside Thee.' And they
shall proffer them the speech, 'Verily, ye are liars! And they shall
proffer on that day peace unto God; and that which they had devised
shall stray away from them.
Those who misbelieve and turn folks off God's path, we will add
torment to their torment, for that they were evildoers.
And on the day when we will raise up in every nation a witness
against them from among themselves, and we will bring thee as a
witness against these; for we have sent down to thee a book explaining
clearly everything, and a guidance, and a mercy, and glad tidings to
the believers.
Verily, God bids you do justice and good, and give to kindred (their
due), and He forbids you to sin, and do wrong, and oppress; He
admonishes you, haply ye may be mindful!
Fulfil God's covenant when ye have covenanted, and break not your
oaths after asseverating them, for ye thereby make God your surety;
verily, God knows what ye do.
And be not like her who unravels her yarn, fraying it out after
she hath spun it close, by taking your oaths for mutual intrigue,
because one nation is more numerous than another; God only tries you
therewith, but He will make manifest to you on the resurrection day
that whereon ye did dispute.
But had God pleased He would have made you one nation; but He
leads astray whom He will, and guides whom He will;- but ye shall be
questioned as to that which ye have done.
Take not therefore your oaths for mutual intrigue, lest a foot
slip after being planted firmly, and ye taste of evil for that ye
turned folks off the path of God, and for you there be mighty woe!
And sell not God's covenant for a little price; with God only is
what is better for you, if ye did but know.
What ye have is spent, but what God has endures; and we will
recompense the patient with their hire for the best deeds they have
done.
Whoso acts aright, male or female, and is a believer, we will
quicken with a goodly life; and we will recompense them with their
hire for the best deeds they have done.
When thou dost read the Koran ask refuge with God from Satan the
pelted one.
Verily, he has no power over those who believe and who upon their
Lord rely. His power is only over those who take him for a patron, and
over the idolaters.
And whenever we change one verse for another,- God knows best what
He sends down. They say, 'Thou art but a forger!'- Nay, most of them
do not know. Say, 'The Holy Spirit brought it down from thy Lord in
truth, to stablish those who believe, and for a guidance and glad
tidings to those who are resigned.'
We knew that they said, 'It is only some mortal who teaches him.'-
The tongue of him they lean towards is barbarous, and this is plain
Arabic.
Verily, those who believe not in God's signs, God will not guide
them, and for them is grievous woe.
Only they are the forgers of a lie who believe not in God's signs;
and these, they are the liars.
Whoso disbelieves in God after having believed, unless it be one who
is forced and whose heart is quiet in the faith,- but whoso expands
his breast to misbelieve,- on them is wrath from God, and for them
is mighty woe!
That is because they preferred the love of this world's life to
the next;- but, verily, God guides not the unbelieving people. These
are they on whose hearts, and hearing, and eyesight, God has set a
stamp, and these, they are the careless. Without a doubt that in the
next life they will be the losers.
Then, verily, thy Lord, to those who fled after they had been tried,
and then fought strenuously and were patient,-verily, thy Lord after
that will be forgiving and merciful.
On the day every soul will come to wrangle for itself, and every
soul shall be paid what it has earned, and they shall not be wronged.
God has struck out a parable: a city which was safe and quiet, its
provision came to it in plenty from every place, and then it denied
God's favours, and God made it feel clothing of hunger and fear, for
that which they had wrought.
And there came to them an apostle from amongst themselves, but
they called him a liar, and the torment seized them, while yet they
were unjust.
Eat, then, from what God has provided you with, things lawful and
good, and give thanks for the favours of God, if it be Him ye serve.
He has only forbidden you that which dies of itself, and blood,
and the flesh of swine, and that which is devoted to other than God;
but he who is forced, neither revolting nor transgressing, it is no
sin for him: verily, God is forgiving and merciful.
And say not of the lie your tongues pronounce, 'This is lawful,
and this is unlawful,' forging against God a lie; verily, those who
forge against God a lie shall not prosper. A little enjoyment- then
for them is grievous woe!
For those who are Jews we have forbidden what we have narrated to
thee before; we did not wrong them, but it was themselves they
wronged.
Then, verily, thy Lord to those who have done evil in ignorance
and then repented after that and done aright,- verily, thy Lord
afterwards is forgiving and merciful.
Verily, Abraham was. a high priest, a 'Hanif, and was not of the
idolaters: thankful for His favours; He chose him and He guided him
unto the right way.
And we gave him in this world good things; and, verily, in the
next he will be among the righteous.
Then we inspired thee, 'Follow the faith of Abraham, a 'Hanif, for
he was not of the idolaters.'
The Sabbath was only made for those who dispute thereon; but,
verily, thy Lord will judge between them on the resurrection day
concerning that whereon they do dispute.
Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly warning; and
wrangle with them in the kindest way; verily, thy Lord He knows best
who has erred from His way, for He knows best the guided ones.
But if ye punish, punish (only) as ye were punished; but if ye are
patient, it is best for those who are patient.
Be thou patient then; but thy patience is only in God's hands. Do
not grieve about them; and be not in a strait at their craftiness;-
verily, God is with those who fear Him, and with those who do well.
THE CHAPTER OF THE NIGHT JOURNEY
(XVII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Celebrated be the praises of Him who took His servant a journey by
night from the Sacred Mosque to the Remote Mosque, the precinct of
which we have blessed, to show him of our signs! verily, He both hears
and looks.
And we gave Moses the Book and made it a guidance to the children of
Israel: 'Take ye to no guardian but me.'
Seed of those we bore with Noah (in the ark)! verily, he was a
thankful servant!
And we decreed to the children of Israel in the Book, 'Ye shall
verily do evil in the earth twice, and ye shall rise to a great height
(of pride).'
And when the threat for the first (sin) of the two came, we sent
over them servants of ours, endued with violence, and they searched
inside your houses; and it was an accomplished threat.
Then we rallied you once more against them, and aided you with
wealth and sons, and made you a numerous band.
'If ye do well, ye will do well to your own souls; and if ye do ill,
it is against them!
'And when the threat for the last came- to harm your faces and to
enter the mosque as they entered it the first time, and to destroy
what they had got the upper-hand over with utter destruction.'
It may be that thy Lord will have mercy on you;- if ye return we
will return, and we have made hell a prison for the misbelievers.
Verily, this Koran guides to the straightest path, and gives the
glad tidings to the believers who do aright that for them is a great
hire; and that for those who believe not in the hereafter, we have
prepared a mighty woe.
Man prays for evil as he prays for good; and man was ever hasty.
We made the night and the day two signs; and we blot out the sign of
the night and make the sign of the day visible, that ye may seek after
plenty from your Lord, and that ye may number the years and the
reckoning; and we have detailed everything in detail.
And every man's augury have we fastened on his neck; and we will
bring forth for him on the resurrection day a book offered to him wide
open. 'Read thy book, thou art accountant enough against thyself
to-day!'
He who accepts guidance, accepts it only for his own soul: and he
who errs, errs only against it; nor shall one burdened soul bear the
burden of another.
Nor would we punish until we had sent an apostle. And when we
desired to destroy a city we bade the opulent ones thereof; and they
wrought abomination therein; and its due sentence was pronounced;
and we destroyed it with utter destruction.
How many generations have we destroyed after Noah! but thy Lord of
the sins of his servant is well aware, and sees enough.
Whoso is desirous of this life that hastens away, we will hasten
on for him therein what we please,- for whom we please. Then we will
make hell for him to broil in- despised and outcast.
But whoso desires the next life, and strives for it and is a
believer- these, their striving shall be gratefully received.
To all- these and those- will we extend the gifts of thy Lord; for
the gifts of thy Lord are not restricted.
See how we have preferred some of them over others, but in the
next life are greater degrees and greater preference.
Put not with God other gods, or thou wilt sit despised and forsaken.
Thy Lord has decreed that ye shall not serve other than Him; and
kindness to one's parents, whether one or both of them reach old age
with thee; and say not to them, 'Fie!' and do not grumble at them, but
speak to them a generous speech. And lower to them the wing of
humility out of compassion, and say, 'O Lord! have compassion on
them as they brought me up when I was little!' Your Lord knows best
what is in your souls if ye be righteous, and, verily, He is forgiving
unto those who come back penitent.
And give thy kinsman his due and the poor and the son of the road;
and waste not wastefully, for the wasteful were ever the devil's
brothers; and the devil is ever ungrateful to his Lord.
But if thou dost turn away from them to seek after mercy from thy
Lord, which thou hopest for, then speak to them an easy speech.
Make not thy hand fettered to thy neck, nor yet spread it out
quite open, lest thou shouldst have to sit down blamed and
straitened in means. Verily, thy Lord spreads out provision to
whomsoever He will or He doles it out. Verily, He is ever well aware
of and sees his servants.
And slay not your children for fear of poverty; we will provide
for them; beware! for to slay them is ever a great sin!
And draw not near to fornication; verily, it is ever an abomination,
and evil is the way thereof.
And slay not the soul that God has forbidden you, except for just
cause; for he who is slain unjustly we have given his next of kin
authority; yet let him not exceed in slaying; verily, he is ever
helped.
And draw not near to the wealth of the orphan, save to improve it,
until he reaches the age of puberty, and fulfil your compacts; verily,
a compact is ever enquired of.
And give full measure when ye measure out, and weigh with a right
balance; that is better and a fairer determination.
And do not pursue that of which thou hast no knowledge; verily,
the hearing, the sight, and the heart, all of these shall be
enquired of.
And walk not on the earth proudly; verily, thou canst not cleave the
earth, and thou shalt not reach the mountains in height.
All this is ever, evil in the sight of your Lord and abhorred.
That is something of what thy, Lord has inspired thee with of
wisdom; do not then put with God other gods, or thou wilt be thrown
into hell reproached and outcast. What! has your Lord chosen to give
you sons, and shall He take for Himself females from among the angels?
verily, ye are speaking a mighty speech.
Now have we turned it in various ways in this Koran so let them bear
in mind; but it will only increase them in aversion.
Say, 'Were there with Him other gods, as ye say, then would they
seek a way against the Lord of the throne.'
Celebrated be His praises, and exalted be He above what they say
with a great exaltation!
The seven heavens and the earth celebrate His praises, and all who
therein are; nor is there aught but what celebrates His praise: but ye
cannot understand their celebration;- verily, He is clement and
forgiving.
And when thou readest the Koran we place between thee and those
who believe not in the hereafter a covering veil. And we place
covers upon their hearts, lest they should understand, and dulness
in their ears.
And when thou dost mention in the Koran thy Lord by Himself they
turn their backs in aversion. We know best for what they listen when
they listen to thee; and when they whisper apart- when the wrong-doers
say, 'Ye only follow a man enchanted.'
Behold, how they strike out for you parables, and err, and cannot
find the way!
They say, 'What! when we have become bones and rubbish are we to
be raised up a new creature?' Say, 'Be ye stones, or iron, or a
creature, the greatest your breasts can conceive-!' Then they shall
say, 'Who is to restore us?' Say, 'He who originated you at first;'
and they will wag their heads and say, 'When will that be? Say, 'It
may, perhaps, be nigh.'
The day when He shall call on you and ye shall answer with praise to
Him, and they will think that they have tarried but a little.
And say to my servants that they speak in a kind way; verily,
Satan makes ill-will between them; verily, Satan was ever unto man
an open foe.
Your Lord knows you best; if He please He will have mercy upon
you, or if He please He will torment you: but we have not sent thee to
take charge of them.
And thy Lord best knows who is in the heavens and the earth; we
did prefer some of the prophets over the others, and to David did we
give the Psalms.
Say, 'Call on those whom ye pretend other than God;' but they
shall not have the power to remove distress from you, nor to turn it
off.
Those on whom they call, seek themselves for a means of
approaching their Lord, (to see) which of them is nearest: and they
hope for His mercy and they fear His torment; verily, the torment of
thy Lord is a thing to beware of.
There is no city but we will destroy it before the day of
judgment, or torment it with keen torment;- that is in the Book
inscribed.
Naught hindered us from sending thee with signs, save that those
of yore said they were lies; so we gave Thamud the visible
she-camel, but they treated her unjustly for we do not send (any
one) with signs save to make men fear.
And when we said to thee, 'Verily, thy Lord encompasses men!' and we
made the vision which we showed thee only a cause of sedition unto
men, and the cursed tree as well; for we will frighten them, but it
will only increase them in great rebellion.
And when we said to the angels, 'Adore Adam;' and they adored,
save Iblis, who said, 'Am I to adore one whom Thou hast created out of
clay?
Said he, 'Dost thou see now? this one whom Thou hast honoured
above me, verily, if Thou shouldst respite me until the resurrection
day, I will of a surety utterly destroy his seed except a few.'
Said He, 'Begone! and whoso of them follows thee- verily, hell is
your recompense, an ample recompense. Entice away whomsoever of them
thou canst with thy voice; and bear down upon them with thy horse
and with thy foot; and share with them in their wealth and their
children; and promise them,- but Satan promises them naught but
deceit. Verily, my servants, thou hast no authority over them; thy
Lord is guardian enough over them!'
It is your Lord who drives the ships for you in the sea that ye
may seek after plenty from Him; verily, He is ever merciful to you.
And when distress touches you in the sea, those whom ye call on,
except Him, stray away from you; but when He has brought you safe to
shore, ye turn away; for man is ever ungrateful.
Are ye sure that He will not cleave with you the side of the
shore, or send against you a heavy sand-storm? then ye will find no
guardian for yourselves.
Or are ye sure that He will not send you back therein another
time, and send against you a violent wind, and drown you for your
misbelief? then ye will find for yourselves no protector against us.
But we have been gracious to the children of Adam, and we have borne
them by land and sea, and have provided them with good things, and
have preferred them over many that we have created.
The day when we will call all men by their high priest; and he whose
book is given in his right hand- these shall read their book, nor
shall they be wronged a straw. But he who in this life is blind
shall be blind in the next too, and err farther from the way.
They had well-nigh beguiled thee from what we inspired thee with,
that thou shouldst forge against us something else, and then they
would have taken thee for a friend; and had it not been that we
stablished thee, thou wouldst have well-nigh leant towards them a
little then would we have made thee taste of torment both of life
and death, then thou wouldst not have found against us any helper.
And they well-nigh enticed thee away from the land, to turn thee out
therefrom; but then- they should not have tarried after thee except
a little.
[This is] the course of those of our prophets whom we have sent
before thee; and thou shalt find no change in our course.
Be thou steadfast in prayer from the declining of the sun until
the dusk of the night, and the reading of the dawn; verily, the
reading of the dawn is ever testified to.
And for the night, watch thou therein as an extra service. It may be
that thy Lord will raise thee to a laudable station.
And say, 'O my Lord! make me enter with a just entry; and make me
come forth with a just coming forth; and grant me from Thee
authority to aid.'
And say, 'Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished! verily,
falsehood is transient.'
And we will send down of the Koran that which is a healing and a
mercy to the believers, but it will only increase the wrong-doers in
loss.
And when we favour man he turns away and retires aside, but when
evil touches him he is ever in despair. Say, 'Every one acts after his
own manner, but your Lord knows best who is most guided in the way.'
They will ask thee of the spirit. Say, 'The spirit comes at the
bidding of my Lord, and ye are given but a little knowledge thereof.'
If we had wished we would have taken away that with which we have
inspired thee; then thou wouldst have found no guardian against us,
unless by a mercy from thy Lord; verily, His grace towards thee is
great!
Say, 'If mankind and ginns united together to bring the like of this
Koran, they could not bring the like, though they should back each
other up!'
We have turned about for men in this Koran every parable; but most
men refuse to accept it, save ungratefully.
And they say, 'We will by no means believe in thee, until there gush
forth for thee a fountain from the earth; or there be made for thee
a garden of palms and grapes, and rivers come gushing out amidst them;
or thou make the sky to fall down upon us in pieces; or thou bring
us God and the angels before us; or there be made for thee a house
of gold; or thou climb up into the heaven; and even then we will not
believe in thy climbing there, until thou send down on us a book
that we may read!'
Say, 'Celebrated be the praises of my Lord! was I aught but a mortal
apostle?'
Naught prohibited men from believing when the guidance came to them,
save their saying, 'God has sent a mortal for an apostle.'
Say, 'Were there angels on the earth walking in quiet, we had surely
sent them an angel as an apostle.'
Say, 'God is witness enough between me and you; verily, He is ever
of His servants well aware, and sees.'
He whom God guides, he is guided indeed; and he whom God leads
astray, thou shalt never find patrons for them beside Him; and we will
gather them upon the resurrection day upon their faces, blind, and
dumb, and deaf; their resort is hell; whenever it grows dull we will
give them another blaze!
That is their reward for that they disbelieved in our signs, and
said, 'What! when we are bones and rubbish, shall we then be raised up
a new creation?'
Could they not see that God who created the heavens heavens and
the earth is able to create the like of them, and to set for them an
appointed time; there is no doubt therein, yet the wrong-doers
refuse to accept it, save ungratefully!
Say, 'Did ye control the treasuries of the mercy of my Lord, then ye
would hold them through fear of expending; for man is ever niggardly!'
And we did bring Moses nine manifest signs; then ask the children of
Israel (about) when he came to them, and Pharaoh said to him, 'Verily,
I think thee, O Moses! enchanted.'
He said, 'Well didst thou know that none sent down these save the
Lord of the heavens and the earth as visible signs; and, verily, I
think thee, O Pharaoh! ruined.'
And he desired to drive them out of the land; but we drowned him and
those with him, one and all.
And after him we said to the children of Israel, Dwell ye in the
land; and when the promise of the hereafter comes to pass, we will
bring you in a mixed crowd (to judgment).
'In truth have we sent it down, and in truth has it come down; and
we have not sent thee as aught but a herald of glad tidings and a
warner.
'And a Koran which we have divided, that thou mayst read it to
mankind leisurely, and we sent it down, sending it down.'
Say, 'Believe ye therein, or believe not; verily, those who were
given the knowledge before it, when it is read to them fall down
upon their beards adoring! and they say, "Celebrated be the praises of
our Lord! verily, the promise of our Lord is ever fulfilled"- they
fall down upon their beards weeping, and it increases their humility.'
Say, 'Call on God, or call on the Merciful One, whichever ye may
call on Him by; for His are the best of names.'
And do not say thy prayers openly, nor yet murmur them, but seek a
way between these.
And say, 'Praise belongs to God, who has not taken to Himself a son,
and has not had a partner in His kingdom, nor had a patron against
(such) abasement.' And magnify Him greatly!
THE CHAPTER OF THE CAVE
(XVIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Praise belongs to God, who sent down to His servant the Book, and
put no crookedness therein,-straight, to give warning of keen violence
from Him; and to give the glad tidings to the believers, who do what
is right, that for them is a goodly reward wherein they shall abide
for ever and for aye; and to give warning to those who say, 'God
hath taken to Himself a son.'
They have no knowledge thereof, nor their fathers; a serious word it
is that comes forth from their mouths! verily, they only speak a lie!
Haply thou wilt grieve thyself to death for sorrow after them, if
they believe not in this new revelation. Verily, we have made what
is on the earth an ornament thereof, to try them, which of them is
best in works; but, verily, we are going to make what is thereon
bare soil.
Hast thou reckoned that the Fellows of the Cave and Er-raqim were
a wonder amongst our signs?'
When the youths resorted to the cave and said, 'O our Lord! bring us
mercy from Thee, and dispose for us our affair aright!'
And we struck their ears (with deafness) in the cave for a number of
years. Then we raised them up again, that we might know which of the
two crews could best calculate the time of their tarrying. We will
narrate to thee their story in truth. Verily, they were youths who
believed in their Lord, and we added to their guidance, and we
braced up their hearts, when they stood up and said, 'Our Lord is
the Lord of the heavens and the earth, we will not call upon any god
beside Him, for then we should have said an extravagant thing. These
people of ours have taken to other gods beside Him. Though they do not
bring any manifest authority for them. And who is more unjust than
he who forges against God a lie?
'So when ye have gone apart from them and what they serve other than
God, then resort ye to the cave. Our Lord will unfold His mercy to
you, and will dispose for you your affair advantageously.'
And thou mightst have seen the sun when it rose decline from their
cave towards the right hand, and when it set leave them on the left
hand, while they were in the spacious part thereof. That is one of the
signs of God. Whom God guides he is guided indeed, and whom He leads
astray thou shalt surely find for him no patron to guide aright.
Thou mightst have reckoned them waking though they were sleeping, as
we turned them towards the right and towards the left; and their dog
spreading out his fore-paws on the threshold. Hadst thou come suddenly
upon them thou wouldst surely have turned and fled away from them, and
wouldst surely have been filled by them with dread.
Thus did we raise them up that they might question each other. Spake
a speaker amongst them, 'How long have ye tarried?' They said, 'We
have tarried a day or part of a day.' They said, 'Your Lord knows best
your tarrying; so send one of you with this coin of yours to the city,
and let him look which of them has purest food, and let him bring
you provision thereof; and let him be subtle and not let any one
perceive you. Verily, they-should they perceive youwould stone you, or
would force you back again unto their faith, and ye would never
prosper then.'
Thus did we make their people acquainted with their story, that they
might know that God's promise is true; and that the Hour, there is
no doubt concerning it. When they disputed amongst themselves
concerning their affair, and said, 'Build a building over them,
their Lord knows best about them;' and those who prevailed in their
affair said, 'We will surely make a mosque over them.'
They will say, 'Three, and the fourth of them was their dog:' and
they will say, 'Five, and the sixth of them was their dog:' guessing
at the unseen: and they will say, 'Seven, and the eighth of them was
their dog.' Say, 'My Lord knows best the number of them; none knows
them but a few.'
Dispute not therefore concerning them save with a plain disputation,
and ask not any one of them concerning them.
And never say of anything, 'Verily, I am going to do that
to-morrow,' except 'if God please;' and remember thy Lord when thou
hast forgotten, and say, 'It may be that my Lord will guide me to what
is nearer to the right than this.'
They tarried in their cave three hundred years and nine more. Say,
'God knows best of their tarrying. His are the unseen things of the
heavens and the earth-He can see! and hear!'
They have no patron beside Him, nor does He let any one share in His
judgment. So, recite what thou art inspired with of the Book of thy
Lord; there is no changing His words; nor shalt thou ever find a
refuge beside Him; and keep thyself patient, with those who call
upon their Lord morning and evening, desiring His face; nor let
thine eyes be turned from them, desiring the adornment of the life
of this world; and obey not him whose heart we have made heedless of
remembrance of us, and who follows his lusts, for his affair is ever
in advance (of the truth).
But say, 'The truth is from your Lord, so let him who will, believe;
and let him who will, disbelieve.' Verily, we have prepared for the
evildoers a fire, sheets of which shall encompass them; and if they
cry for help, they shall be helped with water like molten brass, which
shall roast their faces:-an ill drink and an evil couch!
Verily, those who believe and act aright,-verily, we will not
waste the hire of him who does good works.
These, for them are gardens of Eden; beneath them rivers flow;
they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and shall wear
green robes of silk, and of brocade; reclining therein on
thrones;-pleasant is the reward, and goodly the couch!
Strike out for them a parable: Two men, for one of whom we made
two gardens of grapes, and surrounded them with palms, and put corn
between the two. Each of the two gardens brought forth its food and
did not fail in aught. And we caused a river to gush forth, amidst
them; and he had fruit, and said unto his fellow, who was his
next-door neighbour, 'I am more wealthy than thee, and mightier of
household.'
And he went in unto his garden, having wronged himself: said he,
'I do not think that this will ever disappear; and I do not think that
the hour is imminent; and if even I be sent back unto my Lord, I shall
find a better one than it in exchange.'
Said unto him his fellow, who was his next-door neighbour, 'Thou
hast disbelieved in Him who created thee from earth, and then from a
clot, then fashioned thee a man; but God, He is my Lord; nor will I
associate any one with my Lord. Why couldst- thou not have said,
when thou didst go into thy garden, "What God pleases! there is no
power save in God,"-to look at, I am less than thee in wealth and
children; but haply my Lord will give me something better than thy
garden, and will send upon it thunder-claps from the sky, and it shall
be on the morrow bare slippery soil; or on the morrow its water may be
deeply sunk, so that thou canst not get thereat.
And his fruits were encompassed, and on the morrow he turned down
the palms of his hands for what he had spent thereon, for it was
fallen down upon its trellises. And he said, 'Would that I had never
associated any one with my Lord!' And he had-not any party to help him
beside God, nor was helped. In such a case the patronage is God's, the
true; He is best at rewarding and best at bringing to an issue.
Strike out for them, too, a parable of the life of this world;
like water which we send down from the sky, and the vegetation of
the earth is mingled therewith;-and on the morrow it is dried up,
and the winds scatter it; for God is powerful over all.
Wealth and children are an adornment of the life of this world;
but enduring good works are better with thy Lord, as a recompense, and
better as a hope.
And the day when we will move the mountains, and thou shalt see
the (whole) earth stalking forth; and we will gather them, and will
not leave one of them behind. Then shall they be presented to thy Lord
in ranks.-Now have ye come to us as we created you at first! nay,
but ye thought that we would never make our promise good!
And the Book shall be placed, and thou shalt see the sinners in fear
of what is in it; and they will say, 'Alas, for us! what ails this
Book, it leaves neither small nor great things alone, without
numbering them?' and they shall find present what they have done;
and thy Lord will not wrong any one.
And when we said to the angels, Adore Adam,' they adored him, save
only Iblis, who was of the ginn, who revolted from the bidding of
his Lord. 'What! will ye then take him and his seed as patrons, rather
than me, when they are foes of yours? bad for the wrong-doers is the
exchange,'
I did not make them witnesses of the creation of the heavens and the
earth, nor of the creation of themselves, nor did I take those who
lead astray for my supporters.
On the day when He shall say, 'Call ye my partners whom ye pretend:'
and they shall call on them, but they shall not answer them; and we
will set the vale of perdition between them; and the sinners shall see
the fire, and shall think that they are going to fall therein, and
shall find no escape therefrom. We have turned about in this Koran for
men every parable; but man is ever at most things a caviller.
Naught prevented men from believing when the guidance came to
them, or from asking pardon of their Lord, except the coming on them
of the course of those of yore, or the coming of the torment before
their eyes.
We sent not prophets save as heralds of glad tidings and as warners;
but those who misbelieve wrangle with vain speech to make void the
truth therewith; and they take my signs and the warnings given them as
a jest.
Who is more unjust than he who, being reminded of the signs of his
Lord, turns away therefrom, and forgets what his hands have done
before? verily, we will place veils upon their hearts lest they should
understand, and dulness in their ears!
And if thou shouldst call them to the guidance, they will not be
guided then for ever.
But thy Lord is forgiving, endowed with mercy; were He to punish
them for what they have earned He would have hastened for them the
torment. Nay rather, they have their appointed time, and shall never
find a refuge beside Him.
These cities, we destroyed them when they were unjust; and for their
destruction we set an appointed time.
And when Moses said to his servant, 'I will not cease until I
reach the confluence of the two seas, or else I will go on for years.'
But when they reached the confluence of the two they forgot their
fish, and it took its way in the sea with a free course.
And when they had passed by, he said to his servant, 'Bring us our
dinners, for we have met with toil from this journey of ours.' Said
he, 'What thinkest thou? when we resorted to the rock, then, verily, I
forgot the fish, but it was only Satan who made me forget it, lest I
should remember it; and it took its way in the sea wondrously!'
Said he, 'This is what we were searching for.' So they turned back
upon their footsteps, following them up.
Then they found a servant of our servants, to whom we had given
mercy from ourselves, and had taught him knowledge from before us.
Said Moses to him, 'Shall I follow thee, so that thou mayest teach me,
from what thou hast been taught, the right way?' said he, 'Verily,
thou canst never have patience with me. How canst thou be patient in
what thou comprehendest no knowledge of?' He said, 'Thou wilt find me,
if God will, patient; nor will I rebel against thy bidding.' He
said, 'Then, if thou followest me, ask me not about anything until I
begin for them the mention of it.'
So they set out until when they rode in the bark, he scuttled it.
Said he, 'Hast thou scuttled it to drown its crew? Thou hast
produced a strange thing.'
Said he, 'Did I not tell thee, verily, thou canst never have
patience with me?'
Said he, 'Rebuke me not for forgetting, and impose not on me a
difficult command.' So they set out until they met a boy, and he
killed him. And he (Moses) said, 'Hast thou killed a pure person
without (his killing) a person? thou hast produced an unheard-of
thing.'
Said he, 'Did I not tell thee, verily, thou canst not have
patience with me?'
Said he, 'If I ask thee about anything after it, then do not
accompany me. Now hast thou arrived at my excuse.' So they set out
until when they came to the people of a city; and they asked the
people thereof for food; but they refused to entertain them. And
they found therein a wall which wanted to fall to pieces, and he set
it upright. Said (Moses), 'Hadst thou pleased thou mightst certainly
have had a hire for this.'
Said he, 'This is the parting between me and thee. I will give
thee the interpretation of that with which thou couldst not have
patience. As for the bark it belonged to poor people, who toiled on
the sea, and I wished to damage it, for behind it was a king who
seized on every bark by force. And as for the youth, his parents
were believers, and we feared lest he should impose upon them
rebellion and misbelief So we desired that their Lord would give
them in exchange a better one than him in purity, and nearer in filial
affection. And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan youths in
the city, and beneath it was a treasure belonging to them both, and
their father was a righteous man, and their Lord desired that they
should reach puberty, and then take out their treasure as a mercy from
thy Lord; and I did it not on my own bidding. That is the
interpretation of what thou couldst not have patience with.'
And they will ask thee about DHU 'I Qarnain, say, 'I will recite
to you a mention of him; verily, we stablished for him in the earth,
and we gave him a way to everything; and he followed a way until
when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a black
muddy spring and he found thereat a people.'
We said, 'O DHU 'l Qarnain! thou mayest either torment these people,
or treat them well.' Said he, 'As for him who does wrong, I will
torment him, then shall he be sent back to his Lord, and He will
torment him with an unheard-of torment; but as for him who believes
and acts aright, for him is an excellent reward, and we will tell
him our easy bidding.'
Then he followed a way until when he reached the rising of the
sun, he found it rise upon a people to whom we had given no shelter
therefrom.
So! And we comprehended the knowledge of what (forces) he had with
him.
Then he followed a way until when he reached the point between the
two mountains, he found below them both a people who could scarcely
under-stand speech. They said, 'O DHU 'l Qarnain! verily, Yagug and
Magug are doing evil in the land. Shall we then pay thee tribute, on
condition that thou set between us and them a rampart?' He said, 'What
my Lord hath established me in is better; so help me with strength,
and I will set between you and them a barrier.
'Bring me pigs of iron until they fill up the space between the
two mountain sides.' Said he, 'Blow until it makes it a fire.' Said
he, 'Bring me, that I may pour over it, molten brass.' they could
not scale it, and they could not tunnel it.
Said he, 'This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my
Lord comes to pass, He will make it as dust, for the promise of my
Lord is true.'
And we left some of them to surge on that day over others, and the
trumpet will be blown, and we will gather them together.
And we will set forth hell on that day before the misbelievers,
whose eyes were veiled from my Reminder, and who were unable to
hear. What! did those who misbelieve reckon that they could take my
servants for patrons beside me? Verily, we have prepared hell for
the misbelievers to alight in!
Say, 'Shall we inform you of those who lose most by their works?
those who erred in their endeavours after the life of this world,
and who think they are doing good deeds.'
Those who misbelieve in the signs of their Lord and in meeting
Him, vain are their works; and we will not give them right weight on
the resurrection day. That is their reward,-hell! for that they
misbelieved and took my signs and my apostles as a mockery.
Verily, those who believe and act aright, for them are gardens of
Paradise to alight in, to dwell therein for aye, and they shall
crave no change therefrom.
Say, 'Were the sea ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would
surely fail before the words of my Lord fail; aye, though we brought
as much ink again!
Say, 'I am only a mortal like yourselves; I am inspired that your
God is only one God. Then let him who hopes to meet his Lord act
righteous acts, and join none in the service of his Lord.'
THE CHAPTER OF MARY
(XIX. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
KAF HA YA AIN SAD. The mention of thy Lord's mercy to His servant
Zachariah, when he called on his Lord with a secret calling. Said
he, 'My Lord! verily, my bones are weak, and my head flares with
hoariness;-and I never was unfortunate in my prayers to Thee, my Lord!
But I fear my heirs after me, and my wife is barren; then grant me
from Thee a successor, to be my heir and the heir of the family of
Jacob, and make him, my Lord! acceptable.'
'O Zachariah! verily, we give thee glad tidings of a son, whose name
shall be John. We never made a namesake of his before.'
Said he, 'My Lord! how can I have a son, when my wife is barren, and
I have reached through old age to decrepitude?'
He said, 'Thus says thy Lord, It is easy for Me, for I created
thee at first when yet thou wast nothing.'
Said he, 'O my Lord! make for me a sign. He said, 'Thy sign is
that thou shalt not speak to men for three nights (though) sound.'
Then he went forth unto his people from the chamber, and he made
signs to them: 'Celebrate (God's) praises morning and evening!'
O John! take the Book with strength; and we gave him judgment when a
boy, and grace from us, and purity; and he was pious and righteous
to his parents, and was not a rebellious tyrant.
So peace upon him the day he was born, and the day he died, and
the day he shall be raised up alive.
And mention, in the Book, Mary; when she retired from her family
into an eastern place; and she took a veil (to screen herself) from
them; and we sent unto her our spirit; and he took for her the
semblance of a well-made man. Said she, 'Verily, I take refuge in
the Merciful One from thee, if thou art pious.' Said he, 'I am only
a messenger of thy Lord to bestow on thee a pure boy.'
Said she, 'How can I have a boy when no man has touched me, and when
I am no harlot?' He said, 'Thus says thy Lord, It is easy for Me!
and we will make him a sign unto man, and a mercy from us; for it is a
decided matter.'
So she conceived him, and she retired with him into a remote
place. And the labour pains came upon her at the trunk of a palm tree,
and she said, 'O that I had died before this, and been forgotten out
of mind!' and he called to her from beneath her 'Grieve not, for thy
Lord has placed a stream beneath thy feet, and shake towards thee
the trunk of the palm tree, it will drop upon thee fresh dates fit
to gather; so eat, and drink, and cheer thine eye; and if thou
shouldst see any mortal say, "Verily, I have vowed to the Merciful One
a fast, and I will not speak to-day with a human being."'
Then she brought it to her people, carrying it; said they, 'O
Mary! thou hast done an extraordinary thing! O sister of Aaron! thy
father was not a bad man, nor was thy mother a harlot!'
And she pointed to him, and they said, 'How are we to speak with one
who is in the cradle a child?' He said, 'Verily, I am a servant of
God; He has brought me the Book, and He has made me a prophet, and
He has made me blessed wherever I be; and He has required of me prayer
and almsgiving so long as I live, and piety towards my mother, and has
not made me a miserable tyrant; and peace upon me the day I was
born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised up alive.'
That is, Jesus the son of Mary,-by the word of truth whereon ye do
dispute!
God could not take to himself any son! celebrated be His praise!
when He decrees a matter He only says to it, 'BE,' and it is; and,
verily, God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him; this is the
right way.
And the parties have disagreed amongst themselves, but woe to
those who disbelieve, from the witnessing of the mighty day! they
can hear and they can see, on the day when they shall come to us;
but the evildoers are to-day in obvious error!
And warn them of the day of sighing, when the matter is decreed
while they are heedless, and while they do not believe.
Verily, we will inherit the earth and all who are upon it, and
unto us shall they return!
And mention, in the Book, Abraham; verily, he was a confessor,-a
prophet. When he said to his father, 'O my sire! why dost thou worship
what can neither hear nor see nor avail thee aught? O my sire! verily,
to me has come knowledge which has not come to thee; then follow me,
and I will guide thee to a level way.
O my sire! serve not Satan; verily, Satan is ever a rebel against
the Merciful. O my sire! verily, I fear that there may touch thee
torment from the Merciful, and that thou mayest be a client of Satan.'
Said he, 'What! art thou averse from my gods, O Abraham? verily,
if thou dost not desist I will certainly stone thee; but get thee gone
from me for a time!'
Said he, 'Peace be upon thee! I will ask forgiveness for thee from
my Lord; verily, He is very gracious to me: but I will part from you
and what ye call on beside God, and will pray my Lord that I be not
unfortunate in my prayer to my Lord.'
And when he had parted from them and what they served beside God, we
granted him Isaac and Jacob, and each of them we made a prophet; and
we granted them of our mercy, and we made the tongue of truth lofty
for them.
And mention, in the Book, Moses; verily, he was sincere, and was
an apostle,-a prophet. We called him from the right side of the
mountain; and we made him draw nigh unto us to commune with him, and
we granted him, of our mercy, his brother Aaron as a prophet.
And mention, in the Book, Ishmael; verily, he was true to his
promise, and was an apostle, a prophet; and he used to bid his
people prayers and almsgiving, and was acceptable in the sight of
his Lord.
And mention, in the Book, Idris; verily, he was a confessor,-a
prophet; and we raised him to a lofty place.
These are those to whom God has been gracious, of the prophets of
the seed of Adam, and of those whom we bore with Noah, and of the seed
of Abraham and Israel, and of those we guided and elected; when the
signs of the Merciful are read to them, they fall down adoring and
weeping.
And successors succeeded them, who lost sight of prayer and followed
lusts, but they shall at length find themselves going wrong, except
such as repent and believe and act aright; for these shall enter
Paradise and shall not be wronged at all,-gardens of Eden, which the
Merciful has promised to His servants in the unseen; verily, His
promise ever comes to pass!
They shall hear no empty talk therein, but only peace;' and they
shall have their provision therein, morning and evening; that is
Paradise which we will give for an inheritance to those of our
servants who are pious!
We do not descend save at the bidding of thy Lord; His is what is
before us, and what is behind us, and what is between those; for thy
Lord is never forgetful,-the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and of
what is between the two; then serve Him and persevere in His
service. Dost thou know a namesake of His?
Man will say, 'What! when I have died shall I then come forth alive?
Does not man then remember that we created him before when he was
naught?'
And by thy Lord! we will surely gather them together, and the devils
too; then we will surely bring them forward around hell, on their
knees!
Then we will drag off from every sect whichever of them has been
most bold against the Merciful.
Then we know best which of them deserves most to be broiled therein.
There is not one of you who will not go down to it,-that is
settled and decided by thy Lord.
Then we will save those who fear us; but we will leave the evildoers
therein on their knees.
And when our signs are recited to them manifest, those who
misbelieve say to those who believe, 'Which of the two parties is best
placed and in the best company?'
And how many generations before them have we destroyed who were
better off in property and appearance?
Say, 'Whosoever is in error, let the Merciful extend to him length
of days!-until they see what they are threatened with, whether it be
the torment or whether it be the Hour, then they shall know who is
worse placed and weakest in forces!'
And those who are guided God will increase in guidance.
And enduring good works are best with thy Lord for a reward, and
best for restoration.
Hast thou seen him who disbelieves in our signs, and says, 'I
shall surely be given wealth and children?'
Has he become acquainted with the unseen, or has he taken a
compact with the Merciful? Not so! We will write down what he says,
and we will extend to him a length of torment, and we will make him
inherit what he says, and he shall come to us alone. They take other
gods besides God to be their glory. Not so! They shall deny their
worship and shall be opponents of theirs!
Dost thou not see that we have sent the devils against the
misbelievers, to drive them on to sin? but, be not thou hasty with
them. Verily, we will number them a number (of days),-the day when
we will gather the pious to the Merciful as ambassadors, and we will
drive the sinners to hell like (herds) to water! They shall not
possess intercession, save he who has taken a compact with the
Merciful.
They say, 'The Merciful has taken to Himself a son:'-ye have brought
a monstrous thing! The heavens well-nigh burst asunder thereat, and
the earth is riven, and the mountains fall down broken, that they
attribute to the Merciful a son! but it becomes not the Merciful to
take to Himself a son! there is none in the heavens or the earth but
comes to the Merciful as a servant; He counts them and numbers them by
number, and they are all coming to Him on the resurrection day singly.
Verily, those who believe and act aright, to them the Merciful
will give love.
We have only made it easy for thy tongue that thou mayest thereby
give glad tidings to the pious, and warn thereby a contentious people.
How many a generation before them have we destroyed? Canst thou find
any one of them, or hear a whisper of them?
THE CHAPTER OF TA HA
(XX. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
TA HA. We have not sent down this Koran to thee that thou shouldst
be wretched; only as a reminder to him who fears-descending from Him
who created the earth and the high heavens, the Merciful settled on
the throne! His are what is in the heavens, and what is in the
earth, and what is between the two, and what is beneath the ground!
And if thou art public in thy speech-yet, verily, he knows the secret,
and more hidden still.
God, there is no god but He! His are the excellent names.
Has the story of Moses come to thee? When he saw the fire and said
to his family, 'Tarry ye; verily, I perceive a fire! Haply I may bring
you therefrom a brand, or may find guidance by the fire.' And when
he came to it he was called to, 'O Moses! verily, I am thy Lord, so
take off thy sandals; verily, thou art in the holy valley Tuva, and
I have chosen thee. So listen to what is inspired thee; verily, I am
God, there is no god but Me! then serve Me, and be steadfast in prayer
to remember Me.
'Verily, the hour is coming, I almost make it appear, that every
soul may be recompensed for its efforts.
'Let not then him who believes not therein and follows his lusts
ever turn thee away therefrom, and thou be ruined.
'What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?'
Said he, 'It is my staff on which I lean, and wherewith I beat
down leaves for my flocks, and for which I have other uses.'
Said He, 'Throw it down, O Moses!' and he threw it down, and behold!
it was a snake that moved about.
Said He, 'Take hold of it and fear not; we will restore it to its
first state.
'But press thy hand to thy side, it shall come forth white without
harm,-another sign! to show thee of our great signs!
'Go unto Pharaoh, verily, he is outrageous!'
Said he, 'My Lord! expand for me my breast; and make what I am
bidden easy to me; and loose the knot from my tongue, that they may
understand my speech; and make for me a minister from my people,-Aaron
my brother; gird up my loins through him, and join him with me in
the affair; that we may celebrate Thy praises much and remember Thee
much.
Verily, Thou dost ever behold us!'
He said, 'Thou art granted thy request, O Moses! and we have already
shown favours unto thee at another time. When we inspired thy mother
with what we inspired her, "Hurl him into the ark, and hurl him into
the sea; and the sea shall cast him on the shore, and an enemy of mine
and of his shall take him;"-for on thee have I cast my love, that thou
mayest be formed under my eye. When thy sister walked on and said,
"Shall I guide you to one who will take charge of him?" And we
restored thee to thy mother, that her eye might be cheered and that
she should not grieve. And thou didst slay a person and we saved
thee from the trouble, and we tried thee with various trials. And thou
didst tarry for years amongst the people of Midian; then thou didst
come (hither) at (our) decree, O Moses! And I have chosen thee for
myself. Go, thou and thy brother, with my signs, and be not remiss
in remembering me. Go ye both to Pharaoh; verily, he is outrageous!
and speak to him a gentle speech, haply he may be mindful or may
fear.'
They two said, 'Our Lord! verily, we fear that he may trespass
against us, or that he may be outrageous.'
He said, 'Fear not; verily, I am with you twain. I hear and see!
'So come ye to him and say, "Verily, we are the apostles of thy
Lord; send then the children of Israel with us; and do not torment
them. We have brought thee a sign from thy Lord, and peace be upon him
who follows the guidance!
'"Verily, we are inspired that the torment will surely come upon him
who calls us liars and turns his back."'
Said he, 'And who is your Lord, O Moses?'
He said, 'Our Lord is He who gave everything its creation, then
guided it.'
Said he, 'And what of the former generations?'
He said, 'The knowledge of them is with my Lord in a book; my Lord
misleads not, nor forgets!
Who made for you the earth a bed; and has traced for you paths
therein; and has sent down from the sky water,-and we have brought
forth thereby divers sorts of different vegetables. Eat and pasture
your cattle therefrom; verily, in that are signs to those endued
with intelligence. From it have we created you and into it will we
send you back, and from it will we bring you forth another time.'
We did show him our signs, all of them, but he called them lies
and did refuse.
Said he, 'Hast thou come to us, to turn us out of our land with
thy magic, O Moses? Then we will bring you magic like it; and we
will make between us and thee an appointment; we will not break it,
nor do thou either;-a fair place.'
Said he, 'Let your appointment be for the day of adornment and let
the people assemble in the forenoon.'
But Pharaoh turned his back, and collected his tricks, and then he
came.
Said Moses to them, 'Woe to you! do not forge against God a lie;
lest He destroy you by torment; for disappointed has ever been he
who has forged.'
And they argued their matter among themselves; and secretly talked
it over.
Said they, 'These twain 'are certainly two magicians, who wish to
turn you out of your land by their magic, and to remove your most
exemplary doctrine. Collect therefore your tricks, and then form a
row; for he is prosperous to-day who has the upper hand.'
Said they, 'O Moses! either thou must throw, or we must be the first
to throw.'
He said, 'Nay, throw ye!' and lo! their ropes and their staves
appeared to move along. And Moses felt a secret fear within his soul.
Said we, 'Fear not! thou shalt have the upper hand. Throw down
what is in thy right hand; and it shall devour what they have made.
Verily, what they have made is but a magician's trick; and no magician
shall prosper wherever he comes.'
And the magicians were cast down in adoration; said they, 'We
believe in the Lord of Aaron and of Moses!'
Said he, 'Do ye believe in Him before I give you leave? Verily, he
is your master who taught you magic! Therefore will I surely cut off
your hands and feet on alternate sides, and I will surely crucify
you on the trunks of palm trees; and ye shall surely know which of
us is keenest at torment and more lasting.'
Said they, 'We will never prefer thee to what has come to us of
manifest signs, and to Him who originated us. Decide then what thou
canst decide; thou canst only decide in the life of this world!
Verily, we believe in our Lord, that He may pardon us our sins, and
the magic thou hast forced us to use; and God is better and more
lasting!'
Verily, he who comes to his Lord a sinner,-verily, for him is
hell; he shall not die therein, and shall not live.
But he who comes to Him a believer who has done aright-these, for
them are the highest ranks,-gardens of Eden beneath which rivers flow,
to dwell therein for aye; for that is the reward of him who keeps
pure.
And we inspired Moses, 'Journey by night with my servants, and
strike out for them a dry road in the sea. Fear not pursuit, nor be
afraid!' Then Pharaoh followed them with his armies, and there
overwhelmed them of the sea that which overwhelmed them. And Pharaoh
and his people went astray and were not guided.
O children of Israel! We have saved you from your enemy; and we made
an appointment with you on the right side of the mount; and we sent
down upon you the manna and the quails. 'Eat of the good things we
have provided you with, and do not exceed therein, lest my wrath light
upon you; for whomsoever my wrath lights upon he falls!
'Yet am I forgiving unto him who repents and believes and does
right, and then is guided.
'But what has hastened thee on away from thy people, O Moses?'
He said, 'They were here upon my track and I hastened on to Thee, my
Lord! that thou mightest be pleased.'
Said He, 'Verily, we have tried thy people, since thou didst
leave, and es Samariy has led them astray.'
And Moses returned to his people, wrathful, grieving!
Said he, 'O my people! did not your Lord promise you a good promise?
Has the time seemed too long for you, or do you desire that wrath
should light on you from your Lord, that ye have broken your promise
to me?'
They said, 'We have not broken our promise to thee of our own
accord. But we were made to carry loads of the ornaments of the
people, and we hurled them down, and so did es Samariy cast; and he
brought forth for the people a corporeal calf which lowed.' And they
said, 'This is your god and the god of Moses, but he has forgotten!'
What! do they not see that it does not return them any speech, and
cannot control for them harm or profit? Aaron too told them before, 'O
my people! ye are only being tried thereby; and, verily, your Lord
is the Merciful, so follow me and obey my bidding.'
They said, 'We will not cease to pay devotion to it until Moses come
back to us.'
Said he, 'O Aaron! what prevented thee, when thou didst see them
go astray, from following me? Hast thou then rebelled against my
bidding?
Said he, 'O son of my mother! seize me not by my beard, or my
head! Verily, I feared lest thou shouldst say, "Thou hast made a
division amongst the children of Israel, and hast not observed my
word."'
Said he, 'What was thy design, O Samariy?' Said he, 'I beheld what
they beheld not, and I grasped a handful from the footprint of the
messenger and cast it; for thus my soul induced me.'
Said he, 'Then get thee gone; verily, it shall be thine in life to
say, "Touch me not!" and, verily, for thee there is a threat which
thou shalt surely never alter. But look at thy god to which thou
wert just now devout; we will surely burn it, and then we will scatter
it in scattered pieces in the sea.
'Your God is only God who,-there is no god but He,-He embraceth
everything in His knowledge.'
Thus do we narrate to thee the history of what has gone before,
and we have brought thee a reminder from us.
Whoso turns therefrom, verily, he shall bear on the resurrection day
a burden:-for them to bear for aye, and evil for them on the
resurrection day will it be to bear.
On the day when the trumpet shall be blown, and we will gather the
sinners in that day blue-eyed.
They shall whisper to each other, 'Ye have only tarried ten days.'
We know best what they say, when the most exemplary of them in his way
shall say, 'Ye have only tarried a day.'
They will ask thee about the mountains; say, 'My Lord will scatter
them in scattered pieces, and He will leave them a level plain, thou
wilt see therein no crookedness or inequality.'
On that day they shall follow the caller in whom is no
crookedness; and the voices shall be hushed before the Merciful, and
thou shalt hear naught but a shuffling.
On that day shall no intercession be of any avail, save from such as
the Merciful permits, and who is acceptable to Him in speech.
He knows what is before them and what is behind them, but they do
not comprehend knowledge of Him.
Faces shall be humbled before the Living, the Self-subsistent; and
he who bears injustice is ever lost.
But he who does righteous acts and is a believer, he shall fear
neither wrong nor diminution.
Thus have we sent it down an Arabic Koran; and we have turned
about in it the threat,-haply they may fear, or it may cause them to
remember.
Exalted then be God, the king, the truth! Hasten not the Koran
before its inspiration is decided for thee; but say, 'O Lord! increase
me in knowledge.'
We did make a covenant with Adam of yore, but he forgot it, and we
found no firm purpose in him.
And when we said to the angels, 'Adore Adam,' they adored, save
Iblis, who refused. And we said, 'O Adam! verily, this is a foe to
thee and to thy wife; never then let him drive you twain forth from
the garden or thou wilt be wretched. Verily, thou hast not to be
hungry there, nor naked! and, verily, thou shalt not thirst therein,
nor feel the noonday heat!'
But the devil whispered to him. Said he, 'O Adam! shall I guide thee
to the tree of immortality, and a kingdom that shall not wane?'
And they eat therefrom, and their shame became apparent to them; and
they began to stitch upon themselves some leaves of the garden; and
Adam rebelled against his Lord, and went astray.
Then his Lord chose him, and relented towards him, and guided him.
Said he, 'Go down, ye twain, therefrom altogether, some of you foes to
the other. And if there should come to you from me a guidance; then
whoso follows my guidance shall neither err nor be wretched. But he
who turns away from my reminder, verily, for him shall be a straitened
livelihood; and we will gather him on the resurrection day blind!'
He shall say, 'My Lord! wherefore hast Thou gathered me blind when I
used to see?' He shall say, 'Our signs came to thee, and thou didst
forget them; thus to-day art thou forgotten!'
Thus do we recompense him who is extravagant and believes not in the
signs of his Lord; and the torment of the hereafter is keener and more
lasting!
Does it not occur to them how many generations we have destroyed
before them?- they walk in their very dwelling-places; verily, in that
are signs to those endued with intelligence.
And had it not been for thy Lord's word already passed (the
punishment) would have been inevitable and (at) an appointed time.
Bear patiently then what they say, and celebrate the praises of
thy Lord before the rising of the sun, and before its setting, and
at times in the night celebrate them; and at the ends of the day;
haply thou mayest please (Him).
And do not strain after what we have provided a few of them with-the
flourish of the life of this world, to try them by; but the
provision of thy Lord is better and more lasting.
Bid thy people prayer, and persevere in it; we do not ask thee to
provide. We will provide, and the issue shall be to piety.
They say, 'Unless he bring us a sign from his Lord-What! has there
not come to them the manifest sign of what was in the pages of yore?'
But had we destroyed them with torment before it, they would have
said, 'Unless Thou hadst sent to us an apostle, that we might follow
Thy signs before we were abased and put to shame.'
Say, Each one has to wait, so wait ye! but in the end ye shall
know who are the fellows of the level way, and who are guided!'
THE CHAPTER OF THE PROPHETS
(XXI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Their reckoning draws nigh to men, yet in heedlessness they turn
aside.
No reminder comes to them from their Lord of late, but they listen
while they mock, and their hearts make sport thereof! And those who do
wrong discourse secretly (saying), 'Is this man aught but a mortal
like yourselves? will ye accede to magic, while ye can see?'
Say, 'My Lord knows what is said in the heavens and the earth, He
hears and knows!'
'Nay!' they say, '-a jumble of dreams; nay! he has forged it; nay!
he is a poet; but let him bring us a sign as those of yore were sent.'
No city before them which we destroyed believed-how will they
believe? Nor did we send before them any but men whom we inspired? Ask
ye the people of the Scriptures if ye do not know. Nor did we make
them bodies not to eat food, nor were they immortal. Yet we made our
promise to them good, and we saved them and whom we pleased; but we
destroyed those who committed excesses.
We have sent down to you a book in which is a reminder for you; have
ye then no sense?
How many a city which had done wrong have we broken up, and raised
up after it another people! And when they perceived our violence
they ran away from it. 'Run not away, but return to what ye
delighted in, and to your dwellings! haply ye will be questioned.'
Said they, 'O woe is us! verily, we were wrong-doers.'
And that ceased not to be their cry until we made them mown
down,-smouldering out!
We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between the
two in play. Had we wished to take to a sport, we would have taken
to one from before ourselves; had we been bent on doing so. Nay, we
hurl the truth against falsehood and it crashes into it, and lo! it
vanishes, but woe to you for what ye attribute (to God)!
His are whosoever are in the heavens and the earth, and those who
are with Him are not too big with pride for His service, nor do they
weary. They celebrate His praises by night and day without
intermission. Or have they taken gods from the earth who can raise
up (the dead)?
Were there in both (heaven and earth) gods beside God, both would
surely have been corrupted. Celebrated then be the praise of God,
the Lord of the throne, above what they ascribe!
He shall not be questioned concerning what He does, but they shall
be questioned.
Have they taken gods beside Him? Say, 'Bring your proofs. This is
the reminder of those who are with me, and of those who were before
me.' Nay, most of them know not the truth, and they do turn aside.
We have not sent any prophet before thee, but we inspired him
that, 'There is no god but Me, so serve ye Me.'
And they say, 'The Merciful has taken a son; celebrated be His
praise!'-Nay, honoured servants; they do not speak until He speaks;
but at His bidding do they act. He knows what is before them, and what
is behind them, and they shall not intercede except for him whom He is
pleased with; and they shrink through fear.
And whoso of them should say, 'Verily, I am god instead of Him,'
such a one we recompense with hell; thus do we recompense the
wrong-doers.
Do not those who misbelieve see that the heavens and the earth
were both solid, and we burst them asunder; and we made from water
every living thing-will they then not believe?
And we placed on the earth firm mountains lest it should move with
them, and He made therein open roads for paths, haply they may be
guided! and we made the heaven a guarded roof; yet from our signs they
turn aside!
He it is who created the night and the day, and the sun and the
moon, each floating in a sky.
We never made for any mortal before thee immortality; what, if
thou shouldst die, will they live on for aye?
Every soul shall taste of death! we will test them with evil and
with good, as a trial; and unto us shall they return!
And when those who misbelieve see thee, they only take thee for a
jest, 'Is this he who mentions your gods?' Yet they at the mention
of the Merciful do disbelieve.
Man is created out of haste. I will show you my signs; but do not
hurry Me.
And they say, 'When will this threat (come to pass), if ye tell
the truth?'
Did those who misbelieve but know when the fire shall not be
warded off from their faces nor from their backs, and they shall not
be helped! Nay, it shall come on them suddenly, and shall
dumbfounder them, and they shall not be able to repel it, nor shall
they be respited.
Prophets before thee have been mocked at, but that whereat they
jested encompassed those who mocked.
Say, 'Who shall guard you by night and by day from the Merciful?'
Nay, but they from the mention of their Lord do turn aside.
Have they gods to defend them against us? These cannot help
themselves, nor shall they be abetted against us.
Nay, but we have granted enjoyment to these men and to their fathers
whilst life was prolonged. Do they not see that we come to the land
and shorten its borders? Shall they then prevail?
Say, 'I only warn you by inspiration;' but the deaf hear not the
call when they are warned. But if a blast of the torment of thy Lord
touches them, they will surely say, 'O, woe is us! verily, we were
wrong-doers!'
We will place just balances upon the resurrection day, and no soul
shall be wronged at all, even though it be the weight of a grain of
mustard seed, we will bring it; for we are good enough at reckoning
up.
We did give to Moses and Aaron the Discrimination, and a light and a
reminder to those who fear; who are afraid of their Lord in secret;
and who at the Hour do shrink.
This is a blessed reminder which we have sent down, will ye then
deny it?
And we gave Abraham a right direction before; for about him we knew.
When he said to his father and to his people, 'What are these images
to which ye pay devotion?' Said they, 'We found our fathers serving
them.' Said he, 'Both you and your fathers have been in obvious
error.' They said, 'Dost thou come to us with the truth, or art thou
but of those who play?'
He said, 'Nay, but your Lord is Lord of the heavens and the earth,
which He originated; and I am of those who testify to this; and, by
God! I will plot against your idols after ye have turned and shown
me your backs!'
So he brake them all in pieces, except a large one they had; that
haply they might refer it to that.
Said they, 'Who has done this with our gods? verily, he is of the
wrong-doers!' They said, 'We heard a youth mention them who is
called Abraham.'
Said they, 'Then bring him before the eyes of men; haply they will
bear witness.'
Said they, 'Was it thou who did this to our gods, O Abraham?' Said
he, 'Nay, it was this largest of them; but ask them, if they can
speak.'
Then they came to themselves and said, 'Verily, ye are the
wrong-doers.' Then they turned upside down again: 'Thou knewest that
these cannot speak.'
Said he, 'Will ye then serve, beside God, what cannot profit you
at all, nor harm you? fie upon you, and what ye serve beside God! have
ye then no sense?'
Said they, 'Burn him, and help your gods, if ye are going to do so!'
We said, 'O fire! be thou cool and a safety for Abraham!'
They desired to plot against him, but we made them the losers.
And we brought him and Lot safely to the land which we have
blessed for the world, and we bestowed upon him Isaac and Jacob as a
fresh gift, and each of them we made righteous persons; and we made
them high priests to guide (men) by our bidding, and we inspired
them to do good works, and to be steadfast in prayer, and to give
alms; and they did serve us.
And Lot, to him we gave judgment and knowledge, and we brought him
safely out of the city which had done vile acts; verily, they were a
people who wrought abominations! And we made him enter into our mercy;
verily, he was of the righteous!
And Noah, when he cried aforetime, and we answered him and saved him
and his people from the mighty trouble, and we helped him against
the people who said our signs were lies; verily, they were a bad
people, so we drowned them all together.
And David and Solomon, when they gave judgment concerning the field,
when some people's sheep had strayed therein at night; and we
testified to their judgment; and this we gave Solomon to understand.
To each of them we gave judgment and knowledge; and to David we
subjected the mountains to celebrate our praises, and the birds
too,-it was we who did it.
And we taught him the art of making coats of mail for you, to shield
you from each other's violence; are ye then grateful?
And to Solomon (we subjected) the wind blowing stormily, to run on
at his bidding to the land which we have blessed,-for all things did
we know,-and some devils to dive for him, and to do other works beside
that; and we kept guard over them.
And Job, when he cried to his Lord, 'As for me, harm has touched me,
but Thou art the most merciful of the merciful ones.' And we
answered him, and removed from him the distress that was upon him; and
we gave his family, and the like of them with them, as a mercy from
us, and a remembrance to those who serve us.
And Ishmael, and Idris, and DHU 'l Kifl, all of these were of the
patient: and we made them enter into our mercy; verily, they were
among the righteous.
And DHU 'nnun, when he went away in wrath and thought that we had no
power over him; and he cried out in the darkness, 'There is no god but
Thou, celebrated be Thy praise! Verily, I was of the evildoers!' And
we answered him, and saved him from the trouble. Thus do we save
believers!
And Zachariah, when he cried unto his Lord, 'O Lord! leave me not
alone; for thou art the best of heirs.' And we answered him, and
bestowed upon him John; and we made his wife right for him; verily,
these vied in good works, and called on us with longing and dread, and
were humble before us.
And she who guarded her private parts, and we breathed into her of
our Spirit, and we made her and her son a sign unto the worlds.
Verily, this your nation is one nation; and I am your Lord, so serve
me.
But they cut up their affair amongst themselves; they all shall
return to us; and he who acts and he who is a believer, there is no
denial of his efforts, for, verily, we will write them down for him.
There is a ban upon a city which we have destroyed that they shall
not return, until Yagug and Magug are let out, and they from every
hummock shall glide forth.
And the true promise draws nigh, and lo! they are staring-the eyes
of those who misbelieve! O, woe is us! we were heedless of this,
nay, we were wrong-doers!
Verily, ye, and what ye serve beside God, shall be the pebbles of
hell, to it shall ye go down!
Had these been God' they would not have gone down thereto: but all
shall dwell therein for aye; for them therein is groaning, but they
therein shall not be heard.
Verily, those for whom the good (reward) from us was
fore-ordained, they from it shall be kept far away; they shall not
hear the slightest sound thereof, and they in what their souls
desire shall dwell for aye. The greatest terror shall not grieve them;
and the angels shall meet them, (saying), 'This is your day which ye
were promised!'
The day when we will roll up the heavens as es-Sigill rolls up the
books; as we produced it at its first creation will we bring it back
again-a promise binding upon us; verily, we are going to do it. And
already have we written in the Psalms after the reminder that 'the
earth shall my righteous servants inherit.'
Verily, in this is preaching for a people who serve me!
We have only sent thee as a mercy to the worlds.
Say, 'I am only inspired that your God is one God; are ye then
resigned?' But if they turn their backs say, 'I have proclaimed
(war) against all alike, but I know not if what ye are threatened with
be near or far!'
Verily, He knows what is spoken openly, and He knows what ye hide.
I know not, haply it is a trial for you and a provision for a
season.
Say, 'My Lord! judge thou with truth! and our Lord is the Merciful
whom we ask for aid against what they ascribe!'
THE CHAPTER OF THE PILGRIMAGE
(XXII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
O ye folk! fear your Lord. Verily, the earthquake of the Hour is a
mighty thing.
On the day ye shall see it, every suckling woman shall be scared
away from that to which she gave suck; and every pregnant woman
shall lay down her load; and thou shalt see men drunken, though they
be not drunken: but the torment of God is severe.
And amongst men is one who wrangles about God without knowledge, and
follows every rebellious devil; against whom it is written down that
whoso takes him for a patron, verily, he will lead him astray, and
will guide him towards the torment of the blaze!
O ye folk! if ye are in doubt about the raising (of the
dead),-verily, we created you from earth, then from a clot, then
from congealed blood, then from a morsel, shaped or shapeless, that we
may explain to you. And we make what we please rest in the womb
until an appointed time; then we bring you forth babes; then let you
reach your full age; and of you are some who die; and of you are
some who are kept back till the most decrepit age, till he knows no
longer aught of knowledge. And ye see the earth parched, and when we
send down water on it, it stirs and swells, and brings forth herbs
of every beauteous kind.
That is because God, He is the truth, and because He quickens the
dead, and because He is mighty over all; and because the Hour is
coming, there is no doubt therein, and because God raises up those who
are in the tombs.
And amongst men is one who wrangles about God without knowledge or
guidance or an illuminating book; twisting his neck from the way of
God; for him is disgrace in this world, and we will make him taste,
upon the resurrection day, the torment of burning.
That is for what thy hands have done before, and for that God is not
unjust unto His servants.
'And amongst men is one who serves God (wavering) on a brink; and if
there befall him good, he is comforted; but if there befall him a
trial, he turns round again, and loses this world and the next-that is
an obvious loss. He calls, besides God, on what can neither harm him
nor profit him;-that is a wide error.
He calls on him whose harm is nigher than his profit,-a bad lord and
a bad comrade.
Verily, God makes those who believe and do aright enter into gardens
beneath which rivers flow; verily, God does what He will.
He who thinks that God will never help him in this world or the
next-let him stretch a cord to the roof and put an end to himself; and
let him cut it and see if his stratagem will remove what he is enraged
at.
Thus have we sent down manifest signs; for, verily, God guides
whom He will.
Verily, those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Sabaeans,
and the Christians, and the Magians, and those who join other gods
with God, verily, God will decide between them on the resurrection
day; verily, God is witness over all.
Do they not see that God, whosoever is in the heavens adores Him,
and whosoever is in the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the
stars, and the mountains, and the beasts, and many among men, though
many a one deserves the torments?
Whomsoever God abases there is none to honour him; verily, God
does what He pleases.
These are two disputants who dispute about their Lord, but those who
misbelieve, for them are cut out garments of fire, there shall be
poured over their heads boiling water, wherewith what is in their
bellies shall be dissolved and their skins too, and for them are maces
of iron. Whenever they desire to come forth therefrom through pain,
they are sent back into it: 'And taste ye the torment of the burning!'
Verily, God will make those who believe and do right enter into
gardens beneath which rivers flow; they shall be bedecked therein with
bracelets of gold and with pearls, and their garments therein shall be
of silk, and they shall be guided to the goodly speech, and they shall
be guided to the laudable way.
Verily, those who misbelieve and who turn men away from God's path
and the Sacred Mosque, which we have made for all men alike, the
dweller therein, and the stranger, and he who desires therein
profanation with injustice, we will make him taste grievous woe.
And when we established for Abraham the place of the House,
(saying), 'Associate naught with me, but cleanse my House for those
who make the circuits, for those who stand to pray, for those who bow,
and for those too who adore.
'And proclaim amongst men the Pilgrimage; let them come to you on
foot and on every slim camel, from every deep pass, that they may
witness advantages for them, and may mention the name of God for the
stated days over what God has provided them with of brute beasts, then
eat thereof and feed the badly off, the poor.
'Then let them finish the neglect of their persons, and let them pay
their vows and make the circuit round the old House.
'That do. And whoso magnifies the sacred things of God it is
better for him with his Lord.
'Cattle are lawful for you, except what is recited to you; and avoid
the abomination of idols, and avoid speaking falsely, being 'Hanifs to
God, not associating aught with Him; for he who associates aught
with God, it is as though he had fallen from heaven, and the birds
snatch him up, or the wind blows him away into a far distant place.
'That-and he who makes grand the symbols' of God, they come from
piety of heart.
'Therein have ye advantages for an appointed time, then the place
for sacrificing them is at the old House.'
To every nation have we appointed rites, to mention the name of
God over what He has provided them with of brute beasts; and your
God is one God, to Him then be resigned, and give glad tidings to
the lowly, whose hearts when God is mentioned are afraid, and to those
who are patient of what befalls them, and to those who are steadfast
in prayer and of what we have given them expend in alms.
The bulky (camels) we have made for you one of the symbols of God,
therein have ye good; so mention the name of God over them as they
stand in a row, and when they fall down (dead) eat of them, and feed
the easily contented and him who begs.
Thus have we subjected them to you; haply, ye may give thanks!
Their meat will never reach to God, nor yet their blood, but the
piety from you will reach to Him.
Thus hath He subjected them to you that ye may magnify God for
guiding you: and give thou glad tidings to those who do good.
Verily, God will defend those who believe; verily, God loves not any
misbelieving traitor.
Permission is given to those who fight because they have been
wronged,-and, verily, God to help them has the might,-who have been
driven forth from their homes undeservedly, only for that they said,
'Our Lord is God;' and were it not for God's repelling some men with
others, cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein
God's name is mentioned much, would be destroyed. But God will
surely help him who helps Him; verily, God is powerful, mighty.
Who, if we stablish them in the earth, are steadfast in prayer,
and give alms, and bid what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and
God's is the future of affairs.
But if they call thee liar, the people of Noah called him liar
before them, as did 'Ad and Thamud, and the people of Abraham, and the
people of Lot, and the fellows of Midian; and Moses was called a
liar too: but I let the misbelievers range at large, and then I seized
on them, and how great was the change!
And how many a city have we destroyed while it yet did wrong, and it
was turned over on its roofs, and (how many) a deserted well and lofty
palace!
Have they not travelled on through the land? and have they not
hearts to understand with, or ears to hear with? for it is not their
eyes which are blind, but blind are the hearts which are within
their breasts.
They will bid thee hasten on the torment, but God will never fail in
his promise; for, verily, a day with thy Lord is as a thousand years
of what ye number.
And to how many a city have I given full range while it yet did
wrong! then I seized on it, and unto me was the return.
Say, 'O ye folk! I am naught but a plain warner to you, but those
who believe and do right, for them is forgiveness and a generous
provision; but those who strive to discredit our signs, they are the
fellows of hell!'
We have not sent before thee any apostle or prophet, but that when
he wished, Satan threw not something into his wish; but God annuls
what Satan throws; then does God confirm his signs, and God is
knowing, wise-to make what Satan throws a trial unto those in whose
hearts is sickness, and those whose hearts are hard; and, verily,
the wrongdoers are in a wide schism-and that those who have been given
'the knowledge' may know that it is the truth from thy Lord, and may
believe therein, and that their hearts may be lowly; for, verily,
God surely will guide those who believe into a right way.
But those who misbelieve will not cease to be in doubt thereof until
the Hour comes on them suddenly, or there comes on them the torment of
the barren day.
The kingdom on that day shall be God's, He shall judge between them;
and those who believe and do aright shall be in gardens of pleasure,
but those who misbelieve and say our signs are lies, these-for them is
shameful woe.
And those who flee in God's way, and then are slain or die, God will
provide them with a goodly provision; for, verily, God is the best
of providers.
He shall surely make them enter by an entrance that they like;
for, verily, God is knowing, clement.
That (is so). Whoever punishes with the like of what he has been
injured with, and shall then be outraged again, God shall surely
help him; verily, God pardons, forgives.
That for that God joins on the night to the day, and joins on the
day to the night, and that God is hearing, seeing; that is for that
God is the truth, and for that what ye call on beside Him is
falsehood, and that God is the high, the great.
Hast thou not seen that God sends down from the sky water, and on
the morrow the earth is green? verily, God is kind and well aware.
His is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth; and, verily,
God is rich and to be praised.
Hast thou not seen that God has subjected for you what is in the
earth, and the ship that runs on in the sea at His bidding, and He
holds back the sky from falling on the earth save at His bidding?
verily, God to men is gracious, merciful.
He it is who quickens you, then makes you die, then will He
quicken you again-verily, man is indeed ungrateful.
For every nation have we made rites which they observe; let them not
then dispute about the matter, but call upon thy Lord; verily, thou
art surely in a right guidance!
But if they wrangle with thee, say, 'God best knows what ye do.'
God shall judge between them on the resurrection day concerning that
whereon they disagreed.
Didst thou not know that God knows what is in the heavens and the
earth? verily, that is in a book; verily, that for God is easy.
And they serve beside God what He has sent down no power for, and
what they have no knowledge of; but the wrong-doers shall have none to
help them.
When our signs are read to them manifest, thou mayest recognise in
the faces of those who misbelieve disdain; they well-nigh rush at
those who recite to them our signs. Say, 'Shall I inform you of
something worse than that for you, the Fire which God has promised
to those who misbelieve? an evil journey shall it be!'
O ye folk! a parable is struck out for you, so listen to it. Verily,
those on whom ye call beside God could never create a fly if they
all united together to do it, and if the fly should despoil them of
aught they could not snatch it away from it-weak is both the seeker
and the sought.
They do not value God at His true value; verily, God is powerful,
mighty.
God chooses apostles of the angels and of men; verily, God hears and
sees. He knows what is before them and what is behind them; and unto
God affairs return.
O ye who believe! bow down and adore, and serve your Lord, and do
well, haply ye may prosper; and fight strenuously for God, as is His
due. He has elected you, and has not put upon you any hindrance by
your religion,-the faith of your father Abraham. He has named you
Muslims before and in this (book), that the Apostle may be a witness
against you, and that ye may be witnesses against men.
Be ye then steadfast in prayer, and give alms, and hold fast by God;
He is your sovereign, and an excellent sovereign, and an excellent
help!
THE CHAPTER OF BELIEVERS
(XXIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Prosperous are the believers who in their prayers are humble, and
who from vain talk turn aside, and who in almsgiving are active. And
who guard their private parts-except for their wives or what their
right hands possess for then, verily, they are not to be blamed;-but
whoso craves aught beyond that, they are the transgressors-and who
observe their trusts and covenants, and who guard well their
prayers: these are the heirs who shall inherit Paradise; they shall
dwell therein for aye!
We have created man from an extract of clay; then we made him a clot
in a sure depository; then we created the clot congealed blood, and we
created the congealed blood a morsel; then we created the morsel bone,
and we clothed the bone with flesh; then we produced it another
creation; and blessed be God, the best of creators!
Then shall ye after that surely die; then shall ye on the day of
resurrection be raised.
And we have created above you seven roads; nor are we heedless of
the creation.
And we send down from the heaven water by measure, and we make it
rest in the earth; but, verily, we are able to take it away; and we
produce for you thereby gardens of palms and grapes wherein ye have
many fruits, and whence ye eat.
And a tree growing out of Mount Sinai which produces oil, and a
condiment for those who eat.
And, verily, ye have a lesson in the cattle; we give you to drink of
what is in their bellies; and ye have therein many advantages, and
of them ye eat, and on them and on ships ye are borne!
We sent Noah unto his people, and he said, 'O my people! worship
God, ye have no god-but Him; do ye then not fear?'
Said the chiefs of those who misbelieved among his people, 'This
is nothing but a mortal like yourselves who wishes to have
preference over you, and had God pleased He would have sent angels; we
have not heard of this amongst our fathers of yore: he is nothing
but a man possessed; let him bide then for a season.'
Said he, 'Help me, for they call me liar!'
And we inspired him, 'Make the ark under our eyes and inspiration;
and when the oven boils over, conduct into it of every kind two,
with thy family, except him of them against whom the word "has passed;
and do not address me for those who do wrong, verily, they are to be
drowned!
'But when thou art settled, thou and those with thee in the ark,
say, "Praise belongs to God, who saved us from the unjust people!"
'And say, "My Lord! make me to alight in a blessed
alighting-place, for Thou art the best of those who cause men to
alight!"' Verily, in that this is a sign, and, verily, we were
trying them.
Then we raised up after them another generation; and we sent amongst
them a prophet of themselves (saying), 'Serve God, ye have no god
but He; will ye then not fear?'
Said the chiefs of his people who misbelieved, and called the
meeting of the last day a lie, and to whom we gave enjoyment in the
life of this world, 'This is only a mortal like yourselves, who eats
of what ye eat, and drinks of what ye drink; and if ye obey a mortal
like yourselves, verily, ye will then be surely losers! Does he
promise you that when ye are dead, and have become dust and bones,
that then ye will be brought forth?
'Away, away with what ye are threatened,-there is only our life in
the world! We die and we live, and we shall not be raised! He is
only a man who forges against God a lie. And we believe not in him!'
Said he, 'My Lord! help me, for they call me liar!' He said, 'Within
a little they will surely awake repenting!'
And the noise seized them deservedly; and we made them as rubbish
borne by a torrent; so, away with the unjust people!
Then we raised up after them other generations. No nation can
anticipate its appointed time, nor keep it back.
Then we sent our apostles one after another. Whenever its apostle
came to any nation they called him a liar; and we made some to
follow others; and we made them legends; away then with a people who
do not believe!
Then we sent Moses and his brother Aaron with our signs, and with
plain authority to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they were too big
with pride, and were a haughty people.
And they said, 'Shall we believe two mortals like ourselves, when
their people are servants of ours?'
So they called them liars, and were of those who perished.
And we gave Moses the Book, that haply they might be guided.
And we made the son of Mary and his mother a sign; and we lodged
them both on a high place, furnished with security and a spring.
O ye apostles! eat of the good things and do right; verily, what
ye do I know!
And, verily, this nation of yours is one nation, and I am your Lord;
so fear me.
And they have become divided as to their affair amongst themselves
into sects, each party rejoicing in what they have themselves. So
leave them in their flood (of error) for a time.
Do they reckon that that which we grant them such an extent, of
wealth and children, we hasten to them as good things-nay, but they do
not perceive!
Verily, those who shrink with terror at their Lord, and those who in
the signs of their Lord believe, and those who with their Lord join
none, and those who give what they do give while their hearts are
afraid that they unto their Lord will return,-these hasten to good
things and are first to gain the same. But we will not oblige a soul
beyond its capacity; for with us is a book that utters the truth,
and they shall not be wronged.
Nay, their hearts are in a flood (of error) at this, and they have
works beside this which they do. Until we catch the affluent ones
amongst them with the torment; then lo! they cry for aid.
Cry not for aid to-day! verily, against us ye will not be helped. My
signs were recited to you, but upon your heels did ye turn back, big
with pride at it, in vain discourse by night.
Is it that they did not ponder over the words, whether that has come
to them which came not to their fathers of yore? Or did they not
know their apostle, that they thus deny him? Or do they say, 'He is
possessed by a ginn?' Nay, he came to them with the truth, and most of
them are averse from the truth.
But if the truth were to follow their lusts, the heavens and the
earth would be corrupted with all who in them are!-Nay, we brought
them their reminder, but they from their reminder turn aside.
Or dost thou ask them for a tribute? but the tribute of thy Lord
is better, for He is the best of those who provide.
And, verily, thou dost call them to a right way; but, verily,
those who believe not in the hereafter from the way do veer.
But if we had mercy on them, and removed the distress they have,
they would persist in their rebellion, blindly wandering on!
And we caught them with the torment, but they did not abase
themselves before their Lord, nor did they humble themselves; until we
opened for them a door with grievous torment, then lo! they are in
despair.
He it is who produced for you hearing, and sight, and
minds,-little is it that ye thank. And He it is who created you in the
earth, and unto Him shall ye be gathered. And He it is who gives you
life and death; and His is the alternation of the night and the day;
have ye then no sense?
Nay, but they said like that which those of yore did say.
They said, 'What! when we have become earth and bones, are we then
going to be raised? We have been promised this, and our fathers too,
before;-this is naught but old folks' tales!'
Say, 'Whose is the earth and those who are therein, if ye but know?'
They will say, 'God's.' Say, 'Do ye not then mind?'
Say, 'Who is Lord of the seven heavens, and Lord of the mighty
throne?'
They will say, 'God.' Say, 'Do ye not then fear?'
Say, 'In whose hand is the dominion of everything; He succours but
is not succoured,-if ye did but know?'
They will say, 'God's.' Say, 'Then how can ye be so infatuated?'
Nay, we have brought them the truth, but, verily, they are liars!
God never took a son, nor was there ever any god with Him;-then each
god would have gone off with what he had created, and some would
have exalted themselves over others,- celebrated be His praises
above what they attribute (to Him)!
He who knows the unseen and the visible, exalted be He above what
they join with Him!
Say, 'My Lord! if Thou shouldst show me what they are threatened,-my
Lord! then place me not amongst the unjust people.'
Repel evil by what is better. We know best what they attribute (to
thee). And say, 'My Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from the incitings
of the devils; and I seek refuge in Thee from their presence!'
Until when death comes to any one of them he says, 'My Lord! send ye
me back, haply I may do right in that which I have left!'
Not so!-a mere word he speaks!-but behind them is a bar until the
day they shall be raised.
And when the trumpet shall be blown, and there shall be no
relation between them on that day, nor shall they beg of each other
then!
And he whose scales are heavy,-they are the prosperous. But he whose
scales are light,-these are they who lose themselves, in hell to dwell
for aye! The fire shall scorch their faces, and they shall curl
their lips therein! 'Were not my signs recited to you? and ye said
that they were lies!' They say, 'Our Lord our misery overcame us,
and we were a people who did err! Our Lord! take us out therefrom, and
if we return, then shall we be unjust.'
He will say, 'Go ye away into it and speak not to me!'
Verily, there was a sect of my servants who said, 'Our Lord! we
believe, so pardon us, "and have mercy upon us, for Thou art the
best of the merciful ones.'
And ye took them for a jest until ye forgat my reminder and did
laugh thereat. Verily, I have recompensed them this day for their
patience; verily, they are happy now.
He will say, 'How long a number of years did ye tarry on earth?'
They will say, 'We tarried a day or part of a day, but ask the
Numberers.'
He will say, 'Ye have only tarried a little, were ye but to know it.
Did ye then reckon that we created you for sport, and that to us ye
would not return?' But exalted be God, the true; there is no god but
He, the Lord of the noble throne! and whoso calls upon another god
with God has no proof of it, but, verily, his account is with his
Lord; verily, the misbelievers shall not prosper. And say, 'Lord,
pardon and be merciful, for Thou art the best of the merciful ones!'
THE CHAPTER OF LIGHT
(XXIV. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
A chapter which we have sent down and determined, and have sent down
therein manifest signs; haply ye may be mindful.
The whore and the whoremonger. Scourge each of them with a hundred
stripes, and do not let pity for them take hold of you in God's
religion, if ye believe in God and the last day; and let a party of
the believers witness their torment. And the whoremonger shall marry
none but a whore or an idolatress; and the whore shall none marry
but an adulterer or an idolater; God has prohibited this to the
believers; but those who cast (imputations) on chaste women and then
do not bring four witnesses, scourge them with eighty stripes, and
do not receive any testimony of theirs ever, for these are the workers
of abomination. Except such as repent after that and act aright,
for, verily, God is forgiving and compassionate.
And those who cast (imputation) on their wives and have no witnesses
except themselves, then the testimony of one of them shall be to
testify four times that, by God, he is of those who speak the truth;
and the fifth testimony shall be that the curse of God shall be on him
if he be of those who lie. And it shall avert the punishment from
her if she bears testimony four times that, by God, he is of those who
lie; and the fifth that the wrath of God shall be on her if he be of
those who speak the truth.
And were it not for God's grace upon you and His mercy, and that God
is relenting, wise...
Verily, those who bring forward the lie, a band of you,-reckon it
not as an evil for you, nay, it is good for- you; every man of them
shall have what he has earned of sin; and he of them who managed to
aggravate it, for him is mighty woe.
Why did not, when ye heard it, the believing men and believing women
think good in themselves, and say, 'This is an obvious lie?' Why did
they not bring four witnesses to it? but since they did not bring
the witnesses, then they in God's eyes are the liars. And but for
God's grace upon you, and His mercy in this world and the next,
there would have touched you, for that which ye spread abroad,
mighty woe. When ye reported it with your tongues, and spake with your
mouths what ye had no knowledge of, and reckoned it a light thing,
while in God's eyes it was grave.
And why did ye not say when ye heard it, 'It is not for us to
speak of this? Celebrated be His praises, this is a mighty calumny!'
God admonishes you that ye return not to the like of it ever, if
ye be believers; and God manifests to you the signs, for God is
knowing, wise.
Verily, those who love that scandal should go abroad amongst those
who believe, for them is grievous woe in this world and the next;
for God knows, but ye do not know.
And but for God's grace upon you, and His mercy, and that God is
kind and compassionate...!
O ye who believe! follow not the footsteps of Satan, for he who
follows the footsteps of Satan, verily, he bids you sin and do
wrong; and but for God's grace upon you and His mercy, not one of
you would be ever pure; but God purifies whom He will, for God both
hears and knows. And let not those amongst you who have plenty and
ample means swear that they will not give aught to their kinsman and
the poor and those who have fled their homes in God's way, but let
them pardon and pass it over. Do ye not like God to forgive you? and
God is forgiving, compassionate.
Verily, those who cast imputations on chaste women who are negligent
but believing shall be cursed in this world and the next; and for them
is mighty woe. The day when their tongues and hands and feet shall
bear witness against them of what they did, on that day God will pay
them their just due; and they shall know that God, He is the plain
truth.
The vile women to the vile men, and the vile men to the vile
women; and the good women to the good men, and the good men to the
good women: these are clear of what they say to them forgiveness and a
noble provision!
O ye who believe! enter not into houses which are not your own
houses, until ye have asked leave and saluted the people thereof, that
is better for you; haply ye may be mindful. And if ye find no one
therein, then do not enter them until permission is given you, and
if it be said to you, 'Go back!' then go back, it is purer for you;
for God of what ye do doth know. It is no crime against you that ye
enter uninhabited houses,-a convenience for you;-and God knows what ye
show and what ye hide.
Say to the believers that they cast down their looks and guard their
private parts; that is purer for them; verily, God is well aware of
what they do.
And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and
guard their private parts, and display not their ornaments, except
those which are outside; and let them pull their kerchiefs over
their bosoms and not display their ornaments save to their husbands
and fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the
sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or
their sisters' sons, or their women, or what their right hands
possess, or their male attendants who are incapable, or to children
who do not note women's nakedness; and that they beat not with their
feet that their hidden ornaments may be known;-but turn ye all
repentant to God, O ye believers! haply ye may prosper.
And marry the single amongst you, and the righteous among your
servants and your handmaidens. If they be poor, God will enrich them
of His grace, for God both comprehends and knows. And let those who
cannot find a match, until God enriches them of His grace, keep
chaste.
And such of those whom your right hands possess as crave a
writing, write it for them, if ye know any good in them, and give them
of the wealth of God which He has given you. And do not compel your
slave girls to prostitution, if they desire to keep continent, in
order to crave the goods of the life of this world; but he who does
compel them, then, verily, God after they are compelled is
forgiving, compassionate.
Now have we sent down to you manifest signs, and the like of those
who have passed away before you, and as an admonition to those who
fear.
God is the light of the heavens and the earth; His light is as a
niche in which is a lamp, and the lamp is in a glass, the glass is
as though it were a glittering star; it is lit from a blessed tree, an
olive neither of the east nor of the west, the oil of which would
well-nigh give light though no fire touched it,-light upon
light!-God guides to His light whom He pleases; and God strikes out
parables for men, and God all things doth know.
In the houses God has permitted to be reared and His name to be
mentioned therein-His praises are celebrated therein mornings and
evenings.
Men whom neither merchandize nor selling divert from the remembrance
of God and steadfastness in prayer and giving alms, who fear a day
when hearts and eyes shall be upset;-that God may recompense them
for the best that they have done, and give them increase of His grace;
for God provides whom He pleases without count.
But those who misbelieve, their works are like the mirage in a
plain, the thirsty counts it water till when he comes to it he finds
nothing, but he finds that God is with him; and He will pay him his
account, for God is quick to take account.
Or like darkness on a deep sea, there covers it a wave above which
is a wave, above which is a cloud,-darknesses one above the
other,-when one puts out his hand he can scarcely see it; for he to
whom God has given no light, he has no light.
Hast thou not seen that God,-all who are in the heavens and the
earth celebrate His praises, and the birds too spreading out their
wings; each one knows its prayer and its praise, and God knows what
they do?
Hast thou not seen that God drives the clouds, and then re-unites
them, and then accumulates them, and thou mayest see the rain coming
forth from their midst; and He sends down from the sky mountains
with hail therein, and He makes it fall on whom He pleases, and He
turns it from whom He pleases; the flashing of His ligtning
well-nigh goes off with their sight?
God interchanges the night and the day; verily, in that is a
lesson to those endowed with sight.
And God created every beast from water, and of them is one that
walks upon its belly, and of them one that walks upon two feet, and of
them one that walks upon four. God creates what He pleases; verily,
God is mighty over all!
Now have we sent down manifest signs, and God guides whom He pleases
unto the right way.
They will say, 'We believe in God and in the Apostle, and we
obey.' Then a sect of them turned their backs after that, and they are
not believers.
And when they are called to God and His Apostle to judge between
them, lo! a sect of them do turn aside. But had the right been on
their side they would have come to him submissively enough.
Is there a sickness in their hearts, or do they doubt, or do they
fear lest God and His Apostle should deal unfairly by them?- Nay, it
is they who are unjust.
The speech of the believers, when they are called to God and His
Apostle to judge between them, is only to say, 'We hear and we
obey;' and these it is who are the prosperous, for whoso obeys God and
His Apostle and dreads God and fears Him, these it is who are the
happy.
They swear by God with their most strenuous oath that hadst Thou
ordered them they would surely go forth. Say, 'Do not swear-reasonable
obedience; verily, God knows what ye do.'
Say, 'Obey God and obey the Apostle; but if ye turn your backs he
has only his burden to bear, and ye have only your burden to bear. But
if ye obey him, ye are guided; but the Apostle has only his plain
message to deliver.'
God promises those of you who believe and do right that He will give
them the succession in the earth as He gave the succession to those
before them, and He will establish for them their religion which He
has chosen for them, and to give them, after their fear, safety in
exchange;- they shall worship me, they shall not associate aught
with me: but whoso disbelieves after that, those it is who are the
sinners.
And be steadfast in prayer and give alms and obey the Apostle, haply
ye may obtain mercy.
Do not reckon that those who misbelieve can frustrate (God) in the
earth, for their resort is the Fire, and an ill journey shall it be.
O ye who believe! let those whom your right hands possess, and those
amongst you who have not reached puberty, ask leave of you three
times: before the prayer of dawn, and when ye put off your clothes
at noon, and after the evening prayer;-three times of privacy for you:
there is no crime on either you or them after these while ye are
continually going one about the other. Thus does God explain to you
His signs, for God is knowing, wise.
And when your children reach puberty let them ask leave as those
before them asked leave. Thus does God explain to you His signs, for
God is knowing, wise.
And those women who have stopped (child-bearing), who do not hope
for a match, it is no crime on them that they put off their clothes so
as not to display their ornaments; but that they abstain is better for
them, for God both hears and knows.
There is no hindrance to the blind, and no hindrance to the lame,
and no hindrance to the sick, and none upon yourselves that you eat
from your houses, or the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your
mothers, or the houses of your brothers, or the houses of your
sisters, or the houses of your paternal uncles, or the houses of
your paternal aunts, or the houses of your maternal uncles, or the
houses of your maternal aunts, or what ye possess the keys of, or of
your friend, there is no crime on you that ye eat all together or
separately.
And when ye enter houses then greet each other with a salutation
from God, blessed and good. Thus does God explain to you His signs,
haply ye may understand.
Only those are believers who believe in God and His Apostle, and
when they are with Him upon public business go not away until they
have asked his leave; verily, those who ask thy leave they it is who
believe in God and His Apostle.
But when they ask thy leave for any of their own concerns, then give
leave to whomsoever thou wilt of them, and ask pardon for them of God;
verily, God is forgiving and merciful.
Make not the calling of the Apostle amongst yourselves like your
calling one to the other God knows those of you who withdraw
themselves covertly. And let those who disobey his order beware lest
there befall them some trial or there befall them grievous woe. Ay,
God's is what is in the heavens and the earth, He knows what ye are
at; and the day ye shall be sent back to Him then He will inform you
of what ye have done, for God all things doth know.
THE CHAPTER OF THE DISCRIMINATION
(XXV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Blessed be He who sent down the Discrimination to His servant that
he might be unto the world a warner; whose is the kingdom of the
heavens and the earth, and who has not taken to Himself a son, and who
has no partner in His kingdom, and created everything, and then
decreed it determinately! And they take beside Him gods who create not
aught, but are themselves created, and cannot control for themselves
harm or profit, and cannot control death, or life, or resurrection.
And those who misbelieve say, 'This is nothing but a lie which he
has forged, and another people hath helped him at it;' but they have
wrought an injustice and a falsehood.
And they say, 'Old folks' tales, which he has got written down while
they are dictated to him morning and evening.'
Say, 'He sent it down who knows the secret in the heavens and the
earth; verily, He is ever forgiving, merciful!'
And they say, 'What ails this prophet that he eats food and walks in
the markets?- unless there be sent down to him an angel and be a
warner with him.... Or there be thrown to him a treasury, or he have a
garden to eat therefrom....!' and the unjust say, 'Ye only follow an
infatuated man.'
See how they strike out for thee parables, and err, and cannot
find a way.
Blessed be He who, if He please, can make for thee better than that,
gardens beneath which rivers flow, and can make for thee castles!
Nay, but they call the Hour a lie; but we have prepared for those
who call the Hour a lie a blaze: when it seizes them from a far-off
place they shall hear its raging and roaring; and when they are thrown
into a narrow place thereof, fastened together, they shall call
there for destruction.
Call not to-day for one destruction, but call for many destructions!
Say, 'Is that better or the garden of eternity which was promised to
those who fear-which is ever for them a recompense and a retreat? They
shall have therein what they please, to dwell therein for aye: that is
of thy Lord a promise to be demanded.
And the day He shall gather them and what they served beside God,
and He shall say, 'Was it ye who led my servants here astray, or did
they err from the way?'
They shall say, 'Celebrated be Thy praise, it was not befitting
for us to take any patrons but Thee; but Thou didst give them and
their fathers enjoyment until they forgot the Reminder and were a lost
people!'
And now have they proved you liars for what ye say, and they
cannot ward off or help. And he of you who does wrong we will make him
taste great torment.
We have not sent before thee any messengers but that they ate food
and walked in the markets; but we have made some of you a trial to
others: will ye be patient? thy Lord doth ever look.
And those who do not hope to meet us say, 'Unless the angels be sent
down to us, or we see our Lord....!' They are too big with pride in
their souls and they have exceeded with a great excess!
The day they shall see the angels,-no glad tidings on that day for
the sinners, and they shall say, 'It is rigorously forbidden!'
And we will go on to the works which they have done, and make them
like motes in a sunbeam scattered! The fellows of Paradise on that day
shall be in a better abiding-place and a better noonday rest.
The day the heavens shall be cleft asunder with the clouds, and
the angels shall be sent down descending.
The true kingdom on that day shall belong to the Merciful, and it
shall be a hard day for the misbelievers.
And the day when the unjust shall bite his hands and say, 'O,
would that I had taken a way with the Apostle! O, woe is me! would
that I had not taken such a one for a friend now, for he did lead me
astray from the Reminder after it had come to me, for Satan leaves man
in the lurch!'
The Apostle said, my Lord! verily, my people have taken this Koran
to be obsolete!'
Thus have we made for every prophet an enemy from among the sinners;
but thy Lord is good guide and helper enough.
Those who misbelieve said, 'Unless the Koran be sent down to him all
at once....!'- thus-that we may stablish thy heart therewith, did we
reveal it piecemeal. Nor shall they come to thee with a parable
without our bringing thee the truth and the best interpretation.
They who shall be gathered upon their faces to hell,-these are in
the worst place, and err most from the path.
And we did give to Moses the Book, and place with him his brother
Aaron as a minister; and we said, 'Go ye to the people who say our
signs are lies, for we will destroy them with utter destruction.'
And the people of Noah, when they said the apostles were liars, we
drowned them, and we made them a sign for men; and we prepared for the
unjust a grievous woe.
And 'Ad and Thamud and the people of ar Rass, and many generations
between them.
For each one have we struck out parables, and each one have we
ruined with utter ruin.
Why, they have come past the cities which were rained on with an
evil rain; have they not seen them?-nay, they do not hope to be raised
up again.
And when they saw thee they only took thee for a jest, 'Is this he
whom God has sent as an apostle? he well-nigh leads us astray from our
gods, had we not been patient about them.' But they shall know, when
they see the torment, who errs most from the path. Dost thou
consider him who takes his lusts for his god? wilt thou then be in
charge over him? or dost thou reckon that most of them- will hear or
understand? they are only like the cattle, nay, they err more from the
way.
Hast thou not looked to thy Lord how He prolongs the shadow? but had
He willed He would have made it stationary; then we make the sun a
thereto, then we contract it towards us with a gul an easy
contraction.
And He it is who made the night for a garment; and sleep for repose,
and made the day for men to rise up again. And He it is who sent the
winds with glad tidings before His mercy; and we send down from the
heavens pure water, to quicken therewith the dead country, and to give
it for drink to what we have created,-the cattle and many folk.
We have turned it in various ways amongst them that they may
remember; though most men refuse aught but to misbelieve. But, had
we pleased, we would have sent in every city a warner. So obey not the
unbelievers and fight strenuously with them in many a strenuous fight.
He it is who has let loose the two seas, this one sweet and fresh,
that one bitter and pungent, and has made between them a rigorous
prohibition.
And He it is who has created man from water, and has made for him
blood relationship and marriage relationship; for thy Lord is mighty.
Yet they worship beside God what can neither profit them nor harm
them; but he who misbelieves in his Lord backs up (the devil).
We have only sent thee to give glad tidings and to warn. Say, 'I ask
you not for it a hire unless one please to take unto his Lord a
way.' And rely thou upon the Living One who dies not; and celebrate
His praise, for He knows well enough about the thoughts of His
servants, He who created the heavens and the earth, and what is
between them, in six days, and then made for the throne; the
Merciful One, ask concerning Him of One who is aware.
And when it is said, 'Adore ye the Merciful!' they say, 'What is the
Merciful? shall we adore what thou dost order us?' and it only
increases their aversion.
Blessed be He who placed in the heavens zodiacal signs, and placed
therein the lamp and an illuminating moon!
And He it is who made the night and the day alternating for him
who desires to remember or who wishes to be thankful.
And the servants of the Merciful are those who walk upon the earth
lowly, and when the ignorant address them, say, 'Peace!' And those who
pass the night adoring their Lord and standing; and those who say,
'O our Lord! turn from us the torment of hell; verily, its torments
are persistent; verily, they are evil as an abode and a station.'
And those who when they spend are neither extravagant nor miserly,
but who ever take their stand between the two; and who call not upon
another god with God; and kill not the soul which God has prohibited
save deservedly; and do not commit fornication: for he who does that
shall meet with a penalty; doubled for him shall be the torment on the
resurrection day, and he shall be therein for aye despised. Save he
who turns again and believes and does a righteous work; for, as to
those, God will change their evil deeds to good, for God is ever
forgiving, merciful.
And he who turns again and does right, verily, he turns again to God
repentant.
And those who do not testify falsely; and when they pass by
frivolous discourse, pass by it honourably; and those who when they
are reminded of the signs of their Lord do not fall down thereat
deaf and blind; and those who say, 'Our Lord! grant us from our
wives and seed that which may cheer our eyes, and make us models to
the pious!'
These shall be rewarded with a high place for that they were
patient: and they shall meet therein with salutation and peace,-to
dwell therein for aye; a good abode and station shall it be!
Say, 'My Lord cares not for you though you should not call (on Him);
and ye have called (the Apostle) a liar, but it shall be (a
punishment) which ye cannot shake off.'
THE CHAPTER OF THE POETS
(XXVI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
TA SIN MIM. Those are the signs of the perspicuous Book; haply
thou art vexing thyself to death that they will not be believers!
If we please we will send down upon them from the heaven a sign, and
their necks shall be humbled thereto. But there comes not to them
any recent Reminder from the Merciful One that they do not turn away
from. They have called (thee) liar! but there shall come to them a
message of that at which they mocked.
Have they not looked to the earth, how we caused to grow therein
of every noble kind? verily, in that is a sign; but most of them
will never be believers! but, verily, thy Lord He is mighty and
merciful.
And when thy Lord called Moses (saying), 'Come to the unjust people,
to the people of Pharaoh, will they not fear?' Said he, 'My Lord!
verily, I fear that they will call me liar; and my breast is
straitened, and my tongue is not fluent; send then unto Aaron, for
they have a crime against me, and I fear that they may kill me.'
Said He, 'Not so; but go with our signs, verily, we are with you
listening.
'And go to Pharaoh and say, "Verily, we are the apostles of the Lord
of the worlds (to tell thee to) send with us the children of Israel."'
And he said, 'Did we not bring thee up amongst us as a child? and
thou didst dwell amongst us for years of thy life; and thou didst do
thy deed which thou hast done, and thou art of the ungrateful!'
Said he, 'I did commit this, and I was of those who erred.
'And I fled from you when I feared you, and my Lord granted me
judgment, and made me one of His messengers; and this is the favour
thou hast obliged me with, that thou hast enslaved the children of
Israel!'
Said Pharaoh, 'Who is the Lord of the worlds? Said he, 'The Lord
of the heavens and the earth and what is between the two, if ye are
but sure.'
Said he to those about him, 'Do ye not listen?' Said he, 'Your
Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore!'
Said he, 'Verily, your apostle who is sent to you is surely mad!'
Said he, 'The Lord of the east and of the west, and of what is
between the two, if ye had but sense!'
Said he, 'If thou dost take a god besides Me I will surely make thee
one of the imprisoned!'
Said he, 'What, if I come to thee with something obvious?'
Said he, 'Bring it, if thou art of those who tell the truth!'
And he threw down his rod, and, behold, it was an obvious serpent!
and he plucked out his hand, and, behold, it was white to the
spectators!
He said to the chiefs around him, 'Verily, this is a knowing
sorcerer, he desires to turn you out of your land! what is it then
ye bid?'
They said, 'Give him and his brother some hope, and send into the
cities to collect and bring to thee every knowing sorcerer.'
And the sorcerers assembled at the appointed time on a stated day,
and it was said to the people, 'Are ye assembled? haply we may
follow the sorcerers if we gain the upper hand.'
And when the sorcerers came they said to Pharaoh, 'Shall we, verily,
have a hire if we gain the upper hand?' Said he, 'Yes; and, verily, ye
shall then of those who are nigh (my throne).' And Moses said to them,
'Throw down what ye have to throw down.' So they threw down their
ropes and their rods and said, 'By Pharaoh's might, verily, we it is
who shall gain the upper hand!'
And Moses threw down his rod, and, lo, it swallowed up what they
falsely devised!
And the sorcerers threw themselves down, adoring. Said they, 'We
believe in the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of Moses and Aaron!'
Said he, 'Do ye believe in Him ere I give you leave? Verily, he is
your chief who has taught you sorcery, but soon ye shall know. I
will surely cut off your hands and your feet from opposite sides,
and I will crucify you all together!'
They said, 'No harm; verily, unto our Lord do we return! verily,
we hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, for we are the first
of believers!'
And we inspired Moses, 'Journey by night with my servants; verily,
ye are pursued.'
And Pharaoh sent into the cities to collect; 'Verily, these are a
small company. And, verily, they are enraged with us; but we are a
multitude, wary!
'Turn them- out of gardens and springs, and treasuries, and a
noble station!'- thus,- and we made the children of Israel to
inherit them.
And they followed them at dawn; and when the two hosts saw each
other, Moses' companions said, 'Verily, we are overtaken!' Said he,
'Not so; verily, with me is my Lord, He will guide me.'
And we inspired Moses, 'Strike with thy rod the sea;' and it was
cleft asunder, and each part was like a mighty mountain. And then we
brought the others. And we saved Moses and those with him all
together; then we drowned the others; and that is a sign: but most
of them will never be believers! And, verily, thy Lord He is mighty,
merciful.
And recite to them the story of Abraham; when he said to his
father and his people, 'What do ye serve?' They said, 'We serve idols,
and we are still devoted to them.' He said, 'Can they hear you when ye
call, or profit you, or harm?'
They said, 'No; but we found our, fathers doing thus.' He said,
'Have ye considered what ye have been serving, ye and your fathers
before you? Verily, they are foes to me, save only the Lord of the
worlds, who created me and guides me, and who gives me food and drink.
And when I am sick He heals me; He who will kill me, and then bring me
to life; and who I hope will forgive me my sins on the day of
judgment! Lord, grant me judgment, and let me reach the righteous; and
give me a tongue of good report amongst posterity; and make me of
the heirs of the paradise of pleasure; and pardon my father, verily,
he is of those who err; and disgrace me not on the day when they are
raised up again; the day when wealth shall profit not, nor sons, but
only he who comes to God with a sound heart. And paradise shall be
brought near to the pious; and hell shall be brought forth to those
who go astray, and it shall be said to them, "Where is what ye used to
worship beside God? can they help you, or get help themselves?" And
they shall fall headlong into it, they and those who have gone astray,
and the hosts of Iblis all together!
'They shall say, while they quarrel therein, By God! we were
surely in an obvious error, when we made you equal to the Lord of
the worlds! but it was only sinners who led us astray. But we have
no intercessors and no warm friend; but had we a turn we would be of
the believers."'-Verily, in that is a sign, but most of them will
never be believers; and, verily, thy Lord He is mighty and merciful.
The people of Noah said the apostles were liars, when their
brother Noah said to them, 'Will ye not fear? verily, I am a
faithful apostle to you; then fear God and obey me. I do not ask you
for it any hire; my hire is only with the Lord of the worlds. So
fear God and obey me.' They said, 'Shall we believe in thee, when
the reprobates follow thee? 'He said, I did not know what they were
doing; their account is only with my Lord, if ye but perceive. And I
am not one to drive away the believers, I am only a plain warner.'
They said, 'Verily, if thou desist not, O Noah! thou shalt surely be
of those who are stoned!' Said he, 'My Lord! verily, my people call me
liar; open between me and between them an opening, and save me and
those of the believers who are with me!'
So we saved him and those with him in the laden ark, then we drowned
the rest; verily, in that is a sign, but most of them will never be
believers; and, verily, thy Lord He is mighty and merciful.
And 'Ad called the apostles liars; when their brother Hud said to
them, 'Will ye not fear? Verily, I am to you a faithful apostle;
then fear God and obey me. I do not ask you for it any hire; my hire
is only with the Lord of the worlds. Do ye build on every height a
landmark in sport, and take to works that haply ye may be immortal?
'And when ye assault ye assault like tyrants; but fear God and
obey me; and fear Him who hath given you an extent of cattle and sons,
and gardens and springs. Verily, I fear for you the torment of a
mighty day!'
They said, 'It is the same to us if thou admonish or art not of
those who do admonish; this is nothing but old folks' fictions, for we
shall not be tormented!'
And they called him liar! but we destroyed them. Verily, in that
is a sign, but most of them will never be believers. And, verily,
thy Lord is mighty, merciful.
Thamud called the apostles liars; when their brother Zali'h said
to them, 'Do ye not fear? verily, I am to you a faithful apostle; so
fear God and obey me. I do not ask you for it any hire; my hire is
only with the Lord of the worlds. Shall ye be left here in safety with
gardens and springs, and corn-fields and palms, the spathes whereof
are fine? and ye hew out of the mountains houses skilfully. But fear
God and obey me; and obey not the bidding of the extravagant, who do
evil in the earth and do not act aright!'
They said, 'Thou art only of the infatuated; thou art but mortal
like ourselves; so bring us a sign, if thou be of those who speak
the truth!'
He said, 'This she-camel shall have her drink and you your drink
on a certain day; but touch her not with evil, or there will seize you
the torment of a mighty day!'
But they hamstrung her, and on the morrow they repented; and the
torment seized them; verily, in that is a sign; but most of them
will never be believers: but verily, thy Lord He is mighty, merciful.
The people of Lot called the apostles liars; when their brother
Lot said to them, 'Do ye not fear? verily, I am to you a faithful
apostle; then fear God and obey me. I do not ask you for it any
hire; my hire is only with the Lord of the worlds. Do ye approach
males of all the world and leave what God your Lord has created for
you of your wives? nay, but ye are people who transgress!'
They said, 'Surely, if thou dost not desist, O Lot! thou shalt be of
those who are expelled!'
Said he, 'Verily, I am of those who hate your deed; my Lord! save me
and my people from what they do.'
And we saved him and his people all together, except an old woman
amongst those who lingered. Then we destroyed the others; and we
rained down upon them a rain; and evil was the rain of those who
were warned. Verily, in that is a sign; but most of them will never be
believers. And, verily, thy Lord He is mighty, merciful,
compassionate.
The fellows of the Grove called the apostles liars; Sho'haib said to
them, 'Will ye not fear? verily, I am to you a faithful apostle,
then fear God and obey me. I do not ask you for it any hire; my hire
is only with the Lord of the worlds. Give good measure, and be not
of those who diminish; and weigh with a fair balance, and do not cheat
men of their goods; and waste not the land, despoiling it; and fear
Him who created you and the races of yore!' Said they, 'Thou art
only of the infatuated; and thou art only a mortal like ourselves;
and, verily, we think that thou art surely of the liars; so make a
portion of the heaven to fall down upon us, if thou art of those who
tell the truth!'
Said he, 'My Lord knows best what ye do! but they called him liar,
and the torment of the day of the shadow seized them; for it was the
torment of a mighty day: verily, in that is a sign; but most of them
will never be believers; but, verily, thy Lord He is mighty, merciful!
And, verily, it is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds; the
Faithful Spirit came down with it upon thy heart, that thou shouldst
be of those who warn;-in plain Arabic language, and, verily, it is
(foretold) in the scriptures of yore! Have they not a sign, that the
learned men of the children of Israel recognise it? Had we sent it
down to any barbarian, and he had read it to them, they would not have
believed therein. Thus have we made for it a way into the hearts of
the sinners; they will not believe therein until they see the grievous
woe! and it shall come to them suddenly while they do not perceive!
They will say, 'Shall we be respited?- What! do they wish to hasten on
our torment?'
What thinkest thou? if we let them enjoy themselves for years, and
then there come to them what they are threatened, that will not
avail them which they had to enjoy! But we do not destroy any city
without its having warners as a reminder, for we are never unjust.
The devils did not descend therewith; it is not fit work for them;
nor are they able to do it. Verily, they are deposed from listening;
call not then with God upon other gods, or thou wilt be of the
tormented; but warn thy clansmen who are near of kin. And lower thy
wing to those of the believers who follow thee; but if they rebel
against thee, say, 'Verily, I am clear of what ye do,' and rely thou
upon the mighty, merciful One, who sees thee when thou dost stand
up, and thy posturing amongst those who adore. Verily, He both hears
and knows!
Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend? they descend upon
every sinful liar, and impart what they have heard; but most of them
are liars.
And the poets do those follow who go astray! Dost thou not see
that they wander distraught in every vale? and that they say that
which they do not do? save those who believe, and do right, and
remember God much, and defend themselves after they are wronged; but
those who do wrong shall know with what a turn they shall be turned.
THE CHAPTER OF THE ANT
(XXVII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
TA SIN. Those are the signs of the Koran and the perspicuous Book; a
guidance and glad tidings to the believers, who are steadfast at
prayer, and give alms, and of the hereafter are sure; verily, those
who believe not in the hereafter we have made seemly for them their
works, and they shall wander blindly on! These are they who shall have
an evil torment, and they in the hereafter shall be those who most
lose! Verily, thou dost meet with this Koran from the wise, the
knowing One!
When Moses said to his people, 'Verily, I perceive a fire, I will
bring you therefrom news; or I will bring you a burning brand; haply
ye may be warmed.' But when he came to it he was called to, 'Blessed
be He who is in the fire, and he who is about it! and celebrated be
the praises of God, the Lord of the worlds! O Moses! verily, I am God,
the mighty, wise; throw down thy staff!' and when he saw it quivering,
as though it were a snake, he turned back fleeing, and did not return.
'O Moses! fear not; verily, as for me-apostles fear not with me;
save only those who have done wrong and then substitute good for evil;
for, verily, I am forgiving, merciful! but put thy hand in thy
bosom, it shall come forth white without hurt;-one of nine signs to
Pharaoh and his people; verily, they are a people who act abominably.'
And when our signs came to them visibly, they said, 'This is obvious
sorcery!' and they gainsaid them-though their souls made sure of
them unjustly, haughtily; but, behold what was the end of the
evildoers!
And we gave David and Solomon knowledge; and they both said, 'Praise
belongs to God, who hath preferred us over many of His servants who
believe!'
And Solomon was David's heir; and said, 'O ye folk! we have been
taught the speech of birds, and we have been given everything; verily,
this is an obvious grace!'
And assembled for Solomon were his hosts of the ginns, and men,
and birds, and they were marshalled; until they came upon the valley
of the ants. Said an ant, 'O ye ants! go into your dwellings, that
Solomon and his hosts crush you not while they do not perceive.'
And he smiled, laughing at her speech, and said, 'O Lord! excite
me to be thankful for Thy favour, wherewith Thou hast favoured me
and my parents, and to do righteousness which may please Thee; and
make me enter into Thy mercy amongst Thy righteous servants!'
And he reviewed the birds, and said, 'How is it I see not the
hoopoe? is he then amongst the absent? I will surely torment him
with a severe torment; or I will surely slaughter him; or he shall
bring me obvious authority.'
And he tarried not long, and said, 'I have compassed what ye
compassed not; for I bring you from Seba a sure information: verily, I
found a woman ruling over them, and she was given all things, and
she had a mighty throne; and I found her and her people adoring the
sun instead of God, for Satan had made seemly to them their works, and
turned them from the path, so that they are not guided. Will they
not adore God who brings forth the secrets in the heavens, and knows
what they hide and what they manifest?- God, there is no god but He,
the Lord of the mighty throne!'
Said he, 'We will see whether thou hast told the truth, or whether
thou art of those who lie. Go with this my letter and throw it
before them, then turn back away from them, and see what they return.'
Said she, 'O ye chiefs! verily, a noble letter has been thrown
before me. It is from Solomon, and, verily, it is, "In the name of the
merciful and compassionate God. Do not rise up against me, but come to
me resigned!"' She said, ye chiefs! pronounce sentence for me in my
affair. I never decide an affair until ye testify for me.'
They said, 'We are endowed with strength, and endowed with keen
violence; but the bidding is thine, see then what it is that thou wilt
bid.'
She said, 'Verily, kings when they enter a city despoil it, and make
the mighty ones of its people the meanest; thus it is they do! So,
verily, I am going to send to them a gift, and will wait to see with
what the messengers return.'
And when he came to Solomon, he said, 'Do ye proffer me wealth, when
what God has given me is better than what He has given you? nay, ye in
your gifts rejoice! return to them, for we will surely come to them
with hosts which they cannot confront; and we will surely drive them
out therefrom mean and made small!'
Said he, 'O ye chiefs! which of you will bring me her throne
before they come to me resigned?'
Said a demon of the ginns, 'I will bring thee it before thou canst
rise up from thy place, for I therein am strong and faithful.'
He who had the knowledge of the Book said, 'I will bring it to
thee before thy glance can turn.' And when he saw it settled down
beside him, he said, 'This is of my Lord's grace, that He may try me
whether I am grateful or ungrateful, and he who is grateful is only
grateful for his own soul, and he who is ungrateful,- verily, my
Lord is rich and generous.'
Said he, 'Disguise for her her throne; let us see whether she is
guided, or whether she is of those who are not guided.' And when she
came it was said, 'Was thy throne like this?' She said, 'It might be
it;' and we were given knowledge before her, but we were resigned.
But that which she served beside God turned her away; verily, she
was of the unbelieving people. And it was said to her, 'Enter the
court;' and when she saw it, she reckoned it to be an abyss of
water, and she uncovered her legs. Said he, 'Verily, it is a court
paved with glass!' Said she, 'My Lord! verily, I have wronged
myself, but I am resigned with Solomon to God the Lord of the worlds!'
And we sent unto Thamud their brother Zali'h, 'Serve God;' but
behold, they were two parties who contended!
Said he, 'O my people! why do ye hasten on evil acts before good
deeds? why do ye not ask forgiveness of God? haply ye may obtain
mercy.' They said, 'We have taken an augury concerning thee and
those who are with thee. Said he, 'Your augury is in God's hands; nay,
but ye are a people who are tried!'
And there were in the city nine persons who despoiled the land and
did not right. Said they, 'Swear to each other by God, we will
surely fall on him by night and on his people; then we will surely say
unto his next of kin, "We witnessed not the destruction of his people,
and we do surely tell the truth!"' And they plotted a plot, and we
plotted a plot, but they did not perceive. Behold, how was the end
of their plot, that we destroyed them and their people all together!
Thus are their houses overturned, for that they were unjust; verily,
in that is a sign to people who do know!
But we saved those who believed and who did fear.
And Lot when he said to his people, 'Do ye approach an abominable
sin while ye can see? do ye indeed approach men lustfully rather
than women? nay! ye are a people who are ignorant.' But the answer
of his people was only to say, 'Drive out Lot's family from your city!
verily, they are a folk who would keep pure.'
But we saved him and his family except his wife, her we destined
to be of those who lingered; and we rained down upon them rain, and
evil was the rain of those who were warned.
Say, 'Praise belongs to God; and peace be upon His servants whom
He has chosen! Is God best, or what they associate with Him?' He who
created the heavens and the earth; and sends down upon you from the
heaven water; and we cause to grow therewith gardens fraught with
beauty; ye could not cause the trees thereof to grow! Is there a god
with God? nay, but they are a people who make peers with Him! He who
made the earth, settled, and placed amongst it rivers; and placed upon
it firm mountains; and placed between the two seas a barrier; is there
a god with God? nay, but most of them know not! He who answers the
distressed when he calls upon Him and removes the evil; and makes
you successors in the earth; is there a god with God? little is it
that ye are mindful. He who guides you in the darkness, of the land
and of the sea; and who sends winds as glad tidings before His
mercy; is there a god with God? exalted be God above what they
associate with Him! He who began the creation and then will make it
return again; and who provides you from the heaven and the earth; is
there a god with God? so bring your proofs if ye do speak the truth!
Say, 'None in the heavens or the earth know the unseen save only
God; but they perceive not when they shall be raised!'-nay, but
their knowledge attains to somewhat of the hereafter; nay, but they
are in doubt concerning it! nay, but they are blind!
And those who disbelieved said, 'What! when we have become dust
and our fathers too, shall we indeed be brought forth? We were
promised this, we and our fathers before us, this is nothing but old
folks' tales!'
Say, 'Journey on through the land and see how was the end of the
sinners! and grieve not for them, and be not straitened at what they
plot.'
They say, 'When shall this threat be if ye do tell the truth?'
Say; 'It may be that there is pressing close behind you a part of what
ye would hasten on! But, verily, thy Lord is full of grace to men, but
most of them will not be thankful; and, verily, thy Lord knows what
their breasts conceal and what they manifest; and there is no secret
thing in the heaven or the earth, save that it is in the perspicuous
Book!
Verily, this Koran relates to the people of Israel most of that
whereon they do dispute; and, verily, it is a guidance and a mercy
to the believers. Verily, thy Lord decides between them by His
judgment, for He is mighty, knowing. Rely thou then upon God,
verily, thou art standing on obvious truth. Verily, thou canst not
make the dead to hear, and thou canst not make the deaf to hear the
call when they turn their backs on thee; nor art thou a guide to the
blind, out of their error: thou canst only make to hear such as
believe in our signs, and such as are resigned.
And when the sentence falls upon them we will bring forth a beast
out of the earth that shall speak to them, (and say) that, 'Men of our
signs would not be sure.'
And the day when we will gather from every nation a troop of those
who said our signs were lies; and they shall be marshalled; until they
come, and He will say, 'Did ye say my signs were lies, when ye had
compassed no knowledge thereof? or what is it that ye were doing?' and
the sentence shall fall upon them for that they did wrong, and they
shall not have speech.
Did they not see that we have made the night for them to rest in,
and the day to see by? verily, in that are signs to people who
believe.
And the day when the trumpet shall be blown and all who are in the
heavens and the earth shall be startled, save whom God pleases! and
all shall come abjectly to Him. And thou shalt see the mountains,
which thou dost deem solid, pass away like the passing of the
clouds;-the work of God who orders all things; verily, He is well
aware of what ye do!
He who brings a good deed shall have better than it; and from the
alarm of that day they shall be safe: but those who bring an evil deed
shall be thrown down upon their faces in the fire. Shall ye be
rewarded save for what ye have done?
I am bidden to serve the Lord of this country who has made it
sacred, and whose are all things; and I am bidden to be of those who
are resigned, and to recite the Koran; A an; and he who is guided he
is only guided for himself; and he who errs, say, 'I am only of
those who warn!'
And say, 'Praise be to God, He will show you His signs, and ye shall
recognise them; for thy Lord is not heedless of what ye do!'
THE CHAPTER OF THE STORY
(XXVIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
TA SIN MIM. Those are the signs of the perspicuous Book; we recite
to thee from the history of Moses and Pharaoh in truth unto a people
who believe.
Verily, Pharaoh was lofty in the land and made the people thereof
sects; one party of them he weakened, slaughtering their sons and
letting their women live. Verily, he was of the despoilers.
And we wished to be gracious to those who were weakened in the
earth, and to make them models, and to make them the heirs; and to
establish for them in the earth; and to show Pharaoh and Haman and
their hosts what they had to beware of from them.
And we inspired the mother of Moses, 'Suckle him; and when thou
art afraid for him then throw him into the river, and fear not and
grieve not; verily, we are going to restore him to thee, and to make
him of the apostles!'
And Pharaoh's family picked him up that he might be for them a foe
and a grief; verily, Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts were sinners.
And Pharaoh's wife said, 'He is a cheering of the eye to me, and
to thee. Kill him not; it may be that he will profit us, or that we
may take him for a son;' for they did not perceive.
And the heart of Moses' mother was void on the morrow; she well-nigh
disclosed him, had it not been that we bound up her heart that she
might be of the believers.
And she said to his sister, 'Follow him up.' And she looked after
him from afar, and they did not perceive. And we made unlawful for him
the wet-nurses. And she said, 'Shall I guide you to the people of a
house who will take care of him for you, and who will be sincere
respecting him?
So we restored him to his mother that her eye might be cheered,
and that she might not grieve, and that she might know that the
promise of God is true, though most of them know not.
And when he reached puberty, and was settled, we gave him judgment
and knowledge; for thus do we reward those who do well. And he entered
into the city at the time the people thereof were heedless, and he
found therein two men fighting; the one of his sect and the other of
his foes. And he who was of his sect asked his aid against him who was
of his foes; and Moses smote him with his fist and finished him.
Said he, 'This is of the work of Satan, verily, he is a misleading
obvious foe.'
Said he, 'My Lord! verily, I have wronged my soul, but forgive
me.' So He forgave him; for He is forgiving and merciful.
Said he, 'My Lord! for that Thou hast been gracious to me, I will
surely not back up the sinners.'
And on the morrow he was afraid in the city, expectant. And
behold, he whom he had helped the day before cried (again) to him
for aid. Said Moses to him, 'Verily, thou art obviously quarrelsome.
And when he wished to assault him who was the enemy to them both, he
said, 'O Moses! dost thou desire to kill me as thou didst kill a
person yesterday? thou dost only desire to be a tyrant in the earth;
and thou dost not desire to be of those who do right!' And a man
came from the remote parts of the city running, said he, 'O Moses!
verily, the chiefs are deliberating concerning thee to kill thee; go
then forth; verily, I am to you a sincere adviser!'
So he went forth therefrom, afraid and expectant. Said he, 'Lord,
save me from the unjust people!'
And when he turned his face in the direction of Midian, he said, 'It
may be that my Lord will guide me to a level path!' And when he went
down to the water of Midian he found thereat a nation of people
watering their flocks.
And he found beside them two women keeping back their flocks. Said
he, 'What is your design?' They said, 'We cannot water our flocks
until the herdsmen have finished; for our father is a very old man.'
So he watered for them; then he turned back towards the shade and
said, 'My Lord! verily, I stand in need of what Thou sendest down to
me of good.'
And one of the two came to him walking modestly; said she,
'Verily, my father calls thee, to reward thee with hire for having
watered our flocks for us.' And when he came to him and related to him
the story, said he, 'Fear not, thou art safe from the unjust
people.' Said one of them, 'O my sire! hire him; verily, the best of
those whom thou canst hire is the strong and faithful.'
Said he, 'Verily, I desire to marry thee to one of these daughters
of mine, on condition that thou dost serve me for hire eight years;
and if thou shalt fulfil ten it is of thyself; for I do not wish to
make it wretched for thee; thou wilt find me, if it please God, of the
righteous!'
Said he, 'That is between you and me; whichever of the two terms I
fulfil, let there be no enmity against me, for God over what we say
keeps guard.'
And when Moses had fulfilled the appointed time, and was
journeying with his people, he perceived from the side of the mountain
a fire; said he to his people, 'Tarry ye here; verily, I have
perceived a fire, haply I may bring you good news therefrom, or a
brand of fire that haply ye may be warmed.'
And when he came to it he was called to, from the right side of
the wady, in the blessed valley, out of the tree, 'O Moses! verily,
I am God the Lord of the worlds; so throw down thy rod;' and when he
saw it quivering as though it were a snake, he turned away and fled
and did not return. 'O Moses! approach and fear not, verily, thou
art amongst the safe. Thrust thy hand into thy bosom, it shall come
out white, without hurt; and then fold again thy wing, that thou
dost now stretch out through dread; for those are two signs from thy
Lord to Pharaoh and his chiefs; verily, they are a people who work
abomination!'
Said he, 'My Lord! verily, I have killed a person amongst them,
and I fear that they will kill me: and my brother Aaron, he is more
eloquent of tongue than I; send him then with me as a support, to
verify me; verily, I fear that they will call me liar!'
Said He, 'We will strengthen thine arm with thy brother; and we will
make for you both authority, and they shall not reach you in our
signs; ye two and those who follow you shall gain the upper hand.'
And when Moses came to them with our manifest signs, they said,
'This is only sorcery devised; and we have not heard of this amongst
our fathers of yore.'
Moses said, 'My Lord knows best who comes with guidance from Him,
and whose shall be the issue of the abode. Verily, the unjust shall
not prosper!'
And Pharaoh said, 'O ye chiefs! I do not know any god for you except
me; then set fire, O Haman! to some clay and make for me a tower,
haply I may mount up to the God of Moses; for, verily, I think he is
of those who lie!'
And he grew big with pride, he and his armies in the land, without
right; and they thought that they to us should not return. And we
overtook him and his army, and we flung them into the sea; behold,
then, how was the end of the unjust!
But we made them models calling to the fire; and on the resurrection
day they shall not be helped; and we followed them up in this world
with a curse; and on the resurrection day they shall be abhorred!
And we gave Moses the Book, after that we had destroyed the former
generations, as an insight to men and a guidance and a mercy; haply
they may be mindful!
Thou wast not upon the western side when we decided for Moses, but
afar off; nor wast thou of the witnesses. But we raised up (other)
generations, and life was prolonged for them; and thou wast not
staying amidst the people of Midian, reciting to them our signs; but
we were sending our apostles.
Nor wast thou by the side of the mountain when we called; but it
is a mercy from thy Lord, that thou mayest warn a people to whom no
warner has come before thee; haply they may be mindful! And lest there
should befall them a mishap for what their hands have sent before, and
they should say, 'Our Lord! why didst thou not send to us an
apostle? for we would have followed thy signs and been of the
believers.'
And when the truth comes to them from us they say, 'We are given the
like of what Moses was given.' Did they not disbelieve in what Moses
was given before?-they say, 'Two works of sorcery back up each other;'
and they say, 'Verily, we do disbelieve in all.'
Say, 'Bring, then, a book from God which shall be a better guide
than both, and I will follow it, if ye do tell the truth!'
And if they cannot answer thee, then know that they follow their own
lusts; and who is more in error than he who follows his own lust
without guidance from God? verily, God guides not an unjust people!
And we caused the word to reach them, haply they may be mindful!
Those to whom we gave the Book before it, they believe therein;
and when it is recited to them they say, 'We believe in it as truth
from our Lord; verily, we were resigned before it came!' These shall
be given their hire twice over, for that they were patient, and
repelled evil with good, and of what we have bestowed upon them give
alms.
And when they hear vain talk, they turn away from it and say, 'We
have our works, and ye have your works. Peace be upon you! we do not
seek the ignorant!'
Verily, thou canst not guide whom thou dost like, but God guides
whom He pleases; for He knows best who are to be guided.
And they say, 'If we follow the guidance we shall be snatched away
from the land.' Have we not established for them a safe sanctuary,
to which are imported the fruits of everything as a provision from us?
but most of them do not know.
How many a city have we destroyed that exulted in its means of
subsistence? These are their dwellings, never dwelt in after them,
except a little; for we were the heirs.
But thy Lord would never destroy cities until He sent to the
metropolis thereof an apostle, to recite to them our signs; nor
would we destroy cities unless their people were unjust. Whatever
thing ye may be given, it is a provision for this world's life and the
adornment thereof; but what is with God is better and more enduring;
have ye then no sense?
Is He to whom we have promised a goodly promise, which he shall meet
with, like him to whom we have given the enjoyment of the life of this
world, and who upon the resurrection day shall be of the arraigned?
And on the day when He will call them and will say, 'Where are those
associates which ye did pretend?' And those against whom the
sentence is due shall say, 'Our Lord! these are those whom we have
seduced; we seduced them as we were seduced ourselves: but we clear
ourselves to thee;-they did not worship us!'
And it will be said, 'Call upon your partners; and they will call
upon them, but they will not answer them, and they shall see the
torment; would that they had been guided.
And the day when He shall call them and shall say, 'What was it ye
answered the apostles?' and the history shall be blindly confusing
to them on that day, and they shall not ask each other.
But, as for him who turns again and believes and does right, it
may be that he will be among the prosperous. For thy Lord creates what
He pleases and chooses; they have not the choice! Celebrated be the
praise of God! and exalted be He above what they associate with Him!
Thy Lord knows what they conceal in their breasts and what they
manifest.
He is God, there is no god but He; to Him belongs praise, in the
first and the last; and His is the judgment; and unto Him shall ye
return!
Have ye considered, if God were to make for you the night endless
until the resurrection day, who is the god, but God, to bring you
light? can ye not then hear?
Say, 'Have ye considered, if God were to make for you the day
endless until the day of judgment, who is the god, except God, to
bring you the night to rest therein? can ye not then see?' But of
His mercy He has made for you the night and the day, that ye may
rest therein, and crave of His grace, haply ye may give thanks.
And the day when He shall call them and shall say, 'Where are my
partners whom ye did pretend?' And we will pluck from every nation a
witness; and we will say, 'Bring your proof and know that the truth is
God's;' and that which they had devised shall stray away from them.
Verily, Korah was of the people of Moses, and he was outrageous
against them; and we gave him treasuries of which the keys would
bear down a band of men endowed with strength. When his people said to
him, 'Exult not; verily, God loves not those who exult! but crave,
through what God has given thee, the future abode; and forget not
thy portion in this world, and do good, as God has done good to
thee; and seek not evil doing in the earth; verily, God loves not
the evildoers!'
Said he, 'I have only been given it for knowledge which I have!' did
he not know that God had destroyed before him many generations of
those who were stronger than he, and had amassed more? But the sinners
need not to be asked concerning their crimes.
And he went out amongst the people in his ornaments; those who
desired the life of this world said, 'O would that we had the like
of what Korah has been given! verily, he is endowed with mighty
fortune!'
But those who had been given knowledge said, 'Woe to you! the reward
of God is better for him who believes and does right; but none shall
meet with it except the patient. And we clave the earth with him and
with his house; and he had no troop to help him against God, nor was
he of those who were helped!'
And on the morrow those who had yearned for his place the day before
said, 'Ah, ah! God extends provision to whom He pleases of His
servants, or He doles it out; had not God been gracious to us, the
earth would have cleft open with us! Ah, ah! the unbelievers shall not
prosper!
That is the future abode; we make it for those who do not wish to be
haughty in the earth, nor to do evil, and the end is for the pious.
He who brings a good deed shall have better than it; and he who
brings an evil deed-those who do evil deeds shall only be rewarded for
that which they have done. Verily, He who hath ordained the Koran
for thee will restore thee to thy returning place. Say, 'My Lord knows
best who brings guidance, and who is in obvious error; nor couldst
thou hope that the Book would be thrown to thee, save as a mercy
from thy Lord! be not then a backer up of those who misbelieve; and
let them not turn thee from the signs of God, after they have been
sent down to thee; but call unto thy Lord and be not of the idolaters;
and call not with God upon any other god; there is no god but He!
everything is perishable, except His face; His is the judgment, and
unto Him shall ye return!
THE CHAPTER OF THE SPIDER
(XXIX. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
ALIF LAM MIM. Do men then reckon that they will be left alone to
say, 'We believe,' and not be tried? we did try those who were
before them, and God will surely know those who are truthful, and He
will surely know the liars. Do those who do evil reckon that they
can outstrip us? evil is it that they judge.
He who hopes for the meeting of God,-verily, God's appointed time
will come; and He both hears and knows! And he who fights strenuously,
fights strenuously only for his own soul; verily, God is independent
of the worlds.
Those who believe and do right, we will surely cover for them
their offences; and we will surely reward them with better than that
which they have done.
And we have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; and if they
strive with thee that thou mayest join with me, what thou hast no
knowledge of, then obey them not; to me is your return, and I will
inform you of that which ye have done.
But those who believe and do right, we will make them enter
amongst the righteous.
And there are those among men who say, 'We believe in God!' but when
they are hurt in God's cause, they deem the trials of men like the
torment of God; but if help come from thy Lord they will say, 'Verily,
we were with you!' does not God know best what is in the breasts of
the worlds? God will surely know those who believe, and will surely
know the hypocrites.
And those who misbelieved said to those who believed, 'Follow our
path, we will bear your sins; but they could not bear their sins at
all; verily, they are liars! But they shall surely bear their own
burdens, and burdens with their burdens; and they shall surely be
asked upon the resurrection day concerning what they did devise.
And we sent Noah to his people, and he dwelt among them for a
thousand years save fifty years; and the deluge overtook them while
they were unjust: but we saved him and the fellows of the ark, and
we made it a sign unto the worlds.
And Abraham when he said to his people, 'Serve God and fear Him,
that is better for you if ye did but know. Ye only serve beside God
idols and do create a lie; verily, those whom ye serve beside God
cannot control for themselves provision; then crave provision with
God, and serve Him, and give thanks to Him; unto Him shall ye
return! And if ye say it is a lie, nations before you called (the
apostles) liars too; but an apostle has only his plain message to
preach!'
Have they not seen how God produces the creation, and then turns
it back? verily, that to God is easy.
Say, 'Journey ye on in the land, and behold how the creation
appeared; then God produces another production: verily, God is
mighty over all!'
He torments whom He will, and has mercy on whom He will; and unto
Him shall ye be returned.
Nor can ye make Him helpless in the earth, nor in the heavens; nor
have ye beside God a patron or a helper.
And those who disbelieve in God's signs and in meeting with Him,
these shall despair of my mercy; and these, for them is grievous woe.
But the answer of his people was only to say, 'Kill him or burn
him!' But God saved him from the fire; verily, in that are signs
unto a people who believe.
He said, 'Verily, ye take be-side God idols, through mutual
friendship in the life of this world; then on the day of judgment ye
shall deny each other, and shall curse each other, and your resort
shall be the fire, and ye shall have none to help.'
And Lot believed him. And (Abraham) said, 'Verily, I flee unto my
Lord! Verily, He is mighty, wise! and we granted him Isaac and
Jacob; and we placed in his seed prophecy and the Book; and we gave
him his hire in this world; and, verily, he in the next shall be among
the righteous.'
And Lot when he said to his people, 'Verily, ye approach an
abomination which no one in all the world ever anticipated you in!
What! do ye approach men? and stop folks on the highway? and
approach in your assembly sin?' but the answer of his people was
only to say, 'Bring us God's torment, if thou art of those who speak
the truth!'
Said he, 'My Lord! help me against a people who do evil!'
And when our messengers came to Abraham with the glad tidings,
they said, 'We are about to destroy the people of this city. Verily,
the people thereof are wrong-doers.'
Said he, 'Verily, in it is Lot; they said, 'We know best who is
therein; we shall of a surety save him and his people, except his
wife, who is of those who linger.' And when our messengers came to
Lot, he was vexed for them, and his arm was straitened for them; and
they said, 'Fear not, neither grieve; we are about to save thee and
thy people, except thy wife, who is of those who linger. Verily, we
are about to send down upon the people of this city a horror from
heaven, for that they have sinned; and we have left therefrom a
manifest sign unto a people who have sense.'
And unto Midian we sent their brother Sho'haib, and he said, 'My
people, serve God, and hope for the last day; and waste not the
land, despoiling it.'
But they called him liar; and the convulsion seized them, and on the
morrow they lay in their dwellings prone.
And Ad and Thamud- but it is plain to you from their habitations;
for Satan made seemly to them their works, and turned them from the
way, sagacious though they were!
And Korah and Pharaoh and Haman- Moses did come to them with
manifest signs, but they were too big with pride in the earth,
although they could not outstrip us!
And each of them we seized in his sin; and of them were some against
whom we sent a sandstorm; and of them were some whom the noise seized;
and of them were some with whom we cleaved the earth open; and of them
were some we drowned: God would not have wronged them, but it was
themselves they wronged.
The likeness of those who take, beside God, patrons is as the
likeness of a spider, that takes to himself a house; and, verily,
the weakest of houses is a spider's house, if they did but know!
Verily, God knows whatever thing they call upon beside Him; for He
is the mighty, wise.
These are parables which we have struck out for men; but none will
understand them, save those who know.
God created the heavens and the earth in truth verily, in this is
a sign unto believers.
Recite what has been- revealed to thee of the Book; and be steadfast
in prayer; verily, prayer forbids sin and wrong; and surely the
mention of God is greater; for God knows what ye do. And do not
wrangle with the people of the Book, except for what is better; save
with those who have been unjust amongst them and who say, 'We
believe in what is sent down to us, and what has been sent down to
you; our God and your God is one, and we are unto Him resigned.'
Thus did we send down to thee the Book; and every one to whom we
have given the Book believes therein. But these will not believe
therein; though none gainsay our signs except the misbelievers.
Thou couldst not recite before this any book, nor write it with
thy right hand, for in that case those who deem it vain would have
doubted. Nay, but it is evident signs in the breasts of those who
are endued with knowledge, and none but the unjust would gainsay our
signs!
They say, 'Unless there be sent down upon him signs from his Lord-;'
say, 'Verily, signs are with God, and, verily, I am an obvious
warner!'
Is it not enough for them that we have sent down to thee the Book
which thou dost recite to them? verily, in that is a mercy and a
reminder to a people who believe.
Say, 'God is witness enough between me and you; He knows what is
in the heavens and what is in the earth; and those who believe in
falsehood and misbelieve in God, they shall be the losers.' They
will wish thee to hasten on the torment; but were it not for a
stated and appointed time, the torment would have come upon them
suddenly, while yet they did not perceive.
They will wish thee to hurry on the torment, but, verily, hell
encompasses the misbelievers!
On the day when the torment shall cover them from above them and
from beneath their feet, and He shall say, 'Taste that which ye have
done!'
O my servants who believe! verily, my land is spacious enough; me
therefore do ye worship.
Every soul must taste of death, then unto us shall ye return; and
those who believe and act aright, we will surely inform them of
upper chambers in Paradise, beneath which rivers flow; to dwell
therein for aye-pleasant is the hire of those who work! those who
are patient and rely upon their Lord!
How many a beast cannot carry its own provision! God provides for it
and for you; He both hears and knows!
And if thou shouldst ask them, 'Who created the heavens and the
earth, and subjected the sun and the moon?' they will surely say,
'God!' how then can they lie?
God extends provision to whomsoever He will of His servants, or
doles it out to him; verily, God all things doth know.
And if thou shouldst ask them, 'Who sends down from the heavens
water and quickens therewith the earth in its death?' they will surely
say, 'God!' say, 'And praise be to God!' nay, most of them have no
sense.
This life of the world is nothing but a sport and a play; but,
verily, the abode of the next world, that is life,-if they did but
know!
And when they ride in the ship they call upon God, making their
religion seem sincere to Him; but when He saves them to the shore,
behold, they associate others with Him; that they may disbelieve in
our signs; and that they may have some enjoyment: but soon they
shall know.
Have they not seen that we have made a safe sanctuary whilst
people are being snatched away around them? is it then in falsehood
that they will believe, and for the favours of God be ungrateful?
But who is more unjust than he who devises against God a lie, or
calls the truth a lie when it comes to him? Is there not in hell a
resort for the misbelievers? but those who fight strenuously for us we
will surely guide them into our way, for, verily, God is with those
who do well.
THE CHAPTER OF THE GREEKS
(XXX. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
The Greeks are overcome in the nighest parts of the land; but
after being overcome they shall overcome in a few years; to God
belongs the order before and after; and on that day the believers
shall rejoice in the help of God;-God helps whom He will, and He is
mighty, merciful.- God's promise!-God breaks not His promise, but most
men do not know!
They know the outside of this world's life, but of the hereafter
they are heedless. Have they not reflected in themselves, that God
created not the heavens and the earth, and what is between the two
except in truth, and for a stated and appointed time? but, verily,
many men in the meeting of their Lord do disbelieve.
Have they not journeyed on in the land and seen how was the end of
those before them who were stronger than they, and who turned up the
ground and cultivated it more than they do cultivate it? and there
came to them their apostles with manifest signs; for God would never
wrong them: it was themselves they wronged!
Then evil was the end of those who did evil, in that they said the
signs of God were lies and mocked thereat.
God produces a creation, then He makes it go back again, then unto
Him shall ye return.
And on the day when the Hour shall rise, the sinners shall be
confused; and they shall not have amongst their partners intercessors;
and their partners shall they deny.
And on the day when the Hour shall rise, on that day shall they be
scattered apart; and as for those who believe and do right, they in
the garden shall be joyful; and as for those who misbelieved and
said our signs and the meeting of the hereafter were lies, they
shall be in the torment arraigned.
Celebrated be the praises of God, when ye are in the evening and
when ye are in the morning! for to Him belongs praise in the heavens
and the earth! and at the evening, and when ye are at noon.
He brings forth the living from the dead, and brings forth the
dead from the living; and He quickens the earth after its death, and
thus shall ye too be brought forth.
And of His signs is this, that He hath created you from dust;
then, behold, ye are mortals who are spread abroad.
And of His signs is this, that He hath created for you of yourselves
wives with whom ye may cohabit; He has made between you affection
and pity. Verily, in that are signs unto a people who reflect.
And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and
the diversity of your tongues and colours; verily, in that are signs
unto the worlds.
And of His signs is your sleep by night and by day; and your craving
after His grace. Verily, in that are signs unto a people who do hear.
And of His signs is this, that He shows you lightning for fear and
hope; and sends down from the sky water, and quickens therewith the
earth after its death; verily, in that are signs unto a people who
have sense.
And of His signs is this, that the heavens and the earth stand by
His order; then when He calls you from the earth, lo! ye shall come
forth. His are those who are in the heavens and the earth, and all
to Him are devoted. And He it is who produces a creation and then
makes it to go back again; for it is very easy to Him; and His are the
loftiest similitudes in the heavens and the earth; and He is the
mighty, wise!
He has struck out for you a parable from yourselves; have ye of what
your right hand possess partners in what we have bestowed upon you, so
that ye share alike therein? do ye fear them as ye fear each other?-
Thus do we detail the signs unto a people who have sense.
Nay, when those who are unjust follow their lusts without
knowledge,-and who shall guide him whom God has led astray? and they
shall have none to help.
Set thy face steadfast towards the religion as an 'Hanif,
according to the constitution whereon God has constituted men; there
is no altering the creation of God, that is the standard religion,
though most men do not know.
Turn repentant towards Him; and fear Him, and be steadfast in
prayer; and be not of the idolaters.
Of those who have divided their religion and become sects, every
party in what they have, rejoice.
And when distress touches men they call upon their Lord, repentant
towards Him; then when He has made them taste mercy from Himself,
behold! a party of them associate others with their Lord, that they
may disbelieve in what we have brought them;-but enjoy yourselves; for
hereafter ye shall know!
Or have we sent down to them authority which speaks of what they
do associate with Him?
And when we have made men taste of mercy, they rejoice therein;
and if there befall them evil for what their hands have sent before,
behold! they are in despair.
Have they not seen that God extends provision to whom He pleases, or
doles it out? verily, in that are signs unto a people who believe.
Then give to the kinsman his due, and to the poor and to the
wayfarer; that is better for those who desire the face of God, and
these it is who are prosperous.
And what-ye put out to usury that it may increase with the wealth of
men, it shall not increase with God; but what ye put- out in alms,
desiring the face of God-these it is who shall gain double.
It is God who created you and then provided for you; and then will
make you die, and then will quicken you again; is there any of your
partners who can do aught of that? Celebrated be His praises, and
exalted be He above what they associate with Him!
Trouble hath appeared in the land and the sea, for what men's
hands have gained! to make them taste a part of that which they have
done,-haply they may return!
Say, 'Journey on in the land, and behold what was the end of those
before you,-most of them were idolaters!'
Set thy face steadfast to the standard religion, before there come a
day from God which there is no averting; on that day shall they be
parted into two bands.
He who misbelieves, upon him is his misbelief; but whoso does right,
for themselves they are spreading couches:
That He may reward those who believe and do right of His grace;
verily, He loves not the misbelievers!
And of His signs is this, that He sends forth the winds with glad
tidings, to make you taste of His mercy, and to make the ships go on
at His bidding, and that ye may crave of His grace, and haply ye may
give thanks.
We have sent before thee apostles unto their people, and they came
to them with manifest signs: and we took vengeance upon those who
sinned, but due from us it was to help the believers.
God it is who sends forth the winds to stir up clouds; then He
spreads them forth over the sky as he pleases; and He breaks them up
and ye see the rain come forth from amongst them; and when He causes
it to fall upon whom He pleases of His servants, behold they hail it
with joy, although before it was sent down upon them they were
before then confused!
Look then to the vestiges of God's mercy, how He quickens the
earth after its death; verily, that is the quickener of the dead,
and He is mighty over all!
But if we should send a wind and they should see it yellow, they
would after that become misbelievers.
But, verily, thou canst not make the dead to hear, nor canst thou
make the deaf to hear the call, when they turn their backs and flee;
nor hast thou to guide the blind out of their error; thou canst only
make those to hear who believe in our signs and who are resigned.
God it is who created you of weakness, then made for you after
weakness strength; then made for you after strength, weakness and grey
hairs: He creates what He pleases, for He is the knowing, the
powerful!
And on the day when the Hour shall rise, the sinners shall swear
that they have not tarried save an hour; thus were they wont to lie!
But those who are given knowledge and faith will say, 'We have
tarried according to the Book of God, until the day of
resurrection;' and this is the day of resurrection, but ye-ye do not
know.
And on that day their excuse shall profit not those who did wrong;
nor shall they be asked to please God again.
We have struck out to men in this Koran every kind of parable; but
if thou shouldst bring them a sign then those who misbelieve will
surely say, 'Ye are but followers of vanity; thus does God set a stamp
upon the hearts of those who do not know.'
Be thou patient then; verily, God's promise is true! and let them
not flurry thee who are not sure.
THE CHAPTER OF LOQMAN
(XXXI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
ALIF LAM MIM. These are the signs of the wise Book, a guidance and a
mercy to those who do well, who are steadfast in prayer and give
alms and who of the hereafter are sure; these are in guidance from
their Lord, and these are the prosperous.
And amongst men is one who buys sportive legends, to lead astray
from God's path, without knowledge, and to make a jest of it; these,
for them is shameful woe! And when our signs are recited to him, he
turns his back, too big with pride, as though he heard them not,-as if
in his two ears were dulness. But give to him glad tidings of grievous
woe!
Verily, those who believe and do right, for them are gardens of
pleasure, to dwell therein for aye;-God's promise in truth, and He
is wise.
He created the heavens without pillars that ye can see, and He threw
upon the earth firm mountains lest it should move with you; and He
dispersed thereon every sort of beast; and we send down from the
heavens water, and we caused to grow therein of every noble kind.
This is God's creation; show me what others beside Him have
created;-nay, the unjust are in obvious error!
We did give unto Loqman wisdom, saying, 'Thank God; for he who
thanks God is only thankful for his own soul; and he who is
ungrateful- verily, God is independent, worthy of praise!'
And when Loqman said to his son while admonishing him, 'O my boy!
associate none with God, for, verily, such association is a mighty
wrong.'-
For we have commended his parents to man; his mother bore him with
weakness upon weakness; and his weaning is in two years;-'Be
thankful to me and to thy parents; for unto me shall your journey
be. But if they strive with thee that thou shouldst associate with
me that which thou hast no knowledge of, then obey them not. But
associate with them in the world with kindness, and follow the way
of him who turns repentant unto me; then unto me is your return, and I
will inform you of that which ye have done!
O my son! verily, if there were the weight of a grain of mustard
seed and it were (hidden) in the rock, or in the heaven, or in the
earth, God would bring it (to light). Verily, God is subtle, well
aware!
'O my son! be steadfast in prayer, and bid what is reasonable and
forbid what is wrong; be patient of what befalls thee, verily, that is
one of the determined affairs.
'And twist not thy cheek proudly, nor walk in the land haughtily;
verily, God loves not every arrogant boaster: but be moderate in thy
walk, and lower thy voice; verily, the most disagreeable of voices
is the voice of asses!'
Have ye not seen that God has subjected to you what is in the
heavens and what is in the earth, and has poured down upon you His
favours, outwardly and inwardly? but amongst men are those who wrangle
about God, without knowledge, and without guidance, and without an
illuminating book!
And when it is said to them, 'Follow what God has sent down;' they
say, 'Nay! we will follow what we found our fathers agreed
upon;'-what! though Satan calls them to the torment of the blaze?
But he who resigns his face unto God, and does good, he has
grasped the firm handle; unto God is the issue of affairs. But he
who misbelieves, let not his misbelief grieve thee; to us is their
return, and we will inform them of what they do;-for, verily, God
knows the nature of men's breasts!
We will let them enjoy themselves a little; then we will force
them to rigorous woe!
And if thou shouldst ask them who created the heavens and the earth,
they will surely say, 'God.' Say, 'Praise be to God!' but most of them
do not know.
God's is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth; verily,
God, He is the independent, worthy of praise.
And were the trees that are in the earth pens, and the sea (ink)
with seven more seas to swell its tide, the words of God would not
be spent; verily, God is mighty, wise!
Your creation and your rising again are but as that of one soul;
verily, God both hears and sees!
Dost thou not see that God joins on the night to the day, and
joins on the day to the night, and has subjected the sun and the
moon,-each of them runs on unto an appointed time? and that God of
what ye do is well aware?
That is because God, He is true, and because what ye call on
beside Him is falsehood, and because God, He is the high, the great!
Dost thou not see that the ship rides on in the sea by the favour of
God, that He may show you of His signs? verily, in that are signs to
every grateful person.
And when a wave like shadows covers them, they call on God, being
sincere in their religion; and when He saves them to the shore, then
amongst them are some who halt between two opinions. But none gainsays
our signs save every perfidious misbeliever.
O ye folk! fear your Lord and dread the day when the father shall
not atone for his son, nor shall the child atone aught for its parent.
Verily, the promise of God is true! Say, 'Let not the life of this
world beguile you; and let not the beguiler beguile you concerning
God.'
Verily, God, with Him is the knowledge of the Hour; and He sends
down the rain; and He knows what is in the wombs; and no soul knows
what it is that it shall earn to-morrow; and no soul knows in what
land it shall die; verily, God is knowing, well aware!
THE CHAPTER OF ADORATION
(XXXII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
ALIF LAM MIM. The revelation of the Book, there is no doubt therein,
from the Lord of the worlds.
Do they say, 'He has forged it?' Nay! it is the truth from thy Lord,
that thou mayest warn a people, to whom no warner has come before
thee, haply they may be guided.
God it is who created the heavens and the earth and what is
between the two in six days; then He made for the throne! ye have no
patron beside Him and no intercessor; are ye not then mindful?
He governs the affair from the heaven unto the earth; then shall
it ascend to him in a day, the measure of which is as a thousand years
of what ye number.
That is He who knows the unseen and the visible; the mighty, the
merciful, who has made the best of the creation of everything, and
produced the creation of man from clay; then He made his stock from an
extract of despicable water; then He fashioned him and breathed into
him of his spirit, and made for you hearing and eyesight and
hearts;-little is it that ye give thanks!
And they say, 'When we are lost in the earth, shall we then become a
new creation?' Nay! in the meeting of their Lord they disbelieve.
Say, 'The angel of death shall take you away, he who is given charge
of you; then unto your Lord shall ye be returned.'
And couldst thou see when the sinners hang down their heads before
their Lord, 'O Lord! we have seen and we have heard; send us back then
and we will do right. Verily, we are sure!'
Had we pleased we would have given to everything its guidance; but
the sentence was due from me;-I will surely fill hell with the ginns
and with men all together: 'So taste ye, for that ye forgat the
meeting of this day of yours,-verily, we have forgotten you! and taste
ye the torment of eternity for that which ye have done!'
They only believe in our signs who when they are reminded of them
fall down adoring and celebrate the praises of their Lord, and are not
too big with pride. As their sides forsake their beds, they call
upon their Lord with fear and hope; and of what we have bestowed
upon them do they give alms. No soul knows what is reserved for them
of cheerfulness for eye, as a reward for that which they have done! Is
he who is a believer like him who is a sinner? they shall not be
held equal.
As for those who believe and do right, for them are the gardens of
resort, an entertainment for that which they have done!
But as for those who commit abomination there resort is the Fire.
Every time that they desire to go forth therefrom, we will send them
back therein, and it will be said to them, 'Taste ye the torment of
the fire which ye did call a lie!' and we will surely make them
taste of the torment of the nearer torment beside the greater
torment,-haply they may yet return.
Who is more unjust than he who is reminded of the signs of his Lord,
and then turns away from them? Verily, we will take vengeance on the
sinners!
And we did give Moses the Book; be not then in doubt concerning
the meeting with him; and we made it a guidance to the children of
Israel.
And we made amongst them high priests who guided by our bidding,
since they were patient and were sure of our signs.
Verily, thy Lord, he shall decide between them on the resurrection
day concerning that whereon they do dispute.
Is it not conspicuous to them how many generations we have destroyed
before them? they walk over their dwellings! verily, in that are
signs: do they not then hear?
Have they not seen that we drive the water to the sterile land,
and bring forth thereby corn from which their cattle and themselves do
eat? do they not then see?
And they say, 'When shall this decision come if ye do tell the
truth?' Say, 'On the day of the decision their faith shall not
profit those who misbelieved, nor shall they be respited; turn then
from them and wait; verily, they are waiting too!
THE CHAPTER OF THE CONFEDERATES
(XXXIII. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
O thou prophet! fear God and obey not the misbelievers and
hypocrites; verily, God is ever knowing, wise!
But follow what thou art inspired with from thy Lord; verily, God of
what you do is ever well aware. And rely upon God, for God is guardian
enough.
God has not made for any man two hearts in his inside; nor has He
made your wives,- whom you back away from,- your real mothers; nor has
He made your adopted sons your real sons. That is what ye speak with
your mouths; but God speaks the truth and He guides to the path!
Call them by their fathers' names; that is more just in God's sight;
but if ye know not their fathers, then they are your brothers in
religion and your clients. There is no crime against you for what
mistakes ye make therein; but what your hearts do purposely-but God is
ever forgiving and merciful.
The prophet is nearer of kin to the believers than themselves, and
his wives are their mothers. And blood relations are nearer in kin
to each other by the Book of God than the believers and those who
fled; only your doing kindness to your kindred, that is traced in
the Book.
And when we took of the prophets their compact, from thee and from
Noah, and Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary, and took them
a rigid compact, that He might ask the truth-tellers of their truth.
But He has prepared for those who misbelieve a grievous woe.
O ye who believe! remember God's favours towards you when hosts came
to you and we sent against them a wind and hosts that ye could not
see;-and God knew what ye were doing.
When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and
when your eyesights were distracted and your hearts came up into
your throats, and ye suspected God with certain suspicions.
There were the believers tried and were made to quake with a
severe quaking.
And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was sickness said,
'God and His Apostle have only promised us deceitfully.' And when a
party of them said, 'O people of Yathreb; there is no place for you
(here), return then (to the city).' And a part of them asked leave
of the prophet (to return), saying, 'Verily, our houses are
defenceless but they were not defenceless, they only wished for
flight.
But had they been entered upon from its environs and then been asked
to show treason they would have done so; but they would only have
tarried there a little while.
They had covenanted with God before, that they would not turn
their backs; and God's covenant shall be enquired of.
Say, 'Flight shall avail you naught; if ye fly from death or
slaughter, even then ye shall be granted enjoyment only for a little!'
Say, 'Who is it that can save you from God, if He wish you evil,
or wish you mercy?' but they will not find beside God a patron or a
helper.
Say, 'God knows the hinderers amongst you, and those who say to
their brethren, "Come along unto us," and show but little
valour;-covetous towards you.' When fear comes thou wilt see them
looking towards thee, their eyes rolling like one fainting with death;
but when the fear has passed away they will assail you with sharp
tongues, covetous of the best. These have never believed, and God will
make vain their works, for that is easy with God.
They reckoned that the confederates would never go away; and if
the confederates should come they would fain be in the desert with the
Arabs, asking for news of you! and if they were amongst you they would
fight but little.
Ye had in the Apostle of God a good example' for him who hopes for
God and the last day, and who remembers God much.
And when the believers saw the confederates they said, 'This is what
God and His Apostle promised us; God and His Apostle are true!' and it
only increased them in faith and resignation.
Amongst the believers are men who have been true to their covenant
with God, and there are some who have fulfilled their vow, and some
who wait and have not changed with fickleness.
That God might reward the truthful for their truth, and punish the
hypocrites if He please, or turn again towards them;-verily, God is
forgiving, merciful!
And God drove back the misbelievers in their rage; they gat no
advantage;-God was enough for the believers in the fight, for God is
strong, mighty!
And He drove down those of the people of the Book who had helped
them from their fortresses and hurled dread into their hearts; a
part ye slew and ye took captive a part: and He gave you their land,
and their dwellings, and their property for an inheritance, and a land
ye had not trodden, for God is ever mighty over all.
O thou prophet! say to thy wives, 'If ye be desirous of the life
of this world and its adornments, come, I will give you them to
enjoy and I will let you range handsomely at large! But if ye be
desirous of God and His Apostle and of the abode of the hereafter,
verily, God has prepared for those of you who do good a mighty hire!'
O ye women of the prophet! whosoever of you commits manifest
fornication, doubled shall be her torment twice; and that is easy unto
God!
But that one of you who is devoted to God and His Apostle and does
right we will give her her her hire twice over, and we have prepared
for her a noble provision.
O ye women of the prophet! ye are not like any other women; if ye
fear God then be not too complaisant in speech, or he in whose heart
is sickness will lust after you; but speak a reasonable speech.
And stay still in your houses and show not yourselves with the
ostentation of the ignorance of yore; and be steadfast in prayer,
and give alms, and obey God and his Apostle;-God only wishes to take
away from you the horror as people of His House and to purify you
thoroughly.
And remember what is recited in your houses of the signs of God
and of wisdom; verily, God is subtle and aware!
Verily, men resigned and women resigned, and believing men and
believing women, and devout men and devout women, and truthful men and
truthful women, and patient men and patient women, and humble men
and humble women, and almsgiving men and almsgiving women, and fasting
men and fasting women, and men who guard their private parts, and
women who guard their private parts, and men who remember God much,
and women who remember Him,- God has prepared for them forgiveness and
a mighty hire.
It is not for a believing man or for a believing woman, when God and
His Apostle have decided an affair, to have the choice in that affair;
and whoso rebels against God and His Apostle has erred with an obvious
error.
And when thou didst say to him God had shown favour to and thou
hadst shown favour to, 'Keep thy wife to thyself and fear God;' and
thou didst conceal in thy soul what God was about to display; and
didst fear men, though God is more deserving that thou shouldst fear
Him; and when Zaid had fulfilled his desire of her we did wed thee
to her that there should be no hindrance to the believers in the
matter of the wives of their adopted sons when they have fulfilled
their desire of them: and so God's bidding to be done.
There is no hindrance to the prophet about what God has ordained for
him;-(such was) the course of God with those who have passed away
before,-and God's bidding is a decreed decree! Those who preach
God's messages and fear Him and fear not any one except God,-but God
is good enough at reckoning up.
Mohammed is not the father of any of your men, but the Apostle of
God, and the Seal of the Prophets; for God all things doth know!
O ye who believe! remember God with frequent remembrance, and
celebrate His praises morning and evening.
He it is who prays for you and His angels too, to bring you forth
out of the darkness into the light, for He is merciful to the
believers.
Their salutation on the day they meet Him shall be 'Peace!' and He
has prepared for them a noble hire.
O thou prophet! verily, we have sent thee as a witness and a
herald of glad tidings and a warner, and to call (men) unto God by His
permission, and as an illuminating lamp.
Give glad tidings then to the believers, that for them is great
grace from God. And follow not the unbelievers and the hypocrites; but
let alone their ill-treatment, and rely upon God, for God is
guardian enough.
O ye who believe! when ye wed believing women, and then divorce them
before ye have touched them, ye have no term that ye need observe;
so make them some provision, and let them go handsomely at large.
O thou prophet! verily, we make lawful for thee thy wives to whom
thou hast given their hire, and what thy right hand possesses of the
booty that God has granted thee and the daughters of thy paternal
uncle and the daughters of thy paternal aunts, and the daughters of
thy maternal uncle and the daughters of thy maternal aunts, provided
they have fled with thee, and any believing woman if she give
herself to the prophet, if the prophet desire to marry her;-a
special privilege this for thee, above the other believers.
We knew what we ordained for them concerning their wives and what
their right hands possess, that there should be no hindrance to
thee; and God is forgiving, merciful.
Put off whomsoever thou wilt of them and take to thyself
whomsoever thou wilt, or whomsoever thou cravest of those whom thou
hast deposed, and it shall be no crime against thee. That is nigher to
cheering their eyes and that they should not grieve, and should be
satisfied with what thou dost bring them all; but God knows best
what is in their hearts; and God is knowing, clement.
It is not lawful to thee to take women after (this), nor to change
them for (other) wives, even though their beauty please thee; except
what thy right hand possesses, for God is ever watchful over all.
O ye who believe! do not enter the houses of the prophet, unless
leave be given you, for a meal,-not watching till it is cooked! But
when ye are invited, then enter; and when ye have fed, disperse, not
engaging in familiar discourse. Verily, that would annoy the prophet
and he would be ashamed for your sake, but God is not ashamed of the
truth.
And when ye ask them for an article, ask them from behind a curtain;
that is purer for your hearts and for theirs. It is not right for
you to annoy the prophet of God, nor to wed his wives after him
ever; verily, that is with God a serious thing.
If ye display a thing or conceal it, verily, God all things doth
know.
There is no crime against them (if they speak unveiled) to their
fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or
their sisters' sons, or their women, or what their right hands
possess; but let them fear God,-verily, God is witness over all.
Verily, God and His angels pray for the prophet. O ye who believe!
pray for him and salute him with a salutation!
Verily, those who annoy God and His Apostle, God will curse them
in this world and the next, and prepare for them shameful woe!
And those who annoy the believers for what they have not earned,
such have to bear (the guilt of) calumny and obvious sin.
O thou prophet! tell thy wives and thy daughters, and the women of
the believers, to let down over them their outer wrappers; that is
nearer for them to be known and that they should not be annoyed; but
God is forgiving, merciful.
Surely if the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a sickness and
the insurrectionists in Medinah do not desist, we will surely incite
thee against them. Then they shall not dwell near thee therein save
for a little while. Cursed wherever they are found,-taken and slain
with slaughter!
God's course with those who have passed away before: and thou
shalt never find in God's course any alteration.
The folk will ask thee about the Hour; say, 'The knowledge thereof
is only with God, and what is to make thee perceive that the Hour is
haply nigh?'
Verily, God has cursed the misbelievers and has prepared for them
a blaze!
To dwell therein for ever and for aye; they shall not find a
patron or a helper!
On the day when their faces shall writhe in the fire they shall say,
'O, would that we had obeyed God and obeyed the Apostle!'
And they shall say, 'Our Lord! verily, we obeyed our chiefs and
our great men and they led us astray from the path! Our Lord! give
them double torment and curse them with a great curse!'
O ye who believe! be not like those who annoyed Moses; but God
cleared him of what they said, and he was regarded in the sight of
God.
O ye who believe! fear God and speak a straightforward speech. He
will correct for you your works, and pardon you your sins; for he
who obeys God and His Apostle has attained a mighty happiness.
Verily, we offered the trust to the heavens and the earth and the
mountains, but they refused to bear it, and shrank from it; but man
bore it: verily, he is ever unjust and ignorant. That God may
torment the hypocritical men and hypocritical women, and the idolaters
and idolatresses; and that God may turn relenting towards the
believing men and believing women; verily, God is ever forgiving,
merciful.
THE CHAPTER OF SEBA
(XXXIV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Praise belongs to God, whose is whatsoever is in the heavens and
whatsoever is in the earth; His is the praise in the next world, and
He is the wise and well aware!
He knows what goes into the earth, and what comes forth therefrom,
and what comes down from the sky, and what ascends thereto; for He
is the merciful, forgiving.
Those who misbelieve say, 'The Hour shall not come to us;' say,
'Yea, by my Lord it shall surely come to you! by Him who knows the
unseen! nor shall there escape from it the weight of an atom, in the
heavens or in the earth, or even less than that, or greater, save in
the perspicuous Book;' and that He may reward those who believe and do
right; these,- for them is forgiveness and a noble provision.
But those who strive concerning our signs to frustrate them;
these,-for them is the torment of a grievous plague.
And those to whom knowledge has been given see that what is sent
down to thee from thy Lord is the truth, and guides unto the way of
the mighty, the praiseworthy.
And those who misbelieve say, 'Shall we guide you to a man who
will inform you that when ye are torn all to pieces, then ye shall
be a new creation? he has forged against God a lie, or there is a ginn
in him;'-nay, those who believe not in the hereafter are in the
torment and in the remote error!
Have they not looked at what is before them and what is behind
them of the heaven and the earth? if we pleased we would cleave the
earth open with them, or we would make to fall upon them a portion
of the heaven; verily, in that is a sign to every repentant servant.
And we did give David grace from us, 'O ye mountains! echo (God's
praises) with him, and ye birds!' and we softened for him iron:
'Make thou coats of mail and adapt the rings thereof, and do right;
verily, I at what ye do do look.' And to Solomon the wind; its morning
journey was a month, and its evening journey was a month; and we
made to flow for him a fountain of molten brass; and of the ginns some
to work before him by the permission of his Lord; and whoso swerves
amongst them from our bidding we will give him to taste the torment
and the blaze; and they made for him what he pleased of chambers,
and images, and dishes like troughs, and firm pots;- work, O ye family
of David! thankfully;- few is it of my servants who are thankful.
And when we decreed for him death, naught guided them to his death
save a reptile of the earth that ate his staff; and when he fell
down it was made manifest to the ginns that, had they but known the
unseen, they need not have tarried in the shameful torment.
Seba had in their dwellings a sign; two gardens, on the right hand
and on the left, 'Eat from the provision of your Lord; and give thanks
to Him! a good country and a forgiving Lord!' but they turned away,
and we sent against them the flood of the dyke; and we changed for
them their two gardens into two gardens that grew bitter fruit and
tamarisk, and some few lote trees.
This did we reward them with, for that they misbelieved; and do we
so reward any but misbelievers?
And we made between them and the cities which we had blessed (other)
cities which were evident; and we measured out the journey: 'Journey
ye thereto nights and days in safety!' And they said, 'Our Lord!
make a greater distance between our journeys;' and they wronged
themselves, and we made them legends; and we tore them all to
pieces; verily, in that are signs to every patient, grateful person.
And Iblis verified his suspicion concerning them, and they followed
him, save a party of the believers.
Yet had he no authority over them, save that we might know who it
was that believed in the hereafter from him who amongst them was in
doubt; for thy Lord guards everything.
Say, 'Call on those whom ye pretend beside God;' they cannot control
the weight of an atom in the heavens or in the earth; nor have they
any partnership in either; nor has He amongst them any supporter;
nor is intercession of any avail with Him, except for him whom He
permits; so that when fright is removed from their hearts they say,
'What is it that your Lord says? they say, 'The truth; for He is the
high, the great.'
Say, 'Who provides from the heavens and the earth?' Say, 'God.' And,
verily, we or ye are surely in guidance. or in an obvious error.
Say, 'Ye shall not be asked about what we have sent, nor shall we be
asked about what ye do.
'Our Lord shall assemble us together; then He shall open between
us in truth, for He is the opener who knows.'
Say, 'Show me those whom ye have added to Him as partners; not so!
nay, but He is God, the mighty, the wise!'
We have only sent thee to men generally as a herald of glad
tidings and a warner; but most men do not know.
And they say, 'When shall this promise be, if ye do speak the
truth?' say, 'For you is the appointment of a day of which ye shall
not keep back an hour, nor shall ye bring it on!'
And those who misbelieve say, 'We will never believe in this Koran
or in what is before it;' but couldst thou see when the unjust are set
before their Lord, they shall rebut each other in speech.
Those who were thought weak shall say to those who were big with
pride, 'Had it not been for you we should have been believers.'
Those who were big with pride shall say to those who were thought
weak, 'Was it we who turned you away from the guidance after it came
to you? nay, ye were sinners.'
And those who were thought weak shall say to those who were big with
pride, 'Nay, but it was the plotting by night and day, when ye did bid
us to disbelieve in God, and to make peers for Him!' and they shall
display repentance when they see the torment; and we will put
fetters on the necks of those who misbelieved. Shall they be
rewarded except for that which they have done?
We have not sent to any city a warner but the opulent thereof
said, 'We, in what ye are sent with, disbelieve.'
And they say, 'We have more wealth and children, and we shall not be
tormented.'
Say, 'Verily, my Lord extends provision to whom He pleases or
doles it out, but most men do not know; but neither your wealth nor
your children is that which will bring you to a near approach to us,
save him who believes and does right; these, for them is a double
reward for what they have done, and they in upper rooms shall be
secure.'
And those who strive concerning our signs to frustrate them, these
in the torment shall be arraigned. Verily, my Lord extends provision
to whomsoever He will of His servants, or doles it out to him. And
what ye expend in alms at all, He will repay it; for He is the best of
providers.
And on the day He will gather them all together, then He will say to
the angels, 'Are these those who used to worship you?
They shall say, 'Celebrated be thy praises! thou art our patron
instead of them. Nay, they used to worship the ginns, most of them
believe in them. But to-day they cannot control for each other, either
profit or harm;' and we will say to those who have done wrong,
'Taste ye the torment of the fire wherein ye did disbelieve!'
And when our signs are recited to them they say, 'This is only a man
who wishes to turn you from what your fathers served;' and they say,
'This is only a lie forged,' and those who misbelieve will say of
the truth when it comes to them, 'It is only obvious sorcery!'
But we have not brought them any book which they may study, and we
have not sent to them before thee a warner.
Those before them said it was a lie, and these have not reached a
tithe of what we had given them. And they said my apostles were liars,
and how great a change was then!
Say, 'I only admonish you of one thing, that ye should stand up
before God in twos or singly, and then that ye reflect that there is
no ginn in your companion. He is only a warner to you before the
keen torment.'
Say, 'I do not ask you for it a hire; that is for yourselves; my
hire is only from God, and He is witness over all.'
Say, 'Verily, my Lord hurls forth the truth; and He well knows the
unseen.'
Say, 'The truth has come, and falsehood shall vanish and shall not
come back.'
Say, 'If I err I only err against myself; and if I am guided it is
all what my Lord inspires me; verily, He is the hearing, the nigh!'
And couldst thou see when they are scared, and there shall be no
escape, and they shall be taken from a place that is nigh. And they
say, 'We believe in it.' But how can they partake of it from a distant
place? They misbelieved before, and conjectured about the unseen
from a distant place. And there shall be a barrier between them and
that which they lust after; as we did with their fellow sectaries
before; verily, they were in hesitating doubt.
THE CHAPTER OF THE ANGELS
(XXXV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Praise belongs to' God, the originator of the heavens and the earth;
who makes the angels His messengers, endued with wings in pairs, or
threes or fours; He adds to creation what He pleases; verily, God is
mighty over all!
What God opens to men of His mercy there is none to withhold; and
what He withholds, there is none can send it forth after Him; for He
is the mighty, the wise.
O ye folk! remember the favours of God towards you; is there a
creator beside God, who provides you from the heavens and from the
earth? There is no god but He; how then can ye lie?
And if they call thee liar, apostles were called liars before
thee, and unto God affairs return.
O ye folk! verily, God's promise is true; then let not the life of
this world beguile you, and let not the beguiler beguile you
concerning God. Verily, the devil is to you a foe, so take him as a
foe; he only calls his crew to be the fellows of the blaze.
Those who misbelieve, for them is keen torment.
But those who believe and do right, for them is forgiveness and a
great hire.
What! is he whose evil act is made seemly for him, so that he
looks upon it as good,--? Verily, God leads astray whom He pleases and
guides whom He pleases; let not thy soul then be wasted in sighing for
them; verily, God knows what they do!
It is God who sends the winds, and they stir up a cloud, and we
irrigate therewith a dead country, and we quicken therewith the
earth after its death; so shall the resurrection be!
Whosoever desires honour-honour belongs wholely to God; to Him
good words ascend, and a righteous deed He takes up; and those who
plot evil deeds, for them is keen torment, and their plotting is in
vain.
God created you from earth, then from a clot; then He made y'ou
pairs; and no female bears or is delivered, except by His knowledge;
nor does he who is aged reach old age, or is aught diminished from his
life, without it is in the Book; verily, that is easy unto God.
The two seas are not equal: one is sweet and fresh and pleasant to
drink, and the other is salt and pungent; but from each do ye eat
fresh flesh, and bring forth ornaments which ye wear; and thou
mayest see the ships cleave through it, that ye may search after His
grace, and haply ye may give thanks.
He turns the night into day, and He turns the day into night; and He
subjects the sun and the moon, each of them runs on to an appointed
goal; that is God, your Lord! His is the kingdom; but those ye call on
beside Him possess not a straw.
If you call upon them they cannot hear your call, and if they hear
they cannot answer you; and on the resurrection day they will deny
your associating them with God; but none can inform thee like the
One who is aware.
O ye folk! ye are in need of God; but God, He is independent,
praiseworthy.
If He please He will take you off, and will bring a fresh
creation; for that is no hard matter unto God.
And no burdened soul shall bear the burden of another; and if a
heavily laden one shall call for its load (to be carried) it shall not
be carried for it at all, even though it be a kinsman!-thou canst only
warn those who fear their Lord in the unseen and who are steadfast
in prayer; and he who is pure is only pure for himself; and unto God
the journey is.
The blind is not equal with him who sees, nor the darkness with
the night, nor the shade with the hot blast; nor are the living
equal with the dead; verily, God causes whom He pleases to hear, and
thou canst not make those who are in their graves hear; thou art but a
warner!
Verily, we have sent thee in truth a herald of glad tidings and a
warner; and there is no nation but its warner has passed away with it.
And if they called thee liar, those before thee called their
apostles liars too, who came to them with manifest signs, and the
Scriptures, and the illuminating Book.
Then I seized those who misbelieved, and what a change it was!
Dost thou not see that God has sent down from the heaven water,
and has brought forth therewith fruits varied in hue, and on the
mountains dykes, white and red, various in hue, and some intensely
black, and men and beasts and cattle, various in hue? thus! none
fear God but the wise among His servants; but, verily, God is
mighty, forgiving.
Verily, those who recite the Book of God, and are steadfast in
prayer, and give alms of what we have bestowed in secret and in
public, hope for the merchandise that shall not come to naught; that
He may pay them their hire, and give them increase of His grace;
verily, He is forgiving, grateful.
What we have inspired thee with of the Book is true, verifying
what was before it; verily, God of His servants is well aware and
sees.
Then we gave the Book for an inheritance to those whom we chose of
our servants, and of them are some who wrong themselves, and of them
are some who take a middle course, and of them are some who vie in
good works by the permission of their Lord; that is great grace.
Gardens of Eden shall they enter, adorned therein with bracelets
of gold and pearls; and their garments therein shall be silk; and they
shall say, 'Praise belongs to God, who has removed from us our
grief; verily, our Lord is forgiving, grateful! who has made us alight
in an enduring abode of His grace, wherein no toil shall touch us, and
there shall touch us no fatigue.'
But those who misbelieve, for them is the fire of hell; it shall not
be decreed for them to die, nor shall aught of the torment be
lightened from them; thus do we reward every misbeliever; and they
shall shriek therein, 'O our Lord! bring us forth, and we will do
right, not what we used to do!'-'Did we not let you grow old enough
for every one who would be mindful to be mindful? and there came to
you a warner!-So taste it, for the unjust shall have none to help!'
verily, God knows the unseen things of the heavens and of the earth;
verily, He knows the nature of men's breasts, He it is who made you
vicegerents in the earth, and he who misbelieves, his misbelief is
against himself; but their misbelief shall only increase the
misbelievers in hatred with their Lord; and their misbelief shall only
increase the misbelievers in loss.
Say, 'Have ye considered your associates whom ye call on beside
God?' show me what they created of the earth; have they a share in the
heavens, or have we given them a book that they rest on a manifest
sign? nay, the unjust promise each other naught but guile.
Verily, God holds back the heavens and the earth lest they should
decline; and if they should decline there is none to hold them back
after Him; verily, He is clement, forgiving.
They swore by God with their most strenuous oath, verily, if there
come to them a warner they would be more guided than any one of the
nations; but when a warner comes to them, it only increases them in
aversion, and in being big with pride in the earth, and in plotting
evil; but the plotting of evil only entangles those who practise it;
can they then expect aught but the course of those of yore? but thou
shalt not find any alteration in the course of God; and they shall not
find any change in the course of God.
Have they not journeyed on in the land and seen what was the end
of those before them who were stronger than they? but God, nothing can
ever make Him helpless in the heavens or in the earth; verily, He is
knowing, powerful.
Were God to catch men up for what they earn, He would not leave upon
the back of it a beast; but He respites them until an appointed
time. When their appointed time comes, verily, God looks upon His
servants.
THE CHAPTER OF YA SIN
(XXXVI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
YA SIN. By the wise Koran verily, thou art of the apostles upon a
right way. The revelation of the mighty, the merciful! That thou
mayest warn a people whose fathers were not warned, and who themselves
are heedless.
Now is the sentence due against most of them, for they will not
believe. Verily, we will place upon their necks fetters, and they
shall reach up to their chins, and they shall have their heads
forced back; and we will place before them a barrier, and behind
them a barrier; and we will cover them and they shall not see; and
it is all the same to them if thou dost warn them or dost warn them
not, they will not believe. Thou canst only warn him who follows the
reminder, and fears the Merciful in the unseen; but give him glad
tidings of forgiveness and a noble hire.
Verily, we quicken the dead, and write down what they have done
before, and what vestiges they leave behind; and everything have we
counted in a plain model.
Strike out for them a parable: the fellows of the city when there
came to it the apostles; when we sent those two and they called them
both liars, and we strengthened them with a third; and they said,
'Verily, we are sent to you.'
They said, 'Ye are only mortals like ourselves, nor has the Merciful
sent down aught; ye are naught but liars.'
They said, 'Our Lord knows that we are sent to you, and we have only
our plain message to preach.'
They said, 'Verily, we have augured concerning you, and if ye do not
desist we will surely stone you, and there shall touch you from us a
grievous woe.'
Said they, 'Your augury is with you; what! if ye are reminded-? Nay,
ye are an extravagant people!'
And there came from the remote part of the city a man hastening
up. Said he, 'O my people! follow the apostles; follow those who do
not ask you a hire, and who are guided. What ails me that I should not
worship Him who originated me, and unto whom I must return? Shall I
take gods beside Him? If the Merciful One desires harm for me, their
intercession cannot avail me at all, nor can they rescue me. Verily, I
should then be in obvious error; verily, I believe in your Lord,
then listen ye to me!'
It was said, 'Enter thou into Paradise!' said he, 'O, would that
my people did but know! for that my Lord has forgiven me, and has made
me of the honoured.'
And we did send down upon his people no hosts from heaven, nor yet
what we were wont to send down; it was but a single noise, and lo!
they were extinct.
Alas for the servants! there comes to them no apostle but they
mock at him!
Have they not seen how many generations we have destroyed before
them? verily, they shall not return to them; but all of them shall
surely altogether be arraigned.
And a sign for them is the dead earth which we have quickened and
brought forth therefrom seed, and from it do they eat; and we made
therein gardens and palms and grapes, and we have caused fountains
to gush forth therein, that they may eat from the fruit thereof, and
of what their hands have made; will they not then give thanks?
Celebrated be the praises of Him who created all kinds, of what
the earth brings forth, and of themselves, and what they know not of!
And a sign to them is the night, from which we strip off the day,
and lo! they are in the dark; and the sun runs on to a place of rest
for it; that is the ordinance of the mighty, the wise.
And the moon, we have ordered for it stations, until it comes
again to be like an old dry palm branch.
Neither is it proper for it to catch up the moon, nor for the
night to outstrip the day, but each one floats on in its sky.
And a sign for them is that we bear their seed in a laden ship,
and we have created for them the like thereof whereon to ride; and
if we please, we drown them, and there is none for them to appeal
to; nor are they rescued, save by mercy from us, as a provision for
a season.
And when it is said to them, 'Fear what is before you and what is
behind you, haply ye may obtain mercy and thou bringest them not any
one of the signs of their Lord, but they turn away therefrom; and when
it is said to them, 'Expend in alms of what God has bestowed upon
you,' those who misbelieve say to those who believe, 'Shall we feed
him whom, if God pleased, He would feed? ye are only in an obvious
error.'
They say, 'When shall this promise come to pass, if ye do tell the
truth?' They await but a single noise, that shall seize them as they
are contending. And they shall not be able to make a bequest; nor to
their people shall they return; but the trumpet shall be blown, and,
behold, from their graves unto their Lord shall they slip out!
They shall say, 'O, woe is us! who has raised us up from our
sleeping-place? this is what the Merciful promised, and the apostles
told the truth!' It shall be but a single noise, and lo! they are
all arraigned before us.
And on that day no soul shall be wronged at all, nor shall ye be
rewarded for aught but that which ye have done.
Verily, the fellows of Paradise upon that day shall be employed in
enjoyment; they and their wives, in shade upon thrones, reclining;
therein shall they have fruits, and they shall have what they may call
for. 'Peace!'-a speech from the merciful Lord!
'Separate yourselves to-day, O ye sinners! Did I not covenant with
you, O children of Adam! that ye should not serve Satan? verily, he is
to you an open foe; but serve ye me, this is the right way. But he led
astray a numerous race of you; what! had ye then no sense? this is
hell, which ye were threatened; broil therein to-day, for that ye
misbelieved!'
On that day we will seal their mouths, and their hands shall speak
to us, and their feet shall bear witness of what they earned. And if
we please we could put out their eyes, and they would race along the
road; and then how could they see? And if we pleased we would
transform them in their places, and they should not be able to go
on, nor yet to return. And him to whom we grant old age, we bow him
down in his form; have they then no sense?
We have not taught him poetry, nor was it proper for him; it is
but a reminder and a plain Koran to warn him who is living; but the
sentence is due against the misbelievers.
Have they not seen that we have created for them of what our hands
have made for them, cattle, and they are owners thereof? and we have
tamed them for them, and of them are some to ride, and of them are
what they eat, and therein have they advantages and beverages; will
they not then give thanks?
But they take, beside God, gods that haply they may be helped.
They cannot help them; yet are they a host ready for them.
But let not their speech grieve thee: verily, we know what they
conceal and what they display.
Has not man seen that we have created him from a clot? and lo! he is
an open opponent; and he strikes out for us a likeness; and forgets
his creation; and says, 'Who shall quicken bones when they are
rotten?' Say, 'He shall quicken them who produced them at first; for
every creation does He know; who has made for you fire out of a
green tree, and lo! ye kindle therewith.'
Is not He who created the heavens and the earth able to create the
like thereof? yea! He is the knowing Creator; His bidding is only,
when He desires anything to say to it, 'BE,' and it is. Then
celebrated be the praises of Him in whose hands is the kingdom of
everything! and unto Him shall ye return.
THE CHAPTER OF THE 'RANGED'
(XXXVII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By the (angels) ranged in ranks, and the drivers driving, and the
reciters of the reminder, 'Verily, your God is one, the Lord of the
heavens and the earth and what is between the two, and the Lord of the
sunrises!'
Verily, we have adorned the lower heaven with the adornment of the
stars, and to preserve it from every rebellious devil, that they may
not listen to the exalted chiefs; for they are hurled at from every
side, driven off, and for them is lasting woe; save such as snatches
off a word, and there follows him a darting flame!
Ask them whether they are stronger by nature or (the angels) whom we
have created? We have created them of sticky clay.
Nay, thou dost wonder and they jest! and when they are reminded they
will not remember; and when they see a sign they make a jest
thereof, and say, 'This is naught but obvious sorcery. What! when we
are dead, and have become earth and bones, shall we then be raised?
what! and our fathers of yore?'
Say, 'Yes, and ye shall shrink up, and it shall only be one scare,
and, behold, they shall look on, and they shall say, 'O, woe is us!
this is the day of judgment, this is the day of decision, which ye did
call a lie!' Gather ye together, ye who were unjust, with their
mates and what they used to serve beside God, and guide them to the
way of hell, and stop them; verily, they shall be questioned. 'Why
do ye not help each other?' nay, on that day they shall resign
themselves, and some shall draw near to others, to question each
other, and they shall say, 'Verily, ye came to us from the right.'
They shall say, 'Nay, ye were not believers, nor had we any
authority over you; nay, ye were an outrageous people. And the
sentence of our Lord shall be due for us; verily, we shall surely
taste thereof; we did seduce you-verily, we were erring too!'
therefore, verily, on that day they shall share the torment: thus it
is that we will do with the sinners.
Verily, when it is said to them, 'There is no god but God,' they get
too big with pride, and say, What! shall we leave our gods for an
infatuated poet?' Nay, he came with the truth, and verified the
apostles; verily, ye are going to taste of grievous woe, nor shall
ye be rewarded save for that which ye have done!
Except God's sincere servants, these shall have a stated provision
of fruits, and they shall be honoured in the gardens of pleasure, upon
couches facing each other; they shall be served all round with a cup
from a spring, white and delicious to those who drink, wherein is no
insidious spirit, nor shall they be drunk therewith; and with them
damsels, restraining their looks, large eyed; as though they were a
sheltered egg; and some shall come forward to ask others; and a
speaker amongst them shall say, 'Verily, I had a mate, who used to
say, "Art thou verily of those who credit? What! when we are dead, and
have become earth and bones, shall we be surely judged?"' He will say,
'Are ye looking down?' and he shall look down and see him in the midst
of hell. He shall say, 'By God, thou didst nearly ruin me! And had
it not been for the favour of my Lord, I should have been among the
arraigned.'-'What! shall we not die save our first death? and shall we
not be tormented?-Verily, this is mighty bliss! for the like of this
then let the workers work.'
Is that better as an entertainment, or the tree of Ez Zaqqum?
Verily, we have made it a trial to the unjust. Verily, it is a tree
that comes forth from the bottom of hell; its spathe is as it were the
heads of devils; verily, they shall eat therefrom, and fill their
bellies therefrom. Then shall they have upon it a mixture of boiling
water; then, verily, their return shall be to hell.
Verily, they found their fathers erring, and they hurried on in
their tracks; but there had erred before them most of those of yore,
and we had sent warners amongst them. Behold, then, what was the end
of those who were warned, save God's sincere servants!
Noah did call upon us, and a gracious answer did we give; and we
saved him and his people from a mighty trouble; and we made his seed
to be the survivors; and we left for him amongst posterity peace
upon Noah in the worlds; verily, thus do we reward those who do
well; verily, he was of our believing servants.' Then we drowned the
others.
And, verily, of his sect was Abraham; when he came to his Lord
with a sound heart; when he said to his father and his people, 'What
is it that ye serve? with a lie do ye desire gods beside God? What
then is your thought respecting the Lord of the worlds?'
And he looked a look at the stars and said, 'Verily, I am sick!' and
they turned their backs upon him fleeing. And he went aside unto their
gods and said, 'Will ye not eat? What ails you that ye will not
speak?' And he went aside to them smiting with the right hand.
And they rushed towards him. Said he, 'Do ye serve what ye hew
out, when God has created you, and what ye make?'
Said they, 'Build for him a pyre, and throw him into the flaming
hell!' They desired to plot against him, but we made them inferior.
Said he, 'Verily, I am going to my Lord, He will guide me. My Lord!
grant me (a son), one of the righteous;' and we gave him glad
tidings of a clement boy.
And when he reached the age to work with him, he said, 'O my boy!
verily, I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice thee, look then
what thou seest right.'
Said he, 'O my sire! do what thou art bidden; thou wilt find me,
if it please God, one of the patient!'
And when they were resigned, and Abraham had thrown him down upon
his forehead, we called to him, 'O Abraham! thou hast verified the
vision; verily, thus do we reward those who do well. This is surely an
obvious trial.' And we ransomed him with a mighty victim; and we
left for him amongst posterity, 'Peace upon Abraham; thus do we reward
those who do well; verily, he was of our servants who believe!' And we
gave him glad tidings of Isaac, a prophet among the righteous; and
we blessed him and Isaac;-of their seed is one who does well, and
one who obviously wrongs himself.
And we were gracious unto Moses and Aaron. We saved them and their
people from mighty trouble, and we helped them and they had the
upper hand; and we gave them both the perspicuous Book; and we
guided them to the right way; and we left for them amongst
posterity, 'Peace upon Moses and Aaron; verily, thus do we reward
those who do well; verily, they were both of our servants who
believe!'
And verily Elyas was of the apostles; when he said to his people,
'Will ye not fear? do ye call upon Baal and leave the best of
Creators, God your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore?'
But they called him liar; verily, they shall surely be arraigned,
save God's sincere servants. And we left for him amongst posterity,
'Peace upon Elyasin; verily, thus do we reward those who do well;
verily, he was of our servants who believe!'
And, verily, Lot was surely among the apostles; when we saved him
and his people altogether, except an old woman amongst those who
lingered; then we destroyed the others; verily, ye pass by them in the
morning and at night; have ye then no sense?
And, verily, Jonah was amongst the apostles; when he ran away into
the laden ship; and he cast lots and was of those who lost; and a fish
swallowed him, for he was to be blamed; and had it not been that he
was of those who celebrated God's praises he would surely have tarried
in the belly thereof to the day when men shall be raised.
But we cast him on to the barren shore; and he was sick; and we made
to grow over him a gourd tree; and we sent him to a hundred thousand
or more, and they believed; and we gave them enjoyment for a season.
Ask them, 'Has thy Lord daughters while they have sons? or have we
created the angels females while they were witnesses?' is it not of
their lie that they say, 'God has begotten?' verily, they are liars.
Has he preferred daughters to sons? what ails you? how ye judge!
will ye not be mindful, or have ye obvious authority? then bring
your Book if ye do speak the truth.
And they made him to be related to the ginns, while the ginns know
that they shall be arraigned; celebrated be God's praises from what
they attribute!-save God's sincere servants.
'Verily, ye and what ye worship shall not try any one concerning
him, save him who shall broil in hell; there is none amongst us but
has his appointed place, and, verily, we are ranged, and, verily, we
celebrate His praises.'
And yet they say, they say, 'Had we a reminder from those of yore we
should surely have been of God's sincere servants.'
But they misbelieved in it but soon shall they know.
But our word has been passed to our servants who were sent that they
should be helped; that, verily, our hosts should gain mastery for
them.
Then turn thou thy back upon them for a time, and look upon them,
for soon they too shall look.
Would they hasten on our torment? but when it descends in their
court, ill will the morning be of those who have been warned!
But turn thy back upon them for a time; and look, for soon they
too shall look.
Celebrated be the praises of thy Lord, the Lord of glory, above what
they attribute! and peace be upon the apostles and praise be to God,
the Lord of the worlds!
THE CHAPTER OF SAD
(XXXVIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
SAD. By the Koran with its reminder! nay, but those who misbelieve
are in pride, schism!
How many a generation have we destroyed before them, and they
cried out, but it was no time to escape!
And they wonder that a warner has come from amongst themselves,
and the misbelievers say, 'This is a magician, a liar!' What! does
he make the gods to be one God? verily, this is a wondrous thing.
And the chiefs of them went away: 'Go on and persevere in your gods;
this is a thing designed; we never heard this in any other sect;
this is nothing but a fiction! Has a reminder come down upon him
from amongst us?' nay, they are in doubt concerning my reminder;
nay, they have not yet tasted of my torment!
Have they the treasures of the mercy of thy mighty Lord, the
giver? or have they the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth, and
what is between the two?- then let them climb up the ropes thereof.
Any host whatever of the confederates shall there be routed.
Before them did Noah's people, and 'Ad, and Pharaoh of the stakes
call the apostles liars; and Thamud and the people of Lot, and the
fellows of the Grove, they were the confederates too.
They all did naught but call the apostles liars, and just was the
punishment! Do these await aught else but one noise for which there
shall be no pause?
But they say, 'O our Lord, hasten for us our share before the day of
reckoning!'
Be patient of what they say, and remember our servant David
endowed with might; verily, he turned frequently to us. Verily, we
subjected the mountains to celebrate with him our praises at the
evening and the dawn; and the birds too gathered together, each one
would oft return to him; and we strengthened his kingdom, and we
gave him wisdom and decisive address.
Has there come to thee the story of the antagonists when they scaled
the chamber wall? when they entered in unto David, and he was startled
at them, they said, 'Fear not, we are two antagonists; one of us has
injured the other; judge then between us with the truth and be not
partial, but guide us to a level way. Verily, this is my brother: he
had ninety-nine ewes and I had one ewe; and he said, "Give her over to
my charge;" and he overcame me in the discourse.' Said he, 'He wronged
thee in asking for thy ewe in addition to his own ewes. Verily, many
associates do injure one another, except those who believe and do what
is right, and very few are they!'
And he thought that we were trying him; and he asked pardon of his
Lord and fell down bowing, and did turn; and we pardoned him; for,
verily, he has a near approach to us and an excellent resort.
O David! verily, we have made thee a vicegerent, judge then
between men with truth and follow not lust, for it will lead thee
astray from the path of God. Verily, those who go astray from the path
of God, for them is keen torment, for that they did forget the day
of reckoning!
And we have not created the heavens and the earth, and what is
between the two, in vain. That is what those who misbelieved did
think, but woe from the fire to those who misbelieve!
Shall we make those who believe and do right like those who do
evil in the earth? or shall we make the pious like the sinners?
A blessed Book which we have sent down to thee that they may
consider its verses, and that those endowed with minds may be mindful.
And we gave to David, Solomon, an excellent servant; verily, he
turned frequently to us. When there were set before him in the evening
the steeds that paw the ground, and he said, 'Verily, I have loved the
love of good things better than the remembrance of my Lord, until (the
sun) was hidden behind the veil; bring them back to me;' and he
began to sever their legs and necks.
And we did try Solomon, and we threw upon his throne a form; then he
turned repentant. Said he, 'My Lord, pardon me and grant me a
kingdom that is not seemly for any one after me; verily, thou art He
who grants!'
And we subjected to him the wind to run on at his bidding gently
wherever he directed it; and the devils-every builder and diver, and
others bound in fetters-'this is our gift, so be thou lavish or
withhold without account!'
And, verily, he had with us a near approach, and a good resort.
And remember our servant Job when he called upon his Lord that
'the devil has touched me with toil and torment!'
'Stamp with thy foot, this is a cool washing-place and a drink.' And
we granted him his family, and the like of them with them, as a
mercy from us and a reminder to those endowed with minds,-'and take in
thy hand a bundle, and strike therewith, and break not thy oath!'
Verily, we found him patient an excellent servant; verily, he turned
frequently to us.
And remember our servants Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, endowed
with might and sight; verily, we made them sincere by a sincere
quality-the remembrance of the abode; and, verily, they were with us
of the elect, the best.
And remember Ishmael and Elisha and DHU-l-kifl, for each was of
the righteous. This is a reminder! verily, for the pious is there an
excellent resort,-gardens of Eden with the doors open to
them;-reclining therein; calling therein for much fruit and drink; and
beside them maids of modest glance, of their own age,-'This is what ye
were promised for the day of reckoning!'-'This is surely our
provision, it is never spent!'
This!-and, verily, for the rebellious is there an evil resort,-hell;
they shall broil therein, and an ill couch shall it be! This,-so let
them taste it!- hot water, and pus, and other kinds of the same
sort! 'This is an army plunged in with you! there is no welcome for
them! verily, they are going to broil in the fire!'
They shall say, 'Nay, for you too is there no welcome! it was ye who
prepared it beforehand for us, and an ill resting-place it is!'
They shall say, 'Our Lord! whoso prepared this beforehand for us,
give him double torment in the fire!' And they shall say, 'What ails
us that we do not see men whom we used to think amongst the wicked?
whom we used to take for mockery? have our eyes escaped them?'
Verily, that is the truth; the contention of the people of the fire.
Say, 'I am only a warner; and there is no god but God, the one,
the victorious, the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and what is
between the two, the mighty, the forgiving!'
Say, 'It is a grand story, and yet ye turn from it!' I had no
knowledge of the exalted chiefs when they contended.
I am only inspired that I am a plain warner. When thy Lord said to
the angels, 'Verily, I am about to create a mortal out of clay; and
when I have fashioned him, and breathed into him of my spirit, then
fall ye down before him adoring.' And the angels adored all of them,
save Iblis, who was too big with pride, and was of the misbelievers.
Said He, 'O Iblis! what prevents thee from adoring what I have
created with my two hands? art thou too big with pride? or art thou
amongst the exalted?' Said he, 'I am better than he, Thou hast created
me from fire, and him Thou hast created from clay.' Said He, 'Then
go forth therefrom, for, verily, thou art pelted, and, verily, upon
thee is my curse unto the day of judgment.'
Said he, 'My Lord! then respite me until the day when they are
raised.' Said He, 'Then thou art amongst the respited until the day of
the stated time.' Said he, 'Then, by Thy might! I will surely seduce
them all together, except Thy servants amongst them who are
sincere!' Said He, 'It is the truth, and the truth I speak; I will
surely fill hell with thee and with those who follow thee amongst them
all together.'
Say, 'I do not ask thee for it any hire, nor am I of those who
take too much upon myself. It is but a reminder to the servants, and
ye shall surely know its story after a time.'
THE CHAPTER OF THE TROOPS
(XXXIX. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
The sending down of the Book from God, the mighty, the wise.
Verily, we have sent down to thee the Book in truth, then serve God,
being sincere in religion unto Him. Aye! God's is the sincere
religion: and those who take beside Him patrons-'We do not serve
them save that they may bring us near to God-' Verily, God will
judge between them concerning that whereon they do dispute.
Verily, God guides not him who is a misbelieving liar.
Had God wished to take to Himself a child, He would have chosen what
He pleased from what He creates;- celebrated be His praises! He is
God, the one, the victorious. He created the heavens and the earth
in truth! It is He who clothes the day with night; and clothes the
night with day; and subjects the sun and the moon, each one runs on to
an appointed time; aye! He is the mighty, the forgiving! He created
you from one soul; then He made from it its mate; and He sent down
upon you of the cattle four pairs! He creates you in the bellies of
your mothers,-creation after creation, in three darknesses. That is
God for you! His is the kingdom, there is no god but He; how then
can ye be turned away?
If ye be thankless, yet is God independent of you. He is not pleased
with ingratitude in His servants; but if ye give thanks, He is pleased
with that in you. But no burdened soul shall bear the burden of
another; then unto your Lord is your return, and He will inform you of
that which ye have done. Verily, He knows the natures of men's
breasts!
And when distress touches a man he calls his Lord, turning repentant
to Him; then when He confers on him a favour from Himself he forgets
what he had called upon Him for before, and makes peers for God to
lead astray from His way! Say, 'Enjoy thyself in thy misbelief a
little, verily, thou art of the fellows of the Fire.'
Shall he who is devout throughout the night, adoring and standing,
cautious concerning the hereafter, and hoping for the mercy of his
Lord...? Say, 'Shall those who know be deemed equal with those who
know not? only those will remember, who are endowed with minds!'
Say, 'O my servants who believe fear your Lord! for those who do
well in this world is good, and God's earth is spacious; verily, the
patient shall be paid their hire without count!'
Say, 'Verily, I am bidden to serve God, being sincere in religion to
Him; and I am bidden that I be the first of those resigned.'
Say, 'Verily, I fear, if I rebel against my Lord, the torment of a
mighty day.' Say, 'God do I serve, being sincere in my religion to
Him; serve then what ye will beside Him!' Say, 'Verily, the losers are
those who lose themselves and their families on the resurrection
day. Aye, that is the obvious loss.'
They shall have over them shades of fire, and under them shades;
with that does God frighten His servants: O my servants! then fear me.
But those who avoid Taghut and serve them not, but turn repentant
unto God, for them shall be glad tidings. Then give glad tidings to my
servants who listen to the word and follow the best thereof; they it
is whom God guides, and they it is who are endowed with minds. Him
against whom the word of torment is due,-canst thou rescue him from
the fire?
But for those who fear their Lord for them are upper chambers, and
upper chambers above them built, beneath which rivers flow; God's
promise! God does not fail in His promise.
Hast thou not seen that God sends down from the heaven water, and
conducts it into springs in the earth? then He brings forth
therewith corn varied in kind, then it dries up, and ye see it grow
yellow; then He makes it grit;-verily, in that is a reminder for those
endowed with minds.
Is he whose breast God has expanded for Islam, and who is in light
from his Lord....? And woe to those whose hearts are hardened
against a remembrance of God! those are in obvious error.
God has sent down the best of legends, a book uniform and repeating;
whereat the skins of those who fear their Lord do creep! then their
skins and their hearts soften at the remembrance of God. That is the
guidance of God! He guides therewith whom He will. But he whom God
leads astray there is no guide for him.
Shall he who must screen himself with his own face from the evil
torment on the resurrection day....? And it shall be said of those who
do wrong, taste what ye have earned.
Those before them called the (prophets) liars, and the torment
came to them from whence they perceived it not; and God made them
taste disgrace in the life of this world. But surely the torment of
the hereafter is greater, if they did but know. We have struck out for
men in this Koran every sort of parable, haply they may be mindful. An
Arabic Koran with no crookedness therein; haply they may fear!
God has struck out a parable, a man who has partners who oppose each
other; and a man who is wholly given up to another; shall they be
deemed equal in similitude? praise be to God! nay, but most of them
know not!
Verily, thou shalt die, and, verily, they shall die; then, verily,
on the resurrection day before your Lord shall ye dispute.
And who is more unjust than he who lies against God, and calls the
truth a lie when it comes to him? Is there not in hell a resort for
those who misbelieve? but whoso brings the truth and believes in it,
these are they who fear.
For them is what they please with their Lord, that is the reward
of those who do well; that God may cover for them their offences which
they have done, and may reward them with their hire for the best of
that which they have done.
Is not God sufficient for His servants? and yet they would
frighten thee with those beside Him. But he whom God leads astray
there is no guide for him; and he whom God guides there is none to
lead him astray: is not God mighty, the Lord of vengeance?
And if thou shouldst ask them who created the heavens and the earth,
they will surely say, 'God!' Say, 'Have ye considered what ye call
on beside God? If God wished me harm, could they remove His harm? or
did He wish me mercy, could they withhold His mercy?' Say, 'God is
enough for me, and on Him rely those who rely.'
Say, 'O my people! act according to your power; I too am going to
act; and ye shall know.'
He to whom the torment comes it shall disgrace him, and there
shall alight upon him lasting torment.
Verily, we have sent down to thee the Book for men in truth; and
whosoever is guided it is for his own soul: but whoso goes astray it
is against them, and thou art not a guardian for them.
God takes to Himself souls at the time of their death; and those
which do not die (He takes) in their sleep; and He holds back those on
whom He has decreed death, and sends others back till their
appointed time;-verily, in that are signs unto a people who reflect.
Do they take besides God intercessors? Say, 'What! though they
have no control over anything and have no sense.'
Say, 'God's is the intercession, all of it; His is the kingdom of
the heavens and the earth; then unto Him shall ye be sent back.'
And when God alone is mentioned the hearts of those who believe
not in the hereafter quake, and when those beside Him are mentioned,
lo, they are joyful!
Say, 'O God! originator of the heavens and the earth, who knowest
the unseen and the visible, thou wilt judge between thy servants
concerning that whereon they do dispute!'
And had those who do wrong all that is in the earth, and the like
thereof with it, they would ransom themselves therewith from the
evil of the torment on the resurrection day! but there shall appear to
them from God that which they had not reckoned on; and the evils of
what they have earned shall appear to them; but that shall close in on
them at which they mocked!
And when harm touches man he calls on us; then, when we grant him
favour from us, he says, 'Verily, I am given it through knowledge!'
nay, it is a trial,-but most of them do not know!
Those before them said it too, but that availed them not which
they had earned, and there befel them the evil deeds of what they
had earned: and those who do wrong of these (Meccans), there shall
befall them too the evil deeds of what they had earned, nor shall they
frustrate Him.
Have they not known that God extends His provision to whom He
pleases, or doles it out? verily, in that are signs unto a people
who believe.
Say, 'O my servants! who have been extravagant against their own
souls!' be not in despair of the mercy of God; verily, God forgives
sins, all of them; verily, He is forgiving, merciful.
But turn repentant unto your Lord, and resign yourselves to Him,
before there comes on you torment! then ye shall not be helped: and
follow the best of what has been sent down to you from your Lord,
before, there come on you the torment suddenly, ere ye can perceive!
Lest a soul should say, 'O my sighing! for what I have neglected
towards God! for, verily, I was amongst those who did jest!' or lest
it should say, 'If God had but guided me, I should surely have been of
those who fear!' or lest it should say, when it sees the torment, 'Had
I another turn I should be of those who do well!'
'Yea! there came to thee my signs and thou didst call them lies, and
wert too big with pride, and wert of those who misbelieved!'
And on the resurrection day thou shalt see those who lied against
God, with their faces blackened. Is there not in hell a resort for
those who are too big with pride?
And God shall rescue those who fear Him, into their safe place; no
evil shall touch them, nor shall they be grieved.
God is the creator of everything, and He is guardian over
everything; His are the keys of the heavens and the earth; and those
who misbelieve in the signs of God, they it is who lose!
Say, 'What! other than God would you bid me serve, O ye ignorant
ones? When He has inspired thee and those before thee that, "If thou
dost associate aught with Him, thy work will surely be in vain, and
thou shalt surely be of those who lose!" Nay, but God do thou serve,
and be of those who do give thanks!'
And they do not value God at His true value; while the earth all
of it is but a handful for Him on the resurrection day, and the
heavens shall be rolled up in His right hand! Celebrated be His
praise! and exalted be He above what they associate with Him! And
the trumpet shall be blown, and those who are in the heavens and in
the earth shall swoon, save whom God pleases. Then it shall be blown
again, and, lo! they shall stand up and look on. And the earth shall
beam with the light of its Lord, and the Book shall be set forth,
and the prophets and martyrs shall be brought; and it shall be decreed
between them in truth, and they shall not be wronged! And every soul
shall be paid for what it has done, and He knows best that which
they do; and those who misbelieve shall be driven to hell in troops;
and when they come there, its doors shall be opened, and its keepers
shall say to them, 'Did not apostles from amongst yourselves come to
you to recite to you the signs of your Lord, and to warn you of the
meeting of this day of yours?' They shall say, 'Yea, but the
sentence of torment was due against the misbelievers!' It shall be
said, 'Enter ye the gates of hell, to dwell therein for aye! Hell is
the resort of those who are too big with pride!'
But those who fear their Lord shall be driven to Paradise in troops;
until they come there, its doors shall be opened, and its keepers
shall say to them, 'Peace be upon you, ye have done well! so enter
in to dwell for aye!' and they shall say, 'Praise be to God, who
hath made good His promise to us, and hath given us the earth to
inherit! We establish ourselves in Paradise wherever we please and
goodly is the reward of those who work!'
And thou shalt see the angels circling round about the throne,
celebrating the praise of their Lord; and it shall be decided
between them in truth; and it shall be said, 'Praise be to God, the
Lord of the worlds!'
THE CHAPTER OF THE BELIEVER
(XL. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
HA MIM. The sending down of the Book from God, the mighty, the
knowing, the forgiver of sin and accepter of repentance, keen at
punishment, long-suffering! there is no god but He! to whom the
journey is!
None wrangle concerning the signs of God but those who misbelieve;
then let not their going to and fro in the cities deceive thee.
The people of Noah before them called the prophets liars; and the
confederates after them; and every nation schemed against their
Apostle to catch him. And they wrangled with falsehood that they might
refute the truth thereby, but I seized them, and how was my
punishment!
Thus was the sentence of thy Lord due against those who misbelieved,
that they are the fellows of the Fire!
Those who bear the throne and those around it celebrate the praise
of their Lord, and believe in Him, and ask pardon for those who
believe: 'Our Lord! thou dost embrace all things in mercy and
knowledge, then pardon those who turn repentant and follow thy way,
and guard them from the torment of hell! Our Lord! make them enter
into gardens of Eden which thou hast promised to them, and to those
who do well of their fathers, and their wives, and their seed; verily,
thou art the mighty, the wise! and guard them from evil deeds, for
he whom thou shalt guard from evil deeds on that day, thou wilt have
had mercy on, and that is mighty bliss!'
Verily, those who misbelieve shall be cried out to, 'Surely, God's
hatred is greater than your hatred of each other when ye were called
unto the faith and misbelieved!' They shall say, 'Our Lord! Thou
hast killed us twice, and Thou hast quickened us twice; and we do
confess our sins: is there then a way for getting out?'
That is because when God alone was proclaimed ye did disbelieve; but
when partners were joined to Him ye did believe; but judgment
belongs to God, the high, the great! He it is who shows you His signs,
and sends down to you from heaven provision; but none is mindful
except him who turns repentant; then call on God, being sincere in
your religion to Him, averse although the misbelievers be! Exalted
of degrees! The Lord of the throne! He throws the spirit by His
bidding upon whom He will of His servants, to give warning of the
day of meeting. The day when they shall be issuing forth, naught
concerning them shall be hidden from God. Whose is the kingdom on that
day?-God's, the one, the dominant! to-day shall every soul be
recompensed for that which it has earned. There is no wrong to-day;
verily, God is quick at reckoning up!
And warn them of the day that approaches, when hearts are choking in
the gullets; those who do wrong shall have no warm friend, and no
intercessor who shall be obeyed. He knows the deceitful of eye and
what men's breasts conceal, and God decides with but those they call
on beside Him do not decide at all: verily, God, He both hears and
looks.
Have they not journeyed on in the earth and seen how was the end
of those who journeyed on before They were stronger than them in
might, and their vestiges are in the land; but God caught them up in
their sins, and they had none to guard them against God.
That is for that their apostles did come to them with manifest
signs, and they misbelieved, and God caught them up; verily, He is
mighty, keen to punish!
And we did send Moses with our signs, and with obvious authority,
unto Pharaoh and Haman and Qarun. They said, 'A lying sorcerer!' and
when they came to them with truth from us, they said, 'Kill the sons
of those who believe with him, and let their women live!' but the
stratagem of the misbelievers is only in error!
And Pharaoh said, 'Let me kill Moses; and then let him call upon his
Lord! verily, I fear that he will change your religion, or that he
will cause evil doing to appear in the land.'
And Moses said, 'Verily, I take refuge in my Lord and your Lord from
every one who is big with pride and believes not on the day of
reckoning.'
And a believing- man of Pharaoh's people, who concealed his faith,
said, 'Will ye kill a man for saying, My Lord is God, when he has come
to you with manifest signs from your Lord? and if he be a liar,
against him is his lie; and if he be truthful, there will befall you
somewhat of that which he threatens you; verily, God guides not him
who is an extravagant liar. my people! yours is the kingdom to-day, ye
are eminent in the land, but who will help us against the violence
of God, if it comes upon us?'
Said Pharaoh, 'I will only show you what I see, and I will only
guide you into the way of right direction.'
And he who believed said, 'O my people! verily, I fear for you the
ike of the day of the confederates, the like of the- wont of the
people of Noah and 'Ad and Haman, of those after them; for God desires
not injustice for His servants. O my people! verily, I fear for you
the day of crying 'Out,-the day when ye shall turn your backs,
fleeing, with no defender for you against God; for he whom God leads
astray, for him there is no guide!
'And Joseph came to you before with manifest signs, but ye ceased
not to doubt concerning what he brought you, until, when he
perished, ye said, God will not send after him an apostle;" thus
does God lead astray him who is extravagant, a doubter.
'Those who wrangle concerning the signs of God without authority
having come to them are greatly hated by God and by those who believe;
thus does God set a stamp upon the heart of every tyrant too big
with pride!'
And Pharaoh said, 'O Haman! build for me a tower, haply I may
reach the tracts,-the tracts of heaven, and may mount up to the God of
Moses, for, verily, I think him a liar.'
And thus was his evil deed made seemly to Pharaoh, and he was turned
from the way; but Pharaoh's stratagem ended only in ruin, and he who
believed said, 'O my people! follow me, I will guide you to the way of
the right direction. O my people! verily, the life of this world is
but a provision, but, verily, the hereafter, that is the abode of
stability! Whoso does evil, he shall only be recompensed with the like
thereof; and whoso does right, be it male or female and a believer,
these shall enter into Paradise; they shall be provided therein
without count. O my people! why should I call you to salvation, and
you call me to the fire? Ye call on me to disbelieve in God, and to
join with Him what I have no knowledge of; but I call you to the
mighty forgiving One! no doubt that what ye call me to, ought not to
be called on in this world or in the hereafter, and that we shall be
sent back to God, and that the extravagant, they are the fellows of
the Fire!
'But ye shall remember what I say to you; and I entrust my affair to
God, verily, God looks upon His servants!'
And God guarded him from the evils of what they plotted, and there
closed in upon Pharaoh evil woe.
The fire-they shall be exposed to it morning and evening; and 'on
the day the Hour shall arise, enter, O people of Pharaoh! into the
keenest torment.
And when they argue together in the fire, and the weak say to
those who were big with pride, 'Verily, we were followers of yours,
can ye then avail us against a portion of the fire?'
Those who were big with pride shall say, 'Verily, we are all in
it; verily, God has judged between His servants.'
And those who are in the fire shall say unto the keepers of hell,
'Call upon your Lord to lighten from us one day of the torment.'
They shall say, 'Did not your apostles come to you with manifest
signs?' They shall say, 'Yea!' They shall say, 'Then, call!'-but the
call of the misbelievers is only in error.
Verily, we will help our apostles, and those who believe, in the
life of this world and on the day when the witnesses shall stand up:
the day when their excuse shall not avail the unjust; but for them
is the curse, and for them is an evil abode.
And we did give Moses the guidance; and we made the children of
Israel to inherit the Book, as a guidance and a reminder to those
endowed with minds.
Be thou patient, then; verily, God's promise is true: and ask thou
forgiveness for thy sins, and celebrate the praise of thy Lord in
the evening and in the morn.
Verily, those who wrangle concerning the signs of God without
authority having come to them, there is naught in their breasts but
pride; but they shall not attain it: do thou then seek refuge in
God; verily, He both hears and looks!
Surely the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the
creation of man: but most men know it not.
The blind and the seeing shall not be deemed alike, nor those who
believe and do right and the evildoer; little is it that they
remember.
Verily, the Hour will surely come; there is no doubt therein; but
most men do not believe!
And your Lord said, 'Call upon me, I will answer you; verily,
those who are too big with pride to worship shall enter into hell,
shrinking up.'
God it is who has made for you the night to repose therein, and
the day to see by; verily, God is Lord of grace to men, but most men
give no thanks!
There is God for you! your Lord! the creator of everything! there is
no god but He, how then can ye lie? Thus did those lie who gainsaid
the signs of God.
God it is who has made for you the earth as a resting-place, and a
heaven as building, and has formed you and made excellent your
forms; and has provided you with good things! there is God for
you!-your Lord! then blessed be God, the Lord of the worlds!
He is the living One, there is no god but He! then call on Him,
being sincere in your religion to Him; praise be to God, the Lord of
the worlds!
Say, 'Verily, I am forbidden to serve those whom ye call on beside
God, since there have come to me manifest signs from my Lord, and I am
bidden to be resigned unto the Lord of the worlds.'
He it is who created you from the earth, then from a clot, then from
congealed blood, then He brings you forth a child; then ye reach to
puberty; then do ye become old men,-though of you there are some who
are taken away before,-that ye may reach an appointed time, and
haply ye may have some sense.
He it is who quickens and kills, and when He decrees a matter,
then He only says to it, 'BE,' and it is.
Hast thou not seen those who wrangle concerning the signs of God how
they are turned away? Those who call the Book, and what we have sent
our apostles with, a lie, soon shall they know-when the fetters are on
their necks and the chains, as they are dragged into hell!-then in the
fire shall they be baked.
Then it shall be said to them, 'Where is what ye did associate
beside God?' They shall say, 'They have strayed away from us; nay,
we did not call before upon anything!'-thus does God lead the
misbelievers astray.
There! for that ye did rejoice in the land without right; and for
that ye did exult; enter ye the gates of hell, to dwell therein for
aye; for evil is the resort of those who are too big with pride!
But be thou patient; verily, the promise of God is true; and whether
we show thee a part of what we promised them, or whether we surely
take thee to ourself, unto us shall they be returned.
And we did send apostles before thee: of them are some whose stories
we have related to thee, and of them are some whose stories we have
not related to thee; and no apostle might ever bring a sign except
by the permission of God; but when God's bidding came it was decided
with truth, and there were those lost who deemed it vain!
God it is who has made for you cattle, that ye may ride on some of
them;-and of them ye eat, and ye have in them advantages;-and that
ye may attain thereon a want which is in your breasts; upon them and
upon ships are ye borne.
He shows you His signs; which sign then of your Lord do ye deny?
Have they not journeyed on in the land and seen how was the end of
those before them, who were more numerous than they and stronger in
might, and in their vestiges which are still in the land? but of no
avail to them was that which they had earned.
And when there came to them their apostles with manifest signs
they rejoiced in what knowledge they had; but there closed in upon
them that whereat they had mocked.
And when they saw our violence they said, 'We believe in God
alone, and we disbelieve in what we once associated with Him.'
But their faith was of no avail to them when they saw our
violence-the course of God with His servants in time past, and there
the misbelievers lose!
THE CHAPTER 'DETAILED'
(XLI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
HA MIM. A revelation from the merciful, the compassionate; a book
whose signs are detailed; an Arabic Koran for a people who do know;
a herald of glad tidings and a warning. But most of them turn aside
and do not hear, and say, 'Our hearts are veiled from what thou dost
call us to, and in our ears is dulness, and between us and thee
there is a veil. Act thou; verily, we are acting too!' Say, 'I am
but a mortal like yourselves, I am inspired that your God is one
God; then go straight to Him, and ask forgiveness of Him; and woe to
the idolaters, who give not alms, and in the hereafter disbelieve!'
Verily, those who believe and do right, for them is a hire that is
not grudged.
Say, 'What! do ye really misbelieve in Him who created the earth
in two days, and do ye make peers for Him?-that is the Lord of the
worlds!'
And He placed thereon firm mountains above it and blessed it, and
apportioned therein its foods in four days alike for those who ask.
Then He made for the heaven and it was but smoke, and He said to it
and to the earth, 'Come, ye two, whether ye will or no!' They said,
'We come willingly!'
And He decreed them seven heavens in two days, and inspired every
heaven with its bidding: and we adorned the lower heaven with lamps
and guardian angels; that is the decree of the mighty, the knowing
One.
But if they turn aside, then say, 'I have warned you-of a
thunder-clap like the thunder-clap of 'Ad and Thamud; when their
apostles came to them from before them and from behind them
(saying), "Serve ye none but God."' They said, 'If our Lord pleased He
would send down angels; so we in what ye are sent with disbelieve.'
And as for 'Ad, they were big with. pride in the land, without
right, and said, 'Who is stronger than us in might?' Did they not
see that God who created them He was stronger than they in might?
But they did gainsay our signs. And we sent upon them a cold blast
in unfortunate days, that we might make them taste the torment of
disgrace in the life of this world;-but the torment of the hereafter
is more disgraceful, and they shall not be helped.
And as for Thamud we guided them; but they preferred blindness to
guidance, and the thunderclap of the torment of abasement caught
them for what they had earned; but we saved those who believed and who
did fear.
And the day when the enemies of God shall be gathered. together into
the fire, marshalled along; until when they come to it, their
hearing and their eyesight and their skins shall bear witness
against them of that which they have done. And they shall say to their
skins, 'Why have ye borne witness against us?' they shall say, 'God
gave us speech who has given. speech to. everything; He created you at
first, and unto Him shall ye be returned; and ye could not conceal
yourselves that your hearing and your eyesight should not be witness
against you, nor your skins; but ye thought that God did not know much
of what ye do. And that thought of yours which ye thought concerning
your Lord has destroyed you, and ye have now become of those who
lose!'
And if they are patient, still the fire is a resort for them; and if
they ask for favour again, they shall not be taken into favour.
We will allot to them mates, for they have made seemly to them
what was before them and what was behind them; and due against them
was the sentence on the nations who passed away before them; both of
ginns and of mankind; verily, they were the losers!
Those who misbelieve say, 'Listen not to this Koran, but talk
foolishly about it, haply ye may gain the upper hand.' But we will
make those who misbelieve taste keen torment; and we will recompense
them with the worst of that which they have done. That is, the
recompence of the enemies of God,-the fire! for them is an eternal
abode therein: a recompence for that they did gainsay our signs.
And those who misbelieved say, 'Our Lord, show us those who have led
us astray amongst the ginns and mankind; we will place them beneath
'our feet, and they shall both be amongst those who are put down!'
Verily, those who say, 'Our Lord is God,' and then go straight, the
angels descend upon them-'fear not and be not grieved, but receive the
glad tidings of Paradise which ye were promised; we are your patrons
in the life of this world and in the next, and ye shall have therein
what your souls desire, and ye shall have therein what ye call for,-an
entertainment from the forgiving, the merciful!'
And who speaks better than he who calls to God and does right, and
says, 'Verily, I am of those resigned?'
Good and evil shall not be deemed alike; repel (evil) with what is
best, and lo! He between whom and thyself was enmity is as though he
were a warm patron. But none shall meet with it save those who are
patient; and none shall meet with it save those who are endowed with
mighty good fortune.
And if an incitement from the devil incites you, then seek refuge in
God; verily, He both hears and knows.
And of His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the
moon. Adore ye not the sun, neither the moon; but adore God who
created you, if it be Him ye serve.
But if they be too big with pride-yet those who are with thy Lord
celebrate His praises by night and day, and they are never weary.
And of His signs (is this), that thou mayest see the earth drooping,
and when we send down water upon it it stirs and swells; verily, He
who quickens it will surely quicken the dead; verily, He is mighty
over all.
Verily, those who are inclined to oppose our signs are not hidden
from us. Is he who is cast into the fire better, or he who comes
safe on the resurrection day? Do what ye will: verily, He on what ye
do doth look.
Verily, those who misbelieve in the reminder when it comes to
them-and, verily, it is a glorious Book! falsehood shall not come to
it, from before it, nor from behind it-a revelation from the wise, the
praiseworthy One. Naught is said to thee but what was said to the
apostles before thee, 'Verily, thy Lord is Lord of forgiveness and
Lord of grievous torment!'
And had we made it a foreign Koran, they would have said, 'Unless
its signs be detailed.... What! foreign and Arabic?' Say, 'It is,
for those who believe, a guidance and a healing. But those who believe
not, in their ears is dulness, and it is blindness to them; these
are called to from a far-off place.'
And we gave Moses the Book, and it was disputed about; but had it
not been for thy Lord's word already passed it would have been decided
between them, for, verily, they were in hesitating doubt thereon.
Whoso does right it is for his soul, and whoso does evil it is
against it, for thy Lord is not unjust towards His servants.
To Him is referred the knowledge of the Hour: and no fruits come
forth from their husks, and no female conceives, or is delivered, save
with His knowledge.
And the day when He shall call to them, 'Where are the partners ye
did join with me?' they shall say, 'We do own to thee there is no
witness amongst us!' and that on which they used to call before
shall stray away from them, and they shall think there is no escape
for them. Man is never tired of praying for good, but if evil touch
him, then he is despairing and hopeless.
But if we make him taste mercy from us after distress has touched
him he will surely say, 'This is for me, and I do not think the Hour
is imminent; and if I be brought back to my Lord, verily, I shall
surely have good with Him;' but we will inform those who misbelieve of
what they have done, and we will surely make them taste wretched
torment.
And when we have been gracious to man, he turns away and goes aside;
but when evil touches him he is one of copious prayer.
Say, 'Let us see now! if it be from God and ye disbelieve in it, who
is more in error than he who is in a remote schism?'
We will show them our signs in the regions and in themselves,
until it is plain to them that it is the truth. Is it not enough for
thy Lord that He is witness over all? Ay, verily, they are in doubt
about the meeting of their Lord! Ay, verily, He encompasses all!
THE CHAPTER OF COUNSEL
(XLII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
HA MIM, AIN SIN QAF. Thus does God, the mighty, the wise, inspire
thee and those before thee.
His is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and He is
the high, the mighty!
The heavens well-nigh cleave asunder from above them; and the angels
celebrate the praises of their Lord, and ask forgiveness for those who
are on the earth. Ay, verily, God, He is the forgiving and merciful!
but those who take beside Him patrons, God watches over them, and thou
hast not charge over them.
Thus have we revealed an Arabic Koran, that thou mayest warn the
Mother of cities and all around it; and warn them of a day of
gathering, there is no doubt therein;-a part in Paradise and a part in
the blaze.
But had God pleased He would have made them one nation; but He makes
whom He will enter into His mercy; and the unjust have neither
patron nor help. Do they take other patrons besides Him, when God He
is the patron, and He quickens the dead and He is mighty over all?
But whatsoever ye dispute about, the judgment of it is God's.
There is God for you!-my Lord! upon Him do I rely, and unto Him I turn
repentant. The originator of the heavens and the earth, He has made
for you from yourselves wives; and of the cattle mates; producing
you thereby. There is naught like Him, for He both hears and sees.
His are the keys of the heavens and the earth, He extends
provision to whom He will, or doles it out; verily, He knows
everything.
He has enjoined upon you for religion what He prescribed to Noah and
what we inspired thee with, and what we inspired Abraham and Moses and
Jesus,-to be steadfast in religion, and not to part into sects
therein-a great thing to the idolaters is that which ye call them
to! God elects for Himself whom He pleases and guides unto Himself him
who turns repentant.
But they did not part into sects until after the knowledge had
come to them, through mutual envy; and had it not been for thy
Lord's word already passed for an appointed time, it would surely have
been decided between them; but, verily, those who have been given
the Book as an inheritance after them, are in hesitating doubt
concerning it.
Wherefore call thou, and go straight on as thou art bidden, and
follow not their lusts; and say, 'I believe in the Book which God
has sent down; and I am bidden to judge justly between you. God is our
Lord and your Lord'; we have our works and ye have your works; there
is no argument between us and you. God will assemble us together and
unto Him the journey is.'
But those who argue about God after it has been assented to, their
arguments shall be rebutted before their Lord; and upon them shall
be wrath, and for them shall be keen torment.
God it is who has sent down the Book with truth, and the balance;
and what shall make thee know whether haply the Hour be nigh? Those
who believe not would hurry it on; and those who believe shrink with
terror at it and know that it is true. Ay, verily, those who dispute
concerning the Hour are in remote error!
God is kind to His servants; He provides whom He will, and He is the
mighty, the glorious.
He who wishes for the tilth of the next world, we will increase
for him the tilth; and he who desires the tilth of this world, we will
give him thereof: but in the next he shall have no portion.
Have they associates who have enjoined any religion on them which
God permits not?- but were it not for the word of decision it would
have been decreed to them. Verily, the unjust,-for them is grievous
woe. Thou shalt see the unjust shrink with terror from what they
have gained as it falls upon them; and those who believe and do right,
in meads of Paradise, they shall have what they please with their
Lord;-that is great grace!
That is what God gives glad tidings of to His servants who believe
and do righteous acts.
Say, 'I do not ask for it a hire-only the love of my kinsfolk.'
And he who gains a good action we will increase good for him
thereby; verily, God is forgiving and grateful!
Or will they say he has forged against God a lie? But if God pleased
He could set a seal upon thy heart; but God will blot out falsehood
and verify truth by His word; verily, He knows the nature of men's
breasts!
He it is who Accepts repentance from His servants and pardons
their offences and knows that which ye do. And He answers the prayer
of those who believe and do right, and gives them increase of His
grace; but the misbelievers,- for them is keen torment.
And if God were to extend provision to His servants they would be
wanton in the earth. But He sends-down by measure what He pleases;
verily, of His servants He is well aware and sees.
He it is who sends down the rain after they have despaired; and
disperses His mercy, for He is the praiseworthy patron.
And of His signs is the creation the heavens and the earth, and what
He hath spread abroad therein of beasts; and He is able to collect
them when He will.
And what misfortunes befall you it is for what your hands have
earned; but He pardons much; Yet ye cannot make Him helpless in the
earth, nor have ye, besides God, either a patron or a helper.
And of His signs are the ships that sail like mountains in the
sea. If He will, He calms the wind, and they become motionless on
the back thereof: verily, in that are signs to every patient, grateful
person:-or He makes them founder for what they have earned; but He
pardons much. But let those who wrangle about our signs know that they
shall have no escape!
And whatever ye are given it is but a provision of the life of
this world; but what is with God is better and more lasting for
those who believe and who upon their Lord rely, and those who avoid
great sins and abominations, and who when they are wroth forgive,
and who assent to their Lord, and are steadfast in prayer, and whose
affairs go by counsel amongst themselves, and who of what we have
bestowed on them give alms, and who, when wrong. befalls them, help
themselves.
For the recompence of evil is evil like unto it; but he who
pardons and does well, then his reward is with God; verily, He loves
not the unjust. And he who helps himself after he has been wronged,
for these-there is no way against them. The way is only against
those who wrong men and are wanton in the earth without right;
these- for them is grievous woe.
But surely he who is patient and forgives,-verily that is a
determined affair.
But whomsoever God leads astray he has no patron after Him; and thou
mayest see the unjust when they see the torment say, 'Is there no
way to avert this?' and thou mayest see them exposed to it, humbled
with abasement, looking with a stealthy glance. And those who
believe shall say, 'Verily, the losers are they who have lost
themselves and their families too upon the resurrection day!' Ay,
verily, the unjust are in lasting torment!
And they shall have no patrons to help them beside God, and
whomsoever God leads astray, there is no way for him.
Assent to your Lord before the day comes of which there is no
averting from God; there is no refuge for you on that day; and for you
there is no denial.
But if they turn aside, we have not sent thee to them as a guardian,
thou hast only thy message to preach.
And, verily, when we have made man taste of mercy from us he
rejoices therein; but if there befall them an evil for what their
hands have done before then, verily, man is ungrateful!
God's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, He creates what
He pleases, He grants to whom He pleases females, and He grants to
whom He pleases males, or He gives them in pairs, males and females;
and He makes whom He pleases barren; verily, He is knowing, powerful!
It is not for any mortal that God should speak to him, except by
inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by sending an apostle and
inspiring, by His permission, what He pleases; verily, He is high
and wise!
And thus have we inspired thee by a spirit at our bidding; thou
didst not know what the Book was, nor the faith: but we made it a
light whereby we guide whom we will of our servants. And, verily, thou
shalt surely be guided into the right way,-the way of God, whose is
what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. Ay, to God affairs do
tend!
THE CHAPTER OF GILDING
(XLIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
HA MIM. By the perspicuous Book, verily, we have made it an Arabic
Koran; haply ye will have some sense. And it is in the Mother of the
Book with us,-high and wise. Shall we then push aside from you the
Reminder, because ye are a people who are extravagant?
How many prophets have we sent amongst those of yore? and there
never came to them a prophet but they did mock at him; then we
destroyed them-more valiant than these; and the example of those of
yore passed away.
And if thou shouldst ask them who created the heavens and the earth,
they will surely say, 'The mighty, the knowing One created them,
'who made for you the earth a couch and placed for you therein
roads, haply ye may be guided: and who sent down from the heaven water
in due measure; and we raised up thereby a dead country; thus shall ye
too be brought forth; and who has created all species; and has made
for you the ships and the cattle whereon to ride that ye may settle
yourselves on their backs; then remember the favour of your Lord
when ye settled thereon, and say, 'Celebrated be the praises of Him
who hath subjected this to us! We could not have got this ourselves;
and, verily, unto our Lord shall we return!'
Yet they make for Him of His servants offspring; verily, man is
surely obviously ungrateful.
Has He taken of what He creates daughters, and chosen sons for you?
Yet when the tidings are given any one of that which he strikes
out as a similitude for the Merciful One, his face grows black and
he is choked. What! one brought up amongst ornaments, and who is
always in contention without obvious cause?
And have they made the angels, who are the servants of the
Merciful One, females? Were they witnesses of their creation? their
witness shall be written down, and they shall be questioned; and
they say, 'Had the Merciful pleased we should never have worshipped
them.' They have no knowledge of that, they only conjecture.
Have we given them a book before it to which they might hold?
Nay; they say, 'We found our fathers (agreed) upon a religion,
and, verily, we are guided by their traces.'
Thus, too, did we never send before thee to a city any warner, but
the affluent ones thereof said, 'Verily, we found our fathers (agreed)
upon a religion, and, verily, we are led by their traces.'
Say, 'What! if I come to you with what is a better guide than what
ye found your fathers agreed upon?' and they will say, 'Verily, we
in what ye are sent with disbelieve!'
Then we took vengeance on them, and see how was the end of those who
called the (apostles) liars.
When Abraham said to his father and his people, 'Verily, I am
clear of all that ye serve, except Him who created me; for, verily, He
will guide me:' and he made it a word remaining among his posterity,
that haply they might return.
Nay; but I let these (Meccans) and their fathers have enjoyment
until the truth came to them, and an apostle. And when the truth
came to them they said, 'This is magic, and we therein do disbelieve!'
And they say, 'Unless this Koran were sent down to a man great in
the two cities....'
Is it they who distribute the mercy of thy Lord? We distribute
amongst them their livelihood in the life of this world, and we
exalt some of them above others in degrees, that some may take
others into subjection; but the mercy of thy Lord is better than
that which they amass.
And but that men would then have been one nation, we would have made
for those who misbelieve in the Merciful One roofs of silver for their
houses, and steps up thereto which they might mount; and to their
houses doors, and bedsteads on which they might recline; and
gilding,-for, verily, all that is a provision of the life of this
world, but the hereafter is better with thy Lord for those who fear!
And whosoever turns from the reminder of the Merciful One, we will
chain to him a devil, who shall be his mate; and, verily, these
shall turn them from the path while they reckon that they are guided
until when he comes to us he shall say, 'O, would that between me
and thee there were the distance of the two orients, for an evil
mate (art thou)!' But it shall not avail you on that day, since ye
were unjust; verily, in the torment shall ye share!
What! canst thou make the deaf to hear, or guide the blind, or him
who is in obvious error?
Whether then we take thee off we will surely take vengeance on them;
or whether we show thee that which we have promised them; for, verily,
we have power over them.
Say, 'Dost thou hold to what is inspired thee verily, thou art in
the right way, and, verily, it is a reminder to thee and to thy
people, but in the end they shall be asked.
And ask those whom we have sent before thee amongst the prophets,
'Did we make gods beside the Merciful One for them to serve?'
We did send Moses with our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, and he
said, 'Verily, I am the apostle of the Lord of the worlds; but when he
came to them with our signs, lo, they laughed at them!'
And we did not show them a sign, but it was greater than its fellow;
and we seized them with the torment, haply they might turn.
And they said, 'O thou magician! pray for us to thy Lord, as He
has engaged with thee: verily, we are guided.'
And when we removed from them the torment, behold they broke their
word.
And Pharaoh proclaimed amongst his people; said he, 'O my people! is
not the kingdom of Egypt mine? and these rivers that flow beneath
me? What! can ye then not see? Am I better than this fellow, who is
contemptible, who can hardly explain himself? Unless then bracelets of
gold be cast upon him, or there come with him angels as his mates...!'
And he taught his people levity; and they obeyed him: verily, they
were an abominable people.
And when they had annoyed us we took vengeance on them, and we
drowned them all together, and we made them a precedent and an example
to those after them.
And when the son of Mary was set forth as a parable, behold thy
people turned away from him and said, 'Are our gods better, or is he?'
They did not set it forth to thee save for wrangling. Nay, but they
are a contentious people.
He is but a servant whom we have been gracious to, and we have
made him an example for the children of Israel. And if we please we
can make of you angels in the earth to succeed you. And, verily, he is
a sign of the Hour. Doubt not then concerning it, but follow this
right way; and let not the devil turn you away; verily, he is to you
an open foe!
And when Jesus came with manifest signs he said, 'I am come to you
with wisdom, and I will explain to you something of that whereon ye
did dispute, then fear God, obey me; verily, God, He is Lord and
your Lord, serve Him then, this is the right way.'
But the confederates disputed amongst themselves; and woe to those
who are unjust from the torment of a grievous day!
Do they expect aught but that the Hour will come upon them
suddenly while they do not perceive? Friends on that day shall be foes
to each other, save those who fear.
O my servants! there is no fear for you on that day; nor shall ye be
grieved who believe in our signs and who are resigned. Enter ye into
Paradise, ye and your wives, happy!
Dishes of gold and pitchers shall be sent round to them; therein
is what souls desire, and eyes shall be delighted, and ye therein
shall dwell for aye; for that is Paradise which ye are given as an
inheritance for that which ye have done. Therein shall ye have much
fruit whereof to eat.
Verily, the sinners are in the torment of hell to dwell for aye.
It shall not be intermitted for them, and they therein shall be
confused. We have not wronged them, but it was themselves they
wronged.
And they shall cry out, 'O Malik! let thy lord make an end of us;'
he shall say, 'Verily, ye are to tarry here.'
We have brought you the truth, but most of you are averse from the
truth. Have they arranged the affair? then will we arrange it too!
Or do they reckon that we did not hear their secrets and their
whispering? Nay, but our messengers are with them writing down.
Say, 'If the Merciful One has a son then am I the first to worship
him. Celebrated be the praise of the Lord of the heavens and the
earth! the Lord of the throne, above all they attribute to Him!
But leave them to ponder and to play until they meet that day of
theirs which they are promised.
He it is who is in the heaven a God and in the earth a God! and He
is the wise, the knowing. And blessed be he whose is the kingdom of
the heavens and the earth, and what is between both, and His is the
knowledge of the Hour, and unto Him shall ye be brought back!
And those they call on beside Him shall not possess intercession
except those only who bear witness for the truth and who do know.
And if thou shouldst ask them who created them they will surely say,
'God!' How then can they lie?
And what he says, 'O Lord, verily, these are a people who do not
believe; shun them then and say, "Peace!" for they at length shall
know!'
THE CHAPTER OF SMOKE
(XLIV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
HA MIM. By the perspicuous Book! verily, we have sent it down on a
blessed night;-verily, we had given warning-wherein is decided every
wise affair, as an order from us. Verily, we were sending (apostles)-a
mercy from thy Lord; verily, He both hears and knows: from the Lord of
the heavens and the earth and what is between the two, if ye were
but sure. There is no god but He, He quickens and He kills-your Lord
and the Lord of your fathers of yore! Nay, they in doubt do play!
But expect thou the day when the heaven shall bring obvious smoke to
cover men-this is grievous torment!
Our Lord! remove from us the torment; verily, we are believers.
How can they have the reminder (now), when they have had a plain
apostle, and when they turned their backs away from him and said,
'Taught! mad!' Verily, we will remove the torment a little, (but) ye
will surely return!
On the day when we will assault with the great assault, verily, we
will take vengeance.
And we already tried the people of Pharaoh when there came to them a
noble apostle: 'Send back to me God's servants; verily, I am to you
a faithful apostle;' and, 'Exalt not yourselves above God; verily, I
come to you with obvious authority. And, verily, I seek refuge in my
Lord and your Lord, that ye stone me not. And if ye believe not in
me then let me alone!'
Then he called upon his Lord, 'Verily, these are a sinful people.'
So journey with my servants by night-verily, ye will be pursued. But
leave the sea in quiet-verily, they are a host to be drowned! How many
gardens and springs have they left, and corn lands and a noble
place, and comfort wherein they did enjoy themselves!
Thus-and we gave them for an inheritance to another people. And
the heaven wept not for them, nor the earth, nor were they respited.
But we saved the children of Israel from shameful woe!- from
Pharaoh; verily, he was haughty, one of the extravagant! And we did
choose them, wittingly, above the worlds; and we gave them signs
wherein was an obvious trial!
Verily, these I say, I It is but our first death, so bring our
fathers, if ye do speak the truth!'
Are they better than the people of Tubba'h, and those before them?
We destroyed them verily, they were sinners!
Nor did we create the heavens and the earth, and what is between the
two in sport: we did but create them in truth, though most of them
know it not!
Verily, the day of separation is their appointed term; the day
when master shall not avail client at all, nor shall they be helped;
save whomsoever God shall have mercy on; verily, He is the mighty, the
merciful!
Verily, the Zaqqum tree (shall be) the food of the sinful: as it
were melting, shall it boil in their bellies like the boiling of hot
water!-'Take him and hale him into the midst of hell! then pour over
his head the torment of hot water!-Taste! verily, thou art the mighty,
the honourable! Verily, this is that whereon ye did dispute!'
Verily, the pious shall be in a safe place! in gardens and
springs, they shall be clad in satin and stout silk face to face.
Thus!-and we will wed them to bright and large-eyed maids! They
shall call therein for every fruit in safety. They shall not taste
therein of death save their first death, and we will keep them from
the torment of hell! Grace from thy Lord, that is the grand bliss!
And we have only made it easy for thy tongue, that haply they may be
mindful. Then watch thou; verily, they are watching too!
THE CHAPTER OF THE KNEELING
(XLV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
HA MIM. A revelation of the Book from God, the mighty, the wise.
Verily, in the heavens and the earth are signs to those who believe;
and in your creation and the beasts that are spread abroad are signs
to a people who are sure; and in the alternation of night and day, and
the provision that God has sent down from heaven and quickened thereby
the earth after its death, and in the veering of the winds are signs
unto a people who have sense.
These are the signs of God which we recite to thee in truth; and
in what new story after God and His signs will they believe?
Woe to every sinful liar who hears God's signs sent to him, then
persists in being big with pride as though he heard them not-so give
him the glad tidings of grievous woe-and when he knows something of
our signs takes them for a jest! These,-for them is shameful woe,
behind them is hell, and what they have earned shall not avail them
aught, nor what they have taken besides God for patrons; and for
them is mighty woe.
This is a guidance, and those who misbelieve in the signs of their
Lord, for them is torment of a grievous plague.
God it is who subjects to you the sea that the ships may sail
thereon at his bidding, and that ye may crave of His grace, and that
haply ye may give thanks; and He has subjected to you what is in the
heavens and what is in the earth,-all from Him; verily, in that are
signs unto a people who reflect.
Say to those who believe that they pardon those who hope not for
God's days, that He may reward a people for that which they have
earned.
Whosoever acts aright it is for his own soul, and whosoever does
evil it is against it; then unto your Lord shall ye be returned.
And we did bring the children of Israel the Book and judgment and
prophecy, and we provided them with good things, and preferred them
above the worlds. And we brought them manifest proofs of the affair,
and they disputed not until after knowledge had come to them,
through mutual envy. Verily, thy Lord will decide between them on
the resurrection day concerning that whereon they did dispute.
Then we did set thee over a law concerning the affair: follow it
then, and follow not the lusts of those who do not know. Verily,
they shall not avail thee against God at all; and, verily, the
wrongdoers are patrons of each other, but God is the patron of those
who fear.
This is an insight for men and a guidance and a mercy to a people
who are sure.
Do those who commit evil deeds count that we will make them like
those who believe and work righteous deeds, equal in their life and
their death?- ill it is they judge.
And God created the heavens and the earth in truth; and every soul
shall be recompensed for, that which it has earned, and they shall not
be wronged.
Hast thou considered him who takes his lusts for his god, and God
leads him astray wittingly, and has set a seal upon his hearing and
his heart, and has placed upon his eyesight dimness? who then shall
guide him after God? Will they not then mind?
They say, 'It is only our life in this world, we die and we live,
and naught destroys us but time!' But they have no knowledge of
this; they do but suspect.
And when our signs are rehearsed to them with evidences their only
argument is to say, 'Bring our fathers, if ye speak the truth.'
Say, 'God quickens you, then He kills you, then He will gather you
unto the resurrection day, there is no doubt therein; but most men
do not know.'
God's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and on the day
when, the Hour shall arise on that day shall those who call it vain be
losers! And thou shalt see each nation kneeling, each nation
summoned to its book, 'To-day are ye rewarded for that which ye have
done.'
This is our Book that speaketh to you with truth; verily, we have
written down what ye have done.
But as to those who believe and do righteous deeds their Lord will
make them enter into His mercy: that is the obvious bliss.
And as for those who misbelieve,- were not my signs recited to you
and ye were too big with pride and ye were a sinful people? And when
it was said, 'Verily, the promise of God is true, and the Hour there
is no doubt therein;' ye said, 'We know not what the Hour is, we
only suspect, and we are not sure.'
But there shall appear to them the evils of what they have done, and
that shall encompass them at which they have been mocking. And it
shall be said, 'To-day will we forget you as ye forgat the meeting
of this day of yours, and your resort shall be the fire, and ye
shall have no helpers. That is because ye took the signs of God for
a jest and the life of this world deceived you; wherefore to-day ye
shall not be brought forth therefrom, neither shall ye be taken back
into favour.'
God's then is the praise, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord-of
the earth, the Lord of the worlds! His is the grandeur in the
heavens and the earth, and He is the mighty and the wise!
THE CHAPTER OF EL A'HQAF
(XLVI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
HA MIM. The revelation of the Book from God the mighty, the wise.
We have only created the heavens and the earth and what is between
the two in truth and for an appointed time; but those who misbelieve
from being warned do turn aside.
Say, 'Have ye considered what ye call on beside God?' Show me what
they have created of the earth? or have they share in the heavens?
Bring me a book before this or a vestige of knowledge, if ye do tell
the truth!
But who is more in error than he who calls beside God on what will
never answer him until the resurrection day and who are heedless of
their calling, and when men are gathered together are enemies of
theirs and do deny their service?
And when our evident signs are recited to them, those who misbelieve
say of the truth when it comes to them, 'This is obvious magic.'
Or do they say, 'He has forged it?' Say, 'If I have forged ye cannot
obtain for me aught from God; He knows best what ye utter concerning
it; He is witness enough between me and you, and He is the
forgiving, the merciful.'
Say, 'I am not an innovator among the apostles; nor do I know what
will be done with me or with you if I follow aught but what I am
inspired with; nor am I aught but a plain warner.'
Say, 'Have ye considered, if it is from God and ye have
disbelieved therein, and a witness from the children of Israel
testifies to the conformity of it, and he believes while ye are too
big with pride? Verily, God guides not the unjust people.'
And those who misbelieve say of those. who believe, 'If it had
been good, they would not have been beforehand with us therein;' and
when they are not guided thereby, then will they say, 'This is an
old-fashioned lie.'
But before it was the Book of Moses, a model and a mercy; and this
is a book confirming it in Arabic language, to warn those who do wrong
and as glad tidings to those who do well.
Verily, those who say, 'Our Lord is God,' and then keep straight,
there is no fear for them, and they shall not be grieved. These are
the fellows of Paradise to dwell therein for aye, a recompence for
that which they have done.
We have prescribed for man kindness towards his parents. His
mother bore him with trouble and brought him forth with trouble; and
the bearing of him and the weaning of him is thirty months; until,
when he reaches puberty, and reaches forty years, he says, 'Lord! stir
me up that I may be thankful for thy favours wherewith thou hast
favoured me and my parents; and that I may do right to please Thee;
and make it right for me in my offspring; verily, I turn repentant
unto Thee, and, verily, I am of those resigned.'
There are those from whom we accept the best of what they have done,
and we pass over their offences-amongst the fellows of Paradise; the
promise of truth which they have been promised.
But he who says to his parents, 'Fie upon you! Do ye promise me that
I shall be brought forth when generations have passed away before
me?'-then shall they both cry to God for help. Woe to thee! Believe!
Verily, the promise of God is true. Then says he, 'This is but old
folks tales.'
There are those against whom the sentence was due amongst the
nations who have passed away before them of ginns and men; verily,
they have been the losers; and for all are degrees of what they have
done, so that He may repay them their works, and they shall not be
wronged.
And the day when those who misbelieve shall be exposed to the
fire: 'Ye made away with your good things in your worldly life, and ye
enjoyed them; wherefore to-day shall ye be rewarded with the torment
of disgrace, for that ye were big with pride in the earth without
the right, and for that ye did abomination.'
Remember too the brother of 'Ad when he warned his people at El
A'hqaf,- though warners have passed away before him and after
him,-'Serve not other than God; verily, I fear for you the torment
of a mighty day!'
They said, 'Hast thou come to us to turn us from our gods? then
bring us what thou dost threaten us with, if thou art of those who
speak the truth!' Said he, 'Knowledge is only with God: but I will
preach to you that which I am sent with, though I see you are a people
who are ignorant. And when they saw a traversing cloud approaching
their valleys they said, 'This is a cloud to give us rain.' 'Nay,
but it is what ye sought to hasten on-a wind in which is grievous
torment; it will destroy everything at the order of its Lord!' And
in the morning naught was seen save their dwellings. Thus do we reward
the sinful people!
We had established them in what we have established you, and we made
for them hearing and eyesight and hearts; but neither their hearing
nor their eyesight nor their hearts availed them aught, since they did
gainsay the signs of God, and that encompassed them whereat they had
mocked.
And we destroyed the cities that are around you:-and we turned about
the signs that haply they might return.
Why did not those help them, whom beside God they took for gods that
could draw nigh to Him? Nay! they strayed away from them; for that was
their lie and what they had forged.
And when we turned towards thee some of the ginn listening to the
Koran, and when they were present at (the reading of) it, they said,
'Be silent!' and when it was over. they turned back to their people,
warning them.
Said they, 'O our people! verily, we have heard a book sent down
after Moses, verifying what came before it, guiding to the truth,
and unto the right way. our people! respond to God's crier and believe
in Him, and He will pardon you your sins and will deliver you from
grievous woe.'
And whoso responds not to God's crier shall not frustrate Him in the
earth, and shall not have any patrons beside Him:-these are in obvious
error!
Did they not see that God who created the heavens and the earth, and
was not wearied with creating them, is able to quicken the dead?- nay,
verily, He is mighty over all!
And the day when those who misbelieve shall be exposed to the
fire,-'Is not this the truth?' they shall say, 'Yea, by our Lord!'
He shall say, 'Then taste the torment for that ye did misbelieve!'
Then do thou be patient, as the apostles endowed with a purpose were
patient, and hasten not on (their punishment). It shall be to them, on
the day they see what they are threatened with, as though they had
tarried but an hour of the day. A preaching this! Shall any perish but
the people who work abomination?
THE CHAPTER OF MOHAMMED, ALSO CALLED FIGHT
(XLVII. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Those who misbelieve and turn folk from God's way, He will make
their works go wrong. But those who believe and do right and believe
in what is revealed to Mohammed,-and it is the truth from their
Lord,-He will cover for them their offences and set right their mind.
That is because those who misbelieve follow falsehood, and those who
believe follow the truth from their Lord. Thus does God set forth
for men their parables.
And when ye meet those who misbelieve-then striking off heads
until ye have massacred them, and bind fast the bonds!
Then either a free grant (of liberty) or a ransom until the war
shall have laid down its burdens. That!-but if God please He would
conquer them-but (it is) that He may try some of you by the others.
And those who are slain in God's cause, their works shall not go
wrong; He will guide them and set right their mind; and will make them
enter into Paradise which He has told them of.
O ye who believe! if ye help God, He will help you, and will make
firm your footsteps.
But as for those who misbelieve-confound them! and He will make
their works go wrong.
That is because they were averse from what God has revealed; but
their works shall be void!
Have they not journeyed through the land and seen how was the end of
those before them? God destroyed them; and for the misbelievers is the
like thereof.
That is because God is the patron of those who believe, and
because the misbelievers have no patron.
Verily, God causes those who believe and do right to enter into
gardens beneath which rivers flow; but those who misbelieve enjoy
themselves and eat as the cattle eat; but the fire is the resort for
them!
How many a city, stronger than thy city which has driven thee out,
have we destroyed, and there was none to help them!
Is he who rests upon a manifest sign from his Lord like him, the
evil of whose works is made seemly to him, and who follow their lusts?
The similitude of Paradise which is promised to the pious,-in it are
rivers of water without corruption, and rivers of milk, the taste
whereof changes not, and rivers of wine delicious to those who
drink; and rivers of honey clarified; and there shall they have all
kinds of fruit and forgiveness from their Lord! (Is that) like him who
dwells in the fire for aye? and who are given to drink boiling water
that shall rend their bowels asunder?
Some of them there are who listen to thee, until when they go
forth from thee they say to those who have been given the knowledge,
'What is this which he says now?' These are those on whose hearts
God has set a stamp and who follow their lusts.
But those who are guided, He guides them the more, and gives them
the due of their piety.
Do they wait for aught but the Hour, that it should come to them
suddenly? The conditions thereof have come already; how, when it has
come on them, can they have their reminder?
Know thou that there is no god but God; and ask pardon for thy sin
and for the believers, men and women; for God knows your return and
your resort!
Those who misbelieve say, 'Why has not a surah been revealed?' but
when a decisive surah is revealed and fighting is mentioned therein,
thou mayest see those in whose heart is sickness looking towards
thee with the look of one fainting in death. Preferable for them
were obedience and a reasonable speech! But when the matter is
determined on, then if they believed God it were better for them.
Would ye perhaps, if ye had turned back, have done evil in the
land and severed the bonds of kinship?
It is these whom God has cursed, and has made them deaf, and has
blinded their eyesight! Do they not peruse the Koran? or are there
locks upon their hearts?
Verily, those who turn their backs after the guidance that has
been manifested to them-Satan induces them,- but (God) lets them go
'On for a time!
That is for that they say to those who are averse from what God
has revealed, 'We will obey you in part of the affair!' but God
knows their secrets! How will it be when the angels take their
souls, smiting their faces and their backs?
This is because they follow what angers God and are averse from
His goodwill; and their works are void.
Do those in whose hearts is sickness reckon that God will not
bring their malice forth?
But did we please we would show thee them, and thou shouldst know
them by their cognisances. But thou shalt known them by their
distorting their speech, and God knows their works!
But we will try you until we know those among you who fight
strenuously and the patient; and we will try the reports concerning
you.
Verily, those who misbelieve and turn folks off God's path, and
break with the Apostle after the guidance that has been manifested
to them, cannot harm God at all, and their works shall be void!
O ye who believe! obey God, and obey the Apostle; and make not
your works vain.
Verily, those who misbelieve and turn folks off God's path, and then
die misbelievers, God will not pardon them.
Then faint not, nor cry for peace while ye have the upper hand;
for God is with you and will not cheat you of your works!
The life of this world is but a play and a sport; but if ye
believe and fear God, He will give you your hire.
He does not ask you for (all) your property; if He were to ask you
for it and to press you, ye would be niggardly, and he would bring
your malice out.
Here are ye called upon to expend in God's cause, and among you
are some who are niggardly; and he who is niggardly is but niggardly
against his own soul: but God is rich and ye are poor, and if ye
turn your backs He will substitute another people in your stead,
then they will not be like you.
THE CHAPTER OF VICTORY
(XLVIII. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Verily, we have given thee an obvious victory! that God may pardon
thee thy former and later sin, and may fulfil His favour upon thee,
and guide thee in a right way, and that God may help thee with a
mighty help.
It is He who sent down his shechina into the hearts of the believers
that they might have faith added to their faith;-and God's are the
hosts of the heavens and the earth, and God is knowing, wise- to
make the believers, men and women, enter into gardens beneath which
rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye; and to cover for them their
offences; for that with God is a grand bliss: and to torment the
hypocrites, men and women, and the idolaters, men and women, who think
evil thoughts of God;-over them is a turn of evil fortune, and God
will be wrath with them and curse them, and has prepared for them
hell, and an evil journey shall it be!
God's are the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and God is mighty,
wise!
Verily, we have sent thee as a witness, and a herald of glad
tidings, and a warner;-that ye may believe in God and His Apostle, and
may aid Him and revere Him and celebrate His praises morning and
evening!
Verily, those who swear allegiance to thee do but swear allegiance
to God;-God's hand is above their hands! and whoso perjures himself
does but perjure himself against himself; but he who fulfils what he
has covenanted with God, God shall bring him mighty hire.
The desert Arabs who were left behind shall say, Our wealth and
our people occnpied us; ask pardon then for us!'-they speak with their
tongues what is not in their hearts!
Say, 'Who can control for you aught from God, if He wish you harm or
wish you advantage Nay, God of what ye do is well aware!
Nay, ye thought that the Apostle and the believers would not ever
return again to their families; that was made seemly in your hearts!
and ye thought evil thoughts, and ye were a corrupt people.
Whoso believes not in God and His Apostle- we have prepared for
the unbelievers a blaze!
God's is the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth. He pardons
whom He pleases, and torments whom He pleases; and God is forgiving,
merciful.
Those who were left behind shall say when ye have gone forth to
spoils that ye may take, 'Let us follow you;' they wish to change
God's words. Say, 'Ye shall by no means follow us; thus did God say
before!'
They will say, 'Nay! but ye envy us Nay! they did not understand
save a little.
Say to those desert Arabs who were left behind, 'Ye shall be
called out against a people endowed with vehement valour, and shall
fight them or they shall become Muslims. And if ye obey, God will give
you a good hire; but if ye turn your backs, as ye turned your backs
before, He will torment you with grievous woe!'
There is no compulsion on the blind, and no compulsion on the
lame, and no compulsion on the sick, but whoso obeys God and His
Apostle, He will make him enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; but
whoso turns his back He will torment with grievous woe.
God was well pleased with the believers when they did swear
allegiance to thee beneath the tree; and He knew what was in their
hearts, and He sent down His shechina upon them and rewarded them with
a victory nigh at hand, and many spoils for them to take; for God is
mighty, wise!
God promised you many spoils and hastened this on for you, and
restrained men's hands from you; and it may be a sign for the
believers and guide you in a right way;-and other (spoils) which ye
could not gain; but God has encompassed them; for God is mighty over
all.
And had those who misbelieved fought you, they would have turned
their backs; then they would have found neither patron nor
helper!-God's course which has been followed before, and thou shalt
find no change in the course of God!
He it was who restrained their hands from you, and your hands from
them in the mid-valley of Mecca after He had given you the victory
over them; for God on what ye do doth look!
Those who misbelieved and turned (you) away from the Sacred
Mosque, and (turned away) the offering, kept from arriving at its
destined place; and had it not been for believing men and believing
women whom ye knew not, whom ye might have trampled on, and so a crime
might have occurred to you on their account without your
knowledge-that God may make whomsoever He pleases enter into His
mercy. Had they been distinct from one another, we would have
tormented those of them who misbelieved with grievous woe.
When those who misbelieved put in their hearts pique-the pique of
ignorance-and God sent down His shechina upon His Apostle and upon the
believers, and obliged them to keep to the word of piety, and they
were most worthy of it and most suited for it; for God all things doth
know.
God truly verified for His Apostle the vision that ye shall verily
enter the Sacred Mosque, if God please, in safety with shaven heads or
cut hair, ye shall not fear; for He knows what ye know not, and He has
set for you, beside that, a victory nigh at hand.
He it is who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of
truth to set it above all religion for God is witness enough!
Mohammed is the Apostle of God, and those who are with Him are
vehement against the misbelievers,- compassionate amongst
themselves; thou mayest see them bowing down, adoring, craving grace
from God and His goodwill,- their marks are in their faces from the
effects of adoration;-that is their similitude in the law and their
similitude in the gospel; as a seedling puts forth its sprouts and
strengthens it, and grows stout, and straightens itself upon its stem,
delighting the sower!-that the misbelievers may be angry at
them;-God has promised those of them who believe and do
right-forgiveness and a mighty hire.
THE CHAPTER OF THE INNER CHAMBERS
(XLIX. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
O ye who believe! do not anticipate God and His Apostle, but fear
God; verily, God both hears and knows.
O ye who believe! raise not your voices above the voice of the
prophet, and do not speak loud to him as ye speak loud to one another,
lest your works become vain, while ye do not perceive.
Verily, those who lower their voice before the Apostle of God,
they are those whose hearts God has proved for piety, for them is
forgiveness and a mighty hire.
Verily, those who cry out to thee from behind the inner chambers,
most of them have no sense; but did they wait until thou come out to
them, it were better for them;-but God is forgiving, merciful.
O ye who believe! if there come to you a sinner with an information,
then discriminate, lest ye fall upon a people in ignorance and on
the morrow repent of what ye have done.
And know that among you is the Apostle of God; if he should obey you
in many a matter ye would commit a sin; God has made faith beloved
by you, and has made it seemly in your hearts, and has made
misbelief and iniquity and rebellion hateful to you.-These are the
rightly directed-grace from God and favour! and God is knowing, wise.
And if the two parties of the believers quarrel, then make peace
between them; and if one of the twain outrages the other, then fight
the party that has committed the outrage until it return to God's
bidding; and if it do return then make peace between them with equity,
and be just; verily, God loves the just.
The believers are but brothers, so make peace between your two
brethren and fear God, haply ye may obtain mercy!
O ye who believe! let not one class ridicule another who are
perchance better than they; nor let women ridicule other women who are
perchance better than they; and do not defame each other, nor call
each other bad names-an ill name is iniquity after faith!
O ye who believe! carefully avoid suspicion; verily, some
suspicion is a sin. And do not play the spy, nor backbite each
other; would one of you like to eat his dead brother's flesh?- why! ye
would abhor it! then fear God; verily, God is relentant,
compassionate.
O ye folk! verily, we have created you of male and female, and
made you races and tribes that ye may know each other.
Verily, the most honourable of you in the sight of God is the most
pious of you; verily, God is knowing, aware!
The desert Arabs say, 'We believe.' Say, 'Ye do not believe; but
say, "We have become Muslims;" for the faith has not entered into your
hearts: but if ye obey God and His Apostle He will not defraud you
of your works at all: verily, God is forgiving, compassionate!'
The believers are only those who believe in God and His Apostle, and
then doubt not, but fight strenuously with their wealth and persons in
God's cause-these are the truth-tellers!
Say, 'Will ye teach God your religion? when God knows what is in the
heavens and what is in the earth, and God all things doth know!
They deem that they oblige thee by becoming Muslims. Say, 'Nay! deem
not that ye oblige me by your becoming Muslims! God obliges you, by
directing you to the faith, if ye do speak the truth!'
Verily, God knows the unseen things of the heavens and the earth,
and God on what ye do doth look.
THE CHAPTER OF Q
(L. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
QAF. By the glorious Koran! nay, they wonder that there has come
to them a warner from amongst themselves; and the misbelievers say,
'This is a wondrous thing! What, when we are dead and have become
dust?-that is a remote return!'
We well know what the earth consumes of them, for with us is a
book that keeps (account).
Nay, they call the truth a lie when it comes to them, and they are
in a confused affair.
Do not they behold the heaven above them, how we have built it and
adorned it, and how it has no flaws?
And the earth, we have stretched it out and thrown thereon firm
mountains, and caused to grow thereon every beautiful kind.
An insight and a reminder to every servant who repents!
And we sent down from the heaven water as a blessing, and caused
to grow therewith gardens and the harvest grain!
And the tall palm trees having piled up spathes, for a provision
to (our) servants; and we quickened thereby a dead land; thus shall
the resurrection be!
Before them the people of Noah and the fellows of ar Rass and Thamud
and 'Ad and Pharaoh called the apostles liars; and the brethren of Lot
and the fellows of the Grove and the people of Tubba'h all called
the prophets liars, and the threat was duly executed.
Were we then fatigued with the first creation? nay! but they are
in obscurity concerning the new creation.
But we created man, and we know what his soul whispers; for we are
nigher to him than his jugular vein!
When the two meeters meet, sitting the one on the right and the
other on the left, not a word does he utter, but a watcher is by him
ready!
And the agony of death shall come in truth!-'that is what thou didst
shun!'
And the trumpet shall be blown!-that is the threatened day!
And every soul shall come-with it a driver and a witness!
'Thou wert heedless of this, and we withdrew thy veil from thee, and
to-day is thine eyesight keen!'
And his mate shall say, 'This is what is ready for me (to attest).
'Throw into hell every stubborn misbeliever!-who forbids good, a
transgressor, a doubter! who sets other gods with God-and throw him,
ye twain, into fierce torment!'
His mate shall say, 'Our Lord! I seduced him not, but he was in a
remote error.'
He shall say, 'Wrangle not before me; for I sent the threat to you
before. The sentence is not changed with me, nor am I unjust to my
servants.'
On the day we will say to hell, 'Art thou full? and it will say,
'Are there any more?'
And Paradise shall be brought near to the pious,-not far off.
This is what ye are promised, to every one who turns frequently
(to God) and keeps His commandments: who fears the Merciful in
secret and brings a repentant heart.
'Enter into it in peace: this is the day of eternity!'
They shall have what they wish therein, and increase from us!
How many a generation have we destroyed before them, mightier than
they in prowess!
Pass through the land, is there any refuge? Verily, in that is a
reminder to whomsoever has a heart, or gives ear, and is a witness
thereto.
We did create the heavens and the earth and what is between the
two in six days, and no weariness touched us.
Be thou patient then of what they say, and celebrate the praises
of thy Lord before the rising of the sun and before the setting. And
through (some) of the night celebrate His praise and the additional
adorations.
And listen for the day when the crier shall cry from a near
place;-the day when they shall hear the shout in truth-that is the day
of coming forth!
Verily, we quicken and we kill, and unto us the journey is!
On the day when the earth shall be cleft asunder from them
swiftly;-that is a gathering together which is easy to us!
We know what they say; nor art thou over them one to compel.
Wherefore remind, by the Koran, him who fears the threat.
THE CHAPTER OF THE SCATTERERS
(LI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By the scatterers who scatter! and by those pregnant with their
burden! and by those running on easily! and by the distributors of
affairs!-verily, what ye are threatened with is surely true!
And, verily, the judgment will surely take place!
By the heaven possessed of paths! verily, ye are at variance in what
ye say!
He is turned from it who is turned.
Slain be the liars, who are heedless in a flood (of ignorance).
They will ask, 'When is the day of judgment The day when at the fire
they shall be tried.-'Taste your trial! this is what ye wished to
hasten on!'
Verily, the pious are in gardens and springs, taking what their Lord
brings them. Verily, they before that did well. But little of the
night they slept; and at the dawn they asked forgiveness. And in their
wealth was what was due to him who asked, and him who was kept back
from asking.
And in the earth are signs to those who are sure, and in
yourselves,-what! do ye not then see?
And in the heaven is your provision and that which ye are promised.
But by the Lord of the heaven and the earth! verily, it is the
truth,-like that which ye do utter!
Has the tale of Abraham's honoured guests reached thee? When they
entered in unto him and said, 'Peace!' he said, 'Peace!-a people
unrecognised.'
And he went aside unto his people and fetched a fat calf, and
brought it nigh unto them; said he, Will ye then not eat?'
And he felt a secret fear of them: said they, Fear not.' And they
gave him glad tidings of a knowing boy.
And his wife approached with a noise, and smote her face, and
said, 'An old woman, barren!'
Said they, 'Thus says thy Lord, He is knowing, wise.' Said he,
'And about what is your errand, O ye messengers?'
They said, 'Verily, we are sent unto a sinful people, to send upon
them stones of clay, marked from thy Lord for the extravagant.'
And we sent out therefrom such as were in it of the believers; but
we only found therein one house of Muslims.
And we left therein a sign to those who fear the grievous woe.
And in Moses; when we sent him to Pharaoh with obvious authority.
But he turned his back towards his column and said, 'A sorcerer or
mad!'
And we seized him and his hosts and hurled them into the sea; for he
was to be blamed.
And in 'Ad, when we sent against them a desolating wind, that left
naught on which it came without making it ashes!
And in Thamud, when it was said to them, 'Enjoy yourselves for a
season.' But they revolted against the bidding of their Lord; and
the noise caught them as they looked on. And they could not stand
upright, and they were not helped!
And the people of Noah of yore; verily, they were an abominable
people.
And the heaven-we have built it with might, and, verily, we do
surely give it ample space!
And the earth-we have spread it out; and how well we lay it out!
And of everything have we created pairs, haply ye may be mindful.
Flee then to God; verily, I am a plain warner from Him to you!
And do not set with God another god; verily, I am a plain warner
from Him to you!
Thus there came no apostle to those before them, but they said, 'A
sorcerer, mad!'
Do they bequeath it to each other?
Yea, they are an outrageous people!
So turn thy back upon them, so thou wilt not be to blame.
And remind; for, verily, the reminder shall profit the believers.
And I have not created the ginn and mankind save that they may
worship me.
I do not desire any provision from them, and I do not wish them to
feed me.
Verily, God, He is the provider, endowed with steady might.
Verily, for those who injure (the Apostle) shall be a portion like
the portion of their fellows, but let them not hurry me!
Then woe to those who misbelieve from their day which they are
threatened.
THE CHAPTER OF THE MOUNT
(LII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By the mount! by the Book inscribed upon an outstretched vellum!
by the frequented house! by the elevated roof! by the swelling sea!
verily, the torment of thy Lord will come to pass;-there is none to
avert it!
The day when the heavens shall reel about, and the mountains shall
move about,-then woe upon that day to those who call (the apostles)
liars, who plunge into discussion for a sport!
On the day when they shall be thrust away into the fire of
hell,-'This is the fire, the which ye used to call a lie!-Is it magic,
this? or can ye not see?-broil ye therein, and be patient thereof or
be not patient, it is the same to you: ye are but rewarded for that
which ye did do!'
Verily, the pious (shall be) in gardens and pleasure, enjoying
what their Lord has given them; for their Lord will save them from the
torment of hell.
'Eat and drink with good digestion, for that which ye have done!'
Reclining on couches in rows; and we will wed them to large-eyed
maids.
And those who believe and whose seed follows them in the faith, we
will unite their seed with them; and we will not cheat them of their
work at all;- every man is pledged for what he earns.
And we will extend to them fruit and flesh such as they like. They
shall pass to and fro therein a cup in which is neither folly nor sin.
And round them shall go boys of theirs, as though they were hidden
pearls.
And they shall accost each other and ask questions, and shall say,
'Verily, we were before amidst our families shrinking with terror, but
God has been gracious to us and saved us from the torment of the hot
blast.
'Verily, we used to call on Him before; verily, He is the righteous,
the compassionate!'
Wherefore do thou remind them: for thou art, by the favour of thy
Lord, neither a soothsayer nor mad!
Will they say, 'A poet; we wait for him the sad accidents of fate?'
Say, 'Wait ye then; for I too am of those who wait!'
Do their dreams bid them this? or are they an outrageous people?
Or will they say, 'He has invented it?'-nay, but they do not
believe!
But let them bring a discourse like it, if they tell the truth!
Or were they created of nothing, or were they the creators? Or did
they create the heavens and the earth?- nay, but they are not sure!
Or have they the treasures of thy Lord? or are they the governors
supreme?
Or have they a ladder whereon they can listen?-then let their
listener bring obvious authority.
Has He daughters, while ye have sons?
Or dost thou ask them a hire, while they are borne down by debt?
Or have they the unseen, so that they write it down?
Or do they desire a plot?- but those who misbelieve it is who are
plotted against!
Or have they a god beside God? celebrated be God's praises above
what they join with Him!
But if they should see a fragment of the sky falling down, they
would say, 'Clouds in masses!'
But leave them till they meet that day of theirs whereon they
shall swoon; the day when their plotting shall avail them naught,
and they shall not be helped!
And, verily, there is a torment beside that for those who do
wrong; but most of them do not know!
But wait thou patiently for the judgment of thy Lord, for thou art
in our eyes. And celebrate the praises of thy Lord what time thou
risest, and in the night, and at the fading of the stars!
THE CHAPTER OF THE STAR
(LIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By the star when it falls, your comrade errs not, nor is he deluded!
nor speaks he out of lust! It is but an inspiration inspired! One
mighty in power taught him, endowed with sound understanding, and
appeared, he being in the loftiest tract.
Then drew he near and hovered o'er! until he was two bows' length
off or nigher still! Then he inspired his servant what he inspired
him; the heart belies not what he saw! What, will ye dispute with
him on what he saw?
And he saw him another time, by the lote tree none may pass; near
which is the garden of the Abode! When there covered the lote tree
what did cover it! The sight swerved not nor wandered. He saw then the
greatest of the signs of his Lord.
Have ye considered Allat and Al 'Huzza, and Manat the other third?
Shall there be male offspring for Him and female for you? That were an
unfair division! They are but names which ye have named, ye and your
fathers! God has sent down no authority for them! They do but follow
suspicion and what their souls lust after!-And yet there has come to
them guidance from their Lord.
Shall man have what he desires? But God's is the hereafter and the
present!
How many an angel in the heaven!-their intercession avails not at
all, save after God has given permission to whomsoever He will and
is pleased with!
Verily, those who believe not in the hereafter do surely name the
angels with female names!-but they have no knowledge thereof; they
do but follow suspicion, and, verily, suspicion shall not avail
against the truth at all!
But turn aside from him who turns his back upon our remembrance
and desires naught but this world's life! This is their sum of
knowledge; verily, thy Lord knows best who has erred from His way, and
He knows best who is guided!
God's is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, that He
may reward those who do evil for what they have done; and may reward
those who do good with good! those who shun great sins and
iniquities,-all but venial faults,-verily, thy Lord is of ample
forgiveness; He knows best about you, when He produced you from the
earth, and when ye were embryos in the wombs of your mothers.
Make not yourselves out, then to be pure; He knows best who it is
that fears.
Hast thou considered him who turns his back? who gives but little
and then stops? Has he then the knowledge of the unseen, so that he
can see?
Has he not been informed of what is in the pages of Moses and
Abraham who fulfilled his word? that no burdened soul shall bear the
burden of another? and that man shall have only that for which he
strives; and that his striving shall at length be seen? Then shall
he be rewarded for it with the most full reward; and that unto thy
Lord is the limit; and that it is He who makes men laugh and weep; and
that it is He who kills and makes alive; and that He created pairs,
male and female, from a clot when it is emitted; and that for Him is
the next production; and that he enriches and gives possession; and
that He is the Lord of the Dog-star, and that He it was who
destroyed 'Ad of yore, and Thamud, and left none of them; and the
people of Noah before them,-verily, they were most unjust and
outrageous!
And the overthrown (cities) He threw down; and there covered them
what did cover them!
Which then of your Lord's benefits do ye dispute?
This is a warner, one of the warners of yore!
The approaching day approaches; there is none to discover it but
God.
At this new discourse then do ye wonder? and do ye laugh and not
weep? and ye divert yourselves the while!
But adore God and serve (Him).
THE CHAPTER OF THE MOON
(LIV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
The Hour draws nigh, and the moon is split asunder. But if they
see a sign they turn aside and say, 'Magic, continuous!'
And they call it a lie and follow their lusts; but every matter is
settled!
There has come to them some information with restraint in
it-wisdom far-reaching-but warners avail not!
But turn thy back on them!
The day when the caller shall call to an awkward thing.
Humbly casting down their looks shall they come forth from their
graves, as though they were locusts scattered abroad!
Hurrying forwards to the caller! the misbelievers shall say, 'This
is a difficult day!'
Noah's people before them called (the apostles) liars; they called
our servant a liar; and they said, 'Mad!' and he was rejected.
And he called upon his Lord, 'Verily, I am overcome, come then to my
help!'
And we opened the gates of heaven with water pouring down!
And we made the earth burst forth in springs, and the waters met
at a bidding already decreed.
But we bore him on the thing of planks and nails; sailing on beneath
our eyes, a reward for him who had been disbelieved!
And we left it a sign;- but is there any one who will mind?
'Ad called the apostles liars, and how was my punishment and my
warning?
Verily, we sent on them a cold storm wind on a day of continuous
ill-luck!
It reft men away as though they had been palm stumps torn up!
We have made the Koran easy as a reminder- but is there any one
who will mind?
Thamud called the warnings lies, and said, 'A mortal, one of us,
alone, shall we follow him? then indeed were we in error and
excitement!
'Is the warning cast on him alone among us? nay, he is an insolent
liar!
'They shall know to-morrow about the insolent liar!
'Verily, we are about to send the she-camel as a trial for them,
then watch them and have patience! and inform them that the water is
shared between them (and her); each draught shall be sought by turns.'
Then they called their companion, and he plied (a knife) and
hamstrung her.
Then how was my punishment and my warning? Verily, we sent against
them one noise, and they were like the dry sticks of him who builds
a fold.
We have made the Koran easy as a reminder but is there any one who
will mind?
Lot's people called the apostles liars; verily, we sent against them
a heavy sand storm; all, save Lot's family, we saved them at the dawn.
As a favour from us; so do we reward him who gives thanks!
He indeed had warned them of our assault, but they doubted of the
warning.
And they desired his guest, and we put out their eyes.-
So taste ye my torment and warning!'
And there overtook them on the morning a settled punishment!-
So taste ye my torment and warning!'
We have made the Koran easy as a reminder-but is there any one who
will mind?
The warning came to Pharaoh's people; they called our signs all
lies, and we seized on them with the seizing of a mighty powerful one.
Are your misbelievers better than they? or have ye an exemption in
the Scriptures? Or do they say we are a victorious company?
The whole shall be routed and shall turn their backs in flight.
Nay, the Hour is their promised time! and the Hour is most severe
and bitter!
Verily, the sinners are in error and excitement. On the day when
they shall be dragged to the fire upon their faces!-'Taste ye the
touch of hell.'
Verily, everything have we created by decree, and our bidding is but
one (word), like the twinkling of an eye!
We have destroyed the like of you-but is there any who will mind?
And everything they do is in the books, and everything small and
great is written down.
Verily, the pious shall be amid gardens and rivers, in the seat of
truth, with the powerful king.
THE CHAPTER OF THE MERCIFUL
(LV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
The Merciful taught the Koran;
He created man, taught him plain speech.
The sun and the moon have their appointed time;
The herbs and the trees adore;
And the heavens, He raised them and set the balance,
that ye should not be outrageous in the balance;
But weigh ye aright, and stint not the balance.
And the earth He has set it for living creatures
therein are fruits and palms, with sheaths;
and grain with chaff and frequent shoots;
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
He created men of crackling clay like the potters.
And He created the ginn from smokeless fire.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
The Lord of the two easts and the Lord of the two wests!
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
He has let loose the two seas that meet together;
between them is a barrier they cannot pass!
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
He brings forth from each pearls both large and small!
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
His are the ships which rear aloft in the sea like
mountains.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
Every one upon it is transient, but the face of thy
Lord endowed with majesty and honour shall endure.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
Of Him whosoever is in the heaven and the earth
does beg; every day He is in (some fresh) business!
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
We shall be at leisure for you, O ye two weighty ones!
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
O assembly of ginns and mankind! if ye are able to pass
through the confines of heaven and earth
then pass through them!-ye cannot pass through
save by authority!
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
There shall be sent against you a flash of fire,
and molten copper, and ye shall not be helped!
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
And when the heaven is rent asunder and become rosy red
- (melting) like grease!
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
On that day neither man nor ginn shall be asked
about his crime!
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
The sinners shall be known by their marks, and shall
be seized by the forelock and the feet!
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
'This is hell, which the sinners did call it lie! they
shall circulate between it and water boiling quite!'
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
But for him who fears the station of his Lord are
gardens twain!
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
Both furnished with branching trees.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
In each are flowing springs.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
In each are, of every fruit, two kinds.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
Reclining on beds the linings of which are
of brocade, and the fruit of the two gardens within
reach to cull.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
Therein are maids of modest glances whom no man nor ginn
has deflowered before.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
As though they were rubies and pearls.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
Is the reward of goodness aught but goodness?
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
And besides these, are gardens twain,
Then which of your Lord's bounties will be twain deny?
With dark green foliage.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
In each two gushing springs.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
In each fruit and palms and pomegranates.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
In them maidens best and fairest!
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
Bright and large-eyed maids kept in their tents.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
Whom no man nor ginn has deflowered before them.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
Reclining on green cushions and beautiful carpets.
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny?
Blessed be the name of thy Lord possessed of majesty and
honour!
THE CHAPTER OF THE INEVITABLE
(LVI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
When the inevitable happens; none shall call its
happening a lie!- abasing- exalting!
When the earth shall quake, quaking! and the mountains
shall crumble, crumbling, and become like motes
dispersed!
And ye shall be three sorts;
And the fellows of the right hand-what right lucky
fellows!
And the fellows of the left hand-what unlucky fellows!
And the foremost foremost!
These are they who are brought nigh,
In gardens of pleasure!
A crowd of those of yore,
And a few of those of the latter day!
And gold-weft couches, reclining on them face to face.
Around them shall go eternal youths, with goblets and
ewers and a cup of flowing wine; no headache shall
they feel therefrom, nor shall their wits be dimmed!
And fruits such as they deem the best;
And flesh of fowl as they desire;
And bright and large-eyed maids like hidden pearls;
A reward for that which they have done!
They shall hear no folly there and no sin;
Only the speech, 'Peace, Peace!'
And the fellows of the right-what right lucky fellows!
Amid thornless lote trees.
And tal'h trees with piles of fruit;
And outspread shade,
And water out-poured;
And fruit in abundance, neither failing nor forbidden;
And beds upraised!
Verily, we have produced them a production.
And made them virgins, darlings of equal age
(with their spouses) for the fellows of the right!
A crowd of those of yore, and a crowd of those of the
latter day!
And the fellows of the left-what unlucky fellows!
In hot blasts and boiling water;
And a shade of pitchy smoke,
Neither cool nor generous!
Verily, they were affluent ere this, and did persist in
mighty crime; and used to say, 'What, when we die
and have become dust and bones, shall we then indeed
be raised? or our fathers of yore?'
Say, 'Verily, those of yore and those of the latter day
shall surely be gathered together unto the tryst of
the well-known day.'
Then ye, O ye who err! who say it is a lie! shall eat of
the Zaqqum tree! and fill your bellies with it! and
drink thereon of boiling water! and drink as drinks
the thirsty camel.
This is their entertainment on the judgment day!
We created you, then why do ye not credit?
Have ye considered what ye emit?
Do we create it, or are we the creators?
We have decreed amongst you death; but we are not
forestalled from making the likes of you in exchange,
or producing you as ye know not of.
Ye do know the first production-why then do ye not mind?
Have ye considered what ye till?
Do ye make it bear seed, or do we make it bear seed?
If we pleased we could make it mere grit, so that ye
would pause to marvel:
'Verily,we have got into debt and we are excluded.'
Have ye considered the water which ye drink?
Do ye make it come down from the clouds, or do we make
it come down?
If we pleased we could make it pungent-why then do ye
not give thanks?
Have ye considered the fire which ye strike?
Do ye produce the tree that gives it, or do we
produce it?
We have made it a memorial and a chattel for the
traveller of the waste?
Then celebrate the grand name of thy Lord!
So I will not swear by the positions of the stars; and,
verily, it is a grand oath if ye did but know--that,
verily, this is the honourable Koran- in the
laid-up Book!
Let none touch it but the purified!
A revelation from the Lord of the worlds.
What! this new discourse will ye despise?
And make for your provision, that you call it a lie?
Why then-when it comes up to the throat, and ye at that
time look on, though we are nearer to him than you
are, but ye cannot see,- why, if ye are not to be
judged, do ye not send it back, if ye do tell the
truth?
But either, if he be of those brought nigh to God,- then
rest and fragrance and the garden of pleasure!
Or, if he be of the fellows of the right! then 'Peace to
thee!' from the fellows of the right!
Or, if he be of those who say it is a lie,-who err! then
an entertainment of boiling water! and broiling
in hell!
Verily, this is surely certain truth!
So celebrate the grand name of thy Lord!
THE CHAPTER OF IRON
(LVII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Whatever is in the heavens and the earth celebrates the praises of
God, for He is the mighty, the wise!
His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth: He quickens and
He kills, and He is mighty over all!
He is the first and the last; and the outer and the inner; and He
all things doth know!
He it is who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then
He made for the throne; and He knows what goes into the earth and what
goes forth therefrom, and what comes down from the sky and what goes
up therein, and He is with you wheresoe'er ye be: for God on what ye
do doth look!
His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and unto God
affairs return. He makes the night succeed the day, and makes the
day succeed the night; and He knows the nature of men's breasts.
Believe in God and His Apostle, and give alms of what He has made
you successors of. For those amongst you who believe and give alms-for
them is mighty hire.
What ails you that ye do not believe in God and His Apostle? He
calls on you to believe in your Lord; and He has taken a compact
from you, if ye be believers.
He it is who sends down upon His servants manifest signs, to bring
you forth from the darkness into the light; for, verily, God to you is
kind, compassionate!
What ails you that ye give not alms in God's cause? for God's is the
inheritance of the heavens and the earth. Not alike amongst you is
he who gives alms before the victory and fights,- they are grander
in rank than those who give alms afterwards and fight. But to all does
God promise good; and God of what ye do is well aware!
Who is there who will lend a good loan to God? for He will double it
for him, and for him is a generous reward.
On the day when thou shall see believers, men and women, with
their light running on before them and on their right hand,-'Glad
tidings for you today.- Gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell
therein for aye; that is the grand bliss!'
On the day when the hypocrites, men and women, shall say to those
who believe, 'Wait for us that we may kindle at your light.' It will
be said, 'Get ye back, and beg a light.' And there shall be struck out
between them a wall with a door; within it shall be mercy, and outside
before it torment. They shall cry out to them, 'We were not with you
they shall say, 'Yea, but ye did tempt yourselves, and did wait, and
did doubt; and your vain hopes beguiled you; and the beguiler beguiled
you about God.
'Wherefore to-day there shall not be taken from you a ransom, nor
from those who misbelieved. Your resort is the fire; it is your
sovereign, and an ill journey will it be!'
Is the time come to those who believe, for their hearts to be
humbled at the remembrance of God, and of what He has sent down in
truth? and for them not to be like those who were given the Scriptures
before, and over whom time was prolonged, but their hearts grew
hard, and many of them were workers of abomination?
Know that God quickens the earth after its death!-we have manifested
to you the signs; haply ye may have some sense!
Verily, those who give in charity, men and women, who have lent to
God a goodly loan,-it shall be doubled for them, and for them is a
generous hire.
And those who believe in God and His Apostle, they are the
confessors and the martyrs with their Lord; for them is their hire and
their light! But those who misbelieve and call our signs lies, they
are the fellows of hell!
Know that the life of this world is but a sport, and a play, and
an adornment, and something to boast of amongst yourselves; and the
multiplying of children is like a rain-growth, its vegetation
pleases the misbelievers; then they wither away, and thou mayest see
them become yellow; then they become but grit.
But in the hereafter is a severe woe, and forgiveness from God and
His goodwill; but the life of this world is but a chattel of guile.
Race towards forgiveness from your Lord and Paradise, whose
breadth is as the breadth of the heavens and the earth, prepared for
those who believe in God and His apostles! and God's grace, He gives
it to whom He pleases, for God is Lord of mighty grace!
No accident befalls in the earth, or in yourselves, but it was in
the Book, before we created them; verily, that is easy unto God.
That ye may not vex yourselves for what ye miss, nor be overjoyed at
what He gives you; for God loves no arrogant boaster, who are
niggardly and bid men be niggardly: but whoso turns his back,
verily, God is rich, praiseworthy.
We did send our apostles with manifest signs; and we did send down
among you the Book and the balance, that men might stand by justice;
and we sent down iron in which is both keen violence and advantages to
men; and that God might know who helps Him and His apostles in secret;
verily, God is strong and mighty!
And we sent Noah and Abraham; and placed in their seed prophecy
and the Book; and some of them are guided, though many of them are
workers of abomination!
Then we followed up their footsteps with our apostles; and we
followed them up with Jesus the son of Mary; and we gave him the
gospel; and we placed in the hearts of those who followed him kindness
and compassion.- But monkery, they invented it; we only prescribed
to them the craving after the goodwill of God, and they observed it
not with due observance. But we gave to those who believe amongst them
their hire; though many amongst them were workers of abomination!
O ye who believe! fear God, and believe in His Apostle: He will give
you two portions of His mercy, and will make for you a light for you
to walk in, and will forgive you; for God is forgiving, compassionate.
That the people of the Book may know that they cannot control
aught of God's grace; and that grace is in God's hands, He gives it to
whom He will; for God is Lord of mighty grace!
THE CHAPTER OF THE WRANGLER
(LVIII. Medinah.)
GOD has heard the speech of her who wrangled with you about her
husband, and complained to God; and God hears your gossip; verily, God
both hears and sees.
Those among you who back out of their wives they are not their
mothers their mothers are only those who gave them birth and,
verily, they speak a wrong speech and a false.
Verily, God both pardons and forgives. But those who back out of
their wives and then would recall their speech,- then the
manumission of a captive before they touch each other; that is what ye
are admonished, and God of what ye do is well aware!
But he who finds not (the means) then a fast for two months
consecutively, before they touch each other; and he who cannot
endure that:- then the feeding of sixty poor folk. That is that ye may
believe in God and His Apostle; and these are the bounds of God; and
for the misbelievers is grievous woe!
Verily, those who oppose God and His Apostle shall be upset, as
those before them were upset.
We have sent down manifest signs: for the misbelievers is shameful
woe on the day when God shall raise them all together, and shall
inform them of what they have done. God has taken account of it, but
they forget it; for God is witness over all!
Dost thou not see that God knows what is in the heavens and what
is in the earth? and that there cannot be a privy discourse of three
but He makes the fourth? nor of five but He makes the sixth? nor
less than that nor more, but that He is with them wheresoe'er they be?
then He will inform them of what they have done upon the
resurrection day; verily, God all things doth know!
Dost thou not look at those who were prohibited from privy talk, and
then returned to that they were forbidden? and they too discourse
together with sin and enmity and rebellion against the Apostle; and
when they come to thee they greet thee with what God greets thee
not; and they say in themselves, Why does not God torment us for
what we say? Hell is enough for them! they shall broil therein, and an
ill journey shall it be!
O ye who believe! when ye discourse together, then discourse not
in sin and enmity and rebellion against the Apostle; but discourse
together in righteousness and piety; and fear God, for unto Him ye
shall be gathered!
Privy talk is only from the devil, that those who do believe may
grieve: it cannot hurt them at all, except by the permission of God:
and upon God let the believers rely.
O ye who believe! when it is said to you, 'Make room in your
assemblies,' then make room; God will make room for you; and when it
is said to you, 'Rise up, 'then rise up; God will raise all you who
believe, as well as those who are given knowledge, in rank; for God of
what ye do is well aware!
O ye who believe! when ye address the Apostle, then give in
charity before addressing him; that is better for you, and more
pure. But if ye find not the means,- then God is forgiving,
compassionate. What! do ye shrink from giving in charity before
addressing him? then if ye do it not, and God relents towards you,
then be steadfast in prayer, and give alms, and fear God and His
Apostle; for God is well aware of what ye do!
Dost thou not look at those who take for patrons a people God is
wrath with? they are neither of you nor of them, and they swear to you
a lie the while they know; for them God has prepared severe torment;
verily, evil is it they have done!
They take their faith for a cloak; and they turn men aside from
the path of God; and for them is shameful woe!
Their wealth shall not avail them, nor their children at all,
against God; they are the fellows of the Fire, and they shall dwell
therein for aye!
On the day when God raises them all together, then will they swear
to Him as they swore to you; and they will think that they rest on
somewhat.- Ay, verily, they are liars!
Satan hath overridden them, and made them forget the remembrance
of God: they are the crew of Satan; ay, the crew of Satan, they are
the losers!
Verily, those who oppose God and His Apostle are amongst the most
vile.
God has written, I will surely prevail, I and my apostles;'
verily, God is strong and mighty!
Thou shalt not find a people who believe in God and the last day
loving him who opposes God and His Apostle, even though it be their
fathers, or their sons, or their brethren, or their clansmen.
He has written faith in their hearts, and He aids them with a spirit
from Him; and will make them enter into gardens beneath which rivers
flow, to dwell therein for aye! God is well pleased with them, and
they well pleased with Him: they are God's crew; ay, God's crew,
they shall prosper!
THE CHAPTER OF THE EMIGRATION
(LIX. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
What is in the heavens and in the earth celebrates God's praises; He
is the mighty, the wise!
He it was who drove those of the people of the Book who
misbelieved forth from their houses, at the first emigration; ye did
not think that they would go forth, and they thought that their
fortresses would defend them against God; but God came upon them
from whence they did not reckon, and cast dread into their hearts!
They ruined their houses with their own hands and the hands of the
believers; wherefore take example, O ye who are endowed with sight!
Had it not been that God had prescribed for them banishment, He
would have tormented them in this world; but for them in the next
shall be the torment of the Fire! that is because they opposed God and
His Apostle: and whoso opposes God, verily, God is keen to punish!
What palm trees ye did cut down or what ye left standing upon
their roots was by God's permission, and to disgrace the workers of
abomination; and as for the spoils that God gave to His Apostle from
these (people) ye did not press forward after them with horse or
riding camel; but God gives His Apostle authority over whom He
pleases, for God is mighty over all!
What God gave as spoils to His Apostle of the people of the cities
is God's, and the Apostle's, and for kinsfolk, orphans, and the
poor, and the wayfarer, so that it should not be circulated amongst
the rich men of you.
And what the Apostle gives you, take; and what he forbids you,
desist from; and fear God, verily, God is keen to punish!
And (it is) for the poor who fled, who were driven forth from
their houses and their wealth, who crave grace from God and His
goodwill, and help God and the Apostle; they are the truthful.
And those who were settled in the abode and the faith before them,
love those who fled to them; and they do not find in their breasts a
need of what has been given to them; preferring them to themselves,
even though there be poverty amongst them; and whoso is preserved from
his own coveteousness, these are the prosperous!
And those who came after them say, 'Our Lord, forgive us and our
brethren who were beforehand with us in the faith, and place not in
our hearts ill-will towards those who believe-our Lord! verily, thou
art kind, compassionate!'
Dost thou not look on those who were hypocritical, saying to their
brethren who misbelieved amongst the people of the Book, 'If ye be
driven forth we will go forth with you; and we will never obey any one
concerning you; and if ye be fought against we will help you.' But God
bears witness that they are surely liars!
If they be driven forth, these will not go forth with them; and if
they be fought against, these will not help them; or if they do help
them, they will turn their backs in flight;- then shall they not be
helped!
Ye indeed are a keener source of fear in their hearts than God; that
is because they are a people who do not understand! They will not
fight. against you in a body save in fortified cities, or from
behind walls; their valour is great amongst themselves;-thou dost
reckon them as one body, but their hearts are separated. That is
because they are a people who have no sense!
Like unto those before them, recently; they tasted the evil result
of their affair, and for them is grievous woe.
Like unto the devil when he said to man, 'Disbelieve.' But when he
disbelieved, he said, 'Verily, I am clear of thee! Verily, I fear
God the Lord of the worlds!' And the end of them both shall be that
they shall both be in the Fire, to dwell therein for aye! for that
is the reward of the unjust!
O ye who believe! fear God; and let each soul look to what it
sends on for the morrow; and fear God; verily, God is well aware of
what ye do!
And be ye not like those who forget God, and He makes them forget
themselves; they are the workers of abomination!
Not deemed alike shall be the fellows of the Fire and the fellows of
Paradise: the fellows of Paradise they are the blissful!
Had we sent down this Koran upon a mountain, thou wouldst have
seen it humbling itself, splitting asunder from the fear of God! These
parables do we strike out for men; haply they may reflect!
He is God than whom there is no god; who knows the unseen and the
visible; He is the merciful, the compassionate! He is God than whom
there is no god; the King, the Holy, the Peace-Giver, the Faithful,
the Protector, the Mighty, the Repairer, the Great!- celebrated be the
praises of God above what they join with Him.
He is God, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner; His are the
excellent names! His praises, whatever are in the heavens and the
earth do celebrate; for God is the mighty, the wise!
THE CHAPTER OF THE TRIED
(LX. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
O ye who believe! take not my enemy and your enemy for patrons,
encountering them with love; for they misbelieve in the truth that
is to come to you; they drive out the Apostle and you for that ye
believe in God your Lord!
If ye go forth fighting strenuously in my cause and craving my
good pleasure, and secretly show love for them, yet do I know best
what ye conceal and what ye display! and he of you who does so has
erred from the level path.
If they find you they will be enemies to you, and they will
stretch forth against you their hands and their tongues for evil,
and would fain that ye should disbelieve; neither your kindred nor
your children shall profit you upon the resurrection day; it will
separate you! but God on what ye do doth look!
Ye had a good example in Abraham and those with him, when they
said to their people, 'Verily, we are clear of you and of what ye
serve beside God. We disbelieve in you: and between us and you is
enmity and hatred begun for ever, until ye believe in God alone!'
But not the speech of Abraham to his father, 'Verily, I will ask
forgiveness for thee, though I cannot control aught from God!' O our
Lord! on thee do we rely! and unto thee we turn! and unto thee the
journey is!
Our Lord! make us not a trial for those who misbelieve; but
forgive us! Our Lord! verily, thou art mighty, wise!
Ye had in them a good example for him who would hope in God and
the last day. But whoso turns his back, verily, God, He is rich and to
be praised.
Mayhap that God will place love between you and between those of
them ye are hostile towards: for God is powerful, and God is
forgiving, compassionate.
God forbids you not respecting those who have not fought against you
for religion's sake, and who have not driven you forth from your
homes, that ye should act righteously and justly towards them; verily,
God loves the just!
He only forbids you to make patrons of those who have fought against
you for religion's sake, and driven you forth from your homes, or have
aided in your expulsion; and whoever makes patrons of them, they are
the unjust!
O ye who believe! when there come believing women who have fled,
then try them: God knows their faith. If ye know them to be
believers do not send them back to the misbelievers;- they are not
lawful for them, nor are the men lawful for these;- but give them what
they have expended, and it shall be no crime against you that ye marry
them, when ye have given them their hire. And do not ye retain a right
over misbelieving women; but ask for what ye have spent, and let
them ask for what they have spent. That is God's judgment: He judges
between you, for God is knowing, wise!
And if any of your wives escape from you to the misbelievers, and
your turn comes, then give to those whose wives have gone away the
like of what they have spent; and fear God, in whom it is that ye
believe.
O thou prophet! when believing women come to thee and engage with
thee that they will not associate aught with God, and will not
steal, and will not fornicate, and will not kill their children, and
will not bring a calumny which they have forged between their hands
and feet, and that they will not rebel against thee in what is
reasonable, then engage with them and ask forgiveness for them of
God;-verily, God is forgiving, compassionate.
O ye who believe! take not for patrons a people whom God is wrath
against; they despair of the hereafter, as the misbelievers despair of
the fellows of the tombs!
THE CHAPTER OF THE RANKS
(LXI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
What is in the heavens and what is in the earth celebrates the
praises of God, for He is the mighty, the wise!
O ye who believe! say not what ye do not. It is most hateful to
God that ye say what ye do not.
Verily, God loves those who fight in His cause in ranks as though
they were a compact building.
When Moses said to his people, my people! why do ye hurt me, when ye
know that I am the apostle of God to you?' and when they swerved,
God made their hearts to swerve; for God guides not the people who
work abomination!
And when Jesus the son of Mary said, 'O children of Israel!
verily, I am the apostle of God to you, verifying the law that was
before me and giving you glad tidings of an apostle who shall come
after me, whose name shall be A'hmed!'-but when he did come to them
with manifest signs, they said, 'This is manifest sorcery!'
And who is more unjust than he who forges against God a lie when
called unto Islam? but God guides not the unjust people.
They desire to put out the light of God with their mouths; but God
will perfect His light, averse although the misbeliever be!
He it is who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of
truth to set it above all religion; averse although the idolaters
may be.
O ye who believe! shall I lead you to a merchandise which will
save you from grievous woe?
To believe in God and His Apostle, and to fight strenuously in God's
cause with your property and your persons; that is better for you if
ye did but know!
He will pardon you your sins, and bring you into gardens beneath
which rivers flow, and goodly dwellings in gardens of Eden;- that is
the mighty bliss!
And other things which ye love,- help from God and victory
nigh!-so do thou give the glad tidings unto the believers!
O ye who believe! be ye the helpers of God as Jesus son of Mary said
to the apostles, 'Who are my helpers for God?' Said the apostles,
'We are God's helpers!'
And a party of the children of Israel believed, and a party
misbelieved. And we aided those who believed against their enemies,
and they were on the morrow superior!
THE CHAPTER OF THE CONGREGATION
(LXII. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
What is in the heavens and what is in the earth celebrates the
praises of God the King, the holy, the mighty, the wise!
He it is who sent unto the Gentiles a prophet amongst themselves
to recite to them His signs and to purify them, and to teach them
the Book and the wisdom, although they were before in obvious error.
And others of them have not yet overtaken them; but He is the
mighty, the wise!
That is God's grace, He gives it to whomsoever He will; for God is
Lord of mighty grace.
The likeness of those who were charged with the law and then bore it
not is as the likeness of an ass bearing books: sorry is the
likeness of the people who say God's signs are lies! but God guides
not an unjust people.
Say, 'O ye who are Jews! if ye pretend that ye are the clients of
God, beyond other people; then wish for death if ye do speak the
truth!'
But they never wish for it, through what their hands have sent
before! but God knows the unjust.
Say, 'Verily, the death from which ye flee will surely meet you;
then shall ye be sent back to Him who knows the unseen and the
visible, and He will inform you of that which ye have done!'
O ye who believe! when the call to prayer is made upon the
Congregation Day, then hasten to the remembrance of God, and leave off
traffic; that is better for you, if ye did but know!
And when prayer is performed, then disperse abroad in the land,
and crave of God's grace; and remember God much; haply ye may prosper!
But when they see merchandise or sport they flock to it and leave
thee standing! Say, 'What is with God is better than sport and than
merchandise, for God is the best of providers!'
THE CHAPTER OF THE HYPOCRITES
(LXIII. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
When the hypocrites come to thee, they say, 'We bear witness that
thou art surely the Apostle of God;' but God knows that thou art His
Apostle: and God bears witness that the hypocrites are liars!
They take their faith for a cloak, and then they turn folks from
God's way:- evil is that which they have done! That is because they
believed and then disbelieved, wherefore is a stamp set on their
hearts so that they do not understand!
And when thou seest them, their persons please thee; but if they
speak, thou listenest to their speech: they are like timber propped
up: they reckon every noise against them! They are the foe, so
beware of them!-God fight against them, how they lie!
And when it is said to them, 'Come, and the Apostle of God will
ask forgiveness for you! they turn away their heads, and thou mayest
see them turning away since they are so big with pride!
It is the same to them whether thou dost ask forgiveness for them,
or whether thou dost not ask forgiveness for them,- God will not
forgive them; verily, God guides not a people who work abomination!
They it is who say, 'Expend not in alms upon those who are with
the Apostle of God, in order that they may desert him!'-but God's
are the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but the hypocrites
have no sense!
They say, 'If we return to el Medinah, the mightier will surely
drive out the meaner therefrom;' but to God belongs the might, and
to His Apostle and to the believers; but the hypocrites do not know!
O ye who believe! let not your property nor your children divert you
from the remembrance of God,- for whosoever does that, they are
those who lose!
But expend in alms of what we have bestowed upon you before death
come on any one of you, and he says, 'My Lord! wouldst thou but have
respited me till an appointed time nigh at hand, then would I surely
give in charity and be among the righteous!' But God will never
respite a soul when its appointed time has come: and God of what ye do
is well aware!
THE CHAPTER OF CHEATING
(LXIV. Place of origin doubtful.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
What is in the heavens and what is in the earth celebrates God's
praises; His is the kingdom, and His is the praise, and He is mighty
over all!
He it is who created you, and of you is (one) a misbeliever and
(one) a believer; and God on what ye do does look.
He created the heavens and the earth in truth; and has formed you
and made excellent your forms; and unto Him the journey is!
He knows what is in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye
conceal and what ye display; for God knows the nature of men's
breasts!
Has there not come to you the story of those who misbelieved before,
and tasted the evil result of their affair, and for them was
grievous woe?
That is because their apostles came to them with manifest signs, and
they said, 'Shall mortals guide us?' and they misbelieved and turned
their backs. But God was independent of them; for God is rich and to
be praised!
Those who misbelieve pretend that they shall surely not be raised:
say, 'Yea! by my Lord! ye shall surely be raised: then ye shall be
informed of that which ye have done;' for that is easy unto God.
So believe in God and His Apostle and the light which we have sent
down; for God of what ye do is well aware!
On the day when he shall gather you to the day of gathering, that is
the day of cheating! but whoso believes in God and acts aright, He
will cover for him his offences, and will bring him into gardens
beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye! that is the
mighty bliss!
But those who misbelieve and say our signs are lies, they are the
fellows of the Fire, to dwell therein for aye! and evil shall the
journey be!
No calamity befalls but by the permission of God: and whoso believes
in God, He will guide his heart; for God all things doth know!
So obey God and obey the Apostle: but if ye turn your backs-our
Apostle has only his plain message to preach!
God, there is no god but He; and upon Him let the believers rely!
O ye who believe! verily, among your wives and children are foes
of yours: so beware of them! But if ye pardon, and overlook it, and
forgive,- verily, God is forgiving, compassionate!
Your property and your children are but a trial; and God, with Him
is mighty hire!
Then fear God as much as ye can! and hear, and obey, and expend in
alms: it is better for yourselves. But whosoever is saved from his own
covetousness-these are the prosperous!
If ye lend to God a goodly loan, He will double it for you, and will
forgive you; for God is grateful, clement!
He knows the unseen and the visible; the mighty, the wise!
THE CHAPTER OF DIVORCE
(LXV. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
O thou prophet! when ye divorce women, then divorce them at their
term, and calculate the term and fear God your Lord. Do not drive them
out of their houses unless they have committed manifest adultery.
These are God's bounds, and whoso transgresses God's bounds has
wronged himself. Thou knowest not whether haply God may cause
something fresh to happen after that.
And when they have reached their appointed time, then retain them
with kindness, or separate from them with kindness; and bring as
witnesses men of equity from among you; and give upright testimony
to God. That is what He admonishes him who believes in God and the
last day; and whosoever fears God, He will make for him a (happy)
issue, and will provide for him from whence he reckoned not.
And whosoever relies on God, He is sufficient for him: verily, God
will attain His purpose:- God has set for everything a period.
And such of your women as despair of menstruation,-if ye doubt, then
their term is three months; and such as have not menstruated too.
And those who are heavy with child their appointed time is when they
have laid down their burden; and whosoever fears God, He will make for
him an easy affair.
That is God's command, He has sent it down to you; and whosoever
fears God He will cover for him his offences and will make grand for
him his hire.
Let them dwell where ye dwell, according to your means, and do not
harm them, to reduce them to straits; and if they be heavy with child,
then pay for them until they lay down their burdens; and if they
suckle (the child) for you, then give them their hire, and consult
among yourselves in reason; but if ye be in difficulties, and
another woman shall suckle the child for him, let him who has plenty
expend of his plenty; but he whose provision is doled out, let him
expend of what God has given him; God will not compel any soul
beyond what He has given it;-God will make after difficulty ease!
How many a city has turned away from the bidding of its Lord and His
apostles; and we called them to a severe account, and we tormented
them with an unheard-of torment!
And they tasted the evil results of their conduct; and the end of
their conduct was loss!
God prepared for them severe torment;-then fear God, ye who are
endowed with minds!
Ye who believe! God has sent down to you a reminder;-an apostle to
recite to you God's manifest signs;-to bring forth those who believe
and act aright from darkness into light! and whoso believes in God and
acts right He will bring him into gardens beneath which rivers flow,
to dwell therein for ever and for aye! God has made goodly for him his
provision!
God it is who created seven heavens, and of the earth the like
thereof. The bidding descends between them, that ye may know that
God is mighty over all, and that God has encompassed all things with
His knowledge!
THE CHAPTER OF PROHIBITION
(LXVI. Medinah.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
O thou prophet! wherefore dost thou prohibit what God has made
lawful to thee, craving to please thy wives? but God is forgiving,
compassionate!
God has allowed you to expiate your oaths; for God is your
sovereign, and He is the knowing, the wise!
And when the prophet told as a secret to one of his wives a recent
event, and when she gave information thereof and exposed it, he
acquainted her with some of it and avoided part of it. But when he
informed her of it, she said, 'Who told thee this?' he said, 'The wise
one, the well-aware informed me.
'If ye both turn repentant unto God,-for your hearts have
swerved!-but if ye back each other up against him,-verily, God, He
is the sovereign; and Gabriel and the righteous of the believers,
and the angels after that, will back him up.
'It may be that his Lord if he divorce you will give him in exchange
wives better than you, Muslims, believers, devout, repentant,
worshipping, giving to fasting-such as have known men and virgins
too.'
O ye who believe! save yourselves and your families from the fire,
whose fuel is men and stones;-over it are angels stout and stern; they
disobey not God in what He bids them, but they do what they are
bidden!
O ye who disbelieve! excuse not yourselves today;-ye shall only be
rewarded for that which ye have done.
O ye who believe! turn repentant to God with sincere repentance;
it may be that thy Lord will cover for you your offences and will
bring you into gardens beneath which rivers flow!-the day God will not
disgrace the Prophet nor those who believe with him; their light shall
run on before them, and at their right hands! they shall say, 'Our
Lord! perfect for us our light and forgive us; verily, Thou art mighty
over all!'
O thou prophet! fight strenuously against the misbelievers and
hypocrites and be stern towards them; for their resort is hell, and an
evil journey shall it be!
God strikes out a parable to those who misbelieve: the wife of
Noah and the wife of Lot; they were under two of our righteous
servants, but they betrayed them: and they availed them nothing
against God; and it was said, 'Enter the fire with those who enter.'
And God strikes out a parable for those who believe: the wife of
Pharaoh, when she said, 'My Lord, build for me a house with Thee in
Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his works, and save me from the
unjust people!'
And Mary, daughter of Imran, who guarded her private parts, and we
breathed therein of our spirit and she verified the words of her
Lord and His books, and was of the devout.
THE CHAPTER OF THE KINGDOM
(LXVII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Blessed be He in whose hand is the kingdom, for He is mighty over
all!
Who created death and life, to try you, which of you does best;
for He is the mighty, the forgiving!
Who created seven heavens in stories; thou canst not see any
discordance in the creation of the Merciful!
Why, look again! canst thou see a flaw? Then look again
twice!-they look shall return to thee driven back and dulled!
And we have adorned the lower heaven with lamps; and set them to
pelt the devils with; and we have prepared for them the torment of the
blaze!
And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of hell,
and an evil journey shall it be!
When they shall be cast therein they shall hear its braying as it
boils--it will well-nigh burst for rage!
Whenever a troop of them is thrown in, its treasurers shall ask
them, 'Did not a warner come to you?'
They shall say, 'Yea! a warner came to us, and we called him liar,
and said, "God has not sent down aught; ye are but in great error!"'
And they shall say, 'Had we but listened or had sense we had not
been amongst the fellows of the blaze!'
And they will confess their sins; but 'Avaunt to the fellows of
the blaze!'
Verily, those who fear their Lord in secret, for them is forgiveness
and a great hire!
Speak ye secretly or openly, verily, He knows the nature of men's
breasts!
Ay! He knows who created! for he is the subtle, the well-aware!
He it is who made the earth flat for you; so walk in the spacious
sides thereof and eat of His provision; for unto Him the
resurrection is!
Are ye sure that He who is in the heaven will not cleave the earth
with you, and that it then shall quake?
Or are ye sure that He who is in the heaven will not send against
you a heavy sand storm, and that ye then shall know how the warning
was?
But those before them did call the apostles liars, and what a change
it was!
Or have they not looked at the birds above them expanding their
wings or closing them?- none holds them in except the Merciful One;
for He on everything doth look.
Or who is this who will be a host for you, to help you against the
Merciful?- the misbelievers are only in delusion!
Or who is this who will provide you if He hold back His
provision?-Nay, but they persist in perverseness and aversion!
Is he who walks prone upon his face more guided than he who walks
upright upon a straight path?
Say, 'It is He who produced you and made for you hearing and sight
and hearts'-little is it that ye give thanks.
Say, 'It is He who sowed you in the earth, and unto Him shall ye
be gathered!'
They say, 'When shall this threat be, if ye do speak the truth?'
Say, 'The knowledge is only with God; and I am but a plain warner!'
And when they see it nigh, sorry shall be the faces of those who
misbelieve; and it shall be said, 'This is that for which ye used to
call!'
Say, 'Have ye considered, whether God destroy me and those with
me, or whether we obtain mercy, yet who will protect the
misbelievers from grievous torment?'
Say, 'He is the Merciful; we believe in Him, and upon Him do we
rely; and ye shall shortly know who it is that is in obvious error!'
Say, 'Have ye considered if your waters on the morrow should have
sunk, who is to bring you flowing water?'
THE CHAPTER OF THE PEN
(LXVIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
NUN. By the pen, and what they write, thou art not, by God's
grace, mad! and, verily, thine is a hire that is not grudged! and,
verily, thou art of a grand nature!
But thou shalt see and they shall see which of you is the
infatuated.
Verily, thy Lord He knows best who errs from His way; and He knows
best those who are guided.
Then obey not those who call thee liar; they would fain that thou
shouldst be smooth with them, then would they be smooth with thee!
And obey not any mean swearer, a back-biter, a walker about with
slander; a forbidder of good, a transgressor, a sinner; rude, and
base-born too; though he have wealth and sons!
When our signs are recited to him he says, 'Old folks' tales!'
We will brand him on the snout!
Verily, we have tried them as we tried the fellows of the garden
when they swore, 'We will cut its fruit at morn!'
But they made not the exception; and there came round about it an
encompassing calamity from thy Lord the while they slept; and on the
morrow it was as one the fruit of which is cut.
And they cried to each other in the morning, 'Go early to your tilth
if ye would cut it!'
So they set off, saying privily to each other, 'There shall surely
enter it to-day unto you no poor person!'
And they went early deciding to be stingy.
And when they saw it they said, 'Verily, we have erred! Nay, we
are forbidden (its fruit)!'
Said the most moderate of them, 'Said I not to you, "unless ye
celebrate God's praises!"'
Said they, 'Celebrated be the praises of our Lord! verily, we were
unjust!'
And they approached each other with mutual blame.
Said they, 'O woe to us! verily, we have been outrageous! Haply
our Lord may give us instead a better than it; verily, we unto our
Lord do yearn.'
Thus is the torment, but, verily, the torment of the hereafter is
greater, if ye did but know!
Verily, for the pious with their Lord are gardens of pleasure!
Shall we then make the Muslims like the sinners? What ails you?
how ye judge!
Or have ye a book in which ye can study, that ye are surely to
have what ye may choose?
Or have ye oaths binding on us until the judgment day that ye are
surely to have what ye may judge?
Ask them, which of them will vouch for this?
Or have they partners, then let them bring their partners if they do
speak the truth?
On the day when the leg shall be bared; and they shall be called
to adore and shall not be able!
Lowering their looks, abasement shall attack them, for they were
called to adore while yet they were safe!
But let me alone with him who calls this new discourse a lie. We
will surely bring them down by degrees from whence they do not know.
And I will let them have their way! for my device is sure.
Or dost thou ask them a hire for it while they are burdened with
debts?
Or have they the knowledge of the unseen, so that they write?
But wait patiently for the judgment of thy Lord, and be not like the
fellow of the fish, when he cried out as he was choking with rage.
Had it not been that grace from his Lord reached him, he would
have been cast out on the naked (shore) and blamed the while!
But his Lord elected him, and made him of the pious.
The misbelievers well-nigh upset thee with their looks when they
hear the reminder, and they say, 'Surely he is mad!'
And yet it is but a reminder to the worlds!
THE CHAPTER OF THE INFALLIBLE
(LXIX. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
The Infallible, what is the Infallible? and what should make thee
know what the Infallible is?
Thamud and 'Ad called the Striking Day a lie; but as for Thamud they
perished by the shock; and as for 'Ad they perished with the violent
cold blast of wind, which He subjected against them for seven nights
and eight days consecutively. Thou mightest see the people therein
prostrate as though they were palm stumps thrown down, and canst
thou see any of them left?
And Pharaoh and those before him of the overturned cities
committed sins, and they rebelled against the apostle of their Lord,
and He seized them with an excessive punishment.
Verily, we, when the water surged, bore you on it in a sailing ship,
to make it a memorial for you, and that the retentive ear might hold
it.
And when the trumpet shall be blown with one blast, and the earth
shall be borne away, and the mountains too, and both be crushed with
one crushing; on that day shall the inevitable happen; and the
heaven on that day shall be cleft asunder, for on that day shall it
wane! and the angels upon the sides thereof; and above them on that
day shall eight bear the throne of thy Lord!
On the day when ye shall be set forth no hidden thing of yours shall
be concealed.
And as for him who is given his book in his right hand, he shall
say, 'Here! take and read my book. Verily, I thought that I should
meet my reckoning;' and he shall be in a pleasing life, in a lofty
garden, whose fruits are nigh to cull- 'Eat ye and drink with good
digestion, for what ye did aforetime in the days that have gone by!'
But as for him who is given his book in his left hand he shall
say, 'O, would that I had not received my book! I did not know what my
account would be. O, would that it had been an end of me! my wealth
availed me not! my authority has perished from me!' him and fetter
him, then in hell broil him! then into a chain whose length is seventy
cubits force him! verily, he believed not in the mighty God, nor was
he particular to feed the poor: therefore he has not here to-day any
warm friend, nor any food except foul ichor, which none save sinners
shall eat!'
I need not swear by what ye see or what ye do not see, verily, it is
the speech of a noble apostle; and it is not the speech of a
poet:-little is it ye believe!
And it is not the speech of a soothsayer,-little is it that ye
mind!-a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.
Why if he had invented against us any sayings, we would have
seized him by the right hand, then we would have cut his jugular vein;
nor could any one of you have kept us off from him.
Verily, it is a memorial to the pious; and, verily, we know that
there are amongst you those who say it is-a lie; and, verily, it is
a source of sighing to the misbelievers; and, verily, it is certain
truth!
Therefore celebrate the name of thy mighty Lord!
THE CHAPTER OF THE ASCENTS
(LXX. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
An asker asked for torment that must befall, for the unbelievers;
there is no repelling it; from God the Lord of the ascents, whereby
ascend the angels and the Spirit unto Him in a day whose length is
fifty thousand years.
Wherefore be patient with fair patience; verily, they see it as afar
off, but we see it nigh!
The day when the heaven shall be as molten brass, and the
mountains shall be like flocks of wool; when no warm friend shall
question friend; they shall gaze on each other, and the sinner would
fain give as a ransom from the torment of that day his sons and his
mate, and his brother and his kin who stand by him, and all who are in
the earth, that yet it might rescue him!
Nay, verily, it is a flame,-dragging by the scalp! it shall call
those who retreated and turned their backs and who amassed and
hoarded!
Verily, man is by nature rash! when evil touches him, very
impatient; when good touches him, niggardly; all save those who
pray, who remain at their prayers, and in whose wealth is a reasonable
due (set aside) for him who asks and him who is kept from asking,
and those who believe in a day of judgment, and those who shrink in
terror from the torment of their Lord;-verily, the torment of their
Lord is not safe;-and those who guard their private parts, except
for their wives or the (slave girls) whom their right hands possess,
for they are not to be blamed; but whoso craves beyond this, they
are the transgressors; and those who observe their trusts and their
compacts, and those who are upright in their testimonies, and those
who keep their prayers, these shall dwell in gardens honoured.
What ails the misbelievers that they hurry on before thee,
crowding together on the right and on the left? Does every man of them
wish to enter the garden of pleasure?
Nay, we created them of what they know!
And I need not swear by the Lord of the easts and the wests; verily,
we are able to change them for others better, nor are we prevented!
So leave them to plunge in discussion, and to play until they meet
that day of theirs which they are threatened with, the day when they
shall come forth in haste from the graves, as though they flock to a
standard! with their looks abashed; meanness shall cover them! That is
the day which they were promised!
THE CHAPTER OF NOAH
(LXXI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Verily, we sent Noah to his people, 'Warn thy people before there
come to them a grievous torment!'
Said he, 'O my people! verily, I am to you an obvious warner, that
ye serve God and fear Him and obey me. He will pardon you your sins,
and will defer you unto an appointed time; verily, God's appointed
time when it comes will not be deferred, did ye but know!'
Said he, 'My Lord! verily, I have called my people by night and day,
and my call did but increase them in flight; and, verily, every time I
called them, that Thou mightest pardon them, they placed their fingers
in their ears and tried to cover themselves with their garments and
persisted, and were very big with pride. Then I called them openly;
then I published to them and I spoke to them in secret, and I said,
"Ask forgiveness of your Lord, verily, He is very forgiving. He will
send the rain upon you in torrents, and will extend to you wealth
and children, and will make for you gardens, and will make for you
rivers. What ails you that ye hope not for something serious from God,
when He has created you by steps? Do ye not see how God has created
the seven heavens in stories, and has set the moon therein for a
light, and set the sun for a lamp? and God has made you grow out of
the earth, and then He will make you return thereto, and will make you
come forth therefrom; and God has made for you the earth a carpet that
ye may walk therein in broad paths."'
Said Noah, 'My Lord! verily, they have rebelled against me, and
followed him whose wealth and children have but added to his loss, and
they have plotted a great plot, and said, "Ye shall surely not leave
your gods: ye shall surely neither leave Wadd, nor Suwa'h, nor
Yaghuth, nor Ya'uq, nor Nasr, and they led astray many."' And thou
(Mohammed) wilt only increase the unjust in their error-because of
their sins they were drowned and made to enter into the fire, and they
found no helpers against God!
And Noah said, 'My Lord! leave not upon the earth one dweller of the
misbelievers. Verily, Thou, if Thou shouldst leave them, they will
lead astray Thy servants, and they will only bear for children sinners
and misbelievers. My Lord! pardon me and my two parents, and
whomsoever enters my house believing, and (pardon) the believers men
and women-but Thou shalt only increase the unjust in loss.'
THE CHAPTER OF THE GINN
(LXXII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Say, 'I have been inspired that there listened a company of the
ginn, and they said, "We have heard a marvellous Koran that guides
to the right direction; and we believe therein, and we join no one
with our Lord, for, verily, He-may the majesty of our Lord be
exalted!-has taken to Himself neither consort nor son.
And, verily, a fool among us spake against God wide of the mark!
'"And we thought that men and ginn would never speak a lie against
God.
'"And there are persons amongst men who seek for refuge with persons
amongst the ginn; but increase them in their perverseness. And they
thought, as ye thought, that God would not raise up any one from the
dead.
'"But we touched the heavens and found them filled with a mighty
guard and shooting-stars; and we did sit in certain seats thereof to
listen; but whoso of us listens now finds a shooting-star for him on
guard.
'"And, verily, we know not whether evil be meant for those who are
in the earth, or if their Lord means right by them.
'"And of us are some who are pious, and of us are some who are
otherwise: we are in separate bands.
'"And we thought that we could not frustrate God in the earth, and
could not frustrate Him by flight.
'"But, verily, when we heard the guidance we believed therein, and
he who believes in his Lord shall fear neither diminution nor loss.
'"And, verily, of us are some who are Muslims, and of us some are
trespassers; but those of us who are Muslims they strive after right
direction; and as for the trespassers they are fuel for hell."'
And if they will go right upon the way, we will irrigate them with
copious water to try them thereby; and whoso turns from the
remembrance of his Lord He will drive him to severe torment.
And (say) that the mosques are God's, and that ye should not call on
any one with God, and that when God's servant stood up to pray they
called out to him and well-nigh crowded upon him. Say, 'I only call
upon my Lord, and I join no one with Him.'
Say, 'Verily, I cannot control for you either harm, or right
direction.'
Say, 'Verily, as for me none can protect me against God, nor do I
find any refuge beside Him,-except delivering the message from God and
His errands: and whoso rebels against God and His Apostle, verily, for
him is the fire of hell for them to dwell therein for ever and for
aye!'
Until when they see what they are threatened with, then shall they
surely know who is most weak at helping and fewest in numbers!
Say, 'I know not if what ye are threatened with be nigh, or if my
Lord will set for it a term. He knows the unseen, and He lets no one
know His unseen, save such apostle as He is well pleased with: for,
verily, he sends marching before him and behind him a guard!'
That He may know that they have delivered the errands of their Lord,
for He compasses what they have, and reckons everything by number.
THE CHAPTER OF THE ENWRAPPED
(LXXIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
O thou who art enwrapped! rise by night except a little- the half,
or deduct therefrom a little, or add thereto, and chant the Koran
chanting. Verily, we will cast on thee a heavy speech.
Verily, the early part of the night is stronger in impressions and
more upright in speech!
Verily, thou hast by day a long employment; but mention the name
of thy Lord and devote thyself thoroughly to Him, the Lord of the east
and the west; there is no god but He; then take Him for a guardian!
And endure patiently what they say, and flee from them with a
decorous flight.
And leave me and those who say it is a lie, who are possessed of
comfort; and let them bide for a while.
Verily with us are heavy fetters and hell-fire, and food that
chokes, and mighty woe!
On the day when the earth and the mountains shall tremble and the
earth shall be as a crumbling sand-hill!
Verily, we have sent unto yoti an apostle bearing witness against
you, as we sent an apostle unto Pharaoh.
But Pharaoh rebelled against the apostle, and we seized him with
an overpowering punishment.
Then how will ye shield yourselves if ye misbelieve from the day
which shall make children grey-headed, whereon the heaven
cleaves-its promise shall be fulfilled!
Verily, this is a memorial, and whoso will, let him take unto his
Lord a way.
Verily, thy Lord knows that thou dost stand up to pray nearly
two-thirds of the night, or the half of it or the third of it, as do
part of those who are with thee; for God measures the night and the
day; He knows that ye cannot calculate it, and He turns relentant
towards you.
So read what is easy of the Koran. He knows that there will be of
you some who are sick and others who beat about in the earth craving
the grace of God, and others who are fighting in the cause of God.
Then read what is easy of it and be steadfast in prayer, and give
alms, and lend to God a goodly loan, for what ye send forward for
yourselves of good ye will find it with God. It is better and a
greater hire; and ask ye pardon of God: verily, God is forgiving,
merciful!
THE CHAPTER OF THE 'COVERED'
(LXXIV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
O thou who art covered! rise up and warn!
And thy Lord magnify!
And thy garments purify!
And abomination shun!
And grant not favours to gain increase!
And for thy Lord await!
And when the trump is blown,-for that day is a difficult day! for
the misbelievers aught but easy!
Leave me alone with him I have created, and for whom I have made
extensive wealth, and sons that he may look upon, and for whom I
have smoothed things down. Then he desires that I should increase!
nay, verily, he is hostile to our signs! I will drive him up a hill!
Then he reflected and planned! May he be killed,-how he planned!
Again, may he be killed,-how he planned! Then he looked; then he
frowned and scowled; then he retreated and was big with pride and
said, 'This is only magic exhibited! this is only mortal speech!'- I
will broil him in hell-fire! and what shall make thee know what
hell-fire is? It will not leave and will not let alone. It scorches
the flesh; over it are nineteen (angels).
We have made only angels guardians of the fire, and we have only
made their number a trial to those who misbelieve; that those who have
been given the Book may be certain, and that those who believe may
be increased in faith; and that those who have been given the Book and
the believers may not doubt; and that those in whose hearts is
sickness, and the misbelievers may say, 'What does God mean by this as
a parable?'
Thus God leads astray whom He pleases, and guides him He pleases:
and none knows the hosts of thy Lord save Himself; and it is only a
reminder to mortals!
Nay, by the moon!
And the night when it retires!
And the morning when it brightly dawns!
Verily, it is one of the greatest misfortunes; a warning to mortals;
for him amongst you who wishes to press forward or to tarry!
Every soul is pledged for what it earns; except the fellows of the
right: in gardens shall they ask each other about the sinners!-'What
drove you into hell-fire?'
They shall say, 'We weren't of those who prayed; we didn't feed
the poor; but we did plunge into discussion with those who plunged,
and we called the judgment day a lie until the certainty did come to
us!'
But there shall not profit them the intercession of the
intercessors.
What ailed them that they turned away from the memorial as though
they were timid asses fleeing from a lion?
Nay, every man of them wished that he might have given him books
spread open!
Nay, but they did not fear the hereafter!
Nay, it is a memorial! and let him who will remember it; but none
will remember it except God please. He is most worthy of fear; and
he is most worthy to forgive!
THE CHAPTER OF THE RESURRECTION
(LXXV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
I need not swear by the resurrection day!
Nor need I swear by the self-accusing soul!
Does man think that we shall not collect his bones? Able are we to
arrange his finger tips!
Nay, but man wishes to be wicked henceforward! he asks, When is
the resurrection day?
But when the sight shall be dazed, and the moon be eclipsed, and the
sun and the moon be together, and man shall say upon that day,
'Where is a place to flee to?'-nay, no refuge! and to thy Lord that
day is the sure settlement: He will inform man on that day of what
He has sent forward or delayed!
Nay, man is an evidence against himself, and even if he thrusts
forward his excuses-.
Do not move thy tongue thereby to hasten it. It is for us to collect
it and to read it; and when we read it then follow its reading. And
again it is for us to explain it.
Nay, indeed, but ye love the transient life, and ye neglect the
hereafter!
Faces on that day shall be bright, gazing on their Lord!
And faces on that day shall be dismal!
Thou wilt think that a back-breaking calamity has happened to them!
Nay, but when the [soul] comes up into the throat, and it is said,
'Who will charm it back?' and he will think that it is his parting
[hour]. And leg shall be pressed on leg; unto thy Lord on that day
shall the driving be.
For he did not believe and did not pray; but he said it was a lie,
and turned his back! Then he went to his people haughtily- woe to
thee, and woe to thee! again woe to thee, and woe to thee!
Does man think that he shall be left to himself?
Wasn't he a clot of emitted seed? Then he was congealed blood, and
(God) created him, and fashioned him, and made of him pairs, male
and female.
Is not He able to quicken the dead?
THE CHAPTER OF MAN
(LXXVI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Does there not come on man a portion of time when he is nothing
worth mentioning?
Verily, we created man from a mingled clot, to try him; and we
gave him hearing and sight. Verily, we guided him in the way,
whether he be grateful or ungrateful.
Verily, we have prepared for those who misbelieve chains and fetters
and a blaze!
Verily, the righteous shall drink of a cup tempered with Kafur, a
spring from which God's servants shall drink and make it gush out as
they please!
They who fulfil their vows, and fear a day, the evil which shall fly
abroad, and who give food for His love to the poor and the orphan
and the captive. 'We only feed you for God's sake; we desire not
from you either reward or thanks; we fear from our Lord a frowning,
calamitous day!'
And God will guard them from the evil of that day and will cast on
them brightness and joy; and their reward for their patience shall
be Paradise and silk! reclining therein upon couches they shall
neither see therein sun nor piercing cold; and close down upon them
shall be its shadows; and lowered over them its fruits to cull; and
they shall be served round with vessels of silver and goblets that are
as flagons-flagons of silver which they shall mete out! and they shall
drink therein a cup tempered with Zingabil, a spring therein named
Silsabil! and there shall go round about them eternal boys; when
thou seest them thou wilt think them scattered pearls; and when thou
seest them thou shalt see pleasure and a great estate! On them shall
be garments of green embroidered satin and brocade; and they shall
be adorned with bracelets of silver; and their Lord shall give them to
drink pure drink! Verily, this is a reward for you, and your efforts
are thanked.
Verily, we have sent down upon thee the Koran. Wherefore wait
patiently for the judgment of thy Lord, and obey not any sinner or
misbeliever amongst them. But remember the name of thy Lord morning,
and evening, and through the night, and adore Him, and celebrate His
praises the whole night long.
Verily, these love the transitory life, and leave behind them a
heavy day!
We created them and strengthened their joints and if we please we
can exchange for the likes of them in their stead. Verily, this is a
memorial, and whoso will, let him take unto his Lord a way.
But ye will not please except God please! Verily, God is knowing,
wise.
He makes whomsoever He pleases to enter into His mercy; but the
unjust He has prepared for them a grievous woe!
THE CHAPTER OF THOSE SENT
(LXXVII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By those sent in a series!
And by those who speed swiftly!
And by the dispensers abroad!
And by the separators apart!
And by those who instil the reminder, as an excuse
or warning!
Verily, what ye are threatened with shall surely happen!
And when the stars shall be erased!
And when the heaven shall be cleft!
And when the mountains shall be winnowed!
And when the apostles shall have a time appointed
for them!
For what day is the appointment made?
For the day of decision! and what shall make thee
know what the decision is?
Woe on that day for those who say it is a lie!
Have we not destroyed those of yore, and then followed
them up with those of the latter day? Thus do we with
the sinners.
Woe on that day for those who say it is a lie!
Did we not create you from contemptible water, and place
it in a sure depository unto a certain. decreed term?
for we are able and well able too!
Woe on that day for those who say it is a lie!
Have we not made for them the earth to hold the living
and the dead? and set thereon firm mountains reared
aloft? and given you to drink water in streams?
Woe on that day for those who say it is a lie!
Go off to that which ye did call a lie! Go off to the
shadow of three columns, that shall not shade nor
avail against the flame! Verily, it throws off sparks
like towers,-as though they were yellow camels!
Woe on that day for those who say it is a lie!
This is the day when they may not speak,- when they are
not permitted to excuse themselves!
Woe on that day for those who say it is a lie!
This is the day of decision! We have assembled you with
those of yore; if ye have any stratagem employ it now!
Woe on that day for those who say it is a lie!
Verily, the pious are amid shades and springs and
fruit such as they love.-'Eat and drink with good
digestion, for that which ye have done!'
Verily, thus do we reward those who do well.
Woe on that day for those who say it is a lie!
'Eat and enjoy yourselves for a little; verily, ye are
sinners!'
Woe on that day for those who say it is a lie!
And when it is said to them bow down, they bow not down.
Woe on that day for those who say it is a lie!
And in what new discourse after it will they believe?
THE CHAPTER OF THE INFORMATION
(LXXVIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Of what do they ask each other?-Of the mighty information whereon
they do dispute? nay, they shall know too well! Again, nay, they shall
know too well!
Have we not set the earth as a couch, and the mountains as stakes,
and created you in pairs, and made your sleep for rest, and made the
night a garment, and made the day for livelihood, and built above
you seven solid (heavens) and set a burning lamp, and sent down from
the rain expressing clouds water pouring forth, to bring out thereby
the grain and herb and gardens thickly planted?
Verily, the day of decision is an appointed time; and the day when
the trumpet shall be blown, and ye shall come in troops, and the
heavens shall be opened, and shall be all doors, and the mountains
shall be moved, and shall be like a mirage!
Verily, hell is an ambuscade; a reward for the outrageous, to
tarry therein for ages. They shall not taste therein cool nor drink,
but only boiling water and pus;-a fit reward!
Verily, they did not hope for the account; but they ever said our
signs were lies.
Everything have we remembered in a book.
Then taste, for we will only increase your torment!'
Verily, for the pious is a blissful place,-gardens and vineyards,
and girls with swelling breasts of the same age as themselves, and a
brimming cup; they shall hear therein no folly and no lie;-a reward
from thy Lord, a sufficient gift! The Lord of the heavens and the
earth, and what is between them both,-the Merciful,-they cannot obtain
audience of Him!
The day when the Spirit and the angels shall stand in ranks, they
shall not speak save to whom the Merciful permits, and who speaks
aright.
That is the true day; and whoso pleases let him take to a resort
unto his Lord!
Verily, we have warned you of a torment that is nigh: on a day
when man shall see what his two hands have sent forward; and the
misbeliever shall say, 'Would that I were dust!'
THE CHAPTER OF THOSE WHO TEAR OUT
(LXXIX. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By those who tear out violently!
And by those who gaily release!
And by those who float through the air!
And the preceders who precede!
And those who manage the affair!
On the day when the quaking quakes which the following one shall
succeed! Hearts on that day shall tremble; eyes thereon be humbled!
They say, 'Shall we be sent back to our old course?- What! when we
are rotten bones?' they say, 'That then were a losing return!'
But it will only be one scare, and lo! they will be on the surface!
Has the story of Moses come to you? when his Lord addressed him in
the holy valley of Tuva, 'Go unto Pharaoh, verily, he is outrageous;
and say, "Hast thou a wish to purify thyself, and that I may guide
thee to thy Lord, and thou mayest fear?"'
So he showed him the greatest sign; but he called him a liar and
rebelled. Then he retreated hastily, and gathered, and proclaimed, and
said, 'I am your Lord most High!' but God seized him with the
punishment of the future life and of the former.
Verily, in that is a lesson to him who fears!
Are ye harder to create or the heaven that He has built? He raised
its height and fashioned it; and made its night to cover it, and
brought forth its noonday light; and the earth after that He did
stretch out. He brings forth from it its water and its pasture.
And the mountains He did firmly set, a provision for you and for
your cattle.
And when the great predominant calamity shall come, on the day
when man shall remember what he strove after, and hell shall be
brought out for him who sees!
And as for him who was outrageous and preferred the life of this
world, verily, hell is the resort!
But as for him who feared the station of his Lord, and prohibited
his soul from lust, verily, Paradise is the resort!
They shall ask thee about the Hour, for when it is set. Whereby
canst thou mention it? Unto thy Lord its period belongs.
Thou art only a warner to him who fears it.
On the day they see it, it will be as though they had only tarried
an evening or the noon thereof.
THE CHAPTER 'HE FROWNED'
(LXXX. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
He frowned and turned his back, for that there came to him a blind
man!
But what should make thee know whether haply he may be purified?
or may be mindful and the reminder profit him?
But as for him who is wealthy, thou dost attend to him; and thou
dost not care that he is not purified; but as for him who comes to
thee earnestly fearing the while, from him thou art diverted!
Nay! verily, it is a memorial; and whoso pleases will remember it.
In honoured pages exalted, purified, in the hands of noble,
righteous scribes!
May man be killed! how ungrateful he is!
Of what did He create him? Of a clot. He created him and fated
him; then the path He did make easy for him; then He killed him, and
laid him in the tomb; then when He pleases will He raise him up again.
Nay, he has not fulfilled his bidding!
But let man look unto his foods. Verily, we have poured the water
out in torrents: then we have cleft the earth asunder, and made to
grow therefrom the grain, and the grape, and the hay, and the olive,
and the palm, and gardens closely planted, and fruits, and grass,-a
provision for you and for your cattle!
But when the stunning noise shall come, on the day when man shall
flee from his brother and his mother and his father and his spouse and
his sons! Every man among them on that day shall have a business to
employ him.
Faces on that day shall be bright,-laughing, joyous! and faces shall
have dust upon them,-darkness shall cover them! those are the wicked
misbelievers!
THE CHAPTER OF THE FOLDING UP
(LXXXI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
When the sun is folded up,
And when the stars do fall,
And when the mountains are moved,
And when the she-camels ten months' gone with young
shall be neglected,
And when the beasts shall be crowded together,
And when the seas shall surge up,
And when souls shall be paired with bodies,
And when the child who was buried alive shall be asked
for what sin she was slain,
And when the pages shall be spread out,
And when the heaven shall be flayed,
And when hell shall be set ablaze,
And when Paradise shall be brought nigh,
The soul shall know what it has produced!
I need not swear by the stars that slink back, moving
swiftly, slinking into their dens!
Nor by the night when darkness draws on!
Nor by the morn when it first breathes up!
Verily, it is the speech of a noble apostle, mighty,
standing sure with the Lord of the throne, obeyed and
trusty too!
Your comrade is not mad; he saw him on the plain
horizon, nor does he grudge to communicate the
unseen.
Nor is it the speech of a pelted devil.
Then whither do ye go?
It is but a reminder to the worlds, to whomsoever of you
pleases to go straight:- but ye will not please,
except God, the Lord of the world, should please.
THE CHAPTER OF THE CLEAVING ASUNDER
(LXXXII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
When the heaven is cleft asunder,
And when the stars are scattered,
And when the seas gush together,
And when the tombs are turned upside down,
The soul shall know what it has sent on or kept back!
O man! what has seduced thee concerning thy generous Lord, who
created thee, and fashioned thee, and gave thee symmetry, and in
what form He pleased composed thee?
Nay, but ye call the judgment a lie! but over you are guardians
set,-noble, writing down! they know what ye do!
Verily, the righteous are in pleasure, and, verily, the wicked are
in hell; they shall broil therein upon the judgment day; nor shall
they be absent therefrom!
And what shall make thee know what is the judgment day? Again,
what shall make thee know what is the judgment day? a day when no soul
shall control aught for another; and the bidding on that day belongs
to God!
THE CHAPTER OF THOSE WHO GIVE SHORT WEIGHT
(LXXXIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Woe to those who give short weight! who when they measure against
others take full measure; but when they measure to them or weigh to
them, diminish!
Do not these think that they shall be raised again at the mighty
day? the day when men shall stand before the Lord of the worlds!
Nay, verily, the book of the wicked is in Siggin; and what shall
make thee know what Siggin is a book inscribed!
Woe on that day for those who say it is a lie!
Who call the judgment day a lie! but none shall call it a lie except
every sinful transgressor, who, when our signs are read to him,
says, 'Old folks' tales!'
Nay, but that which they have gained has settled upon their hearts.
Nay, verily, from their Lord on that day are they veiled; and
then, verily, they shall broil in hell; then it shall be said, 'This
is what ye once did call a lie!'
Nay, verily, the book of the righteous is in 'Illiyun; and what
shall make thee know what 'Illiyun is? book inscribed! those nigh to
God shall witness it.
Verily, the righteous shall be in pleasure; upon couches shall
they gaze; thou mayest recognise in their faces the brightness of
pleasure; they shall be given to drink wine that is sealed, whose seal
is musk; for that then let the aspirants aspire!-and it shall be
tempered with Tasnim,-a spring from which those nigh to God shall
drink.
Verily, those who sin do laugh at those who believe; and when they
pass by they wink at one another, and when they return to their family
they return ridiculing them; and when they see them they say, 'Verily,
these do go astray!'-but they are not sent as guardians over them!
But to-day those who believe shall at the misbelievers laugh! Upon
couches shall they gaze; are the misbelievers rewarded for what they
have done?
THE CHAPTER OF THE RENDING ASUNDER
(LXXXIV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
When the heaven is rent asunder and gives ear unto its Lord, and
is dutiful!
And when the earth is stretched out and casts forth what is in it,
and is empty, and gives ear unto its Lord, and is dutiful!
O man! verily, thou are toiling after thy Lord, toiling; wherefore
shalt thou meet Him!
And as for him who is given his book in his right hand, he shall
be reckoned with by an easy reckoning; and he shall go back to his
family joyfully.
But as for him who is given his book behind his back, he shall
call out for destruction, but he shall broil in a blaze! Verily, he
was amongst his family joyful. Verily, he thought that he should never
return to God.
Yea, verily, his Lord on him did look!
I need not swear by the evening glow,
Or by the night, and what it drives together,
Or by the moon when it is at its full,
Ye shall be surely transferred from state to state!
What ails them that they do not believe? and, when the Koran is read
to them, do not adore? Nay, those who misbelieve do say it is a lie,
but God knows best the (malice) that they hide.
So give them the glad tidings of grievous woe! save those who
believe and act aright, for them is hire that is not grudged!
THE CHAPTER OF THE ZODIACAL SIGNS
(LXXXV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By the heaven with its zodiacal signs!
And the promised day!
And the witness and the witnessed!
The fellows of the pit were slain;
And the fire with its kindling,
When they sat over it
And witnessed the while what they were doing with those
who believed.
And they took not vengeance on them save for their
belief in God,
The mighty, the praiseworthy,
Whose is the kingdoms of the heavens and the earth;
For God is witness over all!
Verily, those who make trial of the believers, men and women, and
then do not repent, for them is the torment of hell, and for them is
the torment of the burning!
Verily, those who believe and act aright, for them are gardens
beneath which rivers flow,- that is the great bliss!
Verily, the violence of thy Lord is keen!
Verily, He produces and returns, and He is the forgiving, the
loving, the Lord of the glorious throne; the doer of what He will!
Has there come to thee the story of the hosts of Pharaoh and Thamud?
Nay, those who misbelieve do say it is a lie; but God is behind
them- encompassing!
Nay, it is a glorious Koran in a preserved tablet.
THE CHAPTER OF THE NIGHT STAR
(LXXXVI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By the heaven and by the night star! And what shall make thee know
what the night star is?- The star of piercing brightness.
Verily, every soul has a guardian over it.
Then let man look from what he is created: he is created from
water poured forth, that comes out from between the loins and the
breast bones.
Verily, He is able to send him back again, on the day when the
secrets shall be tried, and he shall have no strength nor helper.
By the heaven that sends back the rain!
And the earth with its sprouting!
Verily, it is indeed a distinguishing speech, and it is no
frivolity!
Verily, they do plot a plot!
But I plot my plot too! let the misbelievers bide; do thou then
let them bide awhile!
THE CHAPTER OF THE MOST HIGH
(LXXXVII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Celebrated the name of thy Lord most High, who created and
fashioned, and who decreed and guided, and who brings forth the
pasture, and then makes it dusky stubble!
We will make thee recite, and thou shalt not forget, save what God
pleases. Verily, He knows the open and what is concealed; and we
will send thee easily to ease; wherefore remind, for, verily, the
reminder is useful.
But he who fears will be mindful; but the wretch will avoid it; he
who will broil on the great fire, and then therein shall neither die
nor live!
Prosperous is he who purifies himself, and remembers the name of his
Lord and prays!
Nay! but ye prefer the life of this world, while the hereafter is
better and more lasting.
Verily, this was in the books of yore,-the books of Abraham and
Moses.
THE CHAPTER OF THE OVERWHELMING
(LXXXVIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Has there come to thee the story of the overwhelming?
Faces on that day shall be humble, labouring, toiling,- shall
broil upon a burning fire; shall be given to drink from a boiling
spring! no food shall they have save from the foul thorn, which
shall not fatten nor avail against hunger!
Faces on that day shall be comfortable, content with their past
endeavours,-in a lofty garden wherein they shall hear no foolish word;
wherein is a flowing fountain; wherein are couches raised on high, and
goblets set down, and cushions arranged, and carpets spread!
Do they not look then at the camel how she is created?
And at the heaven how it is reared?
And at the mountains how they are set up?
And at the earth how it is spread out?
But remind: thou art only one to remind; thou art not in authority
over them; except such as turns his back and misbelieves, for him will
God torment with the greatest torment.
Verily, unto us is their return, and, verily, for us is their
account!
THE CHAPTER OF THE DAWN
(LXXXIX. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By the dawn and ten nights!
And the single and the double!
And the night when it travels on!
Is there in that an oath for a man of sense?
Hast thou not seen how thy Lord did with 'Ad?-with Iram of the
columns? the like of which has not been created in the land?
And Thamud when they hewed the stones in the valley?
And Pharaoh of the stakes?
Who were outrageous in the land, and did multiply wickedness
therein, and thy Lord poured out upon them the scourge of torment.
Verily, thy Lord is on a watch tower! and as for man, whenever his
Lord tries him and honours him and grants him favour, then he says,
'My Lord has honoured me;' but whenever he tries him and doles out
to him his subsistence, then he says, 'My Lord despises me!'
Nay, but ye do not honour the orphan, nor do ye urge each other to
feed the poor, and ye devour the inheritance (of the weak) with a
general devouring, and ye love wealth with a complete love!
Nay, when the earth is crushed to pieces, and thy Lord comes with
the angels, rank on rank, and hell is brought on that day,-on that day
shall man be reminded! but how shall he have a reminder?
He will say, 'Would that I had sent something forward for my life!
But on that day no one shall be tormented with a torment like his,
and none shall be bound with bonds like his!
O thou comforted soul! return unto thy Lord, well pleased and well
pleased with!
And enter amongst my servants, and enter my Paradise!
THE CHAPTER OF THE LAND
(XC. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
I need not swear by the Lord of this land, and though a dweller in
this land!
Nor by the begetter and what he begets!
We have surely created man in trouble.
Does he think that none can do aught against him?
He says, I have wasted wealth in plenty;' does he think that no
one sees him?
Have we not made for him two eyes and a tongue, and two lips? and
guided him in the two highways? but he will not attempt the steep!
And what shall make thee know what the steep is? It is freeing
captives, or feeding on the day of famine, an orphan who is akin, or a
poor man who lies in the dust; and again (it is) to be of these who
believe and encourage each other to patience, and encourage each other
to mercy,-these are the fellows of the right!
But those who disbelieve in our signs, they are the fellows of the
left, for them is fire that closes in!
THE CHAPTER OF THE SUN
(XCI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By the sun and its noonday brightness!
And the moon when it follows him!
And the day when it displays him!
And the night when it covers him!
And the heaven and what built it!
And the earth and what spread it!
And the soul and what fashioned it, and taught it
its sin and its piety!
Prosperous is he who purifies it!
And disappointed is he who corrupts it!
Thamud called the apostle a liar in their outrage, when their wretch
rose up and the apostle of God said to them, 'God's she-camel! so give
her to drink.'
But they called him a liar, and they ham-strung her; but their
Lord destroyed them in their sins, and served them all alike; and He
fears not the result thereof!
THE CHAPTER OF THE NIGHT
(XCII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By the night when it veils!
And the day when it is displayed!
And by what created male and female!
Verily, your efforts are diverse!
But as for him who gives alms and fears God,
And believes in the best,
We will send him easily to ease!
But as for him who is niggardly,
And longs for wealth,
And calls the good a lie,
We will send him easily to difficulty!
And his wealth shall not avail him
When he falls down (into hell)!
Verily, it is for us to guide;
And, verily, ours are the hereafter and the former life!
And I have warned you of a fire that flames!
None shall broil thereon, but the most wretched, who says it is a
lie and turns his back.
But the pious shall be kept away from it, he who gives his wealth in
alms, and who gives no favour to any one for the sake of reward, but
only craving the face of his Lord most High; in the end he shall be
well pleased!
THE CHAPTER OF THE FORENOON
(XCIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By the forenoon!
And the night when it darkens!
Thy Lord has not forsaken thee, nor hated thee! and surely the
hereafter is better for thee than the former; and in the end thy
Lord will give thee, and thou shalt be well pleased!
Did He not find thee an orphan, and give the shelter? and find
thee erring, and guide thee? and find thee poor with a family, and
nourish thee?
But as for the orphan oppress him not; and as for the beggar drive
him not away; and as for the favour of thy Lord discourse thereof.
THE CHAPTER OF 'HAVE WE NOT EXPANDED?'
(XCIV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Have we not expanded for thee thy breast? and set down from thee thy
load which galled thy back? and exalted for thee thy renown?
Verily, with difficulty is ease! verily, with difficulty is ease!
And when thou art at leisure then toil, and for thy Lord do thou
yearn!
THE CHAPTER OF THE FIG
(XCV. Place of origin doubtful.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By the fig!
And by the olive!
And by Mount Sinai!
And by this safe land!
We have indeed created man in the best of symmetry. Then we will
send him back the lowest of the low; save those who believe and act
aright; for theirs is a hire that is not grudged.
But what shall make thee call the judgment after this a lie?
Is not God a most just of judges?
THE CHAPTER OF CONGEALED BLOOD
(XCVI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
READ, in the name of thy Lord!
Who created man from congealed blood!
Read, for thy Lord is most generous!
Who taught the pen!
Taught man what he did not know!
Nay, verily, man is indeed outrageous at seeing himself get rich!
Verily, unto thy Lord is the return!
Hast thou considered him who forbids a servant when he prays?
Hast thou considered if he were in guidance or bade piety?
Hast thou considered if he said it was a lie, and turned his back?
Did he not know that God can see?
Nay, surely, if he do not desist we will drag him by the
forelock!-the lying sinful forelock!
So let him call his counsel: we will call the guards of hell!
Nay, obey him not, but adore and draw nigh!
THE CHAPTER OF POWER
(XCVII. Place of origin doubtful.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Verily, we sent it down on the Night of Power!
And what shall make thee know what the Night of Power is?- the Night
of Power is better than a thousand months!
The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of
their Lord with every bidding.
Peace it is until rising of the dawn!
THE CHAPTER OF THE MANIFEST SIGN
(XCVIII. Place of origin doubtful.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Those of the people of the Book and the idolaters who misbelieve did
not fall off until there came to them the manifest sign,-
An apostle from God reading pure pages wherein are right scriptures:
Nor did those who were given the Book divide into sects until
after there came to them the manifest sign.
But they were not bidden aught but to worship God, being sincere
in religion unto Him as 'Hanifs, and to be steadfast in prayer, and to
give alms: for that is the standard religion.
Verily, those who disbelieve amongst the people of the Book and
the idolaters shall be in the fire of hell, to dwell therein for
aye; they are wretched creatures!
Verily, those who believe and act aright, they are the best of
creatures; their reward with their Lord is gardens of Eden, beneath
which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye; God shall be well pleased
with them, and they with Him! that is for him who fears his Lord!
THE CHAPTER OF THE EARTHQUAKE
(XCIX. Place of origin doubtful.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
When the earth shall quake with its quaking!
And the earth shall bring forth her burdens, and man shall say,
'What ails her!'
On that day she shall tell her tidings, because thy Lord inspires
her.
On the day when men shall come up in separate bands to show their
works: and he who does the weight of an atom of good shall see it! and
he who does the weight of an atom of evil shall see it!
THE CHAPTER OF THE CHARGERS
(C. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By the snorting chargers!
And those who strike fire with their hoofs!
And those who make incursions in the morning,
And raise up dust therein,
And cleave through a host therein!
Verily, man is to his Lord ungrateful; and, verily, he is a
witness of that.
Verily, he is keen in his love of good.
Does he not know when the tombs are exposed, and what is in the
breasts is brought to light?
Verily, thy Lord upon that day indeed is well aware.
THE CHAPTER OF THE SMITING
(CI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
The smiting!
What is the smiting?
And what shall make thee know what the smiting is?
The day when men shall be like scattered moths; and the mountains
shall be like flocks of carded wool!
And as for him whose balance is heavy, he shall be in a
well-pleasing life.
But as for him whose balance is light, his dwelling shall be the pit
of hell.
And who shall make thee know what it is?- a burning fire!
THE CHAPTER OF THE CONTENTION ABOUT NUMBERS
(CII. Place of origin doubtful.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
The contention about numbers deludes you till ye visit the tombs!
Not so! In the end ye shall know! And again not so! In the end ye
shall know!
Not so! Did ye but know with certain knowledge!
Ye shall surely see hell! And again ye shall surely see it with an
eye of certainty.
Then ye shall surely be asked about pleasure!
THE CHAPTER OF THE AFTERNOON
(CIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
By the afternoon! verily, man is in loss! save those who believe and
do right, and bid each other be true, and bid each other be patient.
THE CHAPTER OF THE BACKBITER
(CIV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Woe to every slanderous backbiter, who collects wealth and counts
it.
He thinks that his wealth can immortalize him.
Not so! he shall be hurled into El'Hutamah!
And what shall make thee understand what El'Hutamah is?- the fire of
God kindled; which rises above the hearts. Verily, it is an archway
over them on long-drawn columns.
THE CHAPTER OF THE ELEPHANT
(CV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Hast thou not seen what thy Lord did with the fellows of the
elephant?
Did He not make their stratagem lead them astray, and send down on
them birds in flocks, to throw down on them stones of baked clay,
and make them like blades of herbage eaten down?
THE CHAPTER OF THE QURAIS
(CVI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
For the uniting of the Qurais; uniting them for the caravan of
winter and summer.
So let them serve the Lord of this house who feeds them against
hunger and makes them safe against fear.
THE CHAPTER OF THE 'NECESSARIES'
(CVII. Place of origin doubtful.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Hast thou considered him who calls the judgment a lie? He it is
who pushes the orphan away; and urges not (others) to feed the poor.
But woe to those who pray and who are careless in their prayers,
Who pretend and withhold necessaries.
THE CHAPTER OF EL KAUTHAR
(CVIII. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Verily, we have given thee El Kauthar;
So pray to thy Lord and slaughter (victims).
Verily, he who hates thee shall be childless.
THE CHAPTER OF MISBELIEVERS
(CIX. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Say, 'O ye misbelievers! I do not serve what ye serve; nor will ye
serve what I serve; nor will I serve what ye serve; nor will ye
serve what I serve;-ye have your religion, and I have my religion!'
THE CHAPTER OF HELP
(CX. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
When there comes God's help and victory,
And thou shalt see men enter into God's religion by troops,
Then celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and ask forgiveness of
Him, verily, He is relentant!
THE CHAPTER OF ABU LAHEB
(CXI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Abu Laheb's two hands shall perish, and he shall perish!
His wealth shall not avail him, nor what he has earned!
He shall broil in a fire that flames, and his wife carrying
faggots!- on her neck a cord of palm fibres.
THE CHAPTER OF UNITY
(CXII. Place of origin doubtful.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Say, 'He is God alone!
God the Eternal!
He begets not and is not begotten!
Nor is there like unto Him any one!'
THE CHAPTER OF THE DAYBREAK
(CXIII. Place of origin doubtful.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Say, 'I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak, from the evil of
what He has created; and from the evil of the night when it cometh on;
and from the evil of the blowers upon knots; and from the evil of
the envious when he envies.'
THE CHAPTER OF MEN
(CXIV. Place of origin doubtful.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Say, 'I seek refuge in the Lord of men, the King of men, the God
of men, from the evil of the whisperer, who slinks off, who whispers
into the hearts of men!-from ginns and men!'
THE END