The Sacred Books & Early Literature of The East VOL 5 - Ancient Arabia Charles Francis Horne 1917

THE SACRED BOOKS AND EARLY LITERATURE OF THE EAST
WITH HISTORICAL SURVEYS OF THE CHIEF WRITINGS OF EACH NATION

Translations, Bibliographies, etc.
,
by the following
Leading
Orientalists:
IN
AMERICA:
MORRIS JASTROW ,LL.D.. Professor of Semitic Languages, University of Pennsylvania; JAMES H. BREASTED, LL.D., Professor of Egyptology, University of Chicago; CHARLES C. TORREY, D.D., Professor of Semitic Languages Yale
University; A. V.
versity;
W. JACKSON, LL.D.,
Professor of Indo-Iranian,
Columbia Uni-
CHARLES R. LANMAN, LL.D., Professor of Sanskrit. Harvard University; REV. CHARLES F. AIKEN, S.T.D., Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Catholic University; FRIEDRICH HIRTH, LL.D., Professor of Chinese, Columbia University; REV. WILLIAM E. GRIFFIS, D.D., former Professor at the Imperial
IN
E. A.
University, Tokio.
EUROPE:
W. BUDGE,
GASTON
SAYCE, FLINDERS-PETRIE,
Director of Egyptology in the British Museum; SIR MASPERO. D.C.L., Member of the Royal Institute of France; REV. A. H. LL.D., Professor of Comparative Philology, Oxford University; W.
F.S.A.,
LL.D., Professor oi Egyptology, University College, London;
STEPHEN LANGDON, Ph.D., Professor of Assyriology, Oxford University; SIR ERNEST SATOW, LL.D., G.C.M.G. British Minister to Japan; H. OLDENBERG,
Professor of Sanskrit, Kiel University; T. W. RHYS-DAVIDS, LL.D.. Librarian of the Royal Asiatic Society; ARMINIUS VAMBfiRY, LL.D., Professor of Oriental Languages, University of Budapest.
LL.D.,
IN ASIA:
SIR
M. COOMARA SWAMY, Legislative Council of Ceylon; ROMESH CHUNDER DUTT, C.I.E., Author of the History of Civilization in Ancient India; DARAB D. P. SANJANA, Educational Society of Bombay; VISCOUNT KENCHO SUYEMATSU LL.M., Japanese Minister of the Interior; SHEIK FAIZ-ULLAH-BHAI,
Head Master
of the Schools of Anjuman-i-Islam; RALPH T. GRIFFITH, President Benares College, India; JIVANJI JAMSHEDJI MODI, Fellow of Bombay University, Officier de I'Acadfimie Francaise.
Under
the editorship
of a staff of
F.
specialists directed
by
PHOF.
CHARLES
HORNE,
PH.D.
PARKE, AUSTIN, AND LIPSCOMB, NEW YORK LONDON
INC.
This Volume
is
one of a complete set of the Sacred Books

of the East, consisting of fourteen
I of the series will
and Early Literature volumes. In Volume

tificate as to
be found a cer-
the limitation of the edition and the registered
number
of this set.
Copyright, 1917,
Parke, Austin, and Lipsoomb, Inc.
THE SACRED BOOKS AND EARLY LITERATURE OF THE EAST

VOLUME V
ANCIENT ARABIA
THE HANGED POEMS THE KORAN
In Translations by
visions
Captain F. E. JOHNSON, R.A., and GEORGE SALE, Esq., with Reand Explanatory Essay by SHEIK FAIZ-ULLAH-BHAI, Head Master of the Schools of Anjuman-i-Islam.
With a Brief Bibliography by
CHARLES C. TORREY, D.D.,

Professor of Semitic Languages at Yale University.
With an Historical Survey and Descriptions by
PROF.
CHARLES
F.
HORNE,
PH.D.
PARKE, AUSTIN, AND LIPSCOMB, NEW YORK LONDON
INC.
"
Let there be
11
light.
GENESIS
I, 3.
'
There never was a false god, nor was there ever
really
a false
religion,
unless
you
call
a child
false
man."
MAX
MULLEB.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME V
ANCIENT ARABIA
PAOH
INTRODUCTION
Arabs:
ture
I.
The Last Semitic Conquerors, the

of their Litera. .
.
.
The Sudden Blossoming

.
.
THE GENIUS OF ARABIC LITERATURE, by

Faiz-ullah-bhai
Sheik
11
THE HANGED POEMS

II.
III.
THE POEM OP IMRU-UL-QUAIS (530 THE POEM OF ANTAR (580 A.D.?).
A.D.?)
...
19
IV.
THE POEM OF ZUHAIR
(590 A.D.?)
..... .....
.
. .
.
27
35
THE KORAN
V.
VI.
VII.
INTRODUCTION
.-..>.
43
49
AL KORAN
(598-632 A.D.)
,
BIBLIOGRAPHY
469
ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOLUME V
FACING PAGE
The Latest Successor

The Kaaba
or Sacred
of
Mohammed
of
Frontispiece
*
. .
Temple
Mecca
.*"
144
The Mohammedans' Central Spot Abraham
of Earth, the
Rock
of
320
Til
SACKED BOOKS AND EARLY LITERATURE

OF
ARABIA
INTRODUCTION
THE LAST SEMITIC CONQUERORS: THE SUDDEN BLOSSOMING

OF ARABIC LITERATURE
Arabs are one of the most ancient races known to hisHistorical records, which are perhaps earth's tory. earliest, have been recently rediscovered among the ruins of Babylon and the other cities of the Euphrates valley; and
THE
these refer frequently to Arab invasions of the fertile valley and to Arab conquests over its fairest regions. The cultured
ancient Babylonian city were thus of the race, springing from the intermarriage of the fierce Yet in their desert conquerors with the defeated valley folk.
classes of
many an
Arabian
the Arabs were among the last of Asiatic peocome down almost to ples to develop a written literature. the time of Mohammed, that is, to the sixth century after
own homeland
We
Christ, before
we
find
among them any written
books.
liter-
That the Arabs were thus slow in creating written

ature was due to their peculiar
tribes.
mode
of
life.
The
art of
words was highly honored among the most ancient Arab
was and Arab prided himself upon three virtues:
desert silence, the art one of spoken, not of written, words, an art of polished sarcastic oratory or of passionately chanted verse. The
But
to these dwellers
amid the
his generosity to those whom he accepted as his friends, his skill in the arts of war that is, his handling of his horse and weapons and,
lastly,
his mastery of his language. When a new poet of unusual merit appeared in any a festival of rejoicing tribe, "
VOL. v.
i.
t
;
THE SACRED BOOKS

tribes sent envoys to congratulate the
was held and the other
fortunate folk, upon the honor and happiness that the gods had sent them. That a people who so valued the arts of speech should have
studied them for thousands of years without developing them into written forms is one of the striking oddities of literary
Yet the causes of this oddity are obvious. The barren that greater part of the vast Arabian peninsula is so its people must keep ever on the move to find enough green food for the animals upon which they depend for their own Hence they have no place for the storing of books, existence. the preservation of libraries. True, there are in Arabia some fertile spots, in oases or along the southern coast, where Arab cities have grown up but even the Arabs of these cities journey often and far into the desert. Its blank and burning sunshine is their true home and in its vast solitudes a man's own
history.
;
memory is, even to-day, the best treasure-house for his books. Hence Arabic literature in the written form, the only form in which it can be permanently preserved, does not begin until the sixth century of our own era, the century just before
Mohammed.
During
this period there
tribal poets so valued, that the idea
were several of the was formed of honoring
them by hanging copies of
their best
poems in the chief
religious shrine of Arabia, the building called the Kaaba at Mecca. So the Arabic literature which we know to-day " " begins with these hanged poems, and they form the opening of the present volume.
THE SEVEN HANGED POETS

There were seven of these celebrated poems, each by a
dif-
ferent poet. Unfortunately the seven poems are no longer preserved in the Kaaba if, indeed, they ever did literally
agreed as to either the names or the earliest writers. But the most noted
and the Arabs themselves are not entirely poems of these, their among them are fully on and treasured. agreed highly Among them all, the poet
"
hang
" there
probably earliest in date is Imru-ul-Quais, often spelled in our letters, which differ widely from Arabic forms, Amrulkais.
LITERATURE OF THE EAST

He
was a prince, who by
his passionate devotion to affairs of
love so angered his father, the sheik, or king, of the tribe, that Imru-ul-Quais was banished to the solitary life of a shepHe thus escaped the destruction which came upon all herd.
his people in a bitter tribal
war
and he was
left
a tribeless
about the year 530, to the court of the great Greek-Roman emperor Justinian, at Constantinople; and there the poet-wanderer was much honored.
wanderer.
He came
finally,
Tradition says he was put to death by torture for winning the Mohammed delove of a princess of Justinian's family. clared Imru-ul-Quais to be the greatest of the Arab poets ; and
the poet-prince
is
said to have been the
first to
reduce to a
regular-measured rhythm the wild individual chanting of the

earlier desert-singers.
poet among the seven who is even more noteworthy is Antar, or Antarah; for he was afterward made the hero of Antar was the son of the most celebrated of Arab romances.
a negro slave-woman and was brought up as a slave in the household of his Arab father. Such, however, was his
strength and courage that he rose to be the chief hero of his He was also its chief poet, singing sometimes of its tribe.
warfare, sometimes of his love for its princess, Ibla or Ablah. Ablah at first ridiculed the advances of the young slave but
afterward clung to him through

fortune.
all his
career of glory and mis-
which later generations wove around Antar are like those which the English built upon King Arthur's life, or the Spaniards on the Cid. He has become
tales
The
the national hero of his race.

for yet another of the hanged poets, it must be for Zuhair, who is credited with beginning the philosophical and religious writings of his nation. Zuhair was among " " the latest of the and so nearly contemporary hanged poets with Mohammed that the two are said to have met. Zuhair
If
we pause
"
"
hundred years old ; and Mohammed, just beginning his prophetic mission, prayed God to protect him from the witty tongue of the poet. That is, in Arab phrase, he sought help against Zuhair's djinn or spirit ; for the early Arabs believed their poets to be genuinely
was then an aged and revered
sage, a
4
inspired
;
THE SACRED BOOKS
and as most of the poems were epigrams, brief, bitwas attributed to the evil ing, and sarcastic, the inspiration who were or the genii supposed to possess the djinns spirits, earth equally with man. Zuhair in his verses was less satiric than most of his brother
strove to express deep thoughts in simple words, poets. to be clear and by his clear phrases to teach his people high
He
and noble
ideas.
He was
man
of rank
foremost of a family noted for their In brief, Zuhair is the gentleman philosopher earnestness.
and wealth, the poetic skill and religious
among Arab
poets.
THE EABLY RELIGION OF THE ARABS

"
hanged poems
Since Arabic written literature begins only "
with the
of strictly
and since none of these
is
religious type, writers for our
we can
only resort to tradition and to later knowledge of the religious ideas of the Ara-
bians before the days of Mohammed. They themselves refer " to those early times as constituting their state of ignorance."
Yet some among them had accepted the Jewish faith, some were Christians, and some believers in other foreign religions. From their own fathers, the Arabs inherited the very definite idea of a single, universal God, whom they called "Allah Taala," meaning The Most High God. A formula or prayer " of those days which has come down to us says I dedicate O Allah to service. Thou hast no commyself, Taala, thy
:
panion, except such companions as thou art absolutely master of, and of all that is theirs."
supreme god they assumed that there were many lesser deities, whom they referred to in a group as the To these Ilahat they showed more outIlahat, or goddesses. ward care and consideration than to the chief god. For, as they often said, lesser creatures needed the help of Allah Best known, or at least most Taala, but He needed nothing. worshiped, among the Ilahat were three goddesses, Allat, al These seem to have been specific stone Uzza, and Manah. idols, though Manah was probably an uncarved, natural The shrines of boulder, and al Uzza may have been a tree.
this
Around

these gods were many, chief among them being the Kaaba at Mecca, a celebrated and ancient stone building which con-
These furnished subjects for worship on each day of the year, though some of them were more honored Chief of the Kaaba deities were a black stone, than the rest. probably a meteor, and an agate statue of a rain-god, Hobal, brought from some foreign land and trusted for divination.
tained 360 idols.
Divination, however, was chiefly practised by means of the So far did this go that many Arabs looked upon the stars. stars as being gods themselves. Special stars had special
worshipers.
Sirius, set
Indeed, Abu Cabsha, a worshiper of the star himself up as a prophet and tried to convert all the
to a belief in his star. This fanatical preacher may have been an ancestor of Mohammed, 'or at least the Arabs found a similarity between the two ; for when the latter began his fiery preaching he was promptly nicknamed by his calmly " satiric countrymen, the son of Abu Cabsha."
Arabs
THE KORAN
It was to this world of thinkers, dreamers, fighters, a nation of orators rather than writers, that Mohammed came, to contribute to its literature his remarkable Koran. The first
Sura or chapter of
this
was given
to the
world in the year 598
A.D., when the great religious reformer was forty years of age. The religious aspect of the Koran may best be kept for discussion in the immediate introduction to the Koran in the present volume but as a piece of Arabic literature the work is
;
declared by all Arabs to be the chief triumph and culmination of their language. Repeatedly during Mohammed's lifetime,
when
skeptics doubted his divine power, both he and his followers responded by pointing to the Koran and challenging the language-loving Arabs to produce anything equaling or even approaching it in literary value.
To
call the
Koran
a book
is
in a
composed
was the earlier Arab was announced Sura, separately, inspired by a particular occasion and recited to the prophet's followers. Often a
as
It was misleading. literature; each chant, or
way
Sura consisted of only a single stanza, brought forth by the
6
necessity of the
THE SACRED BOOKS
moment. Some of these Suras were not written down at all, but were preserved, according to Arab Not until after custom, in the memories of their hearers. the prophet's death were his many Suras gathered from every source and combined into the written volume which we call the Koran. Mohammed always declared that these sayings were not In his own but were revealed to him by an outside power. taking this stand, however, he was making no new claim he was but following the custom of his people with all their poets. Only instead of attributing his inspiration, as he himself had attributed the verses of Zuhair, to an evil genius, Mohammed claimed for his words a holier source. He declared they came from the Archangel Gabriel, who brought each Sura straight from God himself, as the divine source of all creation. Readers who reject the idea of Mohammed's divine perfection will naturally reject also the Arab idea of the divine perfection of the Koran. Viewing it from a merely human will find it an interesting collection of fiery standpoint they human speeches, bold and impassioned appeals to a passionate Its music and literary grace are of course lost to us people. in translation ; but its precepts are often high in thought and striking in expression, and its Arabic versions of old Hebraic tales of Noah and Abraham and Moses give it a permanent interest for both Jews and Christians. The Holy Book of the Arabs indicates that their nation stood at least as high as other Asiatic races of their day in both intellectual and moral The Arabs of Mohammed's era could think development. logically, live bravely, and meditate with pure nobility. In the generations that followed immediately after Mohammed's death the Arabs were too busy fighting to give much
;
time to literature.
Under
the stimulus of
Mohammed's
fiery
teaching, their natural fierceness of temper was strengthened by an utterly reckless confidence in themselves and their
cause.
Sure of their armies' victory, and sure that each individual who fell would awaken instantly in Paradise, they defeated all their neighbors. Then, summoning each vanquished nation to their standards, inspiring each in turn with
eir own mad confidence, they carried their arms and their This faith over all southwestern Asia and northern Africa.
was the work of the Koran.
Within a single century
after
Mohammed's
death, the broad belt of earth extending from India to Spain, including both Babylonia and Egypt, the lands of the most ancient civilization all this was firmly
Mohammedan.
And
through
were speaking Arabic.
of this region the peoples It became almost a world-language.
much
For a time, the Koran was taught more widely, and won more
converts, than the Christian Gospels.
THE GENIUS OF ARABIC LITERATURE

(AN INTRODUCTION BY SHEIK FAIZ-ULLAH-BHAl)
Poetry
is the
record of the Arabs"
OLD ARABIC PROVERB.
THE GENIUS OF ARABIC LITERATURE
AMONGST few who have so large a treasure of sublime poetry and so

abundant a stock of useful literature to boast of as the old The Arabs have always been remarkable for the great pride they have taken in the excellence of their
nation of Arabia.
language, the perfection of their literature, the sublimity of their poetry, the purity of their race, and the integrity of their moral character. Pure justice, free from bias or preju-
the ancient nations, as history shows, there are
admits that they have reason to feel this pride, and accords them a very high place among the civilized and litThese facts are well erary nations of the Ancient World. borne out by evidence derived from the history of the progress
dice, fully
of literature, especially during the fourth, fifth and sixth centuries of the Christian era.
During the period alluded to, the literary genius was almost entirely monopolized by the Aryans, represented then by the Indians and the Persians in the East, and by the
Romans
in the West.
confined only to
The Indian literature was, however, a limited number of Shastris and Brahmins,
to the other castes, or the numerically
and was inaccessible
much
The Persians had long cultivated and stronger public. enriched their literature with a good deal of learning, borrowed from the Greeks and the Indians.
tics,
Among
the Semi-
the Syrians possessed a
character, which was not, extent, and was confined terateurs, moreover, had were now only hanging on
literature of a superior cultivated to a very vast however, These litonly to a few Rabbis.
Hebrew
risen to their greatest height and the verge of decline, and were more
or less giving way to the Romans, who, at the time we speak of, held their own against all the nations of the world, both in the political as well as in the literary realm.
Their literary supremacy was, however, the result of a long

11
12
THE SACRED BOOKS
and working of the schools, established by Cicero, Virgil, had inherited from Livy, on the lines of the learning they had which world that defunct Grecian long given way to the
sway of the triumphant Roman arms. The Roman poetry, on those oratory, and rhetoric were merely offshoots engrafted Much credit is cerof Homer, Demosthenes, and Aristotle. tainly due to the Romans for the great improvement they made on the teachings of their mother-school, which elevated them to a high pitch of literary fame, and placed them at the top of the category of the civilized and refined nations of the But their achievements, though very noble and exceltime. lent in themselves, were merely parasitic, and had little orig-
we find a new nation rushing upon the and scene, steadily progressing with long strides to the front of the literary world, neither by means of any learning borrowed from other nations, nor by any set examples to guide them, but solely by dint of the growth of their own natural faculties. This was the Arabian nation, which, living obscurely in a solitary peninsula, was cut off from the chief seats of learning and debarred by its own seclusion from all the advantages of
a close contact with the civilized nations of the day, who regarded it merely as a degraded and barbarous nation. Not-
inality to boast of. About this time
withstanding
its
starting with such local
and
social disad-
vantages, this nation, which
great importance later on, siding over the destinies of a great part of the world, bravely stemming the tide of adverse circumstances, deserves all
was destined by God to rise to and to succeed the Romans in pre-
praise for the high state of culture, civilization, and advancement which its people attained by means of self-development
of those superior literary faculties with which
it
had pleased
God
to
endow them.
Although the Arabic language was as old as any of the noble languages of the world, yet its literary fame was kept by God in store for a later generation. The history of its literature, properly speaking, dates only from as early as the beginning of the sixth century. Yet, within so short a period
of time, extending indeed over not more than two centuries,

the Arabs succeeded in carrying their literature to such an elevated pitch as earned them an immortal name among the most refined nations of the literary world.
Their progress was marvelously rapid in every department

of literature
poetry,
oratory,
rhetoric,
politics,
history,
moral and mental philosophy. The greater part of their early literature, however, consisted of poetry, which was the principal and almost the only record the ancient Arabs pos" Poetry is the sessed, and it is said with perfect truth that record of the Arabs." Poetry was the record of their usages,
their customs, their habits, their ways of living, their wars, their virtues, their vices, their domestic affairs, their social
advancement, their mercantile dealings, their creeds and beliefs, their sentiments, their moral progress, and in short all that would interest both a historian and a moralist.
The Arab minds were

the best type, and their
by nature in poetical moulds of speeches even were mostly poetical, or

cast
such as could readily be converted into rhythmical numbers. They had at that time no rules of grammar or versification to guide them ; and yet their verses were scrupulously accurate
and hardly ever went wrong. They had neither any fixed criterion of rhetoric, nor any canons of criticism; yet their idioms, expressions, images, similes, and metaphors were as accurate, as clear, as lucid, and as perspicuous as any of the
subsequently established schools of the Post-Islamic times. One of the distinctive features of the primitive literature of the Arabs was that it possessed the real and rare beauty of
being a faithful representation of nature, inasmuch as their images were derived directly from nature, and their composition was merely a real expression of their real feelings and a False fame, vaintrue reflection of their mental workings. not known to motives were glory, flattery, and empty praise
those early Arabs, who led a simple and innocent life in the lap of nature, invested with all its concomitant virtues
bravery, courage, gallantry, truthfulness, innocent and sincere love, fidelity, generosity, liberality, charity, hospitality, and a hatred of cruelty and oppression. With the Arabs of
those times poetry
was a
gift of nature,
commonly bestowed
14
on
all alike,
THE SACRED BOOKS
whether old or young, man or woman, rich or townsman or peasant, who poor, high or low, noble or mean, used it as a tangible expression of their emotions, a ready
what they thought and felt and a lasting record of their views, made more impressive and more perspicuous by illustrative similes, apt images, and suitable metaphors, such as were readily supplied by natural objects and scenes of daily
vehicle of
observance.
Thus we
tic life,
see the
common
topics of their poetry to be domes-
wars, heroic deeds, martial triumphs, travels, camels, horses, weapons, chase, love, reminiscences of old associations, hospitality, glory and genealogy of the tribe, panegyrics of
noble personages and chiefs, records of their patriotic and virtuous deeds done for the good of their tribes, acknowledg-
ment of
their obligations,
recollections
elegies, embodying posthumous and commemorations of the virtues of deserving
merits in proportion to their deserts.
Precepts of sociology,
political views, philosophical doctrines, maxims and proverbs were not lacking ; but they were mere results of a direct obser-
vation of the objects of nature and of a deep contemplation of humanity in its simplest aspect.
Nor were the Arabs unconscious of the high poetical genius wherewith they were endowed by nature, of the great success of their literature, and of the rising fame and triumph of
their literary talents. Poetry soon came to be recognized as a noble mental production, to be appreciated as a high accom-
plishment, and to be regarded as a qualification for exaltation of rank and esteem in society. Poets came forward to emulate
and vie with one another
to carry off the palm.
This led
to the establishment of a
department of literary exhibition in the national fair of 'Okaz, which was held annually in Zu-1Qa'dah, one of the four sacred months, in which war was forbidden to be waged. To it flocked merchants from Hejaz, " Nejd, and other parts of Arabia. 'Okaz was the Olympia
of Arabia," where poets resorted and placed their poetic talents before the public for their judgment and award, which
were always regarded as decisive and final. The Arabic literature attained the zenith just at the time

when the faith of Islam made its appearance the Koran marked the highest point to which
15
in Arabia, and the Arabic lan-
guage and literature were destined to rise, after which, as the Arabs by the spread and the conquest of Islam came in contact with foreigners, they had reason to grow jealous of their noble language; and being afraid lest its purity might suffer from its contact with other languages, they were obliged to state the principles of grammar, to explain the laws of syntax, to discover the measures of prosody, to formulate the
figures of rhetoric and composition, to define the criteria of lexicography, to determine the standards of phraseology, and
to fix the
canons of criticism,
all
founded on the basis of the
universal principles that underlie the pure language of the The simplicity of nature, however, was pre-Islamic time.
rapidly waning and giving place to artificial ornamenta-
unnatural embellishment, and scholastic mannerism. Poets, orators, and writers then vied in indulging in poetic reveries, in giving full play to their imagination, in forming new sentiments, in inventing new metaphors and rare similes,
tion,
in discovering the beauties of the pre-Islamic poetry, and in imitating by every artificial means in their power the flowing diction of that natural poetry the pathos and the effect of
which, however, they strove to grasp with various but dubious success. They lay claim to no little credit, indeed, for the
many improvements they made on
the ancient style, diction,
ideas and expressions, for the standard they fixed to regulate the imaginative work of poetry, for the canons of criticism they laid down, for the laws of language they enunciated, and
for the
It was, howbeautiful figures they invented. ever, mannerism, all in all, a noble imitation, but without the true spirit of real nature.
many
The progress of the Arabic

trated
literature
may
best be illus-
gradual and grand ascent up a lofty mountain, richly clad in every variety of beautiful verdure, pleasant vegetation, particolored and fragrant flowers, and verdant meadows, varied trees all of wild growth rife with cooling avenues, refreshing arbors and stately
by comparing
it
to a
alcoves,
resounding with diverse songs of wild birds, whose
16
THE SACRED BOOKS
varieties of notes, colors, and hues are objects of deep admirThe summit ation and devotion to the votaries of nature.
was gained only at the appearance of the Koran, which occupied the proud position of a solitary eminence, beyond the A step further, and reach of all aspirers, who fell short of it.
the declivity gradually led to a spacious plateau, abounding in fine valleys, laid out with beautiful gardens, charming flowerbeds, gliding
rills,
well
turesque
parks,
all
trimmed alleys, leveled turfs, and piccombined in beautiful harmony and
resounding with the harmonious melodies of trained birds, while art spared nothing to make all as perfect as lay in her
power.
It
was thus
at the time
when Arabic
literature stood at its
highest position, that the celebrated Seven Poems, well known " Seven Hanged Poems," made their appearance. at the They stood at the summit of the eminence of Arabic literature,
exulting with deserving pride at that enviable position and triumphing over the evergreen laurels, so nobly won by the
superior elegance, eloquence, and purity of their language, their admirable images, and their vivid descriptions. They
were universally admired by the public, who in order to testify their appreciation of their real beauties and the recognition of the obligation, which the Arabic language in no little measure owed to them, unanimously agreed to immortalize their fame by conferring on them the highest honor they could bestow that of hanging them inside the Kaaba, the most sacred shrine of their worship, as a memorial to posterity, after they were inscribed in letters of gold on pieces of a fine white cloth of Egypt, whence they are also called " the
Golden."
THE HANGED POEMS
'They stand
literature."
at the
summit
of the eminence of old Arabic
FAIZ
VOL. V.
2.
ULLAH BHAI.
THE HANGED POEMS

THE POEM OF IMRU-UL-QUAIS
Stop, oh
l
my friends, let us pause to weep over the remembrance of my beloved. Here was her abode on the edge of the sandy desert between
Dakhool and Howmal.
The
traces of her
encampment
are not wholly obliterated even
now; For when the South wind blows the sand over them the North wind sweeps it away.
The courtyards and

desolate
;
enclosures of the old
home have become
The dung of
pepper.
the wild deer lies there thick as the seeds of
On
the morning of our separation gardens of our tribe,

the acacia-shrubs where
it
was
as if I stood in the
Amid
eyes were blinded with tears by the smart from the bursting pods of colocynth.
my
As
I lament thus in the place

their camels
;
made
desolate,
my
friends stop
They
cry to
me "Do
not die of grief; bear this sorrow
patiently."
Nay, the cure of my sorrow must come from gushing tears. Yet, is there any hope that this desolation can bring
solace
i
me
" " poems. Like the supposed to be the oldest of the hanged others it shifts abruptly from theme to theme, and is full of poetic comparisons. Indeed, its author is said to have started this fashion, win" The creator of images." ning for himself the name of
This
is
19
20
THE SACRED BOOKS
My
did I mourn for two others ; So, before ever I met Unaizah, fate had been the same with Ummul-Huwairith and her Ummul-Rahab in Masai.
neighbor
Fair were they also, diffusing the odor of musk as they moved, Like the soft zephyr bringing with it the scent of the clove.
Thus
the tears flowed

;
down on my
breast,
remembering days
of love
The tears wetted even my

Behold how
sword-belt, so tender
was
my love.
many
pleasant days have I spent with fair
women
Juljul.
Especially do I remember the day at the pool of Darat-i2
day I killed my riding camel for food for the maidens How merry was their dividing my camel's trappings to be carried on their camels.
that
:
On
It
is
a wonder, a riddle, that the camel being saddled was yet unsaddled
!
A wonder
Then
2
also
was the slaughterer,

!
so heedless of self in his
costly gift
the maidens
;
commenced throwing the camel's
flesh into
the kettle
The poet in this and the following lines refers to an incident which thus told us: during his wooing of Unaizah he followed her and the other maidens when they rode on camels to the pool Darat-i-Juljul. The women bathed in the pool and he captured their clothes and would not surrender these until each one came out of the water in turn and asked for hers. They held back so long before they yielded to this, that afterward they complained of being faint with hunger. Thereon he lavishly slew his camel so they could have it immediately for food. When they had eaten, they would not leave him stranded in the desert, so divided the trappings of his camel, each carrying home a part upon her beast, while the carrying of the poet himself fell to Unaizah. She jestingly protested that the howdah on her camel's back was too small for them
is
both.

The
fat
21
was woven with the lean

silk.
like loose fringes of white
twisted
On
that
day I entered the howdah, the camel's howdah of Unaizah

!
And
she protested, saying,

travel
"
Woe
to you,
you
will force
me
to
on foot."
She repulsed me, while the howdah was swaying with us She said, " You are galling my camel, Oh Imru-ul-Quais, so
;
dismount."
Drive him on Let his reins go you turn to me. Think not of the camel and our weight on him.
Then I
"
said,
loose,
while
Let us be
happy.
"
Many
a beautiful
;
woman
to
like you,
Oh
Unaizah, have I
visited at night
I have
won her thought won her."
me, even from her children have I
There was another day when I walked with her behind the
sandhills,
But she put aside

ginity.
my
entreaties
and swore an oath of
vir-
Oh, Unaizah, gently, put aside some of this coquetry. If you have, indeed, made up your mind to cut off friendship with me, then do it kindly or gently.
Has anything deceived you about me,

me,
that your love

it
is
killing
And
that verily as often as
you order
my heart,
will do
what
you order ?
And
if any one of my habits has caused you annoyance, Then put away my heart from your heart, and it will be put
away.
2S
THE SACRED BOOKS
And
your two eyes do not flow with tears, except to strike me with arrows in my broken heart. Many a fair one, whose tent can not be sought by others, have
I enjoyed playing with.
I passed by the sentries on watch near her, and a people desirous of killing me If they could conceal my murder, being unable to assail me
;
openly.
I passed by these people at a time, in the heavens,
when
the Pleiades appeared
As the appearance of the gems

girdle, set
in the spaces in the ornamented
with pearls and gems.

"I swear by God, you have no excuse
Then she
said to me,
for your wild life ; I can not expect that your erring habits will ever be removed from your nature."
I went out with her; she walking, and drawing behind us, over our footmarks,
The
skirts of
an embroidered woolen garment,
to erase the
footprints.
Then when we had crossed the enclosure of the tribe, The middle of the open plain, with its sandy undulations and sandhills, we sought.
I
drew the tow
side-locks of her
head toward me; and she
leant toward
me
She was slender of waist, and
full in the ankle.
Her
Thin-waisted, white-skinned, slender of body, breast shining polished like a mirror.
In complexion she is like the mixed with yellow.
first
egg of the ostrich
white,

ure water, unsullied by the descent of nourished her.
23
it,
many
people in
has
She turns away, and shows her smooth cheek, forbidding with
a glancing eye, Like that of a wild animal, with young, in the desert of
Wajrah.
And
she shows a neck like the neck of a white deer
It is neither disproportionate
when
she raises
it,
nor unorna-
mented.
And
a perfect head of hair which,
when
loosened, adorns her
back,
Black, very dark-colored, thick like a date-cluster on a heavily laden date-tree.
Her curls creep upward to the top of her head And the plaits are lost in the twisted hair, and the
;
hair falling
loose.
And
she meets
is
me
with a slender waist, thin as the twisted
leathern nose-rein of a camel.
Her form
like the
stem of a palm-tree bending over from the
weight of
its fruit.
In the morning, when she wakes, the

lying over her bed.
;
particles of
musk
are
She sleeps much in the morning she does not need waist with a working dress. She gives with thin
fingers, not thick, as if
to gird her
they were the
of the desert of Zabi, In the evening she brightens the darkness, as if she were the light-tower of a monk.
worms
Toward one like

She
is
her, the wise man gazes incessantly, lovingly. well proportioned in height between the wearer of a long dress and of a short frock.
24
THE SACRED BOOKS

follies of
The
men
cease with youth, but
my
heart does not

disaster of
cease to love you. Many bitter counselors have

love,
warned me of the but I turned away from them.
your
Many
a night has let
down
its
curtains around
to try
me amid
deep
grief, It has whelmed
me
as a
wave of the sea
me
with sorrow.
Then I
said to the night, as slowly his
huge bulk passed over
me,
As
his breast, his loins, his buttocks
weighed on
me and
then
passed afar,
"
Oh
long night, dawn will come, but will be no brighter without my love.
are a wonder, with stars held
solid rock."
You
up
as
by ropes of hemp
to a
times, I have filled a leather water-bag of my people and entered the desert, And trod its empty wastes while the wolf howled like a gambler whose family starves.
At other
I said to the wolf, "
You
gather as
little
wealth, as
little pros-
What
perity as I. either of us gains he gives away. thin."
So do we remain
Early in the morning, while the birds were
still
nesting, I
mounted
my
steed.
Well-bred was he, long-bodied, outstripping the wild beasts in
Swift to attack, to
flee,
to turn, yet firm as a rock swept
down
by the torrent,
Bay-colored, and so smooth the saddle slips from him, as the rain from a smooth stone,

Thin but
full of life, fire boils within
;
25
him
like the snorting of
He
a boiling kettle continues at full gallop when other horses are dragging their feet in the dust for weariness.
A boy would be blown from his back, and even the strong rider
loses his garments.
Fast
is
my steed as a top when
a child has spun
it
well.
He has the flanks
of a buck, the legs of an ostrich, and the gallop of a wolf. From behind, his thick tail hides the space between his thighs,
and almost sweeps the ground.
When
The
he stands before the house, his back looks like the huge
is
grinding-stone there. blood of many leaders of herds

juice of henna in
in him, thick as the
combed white
hair.
As
I rode
him we saw a
flock of wild sheep, the

;
ewes like
maidens in long-trailing robes They turned for flight, but already he had passed the leaders
before they could scatter.
He
outran a bull and a cow and killed them both, and they
* ;
were made ready for cooking Yet he did not even sweat so as to need washing.
We returned
beauty
For,
at evening,
at
and the eye could scarcely
realize his
one part, the eye was drawn away by the perfection of another part.
when gazing
He stood all night with his saddle and bridle on him, He stood all night while I gazed at him admiring, and
rest in his stable.
did not
But come,
my friends,
?
as
we stand here mourning, do you
see
the lightning
26
See
THE SACRED BOOKS

its glittering, like
the flash of two
moving hands, amid the
thick gathering clouds.

Its glory shines like the lamps of a their wicks thick in oil.
monk when he
has dipped
I sat
down with
my
companions and watched the lightning
and the coming storm.
So wide-spread was the rain that

Quatan,
its
right end seemed over
Yet we could
see its left
end pouring down on Satar, and
beyond that over Yazbul.
So mighty was the storm that huge kanahbul trees,
it
hurled upon their faces the

hills of
The spray
of
it
drove the wild goats down from the
Quanan.
In the gardens of Taimaa not a date-tree was left standing, Nor a building, except those strengthened with heavy stones.
The mountain,
at the first
downpour of the
The peak of Mujaimir
giant of our people draped in the flood and rush of debris looked like a whirling spindle.
forth their gift on the desert of Ghabeet,
all
rain, looked like a in a striped cloak.
The clouds poured

till it
blossomed
a
As though
clothes
Yemani merchant were spreading out from his trunks,
the rich
As though
the little birds of the valley of
Jiwaa awakened in
old, pure,
And
the morning burst forth in song after a spiced wine.

all
morning draught of
As though
mud, They were drowned and

evening.
the wild beasts had been covered with sand and like the onion's root-bulbs.
lost in the
depths of the desert at
THE POEM OF ANTAK

Have
the poets left in the garment a place for a patch to be patched by me ; and did you know the abode of your beloved after reflection ? 2
vestige of the house, which did not speak, confounded until it spoke by means of signs, like one deaf and dumb. thee, I she-camel there long grumbling, with a Verily, kept
The
my
yearning at the blackened stones, keeping and standing firm

places. It is the abode of a friend, languishing in her glance, submissive in the embrace, pleasant of smile.
in their
own
Oh
those
house of 'Ablah situated at Jiwaa, talk with
me
about
resided in you. Good morning to you, O house of 'Ablah, and be safe from ruin. I halted my she-camel in that place ; and it was as though she were a high palace; in order that I might perform the
who
wont of the
lingerer.
;
'Ablah takes up her abode at Jiwaa while our people went to Hazan, then to Mutathallam. She took up her abode in the land of my enemies; so it
And
became difficult for me to seek you, O daughter of Mahzam. I was enamored of her unawares, at a time when I was killing her people, desiring her in marriage ; but by your father's life I swear, this was not the time for desiring. 3
you have occupied in my heart the place of the honored loved one, so do not think otherwise than this, that
verily
And
you are
my beloved.
be the visiting of her, while her people have
And how may
1 This is the Antar, or Antarah, who became the most noted of Arab heroes of romance. 2 That Have the is, have the poets left any deficiency to be supplied? poets of the former days left any poetry unsaid that the poets of the present day may say it? 3 When there was war between the two tribes, there was little use his wishing to marry her.
28
THE SACRED BOOKS
taken up their residence in the spring at 'Unaizatain and our people at Ghailaiu ? I knew that you had intended departing, for, verily, your
camels were bridled on a dark night. Nothing caused ine fear of her departure, except that the baggage camels of her people were eating the seeds of the
Khimkhim
tree throughout the country.
Amongst them were two and forty milk-giving camels,

black as the wing-feathers of black crows. When she captivates you with a mouth possessing sharp, and white teeth, sweet as to its place of kissing, delicious of
taste.
she sees with the two eyes of a young, from the deer.
if
As
It
grown up
gazelle
was
as though the
musk bag
of a merchant in his case of
perfumes preceded her teeth toward you from her mouth. Or as if it is an old wine-skin, from Azri'at, preserved long,
such as the kings of Rome preserve ; Or her mouth is as an ungrazed meadow, whose herbage the rain has guaranteed, in which there is but little dung; and
which
is
not marked with the feet of animals.
pure showers of every rain-cloud rained upon it, and left every puddle in it bright and round like a dirham Sprinkling and pouring; so that the water flows upon it every evening, and is not cut off from it. The fly enjoyed yet alone, and so it did not cease humming, as is the act of the singing drunkard Humming, while he rubs one foreleg against the other, as the striking on the flint of one, bent on the flint, and cut oil as
first
;
;
The
to his palm.
She passes her evenings and her mornings on the surface of a well-stuffed couch, while I pass my nights on the back of
a bridled black horse. And my couch is a saddle upon a horse big-boned in the leg, big in his flanks, great of girth. Would a Shadanian she-camel cause me to arrive at her
* He knew that her tribe would have to forage left for their camels.
move
on, as there
was no

abode,
off?
5
29
who
is
cursed with an udder scanty of milk and cut

all
After traveling
tail,
night, she
is
lashing her sides with her
and
is
strutting proudly, and she breaks up the mounds of
earth she passes over with her foot with its sole, treading hard. As if I in the evening am breaking the mounds of earth by
means of an ostrich, very small as to the distance between its two feet, and earless. 8 The young ostriches flock toward him, as the herds of Yamanian camels flock to a barbarous, unintelligible speaker. They follow the crest of his head, as though it was a howdah on a large litter, tented for them.
small headed, who returns constantly to look after his eggs at Zil-'Ushairah ; he is like a slave, with a long fur cloak
is
He
and without ears. She drank of the water of Duhruzain and then turned away, 7 being disgusted, from the pools of stagnant water. And she swerves away with her right side from the fear of
one, whistling in the evening, a big, ugly-headed one ; From the fear of a cat, led at her side, every time she
8
turned toward
him
in anger, he
met her with both claws and
mouth. She knelt down at the edge of the pool of Rada', and groaned as though she had knelt on a reed, broken, and emitting a
cracking noise. And the sweat on the back was as though
thick pitch, with which fire
retort.
is
it were oil or sides of a round the lighted
places of flexure were wetted with it and she lavishly poured of it, on a spreading forelock, short and well-bred. The length of the journey left her a strong, well-built body,
Her
like a
high palace, built with cement, and rising high
and
feet
like the supports of a firmly pitched tent.

6
swifter, stronger,
8
7 s
upon whom this operation has been performed, and fatter than others. He compares the fleetness of the camel to that of an ostrich.
she-camel,
ia
The
Referring to the she-camel. big, ugly-headed one is the whip with
its
heavy handle, or a
cat.
30
THE SACRED BOOKS

And
surely I recollected you, even
drinking
my
blood,
when the lances were and bright swords of Indian make were
dripping with my blood. I wished to kiss the swords, for verily they shone as bright as the flash of the foretooth of your smiling mouth. If you lower your veil over yourself in front of me, of what use will it be ? for, verily, I am expert in capturing the mailed
horseman.
Praise
verily,
me
I
when
if
for the qualities which you know I possess, for, I am not ill-treated, I am gentle to associate with.
ill-treated, then, verily,
it,
And
am
is
my tyranny
is severe,
very bitter
the taste of
as the taste of the colocynth.
And, verily, I have drunk wine after the midday heats have subsided, buying it with the bright stamped coin. From a glass, yellow with the lines of the glass-cutter on it, which was accompanied by a white-stoppered bottle on the left-
hand
side.
And when
And when
ality.
I have drunk, verily, I
am
is
property, and
my honor is great,
and
the squanderer of not sullied. 9
my my
I have become sober, I do not diminish in

so are
generosity, and as you know,
my qualities
and
my
liber-
husband of a beautiful woman, I have left prostrate on the ground, with his shoulders hissing like the side of the mouth of one with a split lip. 10 My two hands preceded him with a hasty blow, striking him before he could strike me and with the drops of blood from a
a
;
And many
penetrating stroke, red like the color of Brazil wood. Why did you not ask the horsemen, O daughter Malik
if
you were ignorant, concerning what you did not know about
my condition,
At
a time
when I never ceased
to be in the saddle of a long
striding,
wounded, sturdy horse, against

succession.
whom
the warriors
came in
8
That is, drunkenness makes him generous and not ill-tempered. The Arabs, before Mohammed, considered drinking with one's friends to show a generous disposition. 10 That is, the blood was spurting and hissing from a wound in his
shoulder.

At one time he
lance,
is
31
and
at another
detached to charge the enemy with the he joins the large host with their bows
in the battle will inform
tightly strung.
He who was present

ness and
you that verily
I rush into battle, but I abstain at the time of taking the booty. I see spoils, which, if I want I would win but my bashful;
my magnanimity hold me back from them. And many a fully armed one, whom the warriors shunned fighting with, neither a hastener in flight, nor a surrenderor
;
My
hands were generous
to
him by
a quick point with a
straightened spear, strong in the joints ; Inflicting a wound wide of its two sides, the sound of the
flow of blood
from
it
leads at night the prowling wolves, burnis
ing with hunger. I rent his vesture with a rigid spear, for the noble one not forbidden to the spears.
Then I
and gnaw
a prey for the wild beasts, the beauty of his fingers and wrist.
left
him
who
seize him,
a long, closely woven coat of mail, I have split open the links of it, with a sword, off one defending his rights, and renowned for bravery.
And many
are ready with gambling arrows when it is winter, a tearer-down of the signs of the wine-sellers, and one 11 reproached for his extravagance.
Whose hands
he saw that I had descended from my horse and was intending killing him, he showed his teeth, but without
12
When
smiling.
and he and his head were dyed with indigo. 13 I pierced him with my spear, and then I set upon him with my Indian sword pure of steel, and keen. A warrior, so stately in size as if his clothes were on a high
My meeting with him was when the day spread out,

as if his fingers
was
Arabs gamble as to who shall kill his camel in the time amongst the poor. The wine-sellers take down their signs when they have run out of liquor; the meaning
II
The
richer
of scarcity to distribute the flesh
of tearing
12
down the signs being that he drinks up all their wine. The allusion is to the poet's killing Zamzam, father of Husain and Harim, who insulted him. See close of the poem, is The dried blood was of an indigo color.
32
tree:
THE SACRED BOOKS

soft leather
shoes are
worn by him and he
is
not
twinned.
Oh, how wonderful
is
whom
is
she lawful
the beauty of the doe of the hunt, to To me she is unlawful ; would to God
that she
was not unlawful. 14
female slave, So, I sent news of her and inform me."
my
and said
to her,
"
Go, find out
She said, " I saw carelessness on the part of the enemies, and that the doe is possible to him who is shooting." And it was as though she looked toward me with the neck of a doe, a fawn of the gazelles, pure and with a white upper lip.
I
am
informed that 'Amru
is
unthankful for
my
kindness
15 while ingratitude is a cause of evil to the soul of the giver. And, verily, I remember the advice of my uncle, in the battle,
when
the two lips quiver

battle, of
from
off the
white teeth of the
which the warriors do not complain of the rigors, except with an unintelligible noise. When they (i.e., my people) defended themselves with me against the spears of the enemy, I did not refrain from them
the spears) through cowardice, but the place of advance had become too strait.
(i.e.,
mouth, In the thick of the
my
When
I heard the cry of
Murrah
rise,
and saw the two sons
of Rabi'ah in the thick dust, While the tribe of Muhallam were struggling under their banners, and death was under the banners of the tribe of Mul-
hallam, I made sure that at the time of their encounter there would be a blow, which would make the heads fly from the bodies, as the bird flies from off her young ones sitting close.
When
I saw the people, while their mass advanced, excite

fight,
one another to
proached for
I turned against them without being
re-
any want of bravery.

the spears were as though
They were calling 'Antarah, while
they were well-ropes in the breast of Adham.
n Here he again reverts to address his sweetheart. The Arabs not marry with a woman of a tribe with whom they are at war. is'Amru, the 'Absian, who insulted the poet.
may

They were
33
calling 'Antarah, while the swords were as though they were the flash of lightnings in a dark cloud. They were calling 'Antarah, while the arrows were flying,
as though they
were a
"
flight of locusts,
hovering above water-
ing places.
'Antarah," while the coats of mail calling shone with close rings, shining as though they were the eyeballs of frogs floating in a wavy pond.
I did not cease charging them, (the enemy,) with the prominent part of his (horse's) throat and breast, until he
They were
became covered with a shirt of blood. Then he turned on account of the falling of the spears on his breast, and complained to me with tears and whinnyings. If he had known what conversation was, he would have complained with words, and verily he would have, had he known speech, talked with me.
Woe to you, verily the speech of the horsemen, soul 'Antarah, advance, and attack the enemy," cured
And
"
my
and removed its sickness. While the horses sternly frowning were charging over the soft soil, being partly the long-bodied mares, and partly the
long-bodied, well-bred horses. riding-camels are tractable, they go wherever I wish; while intellect is helper, and I drive it forward with a
My
my
my
firm order. 16
power that I should visit you so, know what you have known, and some of what you have not known. The lances of the tribe of Bagheez intercepted you and the
Verily,
it
lay beyond
my
perpetrators of the
it.
war
set aside those
who did not
perpetrate
And, verily, I turned the horse for the attack, while his neck was bleeding, until the horses began to shun me.
verily I feared that I should die, while there has not 17 yet been a turn for war against the two sons of Zamzam ;
10
And
That
17 I
zam.
is, I carry out my plans with sagacity and determination. feared that I should die, before I had fought the two sons of Zam'Antarah killed their father during the war between the tribes
VOL. V.
3.
84
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The two
is
my honor, while I did not revile them, and the threateners of my blood, when I did not see them.
revilers of
no wonder should they do so, for I left their father a prey for the wild beasts and every large old vulture.
There
of 'Aba
and Fazftrah, wherein the
latter
Harim and Husain, the two sons

ward.
of
were defeated with great loss. Zamzam, were killed shortly after-
35
THE POEM OF ZUHAIR
" Does the blackened ruin, situated in the stony ground between Durraj and Mutathallam, which did not speak to me, when addressed, belong to the abode of Ummi Awf a ? " And is it her dwelling at the two stony meadows, seeming as though they were the renewed tattoo marks in the sinews
the white deer are wandering about one herd behind the there, other, while their young are springfrom ing up every lying-down place. " I stood again near it, (the encampment of the tribe of Awf a,) after an absence of twenty years, and with some efforts, I know her abode again after thinking awhile. "I recognized the three stones blackened by fire at the where the kettle used to be placed at night, and the place trench round the encampment, which had not burst, like the
of the wrist "
?
The wild cows and
source of a pool. " And when I recognized the

'
Now
"
good morning, oh spot
encampment I said to its site, may you be safe from dan-
gers.'
Look, oh
2
my
friend
do you see any women traveling on
camels, going over the high ground above the stream of
Jurthum ?
"
value,
They have covered

and with a thin
their
howdahs with
coverlets of high
screen, the fringes of
which are red,
resembling blood.
"
And
they inclined toward the valley of Sooban, ascendit,
ing the center of
and in their faces were the fascinating
1 This poem begins, as do most Arab poems, with love longings, but soon drifts into praise of two peacemakers and the story of the feud between two tribes which preceded the peace. From this field the poem soon wanders to the philosophic maxims of the author. Zuhair is above all a philosopher. 2
He
fancies he sees the
previously,
is real.
women again whom he saw twenty years and he appeals to his companion to know if what he sees
36
THE SACRED BOOKS

up
in easy circum-
looks of a soft-bodied person brought

stances.
arose early in the morning and got up at dawn, and they went straight to the valley of Kass as the hand goes unswervingly to the mouth, when eating. " And amongst them is a place of amusement for the far-
"
They
sighted one, and a pleasant sight for the eye of the looker who looks attentively. " As if the pieces of dyed wool which they left in every
place in which they halted, were the seeds of night-shade which have not been crushed. " When they arrived at the water, the mass of which was blue from intense purity, they laid down their walking sticks,
(i.e. f
took their lodging there,)
like the dweller
who has
the rough ground about it on their hand; while there are many, dwelling in Qanan, the shedding of whose blood is lawful and unlawful. 3 " They came out from the valley of Sooban, then they crossed it, riding in every Qainian howdah new and widened. " Then I swear by the temple, round which walk the men who built it from the tribes of Quraish and Jurhum. 4
pitched his tents. " They kept the hill of
Qanan and
"An
and
"
oath, that
5
you are verily two
excellent chiefs,
who
are found worthy of honor in every condition, between ease

distress.
The two endeavorers from the tribe of Ghaiz bin Murrah strove in making peace after the connection between the tribes had become broken, on account of the shedding of
blood.
"You
repaired with peace the condition of the tribes of
'Abs and Zubyan, after they had fought with one another, and 6 ground up the perfume of Manshim between them.
There are many enemies and many friends dwelling there. This refers to the temple at Mecca which was built by Ismail, son of Abraham, ancestor of the tribe of Quraish, who married a woman of Jurhum, an old tribe of Yaman, who were the keepers of the temple
* *
before Quraish.
6 8
The theme changes here abruptly, to praise of two peacemakers. Some Arabs, making a league to be revenged against their enemies,

"
37
perfectly
And
indeed you said,
'
if
we bring about peace
money and the conferring of benefits, and by we shall be safe from the danger of the two by good words,
the spending of
destroying each other.' You occupied by reason of this the best of positions, and became far from the reproach of being undutiful and
tribes,
"
sinful.
great in the high nobility of Ma'add ; may you be guided in the right way ; and he who spends his treasure of glory will become great.
"
And you became
wounds is obliterated by the hundreds of camels, and he, who commenced paying off the blood money by instalments, was not guilty of it (i.e., of making war). " One tribe pays it to another tribe as an indemnity, while they who gave the indemnity did not shed blood sufficient for
of the
the filling of a cupping glass. " Then there was being driven to
"
The memory
you inherited, a booty of various with slit ears.

"
sorts
them from the property from young camels
Now, convey from me

'
allies a message, verily oath to keep the peace.' " Do not conceal from God what
Zubyan and their you have sworn by every sort of

to the tribe of
is
in your breast that
it
may
it.
be hidden; whatever
is
concealed,
God knows
all
about
Either it will be put off and placed recorded in a book, and preserved there until the judgment day; or the punishment be hastened and so he will take revenge. " And war is not but what you have learnt it to be, and what you have experienced, and what is said concerning it, is not a story based on suppositions. When you stir it up, you will stir it up as an accursed thing, and it will become greedy when you excite its greed and it will rage fiercely.
'
"
took oath with their hands plunged in a certain perfume, made by Manshim, as a sign of their coalition. They fought until they were slain to the last of them. Hence the proverb, " More unlucky than the
perfume of Manshim."
38
" Then
it
THE SACRED BOOKS

will grind
you as the grinding of the upper millstone against the lower, and it will conceive immediately after 7 one birth and it will produce twins. " By my life I swear, how good a tribe it is upon whom Husain Bin Zainzam brought an injury by committing a 8 crime which did not please them. " And he had concealed his hatred, and did not display it,
and did not proceed to carry out his intention until he got a good opportunity. ' " And he said, I will perform my object of avenging mywith a thousand self, and I will guard myself from my enemy bridled horses behind me.'
from 'Abs, but did not cause fear to the people of the many houses, near which death had thrown down his baggage. 9 " They allowed their animals to graze until when the interval between the hours of drinking was finished, they took them to the deep pool, which is divided by weapons and by
"
Then he attacked
his victim
10 shedding of blood. " They accomplished their object amongst themselves, then they led the animals back to the pasture of unwholesome in-
"I have grown weary of the troubles of life and he, who lives eighty years will, mayest thou have no father if thou doubt n grow weary.
;
digestible grass.
"And
i
know what has happened
to-day and yesterday,
The misfortunes arising from war are double. Husain Bin Zamzam's father was killed during the war between the Benl Zubyfin and the Ben! 'Abs. When peace was concluded between the tribes, he made a vow secretly that he would kill one of the tribe of 'Abs out of the revenge for his father. This he did, but when the Benl 'Abs came to take revenge on him, Harith Ibn 'Awf offered them one hundred camels as blood money or his own son to kill. The 'Absioms took the camels and spared his son. The poet is now praising them for their act. 8 He killed no one while the peace was in force except the one person on whom he meant to take revenge. 10 By the deep pool is meant war, and the meaning of the lines is that the tribes refrained from war for a certain time, after which they again had recourse to arms. " A common term of imprecation.
s

before
it,
39
but verily, of the knowledge of what will happen to-morrow ; I am ignorant. "I him see death is like the blundering of a blind camel whom he meets he kills, and he whom he misses lives and will
;
become
"
"
old.
And he who
does not act with kindness in
many
affairs
by teeth and trampled under foot. he, who makes benevolent acts intervene before honor, increases his honor and he, who does not avoid abuse,
will be torn
And
will be abused.
is possessed of plenty, and is miserly with his wealth toward his people, will be dispensed with, and great
"
He, who
abused. "
heart "
He who keeps his

is
guided
to
word, will not be reviled ; and he whose self-satisfying benevolence will not
stammer.
dreads the causes of death, they will reach him, even if he ascends the tracts of the heavens with a
ladder. "
he, who shows kindness to one not deserving it, his praise will be a reproach against him, and he will repent of
And he who
And
having shown kindness. " And he who rebels against the butt ends of the spears, then verily he will have to obey the spear points joined to
12 every long spear shaft. " And he who does not repulse with his weapons from his tank, will have it broken; and he who does not oppress the
people will be oppressed. " And he who travels should consider his friend an
enemy
and he who does not respect himself will not be respected. " And he, who is always seeking to bear the burdens of other people, and does not excuse himself from it, will one day
by reason of his abasement, repent. " And whatever of character there is in a man, even though he thinks it concealed from people, it is known.
12 The wandering desert Arabs when they met used to present the butt ends of their spears toward one another if their intentions were peaceful, the points if they intended fighting.
40
He, who does not cease asking people to carry him, and does not make himself independent of them even for one day
of the time, will be regarded with disgust. " Many silent ones you see, pleasing to you, but their excess in wisdom or deficiency will appear at the time of
talking.
"
"
The tongue
of a
is
man
is
one half, and the other half
is
his
mind, and here

"
nothing besides these two, except the shape
of the blood and the flesh.
And
verily, as to the folly of

it,
an old
man
there
is
dom
wise.
after
but the young
man
after his folly
may
no wisbecome
asked of you, and you gave, and we returned to the and asking you returned to the giving, and he who increases the asking, will one day be disappointed."
"
We
THE KORAN
Let none touch
it
but they
who are clean. THE WARNING ALWAYS WRITTEN ON THE COVER OF AN ARABIC KORAN.
The Koran is, unto them that believe, a sure guide and a remedy; but unto those that believe not, it is a thickness of hearing in their ears, and it is a darkness which covereth them/'
THE KORAN, CHAPTER
XLI.
"
THE KORAN
(INTRODUCTION)
Oriental critic once said that the best way to understand the Koran was to take the hint given by the Arabic writing, which reads from right to left, and so read the Koran backward, beginning with the last chapter. This suggestion is really worth following ; for the Koran is not at all a book in our modern sense. It is not a complete discussion ar-
A FAMOUS
ranged in logical order. Each one of its Suras, or chapters, was proclaimed by Mohammed separately, as a chant or a prayer, a story or a warning, complete in itself, a single divine
revelation.
These Suras were never combined by Mohammed into a book or even into a series. He recited them to his friends as occasion demanded. Sometimes the chants were not even written down, and were preserved just as Arab songs had been
ories of
preserved for centuries before, by being treasured in the memwondering admirers. Only after the prophet's death,
his faith
was spreading over half the world, did its leaders realize that trouble threatened from the variations apSome pearing in the loosely memorized and repeated Suras. devotees treasured them in one phrasing, some in another. Fierce quarrels sprang up a division into sects seemed prob;
when
able.
Then the
of the
many
leaders resolved that one authorized wording Suras was needed ; and they entrusted the task
them to Zaid, one of Mohammed's comrades in Medina. This Zaid was therefore the editor and perhaps, to some extent of clarifying and reducing, the author of the
of gathering
Koran
as
we know
it,
and
as every
Mohammedan
accepts
it
absolutely.
The gathering of the Suras was in itself no easy task. Zaid had often acted as Mohammed's scribe, and had preserved in a chest copies of most of the Some of longer revelations.
43
44
these he
THE SACRED BOOKS
had written on scraps of sheepskin, some on palmleaves ; one at least Mohammed himself had traced on a flat For other Suras, Zaid trusted his memory, others he bone. There are in the Koran collected from the lips of friends. with two or three initial which begin to-day several Suras which the Mohammedans letters, apparently meaningless, These letters are regarded as themselves do not understand.
a holy mystery; but there is at least a probability that they mark the initials of the men from whom Zaid received those
Suras which he himself had not heard or known. In grouping the Suras in order, Zaid performed one of the quaintest and most childlike pieces of mechanical book-making ever achieved by an editor. He did put first of all that celebrated Sura which had become the common prayer of the Mohammedans. But after that he merely arranged the Suras This in the order of their length, putting the longest first.
leads us to the reason
why
the
Koran may be
best read back-
ward. Zaid's arrangement is very confusing to one who would follow the chronology or development of Mohammed's life and doctrine. Moreover, each Sura can only be fully
understood when regarded in its relation to the prophet's very adventurous life, his position of danger or of triumph at the moment of its revelation. Not only the tone of the speaker but even his doctrines changed much with his fortunes.
revelation proclaimed at one time was sometimes contradicted later. As a rule, the very short Suras at the end of
represent the early impassioned vehemence of the man, fighting for his As faith, shouting out the eager, burning flame within him. the chapters become longer they become calmer ; they are the
those
first
the
Koran were
announced.
They
sympathetic addresses of a teacher instructing the followers who trust him. And the longest chapters of all are an almost mechanical welding together and smoothing off of the dis-
One would jointed, passionate preachings of the earlier days. like to shift upon Zaid the responsibility for much of these The longest chapters with their mixing of many themes.
editor
may have thrown
together
much
that the prophet pro-
claimed separately.

To
45
the good Mohammedan, it must be remembered, the contradictions of doctrine in the Koran are not contradictions. Long before the Mohammedan scholar reads the sa-
cred book itself he has been taught which of any two conflicting commands came first and was afterward replaced by the
revelation he accepts as having been dito aid in the spreadvinely ordered for the moment's use At first, for example, the Suras commanded ing of the faith.
other.
first
The
weak and persecuted Mohammed to deal peaceably with his enemies. Later, when he had power, he received the famed command to slay all who opposed his teachings. So again, if you would understand the growth of the prophet's doctrines, you had best read the Koran backward. With these points in mind it is but natural that both Arabic
the
and European scholars have made efforts to revise the Koran, We have to rearrange its Suras in chronological order. even had an English translation of this nature by Rodwell, in which the editor has placed the Suras as he thinks they were proclaimed. Unhappily, however, we have no positive
Tradition tells us guide as to their chronological order. somewhat; the evidence of individual words and incidents
and doctrines helps much. Yet no two editors, either Arabic or European, have ever wholly or even closely agreed as to the complete reordering of the Suras, or of the individual
verses within them.
Some
of these verses have obviously
lost their original context.
Moreover, even if scholars could agree, their reordered book would not be the Koran, the holy book of the Mohammedans. To the faithful, the book is so completely inspired of God, that even its confusion is accepted as an essential part of the whole, as having been ordained for some wise
*
purpose.
They
believe that the
Koran has
existed since
1 Roughly speaking, the chronological arrangement of the Suras is somewhat as follows. The honor of being the earliest has been variously ascribed to the 74th, the 1st, and even the 68th. Generally,
however, the 96th Sura, or at least its opening down through verse After that, during the first five, is regarded as the earliest revelation. four years of the prophet's preaching, followed Suras 74, 111, 106, 108,
104, 107, 102, 105, 92, 90, 94, 93, 97, 86, 91, 80, 68,
and many others
46
THE SACRED BOOKS
the beginning of things, the perfect expression of God's law ; and that in Mohammed's day the angel Gabriel brought the
complete book forth from its eternal resting-place, and began revealing it to the prophet as each section fitted. In literary style the Koran scarcely upholds this idea of Its verses are arranged in a sort of chant, its perfection.
The lines do not at all prose. follow the rather exact metrical rules which the Arab poets Hence the Arabs of before Mohammed had established.
half
way between poetry and
day did not call it poetry. Yet the sentences have a vague rhythm of their own and they jingle with a constant rhyming, the combination bringing them much nearer in form to our idea of poetry than of prose. This haunting music is, of course, wholly lost in translation. Here is the Arabic of the first brief Sura, given, as nearly as Arabic words can be, in the English alphabet, so that the reader
his
may
catch the chanting
hum
of sound:
Bismilla-hi'rah man!' rrahim.
Al-hamdulillahi Rabbi' lalumin.
Arrahmani'rrahim ; Maliki yomi-d-din.

lyaka-Nabudu, waiyaka nastain. Ihdina'ssirat al mustakim, Sirat alazina an niamta alaihim,
Ghairi-'l-maghdhubi alaihim waladhalina.
Before reading the Koran, since it is so obviously and completely interwoven with Mohammed's personal career, one should study quite fully not only his life but also the
general conditions of life in the Arabia that he knew. Very The Arabs were briefly summarized these are as follows: then a race much like what they are and pasto-day,
proud
numbered above fifty. This period closes with the famous Sura number one; and the next years, leading up to the Hejira, open with 54, 37, 71, and others numbered above 10, and close with 7, 46, 6, and 13. To the final or Medina period belong Suras 2, 98, 64, 62, 8, 47, 3, 61, 57, 4, 65, 59, 33, 63, 24, 58, 22, 48, 66, 60, 110, 49, and 9. Sura 5 i8
usually regarded as the last of all, since it contains the solemn passage " This day have I perfected your religion for you," etc.

vehement
47
sionate, noble of thought but turning quickly to treachery,
but scarcely persistent in battle. In in a idea believed but this single god, vaguely religion they was so overlaid with idol-worship that they seldom addressed
fighters
Large colonies of Jews pervaded the land, so that Mohammed had always Jews, and often Christians also, among his neighbors. The popular Arab worship centered around a black stone, which was deemed holy, and which was sheltered in the ancient buildPilgrimages were made to the ing, the Kaaba, at Mecca. Kaaba and religious rites enacted there; so that the Arab
or even considered the central Power.
who occupied the rather barren town of Mecca, were much honored and acquired much wealth among their countrymen. To this distinguished tribe of the Koreish did Mohammed
tribe,
known
as the Koreish,
younger days he was not particularly noted of his race. He fought and traded and among tended camels and flocks as did the others. Probably he could not read nor write. He first came into prominence by marrying Khadija or Hadijah, a wealthy widow fifteen years older than himself. He was forty years of age when he announced himself to be inspired by visions, and to be a prophet of God. His wife Khadija promptly became his first and most devoted follower. Mohammed's new religion was chiefly a vehement protest He against the idolatry and immorality he saw around him. accepted both Judaism and Christianity and drew from our Bible or from Jewish traditions most of the stories with which the Koran is filled. Only, he declared that he came
belong.
his
In
the
men
To to complete both of the older faiths. Jesus God's was but one of line of the him, prophets; long and he, Mohammed, was also among these holy oracles, the
as a
new prophet
last
and most divinely guided of them all. He won converts As he preached against the slowly among his own people. idolatrous rites on which depended the whole prosperity of
the city of Mecca, naturally the chief men of the tribe obHis jected strenuously to his attack upon their fortunes.
bitterest
enemies rose among these leaders of the Koreish.
48
THE SACRED BOOKS
Finally, after twelve years of quarrel, Mohammed had to His few disciples fled with flee from Mecca for his life. him, and the little band found refuge in a rival city, Medina,
many
of whose people had heard and accepted
Mohammed's
is
teaching. "
This
flight
it
from Mecca
the
to
Medina
called the
Hejira," and from
of their era.
chronology.
date the beginning It occurred in the year G22 of our Christian
Mohammedans
The Koreish were now so infuriated against Mohammed that they waged a war against Medina to destroy him. But the prophet's faction grew rapidly stronger. The Koreish began to fear him and sought a truce and at length Moham;
He then very shrewdly practically conquered Mecca. declared that the city was still a holy place, pilgrimages must still be made there the Kaaba was announced to be the sacred center of his religion, as it had been of the earlier idolatry. On these wealth-insuring terms the Koreish gladly accepted
med
;
and became eager supporters of their mighty kinsman., From commanding small bands of desperate men, Mohammed soon found himself leading eager, hopeful armies. He had visions of conquering the world; but he died in 632, before his followers burst forth from Arabia. The tremendous conquests of Mohammedanism were accomplished, in his name, by his immediate successors.
the
faith,
new
THE KORAN
ENTITLED, THE PREFACE, OR INTRODUCTION;
1
REVEALED AT
2
MECCA
IN THE
NAME
OF"
THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD
Praise be to God, the Lord of all creatures; the most Thee do we merciful, the king of the day of judgment. of and thee do we us in the assistance. Direct worship, beg right way, in the way of those to whom thou has been gracious; not of those against those who go astray.
whom
thou art incensed, nor of
CHAPTER
ENTITLED, THE COW;
IN THE
II
ia REVEALED PARTLY AT MECCA, AND PARTLY AT MEDINA
NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD

is
A. L. M.
to
There
no doubt in
this
book
it is
a direction
the pious, who believe in the mysteries of faith, who observe the appointed times of prayer, and distribute alms
we have bestowed on them; and who believe in that revelation, which hath been sent down unto thee, and that which hath been sent down unto the prophets, before
out of what
1 In Arabic, al Fatihat. This chapter is a prayer, and held in great veneration by the Mohammedans, who give it several other honorable titles; as the chapter of "prayer," of "praise," or "thanksgiving," of " treasure," etc. They esteem it as the quintessence of the whole Koran, and often repeat it in their devotions, both public and private, as the Christians do the Lord's Prayer. 2 This formula, called the Bismillah, is prefixed to all but one of the chapters of the Koran, and is used by the Arabs in opening most books. " ia This title was occasioned red heifer," menby the story of the tioned in the chapter.
VOL. V.
4.
49
50
2
THE SACRED BOOKS

:
and have firm assurance in the life to come these are directed by their Lord, and they shall prosper. As for the unbelievers, it will be equal to them whether thou admonish them, or do not admonish them; they will God hath sealed up their hearts and their not believe. hearing; a dimness covereth their sight, and they shall There are some who say, We suffer a grievous punishment. believe in God and the last day, but are not really believers they seek to deceive God, and those who do believe, but they There deceive themselves only, and are not sensible thereof. is an infirmity in their hearts, and God hath increased that infirmity; and they shall suffer a most painful punishment When one saith unto them, because they have disbelieved. in the earth, they reply, Verily, we are men Act not corruptly Are not they themselves corrupt doers? but of integrity. they are not sensible thereof. And when one saith unto
thec,
;
them, Believe ye as others believe; they answer, Shall we Are not they themselves fools ? but believe as fools believe ?
they
know
it
not.
When
they meet those
who
believe, they
do believe: but when they retire privately to their say, devils, they say, we really hold with you, and only mock at those people: God shall mock at them, and continue them in their impiety they shall wander in confusion. These are the men who have purchased error at the price of true direction but their traffic hath not been gainful, neither have they been rightly directed. They are like unto one who kindleth a fire, and when it hath enlightened all around him, God
;
:
We
their light and leaveth them in darkness, they shall not see; they are deaf, dumb, and blind, therefore will
taketh
away
Or like a stormy cloud from heaven, fraught they not repent. with darkness, thunder, and lightning, they put their fingers
in their ears, because of the noise of the thunder, for fear of
2 The Mohammedans believe that God gave written revelations not only to Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed, but to several other prophets; though they acknowledge none of those which preceded the Koran to be now extant, except the Pentateuch of Moses, the Psalms of David, and the Gospel of Jesus; which yet they say were even before Mohammed's time altered and corrupted by the Jews and Christians; and therefore will not allow our present copies to be genuine.

death
: ;
51
God encompasseth the infidels the lightning wanteth but little of taking away their sight so often as it enlighteneth them, they walk therein, but when darkness cometh on them, they stand still; and if God so pleased, he would cer;
tainly deprive
them of
!
their hearing
and their
sight, for
God
is
men
fear
almighty. of Mecca
and those who
serve your Lord who hath created you, have been before you: peradventure ye will
him; who hath spread the earth as a bed for you, and the heaven as a covering, and hath caused water to descend from heaven, and thereby produced fruits for your susSet not
tenance.
up therefore any equals unto God, against
your own knowledge. If ye be in doubt concerning that revelation which we have sent down unto our servant, produce a chapter like unto it, and call upon your witnesses, besides God, if ye say truth. But if ye do it not, nor shall ever be able to do it, justly fear the fire whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the unbelievers. But bear good tidings unto those who believe, and do good works, that they shall have gardens watered by rivers; so often as they eat of the fruit thereof for sustenance, they shall say, This is what we have formerly eaten of; and they shall be supplied with several sorts of fruit having a mutual resemblance to one another. 3 There shall they enjoy wives subject to no impurity, and there shall they continue forever. Moreover God will not be ashamed to propound in a parable a gnat, or even a more despicable thing 4 for they who believe will know it
:
to
be
the
truth
from
their
Lord;
but
the
?
:
unbelievers
will say,
mislead
What meaneth God by this many, and will direct many
parable he will thereby thereby but he will not
mislead any thereby, except the transgressors,

a
who make void
paradise,
of this sense, supposing the fruits of of are alike in color and outward apvarious tastes, though pearance; but others think the meaning to be, that the inhabitants of
Some commentators approve
that place will find there fruits of the same or the like kinds as they used to eat while on earth. 4 This was revealed to take off an objection made to the Koran by the infidels, for condescending to speak of such insignificant insects as the spider, the pismire, the bee, etc.
52
the covenant of
THE SACRED BOOKS

God
after the establishing thereof, and cut God hath commanded to be joined, and
;
in sunder that which act corruptly in the earth
ye believe not in God? you life; he will hereafter cause you to die, and will again It is he restore you to life then shall ye return unto him. on is and then set whatsoever for created who hath earth, you his mind to the creation of heaven, and formed it into seven heavens; he knoweth all things. When thy Lord said unto the angels, I am going to place a substitute on earth, they said, Wilt thou place there one who will do evil therein, and shed blood? but we celebrate thy praise, and sanctify thee. God answered, Verily I know that which ye know not; and he taught Adam the names of all things, and then proposed them to the angels, and said, Declare unto me the names of
;
they shall perish. How is it that Since ye were dead, and he gave
ye say truth. They answered, Praise be unto thee, we have no knowledge but what thou teachest us, for God said, O Adam, tell them thou art knowing and wise. And when he had told them their names, God their names. said, Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and
these, things if
and know that which ye discover, and that which ye And when we said unto the angels, Worship Adam, conceal ? all they worshiped him, except Eblis, who refused, and was puffed up with pride, and became of the number of unbelievers. And we said, O Adam, dwell thou and thy wife in the garden, and eat of the fruit thereof plentifully wherever ye will; but approach not this tree, lest ye become of the number of the transgressors. But Satan caused them to forfeit paradise, and turned them out of the state of happiness wherein they had been whereupon we said, Get ye down, the one of you an enemy unto the other; and there shall be a dwelling-place for you on earth, and a provision for a season. And Adam learned words of prayer from his Lord, and God turned unto him, for he is easy to be reconciled and merciful. We said, Get ye all down from hence hereafter shall there come unto you a direction from me, and whoever shall follow my direction, on them shall no fear come, neither shall they be grieved; but they who shall be unbelievers, and acearth,
;
;
53
cuse our signs of falsehood, they shall be the companions of O children of hell fire, therein shall they remain for ever.
favor wherewith I have favored you; and perform your covenant with me and I will perform my covenant with you ; and revere me and believe in the revelaIsrael,
remember
my
which I have sent down, confirming that which is with you, and be not the first who believe not therein, neither exchange my signs for a small price and fear me. Clothe
tion
;
not the truth with vanity, neither conceal the truth against your own knowledge observe the stated times of prayer, and pay your legal alms, and bow down yourselves with those who bow down. Will ye command men to do justice, and forget your own souls? yet ye read the book of the law: do ye not therefore understand? Ask help with perseverance and prayer; this indeed is grievous, unless to the humble, who seriously think they shall meet their Lord, and that to
;
him they
shall return.
children of Israel, remember my favor wherewith I have favored you, and that I have preferred you above all nations; dread the day wherein one soul shall not make
satisfaction for another soul, neither shall any intercession be accepted from them, nor shall any compensation be received, neither shall they be helped.
you from the people of oppressed you, they slew your male children, and let your females live therein was a great trial from your Lord. And when we divided the sea for you and delivered you, and drowned Pharaoh's people while ye looked on. And when we treated with Moses forty nights then ye took the calf for your God, and did evil; yet afterward we forgave you, that
delivered
: ;
Remember when we Pharaoh, who grievously
peradventure ye might give thanks. And when we gave Moses the book of the law, and the distinction between good and evil, that peradventure ye might be directed. And when Moses said unto his people, O my people, verily ye have
injured your own souls, by your taking the calf for your God; therefore be turned unto your Creator, and slay those among you who have been guilty of that crime this will be better for you in the sight of your Creator: and thereupon
;
54
THE SACRED BOOKS
he turned unto you, for he is easy to be reconciled, and merciAnd when ye said, O Moses, we will not believe thee, ful. until we see God manifestly; therefore a punishment came upon you, while ye looked on ; then we raised you to life after
5 ye had been dead, that peradventure ye might give thanks. And we caused clouds to overshadow you, and manna and quails to descend upon you, saying, Eat of the good things which we have given you for food and they injured not us, but injured their own souls. And when we said, Enter into this city, and eat of the provisions thereof plentifully as ye will; and enter the gate worshiping, and say, Forgiveness! we will pardon you your sins, and give increase unto the well:
But the ungodly changed the expression into another, different from what had been spoken unto them and we sent down upon the ungodly indignation from heaven, because And when Moses asked drink for his they had transgressed. people, we said, Strike the rock with thy rod; and there gushed thereout twelve fountains according to the number of the tribes, and all men knew their respective drinking-place. Eat and drink of the bounty of God, and commit not evil in the earth, acting unjustly. And when ye said, O Moses, we will by no means be satisfied with one kind of food; pray
doers.
;
unto thy Lord, therefore for

bers,
us, that he would produce for us of which the earth bringeth forth, herbs, and cucum-
and garlic, and lentils, and onions; Moses answered, Will ye exchange that which is better for that which is worse ? Get ye down into Egypt, for there shall ye find what ye desire and they were smitten with vileness and misery, and drew on themselves indignation from God. This they suffered, because they believed not in the signs of God, and
:
killed the prophets unjustly; this, because they rebelled
and
transgressed. Surely those
who
believe,
and those who Judaize, and
made
The persons here meant are said to have been seventy men, who were choice of by Moses, and heard the voice of God talking with him. But not being satisfied with that, they demanded to see God; whereupon they were all struck dead by lightning, and on Moses's intercession
life.
restored to

Christians,
55
and Sabians, 6 whoever believeth in God, and the last day, and doth that which is right, they shall have their reward with their Lord; there shall come no fear on them,
neither shall they be grieved.
Call to
mind
also
when we
accepted your covenant, and
lifted
up
the mountain of Sinai
over you, saying, Receive the law which we have given you, with a resolution to keep it, and remember that which is contained therein, that ye
may
beware.
After this ye again
had not been for God's indulgence and mercy toward you, ye had certainly been destroyed. Moreover ye know what befell those of your nation who 7 transgressed on the Sabbath day, We said unto them, Be ye
turned back, so that
if it
From these words, which are repeated in the fifth chapter, several writers have wrongly concluded that the Mohammedans hold it to be the doctrine of their prophet that every man may be saved in his own
It is true, some religion, provided he be sincere and lead a good life. of their doctors do agree this to be the purport of the words; but then they say the latitude hereby granted was soon revoked, for that this
abrogated by several others in the Koran, which expressly who is not of the Mohammedan faith, and particularly by those words of the third chapter, " Whoever followeth any other religion than Islam (i.e., the Mohammedan) it shall not be accepted of him, and at the last day he shall be of those who perish." However, others are of opinion that this passage is not abrogated, but interpret it differently, taking the meaning of it to be that no man, whether he be a Jew, a Christian, or a Sabian, shall be excluded from salvation, provided he quit his erroneous religion and become a Moslem, which they say is intended by the following words, " Whoever believeth in God and the last day, and doth that which is right." 7 The story to which this passage refers is as follows. In the days of David some Israelites dwelt at Ailah, or Elath, on the Red Sea, where on the night of the Sabbath the fish used to come in great numbers to the shore, and stay there all the Sabbath, to tempt them; but the night following they returned into the sea again. At length some of the inhabitants, neglecting God's command, caught fish on the Sabbath, and dressed and ate them; and afterward cut canals from the sea, for the fish to enter, with sluices, which they shut on the Sabbath, to prevent their return to the sea. The other part of the inhabitants, who strictly observed the Sabbath, used both persuasion and force to stop this immore piety, but to no purpose, the offenders growing only more and obstinate whereupon David cursed the Sabbath-breakers, and God transformed them into apes. It is said that one going to see a friend of his that was among them, found him in the shape of an ape, moving his the eyes about wildly; and asking him whether he was not such a one,
passage
is
declare that none can be saved
56
THE SACRED BOOKS
from the society of men. changed into apes, driven away unto those who were conteman them made And we example came after them, and a porary with them, and unto those who Moses said unto his people, when And warning to the pious.
Verily
swered, bid that I should be one of the foolish.
God conimandeth you Dost thou make a jest
to sacrifice a
cow; they ansaid,
of us
Moses
They
said,
God forPray for
us unto thy Lord, that he would show us what cow it is. Moses answered, He saith, She is neither an old cow, nor a young heifer, but of a middle age between both do ye there:
fore that which ye are commanded. They said, Pray for us unto thy Lord, that he would show us what color she is of.
Moses answered,
He
saith,
She
is
her color rejoiceth the beholders. unto thy Lord, that he would further show us what cow it is, for several cows with us are like one another, and we, if God
a red cow, intensely red, They said, Pray for us
Moses answered, saith, She is a please, will be directed. to plow the earth, or water the field, a sound one ; there is no blemish in her. They said, !N"ow hast thou
He
cow not broken
brought the truth.
Then they
sacrificed her
little of leaving it undone. And when contended among yourselves concerning him,
yet they wanted ye slew a man, and

;
God brought
forth to light that which ye concealed. the dead body with part of the sacrificed
For we said, Strike cow so God raiseth

:
life, and showeth you his signs, that peradventure ye may understand. Then were your hearts hardened after this, even as stones, or exceeding them in hardness for from
:
the dead to
stones have rivers bursted forth, others have been rent in sunder, and water hath issued from them, and others have fallen down for fear of God. But God is not regardless of that which ye do. Do ye therefore desire that the Jews should believe you? yet a part of them heard the word of God, and
then perverted
it,
after they
own
conscience.
And when
had understood it, against their they meet the true believers,
ape made a sign with his head that it was he; whereupon the friend " said to him, " Did not I advise you to desist? at which the ape wept. add that these They unhappy people remained three days in this condition, and were afterward destroyed by a wind which swept them all into
the sea.

they say,
57
but when they are privately assembled Will ye acquaint them with what God hath together, they say, revealed unto you, that they may dispute with you concerning it in the presence of your Lord? Do ye not therefore understand? Do not they know that God knoweth that which they conceal as well as that which they publish? But there are illiterate men among them, who know not the book of the law, but only lying stories, although they think And woe unto them who transcribe corruptly the otherwise. book of the law with their hands, and then say, This is from God that they may sell it for a small price. Therefore woe unto them because of that which their hands have written ; and woe unto them for that which they have gained. They say, The fire of hell shall not touch us but for a certain numbelieve
: :
We
ber of days. Answer, Have ye received any promise from God to that purpose? for God will not act contrary to his promise or do ye speak concerning God that which ye know
:
not?
Verily whoso doth evil, and are encompassed by his iniquity, they shall be the companions of hell fire, they shall remain therein forever: but they do believe and do good
works, they shall be the companions of paradise, they shall continue therein forever. Remember also, when we accepted the covenant of the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall not
worship any other except God, and ye shall show kindness to your parents and kindred, and to orphans, and to the poor, and speak that which is good unto men, and be constant at
Afterward ye turned back, except a prayer, and give alms. few of you, and retired afar off. And when we accepted your covenant, saying, Ye shall not shed your brother's blood,
nor dispossess one another of your habitations.
firmed
it,
Then ye
con-
and were witnesses thereto. Afterward ye were they who slew one another, and turned several of your brethren out of their houses, mutually assisting each other against them with injustice and enmity; but if they come captives unto you, ye redeem them yet it is equally unlawful for you
:
to dispossess
them. Do ye therefore believe in part of the book of the law, and reject other parts thereof ? But whoso among you doth this shall have no other reward than shame
58
in this
life,
THE SACRED BOOKS
and on the day of resurrection they shall be sent to a most grievous punishment; for God is not regardless of that which ye do. These are they who have purchased this present life at the wherefore their punishment price of that which is to come;
shall not be mitigated, neither shall they be helped.
We
for-
merly delivered the book of the law unto Moses, and caused apostles to succeed him, and gave evident miracles to Jesus the son of Mary, and strengthened him with the holy spirit. Do ye therefore, wherever an apostle cometh unto you with that which your souls desire not, proudly reject him, and The Jews say, accuse some of imposture, and slay others? Our hearts are uncircumcised but God hath cursed them with their infidelity, therefore few shall believe. And when a book came unto them from God, confirming the scriptures which were with them, although they had before prayed for
:
unto them which they knew

:
when that came from God, they would not believe therein therefore the curse of God shall be on the infiFor a vile price have they sold their souls, that they dels. should not believe in that which God hath sent down; out of
assistance against those
who
believed not, yet

to be
envy, because God sendeth down his favors to such of his servants as he pleaseth: therefore they brought on themselves indignation on indignation; and the unbelievers shall suffer
an ignominious punishment. When one saith unto them, Believe in that which God hath sent down they answer, We believe in that which hath been sent down unto us and they reject what hath been revealed since, although it be the truth, confirming that which is with them. Say, Why therefore
:
have ye slain the prophets of God in times past, if ye be true believers? Moses formerly came unto you with evident signs, but ye afterward took the calf for your god and did
And when we accepted your covenant, and lifted wickedly. the mountain of Sinai over you, saying, Receive the law which
we have
they
said.
made
lief.
given you, with a resolution to perform it, and hear We have heard, and have rebelled and they were to drink down the calf into their hearts for their unbe;
:
Say,
A grievous thing hath your faith
commanded
you,

if
59
ye be true believers. Say, If the future mansion with God be prepared peculiarly for you, exclusive of the rest of mankind, wish for death, if ye say truth but they will never wish for it, because of that which their hands have sent before them God knoweth the wicked doers and thou shalt surely find them of all men the most covetous of life, even more than the idolaters: one of them would desire his life to be prolonged a thousand years, but none shall reprieve himself from punishment, that his life may be prolonged: God seeth that which they do. Say, Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel 8 (for he hath caused the Koran to descend on thy heart, by the permission of God, confirming that which was before revealed, a whosoever is an direction, and good tidings to the faithful)
:
God, or his angels, or his apostles, or to Gabriel, or enemy And Michael, verily God is an enemy to the unbelievers. now we have sent down unto thee evident signs, and none will disbelieve them but the evil-doers. Whenever they make a
to
covenant, will some of them do not believe.
them
reject
it ?
And when
yea, the greater part of there came unto them an
apostle from God, confirming that scripture which was with them, some of those to whom the scriptures were given cast
the book of
and
the
their backs, as if they knew it not : they followed the device which the devils devised against
9
;
God behind
kingdom of Solomon
and Solomon was not an unbe-
8 The commentators say that the Jews asked what angel it was that brought the divine revelations to Mohammed; and being told that it was Gabriel, they replied that he was their enemy, and the messenger of wrath and punishment; but if it had been Michael, they would have believed on him, because that angel was their friend, and the messenger of peace and plenty. And on this occasion, they say, this passage was
revealed.
9
The
devils having,
by God's permission, tempted Solomon without
For they wrote success, they made use of a trick to blast his character. several books of magic, and hid them under that prince's throne, and
after his death told the chief men that if they wanted to know by what means Solomon had obtained his absolute power over men, genii, and the winds, they should dig under his throne; which having done, they found the aforesaid books, which contained impious superstitions. The
better sort refused to learn the evil arts therein delivered, but the common people did; and the priests published this scandalous story of Sol-
omon, which obtained credit among the Jews,
till
God, says the Mohatu-
60
THE SACRED BOOKS
men sorcery, liever; but the devils believed not, they taught two the to and that which was sent down angels at Babel,
Harut and Marut
yet those two taught no man until they had said, Verily we are a temptation, therefore be not an So men learned from those two a charm by unbeliever.
10
: ;
which they might cause division between a man and his wife but they hurt none thereby, unless by God's permission and they learned that which would hurt them, and not profit them and yet they knew that he who bought that art should have no part in the life to come, and woeful is the price for which they have sold their souls, if they knew it. But if they had believed and feared God, verily the reward they would have had from God would have been better, if they had
;
known
it.
true believers, say not to our apostle, Haina; but say, 11 and harken: the infidels shall suffer a grievous Ondhorna, punishment. It is not the desire of the unbelievers, either
the scriptures have been given, or medans, cleared that King by the mouth of their prophet, declaring that Solomon was no idolater. 10 Some say only that these were two magicians, or angels sent by God to teach men magic, and to tempt them. But others tell a longer fable
among
those unto
whom
that the angels expressing their surprise at the wickedness of the sons of Adam, after prophets had been sent to them with divine commissions, God bid them choose two out of their own number to be sent down to be judges on earth.. Whereupon they pitched upon Harut and Marut, who executed their office with integrity for some time, till Zohara, or the planet Venus, descended and appeared before them in the shape of a beautiful woman, bringing a complaint against her husband (though others say she was a real woman). As soon as they saw her, they fell in love with her, and endeavored to prevail on her to satisfy their desires; but she flew up again into heaven, whither the two angels also returned, but were not admitted. However, on the intercession of a certain pious man, they were allowed to choose whether they would be punished in this life, or in the other; whereupon they chose the former, and now suffer punishment accordingly in Babel, where they are to remain till the day of judgment. They add that if a man has a fancy to learn magic, he may go to them, and hear their voice, but can not see them. " Look 11 Those two Arabic words have both the same signification, viz., " on us and are a kind of salutation. Mohammed had a great aversion to the first, because the Jews frequently used it in derision, it being a
;
word of reproach
in their tonmie. They alludi-d, it seems, to the Hebrew verb rud, which signifies to " be bud or mischievous."

among
61
the idolaters, that any good should be sent down unto you from your Lord but God will appropriate his mercy unto whom he pleaseth; for God is exceeding beneficent. What:
shall abrogate, or cause thee to forget, we will Dost thou not bring a better than it, or one like unto it.
ever verse
we
Dost thou not know that unto the kingdom of heaven and earth? neither have ye any protector or helper except God. Will ye require of your apostle according to that which was formerly required of Moses ? but he that hath exchanged faith for infidelity hath Many of those unto already erred from the straight way. whom the scriptures have been given desire to render you again unbelievers, after ye have believed; out of envy from their souls, even after the truth is become manifest unto them; but forgive them and avoid them, till God shall send
know that God God belongeth
is
almighty
his
command for God is omnipotent. Be constant in prayer, and give alms; and what good ye
;
have sent before for your souls ye shall find it with God; They say, Verily none surely God seeth that which ye do. shall enter paradise, except they who are Jews or Christians this is their wish. Say, Produce your proof of this, if ye he who resigneth himself to God, and but truth. Nay, speak doth that which is right, he shall have his reward with his Lord ; there shall come no fear on them, neither shall they be The Jews say, The Christians are grounded on grieved. nothing; and the Christians say, the Jews are grounded on
:
So likewise say nothing: yet they both read the scriptures. they who know not the scripture, according to their saying.
But God
judge between them on the day of the resurrecWho tion, concerning that about which they now disagree. is more unjust than he who prohibiteth the temples of God, that his name should be remembered therein, and who hasteth to destroy them ? These men can not enter therein, but with fear: they shall have shame in this world, and in the next a
shall
To God belongeth the east and the grievous punishment. west; therefore, whithersoever ye turn yourselves to pray, there is the face of God for God is omnipresent and omnis;
cient.
They
say,
God hath
begotten children:
God
forbid!
62
THE SACRED BOOKS

;
belongeth whatever is in heaven, and on earth ; all is the Creator of heaven and earth and when possessed by him, And a he decreeth thing, he only saith unto it, Be, and it is. Unless God speak unto they who know not the scriptures say, So said those will not believe. we a us sign, us, or thou show
To him
before them, according to their saying : their hearts resemble have already shown manifest signs unto peoeach other. thee in truth, a bearer ple who firmly believe ; we have sent
We
of good tidings, and a preacher ; and thou shalt not be quesBut the Jews will tioned concerning the companions of hell.
not be pleased with thee, neither the Christians, until thou follow their religion; say, The direction of God is the true And verily if thou follow their desires, after the direction.
knowledge which hath been given thee, thou shalt find no They to whom we have patron or protector against God. who read it with its true of the and Koran, given the book reading, they believe therein; and whoever believeth not
therein, they shall perish.
O children of Israel,
tion for
remember
my favor wherewith
I have
favored you, and that I have preferred you before all nations ; and dread the day wherein one soul shall not make satisfacaccepted from them, nor
shall they be helped.
another soul, neither shall any compensation be shall any intercession avail, neither
Remember when
the Lord tried Abra:
certain words, which he fulfilled God said, Verily I will constitute thee a model of religion unto mankind; he covenant answered, And also of my posterity ; God said,
ham by
My
doth not comprehend the ungodly. And when we appointed the holy house of Mecca to be the place of resort for mankind, and a place of security and said, Take the station of Abra;
for a place of prayer ; and we covenanted with Abraham and Ismael, that they should cleanse my house for those who
ham
should compass it, and those who should be devoutly assiduous and those who should bow down and worship. And there,
when Abraham
said, Lord,
make
this a territory of security,
and bounteously bestow fruits on its inhabitants, such of them as believe in God and the last day God answered, And whoever believeth not, I will bestow on him little, afterward I
;

will drive
it
63
an ill journey the founIsmael raised shall dations of the house, saying, Lord, accept it from us, for thou art he who heareth and knoweth: Lord, make us also 12 unto thee, and of our posterity a people resigned resigned unto thee, and show us our holy ceremonies, and be turned
to the
him
punishment of
hell fire
be
And when Abraham and
unto us, for thou art easy to be reconciled, and merciful Lord, send them likewise an apostle from among them, who may declare thy signs unto them, and teach them the book of the Koran and wisdom, and may purify them for thou art mighty and wise. Who will be averse to the religion of
: ;
Abraham, but he whose mind is infatuated? Surely we have chosen him in this world, and in that which is to come he When his Lord said unto him, shall be one of the righteous.
Resign thyself unto me he answered, I have resigned myself unto the Lord of all creatures. And Abraham bequeathed this religion to his children, and Jacob did the same, saying, My children, verily God hath chosen this religion for you, Were ye prestherefore die not, unless ye also be resigned. ent when Jacob was at the point of death ? when he said to his
;
ye worship after me ? They answered, We God, and the God of thy father, Abraham, and Ismael, and Isaac, one God, and to him will we be reThat people are now passed away, they have what signed. have they gained, and yet shall have what we gain; and ye shall not be questioned concerning that which they have done. They say, Become Jews or Christians that ye may be directed.
will sons, will worship thy
Whom
Say, Nay, we follow the religion of Abraham the orthodox, who was no idolater. Say, We believe in God, and that which hath been sent down unto us, and that which hath been sent down unto Abraham, and Ismael, and Isaac, and
Jacob, and the tribes, and that which was delivered unto Moses, and Jesus, and that which was delivered unto the
prophets from their Lord

believe according to
12
We
any of them, and to God are what ye believe, they are surely directed
The Arabic word
make no distinction between we resigned. Now if they

;
Mohammedans take
is Moslemuna, in the singular Moslem, which the as a title peculiar to themselves.
64
but
if
THE SACRED BOOKS
God shall support they turn back, they are in schism. The bapthee against them, for he is the hearer, the wise. is who better God to and than we have tism of God received, Say, Will ye dispute with us baptize ? him do we worship.
concerning God, who is our Lord, and your Lord? we have our works, and ye have your works, and unto him are we sinWill ye say, Truly Abraham, and Ismael, cerely devoted. and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes were Jews or Christians ? Say, Are ye wiser, or God ? And who is more unjust than
he who hideth the testimony which he hath received from God ? But God is not regardless of that which ye do. That people are passed away, they have what they have gained, and ye shall have what ye gain, nor shall ye be questioned concerning that which they have done. The foolish men will say, What hath turned them from 13 their keblcih, toward which they formerly prayed ? Say, Unto God belongeth the east and the west he directeth whom he pleaseth into the right way. Thus have we placed you, O Arabians, an intermediate nation, that ye may be witnesses against the rest of mankind, and that the apostle may be a witness against you. We appointed the keblah toward which
:
thou didst formerly pray, only that

followeth the apostle,
we might know him who from him who turneth back on his
heels; though this change seem a great matter, unless unto those whom God hath directed. But God will not render
your faith of none effect for God is gracious and merciful unto man. We have seen thee turn about thy face toward heaven with uncertainty, but we will cause thee to turn thyself toward a Jceblah that will Turn therefore please thee.
;
his followers observed no particular rite place, or quarter of the world, when they prayed; it being declared to be perfectly indifferent. Afterward, when the prophet fled to Medina, he directed them to turn toward the temple of Jerusalem, which continued to be their keblah for six or
first,
!3
At
Mohammed and
in turning their faces
toward any certain
seven months; but either finding the Jews too intractable, or despairing otherwise to gain the pagan Arabs, who could not forget their respect to the temple of Mecca, he ordered that prayers for the future should be toward the last. This change was made in the second year of the Hegira, and occasioned many to fall from him, taking offense at his inconstancy.
65
Ihy turn
je,
face toward the holy temple of Mecca and wherever ye your faces toward that place. They to whom the
;
scripture hath been given
know
this to be truth
from
their
is not regardless of that which ye do. Verily show unto those to whom the shouldest thou scripalthough ture hath been given all kinds of signs, yet they will not follow thy keblah, neither shalt thou follow their keblah; nor And if will one part of them follow the keblah of the other.
Lord.
God
thou follow their desires, after the knowledge which hath been They given thee, verily thou wilt become one of the ungodly. to whom we have given the scripture know our apostle, even
as they
know
their
truth, against their therefore thou shalt not doubt.
own children but some of them hide the own knowledge. Truth is from thy Lord,
;
hath a certain tract of heaven to which they turn themselves in prayer but do ye strive to run after good things: wherever ye be, God
Every
sect
will
bring you
all
almighty. turn thy face toward the holy temple ; for this is truth from thy Lord; neither is God regardless of that which ye do.
And from what
back at the resurrection, for God is place soever thou comest forth,
From what
place soever thou comest forth, turn thy face
toward the holy temple; and wherever ye be, thitherward turn your faces, lest men have matter of dispute against you but as for those among them who are unjust doers, fear them not, but fear me, that I may accomplish my grace upon you, and that ye may be directed. As we have sent unto you an apostle from among you, to rehearse our signs unto you, and to purify you, and to teach you the book of the Koran and wisdom, and to teach you that which ye knew not therefore remember me, and I will remember you, and give thanks unto me, and be not unbelievers.
;
:
true believers, beg assistance with patience and prayer, for God is with the patient. And say not of those who are
; yea, are but do not understand. will they living: ye surely prove you by afflicting you in some measure with fear, and hunger, and decrease of wealth, and loss of lives, and scarcity of fruits but bear good tidings unto the patient, who when a VOL. v. 5.
slain in fight for the religion of
God, that they are dead
We
66
THE SACRED BOOKS

we
surely return.
misfortune befalleth them, say,

shall
Upon
are God's, and unto him them shall be blessings from
We
Lord and mercy, and they are the rightly directed. Moreover Safa and Merwah are two of the monuments of God whoever therefore goeth on pilgrimage to the temple of Mecca or visiteth it, it shall be no crime in him if he compass them both. 14 And as for him who voluntarily performeth a good work, verily God is grateful and knowing. They who conceal any of the evident signs, or the direction which we have sent down, after what we have manifested unto men in the scripture, God shall curse them and they who curse shall But as for those who repent and amend, and curse them. make known what they concealed, I will be turned unto them, for I am easy to be reconciled and merciful. Surely they who believe not, and die in their unbelief, upon them shall be the curse of God, and of the angels, and of all men they shall remain under it forever, their punishment shall not be alletheir
: ;
viated, neither shall they be regarded.
no God but he, the most merciful. Now in the creation of heaven and earth, and the vicissitude of night and day, and in the ship which saileth in the sea, laden with what is profitable for mankind, and in the rain-water which God sendeth from heaven, quickening thereby the dead earth, and replenishing the same with all sorts of cattle, and in the change of winds, and the clouds that are compelled to do service between heaven and earth, are signs to people of understanding: yet some men take idols beside God, and love them as with the love due to God but the true believers are more fervent in love toward God.
Your God
is
one God, there
is
that they who act unjustly did perceive, when they behold their punishment, that all power belongeth unto God, and that he is severe in punishing! When those who have
Oh
been followed shall separate themselves from their followers, and shall see the punishment, and the cords of relation bei* Safa and Merwa are two mountains near Mecca, whereon was anciently two idols, to which the pagan Arabs used to pay a superstitious veneration. Jallalo'ddin says this passage was revealed because the followers of Mohammed made a scruple of going round these mountains, as the idolaters did.

we could return
to life,
67
tween them shall be cut in sunder ; the followers shall say, If
we would
separate ourselves from
So them, as they have now separated themselves from us. God will show them their works; they shall sigh grievously,
and
shall not
is
that which
come forth from the fire of hell. O men, eat of lawful and good on the earth and tread not in
;
your open enemy. Verily he commandeth you evil and wickedness, and that ye should say And when it is said unto that of God which ye know not. them who believe not, Follow that which God hath sent down they answer, Nay, but we will follow that which we found
the steps of the devil, for he
is
;
our fathers practise. What ? though their fathers knew nothThe unbelievers are like ing, and were not rightly directed ? unto one who crieth aloud to that which heareth not so much
sound of his voice. They are deaf, dumb, and blind, therefore they do not understand. O true believers, eat of the good things which we have bestowed on you for food, and return thanks unto God, if ye serve him. Verily he hath forbidden you to eat that which dieth of itself, and blood, and swine's flesh, and that on which any other name but God's hath been invocated. But he who is forced by necessity, not lusting, nor returning to transgress, it shall be no crime in him if he eat of those things, for God is gracious and merciful. Moreover they who conceal any part of the scripture which God hath sent down unto them, and sell it for a small price, they shall swallow into their bellies nothing but fire; God shall not speak unto them on the day of resurrection, neither shall he purify them, and they shall suffer a grievous punishment. These are they who have sold direction for error, and pardon for punishment but how great will their suffering be in the fire This they shall endure, because God sent down the book of the Koran with truth, and they who disagree concerning that book are certainly in a wide mistake.
as his calling, or the
: !
It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces in prayer toward the east and the west, but righteousness is of him who
believeth in
scriptures,
God, and the
last day,
and the angels, and the
and the prophets; who giveth money for God's
68
THE SACRED BOOKS
sake unto his kindred, and unto orphans, and the needy, and the stranger, and those who ask, and for redemption of capwho is constant at prayer, and giveth alms; and of
tives;
who perform their covenant, when they have covenanted, and who behave themselves patiently in adversity, and hardviolence these are they who are true, ships, and in time of fear God. who are and these they
those
:
true believers, the law of retaliation is ordained you for the slain: the free shall die for the free, and the servant for the servant, and a woman for a woman: but he whom his
be prosecuted, and obliged to make satisfaction according to what is just, and a fine shall be set on him with humanity. This is indulgence from your Lord, and mercy. And he who shall transgress after this, by killbrother shall forgive
may
ing the murderer, shall suffer a grievous punishment. And in this law of retaliation ye have life, O ye of understanding,
that peradventure ye It is ordained you,
if
may
fear.
when any
of you
is at
the point of death,
he leave any goods, that he bequeath a legacy to his parents, and kindred, according to what shall be reasonable. This is a duty incumbent on those who fear God. But he who shall change the legacy, after he hath heard it bequeathed by the
dying person, surely the sin thereof shall be on those who change it, for God is he who heareth and knoweth. Howbeit he who apprehendeth from the testator any mistake or injustice, and shall compose the matter between them, that shall be no crime in him, for God is gracious and merciful. O true believers, a fast is ordained you, as it was ordained unto those before you, that ye may fear God. A certain number of days shall ye fast but he among you who shall be sick, or on a journey, shall fast an equal number of other And those who can keep it, and do not, must redeem days. their neglect by maintaining of a poor man. And he who dealeth better with the poor man than he is voluntarily But if ye fast it will obliged, this shall be better for him.
:
be better for you, if ye knew it. The month of Ramadan shall ye fast, in which the Koran was sent down from heaven, a direction unto men, and declarations of direction, and the
69
Therefore let him among distinction between good and evil. in this month be fast the same month ; who shall present you
but he who shall be sick, or on a journey, shall fast the like number of other days. God would make this an ease unto you, and would not make it a difficulty unto you that ye may fufil the number of days, and glorify God, for that he hath
;
When my serdirected you, and that ye may give thanks. I am near ; I will hear vants ask thee concerning me, Verily
the prayer of him that prayeth, when he prayeth unto but let them hark^ <L unto me, and believe in me, that they be rightly directed.
It is lawful for
me:
may
you on the night of the fast to go in unto are a garment unto you, and ye are a garyour wives, they ment unto them. God knoweth that ye defraud yourselves therein, wherefore he turneth unto you, and forgiveth you.
therefore go in unto them; and earnestly desire that which God ordaineth you, and eat and drink, until ye can
plainly distinguish a white thread from a black thread by the daybreak then keep the fast until night, and go not in unto
:
Now
them, but be constantly present in the places of worship. These are the prescribed bounds of God, therefore draw not near them to transgress them. Thus God declareth his signs
unto men, that ye may fear him. Consume not your wealth among yourselves in vain nor present it unto judges, that ye may devour part of men's sub;
stance unjustly, against your own consciences. They will ask thee concerning the phases of the moon. Answer, They are times appointed unto men, and to
show the season of the
Mecca. It is not righteousness that ye enter your houses by the back part thereof, but righteousness is of him who feareth God. Therefore enter your houses by their
pilgrimage to
doors
;
and fear God, that ye
may
be happy.
against those
And
fight for the religion of
God
who
fight
against you, but transgress not by attacking them first, for God loveth not the transgressors. And kill them wherever ye
and turn them out of that whereof they have dispossessed you; for temptation to idolatry is more grievous than slaughter yet fight not against them in the holy temple,
find them,
:
70
THE SACRED BOOKS
until they attack you therein; but if they attack you, slay them there. This shall be the reward of the infidels. But if
they desist, God is gracious and merciful. Fight therefore against them, until there be no temptation to idolatry, and the religion be God's but if they desist, then let there be no sacred month for a hostility, except against the ungodly.
:
sacred month, and the holy limits of Mecca, if they attack you therein, do ye also attack them therein in retaliation; and
whoever transgresseth against you by so doing, do ye transgress against him in like manner as he hath transgressed against you, and fear God, and know that God is with those who fear him. Contribute out of your substance toward the defense of the religion of God, and throw not yourselves with your own hands into perdition and do good, for God loveth those who do good. Perform the pilgrimage of Mecca, and the visitation of God and if ye be besieged, send that offering which shall be the easiest; and shave not your heads, until your offering reacheth the place of sacrifice. But whoever among you is or is troubled with sick, any distemper of the head, must redeem the shaving of his head by fasting, or alms, or some
;
offering. ye are secure from enemies, he who tarrieth in the visitation of the temple of Mecca until the pilgrimage
When
shall bring that offering
which
shall be the easiest.
But he
findeth not anything to offer shall fast three days in the pilgrimage, and seven when ye are returned they shall be ten
;
who
incumbent on him whose family shall days complete. not be present at the holy temple. And fear God, and know that God is severe in punishing. The pilgrimage must be performed in the known months; whosoever therefore purposeth to go on pilgrimage therein, let him not know a woman, nor transgress, nor quarrel in the pilgrimage. The good which ye do, God knoweth it. Make provision for your journey; but the best provision is piety: and fear me, O ye of It shall be no crime in you, if ye seek an understanding. increase from your Lord, by trading during the pilgrimage.
This
is
And when
ye go in procession from Arafat, remember God
71
15 and remember him for that he near the holy monument ; hath directed you, although ye were before this of the numTherefore go in procession from ber of those who go astray. whence the people go in procession, and ask pardon of God, And when ye have finfor God is gracious and merciful.
ished your holy ceremonies, remember God, according as ye remember your fathers, or with a more reverent commemoration.
There are some men who say, O Lord, give us our portion in this world ; but such shall have no portion in the next life and there are others who say, O Lord, give us good in this world, and also good in the next world, and deliver us from the torment of hell fire. They shall have a portion of that which God is swift in taking an account. Rehave they gained:
:
member God appointed

to
the number of days but if any haste from the depart valley of Mina in two days, it shall be no crime in him. And if any tarry longer, it shall be no crime in him, in him who feareth God. Therefore fear God, and know that unto him ye shall be gathered. There is a man who causeth thee to marvel 16 by his speech concerning this present life, and calleth God to witness that which is in his heart, yet he is most intent in opposing thee and when he turneth away from thee, he hasteth to act corruptly in the earth, and to destroy that which is sown, and
:
up but God loveth not corrupt doing. And if one unto say him, Fear God; pride seizeth him, together with wickedness; but hell shall be his reward, and an unhappy couch shall it be. There is also a man who selleth his soul
springeth
:
for the sake of those things which are pleasing unto God ; and God is gracious unto his servants. true believers, enter
into the true religion wholly,

15
and follow not the steps of
part of
In Arabic, al Masher al haram. It is a mountain in the farther Moxdalifa, where it is said Mohammed stood praying and praising God, till his face became extremely shining. 16 This person was Al Akhnas Ebn Shoraik, a fair-spoken dissembler, who swore that he believed in Mohammed, and pretended to be one of his friends, and to contemn this world. But God here reveals to the
prophet his hypocrisy and wickedness.
72
THE SACRED BOOKS
If ye have slipped after Satan, for he is your open enemy. unto you, know that have come will our of the declarations God is mighty and wise. Do the infidels expect less than
that
God should come down
clouds, and the angels also? God shall all things return.
them overshadowed with but the thing is decreed, and to

to
Ask
the children of Israel
how
evident signs we have showed them ; and whoever shall change the grace of God, after it shall have come unto him,
many
verily
was
The present life will be severe in punishing him. ordained for those who believe not, and they laugh the
God
faithful to scorn
but they
who
fear
whom
on the day of the resurrection: he pleaseth without measure. Mankind was of one faith, and God sent prophets bearing good tidings, and denouncing threats, and sent down with them the scripture in truth, that it might judge between men of that concerning which they disagreed and none disagreed concerning it, except those to whom the same scriptures were delivered, after the declarations of God's will had come unto
:
God shall be above them, for God is bountiful unto
them, out of envy

those
among
themselves.
And God
directed
believed to that truth concerning which they disagreed, by his will for God directeth whom he pleaseth into the right way. Did ye think ye should enter paradise, when
:
who
as yet no such thing had happened unto you, as hath happened unto those who have been before you? They suffered calamity
and
tribulation,
and were
afflicted; so that the apostle,
and
believed with him, said, When will the help of God come? Is not the help of God nigh? They will ask thee what they shall bestow in alms Answer, The good which ye
they who
bestow, let it be given to parents, and kindred, and orphans, and the poor, and the stranger. Whatsoever good ye do, God
knoweth
it.
;
enjoined you against the infidels but this is hateful unto you: yet perchance ye hate a thing which is better for you, and perchance ye love a thing which is worse for you: but God knoweth and ye know not. They will ask thee con-
War is
cerning the sacred month, whether they may war therein: Answer, To war therein is grievous but to obstruct the way
;
73
of God, and infidelity toward him, and to keep raeii from the holy temple, and to drive out his people thence, is more grievous in the sight of God, and the temptation to idolatry is more grievous than to kill in the sacred months. They will
until they turn you from your but whoever they be able among you shall turn back from his religion, and die an infidel, their works shall be
not cease to
religion, if
war against you,

:
and the next they shall be the comBut fire, they shall remain therein forever. they who believe, and who fly for the sake of religion, and fight in God's cause, they shall hope for the mercy of God for God is gracious and merciful. Answer, in They will ask thee concerning wine and lots both there is great sin, and also some things of use unto men
in vain in this world
;
panions of hell
They will ask greater than their use. thee also what they shall bestow in alms : Answer, What 'ye have to spare. Thus God showeth his signs unto you, that
but their sinf ulness
is
peradventure ye might seriously think of this present world, and of the next. They will also ask thee concerning orphans Answer, To deal righteously with them is best; and if ye intermeddle with the management of what belongs to them, do them no wrong; they are your brethren: God knoweth
:
the corrupt dealer from the righteous and if God please, he will surely distress you, for God is mighty and wise.
;
Marry
verily a
tress,
women who maid-servant who

not
are idolaters, until they believe: believeth is better than an idola-
give not women who believe in marriage to the idolaters, until they believe; for verily a servant who is a true believer is better than an
although she please you more.
And
idolater,
fire,
will,
though he please you more. They invite unto hell but God inviteth unto paradise and pardon through his and declareth his signs unto men, that they may remem:
:
ber. They will ask thee also concerning the courses of women Answer, They are a pollution therefore separate yourselves from women in their courses, and go not near them until they be cleansed. But when they are cleansed, go in unto them as God hath commanded you, for God loveth those who repent, and loveth those who are clean. Your wives are
74,
THE SACRED BOOKS

tillage
;
go in therefore unto your tillage in what manner soever ye will: and do first some act that may be profitable unto your souls ; and fear God, and know that ye must meet him and bear good tidings unto the faithful.
your
the object of your oaths, that ye will deal make peace among men ; for God justly, and be devout, and God will not punish you for knoweth. is he who heareth and
Make
not
God
an inconsiderate word in your oaths ; but he will punish you for that which your hearts have assented unto God is mer:
ciful
and gracious.
They who vow
to abstain
from
their
wives are allowed to wait four months: but if they go back from their vow, verily God is gracious and merciful and if
;
he who heareth and knoweth. The women who are divorced shall wait concerning themselves until they have their courses thrice, and it shall not be lawful for them to conceal that which God hath created in
they resolve
is
on a divorce, God
wombs, if they believe in God and the last day; and their husbands will act more justly to bring them back at this
their
The women ought also time, if they desire a reconciliation. to behave toward their husbands in like manner as their husbands should behave toward them, according to what is just but the men ought to have a superiority over them. God is and wise. Ye divorce wives twice; and mighty may your then either retain them with humanity, or dismiss them with kindness. But it is not lawful for you to take away anything of what ye have given them, unless both fear that they can not observe the ordinances of God. And if ye fear that they can not observe the ordinances of God, it shall be no crime in either of them on account of that for which the wife shall redeem herself. These are the ordinances of God; therefore transgress them not, for whoever transgresseth the ordinances of God, they are unjust doers. But if the husband divorce her a third time, she shall not be lawful for him again, until she marry another husband. But if he also divorce her, it shall be no crime in them, if they return to each other, if they think they can observe the ordinances of God and these are
: ;
the ordinances of God, he declareth

standing.
them
to people of under-

But when ye
divorce
75
women, and they have fulfilled their prescribed time, either retain them with humanity, or dismiss them with kindness and retain them not by violence, so that
;
ye transgress; for he who doth this surely injureth his own And make not the signs of God a jest but remember soul. God's favor toward you, and that he hath sent down unto you
:
the book of the Koran, and wisdom, admonishing and fear God, and know that God is omniscient.
filled their
you thereby ;
But when ye have divorced your wives, and they have fulprescribed time, hinder them not from marrying their husbands, when they have agreed among themselves This is given in admonition according to what is honorable. unto him among you who believeth in God, and the last day. This is most righetous for you, and most pure. God knoweth,
Mothers after they are divorced shall give but yet know not. suck unto their children two full years, to him who desireth
the time of giving such to be completed ; and the father shall be obliged to maintain them and clothe them in the mean-
No pertime, according to that which shall be reasonable. son shall be obliged beyond his ability. mother shall not
be compelled to what is unreasonable on account of her child, nor her father on account of his child. And the heir of the father shall be obliged to do in like manner. But if they choose to wean the child before the end of two years, by common consent and on mutual consideration, it shall be no crime in them. And if ye have a mind to provide a nurse for your children, it shall be no crime in you, in case ye fully pay what ye offer her, according to that which is just. And fear God, and know that God seeth whatever ye do. Such of you as die, and leave wives, their wives must wait concerning themselves four months and ten days, and when they shall have fulfilled their term it shall be no crime in you, for that which they shall do with themselves, according to
God well knoweth that which ye do. be no crime in you, whether ye make public overtures of marriage unto such women, within the said four months and ten days, or whether ye conceal such your designs
what
is
reasonable.
And
it shall
in
your minds
God knoweth
that ye will
remember them.
76
THE SACRED BOOKS

privately, unless ye speak resolve not on the knot of marriage,
But make no promise unto them

honorable words; and
until the prescribed time be accomplished; and know that God knoweth that which is in your minds, therefore beware of
him, and know that God is gracious and merciful. It shall be no crime in you, if ye divorce your wives, so long as ye have not touched them, nor settled any dowry on them. And
provide for them (he who is at his ease must provide according to his circumstances, and he who is straitened according to his circumstances) necessaries, according to what shall be
reasonable.
This
is
a duty incumbent on the righteous.
But
them before ye have touched them, and have dowry on them, ye shall give them half of what ye have settled, unless they release any part, or he release part in whose hand the knot of marriage is and if ye
ye divorce already settled a
if
;
will approach nearer unto piety. And forget not liberality among you, for God seeth that which ye do. Carefully observe the appointed prayers, and
release the whole,
it
the middle prayer, and be assiduous therein, with devotion toward God. But if ye fear any danger, pray on foot or on
horseback ; and
when ye
taught you what as shall die and leave wives ought to bequeath their wives a year's maintenance, without putting them out of their houses but if they go out voluntarily, it shall be no crime in you, for
;
remember God, how he hath And such of you as yet ye knew not.
are safe,
that which they shall do with themselves, according to what shall be reasonable ; God is mighty and wise. And unto those
who
are divorced, a reasonable provision duty incumbent on those who fear God.
his signs unto you, that
is also
due
this is a
Thus God
declareth
ye may understand. Hast thou not considered those who left their habitations 17 And God (and they were thousands) for fear of death?
17
These were some of the children of Israel, who abandoned their dwellings because of a pestilence, or, as others say, to avoid serving in a religious war; but, as they fled, God struck them all dead in a certain valley. About eight days or more after, when their bodies were
corrupted, the prophet Ezekiel, the son of Buzi, happening to pass that " way, at the sight of their bones wept; whereupon God said to him, Call to them, Ezekiel, and I will restore them to life." And accordingly
LITERATURE O/TTtfE EAST

said unto them,
;
77
Die then he restored them to life, for God is gracious toward mankind but the greater part of men do not Fight for the religion of God, and know that give thanks. God is he who heareth and knoweth. Who is he that will
;
lend unto God on good usury ? verily he will double it unto him manifold; for God contracteth and extendeth his hand as he pleaseth, and to him shall ye return.
Hast thou not considered the assembly of the children of Israel, after the time of Moses; when they said unto their
prophet Samuel, Set a king over us, that we may fight for The prophet answered, If ye are the religion of God? enjoined to go to war, will ye be near refusing to fight ? They
answered, And what should ail us that we should not fight for the religion of God, seeing we are dispossessed of our habitations,
and deprived of our children?
But when they were

:
enjoined to go to war, they turned back, except a few of them and God knew the ungodly. And their prophet said unto
Talut king over you: they answered, How shall he reign over us, seeing we are more worthy of the kingdom than he, neither is he possessed of great Samuel said, Verily God hath chosen him before riches? and hath caused him to increase in knowledge and you,
them, Verily
set
God hath
stature, for
God
giveth his
kingdom unto whom he pleaseth
their prophet said unto them, Verily the sign of his kingdom shall be, that the ark shall come unto you therein shall be tranquillity from your Lord, and the relics which have been left by the family of
is
:
God
bounteous and wise.
And
Moses, and the family of Aaron; the angels shall bring it. Verily this shall be a sign unto you, if ye believe. And when
Talut departed with his soldiers, he said, Verily God will prove you by the river for he who drinketh thereof shall not be on my side (but he who shall not taste thereof he shall be on my side) except he who drinketh a draught out of his
:
hand.
And
they drank thereof, except a few of them.
And
on the prophet's call they all arose, and lived several years after; but they retained the color and stench of dead corpses as long as they lived, and the clothes they wore changed as black as pitch, which qualities they transmitted to their posterity.
78
THE SACRED BOOKS

the river, he and those
when they had passed

with him, they said,
who
believed
We have no strength to-day against Jalut

How
that they should often hath a small
and meet God
his forces.
But they who considered
at the resurrection, said,
army discomfited a great army, by the will of God ? and God And when they went is with those who patiently persevere. his Jalut and forth to battle against forces, they said, Lord,
pour on us patience, and confirm our feet, and help us against Therefore they discomfited them, by the unbelieving people. And God gave him the will of God, and David slew Jalut. the kingdom and wisdom, and taught him his will; and if God had not prevented men, the one by the other, verily the earth had been corrupted: but God is beneficent toward his creatures. These are the signs of God: we rehearse them unto thee with truth, and thou art surely one of those who have been sent by God. These are the apostles; we have preferred some of them before others: some of them hath God spoken unto, and hath exalted the degree of others of them. And he gave unto Jesus the son of Mary manifest signs, and strengthened him with the holy spirit. And if God had pleased, they who came after those apostles would not have contended among themBut selves, after manifest signs had been shown unto them. they fell to variance; therefore some of them believed, and some of them believed not and if God had so pleased, they would not have contended among themselves, but God doth what he will. O true believers, give alms of that which we have bestowed on you, before the day cometh wherein there shall be no merchandizing, nor friendship, nor intercession.
;
The infidels are unjust doers. God there is no God but he

!
the living, the self-subsisting :
neither slumber nor sleep seizeth him ; to soever is in heaven, and on earth. Who
him belongeth what-
is he that can intercede with him, but through his good pleasure ? He knoweth that which is past, and that which is to come unto them, and
they shall not comprehend anything of his knowledge, but so far as he pleaseth. His throne is extended over heaven and

earth,
79
and the preservation of both

18
is
no burden unto him.
the high, the mighty. Let there be no violence in religion. Now is right direction manifestly distinguished from deceit whoever therefore
is
:
He
shall deny Tagut, and believe in God, he shall surely take hold on a strong handle, which shall not be broken ; God is he who heareth and seeth. God is the patron of those who believe ; he shall lead them out of darkness into light but as
:
to those
who
lead
them
believe not, their patrons are Tagut ; they shall from the light into darkness ; they shall be the com-
panions of hell fire, they shall remain therein forever. Hast thou not considered him who disputed with Abraham concerning his Lord, because God had given him the king-
dom ?
and
said,
killeth
said, My Lord is he who giveth life, he answered, I give life, and I kill. Abraham Verily God bringeth the sun from the east, now do thou
:
When Abraham
bring
it
from the
west.
Whereupon
the infidel was con-
founded ; for God directeth not the ungodly people. Or hast thou not considered how he behaved who passed by a city which had been destroyed, even to her foundations? He said, How shall God quicken this city, after she hath been dead ? And God caused him to die for an hundred years, and afterward raised him to life. And God said, How long hast thou tarried here? He answered, A day, or part of a God thou hast tarried here an hundred years. day. said, Nay, Now look on thy food and the drink, they are not yet corrupted ; and look on thine ass and this have we done that we might make thee a sign unto men. And look on the bones of thine ass, how we raise them, and afterward clothe them with
:
flesh.
And when
God
is
this
was shown unto him, he
said, I
know
that
able to do all things. And when Abraham said, me how thou wilt raise the dead; God said, Dost thou not yet believe ? He answered, Yea ; but I ask this
Lord, show
18 This paragraph contains a magnificent description of the divine majesty and providence; but it must not be supposed the translation comes up to the dignity of the original. This passage is justly admired
by the Mohammedans, who recite it in their prayers; and some of them wear it about them, engraved on an agate or other precious atone.
80
that
THE SACRED BOOKS

my heart may rest
;
at ease.
God
shall
said, take therefore
four
birds and divide

tain; then call and know that
them then lay them, and they
a part of
them on every mouncome swiftly unto thee:
God
is
mighty and wise.
The
similitude of
those who lay out their substance for advancing the religion of God is as a grain of corn which produceth seven ears, and
in every ear an
whom
he pleaseth
hundred grains for God giveth twofold unto God is bounteous and wise.
;
:
They who
and afterward follow not what they have
lay out their substance for the religion of God, so laid out by
reproaches or mischief, they shall have their reward with their Lord ; upon them shall no fear come, neither shall they fair speech, and to forgive, is better than alms be grieved.
followed by mischief. God is rich and merciful. true believers, make not your alms of none effect by reproaching, or mischief, as he who layeth out what he hath
to appear unto
the last day.
to give alms, and believeth not in God and The likeness of such a one is as a flint covered
me
with earth, on which a violent rain f alleth, and leaveth it hard. They can not prosper in anything which they have gained, for
God
of those
directeth not the unbelieving people. And the likeness who lay out their substance from a desire to please
God, and for an establishment for their souls, is as a garden on a hill, on which a violent rain falleth, and it bringeth forth its fruits twofold and if a violent rain falleth not on and God seeth that which ye it, yet the dew falleth thereon do. Doth any of you desire to have a garden of palm-trees and vines, through which rivers flow, wherein he may have all kinds of fruits, and that he may attain to old age, and have a weak offspring? then a violent fiery wind shall strike it, so
; :
that
it
shall be burned.
Thus God
declareth his signs unto
you, that ye may consider. true believers, bestow alms of the good things which ye have gained, and of that which we have produced for you out of the earth, and choose not the bad thereof, to give it in alms,
such as ye would not accept yourselves, otherwise than by connivance: and know that God is rich and worthy to be
praised.
The
devil threateneth
you with poverty, and com-

; :
81
mandeth you filthy covetousness but God promiseth you pardon from himself and abundance God is bounteous and wise, lie giveth wisdom unto whom he pleaseth and he unto whom wisdom is given hath received much good but none will con;
:
And whatever alms ye shall sider, except the wise of heart. shall vow, verily, God knoweth it ; give, or whatever vow ye none to help them. If ye make have shall but the ungodly your alms to appear, it is well ; but if ye conceal them and give
poor, this will be better for you, and will atone for your sins: and God is well informed of that which ye do.The direction of them belongeth not unto thee; but God The good that ye shall give in directeth whom he pleaseth.
them unto the
alms shall redound unto yourselves; and ye shall not give And what unless out of desire of seeing the face of God. good thing ye shall give in alms, it shall be repaid you, and
ye shall not be treated unjustly unto the poor who are wholly employed in fighting for the religion of God, and can not go to and fro in the earth whom the ignorant man thinketh rich, because of their modesty thou shalt know them by this mark, they ask not men with importunity ; and what good ye shall
; ;
:
give in alms, verily God knoweth it. They who distribute alms of their substance night and day, in private and in public, shall have their reward with the Lord ; on them shall no
from the dead, but as he ariseth whom Satan hath infected by a touch this shall happen to them because they say, Truly selling is but as usury: and yet God hath permitted selling and forbidden He therefore who, when there cometh unto him an usury. admonition from his Lord, abstaineth from usury for the future, shall have what is past forgiven him, and his affair But whoever returneth to usury, they belongest unto God.
:
fear come, neither shall they be grieved. They who devour usury shall not arise
be the companions of hell fire, they shall continue therein forever. God shall take his blessing from usury, and shall
shall
increase alms: for
But they who
loveth no infidel, or ungodly person. believe and do that which is right, and observe
God
the stated times of prayer, and pay their legal alms, they shall have their reward with their Lord there shall come no fear VOL. V. 6.
:
82
THE SACRED BOOKS
on them, neither shall they be grieved. O true believers, fear God, and remit that which remaineth of usury, if ye really believe but if ye do it not, barken unto war, which is declared if ye repent, ye against you from God and his apostle: yet Deal not unjustly with shall have the capital of your money. If there be others, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly. his let of his credia under debtor debt, difficulty paying any tor wait till it be easy for him to do it but if ye remit it as
;
And fear the alms, it will be better for you, if ye knew it. day wherein ye shall return unto God ; then shall every soul be paid what it hath gained, and they shall not be treated
unjustly. true believers, when ye bind yourselves one to the other in a debt for a certain time, write it down ; and let a writer
write between you according to justice, and let not the writer refuse writing according to what God hath taught him but
;
him write, and let him who oweth the debt dictate, and let him fear God his Lord, and not diminish ought thereof. But if he who oweth the debt be foolish, or weak, or be not able to
let
and two witnesses of your neighboring men; but if there be not two men, let there be a man and two women of those whom ye shall choose for witnesses if one of those
dictate himself, let his agent dictate according to equity
;
call to witness
women
recollect.
should mistake, the other of them will cause her to And the witnesses shall not refuse, whensoever
:
they shall be called. And disdain not to write it down, be it a large debt, or be it a small one, until its time of payment this will be more just in the sight of God, and more right for bearing witness, and more easy, that ye may not doubt. But if it be a present bargain which ye transact between yourselves, it shall be no crime in you, if ye write it not down. And take witness when ye sell one to the other, and let no
harm be done
it
to the writer, nor to the witness
which
if
ye
will surely be injustice in do, you : and fear God, and God will instruct you, for God knoweth all And if ye be things. on a journey, and find no writer, let pledges be taken: but
if
one of you trust the other,

is
let
what he
trusted with,
and fear
him who is trusted return God his Lord. And conceal
83
not the testimony, for he who concealeth it hath surely a wicked heart God knoweth that which ye do.
:
is God's and whether in is which or conceal it, God your minds, ye manifest that will call you to account for it, and will forgive whom he pleaseth, and will punish whom he pleaseth; for God is alThe apostle believeth in that which hath been sent mighty. down unto him from his Lord, and the faithful also. Every one of them believeth in God, and his angels, and his scriptures, and his apostles we make no distinction at all between And they say, We have heard, and do obey we his apostles. implore thy mercy, O Lord, for unto thee must we return.
Whatever
is
in heaven and on earth
God
will not force
any soul beyond
its
capacity:
it
shall
have the good which it gaineth, and it shall suffer the evil which it gaineth. O Lord, punish us not, if we forget, or act sinfully O Lord, lay not on us a burden like that which thou hast laid on those who have been before us neither make us,
:
;
what we have not strength to bear, but be favorable unto us, and spare us, and be merciful unto us. Thou art our patron, help us therefore against the unbelievLord, to bear
ing nations.
CHAPTER
ENTITLED, THE FAMILY OF IMRAN;
IN THE
III
1
REVEALED AT MEDINA
Al.
M.
:
There
is
no God but God, the
living, the self-sub-
He hath sent down unto thee the book of the Koran sisting with truth, confirming that which was revealed before it for he had formerly sent down the law and the gospel, a direction
;
unto
men and he had

;
good and
evil.
God
shall suffer
down the distinction between Verily those who believe not the signs of a grievous punishment for God is mighty,
also sent
;
able to revenge.
Surely nothing
:
is
it
which
1
is
on earth, or in heaven
hidden from God, of that is he who formeth you in
This name is given in the Koran to the father of the Virgin Mary, mentioned in the chapter.
84
THE SACRED BOOKS
the wombs, as he pleaseth ; there is no God but he, the mighty, the wise. It is he who hath sent down unto thee the book, wherein are some verses clear to be understood, they are the founda-
and others are parabolical. But they whose hearts are perverse will follow that which is parabolical therein, out of love of schism, and a desire of the interpretation thereof; yet none knoweth the interpretation thereof,
tion of the book
;
except God.
say,
But they who are
well grounded in knowledge

is
We
believe therein, the whole
from our Lord
and
none will consider except the prudent. O Lord, cause not our hearts to swerve from truth, after thou hast directed us and give us from thee mercy, for thou O Lord, thou shalt surely gather manart he who giveth. kind together, unto a day of resurrection: there is no doubt
:
God will not be contrary to the promise. for the infidels, their wealth shall not profit them anything, nor their children, against God: they shall be the fuel
of
it,
for
As
fire. According to the wont of the people of Pharand of those who went before them, they charged our aoh, signs with a lie; but God caught them in their wickedness, and God is severe in punishing. Say unto those who believe not, Ye shall be overcome, and thrown together into hell an unhappy couch shall it be. Ye have already had a miracle shown you in two armies, which attacked each other one army fought for God's true religion, but the other were infidels they saw the faithful twice as many as themselves in
of hell
their eyesight
pleaseth.
strengtheneth with his help whom he herein was an example unto men of underSurely
;
for
God
and eager desire of wives, and children, and sums of heaped up gold and silver, and excellent horses, and cattle, and land, are prepared for men : this is the provision of the present life but unto God shall be the most excellent return. Say, Shall I declare unto you better things than this ? For those who are devout are prepared with their Lord, gardens
;
standing. The love
through which rivers flow; therein shall they continue forever and they shall enjoy wives free from impurity, and the
:

favor of God; for
85
God regardeth
Lord,
the patient, and the lovers of truth, and the devout, and the almsgivers, and those who ask pardon early in the morning.
:
sincerely believe ; and deliver us from the pain of hell fire
we do
his servants; who say, forgive us therefore our sins,
no God but he; and the angels, and those who are endowed with wisdom, profess the same; who executeth righteousness; there is no God but
God hath borne
witness that there
is
he; the mighty, the wise. Verily the true religion, in the 2 is Islam and of God, they who had received the sight scriptures dissented not therefrom, until after the knowledge
;
of God's unity
selves
;
had come unto them, out of envy among them-
but whosoever believeth not in the signs of God, verily God will be swift in bringing him to account. If they dispute with thee, say, I have resigned myself unto God, and he who followeth me doth the same: and say unto them who
have received the scriptures, and to the ignorant, Do ye profess the religion of Islam ? Now if they embrace Islam, they are surely directed but if they turn their backs, verily unto
;
thee
belongeth
preaching
only;
for
God
regardeth
his
servants.
unto those who believe not in the signs of God, and slay the prophets without a cause, and put those men to death who teach justice denounce unto them a painful punishment. These are they whose works perish in this world, and in that which is to come; and they shall have none to help them. Hast thou not observed those unto whom part of the scripture was given ? They were called unto the book of God, that it might judge between them ; then some of them turned their This they did because they said, backs, and retired afar off. The fire of hell shall by no means touch us, but for a certain number of days and that which they had falsely devised hath deceived them in their religion. How then will it with them,
;
:
And
when we
2
shall gather
them together
at the
day of judgment,
"
of the Mohammedan religion, which signifies the " or This resigning entirely to God and his service. devoting one's self they say is the religion which all the prophets were sent to teach, being founded on the unity of God.
The proper name
86
of which there
is
THE SACRED BOOKS

no doubt
;
and every soul
shall be paid that
which
it
hath gained, neither shall they be treated unjustly.
God, who possesses! the kingdom; thou givest the kingdom unto whom thou wilt, and thou takest away the kingdom from whom thou wilt: thou exaltest whom thou wilt, and thou humblest whom thou wilt: in thy hand is good, Thou makest the night to succeed the for thou art almighty. day: thou bringest forth the living out of the dead, and thou bringest forth the dead out of the living and providest food Let not the faithful" for whom thou wilt without measure. take the infidels for their protectors, rather than the faithful he who doth this shall not be protected of God at all unless ye fear any danger from them: but God warneth you to beware of himself; for unto God must ye return. Say, Whether ye conceal that which is in your breasts, or whether ye declare it, God knoweth it for he knoweth whatever is in heaven, and whatever is on earth God is almighty. On the last day every soul shall find the good which it hath wrought, present ; and the evil which it hath wrought, it shall wish that between itself and that were a wide distance: but God warneth you to beware of himself; for God is gracious unto his servants. Say, If ye love God, follow me: then God
Say,
; :
shall love you,
and forgive you your sins for God is gracious and merciful. Say, Obey God, and his apostle but if ye go
;
:
God hath back, verily, God loveth not the unbelievers. surely chosen Adam, and Noah, and the family of Abraham, and the family of Imran above the rest of the world a race descending the one from the other God is he who heareth and
;
:
knoweth.
Remember when
the wife of
Imran
have vowed unto thee that which
is in my cated to thy service : accept it therefore of me ; for thou art he who heareth and knoweth. And when she was delivered
said, Lord, verily I womb, to be dedi-
his wife's
The Imran here mentioned was the father of the Virgin Mary, and name was Hannah, or Ann, the daughter of Fakudh. This woman, say the commentators, being aged and barren, on seeing a bird feed her young ones, became very desirous of issue, and begged a child
of
God, promising to consecrate it to his service in the temple; whereupon she had a child, but it proved a daughter.

of
it,
87
she said, Lord, verily I have brought forth a female (and God well knew what she brought forth), and a male I have called her Mary ; and I commend is not as a female her to thy protection, and also her issue, against Satan driven
:
Therefore the Lord accepted her with a gracious acceptance, and caused her to bear an excellent offAnd Zacharias took care of the child; whenever spring. Zacharias went into the chamber to her, he found provisions with her and he said, O Mary, whence hadst thou this ? she answered, This is from God for God provideth for whom he
away with
stones.
pleaseth without measure.
There Zacharias called on his

a good offspring, for
Lord and
thou art angels called to him, in the chamber, saying, \7 erily God while he stood praying promiseth thee a son named John, who shall bear witness to the Words which cometh from God; an honorable person,
chaste,
said, Lord, give me from thee And the the hearer of prayer.
and one of the righteous prophets. He answered, Lord, how shall I have a son, when old age hath overtaken me, and my wife is barren? The angel said, So God doth that which he pleaseth. Zacharias answered, Lord, give me a
sign.
The angel
:
said,
speak unto no
ture
man
sign shall be, that thou shalt for three days, otherwise than by ges-
Thy
often, and praise him evening and the morning. angels said, O Mary, verily God hath chosen thee, and hath purified thee, and hath chosen thee above all the women of the world: Mary, be devout toward
remember thy Lord
And when
bow down with those who bow down. This is a secret history: we reveal it unto thee, although thou wast not present with them when they threw in their rods to cast lots which of them should have the education of Mary. Neither wast thou with them, when they strove among
thy Lord, and worship, and
When the angels said, Mary, verily God sendeth thee good tidings, that thou shalt bear the Word, proceeding from himself; his name shall be Christ Jesus the son
themselves.
of
Mary, honorable in this world and in the world to come, and one of those who approach near to the presence of God and he shall speak unto men in the cradle, and when he is
;
88
THE SACRED BOOKS

shall be one of the righteous
grown up; and he
Lord, how shall I have a son, since a man me ? the angel said, So God createth that which he pleaseth when he decreeth a thing, he only saith unto it, Be, and it is God shall teach him the scripture, and wisdom, and the law, and the gospel ; and shall appoint him his apostle to the chil:
she answered, hath not touched

:
dren of Israel; and he shall say, Verily I come unto you with a sign from your Lord for I will make before you, of then I will breathe clay, as it were the figure of a bird
;
;
thereon, and it shall become a bird, by the permission of God: and I will heal him that hath been blind from his birth, and the leper: and I will raise the dead by the permission of God: and I will prophesy unto you what ye eat, and what ye lay up for store in your houses. Verily herein will be a sign unto you, if ye believe. And I come to con : firm the Law which was revealed before me, and to allow unto you as lawful, part of that which hath been forbidden you: and I come unto you with a sign from your Lord therefore fear God, and obey me. Verily God is my Lord, and your Lord: therefore serve him. This is the right way. But
;
when Jesus perceived their unbelief, he said, Who will be my The apostles answered, We will be the helpers toward God ? helpers of God we believe in God, and do thou bear witness that we are true believers. O Lord, we believe in that which thou hast sent down, and we have followed thy apostle; write us down therefore with those who bear witness of him. And the Jews devised a stratagem against him, but God devised a stratagem against them 4 and God is the best deviser of When God said, O Jesus, verily I will cause stratagems.
; ;
4 This stratagem of God's was the taking of Jesus up into heaven, and stamping his likeness on another person, who was apprehended and crucified in his stead. For it is the constant doctrine of the Mohammedans that it was not Jesus himself who underwent that ignominious death, but somehody else in his shape and resemblance. The person crucified some will have to be a spy that was sent to entrap him; others that it was one Titian, who by the direction of Judas entered in at a window of the house where Jesus was, to kill him; and others that it was Judas himself, who agreed with the rulers of the Jews to betray him for thirty pieces of silver, and led those who were sent to take
him.
89
thee to die, and I will take thee up unto me, and I will deliver thee from the unbelievers; and I will place those who follow
thee above the unbelievers, until the day of resurrection then unto me shall ye return, and I will judge between you of that
:
concerning which ye disagree. Moreover, as for the infidels, I will punish them with a grievous punishment in this world, and in that which is to come and there shall be none to help them. But they who believe, and do that which is right, he shall give them their
;
reward; for God loveth not the wicked doers. These signs and this prudent admonition do we rehearse unto thee. Verily the likeness of Jesus in the sight of God is as the likeness of Adam: he created him out of the dust, and then said unto him, Be and he was. This is the truth from thy Lord be not therefore one of those who doubt and whoever shall dispute with thee concerning him, after the knowledge which hath been given unto thee, say unto them, Come, let us call together our sons, and your sons, and our wives, and your wives, and ourselves, and yourselves then let us make impre5 cations, and lay the curse of God on those who He. Verily this is a true history: and there is no God but God; and God is most mighty, and wise. If they turn back, God well know;
;
:
eth the evil-doers.
Say, O ye who have received the scripture, come to a just determination between us and you; that we worship not any
except God, and associate no creature with him and that the one of us take not the other for lords, beside God. But if
;
they turn back, say, Bear witness that we are true believers. O ye to whom the scriptures have been given, why do ye
s To explain this passage their commentators tell the following story. That some Christians, with their bishop named Abu Hareth, coming to Mohammed as ambassadors from the inhabitants of Najran, and entering into some disputes with him touching religion and the history of Jesus Christ, they agreed the next morning to abide the trial here mentioned, as a quick way of deciding which of them were in the wrong Mohammed met them accordingly, accompanied by his daughter Fatima, his son-in-law Ali, and his two grandsons, Hassan and Hosein, and But when they saw desired them to wait till he had said his prayers. him kneel down, their resolution failed them, and they durst not venture to curse him, but submitted to pay him tribute.
90
THE SACRED BOOKS
since the Law and the Gospel dispute concerning Abraham, him? Do ye not therefore after until were not sent down understand? Behold ye are they who dispute concerning
some knowledge in why therefore do ye which ye have no knowledge of ? God dispute concerning that knoweth, but ye know not. Abraham was neither a Jew, nor a Christian but he was of the true religion, one resigned unto God, and was not of the number of the idolaters. Verily the men who are the nearest of kin unto Abraham, are they who follow him and this prophet, and they who believe on him
that which ye have
;
God is the patron of the faithful. Some of those who have received the scriptures desire to seduce you ; but they seduce
O ye who have themselves only, and they perceive it not. received the scriptures, why do ye not believe in the signs of God, since ye are witnesses of them? O ye who have received the scriptures, why do ye clothe truth with vanity, and knowingly hide the truth ?
And some
of those to
whom
Believe in that which hath been sent

believe, in the
the scriptures were given, say, down unto those who
beginning of the day, and deny it in the end 6 and bemay go back from their faith lieve him only who followeth your religion. Say, Verily the true direction is the direction of God, that there may be given unto some other a revelation like unto what hath been given unto you. Will they dispute with you before your Lord? Say, Surely excellence is in the hand of God, he giveth it unto whom he pleaseth God is bounteous and wise he will confer
thereof ; that they
:
The commentators, to explain this passage, say that Caab Ebn al Ashraf and Malec Ebn al Seif (two Jews of Medina) advised their companions, when the Keblah was changed, to make as if they believed it was done by the divine direction, and to pray toward the Kaaba in the morning, but that in the evening they should pray, as formerly, toward the temple of Jerusalem; that Mohammed's followers, imagining the Jews were better judges of this matter than themselves, might imitate their example. But others say these were certain Jewish priests of Khaibar, who directed some of their people to pretend in the morning that they had embraced Mohammedanism, but in the close of the day to say that they had looked into their books of scripture, and consulted their Rabbins, and could not find that Mohammed was the person described and intended in the law, by which trick they hoped to raise doubts in the minds of the Mohammedans.

peculiar mercy on great beneficence.
91
he pleaseth for God is endued with There is of those who have received the a talent, he will restore scriptures, unto whom if thou trust it unto thee; and there is also of them, unto whom if thou trust a dinar, he will not restore it unto thee, unless thou This they stand over him continually with great urgency. do because they say, We are not obliged to observe justice with
;
whom
the heathen: but they utter a lie against God, knowingly. Yea; whoso keepeth his covenant, and feareth God, God
But they who make mersurely loveth those who fear him. chandise of God's covenant, and of their oaths, for a small price shall have no portion in the next life, neither shall God
speak to them or regard them on the day of resurrection, nor shall he cleanse them; but they shall suffer a grievous
punishment.
there are certainly some of them, who read the scriptures perversely, that ye may think what they read to be
really in the scriptures, yet it is not in the scripture
say,
And
This
is
from God; but
it
is
and they not from God: and they

;
speak that which is false concerning God, against their own It is not fit for a man, that God should give knowledge. him a book of revelations, and wisdom, and prophecy; and
then he should say unto men, Be ye worshipers of me, besides God ; but he ought to say, Be ye perfect in knowledge and in works, since ye know the scriptures, and exercise yourselves 7 therein. God hath not commanded you to take the angels
and the prophets for your Lords: Will he command you to become infidels, after ye have been true believers ?
accepted the covenant of the prophets, saying, This verily is the scripture and the wisdom which I have given you hereafter shall an apostle come unto
:
And remember when God
you, confirming the truth of that scripture which is with you ; ye shall surely believe on him, and ye shall assist him. God
This passage was revealed, say the commentators, in answer to the Christians, who insisted that Jesus had commanded them to worship him as God. Al Beidawi adds that two Christians named Abu Rafe" al
'
Koradhi and
their Lord,
al
Seyid al Najrani, offered to acknowledge
Mohammed
for
and to worship him; to which he answered, "God forbid that we should worship any besides God."
92
*
THE SACRED BOOKS

Are ye firmly
?
said,
resolved,
and do ye accept
my
covenant
:
are firmly resolved They answered, God said, Be ye therefore witnesses ; and I also bear witness with you: and whosoever turneth back after this, they are
on this condition
We
Do they therefore seek any other surely the transgressors. religion but God's ? since to him is resigned whosoever is in heaven or on earth, voluntarily, or of force and to him shall
:
Say, We believe in God, and that which hath they return. been sent down unto us, and that which was sent down unto
Abraham, and Ismael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which was delivered to Moses, and Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord; we make no distinction between any of them and to him are we resigned. Whoever follow;
ed! any other religion than Islam, it shall not be accepted of him : and in the next life he shall be of those who perish.
How
shall
God
direct
men who have become
infidels after
they had believed, and borne witness that the apostle was true, and manifest declarations of the divine will had come unto them ? for God directeth not the ungodly people. Their reward shall be, that on them shall fall the curse of God, and of angels, and of all mankind: they shall remain under the same forever; their torment shall not be mitigated, neither
shall they
be regarded; except those
believed, and yet increase in infidelity, their repentance shall in no wise be accepted, and they are those who go astray. Verily they who
and amend; for God is they who become infidels after they have
repent after this, Moreover gracious and merciful.
who
believe not, and die in their unbelief, the world full of gold shall in no wise be accepted from any of them, even though he should give it for his ransom ; they shall suffer a grievous
punishment, and they shall have none to help them. Ye will never attain unto righteousness, until ye give in alms of that which ye love: and whatever ye give, God knoweth it. All food was permitted unto the children of Israel, except what Israel forbade unto himself 8 before the Pentateuch was sent
s
This passage was revealed on the Jews reproaching
Mohammed and
pretended
his followers with their eating of the flesh and milk of camels, which they said was forbidden Abraham, whose religion Mohammed

down.
read
lie
is
it,
93
Say unto the Jews, Bring hither the Pentateuch and Whoever therefore contriveth a if ye speak truth.
Say, God against God after this, they will be evil-doers. true follow ye therefore the religion of Abraham the ortho:
was no idolater. Verily the first house appointed dox unto men to worship in was that which is in Mecca blessed, and a direction to all creatures. Therein are manifest signs the place where Abraham stood and whoever entereth therein And it is a duty toward God, incumbent on shall be safe. those who are able to go thither, to visit this house but whosoever disbelieveth, verily God needeth not the service of any creature. Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, why do ye not believe in the signs of God ? Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, why do ye keep back from the way of God him who believeth ? Ye seek to make it crooked, and yet are witnesses that it is the right but God will not be unmind;
for he
ful of
what ye
do.
true believers, if ye obey
some of those who have received
the scripture, they will render you infidels, after ye have believed and how can ye be infidels, when the signs of God are read unto you, and his apostle is among you? But he
:
who
cleaveth firmly unto God is already directed into the O believers, fear God with his true fear ; and die right way.
not unless ye also be true believers.

to follow.
And
cleave all of
you
In answer to which he tells him that God ordained no distinction of meats before he gave the law to Moses, though Jacob voluntarily abstained from the flesh and milk of camels; which some commentators say was the consequence of a vow made by that patriarch, when afflicted with the sciatica, that if he were cured he would eat no more of that meat which he liked best. This passage was revealed on occasion of a quarrel excited between the tribes of al Aws and al Khazraj, by one Shas Ebn Kais, a Jew; who, passing by some of both tribes as they were sitting and discoursing familiarly together, and being inwardly vexed at the friendship and har-
mony which reigned among them on their embracing Mohammedanism, whereas they had been, for 120 years before, most inveterate and mortal enemies, though descendants of two brothers; in order to set them at variance, sent a young man to sit down by them, directing him to relate the story of the battle of Boath (a place near Medina), wherein, after a bloody fight, al Aws had the better of al Khazraj, and to repeat some A bloody battle nearly resulted. verses on that subject.
94
THE SACRED BOOKS

:
unto the covenant of God, and depart not from it, and remember the favor of God toward you since ye were enemies, and he reconciled your hearts, and ye became companions and brethren by his favor: and ye were on the brink of a pit of Thus God declareth unto thence. fire, and he delivered you you his signs, that ye may be directed. Let there be people
invite to the best religion ; and command that which is just, and forbid that which is evil ; and they shall be happy. And be not as they who are divided, and disagree in matters of religion, after manifest proofs have been brought
among you, who
unto them they shall suffer a great torment.

:
resurrection
shall
some faces
will say,
shall
become black.
And
?
On the day of become white, and other faces unto them whose faces shall become
unbelief, therefore taste the punishment, for that ye have been unbelievers: but they whose faces shall become white shall be in the mercy of God, therein shall they remain
black, after ye
God
Have ye returned unto your
had believed
These are the signs of God: we recite them unto God will not deal unjustly with his creatures. And to God belongeth whatever is in heaven and on and to God shall all things return. Ye are the best earth; nation that hath been raised up unto mankind: ye command that which is just, and ye forbid that which is unjust, and ye believe in God. And if they who have received the scriptures had believed, it had surely been the better for them: there
forever.
thee with truth.
among them, but the greater part of them are transgressors. They shall not hurt you, unless with a slight
are believers
hurt; and if they fight against you, they shall turn their backs to you, and they shall not be helped. They are smitten with vileness wheresoever they are found unless they obtain
:
and a treaty with by men: and they draw on themselves indignation from God, and they are afflicted with poverty. This they suffer, because they disbelieved the signs of God, and slew the prophets unjustly; this, because they were rebellious, and transgressed. Yet they are not all alike: there are of those who have resecurity
entering into a treaty with God,
ceived the scriptures, upright people; they meditate on the signs of God in the night season, and worship; they believe

in
95
is just,
God and
the last day

is
forbid that which

:
and command that which unjust, and zealously strive

;
;
and
to excel in
good works these are of the righteous. And ye shall not bo denied the reward of the good which ye do for God knoweth As for the unbelievers, their wealth shall not the pious.
profit them at all, neither their children, against God: they shall be the companions of hell fire; they shall continue
therein forever.
The
likeness of that
which they lay out in
this present life is as a wind wherein there is a scorching cold : it falleth on the standing corn of those men who have injured
their
own
souls,
and destroyeth
it.
And God
dealeth not un-
justly with them ; but they injure their own souls. true believers, contract not an intimate friendship with
any besides yourselves: they will not fail to corrupt you. They wish for that which may cause you to perish their hatred hath already appeared from out of their mouths; but what their breasts conceal is yet more inveterate. We have already shown you signs of their ill-will toward you, if ye understand. Behold, ye love them, and they do not love you in believe all the scriptures, and when they meet you, they ye
: :
but when they assemble privately together, they bite their fingers' ends, out of wrath against you. Say unto them, Die in your wrath verily God knoweth the innermost part of your breasts. If good happen unto you, it
say,
We
believe
them and if evil befall you, they rejoice at it. But if ye be patient, and fear God, their subtlety shall not hurt you at all; for God comprehendeth whatever they do. Call to mind when thou wentest forth early from thy family, that thou mightest prepare the faithful a camp for war, and God heard and knew it; when two companies of you were anxiously thoughtful, so that ye became faint-hearted; but God was the supporter of them both and in God let the faithful trust. And God had already given you the victory at Bedr, when ye were inferior in number therefore fear God, that ye
grieveth
;
;
thou saidst unto the faithful, Is it may not enough for you that your Lord should assist you with three thousand angels, sent down from heaven ? Verily if ye
persevere,
be thankful.
When
and fear God, and your enemies come upon you
96
THE SACRED BOOKS
suddenly, your Lord will assist you with five thousand angels, And this God dedistinguished by their horses and attire.
signed only as good tidings for you that your hearts might rest secure: for victory is from God alone, the mighty, the That he should cut off the uttermost part of the unwise.
believers, or cast
them down, or that they should be

is
over-
thrown and unsuccessful, nothing to thee. It is no business of thine ; whether God be turned unto them, or whether
he punish them; they are surely unjust doers. To God belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth: he spareth whom he pleaseth, and he punisheth whom he pleaseth; for
God
is
merciful.
O true believers, devour not usury, doubling it twofold ; but fear God, that ye may prosper; and fear the fire which is prepared for the unbelievers ; and obey God, and his apostle,
And run with emulation to obfrom your Lord, and paradise, whose breath equaleth the heavens and the earth, which is prepared for the godly who give alms in prosperity and adversity who bridle their anger and forgive men: for God loveth the beneficent. And who, after they have committed a crime, or dealt unjustly with their own souls, remember God, and ask pardon for their sins (for who forgiveth sins except God ?) and persevere not in what they have done knowingly: their reward shall be pardon from their Lord, and gardens wherein rivers flow, they shall remain therein forever and how excellent is the reward of those who labor There have already been bethat ye
may
obtain mercy.
tain remission
you examples of punishment of infidels, therefore go through the earth, and behold what hath been the end of those
fore
who
This book is a accuse God's apostles of imposture. declaration unto men, and a direction, and an admonition to the pious. And be not dismayed, neither be ye grieved ; for
ye shall be superior to the unbelievers if ye believe. If a wound hath happened unto you in war, a like wound hath already happened unto the unbelieving people and we cause these days of different success interchangeably to succeed each
:
God may know those who believe, and may have martyrs from among you (God loveth not the workother
among men
that

ers of iniquity)
;
97
believe,
and that God might prove those who
and destroy the infidels. Did ye imagine that ye should enter paradise, when as yet God knew not those among you who fought strenuously in his cause nor knew those who persevered with patience ? Moreover ye did sometime wish for death before that ye met it; but ye have now seen it, and ye looked on, but retreated from Mohammed is no more than an apostle the other apostles it. have already deceased before him: if he die therefore, or be slain, will ye turn back on your heels ? but he who turneth back on his heels will not hurt God at all and God will No soul can die unless by the surely reward the thankful. to of what is written in the book God, according permission And whoso chooscontaining the determinations of things. eth the reward of this world, we will give him thereof: but whoso chooseth the reward of the world to come, we will give him thereof and we will surely reward the thankful. How many prophets have encountered those who had many myriads of troops and yet they desponded not in their mind for what had befallen them in fighting for the religion of God, and were not weakened, neither behaved themselves in an abject manner? God loveth those who persevere patiently. And their speech was no other than that they said, Our Lord forgive us our offenses, and our transgressions in our business and confirm our feet, and help us against the unbelieving peoAnd God gave them the reward of this world, and a ple. glorious reward in the life to come for God loveth the well; ; ;
;
ye who believe, if ye obey the infidels, they will cause you to turn back on your heels, and ye will be turned back and perish but God is your Lord ; and he is the best We will surely cast a dread into the hearts of the unhelper. believers, because they have associated with God that concerning which he sent them down no power: their dwelling shall be the fire of hell ; and the receptacle of the wicked shall
doers.
:
be miserable.
not the unbelievers think, because we grant them lives long and prosperous, that it is better for their souls we grant them long and prosperous lives only that their iniquity
let
:
And
VOL. v.
7.
98
THE SACRED BOOKS
be increased ; and they shall suffer an ignominious punishment. God is not disposed to leave the faithful in the condition which ye are now in, until he sever the wicked from the
may
nor is God disposed to make you acquainted with what is a hidden secret, but God chooseth such of his apostles as he pleaseth, to reveal his mind unto believe therefore in God,
good
his apostles ; and if ye believe, and fear God, ye shall reAnd let not those who are covetous of ceive a great reward.
and
what God of
his bounty hath granted them, imagine that their avarice is better for them: nay, rather it is worse for them.
collar about their neck,
That which they have covetously reserved shall be bound as a on the day of the resurrection unto God belongeth the inheritance of heaven and earth and God is well acquainted with what ye do.
:
God hath already heard the saying of those who said, Verily God is poor, and we are rich we will surely write down what they have said, and the slaughter which they have made of the prophets without a cause and we will say unto them,
: ;
Taste ye the pain of burning. This shall they suffer for the evil which their hands have sent before them, and because God is not unjust toward mankind who also say, Surely God hath commanded us, that we should not give credit to any
;
one should come unto us with a sacrifice, which should be consumed by fire. Say, Apostles have already come unto you before me, with plain proofs, and with the miracle which ye mention: why therefore have ye slain them, if ye speak truth ? If they accuse thee of imposture, the apostles before thee have also been accounted impostors, who brought evident demonstrations, and the scriptures, and the book which enlightened the understanding. Every soul shall taste of death, and ye shall have your rewards on the day of resurrection and he who shall be far removed from hell fire, and shall be admitted into paradise, shall be happy but the present life is only a deceitful provision. Ye shall surely be proved in your possessions, and in your persons and ye shall bear from those unto whom the scripture was delivered before you, and from the idolaters, much hurt but if ye be patient, and fear God, this is a matter that is absolutely determined.
apostle, until
;
: ;
:

And when God
accepted the covenant of those to
99
whom
the
it
book of the law was given, saying, unto mankind, ye shall not hide it
Ye
;
shall surely publish
yet they threw it behind it for a sold small and their backs, price; but woeful is the Think not that they who price for which they have sold it. have and what at done, they expect to be praised for rejoice what they have not done think not, O prophet, that they shall escape from punishment, for they shall suffer a painful punishment and unto God belongeth the kingdom of heaven and
;
;
earth
God
Now
is almighty. in the creation of heaven
and
earth,
and the
vicissi-
tude of night and day, are signs unto those who are endued with understanding; who remember God standing, and sitting,
and lying on their sides and meditate on the creation of heaven and earth, saying, O Lord, thou hast not created this in vain; far be it from thee: therefore deliver us from the torment of hell fire: O Lord, surely whom thou shalt throw into the fire, thou wilt also cover with shame; nor shall the ungodly have any to help them. O Lord, we have heard of a preacher inviting us to the faith, and saying, Believe in your Lord: and we believed. O Lord, forgive us therefore our sins, and expiate our evil deeds from us, and make us to die with the righteous. O Lord, give us also the reward which thou hast promised by thy apostles; and cover us not with shame on the day of resurrection for thou art not contrary to the promise. Their Lord therefore answereth them, saying, I will not suffer the work of him among you who worketh to be lost, whether he be male or female 10 the one of you is from the other. They therefore who have left their country, and have been turned out of their houses, and have suffered for my sake, and have been slain in battle verily I will expiate their evil deeds from them, and I will surely bring them into gardens watered by rivers a reward from God: and with God is the most excellent reward.
;
; : ;
N>
These words were added, as some relate, on
Omm
Salma, one of the
prophet's wives, telling him that she had observed God often made mention of the men who fled their country for the sake of their faith, but took no notice of the women.
10
THE SACRED BOOKS

:
receptacle
Let not the prosperous dealing of the unbelievers in the land deceive thee it is but a slender provision ; and then their But shall be hell ; an unhappy couch shall it be.
fear their Lord shall have gardens through which rivers flow, they shall continue therein forever: this is the of God; for what is with God shall be better for the
they
who
gift
There are righteous than short-lived worldly prosperity. some of those who have received the scriptures, who believe in God, and that which hath been sent down unto you, and that which hath been sent down to them, submitting themtell not the signs of God for a small have their reward with their Lord for God price O true believers, be patient, is swift in taking an account. and strive to excel in patience, and be constant-minded, and fear God, that ye may be happy.
selves unto
:
God; they
these shall
ENTITLED, WOMEN; REVEALED AT MEDINA

IN THE
men, fear your Lord, who hath created you out of one man, and out of him created his wife, and from those two hath multiplied many men and women: and fear God by whom ye beseech one another; and respect women who have borne
you, for
God
is
watching over you.

to age their substance
:
And
;
when they come
give the orphans and render them not
in exchange bad for good
and devour not their substance by

;
adding it to your substance for this is a great sin. And if ye fear that ye shall not act with equity toward orphans of the female sex, take in marriage of such other women as please But if ye fear that you, two, or three, or four, and not more. can not act toward so ye equitably many, marry one only, or the slaves which ye shall have acquired. This will be that swerve not from righteousness. easier, ye And give women their dowry freely but if they voluntarily remit unto you any part of it, enjoy it with satisfaction and And give not unto those who are weak of underadvantage.
;
101
standing the substance which God hath appointed you to preserve for them ; but maintain them thereout, and clothe them,
and speak kindly unto them.
And examine
the orphans in
:
religion until they attain the age of marriage but if ye perceive they are able to manage their affairs well, deliver their
substance unto them

ily,
and waste
because they grow up. tirely from the orphan's estates
it not extravagantly or hastLet him who is rich abstain en;
and
let
him who
is
poor take
And when ye thereof according to what shall be reasonable. deliver their substance unto them, call witnesses thereof in
their presence : God taketh sufficient account of your actions. Men ought to have a part of what their parents and kindred
leave behind
them when they die: and women
also
ought to
have a part of what their parents and kindred leave, whether it be little, or whether it be much ; a determinate part is due
Ajid when they who are of kin are present at the of what is left, and also the orphans, and the poor ; dividing distribute unto them some part thereof; and if the estate be
to
them.
too small, at least speak comfortably unto them. And let those fear to abuse orphans, who if they leave be-
hind them a weak offspring, are solicitous for them let them therefore fear God, and speak that which is convenient. Surely they who, devour the possessions of orphans unjustly, shall swallow down nothing but fire into their bellies, and
:
shall broil in
raging flames.
children.
God hath
thus
commanded you
:
concerning your
shall have as much as the share of two females but be females only, and above two in number, they shall they have two-third parts of what the deceased shall leave and if there be but one, she shall have the half. And the parents of
if
;
A male
what he shall leave, if he have a child but if he have no child, and his parents be his heirs, then his mother shall have the third part. And if he have brethren, his mother shall have a sixth part, after the legacies which he shall bequeath, and his debts be Ye know not whether your parents or your children be paid. of greater use unto you. This is an ordinance from God, and God is knowing and wise.
the deceased shall have each of
:
them a
sixth part of
102
THE SACRED BOOKS
Moreover ye may claim half of what your wives shall leave, if they have no issue; but if they have issue, then ye shall have the fourth part of what they shall leave, after the legar cies which they shall bequeath, and the debts be paid. They also shall have the fourth part of what ye shall leave, in case ye have no issue but if ye have issue, then they shall have the eighth part of what ye shall leave, after the legacies which ye shall bequeath and your debts be paid. And if a man or woman's substance be inherited by a distant relation, and he or she have a brother or sister each of these two shall have
;
But if there be more than this a sixth part of the estate. number, they shall be equal sharers in a third part, after payment of the legacies which shall be bequeathed, and the debts,
without prejudice to the heirs.
God and God

:
is
This and gracious. knowing
is
an ordinance from
These are the statutes of God. And whoso obeyeth God and his apostle, God shall lead him into gardens wherein rivers flow, they shall continue therein forever; and this shall be great happiness. But whoso disobeyeth God, and his apostle, and transgresseth his statutes, God shall cast him into hell fire he shall remain therein forever, and he shall suffer a shameful punishment.
;
If any of your women be guilty of whoredom, produce four witnesses from among you against them, and if they bear
witness against them, imprison them in separate apartments until death release them, or God affordeth them a way to escape.
two of you commit the like wickedness, punish them both but if they repent and amend, let them both alone for God is easy to be reconciled and merciful. Verily repentance will be accepted with God, from those who do evil ignorantly, and then repent speedily unto them will God be turned: for God is knowing and wise. But no repentance shall be accepted from those who do evil until the time when death presenteth itself unto one of them, and he saith, Verif
:
;
And
ily I repent
now; nor unto those who die unbelievers:
for
them have we prepared
women
true believers, it against their will, nor to hinder
a grievous punishment. is not lawful for you to be heirs of
them from marrying

others, that
103
ye may take away part of what ye have given them in dowry; unless they have been guilty of a manifest
crime but converse kindly with them. And if ye hate them, it may happen that ye may hate a thing wherein God hath If ye be desirous to exchange a wife for placed much good. another wife, and ye have already given one of them a talent
:
away anything therefrom will ye take it by slandering her, and doing her manifest injustice? And how can ye take it, since the one of you hath gone in unto the other, and they have received from you a firm covenant ? Marry not women whom your fathers have had to wife (except what is already past) for this is uncleanness, and an Ye are forbidden to marry abomination, and an evil way.
take not
: :
your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your aunts both on the father's and on the mother's side, and your brother's daughters, and your sister's daughters, and your mothers who have given you suck, and your foster-sisters, and your wives' mothers, and your daughters-in-law which are under your tuition, born of your wives unto whom ye have gone in (but if ye have not gone in unto them, it shall be no sin in you to marry them), and the wives of your sons who proceed out of your loins and ye are also forbidden to take to wife two sisters except what is already past for God is gracious and merciful. Ye are also forbidden to take to wife free women who are married, except those women whom your right hands shall This is ordained you from God. Whatpossess as slaves. ever is beside this is allowed you that ye may with your substance provide wives for yourselves, acting that which is right, and avoiding whoredom. And for the advantage which ye
;
; : ;
receive
is
from them, give them their reward, according to what ordained but it shall be no crime in you to make any other
:
agreement among yourselves, after the ordinance shall be complied with ; for God is knowing and wise.
Whoso among you hath not means sufficient that he may marry free women, who are believers, let him marry with such
of your maid-servants whom your right hands possess, as are true believers ; for God well knoweth your faith. Ye are the
104
THE SACRED BOOKS

:
one from the other therefore marry them with the consent of
their masters; and give them their dower according to jusof entertaining lovers. tice; such as are modest, not guilty
they are married, if they be guilty of adultery, for they shall suffer half the punishment which is appointed him who unto is allowed This the free women. among you,
And when
by marrying free women; but if ye abstain from marrying slaves, it will be better for you God is graGod is willing to declare these tkings cious and merciful. unto you, and to direct you according to the ordinances of those who have gone before you, and to be merciful unto you. God is knowing and wise. God desireth to be gracious unto
feareth to sin
;
you; but they who follow their lusts, desire that ye should turn aside from the truth with great deviation. God is minded to make his religion light unto you: for man was created weak. O true believers, consume not your wealth among yourselves in vanity ; unless there be merchandizing among you by mutual consent neither slay yourselves for God is merciful toward you and whoever doth this maliciously and wickedly, he will surely cast him to be broiled in hell fire and this is If ye turn aside from the grievous sins, 1 of easy with God. those which ye are forbidden to commit, we will cleanse you from your smaller faults; and will introduce you into paradise with an honorable entry. Covet not that which God hath bestowed on some of you preferably to others. Unto the men shall be given a portion of what they shall have gained, and unto the women shall be given a portion of what they shall have gained therefore ask God of his bounty for God is
:
These sins al Beidawi, from a tradition of Mohammed, reckons to be seven (equaling in number the sins called deadly by Christians), that
to say, idolatry, murder, falsely accusing modest women of adultery, wasting the substance of orphans, taking of usury, desertion in a reBut Ebn Abbas says ligious expedition, and disobedience to parents. they amount to near seven hundred; and others suppose that idolatry only, of different kinds, in worshiping idols or any creature, either in opposition to or jointly with the true God, is here intended; that sin being generally esteemed by Mohammedans, and in a few lines after declared by the Koran itself, to be the only one which God will not
is
pardon.

omniscient.
105
have appointed unto every one kindred, to inherit part of what their parents and relations shall leave at And unto those with whom your right hands their deaths. have made an alliance, give their part of the inheritance
;
We
for
God
is
witness of
shall
all things.
have the pre-eminence above women, because of those advantages wherein God hath caused the one of them to excel the other, and for that which they expend of their sub-
Men
The honest women are stance in maintaining their wives. in absence of their the careful obedient, husbands, for that God preserveth them, by committing them to the care and
those whose perverseness ye shall be apprehensive of, rebuke; and remove them into separate But if they shall be obedient apartments, and chastise them.
protection of the men.
But
or unto you, seek not an occasion of quarrel against them if God is high and great. And ye fear a breach between the husband and wife, send a judge out of his family, and a judge
;
will cause
out of her family: if they shall desire a reconciliation, them to agree ; for God is knowing and wise.
God
Serve God, and associate no creature with him
and show
kindness unto parents, and relations, and orphans, and the poor, and your neighbor who is of kin to you, and also your
neighbor
a stranger, and to your familiar companion, and the traveler, and the captives whom your right hands shall possess; for God loveth not the proud or vainglorious, who
is
who
are covetous, and recommend covetousness unto men, and conceal that which God of his bounty hath given them (we have
prepared a shameful punishment for the unbelievers) ; and who bestow their .wealth in charity to be observed of men, and believe not in God, nor in the last day ; and whoever hath Satan for a companion, an evil companion hath he! And what harm would befall them if they should believe in God and the last day, and give alms out of that which God hath
bestowed on them? since God knoweth them who do this. Verily God will not wrong any one even the weight of an ant and if it be a good action, he will double it, and will recompense it in his sight with a great reward. How will it be with the unbelievers when we shall bring a witness out of each
:
106
THE SACRED BOOKS
2 nation against itself, and shall bring thee, O Mohammed, a 3 In that day they who have witness against these people ? not believed, and have rebelled against the apostle of God, shall wish the earth was leveled with them ; and they shall not
be able to hide any matter from God. O true believers, come not to prayers when ye are drunk, until ye understand what ye say; nor when ye are polluted by emission of seed, unless ye be traveling on the road, until
ye wash yourselves.
on a journey, or any of you come from easing nature, or have touched women, and find no water; take fine clean sand and rub your faces and your hands therewith ; for God is merciful and inclined
if
But
ye be
sick, or
to forgive.
Hast thou not observed those unto whom part of the scripture was delivered ? they sell error, and desire that ye may wander from the right way; but God well knoweth your God is a sufficient patron, and God is a sufficient enemies. Of the Jews there are some who pervert words from helper. their places and say, We have heard, and have disobeyed and do thou hear without understanding our meaning, and look upon us perplexing with their tongues, and reviling the true religion. But if they had said, We have heard, and do and do thou hear, and regard us: certainly it were obey; better for them, and more right. But God hath cursed them reason of therefore a few of them only their by infidelity;
; ;
:
shall believe.
O
is
ye to
whom
;
revelation which
the scriptures have been given, believe in the we have sent down, confirming that which
with you
before
we
them
those
2
as the back parts thereof
deface your countenances, and render 4 or curse them, as we cursed

;
transgressed on the sabbath day When the prophet who was sent to each nation
who
5
;
and the com-
in particular, shall
on the last day be produced to give evidence against such of them as refused to believe on him, or observed not the laws which he brought. That is, the Arabians, to whom Mohammed was, as he pretended,
more peculiarly sent. 4 That is, perfectly
The original, plain, without eyos, nose, or mouth. " and turn them behind," by wringing however, may also be translated, their necks backward. 8 And were therefore changed into apes.

mand
of
107
God was fulfilled. Surely God will not pardon the him an equal; but will pardon any other sin, except giving
that, to
whom he pleaseth and whoso giveth

:
devised a great wickedness. served those who justify themselves?
God hath
a companion unto Hast thou not obBut God justifieth
whomsoever he
pleaseth, nor shall they be
wronged a
hair.
a lie against God; and therein is Behold, iniquity sufficiently manifest. Hast thou not considered those to whom part of the scrip-
how they imagine
ture hath been given ? They believe in false gods and idols, and say to those who believe not, These are more rightly directed in the way of truth than they who believe on Moham-
and unto him whom God shall curse, thou shalt surely find no helper. Shall they have a part of the kingdom, since even then they would not bestow the smallest matter on them. Do they envy other men that which God of his bounty hath given them ? We formerly gave unto the family of Abraham a book of revelations and wisdom and we gave them a great kingdom. There is of them who believeth on him and there is of them who turneth aside from him but the raging fire of
med.
hath cursed
;
;
Those are the men
whom God
hell is a sufficient
punishment.
Verily, those
who
disbelieve
our signs,
will surely cast to be broiled in hell fire; so often as their skins shall be well burned, we will give them
we
other skins in exchange, that they may taste the sharper torment; for God is mighty and wise. But those who believe
and do that which

by
is right,
we
will bring into gardens
watered
they remain forever, and there shall they enjoy wives free from all impurity; and we will lead
rivers, therein shall
them into perpetual shades. Moreover God commandeth you to restore what ye are trusted with, to the owners 6 and when ye judge between
;
This passage, it is said, was revealed on the day of the taking of Mecca, the primary design of it being to direct Mohammed to return the keys of the Kaaba to Othman Ebn Telha Ebn Abdaldar, who had then the honor to be keeper of that holy place, and not to deliver them to his uncle al Abbas, who having already the custody of the well Zemzem, would fain have had also that of the Kaaba. The prophet obeying the divine order, Othman was so affected with the justice of the action, notwithstanding he had at first refused him entrance, that he imme-
108
THE SACRED BOOKS

:
men, that ye judge according to equity and surely an excellent virtue it is to which God exhorteth you; for God both heareth and seeth. O true believers, obey God, and obey the apostle, and those who are in authority among you and if ye differ in anything, refer it unto God and the apostle, if ye believe in God and the last day this is better, and a fairer method of determination. Hast thou not observed those who pretend they believe in what hath been revealed unto thee, and what hath been revealed
: :
7 judgment before Taghut, although they have been commanded not to believe in him; and Satan desireth to seduce them into a wide error. And when it is said unto them, Come unto the book which God hath sent down, and to the apostle; thou seest the ungodly turn But how will they aside from thee, with great aversion. 'behave when a misfortune shall befall them, for that which their hands have sent before them? Then will they come unto thee, and swear by God, saying, If we intended any other than to do good, and to reconcile the parties. God knoweth what is in the hearts of these men therefore let them alone, and admonish them, and speak unto them a word which may
before thee
They
desire to go to
have not sent any apostle, but that he might be obeyed by the permission of God but if they, after they have injured their own souls, come unto thee, and ask
affect their souls.
:
We
pardon of God, and the apostle ask pardon for them, they
diately embraced
Mohammedanism; whereupon the guardianship of the Kaaba was confirmed to this Othman and his heirs forever. f That This passage was occais, before the tribunals of infidels. sioned by the following remarkable incident. A certain Jew having a dispute with a wicked Mohammedan, the latter appealed to the judgment of Caab Ebn al Ashraf, a principal Jew, and the former to Mohammed. But at length they agreed to refer the matter to the prophet
singly,
who, giving
it
in favor of the Jew, the
Mohammedan
refused to
acquiesce in his sentence, but would needs have it re-heard by Omar, afterward Calif. When they came to him, the Jew told him that Mo-
hammed had already decided the affair in his favor, but that the other would not submit to his determination; and the Mohammedan confessing this to be true, Omar bid them stay a little, and fetching his sword, struck off the obstinate Moslem's head, saying aloud, "This is the reward of him who refuseth to submit to the judgment of God and his
apostle."

shall surely find
109
easy to be reconciled and merciful. And by thy Lord they will not perfectly believe, until they make thee judge of their controversies; and shall not after-
God
ward
own minds any hardship in what thou shall acquiesce therein with entire subbut shalt determine,
find in their
if we had commanded them, saying, Slay or depart from your houses ; they would not have yourselves, done it, except a few of them. And if they had done what
mission.
And
would certainly have been better for them, and more efficacious for confirming their faith ; and we should then have surely given them in our sight an exceeding great reward, and we should have directed them in the right way. Whoever obeyeth God and the apostle, they shall be
they were admonished,
it
with those unto
of the prophets, and the sincere, and the martyrs, and the righteous ; and these This is bounty from God; are the most excellent company.
whom God hath been gracious,
and God
is sufficiently
knowing.
true believers, take your necessary precaution against your enemies, and either go forth to war in separate parties, or go forth all together in a body. There is of you who
tarrieth behind;
Verily God ent with them: but if success attend you from God, he will say (as if there was no friendship between you and him), Would to God I had been with them, for I should have acquired great merit.
. . .
misfortune befall you, he saith, hath been gracious unto me, that I was not presif a
and
Those believers who sit still at home, not having any hurt, and those who employ their fortunes and their persons for the
God hath preferred religion of God, shall not be held equal. those who employ their fortunes and their persons in that
honor above those who sit at home God hath indeed promised every one paradise, but God hath preferred those who fight for the faith before those who sit still, by adding unto them a great reward, by degrees of honor concause, to a degree of
:
ferred on
them from him, and by granting them forgiveness and mercy; for God is indulgent and merciful. Moreover unto those whom the angels put to death, having injured their own souls, the angels said, Of what religion were ye? they
110
THE SACRED BOOKS
The angels replied, answered, We were weak in the earth. that Was not God's earth wide enough, ye might fly therein to Therefore their habitation shall be hell ; a place of refuge ? and an evil journey shall it be thither except the weak among
:
men, and women, and children, who were not able to find means, and were not directed in the way these peradventure God will pardon, for God is ready to forgive and gracious. Whosoever flieth from his country for the sake of God's true
;
religion shall find in the earth
and plenty of provisions. house, and flieth unto God and his
many forced to do the same, And whoever departeth from his

apostle, if death overtake
in the way, God will be obliged to reward him, for gracious and merciful.
him
God
is
When ye march
you
if
;
to
war in the
earth, it shall
be no crime in
ye shorten your prayers, in case ye fear the infidels may But when attack you for the infidels are your open enemy. thou, O prophet, shalt be among them, and shalt pray with them, let a party of them arise to prayer with thee, and let them take their arms and when they shall have worshiped, let them stand behind you, and let another party come that hath not prayed, and let them pray with thee, and let them be cautious and take their arms. The unbelievers would that ye should neglect you arms and your baggage while ye pray, that they might turn upon you at once. It shall be no crime in
;
you, if ye be incommoded by rain, or be sick, that ye lay down your arms ;.but take your necessary precaution God hath pre:
pared for the unbelievers an ignominious punishment. And when ye shall have ended your prayer, remember God, standBut when ye are ing, and sitting, and lying on your sides. secure from danger, complete your prayers for prayer is commanded the faithful, and appointed to be said at the stated
;
times.
not negligent in seeking out the unbelieving people, though ye suffer some inconvenience for they also shall suffer as ye suffer, and ye hope for a reward from God which they can not hope for; and God is knowing and wise. We have
;
Be
sent down unto thee the book of the Koran with truth, that thou mayest judge between men through that wisdom which

God showeth
fraudulent
since
;
111
but ask pardon of
God
is
thee therein; and be not an advocate for the God for thy wrong intention, indulgent and merciful.
Dispute not for those who deceive one another, for God Such conceal loveth not him who is a deceiver or unjust. themselves from men, but they conceal not themselves from
with them when they imagine by night a saying which pleaseth him not, and God comprehendeth what they do. Behold, ye are they who have disputed for them in this present life ; but who shall dispute with God for them on the day of resurrection, or who will become their patron ? yet he
God
for he
is
who doth
and afterward asketh pardon of God, shall find God gracious and merciful. Whoso committeth wickedness committeth it against his own soul God is knowing and wise. And whoso committeth a sin or iniquity, and afterward layeth it on the innocent, he shall surely bear the guilt of calumny and manifest injustice. If the indulgence and mercy of God had not been upon thee, surely a part of them had studied to seduce thee; but they shall seduce themselves only, and shall not hurt thee at all. God hath sent down unto thee the book of the Koran and wisdom, and hath taught thee that which thou knowest not; for the favor of God hath been great toward thee. There is no good in the multitude of their private discourses, unless in the discourse of him who recommendeth alms, or that which is right, or agreement amongst men whoevil,
or injureth his
own
soul,
ever doth this out of a desire to please God, we will surely But whoso separateth himself from give him a great reward.
the apostle, after true direction hath been manifested unto him, and followeth any other way than that of the true
believers,
we
will cause
him
inclined,
and will cast him
which he is in hell and an unbe burned to ;

to obtain that to
happy journey shall it be thither. Verily God will not pardon the giving him a companion, but he will pardon any crime besides that, unto whom he pleaseth and he who giveth a companion unto God is surely led aside into a wide mistake: the infidels invoke beside him only female deities, and only invoke rebellious Satan. God cursed him; and he said,
:
THE SACRED BOOKS

Verily I will take of thy servants a part cut off from the rest, and I will seduce them, and will insinuate vain desires into them, and I will command them, and they shall cut off the
ears of cattle; and I will command them, and they shall change God's creature. But whoever taketh Satan for his
patron, besides God, shall surely perish with a manifest He maketh them promises, and insinuateth into destruction. vain them desires; yet Satan maketh them only deceitful
promises.
find
The
receptacle of these shall be hell, they shall

it.
no refuge from
will surely rivers flow; they shall continue therein forever, according to the true promise of God ; and who is more true than God in
works,
we
But they who believe, and do good lead them into gardens, through which
what he saith ?
scriptures.
according to the
It shall not be according to your desires, nor desires of those who have received the
Whoso doth
evil, shall
be rewarded for
;
it
and
shall not find
any patron or helper, beside God but whoso doth good works, whether he be male or female, and is a true believer, they
shall be admitted into paradise, and shall not in the least be is better in point of religion than unjustly dealt with.
Who
he who resigneth himself unto God, and is a worker of righteousness, and followeth the law of Abraham the orthodox?
since
God
took
is
Abraham
for his friend
and
to
God
belongeth
all
whatsoever
things.
in heaven and on earth;
God comprehendeth
will consult thee concerning women; Answer, God instructeth you concerning them, and that which is read unto
They
you in the book of the Koran concerning female orphans, to whom ye give not that which is ordained them, neither will ye marry them, and concerning weak infants, and that ye observe justice toward orphans: whatever good ye do, God knoweth it. If a woman fear ill usage, or aversion, from her husband, it shall be no crime in them if they agree the matter
amicably between themselves; for a reconciliation is better than a separation. Men's souls are naturally inclined to
covetousness
but if ye be kind toward women, and fear to wrong them, God is well acquainted with what ye do. Ye
:
113
can by no means carry yourselves equally between women in all respects, although ye study to do it; therefore turn not from a wife with all manner of aversion, nor leave her like one in suspense: if ye agree, and fear to abuse your wives, God is gracious and merciful but if they separate, God will
;
satisfy
wise, earth.
them both of his abundance; for God is extensive and and unto God belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on
.
.
received the scriptures, exceed not the just bounds in your religion, neither say of God any other than the truth. Verily Christ Jesus the son of Mary is the apostle
ye who have
Word, which he conveyed into Mary, and a Believe therefore in God, and spirit proceeding from him. his apostles, and say not, There are three Gods forbear this God is but one God. Far be it it will be better for you. from him that he should have a son unto him belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth and God is a sufficient proof God, and his
;
tector.
Christ doth not proudly disdain to be a servant unto God; neither the angels who approach near to his presence: and whoso disdaineth his service, and is puffed up with pride,
God
will gather
them
Unto those we
:
himself, on the last day. believe, and do that which is right, he shall
all to
give their rewards, and shall superabundantly add unto them of his liberality but those who are disdainful and proud, he will punish with a grievous punishment ; and they shall not
any to protect or to help them, besides God. O men, now an evident proof come unto you from your Lord, and we have sent down unto you manifest light. They who believe in God and firmly adhere to him, he will lead them into mercy from him, and abundance; and he will direct them in the
find
is
right way to himself. They will consult thee for thy decision in certain cases ; say unto them, God giveth you these determinations, concerning the more remote degrees of kindred.
die without issue, and have a sister, she shall have the half of what he shall leave and he shall be heir to her, in
If a
man
be two sisters, they shall have between them two third parts of what he shall leave and if there be several, both brothers and sisters, a male shall have
case she have no issue.
if there
;
But
VOL. v.
s.
114
as
THE SACRED BOOKS

as the portion of two females. these precepts, lest ye err : and God
much
God
declareth unto
all things.
you
knoweth
ENTITLED, THE TABLE;

true believers, perform to eat the brute cattle, other
;
REVEALED AT MEDINA
your contracts. Ye are allowed than what ye are commanded to abstain from except the game which ye are allowed at other God times, but not while ye are on pilgrimage to Mecca O true believers, violate ordaineth that which he pleaseth. not the holy rites of God, nor the sacred month, nor the offer2 nor those who are ing, nor the ornaments hung thereon, traveling to the holy house, seeking favor from their Lord, and to please him. But when ye shall have finished your pilgrim;
age, then hunt.
not the malice of some, in that they hindered you from entering the sacred temple, provoke you to transgress, by taking revenge on them in the sacred months. Assist one
let
And
another according to justice and piety, but assist not one another in injustice and malice therefore fear God ; for God
:
severe in punishing. Ye are forbidden to eat that which dieth of itself, and blood, and swine's flesh, and that on which the name of any besides God hath been invocated; and that which hath been
is
strangled, or killed by a blow, or by a fall, or by the horns of another beast, and that which hath been eaten by a wild beast,
except what ye shall kill yourselves

sacrificed unto idols.
and that which hath been
It is likewise unlawful for

title
is
you
to
make
division
by casting
chapter, is
taken from the Table, which, toward the end of the fabled to have been let down from heaven to Jesus. It is
sometimes also called the chapter of " Contracts," which word occurs
in the first verse.
offering here meant is the sheep led to Mecca, to be there sacriabout the neck of which they used to hang garlands, green boughs, or Hume other ornament, that it may be distinguished as a thing sacred.
ficed,
2
The

lots
115
This is an impiety. On this day, 3 woe be with arrows. unto those who have apostatized from their religion ; therefore This day have I perfected fear not them, but fear me. 4 your religion for you, and have completed my mercy upon you; and I have chosen for you Islam, to be your religion. But whosoever shall be driven by necessity through hunger to
what we have forbidden, not designing to sin, surely and merciful unto him. They will ask thee what is allowed them as lawful to eat ? Answer, Such are allowed and what as are you good ye shall teach things animals of prey to catch, training them up for hunting after the manner of dogs, and teaching them according to the skill which God hath taught you. Eat therefore of that which they shall catch for you and commemorate the name of God thereon and fear God, for God is swift in taking an account. This day are ye allowed to eat such things as are good, and the food of those to whom the scriptures were given is also allowed as lawful unto you and your food is allowed as laweat of
God
will be indulgent
ful unto them.
And ye
believers,
are also allowed to

also free
marry
and
women
of those
free women that who have received
are
the
scriptures before you, when ye shall have assigned them their dower living chastely with them, neither committing fornicaWhoever shall retion, nor taking them for concubines. work nounce the faith, his shall be vain, and in the next life he shall be of those who perish.
;
when ye prepare yourselves to pray, wash and your faces, your hands unto the elbows; and rub your heads, and your feet unto the ankles and if ye be polluted by having lain with a woman, wash yourself all over. But if ye be sick, or on a journey, or any of you cometh from the privy, or if ye haye touched women, and ye find no water, take fine clean sand, and rub your faces and your hands therewith;
true believers,
;
This passage, it is said, was revealed on Friday evening, being the of the pilgrims visiting Mount Arafat, the last time Mohammed " visited the temple of Mecca, therefore called the pilgrimage of valedic3
day
tion."
* And therefore the commentators say, that after this time, no positive or negative precept was given.
116
THE SACRED BOOKS
not put a difficulty upon you ; but he desireth to purify you, and to complete his favor upon you, that ye may Remember the favor of God toward you, and give thanks. his covenant which he hath made with you, when ye said, have heard, and will obey. Therefore fear God, for God
God would
We
knoweth the innermost parts of the breasts of men. O true believers, observe justice when ye appear as witnesses before God, and let not hatred toward any induce you to do wrong but act justly this will approach nearer unto piety and fear God, for God is fully acquainted with what ye do. God hath promised unto those who believe, and do that which is right, that they shall receive pardon and a great reward. But they who believe not, and accuse our signs of falsehood,
:
they shall be the companions of hell. O true believers, remember God's favor toward you,
when
certain designed to stretch forth their hands against you, but he restrained their hands from hurting you; therefore
men
God formerly fear God, and in God let the faithful trust. of covenant of the children the Israel, and we accepted appointed out of them twelve leaders and God said, Verily, I
:
ye observe prayer, and give alms, and believe in my apostles, and assist them, and lend unto God on good usury, I will surely expiate your evil deeds from you, and I will lead you into gardens, wherein rivers flow but he among
with you
:
am
if
you who
disbolieveth after this erreth
from the
straight path.
Wherefore because they have broken their covenant, we have cursed them, and hardened their hearts; they dislocate the words of the Pentateuch from their places, and have forgotten part of what they were admonished and thou wilt not cease to discover deceitful practises among them, except a few of them. But forgive them, and pardon them, for God loveth the beneficent. And from those who say, We are Christians, we have received their covenant but they have forgotten part of what they were admonished wherefore we have raised up enmity and hatred among them, till the day of resurrection and God will then surely declare unto them what they have been doing. O ye who have received the scriptures, now is our apostle come unto you, to make manifest unto you many
; ; ; ;
117
things which ye concealed in the scriptures ; and to pass over many things. Now is light and a perspicuous book of revelations
come unto you from God.

shall follow his
Thereby will God direct
him who
peace
;
good pleasure, into the paths of
and shall lead them out of darkness into light, by his will, and shall direct them in the right way. . . . The Jews say, The hand of God is tied up. Their hands shall be tied up, and they shall be cursed for that which they have said. Nay, his hands are both stretched forth; he bestoweth as he pleaseth that which hath been sent down unto thee from thy Lord shall increase the transgression and infidelity of many of them and we have put enmity and hatred between them, until the day of resurrection. So often as they shall kindle a fire for war, God shall extinguish it and they shall set their minds to act corruptly in the earth, but God loveth not the corrupt doers. Moreover, if they who have received the scriptures believe, and fear God, we will surely expiate their sins from them, and we will lead them into gardens of pleasure and if they observe the law, and the gospel, and the other scriptures which have been sent down unto them
:
; ; ;
from their Lord, they shall surely eat of good things both from above them and from under their feet. Among them
there are people who act uprightly; but which many of them do work !
how
evil is that
whole of that which hath been sent down unto thee from thy Lord for if thou do not, thou dost not in effect publish any part thereof, and God will defend thee against wicked men for God directeth not the unbelieving people. Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, ye are not grounded on anything, until ye observe the law and the gospel, and that which hath been sent down unto you from your Lord. That which hath been sent down unto thee from thy Lord shall surely increase the transgression and infidelity of many of them but be not thou solicitous for the unbelieving people. Verily they who believe, and those who Judaize, and the Sabians, and the Christians, whoever of them believeth in God and the last day, and doth that which is right, there shall come no fear on them, neither shall they be
apostle, publish the
:
118
grieved. of Israel,
THE SACRED BOOKS

We
formerly accepted the covenant of the children and sent apostles unto them. So often as an apostle them with that which their souls desired not, they unto came accused some of them of imposture, and some of them they killed and they imagined that there should be no punishment
:
for those crimes,
and they became blind and deaf. Then was God turned unto them afterward many of them again became blind and deaf but God saw what they did.
; ;
They are surely infidels, who say, Verily God is Christ the son of Mary; since Christ said, O children of Israel, serve God, my Lord and your Lord ; whoever shall give a companion unto God, God shall exclude him from paradise, and his habitation shall be hell fire and the ungodly shall have none to
;
They are certainly infidels, who say, God is the help them. third of three ; for there is no God besides one God ; and if
they refrain not from what they say, a painful torment shall Will surely be inflicted on such of them as are unbelievers. they not therefore be turned unto God, and ask pardon of him ? since God is gracious and merciful. Christ the son of
no more than an apostle ; other apostles have preceded his mother was a woman of veracity they both ate food. Behold, how we declare unto them the signs of God's unity and then behold, how they turn aside from the truth. Say unto them, Will ye worship, besides God, that which can cause you neither harm nor profit ? God is he who heareth and seeth. Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, exceed not the just bounds in your religion, by speaking beside the truth neither follow the desires of people who have heretofore erred, and who have seduced many, and have gone Those among the children of astray from the straight path. Israel who believed not were cursed by the tongue of David, and of Jesus the son of Mary. This befell them because they were rebellious and transgressed: they forbade not one another the wickedness which they committed and woe unto them for what they committed. Thou shalt see many of them take for their friends those who believe not. Woe unto them for what their souls have sent before them, for that God is incensed against them, and they shall remain in torment for-
Mary
;
is
him and
;

ever.
119
they had believed in God, and the prophet, and that which hath been revealed unto him, they had not taken them for their friends; but many of them are evil-doers.
But,
if
Thou
shalt surely find the
most violent of
all
men
in enmity
against the true believers, to be the Jews and the idolaters: and thou shalt surely find those among them to be the most
inclinable to entertain friendship for the true believers, who This cometh to pass, because there are Christians. say, are priests and monks among them ; and because they are not
We
5 And when they hear that which hath elated with pride. been sent down to the apostle read unto them, thou shalt see
their eyes overflow with tears, because of the truth which they 6 Lord, we believe ; write us down perceive therein, saying,
witness to the truth and what should hinder us from believing in God, and the truth which hath come unto us, and from earnestly desiring that our
therefore with those
:
who bear
Lord would introduce us

ple
?
into paradise with the righteous peoTherefore hath God rewarded them, for what they have
;
with gardens through which rivers flow they shall continue therein forever ; and this is the reward of the righteous. But they who believe not, and accuse our signs of falsehood, they shall be the companions of hell.
said,
O true believers, forbid not the good things which God hath
allowed you
gressors.
but transgress not, for God loveth not the transAnd eat of what God hath given you for food that
;
6 Having not that high conceit of themselves, as the Jews have; but being humble and well disposed to receive the truth; qualities, says al Beidawi, which are to be commended even in infidels. The persons directly intended in this passage were, either Ashama,
fl
king of Ethiopia, and several bishops and priests, who, being assembled for that purpose, heard Jaafar Ebn Abi Taleb, who fled to that country in the first flight, read the 29th and 30th, and afterwards the 18th and
19th chapters of the Koran; on hearing of which the king and the rest company burst into tears, and confessed what was delivered therein to be conformable to truth; that prince himself, in particular, becoming a proselyte to Mohammedanism: or else, thirty, or as others say, seventy persons, sent ambassadors to Mohammed by the same king of Ethiopia, to whom the prophet himself read the 36th chapter, entitled Y. S. Whereupon they began to weep, saying, " How like is this to that which was revealed unto Jesus! " and immediately professed themselves
of the
Moslems.
120
which
is
THE SACRED BOOKS

lawful and good
:
and fear God, in
whom
ye believe.
God will not punish you for an inconsiderate word in your oaths ; but he will punish you for what ye solemnly swear with And the expiation of such an oath shall be the deliberation.
feeding of ten poor
men with
such moderate food as ye feed
your own families withal; or to clothe them; or to free the neck of a true believer from captivity: but he who shall not find wherewith to perform one of these three things shall fast This is the expiation of your oaths, when ye three days. swear inadvertently. Therefore keep your oaths. Thus God declareth unto you his signs, that ye may give thanks. O true believers, surely wine, and lots, and images, and divining arrows are an abomination of the work of Satan Satan seeketh to therefore avoid them, that ye may prosper. sow dissension and hatred among you, by means of wine and lots, and to divert you from remembering God, and from
;
prayer will ye not therefore abstain from them ? Obey God, and obey the apostle, and take heed to yourselves but if ye turn back, know that the duty of our apostle is only to preach
; :
and do good works, it is no gaming before they were forbidden if they fear God, and believe, and do good works, and shall for the future fear God, and believe, and shall persevere to fear him, and to do good; for God loveth those who do
;
In those who believe publicly. sin that they have tasted wine or
good. true believers, God will surely prove you in offering you plenty of game, which ye may take with your hands or your
,
lances, that
God may know who
feareth
him
in secret; but
whoever transgresseth after

ishment.
punwhile are on pilye game kill shall whosoever shall grimage any designedly among you restore the like of what ye shall have killed, in domestic ani-
this shall suffer a grievous
true believers, kill no
mals, according to the determination of two just persons among you, to be brought as an offering to the Kaaba ; or in
atonement thereof shall feed the poor or instead thereof shall God hath fast, that he may taste the heinousness of his deed. forgiven what is past, but whoever returneth to transgress, God will take vengeance on him for God is mighty and able
;
;
121
It is lawful for you to fish in the sea, and to eat to avenge. what ye shall catch, as a provision for you and for those who
travel ; but it is unlawful for you to hunt by land, while ye are performing the rites of pilgrimage; therefore fear God, before whom ye shall be assembled at the last day. God hath appointed the Kaaba, the holy house, an estab-
and hath ordained the sacred month, ornaments hung thereon. This hath and the and the offering, he done that ye might know that God knoweth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth, and that God is omniscient. Know that God is severe in punishing, and that God is also ready to forgive and merciful. The duty of our apostle is to preach only; and God knoweth that which ye discover, and that which ye conceal. Say, Evil and good shall not be equally esteemed of, though the abundance of evil pleaseth thee;
;
lishment for mankind
therefore fear God,
ye of understanding, that ye
may
be
happy.
true believers, inquire not concerning things which, if 7 they be declared unto you, may give you pain ; but if ye ask concerning them when the Koran is sent down, they will be declared unto you
for
:
God pardoneth you
as to these matters
ready been before you formerly inquired concerning them and afterward disbelieved therein. God hath not ordained anything concerning Bahira, nor Saiba, nor Wasila, nor Hami ; but the unbelievers have invented a lie against God and the
;
God
is
to forgive
and gracious.
People who have
greater part of said unto them,

v
them do not understand. And when it was Come unto that which God hath revealed, and
The Arabs continually teasing their prophet with questions, which probably he was not always prepared to answer, they are here ordered to wait, till God should think fit to declare his pleasure by some further revelation; and, to abate their curiosity, they are told, at the same time, that very likely the answers would not be agreeable to their inclinations. Al Beidawi says that when the pilgrimage was first commanded, Soraka Ebn Malcc asked Mohammed whether they were obliged
perform it every year? To this question the prophet at first turned a deaf ear, but being asked it a second and a third time, he at last " said, No; but if I had said yes it would have become a duty, and, if it were a duty, ye would not be able to perform it; therefore give me no " trouble as to things wherein I give you none : wliereupon this passage
to
was revealed.
122
THE SACRED BOOKS
to the apostle ; they answered, That religion which we found our fathers to follow is sufficient for us. What though their
nothing, and were not rightly directed ? O true believers, take care of your souls. He who erreth shall not hurt you, while ye are rightly directed unto God
fathers
knew
shall
ye
all
return, and he will
tell
you
that which ye have
done.
O true believers, let witnesses be taken between you, when death approaches any of you, at the time of making the testament ; let there be two witnesses, just men, from among you
;
or two others of a different tribe or faith
from yourselves,
if
ye be journeying in the earth, and the accident of death befall Ye shall shut them both up, after the afternoon prayer, you. and they shall swear by God, if ye doubt them, and they shall say, We will not sell our evidence for a bribe, although the person concerned be one who is related to us, neither will we conceal the testimony of God, for then should we certainly be of the number of the wicked. But if it appear that both have been guilty of iniquity, two others shall stand up in their place, of those who have convicted them of falsehood, the two nearest in blood, and they shall swear by God, saying, Verily our testimony is more true than the testimony of these two, neither have we prevaricated for then should we become of the number of the unjust. This will be easier, that men may
;
give testimony according to the plain intention thereof, or fear least a different oath be given, after their oath. Therefore fear God, and harken; for God directeth not the unjust
people.
On
a certain day shall
God assemble
the apostles, and shall
say unto them, What answer was returned you when ye preached unto the people to whom ye were sent ? They shall
have no knowledge but thou art the knower of secrets. When God shall say, O Jesus son of Mary, remember my favor toward thee, and toward thy mother; when I strengthened thee with the holy spirit, that thou shouldest speak unto men in the cradle, and when thou wast grown up and when I taught thee the scripture, and wisdom, and the law, and the gospel and when thou didst create of clay as it
answer,
;
We

were the figure of a bird, by my permission, and didst breathe thereon, and it became a bird by my permission and thou didst heal one blind from his birth, and the leper, by my permission and when thou didst bring forth the dead from their graves, by my permission and when I withheld the children of Israel from killing thee, when thou hadst come unto them with evident miracles, and such of them as believed not, said, This is nothing but manifest sorcery. And when I commanded the apostles of Jesus, saying, Believe in me and in my messenger they answered, We do believe and do thou bear
;
;
witness that
we are resigned unto thee. Remember when the apostles said, O
Jesus, son of Mary,
is
thy Lord able to cause a table to descend unto us from heaven ? 8 He answered, Fear God, if ye be true believers. They said, We desire to eat thereof, and that our hearts may
s This miracle is thus related by the commentators. Jesus having, at the request of his followers, asked it of God, a red table immediately descended, in their sight, between two clouds, and was set before them; whereupon he rose up, and having made the ablution, prayed, and then took off the cloth which covered the table, saying, " In the name of God, the best provider of food." What the provisions were with which this table was furnished is a matter wherein the expositors are not agreed; but the most received tradition is that when the table was uncovered there appeared a fish ready dressed, without scales or prickly fins, dropping with fat, having salt placed at its head and vinegar at its tail, and round it all sorts of herbs, except leeks, and five loaves of bread, on one of which there were olives, on the second honey, on the third butter, on the fourth cheese, and on the fifth dried flesh. They add that Jesus, at the request of the apostles, showed them another miracle, by restoring the fish to life, and causing its scales and fins to return to it, at which the standers-by being affrighted, he caused it to become as it was before; that 1,300 men and women, all afflicted with bodily infirmities or poverty, ate of these provisions, and were satisfied, the fish remaining whole as it was at first; that then the table flew up to heaven in the sight of all; and all who had partaken of this food were delivered from their infirmities and misfortunes; and that it continued to descend for forty days together at dinner-time, and stood on the ground till the sun Some of the Mohamdeclined, and was then taken up into the clouds. medan writers are of opinion that this table did not really descend, but that the incident was only a parable; but most think the words of the Koran are plain to the contrary. A further tradition is, that several
men were changed
ing it to magic art; victuals from it.
into swine for disbelieving this miracle, or, as others pretend, for stealing
and attributsome of the
124
rest at ease,
THE SACRED BOOKS

and that we may know that thou hast
told us the
truth,
and that we
may
of Mary, said, us from heaven, that the day of its descent may become a festival day unto us, unto the first of us, and unto the last of us, and a sign from thee; and do thou provide food for us, for
O God our
be witnesses thereof. Jesus, the son a table to cause descend unto Lord,
thou art the best provider. God said, Verily I will cause it unto you ; but whoever among you shall disbelieve hereafter, I will surely punish him with a punishment whereto descend
with I will not punish any other creature. And when God shall say unto Jesus, at the last day, O Jesus, son of Mary, hast thou said unto men, Take me and my mother for two He shall answer, Praise be unto thee it gods, beside God ? is not for me to say that which I ought not ; if I had said so, thou wouldst surely have known it thou knowest what is in
!
:
me, but I know not what is in thee for thou art the knower of I have not spoken to them any other than what thou secrets. didst command me ; namely, Worship God, my Lord and your Lord: and I was a witness of their actions while I stayed among them; but since thou hast taken me to thyself, thou hast been the watcher over them for thou art witness of all If thou punish them, they are surely thy servants; things. if and thou forgive them, thou art mighty and wise. God will say, This day shall their veracity be of advantage unto those who speak truth they shall have gardens wherein rivers flow, they shall remain therein forever: God hath been well pleased in them, and they have been well pleased in him. This shall be great felicity.
;
CHAPTER VI
ENTITLED, CATTLE;
IN THE
1
REVEALED AT MECCA
Praise be unto God, who hath created the heavens and the earth, and hath ordained the darkness and the light ; nevertheless they who believe not in the Lord equalize other gods with
1 This chapter is so entitled, because some superstitious customs of the Meccans, as to certain cattle, are therein incidentally mentioned.

him.
It is he
125
who hath
;
the term of your lives
created you of clay ; and then decreed and the prefixed term is with him yet
:
do we doubt thereof.
He
is
God
in heaven and in earth
he
knoweth what ye keep secret, and what ye publish, and knoweth what ye deserve. There came not unto them any sign, of the signs of their Lord, but they retired from the same; and they have gainsaid the truth, after that it hath come unto them but a message shall come unto them, concernDo they not consider ing that which they have mocked at. we have how many generations destroyed before them ? We had established them in the earth in a manner wherein we have not established you; we sent the heaven to rain abundantly upon them, and we gave them rivers which flowed under their feet; yet we destroyed them in their sins, and
:
raised
up
other generations after them.
Although we had caused to descend unto thee a book written on paper, and they had handled it with their hands, the unbelievers had surely said, This is no other than manifest They said, Unless an angel be sent down unto him, sorcery. we will not believe. But if we had sent down an angel, verily the matter had been decreed, and they should not have been borne with, by having time granted them to repent. And if we had appointed an angel for our messenger, we should have sent him in the form of a man and have clothed him before Other apostles have been laughed them, as they are clothed. to scorn before thee but the judgment which they made a jest
;
of encompassed those who laughed them to scorn. Say, Go the and behold what hath been end of those the earth, through
Say, Unto whom is in whatsoever heaven and earth? belongeth Say, Unto God. He hath prescribed unto himself mercy. He will surely gather you together on the day of resurrection there is no doubt of it. They who destroy their own souls are those
who accused our prophets of imposture.
who
will not believe.
Unto him
;
peneth by night or by day it is Say, Shall I take any other protector than God, the creator of heaven and earth, who feedeth all and is not fed by any? Say, Verily I am commanded to be the first who professeth
owing whatsoever haphe who heareth and knoweth.

is
126
THE SACRED BOOKS
Islam, and it was said unto me, Thou shalt by no means be one of the idolaters. Say, Verily I fear, if I should rebel against my Lord, the punishment of the great day: from
whomsoever
it
shall be averted
;
on that day, God will have
been merciful unto him this will be manifest salvation. If God afflict thee with any hurt, there is none who can take it off from thee, except himself but if he cause good to
;
befall thee, almighty; he is the supreme Lord over his servants; and he is wise and knowing. Say, What thing is 2 the strongest in bearing testimony ? Say, God he is witAnd this Koran was revealed unto ness between me and you. me, that I should admonish you thereby, and also those unto
he
is
ye really profess that there are other gods together with God? Say, I do not profess this. he God I is one and am guiltless of what ye asso; Say, Verily ciate with him. unto whom we have given the scripThey ture know our apostle, even as they know their own children but they who destroy their own souls will not believe. Who is more unjust than he who inventeth a lie against God, or chargeth his signs with imposture ? Surely the unAnd on the day of resurrection we just shall not prosper. will assemble them all then will we say unto those who associated others with God, Where are your companions, whom ye imagined to be those of God ? But they shall have no other excuse, than that they shall say, By God our Lord, we have not been idolaters. Behold, how they lie against themselves, and what they have blasphemously imagined to be the companion of God flieth from them. There is of them who harkeneth unto thee when thou readest the Koran but we have cast veils over their hearts, that they should not understand it, and a deafness in their ears and though they should see all kinds of
it
whom
shall reach.
Do
signs, they will not believe therein ; and their infidelity will arrive to that height that they will even come unto thee, to dis-
pute with thee.

*
The unbelievers
will say,
This
is
nothing
This passage was revealed when the Koreish told Mohammed that they had asked the Jews and Christians concerning him, who assured them they found no mention or description of him in their books of " " who bears witness to thee, that thou Therefore," said they, scripture, " art the of God ?
apostle

but
silly fables of
127
they will forbid others from believing therein, and will retire afar off from it; but they will destroy their own souls only, and they are not sensiancient times.
ble thereof.
fire
And
If thou didst
!
see,
of hell
and they
shall
;
when they shall be set over the say, Would to God we might be
sent back into the
world
Lord with imposture, nay, but that is become manifest unto them, which they formerly concealed; and though they should be sent back into the world, they would surely return to that which was forbidden them and they are surely liars. And they said, There is no other life than our present life; neither shall we be But if thou couldst see, when they shall be set raised again. Lord! He shall say unto them, Is not this in before their truth come to pass ? They shall answer, Yea, by our Lord. God shall say, Taste therefore the punishment due unto you, for that ye have disbelieved. They are lost who reject as falsehood the meeting of God in the next life, until the hour cometh suddenly upon them. Then will they say, Alas for that we have behaved ourselves negligently in our lifetime; and they shall carry their burdens on their backs 3 will it not be evil which they shall be laden with ? This present life is no other than a play and a vain amusement but surely the future mansion shall be better for those who fear God will they not therefore understand ? Now we know that what they speak grieveth thee: yet they do not accuse thee of falsehood but the ungodly contradict the signs of God. And apostles before thee have been accounted liars but they patiently bore their being accounted liars, and their
;
!
we would not charge the signs of our and we would become true believers:
8 When an infidel comes forth from his grave, says Jallalo'ddin, his works shall be represented to him under the ugliest form that ever he beheld, having a most deformed countenance, a filthy smell, and a disso that he shall cry out, " God defend me from thee, agreeable voice what art thou ? I never saw anything more detestable " To which the " figure will answer, Why dost thou wonder at my ugliness? I am thy evil works; thou didst ride upon me while thou wast in the world; but now will I ride upon thee, and thou shalt carry me." And immediately it shall get upon him; and whatever he shall meet shall terrify him, and say, " Hail, thou enemy of God, thou art he who was meant by these worda of the Koran, and they shall carry their burdens," etc.
;
!
THE SACRED BOOKS

who can change
being vexed, until our help came unto them ; for there is none the words of God and thou hast received some
:
information concerning those who have been formerly sent from him. If their aversion to thy admonitions be grievous unto thee, if thou canst seek out a den whereby thou mayest
penetrate into the inward parts of the earth, or a ladder by which thou mayest ascend into heaven, that thou mayest show them a sign, do so, but thy search will be fruitless ; for if God
pleased he would bring them all to the true direction be not He will give a favorable antherefore one of the ignorant. swer unto those only who shall barken with attention: and
:
God will raise the dead then unto him shall they return. The infidels say, Unless some sign be sent down unto him from his Lord, we will not believe answer, Verily God is able to send down a sign but the greater part of them know it not.
;
: :
no kind of beast on earth, nor fowl which flieth with wings, but the same is a people like unto you we have not omitted anything in the book of our decrees then unto their Lord shall they return. They who accuse our signs of falsehood are deaf and dumb, walking in darkness God will lead into error whom he pleaseth, and whom he pleaseth he will
There
is
its
put in the right way.
ment come
the punishof God come upon you, or the hour of the resurrection upon you, will ye call upon any other than God, if ye
Say,
What
think ye
if
? yea, him shall ye call upon, and he shall free from that which ye shall ask him to deliver you from, if you he pleaseth and ye shall forget that which ye associated with
speak truth
him.
already sent messengers unto sundry nations before thee, and we afflicted them with trouble and adversity that they might humble themselves: yet when the affliction
We have
which we sent came upon them, they did not humble themselves but their hearts became hardened, and Satan prepared for them that which they committed. And when they had forgotten that concerning which they had been admonished, we opened unto them the gates of all things until, while they were rejoicing for that which had been given them, we suddenly laid hold on them, and behold, they were seized with despair; and the utmost part of the people which had acted
:

wickedly, creatures!
129
was cut off: praise be unto God, the Lord of all Say, what think ye? if God should take away your hearing and your sight, and should seal up your hearts what god besides God will restore them unto you ? Verily herein are signs, unto people who believe. Yet
;
.
they have set up the genii as partners with God, although he created them and they have falsely attributed unto him sons and daughters, without knowledge. Praise be unto him and
:
far be that from
him which they
attribute unto
him
He
is
the
maker of heaven and earth: how should he have issue, no consort ? he hath created all things, and he is omniscient. This is God your Lord there is no God but he,
since he hath
;
the creator of
all
things: therefore serve
care of
all things.
The
sight
him; for he taketh comprehendeth him not, but he
comprehendeth the sight ; he is the gracious, the wise. Now have evident demonstrations come unto you from your Lord ;
whoso seeth them, the advantage thereof will redound to his own soul and whoso is wilfully blind, the consequence will be
:
to himself.
am not a keeper over you. Thus do we variour ously explain signs ; that they may say, Thou hast studied diligently; and that we may declare them unto people of
I
understanding.
Follow that which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord there is no God but he retire therefore from the idolIf God had so pleased, they had not been guilty of aters. We have not appointed thee a keeper over them idolatry.
; : ;
neither art thou a guardian over them. Revile not the idols which they invoke besides God, lest they maliciously revile
God, without knowledge. Thus have we prepared for every nation their works hereafter unto God shall they return, and he shall declare unto them that which they have done. They have sworn by God, by the most solemn oath, that if a sign came unto them, they would certainly believe therein Say, Verily signs are in the
:
power of God alone ; and he permitteth you not to understand that when they come, they will not believe. 4 And we will
*
cle,
In this passage Mohammed excuses his inability of working a miraas had been demanded of him; declaring that God did not think fit
VOL. V.
9.
130
THE SACRED BOOKS

;
turn aside their hearts and their sight from the truth, as they believed not therein the first time and we will leave them to
though we had sent down angels had dead the unto them, and spoken unto them, and we had 5 all things in one view they gathered together before them
wander
in their error.
And
would not have believed, unless God had so pleased: but the Thus have we appointed greater part of them know it not.
unto every prophet an enemy ; the devils of men, and of genii who privately suggested the one to the other specious discourses to deceive but if thy Lord pleased, they would not have done it. Therefore leave them, and that which they have falsely imagined ; and let the hearts of those be inclined thereto, who believe not in the life to come; and let them
: ;
please themselves therein, are gaining.
and
let
them gain that which they
Shall I seek after any other judge besides God to judge between us ? It is he who hath sent down unto you the book
of the Koran, distinguishing between good and evil ; and they to whom we gave the scripture know that it is sent down from
thy Lord, with truth. Be not therefore one of those who doubt thereof. The words of thy Lord are perfect in truth and justice; there is none who can change his words: he both heareth and knoweth. But if thou obey the greater part of them who are in the earth, they will lead thee aside from the path of God they follow an uncertain opinion only, and speak nothing but lies ; verily thy Lord well knoweth those who go
:
astray
from
his path,
and well knoweth those who are rightly
directed.
Eat of that whereon the name of God hath been commemorated, if ye believe in his signs and why do ye not eat of that whereon the name of God hath been commemorated ? since he hath plainly declared unto you what he hath forbidden you
:
to comply with their desires; and that if he had so thought fit, yet it had been in vain, because if they were not convinced by the Koran, they would not be convinced by the greatest miracle. * For the Meccans required that Mohammed should either show them
an angel descending from heaven in their sight, or raise their dead fathers, that they might discourse with them, or prevail on God and his angels to appear to them in a body.
131
except that which ye be compelled to eat of by necessity: many lead others into error, because of their appetites being void of knowledge; but thy Lord well knoweth who are the
transgressors. inside thereof
Leave both the outside of iniquity, and the

;
for they
who commit
iniquity shall receive the
reward of that which they shall have gained. Eat not therefore of that whereon the name of God hath not been commemorated; for this is certainly wickedness: but the devils will suggest unto their friends, that they dispute with you concerning this precept; but if ye obey them, ye are surely
idolaters.
Shall he who hath been dead, and whom we have restored unto life, and unto whom we have ordained a light, whereby he may walk among men, be as he whose similitude is in
Thus was darkness, from whence he shall not come forth ? And that which the infidels are doing, prepared for them. thus have we placed in every city chief leaders of the wicked
men
thereof, that they may act deceitfully therein ; but they shall act deceitfully against their own souls only; and they know it not. And when a sign cometh unto them, they say,
We
will by no means believe until a revelation be brought unto us, like unto that which hath been delivered unto the messengers of God. God best knoweth whom he will appoint
for his messenger. Vileness in the sight of God shall fall upon those who deal wickedly, and a grievous punishment, for
that they have dealt deceitfully. And whomsoever God shall please to direct, he will open his breast to receive the faith of
Islam but whomsoever he shall please to lead into error, he will render his breast straight and narrow, as though he were
:
Thus doth God inflict a terrible punclimbing up to heaven. ishment on those who believe not. This is the right way of thy Lord.
have we plainly declared our signs unto those people who will consider. They shall have a dwelling of peace with their Lord, and he shall be their patron, because of that which Think on the day whereon God shall they have wrought. them all gather together, and shall say, O company of genii, have been much concerned with mankind and their f riendg ye
;
Now
132
THE SACRED BOOKS
from amoDg mankind shall say, O Lord, the one of us hath received advantage from the other, and we are arrived at our God will say, limited term which thou hast appointed us. Hell fire shall be your habitation, therein shall ye remain
your pains, for Thus do we set some of the thy Lord is wise and knowing. unjust over others of them, because of that which they have
forever
;
unless as
God
shall please to mitigate
deserved.
company of genii and men, did not messengers from 6 among yourselves come unto you, rehearsing my signs unto you, and forewarning you of the meeting of this your day ? They shall answer, We bear witness against ourselves: the present life deceived them and they shall bear witness against
:
themselves that they were unbelievers. This hath been the method of God's dealing with his creatures, because thy Lord would not destroy the cities in their iniquity, while their inhabitants were careless.
Every one
shall
;
recompense of that which they shall do regardless of that which they do, and thy Lord is self-sufficient and endued with mercy. If he pleaseth he can destroy you, and cause such as he pleaseth to succeed you, in like manner as he produced you from the posterity of other people. Verily that which is threatened you shall surely come to pass
;
have degrees of for thy Lord is not
neither shall ye cause it to fail. Say unto those of Mecca,

;
people, act according to your power verily I will act according to duty and hereafter shall ye know whose will be the reward of paradise.
O my
my
The ungodly shall not prosper. Those of Mecca set apart unto God a portion of that which he hath produced of the fruits of the earth, and of cattle; and say, This belongeth unto God (according to their imagination), and this unto our companions. And that which is destined for their companions cometh not unto God yet that which is set apart unto
;
the Mohammedan belief that apostles were sent by God for the conversion both of genii and of men; being generally of human race (as Mohammed, in particular, who pretended to have a commission to preach to both kinds) ; according to this passage, it seems there must have been prophets of the race of genii also, though their mission be a secret
to us.
6 It is
133
!
God cometh unto their companions. How ill do they judge In like manner have their companions induced many of the
idolaters to slay their children, that they might bring them to perdition, and that they might render their religion ob-
scure and confused unto them.
had not done
this
.
But if God had pleased, they therefore leave them, and that which they
.
falsely imagine.
Say, Come; I will rehearse that which your Lord hath forbidden you ; that is to say, that ye be not guilty of idolatry, and that ye show kindness to your parents, and that ye murder not your children for fear lest ye be reduced to poverty we will provide for you and them ; and draw not near unto heinous crimes, neither openly nor in secret; and slay not the soul which God hath forbidden you to slay, unless for a just cause. This hath he enjoined you that ye may understand. And meddle not with the substance of the orphan, otherwise than for the improving thereof, until he attain his age of strength and use a full measure and a just balance. We will not impose a task on any soul, beyond its ability.
: ;
And when ye pronounce judgment
it be for or against one who is nant of God. This hath God commanded you, that ye may be admonished ; and that ye may know that this is my right
observe justice, although near of kin, and fulfil the cove-
way
lest
it, and follow not the paths of others, from This hath he be scattered the path of God. ye commanded you, that ye may take heed.
:
therefore follow
gave also unto Hoses the book of the law; a perfect rule unto him who should do right, and a determination concerning all things needful, and a direction, and mercy; that the children of Israel might believe the meeting of their Lord. And this book which we have now sent down is
We
and fear God, that ye may obtain mercy lest ye should say, The scriptures were only sent down unto two people before us and we neglected to peruse them with attention or lest ye should say, If a book of divine revelations had been sent down unto us, we would surely have
blessed
;
therefore follow
it
been better directed than they. And now hath a manifest declaration come unto you from your Lord, and a direction
134
:
THE SACRED BOOKS
and mercy and who is more unjust than he who deviseth lies turneth aside from them ? We against the signs of God, and will reward those who turn aside from our signs with a Do grievous punishment, because they have turned aside. should unto that the come than other for angels any they wait or that thy Lord from bodies their souls their to them, part or some of the signs of thy them that should come to punish Lord should come to pass, showing the day of judgment to be 7 On the day whereon some of thy Lord's signs at hand ? shall come to pass, its faith shall not profit a soul which be; ;
lieved not before, or Wait ye for this day ;
we
wrought not good in surely do wait for
its faith.
it.
Say,
a division in their religion, and become thou have sectaries, nothing to do with them their affair beHereafter shall he declare unto them longeth unto God. He who shall appear with good that which they have done. works shall receive a tenfold recompense for the same; but he who shall appear with evil works shall receive only an equal punishment for the same and they shall not be treated unjustly. Say, Verily my Lord hath directed me into a a true religion, the sect of Abraham the orthodox ; right way, and he was no idolater. Say, Verily, my prayers, and my worship, and my life, and my death are dedicated unto God, This have the Lord of all creatures he hath no companion. I been commanded: I am the first Moslem. Say, Shall I desire any other Lord besides God ? since he is the Lord of all things and no soul shall acquire any merits or demerits but for itself; and no burdened soul shall bear the burden of another. Moreover unto your Lord shall ye return and he
; ; :
They who make
shall declare
unto you that
concerning which ye now

to succeed
dispute.
It is he
your predecessors in the earth, and hath raised some of you above others by
who hath appointed you
i Al Beidawi, from a tradition of Mohammed, says that ten signs will precede the last day, viz., the smoke, the beast of the earth, an eclipse in the east, another in the west, and a third in the peninsula of Arabia, the appearance of Antichrist, the sun's rising in the west, the eruption of Gog and Magog, the descent of Jesus on earth, and fire which shall break forth from Aden.
135
various degrees of worldly advantages, that he might prove you by that which he hath bestowed on you. Thy Lord is
swift in punishing ; and he
is
also gracious
and merciful.
CHAPTER
ENTITLED, AL ARAF;
IN THE
1
VII
REVEALED AT MECCA

hath been sent down unto thee: and
A. L. M. S.
A book
therefore let there be no doubt in thy breast concerning it; that thou mayest preach the same, and that it may be an
admonition unto the faithful. Follow that which hath been sent down unto you from your Lord; and follow no guides How many cities besides him how little will ye be warned have we destroyed; which our vengeance overtook by night, And or while they were reposing themselves at noonday! their supplication, when our punishment came upon them, was no other than that they said, Verily we have been We will surely call those to an account, unto whom unjust. a prophet hath been sent; and we will also call those to And we will declare account who have been sent unto them. their actions unto them with knowledge for we are not absent from them. The weighing of men's actions on that day shall be just and they whose balances laden with their good works shall be heavy are those who shall be happy; but they whose balances shall be light are those who have lost their souls, because they abjured our signs. And now have we placed you on the earth, and have proWe vided you food therein but how little are ye thankful created you, and afterward formed you and then said unto the angels, Worship Adam and they all worshiped him, exGod cept Eblis, who was not one of those who worshiped. said unto him, What hindered thee from worshiping Adam,
: !
i Al Araf signifies the partition between paradise and mentioned in this chapter.
hell,
which
is
136
since I
THE SACRED BOOKS

had commanded thee?
lie answered, I am more excellent than he: thou hast created me of fire, and hast God said, Get thee down therefore created him of clay.
from paradise; for

proudly therein
contemptible. of resurrection.
:
it
is
not
fit
;
get thee hence
that thou hehave thyself thou shalt be one of the
who
respite until the day God said, Verily thou shalt be one of those The devil said, Because thou hast deare respited.
He
answered, Give
me
praved me, I will lay in wait for

will I
men
in thy strait
way then
;
come upon them from before, and from behind, and from their right hands, and from their left; and thou shalt God said unto not find the greater part of them thankful. him, Get thee hence, despised, and driven far away: verily whoever of them shall follow thee, I will surely fill hell with you all: but as for thee, O Adam, dwell thou and thy wife in paradise and eat of the fruit thereof wherever ye will but approach not this tree, lest ye become of the number of the unjust. And Satan suggested to them both, that he would discover unto them their nakedness, which was hidden from them and he said, Your Lord hath not forbidden you this tree, for any other reason but lest ye should become And he sware unto angels, or lest ye become immortal.
; ;
;
them, saying, Verily I am one of those who counsel you And he caused them to fall through deceit. And aright.
when they had tasted of the tree, their nakedness appeared unto them; and they began to join together the leaves of
paradise,
to
cover themselves.
And
their
Lord
called to
forbid you this tree; and did I not them, saying, say unto you, Verily Satan is your declared enemy ? They
Did I not
Lord, we have dealt unjustly with our own thou forgive us not, and be not merciful unto us, we shall surely be of those who perish. God said, Get ye down, the one of you an enemy unto the other and ye shall have a dwelling-place upon earth, and a provision for a seaanswered,
;
souls
and
if
He said, Therein shall ye live, and therein shall ye die, and from thence shall ye be taken forth at the resurrection. O children of Adam, we have sent down unto you apparel, to conceal your nakedness, and fair garments but the clothson.
;
137
This is one of the signs of God ; that ing of piety is better. peradventure ye may consider. O children of Adam, let not Satan seduce you, as he expelled your parents out of paradise, by stripping them of their clothing, that he might show them their nakedness: verily he seeth you, both he and his companions, whereas ye
have appointed the devils to be the patrons of those who believe not: and when they commit a filthy action, they say, We found our fathers practising the same and God hath commanded us to do it. Say, Verily God
see not them.
;
We
commandeth not
filthy actions.
Do
ye speak concerning God
Lord hath commanded that which ye know not ? Say, me^ to observe justice; therefore set your faces to pray at every place of worship, and call upon him, approving unto
My
him
part of mankind hath he directed; and a part hath been justly led into error, because they have taken the devils for their patrons besides God,
the sincerity of your religion. first, so unto him shall ye return.
As he produced you
at
and imagine that they are rightly directed. O children of Adam, take your decent apparel at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not guilty of excess; for he loveth not those who are guilty of excess. Say, Who hath forbidden the decent apparel of God, which he hath produced for his servants, and the good things which he hath provided for food ? Say, These things are for those who believe, in this present life, but peculiarly on the day of resurrection. Thus do we distinctly explain our signs unto who understand. people Say, Verily my Lord hath forbidden filthy actions, both that which is discovered thereof, and that which is concealed, and also iniquity, and unjust violence; and hath forbidden you to associate with God that concerning which he hath sent you down no authority, or to speak of God that which ye know not. Unto every nation there is a prefixed term; therefore when their term is expired, they shall not have respite for an hour, neither shall
they be anticipated. O children of Adam, verily apostles from
among you
:
shall
come unto you, who
shall
expound
my
signs unto
you who-
138
THE SACRED BOOKS
soever therefore shall fear God anil amend, there shall come no fear on them, neither shall they be grieved. But they who shall accuse our signs of falsehood, and shall proudly
be the reject them, they shall forever. therein shall remain
companions of
hell fire; they
And who
is
more unjust than
he who deviseth a
concerning God, or accuseth his signs Unto these shall be given their portion of of imposture? worldly happiness, according to what is written in the book
lie
of God's decrees, until our messengers come unto them, and shall cause them to die; saying, Where are the idols which
ye called upon, besides God

disappeared from
us.
They
shall answer,
They have
And
themselves, that they were at the resurrection, Enter ye with the nations which have preceded you, of genii and of men, into hell fire; so
they shall bear witness against unbelievers. God shall say unto
them
often as one nation shall enter,
it
shall curse its sister, until
The latter they shall all have successively entered therein. of them shall say of the former of them, Lord, these have
seduced us; therefore

of the fire of hell.
;
inflict
on them a double punishment
God shall answer, It shall be doubled unto all but ye know it not. And the former of them shall say unto the latter of them, Ye have not therefore any favor above us taste the punishment for that which ye have gained. Verily they who shall charge our signs with falsehood, and shall proudly reject them, the gates of heaven shall not be opened unto them, neither shall they enter into paradise, until a camel pass through the eye of a needle and thus will we reward the wicked doers. Their couch shall be in hell, and over them shall be coverings of fire; and thus will we reward the unjust. But they who believe and do that which is right (we will not load any soul but according to its abilshall be the ity), they companions of paradise; they shall remain therein forever. And we will remove all grudges
; ;
from
minds; rivers shall run at their feet, and they Praised be God, who hath directed us unto this felicity! for we should not have been rightly directed, if God had not directed us now are we convinced by demonstratheir
shall say,
:
tion that the apostles of our
Lord came unto us with
truth.

And
it
139
be proclaimed unto them, This is paradise, whereof ye are made heirs, as a reward for that which ye have wrought. And the inhabitants of paradise shall call out to the inhabitants of hell fire, saying, Now have we found that which our Lord promised us to be true; have ye also
shall
found that which your Lord promised you to be true ? They And a crier shall proclaim between them, shall answer, Yea. shall be on the wicked who turn men aside of God The curse from the way of God, and seek to render it crooked, and who deny the life to come. And between the blessed and the damned there shall be a veil and men shall stand on al Araf, 2 who shall know every one of them by their marks and shall call unto the inhabitants of paradise, saying, Peace be upon
;
;
you yet they

:
desire
it.
And when
shall not enter therein, although they earnestly they shall turn their eyes toward the
companions of hell fire, they shall say, O Lord, place us not with the ungodly people! And those who stand on al Araf shall call unto certain men, whom they shall know by their marks, and shall say, What hath your gathering of riches availed you, and that ye were puffed up with pride? Are these the men on whom ye swear that God would not bestow mercy? Enter ye unto paradise; there shall come no fear on you, neither shall ye be grieved. And the inhabitants of hell fire shall call unto the inhabitants of paradise, saying, Pour upon us some water, or of those refreshments which God hath bestowed on you. They shall answer, Verily God hath forbidden them unto the unbelievers who made a laughing-stock and a sport of their religion, and whom the life of the world hath deceived: therefore this day will we forget them, as they did forget the meeting of this day, and for that they denied our signs to be from God. And now we have brought unto those of Mecca a book of divine revelations: we have explained it with knowledge; a direction and mercy unto people who shall believe. Do they wait for any other than the interpretation thereof ? On the day whereon the interpretation thereof shall come, they who
;
Al Araf
is
the
name
of the wall or partition which, as
Mohammed
taught, will separate paradise
from
hell.
140
THE SACRED BOOKS
had forgotten the same before shall say, Now are we convinced by demonstration that the messengers of our Lord came unto us with truth shall we therefore have any intercessors, who will intercede for us? or shall we be sent back into the world, that we may do other works than what we did But now have they lost their souls and in our lifetime ? that which they impiously imagined hath fled from them. Verily your Lord is God, who created the heavens and the earth in six days; and then ascended his throne: he causeth the night to cover the day it succeedeth the same swiftly he also created the sun and the moon, and the stars, which are Is not the whole creabsolutely subject unto his command. ? the his and Blessed be God, the Lord ation, empire thereof, Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret ; of all creatures
:
for he loveth not those
who
transgress.
;
And
act not cor-
ruptly in the earth, after its reformation and call upon him with fear and desire: for the mercy of God is near unto the
It is he who sendeth the winds, spread abroad righteous. before his mercy, until they bring a cloud heavy with rain, which we drive unto a dead country, and we cause water to
descend thereon, by which

spring forth.
Thus
will
we cause all sorts of fruits to we bring forth the dead from their
graves; that peradventure ye
may
consider.
From
country shall its fruit spring forth abundantly,

mission of
its
but from the land which is not spring forth otherwise than scarcely. Thus do we exthe of divine unto the plain signs providence people who are
Lord
a good by the perbad, it shall
thankful.
formerly sent Noah unto his people: and he said, O my people, worship God: ye have no other God than him. Verily I fear for you the punishment of the great day. The chiefs of his people answered him, We surely perceive thee to be in a manifest error. He replied, O my people, there is no error in me ; but I am a messenger from the Lord of all creatures. I bring unto you the messages of my Lord; and I counsel you aright for I know from God that which ye know not, Do ye wonder that an admonition hath come unto you from your Lord by a man from among you, to warn you, that
:
We

ye
14-1
may take heed to yourselves, and that peradventure And they accused him of imposture obtain mercy ?
him and
those
those
ye may but we
delivered
who were with him
in the ark,
;
and
for
we drowned
who charged our

3
signs with falsehood
they were a blind people. And unto the tribe of Ad
we sent their brother Hud. He said, O my people, worship God ye have no other God than him will ye not fear him ? The chiefs of those among his people who believed not answered, Verily we perceive that thou art guided by folly and we certainly esteem thee to be
:
replied, O my people, I am not guided I am a but by folly; messenger unto you from the Lord of all creatures I bring unto you the messages of my Lord and
one of the
liars.
He
ye wonder that an admonition hath come unto you from your Lord, by a man from among you, that he may warn you ? Call to mind how he hath appointed you successors unto the people of Noah, and hath added unto you in stature largely. Remember the benefits of God, that ye may prosper. They said, Art thou come unto us, that we should worship God alone, and leave the deities which our fathers worshiped? Now bring down that judgment upon us, with which thou threatenest us, if thou speakest truth. Hud answered, Now shall there sudI
a faithful counselor unto you.
am
Do
upon you from your Lord vengeance and indignaWill ye dispute with me concerning the names which tion. have ye named, and your fathers as to which God hath not revealed unto you any authority ? Do ye wait therefore, and
denly
fall
;
I will be one of those
who wait with
you.
And we
delivered
him, and them who believed with him, by our mercy; and we cut off the uttermost part of those who charged our signs with falsehood, and were not believers.
And
unto the tribe of
Thamud we
:
sent their brother Saleh.
He
s
said,
O my
people,
worship God ye have no God
besides
ancient and potent tribe of Arabs, and zealous idolaters. worshiped four deities, Sakia, Hafedha, Razeka, and Sa.lema; the first, as they imagined, supplying them with rain, the second preserving them from all dangers abroad, the third providing food for
Ad was an
chiefly
They
their sustenance,
and the fourth restoring them to health when
afflicted
with sickness, according to the signification of the several names.
THE SACRED BOOKS

Now hath a manifest proof come unto you from your him. 4 therefore This she-camel of God is a sign unto you Lord. dismiss her freely, that she may feed in God's earth and do her no hurt, lest a painful punishment seize you. And call to mind how he hath appointed you successors unto the tribe of Ad, and hath given you a habitation on earth; ye build
:
yourselves castles on the plains thereof, and cut out the mounRemember therefore the benefits of God, tains into houses.
and commit not violence in the earth, acting corruptly. The chiefs among his people who were puffed up with pride said unto those who were esteemed weak, namely, unto those who believed among them, Do ye know that Selah hath been sent from his Lord ? They answered, We do surely believe in that wherewith he hath been sent. Those who were elated with pride replied, Verily we believe not in that wherein ye believe. And they cut off the feet of the camel, and insolently transgressed the command of their Lord, and said, O Saleh, cause that to come upon us, with which thou hast threatened us, if thou art one of those who have been sent by God. Whereupon a terrible noise from heaven assailed them; and in the morning they were found in their dwellings prostrate on their beasts and dead. And Saleh departed from them, and said, O my people, now have I delivered unto you the
* The Thamudites, insisting on a miracle, proposed to Saleh that he should go with them to their festival, and, that they should call on their gods, and he on his, promising to follow that deity which should answer. But after they had called on their idols a long time to no purpose, Jonda Ebn Amru, their prince, pointed to a rock standing by itself, and bade Saleh cause a she-camel big with young to come forth from it, solemnly engaging that, if he did, he would believe, and his people promised the same. Whereupon Saleh asked it of God, and presently the rock, after several throes as if in labor, was delivered of a she-camel answering the description of Jonda, which immediately brought forth a young one, ready weaned, and, as some say, as big as herself. Jonda, seeing this miracle, believed on the prophet, and some few with him; but the greater part of the Thamudites remained, notwithstanding, incredulous. Of this camel the commentators tell several stories: as that, when she went to drink, she never raised her head from the well or river till she had drunk up all the water in it, and then she offered herself to be milked, the people drawing from her as much milk as they pleased; and some say that she went about the town crying aloud, "If
any wants milk
let
him come
forth."

message of
those
143
ye love not
my
Lord and I advised you

;
well, but
who advise you well. And remember Lot, when he said unto his people, Do ye commit a wickedness, w herein no creature hath set you an
r
ye approach lustfully unto men, leaving the women Certainly ye are people who transgress all modthe answer of his people was no other than that But esty. they said the one to the other, Expel them your city for they are men who preserve themselves pure from the crimes which ye commit. Therefore we delivered him and his family, except his wife; she was one of those who stayed behind: and we rained a shower of stones upon them. Behold therefore what was the end of the wicked. And unto Madian we sent He said unto them, O my people, wortheir brother Shoaib. Now hath an eviship God; ye have no God besides him. dent demonstration come unto you from your Lord. Therefore give full measure and just weight, and diminish not unto
example?
?
Do
men
aught of their matters; neither act corruptly in the This will be better for you, if earth, after its reformation. believe. And beset not ye every way, threatening the passenger, and turning aside from the path of God him who believeth in him, and seeking to make it crooked. And rememwhen God were and few, ber, ye multiplied you and behold, what hath been the end of those who acted corruptly. And if part of you believeth that wherewith I am sent, and part believe not, wait patiently until God judge between us; for he is the best judge. . . .
:
O men, Verily I am the messenger of God unto you unto him belongeth the kingdom of heaven and earth ; there is no God but he he giveth life, and he causeth to die.
Say,
:
all
Believe therefore
God and his apostle, the illiterate God and his word and follow him, prophet, that ye may be rightly directed. Of the people of Moses there is a party who direct others with truth, and act justly And we divided them into twelve according to the same. as into so nations. And we spake by revelation tribes, many unto Moses, when his people asked drink of him, and we said,
in
who
believeth in
Strike the rock with thy rod; and there gushed thereout
144
THE SACRED BOOKS
twelve fountains, and men knew their respective urinkingAnd we caused clouds to overshadow them, and place.
upon them, saying, Eat of the we have which given you for food: and they good things
quails to descend
manna and
And call injured not us, but they injured their own souls. mind when it was said unto them, Dwell in this city, and eat of the provisions thereof wherever ye will, and say, Forto
giveness! and enter the gate worshiping: we will pardon you your sins, and will give increase unto the well-doers. But
they
who were ungodly among them changed
the expression
had not been spoken unto them. Whereupon them indignation from heaven, beAnd ask them concerning the cause they had transgressed. city, which was situate on the sea, when they transgressed on the Sabbath day: when their fish came unto them on their Sabbath day, appearing openly on the water; but on the day whereon they celebrated no Sabbath, they came not unto Thus did we prove them, because they were wicked them. doers. And when a party of them said unto the others, do Why ye warn a people whom God will destroy, or will
into another, which fore we sent down
punish with a grievous punishment? They answered, This is an excuse for us unto your Lord and peradventure they will beware. But when they had forgotten the admonitions which had been given them, we delivered those who forbade them to do evil; and we inflicted on those who had transgressed a severe punishment, because they had acted wickedly. And when they proudly refused to desist from what had been forbidden them, we said unto them, Be ye transformed into apes, driven away from the society of men. And remember when thy Lord declared that he would surely send
;
against the Jews, until the day of resurrection, some nation who should afflict them with a grievous oppression for thy
:
Lord is swift in punishing, and he is also ready to forgive and merciful and we dispersed them among the nations in the earth. Some of them are upright persons, and some of them are otherwise. And we proved them with prosperity and with adversity, that they might return from their disobedience and a succession of their posterity hath succeeded
:
145
after them, who have inherited the book of the law, who receive the temporal goods of this world, arid say, It will surely he forgiven us: and if a temporal advantage like the
former be offered them, they accept it also. Is not the covenant of the book of the law established with them, that they should not speak of God aught but the truth? Yet they But the enjoyment of diligently read that which is therein. the next life will be better for those who fear God than the wicked gains of these people (Do ye not therefore understand ?) and for those who hold fast the book of the law, and are constant at prayer: for we will by no means suffer the reward of the righteous to perish. And when we shook the mountain of Sinai over them, as though it had been a cover-
and they imagined that it was falling upon them; and we said, Receive the law which we have brought you, with reverence; and remember that which is contained therein, And when thy Lord drew forth their that ye may take heed. from of the loins the sons of Adam, 5 and took them posterity to witness against themselves, saying, Am not I your Lord? They answered, Yea: we do bear witness. This was done lest ye should say, at the day of resurrection, Verily we were negligent as to this matter, because we were not apprised thereof: or lest ye should say, Verily our fathers were formerly guilty of idolatry, and we are their posterity who have succeeded them wilt thou therefore destroy us for that which vain men have committed? Thus do we explain our signs, that they may return from their vanities. And relate unto the Jews the history of him unto whom we brought our signs,
ing,
;
This was done in Lhe plain of Dahia in India, or, as others imagine, a valley near Mecca. The commentators tell us that God stroked Adam's back, and extracted from his loins his whole posterity, which should come into the world until the resurrection, one generation after another; that these men were actually assembled all together in the shape of small ants, which were endued with understanding; and that
5
in
after they had, in the presence of the angels, confessed their dependence on God, they were again caused to return into the loins of their great ancestor. From this fiction it appears that the doctrine of pre-existence is not unknown to the Mohammedans; and there is some little conformity between it and the modern theory of generation ex animalculis in semine marium.
VOL. V.
10.
146
THE SACRED BOOKS
and he departed from them; wherefore Satan followed him, And if we aiid he became one of those who were seduced. had pleased, we had surely raised him thereby unto wisdom but he inclined unto the earth, and followed his own desire.
;
as the likeness of a dog, which, if thou drive him away, putteth forth his tongue, or, if thou This is the let him alone, putteth forth his tongue also.
is
Wherefore his likeness
likeness of the people who accuse our signs of falsehood. Rehearse therefore this history unto them, that they may
consider.
Evil
is
the similitude of those people
who
accuse our signs
of falsehood and injure their
own
souls.
Whomsoever God
shall direct, he will be rightly directed; and whomsoever he Moreover we have creshall lead astray, they shall perish. ated for hell many of the genii and of men ; they have hearts
by which they understand not, and they have eyes by which they see not, and they have ears by which they hear not. These are like the brute beasts; yea, they go more astray: these are the negligent. God hath most excellent names: therefore call on him by the same and withdraw from those who use his names perversely they shall be rewarded for that which they shall have wrought. . . if And an evil suggestion from Satan be suggested unto to divert thee from thy duty, have recourse unto God thee, for he heareth and knoweth. Verily they who fear God, when a temptation from Satan assaileth them, remember the divine commands, and behold, they clearly see the danger of But as for the brethren of sin, and the wiles of the devil. the devils, they shall continue them in error and afterward
;
:
they shall not preserve themselves therefrom. And when thou bringest not a verse of the Koran unto them, they say, Hast thou not put it together ? Answer, I follow that only
which
is
revealed unto
me from my
believe.
Lord.
is
taineth evident proofs
from your Lord, and
This book cona direction and

the
mercy unto people
who
And when
Koran
is
and keep silence; that ye may obtain meditate on thy Lord in thine own mind, with mercy. humility and fear, and without loud speaking, evening and
read, attend thereto,
And
147
morning; and be not one of the negligent. Moreover the angels who are with my Lord do not proudly disdain his service, but they celebrate his praise and worship him.
CHAPTER
ENTITLED, THE SPOILS;
IN THE
1
VIII
REVEALED AT MEDINA
Answer, The division of th'e spoils belongeth unto God and the apostle. Therefore fear God, and compose the matter amicably among you and obey God and his apostle, if ye are true believers. Verily the true believers are those whose hearts fear when God is mentioned, and whose faith increaseth when his signs are rehearsed unto them, and who trust in their Lord; who observe the stated times of prayer, and give alms out of that which we have bestowed on them. These are really believers: they shall have superior degrees of felicity with their As thy Lord, and forgiveness, and an honorable provision. Lord brought thee forth from thy house with truth and part of the believers were averse to thy directions 2 they disputed
They
will ask thee concerning the spoils:
1 Tliis chapter was occasioned by the high disputes which happened about the division of the spoils taken at the battle of Bedr, between the young men who had fought and the old men who had stayed under the ensigns; the former insisting they ought to have the whole, and the latter that they deserved a share. To end the contention, Mohammed pretended to have received orders from heaven to divide the booty among them equally, having first taken thereout a fifth part for the purposes which will be mentioned hereafter. 2 For the better understanding of this passage, it will be necessary to mention some further particulars relating to the expedition of Bedr. Mohammed having received private information (for which he pretended he was obliged to the angel Gabriel) of the approach of a caravan belonging to the Koreish, which was on its return from Syria with a large quantity of valuable merchandise, guarded by no more than thirty, or, as others say, forty men, set out with a party to intercept it. Abu Sofian,
who commanded
sent to
the little convoy, having notice of Mohammed's motions, upon which Abu Jahl, and all the principal men of the city, except only Abu Laheb, marched to his assistance, with a body of nine hundred and fifty men. Mohammed had no sooner received advice of this, than Gabriel descended with a promise that he should either take the caravan or beat the succors; whereupon he consulted with his companions which of the two he should attack. Some of them were
Mecca
for succors;
THE SACRED BOOKS

with thee concerning the truth, after it had been made known unto them ; no otherwise than as if they had been led forth to And call to mind death, and had seen it with their eyes. when God promised you one of the two parties, that it should
be delivered unto you; and ye desired that the party which was not furnished with anus should be delivered unto you; but God purposed to make known the truth in his words,
and
to cut off the uttermost part of the unbelievers
that he
might verify the truth, and destroy falsehood, although the wicked were averse thereto. When ye asked assistance of your Lord, and he answered you, Verily I will assist you with a thousand angels, following one another in order. And this God designed only as good tidings for you, and that your
hearts might thereby rest secure: for victory is from God When a sleep fell on alone; and God is mighty and wise. you as a security from him, and he sent down upon you
water from heaven, that he might thereby purify you, and take from you the abomination of Satan, 3 and that he might confirm your hearts, and establish your feet thereby. Also when thy Lord spake unto the angels, saying, Verily I am
upon the caravan, saying that they were not prepared to fight such a body of troops as were coming with Abu Jahl: but this proposal Mohammed rejected, telling them that the caravan was at a considerable distance by the seaside, whereas Abu Jahl was just upon them. The
for setting
others, however, insisted so obstinately
on pursuing the
first
design of
falling on the caravan, that the prophet grew angry, but by the interposition of Abu Beer, Omar, Saad Ebn Obadah, and Mokdad Ebn Amru,
they at length acquiesced in his opinion. Mokdad in particular assured him they were all ready to obey his orders, and would not say to him, as the children of Israel did to Moses, " Go thou and thy Lord to fight, for we will sit here "; but, " Go thou and thy Lord to fight, and we will fight with you." At this Mohammed smiled, and again sat down to consult with them, applying himself chiefly to the Ansars or " helpers," because they were the greater part of his forces, and he had some apprehension lest they should not think themselves obliged by the oath they had taken to him at al Akaba, to assist him against any other than such as should attack him in Medina. But Saad Ebn Moadh, in the name of the rest, told him that they had received him as the apostle of God, and had promised him obedience, and were therefore all to a man ready to follow him where he pleased, though it were into the sea. Upon which the prophet ordered them in God's name to attack the succors, assuring them of the victory. 3 It is related that the spot where Mohammed's little army lay was a

;
149
with you wherefore confirm those who believe. I will cast Therefore strike a dread into the hearts of the unbelievers. off their heads, and strike off all the ends of their fingers.
This shall they

his apostle:
suffer,
because they have resisted

shall oppose
God and
and whosoever
God and
verily
your
will be severe in punishing him. punishment; taste it therefore: and the infidels shall
God
his apostle, This shall be
also suffer the- torment of hell fire.
the unbelievers marching in great numbers against you, turn not your backs unto them: for whoso shall turn his back unto them on that day, unless
true believers,
when ye meet
he turneth aside to
faithful, shall
fight,
draw
or retreateth to another party of the on himself the indignation of God, and

;
!
an ill journey shall it be thither And ye slew not those who were slain at Bedr yourselves, but God slew them. Neither didst thou, O Mohammed, cast the gravel into their eyes, when thou didst seem to cast it; but God cast it, that he might prove the true believers by a gracious trial from himself for God heareth and knoweth. This was done that God might also weaken the crafty devices of the unbelievers. If ye desire a decision of the matter between us, now hath a decision come unto you and if ye desist from
his abode shall be hell
;
opposing the apostle, return to attack him,
it
will be better for you. But if ye we will also return to his assistance;
advantage unto you at all, is with the faithful. O true believers, obey God and his apostle, and turn not back from him, since ye hear the admonitions of the Koran.
shall not be of
;
and your forces
although they be numerous
for
God
dry and deep sand, into which their feet sank as they walked, the enemy having the command of the water; and that having fallen asleep, the greater part of them were disturbed with dreams, wherein the devil suggested to them that they could never expect God's assistance in the battle, since they were cut off from the water, and besides suffering the inconvenience of thirst, must be obliged to pray without washing, though they imagined themselves to be the favorites of God, and that they had his But in the night rain fell so plentifully that it apostle among them. formed a little brook, and not only supplied them with water for all their uses, but made the sand between them and the infidel army firm enough to bear them; whereupon the diabolical suggestions ceased.
150
THE SACRED BOOKS
be not as those who say, We hear, when they do not hear. Verily the worst sort of beasts in the sight of God are If God had the deaf and the dumb, who understand not.
And
would certainly have caused them to hear and if he had caused them to hear, they would O true surely have turned back, and have retired afar off. his when God and he inviteth answer believers, apostle, you unto that which giveth you life; and know that God goeth between a man and his heart, and that before him ye shall be
known any good

:
in them, he
assembled.
are ungodly
eral
;
Beware of
sedition
it
will not aft'ect those

all
who
among
you particularly, but
of you in gen-
and know that God is severe in punishing. And remember when ye were few, and reputed weak in the land;
ye feared lest men should snatch you away; but God provided you a place of refuge, and he strengthened you with his assistance, and bestowed on you good things, that ye might
give thanks. true believers, deceive not
your faith, against your wealth, and your children are a temptation unto you and that with God is a great reward. O true believers, if ye fear God, he will grant you a distinction, and will expiate your sins from you, and will forAnd call give you for God is endued with great liberality.
that
;
;
violate
God and his apostle neither your own knowledge. And know
;
to
plotted against thee, that they might either detain thee in bonds, or put thee to death, or 4 and they plotted against thee but God expel thee the city ;
:
mind when the unbelievers
laid a plot against
them; and God
is
the best layer of plots.
our signs are repeated unto them, they say, We if we pleased we could certainly pronounce a composition like unto this: this is nothing but fables of the ancients. And when they said, O God, if this be the truth
And when
have heard
4 When the Meccans heard of the league entered into by Mohammed with those of Medina, being apprehensive of the consequence, they held a council, whereat they say the devil assisted in the likeness of an old man of Najd. The point under consideration being what they should do with Mohammed, Abu'lbakhtari was of opinion that he should be imprisoned, and the room walled up, except a little hole, through which he should have necessaries given him, till he died. This the devil opposed, saying

from
thee, rain
151
upon us from heaven, or inflict on us some other grievous punishment. But God was not disposed to punish them, while thou wast with them; nor was God disposed to punish them when they asked pardon. But they have nothing to offer in excuse why God should not punish them, since they hindered the believers from visiting
stones the holy temple, although they are not the guardians thereof. The guardians thereof are those only who fear God but the
;
down
And their prayer at the greater part of -them know it not. house of God is no other than whistling and clapping of the
hands.
been unbelievers.
to obstruct the
Taste therefore the punishment, for that ye have They who believe not expend their wealth
:
ward
and
shall
it
at
way of God they shall expend it, but afterbecome matter of sighing and regret unto them, length they shall be overcome and the unbelievers
shall
;
be gathered together into hell
that
God may
distin-
guish the wicked from the good, and may throw the wicked one upon the other, and may gather them all in a heap, and
cast
shall perish. Say unto the unbelievers, that if they desist from opposing thee, what is already past shall be forgiven them ; but if they
them
into hell.
These are they who
return to attack thee, the exemplary punishment of the former opposers of the prophets is already past, and the like shall be inflicted on them. Therefore fight against them unthere be no opposition in favor of idolatry, and the religion be wholly God's. If they desist, verily God seeth that which they do but if they turn back, know that God is your patron ;
til
:
he
the best patron, and the best helper. And know that whenever ye gain any spoils, a fifth part thereof belongeth unto God, and to the apostle, and his kinis
;
dred, and the orphans, and the poor, and the traveler if ye believe in God, and that which we have sent down unto our
servant on the day of distinction, on the day whereon the two armies met: and God is almighty. When ye were enthat he might probably be released by some of his own party. Hesham Ebn Amru was for banishing him, but his advice also the devil rejected, insisting that Mohammed might engage some other tribes in his interest, and make war on them. At length Abu Jahl gave his opinion for putting
him
to death,
and proposed the manner, which was unanimously approved.
152
THE SACRED BOOKS
camped on the hithermost side of the valley, and they were encamped on the farther side, and the caravan was below you and if ye had mutually appointed to come to a battle, ye would certainly have declined the appointment; but ye were brought to an engagement without any previous appointment,
;
God might accomplish the thing which was decreed to be done, that he who perisheth hereafter may perish after demonstrative evidence, and that he who liveth may live by the same evidence God both heareth and knoweth. When thy Lord caused the enemy to appear unto thee in thy sleep, few
that
;
in number; and if he had caused them to appear numerous unto thee, ye would have been disheartened and would have disputed concerning the matter but God preserved you from this; for he knoweth the innermost parts of the breasts of men. And when he caused them to appear unto you, when
:
ye met, to be few in your eyes and diminished your numbers in their eyes; 5 that God might accomplish the thing which was decreed to be done: and unto God shall all things
;
return.
As
ward
to those
who
;
enter into a league with thee, and after-
violate their league at every convenient opportunity,
and fear not God if thou take them in war, disperse, by making an example, those who shall come after them, that they may be warned or if thou apprehend treachery from any people, throw back their league unto them, with like
;
treatment
for
God
loveth not the treacherous.
And
think
not that the unbelievers have escaped God's vengeance, for Therefore prepare they shall not weaken the power of God. against them what force ye are able, and troops of horse,
whereby ye may strike a terror into the enemy of God, and your enemy, and into other infidels besides them, whom ye
This seeming contradictory to a passage in the third chapter, where it Moslems appeared to the infidels to be twice their own number, the commentators reconcile the matter by telling us that, just before the battle began, the prophet's party seemed fewer than they ro;illy were, to draw the enemy to an engagement; but that so soon as the armies were fully engaged, they appeared superior, to terrify and dismay their adversaries. It is related that Abu Jahl at first thought them so inconsiderable a handful, that he said one camel would be as much as
5
is
said that the
they could all eat.

know
not, but
153
God knoweth them.
And
whatsoever ye shall
expend in the defense of the religion of God, it shall be And repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.
they incline unto peace, do thou also incline thereto; and put thy confidence in God, for it is he who heareth and knowif
eth.
But
if
support.
It is
they seek to deceive thee, verily God will be thy he who hath strengthened thee with his help,
and with that of the faithful; and hath united their hearts. If thou hadst -expended whatever riches are in the earth, thou couldst not have united their hearts, but God united them; for he is mighty and wise. O prophet, God is thy support, and such of the true believers who followeth thee. O prophet, stir up the faithful to war: if twenty of you persevere with constancy they shall overcome two hundred, and if there be one hundred of you they shall overcome a
thousand of those who believe not because they are a people which do not understand. Now hath God eased you, for he knew that ye were weak. If there be a hundred of you who persevere with constancy they shall overcome two hundred and if there be a thousand of you, they shall overcome two thousand, by the permission of God; for God is with
;
those
who
persevere.
been granted unto any prophet that he should possess captives, until he had made a great slaughter of the Ye seek the accidental goods of this infidels in the earth. world, but God regardeth the life to come and God is mighty and wise. Unless a revelation had been previously delivered from God, verily a severe punishment had been inflicted on you, for the ransom which ye took from the captives at Bedr. Eat therefore of what ye have acquired, that which is lawful
It hath not
;
and good
for
God
is
gracious and merciful.
prophet, say unto the captives who are in your hands, If God shall know any good to be in your hearts, he will give you better than what hath been taken from you; and he But if will forgive you, for God is gracieus and merciful. God have deceived they seek to deceive thee, verily they before; wherefore he hath given thee power over them: and
God
is
knowing and
wise.
THE SACRED BOOKS

Moreover they who have believed, and have fled their countheir substance and their persons in fighttry, and employed of God, and they who have given the ing for the religion and have assisted him, these prophet a refuge among them, of kin to the 'other. one nearest But the deemed be shall they who have believed, but have not fled their country, shall have no right of kindred at all with you, until they also fly. Yet if they ask assistance of you on account of religion, it belongeth unto you to give them assistance; except against a people between whom and yourselves there shall be a league And as to the subsisting: and God seeth that which ye do. of kin Unbe deemed the one to the other. let them infidels, less ye do this, there will be a sedition in the earth, and But as for them who have believed, grievous corruption. and left their country, and have fought for God's true religion, and who have allowed the prophet a retreat among them, and have assisted him, these are really believers they And they shall receive mercy, and an honorable provision. who have believed since, and have fled their country, and
;
have fought with you, these also are of you. And those who are related by consanguinity shall be deemed the nearest of kin to each other, preferably to strangers, according to the book of God; God knoweth all things.
CHAPTER IX
ENTITLED, THE DECLARATION OF IMMUNITY;
1
REVEALED AT
MEDINA
his apostle, unto the idolaters with whom ye have entered into league. Go to and fro in the earth securely four months and know that ye
declaration of
immunity from God and

;
shall not
lievers.
weaken God, and that God will disgrace the unbeAnd a declaration from God and his apostle unto
the people, on the day of the greater pilgrimage, that God is clear of the idolaters, and his Wherefore if ye apostle also.
*
The reason why the chapter had

Some, however, give
it
this title appears

titles,
lines.
other
from the opening and particularly that of
155
repent, this will be better for you ; but if ye turn back, know that ye shall not weaken God: and denounce unto those who believe not, a painful punishment. Except such of the idolshall have entered into a league, and aters with whom ye
who afterwards
shall not fail
any other against you. which ye shall have made with them, until their time shall be And when the elapsed for God loveth those who fear him. months wherein ye are not allowed to attack them shall be past, kill the idolaters wheresoever ye shall find them, and take them prisoners, and besiege them, and lay wait for them in every convenient place. But if they shall repent, and of observe the appointed times prayer, and pay the legal alms, And dismiss them freely for God is gracious and merciful.
;
;
you in any instance, nor assist Wherefore perform the covenant
shall demand protection of thee, grant him protection, that he may hear the word of God and afterward let him reach the place of his security. This shalt
if
any of the idolaters
thou do, because they are people which lency of the religion thou preachest.
know not
the excel-
admitted into a league with God and with his apostle except those with whom ye entered into a league at the holy temple? So long as they behave with toward do also behave with fidelity toward fidelity you, ye them; for God loveth those who fear him. How can they be admitted into a league with you, since, if they prevail
shall the idolaters be
;
How
Repentance," which is mentioned immediately after. It is observable that this chapter alone has not the auspiciatory form, " In the name of the most merciful God," prefixed to it; the reason of which omission, as some think, was, because these words imply a concession of security, which is utterly taken away by this chapter, after a fixed time ; wherefore some have called it the chapter of " Punishment " ; others say that Mo-
"
hammed (who died soon after he had received this chapter), having given no direction where it should be placed, nor for the prefixing the Bismillah to it, as had been done to the other chapters; and the argument of thia chapter bearing a near resemblance to that of the preceding, his companions differed about it, some saying that both chapters were but one, and together made the seventh of the seven long ones, and others that they were two distinct chapters whereupon, to accommodate the dispute, they left a space between them, but did not interpose the distinction of the Bismillah. It is agreed that this chapter was the last which waa revealed; and the only one, as Mohammed declared, which was re;
vealed entire and at once, except the 110th.
156
THE SACRED BOOKS
against you, they will not regard in you either consanguinity or faith ? They will please you with their mouths, but their hearts will be averse
from you
sell
are wicked doers.

price,
They
for the greater part of them the signs of God for a small
;
it is certainly evil which ; they do. in a believer either not or faith They regard consanguinity and these are the transgressors. Yet if they repent, and ob;
and obstruct his way
serve the appointed times of prayer, and give alms, they shall be deemed your brethren in religion. distinctly pro-
We
pound our signs unto people who understand. But if they violate their oaths, after their league, and revile your reoppose the leaders of infidelity (for there is no trust and they may desist from their treachery. Will ye not fight against people who have violated their oaths, and
ligion,
in them),
conspired to expel the apostle of God accord assaulted you the first time?
and who of their own Will ye fear them?
just that ye should fear God, if ye are true Attack them therefore God shall punish them by your hands, and will cover them with shame, and will give you the victory over them and he will heal the breasts of the
it is
But
more
believers.
people who
their hearts
:
believe,
and will take away the indignation of

will be turned unto
he pleaseth and God is knowing and wise. Did ye imagine that ye should be abandoned, whereas God did not yet know those among you who sought for his religion, and took not any besides God, and his apostle, and the faithful for their friends ? God is well acquainted with that which ye do. It is not fitting that the idolaters should visit the temples of God,
for
;
God
whom
being witnesses against their own souls of their infidelity. The works of these men are vain and they shall remain in hell fire forever. But he only shall visit the temples of God,
;
who
God and the last day, and is constant at and prayer, payeth the legal alms, and feareth God alone. These perhaps may become of the number of those who are
believeth in
rightly directed.
ye reckon the giving drink to the pilgrims, and the visiting of the holy temple, to be actions as meritorious as those performed by him who. believeth in God and the last
Do
157
They shall not day, and fighteth for the religion of God? be held equal with God for God directeth not the unrighteous
:
people.
They who have

their substance
employed
believed, and fled their country, and and their persons in the defense of
God's true religion, shall be in the highest degree of honor Their with God; and these are they who shall be happy. Lord sendeth them good tidings of mercy from him, and good
will,
and of gardens wherein they
shall enjoy lasting pleas-
ure; they shall continue therein forever: for
God
is
a great
reward.
true believers, take not your fathers or your brethren for friends, if they love infidelity above faith; and whosoever
among you
doers.
ren,
his friends, they will be unjust Say, If your fathers, and your sons, and your brethshall take
them for
and your wives, and your relations, and your substance which ye have acquired, and your merchandise which ye apprehend may not be sold off, and your dwellings wherein ye delight, be more dear unto you than God, and his apostle, and the advancement of his religion; wait, until God shall
command for God directeth not the ungodly people. Now hath God assisted you in many engagements, and par2 when ye pleased yourticularly in the battle of Honein
send his
: ;
selves in
2
your multitude, but
it
was no manner of advantage
This battle was fought in the eighth year of the Hegira, in the valley which lies about three miles from Mecca toward Tayef, between Mohammed, who had an army of twelve thousand men, and the tribes of Hawazen and Thakif, whose forces did not exceed four thousand. The Mohammedans, seeing themselves so greatly superior to their enemies, made sure of the victory; a certain person, whom some suppose to have been the prophet himself, crying out, " These can never be overcome by so few." But God was so highly displeased with this confidence, that in the first encounter the Moslems were put to flight, some of them running away quite to Mecca, so that none stood their ground except Mohammed himself, and some few of his family; and they say the prophet's courage was so great, that his uncle al Abbas, and his cousin Abu Sofian Ebn al Hareth, had much ado to prevent his spurring his mule into the midst of the enemy, by laying hold of the bridle and stirrup. Then he ordered al Abbas, who had the voice of a Stentor, to recall his flying troops; upon which they rallied, and the prophet throwing a handful of dust against the enemy, they attacked them a second time, and by the divine assistance gained the victory.
of Honein,
158
THE SACRED BOOKS
3 unto you, and the earth became too strait for you, notwithstanding it was spacious; then did ye retreat and turn your
Afterward God sent down his security upon his apostle and upon the faithful, and sent down troops of angels which ye saw not; and he punished those who disbelieved: and this was the reward of the unbelievers. Nevertheless God will hereafter be turned unto whom he pleaseth for God is gracious and merciful. O true believers, verily the idolaters are unclean let them not therefore come near unto the holy temple after this year. And if ye fear want, by the cutting off trade and communication with them, God will enrich you of his abundance, if he Fight against them pleaseth for God is knowing and wise. who believe not in God, nor in the last day, and forbid not that which God and his apostle have forbidden, and profess not the true religion, of those unto whom the scriptures have been delivered, until they pay tribute by right of subjection, and they be reduced low. The Jews say, Ezra is the son of God 4 and the Christians This is their saying in their say, Christ is the son of God. mouths they imitate the saying of those who were unbelievers in former times. May God resist them. How are they infatuated! They take their priests and their monks for their lords, besides God, and Christ the son of Mary; although they are commanded to worship one God only there is no God but he far be that from him, which they associate with him They seek to extinguish the light of God with their mouths but God willeth no other than to perfect his light, although the infidels be averse thereto. It is he who hath sent his apostle with the direction and true religion that he may cause
backs.
;
it to
appear superior to every other religion; although the idolaters be averse thereto.
3
tains, the enemy placed themselves in in the straits and narrow passages, and
For the valley being very deep, and encompassed by craggy mounambush on every side, attacking from behind the rocks, with great
advantage. 4 This charge against the Jews the commentators endeavor to support by telling us that it is meant of some ancient heterodox Jews, or else of some Jews of Medina; who said so for no other reason than for that the

O
159
true believers, verily many of the priests and monks devour the substance of men in vanity, and obstruct the way
of God.
But unto
those
who
treasure
up gold and
silver,
and
employ it not for the advancement of God's true religion, denounce a grievous punishment. On the day of judgment their treasures shall be intensely heated in the fire of hell, and their foreheads, and their sides, and their backs shall be stigmatized therewith; and their tormentors shall say, This is what ye have treasured up for your souls taste therefore that which ye have treasured up. Moreover, the complete number of months with God is twelve months, which were ordained in the book of God, on the day whereon he created the heavens and the earth: of
;
these,
This is the right religion therefore four are sacred. But attack the deal not unjustly with yourselves therein.
:
know
all; and with those who fear him. Verily the transferring of a sacred month to another month is an additional The unbelievers are led into an error thereby: infidelity. they allow a month to be violated one year, and declare it
idolaters in all the months, as they attack
you in
that
God
is
sacred another year, that they
may
agree in the
number
of
months which God hath commanded to be kept sacred; and The evil of their they allow that which God hath forbidden. actions hath been prepared for them: for God directeth not
the unbelieving people. true believers, what ailed you, that, when it was said unto you, Go forth to fight for the religion of God, ye inclined
Do ye prefer the present life to heavily toward the earth? that which is to come? But the provision of this life, in of which is that to respect come, is but slender. Unless ye
go forth when ye are summoned to war, God will punish you with a grievous punishment and he will place another people
;
law being utterly lost and forgotten during the Babylonish captivity, Ezra, having been raised to life after he had been dead one hundred years, dictated the whole anew to the scribes, out of his own memory at which they greatly marveled, and declared that he could not have done it unless he were the son of God. Al Beidawi adds that the imputation must be true, because this verse was read to the Jews, and they did not contradict it; which they were ready enough to do in other instance.
;
16
in
THE SACRED BOOKS
hurt him at all; for God is your stead, and ye shall not If ye assist not the prophet, verily God will assist almighty. him, as he assisted him formerly, when the unbelievers drove him out of Mecca, the second of two when they were both in the cave when he said unto his companion, Be not grieved, And God sent down his security upon for God is with us. him, and strengthened him with armies of angels, whom ye saw not. And he made the word of those who believed not to be abased, and the word of God was exalted; for God is mighty and wise. Go forth to battle, both light and heavy, and employ your substance and your persons for the advancement of God's This will be better for you, if ye know it. If it religion. had been a near advantage and a moderate journey, they had surely followed thee but the way seemed tedious unto them and yet they will swear by God, saying, If we had been able, we had surely gone forth with you. They destroy their own God forgive for God knoweth that they are liars. souls thee why didst thou give them leave to stay at home, until
: :
themselves, had known the liars ? and thou hadst thee, They who believe in God and the last day will not ask leave of thee to be excused from employing their substance and their persons for the advancement of God's true religion and God knoweth those who fear him. Verily they only will ask leave of thee to stay behind, who believe not in God and the last day, and whose hearts doubt concerning the faith wherefore they are tossed to and fro in their doubting. If they had been willing to go forth with thee, they had certainly prepared for that purpose a provision of arms and necessaries: but God was averse to their going forth; wherefore he rendered them slothful, and it was said unto them, Sit ye still with those who sit still. If they had gone forth with you, they had only been a burden unto you, and had run to and fro between you, stirring you up to sedition; and there would have been some among you who would have given ear unto them and God knoweth the wicked. They formerly sought to raise a sedition, and they disturbed thy affairs, until the
they
who speak
the truth,
when they excuse
become manifested unto
161
came, and the decree of God was made manifest
There is of them who although they were averse thereto. to Give me leave saith unto thee, stay behind, and expose me
not fallen into temptation at home ? But hell will surely encompass the unbelievers. If good happen unto thee, it grieveth them but if a misfortune befall thee, they say, We ordered our business before; and
not to temptation.
:
Have they
Say, Noththey turn their backs, and rejoice at thy mishap. ing shall befall us, but what God hath decreed for us: he is
our patron: and on God let the faithful trust. Say, Do ye expect any other should befall us than one of the two most
either victory or martyrdom ? But we expect concerning you, that God inflict a punishment on you, Wait therefore to either from himself, or by our hands.
excellent things
;
end of both for we will wait with you. Say, Expend your money in pious uses, either voluntarily or by constraint it shall not be accepted of you, because ye And nothing hindereth their contribuare wicked people. from tions being accepted of them, but that they believe not in God and his apostle, and perform not the duty of prayer, otherwise than sluggishly; and expend not their money for God's service, otherwise than unwillingly. Let not theresee
what
will be the
fore their riches or their children cause thee to marvel.
Verily God intendeth only to punish them by these things in this world; and that their souls may depart while they are unbelievers. They swear by God that they are of you yet If they are not of you, but are people who stand in fear.
;
they find a place of refuge, or caves, or a retreating hole, they surely turn toward the same, and in a headstrong manner
haste thereto.
reports of thee, in relation to thy distribution of the alms: yet if they receive part thereof, they are well pleased but if they receive not a
is
There
of
them
also
who spreadeth
;
ill
But if they had been part thereof, behold, they are angry. his with which God and that pleased apostle had given them, and had said, God is our support God will give unto us of his
;
abundance and his prophet also verily unto God do we make <mr supplications: it would have been more decent. Alms
;
VOL. v.
11.
162
THE SACRED BOOKS
are to be distributed only unto the poor and needy, and those who are employed in collecting and distributing the same, and unto those whose hearts are reconciled, and for the redemption
of captives, and unto those who are in debt and insolvent, and for the advancement of God's religion, and unto the traveler.
This is an ordinance from God and God is knowing and wise. There are some of them who injure the prophet, and say, He is an ear: Answer, He is an ear of good unto you: he
:
and giveth credit to the faithful, and is a mercy unto such of you who believe. But they who injure
believeth in God,
punishment. They swear unto you by God that they may please you but it is more just that they should please God and his apostle, if they Do they not know that he who opposeth are true believers. God and his apostle shall without doubt be punished with the fire of hell and shall remain therein forever ? This will be
;
the apostle of
God
shall suffer a painful
great ignominy. . . . There are some who have built a temple to hurt the faithful, and to propagate infidelity, and to foment division among the
true believers, and for a lurking-place for him who hath fought against God and his apostle in time past; and they swear, saying, Verily we intended no other than to do for the
Stand not witness that they do certainly lie. up to pray therein forever. There is a temple founded on It is more just that piety, from the first day of its building.
best
:
but
God
is
thou stand
purified
better,
;
up
to
pray therein therein are

:
men who
love to be
is
for
God
loveth the clean.
Whether therefore
he
who hath founded his building on the fear of God and his good-will; or he who hath founded his building on the brink of a bank of earth which is washed away by waters, so God directeth that it falleth with him into the fire of hell ?
not the ungodly people. Their building which they have built will not cease to be an occasion of doubting in their hearts until their hearts be cut in pieces and God is knowing
;
and
wise.
Verily
God hath purchased
of the true believers their souls
and their substance, promising them the enjoyment of paradise; on condition that they fight for the cause of God:
163
whether they slay or be slain, the promise for the same is assuredly due by the law, and the gospel, and the Koran. And who performeth his contract more faithfully than God ? Rejoice therefore in the contract which ye have made. This shall be great happiness. The penitent, and those who serve God, and praise him, and who fast, and bow down, and worship; and who command that which is just, and forbid that which is evil, and keep the ordinances of God, shall likewise be rewarded with paradise wherefore bear good tidings unto the faithful. It is not allowed unto the prophet, nor those who are true believers, that they pray for idolaters, although they be of kin, after it is become known unto them, that they are inhabitants Neither did Abraham ask forgiveness for his father, of hell. otherwise than in pursuance of a promise which he had made unto him but when it became known unto him that he was an enemy unto God, he declared himself clear of him. Verily Abraham was pitiful and compassionate. Nor is God disposed to lead people into error, after he hath directed them, until that which they ought to avoid is become known unto them for God knoweth all things. Verily unto God belongeth the kingdom of heaven and of earth he giveth life, and he causeth to die ; and ye have no patron or helper besides God. God is reconciled unto the prophet, and unto the Mohajerin, and the Ansars, who followed him in the hour of distress, after it had wanted little but that the hearts of a part of them had swerved from their duty: afterward was he turned unto them for he was compassionate and merciful toward them. And he is also reconciled unto the three who were left behind,
:
:
became too strait for them, notwithstanding spaciousness, and their souls became straitened within them, and they considered that there was no refuge from God, otherwise than by having recourse unto him. Then was he
so that the earth
its
turned unto them, that they might repent

be reconciled and merciful.
for
God
is
easy to
O true believers, fear God, and be with the sincere. There was no reason why the inhabitants of Medina, and the Arabs
164-
THE SACRED BOOKS

who
dwell around them, should stay behind the themselves before him. This apostle of God, or should prefer is unreasonable: because they are not distressed either by thirst, or labor, or hunger, for the defense of God's true reof the desert
ligion; neither do they stir a step, which may irritate the unbelievers; neither do they receive from the enemy any
damage, but a good work is written down unto them for the same; for God suffereth not the reward of the righteous to And they contribute not any sum either small or perish. do they pass a valley, but it is written down unto nor great, them, that God may reward them with a recompense exceeding that which they have wrought.
are not obliged to go forth to war all together : of every band of them go not forth, it is that they part may diligently instruct themselves in their religion ; and may
The believers
if a
admonish their people, when they return unto them, that they
may
take heed to themselves.
O
that
sent
are near you
wage war against such of the infidels as them find severity in you and know God is with those 'who fear him. Whenever a Sura is down, there are some of them who say, Which of you hath
true believers,
;
and
let
this caused to increase in faith
It will increase the faith of
believe, and they shall rejoice: but unto those in whose hearts there is an infirmity, it will add further doubt unto their present doubt and they shall die in their infidelity.
those
who
they not see that they are tried every year once or twice ? And whenever yet they repent not, neither are they warned. a Sura is sent down, they look at one another, saying, Doth
Do
you? then do they turn aside. God shall turn from the truth because they are a people who do not understand. Now hath an apostle come unto you
any one
see
aside their hearts
nation, an excellent person it is grievous unto him that ye commit wickedness ; he is careful over you, and comIf they turn passionate and merciful towards the believers.
of our
own
On back, say, God is my support: there is no God but he. him do I trust ; and he is the Lord of the magnificent throne.
165
CHAPTER X
ENTITLED, JONAS;
1
REVEALED AT MECCA
These are the signs of the wise book. Is it a strange thing unto the men of Mecca, that we have revealed our will unto a man from among them, saying, Denounce threats unto men if they believe not and bear good tidings unto those who believe, that on the merit of their sincerity they have an interest with their Lord ? The unbelievers say, This is manifest sorcery. Verily your Lord is God who hath created the heavens and the earth in six days; and then ascended his throne, to take on himself the government of all There is no intercessor, but by his permission. This things. is God, your Lord; therefore serve him. Will ye not conA. L. R.
;
Unto him shall ye all return, according to the certain of God ; for he produceth a creature, and then causeth promise it to return again that he may reward those who believe and
sider
?
;
do that which
is
right with equity.
But
as for the un-
believers, they shall
drink boiling water, and they shall suffer a grievous punishment, for that they have disbelieved. It is he who hath ordained the sun to shine by day, and the moon
for a light by night ; and hath appointed her stations, that ye might know the number of years, and the computation of time. God hath not created this, but with truth. He ex-
Moreover in plaineth his signs unto people who understand. the vicissitude of night and day, and whatever God hath created in heaven and earth, are surely signs unto men who
fear him.
Verily they
who hope not
to
meet us at the
delight in this present life, and rest who are negligent of our signs; their dwelling shall be hell But as to those who fire, for that which they have deserved.
believe,
and securely in the same, and

last day,
because of their faith

i
and work righteousness, their Lord will direct them they shall have rivers flowing through
;
This prophet
is
mentioned toward the end of the chapter.
THE SACRED BOOKS

Their prayer therein shall be, Praise gardens of pleasure. be unto thee, O God! and their salutation therein shall be, Peace and the end of their prayer shall be, Praise be unto
!
God, the Lord of all creatures If God should cause evil to hasten unto men, according to their desire of hastening good, verily their end had been Wherefore we suffer those who hope not to meet us decreed.
!
at the resurrection to
evil befalleth a
wander amazedly
in their error.
When
man, he prayeth unto us lying on
his side, or
we deliver him from his sitting, or standing: but when of life, as though he affliction, he continueth his former course him had not called upon us to defend against the evil which
had befallen him. Thus was that which the transgressors committed prepared for them. We have formerly destroyed the generations who were before you, O men of Mecca, when they had acted unjustly, and our apostles had come unto them Thus do with evident miracles, and they would not believe. we reward the wicked people. Afterward did we cause you to succeed them in the earth that we might see how ye would act. When our evident signs are recited unto them, they who hope not to meet us at the resurrection say, Bring a different Tvoran from this or make some change therein. Answer, It is not
;
for me, that I should change it at that only which is revealed unto me.
fit
my
pleasure: I follow Verily I fear, if I
should be disobedient unto my Lord, the punishment of the great day. Say, If God had so pleased, I had not read it unto
I have already you, neither had I taught you the same. dwelt among you to the age of forty years before I received it.
Do ye
not therefore understand
And who
is
more unjust
than he
who
,
of falsehood?
deviseth a lie against God, or accuseth his signs Surely the wicked shall not prosper. They
worship besides God, that which can neither hurt them nor profit them, and they say, These are our intercessors with God. Answer, Will ye tell God that which he knoweth not, neither in heaven nor in earth ? Praise be unto him and far be that from him, which they associate with him Men were professors of one religion only, but they dissented therefrom and if a decree had not previously issued from thy
! !
167
Lord, deferring their punishment, verily the matter had been decided between them, concerning which they disagreed. They say, Unless a sign be sent down unto him from his Lord,
we will not believe. Answer, Verily that which is hidden is known only unto God: wait therefore the pleasure of God; and I also will wait with you. And when we caused the men
of
Mecca
to taste
mercy, after an
affliction
which had befallen
them, behold, they devised a stratagem against our signs. Say unto them, God is more swift in executing a stratagem
Verily our messengers write down that which ye It is he who hath given you conveniences deceitfully devise. for traveling by land and by sea so that ye be in ships, which sail with them with a favorable wind, and they rejoice therein.
than ye.
;
And when a tempestuous wind overtaketh them, and waves come upon them from every side, and they think themselves to be encompassed with inevitable dangers they call upon God, exhibiting the pure religion unto him, and saying, Verily, if thou deliver us from this peril, we will be of those who give
;
thanks. But when he hath delivered them, behold, they behave themselves insolently in the earth, without justice. O men, Verily the violence which ye commit against your
own
souls
ward that which ye have done. Verily the likeness of this present life is no other than as water, which we send down from heaven, and wherewith the productions of the earth are mixed, of which men eat, and cattle also, until the earth receive its vesture, and be adorned with various plants: the inhabitants thereof imagine that they have power over the same but our command cometh unto it by night or by day, and we render it as though it had been mown, as though it had not yesterday abounded with fruits. Thus do we explain our signs unto
;
for the enjoyment of this present life only ; afterunto us shall ye return, and we will declare unto you
is
people
who
consider.
God
whom
inviteth unto the dwelling of peace, he pleaseth into the right way. They
and directeth who do right
shall receive a
addition
most excellent reward, and a superabundant neither blackness nor shame shall cover their faces.
These shall be the inhabitants of paradise; they shall con-
168
tinue
therein
THE SACRED BOOKS

forever.
But they who commit
evil
shall
and they shall he shall no have shame with covered (for they protector against covered their faces were with the profound as God) though These shall be the inhabitants of hell darkness of the night.
receive the reward of evil, equal thereunto,
;
fire;
they shall remain therein forever.
On
the day of the
we will gather them all together; then will we the unto idolaters, Get ye to your place, ye and your comsay panions: and we will separate them from one another; and their companions shall say unto them, Ye did not worship us and God is a sufficient witness between us and you ; neither
resurrection
;
did
we mind your worshiping

it
of us.
experience that which

shall be
shall
There shall every soul have sent before it; and they
;
deities
brought before God, their true Lord and the false which they vainly imagined shall disappear from
before them.
Say,
who provideth you food from heaven and earth?
or
who hath the absolute power over the hearing and sight ? and who bringeth forth the living from the dead, and bringeth forth the dead from the living ? and who governeth all things ? They will surely answer, God. Say, Will ye not therefore fear him ? This is therefore God, your true Lord and what
:
remaineth there after truth, except error? How therefore are ye turned aside from the truth? Thus is the word of thy Lord verified upon them who do wickedly; that they
Say, Is there any of your companions who produceth a creature, and then causeth it to return unto himself ?
believe not.
Say, God produceth a creature, and then causeth it to return unto himself. How therefore are ye turned aside from his
worship?
Say,
Is
there
?
any of your companions who

Say,
directeth unto the truth
God
directeth unto the truth.
Whether
worthy
do ?
is he therefore, who directeth unto the truth, to be followed ; or he who directeth not, unless
more
he be
What aileth you, therefore, that ye judge as ye the greater part of them follow an uncertain opinion only; but a mere opinon attaineth not unto any truth. Verily God knoweth that which they do.
directed?
And
This Koran could not have been composed by any except

God; but
169
it is a confirmation of that which was revealed an explanation of the scripture; there is no and before it, doubt thereof; sent down from the Lord of all creatures.
Will they say, Mohammed hath forged it? Answer, Bring therefore a chapter like unto it; and call whom ye may to your assistance, besides God, if ye speak truth. But they have charged that with falsehood, the knowledge whereof they do not comprehend, neither hath the interpretation In the same manner did those who thereof come unto them.
were before them accuse their prophets of imposture; but There are some of behold what was the end of the unjust.
believe not therein:
doers.
them who believe therein; and there are some of them who and thy Lord well knoweth the corrupt
If they accuse thee of imposture, say, I have my and work, ye have your work ye shall be clear of that which I do, and I will be clear of that which ye do. There are some of them who harken unto thee; but wilt thou make the deaf to hear, although they do not understand ? And there are some of them who look at thee but wilt thou
; ;
direct the blind, although they see not ? Verily God will not deal unjustly with men in any respect : but men deal unjustly
with their
a certain day he will gather them together, as though they had not tarried above an hour of a Then shall they perish day: they shall know one another.
souls.
own
On
who have denied the meeting of God, and were not rightly directed. Whether we cause thee to see a part of the punishment wherewith we have threatened them, or whether we
unto us shall they return Unto every nation hath an apostle been sent and when their apostle came, the matter was decided between them with equity; and they were not treated unjustly. . . .
it
;
:
cause thee to die before thou see
then shall
God be
witness of that which they do.

:
they
Say, Verily not prosper. They may enjoy a provision in this world; but afterward unto us shall they return, and we will then cause them to
Do ye
speak of
God
that which ye
who imagine a
lie
know not ? concerning God shall
taste a grievous
punishment, for that they were unbelievers. Rehearse unto them the history of Noah when he said unto
:
170
his people,
THE SACRED BOOKS

O my people,
if
my standing forth among you,
and
;
my warning you of the signs of God, be grievous unto you in God do I put my trust. Therefore lay your designs against
me, and assemble your false gods but let not your design be carried on by you in the dark then come forth against me, and delay not. And if ye turn aside from my admonitions, I ask not any reward of you for the same I expect my reward from God alone, and I am commanded to be one of those who But they accused him of imposture are resigned unto him. delivered wherefore we him, and those who were with him in the ark, and we caused them to survive the flood, but we drowned those who charged our signs with falsehood. Behold, therefore, what was the end of those who were warned by Noah. Then did we send, after him, apostles unto their respective people, and they came unto them with evident demonstrations yet they were not disposed to believe in that which they had before rejected as false. Thus do we seal up
; : ; ;
:
the hearts of the transgressors.
Then did we
send, after
them, Moses and Aaron unto Pharaoh and his princes with our signs: but they behaved proudly, and were a wicked people. And when the truth from us had come unto them, they said. Verily this is manifest sorcery. Moses said unto them, Do ye speak this of the truth, after it hath come unto you ? Is this sorcery ? but sorcerers shall not prosper. They said, Art thou come unto us to turn us aside from that religion which we found our fathers practised; and that ye two may have the
command
Pharaoh
in the land?
But we do not
believe you.
said, Bring unto me every expert magician. the magicians were come, Moses said unto them, Cast that which ye are about to cast down. And when they had cast down their rods and cords, Moses said unto them,
And And
when down
The enchantment which ye have performed shall God surely for God prospereth not the work of the wicked doers. And God will verify the truth of his words, although
render vain
;
the wicked be averse thereto.
there believed not any on Moses, except a generation of his people, for fear of Pharaoh and of his princes, lest he should afflict them. And Pharaoh
And
was
lifted
up with pride
in the earth,
and was surely one of

O
171
And Moses said, the transgressors. my people, if ye believe in God, put your trust in him, if ye be resigned to his will. Lord, They answered, put our trust in God:
We
by unjust people but deliver us, from the And we through thy mercy, unbelieving people. spake by inspiration unto Moses and his brother, saying, Provide habitations for your people in Egypt, and make your houses a place of worship, and be constant at prayer and bear good news unto the true believers. And Moses said, O Lord, verily thou hast given unto Pharaoh and his people pompous ornaments, and riches in this present life, O Lord, that they may be seduced from thy way O Lord, bring their riches to nought, and harden their hearts; that they may not believe,
; ;
suffer us not to be afflicted
until they see their grievous punishment.

:
God
said,
Your
petition is heard be ye upright therefore, and follow not in And we caused the chilthe way of those who are ignorant.
dren of Israel to pass through the sea
and Pharaoh and his
army when
followed them in a violent and hostile manner; until, he was drowning, he said, I believe that there is no God
but he on
one of the resigned. Now dost thou believe when thou hast been hitherto rebellious, and one of the wicked doers ? This day will we raise the body 3 from the bottom of the sea, that thou
the children of Israel believe
; ;
whom
2
and I
am
mayest be a sign unto those who shall be after thee; and And verily a great number of men are negligent of our signs. we prepared for the children of Israel an established dwelling in the land of Canaan, and we provided good things for their sustenance: and they differed not in point of religion, until knowledge had come unto them; verily thy Lord will judge
2 These words, it is said, Pharaoh repeated often in his extremity, that he might be heard. But his repentance came too late; for Gabriel soon stopped his mouth with mud, lest he should obtain mercy; reproaching him at the same time in the words which follow. a Some of the children of Israel doubting whether Pharaoh was really drowned, Gabriel, by God's command, caused his naked corpse to swim to shore, that they might see it. The word here translated, "body," " coat of mail," some imagine the meaning to be, that signifying also a his corpse floated armed with his coat of mail, which they tell us was of gold, by which they knew that it was he.
172
THE SACRED BOOKS
between them on the day of resurrection, concerning that wherein they disagreed. If thou art in a doubt concerning any part of that which we have sent down unto thee, ask them who have read the book Now hath the truth come unto thee of the law before thee. be from thy Lord; not, therefore, one of those who doubt: neither be thou one of those who charge the signs of God with Verily falsehood, lest thou become one of those who perish.
word of thy Lord is decreed shall not believe, although there come unto them every kind of miracle until they see the grievous punishment prepared for them. And if it were not so, some city, among the many which have been destroyed, would have believed and the faith of its inhabitants would have been of advantage unto them: but none of them believed before the execution of their sentences, except the people of Jonas. When they believed, we delivered them from the punishment of shame in this world, and suffered them to enjoy their lives and possessions for a time. But if thy Lord had pleased, verily all who are in the earth would
those against
whom
the
have believed in general. Wilt thou therefore forcibly com~No soul can believe but by the pel men to be true believers ? of God and he shall permission pour out his indignation on those who will not understand. Say, Consider whatever is in heaven and on earth: but signs are of no avail, neither Do they preachers, unto people who will not believe.
:
therefore expect any other than some terrible judgment, like unto the judgments which have fallen on those who have gone before them ? Say, Wait ye the issue ; and I also will wait with you: then will we deliver our apostles and those who believe. Thus is it a justice due from us, that we should
deliver the true believers.
of Mecca, if ye be in doubt concerning my religion, verily I worship not the idols which ye worship, besides God ; but I worship God, who will cause you to die and I am commanded to be one of the true believers. And it was
Say,
O men
said unto me, Set thy face toward the true religion, and be orthodox and by no means be one of those who attribute com;
panions unto God; neither invoke, besides God, that which

:
173
can neither profit thee nor hurt thee for if thou do, thou wilt If God afflict then certainly become one of the unjust. thee with hurt, there is none who can relieve thee from it, except he and if he willeth thee any good, there is none who can keep back his bounty he will confer it on such of his servants as he pleaseth and he is gracious and merciful. Say, O men, now hath the truth come unto you from your He therefore who shall be directed will be directed to Lord. the advantage of his own soul: but he who shall err will err I am no guardian over you. Do only against the same. which is revealed unto thee and follow that O thou, prophet, persevere with patience, until God shall judge ; for he is the
;
:
best judge.
CHAPTER XI
ENTITLED, HUD;
IN THE
i
REVEALED AT MECCA
A. L. R.
lation
This book, the verses whereof are guarded

:
against corruption, and are also distinctly explained, is a revefrom the wise, the knowing God that ye serve not any
other than God (verily I am a denouncer of threats, and a bearer of good tidings unto you from him) ; and that ye ask pardon of your Lord, and then be turned unto him. He
will cause
:
you
time and he give his abundant reward.
to enjoy a plentiful provision, until a prefixed unto every one that hath merit by good works will
ye turn back, verily I fear for you the punishment of the great day unto God shall ye return and he is almighty. Do they not double the folds
if
:
But
of their breasts, that they
him ?
not he
When
know
?
conceal their designs from they cover themselves with their garments, doth that which- they conceal, and that which they
may
discover
of men.
For he knoweth the innermost parts of the

is
breasts
There
provideth
1
its
no creature which creepeth on the earth, but God food and he knoweth the place of its retreat,
;
The story
of the prophet
Hud
is
repeated in this chapter.
174
THE SACRED BOOKS
and where it is laid up. The whole is written in the perspicuous book of his decrees. It is he who hath created the heavens and the earth in six days (but his throne was above the waters before the creation thereof), that he might- prove you, and see which of you would excel in works.
If thou say, Ye shall surely be raised again after death; the unbelievers will say, This is nothing but manifest sorcery. And verily if we defer their punishment unto a determined
season, they will say,
What
hindereth
Will it not come upon them on a day none to avert it from them; and that which they scoffed at shall encompass them? Verily, if we cause man to taste mercy from us, and afterward take it away from him, he will surely become desperate,
falling on us ? wherein there shall be

it
from
and ungrateful. And if we cause him to taste favor, after an affliction hath befallen him, he will surely say, The evils which I suffered are passed from me; and he will become joyful and insolent except those who persevere with patience, and do that which is right: they shall receive pardon and a Peradventure thou wilt omit to publish part great reward. of that which hath been revealed unto thee, and thy breast will become straitened, lest they say, Unless a treasure be sent down unto him, or an angel come with him, to bear witness
:
unto him, we will not believe.

;
Verily thou art a preacher the of all things. Will they say, only governor He hath forged the Koran? Answer, Bring therefore ten
and God
is
chapters like unto it, forged by yourselves and call on whomsoever ye may to assist you, except God, if ye speak truth. But if they whom ye call to your assistance hear you not,
;
know that this book hath been revealed by the knowledge of God only, and that there is no God but he. Will ye therefore become
Moslems?
unto them will

they for
chooseth the present life, and the pomp thereof, we give the recompense of their works therein, and the same shall not be diminished unto them. These are
Whoso
prepared in the next life, except the fire of hell: that which they have done in this life shall perish ; and that which they have wrought shall be vain.
other reward
is
whom no
175
Shall he therefore be compared with them, who followeth the evident declaration of his Lord, and whom a witness from
attendeth, preceded by the book of Moses, which was reThese vealed for a guide, and out of mercy to mankind? believe in the Koran but whosoever of the confederate infi-
him
dels believeth not therein is threatened with the fire of hell, which threat shall certainly be executed : be not therefore in a
doubt concerning
it;
for
it is
the truth
from thy Lord: but
the greater part of
men
will not believe.
Who
ing
is
God ?
more unjust than he who imagineth a lie concernThey shall be set before their Lord, at the day of
judgment, and the witnesses shall say, These are they who Shall not the curse of God devised lies against their Lord. fall on the unjust who turn men aside from the way of God, and seek to render it crooked, and who believe not in the life These were not able to prevail against God on to come?
;
so as to escape punishment; neither had they any protectors besides God: their punishment shall be doubled
earth,
unto them. They could not hear, neither did they see. These are they who have lost their souls and the idols which There is no they falsely imagined have abandoned them. doubt but they shall be most miserable in the world to come.
;
But as for those who believe, and do good works, and humble themselves before their Lord, they shall be the inhabitants of paradise; they shall remain therein forever. The
similitude of the two parties is as the blind and the deaf, and as he who seeth and heareth shall they be compared as equal ? Will ye not therefore consider ?
:
We
ily I
formerly sent
Noah unto
his people
and he
said,
Ver-
am a public preacher unto you ; that ye worship God alone: verily I fear for you the punishment of the terrible But the chiefs of his people, who believed not, anday.
swered,
no other than a man, like unto us and we do not see that any follow thee, except those who are the most abject among us, who have believed on thee by a rash judgment neither do we perceive any excellence in you above us: but we esteem you to be liars. Noah said, O my people, tell me if I have received an evident declaration from
see thee to be
;
We
176
THE SACRED BOOKS
Lord, and he hath bestowed on me mercy from himself, which is hidden from you, do we compel you to receive the same, in case ye be averse thereto ? O my people, I ask not
my
of
you any
:
riches, for
with God alone.
preaching unto you my reward is I will not drive away those who have be-
my
lieved verily they shall meet their Lord, at the resurrection ; O my people, who but I perceive that ye are ignorant men. Will ye shall assist me against God, if I drive them away ? not therefore consider? I say not unto you, The treasures
power neither do I say, I know the secrets I say, Verily I am an angel neither do do of neither I say of those whom your eyes do contemn, God will by no means bestow good on them (God best knoweth that which is in their souls) for then should I certainly be one of the unjust. They answered, O Noah, thou hast already disputed with us, and hast multiplied disputes with us now therefore do thou bring that punishment upon us wherewith thou hast threatened us, if thou speakest truth. Noah said, Verily God alone shall bring it upon you, if he pleaseth; and ye
of
God God
are in
my
shall not prevail against him, so as to escape the same. Neither shall counsel profit you, although I endeavor to eounsel you aright, if God shall please to lead you into error.
my
your Lord, and unto him shall ye return. Will the Meccans say, Mohammed hath forged the Koran ? Answer, If I have forged it, on me be my guilt and let me be clear of that which ye are guilty of. And it was revealed unto Noah, saying, Verily none of thy people shall believe, except he who hath already believed be not therefore grieved for that which they are doing. But make an ark in our form to the and dimensions which we presence, according have revealed unto thee and speak not unto me in behalf of those who have acted unjustly for they are doomed to be drowned. And he built the ark and so often as a company of his people passed by him, they derided him: but he said,
is
;
:
:
He
Though ye
ye
on
scoff at
scoff at
us now,
we
will scoff at
you
ment
shall be inflicted,
whom
shall surely know on shall cover him with shame, and a lasting punishment shall fall. Thus were they
us
and ye
hereafter, aa whom a punish-
which
177
employed until our sentence was put in execution, and the oven poured forth water. And we said unto Noah, Carry into the ark of every species of animals one pair; and thy family (except him on whom a previous sentence of destrucBut they believed tion hath passed), and those who believe.
And Noah said, Embark therenot with him, except a few. on, in the name of God while it moveth forward, and while it
;
Lord is gracious and merciful. And the ark swam with them between waves like mountains: and Noah called unto his son, who was separated from him, saying, Embark with us, my son, and stay not with the unHe answered, I will get on a mountain, which will believers. Noah replied, There is no security secure me from the water. this day from the decree of God, except for him on whom he And a wave passed between them, and he shall have mercy. became one of those who were drowned. And it was said, O earth, swallow up thy waters, and thou, O heaven, withhold thy rain. And immediately the water abated, and the decree was fulfilled, and the ark rested on the mountain Al Judi; And Noah and it was said, Away with the ungodly people called upon his Lord, and said, O Lord, verily my son is of my family; and thy promise is true; for thou art the most
standeth
still; for
my
God answereth, O this intercession of not of Noah, verily he thy family: Ask not of me therethine for him is not a righteous work. fore that wherein thou hast no knowledge: I admonish thee
just of those
who
exercise judgment.
is
that thou
become not one of the ignorant. Noah said, O Lord, I have recourse unto thee for the assistance of thy grace, that I ask not of thee that wherein I have no knowledge and unless thou forgive me, and be merciful unto me, I shall be one of those who perish. It was said unto him, O Noah, come down from the ark, with peace from us, and blessings upon thee and upon a part of those who are with thee but as for a part of them, we will suffer them to enjoy the provision of this world; and afterward shall a grievous punishment from us be inflicted on them, in the life to come. This is a secret history, which we reveal unto thee: thou didst not know it, neither did thy people before this. Where: :
c/ /
VOL. v.
12.
178
THE SACRED BOOKS
fore persevere with patience: for the prosperous issue shall attend the pious. And unto the tribe of Ad we sent their brother Hud. He
said,
O iny people,
worship God ye have no God besides him

;
ye only imagine falsehood, in setting up idols and intercessors of your own making. my people, I ask not of you
any recompense my recompense do I him from only who hath created me. Will ye not expect O my people, ask pardon of your therefore understand ? unto him: he will send the heaven to turned be Lord; and pour forth rain plentifully upon you, and he will increase
for this niy preaching,
:
your strength by giving unto you further strength
therefore
turn not aside to commit evil. They answered, O Hud, thou hast brought us no proof of what thou sayest; therefore we will not leave our gods for thy saying, neither do we be-
say no other than that some of our gods have with evil. He replied. Verily I call God to witness, and do ye also bear witness, that I am clear of that which ye associate with God, besides him. Do ye all therelieve thee.
afflicted thee
We
fore join to devise a plot against me, and tarry not; for I put my confidence in God, my Lord and your Lord. There
is
no
beast, but
he holdeth
it
by
its
forelock
verily
my
Lord
But if ye turn back, I have proceedeth in the right way. declared unto already you that with which I was sent unto
you; and my Lord shall substitute another nation in your stead and ye shall not hurt him at all for my Lord is guardian over all things. And when our sentence came to be put in execution, we delivered Hud, and those who had believed with him, through our mercy; and we delivered them from
;
:
a grievous punishment. And this tribe of Ad wittingly rethe of their jected signs Lord, and were disobedient unto his and followed the command of every rebelmessengers, they
lious perverse person. Wherefore they were followed in this world by a curse, and they shall be followed by the same on the day of resurrection. Did not Ad disbelieve in their
Lord
? Was it not said, Away with Ad, And unto the tribe of Thamud we sent
the people of Hud ? their brother Saleh.
He
said unto them,
O my
people, worship
God ye have no
;

God
besides him.
179
he who hath produced you out of the Ask parearth, and hath given you an habitation therein. and be turned unto him of for don him, therefore, my Lord is near, and ready to answer. They answered, O Saleh, thou whom we wast a person on placed our hopes before this. Dost thou forbid us to worship that which our fathers worshiped ? But we are certainly in doubt concerning the religion to which thou dost invite us, as justly to be expected. Saleh said, O my people, tell me if I have received an evident declaration from my Lord, and he hath bestowed on me mercy
It
is
;
from himself; who
will protect
me from
the vengeance of
For ye shall not add God, if unto me, other than loss. And he said, O my people, this she-camel of God is a sign unto you therefore dismiss her freely that she may feed in God's earth, and do her no harm, Yet they killed her; lest a swift punishment seize you.
;
I be disobedient unto him?
and Saleh
said,
Enjoy yourselves in your dwellings
for three
This is an infallible And when our decree came to be executed, we prediction. delivered Saleh and those who believed with him, through our mercy, from the disgrace of that day; for thy Lord is the strong, the mighty God. But a terrible noise from heaven assailed those who had acted unjustly; and in the morning they were found in their houses, lying dead and Did not prostrate as though they had never dwelt therein.
;
days, after which ye shall be destroyed.
Thamud
far
disbelieve in their
Lord?
Was
not
Thamud
cast
away?
also
came formerly unto Abraham, with good tidings: they said, Peace be upon thee. And he answered, And on you be peace and he tarried not, but brought a roasted calf. And when he saw that their hands did not
!
Our messengers
touch the meat, he misliked them, and entertained a fear of them. But they said, Fear not: for we are sent unto the
And his wife Sarah was standing by, and people of Lot. she laughed and we promised her Isaac, and after Isaac,
;
She said, Alas shall I bear a son, who am old this my husband also being advanced in years ? Verily this would be a wonderful thing. The angels answered, Dost
Jacob.
!
180
THE SACRED BOOKS
thou wonder at the effect of the command of God? The mercy of God and his blessings be upon you, the family of
the house
:
for he
is
praiseworthy, and to be glorified.
And
when his apprehension had departed from Abraham, and the good tidings of Isaac's birth had come unto him, he disputed with us concerning the people of Lot: for Abraham was a The angels said pitiful, compassionate, and devout person. unto him, O Abraham, abstain from this for now is the command of thy Lord come, to put their sentence in execution, and an inevitable punishment is -ready to fall upon them. And when our messengers came unto Lot, he was troubled for them, and his arm was straitened concerning them, and ho And his people came unto said, This is a grievous day. him: and him, rushing upon they had formerly been guilty of wickedness. Lot said unto them, O my people, these my are more lawful for you therefore fear God, and daughters put me not to shame by wronging my guests. Is there not
;
of prudence among you ? They answered, Thou knowest that we have n,o need of thy daughters and thou well knowest what we would have. He said, If I had strength
man
oppose you, or I could have recourse unto a powerful support, I would certainly do it. The angels said, O
sufficient to
Lot, verily
no means
are the messengers of thy Lord they shall by come in unto thee. Go forth therefore with thy
;
we
family, in some part of the night, and let not any of you turn back; but as for thy wife, that shall happen unto her, which shall happen unto them. Verily the prediction of
punishment shall be fulfilled in the morning is not the morning near? And when our command came, we turned those cities upside down, and we rained upon them stones of baked clay, one following another, and being marked, from thy Lord; and they are not far distant from those who act
their
:
unjustly.
And
ish not
unto Madian
my people,
we sent their brother Shoaib he said, O worship God ye have no God but him and dimin:
measure and weight.
Verily I see you to be in a
happy condition: but I fear for you the punishment of the day which will encompass the ungodly. O my people, give

full
181
measure and just weight; and diminish not unto men aught of their matters neither commit injustice in the earth, The residue which shall remain unto you acting corruptly. as the gift of God, after ye shall have done justice to others, will be better for you than wealth gotten by fraud if ye be I am no guardian over you. true believers. They answered, Shoaib, do thy prayers enjoin thee, that we should leave the gods which our fathers worshiped or that we should not do what we please with our substance ? Thou only, it seems, He said, O my people, art the wise person, and fit to direct. tell me; if I have received an evident declaration from my Lord, and he hath bestowed on me an excellent provision, and 1 will not consent unto you in that which I forbid you do I seek any other than your reformation, to the utmost of my power? My support is from God alone; on him do I trust, and unto him do I turn me. O my people, let not your opposing of me draw on you a vengeance like unto that which fell on the people of Noah, or the people of Hud, or the people of Saleh neither was the Ask pardon therefore people of Lot far distant from you. of your Lord and be turned unto him for my Lord is merciful and loving. They answered, O Shoaib, we understand not much of what thou sayest and we see thee to be a man of no power among us: if it had not been for the sake of thy family, we had surely stoned thee, neither couldst thou have Shoaib said, O my people, is my famprevailed against us. ily more worthy in your opinion than God? and do ye cast him behind you with neglect ? Verily my Lord comprehendeth that which ye do. O my people, do ye work according to
;
your condition; I will surely work according to my duty. And ye shall certainly know on whom will be inflicted a punishment which shall cover him with shame, and who is a liar. Wait therefore the event for I also will wait it with Wherefore when our decree came to be executed, we you. delivered Shoaib and those who believed with him, through our mercy: and a terrible noise from heaven assailed those who had acted unjustly and in the morning they were found in their houses lying dead and prostrate, as though they had
;
;
182
THE SACRED BOOKS

Was
not Madian removed from off the
never dwelt therein.

earth, as
been removed ? . . . Moses the book of the law; and unto We formerly gave disputes arose among his people concerning it: and unless a previous decree had proceeded from thy Lord, to bear with them during this life, the matter had been surely decided between them. And thy people are also jealous and in doubt concerning the Koran. But unto every one of them will thy Lord render the reward of their works for he well knowetb Be thou steadfast, therefore, as thou that which they do. hast been commanded ; and let him also be steadfast who shall be converted with thee and transgress not for he seeth that
; ;
:
Thamud had
which ye
cept
do.
And
incline not unto those

:
who
lest the fire
God;
of hell touch you for ye have no neither shall ye be assisted against him.
act unjustly, protectors, ex-
Pray
regularly morning and evening; and in the former part of This is an adthe night, for good works drive away evils.
monition unto those who consider: wherefore persevere with patience for God suffereth not the reward of the righteous to Were such of the generations before you, endued perish. with understanding and virtue, who forbade the acting corruptly in the earth, any more than a few only of those whom we delivered? But they who were unjust followed the delights which they enjoyed in this world and were wicked doers: and thy Lord was not of such a disposition as to destroy the cities unjustly, while their inhabitants behaved themselves And if thy Lord pleased, he would have made uprightly. all men of one religion: but they shall not cease to differ among themselves, unless those on whom thy Lord shall have mercy and unto this hath he created them for the word of thy Lord shall be fulfilled, when he said, Verily I will fill hell altogether with genii and men. The whole which we have related of the histories of our apostles do we relate unto thee, that we may confirm thy heart thereby; and herein is the truth come unto thee, and an admonition, and a warning unto the true believers. Say unto those who believe not, Act ye according to your condition we surely will act according to our duty and wait the
;
: ; ;

issue
;
183
for
and unto him shall the which is whole matter be referred. Therefore worship him, and put thy trust in him for thy Lord is not regardless of that which
;
certainly wait it also. secret in heaven and earth
we
Unto God
is
known
that
yo
do.
CHAPTER
ENTITLED, JOSEPH;
IN THE
1
XII
REVEALED AT MECCA
MOST MERCIFUL GOD
;
NAME OF
T1IE
These are the signs of the perspicuous book which down in the Arabic tongue, that peradventure ye might understand. We relate unto thee a most excellent history, by revealing unto thee this Koran, whereas thou wast before one of the negligent. When Joseph said unto his father, O my father, verily I saw in my dream eleven stars, and the sun and the moon I saw them make obeisance unto me. Jacob said, O my child, tell not thy vision to thy brethren, lest they devise some plot against thee; for the devil is a professed enemy unto man: and thus, according to thy dream, shall thy Lord choose thee, and teach thee the interpretation of dark sayings, and he shall accomplish his favor upon thee and upon the family of Jacob, as he hath formerly accomplished it upon thy fathers Abraham and Isaac; for thy Lord is knowing and wise. Surely in the history of Joseph and his brethren there are signs of God's providence to the inquisitive when they said to one another, Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we, who are the greater number our father cerWherefore slay Joseph, tainly maketh a wrong judgment.
A. L. R.
we have
sent
or drive
1
him
into
some distant or desert part of the
earth,
The Koreish, thinking to puzzle Mohammed, at the instigation and by the direction of certain Jewish Rabbins, demanded of him how Jacob's family happened to go down into Egypt, and that he would relate to them the history of Joseph, with all its circumstances: whereupon ho pretended to have received this chapter from heaven, containing the story
of that
patriarch.
sects,
Mohammedan
It is said, however, to have been rejected by two branches of the Kharejites, called the Ajaredites and
the Maimunians, as apocryphal
and spurious.
184
THE SACRED BOOKS

shall be cleared
and the face of jour father
toward you
and
ye shall afterward be people of integrity. One of them spoke and said, Slay not Joseph, but throw him to the bottom of the well; and some travelers will take him up, if ye do this. They said unto Jacob, O father, why dost thou not entrust Joseph with us, since we are sincere well-w ishers unto him ? Send him with us to-morrow, into the field, that he may divert Jacob himself, and sport, and we will be his guardians. answered, It grieveth me that ye take him away and I fear lest the wolf devour him, while ye are negligent of him. They said, Surely if the wolf devour him when there are so many of us, we shall be weak indeed. And when they had carried him with them, and agreed to set him at the bottom of the well, they executed their design: and we sent a revelation unto him, saying, Thou shalt hereafter declare this their action unto them and they shall not perceive thee to be
T ; ;
they came to their father at even, weeping, Joseph. and said, Father, we went and ran races with one another, and we left Joseph with our baggage, and the wolf hath devoured him but thou wilt not believe us, although we speak the truth.
;
And
And
they produced his inner garment stained with false blood. Jacob answered, Nay, but ye yourselves have contrived the thing for your own sakes: however, patience is most becoming, and God's assistance is to be implored to enable me to And certain travelsupport the misfortune which ye relate. ers came, and sent one to draw water for them and he let down his bucket, and said, Good news this is a youth. And
: !
they concealed him, that they might sell him as a piece of merchandise but God knew that which they did. And they
:
sold
him
for a
mean
price, for a
few pence, and valued him

said to his wife, be serviceable to
lightly.
And
the Egyptian
who bought him
Use him honorably; peradventure he may Thus did we prepare us, or we may adopt him for our son. an establishment for Joseph in the earth, and we taught him
the interpretation of dark sayings: for God to effect his purpose; but the greater part of
is
well
able
men do
not
understand.
And when
he had attained his age of strength, we bestowed

;
185
on him wisdom and knowledge for thus do we recompense the And she, in whose house he was, desired him to righteous. lie with her; and she shut the doors and said, Come hither. He answered, God forbid! verily my lord hath made my dwelling with him easy and the ungrateful shall not prosper.
;
But she resolved within
herself to enjoy him, and he would have resolved to enjoy her, had he not seen the evident demonSo we turned away evil and filthinesa stration of his Lord. from him, because he was one of our sincere servants. And
they ran to get one before the other to the door ; and she rent And they met her lord at the his inner garment behind.
She said, What shall be the reward of him who seeketh to commit evil in thy family, but imprisonment, and a painful punishment ? And Joseph said, She asked me to lie
door.
And a witness of her family bore witness, saying, her. If his garment be rent before, she speaketh truth, and he is a liar ; but if his garment be rent behind, she lieth, and he is a And when her husband saw that his garspeaker of truth. torn ment was behind, he said, This is a cunning contrivance Iwith of your sex; for surely your cunning is great. O Joseph, take no further notice of this affair and thou, O woman, ask
:
tain
pardon for thy crime, for thou art a guilty person. And cerwomen said publicly in the city, The nobleman's wife asked her servant to lie with her he hath inflamed her breast with his love and we perceive her to be in a manifest error. And when she heard of their subtle behavior, she sent unto them, and prepared a banquet for them, and she gave to each of them a knife and she said unto Joseph, Come forth unto
: ;
they saw him they praised him greatly; and they cut their own hands, and said, O God this is not a mortal he is no other than an angel, deserving the highest And his mistress said, This is he for whose sake ye respect. blamed me I asked him to lie with me, but he hath constantly refused. But if he do not perform that which I command
them.
!
And when
him, he shall surely be cast into prison, and he shall be made one of the contemptible. Joseph said, O Lord, a prison is more eligible unto me than the crime to which they invite me hut unless thou turn aside their snares from me, I shall
;
186
THE SACRED BOOKS
youthfully incline unto them, and I shall become one of Wherefore his Lord heard him, and turned the foolish. from him; for he both heareth and snares their aside
knoweth.
Moreover Joseph's brethren came, and went in unto him and he knew them, but they knew not him. And when he had furnished them with their provisions, he said, Bring
;
brother, the son of your father : do ye not see that I give full measure, and that I am the most hospitable But if ye bring him not unto me, there receiver of guests ?
unto
me your
no corn measured unto you from me, neither shall ye approach my presence. They answered, We will endeavor to obtain him of his father, and we will certainly perform what thou requirest. And Joseph said to his servants, Put their money which they have paid for their corn into
shall be
their sacks, that they may perceive it, when they shall be returned to their family: peradventure they will come back unto us. And when they had returned unto their father,
they said, O father, us any more, unless
it is
we
forbidden to measure out corn unto carry our brother Benjamin with us:
wherefore send our brother with us, and we shall have corn measured unto us and we will certainly guard him from any mischance. Jacob answered, Shall I trust him with you with
;
any better success than I trusted your brother Joseph with you heretofore ? But God is the best guardian and he is the most merciful of those who show mercy. And when they opened their provisions, they found their money had been returned unto them; and they said, O father, what do we
;
desire further? this our
money hath been returned unto
us:
we
will therefore return, and provide corn for our family : we will take care of our brother ; and we shall receive a camel's
burden more than we did the last time. This is a small Jacob said, I will by no means send him with you, quantity. until ye give me a solemn promise, and swear by God that ye will certainly bring him back unto me, unless ye be encomAnd when they had passed by some inevitable impediment. given him their solemn promise, he said, God is witness of what we say. And he said, My sons, enter not into the city
187
one and the same gate ; but enter by different gates. But this precaution will be of no advantage unto you against the decree of God; for judgment belongeth unto God alone: in him do I put my trust, and in him let those confide who seek
in
city as their father had comof no manded them, it was advantage unto them against the decree of God ; and the same served only to satisfy the desire
whom to put their trust. And when they entered the
of Jacob's soul, which he had charged them to perform: for he was endued with knowledge of that which we had taught him; but the greater part of men do not understand. And
when they entered into the presence of Joseph, he received his brother Benjamin as his guest, and said, Verily I am thy
brother; be not therefore afflicted for that which they have
committed against
sack.
us.
And when
he had furnished them
with their provisions, he put his cup in his brother Benjamin's Then a crier cried after them, saying, O company of travelers, ye are surely thieves. They said (and turned back unto them), What is it that ye miss? They answered, We miss the prince's cup: and unto him who shall produce it, shall be given a camel's load of corn ; and I will be surety for
the same.
know
are
Joseph's brethren replied, By God, ye do well that we come not to act corruptly in the land, neither
thieves.
we
The Egyptians
said,
What
shall
be the
re-
ward of him who shall appear to have stolen the cup, if ye be found liars ? Joseph's brethren answered, As to the reward of him in whose sack it shall be found, let him become a bondman in satisfaction for the same: thus do we reward the Then he began by their unjust, who are guilty of theft. he searched the sack of his brother and he drew sacks, before
;
out the cup
from
his brother's sack.

It
Joseph with a stratagem.

his brother for a
Thus did we furnish was not lawful for him to take

according to the offer of his
bondman, by the law of the King of Egypt,

it,
had not God pleased to allow

brethren.
We exalt to degrees of knowledge and honor whom

theft, his brother
we please: and there is one who is knowing above all those who are endued with knowledge. His brethren said, If Benjamin be guilty of
Joseph hath been also
188
guilty
THE SACRED BOOKS

of theft heretofore.
; things in his in Ye are a worse condition than us within he said himself, two; and God best knoweth what ye discourse about. They
But Joseph concealed these mind, and did not discover them unto them and
said unto Joseph, Noble lord, Verily this lad hath an aged father; wherefore take one of us in his stead; for we perceive that thou art a beneficent person. Joseph answered,
God forbid that we should take any other than him with whom we found our goods for then should we certainly be unjust. And when they despaired of obtaining Benjamin, they retired
;
And the elder of them said, to confer privately together. Do ye not know that your father hath received a solemn
promise from you, in the name of God ; and how perfidiously ye behaved heretofore toward Joseph ? Wherefore I will by no means depart the land of Egypt, until my father give me leave to return unto him, or God maketh known his will to me; for he is the best judge. Return ye to your father, and say, O father, verily thy son hath committed theft we bear witness of no more than what we know, and we could not guard against what we did not foresee: and do thou inquire in the city where we have been, and of the company of merchants with whom we are arrived, and thou wilt find that we
;
speak the truth.

returned, and had spoken thus to their father, he said, Nay, but rather ye yourselves have contrived the thing for your own sakes but patience is most proper for
:
And when they were
me
is
2
peradventure God
wise.
will restore
knowing and
them all unto me for he And he turned from them and said,
;
The occasion of this suspicion, it is said, was, that Joseph having been brought up by his father's sister, she became so fond of him that, when he grew up, and Jacob designed to take him from her, she contrived the following stratagem to keep him: Having a girdle which had once belonged to Abraham, she girt it about the child, and then, pretending she had lost it, caused strict search to be made for it; and it being at length found on Joseph, he was adjudged, according to the above-mentioned law of the family, to be delivered to her as her property. Some, however, aay that Joseph actually stole an idol of gold, which belonged to his mother's father, and destroyed it; a story probably taken from Rachel's stealing the images of Laban: and others tell us that he once stole a goat, or a hen, to give to a poor man.
189
Oh, how am I grieved for Joseph! And his eyes became white with mourning, he being oppressed with deep sorrow. His sons said, By God, thou wilt not cease to remember Joseph, until thou be brought to death's door, or thou be
by excessive affliction. He answered, I only represent my grief, which I am not able to contain, and my sorrow unto God; but I know by revelation from God O my sons, go and make inquiry that which ye know not. after Joseph and his brother; and despair not of the mercy of God; for none despaireth of God's mercy, except the unWherefore Joseph's brethren returned into believing people. when they came into his presence they said, Egypt: and Noble lord, the famine is felt by us and our family, and we are come with a small sum of money yet give unto us full measure, and bestow corn upon us as alms for God rewardeth the Joseph said unto them, Do ye know what ye did almsgivers. unto Joseph and his brother, when ye were ignorant of the consequences thereof? They answered, Art thou really I ? He am Joseph Joseph and this is my brother. replied, Now hath God been gracious unto us. For whoso feareth God, and persevereth with patience, shall at length find relief since God will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish. They said, By God, now hath God chosen thee above us and
actually destroyed
:
we have
surely been sinners. Joseph answered, Let there be no reproach cast on you this day. God forgiveth you for he is the most merciful of those who show mercy. Depart ye with this my inner garment, and throw it on my father's face ; and he shall recover his sight and then come unto me with all your family. And when the company of travelers was departed from Egypt on their journey toward Canaan, their father said unto those who were about him, Verily I perceive the smell of Joseph although ye think that I dote.
; : :
They answered, By God, thou art in thy old mistake. But when the messenger of good tidings was come with Joseph's inner garment, he threw it over his face; and he recovered his eyesight. And Jacob said, Did I not tell you that I knew from God that which ye knew not? They answered, O father, ask pardon of our sins for us, for we have surely been
!90
sinners.
THE SACRED BOOKS

He
replied, I will surely ask
is
pardon for you of
my
gracious and merciful. and his family arrived in Egypt and Jacob when And were introduced unto Joseph, he received his parents unto him, and said, Enter ye into Egypt, by God's favor, in full And he raised his parents to the seat of state, and security. they, together with his brethren, fell down and did obeisance unto him. And he said, O my father, this is the interpretation of my vision, which I saw heretofore now hath my Lord rendered it true. And he hath surely been gracious unto me, since he took me forth from the prison, and hath brought me hither from the desert; after that the devil had sown discord between me and my brethren for my Lord is gracious unto whom he pleaseth ; and he is the knowing, the wise God. O Lord, thou hast given me a part of the kingdom, and hast The Creator taught me the interpretation of dark sayings. of heaven and earth thou art my protector in this world, and in that which is to come make me to die a Moslem, and join
Lord
for he
me with
we reveal unto thee, O thou wast not Mohammed, although present with the brethren of Joseph, when they concerted their design, and contrived a But the greater part of men, although plot against him. thou earnestly desire it, will not believe. Thou shalt not demand of them any reward for thy publishing the Koran it is no other than an admonition unto all creatures. And how many signs soever there be of the being, unity, and providence of God, in the heavens and the earth ; they will pass by And the greater them, and will retire afar off from them. of them believe not in God, without being also guilty of part Do they not believe that some overwhelming afflicidolatry. tion shall fall on them, as a punishment from God or that the hour of judgment shall overtake them suddenly, while they
; ;
the righteous. This is a secret history, which
consider not
its approach ? unto those of Mecca, This is my way: I invite you Say unto God, by an evident demonstration; both I and he who followeth me and, praise be unto God I am not an idolater. We sent not any apostles before thee, except men unto whom
;
!

we
191
revealed our will, and whom we chose out of those who Will they not go through the earth, and see dwelt in cities. end of those who have preceded them? the what hath been
But 'the dwelling of the next

those
life shall surely
be better for
who fear God. Will they not therefore understand? Their predecessors were borne with for a time, until, when our apostles despaired of their conversion, and they thought that they were liars, our help came unto them, and we delivered whom we pleased ; but our vengeance was not turned away from the wicked people. Verily in the histories of the
prophets and their people there is an instructive example unto those who are endued with understanding. The Koran is not
but a confirmation of those scriptures which have been revealed before it, and a distinct explication
a
fiction
;
new invented
of everything necessary, in respect either to faith or practise, and a direction and mercy unto people who believe.
CHAPTER
IN THE
XIII
ENTITLED, THUNDER; REVEALED AT MECCA

NAME OF THE MOST MEKCIFUL GOD
:
A. L. M. R. These are the signs of the book of the Koran and that which hath been sent down unto thee from thy Lord is the truth ; but the It greater part of men will not believe. is God who hath raised the heavens without visible pillars; and then ascended his throne, and compelled the sun and the
moon
to perform their services every of the heavenly bodies runneth an appointed course. He ordereth all things. He showeth his signs distinctly, that ye may be assured ye must meet your Lord at the last day. It is he who hath stretched
:
forth the earth,

rivers
;
kinds.
and placed therein steadfast mountains, and and hath ordained therein of every fruit two different He causeth the night to cover the day. Herein are
certain signs unto people who consider. And in the earth are tracts of land of different natures, though bordering on each other; and also vineyards, and seeds, and palm-trees
192
THE SACRED BOOKS
springing several from the same root, and singly from distinct roots. They are watered with the same water, yet we
render some of them more excellent than others to Herein are surely signs unto people who understand.
tion, surely
eat.
If thou dost wonder at the infidels denying the resurrec-
wonderful is their saying, After we shall have been reduced to dust, shall we be restored in a new creature ? These are they who believe not in their Lord; these shall have collars on their necks, and these shall be the inhabitants of hell fire therein shall they abide forever. They will ask of thee to hasten evil rather than good although there have already been examples of the divine vengeance before them. Thy Lord is surely endued with indulgence toward men, notwithstanding their iniquity; but thy Lord is also severe in The infidels say, Unless a sign be sent down unto punishing. him from his Lord, we will not believe. Thou art commissioned to be a preacher only, and not a worker of miracles and unto every people hath a director been appointed. God knoweth what every female beareth in her womb; and what the wombs want or exceed of their due time, or number of
:
young. With him is everything regulated according to a determined measure. He knoweth that which is hidden, and
that which
is
revealed.
He
is
the great, the most high.
He
among you who

them
night,
in public; he also
concealeth his words, and he who proclaimeth who seeketh to hide himself in the
and he who goeth forth openly in the day, is equal in Each of them hath angels respect to the knowledge of God. mutually succeeding each other, before him, and behind him they watch him by the command of God. Verily God will not change his grace which is in men, until they change the disposition in their souls by sin. When God willeth evil on a people, there shall be none to avert it neither shall they have any protector beside him. It is he who causeth the lightning to appear unto you, to strike fear, and The to raise hope, and who formeth the pregnant clouds. thunder celebrateth his praise, and the angels also, for fear
;
;
of him.
He
sendeth his thunderbolts, and striketh therewith
whom
193
he pleaseth, while they dispute concerning God ; l for he It is he who ought of right to be is mighty in power. invoked; and the idols which they invoke besides him shall not hear them all; otherwise than as he is heard, who
stretcheth forth his
his
hand
is
mouth, when
it
to the water that it may ascend to can not ascend thither: the supplication
of the unbelievers
utterly erroneous.
Whatsoever
is
in
heaven and on earth worshipeth God, voluntarily or of force ; and their shadows also, morning and evening. Say, Who is the Lord of heaven and earth ? Answer, God. Say, Have ye therefore taken unto yourselves protectors beside him, who are unable either to help, or to defend themselves from hurt? Say, Shall the blind and the seeing be esteemed equal ? or shall darkness and light be accounted the same? or have they attributed companions unto God, who have created as he hath created, so that their creation bear any resemblance unto his ? Say, God is the creator of all things he is the one, the victorious God. He causeth water to descend from heaven, and the brooks flow according to their
;
respective measure, and the floods bear the floating froth and from the metals which they melt in the fire, seeking to cast
:
ornaments or vessels for use, there ariseth a scum like unto
Thus God setteth forth truth and vanity. But the scum is thrown off, and that which is useful to mankind remaineth on the earth. Thus doth God put forth parables. Unto those who obey their Lord shall be given the most
it.
excellent
i
reward but those who obey him

:
not, although they

:
Tofail
Amer Ebp al This passage was revealed on the following occasion and Arbad Ebn Rabiah, the brother of Labid, went to Mohammed with an intent to kill him; and Amer began to dispute with him concerning the chief points of his doctrine, while Arbad, taking a compass, went behind him to dispatch him with his sword; but the prophet, perceiving his design, implored God's protection; whereupon Arbad was immediately struck dead by thunder, and Amer was struck with a pestilential boil, of which he died in a short time, in a miserable condition. Jallalo'ddin, however, tells another story, saying that Mohammed, having sent one to invite a certain man to embrace his religion, the person put
this question to the missionary, is this apostle, and what is God 1 " Is he of gold, or of silver, or of brass? Upon which a thunderbolt struck off his skull, and killed him.
"
Who
VOL. V.
13.
194
THE SACRED BOOKS
were possessed of whatever is in the whole earth and as much These will be more, they would give it all for their ransom. shall be hell; an their abode account: brought to a terrible Shall he, therefore, who knoweth unhappy couch shall it be unto thee from thy Lord, is sent down that what hath been The prudent only truth, be rewarded as he who is blind? of will consider; who fulfil the covenant God, and break not their contract and who join that which God hath commanded to be joined, and who fear their Lord, and dread an ill account and who persevere out of a sincere desire to please their Lord, and observe the stated times of prayer, and give alms out of what we have bestowed on them, in secret and openly, and who turn away evil with good: the reward of these shall be paradise, gardens of eternal abode, which they shall enter, and also whoever shall have acted uprightly, of
!
their fathers, and their wives, and their posterity; and the angels shall go in unto them by every gate, saying, Peace be
upon you, because ye have endured with patience how

;
excel-
lent a
reward
is
paradise
violate the covenant of God, after the establishment thereof, and who cut in sunder that which God hath commanded to be joined, and act corruptly in the earth,
But
as for those
who
on them shall a curse

dwelling in hell.
fall,
and they
shall
have a miserable
he pleaseth. although the pres-
God
giveth provision in abundance unto
whom
ent
he pleaseth, and is sparing unto Those of Mecca rejoice in the present life
whom
;
life, in respect to the future, is but a precarious provision. The infidels say, Unless a sign be sent down unto him from
his Lord, we will not believe. Answer, Verily God will lead into error whom he pleaseth, and will direct unto himself him
who
repenteth, and those who believe, and whose hearts rest securely in the meditation of God; shall not men's hearts
rest securely in the
meditation of
God?
They who
believe
and do that which

take of a
sent thee to a nation which other nations have unto whom preceded, prophets have likewise been sent, that thou mayest rehearse unto them that which we have revealed
happy Thus have we
right shall enjoy blessedness, resurrection.

is
and par-

lee,
195
even while they believe not in the merciful God. Say unto them, He is my Lord ; there is no God but he in him do I trust, and unto him must I return. Though a Koran were revealed by which mountains should be removed, or the earth cleaved in sunder, or the dead be caused to speak,
:
it
would be in vain.
God.
Do
But the matter belongeth wholly unto not therefore the believers know that if God
Adversity shall
pleased, he would certainly direct all men ? not cease to afflict the unbelievers for that
which they have
committed, or to
:
sit
tles
promise come for before thee have been laughed to scorn and I permitted the infidels to enjoy a long and happy life: but afterward I punished them and how severe was the punishment which I
; ;
down near their habitations, until God's God is not contrary to the promise. Apos-
inflicted
on them!
Who
is
it
therefore that standeth over
every soul, to observe that which it committeth ? They attribute companions unto God. will Name them Say, ye declare unto him that which he knoweth not in the earth ? or will ye
:
name them
in outward speech only ? But the deceitful procedure of the infidels was prepared for them; and they are turned aside from the right path for he whom God shall cause
:
have no director. They shall suffer a punishment in this life but the punishment of the next shall be more grievous and there shall be none to protect them against God. This is the description of paradise, which is promised to
to err shall
;
the pious. It is watered by rivers ; its food is perpetual, and its shade also this shall be the reward of those who fear God.
:
But the reward of the

/horn
infidels shall be hell fire.
Those to
given the scriptures, rejoice at what hath been revealed unto thee. Yet there are some of the confederates
we have
who deny part thereof. Say unto them, Verily I am commanded to worship God alone; and to give him no companion upon him do I call, and unto him shall I return. To this purpose have we sent down the Koran, a rule of judg:
ment, in the Arabic language. And verily if thou follow their desires, after the knowledge which hath been given thee,
there shall be
We have
none to defend or protect thee against God. formerly sent apostles before thee, and bestowed on
196
THE SACRED BOOKS

;
2 and no apostle had the power to them wives and children come with a sign, unless by permission of God. Every age hath its book of revelation: God shall abolish and shall conWith him is the original of the book. firm what he pleaseth.
Moreover, whether we cause thee to see any part of that punishment wherewith we have threatened them, or whether we cause thee to die before it be inflicted on them, verily unto thee belongeth preaching only, but unto us inquisition. Do
they not see that we come into their land, and straiten the borders thereof, by the conquests of the true believers? When God judgeth, there is none to reverse his judgment;
Their predecessors formerly devised subtle plots against their prophets but knoweth that which God is master of every subtle device.
;
and he will be swift in taking an account.
He
every soul deserveth and the infidels shall surely know, whose will be the reward of paradise. The unbelievers will say, Thou art not sent of God. Answer, God is a sufficient witness between me and you, and he who understandeth the
:
scriptures.
CHAPTER XIV
ENTITLED, ABRAHAM;
IN THE
1
REVEALED AT MECCA
A. L. R. This book have we sent down unto thee, that thou mayest lead men forth from darkness into light, by the permission of their Lord, into the glorious and laudable way. God is he unto whom belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth and woe be to the infidels, because a grievous punishment waiteth them; who love the present life above that which is to come, and turn men aside from the way of God,
:
This passage was revealed in answer to the reproaches which were cast on Mohammed, on account of the great number of his wives. For the Jews said that if he was a true prophet, his care and attention would be employed about something else than women
thee."
2" As we have on
and the getting of children. i Mention is made of this patriarch toward the end of the chapter.

md
tant
197
seek to render
it
crooked: these are in an error fur dis-
from
the truth.
have sent no apostle but with the language of his people, that he might declare their duty plainly unto them for God causeth to err whom he pleaseth, and dirocteth whom he pleaseth; and he is the mighty, the wise. We formerly sent Moses with our signs, and commanded him, saying, Lead forth thy people from darkness into light, and remind them of the favors of God: verily therein are signs unto every
:
We
And call to mind when Moses patient and grateful person. said unto his people, Remember the favor of God toward you,
you from the people of Pharaoh: they grievously oppressed you and they slew your male children, but let your females live therein was a great trial from your Lord. And when your Lord declared by the mouth of Moses,
when he
delivered
saying, If ye be thankful, I will surely increase
my
favors
toward you; but

shall be severe.
ye be ungrateful, verily my punishment said, if ye be ungrateful, and all who are in the earth likewise; verily God needeth not your thanks, though he deserveth the highest praise. Hath not the history of the nations your predecessors reached you namely, of the people of Noah, and of Ad, and of Thamud, and of those who succeeded them whose number none knoweth except God ? Their apostles came unto them with evident miracles but they clapped their hands to their mouths out of indignation, and said, We do not believe the message with which ye pretend to be sent; and we are in a doubt concerning the religion to which ye invite us, as justly to be suspected. Their apostles answered, Is there any doubt He inthe creator of heaven and earth? concerning God, viteth you to the true faith that he may forgive you part of your sins, and may respite your punishment, by granting you space to repent, until an appointed time. They answered, Ye are but men, like unto us: ye seek to turn us aside. from the gods which our fathers worshiped wherefore bring us an
if
And Moses
evident demonstration
like
Their apostles replied unto them, We unto you but God is bountiful unto such of his servants
;
by som^ miracle,
that ye speak truth. are no other than men
198
as he pleaseth:
THE SACRED BOOKS
and it is not in our power to give you a of our mission, unless by the perdemonstration miraculous
God therefore let the faithful trust. And to allege that we should not put our trust we what excuse have Wherefore we in God since he hath directed us our paths ?
mission of
God
in
will certainly suffer with patience the persecution wherewith ye shall afflict us in God therefore let those put their confi:
dence who seek in
whom
to
put their
trust.
And
those
who
will surely expel you believed not said unto their apostles, out of our land ; or ye shall return unto our religion. And
We
Lord spake unto them by revelation, saying, We will surely destroy the wicked doers; and we will cause you to
their
him who
fear
This shall be granted unto dwell in the earth, after them. shall dread the appearance at my tribunal, and shall
And they asked assistance of God, and threatening. Hell lieth rebellious every perverse person failed of success. unseen before him, and he shall have filthy water given him
my
to drink
he shall sup
it
up by
little
and
little,
and he
shall
not easily let it pass his throat, because of its nauseousness ; death also shall come upon him from every quarter, yet he shall not die; and before him shall there stand prepared a
grievous torment. not in their Lord.
This is the likeness of those who believe Their works are as ashes, which the wind violently scattereth in a stormy day they shall not be able to obtain any solid advantage from that which they have This is an error most distant from truth. wrought. Dost thou not see that God hath created the heavens and the earth in wisdom ? If he please he can destroy you, and
:
produce a new creature in your stead: neither will this be difficult with God. And they shall all come forth into the
presence of
God
at the last day:
and the weak among them

arrogantly,
;
shall say unto those
who behaved themselves

followers on earth
will
Verily
shall
we were your
ye not there-
fore avert
from us some part of the divine vengeance ? They answer, If God had directed us aright, we had certainly
It is equal unto us whether we bear our torments impatiently, or whether we endure them with patience :
directed you.
for
we have no way
to escape.
And Satan
shall say, after

judgment
199
shall have been given, Verily God promised you a of truth: and I also made you a promise; but I promise Yet I had not any power over you to compel deceived you. I called but you only, and ye answered me wherefore you ;
:
I can not assist you accuse not me, but accuse yourselves. neither can ye assist me. Verily I do now renounce your
;
having associated me with God heretofore. A grievous punishment is prepared for the unjust. But they who shall have believed and wrought righteousness shall be introduced into gardens, wherein rivers flow; they shall remain therein forever, by the permission of their Lord and their salutation therein shall be, Peace Dost thou not see how God putteth forth a parable representing a good word, as a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed in the earth, and whose branches reach unto heaven; which
;
!
by the will of its Lord ? God propoundeth parables unto men, that they may be inAnd the likeness of an evil word is as an evil tree structed. which is torn up from the face of the earth, and hath no 2 God shall confirm them who believe, by the steadstability. fast word of faith, both in this life and in that which is to come 3 but God shall lead the wicked into error, for God doth that which he pleaseth. Hast thou not considered those who have changed the grace of God to infidelity, and cause their people to descend into
bringeth forth
its
fruit in all seasons,
the house of perdition, namely, into hell ? They shall be thrown to burn therein ; and an unhappy dwelling shall it be.
They
cause
also set
men
idols as copartners with God, that they might to stray from his path. Say unto them, Enjoy the
up
pleasures of this life for a time; but your departure hence

2 What is particularly intended in this passage by the good word, and the evil word, the expositors differ. Bi*t the first seems to mean the profession of God's unity, the inviting others to the true religion, or the Koran itself; and the latter, the acknowledging a plurality of gods, the seducing of others to idolatry, or the obstinate opposition of God's
prophets. 3 Jallalo'ddin supposes the sepulcher to be here understood; in which place when the true believers come to be examined by the two angels concerning their faith, they will answer properly and without hesitation;
which the
infidels will
not be able to do.
200
THE SACRED BOOKS

Speak unto
shall be into hell fire.
my
servants
who have
and give alms out on both have bestowed of that which we them, privately and in public; before the day cometh, wherein there shall be no buying nor selling, neither any friendship. It is God who hath created the heavens and the earth and causeth water to descend from heaven, and by means thereof
believed, that they be assiduous at prayer,
;
produceth fruits for your sustenance: and by his command he obligeth the ships to sail in the sea for your service and he also forceth the rivers to supply your uses: he likewise compelleth the sun and the moon, which diligently perform their courses, to serve you; and hath subjected the day and
;
He giveth you of everything the night to your service. which ye ask him ; and if ye attempt to reckon up the favors of God, ye shall not be able to compute the same.
unjust and ungrateful. Remember when said, Lord, make this land a place of security; and grant that I and my children may avoid the worship of idols for they, O Lord, have seduced a great number of men. whoever therefore shall follow me, he shall be. of me: and
Surely
man
is
Abraham
;
whosoever shall disobey me verily thou wilt be gracious and O Lord, I have caused some of my offspring to settle in an unfruitful valley, near thy holy house, O Lord, that they may be constant at prayer. Grant, therefore, that the hearts of some men may be affected with kindness toward them; and do thou bestow on them all sorts of fruits; that O Lord, thou knowest whatsoever we they may give thanks. conceal, and whatsoever we publish; for nothing is hidden from God, either on earth, or in heaven. Praise be unto God, who hath given me, in my old age, Ismael and Isaac: for my Lord is the hearer of supplication. O Lord, grant that I may be an observer of prayer, and a part of my pos;
merciful.
terity also,
forgive me, and
Lord; and receive my supplication. O Lord, my parents, and the faithful, on the day
shall be taken.
whereon an account
Think
ungodly day whereon men's eyes shall be fixed: they
not, do.
prophet, that God is regardless of what the He only deferreth their punishment unto the
shall hasten
201
forward, at the voice of the angel calling to judgment, and shall lift up their heads they shall not be able to turn their sight from the object whereon it shall be fixed, and their
;
be void of sense, through excessive terror. Wherefore do thou threaten men with the day, whereon their punishment shall be inflicted on them, and whereon those who have acted unjustly shall say, O Lord, give us respite unto a term near at hand and we will obey thy call, and we But it shall be answered unto them, will follow thy apostles. swear Did ye not heretofore, that no reverse should befall you ? yet ye dwelt in the dwellings of those who had treated their own souls unjustly; and it appeared plainly unto you how we had dwelt with them; and we propounded their destruction as examples unto you. They employ their utmost but the their to truth; subtlety is apparent subtlety oppose unto God, who is able to frustrate their designs; although their subtlety were so great, that the mountains might be
hearts
shall
;
moved thereby. Think not therefore,
prophet, that
to his promise of assistance, is mighty, able to avenge.
God will be contrary made unto his apostles for God The day will come, when the
;
earth shall be changed into another earth, and the heavens 4 into other heavens ; and men shall come forth from their
And graves to appear before the only, the mighty God. thou shalt see the wicked on that day bound together in fetgarments shall be of pitch, and fire shall cover their faces that God may reward every soul, according to what it shall have deserved for God is swift in taking an account. This is a sufficient admonition unto men, that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that there is but one God; and that those who are endued with underters: their inner
;
;
standing
may
consider.
* This the Mohammedans suppose will come to pass at the last day; the earth becoming white and even, or, as some will have it, of silver; and the heavens of gold.
202
THE SACRED BOOKS
CHAPTEE XV
ENTITLED, AL HE JR
IN THE
1
;
REVEALED AT MECCA
A. L. R. These are the signs of the book, and of the perThe time may come when the unbelievers spicuous Koran. Suffer them to eat shall wish that they had been Moslems. in this world and let hope entertain and to enjoy themselves know shall hereafter their We have but them, they folly. not destroyed any city, but a fixed term of repentance was appointed them. No nation shall be punished before their time shall be come neither shall they be respited after. The Meccans say, O thou to whom the admonition hath been sent down, thou art certainly possessed with a devil: wouldest thou not have come unto us with an attendance of Answer, We sent not angels, if thou hadst spoken truth? down the angels, unless on a just occasion nor should they be then respited any longer. We have surely sent down the
;
Koran and we
;
will certainly preserve the
same from corrup-
have heretofore sent apostles before thee, among the ancient sects: and there came no apostle unto them, but
tion.
We
In the same manner will we put they laughed him to scorn. it into the hearts of the wicked Meccans to scoff at their
prophet: they shall not believe on him; and the sentence of the nations of old hath been executed heretofore. If we should open a gate in the heaven above them, and they should ascend thereto
all
the
day
long, they
would surely
say,
Our
eyes are only dazzled; or rather we are a people deluded by enchantments. We have placed the twelve signs in the heaven, and have set them out in various figures, for the
observation of spectators: and we guard them from every devil 2 driven away with stones ; except him who listeneth by
1 Al Hejr is a territory in the province of Hejaz, between Medina and Syria, where the tribe of Thamud dwelt, and is mentioned toward the end of the chapter. 2 For the Mohammedans imagine that the devils endeavor to ascend to
the constellations, to pry into the actions and overhear the discourse of the inhabitants of heaven, and to tempt them. They also pretend that

stealth, at
203
have also spread forth the earth, and thrown thereon stable mountains and we have caused every kind of vegetables to spring forth in the same, according to a determinate weight and we have
a visible flame
is
whom
darted.
We
provided therein necessaries of life for you, and for him whom ye do not sustain. There is no one thing but the
the
storehouses thereof are in our hands; and we distribute not also same otherwise than in a determinate measure.
We
send the winds driving the pregnant clouds, and we send down from heaven water, whereof we give you to drink, and which ye keep not in store. Verily we give life, and we put to We know those death; and we are the heirs of all things. who and we know those who stay among you go before; behind. And thy Lord shall gather them together at the last day for he is knowing and wise. We created man of dried clay, of black mud, formed into shape: and we had before created the devil of subtle fire. And remember when thy Lord said before the angels, Verily
;
am about to create man of dried clay, of black mud, wrought into shape; when therefore I shall have completely formed him, and shall have breathed of spirit into him ; do ye fall
I
my
down and worship him.

together, except Eblis,
And
who
the angels worshiped Adam refused to be with those who worall
And God said unto him, O Eblis, what hinshiped him. dered thee from being with those who worshiped Adam ? He
answered, It is not fit that I should worship man, whom thou hast created of dried clay, of black mud, wrought into shape. God said, Get thee therefore hence for thou shalt be driven
;
away with stones
and a curse
shall be
on
thee, until the
day
of judgment. The devil said, Lord, give me respite until the day of resurrection. God answered, Verily thou shalt be one of those who are respited until the day of the appointed
time.
The
devil replied,
Lord, because thou hast seduced
these evil spirits had the liberty of entering any of the heavens till the birth of Jesus, when they were excluded three of them; but that on the
birth of
3
Mohammed they were forbidden the other four. For when a star seems to fall or shoot, the Mohammedans suppose the angels, who keep guard in the constellations, dart them at the devils who approach too near.
204
THE SACRED BOOKS
me, I will surely tempt them to disobedience in the earth; and I will seduce them all, except such of them as shall be thy God said, This is the right way with me. chosen servants. Verily as to my servants, thou shalt have no power over them but over those only who shall be seduced, and who shall And hell is surely denounced unto them all it follow thee. hath seven gates unto every gate a distinct company of them
;
:
who fear God shall dwell in The angels shall say unto them, gardens, amidst fountains. And we will remove in and therein Enter ye security. peace
shall be assigned.
But
those
grudges from their breasts they shall be as brethren, sitting over against one another on couches weariness shall not affect them therein, neither shall they be cast out thence forever. Declare unto my servants that I am gracious, the merall
;
:
ciful
God and
;
that
my
punishment
And relate unto them When they went in unto

;
a grievous punishment. the history of Abraham's guests.

is
him, and said, Peace be unto thee,

:
he answered, Verily we are afraid of you and they replied, Fear not we bring thee the promise of a wise son. He said, Do ye bring me the promise of a son now old age hath overtaken me ? what is it therefore that ye tell me ? They said, We have told thee the truth be not therefore one of those who
;
despair.
He
answered,
God, except those errand therefore, O messengers of God? They answered, Verily we are sent to destroy a wicked people but as for the family of Lot, we will save them all, except his wife we have decreed that she shall be one of those who remain behind to be And when the messengers came destroyed with the infidels. to the family of Lot, he said unto them, Verily ye are people who are unknown to me. They answered, But we are come unto thee to execute that sentence, concerning which your fellow-citizens doubted we tell thee a certain truth and we are messengers of veracity. Therefore lead forth thy family, in some time of the night and do thou follow behind them, and let none of you turn back but go whither ye are commanded. And we gave him this command; because the utmost remnant of those people was to be cut off in the morn:
And who despaireth of the mercy of who err? And he said. What is your

ing.
205
the inhabitants of the city came unto Lot rejoicing And he said at the news of the arrival of some strangers.
And
unto them, Verily these are my guests wherefore do not disgrace me by abusing them but fear God, and put me not to shame. They answered, Have we not forbidden thee from Lot replied, These are entertaining or protecting any man ? my daughters; therefore rather make use of them, if ye be As thou livest they wander resolved to do what ye purpose. Wherefore a terrible storm from heaven in their folly. assailed them at sunrise and we turned the city upside down, and we rained on them stones of baked clay. Verily herein are signs unto men of sagacity, and those cities were punished,
:
to point out a right way for men to is a sign unto the true believers.
walk
in.
Verily herein
also un-
The
inhabitants of the
wood near Midian were
godly: wherefore
we
them were destroyed,
took vengeance on them. And both of to serve as a manifest rule for men to
direct their actions by.
And
the inhabitants of Al
Hejr
like-
wise heretofore accused the messengers of God of imposture: and we produced our signs unto them, but they retired afar off
from the same.
And
they hewed houses out of the moun-
tains, to secure themselves.
from heaven assailed them in the morning: neither was what they had wrought of any advantage unto them. We have not created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is contained between them otherwise than in justice and
a terrible noise
:
But
the hour
of judgment shall surely come. Wherefore, O 4 a with Mohammed, forgive thy people gracious forgiveness.
Verily thy Lord
is
the creator of thee and of them, and
is most expedient. We have already brought unto thee seven verses which are frequently to be repeated, 5 and the glorious Koran. Cast not thine eyes on the good
knoweth what
things which we have bestowed on several of the unbelievers, so as to covet the same ; 6 neither be thou grieved on their
This verse, it is said, was abrogated by that of the sword. That is, the first chapter of the Koran, which consists of so many verses; though some suppose the seven long chapters are here intended. 6 That is, Do not envy or covet their worldly prosperity, since thou hast received, in the Koran, a blessing, in comparison whereof all that
5
206
account.
THE SACRED BOOKS

;
Behave thyself with meekness toward the true If they believe believers and say, I am a public preacher. on like a inflict them, as we have punishment not, we will inflicted on the dividers, who distinguished the Koran into
by thy Lord, we will demand an account from them all, of that which they have wrought. Wherefore publish that which thou hast been commanded, and withdraw from the idolaters. We will surely take thy part against the
different parts
;
for
scoffers,
surely
who associate with God another god they shall know their folly. And now we well know that thou
; : ;
on account of that which they say but do thou celebrate the praise of thy Lord and be one of those who worship ; and serve thy Lord, until death shall overtake
art deeply concerned
thee.
CHAPTEE XVI
ENTITLED, THE BEE
IN THE
;
REVEALED AT MECCA

will surely
be executed; wherefore do not hasten it. Praise be unto him and far be that from him which they associated with him! He shall cause the angels to descend with a revelation by his command, unto such of his servants as he pleaseth, saying, Preach that there is no God, except myself therefore fear me.
to
!
The sentence of God
come
hath created the heavens and the earth to manifest his justice: far be that from him which they associate with him He hath created man of seed; and yet behold, he is a pro!
He
fessed disputer against the resurrection. He hath likewise created the cattle for you from them ye have wherewith to
:
we have bestowed on them ought to be contemned as of no value. Al Beidawi mentions a tradition, that Mohammed meeting at Adhriat (a town of Syria) seven caravans, very richly laden, belonging to some Jews of the tribes of Koreidha and al Nadir, his men had a great mind to " That those riches would be of great service for plunder them, saying,
the propagation of God's true religion." But the prophet represented to them, by this passage, that they had no reason to repine, God having given them the seven verses, which were in^nitely more valuable than
those seven caravans.

;
207
keep yourselves warm, and other advantages and of them do ye also eat. And they are likewise a credit unto you, when ye drive them home in the evening, and when ye lead them forth to feed in the morning and they carry your burdens to a distant country, at which ye could not otherwise arrive, unless with great difficulty to yourselves; for your Lord is compassionate and merciful. And he hath also created
:
and mules, and asses, that ye may ride thereon, and for an ornament unto you; and he likewise createth other things which ye know not.
horses,
It appertaineth
unto God to instruct
men
in the right
:
way
and there is who turneth aside from the same but if he had It is he pleased, he would certainly have directed you all. who sendeth down from heaven rain water, whereof ye have to drink, and from which plants, whereon ye feed your cattle, And by means thereof he causeth receive their nourishment. corn, and olives, and palm-trees, and grapes, and all kinds of
fruits to spring forth for you.
Surely herein
divine power and wisdom unto people who hath subjected the night and the day to your service
sun, and the moon, by his command.
a sign of the And he consider.

is
;
and the
understanding. whatever he hath created for you in the earth, distinguished by its different color. Surely herein is a sign unto people
which are compelled to serve herein are signs unto people of Verily And he hath also given you dominion over
stars,
and the
who
reflect.
It is he
who hath
:
subjected the sea unto you,
might ments for you waves thereof, that ye may seek to enrich yourselves of his abundance, by commerce; and that ye might give thanks. And he hath thrown upon the earth mountains firmly rooted, 1 lest it should move with you, and also rivers, and paths, that ye might be directed: and he hath likewise ordained marks
whereby men
that ye
eat fish thereout, and take from thence ornato wear and thou seest the ships plowing the
may know
their
way and they

;
are directed by
1 The Mohammedans suppose that the earth, when first created, was smooth and equal, and thereby liable to a circular motion as well as the celestial orbs; and that the angels asking, who could be able to stand on so tottering a frame, God fixed it the next morning by throwing the mountains on it.
208
the stars.
createth not
THE SACRED BOOKS

Shall
?
God
therefore
who
createth be as he
?
who
Do
ye not therefore consider

:
If ye attempt to reckon up the favors of God, ye shall not be able to compute their number God is surely gracious, and merciful; and God knoweth that which ye conceal and that
which ye publish. But the idols which ye invoke, besides God, create nothing, but are themselves created. They are dead, and not living; neither do they understand when they Your God is one God. As to those who shall be raised.
believe not in the life to come, their hearts evidence, and they proudly reject the truth.
deny the plainest

. .
.
On
thee,
a certain day
against
we will raise up in every nation a witness them, from among themselves; and we will bring
Mohantmed,
as
a witness against these Arabians.
We
have sent down unto thee the book of the Koran, for an explication of everything necessary both as to faith
and mercy, and good tidings unto the Moslems. Verily God commandeth justice, and the doing of good, and the giving unto kindred what shall be necessary; and he forbiddeth wickedness, and iniquity, and 2 oppression: he admonisheth you that ye may remember. Perform your covenant with God, when ye enter into covenant with him; and violate not your oaths, after the ratification thereof; since ye have made God a witness over you. Verily God knoweth that which ye do. And be not like unto her who undoeth that which she hath spun, untwisting it
practise,
and
and a
direction,
after she hath twisted
it
strongly ; taking your oaths between
you
deceitfully, because one party is more numerous than another party. Verily God only tempteth you therein and he will make that manifest unto you, on the day of resurrec;
This verse, which was the occasion of the conversion of Othman Elm Matun, the commentators say, containeth the whole which it is a man's duty either to perform or to avoid; and is alone a sufficient demonstration of what is said in the foregoing verse. Under the three things here commanded, they understand the belief of God's unity, without inclining to atheism, on the one hand, or polytheism, on the other; obedience to the commands of God and charity toward those in distress. And under the three things forbidden, they comprehend all corrupt and carnal affections; all false doctrines and heretical opinions; and all injustice ward man.
2
;
209
which ye now disagree. If God had pleased, i, concerning he would surely have made you one people but he will lead into error whom he pleaseth, and he will direct whom he pleaseth; and ye shall surely give an account of that which ye have done. Therefore take not your oaths between you deceitfully, lest your foot slip, after it hath been steadfastly fixed, and ye taste evil in this life, for that ye have turned
:
aside from the way of God and ye suffer a grievous punishment in the life to come. And sell not the covenant of God
;
for a small price; for with God is a better recompense prepared for you, if ye be men of understanding. That which
but that which is with God is permareward those who shall persevere, Whoso according to the utmost merit of their actions. worketh righteousness, whether he be male or female, and is a true believer, we will surely raise him to a happy life and we will give them their reward, according to the utmost merit of their actions. When thou readest the Koran, have recourse unto God, that he may preserve thee from Satan driven away with stones 3 he hath no power over those who
is
with you will
fail
nent: and
we
will surely
believe,
and who put their confidence in their Lord
but his
power is over those only, who take him for their patron, and who give companions unto God. When we substitute in the Koran an abrogating verse in lieu of a verse abrogated, (and God best knoweth the fitness of that which he revealeth,) the infidels say, Thou art only a forger of these verses: but the greater part of them know not truth from falsehood. Say, The holy spirit hath brought the same down from thy Lord with truth that he may confirm those who believe, and for a direction and good tidings unto the Moslems. We also know that they say, Verily, a certain man teacheth him to compose
;
Mohammed one day reading in the Koran, uttered a horrid blasphemy, to the great scandal of those who were present, as will be observed in Chapter XXII; to excuse which he assured them that those words were put into his mouth by the devil; and to prevent any such accident for the future, he is here taught to beg God's protection before he entered on that duty. Hence, the Mohammedans, before they begin to read any part of this book, repeat these words, " I have recourse unto God for assistance against Satan driven away with stones." VOL. V. 14.
3
210
the Koran.
is
THE SACRED BOOKS

The tongue
of the person unto
4
whom
they inis
cline is a foreign tongue; but this,
wherein the Koran
the perspicuous Arabic tongue. written, Moreover as for those who believe not in the signs of God, God will not direct them, and they shall suffer a painful torment verily they imagine a falsehood who believe not in
:
Whoever the signs of God, and they are really the liars. denieth God, after he hath believed, except him who shall be
and whose heart continueth steadfast in the faith, shall be severely chastised: but whoever shall voluntarily profess infidelity, on those shall the indignation of God fall, and they shall suffer a grievous punishcompelled against his
will,
ment. This shall be their sentence, because they have loved the present life above that which is to come, and for that God directeth not the unbelieving people. These are they whose
hearts, and hearing, these are the negligent
life
and sight God hath sealed up; and there is no doubt but that in the next
:
they shall perish.

will be favorable unto those
Moreover thy Lord
who have
fled their country, after having suffered persecution, and been compelled to deny the faith by violence, and who have since
fought in defense of the true religion, and have persevered with patience; verily unto these will thy Lord be gracious and merciful, after they shall have shown their sincerity. On a certain day shall every soul come to plead for itself, and
* This was a great objection made by the Meccans to the authority of the Koran; for when Mohammed insisted, as a proof of its divine origin, that it was impossible a man so utterly unacquainted with learning as himself could compose such a book, they replied, that he had one or more assistants in the forgery; but as to the particular person or persons suspected of this confederacy, the traditions differ. One says it was Jabar, a Greek, servant to Amer Ebn al Hadrami, who could read and write well ; another, that they were Jabar and Yesar, two slaves who followed the trade of sword-cutlers at Mecca, and used to read the Pentateuch and gospel, and had often Mohammed Tor their auditor, when he passed that way. Another tells us, it was one Aish, or Yaish, a domestic of al Haweiteb Ebn Abd al Uzza, who was a man of some learning, and had embraced Mohammedanism. Another supposes it was one Kais, a Christian, whose house Mohammed frequented; another, that it was Addas, a servant of Otba Ebn Rabia; and another, that it was Salman the Persian.

every soul shall be repaid that which it shall have wrought and they shall not he treated unjustly. God propoundeth
;
which was secure and quiet, unto which her provisions came in abundance from every side; but she
as a parable a city
ungratefully denied the favors of God wherefore God caused her to taste the extreme famine, and fear, because of that which they had done. And now is an apostle come unto the
:
Mecca from among themselves and they achim of imposture: wherefore a punishment shall be inflicted on them, while they are acting unjustly. Eat of what God hath given you for food, that which is lawful and good
inhabitants of
;
cuse
and be thankful for the favors of God, if ye serve him. He hath only forbidden you that which dieth of itself, and blood, and swine's flesh, and that which hath been slain in the name of any, besides God. But unto him who shall be compelled eat of these things, not lusting nor wilfully to by necessity transgressing, God will surely be gracious and merciful. And say not that wherein your tongues utter a lie; This is lawful, and this is unlawful that ye may devise a lie con;
cerning
God
for they
not prosper. They and in that which is to
devise a lie concerning God shall shall have small enjoyment in this world,
who
come they
shall suffer a grievous tor-
ment.
told
Unto the Jews did we forbid that which we have thee formally: and we did them no injury in that re-
who do and amend afterward and through ignorance repent verily unto these will thy Lord be gracious and merciful, after their repentance. Abraham was a model of true religion, obedient unto God, orthodox, and was not an idolater he was also grateful for his benefits: wherefore God chose him, and directed him into the right way. And we bestowed on him good in this world; and in the next he shall surely be one of the righteous. We have also spoken unto thee, Mohammed, by revelation, saying, Follow the religion of Abraham, who was orthodox, and was no idolater. The Sabbath was only appointed unto those who differed with their prophet concerning it; and thy Lord will surely judge beevil
:
spect; but they injured their own souls. Moreover thy Lord will be favorable unto those
;
THE SACRED BOOKS

tween them, on the day of resurrection, as to that concerning which they differed. Invite men unto the way of thy Lord by wisdom and mild exhortation; and dispute with them in the most condescending manner: for thy Lord well knoweth him who strayeth from his path, and he well knoweth those who are rightly directed. If ye take vengeance on any, take a vengeance proportionable to the wrong which hath been done unto you but if ye suffer wrong patiently, verily this will be better for the patient. "Wherefore do thou bear opposition with patience but thy patience shall not be practicable, And be not thou grieved on unless with God's assistance. account of the unbelievers neither be thou troubled for that which they subtilely devise; for God is with those who fear
; ;
;
him and are
upright.
CHAPTER XVII
ENTITLED, THE NIGHT- JOURNEY
IN THE
;
REVEALED AT MECCA
Praise be unto him, who transported his servant by night, from the sacred temple of Mecca to the farther temple of
1
Jerusalem,
the circuit of which
might show him some of eth and seeth. And we gave unto Moses the book of the law, and appointed the same to be a direction unto the children
;
we have blessed, that we our signs for God is he who hear-
of Israel, commanding them, saying, Beware that ye take not any other patron besides me. posterity of those whom
we
carried in the ark with
servant.
And we
verily he was a grateful declared unto the children of expressly
Noah:
i From whence he was carried through the seven heavens to the presence of God, and brought back again to Mecca the same night. It is a dispute among the Mohammedan divines, whether their prophet's ni^htjourney was really performed by him corporally, or whether it was onlj a dream or vision. Some think the whole was no more than a vision;
and allege and express tradition

cessors, to that purpose.
of Moawivoh, one of Mohammed's sue Others suppose he was carried bodily to Jerusalem, but no farther; and that he ascended thence to heaven in spirit But the received opinion is that it was no vision, but that he wa only. actually transported in the body to his journey's end.
213
Israel in the book of the law, saying, Ye will surely commit evil in the earth twice, and ye will be elated with great inso-
the punishment threatened for the first of those transgressions came to be executed, we sent against you
lence.
And when
our servants, endued with exceeding strength in war, and they searched the inner apartments of your houses; and the Afterward we gave you prediction became accomplished. the victory over them, in your turn, and we granted you increase of wealth and children, and we made you a more numerous people, saying, If ye do well, ye will do well to
ye do evil, ye will do it unto the same. And when the punishment threatened for your latter transgression come to be executed, we sent enemies against you to afflict you, and to enter the temple, as they entered it the first time, and utterly to destroy that which they had Peradventure your Lord will have mercy on you conquered. hereafter but if ye return to transgress a third time, we also will return to chastise you and we have appointed hell to be
your,
own
souls;
and
if
the prison of the unbelievers. Verily this Koran directeth unto the
right, and declareth unto the faithful, that they shall receive a great reward; and that for those who believe not in the life to come, we have prepared a
way which is most who do good works,
Man prayeth for evil, as he prayeth grievous punishment. for good; for man is hasty. 2 have ordained the night and the day for two signs of our power: afterward we blot
We
out the sign of the night, and

to shine forth, that
ye
may
the sign of the day endeavor to obtain plenty from

therein,
we cause
rour
2
Lord by doing your business
and that ye
may
It is said that the person here meant is Adam, who, when the breath was breathed into his nostrils, and had reached so far as his navel, though the lower part of his body was, as yet, but a piece of
of life
must needs try to rise up, and got an ugly fall by the bargain. But others pretend the passage was revealed on the following occasion. Mohammed committed a certain captive to the charge of his wife, Sawda bint Zamaa, who, moved with compassion at the man's groans, unbound him, and let him escape upon which the prophet, in the first motions of his anger, wished her hand might fall off; but immediately composing
clay,
;
himself, said aloud, into a blessing."
"0
God, I
am
but a man; therefore turn
my
curse
THE SACRED BOOKS

of years, and the computation of time ; and everything necessary have we explained by a perspicuous exThe fate of every man have we bound about his plication.
know
tlie
number
neck; and we will produce unto him, on the day of resurrection, a book wherein his actions shall be recorded: it shall be offered him open, and the angels shall say unto him, Read
thy book; thine
own
soul will be a sufficient accountant
who shall be rightly directed shall against thee, this day. be directed to the advantage only of his own soul; and he
He
who
same: neither shall . any laden soul be charged with the burden of another. Kill not your children for fear of being brought to want we will provide for them and for you verily the killing them Draw not near unto fornication; for it is is a great sin. Neither slay the soul which wickedness, and an evil way. God hath forbidden you to slay, unless for a just cause and whosoever shall be slain unjustly, we have given his heir power to demand satisfaction but let him not exceed the bounds of moderation in putting to death the murderer in too cruel a manner, or by revenging his friend's blood on any other than the person who killed him; since he is assisted by this law. And meddle not with the substance of the orphan, unless it be to improve it, until he attain his age of strength and perform your covenant for the performance
shall err shall err only against the
. .
;
:
of your covenant shall be inquired into hereafter.

full
And
give
just
measure, when you measure aught; and weigh with a This will be better, and more easy for deterbalance.
mining every man's due.

follow not that whereof thou hast no knowledge for the hearing, and the sight, and the heart, every of these shall
;
And
be examined at the last day. Walk not proudly in the land, for thou canst not cleave the earth, neither shalt thou equal the mountains in stature. All this is evil, and abominable in the sight of thy Lord. These precepts are a part of the wisdom which thy Lord hath revealed unto thee. Set not up any other god as equal unto God, lest thou be cast into
hell,
reproved and rejected. Hath your Lord preferably granted unto you sons, and taken for himself daughters from

among
the angels
?
215
Verily in asserting this ye utter a grievAnd now have we used various arguments and ous saying. in this Koran, that they may be warned; yet repetitions
only rendereth them more disposed to fly from the truth. Say unto the idolaters, If there were other gods with him, as ye say, they would surely seek an occasion of making some
it
attempt against the possessor of the throne God forbid and The seven far, very far, be that from him which they utter all and the and who are therein: heavens praise him, earth, neither is there anything which doth not celebrate his praise
: !
but ye understand not their celebration thereof: he

cious
is
gra-
and merciful.
thou readest the Koran, we place between thee and believe not in the life to come a dark veil; and we put coverings over their hearts, lest they should understand it, and in their ears thickness of hearing. And when thou makest mention, in repeating the Koran, of thy Lord only, they turn their backs, flying the doctrine of his unity. We well know with what design they barken, when they barken unto thee, and when they privately discourse tothose
When
who
when the ungodly say, Ye follow no other than a madman. Behold what epithets they bestow on thee. But
gether:
!
they are deceived; neither can they find any just occasion
to reproach thee.
They
also say, After
we
shall
have become
surely be raised a new creature? Answer, Be ye stones, or iron, or some creature more improbable in your opinions to be raised to life. But they will
bones and dust, shall
we
say,
Who
shall restore us to life?
Answer,
He who
created
you the
first
time: and they will
wag
their heads at thee,

it
Answer, Peradventure saying, When shall this be? On that day shall God call you forth from nigh.
sepulchers,
is
your
;
and ye
shall obey, with celebration of his praise
and ye shall think that ye tarried but a little while. Speak unto my servants, that they speak mildly unto the unbelievers, lest ye exasperate them; for Satan soweth discord among them, and Satan is a declared enemy unto man. Your Lord well knoweth you; if he pleaseth, he will have mercy on you, or, if he pleaseth, he will punish you and we
:
216
THE SACRED BOOKS

Thy Lord
well
have not sent thee to be a steward over them. knoweth all persons in heaven and on earth.
We
have be-
stowed peculiar favors on some of the prophets, preferably to others; and we gave unto David the psalms. Say, Call to be besides him ; yet they gods upon those whom ye imagine
on others. Those whom ye invoke do themselves desire to be admitted to a near conjunction with their Lord striving which of them shall approach nearest unto him: they also hope for his mercy, and dread his punishment for the punishment of thy Lord is terrible. There is no city but we will destroy the same before the day of resurrection, or we will punish it with This is written in the book of our a grievous punishment. eternal decrees. Nothing hindered us from sending thee with miracles, except that the former nations have charged them with imposture. We gave unto the tribe of Thamud,
will not be able to free
it
;
you from harm, or turn
demand, the she-camel visible to their sight yet they dealt unjustly with her and we sent not a prophet with miraat their
;
:
cles,
but to strike terror.
Remember when we said unto thee, Verily thy Lord encompasseth men by his knowledge and power. We have appointed the vision which we showed thee, and also the tree
cursed in the Koran, only for an occasion of dispute unto men, and to strike them with terror but it shall cause them
;
And remenihrr transgress only the more enormously. when we said unto the angels, Worship Adam; and they all worshiped him except Eblis, who said, Shall I worship him
to
whom
thou hast created of clay
est thou, as to this
verily, if thou tion, I will extirpate his offspring, except a few.
? And he said, What thinkman whom thou hast honored above me ? grant me respite until the day of resurrec-
God
;
an-
swered, Begone, I grant thee respite; but whosoever of them shall follow thee, hell shall surely be your reward an ample
reward for your demerits! And entice to vanity such of them as thou canst, by thy voice; and assault them on nil sides with thy horsemen and thy footmen; and partake with them in their riches, and their children and make them promises; (but the devil shall make them no other than de;

ceitful promises:)
217
as to
my
power over them; for thy Lord those who trust in him. . . .
servants, thou shalt have no is a sufficient protector of
Regularly perform thy prayer at the declension of the sun, at the first darkness of the night, and the prayer of daybreak; for the prayer of daybreak is borne witness unto by And watch some part of the night in the same the angels.
exercise, as a work of supererogation for thee ; peradventure thy Lord will raise thee to an honorable station. And say,
O Lord, cause me to enter with a favorable entry, and me to come forth with a favorable coming forth and me from thee an assisting power. And say, Truth is
;
cause
grant come,
and falsehood
ance.
3
is
vanished
for falsehood
that
is
of short continuis
We send down of the Koran
which
a medicine
and a mercy unto the true
believers, but it shall only increase
the perdition of the unjust.
When we
bestow favors on man,
he retireth and withdraweth himself ungratefully from us: but when evil toucheth him, he despaireth of our mercy. Say, Every one acteth after his own manner but your Lord best kiioweth who is most truly directed in his way.
:
ask thee concerning the spirit: answer, The spirit was created at the command of my Lord but ye have no knowledge given unto you, except a little. If we pleased,
They
will
we
should certainly take away that which we have revealed unto thee; in such case thou couldest not find any to assist thee therein against us, unless through mercy from thy Lord for his favor toward thee hath been great. Say, Verily if men and genii were purposely assembled, that they might produce a book like this Koran, they could not produce one like unto it, although the one of them assisted the other. And we have variously propounded unto men in this Koran every kind of figurative argument; but the greater part of men
;
refuse to receive
it,
And
s
they say,
We
merely out of infidelity. will by no means believe on
thee, until
Mohammed repeated, when he entered the temple of after the Mecca, taking of that city, and cleansed it of the idols; a great number of which are said to have fallen down on his touching them with the end of the stick he held in his hand.
These words
THE SACRED BOOKS

thou cause a spring of water to gush forth for us out of the of palm-trees and vines, and earth; or thou have a garden thou cause rivers to spring forth from the midst thereof in
abundance; or thou cause the heaven to fall down upon us, as thou hast given out, in pieces; or thou bring down God and the angels to vouch for thee; or thou have a house of a ladder to heaven neither will we gold or thou ascend by believe thy ascending thither alone, until thou cause a book to descend unto us, bearing witness of thee, which we may I other than a read. Answer, My Lord be praised!
:
Am
man, sent as an apostle ?

believing,
And
for his apostle? Answer, they say, If the angels had walked on earth as familiar inhabitants
thereof,
when a direction is Hath God sent a man

surely sent
nothing hindereth men from come unto them, except that
we had
an angel for our apostle. between me and you for he knoweth and regardeth his servWhom God shall direct, he shall be the rightly diants. rected and whom he shall cause to err, thou shalt find none And we will gather them together on to assist, besides him.
:
down unto them from heaven Say, God is a sufficient witness
the day of resurrection, creeping on their faces, blind, and dumb, and deaf: their abode shall be hell; so often as the fire thereof shall be extinguished, we will rekindle a burning
This shall be their reward, because they disbelieve in our signs, and say, When we shall have been reduced to bones and dust, shall we surely be raised new
flame to torment them.
creatures
they not perceive that God, who created the heavens and the earth, is able to create other bodies, like their And he hath appointed them a limited term there present ?
?
;
Do
no doubt thereof: but the ungodly reject the truth, merely out of unbelief. Say, If ye possessed the treasures of the mercy of my Lord, ye would surely refrain from using them, for fear of spending them for man is covetous. We heretofore gave unto Moses the power of working nine evident signs. And do thou ask the children of Israel as to the story of Moses when he came unto them, and Pharaoh said unto him, Verily I esteem thee, O Moses, to be deluded by sorcery. Moses answered, Thou well knowest that none
is
;
;
219
ath sent down these evident signs except the Lord of heaven and earth and I surely esteem thee, O Pharaoh, a lost man. Wherefore Pharaoh sought to drive them out of the land; but we drowned him, and all those who were with him. And
;
said unto the children of Israel, after his destruction, Dwell ye in the land: and when the promise of the next life
shall
we
come
to be fulfilled,
we
will bring
you both promiscutruth, and it hath sent thee otherwise
ously to judgment. have sent down the
We
descended with truth: than to be a bearer of good tidings, and a denouncer of And we have divided the Koran, revealing it by threats. parcels, that thou mightest read it unto men with delibera-
Koran with and we have not
down, causing it to descend as occasion required. Say, Whether ye believe therein, or do not those who have been favored with the knowlbelieve, verily edge of the scriptures which were revealed before it, when the same is rehearsed unto them, fall down on their faces, worshiping, and say, Our Lord be praised, for that the promise of our Lord is surely fulfilled! And they fall down 011 their faces, weeping; and the hearing thereof increaseth their humility. Say, Call upon God, or call on the Merciful: by whichsoever of the two names ye invoke him, it is Pronounce not thy equal ; for he hath most excellent names. low a voice, but neither too it with prayer aloud, pronounce follow a middle way between these and say, Praise be unto God, who hath not begotten any child who hath no partner in the kingdom, nor hath any to protect him from contempt.
tion
;
and we have sent
it
CHAPTER
ENTITLED, THE CAVE;
IN THE
1
XVIII
REVEALED AT MECCA
Praise be unto God,
who hath
sent
down unto
his servant
the book of the Koran, and hath not inserted therein any
i The chapter is thus inscribed because it makes mention of the cave wherein the seven sleepers concealed themselves.
320
THE SACRED BOOKS

:
crookedness, but hath made it a straight rule that he should theaten a grievous punishment unto the unbelievers, from his presence; and should bear good tidings unto the faithful,
who work
righteousness, that they shall receive an excellent
reward, namely, paradise, wherein they shall remain forever: and that he should warn those who say, God hath beof which matter they have no knowledge, neither had their fathers. A grievous saying it is, which proceedeth from their mouths: they speak no other than a lie. Peradgotten issue
;
with grief after them, out of zeal for their earnest conversion, if they believe not in thy this new revelation of the Koran. Verily we have ordained
venture thou wilt
kill thyself
whatsoever
on the earth for the ornament thereof, that we might make trial of men, and see which of them excelleth in works and we will surely reduce whatever is thereon to dry
is
:
dust.
al
Dost thou consider that the companions of the cave, 2 and 3 Rakim, were one of our signs, as well as a great mir-
acle?
young men took refuge in the cave, they said, O Lord, grant us mercy from before thee, and dispose our business for us to a right issue. Wherefore we struck their
When
the
ears with deafness, so that they slept without disturbance in

2 These were certain Christian youths, of a good family in Ephesus, who, to avoid the persecution of the emperor Decius, by the Arab writers called Decianus, hid themselves in a cave, where they slept for a great number of years. This apocryphal story was borrowed by Mohammed from the Christian traditions, but has been embellished by him and his followers with several additional circumstances. s Wliat is meant by this word the commentators can not agree. Some will have it to be the name of the mountain, or the valley, wherein the cave was ; some say it was the name of their dog and others ( who seem to come nearest the true signification) that it was a brass plate, or stone table, placed near the mouth of the cave, on which the names of the young men were written. There are some, however, who take the companions of al Rakim to be different from the seven sleepers: for they say the former were three men who were driven by ill weather into a cave for shelter, and were shut in there by the falling down of a vast stone, which stopped the cave's mouth; but on their begging God's mercy, and their relating each of them a meritorious action which they hoped mi^ht entitle them to it, were miraculously delivered by the rock's rending in sunder to give them passage.
;

cave for a great number of years
that
:
221
then
we awaked them,
was more
ex-
we might know which
of the two parties
act in
We
computing the space which they had remained there. will relate unto thee their history with truth. Verily
they were young men who had believed in their Lord; and we had abundantly directed them: and we fortified their hearts with constancy when they stood before the tyrant and
;
they said,
Our Lord
call
is
the Lord of heaven and earth
we
will
on any god besides him; for then should by no means we surely utter an extravagance. These our fellow-people have taken other gods, besides him; although they bring no demonstrative argument for them: and who is more unjust than he who deviseth a lie concerning God? And they said the one to the other, When ye shall separate yourselves from them, and from the deities which they worship, except God, fly into the cave: your Lord will pour his mercy on you abundantly, and will dispose your business for you to adAnd thou mightest have seen the sun, when it had vantage. to from their cave toward the right hand and decline risen, when it went down, to leave them on the left hand and they were in the spacious part of the cave. This was one of the Whomsoever God shall direct he shall be signs of God. directed and whomsoever he shall cause to err, thou rightly shalt not find any to defend or to direct. And thou wouldest have judged them to have been awake, while they were sleeping and we caused them to turn themselves to the right hand, and to the left. And their dog 4 stretched forth his fore;
:
legs in the
mouth
of the cave: if thou hadst come suddenly
upon them, verily thou wouldest have turned thy back and fled from them, and thou wouldest have been filled with fear at the sight of them. And so we awaked them from their
sleep, that
they might ask questions of one another.
One
of
* The Mohammedans have a great respect for this dog, and allow him a place in paradise with some other favorite brutes: and they have a " that sort of proverb which they use in speaking of a covetous person, he would not throw a bone to the dog of the seven sleepers " ; nay, it is said that they have the superstition to write his name, which they suppose to be Katmir, on their letters which go far, or which pass the sea, as a protection, or kind of talisman, to preserve them from miscarriage.
222
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them spake and said, How long have we tarried here ? They The answered, We have tarried a day, or part of a day. the time knowest have tarried best Lord others said, Your ye and now send one of you with this your money into the city, and let him see which of its inhabitants hath the best and from him; cheapest food, and let him bring you provision and let him behave circumspectly, and not discover you to
:
Verily, if they come up against you, they will stone you, or force you to return to their religion ; and then shall ye not prosper for ever.
any
one.
And
of
so
we made
to
happened
them;
their people acquainted with what had that they might know that the promise
last
God is true, and that there is no doubt of the when they disputed among themselves concerning
ter.
hour;
their mattheir
And
they said, Erect a building over them
Lord
best
knoweth their condition.
Those who prevailed in their
affair answered,
Some
say,
The
will surely build a chapel over them. sleepers were three; and their dog was the
We
fourth: and others say, They were five: and their dog was the sixth; guessing at a secret matter: and others say, They
were seven; and their dog was the eighth. Say, My Lord knoweth their number: none shall know them, except a few. Wherefore dispute not concerning them, unless with a clear disputation, according to what hath been revealed unto thee: and ask not any of the Christians concerning them. Say not of any matter, I will surely do this to-morrow unless
best
;
thou add, If God please. 5 And remember thy Lord, when thou forgettest, and say, My Lord is able to direct me with
ease, that I
rightly.
may draw near unto the truth And they remained in their cave
of this matter
three hundred
8 It is said, that when the Koreish, by the direction of the Jews, put the three questions above mentioned to Mohammed, he bid them come to him the next day, and he would give them an answer, but added not, "if it please God"; for which reason he had the mortification to wait above ten days before any revelation was vouchsafed him concerning those
matters, so that the Koreish triumphed, and bitterly reproached him as a liar: but at length Gabriel brought him directions what he should say; with this admonition, however, that he should not be so confident for the future.

years,
223
and nine years

;
over.
:
Say,
God
best
knoweth how
. .
long they continued there unto him are the secrets of heaven and earth known do thou make him to see and to hear. .
And remember when Moses

the son of
Nun,
said unto his servant Joshua, I will not cease to go forward, until I come to
;
the place where the two seas meet or I will travel for a long 6 But when they were arrived at the meeting of space of time. the two seas, they forgot their fish which they had taken with them and the fish took its way freely in the sea. And when
;
they had passed beyond that place, Moses said unto his servant, Bring us our dinner for now are we fatigued with this our journey. His servant answered, Dost thou know what has befallen me ? When we took up our lodging at the rock,
:
verily I forgot the fish and none made Satan, that I should not remind thee of
:
me
it.
to forget
And
it, except the fish took
its
is
in the sea, in a wonderful manner. Moses said, This what we sought after. And they both went back, returning
way
by the way they came.

one of our servants,
7
granted mercy from and whom And we had from before us. wisdom us, taught Moses said unto him, Shall I follow thee, that thou mayest
The original word properly signifies the space of eighty years and To explain this long passage the commentators tell the following story. They say that Moses once preaching to the people, they admired his knowledge and eloquence so much that they asked him whether he knew any man in the world who was wiser than himself; to which he answered in the negative: whereupon God, in a revelation, having reprehended him for his vanity (though some pretend that Moses asked God the question of his own accord), acquainted him that his servant al Khedr was more knowing than he; and, at Moses's request, told him he might find that person at a certain rock, where the two seas met; directing him to take a fish with him in a basket, and that where he missed the fish, that was the place. Accordingly Moses set out, with his servant Joshua, in search of al Khedr; which expedition is here described. 7 This person, according to the general opinion, was the prophet al Khedr; whom the Mohammedans usually confound with Phineas, Elias, and St. George, saying that his soul passed by a metempsychosis sucSome, however, say his true name was Balya cessively through all three. Elm Malcan, and that he lived in the time of Afridun, one of the ancient kings of Persia, and that he preceded Dhu'lkarnein, and lived to the time
6
And coming to unto whom we had
the rock they found
upward.
of Moses.
life
They suppose al Khedr, having found out the fountain of and drunk thereof, became immortal and that he had therefore this name from his flourishing and continual youth.
;
THE SACRED BOOKS

part of that which thou hast been taught, for a direcHe answered, Verily thou canst not bear with tion unto me ? me: for how canst thou patiently suffer those things, the knowledge whereof thou dost not comprehend? Moses reteach
me
Thou shalt find me patient, if God please ; neither will I be disobedient unto thee in anything. said, If thou follow me therefore, ask me not concerning anything, until I
plied,
He
meaning thereof unto thee. So they both went on by the sea-shore, until they went up into a ship and he made a hole therein. And Moses said unto him, Hast thou made a hole therein, that thou mightest drown those who are
shall declare the
;
on board ? now hast thou done a strange thing. He answered, Did I not tell thee that thou couldest not bear with me? Moses said, Rebuke me not, because I did forget ; and impose Wherefore not on me a difficulty in what I am commanded. they left the ship and proceeded, until they met with a youth ; and he slew him. Moses said, Hast thou slain an innocent ISTow hast thou person, without his having killed another? committed an unjust action. He answered, Did I not tell Moses said, If I thee that thou couldest not bear with me ?
ask thee concerning anything hereafter, suffer me not to accompany thee now hast thou received an excuse from me.
:
They went forward therefore, until they came to the inhabitants of a certain city: and they asked food of the inhabitants thereof; but they refused to receive them. And
they found therein a wall, which was ready to fall down and he set it upright. Whereupon Moses said unto him, If thou
;
wouldest thou mightest doubtless have received a reward for it. He answered, This shall be a separation between me and thee but I will first declare unto thee the signification of that which
:
thou couldest not bear with patience. The vessel belonged to certain poor men, who did their business in the sea and I was minded to render it unserviceable, because there was a king behind them, who took every sound ship by force. As to the
youth, his parents were true believers, and
we
feared lest he,
being an unbeliever, should oblige them to suffer his perverseness and ingratitude: wherefore we desired that their Lord
might give them a more righteous child in exchange for him,
225
and one more affectionate toward them. And the wall belonged to two orphan youths in the city, and under it was a treasure hidden which belonged to them and their father was a righteous man: and thy Lord was pleased that they should attain their full age, and take forth their treasure, through the mercy of thy Lord. And I did not what thou hast seen of mine own will, but by God's direction. This is the interpretation of that which thou couldest not bear with patience. The Jews will ask thee concerning Dhu'lkarnein. Answer, I will rehearse unto you an account of him. We made him powerful in the earth, and we gave him means to accomplish
;
everything he pleased.
And
came
to the place
where the sun setteth
in a spring of black mud ; tain people. And he said,
he followed his way, until he and he found it to set ; and he found near the same a cer-
O Dhu'lkarnein,
either punish this
people, or use gentleness toward them. soever of them shall commit injustice,
He
answered,
Who-
we will surely punish afterward shall he return unto his Lor,d, and he shall punish him with a severe punishment. But whosoever believeth, and doth that which is right, shall receive
him
in this world
;
the most excellent reward, and

that
which
and he found it to rise on certain people, unto whom he had not given anything wherewith to shelter themselves therefrom. Thus it was and we comprehended with our knowledge the forces which were with him. And he prosecuted his journey from south to north, until he came between the two mountains; beneath which he found certain people, who could scarce understand what was said. And they said, O Dhu'lkarnein, verily Gog and Magog waste the land shall we therefore pay the tribute, on condition that thou build a rampart between us and them? He answered, The power wherewith my Lord hath
; ; ;
came
is easy. Then to the place where the sun riseth
will give him in command he continued his way, until he
we
strengthened
me
is
strenuously, and
better than your tribute: but assist me I will set a strong wall between you and
Bring me iron in large pieces, until it fill up the And he said space between the two sides of these mountains. to the workmen, Blow with your bellows, until it make the
them.
VOL. V.
15.
226
iron red hot as
brass, that I
THE SACRED BOOKS

fire.
may
Gog
was
finished,
he said further, Bring me molten pour upon it. Wherefore, when this wall and Magog could not scale it, neither could
it.
And
they dig through
And
Dhu'lkarnein said, This
is
mercy from my Lord: but when the prediction of my Lord shall come to be fulfilled, he shall reduce the wall to dust and On that day we will suffer the prediction of my Lord is true. some of them to press tumultuously like waves on others and the trumpet shall be sounded, and we will gather them in a body together. And we will set hell, on that day, before the unbelievers; whose eyes have been veiled from my remembrance, and who could not hear my words.
;
;
Do
that they take
the unbelievers think that I will not punish them, for my servants for their protectors besides me?
Verily
Say, Shall
we have prepared hell for the abode of the infidels. we declare unto you those whose works are vain,
whose endeavor in the present life hath been wrongly directed, and who think they do the work which is right ? These are
they
believe not in the signs of their Lord, or that they shall be assembled before him wherefore their works are vain,
;
who
and we will not allow them any weight on the day of resurThis shall be their reward, namely, hell; for that have they disbelieved, and have held my signs and my apostles in derision. But as for those who believe and do good works, shall have the gardens of paradise for their abode they they shall remain therein forever; they shall wish for no change
rection.
;
therein.
Say, If the sea were ink to write the words of my Lord, verily the sea would fail, before the words of my Lord would fail; although we added another sea like unto it as a
further supply.
s
Say, Verily I
am
only a
man
as ye are.
It
till
The commentators say the wall was built in this manner. Thej dug they found water, and having laid the foundation of stone and melted brass, they built the superstructure of large pieces of iron, between which they laid wood and coals, till they equaled the height of the mountains; and then setting fire to the combustibles, by the help of large bellows, they made the iron red hot, and over it poured melted brass, which filling up the vacancies between the pieces of iron, rendered the whole work as firm as a rock. Some tell us that the whole was built of stones joined by cramps of iron, on which they poured melted brass to fasten them.

is
227
one only God: let him therefore who hopeth to meet his Lord, work a righteous work ; and let him not make any other to partake in the worship of his Lord.
revealed unto
that your
is
me
God
CHAPTER XIX
ENTITLED, MARY;
IN THE
1
REVEALED AT MECCA
commemoration of the mercy of thy Lord toward his servant Zacharias. When he called upon his Lord, invoking him in secret, and said, O Lord, verily my bones are weakened, and my head is become white with hoariness, and I have never been unsuccessful in my prayers to But now I fear my nephews, who are to sucthee, O Lord.
C.
S.
H. Y. A.
ceed after me, for my wife is barren wherefore give me a successor of my own body from before thee who may be my heir,
: ;
may be an heir of the family of Jacob and grant, O Lord, that he may be acceptable unto thee. And the angel answered
and
;
him,
Zacharias, verily
;
we bring
name name
age,
shall be
John we have not caused any

wife
is
thee tidings of a son, whose to bear the same
before him.
son, seeing
my
Zacharias said, Lord, how shall I have a barren, and I am now arrived at a great
and
am
decrepit?
The angel
;
said,
So
shall it be: thy
Lord
fore,
saith, This is easy with me since I created thee heretowhen thou wast nothing. Zacharias answered, O Lord,
give
a sign. The angel replied, Thy sign shall be, that thou shalt not speak to men for three nights, although thou be in perfect health. And he went forth unto his people, from
me
and he made signs unto them, as if he should And say, Praise ye God in the morning and in the evening. we said unto his son, O John, receive the book of the law, with a resolution to study and observe it. And we bestowed on him wisdom, when he was yet a child, and mercy from us, and purity of life and he was a devout person, and dutiful toward
the chamber,
;
Several circumstances relating to the Virgin Mary being mentioned in this chapter, her name was pitched upon for the title.
i
228
his parents,
THE SACRED BOOKS
and was not proud or rebellious. Peace be on him the day whereon he was born, and the day whereon he shall die, and the day whereon he shall be raised to life. And remember in the book of the Koran the story of Mary when she retired from her family to a place toward the east, and took a veil to conceal herself from them and we sent our in the shape spirit Gabriel unto her, and he appeared unto her I for She unto the merciful man. of a perfect said, fly refuge God, that he may defend me from thee if thou f earest him, thou wilt not approach me. He answered, Verily I am the messenger of thy Lord, and am sent to give thee a holy son. She said, how shall I have a son, seeing a man hath not touched me, and I am no harlot ? Gabriel replied, So shall it be thy Lord saith, This is easy with me and we will perform it, that we may ordain him for a sign unto men, and a mercy from us Wherefore she conceived for it is a thing which is decreed. him and she retired aside with him in her womb to a distant place; and the pains of childbirth came upon her near the trunk of a palm-tree. She said, Would to God I had died before this, and had become a thing forgotten, and lost in oblivion And he who was beneath her called to her, saying, Be not grieved now hath God provided a rivulet under thee and do thou shake the body of the palm-tree, and it shall let fall ripe dates upon thee, ready gathered. And eat, and Moreover if thou see any man, drink, and calm thy mind. and he question thee, say, Verily I have vowed a fast unto the Merciful wherefore I will by no means speak to a man this So she brought the child to her people, carrying him in day. her arms. And they said unto her, O Mary, now hast thou done a strange thing O sister of Aaron, thy father was not a bad man, neither was thy mother a harlot. But she made signs unto the child to answer them and they said. How shall we speak to him, who is an infant in the cradle ? Whereupon the child said, Verily I am the servant of God he hath given me the book of the gospel, and hath appointed me a prophet. And he hath made me blessed, wheresoever I shall be; and hath commanded me to observe prayer, and to give alms, so long as I shall live and he hath made me dutiful toward my
;
229
mother, and hath not made me proud, or unhappy. And peace be on me the day whereon I was born, and the day
whereon I
life.
shall die,
and the day whereon I
shall be raised to
This was Jesus, the son of
Mary
It is cerning whom they doubt. God forbid! When he decreeth a should have any son: And verily God is thing, he only saith unto it, Be ; and it is. wherefore serve him: this is the my Lord, and your Lord;
of truth, connot meet for God, that he

;
the
Word
Yet the sectaries differ among themselves concerning Jesus but woe be unto those who are unbelievers,
right way.
;
because of their appearance at the great day. them to hear, and do thou cause them to
Do
:
thou cause
see, on the day whereon they shall come unto us to be judged but the ungodly And do thou forewarn them are this day in a manifest error. of the day of sighing, when the matter shall be determined, while they are now sunk in negligence and do not believe. Verily we will inherit the earth, and whatever creatures are therein and unto us shall they all return. And remember Abraham in the book of the Koran for he was one of great veracity, and a prophet. When he said unto his father, O my father, why dost thou worship that which heareth not, neither seeth, nor profiteth thee at all? O my father, verily a degree of knowledge hath been bestowed on me, which hath not been bestowed on thee wherefore follow me; I will lead thee into an even way. O my father, serve O my not Satan for Satan was rebellious unto the Merciful. father, verily I fear lest a punishment be inflicted on thee from the Merciful, and thou become a companion of Satan. His father answered, Dost thou reject my gods, O Abraham ?
:
me
If thou forbear not, I will surely stone thee wherefore leave for a long time. Abraham replied, Peace be on thee: I will ask pardon for thee of my Lord for he is gracious unto me. And I will separate myself from you, and from the idols which ye invoke besides God and I will call upon my
: ;
be that I shall not be unsuccessful in calling on my Lord, as ye are in calling upon them. And when he had separated himself from them, and from the idols which they
Lord
it
may
230
THE SACRED BOOKS
him Isaac and Jacob; and worshiped besides God, we gave we made each of them a prophet ; and we bestowed on them, through our mercy, the gift of prophecy, and children, and wealth; and we caused them to deserve the highest commendations.
in the book of the Koran for he was an apostle and a prophet. And we was and sincerely upright, called unto him fromi the right iide of Mount Sinai, and caused him to draw near, and to discourse privately with us.
And remember Moses
And we gave him, through our mercy, his brother Aaron, a Remember also Ismael in the same prophet, for his assistant.
book for he was true to his promise and was an apostle, and And he commanded his family to observe prayer, a prophet. and to give alms and he was acceptable unto his Lord. And remember Edris in the same book for he was a just person, and a prophet and we exalted him to a high place. These
: ;
are they unto whom God hath been bounteous, of the prophets of the posterity of Adam, and of those whom we carried in the
and of the posterity of Abraham, and of Israel, and of those whom we have directed and chosen. When the signs of the Merciful were read unto them, they fell down, worshiping, and wept: but a succeeding generation have come after them, who neglect prayer, and follow their lusts and they shall surely fall into evil except him who repenteth, and believeth, and doth that which is right these shall enter paradise, and they shall not in the least be wronged gardens of perpetual abode shall be their reward, which the Merciful hath promised unto his servants, as an object of faith for his promise will surely come to be fulfilled. Therein shall they hear no vain discourse, but peace and their provision shall be prepared for them therein morning and evening. This is paradise, which we will give for an inheritance unto such of our servants as shall be pious. We descend not from heaven, unless by the command of thy Lord: unto him belongeth whatsoever is before us, and whatsoever is behind us, and whatsoever is in the intermediate space; neither is thy Lord forgetful of thee. He is the Lord of heaven and earth, and of whatsoever is between them: wherefore worship him,
ark with
;
; :
Noah

and be constant in his worship.
like
231
him ?
Man
Dost thou know any named I After shall have been dead, shall I saith,
Doth not man really be brought forth alive from the grave ? remember that we created him heretofore, when he was nothdevils to
But by thy Lord we will surely assemble them and the judgment then will we set them round about hell on their knees: afterward we will draw forth from every sect such of them as shall have been a more obstinate rebel against the Merciful and we best know which of them are more woring ?
;
;
There shall be none of you but thy to be burned therein. shall approach near the same: this is an established decree with thy Lord. Afterward we will deliver those who shall have been pious, but we will leave the ungodly therein on their
knees.
When
our manifest signs are read unto them, the infidels
say unto the true believers, Which of the two parties is in the more eligible condition and formeth the more excellent assem-
bly? But how many generations have we destroyed before them, which excelled them in wealth, and in outward appearance? Say, Whosoever is in error, the Merciful will grant him a long and prosperous life ; until they see that with which they are threatened, whether it be the punishment of this life, or that of the last hour; and hereafter they shall know who is in the worse condition, and the weaker in forces. God shall
more
fully direct those who receive direction; and the good works which remain forever are better in the sight of thy Lord than worldly possessions, in respect to the reward, and
more eligible in respect to the future recompense. Hast thou seen him who believeth not in our signs, and faith, I shall surely have riches and children bestowed on me ?
Is he acquainted with the secrets of futurity; or hath he received a covenant from the Merciful that it shall be so ? By
no means. We will surely write down that which he saith and increasing we will increase his punishment and we will be his heir as to that which he speaketh of, and on the last day he shall appear before us alone and naked. They have taken
; :
other gods, besides God, that they
may
be a glory unto them.
By
no means.
Hereafter shall they deny their worship ; and
232
THE SACRED BOOKS
Dost thou not see they shall become adversaries unto them. the devils the send that we infidels, to incite them to against Wherefore be not in haste to call sin by their instigations ?
down
upon them; for we number unto them a determined number of days of respite. On a certain day we
destruction
;
will assemble the pious before the Merciful in an honorable manner, as ambassadors come into the presence of a prince
but
we
will drive the
water: they shall hath received a covenant from the Merciful.
wicked into hell, as cattle are driven to obtain no intercession, except he only who
They
say,
The
Merciful hath begotten issue. Now have ye uttered an impious thing: it wanteth little but that on occasion thereof
the heavens be rent, and the earth cleave in sunder, and the mountains be overthrown and fall, for that they attribute children unto the Merciful whereas it becometh not God to beget
;
children.
Verily there is none in heaven or on earth, but shall approach the Merciful as his servant. He encompasseth them by his knowledge and power, and numbereth them with an
exact computation: and they shall all come unto him on the day of resurrection, destitute both of helpers and followers. But as for those who believe and do good works, the Merciful
will bestow
Verily we have rendered the Koran easy for thy tongue, that thou mayest thereby declare our promises unto the pious, and mayest thereby denounce threats unto contentious people. And how many generations have we destroyed before them ? Dost thou find one of them remain-
on them
love.
ing?
CHAPTER XX
ENTITLED,
IN THE
T. H.;
1
REVEALED AT MECCA
have not sent down the Koran unto thee, that thou shouldest be unhappy; but for an admonition unto him
i The signification of these letters, which being prefixed to the chapter are therefore taken for the title, is uncertain. Some, however, imagine
T. H.
We

who
feareth
233
the
his
God being
:
earth, and the lofty
down from him who created heavens. The Merciful sitteth on

sent
is
throne: unto
earth,
him belongeth whatsoever

is
in heaven
and on
between them, and whatsoever is under the earth. If thou pronounce thy prayers with a loud voice, know that it is not necessary in respect to God for he knoweth that which is secret, and what is yet more hidden. God there is no god but he he hath most excellent names. Hast thou been informed of the history of Moses ? 2 When he saw fire, and said unto his family, Tarry ye here for I per;
!
:
and whatsoever
ceive fire
may
peradventure I may bring you a brand thereout, or find a direction in our way by the fire. And when he
:
a voice called unto him, saying, O am thy Lord wherefore put off thy shoes for thou art in the sacred valley Towa. And I have chosen thee therefore harken with attention unto that which is revealed unto thee. Verily I am God; there is no god beside me:
was come near Moses verily I

!
into
it,
wherefore worship me, and perform thy prayer in remembrance of me. Verily the hour cometh I will surely manifest
:
the same, that every soul
may
receive its reward for that
which
it
hath deliberately done.
Let not him who believeth
not therein, and
followeth his lust, prevent thee from Now what is that in believing in the same, lest thou perish. Moses? He thy right hand, answered, It is my rod
who
whereon I lean, and with which I beat down leaves for my and I have other uses for it God said unto him, Cast it down, O Moses. And he cast it down, and behold, it became
flock
;
" man " which interpretation, seeming not they stand for Ya rajol, i.e., easily to be accounted for from the Arabic, is by a certain tradition deduced from the Ethiopic: or for Ta, i.e., "tread"; telling us that Mo!
hammed, being employed in watching and prayer the night this passage was revealed, stood on one foot only, but was hereby commanded to ease
himself by setting both feet to the ground. Others fancy the first letter stands for Tuba, "beatitude"; and the latter for Hawiyat, the name of the lower apartment of hell. Tah is also an interjection commanding
silence,
2
of
and may properly enough be used in this place. The relation of the story of Moses, which takes up the greatest part this chapter, was designed to encourage Mohammed, by his example,
with firmness of mind, as being assured God: for it is said this chapter was
to discharge the prophetic office
of receiving the like assistance from one of the first that were revealed.
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a serpent,
which ran about.
God
:
said,
Take hold on
it,
and
will reduce it to its former condition. And put left arm under it shall come hand forth thy white, thy right This shall be another sign: that we may without any hurt. show thee some of our greatest signs. Go unto Pharaoh for he is exceedingly impious. Moses answered, Lord, enlarge my breast, and make what thou hast commanded me easy unto me: and loose the knot of my tongue, that they may under-
fear not
we
stand
my
speech.
And
give
me
a counselor of
my
family,
namely, Aaron,
my
brother.
Gird up
my
;
loins
by him, and
make him my
colleague in the business : that we may praise thee greatly, and may remember thee often for thou regardest us. God replied, Now hast thou obtained thy request, O
Moses: and we have heretofore been gracious unto thee, another time; when we revealed unto thy mother that which was revealed unto her, saying, Put him into the ark, and cast him into the river, and the river shall throw him on the shore and my enemy and his enemy shall take him and bring him up and I bestowed on thee love from me, that thou mightest be bred up under my eye. When thy sister went and said, Shall I bring you unto one who will nurse the child ? So we returned thee unto thy mother, that her mind might be set at And thou slowest a ease, and that she might not be afflicted. and we delivered thee from trouble and we proved thee soul, by several trials: and afterward thou didst dwell some years among the inhabitants of Madian. Then thou earnest hither according to our decree, O Moses and I have chosen thee for myself: wherefore go thou and thy brother with my signs; and be not negligent in remembering me. Go ye unto Pharaoh, for he is excessively impious: and
;
: ;
For Moses had an impediment in his speech, which was occasioned by Pharaoh one day carrying him in his arms, when a child, he suddenly laid hold of his beard, and plucked it in a very rough manner, which put Pharaoh into such a passion, that he ordered him to be put to death: but Asia, his wife, representing to him that he was but a child, who could not distinguish between a burning coal and a ruby, he ordered the experiment to be made; and a live coal and a ruby being set before Moses, he took the coal and put it into his mouth, and burned his tongue: and thereupon he was pardoned. This is a Jewish story a little altered.
the following accident.

speak mildly unto him
;
235
peradventure he will consider, or will They answered, O Lord, verily we fear lest he be precipitately violent against us, or lest he transgress
fear our threats.
God replied, Fear not; for I am with exorbitantly. will I hear and see. will Go ye therefore unto him, and you say, Verily we are the messengers of thy Lord wherefore send
more
:
:
the children of Israel with us, and do not afflict them. Now are we come unto thee with a sign from thy Lord and peace be upon him who shall follow the true direction. Verily it
:
hath been revealed unto us that a punishment shall be inflicted on him who shall charge us with imposture, and shall turn
they had delivered their message, Pharaoh He answered, Our Lord said. Who is your Lord, O Moses ? is he who giveth all things he hath created them, and directeth
back.
:
And when
them by his providence. Pharaoh said, What therefore is the condition of the former generations ? Moses answered, The knowledge thereof is with my Lord, in the book of his decrees
:
It is he who not, neither doth he forget. my hath spread the earth as a bed for you, and hath made you paths therein; and who sendeth down rain from heaven,
Lord erreth
whereby we cause various kinds of vegetables to spring forth saying, Eat of part, and feed your cattle with other part
;
who are indued we created you and to the same will we cause you to return, and we will bring you forth from thence another time. And we showed Pharaoh all our signs which we had empowered Moses to perform: but he accused him of imposture, and refused to
Verily herein are signs unto those with understanding. Out of the ground have
thereof.
;
said, Art thou come unto us that thou mayest us of our land by thy enchantments, O Moses? dispossess Verily we will meet thee with the like enchantment wherefore fix an appointment between us and thee we will not fail
believe ;
and he
Moses answered, it, neither shalt thou, in an equal place. feast ; and solemn Let your appointment be on the day of your
let
the people be assembled in open day.
And Pharaoh turned
together the most expert to the magicians, to execute his stratagem; and they came do appointment. Moses said unto them, Woe be unto you!
away from Moses, and gathered
THE SACRED BOOKS

not devise a lie against God, lest he utterly destroy you by some judgment: for he shall not prosper who deviseth lies.
the magicians disputed concerning their affair among themselves, and discoursed in private: and they said, These two are certainly magicians: they seek to dispossess you of
And
to lead away with them your your land by their sorcery and Wherefore collect all chiefest and most considerable men. for he shall prosper in order: your cunning, and then come this day, who shall be superior. They said, O Moses, whether wilt thou cast down thy rod first, or shall we be the first who He answered, Do ye cast down your cast down our rods?
;
behold, their cords and their rods appeared unto him, by their enchantment, to run about like serpents wherefore Moses conceived fear in his heart. But we said
rods
first.
And
unto him, Fear not for thou shalt be superior therefore cast down the rod which is in thy right hand and it shall swallow up the seeming serpents which they have made for what they have made is only the deceit of an enchanter ; and an enchanter And the magishall not prosper, whithersoever he cometh. which the miracle Moses cians, when they saw performed, fell down and worshiped, saying, "We believe in the Lord of Aaron and of Moses. Pharaoh said unto them. Do ye believe
;
:
in
him
before I give you permission?
Verily this
is
your
I will surely cut off hands feet on the and your your opposite sides; and I will crucify you on trunks of palm-trees and ye shall know which of us is more severe in punishing, and can longer protract
master,
who hath taught you magic.
But
your pains.
They answered,
We
will
by no means have
greater regard unto thee, than unto those evident miracles which have been shown us, or than unto him who hath created
us.
Pronounce therefore that sentence against us which thou

for thou canst only give sentence as Verily we believe in our Lord, that he
;
art about to pronounce

to this present life.
forgive us our sins, and the sorcery which thou hast forced us to exercise: for God is better to reward, and more able to prolong punishment than thou. Verily whosoever
may
shall
appear before his Lord on the day of judgment, polluted with crimes, shall have hell for his reward he shall not die
;

therein,
237
shall
neither shall he live.
But whoever
appear
before him, having been a true believer, and shall have worked righteousness, for these are prepared the highest degrees of happiness namely, gardens of perpetual abode, which shall be watered by rivers ; they shall remain therein forever and this shall be the reward of him who shall be pure.
; :
And we spake by revelation unto Moses, saying, Go forth with my servants out of Egypt by night and smite the waters with the rod, and make them a dry path through the sea be not apprehensive of Pharaoh's overtaking thee; neither be thou afraid. And when Moses had done so, Pharaoh followed them with his forces; and the waters of the sea which over;
:
whelmed them, overwhelmed them.
And Pharaoh
caused his
people to err, neither did he direct them aright. Thus, children of Israel, we delivered you from your enemy ; and we
appointed you the right side of Mount Sinai to discourse with Moses and to give him the law; and we caused manna and quails to descend upon you saying, Eat of the good things
;
and transgress not therein, on and on whomsoever my indigmy indignation you nation shall fall, he shall go down headlong into -perdition. But I will be gracious unto him who shall repent and believe, and shall do that which is right; and who shall be rightly directed. What hath caused thee to hasten from thy people, O Moses, to receive the law? He answered, These follow close on my footsteps but I have hastened unto thee, O Lord, God said, We that thou mightest be well pleased with me. have already made a trial of thy people, since thy departure and al Sameri hath seduced them to idolatry. Wherefore Moses returned unto his people in great wrath, and exceedAnd he said, O my people, had not your Lord ingly afflicted. promised you a most excellent promise ? Did the time of my absence seem long unto you ? Or did ye desire that indi^nfltion from your Lord should fall on you, and therefore, fail to keep the promise which ye made me? They answered, We have not failed in what we promised thee of our own authority; but we were made to carry in several loads of gold and silver, of the ornaments of the people, and we cast them into
yoii for food
: ;
which we have given

lest
fall
238
THE SACRED BOOKS
manner al Sameri also cast in what he he had collected, and produced unto them a corporeal calf, which lowed. And al Sameri and his companions said, This is your god, and the god of Moses ; but he hath forgotten him, and is gone to seek some other. Did they not therefore see that their idol returned them no answer, and was not able to cause them either hurt or profit ? And Aaron had said unto
the fire; and in like
people, verily ye are only proved by this the Merciful wherefore follow me, and is Lord calf obey my command. They answered, We will by no means cease to be devoted to its worship, until Moses return unto And when Moses was returned, he said, O Aaron, what us. hindered thee, when thou sawest that they went astray, that thou didst not follow me? Hast thou therefore been disAaron answered, O son of my obedient to my command?
them
;
before, for your
O my
mother, drag me not by my beard, nor by the hair of my head. Verily I feared lest thou shouldest say, Thou hast made a division among the children of Israel, and thou hast not
observed
thy
my saying. design, O Sameri

;
Moses said unto
al
Sameri,
What was
saw not
? He answered, I saw that which they wherefore I took a handful of dust from the footsteps
of the messenger of God, and I cast it into the molten calf; Moses said, Get thee gone; for so did my mind direct me.
for thy punishment in this life shall be that thou shalt say unto those who shall meet thee, Touch me not ; and a threat is
denounced against thee of more terrible pains, in the life to come, which thou shalt by no means escape. And behold now thy god, to whose worship thou hast continued assiduously devoted verily we will burn it and we will reduce it to powYour God is the true God, der, and scatter it in the sea. besides whom there is no other god: he comprehendeth all
:
things by his knowledge.
Wherefore do thou, patiently bear that which they say and celebrate the praise of thy Lord before the rising of the sun, and before the setting thereof, and praise him in the hours of the night, and in the extremities of
;
... O Mohammed,
the day, that thou mayest be well pleased with the prospect of And cast not thine eyes on that receiving favor from God.

which we have granted divers of the unbelievers
namely, the splendor of this present
life,
239
to enjoy,
that
we may prove
is better, and them more permanent. Command thy family to observe prayer; and do thou persevere therein. We require not of thee that
thereby: for the provision of thy
Lord
thou labor to gain necessary provisions for thyself and family we will provide for thee for the prosperous issue shall attend
: ;
on
piety.
The unbelievers say, Unless he come unto us with a sign from his Lord, we will not believe on him. Hath not a plain declaration come unto them, of that which is contained in the former volumes of scripture, by the revelation of the Koran ? If we had destroyed them by a judgment before the same had
been revealed, they would have said at the resurrection, O Lord, how could we believe since thou didst not send unto us an apostle, that we might follow thy signs, before we were humbled and covered with shame ? Say, Each of us wait the issue wait therefore for ye shall surely know hereafter who have been the followers of the even way, and who have been
:
rightly directed.
CHAPTER XXI
ENTITLED, THE PROPHETS; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
The time of giving up their account draweth nigh unto the people of Mecca while they are sunk in negligence, turning
;
from the consideration thereof. No admonition cometh unto them from their Lord, being lately revealed in the Koran,
aside
but when they hear it they turn it to sport their hearts are taken up with delights. And they who act unjustly discourse privately together, saying, is this Mohammed any more than a man like yourselves? Will ye therefore come to hear a
:
piece of sorcery,
My
tion,
Say, plainly perceive it to be so ? Lord knoweth whatever is spoken in heaven and on earth :
said that when Mohammed's family were in any strait or affliche used to order them to go to prayers, and to repeat this verse.
when ye
4 It is
240
it is
THE SACRED BOOKS

: ;
he who heareth and knoweth. But they say, The Koran is a confused heap of dreams nay, he hath forged it nay, he is a poet let him come unto us therefore with some miracle, in None of the like manner as the former prophets were sent. cities which we have destroyed believed the miracles which
:
they saw performed before them : will these therefore believe We sent none as our apostles before if they see a miracle ?
thee, other
than men, unto
whom we
revealed our will.
Ask
are acquainted with ye know not them not a which could be body gave supported without their eating food ; neither were they immortal. But
those
this.
who
the scripture, if
We
we made good our promise unto them wherefore we delivered them, and those whom we pleased but we destroyed the exor:
bitant transgressors. Now have we sent
down unto
is
?
the
Koran
wherein there
Koreish, the book of you, honorable mention of you will

:
ye not therefore understand

rise
And how many

;
cities
have we
to
overthrown, which were ungodly
and caused other nations

they
felt
cities.
up
after
them?
And when
unto them,
our severe venge-
ance, behold, they fled swiftly
from those
And
:
the
angels said, scoffingly, that wherein ye delighted, ture ye will be asked.
Do
not fly; but return to

!
your habitations peradvenThey answered, Alas for us verily we

to
and
have been unjust. And this their lamentation ceased not, until we had rendered them like corn which is mowed down, and utterly extinct. We created not the heavens and the If earth, and that which is between them, by way of sport. we had pleased to take diversion, verily we had done it with which beseemeth us; if we had resolved to have done this. But we will oppose truth to vanity, and it shall confound the
same and behold,

;
it
shall vanish
away.
formerly gave unto Moses and Aaron the Law, being a and evil, and a light and admonition unto the pious who fear their Lord in secret, and who dread the hour of judgment. And this book also is a blessed admodistinction between good
;
We
nition
fore deny
tofore,
which we have sent down from heaven will ye thereit ? And we gave unto Abraham his direction hereand we knew him to be worthy of the revelations where:

with he was favored.
father,
241
and his people,

?
so entirely devoted
Remember when he said unto his What are these images, to which ye are They answered, We found our fathers
worshiping them. He said, Verily both ye and your fathers have been in a manifest error. They said, Dost thou seriously tell us the truth, or art thou one who jestest with us? He
replied, Verily
earth
it is
your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the he who hath created them and I am one of those
:
God, I will surely devise a plot against your idols, after ye shall have retired from them, and shall have turned your backs. And in the people's absence he went into the temple where the idols stood, and he brake them all in pieces, except the biggest of them that they might lay the blame upon that. And when they were returned, and saw the havoc which had been made, they said, Who hath done this to our gods ? He is certainly an impious And certain of them answered, We heard a young person. man speak reproachfully of them: he is named Abraham.
who bear
witness thereof.
By
They said, Bring him therefore before the eyes of the people, And when he was that they may bear witness against him. brought before the assembly, they said unto him, Hast thou
done this unto our gods, O Abraham? He answered, Nay, that biggest of them hath done it but ask them, if they can And they returned unto themselves, and said the speak. one to the other, Verily ye are the impious persons. Afterward they relapsed into their former obstinacy and said, Verily thou knowest that these speak not. Abraham answered, Do ye therefore worship, besides God, that which can not profit you at all, neither can it hurt you ? Fie on you
:
;
and upon that which ye worship besides God! Do ye not understand ? They said, Burn him, and avenge your gods if ye do this it will be well. And when Abraham was cast into the burning pile, we said, O fire, be thou cold, and a preser;
vation unto Abraham. 1

:
And they sought
him but we caused them

i
to lay a plot against And we delivto be the sufferers.
The commentators relate that, by Nimrod's order, a large apace was enclosed at Cutha, and filled with a vast quantity of wood, which being
set
on
fire
burned so
16.
fiercely that
none dared to venture near
it:
then
VOL. V.
THE SACRED BOOKS

ered him, and Lot, by bringing them into the land wherein
we
have
blessed all creatures.
And we
gift:
bestowed on him Isaac,
and Jacob, as an additional
righteous persons. that they might direct spired into them the doing of good works, and the observance And of prayer, and the giving of alms ; and they served us.
We
and we made all of them made them models of religion, others by our command: and we inalso
unto Lot we gave wisdom and knowledge, and we delivered him out of the city which committed filthy crimes; for they were a wicked and insolent people: and we led him into our
mercy for he was an upright person. And remember Noah, when he called for destruction on his people, before the prophets above mentioned and we heard him, and delivered him and his family from a great strait: and we protected him from the people who accused our signs of falsehood; for they were a wicked people, wherefore we drowned them all. And remember David and Solomon, when
; ;
they pronounced judgment concerning a field, when the sheep of certain people had fed therein by night, having no shepherd and we were witnesses of their judgment and we gave the understanding thereof unto Solomon. 2 And on all of
;
:
they bound Abraham, and putting him into an engine (which some suppose to have been of the devil's invention), shot him into the midst of the fire; from which he was preserved by the angel Gabriel who was sent to his assistance; the fire burning only the cords with which he was bound. They add tnat the fire having miraculously lost its heat, in respect to Abraham, became an odoriferous air, and that the pile changed to a pleasant meadow; though it raged so furiously otherwise, that, according to some writers, about two thousand of the idolaters were
consumed by
2
it.
sheep, in their shepherd's absence, having broken into another man's field (or vineyard, say others), by night, and eaten up the corn, a dispute arose thereupon: and the cause being brought before David and Solomon, the former said that the owner of the land should take the
Some
sheep, in compensation of the damage which he had sustained but Solomon, who was then but eleven years old, was of opinion that it would be more just for the owner of the field to take only the profit of the sheep, viz., their milk, lambs, and wool, till the shepherd should, by his own labor and at his own expense, put the field into as good condition as
;
their master.
when the sheep entered it; after whicli the sheep might be returned to And this judgment of Solomon was approved by David
himself as better than his own.

we bestowed wisdom, and knowledge.
:
And we com-
pelled the mountains to praise us with David; and the birds And we taught him the art of making also and we did this. that for mail coats of they may defend you in your wars : you,
will ye therefore be thankful?
And
unto Solomon we sub-
ran at his command to the land whereon we had bestowed our blessing: and we knew all
jected a strong wind;
it
And we also subjected unto his command divers of the devils, who might dive to get pearls for him, and perform other work besides this; and we watched over them. And
things.
remember Job; when he

evil
\\i\o
hath
afflicted
me
cried unto his Lord, saying, Verily but thou art the most merciful of those
show mercy. Wherefore we heard him, and relieved him from the evil which was upon him and we restored unto him his family, and as many more with them, through our mercy, and for an. admonition unto those who serve God. And remember Ismael, and Edris, and Dhu'lkefl. All these were patient persons wherefore we led them into our mercy for And remember Dhu'lnun, when they were righteous doers. he departed in wrath, and thought that we could not exercise
: : ;
our power over him. And he cried out in the darkness, saying, There is no God, besides thee: praise be unto thee! Verily I have been one of the unjust. Wherefore we heard him, and delivered him from affliction: for so do we deliver the true believers. And remember Zacharias, when he called
upon
his Lord, saying, thou art the best heir.
Lord, leave
me
not childless: yet
Wherefore we heard him, and we
gave him John; and we rendered his wife fit for bearing a child unto him. These strove to excel in good works, and called upon us with love, and with fear and humbled themselves before us. And remember her who preserved her vir;
and into whom we breathed of our spirit; ordaining her and her son for a sign unto all creatures. Verily, this your religion is one religion and I am your Lord wherefore serve me. But the Jews and Christian have made schisms in the affair of their religion among themselves but all of them
ginity,
;
;
shall
appear before
shall
us.
Whosoever
do good works, being a true believer, there
THE SACRED BOOKS

shall be
no denial of the reward due
to his
endeavors ; and we
will surely write it down unto him. tion is laid on every city which we shall
An
inviolable prohibihave destroyed; for
that they shall not return any more into the world ; until Gog and Magog shall have a passage opened for them, and they shall hasten from every high hill; and the certain promise
shall
draw near
!
to be fulfilled:
infidels shall be fixed with astonishment,
and behold, the eyes of the and they shall say,

;
Alas for us we were formerly regardless of this day yea, we were wicked doers. Verily both ye, O men of Mecca, and the idols which ye worship besides God, shall be cast as fuel into If these were really hell fire ye shall go down into the same.
:
gods, they
would not go down into the same and all of them In that place shall they groan shall remain therein forever. not hear aught therein. As for shall for anguish and they those unto whom the most excellent reward of paradise hath
:
been predestinated by us, they shall be transported far off from the same; they shall not hear the least sound thereof: and they shall continue forever in the felicity which their The greatest terror shall not trouble them; and souls desire. the angels shall meet them to congratulate them, saying, This
is
your day which ye were promised.
On
that
day we
will
as the angel al Sijil rolleth up the book wherein every man's actions are recorded. As we made the first creature out of nothing, so we will also reproduce it at the
roll
up the heavens,
resurrection.
This
is
a promise
which
it
lieth
on us to
fulfil
we will surely perform it. And now have we written
in the psalms, after the promulof the servants the righteous shall inherit that law, gation my the earth. Verily in this book are contained sufficient means
of salvation unto people

thee,
who
serve God.
We
have not sent
but as a mercy unto all creatures. Say, is God No other hath been revealed unto me, than that your one God: will ye therefore be resigned unto him? But if they turn their backs to the confession of God's unity, say I
O Mohammed,
proclaim war against you all equally but I know not whether that which ye are threatened with be nigh, or whether it be far distant. Verily, God knoweth the discourse which is
:
245
spoken in public; and he also knoweth that which ye hold in I know not but peradventure the respite granted private.
you and that he may enjoy the prosperity of this world for a time. Say, Lord, judge between me and with truth. Our Lord is the Merciful whose adversaries my assistance is to be implored against the blasphemies and calumnies which ye utter.
you
is
for a trial of
CHAPTER XXII
ENTITLED, THE PILGRIMAGE;
IN THE
1
REVEALED AT MECCA
NAME OF THE MOST MEBCIFUL GOD

Verily the shock of the On the day whereon ye giveth suck shall forget the
i/
/
of Mecca, fear your Lord. last hour will be a terrible thing.

shall see
it,
O men
every
woman who
;
shall cast her
is with young and thou shalt see men seemingly drunk, yet they shall not be really drunk but the punishment of God will be severe. There is "a man who disputeth concerning God without knowledge, 2 and followeth every rebellious devil against whom it is written that, whoever shall take him for his patron, he shall surely seduce him, and shall lead him into
infant which she sucketh, and every female that
burden
the torment of hell.
ye be in doubt concerning the resurrection, consider that we first created you of the dust of the ground after-
men,
if
ward of seed
afterward of a
little
coagulated blood
after-
ward, of a piece of flesh, perfectly formed in part, and in part imperfectly formed that we might make our power manifest unto you: and we cause that which we please to rest in the wombs, until the appointed time of delivery. Then we bring you forth infants; and afterward we permit you to attain
;
your age of
1
full strength
and one of you dieth in
his youth,
Some ceremonies used
at the pilgrimage of Mecca being mentioned in
this chapter, gave occasion to the inscription. 2 This passage was revealed on account of al
Nodar Ebn al Hareth, who maintained that the angels were the daughters of God, that the Koran was a fardel of old fables, and denied the resurrection.
246
THE SACRED BOOKS

is
postponed to a decrepit age, so that he Thou seest the earth someforgetteth whatever he knew. barren but when we send down rain thereand dried times up
and another of you
on, it is put in motion,
and
swelleth,
and produceth every
kind of luxuriant vegetable. This showest that God is the truth, and that he raiseth the dead to life, and that he is almighty; and that the hour of judgment will surely come (there is no doubt thereof), and that God will raise again
are in the graves. a man who disputeth concerning God without either knowledge, or a direction, or an enlightening book;
those
who
There
is
proudly turning his side, that he may seduce men from the way of God. Ignominy shall attend him in this world and on the day of resurrection we will make him take the torment of burning, when it shall be said unto him, This thou sufferest because of that which thy hands have formerly committed; for God is not unjust toward man;
There are some men who serve God in a wavering manner, standing, as it were, on the verge of the true If good befall one of them, he resteth satisfied religion. therein; but if any tribulation befall him, he turneth himself round, with the loss both of this world, and of the life to come. This is manifest perdition. He will call upon that besides God, which can neither hurt him nor profit him. This is an error remote from truth. He will invoke him who will sooner be of hurt to his worshiper than of advantage. Such is surely a miserable patron, and a miserable companion. But God will introduce those who shall believe, and do righteous works, into gardens through which rivers flow for God doth that which he pleaseth. Whoso thinketh that God will not assist his apostle in this world and in the world to come, let him strain a rope toward heaven, then let him put an end to his life, and see whether his devices can render that inThus do we send down the effectual, for which he was angry.
kind.
;
Koran, being evident signs; for God directeth

pleaseth. As to the true believers,
whom
he
and those who Judaize, and the and the Sabians, Christians, and the Magians, and the idol-

aters; verily
resurrection
for
God shall judge between them on the day of God is witness of all things. Dost thou not
perceive that all creatures both in heaven and on earth adore God ; and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the moun-
and many men? But many are worthy of chastisement and whomsoever God shall render despicable, there shall be none to honor for God doth These are two opposite parties, who that which he pleaseth.
tains,
trees,
and the
and the
beasts,
:
And they who believe not dispute concerning their Lord. shall have garments of fire fitted unto them boiling water
:
poured on their heads their bowels shall be dissolved thereby, and also their skins and they shall be beaten with maces of iron. So often as they shall endeavor to get out of
shall be
;
;
because of the anguish of their torments, they shall be dragged back into the same; and their tormentors shall say
hell,
unto them, Taste ye the pain of burning.

those
God
will introduce
shall believe, and act righteously, into gardens which rivers flow they shall be adorned therein with through bracelets of gold, and pearls and their vestures therein shall be silk. They are directed unto a good saying; and are
:
who
directed into the honorable way. But they who shall disbelieve, and obstruct the way of God, and hinder men from visit-
ing the holy temple of Mecca, which we have appointed for a place of worship unto all men the inhabitant thereof, and the
:
stranger have an equal right to visit it: and whosoever shall seek impiously to profane it, we will cause him to taste a
grievous torment. Call to mind when
we gave
cleanse
the site of the house of the

associate
Kaaba
pass
it,
for an abode unto
Abraham, saying, Do not
anything with
me and
;
my
house for those who com-
and who stand up, and who bow down to worship, and proclaim unto the people a solemn pilgrimage let them come unto thee on foot, and on every lean camel, arriving from
;
every distant road that they may be witnesses of the advantages which accrue to them from the visiting this holy place,
;
and
may commemorate
the
name
of
God on
the appointed
days, in gratitude for the brute cattle which he hath bestowed on them. Wherefore eat thereof, and feed the needy, and the
248
poor.
THE SACRED BOOKS
Afterward let them put an end to the neglect of their and compass the ancient persons ; and let them pay their vows, 3 This let them do. house.
ever shall regard the sacred ordinances of God ; All sorts this will be better for him in the sight of his Lord. to hath been what read allowed are of cattle eat, except you
And who
unto you, in former passages of the Koran, to be forbidden. But depart from the abomination of idols, and avoid speaking that which is false: being orthodox in respect to God, associating no other god with him: for whosoever asso-
any other with God is like that which falleth from heaven, and which the birds snatch away, or the wind bloweth This is so. And whoso maketh to a far distant place. valuable offerings unto God; verily they proceed from the Ye receive various advantages from piety of men's hearts.
ciateth
the cattle designed for sacrifices, until a determined time for slaying them: then the place of sacrificing them is at the
possessors of every religion have we appointed certain rites, that they may commemorate the name of God on slaying the brute cattle which he hath pro-
ancient house.
Unto the
Your God is one God: wherefore resign unto him. And do thou bear good tidings yourselves wholly unto those who humble themselves whose hearts, when mention is made of God, are struck with fear; and unto those who patiently endure that which befalleth them and who duly perform their prayers, and give alms out of what we have bestowed on them. The camels slain for sacrifice have we appointed for you as symbols of your obedience unto God ye also receive other advantages from them. Wherefore commemorate the name of God over them, when ye slay them, standing on their feet
vided for them.
;
; :
disposed in right order and when they are fallen down dead, eat of them; and give to eat thereof both unto him who is
:
content with what

*
I.e.,
;
for the worship of God. The going round this chapel is a principal ceremony of the pilgrimage, and is often repeated; but the last time of their doing it, when they take their farewell of the
fice built
The Kaaba and appointed
given him, without asking, and unto which the Mohammedans pretend was the first ediis
temple, seems to be more particularly
meant
in this place.

him who
asketh.
49
Thus have we given you dominion over
them, that ye might return us thanks. Their flesh is not accepted of God, neither their blood; hut your piety is acThus have we given you dominion over them, cepted of him.
that ye might magnify God, for the revelations hath directed you.
whereby he
And
bear good tidings unto the righteous, that
God
will
repel the ill designs of the infidels from the true believers; for God loveth not every perfidious unbeliever. Permission
granted unto those who take arms against the unbelievers, for that they have been unjustly persecuted by them (and
is
certainly able to assist them) who have been turned out of their habitations injuriously, and for no other reason
God
is
than because they say, Our Lord
is
God. 4
And
if
God did
not repel the violence of some men by others, verily monasteries, and churches, and synagogues, and the temples of the Moslems, wherein the name of God is freqiiently commem-
would be utterly demolished. And God will cerhim who shall be on his side for God is strong and mighty. And he will assist those who, if we establish them in the earth, will observe prayer, and give alms, and command that which is just, and forbid that which is unorated,
tainly assist
just.
And
unto God shall be the end of
all things.
;
If they accuse thee, O Mohammed, of imposture consider that, before them, the people of Noah, and the tribes of Ad and Thamud, and the people of Abraham, and the people of
and the inhabitants of Madian, accused their prophets of imposture and Moses was also charged with falsehood. And
Lot,
:
I granted a long respite unto the unbelievers but afterward I chastised them and how different was the change I made in
;
their condition
have we destroyed, which were ungodly, and which are now fallen to ruin on their roofs ? And how many wells have been abandoned, and
!
How many
cities
* This was the first passage of the Koran which allowed Mohammed and his followers to defend themselves against their enemies by force, and was revealed a little before the flight to Medina; till which time the prophet had exhorted his Moslems to suffer the injuries offered them with patience, which is also commanded in more than seventy different places
in the
Koran.
250
lofty castles?
THE
And
SA.CRED BOOKS
Do they not therefore journey through the have land ? they not hearts to understand with, or ears to hear with? Surely as to these things their eyes are not are blind which are in their breasts. hearts blind, but the They will urge thee to hasten the threatened punishment; but God will not fail to perform what he hath threatened: and verily one day with thy Lord is as a thousand years, of Unto how many cities have I those which ye compute. granted respite, though they were wicked ? Yet afterward I chastised them and unto me shall they come to be judged, at
:
the last day.
Say,
men, verily I
believe,
am
only a public preacher unto you.

shall obtain for-
And they who

'
and do good works,
But those who engiveness and an honorable provision. deavor to make our signs of none effect shall be the inhabihave sent no apostle, or prophet, before thee, but, when he read, Satan suggested some error in his 5 But God shall make void that which Satan hath reading. suggested then shall God confirm his signs for God is knowing and wise. But this he permitteth, that he may make that which Satan hath suggested, a temptation unto those in whose hearts there is an infirmity, and whose hearts are hardened (for the ungodly are certainly in a wide disagreement from the truth:) and that they on whom knowledge hath been bestowed may know that this book is the truth from thy Lord, and may believe therein and that their hearts may acquiesce in the same for God is surely the director
tants of hell.
:
We
of those
who
believe, into the right
way.
But the
infidels
5 The occasion of the day passage is thus related. Mohammed one " What reading the 53d chapter of the Koran, when he came to this verse, " think ye of Allat, and al Uzza, and of Manah, the other third goddess? the devil put the following words into his mouth, which he pronounced through inadvertence, or, as some tell us, because he was then half " These are the most high and beauteous damsels, whose asleep, viz., intercession is to be hoped for." The Koreish, who were sitting near Mohammed, greatly rejoiced at what they had heard, and when he had finished the chapter, joined with him and his followers in making their adoration: but the prophet, being acquainted by the angel Gabriel with the reason of their compliance, and with what he had uttered, was deeply concerned at his mistake, till this verse was revealed for his consolation.

will not cease to doubt concerning
;
251
ment cometh suddenly upon them On a grievous day overtake them.

shall be God's:
until the hour of judgor until the punishment of

it,
that
day the kingdom
he shall judge between them. And they who have shall believed, and shall have wrought righteousness, shall be in gardens of pleasure but they who shall have disbelieved, and shall have charged our signs with falsehood, And as to those those shall suffer a shameful punishment. who shall have fled their country for the sake of God's true religion, and afterward shall have been slain, or shall have died; on them will God bestow an excellent provision; and
:
He will surely introduce them the best provider. with an introduction with which they shall be well pleased: for God is knowing and gracious. This is so. ...
God
is
bow down, and prostrate worship your Lord; and work righteousness,
true believers,
yourselves, and that ye may be
happy: and fight in defense of God's true religion, as it behoveth you to fight for the same. He hath chosen you, and hath not imposed on you any difficulty in the religion which he hath given you, the religion of your father Abraham: he hath named you Moslems heretofore, and in this book; that our apostle may be a witness against you at the day of judgment, and that ye may be witnesses against the rest of mankind. Wherefore be ye constant at prayer; and give alms: and adhere firmly unto God. He is your master; and he is the best master and the best protector.
;
CHAPTER
IN THE
XXIII
ENTITLED, THE TRUE BELIEVERS; REVEALED AT MECCA

Now
are the true believers happy:
in their prayer, and who eschew all are doers of alms-deeds and who keep themselves
;
who humble themselves vain discourse, and who

from
car-
tives
nal knowledge of any woman except their wives, or the capwhich their right hands possess; (for as to them they
252
THE SACRED BOOKS

:
shall be blameless
these,
but whoever coveteth any
woman beyond
acquit themselves faithfully of their trust, and justly perform their covenant ; and who observe their appointed times of prayer:) these shall
they are transgressors: and
who
be the heirs,
who
shall inherit paradise
they shall continue
therein forever.
We
we
formerly created
in the
man
the seed coagulated blood and we formed the into a piece of flesh: then we formed the blood coagulated piece of flesh into bones; and we clothed those bones with flesh: then we produced the same by another creation.
;
placed him ward we made
form of seed
of a finer sort of clay ; afterward in a sure receptacle : after-
Wherefore blessed be God, the most excellent Creator! After this shall ye die and afterward shall ye be restored to And we have created over life, on the day of resurrection. you seven heavens and we are not negligent of what we have created. And we sent down rain from heaven, by measure and we cause it to remain on the earth we are also certainly
:
:
able to deprive
palm-trees,
you of the same.
And we
cause gardens of
and vineyards, to spring forth for you by means thereof; wherein ye have many fruits, and whereof ye eat. And we also raise for you a tree springing from Mount Sinai which produceth oil, and a sauce for those who eat. Ye have likewise an instruction in the cattle: we give you to drink of the milk which is in their bellies, and ye receive many advantages from them and of them do ye eat and on them, and on ships, are ye carried. We sent Noah heretofore unto his people, and he said, O my people, serve God ye have no God besides him will ye
; ; :
: ;
not therefore fear the consequence of your worshiping other gods? And the chiefs of his people, who believed not, said,
is no other than a man, as ye are: he seeketh to raise himself to a superiority over you. If God had pleased to have sent a messenger unto you, he would surely have sent angels we have not heard this of our forefathers. Verily he
This
is
no other than a
man
concerning him for a time. Noah said, tect me; for that they accuse me of
disturbed with frenzy: wherefore wait O Lord, do thou profalsehood.
And we

revealed our orders unto him, saying,
;
253
Make the ark in our our revelation. And when our decree coraeth to be executed, and the oven shall boil and pour forth it of into of animals one pair ; and water, carry every species also thy family, except such of them on whom a previous sentence of destruction hath passed: and speak not unto me in
sight and according
to
behalf of those
drowned.
shall
And when
who have been unjust; thou and they who
for they shall be shall be with thee
go up into the ark, say, Praise be unto God, who hath delivered us from the ungodly people! And say, O Lord,
cause
me
to
come down from
this ark with a blessed descent
for thou art best able to bring

safety.
me down from
the same with
Verily herein were signs of our omnipotence; and we proved mankind thereby. Afterward we raised up another generation after them and we sent unto them an apostle from among them, who said, Worship God ye have no God besides him will ye not there;
:
fore fear his vengeance ? And the chiefs of his people, who believed not, and who denied the meeting of the life to come,
bestowed affluence in this present life, said, This is no other than a man, as ye are he eateth of that whereof ye eat, and he drinketh of that whereof ye drink and if ye obey a man like unto yourselves, ye will surely be Doth he threaten you that after ye shall be dead, sufferers.
; ;
and on
whom we had
become dust and bones, ye shall be brought forth alive from your graves ? Away, away with that ye are threatened with There is no other life besides our present life we die, and we live and we shall not be raised again. This is no other than a man, who deviseth a lie concerning God: but we will not believe him. Their apostle said, O Lord, deshall
!
and
fend
God for that they have accused me of imposture. answered, After a little while they shall surely repent their Wherefore a severe punishment was justly inobstinacy.
;
me
flicted
is
carried
on them, and we rendered them like the refuse which down by a stream. Away therefore with the un!
godly people
Afterward we raised up other generations after them. No nation shall be punished before their determined time;
254
THE SACRED BOOKS
Afterward we sent our neither shall they be respited after. as their apostle came So often after another. apostles, one
unto any nation they charged him with imposture: and we caused them successively to follow one another to destruc-
and we made them only subjects of traditional stories. Away therefore with the unbelieving nations! Afterward we sent Moses, and Aaron his brother, with our signs and manifest power, unto Pharaoh and his princes: but they proudly refused to believe on him; for they were a haughty And they said, Shall we believe on two men like people. unto ourselves whose people are our servants ? And they accused them of imposture: wherefore they became of the number of those who were destroyed. And we heretofore gave the book of the law unto Moses, that the children of
tion
;
;
And we appointed the son Israel might be directed thereby. of Mary, and his mother, for a sign: and we prepared an abode for them in an elevated part of the earth, being a place of quiet and security, and watered with running springs.
which are good; and work This your righteousness for I well know that which ye do. I one and am Lord wherefore fear is your religion religion me. But men have rent the affair of their religion into various sects: every party rejoiceth in that which they follow. Wherefore leave them in their confusion, until a certain time. Do they think that we hasten unto them the wealth and children which we have abundantly bestowed on them, for their good ? But they do not understand. Verily they who stand in awe, for fear of their Lord, and who believe in the signs of their Lord, and who attribute not companions unto their Lord and who give that which they give in alms, their hearts being struck with dread, for that they must return unto their Lord these hasten unto good, and are foremost to obtain the same. We will not impose any difficulty on a soul, except according to its ability with us is a book, which speaketh the truth and they shall not be injured. But their hearts are drowned in negligence, as to this matter; and they have works different from those we have mentioned which they will continue to do, until, when we chastise such of them as enjoy an
apostles, eat of those things
:

affluence of fortune,
255
aloud for help: but
by a severe punishment, behold, they cry it shall be answered them, Cry not for
help to-day: for ye shall not be assisted by us. My signs were read unto you, but ye turned back on your heels: proudly elating yourselves because of your possessing the
holy temple; discoursing together by night, and talking foolDo they not therefore attentively consider that which ishly.
whether a revelation is come unto them is spoken unto them which came not unto their forefathers? Or do they not know their apostle; and therefore reject him? Or do they Nay, he hath come unto them with say, He is a madman ? the truth; but the greater part of them detest the truth. If the truth had followed their desires, verily the heavens and the earth, and whoever therein is, had been corrupted. But we have brought them their admonition and they turn aside from their admonition. Dost thou ask of them any maintenance for thy preaching? since the maintenance of thy Lord is better; for he is the most bounteous provider. Thou certainly invitest them to the right way: and they who believe If not in the life to come do surely deviate from that way. we had had compassion on them, and had taken off from them the calamity which had befallen them, they would surely have more obstinately persisted in their error, wandering in
; ;
formerly chastised them with a punishment yet they did not humble themselves before their Lord, neither did they make supplications unto him; until, when we have
confusion.
:
We
opened upon them a door, from which a severe punishment

hath issued, behold, they are driven to despair thereat. It is God who hath created in you the senses of hearing and
of sight, that ye may perceive our judgments, and hearts, that ye may seriously consider them: yet how few of you It is he who hath produced you in the earth ; give thanks
!
and before him shall ye be assembled. It is he who giveth life, and putteth to death and to him is to be attributed the vicissitude of night and day: do ye not therefore understand? But the unbelieving Meccans say as their predecessors said: they say, When we shall be dead, and shall have become dust and bones, shall we really be raised to life? We have al;
256
THE SACRED BOOKS
ready been threatened with this, and our fathers also heretofore: this is nothing but fables of the ancients. Say, Whose is the earth, and whoever therein is; if ye know? They will answer, God's. Say, Will ye not therefore consider ? Say, Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the
Lord of the magnificent throne ? They will answer, They are God's. Say, Will ye not therefore fear him? Say, In whose hand is the kingdom of all things; who protecteth
he pleaseth, but is himself protected of none; if ye know? They will answer, In God's. Say, How therefore are ye bewitched? Yea, we have brought them the truth; and they are certainly liars in denying the same. God hath not begotten issue neither is there any other god with him otherwise every god had surely taken away that which he had created; and some of them had exalted themselves above the others. Far be that from God, which they affirm of him.
;
:
whom
He
knoweth that which
is
concealed, and that which
is
made
public; wherefore far be it from him to have those sharers in his honor, which they attribute to him! Say, O Lord, If thou wilt surely cause me to see the vengeance with which they have been threatened; O Lord, set me not among the
ungodly people: for we are surely able to make thee to see Turn aside evil that with which we have threatened them. with that which is better we well know the calumnies which they utter against thee. And say, O Lord, I fly unto thee for refuge, against the suggestions of the devils: and I have recourse unto thee, O Lord, to drive them away, that they be not present with me.
:
The gainsaying of the unbelievers ceaseth not until, when death overtaketh any of them, he saith, O Lord, suffer me to return to life, that I may do that which is right in professBy no means. ing the true faith which I have neglected.
;
Verily these are the words which he shall speak but behind them there shall be a bar, until the day of resurrection. When therefore the trumpet shall be sounded there shall be no relation between them which shall be regarded on that day; neither shall they ask assistance of each other. They whose balances shall be heavy with good works shall be happy
:

but they whose balances shall be light are those
257
shall lose
their souls, and shall remain in hell forever. fire shall scorch their faces, and they shall writhe their mouths therein for anguish: and it shall be said unto them, Were not
who The
my
signs rehearsed unto you; and did ye not charge them with falsehood? Lord, our happiness preThey shall answer, we were and vailed over us, people who went astray.
O
:
Lord, take us forth from this

wickedness,
we
shall surely
we return to our former be unjust. God will say unto

fire
if
Verily there were a party of said, Lord, we.helieve: wherefore formy servants, give us, and be merciful unto us; for thou art the best of But ye received them with scoffs, so those who show mercy.
to deliver you.
them, not unto
Be ye
driven
away with ignominy
thereinto
and speak
me
who
admonition, and ye day rewarded them, for that they suffered the injuries ye offered them with patience
that they suffered you to forget laughed them to scorn. I have this
my
God verily they enjoy great felicity. of years have ye continued on earth ?
who keep
will say, What numher They will answer,
We
have continued there a day, or part of a day: but ask those God will say, Ye have tarried but a account. Did ye think that we had created you little, if ye knew it. in sport, and that ye should not be brought again before us ? Wherefore let God be exalted, the King, the Truth There is no God besides him, the Lord of the honorable throne. Whoever together with the true God shall invoke another god, concerning whom he hath no demonstrative proof, shall surely be brought to an account for the -same before his Lord.
!
CHAPTER XXIV
ENTITLED, LIGHT;
IN THE
1
REVEALED AT MEDINA

;
This Sura have we sent down from heaven and have ratified the same and we have revealed therein evident signs, that
:
i This title is taken from an between light allegorical comparison made and God, or faith in him, about the middle of the chapter. VOL. V. 17.
258
THE SACRED BOOKS
ye may be warned. The whore, and the whoremonger, shall 2 And let not compassion ye scourge with an hundred stripes. toward them prevent you from executing the judgment of God if ye believe in God and the last day and let some of
:
The the true believers be witnesses of their punishment. whoremonger shall not marry any other than a harlot, or an
idolatress.
And
a harlot shall no
man
except a whoremonger, or an idolater. marriage is forbidden the true believers.

accuse
take in marriage, And this kind of
But
as to those
who
of reputation of whoredom, and produce not four witnesses of the fact, scourge them with fourscore stripes, and receive not their testimony forever ; for such are
women
infamous prevaricators: excepting those who shall afterrepent, and amend for unto such will God be gracious and merciful. They who shall accuse their wives of adultery, and shall have no witnesses thereof besides themselves; the testimony which shall be required of one of them shall be that he swear four times by God that he speaketh the truth and the fifth time that he imprecate the curse of God on him, if he be a liar. And it shall avert the punishment from the if she swear four times by God that he is a liar and if wife, the fifth time she imprecate the wrath of God on her, if he If it were not for the indulgence of God speaketh the truth. toward you, and his mercy, and that God is easy to be reconand wise; he would immediately discover your ciled,
ward
crimes.
As to the party among you who have published the falsehood concerning Ayesha, 3 think it not to be an evil unto you on the contrary, it is better for you. Every man of them
:
This law is not to be understood to relate to married people, who are of free condition; because adultery in such, according to the Sonna, is to be punished by stoning. 8 Mohammed having undertaken an expedition against the tribe of
2
Mostalek, in the sixth year of the Hegira, took his wife Ayesha with him, to accompany him. In their return, when they were not far from Medina, the army removing by night, Ayesha, on the road, alighted from her camel, and stepped aside on a private occasion: but, on her return, perceiving she had dropped her necklace, which was of onyxes of Dhafar, she went back to look for it; and in the meantime her attendants, taking it for granted that she was got into her pavilion (or little tent sur-

shall be
259
punished according to the injustice of which he hath been guilty and he among them who hath undertaken to
;
Did aggravate the same shall suffer a grievous punishment. not the faithful men, and the faithful women, when ye heard this, judge in their own minds for the best; and say, This
is
a manifest falsehood
Have they produced
four witnesses
thereof? wherefore since they have not produced the witHad it not nesses, they are surely liars in the sight of God.
been for the indulgence of God toward you, and his mercy, in this world and in that which is to come, verily a grievous punishment had been inflicted on you, for the calumny which ye have spread: when ye published that with your tongues, and spoke that with your mouths, of which ye had no knowledge ; and esteemed
it
to be light,
whereas
it
was a matter of
importance in the sight of God. When ye heard it, did ye say, It belongeth not unto us, that we should talk of this
matter
:
God
forbid
eth you, that ye true believers.
this is a grievous calumny ? God warnreturn not to the like crime forever ; if ye be
!
And God
wise.
God
is
knowing and
declareth unto you his signs; for Verily they who love that scandal
be published of those who believe shall receive a severe punishment both in this world and in the next. God knoweth,
rounded with curtains, wherein women are carried in the East) set it again on the camel, and led it away. When she came back to the road, and saw her camel was gone, she sat down there, expecting that when she was missed some would be sent back to fetch her; and in a little time she fell asleep. Early in the morning, Safwan Ebn al Moattel, who had stayed behind to rest himself, coming by, and perceiving somebody be Ayesha; upon which asleep, went to see who it was, and knew her to " We he waked her, by twice pronouncing with a low voice these words, are God's, and unto him must we return." Then Ayesha immediately covered herself with her veil; and Safwan set her on his own camel, and led her after the army, which they overtook by noon, as they were This accident had like to have ruined Ayesha, whose reputaresting.
was publicly called in question, as if she had been guilty of adultery with Safwan; and Mohammed himself knew not what to think, when he reflected on the circumstances of the affair, which were improved by some malicious people very much to Ayesha's dishonor; and notwithhe could not get rid of standing his wife's protestation of her innocence, the mouths of the censorious, till about a month nor his
tion
perplexity,
after,
when
'this
the accusation to be passage was revealed, declaring
stop
unjust.
260
THE SACRED BOOKS
but ye know not. Had it not been for the indulgence of God toward you, and his mercy, and that God is gracious and
merciful, ye had felt his vengeance. O true believers, follow not the steps of the devil soever shall follow the steps of the devil, he will
:
for who-
command
him filthy crimes, and that which is unlawful. If it were not for the indulgence of God, and his mercy toward you, there had not been so much as one of you cleansed from his whom he pleaseth for God guilt forever but God cleanseth knoweth. Let not those among you who both heareth and possess abundance of wealth, and have ability, swear that they will not give unto their kindred, and the poor, and those who
:
country for the sake of God's true religion but Do let them forgive, and act with benevolence toward them. And is God that God should desire not pardon you? ye Moreover they who falsely accuse gracious and merciful.
have
fled their
modest women, who behave in a negligent manner, and are true believers, shall be cursed in this world, and in the world to come and they shall suffer a severe punishment. One day their own tongues shall bear witness against them, and their hands, and their feet, concerning that which they have done. On that day shall God render unto them their just due and The wicked they shall know that God is the evident truth. women should be joined to the wicked men, and the wicked men to the wicked women; but the good women should be married to the good men, and the good men to the good women. These shall be cleared from the calumnies which slanderers speak of them: they shall obtain pardon, and an
;
:
honorable provision.
true believers, enter not any houses, besides your own houses, until ye have asked leave, and have saluted the fam-
you; peradventure ye will be admonished. And if ye shall find no person in the houses, yet do not enter them, until leave be granted you and if it be said unto you, Return back; do ye return back. This will be more decent for you; and God knoweth that which
:
ily thereof: this is better for
ye do.
It shall be
ited houses,
no crime in you, that ye enter uninhabwherein ye may meet with a convenience. God
261
knoweth that which ye discover, aiid that which ye conceal. Speak unto the true believers, that they restrain their eyes, and keep themselves from immodest actions this will be more pure for them; for God is well acquainted with that which
:
speak unto the believing women, that they restrain their eyes, and preserve their modesty, and discover not their ornaments, except what necessarily appeareth
they do.
And
and let them throw their veils over their bosoms, and not show their ornaments, unless to their husbands, or
thereof:
their fathers, or tl.oir husbands' fathers, or their sons, or their husbands' sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or
their sisters' sons, or their women, or the captives which their right hands shall possess, or unto such men as attend them, and have no need of women, or unto children, who distinguish
not the nakedness of women. And let them not make a noise with their feet, that their ornaments which they hide may thereby be discovered. And be ye all turned unto God, O true believers, that ye may be happy.
Marry those who are single among you, and such as are honest of your men-servants, and your maid-servants if they be poor, God will enrich them of his abundance; for God is
:
bounteous and wise. And let those who find not a match keep themselves from fornication, until God shall enrich
them of
his abundance.
And
unto such of your slaves as
desire a written instrument allowing them to redeem themselves on paying a certain sum, write one, if ye know good in
them and give them of the riches of God, which he hath given And compel not your maid-servants to prostitute themyou.
;
they be willing to live chastely; that ye may seek the casual advantage of this present life: but whoever shall compel them thereto, verily God will be gracious and merciful unto such women after their compulsion. And now have we revealed unto you evident signs, and
selves, if
some of the histories of those who have gone before you, and an abomination unto the pious. God is the light of heaven and earth the similitude of his light is as a niche in a wall, wherein a lamp is placed, and the lamp
a history like unto
:
enclosed in a case of glass; the glass appears as
it
were a
262
THE SACRED BOOKS
It is lighted with the oil of a blessed tree, an shining star. olive neither of the east, nor of the west: it wanteth little but that the oil thereof would give light, although no fire
This is light added unto light: God will direct touched it. unto his light whom he pleaseth. God propoundeth parables unto men ; for God knoweth all things. In the houses which God hath permitted to be raised, and that his name be com-
memorated therein: men celebrate his praise in the same morning and evening, whom neither merchandizing nor selling diverteth from the remembering of God, and the observance of prayer, and the giving of alms; fearing the day whereon men's hearts and eyes shall be troubled; that God may recompense them according to the utmost merit of what they shall have wrought, and may add unto them of his abundance a more excellent reward for God bestoweth on whom he pleaseth without measure. But as to the unbelievers, their works are like the vapor in a plain, which the thirsty traveler
;
thinketh to be water, until, when he cometh thereto, he findeth it to be nothing; but he findeth God with him, and he will
pay him his account and God is swift in taking an account: or, as the darkness in a deep sea, covered by waves riding on waves, above which are clouds, being additions of
fully
;
darkness one over the other; when one stretcheth forth his hand, he is far from seeing it. And unto whomsoever God
shall not grant his light,
he shall enjoy no light
at all.
Dost thou not perceive that all creatures both in heaven and earth praise God and the birds also, extending their wings? Every one knoweth his prayer, and his praise: and God knoweth that which they do. Unto God belongeth the kingdom of heaven and earth and unto God shall be the return at the last day. Dost thou not see that God gently driveth forward the clouds, and gathereth them together, and then layeth them on heaps ? Thou also seest the rain, which f alleth from the midst thereof and God sendeth down from heaven as it were mountains, wherein there is hail he striketh therewith whom he pleaseth, and turneth the same away from whom he pleaseth the brightness of his lightning waiit;
eth but
little
of taking
away
the sight.
God
shifteth the

and the day verily herein who have sight.
night,
:
263
is
an instruction unto those
true believers, let your slaves and those among you who shall not have attained the age of puberty ask leave of you, before they come into your presence three times in the day ;
namely, before the morning prayer, and when ye lay aside your garments at noon, and after the evening prayer. These are the three times for you to be private it shall be no crime
:
in you, or in them, if they go in to you without asking permission after these times, while ye are in frequent attendance, Thus God declareth his signs the one of you on the other.
unto you; for
God
is
knowing and
wise.
And when your
children attain the age of puberty, let them ask leave to come into your presence at all times, in the same manner as those
who have attained that age before them ask leave. Thus God declareth his signs unto you; and God is knowing and As to such women as are past child-bearing, who hope wise. not to marry again, because of their advanced age it shall be
;
no crime in them, if they lay aside their outer garments, not showing their ornaments but if they abstain from this, it will God both heareth and knoweth. be better for them. It shall be no crime in the blind, nor shall it be any crime in the lame, neither shall it be any crime in the sick, or in
;
yourselves, that ye eat in your houses, or in the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your mothers, or in the houses of
your brothers, or the houses of your sisters, or the houses of your uncles on the father's side, or the houses of your aunts on the father's side, or the houses of your uncles on the mother's side, or the houses of your aunts on the mother's side, or in those houses the keys whereof ye have in your posIt shall not be any session, or in the house of your friend. crime in you whether ye eat together, or separately. And when ye enter any houses, salute one another on the
Thus part of God, with a blessed and a welcome salutation. God declareth his signs unto you, that ye may understand. Verily they only are true believers, who believe in God and
his apostle,
affair,
and when they are assembled with him on any
depart not, until they have obtained leave of him.
264
Verily they
THE SACRED BOOKS

who
ask leave of thee are those
who
helieve in
God and
his apostle.
When
therefore they ask leave of thee
to depart, on account of any business of their own, grant leave unto such of them as thou shalt think fit, and ask pardon Let for them of God; for God is gracious and merciful. not the calling of the apostle be esteemed among you, as your God knoweth such of you as calling the one to the other. privately withdraw themselves from the assembly, taking shelBut let those who withstand his ter behind one another. command take heed; lest some calamity befall them in this world, or a grievous punishment be inflicted on them in the Doth not whatever is in heaven and on earth life to come. belong unto God ? He well knoweth what ye are about and on a certain day they shall be assembled before him and he shall declare unto them that which they have done; for God knoweth all things.
:
CHAPTER XXV
ENTITLED, AL FOKKAN; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE

revealed the Forkan
all
Blessed be he
servant, that he
who hath
may
be a preacher unto
unto his creatures: unto
belongeth the kingdom of heaven and of earth: who hath begotten no issue and hath no partner in his kingdom who hath created all things and disposed the same according
:
whom
to his determinate will.
Yet have they taken other gods

are themselves
besides
him which have created nothing, but

; ;
created, and are able neither to avert evil from, nor to produce good unto themselves and have not the power of death,
or of
life,
no other than a forgery which he hath contrived; and other people have assisted him therein but they utter an unjust thing, and a falsehood. They also say, These are fables of the ancients, which he hath caused to be written down and they are dictated
is
:
;
And
or of raising the dead. the unbelievers say, This
Koran
Forkan
is
one of the names of the Koran.
265
unto him morning and evening. Say, He bath revealed it, who knoweth the secrets in heaven and earth: verily he is And they say, What kind of apostle gracious and merciful. is this? He eateth food, and walketh in the streets, as we do: unless an angel be sent down unto him, and become a fellow-preacher with him or unless a treasure be cast down unto him or he have a garden, of the fruit whereof he may
; ;
eat
we
will not believe.
The ungodly
distracted.
other than a
man who
is
Ye follow no what Behold, they liken

also say,
thee unto.
But they are deceived; neither can they
find a
just occasion to reproach thee. Blessed be he, who, if he pleaseth, will
make
for thee a
better provision than this which they speak of, namely, gardens through which rivers flow: and he will provide thee
But they reject the belief of the hour of judgment, palaces. as a falsehood and we have prepared for him, who shall reject the belief of that hour, burning fire; when it shall see
:
them from a distant place, they and roaring. And when they
shall hear
it
furiously raging,
shall be cast
bound together
:
into a strait place thereof, they shall there call for death but it shall be answered them, Call not this day for one death, but call for many deaths. Say, Is this better, or a garden of
It shall eternal duration, which is promised unto the pious ? be given unto them for a reward, and a retreat: therein shall they have whatever they please continuing in the same for;
ever.
This
Lord.
On
a promise to be demanded at the hands of thy a certain dav he shall assemble them, and whatis
l/
ever they worship, besides God ; and shall say unto the worshiped, Did ye seduce these my servants or did they wander
;
from the right way ? They shall answer, God forbid! It was not fitting for us, that we should take any protectors besides thee but thou didst permit them and their fathers to enjoy abundance so that they forgot thy admoniAnd God shall say unto their tion, and became lost people.
of themselves
:
worshipers, Now have these convinced you of falsehood, in that which ye say: they can neither avert your punishment, And whoever of you shall be nor give you any assistance.
guilty of injustice,
him
will
we cause
to taste a grievous tor-
266
ment.
THE SACRED BOOKS

We
have sent no messengers before thee, but they ate the streets: and we make some of food, and walked through Will ye persevere with others. you an occasion of trial unto Lord regardeth your perseverance. patience ? since your meet us at the resurrection say, to not who hope They Unless the angels be sent down unto us, or we see our Lord Verily they behave themselves himself, we will not believe. arrogantly; and have transgressed with an enormous trans-
The day whereon they shall see the angels, there gression. shall be no glad tidings on that day for the wicked ; and they
removed far from us! and we will come unto the work which they shall have wrought, and we will
shall say,
Be
this
make
it
as dust scattered abroad.
On that day
shall they
who
are destined to paradise be more happy in an abode, and have On that day the heaven a preferable place of repose at noon.
sunder by the clouds, and the angels shall On that day the be sent down, descending visibly therein. unto the Merciful and of shall right belong wholly kingdom On that day that day shall be grievous for the unbelievers. hands for his shall bite the unjust person anguish and despair, and shall say, O that I had taken the way of truth O that I had not taken with the apostle! Alas for me! such a one for my friend He seduced me from the admonition of God, after it had come unto me for the devil is the
shall be cloven in
;
!
the apostle shall say, O Lord, verily my people esteemed this Koran to be a vain composition. In like manner did we ordain unto every prophet an enemy
betrayer of man.
And
from among the wicked but thy Lord and defender.

:
is
a sufficient director,
The unbelievers say, Unless the Koran be sent down unto him entire at once, we will not believe. But in this manner have we revealed it, that we might confirm thy heart thereby, and we have dictated it gradually, by distinct parcels. They shall not come unto thee with any strange question but we
;
will bring thee the truth in answer, and a most excellent interpretation. They who shall be dragged on their faces into
hell shall be in the worst condition,
and
widely from the way of
salvation.
We
shall stray most heretofore delivered

unto Moses the book of the law
his brother for a counselor. to the people
;
267
and we appointed him Aaron And we said unto them, Go ye
who charge our
when they accused our apostles of imposture we drowned them, and made them a sign unto manAnd we have prepared for the unjust a painful torkind. ment. Remember also Ad, and Thamud, and those who
:
destroyed them the people of Noah,
signs with falsehood. with a signal destruction. And
And we remember
dwelt at al Rass; and many other generations, within this Unto each of them did we propound examples for period. their admonition and each of them did we destroy with an
;
utter destruction.
frequently near the city which was rained on by a fatal rain have they not seen where it once stood? Yet have they not dreaded the
:
The Koreish have passed
resurrection.
with
scoffing,
When they see thee, they will receive thee only saying, Is this he, whom God hath sent as his
But they
apostle?
worship of our gods ; if devotion toward them.
Verily he had almost drawn us aside from the we had not firmly persevered in our
shall
know
hereafter,
when
they shall see the punishment prepared for them, who hath What thinkest strayed more widely from the right path. thou ? He who taketh his lust for his god ; canst thou be his
guardian ? Dost thou imagine that the greater part of them hear, or understand ? They are no other than like the brute
cattle
;
yea, they stray
more widely from the
true path.
Dost thou not consider the works of thy Lord, how he stretcheth forth the shadow before sunrise ? If he had pleased, he would have made it immovable forever. Then we cause the sun to rise, and to show the same and afterward we conIt is he who tract it by an easy and gradual contraction. hath ordained the night to cover you as a garment and sleep to give you rest; and hath ordained the day for waking. It is he who sendeth the winds, driving abroad the pregnant clouds, as the forerunners of his mercy: and we send down pure water from heaven, that we may thereby revive a dead country, and give to drink thereof unto what we have created, both of cattle and men, in great numbers; and we distribute
; ;
the same
among them
at various times, that they even
may
268
THE SACRED BOOKS
consider: but the greater part of men refuse to consider, If we had pleased, we had only out of ingratitude.
sent a preacher unto every city: wherefore do not thou obey the unbelievers; but oppose them herewith, with a strong It is he who hath let loose the two seas this opposition.
;
fresh and sweet, and that salt and bitter: and hath placed between them a bar, and a bound which can not be passed. It is he who hath created man of water ; and hath made him to
bear the double relation of consanguinity and affinity for the Lord is powerful. They worship, besides God, that which can neither profit them nor hurt them: and the unbeliever
;
an assistant of the devil against his Lord. We have sent thee to be no other than a bearer of good tidings, and a denouncer of threats. Say, I ask not of you any reward for
is
.
this
my
desire to take the
preaching; besides the conversion of him who shall way unto his Lord. And do thou trust in
liveth,
him who
and dieth not and celebrate his praise (he

; :
is
sufficiently acquainted with the faults of his servants:) who hath created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between them, in six days ; and then ascended his throne the
;
Merciful.
Ask now the knowing concerning him. When it is said unto the unbelievers, Adore the Merciful; they reply, And who is the Merciful ? Shall we adore that which thou commandest us ? And this precept causeth them to fly the faster from the faith. Blessed be he who hath placed the twelve signs in the heavens and hath placed therein a lamp by day, and the moon which shineth by night! It is he who hath ordained the night and the day to succeed each other, for the
;
him who will consider, or desireth to show his The servants of the Merciful are those who walk gratitude. meekly on the earth, and, when the ignorant speak unto them, answer, Peace: and who pass the night adoring their Lord, and standing up to pray unto him; and who say, O Lord,
observation of
from us the torment of hell, for the torment thereof is perpetual; verily the same is a miserable abode, and a wretched station: and who, when they bestow, are neither
avert
profuse nor niggardly; but observe a just
medium between

these
;
269
and who invoke not another god together with the true neither slay the soul, which God hath forbidden to be God; slain, unless for a just cause: and who are not guilty of But he who shall do this shall meet the reward fornication.
punishment shall be doubled unto him on the day of resurrection and he shall remain therein, covof his wickedness
:
his
ered with ignominy, forever: except him who shall repent, and believe, and shall work a righteous work unto them will
;
God change
their
former
evils into
good; for
God
is
ready
And whoever repenteth, and doth to forgive, and merciful. that which is right ; verily he turneth unto God with an acAnd they who do not bear false witceptable conversion.
and when they pass by vain discourse, pass by the same with decency: and who, when they are admonished by the signs of their Lord, fall not down as if they were deaf and blind, but stand up and are attentive thereto: and who say, O Lord, grant us of our wives and our offspring such as may be the satisfaction of our eyes; and make us patterns unto These shall be rewarded with the highthose who fear thee.
ness
;
apartments in paradise, because they have persevered with constancy; and they shall meet therein with greeting and salutation; they shall remain in the same forever: it shall be an excellent abode and a delightful station. Say, My Lord is not solicitous on your account, if ye do not invoke him ye have already charged his apostle with imposture but hereafter shall there be a lasting punishment inflicted on you.
est
:
CHAPTER XXVI
ENTITLED, THE POETS;
IN THE
1
REVEALED AT MECCA
These are the signs of the perspicuous book. Peradventure thou afflictest thyself unto death, lest the MecIf we pleased, we could send cans become not true believers.
T. S.
i The chapter bears this inscription because at the conclusion of Arabian poets are severely censured.
M.
it
the
270
THE SACRED BOOKS
a convincing sign from heaven, unto which would their necks humbly submit. But there cometh unto them no admonition from the Merciful, being newly revealed as occasions require, but they turn aside from the same and they have charged it with falsehood: but a message shall come unto them, which they shall not laugh to scorn. Do
down unto them
they not behold the earth, how many vegetables we cause to spring up therein, of every noble species ? Verily herein is a sign but the greater part of them do not believe. Verily
:
thy Lord
is
the mighty, the merciful God.
called Moses, saying, Go to the unjust people, the people of Pharaoh ; will they not dread me ? Moses answered, Lord, verily I fear lest they accuse me of
Remember when thy Lord
breast become straitened, and my tongue be not ready in speaking : send therefore unto Aaron, to be my assistant. Also they have a crime to object against
falsehood,
lest
and
my
fear they will put me to death. God said, They no means thee to death: wherefore by put go ye with our signs for we will be with you, and will hear what passes between you and them. Go ye therefore unto Pharaoh, and say, Verily we are the apostle of the Lord of all creatures:
me; and I
shall
;
send away with us the children of Israel.
And when
they
had delivered their message, Pharaoh answered, Have we not brought thee up among us, when a child and hast thou not dwelt among us for several years of thy life ? Yet hast thou done thy deed which thou hast done and thou art an ungrateful person. Moses replied, I did it indeed, and I was one of those who erred wherefore I fled from you, because I feared you: but my Lord hath bestowed on me wisdom, and hath
;
appointed me one of his apostles. And this is the favor which thou hast bestowed on me, that thou hast enslaved the
children of Israel.
all
Pharaoh said, And who is the Lord of creatures? Moses answered, The Lord of heaven and and of whatever is between them: if ye are men of earth, Pharaoh said unto those who were about him, Do sagacity. not hear ? Moses said, Your Lord, and the Lord of your ye forefathers. Pharaoh said unto those who were present.
Your
apostle,
who
is
sent unto you, is certainly distracted.

Moses
said,
is
271
whatever
the east, and of the west, and of between them; if ye are men of understanding.
The Lord of
Pharaoh said unto him, Verily if thou take any god besides me, I will make thee one of those who are imprisoned. Moses
answered, What, although I come unto you with a convincing miracle? Pharaoh replied, Produce it, therefore, if thou And he cast down his rod, and behold, it speakest truth.
became a
of his
spectators.
visible serpent:
and he drew forth

it
bosom; and behold,

.
.
hand out white unto the appeared

his
rehearse unto them the story of Abraham; when he unto his father and his people, What do ye worship? said They answered, We worship idols; and we constantly serve them all the day long. Abraham said, Do they hear you, when ye invoke them ? Or do they either profit you, or hurt you ? They answered, But we found our fathers do the same. He said, What think ye ? The gods which ye worship, and
And
your forefathers worshiped, are my enemy: except only the Lord of all creatures, who hath created me and directeth me and who giveth me to eat and to drink, and when I am sick, healeth me and who will cause me to die, and will afterward restore me to life and who, I hope, will forgive my sins on the day of judgment. O Lord, grant me wisdom and join me with the righteous; and grant that I may be spoken of with honor among the latest posterity; and make me an heir of the garden of delight and forgive my father, for that he hath been one of those who go astray. And cover me not with shame on the day of resurrection on the day in which neither riches nor children shall avail, unless unto him who shall come unto God with a sincere heart: when paradise shall be brought near to the view of the pious, and hell shall appear plainly to those who shall have erred and it shall be said unto them, Where are your deities which ye served besides God ? will they deliver you from punishment, or will
;
into the they deliver themselves? And they shall be cast same, both they, and those who have been seduced to their disworship and all the hosts of Eblis. The seduced shall
;
pute therein with their false gods, saying,
By
God, we were
THE SACRED BOOKS

We have creatures: and none seduced us but the wicked. now no intercessors, nor any friends who careth for us. If
we were allowed
to return once
in a manifest error,
when we equaled you with
the Lord of all
more
into the world,
we would
Verily herein was a sign: certainly become true believers. but the greater part of them believed not. Thy Lord is
the mighty, the merciful. The people of Noah accused God's messengers of imposture : when their brother Noah said unto them, Will ye not fear
Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you; whereI ask no reward of you for my fore fear God, and obey me. preaching unto you ; I expect my reward from no other than the Lord of all creatures wherefore fear God, and obey me.
God?
They answered, Shall we believe on thee, when only the most Noah said, I have no abject persons have followed thee ?
knowledge of that which they did; Lord alone to bring them to account,
fore I will not drive
it
if
appertaineth unto my ye understand ; where:
public preacher.
away the believers I am no more than a They replied, Assuredly, unless thou desist,
Noah, thou shalt be stoned.
people. take
me
;
me and them
He said, Lord, verily my for a liar: wherefore judge publicly between and deliver me and the true believers who are
;
with me. Wherefore we delivered him, and those who were with him, in the ark filled with men and animals and afterward we drowned the rest. Verily herein was a sign but the Thy Lord is the mighty, greater part of them believed not.
:
the merciful.
The tribe of Ad charged God's messengers with falsehood when their brother Hud said unto them, Will ye not fear God? Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you; whereI demand not of you any fore fear God, and obey me.
:
reward for my preaching unto you: I expect my regard from no other than the Lord of all creatures. Do ye build a landmark on every high place, to divert yourselves ? And do
ye erect magnificent works, hoping that ye may continue in their possession forever ? And when ye exercise your power, do ye exercise it with cruelty and rigor? Fear God, by And fear him who hath leaving these things ; and obey me.

:
273
bestowed on you that which ye know he hath bestowed on you

cattle, and children, and gardens, and springs of water. Verily I fear for you the punishment of a grievous day. They answered, It is equal unto us whether thou admonish us, or dost not admonish us this which thou preachest is only
:
a device of the ancients; neither shall we be punished for what we have done. And they accused him of imposture:
wherefore we destroyed them. Verily herein was a sign: but the greater part of them believed not. Thy Lord is the
mighty, the merciful. The tribe of Thamud also charged the messengers of God with falsehood. When their brother Saleh said unto them, Will ye not fear God? Verily I am a faithful messenger
unto you: wherefore fear God, and obey me. I demand no reward of you for my preaching unto you ; I expect my reward from no other than the Lord of all creatures. Shall ye be left forever secure in the possession of the things which are
gardens, and fountains, and corn, and palmAnd will ye trees, whose branches sheathe their flowers? continue to cut habitations for yourselves out of the moun-
here;
among
behaving with insolence? Fear God, and obey me; and obey not the command of the transgressors, who act corThey anruptly in the earth, and reform not the same. art no other than a swered, Verily thou art distracted thou man like unto us: produce now some sign, if thou speakest
tains,
.
truth.
Saleh said, This she-camel shall be a sign unto you she shall have her portion of water, and ye shall have your portion of water alternately, on a several day appointed for
: ;
you and do her no hurt, lest the punishment of a terrible day be inflicted on you. But they slew her; and were made to repent of their impiety: for the punishment which had been threatened overtook them. Verily herein was a sign; but the greater part of them did not believe. Thy Lord is the
mighty, the merciful. The people of Lot likewise accused God's messengers of When their brother Lot said unto them, Will ye imposture. not fear God ? Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you wherefore fear God, and obey me. I demand no reward of
:
VOL. V.
18.
274
THE SACRED BOOKS

my my
reward from no other Do ye approach unto the and leave males among mankind, your wives which your Lord hath created for you ? Surely ye are people who transgress. They answered, Unless thou desist, O Lot, thou shalt certainly be expelled our city. He said, Verily I am one of those who abhor your doings O Lord, deliver me and my family from Wherefore we delivered him, and all that which they act. his family; except an old woman, his wife, who perished among those who remained behind: then we destroyed the rest and we rained on them a shower of stones and terrible was the shower which fell on those who had been warned in vain. Verily herein was a sign but the greater part of them did not believe. Thy Lord is the mighty, the merciful. The inhabitants of the wood also accused God's messenWhen Shoaib said unto them, Will ye not gers of imposture. fear God? Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you; wherefore fear God, and obey me. I ask no reward of you for my preaching I expect my reward from no other than the Lord of all creatures. Give just measure, and be not defrauders and weigh with an equal balance and diminish not unto men aught of their matters neither commit violence in
you for
preaching: I expect than the Lord of all creatures.
the earth, acting corruptly. And fear and also the former you, generations.
:
him who hath
created
tainly thou art distracted thou art unto us; and we do surely esteem thee to be a liar. Cause now a part of the heaven to fall upon us, if thou speakest truth. Shoaib said, My Lord best knoweth that which we do.
They answered, Cerno more than a man, like
And
they charged him with falsehood: wherefore the punishment of the day of the shadowing cloud overtook them and this was the punishment of a grievous day. Verily herein
;
was a sign; but the greater part of them did not believe. Thy Lord is the mighty, the merciful. This book is certainly a revelation from the Lord of all creatures, which the faithful spirit hath caused to descend
heart, that thou mightest be a preacher to thy peoin the ple, perspicuous Arabic tongue : and it is borne witness to in the scriptures of former Was it not a sign unto ages.
upon thy

Had we
275
them, that the wise men among the children of Israel knew it ? revealed it unto any of the foreigners, and he had
read the same unto them, yet they would not have believed Thus have we caused obstinate infidelity to enter therein. the hearts of the wicked they shall not believe therein, until
:
It shall come suddenly upon they see a painful punishment. them, and they shall not foresee it and they shall say, Shall we be respited ? Do they therefore desire our punishment to What thinkest thou? If we suffer them to be hastened?
:
enjoy the advantage of this life for several years, and afterward that with which they are threatened come upon them; what will that which they have enjoyed profit them? We have destroyed no city, but preachers were first sent unto it,
to
admonish the inhabitants thereof; neither did we treat them unjustly. The devils did not descend with the Koran,
as the infidels give out : it is not for their purpose, neither are they able to produce such a book; for they are far removed
from hearing the discourse of the angels in heaven. Invoke no other god with the true God, lest thou become one of those who are doomed to punishment. And admonish thy more near relations. And behave thyself with meekness toward the true believers who follow thee and if they be disobedient unto thee, say, Verily I am clear of that which ye do. And trust in the most mighty and merciful God; who seeth thee when thou risest up, and thy behavior among those who worship for he both heareth and knoweth. Shall I declare
:
unto you upon whom the devils descend? They descend upon every lying and wicked person: they learn what is heard but the greater part of them are liars. And those who
;
err follow the steps of the poets dost thou not see that they rove as bereft of their senses through every valley, and that
:
2 they say that which they do not ? except those who believe, and do good works, and remember God frequently; and who
2
Their compositions being as wild as the actions of a distracted
man
most of the ancient poetry was full of vain imaginations; as fabulous stories and descriptions, love-verses, flattery, excessive commendations of their patrons, and as excessive reproaches of their enemies, incitements to vicious actions, vainglorious vauntings, and the like.
for
276
THE SACRED BOOKS
3 defend themselves, after they have been unjustly treated. And they who act unjustly shall know hereafter with what treatment they shall be treated.
CHAPTEE XXVII
ENTITLED, THE ANT;
1
REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE NAME OF TUE MOST MERCIFUL GOD
These are the signs of the Koran, and of the perspicuous book: a direction, and good tidings unto the true believers; who regularly perform their prayer, and give alms, and firmly believe in the life to come. As to those who believe not in the life to come, we have prepared their works for them ; and they shall be struck with astonishment at their
T. S.
disappointment,
they
whom an
shall be raised again; these are evil punishment awaiteth in this life ; and in
when they
that which
is to
come they
shall be the greatest losers.
Thou
hast certainly received the
Koran from the presence
of a wise,
a knowing God.
said unto his family, Verily I perceive fire I will bring you tidings thereof, or I will bring you a lighted brand, that ye may be warmed. And when he was come near unto it, a voice cried unto him, saying, Blessed be
:
Remember when Moses
he who is in the fire, and whoever is about it and praise be unto God, the Lord of all creatures O Moses, verily I am
;
!
free
That is, such poets as had embraced Mohammedanism ; whose works, from the profaneness of the former, run chiefly on the praises of God, and the establishing his unity, and contain exhortations to obedience and other religious and moral virtues, without any satirical invectives, unless against such as have given just provocations, by having first attacked them, or some others of the true believers, with the same weapons. In this last case Mohammed saw it was necessary for him to borrow assistance from the poets of his party, to defend himself and religion from the insults and ridicule of the others, for which purpose he employed the pens of Labid Ebn Rabia, Abda'llah Ebn Rawaha, Hassan Ebn Thabet, and the two Caabs. It is related that Mohammed once said to Caab Ebn Malec, " Ply them with satires; for, by him in whose nand my soul is, they wound more deeply than arrows." * In this chapter is related an odd story of the ant, which has there8
fore been pitched on for the title.

when he saw
277
God, the mighty, the wise: cast down now thy rod. And it, that it moved, as though it had been a serAnd God said, pent, he retreated and fled, and returned not.
Moses, fear not ; for my messengers are not disturbed with fear in my sight: except he who shall have done amiss, and shall have afterward substituted good in lieu of evil for I am
;
Moreover put thy hand into thy gracious and merciful. forth bosom it shall come white, without hurt this shall be one among the nine signs unto Pharaoh and his people for they are a wicked people. And when our visible signs had come unto them, they said, This is manifest sorcery. And they denied them, although their souls certainly knew them to be from God, out of iniquity and pride; but behold what was the end of the corrupt doers. We heretofore bestowed knowledge on David and Solomon; and they said, Praise be unto God, who hath made us more excellent than many of his
;
:
faithful servants
David's heir; and he said, men, we have been taught the speech of birds, and have had all things bestowed on us; this is manifest excellence. And his armies were gathered together unto Solomon, consisting of genii, and
And Solomon was
men, and birds; and they were led in distinct bands, until they came unto the valley of ants. And an ant, seeing the
ye into your habitations, lest Solomon and his army tread you underfoot, and And Solomon smiled, laughing at her words, perceive it not. and said, O Lord, excite me that I may be thankful for thy favor, wherewith thou hast favored me, and my parents and that I may do that which is right, and well-pleasing unto thee
hosts approaching, said,
;
:
ants, enter
and introduce me, through thy mercy, into paradise, among thy servants, the righteous. And he viewed the birds, and
"What is the reason that I see not the lapwing ? Is she absent? Verily I will chastise her with a severe chastisement, or I will put her to death, unless she bring me a just And she tarried not long before she presented herexcuse. self unto Solomon, and said, I have viewed a country which thou hast not viewed; and I come unto thee from Saba, with
said,
a certain piece of news.
I found a
woman to
reign over them,
278
THE SACRED BOOKS

is
provided with everything requisite for a prince, and hath a magnificent throne. I found her and her people to worship the sun, besides God and Satan hath prepared their,
who
works for them, and hath turned them aside from the way of
(wherefore they are not rightly directed), lest they should worship God, who bringeth to light that which is hidden in heaven and earth, and knoweth whatever they conceal and whatever they discover. God there is no God but he
truth
! ;
Solomon said, shall the Lord of the magnificent throne. art the or whether thou a hast thou see whether truth, spoken
and cast it down unto them then turn aside from them, and wait to know what answer And when the Queen of Saba had received they will return. the letter, she said, O nobles, verily an honorable letter hath been delivered unto me it is from Solomon, and this is the In the name of the most merciful God, Rise tenor thereof: not up against me but come, and surrender yourselves unto me. She said, O nobles, advise me in my business I will not resolve on anything, until ye be witnesses and approve thereof. The nobles answered, We are endued with strength, and are endued with great prowess in war; but the command appertaineth unto thee: see therefore what thou wilt command. She said, Verily kings, when they enter a city by force, waste the same, and abase the most powerful of the inhabitants thereof: and so will these do with us. But I will send gifts unto them and will wait for what further information those
liar.
We
Go with
this
my
letter,
who
shall be sent shall bring back.
And when
the Queen's
ambassador came unto Solomon, that prince said, Will ye present me with riches ? Verily that which God hath given me is better than what he hath given you but ye do glory in your gifts. Return unto the people of Saba. We will surely come unto them with forces, which they shall not be able to withstand and we will drive them out from their city, humbled and they shall become contemptible. And Solomon O said, nobles, which of you will bring unto me her throne, before they come and surrender themselves unto me ? A terrible genius answered, I will bring it unto thee, before thou arise from thy place for I am able to perform it, and may be
:

trusted.
279
And
one with
whom was
it
tures said, I will bring

eye.
And when Solomon
the knowledge of scripunto thee, in the twinkling of an saw the throne placed before him,
he said, This is a favor of my Lord, that he may make trial of me, whether I will be grateful, or whether I will be ungrateful and he who is grateful is grateful to his own advantage, but if any shall be ungrateful verily my Lord is self-sufficient
:
and munificent.
her throne, that
And Solomon said unto his servants, Alter she may not know it, to the end we may see
whether she be rightly directed, or whether she be one of those who are not rightly directed. And when she was come unto Solomon, it was said unto her, Is thy throne like this ? She answered, As though it were the same. And we have had knowledge bestowed on us before this, and have been resigned unto God. But that which she worshiped, besides God, had turned her aside from the truth for she was of an unbelieving And when It was said unto her, Enter the palace. people. she saw it, she imagined it to be a great water and she discovered her legs, by lifting up her robe to pass through it. 2 Whereupon Solomon said unto her, Verily this is a palace Then said the Queen, O Lord, evenly floored with glass. verily I have dealt unjustly with my own soul and I resign myself, together with Solomon, unto God, the Lord of all
; ;
;
creatures. 3
Also
we
heretofore sent unto the tribe of
Thamud
their
And brother Saleh; who said unto them, Serve ye God. behold they were divided into two parties, who disputed
Saleh said, O my people, why do you hasten evil rather than good ? Unless ye ask pardon of God, that ye may obtain mercy, ye are lost. They answered, We presage evil from thee, and from those who are with thee.
among
themselves.
tell us Solomon had been informed that Balkis's and feet were covered with hair, like those of an ass, of the truth legs of which he had hereby an opportunity of being satisfied by ocular
2
Some Arab writers
demonstration.
and re8 The Queen of Saba having by these words professed Islam, nounced idolatry, Solomon had thoughts of making her his wife. Some, however, will have it that she did not marry Solomon, but a prince of
the tribe of
Hamdan.
280
THE SACRED BOOKS

:
Saleh replied, The evil which ye presage is with God but yc are a people who are proved by a vicissitude of prosperity and And there were nine men in the city, who acted adversity.
And corruptly in the earth, and behaved not with integrity. they said unto one another, Swear ye reciprocally by God, that we will fall upon Saleh and his family by night: and
afterward we will say unto him who hath right to avenge his blood, We were not so much as present at the destruction of And they his family; and we certainly speak the truth. devised a plot against him: but we devised a plot against
them and they perceived

;
:
what was the issue of their plot we utterly destroyed them and their whole people and these their habitations remain empty, because of the Verily herein is a sign, injustice which they committed.
it
not.
And
see
unto people who understand. believed and feared God.
And we
delivered those
who
And remember Lot, when he said unto his people, Do ye commit a wickedness, though ye see the heinousness thereof ? Do ye approach lustfully unto men, leaving the women ? Ye But the answer of his people are surely an ignorant people. was no other than that they said, Cast tbe family of Lot out
of your city : for they are men who preserve themselves pure from the crimes of which ye are guilty. Wherefore we deliv-
ered him and his family, except his wife, whom we decreed to And be one of those who remained behind to be destroyed. we rained on them a shower of stones: and dreadful was the shower which fell on those who had been warned in vain.
whom
Is
Say, Praise be unto he hath chosen
God; and peace be upon

!
his servants
or the false gods which they associate Is not he to be preferred, who hath created the heavens and the earth, and sendeth down rain for you from
God more worthy,
with him?
It heaven, whereby we cause delicious groves to spring up ? is not in your power to cause the trees thereof to shoot forth.
any other god partner with the true God ? Verily who deviate from the truth. Is not he more worthy to be adored who hath established the earth, and hath caused rivers to flow through the midst thereof, and
Is there
these are a people

placed thereon immovable mountains, and set a bar between Is there any other god equal with the true the two seas? God ? Yet the greater part of them know it not. Is not he
afflicted, when he calleth upon off the evil which takcth and distressed him; and who him, hath made you the successors of your forefathers in the earth ? Is there any other god who can be equaled with the true God ? How few consider these things Is not he more worthy who directeth you in the dark paths of the land and of the sea and who sendeth the winds driving abroad the clouds as the fore!
more worthy who heareth the
runners of his mercy? Is there any other god who can bo equaled with the true God ? Far be God from having those
Is not partners in his power, which ye associate with him he more worthy, who produceth a creature, and after it hath
!
been dead restoreth it to life, and who giveth you food from heaven and earth ? Is there any other god with the true God, who doth this ? Say, produce your proof thereof, if ye speak truth. Say, None either in heaven or earth knoweth that which is hidden, besides God: neither do they understand when they shall be raised. However their knowledge attaineth some notion of the life to come: yet they are in an
uncertainty concerning the same ; yea, they are blind as to the real circumstances thereof.
And the unbelievers say, When we and our fathers shall have been reduced to dust, shall we be taken forth from the grave ? Verily we have been threatened with this, both we and our fathers, heretofore. This is no other than fables of the ancients. Say unto them, Pass through the earth, and And be not thou see what hath been the end of the wicked. grieved for them neither be thou in any concern on account
;
And of the plots which they are contriving against thee. they say, When will this threat be accomplished, if ye speak true ? Answer, Peradventure some part of that punishment,
which ye desire to be hastened, may follow close behind you verily thy Lord is endued with indulgence toward mankind but the greater part of them are not thankful. Verily thy Lord knoweth what their breasts conceal, and what they discover and there is nothing hidden in heaven or on earth, but
: ;
:
THE SACRED BOOKS

written in a clear book. Verily this Koran declareth of those points concerning Israel most unto the children of which they disagree: and it is certainly a direction, and a
it is
mercy unto the true
believers.
Thy Lord
will decide the con-
troversy between them, by his definitive sentence: and he is Therefore put thy trust in God; for the mighty, the wise. thou art in the manifest truth. Verily thou shalt not make
the dead to hear, neither shalt thou make the deaf to hear thy call to the true faith, when they retire and turn their backs :
neither shalt thou direct the blind to extricate themselves out
of their error.
Thou
shalt
make none
to
hear thee, except
our signs: and they are wholly reWhen the sentence shall be ready to fall signed unto us. will cause a beast 4 to come forth unto them we upon them, from out of the earth, which shall speak unto them: verily
shall believe in
him who
On the day of resurnot firmly believe in our signs. rection we will assemble, out of every nation, a company of those who shall have charged our signs with falsehood and
men do
;
they shall be prevented arrive at the place of
from mixing
judgment.
together, until they shall And God shall say unto
them, Have ye charged my
signs with falsehood, although ye
comprehended them not with your knowledge ? Or what is it that ye were doing? And the sentence of damnation shall fall on them, for that they have acted unjustly and they shall Do they not see that we have not speak in their own excuse. ordained the night, that they may rest therein, and the day
:
giving open light?

believe.
Verily herein are signs unto people
who
day the trumpet shall be sounded and whoever are in heaven and on earth shall be struck with terror, except those whom God shall please to exempt therefrom: and all shall come before him, in humble guise. And thou shalt see the mountains, and shalt think them firmly fixed: but they
that
;
On
away, even as the clouds pass away. This will be the work of God, who hath rightly disposed all things and he is well Whoever shall acquainted with that which ye do.
shall pass
:
The Mohammedans
call this beast,
whose appearance will be one of
the approach of the day of judgment, al Jassasa, or the Spy.
283
have wrought righteousness shall receive a reward beyond the desert thereof; and they shall be secure from the terror of that day but whoever shall have wrought evil shall be thrown on
;
territory Mecca, same: unto him belong all things. And I am commanded to be a Moslem, and to rehearse the Koran he who shall be directed thereby will be directed to his own advantage; and to him who shall go astray, say, Verilv, I am a warner only. And say, Praise be unto God! he will show you his signs, and ye shall know them and thy Lord is not regardless of that which they do.
fire. Shall ye receive the reward of any other than of that which ye shall have wrought? Verily I am commanded to worship the Lord of this of
their faces into hell
who hath
:
sanctified the
CHAPTER XXVIII
ENTITLED, THE STORY;
IN THE
1
REVEALED AT MECCA
These are the signs of the perspicuous book. We will dictate unto thee, O Mohammed, some parts of the history of Moses and Pharaoh, with truth; for the sake of
T. S.
M.
Now Pharaoh lifted himself up in the people who believe. land of Egypt and he caused his subjects to be divided into parties he weakened one party of them, by slaying their male
; :
and preserving their females alive for he was an And we were minded to be gracious unto those oppressor. who were weakened in the land, and to make them models of religion and to make them the heirs of the wealth of Pharaoh and his people, and to establish a place for them in the earth and to show Pharaoh, and Haman, and their forces, that destruction of their kingdom and nation by them, which they sought to avoid. And we directed the mother of Moses by revelation, saying, Give him suck: and if thou fearest for him, cast him into the river and fear not, neither be afflicted for we will restore him unto thee, and we will appoint him
children,
;
i The title is taken from the verse where Moses the story of his adventures to Shoaib.
is
said to have related
284
THE SACRED BOOKS

and had cast
it
one of our apostles.

ark,
she had put the child in the into the river, the family of Pharaoh took
And when
him up; providence designing that he should become an enemy and a sorrow unto them. Verily Pharaoh, and Haman, and their forces were sinners. And the wife of
Pharaoh
thee
:
said,
This child
not
;
kill
him
a delight of the eye to me and to peradventure it may happen that he may

is
be serviceable unto us; or we may adopt him for our son. And they perceived not the consequence of what they were
the heart of the mother of Moses became oppressed with fear; and she had almost discovered him, had we not armed her heart with constancy, that she might be one
doing.
And
of those
who
believe the promises of God.
And
she said unto

;
And she watched him at a distance his sister, Follow him. and they perceived it not. And we suffered him not to take the breasts of the nurses who were provided before his sister came up: and she said, Shall I direct you unto some of his nation, who may nurse him for you, and will be careful of him ? And, at their desire, she brought his mother to them. So we restored him to his mother, that her mind might be set
and that she might not be afflicted and that she might know that the promise of God was true but the greater part
at ease,
;
of
mankind know not the
truth.
And when Moses had
attained his age of full strength, and
was become a perfect man, we bestowed on him wisdom and knowledge: and thus do we reward the upright. And he went into the city, at a time when the inhabitants thereof observed not what passed in the streets and he found therein two men fighting; the one being of his own party, and the other of his enemies. And he who was of his party begged his assistance against him who was of the contrary party; and Moses struck him with his fist, and slew him but being sorry for what had happened, he said, This is of the work of the devil for he is a seducing and an open enemy. And he
:
: ;
said,
Lord, verily I have injured my own soul wherefore So God forgave him for he is ready to forgive, forgive me. and merciful. He said, O Lord, by the favors with which tliou hast favored me, I will not be an assistant to the wicked
;
;
LITERATURE OF
for the future.
Till:
EAST
i>r>
morning he was afraid in the about looked as one apprehensive of danger: and him, city, whom he had assisted the day before cried out and behold, he unto him for help a second time. But Moses said unto him,
And
the next
Thou
art plainly a quarrelsome fellow.
And when
he sought
to lay hold on him who was an enemy unto them both, he said, Moses, dost thou intend to kill me, as thou killedst a man
seekest only to be an oppressor in the And a earth, and seekest not to be a reconciler of quarrels. certain man came from the farther part of the city, running
yesterday?
Thou
Moses, verily the magistrates are deliberating concerning thee, to put thee to death depart therefore ; 1 certainly advise thee well. "Wherefore he departed out of
hastily,
said,
:
and
the city in great fear, looking this way and that, lest he should be pursued. And he said, O Lord, deliver me from the unjust people.
he
And when he was journeying towards Madian, Peradventure said, my Lord will direct me in the right 2 And when he arrived at the water of Madian, he way. found about the well a company of men, who were watering And he found, besides them, two women, who their flocks. kept off their sheep at a distance. And he said unto them, What is the matter with you ? They answered, We shall not water our flock, until the shepherds shall have driven away So theirs: for our father is an old man, stricken in years. Moses watered their sheep for them and afterward retired to the shade, saying, O Lord, verily I stand in need of the good which thou shalt send down unto me. And one of the damsels came unto him, walking bashfully, and said, My father calleth thee, that he may recompense thee for the trouble which thou And when he was hast taken in watering our sheep for us.
;
come unto Shoaib, and had told him the story of his adventures, he said unto him, Fear not; thou hast escaped from
unjust people.
And
one of the damsels

;
said,
My father,
hire
is
him
for certain wages
the best servant thou canst hire,
an
2 For Moses knew not the way and, coming to a place where three roads met, committed himself to the guidance of God, and took the middle road, which was the right; providence likewise so ordering it, that his pursuers took the other two roads, and missed him. Some say he was led by an angel in the appearance of a traveler.
286
THE SACRED BOOKS
And Shoaib said unto Moses, Verily able and trusty person. of these one thee I will give my two daughters in marriage,
on condition that thou serve me for hire eight years and if thou fulfil ten years, it is in thine own breast for I seek not to impose a hardship on thee and thou shalt find me, if God
:
please, a
man
of probity.
Moses answered, Let
this be the
covenant between
I shall fulfil, let
;
me and
thee: whichsoever of the two terms
it be no crime in me if I then quit thy serand God is witness of that which we say. And when Moses had fulfilled the term, 3 and was journeying with his family toward Egypt, he saw fire on the side of Mount Sinai. And he said unto his family, Tarry ye here; for I see fire per ad venture I may bring you thence some tidings of the way, or at least a brand out of the fire, that ye may be warmed. And when he was come thereto, a voice cried unto him from the right side of the valley, in the sacred bottom, from the tree, saying, O Moses, verily I am God, the Lord of all creatures cast down now thy rod. And when he saw it that it moved, as though it had been a serpent, he retreated and fled, and returned not. And God said unto O draw and fear Moses, him, near, not; for thou art safe. Put thy hand into thy bosom, and it shall come forth white, without any hurt and draw back thy hand unto thee which thou stretchest forth for fear. These shall be two evident from unto and his princes for they Pharaoh signs thy Lord, are a wicked people. Moses said, O Lord, verily I have slain one of them and I fear they will put me to death but my
vice
brother
fore
Aaron is of a more eloquent tongue than I am wheresend him with me for an assistant, that he may gain me
;
credit; for I fear lest they accuse will strengthen thine arm said,
me
of imposture.
by thy brother, will give each of you extraordinary power, so that they shall not come up to you, in our signs. Ye two, and whoever shall
follow you, shall be the conquerors.
*
We
God and we
And when Moses came
The Mohammedans say, after the Viz.y The longer term of ten years. Jews, that Moses received from Shoaib the rod of the prophets (which was a branch of a myrtle of paradise, and had descended to him from Adam) to keep off the wild beasts from his sheep; and that this was the rod with which he performed all those wonders in Egypt.
287
unto them with our evident signs, they said, This is no other than a deceitful piece of sorcery: neither have we heard of anything like this among our forefathers. And Moses said,
Lord best knoweth who cometh with a direction from him; and who shall have success in this life, as well as the And Pharaoh said, next but the unjust shall not prosper. O princes, I did not know that ye had any other god besides me. Wherefore do thou, O Hainan, burn me clay into bricks and build me a high tower, 4 that I may ascend unto the God of Moses for I verily believe him to be a liar. And both he and his forces behaved themselves insolently and unjustly in the earth; and imagined that they should not be brought before us to be judged. Wherefore we took him and his and them into the sea. cast forces, Behold, therefore, what was the end of the unjust. And we made them deceitful guides, inviting their followers to hell fire ; and on the day of resurrection they shall not be screened from punishment. We pursued them with a curse in this life, and on the day of
My
resurrection they shall be shamefully rejected. . . . The Meccans say, If we follow the same direction with
Have we not shall be forcibly expelled our land. established for them a secure asylum ; to which fruits of every
thee,
we
sort are brought, as a provision of
our bounty
How part of them do not understand. destroyed, whose inhabitants lived in ease and plenty? and these their dwellings are not inhabited after them, unless for
a little while; and we were the inheritors of their wealth. But thy Lord did not destroy those cities, until he had sent unto their capital an apostle, to rehearse our signs unto them
:
but the greater many cities have we

?
neither did
destroy those cities, unless their inhabitants were injurious to their apostle. The things which are given
we
4 It is said that Haman, having prepared bricks and other materials, employed no less than fifty thousand men, besides laborers, in the building; which they carried to so immense a height that the workmen could no longer stand on it: that Pharaoh, ascending this tower, threw a javelin toward heaven, which fell back again stained with blood, whereupon he impiously boasted that he had killed the God of Moses; but at sunset God sent the angel Gabriel, who, with one stroke of his wing, demolished the tower, a part whereof, falling on the King'* army, destroyed a million of men.
288
THE SACRED BOOKS
you are the provisions of this present life, and the pomp thereof; but that which is with God is better and more durShall he then, unto able: will ye not therefore understand? an excellent whom we have promised promise of future happiness,
on have shall be one of those who are delivered of the day resurrection, V eternal to punishment ? On that day God shall call unto up shall and them, say, Where are my partners, which ye
/
shall attain the same, be as he on whom bestowed the provision of this present life, and who,
and who
we
imagined to be so? And they upon damnation shall be justly pronounced
whom
the sentence of
Lord, are those whom we seduced ; we had been seduced: but now we clearly quit them, and turn unto thee. They did not worship us, but their own lusts.
shall answer, These, seduced them as we also
upon them, but they shall not answer them; and they shall see the punishment prepared for them, and shall wish that they had submitted to be directed. On that day God shall call unto them, and shall say, What answer did ye return to our messengers ? But they shall not be able to give an account thereof on that
:
And it shall be said unto the idolaters, whom ye associated with God and they
Call
now upon
those
shall call
day; neither shall they ask one another for information.
Howbeit whoso shall repent and believe, and shall do that which is right, may expect to be happy. Thy Lord createth what he pleaseth and chooseth freely but they have no free
;
:
choice.
God and far be he removed from the idols which they associate with him Thy Lord knoweth both the
Praise be unto
;
!
which their breasts conceal, and the open hatred which they discover. He is God there is no God but he. Unto him is the praise due, both in this life and in that which is to come: unto him doth judgment belong, and before him
secret malice
;
shall
If
God
ye be assembled at the last day. Say, What think ye? should cover you with perpetual night, until the day
of resurrection; what god, besides God, would bring you Will ye not therefore barken ? Say, What think ye ? light ? If God should give you continual day, until the day of resurrection
;
what god, besides God, would bring you night, that

ye might
his
rest therein
?
289
?
Will ye not therefore consider
Of
for you the night and the day, that in the and rest seek to obtain one, may ye may provision for his of abundance, by your industry, in the other yourselves and that ye may give thanks. On a certain day God shall
;
mercy he hath
made
call
unto them, and shall say, Where are my partners, which ye imagined to share the divine power with me? And we will produce a witness out of every nation, and will say, Bring hither your proof of what ye have asserted. And they shall know that the right is- God's alone and the deities which they have devised shall abandon them. Karun was of the people of Moses 5 but he behaved insolently toward them for we had given him so much treasure,
;
that his keys
would have loaded several strong men.
When
5 The commentators say Karun was the son of Yeshar (or Izhar), the uncle of Moses, and, consequently, make him the same with the Koran of the scriptures. This person is represented by them as the most beautiful of the Israelites, and so far surpassing them all in opulency that the riches of Karun have become a proverb. The Mohammedans are indebted to the Jews for this last circumstance, to which they have added several other fables: for they tell us that he built a large palace overlaid with gold, the doors whereof were of massy gold; that he became so insolent, because of his immense riches, as to raise a sedition against Moses, though some pretend the occasion of his rebellion to have been his unwillingness to give alms, as Moses had commanded; fhat one day, when that prophet was preaching to the people, and, among other laws which he published, declared that adulterers should be stoned, Karun asked him what if he should be found guilty of the same crime? To which Moses answered, that in such case he would suffer the same punishment; and thereupon Karun produced a harlot, whom he had hired to
swear that Moses had lain with her, and charged him publicly with it; but on Moses adjuring the woman to speak the truth, her resolution failed her, and she confessed that she was suborned by Karun to accuse him wrongfully; that then God directed Moses, who had complained to him of this usage, to command the earth what he pleased, and it should " and that " earth, swallow them up obey him whereupon he said, his and Karun under confederates, and immediately the earth opened swallowed them up, with his palace and all his riches. There goes a tradition that, as Karun sank gradually into the ground, first to his knees, then to his waist, then to his neck, he cried out four several times, "0 Moses, have mercy on me! " but that Moses continued to say, "O which earth, swallow them up," till at last he wholly disappeared: upon God said to Moses, " Thou hast no mercy on Karun, though he asked had compassion on him if he pardon of thee four times ; but I would have had asked pardon of me but once." VOL. V. 19.
!
290
unto him, Rejoice not immoderately; for God loveth not those who rejoice in their riches immoderately but seek to attain, by means of the wealth which God hath given And forget not thy of paradise. thee, the future mansion in this world ; but be thou bounteous unto others, as
his people said
:
portion
God hath been bounteous unto thee and seek not to act corHe not the corrupt doers. ruptly in the earth for God loveth
: ;
answered, I have received these riches, only because of the knowledge which is with me. Did he not know that God had
already destroyed, before him, several generations, who were mightier than he in strength, and had amassed more abun-
And the wicked shall not be asked to disAnd Karun went forth unto his people, cover their crimes. And in his pomp. they who loved this present life said, Oh
dance of riches
?
the like wealth as hath been given unto Karun But those on whom verily he is master of a great fortune. knowledge had been bestowed answered, Alas for you! the
that
we had
reward of God in the next life will be better unto him who shall believe and do good works: but none shall attain the And we same, except those who persevere with constancy. to swallow in and to cleave the caused up him sunder, ground and his palace: and he had no forces to defend him, besides God; neither was he rescued from punishment. And the
next morning, those who had coveted his condition the day before said, Aha! verily God bestoweth abundant provision on such of his servants as he pleasetli and he is sparing unto
;
Unless God had been gracious unto us, pleasetli. had swallowed us up also. Aha the unthe earth certainly
whom
he
believers shall not prosper. As to this future mansion of paradise, we will give it unto them who seek not to exalt themselves in the earth, or to do
wrong; for the happy issue shall attend the pious. Whoso doth good shall receive a reward which shall exceed the merit
thereof: but as to
him who doth evil, they who work evil shall be rewarded according to the merit only of that which they shall have wrought. Verily he who hath given thee the
and practise will certainly bring thee back home unto Mecca. Say, My Lord best knoweth who
faith
Koran for a rule of
291
cometh with a true direction, and who is in a manifest error. Thou didst not expect that the book of the Koran should be delivered unto thee: but thou hast received it through the
Be not therefore assisting to the unbethem let turn thee aside from the signs of neither lievers; God, after they have been sent down unto thee: and invite
mercy of thy Lord.
be not thou an idolater; neither invoke any other god, together with the true God there is no god but he. Everything shall perish, except himself: unto him belongeth judgment ; and before him shall ye be assem:
men unto
thy Lord.
And
bled at the last day.
CHAPTEK XXIX
ENTITLED, THE SPIDER;
IN THE
i
REVEALED AT MECCA
NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD imagine that

it
A. L. M.
Do men
shall be sufficient for
them
believe; while they be not proved? those who were before them for God will heretofore proved surely know them who are sincere, and he will surely know
to say,
;
We
We
Do they who work evil think that they shall prethe liars. vent us from taking vengeance on them ? An ill judgment do they make. Whoso hopeth to meet God, verily God's appointed time will certainly come; and he both heareth and knoweth. Whoever striveth to promote the true religion striveth for the advantage of his own soul for God needeth
;
not any of his creatures: and as to those
who
believe
and
work them
righteousness, we will expiate their evil deeds from and we will give them a reward according to the utmost
merit of their actions. We have commanded man to show kindness toward his parents but if they endeavor to prevail with thee to associate with me that concerning which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not. Unto me shall ye return and I will declare unto
: ;
you what ye have done.

i
Those who
shall believe,
and
shall
Transient mention
is
made
of this insect
toward the middle of the
chapter.
292
THE SACRED BOOKS

will surely introduce into paradise,
work righteousness, we
among the upright. There are some men

such a one
cution of
is afflicted
who
say,
We believe in God
but when
men
for God's sake, he esteemeth the perseto be as grievous as the punishment of God.
cometh from thy Lord, they say, Verily we are with you. Doth not God well know that which is in the breasts of his creatures ? Verily God well knoweth the true he well knoweth and the hypocrites. The unbebelievers, lievers say unto those who believe, Follow our way; and we Howbeit they shall not bear any part of will bear your sins. their sins for they are liars but they shall surely bear their own burdens, and other burdens besides their own burdens; and they shall be examined, on the day of resurrection, concerning that which they have falsely devised. We heretofore sent ISToah unto his people and he tarried among them one thousand years, save fifty years, and the deluge took them away, while they were acting unjustly but we delivered him and those who were in the ark, and we made the same a sign unto all creatures. We also sent Abraham when he said unto his people, Serve God, and fear
Yet
if success
him
this will be better for you, if ye understand. Ye only idols besides and a lie. God, worship forge Verily those
:
vision for
which ye worship, besides God, are not able to make any 'proyou seek therefore your provision from God and serve him and give thanks unto him unto him shall ye return.
:
;
If he charge me with imposture, verily sundry nations before you likewise charged their prophets with imposture but public preaching only is incumbent on an Do they not apostle.
:
see
how God produceth
creatures,
and afterward restoreth

:
them ?
Verily this is easy with God. Say, Go through the and see how he earth, originally produceth creatures after-
ward
will
God reproduce another production
for
God
is
whom he pleaseth, and he will almighty. have mercy on whom he pleaseth. Before him shall ye be brought at the day of judgment: and ye shall not escape his reach, either in earth, or in heaven neither shall ve have anv As for those who believe patron or defender besides God.
will punish
;
*.'
He
293
not in the signs of God, or that they shall meet him at the resurrection, they shall despair of my mercy, and for them is And the answer of his peoa painful punishment prepared.
was no other than that they said, Slay him, or hurn him. But God saved him from the fire. Verily herein were signs
ple
unto people who believed.
And Abraham
said,
Ye
have taken
idols, besides
:
God, to
cement affection between you in this life but on the day of resurrection, the one of you shall deny the other, and the one of you shall curse the other and your abode shall be hell fire, and there shall be none to deliver you. And Lot believed on him. And Abraham said, Verily I fly from my people, unto the place which my Lord hath commanded me; for he is mighty, the wise. And we gave him Isaac and Jacob and we placed among his descendants the gift of prophecy and the scriptures and we gave him his reward in this world and in the next he shall be one of the righteous. We also sent Lot when he said unto his people, Do ye commit filthiness which no creature hath committed before you? Do ye approach lustfully unto men, and lay wait in the highways, and commit wickedness in your assembly? And the answer of his people was no other than that they said, Bring down the vengeance of God upon us, if thou speakest truth. Lot said, O Lord, defend me against the corrupt people. And when our messengers came unto Abraham with good tidings, they said,
;
;
:
We will surely destroy the inhabitants of this city; for the inhabitants thereof are unjust doers. Abraham answered,
Verily Lot dwelleth there. They replied, We well know who dwelleth therein we will surely deliver him and his family except his wife ; she shall be one of those who remain behind. And when our messengers came unto Lot, he was troubled for them, and his arm was straitened concerning them. But they
:
Fear not, neither be grieved; for we will deliver thee and thy family, except thy wife for she shall be one of those who remain behind. We will surely bring down upon the inhabitants of this city vengeance from heaven, for that they have been wicked doers and we have left thereof a manifest
said,
; :
sign unto people who understand.
294
THE SACRED BOOKS
unto the inhabitants of Madian we sent their brother Shoaib; and he said unto them, O my people, serve God, and
And
in expect the last day; and transgress not, acting corruptly But they accused him of imposture ; wherefore a the earth. storm from heaven assailed them, and in the morning they
were found in their dwellings dead and prostrate. And we also destroyed the tribes of Ad and Thamud and this is well known unto you from what yet remains of their dwellings. And Satan prepared their works for them, and turned them aside from the way of truth although they were sagacious And we likewise destroyed Karun, and Pharaoh, people. and Haman. JMoses came unto them with evident miracles and they behaved themselves insolently in the earth but they
;
Every of them did we Against some of them we sent a violent destroy in his sin. wind some of them did a terrible noise from heaven destroy some of them did we cause the earth to swallow up and some Neither was God disposed to treat of them we drowned. them unjustly but they dealt unjustly with their own souls.
could not escape our vengeance.
: :
The
likeness of those
who
take other patrons besides
God
is
:
as the likeness of the spider, which maketh herself a house but the weakest of all houses surely is the house of the spider ;
if
Moreover God knoweth what things they These invoke, besides him and he is the mighty, the wise. understand unto men: but none similitudes do we propound them, except the wise. God hath created the heavens and the
they
knew
this.
earth in truth: verily herein is a sign unto the true believers. Rehearse that which hath been revealed unto thee of the
book of the Koran

serveth a
and be constant
at
prayer
for prayer pre-
filthy crimes, and from that which is blamable; and the remembering of God is surely a most God knoweth that which ye do. Dispute important duty.
man from
not against those who have received the scriptures, unless in the mildest manner; except against such of them as behave
believe in the revelation injuriously toward you and say, which hath been sent down unto us, and also in that which hath been sent down unto you our God and your God is one,
:
;
We
and unto him are we resigned.
Thus have we
sent
down
the
295
Koran unto thee: and they unto whom we have former scriptures believe therein; and of these given the Arabians also there is who believeth therein and none reject our signs except the obstinate infidels. Thou couldst not read any book before this neither couldst thou write it with thy right hand: then had the gainsayers justly doubted of the divine original thereof. But the same is evident signs in the breasts of those who have received understanding: for none reject our signs, except the unjust.
the
:
;
They say, Unless a sign be sent down unto him from his Lord, we will not believe. Answer, Signs are in the power of God alone; and I am no more than a public preacher. Is it not sufficient for them that we have sent down unto thee the book of the Koran, to be read unto them ? Verily herein is a mercy, and an admonition unto people who believe. Say, God is a sufficient witness between me and you he knoweth whatever is in heaven and earth; and those who believe in
:
and deny God, they shall perish. They will urge thee to hasten the punishment which they defy thee to bring down upon them: if there had not been a determined time for their respite, the punishment had come upon them before this; but it shall surely overtake them suddenly, and they
vain
idols,
shall not foresee
it.
:
They urge
thee to bring
down vengeance
swiftly
lievers.
upon them but
On
hell shall surely encompass the unbea certain day their punishment shall suddenly
assail them, both from above them, and from under their feet ; and God shall say, Taste ye the reward of that which ye have
wrought.
servants who have believed, verily my earth is spawherefore serve me. cious; Every soul shall taste death: afterward shall ye return unto us and as for those who shall have believed, and wrought righteousness, we will surely
;
O my
lodge them in a higher apartment of paradise; rivers shall flow beneath them, and they shall continue therein forever.
How
ness
;
excellent will be the
who
!
Lord
food
reward of the workers of righteouspersevere with patience, and put their trust in their How many beasts are there, which provide not their It is God who provideth food for them and for you ;
296
THE SACRED BOOKS

Verily, if thou ask the hath created the heavens and the earth, and
;
and he both heareth and knoweth.
Meccans, who hath obliged the sun and the moon to serve in their courses How therefore do they lie, in they will answer, God. acknowledging of other gods? God maketh abundant provision for such of his servants as he pleaseth ; and is sparing
he pleaseth: and is sparing unto him, if he pleaseth: for God knoweth all things. Verily if thou ask
unto him,
if
them, Who sendeth rain from heaven, and thereby quickenetli the earth, after it hath been dead; they will answer, God. But the greater part of them do not Say, God b praised understand. This present life is no other than a toy and a but the future mansion of paradise is life indeed plaything
!
they would not prefer the former to the latWhen they sail in a ship, they call upon God, sincerely ter. exhibiting unto him the true religion but when he bringeth
if
they
knew
this,
them safe to land, behold, they return to their idolatry; to show themselves ungrateful for that which we have bestowed on them, and that they may enjoy the delights of this life but Do they not see that we they shall hereafter know the issue. have made the territory of Mecca an inviolable and secure asylum, when men are spoiled in the countries round about them ? Do they therefore believe in that which is vain, and acknowledge not the goodness of God ? But who is more unjust than he who deviseth a lie against God, or denieth the truth, when it hath come unto him ? Is there not in hell an abode for the unbelievers? Whoever do their utmost endeavor to promote our true religion, we will direct them into our ways.
;
CHAPTER XXX
^
ENTITLED, THE GREEKS

IN THE
1
;
REVEALED AT MECCA

the Per-
A. L. M.
The Greeks have been overcome by
iThe original word is al Rum; by which the later Greeks, or subjects of the Constantinopolitan empire, are here meant; though the Arabs give the same name also to the Romans and other Europeans.

in the nearest part of the land ; but after their defeat, they shall overcome the others in their turn, within a few Unto God belongeth the disposal of this matter, both years.
sians,
2
on that day by God for he granteth success unto whom he pleaseth, and he is the This is the promise of God God will mighty, the merciful. not act contrary to his promise ; but the greater part of men know not the veracity of God. They know the outward appearance of this present life; but they are careless as to the life to come. Do they not consider within themselves that
; :
for what is past, and for what is to come: and shall the believers rejoice in the success granted
The accomplishment of the prophecy contained in this passage, which very famous among the Mohammedans, being insisted on by their doctors as a convincing proof that the Koran really came down from heaven, it may be excusable to be a little particular. The passage is said to have been revealed on occasion of a great victory obtained by the Persians over the Greeks, the news whereof coining to Mecca, the infidels became strangely elated, and began to abuse Mohammed and his followers, imagining that this success of the Persians, who, like themselves, were idolaters, and supposed to have no scriptures, against the Christians, who pretended as well as Mohammed to worship one God, and to have divine scriptures, was an earnest of their own future successes against the prophet and those of his religion: to check which vain hopes, it was foretold, in the words of the text, that how improbable soever it might seem, yet the scale should be turned in a few years, and the vanquished Greeks prevail as remarkably against the
2
is
Persians.
History informs us that the successes of Khosru Parviz, King of Persia, carried on a terrible war against the Greek Empire, were very great, and continued in an uninterrupted course for two and twenty years. Particularly in the year of Christ 615, about the beginning of the sixth year before the Hegira the Persians, having the preceding year conquered Syria, made themselves masters of Palestine, and took Jerusalem ; which seems to be that signal advantage gained over the Greeks mentioned in this passage, as agreeing best with the terms here used, and most likely to alarm the Arabs by reason of their vicinity to the scene of action: and there was so little probability, at that time, of the Greeks being
who
able to retrieve their losses, much less to distress the Persians, that in the following years the arms of the latter made still further and more considerable progresses, and at length they laid siege to Constantinople But in the year 625, in which the fourth year of the Hegira itself. the Greeks, when began, about ten years after the taking of Jerusalem, the Persians, and over remarkable a least it was victory expected, gained not only obliged them to quit the territories of the empire, by carrying the war into their own country, but drove them to the last extremity,
and spoiled the capital city
al
Madayen.
298
THE SACRED BOOKS
God hath not

is
created the heavens and the earth, and whatever between them, otherwise than in truth, and hath set them
a determined period ? Verily a great number of men reject the belief of their future meeting their Lord at the resurrec-
not pass through the earth, and see what hath been the end of those who were before them ? They excelled
tion.
Do they
the Meccans in strength, and broke up the earth, and inhabited it in greater affluence and prosperity than they inhabit
the same: and their apostles came unto them with evident miracles; and God was not disposed to treat them unjustly,
but they injured their own souls by their obstinate infidelity and the end of those who had done evil was evil, because they
;
charged the signs of God with falsehood and laughed the same to scorn. God produceth creatures, and will hereafter restore them to life then shall ye return unto him. And on the day
:
whereon the hour shall come, the wicked shall be struck dumb for despair and they shall have no intercessors from among the idols which they associated with God and they shall deny the false gods which they associated with him. On the day whereon the hour shall come, on that day shall the true believers and the infidels be separated: and they who shall have believed, and wrought righteousness, shall take their
;
;
pleasure in a delightful
meadow: but
as for those
who
shall
have disbelieved, and rejected our signs, and the meeting of the next life, they shall be delivered up to punishment. Wherefore glorify God, when the evening overtaketh you, and when ye rise in the morning and unto him be praise in heaven and earth and at sunset, and when ye rest at noon.
:
bringeth forth the living out of the dead, and he bringeth forth the dead out of the living and he quickeneth the earth
;
He
hath been dead: and in like manner shall ye be forth from your graves. Of his signs one is that he brought hath created you of dust; and behold, ye are become men,
after
it
And of his signs another spread over the face of the earth. is that he hath created for out of you, yourselves, wives, that cohabit with them and hath put love and compassion ye may between you: verily herein are signs unto people who con;
sider.
And
of his signs are also the creation of the heavens

and the
earth,
:
and the variety of your languages, and of your
complexions verily herein are signs unto men of understandAnd of his signs are your sleeping by night and by day, ing. and your seeking to provide for yourselves of his abundance Of his signs verily herein are signs unto people who harken. others are that he showeth you the lightning, to strike terror,
:
hope of rain, and that he sendeth down water from and heaven, quickeneth thereby the earth, after it hath been dead verily herein are signs unto people who understand.
and
to give
of his signs this also is one, namely that the heaven and the earth stand firm at his command hereafter, when he
:
And
you out of the earth at one summons, behold, ye shall come forth. Unto him are subject whosoever are in the
shall call
heavens and on earth:
all
are obedient unto him.
It
is
he
who
the
originally produceth a creature, and afterward restoreth
and this is most easy with him. He justly the most exalted comparison, in heaven and earth ; challengeth and he is the mighty, the wise. He propoundeth unto you a
same
to life
comparison taken from yourselves. Have ye, among the slaves whom your right hands possess, any partner in the substance which we have bestowed on you, so that ye become equal sharers therein with them, or that ye fear them as ye fear one another ? Thus do we distinctly explain our signs, unto people who understand. But those who act unjustly by attributing companions unto God, follow their own
without knowledge and who shall direct him whom God shall cause to err ? They Wherefore be thou orthodox, shall have none to help them. and set thy face toward the true religion, the institution of
lusts,
:
God, to which he hath created mankind disposed there is no change in what God hath created. This is the right religion but the greater part of men know it not. And be ye turned unto him, and fear him, and be constant at prayer, and be not Of those who have made a schism in their religion, idolaters. and are divided into various sects every sect rejoice in their
:
own
men, they call upon opinion. their Lord, turning unto him afterward, when he hath caused them to taste of his mercy, behold, a part of them associate
adversity befalleth
:
When
300
THE SACRED BOOKS

;
show themselves ungrateful for the favors which we have bestowed on them. Enjoy of this life but vain hereafter shall the therefore pleasures ye know the consequence. Have we sent down unto them any authority, which speaketh of the false gods which they assoto
;
other deities with their Lord
ciate with
him?
;
When we
if evil
rejoice therein
but
cause men to taste mercy, they bef alleth them, for that which their
hands have before committed, behold, they despair. Do they not see that God bestoweth provision abundantly on whom he pleaseth, and is sparing unto whom he pleaseth ? Verily herein are signs unto people who believe. Give unto him who is of kin to thee his reasonable due and also to the poor and the stranger this is better for those who seek the face of God and they shall prosper. Whatever ye shall give in usury, to be an increase of men's substance, shall not be increased by the blessing of God but whatever ye shall give in alms, for God's sake, they shall receive a twofold reward. It is God who hath created you, and hath provided food for you: hereafter will he cause you to die; and after that will he raise you again to life. Is there any of your false gods, who is able to do the least of these things ? Praise be unto him ; and far be he removed from what they associate with him! Corruptions hath appeared by land and by sea, for the crimes which men's hands have committed; that it might make them to taste a part of the fruits of that which they had wrought, that peradventure they might turn from their evil ways. Say, Go through the earth, and see what hath been the end of those who have been before you: the Set thy face therefore greater part of them were idolaters. toward the right religion, before the day cometh, which none can put back from God. On that day shall they be separated into two companies: whoever shall have been an unbeliever, on him shall his unbelief be charged and whoever shall have done that which is right shall spread themselves couches of repose in paradise; that he may reward those who shall believe and work righteousness, of his abundant liberality; for he loveth not the unbelievers. Of his signs one is, that he sendeth the winds, bearing wel;
:

come
301
tidings of rain, that he may cause you to taste of his mercy ; and that ships may sail at his command, that ye may seek to enrich yourselves of his abundance by commerce ; and
sent apostles, before thee, unto that ye may give thanks. their respective people, and they came unto them with evident proofs: and we took vengeance on those who did wickedly;
We
and
it
was incumbent on us
to assist the true believers.
It is
the winds, and raiseth the clouds, and spreadeth the same in the heaven, as he pleaseth ; and afterward disperseth the same: and thou mayest see the rain issuing from the midst thereof and when he poureth the same
;
God who sendeth
down on such of
filled
;
with joy before such relief, they were despairing. Consider therefore the traces of God's mercy; how he quickeneth the earth, after its state of death verily the same Yet if we should send will raise the dead for he is almighty. a blasting wind, and they should see their corn yellow and burned up, they would surely become ungrateful, after our former favors. Thou canst not make the dead to hear, neither canst thou make the deaf to hear thy call, when they retire and turn their backs neither canst thou direct the blind out of their error thou shalt make none to hear, except him who shall believe in our signs for they are resigned unto us. It is God who created you in weakness, and after weakness hath given you strength; and after strength, he will again reduce you to weakness, and gray hairs: he createth that
:
his servants as he pleaseth, behold, they are although before it was sent down unto them,
which he pleaseth and he is the wise, the powerful. On the day whereon the last hour shall come, the wicked will swear that they have not tarried above an hour in like manner did they utter lies in their lifetime. But those on whom knowledge hath been bestowed, and faith, will say, Ye have tarried, according to the book of God, until the day of resurrection
;
:
for this
that
is
the day of resurrection
but ye knew
it
not.
On
acted
day
their excuse shall not avail those
who have
unjustly; neither shall they be invited any more to make And now have we prothemselves acceptable unto God. pounded unto men, in this Koran, parables of every kind yet
:
302
if
THE SACRED BOOKS
thou bring them a verse thereof, the unbelievers will surely than publishers of vain falsehoods. say, Ye are no other
Thus hath God sealed up the hearts of those who believe not. But do thou, O Mohammed, persevere with constancy, for the promise of God is true and let not those induce thee to waver, who have no certain knowledge.
;
CHAPTER
ENTITLED, LOKMAN;
IN THE
1
REVEALED AT MECCA
A. L. M. These are the signs of the wise book, a direction, and a mercy unto the righteous; who observe the appointed times of prayer, and give alms, and have firm assurance in the life to come these are directed by their. Lord, and they shall There is a man who purchaseth a ludicrous story, 2 prosper. that he may seduce men from the way of God, without knowledge, and may laugh the same to scorn these shall suffer a
:
:
shameful punishment. And when our signs are rehearsed unto him, he disdainfully turneth his back, as though he heard them not, as though there were a deafness in his ears wherefore denounce unto him a grievous punishment. But they who shall believe and work righteousness shall enjoy gardens of pleasure they shall continue therein forever this is the certain promise of God and he is the mighty, the wise. He hath created the heavens without visible pillars to sustain them, and hath thrown on the earth mountains firmly rooted, lest it should move with you; and he hath replenished the
:
The chapter
is
so entitled from a person of this
name mentioned
therein.
2 The passage was revealed, it is said, on I.e., Vain and silly fables. occasion of al Nodar Ebn al Hareth, who, having brought from Persia the romance of Rostam and Isfandiyar, the two heroes of that country, recited it in the assemblies of the Koreish, highly extolling the power and splendor of the ancient Persian kings, and preferring their stories to those of Ad and Thamud, David and Solomon, and the rest which are told in the Koran. Some say that al Nodar bought singing girls, and carried them to those who were inclined to become Moslems to divert
them from
their purpose by songs
and
tales.
806
same with all kinds of beasts: and we send down rain fmm heaven, and cause every kind of noble vegetable to spring This is the creation of God: show me now forth therein. what they have created, who are worshiped besides him?
verily the ungodly are in a manifest error.
wisdom on Lokman, 3 and commanded him, saying, Be thou thankful unto God: for whoheretofore bestowed
We
thankful shall be thankful to the advantage of his own soul and if any shall be unthankful, verily God is self-suffiAnd remember when Lokcient, and worthy to be praised. mari said unto his son, as he admonished him, O my sou, Give
ever
is
;
not a partner unto God; for polytheism

carrieth
is
a great impiety.
(his mother with weakness and faintness, and he is weaned in two years), saying, Be grateful unto me and Unto me shall all come to be judged. But to thy parents. if thy parents endeavor to prevail on thee to associate with me that concerning which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not bear them company in this world in what shall be reasonable but follow the way of him who sincerely turneth unto me. Hereafter unto me shall ye return, and then will I O my son, verily declare unto you that which ye have done. be of the weight whether or it bad, though every matter, good of a grain of mustard-seed, and be hidden in a rock, or in the
We have commanded man concerning his parents,

him
in her
womb
3 The Arab writers say that Lokman was the son of Baura, who was the son or grandson of a sister or aunt of Job; and that he lived several centuries and to the time of David, with whom he was conversant in Palestine. According to the description they give of his person, he must have been deformed enough; for they say he was of a black complexion (whence some call him an Ethiopian), with thick lips and splay feet: but in return he received from God wisdom and eloquence in a groat
degree, which some pretend were given him in a vision, on his making choice of wisdom preferably to the gift of prophecy, either of which was offered him. The generality of the Mohammedans, therefore, hold him to have been no prophet, but only a wise man. As to his condition, they say he was a slave, but obtained his liberty on the following occasion: His master having one day given him a bitter melon to eat, he paid him such exact obedience as to eat it all; at which his master
being surprised, asked him how he could eat so nauseous a fruit? To which he replied, it was no wonder that he should for once accept a bitter fruit from the same hand from which he had received so many
favors.
304
THE SACRED BOOKS

God
will bring the
and knowing. O my son, be constant at that which is just, and forbid that command and prayer, which is evil and be patient under the afflictions which shall befall thee for this is a duty absolutely incumbent on all men. Distort not thy face out of contempt to men, neither walk in the earth with insolence; for God loveth no arrogant, vainAnd be moderate in thy pace: and lower glorious person. thy voice; for the most ungrateful of all voices surely is the
heavens, or in the earth,
same
to light
for
God
is
clear-sighted
voice of asses.
Do ye not see that God hath subjected whatever is in heaven and on earth to your service, and hath abundantly poured on you his favors, both outwardly and inwardly? There are some men who dispute concerning God without knowledge, and without a direction, and without an enlightening book. And when it is said unto them, Follow that which God hath revealed; they answer, Nay, we will follow that which we found our fathers to practise. What, though the Whoever resigneth devil invite them to the torment of hell ? himself unto God, being a worker of righteousness, takcth hold on a strong handle; and unto God belongeth the issue of all things. But whoever shall be an unbeliever, let not his unbelief grieve thee unto us shall they return then will we declare unto them that which they have done, for God knoweth We will suffer the innermost parts of the breasts of men. them to enjoy this world for a little while afterward we will If thou ask them who drive them to a severe punishment. hath created the heavens and the earth, they will surely anBut the greater part of swer, God. Say, God be praised! them do not understand. Unto God belongeth whatever is in heaven and earth: for God is the self-sufficient, the praiseIf whatever trees are in the earth were pens, and worthy. he should after that swell the sea into seven seas of ink, the words of God would not be exhausted for God is mighty and wise. Your creation and your resuscitation are but as the creation and resuscitation of one soul verily God both heareth and seeth. Dost thou not see that God causeth the night to succeed
:
305
the day, and causeth the day to succeed the night, and comEach of those pelleth the sun and the moon to serve you?
luminaries hasteneth in
its course to a determined period: well acquainted with that which ye do. This is declared concerning the divine knowledge and power, for that God is the true Being, and for that whatever ye invoke,
and God
is
vanity ; and for that God is the high, the great God. Dost thou not see that the ships run in the sea, through the favor of God, that he may show you of his signs ? Verily
besides him,
is
herein are signs, unto every patient, grateful person. When waves cover them, like overshadowing clouds, they call upon God, exhibiting the pure religion unto him; but when he
bringeth them safe to land, there is of them who halteth between the true faith and idolatry. Howbeit, none rejecteth
our signs, except every perfidious, ungrateful person. O men, fear your Lord, and dread the day whereon a father
shall not
make
is
make satisfaction for his son, neither shall a son satisfaction for his father at all the promise of God
:
Let not this present life, therefore, deassuredly true. ceive you; neither let the deceiver deceive you concerning God. Verily the knowledge of the hour of judgment is with
God: and he causeth the rain to descend, at his own appointed time; and he knoweth what is in the wombs of feNo soul knoweth what it shall gain on the morrow males. 4 neither doth any soul know in what land it shall die but God is knowing and fully acquainted with all things.
; :
* As to the last particular, al Beidawi relates the following story: The angel of death passing once by Solomon in a visible shape, and lookand ing at one who was sitting with him, the man asked who he was, of the death, said, it was that him angel upon Solomon's acquainting He seems to want me; wherefore order the wind to carry me from hence
into India; which being accordingly done, the angel said to Solomon, I looked so earnestly at the man out of wonder ; because I was commanded to take his soul in India, and found him with thee in Palestine.
VOL. V.
20.
306
THE SACRED BOOKS
CHAPTER XXXII
ENTITLED, ADORATION;
IN THE
1
REVEALED AT MECCA
A. L. M.
thereof, is
The
from
revelation of this book, there is no doubt Will they say, the Lord of all creatures.
hath forged it? Nay, it is the truth from thy Lord, that thou mayest preach to a people, unto whom no preacher hath come before thee; peradventure they will be It is God who hath created the heavens and the directed. earth, and whatever is between them, in six days; and then
Mohammed
ascended his throne. Ye have no patron or intercessor beWill ye not therefore consider? He governeth sides him. from heaven even to the earth hereafter shall they all things return unto him, on the day whose length shall be a thousand
:
years, of those
which ye compute.
;
This
is
he who knoweth
the future and the present
he who hath
ing good
;
made
first
It is the mighty, the merciful. everything which he hath created exceed-
and
created
man
of clay, and afterward
made
his posterity of an extract of despicable water; and then formed him into proper shape, and breathed of his spirit into him; and hath given you the senses of hearing and seeing, and hearts to understand. How small thanks do ye return And they say, When we shall lie hidden in the earth, shall we
!
be raised thence a
new
creature
Yea, they deny the meet:
ing of their Lord at the resurrection. Say, The angel of death, who is set over you, shall cause you to die then shall ye be brought back unto your Lord. If thou couldst see,
when
the wicked shall
Lord, saying, us therefore to
O
;
which is right hath been preached to us thou wouldst see an amazing sight. If we had pleased, we had certainly given unto every soul its direction: but the word which hath proceeded from me
:
bow down their heads before their we have seen and have heard: suffer Lord, return into the world, and we will work that since we are now certain of the truth of what
i The title is taken from the middle of the chapter, where the believers are said " to fall down adoring."
307
must necessarily be fulfilled, when I said, Verily I will fill hell with genii and men, altogether. Taste therefore the
torment prepared for you, because ye have forgotten the coming of this your day, we also have forgotten you taste
;
therefore a punishment of eternal duration, for that which ye
have wrought. Verily they only believe in our signs, who, when they are
warned thereby, fall down adoring, and celebrate the praise of their Lord, and are not elated with pride their sides are raised from their beds, calling on their Lord with fear and
:
with hope; and they distribute alms out of what we have bestowed on them. E"o soul knoweth the complete satisfaction which is secretly prepared for them, as a reward for that which they have wrought. Shall he, therefore, who is a true believer, be as he who is an impious transgressor? They shall not be held equal. As to those who believe and do that
which is right, they shall have gardens of perpetual abode, an ample recompense for that which they shall have wrought but as for those who impiously transgress, their abode shall be hell fire so often as they shall endeavor to get thereout, they shall be dragged back into the same, and it shall be said unto them, Taste ye the torment of hell fire, which ye rejected as a
: ;
them to taste the nearer punishment of this world, besides the more grievous punishment of the next; peradventure they will repent. Who is more unjust than he who is warned by the signs of his Lord, and then turneth aside from the same ? We will surely take
falsehood.
will cause
And we
vengeance on the wicked.
We heretofore delivered the book of the law unto Moses; wherefore be not thou in doubt as to the revelation thereof: and we ordained the same to be a direction unto the children
and we appointed teachers from among them, who should direct the people at our command, when they had persevered with patience, and had firmly believed in our signs. Verily thy Lord will judge between them, on the day of resurof Israel
;
wherein they have disagreed. Is it not known unto them how many generations we have destroyed before them, through whose dwelling they walk?
rection, concerning that
308
THE SACRED BOOKS

:
Verily herein are signs will they not therefore harken ? Do they not see that we drive rain unto a land bare of grass and parched up, and thereby produce corn, of which their cattle
eat,
and themselves also?
Will they not therefore regard?
The infidels say to the true believers, When will this decision be made between us, if ye speak truth ? Answer, On the day
of that decision, the faith of those who shall have disbelieved shall not avail them ; neither shall they be respited any longer.
Wherefore avoid them, and expect the issue: verily they pect to obtain some advantage over thee.
ex-
CHAPTER XXXIII
ENTITLED, THE CONFEDERATES;
IN THE
1
REVEALED AT MEDINA
prophet, fear God, and obey not the unbelievers and the But follow that hypocrites verily God is knowing and wise.
:
which
for
from thy Lord for God is well acquainted with that which ye do and put thy trust in God
is
revealed unto thee
a sufficient protector. God hath not given a man two hearts within him; neither hath he made your wives
God
is
(some of whom ye divorce, regarding them thereafter as your mothers) your true mothers; nor hath he made your adopted sons your true sons. 2 This is your saying in your mouths;
1 Part of this chapter was revealed on occasion of the war of the ditch, which happened in the fifth year of the Hegira, when Medina was besieged, for above twenty days, by the joint and confederate forces of several Jewish tribes, and of the inhabitants of Mecca, Najd, and Tehama, at the instigation of the Jews of the tribe of Nadhir, who had been driven out of their settlement near Medina, by Mohammed, the year before. 2 This passage was revealed to abolish two customs among the old Arabs. The first was their manner of divorcing their wives, when they had no mind to let them go out of their house, or to marry again and this the husband did by saying to the woman, " Thou art henceforward to me as the back of my mother " after which words pronounced he abstained from her bed, and regarded her in all respects as his mother; and she became related to all his kindred in the same degree as if she had been really so. The other custom was the holding their adopted sons
:
to be as nearly related to them as their natural sons, so that the same impediments of marriage arose from that supposed relation, in the proThe hibited degrees, as it would have done in the case of a genuine son.
309
God speaketh the truth ; and he directeth the right way. Call such as are adopted the sons of their natural fathers: this will be more just in the sight of God. And if know
but
ye
not their fathers, let them be as your brethren in religion, and and it shall be no crime in your companions you, that ye err
:
in this matter; but that shall be criminal which your hearts purposely design; for God is gracious and merciful. The
prophet
is
nigher unto the true believers than their
own
souls
Those who are related by consanguinity are nigher of kin the one of them unto the others, according to the book of God, than the other true believers, and the Mohajerun unless that ye do what is fitting and reasonable to your relations in general. This is written in the book of God. 4
:
and
his wives are their mothers. 3
prophet, say unto thy wives, If ye seek this present
life,
and the pomp thereof, come, I will make a handsome provision for you, and I will dismiss you with an honorable dismission 5 but if ye seek God and his apostle, and the life to come, verily God hath prepared for such of you as work O wives of the prophet, whorighteousness a great reward.
;
Mohammed had a peculiar reason to abolish vie., his marrying the divorced wife of his freedman Zeid, who was also his adopted son. " By the declaration which introduces this passage, that God has not a man two a man have is that can not the same given hearts," meant, affection for supposed parents and adopted children as for those who are really so.
latter
a Though the spiritual relation between Mohammed and his people, declared in the preceding words, created no impediment to prevent his taking to wife such women among them as he thought fit; yet the com-
mentators are of opinion that they are here forbidden to marry any of
his wives.
* In the preserved table, or the Koran or, as others suppose, in the Pentateuch. 5 This passage was revealed on Mohammed's wives asking for more sumptuous clothes, and an additional allowance for their expenses; and he had no sooner received it than he gave them their option, either to continue with him or to be divorced, beginning with Ayesha, who chose God and his apostle, and the rest followed her example; upon which the " It prophet thanked them, and the following words were revealed, viz., shall not be lawful for thee to take other women to wife hereafter," etc. From hence some have concluded that a wife who has her option given -her, and chooses to stay with her husband, shall not be divorced, though others are of a contrary opinion.
;
310
soever of
THE SACRED BOOKS
you shall commit a manifest wickedness, the punishshall be doubled unto her twofold; and this is thereof ment easy with God but whosoever of you shall be obedient unto
:
do that which is right, we will give her her reward twice, and we have prepared for her an O wives of the prophet, ye honorable provision in paradise.
God and his
apostle,
and
shall
if ye fear God, be not too complaishe should covet, in whose heart is a disease of incontinence: but speak the speech which is convenient. And sit still in your houses and set not out yourselves with the ostentation of the former time of ignorance and observe the appointed times of prayer, and give alms and obey God and his apostle for God desireth only to remove from you the abomination of vanity, since ye are the household of the
are not as other
women
ant in speech, lest
prophet, and to purify you by a perfect purification. And remember that which is read in your houses, of the
and of the wisdom revealed in the Koran for God is clear-sighted, and well acquainted with your actions. Verily the Moslems of either sex, and the true believers of either sex, and the devout men, and the devout women, and the men of veracity, and the women of veracity, and the patient men, and the patient women, and the humble men, and the humble women, and the alms-givers of either sex, and the men who fast, and the women who fast, and the chaste men, and the chaste women, and those of either sex who remember God frequently for them hath God prepared forgiveness and
signs of God,
; ;
for a true believer of either sex, when God and his apostle have decreed a thing, that they should have the liberty of choosing a different matter of their
fit
a great reward.
It is not
is disobedient unto God and his apostle erreth with a manifest error. And remember when surely thou saidst to him unto whom God had been gracious, and on
own: and whoever
whom thou
also hadst conferred favors, 6
Keep thy wife
to thy-
Zeid was of the tribe of Calb, a branch of the Khodaites, descended from Hamyar, the son of Saba; and being taken in his childhood by a party of freebooters, was bought by Mohammed, or, as others say, by his wife Khadijah before she married him. Some years after, Haretha, hearing where his son was, took a journey to Mecca, and offered a con" siderable sum for his ransom Let Zeid whereupon, Mohammed said,
;

self,
:
311
and fear God and thou didst conceal that in thy mind which God had determined to discover, 7 and didst fear men ; whereas it was more just that thou shouldst fear God. But when Zeid 8 had determined the matter concerning her, and had resolved to divorce her, we joined her in marriage unto thee lest a crime should be charged on the true believers, in marrying the wives of their adopted sons, when they have determined the matter concerning them and the command of God is to be performed. No crime is to be charged on the prophet, as to what God hath allowed him, conformable to the
;
:
ordinance of
the
God with regard to those who preceded him (for command of God is a determinate decree), who brought
:
the messages of God, and feared him, and feared none besides God and God is a sufficient accountant. Mohammed is not
the father of any man among you ; but the apostle of God, and the seal of the prophets and God knoweth all things.
:
if he chooses to go with you, take him without ransom: be his choice to stay with me, why should I not keep him?" And Zeid being come, declared that he would stay with his master, who treated him as if he were his only son. Mohammed no sooner heard this, but he took Zeid by the hand, and led him to the black stone of the Kaaba, where he publicly adopted him for his son, and constituted him his heir, with which the father acquiesced, and returned home well satisfied. From this time Zeid was called the son of Mohammed, till the publication of Islam, after which the prophet gave him to wife Zeinab. 7 Some years after his marriage, Mohammed, going to Zeid's house on some affair, and not finding him at home, accidentally cast his eyes on
come hither; and

if
but
it
Zeinab,
who was then
in a dress
which discovered her beauty to advan-
tage, and was so smitten at the sight that he could not forbear crying " " God be praised, who turneth the hearts of men as he pleaseth ! out, This Zeinab failed not to acquaint her husband with on his return home;
whereupon, Zeid, after mature reflection, thought he could do no less than part with his wife in favor of his benefactor, and therefore resolved to divorce her, and acquainted Mohammed with his resolution; but he, apprehending the scandal it might raise, offered to dissuade him from it, and endeavored to stifle the flames which inwardly consumed him but at length, his love for her being authorized by this revelation, he acquiesced, and after the term of her divorce was expired, married her
;
in the latter end of the fifth year of the Hegira. s It is observed that this is the only person, of all in the Koran. mentioned whose name is panions,
Mohammed's com-
Whence Zeinab used to vaunt herself above the prophet's other wives, saying that God had made the match between Mohammed and herself, whereas their matches were made by their relations.
312
THE SACRED BOOKS
true believers, remember God with a frequent rememIt is brance, and celebrate his praise morning and evening.
he who
that he
gracious unto you, and his angels intercede for you, may lead you forth from darkness into light and he is
is
;
!
Their salutation, on the shall meet shall whereon him, they be, Peace and he hath day them an for honorable O prophet, recompense. prepared to be a witness, and a bearer of good verily we have sent thee of denouncer and a threats, and an inviter unto God, tidings, through his good pleasure, and a shining light. Bear good tidings therefore unto the true believers, that they shall receive great abundance from God. And obey not the unbelievers
merciful toward the true believers.
trust
and hypocrites, and mind not their evil treatment but in God ; and God is a sufficient protector.
:
when ye marry women who are believers, and afterward put them away before ye have touched them,
true believers,
is
there
no term prescribed you
to fulfil
toward them after
a present, and dismiss them freely, with an honorable dismission. prophet, we have allowed thee thy wives unto whom thou hast given their dower,
their divorce; but
make them
which thy right hand possesseth, of the booty which God hath granted thee and the daughters of thy uncle, and the daughters of thy aunts, both on thy father's side and on thy mother's side, who have fled with thee from Mecca, and any other believing woman, if she give herself
also the slaves
;
and
unto the prophet ; in case the prophet desireth to take her to wife. This is a peculiar privilege granted unto thee, above the rest of the true believers. We know what we have ordained them concerning their wives, and the slaves whom their
right hands possess lest it should be deemed a crime in thee to make use of the privilege granted thee ; for God is gracious and merciful. Thou mayest postpone the turn of such of thy
:
wives as thou shalt please, in being called to thy bed and thou mayest take unto thee her whom thou shalt please, and her whom thou shalt desire of those whom thou shalt have before
;
rejected: and
it
shall be
no crime in
thee.
10
This will be
10 By this passage some further hammed; for, whereas other men are
privileges were granted unto Moobliged to carry themselves equally

more
easy, that they
313
grieved, but may every of them God

:
be entirely content, and may not be be well pleased with what thou shalt give
may
kuoweth whatever
to
God
is
knowing and gracious.
in your hearts ; and It shall not be lawful for thee

is
to exchange any of their for wives them, although beauty please thee ; except thy the slaves whom thy right hand shall possess: and God ob-
to take other
women
wife hereafter, nor
serveth all things. true believers, enter not the houses of the prophet, unless it be permitted you to eat meat with him, without waiting his
convenient time: but
when ye
prophet.
shall
when ye are invited, then enter. And have eaten, disperse yourselves; and stay not
incommodeth the
;
to enter into familiar discourse: for this
He is ashamed to bid you depart but God is not ashamed of the truth. And when ye ask of the prophet's wives what ye may have occasion for, ask it of them from This will be more pure for your hearts and behind a curtain.
their hearts.
Neither
to the apostle of for this would
is it fit for you to give any uneasiness or to marry his wives after him forever God, be a grievous thing in the sight of God.
:
a thing, or conceal it, verily God knoweth all things. It shall be no crime in them, as to their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their
Whether ye divulge
sisters' sons,
or their
hands
possess, if
women, or the slaves which their right they speak to them unveiled: and fear ye
all things.
God;
for
God
is
witness of
Verily
God and
his
angels bless the prophet. true believers, do ye also bless him, and salute him with a respectful salutation. As to those who offend God and his apostle, God shall curse them in this world and in the next
arid
he hath prepared for them a shameful punishment.
And
they
who
shall injure the true believers of either sex, without
toward their wives, in case they had more than one, particularly as to the duties of the marriage-bed, to which each has a right to be called in her turn (which right was acknowledged in the most early ages), and
can not take again a wife whom they have divorced the third time, till she has been married to another and divorced by him, the prophet was left absolutely at liberty to deal with them in these and other respects as he thought fit.
314
their deserving
it,
THE SACRED BOOKS

shall surely bear the guilt of
calumny and a
manifest injustice.
prophet, speak unto thy wives, and thy daughters, and the wives of the true believers, that they cast their outer garments over them when they walk abroad; this will be more
proper, that they may be known to be matrons of reputation, and may not be affronted by unseemly words or actions. God
Verily if the hypocrites, and those gracious and merciful. in whose hearts is an infirmity, and they who raise disturbances in Medina, do not desist; we will surely stir thee up
is
against them, to chastise them: henceforth they shall not be suffered to dwell near thee therein, except for a little time, and being accursed; wherever they are found they shall be
taken, and killed with a general slaughter, according to the sentence of God concerning those who have been before ; and
thou shalt not find any change in the sentence of God. Men will ask thee concerning the approach of the last hour
;
answer, Verily the knowledge thereof is with God alone and he will not inform thee: peradventure the hour is nigh at
hand.
Verily
God hath
cursed the infidels, and hath pre-
pared for them a fierce
fire,
wherein they shall remain
for-
ever: they shall find no patron or defender. On the day whereon their faces shall be rolled in hell fire, they shall say, Oh that we had obeyed God, and had obeyed his apostle!
And
they shall say,

;
Lord, verily
we have obeyed our
lords
and they have seduced us from the right Lord, give them the double of our punishment and way. curse them with a heavy curse O true believers, be not as those who injured Moses; but God cleared him from the scandal which they had spoken concerning him and he was of great consideration in God's sight. O true believers, fear God, and speak words well directed that God may correct your works for you, and may forgive you your sins: and whoever shall obey God and his apostle
and our great men
shall enjoy great felicity.
We
proposed the faith unto the

:
heavens, and the earth, and the mountains and they refused to undertake the same, and were afraid thereof but man un;
dertook
it
verily he was unjust
to himself,
and foolish that

:

God may punish
315
the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and the idolaters, and the idolatresses ; and that God may be turned unto the true believers, both men and women
;
for
God
is
CHAPTER XXXIV
ENTITLED, SABA; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD
Praise be to God, unto whom belongeth whatever is in the heavens and on earth and unto him be praise in the world to come ; for he is wise and intelligent. He knoweth whatsoever
:
entereth into the earth, and whatsoever cometh out of the same, and whatsoever descendeth from heaven, and whatso-
ever ascendeth thereto

give.
and he
is
The
unbelievers say,
The hour
merciful and ready to forof judgment will not

:
Answer, Yea, by my Lord, it will surely come he who knoweth the hidden secret the weight unto you ; of an ant, either in heaven or in earth, is not absent from him, nor anything lesser than this, or greater, but the same is written in the perspicuous book of his decrees that he may recompense those who shall have believed and wrought righteousness: they shall receive pardon and an honorable provision. But they who endeavor to render our signs of none effect shall Those unto whom receive a punishment of painful torment. knowledge hath been given, see that the book which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord is the truth, and directeth The unbelievers say to into the glorious and laudable way. one another, Shall we show you a man who shall prophesy unto you, that when ye shall have been dispersed with a total
us.
it is
;
come unto
He hath dispersion, ye shall be raised a new creature ? But is distracted. he or rather a lie forged concerning God,
shall fall into punishtherefore considered not ment and a wide error. Have they what is before them, and what is behind them, of the heaven and the earth ? If we please, we will cause the earth to open
they
who
believe not in the life to
come
and swallow them up, or
will cause a piece of the heaven to
316
fall
THE SACRED BOOKS

upon them: verily herein
is
a sign unto every servant,

:
who turneth unto God.
We
we we
heretofore bestowed on David excellence from us and mountains, sing alternate praises with him; and said,
and work ye righteousness, O family of David for I see that which ye do. And we made the wind subject unto Solomon it blew in the morning for a month, and in the evening for a month. And we made a fountain of molten brass to flow for him. And some of the genii were obliged to work in his presence, by the will of his Lord; and whoever of them turned aside from our command, we will cause him to taste the pain of hell fire. They made for him whatever he pleased, of paland statues, and large dishes like fishponds, and caldrons aces, standing firm on their trevets; and we said, Work righteousness, O family of David, with thanksgiving for few of my servants are thankful. And when we had decreed that Solomon should die, nothing discovered his death unto them, except the creeping thing of the earth, which gnawed his staff.
:
And we softened obliged the birds also to join therein. the iron for him, saying, Make thereof complete coats of mail, and rightly dispose the small plates which compose the same :
:
And when
if
his body fell down, the genii plainly perceived that had known that which is secret, they had not continued they
in a vile punishment. The descendants of Saba had heretofore a sign in their dwellings ; namely, two gardens, on the right hand and on the
was said unto them, Eat ye of the provision of and your Lord, give thanks unto him ye have a good country and a gracious Lord. But they turned aside from what we had commanded them: wherefore we sent against them the inundation of al Arem, and we changed their two gardens for them into two gardens producing bitter fruit, and tamarisks, and some little fruit of the lote-tree. This we gave them in reward, because they were ungrateful is any thus rewarded And we placed between them and the except the ungrateful ? cities which we have blessed, cities situate near each other; and we made the journey easy between them, saying, Travel through the same by night and by day in security. But they
left:
and
it

said,
317
O Lord, put a greater distance between our journeys: and they were unjust unto themselves and we made them the subject of discourse, and dispersed them with a total disper;
Verily herein are signs unto every patient, grateful And Eblis found his opinion of them to be true and person.
sion.
:
they followed him, except a party of the true believers and he had no power over them, unless to tempt them, that we might
:
believed in the life to come, from him who doubted thereof. Thy Lord observeth all things. Say unto the idolaters, Call upon those whom ye imagine
know him who
to be gods, besides God, they are not masters of the weight of an ant in heaven or on earth, neither have they any share in the creation or government of the same ; nor is any of them
assistant to
him
therein.
No
intercession will be of service
in his presence, except the intercession of him to whom he shall grant permission to intercede for others and they shall
:
wait in suspense until,
when
the terror shall be taken off from
their hearts, they shall say to one another, Lord say ? They shall answer, That which
the high, the great God. Say, Who from heaven and earth ? Answer, God and either we, or ye, follow the true direction, or are in a manifest error. Say, Ye shall not be examined concerning what we shall have com:
doth your is just and he is provideth food for you

:
What
mitted neither shall

:
have done. last day then will he judge between us with truth and he is the judge, the knowing. Say, show me those whom ye have Nay rather he is the mighty, joined as partners with him ? We have not sent thee otherwise than unto the wise God. mankind in general, a bearer of good tidings, and a denouncer of threats: but the greater part of men do not understand. And they say, When will this threat be fulfilled, if ye speak truth? Answer, A threat is denounced unto you of a day which ye shall not retard one hour, neither shall ye hasten. The unbelievers say, We will by no means believe in this Koran, nor in that which hath been revealed before it. But if thou couldst see when the unjust doers shall be set before their Lord! They will iterate discourse with one
; ; ;
we be examined concerning what ye shall Say, Our Lord will assemble us together at the
318
>
THE SACRED BOOKS
another: those who were esteemed weak shall say unto those who behaved themselves arrogantly, Had it not been for you,
They who behaved themverily we had been true believers. selves arrogantly shall say unto those who were esteemed weak, Did we turn you aside from the true direction, after it had
come unto you
?
own
free choice.
On the contrary, ye acted wickedly of And they who were esteemed weak
who behave with
your
shall
arrogance, Nay, but the crafty plot which ye devised by night and by day occasioned our ruin, when ye commanded us that we should not believe
say unto those
in God, and that we should set up other gods as equal unto him. And they shall conceal their repentance, after they And we shall have seen the punishment prepared for them. disbenecks of those who shall have will put yokes on the lieved shall they be rewarded any otherwise than according to
:
what they shall have wrought ? We have sent no warner unto any city, but the inhabitants thereof who lived in affluence And said, Verily we believe not that with which ye are sent. those of Mecca also say, We abound in riches and children more than ye, and we shall not be punished thereafter. Answer, Verily my Lord will bestow provision in abundance unto whom he pleaseth, and will be sparing unto whom he pleaseth
:
but the greater part of men know not this. Neither your riches nor your children are the things which shall cause you to draw nigh unto us with a near approach only whoever believcth, and worketh righteousness, they shall receive a double reward for that which they have wrought and they
:
shall dwell in security, in the upper apartments of paradise. But they who shall endeavor to render our signs of none effect shall be delivered
Say, Verily my Lord punishment. will bestow provision in abundance unto whom he pleaseth of his servants, and will be sparing unto whom he pleaseth and whatever thing ye shall give in alms, he will return it and he
up
to
is
the best provider of food.

all
them
together
a certain day he shall gather then shall he say unto the ungels, Did these
!
On
worship you ? And the angels shall answer, God forbid thou art our friend, and not these but they worshiped devils the On this day the one greater part of them believed in them.
: ;

And we
319
of you shall not be able either to profit or to hurt the other. will say unto those who have acted un justly, Taste ye the pain of hell fire, which ye rejected as a falsehood. When our evident signs are read unto them, they say of
is no other than a man, who seeketh from the which gods you your fathers worshiped. And they say of the Koran, This is no other than a lie blasphemously forged. And the unbelievers say of the truth, when it is come unto them, This is no other than manifest sorcery yet we have given them no books of scripture wherein to exercise themselves, nor have we sent unto them any warner before thee. They who were before them in like manner
thee, to turn
Mohammed, This
aside
accused their prophets of imposture: but these have not arrived unto the tenth part of the riches and strength which we had bestowed on the former and they accused my apostles of
:
Say, Verily vengeance I advise you unto one thing, namely, that ye stand before God by two and two, and singly ; and then consider seriously, and
; !
imposture
and how severe was
my
you
no madness in your companion no other than a warner unto you, sent before a severe punishment. Say, I ask not of you any reward
will find that there is
Mohammed:
he
is
for
preaching; it is your own, either to give or not: my reward is to be expected from God alone and he is witness over all things. Say, Verily my Lord sendeth down the truth
my
to his prophets: he is the
come, and falsehood is more. Say, If I err, verily I shall err only against my own soul but if I be rightly directed, it will be by that which my Lord revealeth unto me for he is ready to hear, and nigh unto
:
knower of secrets. Say, Truth is vanished, and shall not return any
those
who
call
upon him.
If thou couldst
see,
when
the un-
believers shall tremble, and shall find ro refuge, and shall be believe in him ! taken from a near place, and shall say, But how shall they receive the faith from a distant place:
We
had before denied him, and reviled the mysteries of And a bar shall be placed faith, from a distant place? between them and that which they shall desire as it hath been done with those who behaved like them heretofore: because they have been in a doubt which hath caused scandal.
since they
;
320
THE SACRED BOOKS

CHAPTER XXXV
ENTITLED, THE CREATOR:
IN THE
REVEALED AT MECCA
Praise be unto God, the Creator of heaven and earth ; who maketh the angels his messengers, furnished with two, and * God maketh what he pleaseth three, and four pair of wings
:
unto his creatures for God is almighty. The mercy which God shall freely bestow on mankind, there is none who can withhold and what he shall withhold, there is none who can O men, bestow, besides him and he is the mighty, the wise. remember the favor of God toward you is there any creator, besides God, who provideth food for you from heaven and earth ? There is no God but he how therefore are ye turned
; ; :
:
If they accuse thee of imposture, apostles before thee have also been accused of
aside
from acknowledging his unity ?
imposture ; and unto
God
shall all things return.

:
men, verily the promise of God is true let not therefore the present life deceive you, neither let the deceiver deceive you concerning God for Satan is an enemy unto you where:
fore hold
him
for an
enemy he only inviteth his confederates

:
to be the inhabitants of hell.

is
:
For
those
prepared a severe torment but for and do that which is right is prepared mercy and a great reward. Shall he therefore for whom his evil work hath been prepared, and who imagineth it to be good, be as he who is rightly disposed and discerneth the truth ? Verily God will cause to err whom he pleaseth, and will direct whom he Let not thy soul therefore be spent in sighs for pleaseth. their sakes, on account of their obstinacy for God well knoweth that which they do. It is God who sendeth the winds, and raiseth a cloud and
; ;
who believe not there those who shall believe
That is, some angels wings, according to their to express the particular Mohammed, on the night
1
have a greater and some a lesser number of different orders, the words not being designed number. Gabriel is said to have appeared to he made his journey to heaven, with no lea
than
six.
hundred wings.

we
drive the
the earth after
321
same unto a dead country, and thereby quicken
it hath been dead : so shall the resurrection be. desireth excellence, unto God doth all excellence belong unto him ascendeth the good speech and the righteous work will he exalt. But as for them who devise wicked plots,
Whoever
:
they shall suffer a severe punishment ; and the device of those men shall be rendered vain. God created you first of the
dust, wife.
and afterward of seed and he hath made you man and

:
female conceiveth, or bringeth forth, but with his knowledge. Nor is anything added unto the age of him whose life is prolonged, neither is anything diminished from his age, but the same is written in the book of God's decrees. Verily this is easy with God. The two seas are not to be held
in comparison this is fresh and sweet, pleasant to drink ; but that is salt and bitter yet out of each of them ye eat fish, and
: :
No
take ornaments for you to wear. plowing the waves thereof, that ye
seest the ships also seek to enrich yourmay selves by commerce, of the abundance of God peradventure ye will be thankful. He causeth the night to succeed the
:
Thou
day, and he causeth the day to succeed the night; and he obligeth the sun and the moon to perform their services each This is God, your of them runneth an appointed course. Lord: his is the kingdom. But the idols which ye invoke
:
besides
him have not the power even over
the skin of a date;
stone
ye invoke them, they will not hear your calling and although they should hear, yet they would not answer you. On the day of resurrection they shall disclaim your having associated them with God: and none shall declare unto thee
:
if
well acquainted therewith. O men, ye have need of God ; but God is self-sufficient, and If he pleaseth, he can take you away, and proto be praised. duce a new creature in your stead neither will this be diffiburdened soul shall not bear the burden of cult with God.
the truth, like one
is
:
who
on another to bear borne by the perpart of its burden, no part thereof shall be son who shall be called on, although he be ever so nearly related. Thou shalt admonish those who fear their Lord in
another
:
and
if
a heavy-burdened soul
call
secret,
and are constant

21.
at prayer:
and whoever cleanseth
VOL. V.
323
THE SACRED BOOKS

;
himself from the guilt of disobedience cleanseth himself to the advantage of his own soul for all shall be assembled beThe blind and the seeing shall not fore God at the last day.
be held equal ; neither darkness and light nor the cool shade and the scorching wind neither shall the living and the dead God shall cause him to hear whom he pleasbe held equal.
;
:
eth: but thou shalt not
make
those to hear
who
are in their
Thou art no other than a preacher : verily we have graves. sent thee with truth, a bearer of good tidings, and a denouncer There hath been no nation, but a preacher hath of threats. in past times been conversant among them if they charge
:
thee with imposture, they
who were
before
charged their apostles with imposture. unto them with evident miracles, and with divine writings, and with the enlightening book afterward I chastised those
:
them likewise Their apostles came
my vengeance! Dost thou not see that God sendeth down rain from heaven, and that we thereby produce fruits of various colors ? In the mountain also there are some tracts white and red, of various colors and other are of a deep black and of men, and beasts, and cattle there are whose colors are in like manner various. Such only of his servants fear God as are endued with understanding: verily God is mighty and ready to forgive. Verily they who read the book of God, and are constant at prayer, and give alms out of what we have bestowed on them, both in secret and openly, hope for a merchandise which shall not perish: that God may fully pay them their wages, and make them a superabundant addition of his liberality for he is ready to forgive the faults of his servants, and to requite their endeavors. That which we have revealed unto thee of the book of the Koran, is the truth, confirming the scriptures which were revealed before it for God knoweth and regard;
: ; ;
who were
unbelievers, and how severe was
eth his servants.
have given the book of the Koran in heritage unto such of our servants as we have chosen of them there is one
:
And we
who
injureth his own soul ; and there is another of them keepeth the middle way; and there is another of them
who who
outstrippeth others in good works, by the permission of God.

This
is
823
the great excellence. They shall be introduced into gardens of perpetual abode; they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their clothing therein
and they shall say, Praise be unto God, who hath taken away sorrow from us! verily our Lord is ready to forgive the sinners, and to reward the obedient ; who hath caused us to take up our rest in a dwelling of eternal stashall be of silk
:
through his bounty, wherein no labor shall touch us, neither shall any weariness affect us. But for the unbelievbility,
ers is prepared the fire of hell : it shall not be decreed them to die a second time; neither shall any part of the punishment
Thus shall every infidel lighter unto them. be rewarded. And they shall cry out aloud in hell, saying, Lord, take us hence, and we will work righteousness, and not
thereof be
made
what we have formerly wrought. But it shall be answered them, Did we not grant you lives of length sufficient that whoever would be warned might be warned therein and did not the preacher come unto you? taste, therefore, the pains And the unjust shall have no protector. of hell. Verily God knoweth the secrets both of heaven and earth, It for he knoweth the innermost part of the breasts of men. Whoever is he who hath made you. to succeed in the earth. their unbelief and him be his unbelief: on shall disbelieve,
;
shall only gain the unbelievers greater indignation in the sight of their Lord ; and their unbelief shall only increase the per-
Say, what think ye of your deities which ye invoke besides God? Show me what part of the Or had they any share in the creaearth they have created.
dition of the unbelievers.
given unto the idolaters any may rely on any proof therefrom to authorize their practise? Nay: but the ungodly
tion of the heavens
?
Have we
book of revelations, so that they
make unto one another only deceitful promises. Verily God sustaineth the heavens and the earth,
lest
they
fail: and if they should fail, none could support the same The Koreish besides him; he is gracious and merciful. if a preacher had swore by God, with a most solemn oath, that
come unto them, they would surely have been more willingly But now a preacher is come unto directed than any nation.
THE SACRED BOOKS

hath only increased in them their aversion from the truth, their arrogance in the earth, and their contriving of evil; but the contrivance of evil shall only encompass the Do they expect any other than the punishauthors thereof. ment awarded against the unbelievers of former times ? For thou shalt not find any change in the ordinance of God;
them,
it
neither shalt thou find any variation in the ordinance of God. Have they not gone through the earth, and seen what hath
been the end of those who were before them although they were more mighty in strength than they ? God is not to be frustrated by anything either in heaven or on earth for he If God should punish men according is wise and powerful. to what they deserve, he would not leave on the back of the earth so much as a beast: but he respiteth them to a determined time ; and when their time shall come, verily God will
; ;
regard his servants.
CHAPTER XXXVI
ENTITLED,
IN THE
Y. S.;
REVEALED AT MECCA
by the instructive Koran, that thou art one This of the messengers of God, sent to show the right way. is a revelation of the most mighty, the merciful God: that thou mayest warn a people whose fathers were not warned, and who live in negligence. Our sentence hath justly been pronounced against the greater part of them wherefore they shall not believe. We have put yokes on their necks, which come up to their chins and they are forced to hold up their heads and we have set a bar before them, and a bar behind them; and we have covered them with darkness; wherefore they shall not see. It shall be equal unto them whether thou
Y.
S.
I swear
dition of
The meaning of these letters is unknown some, however, from a traEbn Abbas, pretend they stand for Ya insan, i.e., " O man."
:
it is said, had several other titles given it by Mohammed " The heart of the Koran." The Mohimself, and particularly that of hammedans read it to dying persons in their last agony.
This chapter,

;
325
preach unto them, or do not preach unto them they shall not But thou shalt preach with effect unto him only believe. who followeth the admonition of the Koran, and feareth the
Merciful in
secret.
Wherefore bear good tidings unto him,
life, and will write down works which they shall have sent before them, and their footsteps which they shall have left behind them and everything do we set down in a plain register. Propound unto them as an example the inhabitants of the city of Antioch, when the apostles of Jesus came thereto when we sent unto them two of the said apostles, but they charged them with Wherefore we strengthened them with a third. imposture. And they said, Verily we are sent unto you by God. The inhabitants answered, Ye are no other than men, as we are neither hath the Merciful revealed anything unto you: ye The apostles replied, Our Lord knoweth only publish a lie. that we are really sent unto you and our duty is only public Those of Antioch said, Verily we presage evil preaching. from you if ye desist not from preaching we will surely stone you, and a painful punishment shall be inflicted on you by us.
of mercy, and an honorable reward. Verily we will restore the dead to
their
with yourselves although ye be warned, will ye persist in your errors ? Verily ye a're a people who transgress exceedingly. And a certain man came hastily from the farther parts of
apostles answered,
evil presage is
:
The
Your
the city, and said, people, follow the messengers of God ; follow him who demandeth not any reward of you for these
:
O my
are rightly directed.

return.
What
reason have I that I should not
worship him who hath
created
me?
for unto
him
shall
ye
Shall I take other gods besides

:
him ?
If the merci-
ful be pleased to afflict me, their intercession will not avail me at all, neither can they deliver me then should I be in a man-
Verily I believe in your Lord wherefore barken unto me. But they stoned him and as he died, it was said unto him, Enter thou into paradise. And he said, O that my he hath people knew how merciful God hath been unto me for his peohighly honored me. And we sent not down against the nor from an slain heaven, army him, ple, after they had
ifest error.
; :
!
326
THE SACRED BOOKS
other instruments of destruction which we sent down on unbelievers in former days: there was only one cry of Gabriel
from heaven, and behold, they became utterly extinct. No apostle cometh unto them, but they the misery of men laugh him to scorn. Do they not consider how many gen!
erations
we have destroyed
before them?
all
not return unto them: but
Verily they shall of them in general shall be
assembled before us.
One sign we quicken
of the resurrection unto
the
same by the
rain,
them is the dead earth and produce thereout vari:
ous sorts of grain, of which they

:
eat.
And we make
therein
gardens of palm-trees, and vines; and we cause springs to gush forth in the same that they may eat of the fruits thereof, and of the labor of their hands. Will they not therefore give thanks ? Praise be unto him who hath created all the different kinds, both of vegetables, which the earth bringeth forth, and of their own species, by forming the two sexes, and also
the various sorts of things which they know not. The night also is a sign unto them : we withdraw the day from the same,
and behold, they are covered with darkness: and the sun hasteneth to his place of rest. This is the disposition of the the wise for God. And the moon have we appointed mighty, certain mansions, until she change and return to be like the old branch of a palm-tree. It is not expedient that the sun
neither doth the night outstrip the day: but each of these luminaries moveth in a It is a sign also unto them, that we carry peculiar orbit. their offspring in the ship filled with merchandise; and
should overtake the
moon in her course
them other conveniences like unto it, whereon they ride. If we please, we drown them, and there is none to help them neither are they delivered, unless through our mercy, and that they may enjoy life for a season. When it is said unto them, Fear that which is before you, and that which is behind you, that ye may obtain mercy they withdraw from thee and thou dost not bring them one sign, of the signs of their Lord, but they turn aside from the same. And when it is said unto them, Give alms of that which God hath bestowed on you; the unbelievers say unto those who
that
we have made
for

by way of mockery, Shall we feed him whom God can feed, if he pleaseth ? Verily we are in no other than a
believe,
manifest error.
And
be
they say,
When
will this promise of the resurrection
if ye speak truth? They only wait for one the which of shall overtake them while trumpet, sounding they are disputing together ; and they shall not have time to make any disposition of their effects, neither shall they re-
fulfilled,
turn to their family. And the trumpet shall be sounded again and behold they shall come forth from their graves, and hasten unto their Lord. They shall say, Alas for us!
;
This is what the Merciful promised us and his apostles spoke the truth. It shall be but one sound of the trumpet, and behold, they shall On this day no soul shall be be all assembled before us. unjustly treated in the least ; neither shall ye be rewarded, but
;
who hath awakened us from our bed ?
On this day the inaccording to what ye shall have wrought. habitants of paradise shall be wholly taken up with joy: they and their wives shall rest in shady groves, leaning on There shall they have fruit, and they magnificent couches. Peace shall be the shall obtain whatever they shall desire.
word spoken unto the
he
shall say
righteous,
by a merciful Lord: but

I not
unto the wicked, Be ye separated this day,

righteous. that ye should not worship Satan
ye wicked, from the

sons of
Did
command
;
Adam,
you, because he
O O
was an open enemy unto you ? And did I not say, Worship me this is the right way ? But now hath he seduced a great
;
multitude of you: did ye not therefore understand? This is hell, with which ye were threatened: be ye cast into the same this day, to be burned; for that ye have been unbelievers. On this day we will seal up their mouths, that they shall not open them in their own defense; and their hands
unto us, and their feet shall bear witness of that which they have committed. If we pleased we could put out their eyes, and they might run with emulation in the way they used to take and how should they see their error ? And if we pleased we could transform them into other shapes, in their places where they should be found and they should
shall speak
;
;
328
THE SACRED BOOKS
Unto not be able to depart: neither should they repent. whomsoever we grant a long life, him do we cause to bow down his body through age. Will they not therefore
understand ? We have not taught
is it
Mohammed
to
expedient for
him
be a poet.
:
the art of poetry; nor This book is no other
than an admonition from God, and a perspicuous Koran; that he may warn him who is living and the sentence of condemnation will be justly executed on the believers. Do they not consider that we have created for them, among the things which our hands have wrought, cattle of several kinds, of
which they are possessors; and that we have put the same in subjection under them? Some of them are for their riding and on some of them do they feed and they receive other advantages therefrom; and of their milk do they drink. Will they not, therefore, be thankful? They have taken other gods, besides God, in hopes that they may be assisted by them: but they are not able to give them any assistance yet are they a party of troops ready to defend them. Let not their speech, therefore, grieve thee we know that which they privately conceal, and that which they pubDoth not man know that we have created licly discover. him of seed? yet behold, he is an open disputer against the resurrection ; and he propoundeth unto us a comparison, and
;
:
He saith, Who shall restore bones forgetteth his creation. to life, when they are rotten ? Answer, He shall restore them
to life,
who produced them the first time for he is every kind of creation who giveth you fire out of
:
skilled in
the green
Is not he tree, and behold, ye kindle your fuel from thence. who hath created the heavens and the earth able to create new creatures like unto them ? Yea, certainly for he is the wise Creator. His command, when he willeth a thing, is Wherefore praise only that he saith unto it, Be and it is. be unto him, in whose hand is the kingdom of all things, and unto whom ye shall return at the last day.
: ;
CHAPTER XXXVII
ENTITLED, THOSE
IN THE
WHO RANK THEMSELVES IN ORDER; REVEALED AT MECCA

By
who
the angels who rank themselves in order ; and by those drive forward and dispel the clouds: and by those who
;
read the Koran for an admonition
verily your
God
is
one :
the Lord of heaven and earth, and of whatever is between have adorned the lower them, and the Lord of the east.
We
heaven with the ornament of the stars: and we have placed

therein a guard, against every rebellious devil ; that they may not listen to the discourse of the exalted princes (for they are darted at from every side, to repel them, and a lasting tor-
prepared for them) ; except him who catcheth a word by stealth, and is pursued by a shining flame. Ask the Meccans, therefore, whether they be stronger by nature, or the We have surely created them angels whom we have created ? of stiff clay. Thou wonderest at God's power and their obstinacy ; but they mock at the arguments urged to convince them when they are warned, they do not take warning; and when they see any sign, they scoff thereat, and say, This is no other than manifest sorcery: after we shall be dead, and become dust and bones, shall we really be raised to life, and our
ment
is
forefathers also
Answer, Yea and ye shall then be despicable. There shall be but one blast of the trumpet, and they shall see themselves raised: and they shall say, Alas for us!
?
:
day of judgment this is the day of distinction between the righteous and the wicked, which ye rejected as a falsehood. Gather together those* who have acted unjustly, and their comrades, and the idols which they worshiped besides God, and direct them in the way to hell and set them
this is the
;
:
before God's tribunal; for they shall be called to account. What aileth you that ye defend not one another? But on this day they shall submit themselves to the judgment of
God: and they

dispute
shall
draw nigh unto one
another, and shall
among
themselves.
And
the seduced shall say unto
330
those
THE SACRED BOOKS

who seduced them, Verily ye came unto us with presages
:
of prosperity ; and the seducers shall answer, Nay, rather ye were not true believers for we had no power over you to compel you; but ye were people who voluntarily transgressed: wherefore the sentence of our Lord hath been justly pro-
nounced against us, and we shall surely taste his vengeance. "We seduced you; but we also erred ourselves. They shall both therefore be made partakers of the same punishment on Thus will we deal with the wicked because, when that day. it is said unto them, There is no God besides the true God, they swell with arrogance, and say, Shall we abandon our gods for a distracted poet ? Nay ; he cometh with the truth, and beareth witness to the former apostles. Ye shall surely taste the painful torment of hell; and ye shall not be rewarded, but according to your works.
:
as for the sincere servants of God, they shall have a certain provision in paradise, namely, delicious fruits : and
But
they shall be honored: they shall be placed in gardens of pleasure", leaning on couches, opposite to one another a cup shall be carried round unto them, filled from a limpid fountain, for the delight of those who drink it shall not oppress
:
the understanding, neither shall they be inebriated therewith. And near them shall lie the virgins of paradise, refraining their looks from beholding any besides their spouses, having
large black eyes, and resembling the eggs of an ostrich covered with feathers from the dust. And they shall turn the
one unto the other, and shall ask one another questions. And one of them shall say, Verily I had an intimate friend while I lived in the world, who said unto me, Art thou one of
those
who
assertest the truth of the resurrection
After we
shall be dead, and reduced to dust and bones, shall we surely be judged? Then he shall say to his companions, Will ye look down ? And he shall look down, and shall see him in the midst of hell; and he shall say unto him, By God, it wanted little but thou hadst drawn me into ruin; and had it not been for the grace of my Lord, I had surely been one of those who had been delivered up to eternal torment. Shall we die any other than our first death; or do we suffer any

punishment ?
Verily this
is
331
great felicity : for the obtaining a felicity like this let the laborers labor. Is this a better * or the tree of Al Zakkum ? entertainment,
Verily we have designed the same for an occasion of dis2 It is a tree which issueth from the pute unto the unjust. bottom of hell the fruit thereof reseinbleth the heads of dev:
ils
3
;
and the damned
shall eat of the same,
their bellies therewith; there shall be given
and shall fill them thereon a
filthy and boiling water to drink afterward shall return into hell. they They found their fathers going astray, and they trod hastily in their footsteps for the greater part
mixture of
of the ancients erred before them.

:
And we
sent warners unto
them heretofore and see how miserable was the end of those who were warned except the sincere servants of God. Noah called on us in former days, and we heard him graciously and we delivered him and his family out of the great distress: and we caused his offspring to be those who survived to people the earth and we left the following salutation to be bestowed on him by the latest posterity, namely, Peace be on Noah among all creatures! Thus do we reward the righteous; for he was one of our servants the true believers. Afterward we drowned the others. Abraham also was of his religion when he came unto his Lord with a perfect heart. When he said unto his father and his people, What do ye worship? Do ye choose false
; :
:
gods preferably to the true God? What therefore is your opinion of the Lord of all creatures? And he looked and observed the stars, and said, Verily I shall be sick, and shall not assist at your sacrifices and they turned their backs and
:
And Abraham went privately to their and said gods, scoffingly unto them, Do ye not eat of the meat which is set before you ? What aileth you that ye speak not ? And he turned upon them, and struck them with his right
departed from him.
*
There
fruit like
is
2
is a thorny tree so called, which grows in TVhama, and bears an almond, but extremely bitter; and therefore the same name
given to this infernal tree. The infidels not conceiving how a tree could grow in hell, where the stones themselves serve for fuel. a Or of serpents ugly to behold; the original word signifies both.
332
THE SACRED BOOKS
hand, and demolished them. And the people came hastily unto him: and he said, Do ye worship the images which ye carve ? whereas God hath created you, and also that which ye make. They said, Build a pile for him, and cast him into they devised a plot against him but we made them the inferior, and delivered him. And Abraham said, Verily I am going unto my Lord, who will direct
the glowing
fire.
;
And
me.
Lord, grant
acquainted him meek youth. And when he had

cretion,
Wherefore we a righteous issue. that he should have a son who should be a

attained to years of disacts of religion with
me
and could join in
him; Abra-
ham said unto him, son, verily I saw in a dream that I should offer thee in sacrifice consider therefore what thou
:
O my
art of opinion I should do. answered, what thou art commanded : thou shalt find me, if
He
O my
father,
do
God
please,
when they had submitted themselves Abraham had laid his son prostrate on his face, we cried unto him, O Abraham, now hast thou Thus do we reward the righteous. Ververified the vision. And we ransomed him with a ily this was a manifest trial. And we left the following salutation to be noble victim. bestowed on him by the latest posterity, namely, Peace be on Abraham! Thus do we reward the righteous: for he was
one of our faithful servants. And we rejoiced him with the promise of Isaac, a righteous prophet; and
offspring were
And a patient person. to the divine will, and
we
blessed
him and
doers,
Isaac: and of their
and others who maniWe were also gracious unto festly injured their,- own souls. Moses and Aaron, heretofore: and we delivered them and And we assisted them their people from a great distress. against the Egyptians; and they became the conquerors. And we gave them the perspicuous book of the law, and we directed them into the right way: and we left the following salutation to be bestowed on them by the latest posterity, Thus do we reward namely, Peace be on Moses and Aaron the righteous; for they were two of our faithful servants. And Elias was also one of those who were sent by us. When he said unto his people, Do ye not fear God ? Do ye invoke
some righteous

they accused hiin of imposture: wherefore they shall be delivered up to eternal punishment; except the sincere servants of God. And we left the following salutation to be bestowed on him by the latest posterity, namely, Peace be on Ilyasin 4 Thus
1
Baal, and forsake the most excellent Creator? Lord, and the Lord of your forefathers. But
God
is
your
do we reward the righteous: for he was one of our faithful

servants.
also one of those who were sent by us. When him and his whole family, except an old woman, his wife, who perished among those that remained behind: afterward we destroyed the others. And ye, O people of
And Lot was

delivered
we
Mecca, pass by the places where they once dwelt, as ye journey in the morning and by night: will ye not therefore understand ? Jonas was also one of those who were sent by When he fled into the loaded ship and those who were us. on board cast lots among themselves, and he was condemned and the fish swallowed him for he was worthy of reprehenAnd if he had not been one of those who praised God, sion. verily he had remained in the belly thereof until the day of And we cast him on the naked shore, and he resurrection. was sick and we caused a plant of a gourd to grow up over him and we sent him to a hundred thousand persons, or they were a greater number, and they believed: wherefore we
;
:
granted them to enjoy this life for a season. Inquire of the Meccans whether thy Lord hath daughters, and they sons? Have we created the angels of the female
sex? and were they witnesses thereof? Do they not say of their own false invention, God hath begotten issue? and are they not really liars ? Hath he chosen daughters preferreason to judge thus. Will ye to sons? have no Ye ably
not therefore be admonished
4
?
Or have ye
a manifest proof
The commentators do not well know what to make of this word. and it is the plural of Elias, or, as the Arabs write it, Ilyas, resembled him, who those that both that prophet and his followers, or " are meant thereby; others divide the word, and read al Tasin, i.e., who was the father of Elias according to an opinion of
Some think
Yasin," family the mentioned above, and others imagine it signifies Mohammed, or Koran, or some other book of scripture.
334
of what ye say?
THE SACRED BOOKS

Produce now your book of
revelations, if
ye speak truth. And they make him to be of kin unto the whereas the genii know that they who affirm such genii things shall be delivered up to eternal punishment (far be that from God which they affirm of him ) except the sincere Moreover ye and that which ye worship servants of God.
;
!
shall not seduce
destined to
the
any concerning God, except him who is There is none of us, but hath be burned in hell.
;
an appointed place: we range ourselves in order, attending commands of God and we celebrate the divine praise. The infidels said, If we had been favored with a book of divine revelations, of those which were delivered to the ancients, we had surely been sincere servants of God yet now the Koran is revealed, they believe not therein but hereafter
:
the consequence of their unbelief. Our word hath formerly been given unto our servants the apostles; that they should certainly be assisted against the infidels, and
shall they
know
that our armies should surely be the conquerors. Turn aside therefore from them, for a season: and see the calamities
which shall afflict them; for they shall see thy future sucand prosperity. Do they therefore seek to hasten our vengeance ? Verily when it shall descend into their courts an evil morning shall it be unto those who were warned in vain. Turn aside from them therefore for a season and see hereafter shall they see thy success and their punishment. Praise be unto thy Lord, the Lord who is far exalted above what And peace be on his apostles they affirm of him
cess
; : ! !
CHAPTER XXXVIII
ENTITLED,
IN THE
S;
REVEALED AT MECCA.

full of admonition.
S.
*
By
the
Koran
Verily the unbe-
The meaning of this letter is unknown ; some guess it stands for Sidk, i.e., "Truth"; or for Radaka, i.e., He (viz., Mohammed) speaketh the truth," and others propose different conjectures, all equally uncertain.

lievers are addicted to pride an'd contention.
335
generations have we destroyed before them; and they cried for mercy, but it was not a time to escape. They wonder that a warner from among themselves hath come unto them. And
the unbelievers said, This man is a sorcerer and a liar doth he affirm the gods to be but one God? Surely this is a wonderful thing. And the chief men among them departed, saying to one another, Go, and persevere in the worship of your gods: verily this is the thing which is designed.
:
How many
We
have not heard anything like this in the last religion this is no other than a false contrivance. Hath an admonition been sent unto him preferably to any other among us? Verily in are a doubt admonition but they have they concerning my
: :
not yet tasted my vengeance. Are the treasuries of the mercy of thy Lord, the mighty, the munificent God, in their hands ? Is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and of whatever is between them, in their possession? If it be so, let
them ascend by steps unto heaven. But any army of the confederates shall even here be put to flight. The people of Noah, and the tribe of Ad, and Pharaoh the contriver of the stakes, and the tribe of Thamud, and the people of Lot,
and the inhabitants of the wood near Madian, accused the prophets of imposture before them: these were the confederates against the messengers of God. All of them did no
other than accuse their apostles of falsehood wherefore my vengeance hath been justly executed upon them. And these
:
wait only for one sounding of the trumpet which there shall be no deferring. And they scoffingly say, O Lord, hasten our sentence unto us, before the day of account.
;
thou patiently bear that which they utter and remind them of our servant David, endued with strength; for he was one who seriously turned himself unto God. We com:
Do
pelled the mountains to celebrate our praise with him, in the evening and at sunrise, and also the birds, which gathered
themselves together unto him:
all
of them returned fre-
quently unto him for this purpose.
And we
established his
kingdom, and gave him wisdom and eloquence of speech. Hath the story of the two adversaries come to thy knowledge ;
336
THE SACRED BOOKS
when they ascended over the wall into the upper apartment, when they went in unto David, and he was afraid of them ? They said, Fear not we are two adversaries who have a conThe one of us hath wronged the troversy to be decided.
:
other: wherefore judge between us with truth, and be not This my brother unjust; and direct us into the even way.
and I had only one ewe and he said, Give her me to keep and he prevailed against me in the discourse which we had together. David answered, Verily he hath wronged thee, in demanding thine ewe as an addition to his own sheep: and many of them who are concerned together in business wrong one another, except those who believe and do that which is right but how few are they And David perceived that we had tried him by this parable, and he asked pardon of his Lord: and he fell down and bowed Wherefore we forgave him this fault himself, and repented. and he shall be admitted to approach near unto us, and shall have an excellent place of abode in paradise. O David,
;
:
had ninety and nine sheep

;
verily we have appointed thee a sovereign prince in the earth: judge therefore between men with truth; and follow not thy own lust, lest it cause thee to err from the way of
God: for those who err from the way of God
shall suffer
a severe punishment, because they have forgotten the day of account. have not created the heavens and the earth, and
We
between them, in vain. This is the opinion of but woe unto those who believe not, because of the fire of hell. Shall we deal with those who believe and do good works, as with those who act corruptly in the earth ? Shall we deal with the pious as with the wicked ? A blessed book have we sent down unto thee, O Mohammed, that they may attentively meditate on the signs thereof, and that men of understanding may be warned. And we gave unto David Solomon; how excellent a servant for he frequently turned himself unto God. When the horses standing on three feet, and touching the ground with the edge of the fourth foot, and swift in the course, were set in parade before him in the evening, he said, Verily 1 have loved the love of earthly good above the remembrance
is
whatever
the unbelievers

Lord and have spent the time in viewing these horses, by the veil of night bring the horses back unto me. And when they were brought back, he began We also tried Soloto cut off their legs and their necks. 2 aftermon, and placed on his throne a counterfeit body unto and he turned O ward God, said, Lord, forgive ine, and give me a kingdom which may not be obtained by any
of
my
until the sun is hidden
after
me
the
wind subject
for thou art the giver of kingdoms. And we mado to him ; it ran gently at his command, whith-
And we also put the devils in subjecunder him; and among them such as were every way skilled in building, and in diving for pearls: and others we delivered to him bound in chains saying, This is our gift therefore be bounteous, or be sparing unto whom thou shalt think fit, without rendering an account. And he shall approach near unto us, and shall have an excellent abode in
ersoever he directed.
tion
; :
paradise.
The most received exposition of this passage is taken from the following Talmudic fable: Solomon, having taken Sidon, and slain the king of that city, brought away his daughter Jerada, who became his favorite; and because she ceased not to lament her father's loss, he ordered the devils to make an image of him for her consolation: which being done, and placed in her chamber, she and her maids worshiped it morning and evening, according to their custom. At length Solomon being informed of this idolatry, which was practised under his roof, by his vizir Asaf, he broke the image, and having chastised the woman, went out into the desert, where he wept and made supplications to God who did not think fit, however, to let his negligence pass without some correction. It was Solomon's custom, while he eased or washed himself, to entrust his signet, on which his kingdom depended, with a concubine of his named Amina: one day, therefore, when she had the ring in her custody, a devil, named Sakhar, came to her in the shape of Solomon, and received the ring from her; by virtue of which he became possessed of the kingdom and sat on the throne in the shape which he had borrowed, making what alterations in the law he pleased. Solomon, in the meantime, being changed in his outward appearance, and kn*wn to none of his subjects, was obliged to wander about, and beg alms for his subsistence; till at length, after the space of forty days, which was the time the image had been worshiped in his house, the devil flew away, and threw the signet into the sea: the signet was immediately swallowed by a fish, which being taken and given to Solomon, he found the ring in its belly, and having by this means recovered the kingdom, toc% lake oi Sakhar, and tying a great stone to his neck, threw him into the
2
;
Tiberias.
VOL. V.
22.
338
THE SACRED BOOKS
our servant Job; when he cried unto his Lord, saying, Verily Satan hath afflicted me with calamity and pain. And it was said unto him, Strike the earth with thy foot; which when he had done, a fountain sprang up, and it was said to him, This is for thee to wash in, to refresh
And remember
thee,
and
to drink.
And we
restored unto
him
his family,
and as many more with them, through our mercy; and for an admonition unto those who are endued with understandAnd we said unto him, Take a handful of rods in thy ing. hand, and strike thy wife therewith; and break not thine oath. Verily we found him a patient person: how excellent a servant was he for he was one who frequently turned himself unto us. Remember also our servants Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, who were men strenuous and prudent. Verily we purified them with a perfect purification, through the remembrance of the life to come; and they were, in our And remember Ismael, and sight, elect and good men. and Dhu'lkefl for all these were good men. This is Elisha, an admonition. Verily the pious shall have an excellent place to return unto, namely, gardens of perpetual abode, the gates whereof shall stand open unto them. As they lie down therein, they shall there ask for many sorts of fruits, and for drink and near them shall sit the virgins of paradise, refraining their looks from beholding any besides their spouses, and of equal This is what ye are promised at the day of age with them. account. This is our provision which shall not fail. This shall be the reward of the righteous. But for the transgressors is. prepared an evil receptacle, namely, hell they shall be cast into the same to be burned, and a wretched couch shall it be. This let them taste, to wit, scalding water, and corruption flowing from the bodies of the damned, and divers other
!
things of the
same kind.
And
it
shall be said to the seducers,
This troop which was guided by you, shall be thrown, together with you, headlong into hell: they shall not be bidden welcome; for they shall enter the fire to be burned. And the seduced shall say to their seducers, Verily ye shall not be bidden welcome ye have brought it upon us and a wretched
:
339
abode is hell. They shall say, O Lord, doubly increase tho torment of him who hath brought this punishment upon us, in the fire of hell. And the infidels shall say, Why do we not see the men whom we numbered among the wicked, and whom we received with scorn ? Or do our eyes miss them ? Verily
this is a truth
fire.
;
to wit, the disputing of the inhabitants of hell
Say, O Mohammed, unto the idolaters, Verily I am no other than a warner and there is no god, except the one only the the Lord of heaven and God, Almighty and of
:
earth,
the mighty, the forgiver of sins, It is a Say, weighty message, from which ye turn aside. I had no knowledge of the exalted princes, when they disputed
is
;
whatsoever
between them
the angels worshiped him, in general; except Eblis, who was puffed up with pride, and became an unbeliever. God said unto him, Eblis, what hindereth thee from worthat which I have created with my hands ? Art thou shiping
all
And
concerning the creation of man (it hath been revealed unto only as a proof that I am a public preacher) when thy Lord said unto the angels, Verily I am about to create man of clay when I shall have formed him, therefore, and shall have breathed my spirit into him, do ye fall down and worship him.
me
merit
elated with vain pride? ? He answered, I
Or
am more
art thou really one of exalted excellent than he ; thou hast
created
me
of fire and hast created
him
of clay.
slialt
God
said
unto him, Get thee hence therefore, for thou
be driven
away from mercy: and my curse shall be upon thee, until the day of judgment. He replied, O Lord, respite me, therefore, until the day of resurrection. God said, Verily thou shalt be one of those who are respited until the day of the determined time. Eblis said, By thy might do I swear, I will surely seduce them all, except thy servants who shall be peculiarly chosen from among them. God said, It is a just sentence: and I speak the truth: I will surely fill hell with thee, and with such of them as shall follow thee, altogether. Say unto
the Meccans, I ask not of you any reward for this my preaching: neither am I one of those who assume a part which The Koran is no other than an admobelongs not to them.
340
THE SACRED BOOKS

know what
is
and ye shall surely to be therein delivered true, after a season.

nition unto all creatures:
CHAPTER XXXIX
ENTITLED, THE TROOPS;
IN THE
1
REVEALED AT MECCA
GOD
NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL

is
The
God.
truth
:
revelation of this book
from the mighty, the wise
Verily we have
revealed this book unto thee with
him.
wherefore serve God, exhibiting the pure religion unto Ought not the pure religion to be exhibited unto God ?
But
as to those
who
take other patrons besides him, saying,
We worship them only that they may bring us nearer unto God; verily God will judge between them concerning that wherein they disagree. Surely God will not direct him who If God had been minded to have is a liar, or ungrateful. had a son, he had surely chosen what he pleased out of that which he hath created. But far be such a thing from him
!
He hath created the is the sole, the almighty God. heavens and the earth with truth he causeth the night to succeed the day, arid he causeth the day to succeed the night, and
He
:
he obligeth the sun and the moon to perform their services; Is not he the each of them hasteneth to an appointed period. mighty, the forgiver of sins? He created you of one man, and afterward out of him formed his wife: and he hath bestowed on you four pair of cattle. He formeth you in the
wombs
of your mothers, three veils of darkness.
by
several gradual formations, within This is God, your Lord his is the
:
kingdom: there is no God but he. Why therefore are ye turned aside from the worship of him to idolatry ? If ye be ungrateful, verily God hath no need of you ; yet he liketh not ingratitude in his servants but if ye be thankful,
:
he will be well pleased with you.

i
A burdened
soul shall not
This
title is
said the wicked shall be sent to hell, paradise by troops.
taken from the latter end of the chapter, where it is and the righteous admitted into
341
the burden of another: hereafter shall ye return unto your Lord, and he shall declare unto you that which ye have
wrought, and will reward you accordingly j for he knoweth the innermost parts of your breasts. When harm befalleth a man, he calleth upon his Lord, and turneth unto him:
afterward,
self,
when God hath bestowed on him
yet favor from him-
he forgetteth that Being which he invoked before, and setteth up equals unto God, that he may seduce men from his way. Say unto such a man, Enjoy this life in thy infidelity for a little while : but hereafter shalt thou surely be one of the
fire. Shall he who giveth himself up to in the hours of the and prayer night, prostrate standing, and who taketh heed as to the life to come, and hopeth for the mercy of his Lord, be dealt with as the wicked unbeliever?
inhabitants of hell
Say, Shall they who know their duty, and they who know it not, be held equal ? Verily the men of understanding only will be warned. . . .
revealed unto thee the book of the Koran, for the instruction of mankind, with truth. Whoso shall be directed thereby shall be directed to the advantage of his own
Verily
we have
soul
and whoso
shall err shall only err against the
same and
:
the souls of
thou art not a guardian over them. God taketh unto himself men at the time of their death ; and those which die not he also taketh in their sleep and he withholdeth those on which he hath passed the decree of death, but sendeth back
:
a determined period. Verily herein are signs unto people who consider. Have the Koreish taken idols for
the others
till
their intercessors with
Say, What, although they have not dominion over anything, neither do they understand?
Say, Intercession is altogether in the disposal of God his is the kingdom of heaven and earth; and hereafter shall ye return unto him. When the one sole God is mentioned, the
:
God ?
hearts of those
horror
who believe but when the false
not in the life to come shrink with gods, which are worshiped besides
him, are mentioned, behold, they are filled with joy. God, the creator of heaven and earth, who knowest Say,
manifest thou shalt judge between thy servants concerning that wherein they disthat which is secret and that which
is
;
THE SACRED BOOKS

If those who act unjustly were masters of whatever is agree. in the earth, and as much more therewith, verily they would give it to ransom themselves from the evil of the punishment,
on the day of resurrection and there shall appear unto them, from God, terrors which they never imagined and there shall appear unto them the evils of that which they shall have gained and that which they mocked at shall encompass them. When harm befalleth man, he calleth upon us; yet afterward, when we have bestowed on him favor from us, he saith, I have received it merely because of God's knowledge of my
:
deserts.
On
the contrary,
it not.
it is
trial
but the greater part
Those who were before them said the same but that which they had gained profited them not and And the evils which they had deserved fell upon them. whoever of these Meccans shall have acted unjustly, on them likewise shall fall the evils which they shall have deserved;
of them
:
know
neither shall they frustrate the divine vengeance. Do they not know that God bestoweth provision abundantly on whom
he pleaseth, and
sparing unto whom he pleaseth ? Yerily herein are signs unto people who believe. Say, O my servants who have transgressed against your own souls, despair not of the mercy of God seeing that God
is
:
forgiveth all sins; for he
is
And
be
turned unto your Lord, and resign yourselves unto him, before the threatened punishment overtake you for then ye shall not be helped. And follow the most excellent instructions which have been sent down unto you from your Lord, before the
;
punishment come suddenly upon you, and ye perceive not the approach thereof and a soul say, Alas for that I have been negligent in my duty to God: verily I have been one of the scorners or say, If God had directed me, verily I had been one of the pious or say, when it seeth the prepared punishment, If I could return once more into the world I would become one of the righteous. But God shall answer, My signs came unto thee heretofore, and thou didst charge them with falsehood, and wast puffed up with pride; and thou
;
! :
becamest one of the unbelievers. On the day of resurrection thou shalt see the faces of those who have uttered lies concern-

ing God become black: is there not an abode prepared in hell But God shall deliver those who shall fear for the arrogant ? him, and shall set them in their place of safety evil shall not
:
touch them, neither shall they be grieved. God is the creator of all things, and he is the governor of all things. His are the keys of heaven and earth and they who believe not in the
:
signs of God, they shall perish. Say, Do ye therefore bid me to worship other than God, ye fools? since it hath been spoken by revelation unto thee,
unto the prophets who have been before thee, saying, thou join any partners with God, thy work will be Verily altogether unprofitable, and thou shalt certainly be one of those who perish wherefore rather fear God, and be one of
and
also
if
those
of
who give thanks. But they make not a due estimation God since the whole earth shall be but his handful, on the
:
day of resurrection
in his right hand.
and the heavens
shall
!
Praise be unto him
be rolled together and far be he exalted

!
above the idols which they associate with him The trumpet shall be sounded, and whoever are in heaven and whoever are
on earth
shall expire
except those
2
whom God
exempt from the common fate. sounded again; and behold, they shall arise and look up. And the earth shall shine by the light of its Lord and the book shall be laid open, and the prophets and the martyrs shall be brought as witnesses ; and judgment shall be given between them with truth, and they shall not be treated unjustly. And every soul shall be fully rewarded, according to that which it shall have wrought for he perfectly knoweth whatever they
:
shall please to Afterward it shall be
the unbelievers shall be driven unto hell by troops, until, when they shall arrive at the same, the gates thereof shall be opened: and the keepers thereof shall say unto them,
do.
And
from among you come unto you, who rehearsed unto you the signs of your Lord, and warned you of the meeting of this your day? They shall answer, Yea:
Did not
apostles
2 These, some say, will be the angels Gabriel, Michael, and Israfil, and the angel of death, who yet will afterward all die, at the command of God; it being the constant opinion of the Mohammedan doctors, that in every soul, both of men and of animals, which live either on land or
344
THE SACRED BOOKS
but the sentence of eternal punishment hath been justly pronounced on the unbelievers. It shall be said unto them, Enter ye the gates of hell, to dwell therein forever; and miserable shall be the abode of the proud
!
But those who shall have feared their Lord shall be conducted by troops toward paradise, until they shall arrive at the same and the gates thereof shall be ready set open ; and
:
the guards thereof shall say unto them, Peace be on you! ye have been good: wherefore enter ye into paradise, to re-
main therein
forever.
And
God, who hath performed
his promise unto us,
they shall answer, Praise be unto and hath made
us to inherit the earth, that
we may
dwell in paradise
wherever we please
How
!
excellent is the reward of those
who work righteousness

:
And thou shalt see the angels going in procession round the throne, celebrating the praises of their Lord and judgment shall be given between them with truth ;
and they
shall say, Praise be
!
unto God, the Lord of
all
creatures
CHAPTER XL
ENTITLED, THE TRUE BELIEVER;
IN THE
1
REVEALED AT MECCA

is
H. M.
wise
The
;
from the mighty, the

;
:
God
the f orgiver of sin, and the accepter of repentance
severe in punishing; long-suffering. There is no God but he before him shall be the general assembly at the last day.
None
lievers: but
disputeth against the signs of God, except the unbelet not their prosperous dealing in the land
deceive thee with vain allurements.
The people
of Noah, and
the sea, and of the angels also, must necessarily taste of death: others suppose those who will be exempted are the angels who bear the throne of God, or the black-eyed damsels, and other inhabitants of paradise. The space between these two blasts of the trumpet will be forty days, according to Yahya and others; there are some, however, who suppose it will be as many years. i This title is taken from the passage wherein mention is made of one of Pharaoh's family who believed in Moses.

the confederated infidels which were after them, accused their respective prophets of imposture before these ; and each
designs against their apostle, that they might get him into their power and they disputed with vain reasoning, that they might thereby invalidate the truth: wherefore I chastised them and how severe was my punishment! Thus hath the sentence of thy Lord justly passed
ill
; ;
nation hatched
on the unbelievers
fire.
that they shall be the inhabitants of hell
angels who bear the throne of God, and those who stand about it, celebrate the praise of their Lord, and believe in him; and they ask pardon for the true believers, saying,
The
Lord, thou encompassest all things by thy mercy and knowledge; wherefore forgive those who repent and follow thy
and deliver them from the pains of hell: O Lord, lead them gardens of eternal abode, which thou hast promised unto them, and unto every one who shall do right, of their fathers, and their wives, and their children; for thou art the mighty, the wise God. And deliver them from evil for whomsoever thou shalt deliver from evil on that day, on him wilt thou show mercy and this will be great salvation.
path,
also into
;
;
day of judgment, shall hear a voice unto them, Verily the hatred of God toward you is crying more grievous than your hatred toward yourselves: since ye were called unto the faith, and would not believe. They shall say, O Lord, thou hast given us death twice, and thou hast twice given us life; and we confess our sins: is there thereinfidels, at the
But the
fore no
way
to get forth
from
this fire?
And
;
it
shall be
answered them, This hath befallen you, for that when one God was preached unto you, ye believed not but if a plurality of gods had been associated with him, ye had believed; and judgment belongeth unto the high, the great God. It is he who showeth you his signs, and sendeth down food unto you from heaven: but none will be admonished, except he who Call therefore upon God, exhibitturneth himself unto God. be ing your religion pure unto him, although the infidels
averse thereto.
He
;
sessor of the throne
the Being of exalted degree, the poswho sendeth down the spirit, at his comis
346
THE SACRED BOOKS
mand, on such of his servants as he pleaseth; that he may warn mankind of the day of meeting, the day whereon they shall come forth out of their graves, and nothing of what coiiUnto whom will the cerneth them shall be hidden from God. kingdom belong, on that day ? Unto the only, the almighty God. On that day shall every soul be rewarded according to its merits; there shall be no injustice done on that day. Verily God will be swift in taking an account. Wherefore warn them, O prophet, of the day which shall suddenly approach when men's hearts shall come up to their throats, and strangle them. The ungodly shall have no friend or
;
know the deceitful eye, and that which their breasts conceal and God will judge with truth but the false gods which they invoke besides him shall not judge at all for God is he who heareth and seeth. Have they not gone through the earth and seen what hath been the end of those who were before them? They were
intercessor
who
shall be heard.
God
will
;
more mighty than these in strength, and left more considerable footsteps of their power in the earth yet God chastised them for their sins, and there was none to protect them from God. This they suffered, because their apostles had come unto them with evident signs, and they disbelieved: wherefore God chastised them; for he is strong, and severe in
:
punishing. We heretofore sent Moses with our signs and manifest
power, unto Pharaoh, and Haman, and Karun ; and they said, He is a sorcerer and a liar. And when he came unto them
with the truth from us, they said, Slay the sons of those who have believed with him, and save their daughters alive: but And the stratagem of the infidels was no other than vain.
him
alone, that I may kill Moses; and let Lord: upon verily I fear lest he change your And religion, or cause violence to appear in the earth. unto Moses said unto his people, Verily I have recourse my and me to defend Lord, your Lord, against every proud per-
Pharaoh
said,
Let
me
call
his
son,
who
believeth not in the
day of account.
And
man who
was a true
believer, of the family of Pharaoh, and concealed his faith, said, Will ye put a man to death, because he saith,

my Lord; seeing he is come unto you with evident from your Lord ? If he be a liar, on him will the punsigns
is
God
ishment of his falsehood light; but if he speaketh the truth, some of those judgments with which he threateneth you will
him who is a transgressor or a liar. O my people, the kingdom is yours this day and ye are conspicuous in the earth but who shall defend us from the scourge of God, if it come unto us ? Pharaoh said, I only propose to you what I think to be most expedient and I guide you only into the right path. And he who had befall
upon you
verily
God
directeth not
lieved said, people, verily I fear for you a day like that of the confederates against the prophets in former times; a
O my
condition like that of the people of Noah, and the tribes of Ad and Thamud, and of those who have lived after them for God
:
any injustice be done unto his servants. O for you the day whereon men shall my people, verily I fear 2 call unto one another; the day whereon ye shall be turned back from the tribunal, and driven to hell then shall ye have none to protect you against God. And he whom God shall cause to err shall have no director. Joseph came unto you,
willeth not that
:
before Moses, with evident signs but ye ceased not to doubt of the religion which he preached unto you, until, when he
;
died, ye said,
him.
by no means send another apostle after Thus doth God cause him to err, who is a transgressor
will
God
dispute against the signs of God, without any authority which hath come unto them, are in great abomination with God, and with those who believe.
and a
skeptic.
They who
Thus doth God seal up every proud and stubborn heart. And Pharaoh said, O Haman, build me a tower, that I may reach the tracts, the tracts of heaven, and may view the God of Moses for I verily think him to be a liar. And thus the evil of his work was prepared for Pharaoh, and he turned aside from the right path: and the stratagems of Pharaoh ended only in loss. And he who had believed said, O my people,
;
of judgment, when the inhabitants of paradise and of hell shall enter into mutual discourse: when the latter shall call for cast the blame upon each help, and the seducers and the seduced shall other.
2
I.e.,
The day
348
follow
THE SACRED BOOKS

me
:
I will guide you into the right way. my people, is but a temporary enjoyment ; but the life this present verily Whoever life to come is the mansion of firm continuance.
worketh evil shall only be rewarded in equal proportion to the same but whoever worketh good, whether male or female, and
:
a true believer, they shall enter paradise ; they shall be provided for therein superabundantly. And, my people, as
is
for me, I invite you to salvation ; but ye invite me to hell fire : ye invite me to deny God, and to associate with him that
whereof I have no knowledge; but I invite you to the most There is no doubt but that the mighty, the forgiver of sins. false gods to which ye invite me deserve not to be invoked, either in this world or in the next and that we must return unto God ; and that the transgressors shall be the inhabitants of hell fire and ye shall then remember what I now say unto And I commit my affair unto God for God regardeth you. his servants. Wherefore God delivered him from the evils which they had devised; and a grievous punishment encom3 passed the people of Pharaoh. They shall be exposed to the 4 fire of hell morning and evening: and the day whereon the hour of judgment shall come, it shall be said unto them, Enter, O people of Pharaoh, into a most severe torment. And think on the time when the infidels shall dispute together in hell fire; and the weak shall say unto those who behaved with arrogance, Verily we were your followers will Those ye, therefore, relieve us from any part of this fire ? who behaved with arrogance shall answer, Verily we are all doomed to suffer therein for God hath now judged between his servants. And they who shall be in the fire shall say unto
;
:
3 Some are of opinion that those who were sent by Pharaoh to seize the true believer, his kinsman, are the persons more particularly meant in this place: for they tell us that the said believer fled to a mountain, where they found him at prayers, guarded by the wild beasts, which ranged themselves in order about him, and that his pursuers thereupon returned in a great fright to their master, who put them to death for not performing his command. * Some expound these words of the previous punishment they are doomed to suffer according to a tradition of Ebn Masud, which informs us that their souls are in the crops of black birds, which are exposed
to hell
fire
every morning and evening until the day of judgment.

the keepers of hell, Call ye on your Lord, that he would ease this punishment. They shall answer, us, for one day, from Did not your apostles come unto you with evident proofs?
They
shall
say,
Yea.
The keepers
shall
reply,
Do ye
therefore call on
God: but
the calling of the unbelievers on
him
shall be only in vain.
We
will surely assist our apostles,
and those who believe, in this present life, and on the day whereon the witnesses shall stand forth: a day whereon the
excuse of the unbelievers shall not avail them; but a curso shall attend them, and a wretched abode.
heretofore gave unto Moses a direction : and we left as an inheritance unto the children of Israel the book of the law ;
We
a direction, and an admonition to men of understanding. Wherefore do thou, O prophet, bear the insults of the infidels
for the promise of God is true : and ask pardon for thy fault; and celebrate the praise of thy Lord in the evening and in the morning. As to those who impugn the
with patience
signs of God, without any convincing proof which hath been revealed unto them, there is nothing but pride in their breasts ; but they shall not attain their desire : wherefore, fly for refuge
unto God, for it is he who heareth and seeth. Verily the creation of heaven and earth is more considerable than the creation of man but the greater part of men do not underThe blind and the seeing shall not be held equal nor stand.
: ;
they
who
believe
and work righteousness, and the

!
evil-doer:
The last hour how few revolve these things in their mind will surely come; there is no doubt thereof: but the greater Your Lord saith, Call upon me, part of men believe it not. and I will hear you: but they who proudly disdain my service shall enter with
It is
ignominy into
hell.
God who hath appointed
the night for you to take your
and the day to give you light: verily God is endued with beneficence toward mankind; but the greater This is God, your Lord ; part of men do not give thanks. the creator of all things there is no God besides him how Thus are therefore are ye turned aside from his worship?
rest therein,
:
God. It is God they turned aside who oppose the signs of who hath given you the earth for a stable floor, and the heaven
350
for a ceiling
:
THE SACRED BOOKS
and who hath formed you, and made your forms This is God, beautiful; and feedeth you with good things. blessed be the Lord of all creaGod, your Lord. Wherefore, He is the living God there is no God but he. tures Wherefore call upon him, exhibiting unto him the pure religion. Praise be unto God, the Lord of all creatures! Say, Verily I am forbidden to worship the deities which ye invoke, besides God, after that evident proofs have come unto me from my Lord; and I am commanded to resign myself unto the Lord of all creatures. It is he who first created you of dust, and afterward of seed, arid afterward of coagulated blood and afterward brought you forth infants out of your mothers'
!
wombs: then he permitteth you to attain your age of full strength, and afterward to grow old men (but some of you die
before that age), and to arrive at the determined period of your life; that peradventure ye may understand. It is he
who
giveth
life,
and causeth
to die
and when he decreeth a
it, Be, and it is. Dost thou not observe those who dispute against the signs of God, how they are turned aside from the true faith ? They who charge with falsehood the book of the Koran, and other scriptures and revealed doctrines which we sent our former
thing, he only saith unto
apostle to preach, shall hereafter know their folly ; when the collars shall be on their necks, and the chains by which they
shall be
fire.
And
dragged into hell: then shall they be burned in the it shall be said unto them, Where are the gods
which ye associated, besides God ? They shall answer, They have withdrawn themselves from us: yea, we called on noth-
Thus doth God lead the unbelievers into ing heretofore. error. This hath befallen you, for that ye rejoice insolently
on earth in that which was false and for that ye were elated with immoderate joy. Enter ye the gates of hell, to remain therein forever: and wretched shall be the abode of the
;
haughty Wherefore persevere with patience, O Mohammed for the promise of God is true. Whether we cause thee to see any part of the punishment with which we have threatened them, or whether we cause thee to die before thou see it before us
!
;

We
351
shall they be assembled at the last day. have sent a great before thee ; the histories of some of whom number of apostles
we have related unto thee, and the histories of others of them we have not related unto thee but no apostle had the power to
:
produce a sign, unless by the permission of God. When the command of God, therefore, shall come, judgment shall be given with truth ; and then shall they perish who endeavor
to render the signs of
God
of no effect.
It is
God who hath
given you the cattle, that ye may ride on some of them, and also receive other advantages may eat of others of them (ye \/ on them that therefrom) ; and ye may arrive at the business
t/
proposed in your mind and on them are ye carried by land, and on ships by sea. And he showeth you his signs which,
:
Do they not therefore, of the signs of God will ye deny? pass through the earth, and see what hath been the end of
those
who were
before them?
their
than these, and more mighty in

siderable
They were more numerous strength, and left more con-
power in the earth: yet that which they had acquired profited them not. And when their apostles came unto them with evident proofs of their mission, they rejoice in the knowledge which was with them: but that which they mocked at encompassed them. And when they beheld our vengeance, they said, We believe in God alone, and we renounce the idols which we associated with him but their faith availed them not, after they had beholden our vengeance. This was the ordinance of God, which was formerly observed in respect to his servants and then did the unbelievers perish.
: :
monuments of
CHAPTER XLI
ENTITLED, ARE DISTINCTLY EXPLAINED; REVEALED AT
MECCA
IN THE

a revelation from the most Merciful
:
H. M.
This
is
book the verses whereof are distinctly explained, an Arabic Koran for the instruction of people who understand bearing
;
352
THE SACRED BOOKS

:
good tidings, and denouncing threats but the greater part of And they say, Our aside, and harken not thereto. hearts are veiled from the doctrine to which thou invitest us ; and there is a deafness in our ears, and a curtain between us and thee wherefore act thou as thou shalt think fit ; for we shall act according to our own sentiments. Say, Verily I am only a man like you. It is revealed unto me that your God is one God wherefore direct your way straight unto him and And woe be to the idolask pardon of him for what is past.
them turn
give not the appointed alms, and believe not in the But as to those who believe and work righteousness ; they shall receive an everlasting reward. Say, Do ye indeed disbelieve in him who created the earth
aters
;
who
life to
come
He is the in two days ; and do ye set up equals unto him ? Lord of all creatures. And he placed in the earth mountains
firmly rooted, rising above the same: and he blessed it, and provided therein food of the creatures designed to be the in-
habitants thereof, in four days; equally for those who ask. Then he set his mind to the creation of heaven ; and it was
smoke: and he said unto
it,
and
to the earth,
Come, either
come, They answered, obediently, or against you will. And he formed them into seven obedient to thy command.
heavens, in two days; and revealed unto every heaven its office. And we adorned the lower heaven with lights, and This is the disposition of therein a guard of angels. placed
We
If the Meccans withdraw from the mighty, the wise God. these instructions, say, I denounce unto you a sudden destruc-
and Thamud. When the apostle came unto them before them and behind them, saying, Worship God alone; they answered, If our Lord had been pleased to send messengers, he had surely sent angels and we believe not the message with which ye are sent. As to the tribe of Ad, they behaved insolently in the earth, without reason, and said, Who is more mighty than we in strength ? Did they not see that God, who had created them, was more
tion, like the destruction of
:
Ad
mighty than they in strength ? And they knowingly rejected our signs. Wherefore we sent against them a piercing wind, on days of ill luck, that we might make them taste the punish-

:
353
ment of shame in this world but the punishment of the life to come will be more shameful and they shall not be protected And as to Thamud, we directed them but they therefrom.
;
;
loved blindness better than the true direction wherefore the terrible noise of an ignominious punishment assailed
:
them,
for that which they had deserved ; but we delivered those who believed and feared God. And warn them of the day, on which the enemies of God shall be gathered together unto hell fire, and shall march in distinct bands ; until, when they shall arrive thereat, their ears, and their eyes, and their skins shall bear witness against them of that which they shall have
wrought. And they shall say unto their skins, Wherefore do ye bear witness against us? They shall answer, God hath caused us to speak, who giveth speech unto all things: he created you the first time ; and unto him are ye returned. Ye did not hide yourselves, while ye sinned, so that your ears, and your eyes, and your skins could not bear witness against you ; but ye thought that God was ignorant of many things which
ye did. This was your opinion, which ye imagined of your Lord: it hath ruined you; and ye are become lost people. Whether they bear their torment, hell fire shall be their abode ; or whether they beg for favor, they shall not obtain favor.
will give them the devils to be their companions ; for dressed they up for them the false notions which they entertained of this present world, and of that which is to come; and the sentence justly fitteth them, which was formerly pro-
And we
nounced on the nations of genii and men who were before them for they perished. The unbelievers say, Harken not unto this Koran but use
; :
vain discourse during the reading thereof that ye may overcome the voice of the reader by your scoffs and laughter. Wherefore we will surely cause the unbelievers to taste a
;
grievous punishment, and we will certainly reward them for This shall be the rethe evils which they shall have wrought. ward of the enemies of God, namely hell fire therein is pre;
pared for
them an everlasting abode,

signs.
as a
reward for that they
have wittingly rejected our

in hell, Lord, VOL. V. 23.
And
show us the two who
the infidels shall say seduced us, of the genii
354
THE SACRED BOOKS
and men, 1 and we will cast them under our feet, that they may become most base and despicable. As for those who say, Our Lord is God, and who behave uprightly; the angels shall descend unto them, and shall say, Fear not, neither be ye grieved but rejoice in the hopes of paradise, which ye have been promised. We are your friends in this life, and in that which is to come therein shall ye have that which your souls shall desire, and therein shall ye obtain whatever ye shall ask for as a gift from a gracious and merciful God. Who speaketh better than he who inviteth unto God, and worketh righteousness, and saith, I am a Moslem ? Good and Turn away evil with that which evil shall not be held equal. is better and behold the man between whom and thyself there was enmity, shall become, as it were, thy warmest friend but none shall attain to this perfection, except they who are patient nor shall any attain thereto, except he who is endued
;
: ;
with a great happiness of temper. And if a malicious suggestion be offered unto thee from Satan, have recourse unto God for it is he who heareth and knoweth. Among the signs of
:
power are the night, and the day, and the sun, and the moon. Worship not the sun, neither the moon but worship God, who hath created them if ye serve him. But if they
his
:
proudly disdain his service; verily the angels, who are with thy Lord, praise him night and day, and are not wearied.
And among
waste: but
fermenteth.
his signs another
is,
that thou seest the land

stirred
will surely quicken the dead ; for he is almighty. Verily those who imIs he, piously wrong our signs are not concealed from us. therefore, better, who shall be cast into hell fire, or he who
when we send down rain thereon, it is And he who quickeneth the earth
and
appear secure on the day of resurrection ? Work that which ye will he certainly beholdeth whatever ye do. Verily they who believe not in the admonition of the Koran, after it hath come unto them, shall one day be discovered. It is certainly a book of infinite value vanity shall
shall
: :
1 Some I.e., Those of either species, who drew us into sin and ruin. suppose that the two more particularly intended here are Eblis and Cain, the two authors of infidelity and murder.

:
355
not approach it, either from before it or from behind it it IB a revelation from a wise God, whose praise is justly to be celeNo other is said unto thee by the infidels of Mecca, brated.
than what hath been formerly said unto the apostles before thee: verily thy Lord is inclined to forgiveness, and is also able to chastise severely. If we had revealed the Koran in a
foreign language, they had surely said, Unless the signs thereof be distinctly explained, we will not receive the same: is
the book written in a foreign tongue, and the person unto it is directed an Arabian ? Answer, It is, unto those who believe, a sure guide, and a remedy for doubt and uncer-
whom
tainty: but unto those who believe not, it is a thickness of hearing in their ears, and it is a darkness which covereth them; these are as they who are called unto from a distant
place.
heretofore gave the book of the law unto Moses and a dispute arose concerning the same: and if a previous
;
We
decree had not proceeded from thy Lord, to respite the opposers of that revelation, verily the matter had been decided between them, by the destruction of the infidels; for they
were in a very great doubt as to the same. He who doth right doth it to the advantage of his own soul; and he who doth evil doth it against the same: for thy Lord is not unjust toward his servants. Unto him is reserved the knowledge of the hour of judgment: and no fruit cometh forth from the knops which involve it neither doth any female conceive in her womb, nor is she delivered of her burden, without his knowledge. On the day whereon he shall call them to him, saying, Where are my companions which ye ascribed unto me? they shall answer, We assure thee there is no witness of this matter among us: and the idols which they called on before shall withdraw themselves from them and they shall perceive that there will be no way to escape. Man is not wearied with asking good but if evil befall him, he despondeth and despaireth. And if we cause him to taste mercy from us, after affliction hath touched him, he surely saith, This is due to me on account of my deserts: I do not think the hour of judgment will ever come; and if I be brought before my Lord, I shall surely
; ;
;
356
attain,
THE SACRED BOOKS
with him, the most excellent condition. But we will then declare unto those who shall not have believed, that which they have wrought ; and we will surely cause them to taste a most severe punishment. When we confer favors on man, he
turneth aside, and departeth without returning thanks: but when evil toucheth him, he is frequently at prayer. Say, What think ye ? if the Koran be from God, and ye believe not
under a greater error than he who disHereafter we will show them senteth widely therefrom? our signs in the regions of the earth, and in themselves, until it become manifest unto them that this book is the truth. Is for it not sufficient thee that thy Lord is witness of all things ? Are they not in a doubt as to the meeting of their Lord at the resurrection ? Doth not he encompass all things ?
therein
;
who
will lie
CHAPTER XLII
ENTITLED, CONSULTATION;! REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
Thus doth the mighty, the wise God, and in like manner did he reveal it unto the prophets who were before thee. Unto him belongeth
A.
S.
H. M.
K.
reveal his will unto thee
whatever is in heaven and in earth; and he is the high, the It wanteth little but that the heavens be rent in great God. from sunder above, at the awfulness of his majesty the angels
:
celebrate the praise of their Lord, and ask pardon for those who dwell in the earth. Is not God the forgiver of sins, the
merciful
But
as to those
patrons, besides him, God not a steward over them.
take other gods for their observeth their actions for thou art
:
who
an Arabic Koran, that Mecca, and the Arabs who dwell round about
threaten
Thus have we revealed unto thee thou mayest warn the metropolis of
it
;
them with the day of the general assembly,
and mayest of which
i The title is taken from the verse wherein the believers are commended, among other things, for using deliberation in their affairs, and consulting together in order to act for the best. Some, instead of this word, prefix the five single letters with which the chapter begins.

there
:
,'J57
is no doubt one part shall then be placed in paradise, and another part in hell. If God had pleased, he had made them all of one religion: but he leadeth whom he pleaseth into his mercy ; and the unjust shall have no patron or helper.
Do
they take other patrons, besides him ? whereas God is the only true patron he quickeneth the dead ; and he is almighty. Whatever matter ye disagree about, the decision thereof
:
This is God, my Lord in him do I I him do turn unto me the Creator of heaven and and trust, earth he hath given you wives of your own species, and cattle both male and female by which means he multiplieth you : there is nothing like him and it is he who heareth and seeth. His are the keys of heaven and earth he bestoweth provision abundantly on whom he pleaseth, and he is sparing unto whom he pleaseth; for he knoweth all things. He hath ordained you the religion which he commanded Noah, and which we have revealed unto thee, O Mohammed, and which we commanded Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus: saying, Observe this religion, and be not divided therein. The worship of one God, to which thou invitest them, is grievous unto the unbelievers God will elect thereto whom he pleaseth, and Those who will direct unto the same him who shall repent. lived in times past were not divided among themselves, until after that the knowledge of God's unity had come unto them through their own perverseness and unless a previous decree had passed from thy Lord, to bear with them till a determined time, verily the matter had been decided between them, by the
:
appertaineth unto God.

:
destruction of the gainsayers. They who have inherited the them are after certainly in a perplexing doubt conscriptures cerning the same. Wherefore invite them to receive the
sure faith, and be urgent with them, as thou hast been commanded ; and follow not their vain desires and say, I believe in all the scriptures which God hath sent down; and I am
:
commanded
and your you will your works be imputed let there be no wrangling between us and you for God will assemble us all at the last day, and unto him shall we return.
:
to establish justice among you : God is Lord : unto us will our works be imputed,
our Lord and unto
358
THE SACRED BOOKS

to those
who dispute concerning God, after obedience hath been paid him by receiving his religion, their disput-
As
ing shall be vain in the sight of their Lord ; and wrath shall It fall on them, and they shall suffer a grievous punishment. down the truth the and is God who hath sent scripture with
;
balance of true judgment and what shall inform thee whether the hour be nigh at hand ? They who believe not therein wish
:
by way of mockery: but they who believe dread the same, and know it to be the truth. Are not those who dispute concerning the last hour in a wide error ? God is bounteous unto his servants: he provideth for whom he Whoso chooseth pleaseth and he is the strong, the mighty. the tillage of the life to come, unto him will we give increase in his tillage and whoso chooseth the tillage of this world, we will give him the fruit thereof but he shall have no part in Have the idolaters deities which ordain the life to come. them a religion which God hath not allowed ? But had it not
it
to be hastened
been for the decree of respiting their punishment to the day
from the true believers, judgment had been already given between them for the unjust shall On that day thou shalt see surely suffer a painful torment. the unjust in great terror, because of their demerits and the penalty thereof shall fall upon them but they who believe and do good works shall dwell in the delightful meadows of paraof separating the infidels
: ;
:
dise
Lord.
they shall obtain whatever they shall desire, with their This is the greatest acquisition. This is what God
promiseth unto his servants who believe and do good works. Say, I ask not of you, for this my preaching, any reward,
except the love of my relations: and whoever shall have deserved well by one good action, unto him will we add the merit of another action thereto for God is inclined to forgive, and
;
ready to reward. Do they say, Mohammed hath blasphemously forged a lie concerning God ? If God .pleaseth, he will seal up thy heart and God will absolutely abolish vanity, and will establish the truth in his words for he knoweth the innermost parts of men's breasts. It is he who accepteth repentance from his servants, and forgiveth sins, and knoweth that which ye do. He will incline his ear unto those who
: ;

believe
359
and work righteousness, and
will
add unto them above
shall ask or deserve, of his bounty: but the unbesuffer a severe punishment shall lievers If God should be-
what they
stow abundance upon his servants, they would certainly behave insolently in the earth but he sendeth down by measure unto every one that which he pleaseth ; for he well knoweth and seeth the condition of his servants. It is he who send:
the rain, after men have despaired thereof, and spreadeth abroad his mercy ; and he is the patron justly to be
eth
down
praised.
Among his signs is the creation of heaven and earth, and of the living creatures with which he hath replenished them both ; and he is able to gather them together before his tribunal whenever he pleaseth. Whatever misfortune befalleth
you
is
sent
;
you by God, for that which your hands have

:
de-
served
and yet he forgiveth many things ye
shall not frus-
trate the divine
vengeance in the earth ; neither shall ye have any protector or helper against God. Among his signs also are the ships running in the sea, like high mountains: if he
pleaseth he causeth the wind to cease, and they lie still on the back of the water (verily herein are signs, unto every patient and grateful person) or he destroyeth them by shipwreck, because of that which their crews have merited though he pardoneth many things. And they who dispute against our
:
signs shall
know
that there will be no
escape our vengeance.

is
way for them to Whatever things are given you, they
are the provision of this present life: but the reward which with God is better and more durable, for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord and who avoid
;
heinous and filthy crimes, and when they are angry, forgive; and who harken unto their Lord, and are constant at prayer, and whose affairs are directed by consultation among themselves, and who give alms out of what we have bestowed on them; and who, when an injury is done them, avenge them-
(and the retaliation of evil ought to be an evil proportionate thereto) but he who forgiveth, and is reconciled unto his enemy, shall receive his reward from God; for he
selves
:
loveth not the unjust doers.
360
THE SACRED BOOKS

shall
:
avenge himself, after he hath been injured ; as to these, it is not lawful to punish them for it but it is only lawful to punish those who wrong men, and act insolently in the earth, against justice; these shall suffer a
grievous punishment.
And whoso
And whoso
is
and forgiveth
shall
verily this
beareth injuries patiently, a necessary work. Whom God
cause to err, he shall afterward have no protector. thou shalt see the ungodly, who shall say, when they behold the punishment prepared for them, Is there no way And thou shalt see them to return back into the world? exposed unto hell fire; dejected, because of the ignominy
And
they shall undergo: they shall look at the fire sideways and by stealth ; and the true believers shall say, Verily the losers
are they who have lost their own souls, and their families, on the day of resurrection: shall not the ungodly continue in eternal torment ? They shall have no protectors to defend them against God and whom God shall cause to err, he shall find no way to the truth. Harken unto your Lord, before the which will God not keep back: ye shall have no day come, place of refuge on that day ; neither shall ye be able to deny
:
your
sins.
But
if those to
whom
thou preachest turn aside
from thy admonitions, verily we have not sent thee to be a guardian over them thy duty is preaching only. When we cause man to taste mercy from us, he rejoiceth thereat: but if evil befall them, for that which their hands have formerly
:
committed, verily
man becometh
the
Unto God appertaineth
ungrateful. kingdom of heaven and earth

;
he createth that which he pleaseth he giveth females unto whom he pleaseth, and he giveth males unto whom he pleaseth; or he giveth them males and females jointly: and he maketh whom he pleaseth to be childless for he is wise and It is not fit for man that God should speak unto powerful. him otherwise than by private revelation, or from behind a
;
or by his sending of a messenger to reveal, by his permission, that which he pleaseth; for he is high and wise.
veil,
Thus have we revealed unto thee a revelation, by our command. Thou didst not understand, before this, what the book of the Koran was, nor what the faith was: but we have or-

servants as
:
:jiii
dained the same for a light ; we will thereby direct such of our we please and thou shalt surely direct them into
the right way, the way of God, unto whom belongeth whatever is in heaven and in earth. Shall not all things return
unto God?
CHAPTER
IN THE
XLIII
ENTITLED, THE ORNAMENTS OF GOLD; REVEALED AT MECCA

;
the
H. M. By the perspicuous book verily we have ordained same an Arabic Koran, that ye may understand and it is
:
certainly written in the original book, kept with us, being sublime and full of wisdom. Shall we therefore turn away
from you the admonition, and deprive you
thereof, because
ye are a people who transgress? And how many prophets have we sent among those of old ? and no prophet came unto
them, but they laughed
nations
him to scorn wherefore we destroyed who were more mighty than these in strength and the example of those who were of old hath been already set before them. If thou ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they will certainly answer, The mighty, the wise God created them: who hath spread the earth as a bed for you, and hath made you paths therein, that ye may be directed: and who sendeth down rain from heaven by measure, whereby we quicken a dead country (so shall ye be brought forth from your graves) and who hath created all the various
:
species of things, and hath given you ships and cattle, whereon ye are carried ; that ye may sit firmly on the backs when ye thereof, and may remember the favor of your Lord,
sit
thereon and
may
jected these unto our
say, Praise be unto him, service ! for we could not
who hath
sub-
have mastered
them by our own power: and unto our Lord shall we surely return. Yet have they attributed unto him some of his servants as his offspring : verily
Hath God taken daughters

hath created ;
openly ungrateful. out of those beings which ho and hath he chosen sons for you ? But when
man
is
362
THE SACRED BOOKS
one of them hath the news brought of the birth of a child of that sex which they attribute unto the Merciful, as his similitude, his face becometh black, and he is oppressed with Do they therefore attribute unto God female issue, sorrow.
which are brought up among ornaments, and are contentious without cause? And do they make the angels, who are the
Were they present at servants of the Merciful, females? ? Their shall be written down, and their creation testimony
they shall be examined concerning the same, on the day of judgment. And they say, If the Merciful had pleased, we
had not worshiped them.
they only utter a vain lie. revelations before this; and do they keep the same in their
? But they say, Verily we found our fathers praca Thus tising religion ; and we are guided in their footsteps. we sent no preacher, before thee, unto any city, but the inhabitants thereof who lived in affluence, said, Verily we found
They have no knowledge herein: Have we given them a book of
custody
our fathers practising a religion and we tread in their footAnd the preacher answered, What, although I bring steps. more a you right religion than that which ye found your
:
And they replied, Verily we believe fathers to practise? not that which ye are sent to preach. Wherefore we took vengeance on them: and behold what hath been the end of
those
who accused our apostles of imposture. Remember when Abraham said unto his
father,
and his
people, Verily I
am
cept
him who hath
created
clear of the gods which ye worship, exme for he will direct me aright.
;
And
he ordained this to be a constant doctrine among his posterity; that they should be turned from idolatry to the worship of the only true God. Verily I have permitted
these
the truth should
Meccans and their fathers to live in prosperity, until come unto them, and a manifest apostle but now the truth is come unto them, they say, This is a piece of forgery and we believe not therein. And they say, Had this Koran been sent down unto some great man of either of the two cities, we would have received it. Do they distribute the mercy of thy Lord? We distribute their necesin this present life, and we raise sary provision among them,
:

:
:ifj J
some of them several degrees above the others, that the one of them may take the other to serve him and the mercy of thy Lord is more valuable than the riches which they gather toIf it were not that mankind would have become one gether. sect of infidels, verily we had given unto those who believe
not in the Merciful, roofs of silver to their houses, and stairs of silver, by which they might ascend thereto, and doors of
and couches of silver for them to lean of ornaments and gold: for all this is the provision of on; the present life; but the next life with thy Lord shall be Whoever shall withdraw from the for those who fear him. admonition of the Merciful, we will chain a devil unto him ; and he shall be his inseparable companion (and the devils shall turn them aside from the way of truth yet they shall
silver to their houses,
;
imagine themselves to be rightly directed) until, when he shall appear before us at the last day, he shall say unto the devil, Would to God that between me and thee there was the
:
wretched a But wishes shall not avail you on this companion art thou have since been unjust for ye shall be partakers of day, ye Canst thou, O prophet, make the the same punishment.
!
distance of the east from the west!
Oh how
deaf to hear, or canst thou direct the blind, and him who is in Whether we take thee away, we will a manifest error? surely take vengeance on them or whether we cause thee to see the punishment with which we have threatened them, exWherefore hold ecuted, we will certainly prevail over them.
;
which hath been revealed unto thee; for thou art in a right way: and it is a memorial unto thee and thy people, and hereafter shall ye be examined concerning
fast the doctrine
your observance thereof. And ask our apostles whom we have sent before thee, whether we have appointed gods for them to worship, besides the Merciful. We formerly sent Moses with our signs unto Pharaoh and his princes, and he said, Verily I am the apostle And when he came unto them of the Lord of all creatures.
with our signs, behold, they laughed him to scorn although we showed them no sign, but it was greater than the other: and we inflicted a punishment on them, that peradventure
;
364*
THE SACRED BOOKS
they might be converted. And they said unto Moses, O magician, pray unto thy Lord for us, according to the covenant which he hath made with thee; for we will certainly be directed. But when we took the plague from off them,
And behold, they brake their promise. lamation among his people, saying,
the kingdom of
Pharaoh made
people,
proc-
O my
is
not
Egypt mine, and these rivers which flow beneath me ? Do ye not see ? Am I not better than this Moses; who is a contemptible person, and can scarce express himself intelligibly ? Have bracelets of gold, therefore, been put upon him; or do the angels attend him in orderly And Pharaoh persuaded his people to light beprocession ?
and they obeyed him for they were a wicked people. they had provoked us to wrath, we took vengeance on them, and we drowned them all: and we made them a precedent and an example unto others. And when the son of Mary was proposed for an example behold, thy people cried out through excess of joy thereat and they said, Are our gods better, or he? They had proposed this instance unto thee no otherwise than for an occasion of dispute: yea, they are contentious men. Jesus is no other than a servant, whom we favored with the gift of prophecy and we appointed him for an example unto the children of Israel (if we pleased, verily we could from yourselves produce angels, to succeed you in the earth) and he shall be a sign of the approach of the * last hour wherefore doubt not thereof. And follow me this is the right way. And let not Satan cause you to turn aside for he is your open enemy. And when Jesus came with evident miracles, he said, Now am I come unto you with wisdom; and to explain unto you part of those things conhavior
;
:
And when
i For some time before the resurrection Jesus is to descend on earth, according to the Mohammedans, near Damascus, or, as some say, near a rock in the holy land named Afik, with a lance in his hand, wherewith he is to kill Antichrist, whom he will encounter at Ludd, or Lydda, a small town not far from Joppa. They add that he will arrive at Jerusalem at the time of morning prayer, that he shall perform his devotions after the Mohammedan institution, and officiate instead of the Imam, who shall give place to him; that he will break down the cross, and destroy the churches of the Christians, of whom he will make a general slaughter, excepting only such as shall profess Islam, etc.
.%:,
cerning which ye disagree: wherefore fear God, and obey me. Verily God is my Lord and your Lord wherefore wor;
ship him:
sects
this
is
among them
the right way. And the confederated fell to variance: but woe unto those who
have acted unjustly, because of the punishment of a grievous

day.
the unbelievers wait for any other than the hour of judgment ; that it may come upon them suddenly, while they The intimate friends, on that day, shall be foresee it not? enemies unto one another ; except the pious. O my servants,
there shall no fear
Do
come on you
this day, neither shall ye be
grieved ; who have believed in our signs, and have been Moslems enter ye into paradise, ye and your wives, with great Dishes of gold shall be carried round unto them, and joy. cups without handles and therein shall they enjoy whatever
:
their souls shall desire, and whatever their eyes shall delight in: and ye shall remain therein forever. This is paradise, which ye have inherited as a reward for that which ye have
Therein shall ye have fruits in abundance, of But the wicked shall remain forever in the torment of hell it shall not be made lighter unto them and they shall despair therein. We deal not unjustly with them, but they deal unjustly with their own souls. And
wrought.
which ye
shall eat.
2 they shall call aloud, saying, O Malec, intercede for us He shall answer, that thy Lord may end us by annihilation. Verily ye shall remain here forever. We brought you the truth heretofore, but the greater part of you abhorred the
truth.
Have
apostle?
the infidels fixed on a method to circumvent our

Verily,
we
will fix
on a method
to
circumvent
them.
Do
they imagine that
we hear
not their secrets, and
their private discourse?
Yea; and our messengers who attend them write down the same. Say, If the Merciful had a son, verily I would be the first of those who should worship him. Far be the Lord of heaven and earth, the Lord of Wherefore the throne, from that which they affirm of him
!
This the Mohammedans suppose to be the name of the principal angel who has the charge of hell.
2
366
let
THE SACRED BOOKS
their vanity, and divert themselves, until they arrive at their day with which they have been threatHe who is God in heaven is God on earth also: and ened.
them wade in
he
And blessed be he unto whom the wise, the knowing. appertaineth the kingdom of heaven and earth, and of whatis is
;
between them with whom is the knowledge of the last hour; and before whom ye shall be assembled. They whom him invoke besides have not the they privilege to intercede for others; except those who bear witness to the truth, and know the same. If thou ask them who hath created them, How therefore are they turned they will surely answer, God.
ever
away
not
:
to the
worship of others
God
also heareth the saying
of the prophet,
Lord, verily these are people who believe and he answered, Therefore turn aside from them and
; :
say,
Peace
hereafter shall they
know
their folly.
CHAPTER XLIV
ENTITLED, SMOKE; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE

;
H. M. By the perspicuous book of the Koran verily we have sent down the same on a blessed night 1 (for we had engaged so to do), on the night wherein is distinctly sent down the decree of every determined thing, as a command
from
for
us.
Verily
we have
ever used to send apostles with
mercy from thy Lord; he who heareth and knoweth: the Lord of heaven and earth, and of whatever is between them if ye are men of sure knowledge. There is no God but he he giveth life, and he causeth to die he is your Lord, and the Lord of your forefathers. Yet do they amuse themselves with doubt. But
revelations, at proper intervals, as a
it is
;
:
i Generally supposed to be that between the twenty-third and twentyfourth of Ramadan. Annually on this night, as the Mohammedans are taught, all the events of the ensuing year, with respect to life and death and the other affairs of this world, are disposed and settled. Some, however, suppose that these words refer only to that particular night on which the Koran, wherein are completely contained the divine determinations in respect to religion and morality, was sent down.

visible smoke,
:3G7
observe them on the day whereon the heaven shall produce a which shall cover mankind: 2 this will be a
off
tormenting plague.
from
us: verily
They shall say, O Lord, take this plague we will become true believers. How
when a manifest
should an admonition be of avail to them in this condition ; apostle came unto them, but they retired from him, saying, This man is instructed by others, or is a
will take the plague from off distracted person ? you, a little: but we will certainly return to your On infidelity. the day whereon we shall fiercely assault them with great
We
power, verily we will take vengeance on them. We made trial of the people of Pharaoh before them, and an honorable messenger came unto them, saying, Send unto me the servants of God ; verily I am a faithful messenger unto you and
:
not yourselves up against God: for I come unto you with manifest power. And I fly for protection unto my Lord and your Lord, that ye stone me not. If ye do not
lift
believe me, at least depart
from me.
And when
they ac-
cused
him of imposture, he called upon his Lord, saying, These are a wicked people. And God said unto him, March forth with my servants by night for ye will be pursued and leave the sea divided, that the Egyptians may enter the same ; for they are a host doomed to be drowned. How many fair and and fields of and corn, dwellings, fountains, gardens, and advantages which they enjoyed, did they leave behind them? Thus we dispossessed them thereof; and we gave the same for an inheritance unto another people. Neither heaven or earth wept for them neither were they respited any And we delivered the children of Israel from a longer. shameful affliction from Pharaoh for he was haughty, and
; :
a transgressor
2
and we chose them, knowingly, above
all
peo-
The commentators differ in their expositions of this passage. it spoke of a smoke which seemed to fill the air during the famine which was inflicted on the Meccans in Mohammed's time, and was so
think
thick that, though they could hear, yet they could not see one another. But, according to a tradition of AH, the smoke here meant is that which is to be one of the previous signs of the day of judgment, and will This fill the whole space from east to west, and last for forty days. inconlittle but will the intoxicate infidels, very smoke, they say, will
Some
venience the true believers.
368
pie;
THE SACRED BOOKS

and we showed them several
trial.
signs,
wherein was an
evi-
dent
Verily these Meccans say, Assuredly our final end will be no other than our first natural death; neither shall we be
raised again: bring
now our
forefathers back to
life, if
ye
better, or the people of Tobba, and speak truth. those who were before them? destroyed them, because
Are they
We
We have not created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between them, by way of sport we have created them no otherwise than in truth; but the greater part of them do not understand. Verily the day of separation shall be the appointed term of them all; a day, whereon the master and the servant shall be of no advantage to one another, neither shall they be helped excepting those on whom God shall have mercy: for he is the mighty, the
they wrought wickedness.
:
merciful.
Verily the fruit of the tree of
al
Zakkum
shall be
the food of the impious: as the dregs of oil shall it boil in the bellies of the damned, like the boiling of the hottest water. And it shall be said of the tormenters, Take him, and drag
and pour on his head the torture of boiling waters, saying, Taste this for thou art that mighty and honorable person. Verily this is the punishment of which ye doubted. But the pious shall be lodged in a place of security; among gardens and fountains: they shall be clothed in fine silk and in satin; and they shall sit facing one another. Thus shall it be: and we will espouse them to fair damsels, having large black eyes. In that place, shall
into the midst of hell
:
him
they call for all kinds of fruits, in full security: they shall not taste death therein, after the first death; and God shall
deliver
from the pains of
of thy Lord.
through the gracious bounty This will be great felicity. Moreover we have
hell:
:
rendered the Koran easy for thee, by revealing it in thine own tongue to the end that they may be admonished wherefore do thou wait the event; for they wait to see some misfortune befall thee.
:
369
CHAPTER XLV
ENTITLED, THE KNEELING; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE

is
H. M.
wise God.
The
from the mighty, the
Verily both in heaven and earth are signs of the divine power unto the true believers: and in the creation of yourselves, and of the beasts which are scattered over the face of the earth, are signs unto people of sound judgment; and
and day, and the rain which God sendeth down from heaven, whereby he quickeneth the earth after it hath been dead: in the change of the winds also are signs, unto people of understanding. These are the of we rehearse them unto thee with In truth. God; signs what revelation therefore will they believe, after they have Woe unto every lying and rejected God and his signs? impious person who heareth the signs of God which are read unto him, and afterward proudly persisteth in infidelity, as though he heard them not (denounce unto him a painful punishment) and who, when he cometh to the knowledge of any of our signs, receiveth the same with scorn. For these is prepared a shameful punishment: before them lieth hell: and whatever they shall have gained shall not avail them at for their all, neither shall the idols which they have taken suffer a shall and God besides grievous punishthey patrons, ment. This is a true direction: and for those who disbelieve
also in the vicissitude of night
;
: :
the signs of their Lord, is prepared the punishment of a It is God who hath subjected the sea unto painful torment. you, that the ships may sail therein, at his command; and seek advantage unto yourselves by commerce, of that
ye
may
is
his bounty;
whatever
consider.
and that ye may give thanks: and he obligeth in heaven and on earth to serve you; the whole
being from him.
who Verily herein are signs, unto people

those
Speak unto the true believers, that they forgive reward people hope not for the days of God, that he may Whoso doth according to what they shall have wrought.
VOL. V.
24.
who
370
THE SACRED BOOKS

it
advantage of his own soul ; and whoso doth evil doth it against the same: hereafter shall ye return unto your Lord. We gave unto the children of Israel the book of the law, and wisdom, and prophecy; and we fed them with good things, and preferred them above all nations; and we gave them plain ordinances concerning the business of religion neither did they fall to variance, except after that knowledge had come unto them, through envy against themselves: but thy Lord will decide the controversy between them on the day of resurrection, concerning
that which is right doth
to the
;
that wherein they disagree. Afterward we appointed thee, to Mohammed, promulgate a law concerning the business
of religion: wherefore follow the same, and follow not the desires of those who are ignorant. Verily they shall not
avail thee against God at all the unjust are the patrons of one another ; but God is the patron of the pious. This Koran delivereth evident precepts unto mankind; and is a direction and a mercy, unto people who judge aright. Do the workers of iniquity imagine that we will deal with them as with those who believe and do good works so that their life and their death shall be equal? An ill judgment do they make. God hath created the heavens and the earth in truth ; that he may recompense every soul according to that which it shall have wrought: and they shall not be treated What thinkest thou? He who taketh his own unjustly.
:
God, and whom God causeth knowingly to err, and whose ears and whose heart he hath sealed up, and over whose eyes he hath cast a veil; who shall direct him, after God shall have forsaken him ? Will ye not therefore be admonished? They say, There is no other life, except our present life: we die and we live; and nothing but time deBut they have no knowledge in this matter; stroyeth us.
lust for his
they only follow a vain opinion. And when our evident signs are rehearsed unto them, their argument which they offer against the same is no other than that they say, Bring to life
our fathers who have been dead if ye speak truth. Say, God giveth you life and afterward causeth you to die hereafter will he assemble you together on the day of resur; ;
371
rection; there is no doubt thereof; but the greater part of men do not understand. Unto God appertained the kingdom of heaven and earth ; and the day whereon the hour shall
be fixed, on that day shall those who charge the Koran with vanity perish. And thou shalt see every nation kneeling: every nation shall be called unto its book of account and it shall be said unto them, This day shall ye be rewarded according to that which ye have wrought. This our book will speak concerning you with truth; therein have we written
;
down whatever ye have

believed
his
done.
As
to those
who
shall
have
and done good works, their Lord shall lead them into mercy: this shall be manifest felicity. But as to the
be said unto them, Were not my signs re? but ye proudly rejected them, and became
infidels, it shall
hearsed unto you
And when it was said unto you, Verily a wicked people? of God is true ; and as to the hour of judgment, the promise
no doubt thereof: ye answered, We know not what the hour of judgment is we hold an uncertain opinion only and we are not well assured of this matter. But on that day the evils of that which they have wrought shall appear unto them and that which they mocked at shall encompass them and it shall be said unto them, This day will we forget you, as ye did forget the meeting of this your day and your abode This shall be hell fire and ye shall have none to deliver you.
there
is
:
because ye turned the signs of God to ridicule and the life of the world deceived you. On this day, thereshall fore, they shall not be taken forth from thence, neither they be asked any more to render themselves well pleasing unto God. Wherefore praise be unto God, the Lord of the
shall
ye
suffer,
heavens and the Lord of the earth ; the Lord of all creatures and unto him be glory in heaven and earth; for he is the mighty, the wise God
:
372
THE SACRED BOOKS
CHAPTER XL VI
ENTITLED, AL AHKAF;
IN THE
1
REVEALED AT MECCA
H. M. The revelation of this book is from the mighty, the wise God. We have not created the heavens, and the earth, and whatever is between them, otherwise than in truth, and for a determined period but the unbelievers turn away from
:
given them. Say, What think ye? of the earth the idols which ye invoke, Show me what part Or had they any share in the crebesides God, have created ?
the warning which
is
ation of the heavens ? Bring me a book of scripture revealed before this, or some footstep of ancient knowledge, to countenance your idolatrous practises; if ye are men of veracity.
Who
is
in a wider error than he
that which can not return
him
invoketh, besides God, an answer, to the day of resur-
who
rection; and idols which regard not their calling on them: and which, when men shall be gathered together to judgment, will become their enemies, and will ungratefully deny their
worship
When our evident signs are rehearsed unto them, the unbelievers say of the truth, when it cometh unto them, This
Will they say, Mohammed a manifest piece of sorcery. hath forged it ? Answer, If I have forged it, verily ye shall not obtain for me any favor from God he well knoweth the injurious language which ye utter concerning it: he is a sufficient witness between me and you ; and he is gracious and merciful. Say, I am not singular among the apostles;
is
:
done with me or with you hereafter I follow no other than what is revealed unto me neither am I any more than a public warner. Say, What is your opinion ? If this book be from God, and ye believe not therein and a witness of the children of Israel bear witness to its consonancy with the law, and believeth therein;
neither do I
:
know what
will be
i Al Ahkaf is the plural of Hekf, and signifies lands which lie in a crooked or winding manner; whence it became the name of a territory in the province of Hadramaut, where the Adites dwelt. It is mentioned about the middle of the chapter.

and ye proudly
Verily
373
God
reject the same: are ye not unjust doers? directeth not unjust people. But those who be-
lieve not, say of the true believers, If the doctrine of the

us.
Koran had been good, they had not embraced the same before And when they are not guided thereby, they say, This Whereas the book of Moses was reis an antiquated lie.
vealed before the Koran, to be a guide and a mercy : and this is a book confirming the same, delivered in the Arabic tongue ;
denounce threats unto those who act unjustly, and to bear good tidings unto the righteous doers. As to those who say, Our Lord is God; and who behave uprightly on them shall no fear come, neither shall they be These shall be the inhabitants of paradise, they grieved. shall remain therein forever: in recompense for that which We have commanded man to show kindthey have wrought. mother beareth him in her womb with his his to ness parents pain, and bringeth him forth with pain and the space of his being carried in her womb, and of his weaning, is thirty months; until, when he attaineth his age of strength, and attaineth the age of forty years, he saith, O Lord, excite me,
to
:
:
by thy inspiration, that I may be grateful for thy favors, wherewith thou hast favored me and my parents and that I may work righteousness, which may please thee and be gracious unto me in my issue for I am turned unto thee, and am a Moslem. These are they from whom we accept the good work which they have wrought, and whose evil works we pass by and they shall be among the inhabitants of paradise this is a true promise, which they are promised in this world. He who saith unto his parents, Fie on you! do ye promise me that I shall be taken forth from the grave, and restored
; :
; :
to life
when many generations have passed away before me, and none of them has returned back ? And his parents im;
for thee! plore God's assistance, and say to their son, Alas he But is true. God Believe for the promise of answereth, These are fables of the ancients. This is no other than
:
silly
which have they whom the sentence passed on the nations been before them, of genii and of men, justly fitteth: they
shall surely perish.
374
THE SACRED BOOKS

is
;
prepared a certain degree of happiness or misery, according to that which they shall have wrought that God may recompense them for their works; and they On a certain day, the unbeshall not be treated unjustly. lievers shall be exposed before the fire of hell; and it shall be said unto them, Ye received your good things in your lifetime, while ye were in the world; and ye enjoyed yourselves herein: wherefore this day ye shall be rewarded with
the punishment of ignominy ; for that ye behaved insolently in the earth, without justice, and for that ye transgressed.
For every one
Remember
the brother of Ad, when he preached unto his people in al Ahkaf (and. there were preachers before him and after him), saying, Worship none but God: verily I fear
for
you the punishment of a great day. They answered, Art thou come unto us that thou mayest turn us aside from the worship of our gods ? Bring on us now the punishment with which thou threatenest us, if thou art a man of veracity. He
said,
Verily the knowledge of the time when your punishment will be inflicted is with God ; and I only declare unto you that which I am sent to preach but I see ye are an
;
they saw the preparation made ignorant people. for their punishment, namely, a cloud traversing the sky, and tending toward their valleys, they said, This is a traversHud answered, Nay it ing cloud, which bringeth us rain. is what ye demanded to be hastened: a wind, wherein is a
;
And when
severe vengeance it will destroy everything, at the command And in the morning nothing was to be seen, of its Lord.
:
besides their
people.
empty
dwellings.
Thus do we reward wicked

like flourishing condition
;
We
had established them in the
wherein we have established you, O men of Mecca and we had given them ears, and eyes, and hearts yet neither their ears, nor their eyes, nor their hearts profited them at all, when they rejected the signs of God but the vengeance which they mocked at fell upon them. We heretofore destroyed the cities which were round about you; and we variously proposed our signs unto them, that they might repent. Did
:
those protect them,
whom
they took for gods, besides God,

and imagined to be honored with his familiarity? Nay; they withdraw from them: yet this was their false opinion which seduced them, and the blasphemy which had
they
devised.
certain of the genii a to turn aside unto thee, that they might hear the Koran and when ; they were present at the reading of the same, they said to one
Remember when we caused
another, Give ear: and back unto their people,
when
was ended, they returned preaching what they had heard.

it
people, verily we have heard a book read unto us, which hath been revealed since Moses, confirming the scriptures which was delivered before it ; and directing unto the truth and the right way. Our people, obey God's and in him believe that he may forgive you your ; preacher
They
said,
Our
and may deliver you from a painful punishment. And whoever obeyeth not God's preacher shall by no means frustrate God's vengeance on earth: neither shall he have any These will be in a manifest error. protectors besides him.
sins,
Do
is
they not
know
and the
Yea, verily: for he is alOn a certain day the unbelievers shall be exposed mighty. unto hell fire; and it shall be said unto them, Is not this really come to pass ? They shall answer, Yea, by our Lord.
earth, and able to raise the dead to life?
that God, who hath created the heavens was not fatigued with the creation thereof,
God
shall reply, Taste, therefore, the
punishment of
hell, for
that ye have been unbelievers. Do thou, prophet, bear the insults of thy people with patience, as our apostles, who were endued with constancy,
bare the injuries of their people: and require not their punishment to be hastened unto them. On the day whereon they shall see the punishment wherewith they have been threatened, it shall seem as though they had tarried in the world but
an hour of a day.
except the people
2
This
is
a fair warning.
Shall any perish

Nisibin, or of
who
transgress?
heard Mohamprayer, in the al Tayef, and
These genii, according to different opinions, were of Yaman, or of Ninive; and in number nine or seven. They med reading the Koran by night, or after the morning to valley of al Nakhlah, during the time of his retreat believed on him.
376
THE SACRED BOOKS
CHAPTER XL VII
ENTITLED,
IN THE
MOHAMMED; 1 REVEALED AT MEDINA

none effect the works of those who believe not, and who turn away men from the way of God but as to those who believe, and work righteousness, and believe in the revelation which hath been sent down unto Mohammed (for it is the truth from their Lord), he will expiate their evil This deeds from them, and will dispose their heart aright. will he do, because those who believe not follow vanity, and
God
will render of
because those
who
believe follow the truth
from
their Lord.
Thus God propoundeth unto men their examples. When ye encounter the unbelievers, strike off their heads, until ye have made a great slaughter among them ; and bind them in
bonds: and either give them a free dismission afterward, or exact a ransom until the war shall have laid down its arms. This shall ye do Verily if God pleased, he could take venge;
:
ance on them, without your assistance; but he commandeth you to fight his battles, that he may prove the one of you by
the other.
religion,
And
God
fight in defense of God's true will not suffer their works to perish: he will
as to those
who
guide them, and will dispose their hearts aright and he will lead them into paradise, of which he hath told them.
;
true believers, if ye assist God, by fighting for his religion, he will assist you against your enemies ; and will set your feet fast: but as for the infidels, let them perish; and their works shall God render vain. This shall befall them,
because they have rejected with abhorrence that which God hath revealed wherefore their works shall become of no avail.
:
they not travel through the earth, and see what hath been who were before them? God utterly destroyed them: and the like catastrophe awaiteth the unbelievers. This shall come to pass, for that God is the patron
the end of those of the true believers, and for that the infidels have no pro1 Some entitle this chapter " War," which is therein commanded to be vigorously carried on against the enemies of the Mohammedan faith.
Do

tector.
:J77
Verily
God
will introduce those
who
believe,
and do
good works, into gardens beneath which rivers flow: but the unbelievers indulge themselves in pleasures, and eat as beast*
eat
and their abode shall be hell fire. How many cities were more mighty in strength than thy city which hath expelled thee yet have we destroyed them, and there was none to help them? Shall he, therefore, who followeth the plain declaration of his Lord, be as he whose evil works have been dressed up for him by the devil and who follow their own lusts ? The description of paradise, which is promised unto the pious: therein are rivers of incorruptible water; and rivers of milk, the taste whereof changeth not and rivers of wine, pleasant unto those who drink and rivers of clarified honey and therein shall they have plenty of all kinds of fruits and pardon from their Lord. Shall the man for whom these things are prepared, be as he who must dwell forever in hell fire; and will have the boiling water given them to drink, which shall burst their bowels ? Of the unbelievers there are some who give ear unto thee, until, when they go out from
; ;
by way of derision, unto those to whom knowlThese are been hath given, What hath he said now? edge they whose hearts God hath sealed up, and who follow their own lusts: but as to those who are directed, God will grant them a more ample direction, and he will instruct them what Do the infidels wait for any other than the last to avoid.
thee, they say,
Some signs hour, that it may come upon them suddenly? thereof are already come and when it shall actually overtake them, how can they then receive admonition ? Know, therefor thy fore, that there is no god but God and ask pardon
: :
and women. God sin, and for the true believers, both men knoweth your busy employment in the world, and the place of abode hereafter. The true believers say, Hath not a
your Sura been revealed commanding war against the infidels? But when a Sura without any ambiguity is revealed, and war is mentioned therein, thou mayest see those in whose hearts is an infirmity look toward thee with the look of one whom death overshadoweth. But obedience would be more eligible
for them, and to speak that which
is
convenient
And when
878
the
THE SACRED BOOKS

command
is
firmly established, if they give credit unto God, it will be better for them. Were ye ready, therefore, if ye had been put in authority, to commit outrages in the
your ties of blood? These are they whom God hath cursed, and hath rendered deaf, and whose Do they not therefore attentively eyes he hath blinded. meditate on the Koran ? Are there locks upon their hearts ? Yerily they who turn their backs, after the true direction is made manifest unto them Satan shall prepare their wickedThis ness for them, and God shall bear with them for a time. shall befall them, because they say privately unto those who
earth,
and
to violate
what God hath revealed, We will obey you in part of But God knoweth their secrets. How therefore will it be with them, when the angels shall cause them to die, and shall strike their faces and their backs ? This shall they suffer, because they follow that which provoketh God to wrath, and are averse to what is well pleasing unto him and he will render their works vain. Do they in whose hearts is an infirmity, imagine that God will not bring their malice to light? If we pleased, we could surely show them unto thee, and thou shouldst know them by their marks but thou shalt certainly know them by their perverse pronunciation of their words. God knoweth your actions: and we will try we know until those among you who fight valiantly, and you, who persevere with constancy and we will try the reports of your behavior. Verily those who believe not, and turn away men from the way of God, and make opposition against the
detest
the matter.
apostle, after the divine direction hath been manifested unto them, shall not hurt God at all ; but he shall make their works
to perish.
true believers, obey God; and obey the apostle: and render not your works of no effect. Verily those who believe
and who turn away men from the way of God, and then Faint die, being unbelievers, God will by no means forgive. to while not, therefore, neither invite your enemies ye peace, are the superior for the God is with you, and will not defraud
not,
:
you of the merit of your works. Verily this present life is only a play and a vain amusement but if ye believe, and fear
:

God, he will give you your rewards. He doth not require of you your whole substance: if he should require the whole of you. and earnestly press you, ye would become niggardly,
your hatred against his apostle. Behold, are invited to expend part of your substance ye are those for the support of God's true religion; and there are some of you who are niggardly. But whoever shall be niggardly shall be niggardly toward his own soul: for God wanteth
it
and
would
raise
who
nothing, but ye are needy and if ye turn back, he will substitute another people in your stead, who shall not be like
:
unto you.
CHAPTER
IN THE
XLVIII
ENTITLED, THE VICTORY; REVEALED AT MEDINA

thee a manifest victory
l
:
Verily
we have granted
that
God
may forgive thee thy preceding and thy subsequent sin, and may complete his favor on thee, and direct thee in the. right way and that God may assist thee with a glorious assistance.
;
It is
he who sendeth down secure tranquillity into the hearts

;
of the true believers, that they may increase in faith, beyond their former faith (the hosts of heaven and earth are God's and God is knowing and wise) that he may lead the true
:
believers of both sexes into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever; and may expiate their evil deeds
God) and that the and he may punish the hypocritical men, hypocritical conceive who the and the and idolatresses, idolaters, women, of evil turn a an ill opinion of God. They shall experience fortune and God shall be angry with them, and shall curse
from them
(this will be great felicity with
iThis victory, from which the chapter takes its title, according to the most received interpretation, was the taking of the city of Mecca. The passage is said to have been revealed on Mohammed's return from the expedition of al Hodeibiya, and contains a promise or prediction of this signal success, which happened not till two years after, the preterite tense being therein used, according to the the future.
prophetic style, for
380
THE SACRED BOOKS

ill
it
them, and hath prepared hell for them; an be thither

!
journey shall
;
Unto God belong the hosts of heaven and earth and God mighty and wise. Verily we have sent thee to be a witness, and a bearer of good tidings, and a denouncer of threats that ye may believe in God and his apostle and may assist him, and revere him, and praise him morning and evening.
is
;
;
Verily they
who swear
God: the hand of God
is
fealty unto thee swear fealty unto over their hands. Whoever shall
same to the hurt only of his whoever shall perform that which he hath covenanted with God, he will surely give him a great reward. The Arabs of the desert who were left behind will say unto thee, Our substance and our families employed us, so that we went not forth with thee to war wherefore ask pardon for us. They speak that with their tongues, which is not in their
violate his oath will violate the
own
soul: but
Answer, Who shall be able to obtain for you anyfrom God to the contrary, if he is pleased to afflict you, thing or is pleased to be gracious unto you? Yea verily, God is well acquainted with that which ye do. Truly ye imagined that the apostle and the true believers would never return to their families and this was prepared in your hearts but ye imagined an evil imagination; and ye are a corrupt people. Whoso believeth not in God and his apostle, verily we have
hearts.
;
:
prepared burning fire for the unbelievers. Unto God belongeth the kingdom of heaven and earth he forgiveth whom he pleaseth, and he punisheth whom he
:
and God is inclined to forgive, and merciful. Those who were left behind will say, when ye go forth to take the spoil, Suffer us to follow you. They seek to change the word of God. Say, Ye shall by no means follow us: thus hath God said heretofore. They will reply, Nay; ye envy
pleaseth;
us a share of the booty. But they are men of small underunto the Arabs of the desert who were left standing. Say behind, Ye shall be called forth against a mighty and a warlike nation:
Islam.
ye shall fight against them, or they shall profess If ye obey, God will give you a glorious reward:

)ut if
381
ye turn back, as ye turned back heretofore, he will you with a grievous chastisement. It shall be no crime in the blind, neither shall it be a crime in the lame, neither shall it be a crime in the sick, if they go not forth to war: and whoso shall obey God and his apostle, he shall lead him into the gardens beneath which rivers flow but whoso shall turn back, he will chastise him with a grievchastise
;
ous chastisement.
was well pleased with the true believers, when 2 and he knew they sware fidelity unto thee under the tree that which was in their hearts: wherefore he sent down on them tranquillity of mind, and rewarded them with a speedy victory, and many spoils which they took for God is mighty and wise. God promised you many spoils which ye should take; but he gave you these by way of earnest; and he restrained the hands of men from you and the same may be a sign unto the true believers and that he may guide you into
;
: :
Now God
he also promiseth you other spoils, which ye have not yet been able to take: but now hath God encompassed them for you; and God is almighty. If the unbelieving Meccans had fought against you, verily they had turned their backs, and they would not have found a patron or protector according to the ordinance of God, which hath
the right way.
:
And
been put in execution heretofore against opposers of the in the ordinance prophets ; for thou shalt not find any change of God. It was he who restrained their hands from you,
and your hands from them, in the valley of Mecca after that he had given you the victory over them: and God saw that which ye did. These are they who believed not, and hindered you from visiting the holy temple, and also hindered
;
at al Hodeibiya, sent Jawwas Ebn Omeyya the with a peaceable to Khozaite, acquaint the Meccans that he was come reintention to visit the temple; but they, on some jealousy conceived, t whom Eban Aflfan, Othman fusing to admit him, the prophet sent Mohaimr imprisoned, and a report ran that he was slain ; whereupon called his men about him, and they took an oath to be faithful even to death; during which ceremony he sat under a tree, suppo> thorn, and by others a kind some to have been an
2
Mohammed, when
by
Egyptian
tree.
382
THE SACRED BOOKS
it should not arrive at the sacrificed. Had it not been that be it ought to place where divers true believers, both men ye might have trampled on and women, whom ye knew not, being promiscuously assembled with the infidels, and that a crime might therefore have
the offering, being detained, that
without your knowledge, he lighted on you on their account, from them but this was hands restrained not had your
:
done, that God might lead whom he pleaseth into his mercy. If they had been distinguished from one another, we had surely chastised such of them as believed not with a severe
chastisement.
When
the unbelievers
had put in
their hearts
an
affected
preciseness, the preciseness of ignorance, and God sent down 3 and his tranquillity on his apostle and on the true believers ; firmly fixed in them the word of piety, and they were the
most worthy of the same, and the most deserving thereof for God knoweth all things. Now hath God in truth verified unto his apostle the vision, wherein he said, Ye shall surely
:
enter the holy temple of Mecca,

shall not fear
:
if
God
please,
in full
security; having your heads shaved, and your hair cut: ye for God knoweth that which ye know not ; and
he hath appointed you, besides this, a speedy victory. It is he who hath sent his apostle with the direction, and the religion of truth ; that he may exalt the same above every religion :
and God
apostle of
is
a sufficient witness hereof.

:
Mohammed
is
the
God and
those
who
are with
the
unbelievers,
but
compassionate
are fierce against toward one another.
him
s This passage was occasioned by the stiffness of Sohail and his companions in wording the treaty concluded with Mohammed; for when the " In the name of the most prophet ordered AH to begin with the form, merciful God," they objected to it, and insisted that he should begin with this: " In thy name, O God"; which Mohammed submitted to, and " These are the conditions on which Mohammed, proceeded to dictate, the apostle of God, has made peace with those of Mecca " ; to this Sohail " If we had again objected, saying, acknowledged thee to be the apostle of God, we had not given thee any opposition " ; whereupon Mohammed ordered Ali to write as Sohail desired, " These are the conditions which Mohammed, the son of Abdallah," etc. But the Moslems were so disgusted thereat, that they were on the point of breaking off the treaty, and had fallen on the Meccans, had not God appeased and calmed their minds, as it follows in the text.

them bowing down, prostrate, seeking a recompense from God, and his good-will. Their signs are in their faces, being marks of frequent This ia prostration.
see
Thou mayest
their description in the Pentateuch, in the gospel they are as seed which
:
and their description
putteth forth its stalk, in the it, ear, and riseth upon its stem; giving Such are the Mosdelight unto the sower. lems described to be that the infidels may swell with
and strengthened
and swelleth
tion at them.
believe
God hath promised unto such
indignaof them as
and do good works pardon and a great reward.
CHAPTER XLIX
ENTITLED, THE INNER APARTMENTS; REVEALED AT MEDINA
IN THE
true believers, anticipate not any matter in the sight of God and his apostle and fear God ; for God both heareth and knoweth. true believers, raise not your voices above the
:
voice of the prophet; neither speak loud unto him in discourse, as ye speak loud unto one another, lest your works become vain, and ye perceive it not. Verily they who lower their voices in the presence of the apostle of God are those
whose hearts God hath disposed unto piety they shall obtain pardon and a great reward. As to those who call unto thee from without the inner apartments 1 the greater part of them do not understand the respect due to thee. If they wait with
:
patience, until thou come forth unto them, it will certainly be better for them but God is inclined to forgive, and merciful. true believers, if a wicked man come unto you with a
:
inquire strictly into the truth thereof ; lest ye hurt people through ignorance, and afterward repent of what ye have done 2 and know that the apostle of God is among you : if
tale,
:
These, they say, were Oyeyna

to speak with
who wanting
in hia
Ebn Osein, and al Akra Ebn Habea; Mohammed, when he was sleeping at noon
to call out several times,
"
women's apartment, had the rudeness

forth to us."
it is
Mohammed, come
2
This passage was occasioned,
said,
by the following incident.
384
THE SACRED BOOKS
many things, ye would certainly be in of a But God crime, leading him into a mistake. guilty hath made the faith amiable unto you, and hath prepared
the same in your hearts; and hath rendered infidelity, and These are they iniquity, and disobedience hateful unto you. who walk in the right way; through mercy from God, and grace and God is knowing and wise.
:
he should obey you in
If two parties of the believers contend with one another, do ye endeavor to compose the matter between them: and if the
one of them offer an insult unto the other, fight against that party which offered the insult, until they return unto the judgment of God and if they do return, make peace between them with equity and act with justice for God loveth those
;
:
Verily the true believers are brethren: wherefore reconcile your brethren ; and fear God, that ye may
act
justly.
who
obtain mercy. true believers, let not
men
laugh other
;
men
;
to scorn;
who peradventure may be better than themselves neither let women laugh other women to scorn who may possibly be betNeither defame one another; nor call one another by opprobrious appellations. An ill name it is to be charged with wickedness, after having embraced the faith and whoso repenteth not, they will be the unjust doers. O true believers, carefully avoid entertaining a suspicion of another for some suspicions are a crime and inquire not too curiously into other men's failings neither let the one of you speak ill of another in his absence. Would any of you desire to eat the flesh of his dead brother ? Surely ye would abhor it. And fear God; for God is easy to be reconciled, and merciful. O men, verily we have created you of a male and a female; and we have distributed you into nations and
:
:
ter than themselves.
Al Walid Ebn Okba being sent by Mohammed to collect the alms from the tribe of al Mostalek, when he saw them come out to meet him in great numbers, grew apprehensive they designed him some mischief, because of past enmity between him and them in the time of ignorance, and immediately turned back, and told the prophet they refused to pay their alms, and attempted to kill him; upon which Mohammed was thinking to reduce them by force: but on sending Khaled Ebn al Walid to them, he found his former messenger had wronged them, and that they
continued in their obedience.

tribes,
886
you and God is wise and knowing. The Arabs of the desert say, We believe. Answer, Ye do by no means believe ; but say, We have embraced Islam for
:
that ye might know one another. Verily the most honorable of you, in the sight of God, is the most pious of
the faith hath not yet entered into your hearts. God and his apostle, he will not defraud you of
:
If ye obey any part of
the merit of your works for God is inclined to forgive, and merciful. Verily the true believers are those only who believe in God and his apostle, and afterward doubt not and
;
who employ
of
their substance
and
their persons in the defense
God's
true
religion:
these
are
they
who speak
religion
:
sin-
cerely.
Say, Will ye inform
God concerning your
But
God knoweth whatever is in heaven and in earth for God is omniscient. They upbraid thee that they have embraced
Islam.
Answer, Upbraid
Islam: rather
to the faith
;
God
not with your having embraced upbraideth you, that he hath directed you
me
ye speak sincerely. Verily God knoweth the secrets of heaven and earth: and God beholdeth that which
if
ye do.
CHAPTER L
ENTITLED, K; REVEALED AT MECCA
the glorious Koran: verily they wonder that a preacher from among themselves is come unto them and the unbelievers say, This is a wonderful thing after we shall be
K. 1
By
dead, and become dust, shall return remote from thought.
we
return to life?
This
is
Now we know
is
that the earth
consumeth of them
and with us
a book which keepeth an
* Some imagine that this letter is designed to express the mountain Kaf, which several Eastern writers fancy encompasses the whole world. " Others say it stands for ada al amr, i.e., The matter is decreed," tnz., " the chastisement of the infidels."
VOL. V.
25.
386
THE SACRED BOOKS
account thereof. But they charge falsehood on the truth, after it hath come unto them : wherefore they are plunged in
a confused business. Do they not look up to the heaven above them, and consider how we have raised it and adorned We have also spread it ; and that there are no flaws therein ?
forth the earth, and thrown thereon mountains firmly rooted and we cause every beautiful kind of vegetables to spring up
:
therein; for a subject of meditation, and an admonition unto every man who turneth unto us. And we send down rain as
a blessing from heaven, whereby we cause gardens to spring forth, and the grain of harvest, and tall palm-trees having branches laden with dates hanging one above another, as a
provision for
try: so
graves.
mankind and we thereby quicken a dead counshall be the coming forth of the dead from their
;
The people of Noah, and those who dwelt at Al Kass, and Thamud, and Ad, and Pharaoh accused the prophets of imposture before the Meccans ; and also the brethren of Lot, and the inhabitants of the wood near Midian, and the people of
Tobba
all
these accused the apostles of imposture ; wherefore
the judgments which I threatened were justly inflicted on them. Is our power exhausted by the first creation ? Yea ; they are in a perplexity, because of a new creation which is
foretold them, namely, the raising of the dead. man, and we know what his soul whispereth within
We
created
;
him and
we
two angels deputed to take account of a man's behavior, take an account thereof ; one sitting on the right hand, and the other on the left: he uttereth not a word, but there is with him a
are nearer unto
his jugular vein.
2 watcher, ready to note it come in truth this, O man, And the trumpet shall sound
:
him than
When the
been
threatened.
the agony of death shall what thou soughtest to avoid. this will be the day which hath And every soul shall come; and thereis
:
And
2 The Mohammedans have a tradition that the angel who notes a man's good actions has the command over him who notes his evil actions; and that when a man does a good action, the angel of the right hand writes it down ten times, and when he commits an ill action, the same angel says to the angel of the left hand, " Forbear setting it down for seven hours; peradventure he may pray, or may ask pardon."
587
with shall be a driver and a witness. And the former shall say unto the unbeliever, Thou wast negligent heretofore of this day: but we have removed thy veil from off thee; and thy sight
is become piercing this day. is what is ready with me This shall say,
And
his
companion
to be attested.
And
and perverse person, and every one who forbade good, and every transgressor, and doubter of the faith, who set up another god with the true God ; and cast him into a grievous torment. His companion shall say, O Lord, I did not seduce him but he was God shall say, Wrangle not in my presence: in a wide error. since I threatened you beforehand with the torments which
;
God
shall say, Cast into hell every unbeliever,
ye now see prepared for you. The sentence is not changed with me neither do I treat my servants unjustly. On that day we will say unto hell, Art thou full ? and it shall answer,
:
And paradise shall be brought Is there yet any addition? near unto the pious and it shall be said unto them, This is what ye have been promised ; unto every one who turned himself unto God, and kept his commandments who feared the Merciful in secret, and came unto him with a converted
; ;
the day of eternity. Therein shall they have whatever they shall desire ; and there will be a superabundant addition of bliss with us. How many generations have we destroyed before the Mecis
heart: enter the same in peace: this
which were more mighty than they in strength ? Pass, therefore, through the regions of the earth, and see whether there be any refuge from our vengeance. Verily herein is an admonition unto him who hath a heart to understand, or mind. We giveth ear, and is present with an attentive created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between them, in six days and no weariness affected us. Wherefore
cans,
;
patiently suffer
what they say and celebrate the praise of thy Lord before sunrise, and before sunset, and praise him in some part of the night and perform the additional parts of And harken unto the day whereon the crier shall worship. call men to judgment from a near place; the day whereon
;
:
in truth they shall hear the voice of the trumpet the day of men's coming forth from their graves
this will be
we
give
life,
888
and we cause
:
THE SACRED BOOKS

to die;
and unto us shall be the return of all the earth shall suddenly cleave in whereon creatures the day This will be an assembly easy for us to sunder over them. We well know what the unbelievers say and thou assemble. Whereart not sent to compel them forcibly to the faith.
;
fore warn,
by the Koran, him who feareth
my
threatening.
CHAPTER
IN THE
LI
ENTITLED, THE DISPERSING; REVEALED AT MECCA

the winds dispersing and scattering the dust; and by the clouds bearing a load of rain ; by the ships running swiftly in the sea ; and by the angels who distribute things necessary
By
for the support of all creatures verily that wherewith ye are threatened is certainly true; and the last judgment will By the heaven furnished with paths ; ye widely surely come.
:
differ in
faith,
what ye
shall be
;
say.
He
will be turned aside
from the
who
be the liars
turned aside by the divine decree. Cursed who wade in deep waters of ignorance, neglecting
their salvation.
They
day
unto
come?
it
On
that
shall be said
ask, When will the day of judgment shall they be burned in hell fire; and them, Taste your punishment; this is
what ye demanded to be hastened. But the pious shall dwell among gardens and fountains, receiving that which their Lord shall give them because they were righteous doers
;
before this day. They slept but a small part of the night; and early in the morning they asked pardon of God and a due portion of their wealth was given unto him who asked, and unto him who was forbidden by shame to ask. There are
:
signs of the divine power and goodness in the earth, unto men of sound understanding; and also in your own selves:
ye not therefore consider? Your sustenance is in the heaven and also that which ye are promised. Wherefore by the Lord of heaven and earth I swear that his is certainly the
will
;
truth
according to what yourselves speak.

Hath not
:
SH9
come to When went in unto and knowledge? thy they him, said, Peace he answered, Peace saying within himself, These are unknown people. And he went privately unto his family, and brought a fatted calf. And he set it before them, and when he saw they touched it not, he said, Do ye not eat? And he began to entertain a fear of them. They said, Fear not and they declared unto him the promise of a wise youth. And his wife drew near with exclamation, and she smote her The angels face, and said, I am an old woman, and barren. answered, Thus saith thy Lord: Verily he is the wise, the
;
:
the story of Abraham's honored guests
knowing.
And Abraham
errand, therefore, Verily we are sent unto a wicked people: that we may send down upon them stones of baked clay, marked from thy Lord, And we brought forth for the destruction of transgressors.
said unto them, What is your messengers of God? They answered,
we found not And we overtherein more than one family of Moslems. threw the same, and left a sign therein unto those who dread
the true believers
in the city: but
who were
the severe chastisement of God.
In Moses
also
was a sign:
when we
sent
him unto Pharaoh with manifest power.
But
he turned back, with his princes, saying, This man is a sorWherefore we took him and his forces, cerer or a madman. and cast them into the sea and he was one worthy of repreAnd in the tribe of Ad also was a sign: when we hension.
:
sent against
them a destroying wind
it
touched not aught,

:
whereon it came, but it rendered the same as a thing rotten and reduced to dust. In Thamud likewise was a sign when it was said unto them, Enjoy yourselves for a time. But they
of their Lord: whereinsolently transgressed the command fore a terrible noise from heaven assailed them, while they were not able to stand on their feet, and looked
And the neither did they save themselves from destruction. : for they were a people of Noah did we destroy before these have built the people who enormously transgressed. it a heaven with might ; and we have given large extent : and we have stretched forth the earth beneath; and how evenly And of everything have we created have we spread the same
on;
they
We
390
THE SACRED BOOKS
two kinds, that peradventure ye may consider. Fly, therefore, unto God; verily I am a public warner unto you, from him. And set not up another god with the true God verily I am a public warner unto you, from him. In like manner there came no apostle unto their predecessors, but they said, This man is a magician or a madman.
:
Have they bequeathed

the other?
this behavior successively the
one
to
Yea, they are a people who enormously transWherefore withdraw from them and thou shalt not gress. be blameworthy in so doing. Yet continue to admonish for admonition profiteth the true believers. I have not created genii and men for any other end than that they should serve me. I require not any sustenance from them neither will I that they feed me. Verily God is he who provideth for all
; :
creatures
possessed of mighty power. Unto those who shall our injure apostle shall be given a portion like unto the portion of those who behaved like them in times past and they shall not wish the same to be hastened. Woe, therefore, to
; ;
!
the unbelievers
CHAPTER
IN THE
LII
ENTITLED, THE MOUNTAIN; REVEALED AT MECCA

;
and by the book written in an l and by the eleexpanded scroll, and by the visited house the vated roof of heaven and by swelling ocean verily the of Lord will thy surely descend; there shall be punishment none to withhold it. On that day the heaven shall be shaken, and shall teel and the mountains shall walk and pass away. And on that day woe be unto those who accused God's apostles of imposture; who amused themselves in wading in vain On that day shall they be driven and thrust into disputes the fire of hell and it shall be said unto them, This is the fire
By
the mountain of Sinai
I.e., the Kaaba, so much visited by pilgrims or, as some rather think, the original model of that house in heaven, called al Dorah, which is visited and compassed by the angels, as the other is by men.

which ye denied as a fiction. Is do ye not see ? Enter the same
:
391
this a
magic
illusion ?
:
Or
to be scorched whether ye bear your torments patiently, or impatiently, it will be equal unto you ye shall surely receive the reward of that which ye have wrought. But the pious shall dwell amidst gardens and pleasures;
delighting themselves in what their Lord shall have given them: and the.ir Lord shall deliver them from the pains of
shall be said unto them, Eat and drink with easy digestion ; because of that which ye have wrought : leaning on couches disposed in order : and we will espouse them
hell.
it
And
unto virgins having large black eyes.

believe,
And
unto those who
and whose offspring follow them in the faith, we will their join offspring in paradise: and we will not diminish unto them aught of the merit of their works. (Every man is
And given in pledge for that which he shall have wrought.) we will give them fruits in abundance, and flesh of the .kinds which they shall desire. They shall present unto one another
therein a cup of wine, wherein there shall be no vain disAnd youths course, nor any incitement unto wickedness.
appointed to attend them shall go round them: beautiful as And they shall approach unto pearls hidden in their shell. one another, and shall ask mutual questions. And they shall
say, Verily we were heretofore amidst our family, in great dread with regard to our state after death ; but God hath been gracious unto us, and hath delivered us from the pain of burning fire: for we called on him heretofore; and he is the
beneficent, the merciful.
Wherefore do thou, O prophet, admonish thy people. Thou art not, by the grace of thy Lord, a soothsayer or a
madman.
Do
they say,
He
is
a poet:
him, some adverse turn of fortune ?
we wait, concerning Say, Wait ye my ruin

:
verily I wait, with you, the time of your destruction. their mature understandings bid them say this; or are they
Do
who perversely transgress? Do they say, He hath the Koran ? Verily they believe not. Let them proforged duce a discourse like unto it, if they speak truth. Were they created by nothing ; or were they the creators of themselves ?
people
392
THE SACRED BOOKS

create the heavens
Did they
and the earth ?
Verily they are
not firmly persuaded that God hath created them. Are they the stores of thy Lord in their hands?
dispensers of
all
Are the
supreme
a ladder, whereby they hear the discourse of angels ? and Let to ascend heaven, may one, therefore, who hath heard them, produce an evident proof thereof. Hath God daughters, and have ye sons?
things
Have they
Dost thou ask them a reward for thy preaching ? but they are Are the secrets of futurity with them and laden with debts. do they transcribe the same from the table of God's decrees ?
;
they seek to lay a plot against thee ? But the unbelievers Have they any god, are they who shall be circumvented. Far be God exalted above the idols which they besides God ?
associate with
Do
him!
If they should see a fragment of the
heaven falling down upon them, they would say, It is only a Wherefore leave them, until they arrive at their thick cloud.
swoon for fear a day in which their subtle contrivances shall not avail them at all, neither shall
day wherein they
shall
they be protected. And those who act unjustly shall surely suffer another punishment besides this: but the greater part
them do not understand. And wait thou patiently the judgment of thy Lord concerning them; for thou art in our eye: and celebrate the praise of thy Lord, when thou risest up and praise him in the night season, and when the stars
of
;
begin to disappear.
CHAPTER
LIII
ENTITLED, THE STAR; REVEALED AT MECCA

your companion Mohammed erreth not, nor is he led astray neither doth he speak of his own will. It is no other than a revelation, which hath been revealed unto him. One mighty in power, endued with it him and he appeared 1 in the highest understanding, taught
By
the star,
when
it
setteth
eky.
Namely, the angel Gabriel, who appeared in the eastern part of the It is said that this angel appeared in his proper shape to none of

part of the horizon.
Afterward he approached the prophet, and drew near unto him; until he was at the distance of two bows' length from him, or yet nearer and he revealed unto his servant that which he revealed. The heart of Mohammed
:
did not falsely represent that which he saw. Will ye therefore dispute with him concerning that which he saw? He
saw him another time, by the lote-tree beyond which there is no passing 2 near it is the garden of eternal abode. When the lote-tree covered that which it covered, 8 his eyesight turned not aside, neither did it wander: and he really beheld some of the greatest signs of his Lord. 4 What think ye of Allat, and al Uzza, and Manah, that other third goddess ? 5 Have ye male children, and God female ? is an unjust partition. They are no other This, therefore, than empty names, which ye and your fathers have named God hath not revealed concerning them anything goddesses. to authorize their worship. They follow no other than a vain opinion, and what their souls desire yet hath the true direction come unto them from their Lord. Shall man have whatever he wisheth for? The life to come and the present life are God's: and how many angels soever there be in the heavens, their intercession shall be of no avail, until after
also
:
:
have granted permission unto whom he shall please and shall accept. Verily they who believe not in the life to come give unto the angels a female appellation. But they have no knowledge herein: they follow no other than a bare
God
shall
opinion and a bare opinion attaineth not anything of truth. Wherefore withdraw from him who turneth away from our
;
the prophets, except Mohammed, and to him only twice: once when he received the first revelation of the Koran, and a second time when he took his night-journey to heaven; as it follows in the text. 2 This tree, say the commentators, stands in the seventh heaven, on the right hand of the throne of God; and is the utmost bounds beyond which the angels themselves must not pass; or, as some rather imagine, beyond which no creature's knowledge can extend. s The words seem to tree exceeded signify that what was under this all description and number. Some suppose the whole host of angels on worshiping beneath it are intended, and others, the birds which sit
its branches.
*
5
world. Seeing the wonders both of the sensible and the intellectual Those were three idols of the ancient Arabs.
894
THE SACRED BOOKS
This is their admonition, and seeketh only the present life. Verily thy Lord well knoweth highest pitch of knowledge.
him who
is
erreth
from
his
way and he
;
well knoweth
him who
:
rightly directed.
and earth that he may reward those who do evil, according to that which they shall have wrought and may reward those who do well, with the most excellent reward. As to those who avoid great crimes and heinous sins, and are guilty only of lighter faults He verily thy Lord will be extensive in mercy toward them. well knew you when he produced you out of the earth, and when ye were embryos in your mothers' wombs: wherefore justify not yourselves he best knoweth the man who f eareth
is
Unto God belongeth whatever

;
in heaven
him.
What
hands
thinkest thou of
him who turneth
aside
from
follow-
ing the truth and giveth little, and covetously stoppeth his 8 ? Is the knowledge of futurity with him, so that he
seeth the
contained in the books of Moses, and of

fully soul shall not bear the
shall be
Hath he not been informed of that which is Abraham who faithperformed his engagements ? To wit that a burdened
same
?
:
burden of another; and that nothing
for righteousness, except his own imputed labor; and that his reward shall surely be made manifest hereafter, and that he shall be rewarded for the same with a most abundant reward and that unto thy Lord will be the end of all things and that he causeth to laugh, and causeth to weep and that he putteth to death, and giveth life and that he created the two sexes, the male and the female, of seed when it is emitted; and that unto him appertaineth another production, namely, the raising of the dead again to life hereafter; and that he enricheth, and causeth to acquire possesto a
; ;
man
al
This passage, it is said, was revealed on account of al Wnlid Elm Mogheira, who, following the prophet one day, was reviled by an idolater for leaving the religion of the Koreish, and giving occasion of scandal; to which he answered, that what he did was out of apprehension of the divine vengeance: whereupon the man offered, for a certain sum, to take the guilt of his apostasy on himself; and the bargain being made, al Walid returned to his idolatry, and paid the man part of what had been agreed on but afterward, on further consideration, he thought it too much, and kept back the remainder.
6
;

and that he
is
39/5
the Lord of the dog-star and that he de; stroyed the ancient tribe of Ad and Thamud, and left not any them alive, and also the people of Noah, before them ; for they were most unjust and wicked: and he overthrew the citiea
which were turned upside down and that which covered them, covered them. Which, therefore, of thy Lord's benefits, O man, wilt thou call in question? This our apostle is a
;
preacher like the preachers who preceded him. The approaching day of judgment draweth near there is none who can reveal the exact time of the same, besides God. Do
:
ye,
therefore,
wonder
at this
new
revelation
not weep, spending your time in idle worship God, and serve him.
and do ye laugh, and diversions ? But rather

;
CHAPTER LIV
ENTITLED, THE MOON; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
NAME
l
OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD
The hour of judgment approacheth; and

been
:
the
moon hath
but if the unbelievers see a sign, they split in sunder turn aside, saying, This is a powerful charm. And they
accuse thee,
O Mohammed,
of imposture, and follow their

fixed.
own lusts: but everything will be immutably now hath a message come unto them, wherein is
And
a determent
from obstinate infidelity; the same being consummate wisdom: but warners profit them not; wherefore do thou withdraw from them. The day whereon the summoner shall summon mankind to an ungrateful business, they shall come forth from their graves with downcast looks: numerous as
* This passage is expounded two different ways. Some imagine the words refer to a famous miracle supposed to have been performed by Mohammed; for it is said that, on the infidels demanding a sign of him, the moon appeared cloven in two, one part vanishing, and the other remaining; and Ebn Masfld affirmed that he saw Mount Kara interjwt between the two sections. Others think the preter tense is here used in the prophetic style for the future, and that the passage should be rendered, "The moon shall be split in sunder"; for this, they Bay, is
to happen at the resurrection.
396
THE SACRED BOOKS
locusts scattered far abroad; hastening with terror unto the summoner. The unbelievers shall say, This is a day of dis-
accused that prophet of imposture, before thy people rejected thee: they accused our servant of imposture, saying, He is a madman and he was retress.
;
The people
of
Noah
jected with reproach.
upon his Lord, I am wherefore saying, Verily, overpowered; avenge me. So we opened the gates of heaven, with water pouring down, and we caused the earth to break forth into springs so that
called, therefore,
;
He
the water of heaven and earth met, according to the decree which had been established. And we bare him on a vessel
composed of planks and nails; which moved forward under our eyes: as a recompense unto him who had been ungratefully rejected.
And we
!
left the said vessel for a sign
but
is
any one warned thereby ? and my threatening
And how severe was my
vengeance
:
have we made the Koran easy for admonition but is any one admonished thereby? Ad charged their prophet with imposture: but how severe were my vengeance and my
threatening! Verily on a day of continued
Now
we
ill
luck
sent against them a roaring wind, it carried men away, as though ;
they had been roots of palm-trees forcibly torn up. And how severe were my vengeance and my threatening! Now have we made the Koran easy for admonition but is any one ad:
Thamud charged the admonitions of their with falsehood, and said, Shall we follow a single prophet man among us ? verily we should then be guilty of error and preposterous madness: is the office of admonition committed unto him preferably to the rest of us ? Nay he is a liar and an insolent fellow. But God said to Saleh, To-morrow shall
monished thereby ?
;
the liar and the insolent person for we will surely send the she-camel for a trial of them; and do tliou observe them, and bear their insults with patience: and
they
know who
is
prophesy unto them that the water shall be divided between them, and each portion shall be sat down to alternately. And they called their companion: and he took a sword, and slew her. But how severe were my vengeance and my threatenFor we sent against them one cry of the angel Gabriel, ing
!

and they became
a fold for cattle. admonition but
:
:i!)7
like the
dry sticks used by him who buill-th

the
And now have we made

is
Koran easy for any one admonished thereby ?
The people of Lot charged his preaching with falsehood: but we sent against them a wind driving a shower of stones which destroyed them all except the family of Lot whom wo
;
delivered
Thus warned them of our

of that warning.
early in the morning, through favor from us. do we reward those who are thankful. And lot had
And they demanded his
severity in chastising; but they doubted guests of him, that
they might abuse them: but we put out their eyes, saying, Taste my vengeance, and my threatening. And early in the morning a lasting punishment surprised them. Taste, thereNow have we fore, my vengeance, and my threatening. made the Koran easy for admonition but is any one
:
admonished thereby? The warning of Moses also came unto the people of Pharaoh but they charged every one of our signs with imposture wherefore we chastised them with a mighty and irresist;
:
ible chastisement.
than these?
Is
Are your unbelievers, O Meccans, better immunity from punishment promised unto
?
you
in the scriptures
Do
they say,
We
are a body of
men
shall
able to prevail against our enemies?
The multitude
But the surely be put to flight, and shall turn their back. hour of judgment is their threatened time of punishment: and that hour shall be more grievous and more bitter than
Verily the wicked wander in error, and shall be tormented hereafter in burning flames. On that day they shall be dragged into the fire on their faces ; and it shall be said unto them, Taste ye the touch of hell. All things have we created bound by a fixed decree: and our
their afflictions in this life.
command
an
but
eye.
is
is
We
no more than a single word, like the twinkling of have formerly destroyed nations like unto you
;
any of your warned by their example? Everything which they do is recorded in the books kept by the guardian angels: and every action, both small and great, is written
down
in the preserved table. Moreover the pious shall dwell among gardens and rivers, in the assembly of truth.
398
THE SACRED BOOKS
CHAPTER LV
ENTITLED, THE MERCIFUL; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE

his servant the Koran.
The Merciful hath taught

:
He
created man he hath taught him distinct and the moon run their courses according
The sun speech. to a certain rule:
and the vegetables which creep on the ground, and the trees submit to his disposition. He also raised the heaven; and he appointed the balance, that ye should not transgress in respect to the balance: wherefore observe a just weight, and diminish not the balance. And the earth hath he prepared
for living creatures: therein are various fruits, and palmtrees bearing sheaths of flowers ; and grain having chaff, and leaves. Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye
ungratefully deny ? He created man of dried clay like an earthen vessel: but he created the genii of fire clear from smoke. Which, therefore, of
is
your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny ? He the Lord of the east, and the Lord of the west. Which,
your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny ? He hath let loose the two seas, that they meet each other: between them is placed a bar which they can not pass.
therefore, of
Which, deny ? Which, deny?
therefore, of
From
your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully them are taken forth unions and lesser pearls.
therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully His also are the ships, carrying their sails aloft in the sea, like mountains. Which, therefore, of your Lord's
benefits will ye ungratefully deny ? Every creature which liveth on the earth is subject to
decay: but the glorious and honorable countenance of thy Lord shall remain forever. Which, therefore, of your Lord's
benefits will ye ungratefully deny? Unto him do all creatures which are in heaven and earth make petition: every
day is he employed in some new work. Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? We will surely attend to judge you, O men and genii, at the last day.

Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully O ye collective body of genii and men, if deny ye be able to pass out of the confines of heaven and earth, pass forth ye
'I
Which, thereungratefully deny ? A flame of fire without smoke, and a smoke without flame shall be sent down upon you and ye shall not be able to defend yourselves therefrom. Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? And when the heaven shall be rent in sunder, and shall become red as a rose, and shall melt like ointment. of (Which, therefore, your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny ?) On that day neither man nor genius shall be asked concern;
shall not pass forth but by absolute power. fore, of your Lord's benefits will ye
Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? The wicked shall be known by their marks and they shall be taken by the forelocks and the feet, and shall be cast into hell. Which, therefore, of your Lord's
sin.
;
ing his
ye ungratefully deny ? This is hell, which the wicked deny as a falsehood they shall pass to and fro between the same and hot boiling water. Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny ? But for him who dreadeth the tribunal of his Lord are prepared two gardens. (Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny?) Planted with shady trees.
:
benefits will
Which, deny? Which, deny?

kinds.
therefore, of
your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully In each of them shall be two fountains flowing.
your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully In each of them shall there be of every fruit two
therefore, of
Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? They shall repose on couches, the linings whereof shall be of thick silk interwoven with gold and the fruit of the two gardens shall be near at hand together.
:
Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? Therein shall receive them beauteous damsels, refraining their eyes from beholding any besides their spouses, whom no man shall have deflowered before them, neither any genius. (Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye Having complexions like rubies and ungratefully deny?)
400
pearls.
THE SACRED BOOKS
Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? Shall the reward of good works be any other than good? Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? And besides these there shall be two other gardens. (Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungrateOf a dark green. Which, therefore, of your fully deny?) In each of them Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny ? shall be two fountains pouring forth plenty of water. Which,
therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny ? In each of them shall be fruits, and palm-trees, and pomeWhich, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye granates. Therein shall be agreeable and beauteungratefully deny? ous damsels. Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny ? Having fine black eyes and kept in pavilions from public view. Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? Whom no man
;
have deflowered, before their destined spouses, nor any genius. Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye Therein shall they delight themselves, ungratefully deny?
shall
Which, carpets. your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny ? Blessed be the name of thy Lord, possessed of glory and honor
lying
o'n
green
cushions
and beautiful
therefore, of
CHAPTER LVI
ENTITLED, THE INEVITABLE; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
When
no soul
the inevitable
day of judgment
shall
suddenly come,
hood: shall be shaken with a violent shock and the mountains shall be dashed in pieces, and shall become as dust scattered
;
shall charge the perdition of its coming with falseit will abase some, and exalt others. When the earth
and ye shall be separated into three distinct classes the companions of the right hand (how happy shall the companions of the right hand be!), and the companions of the
abroad
;
:

left
401
hand (how miserable shall the companions of the left hand be!), and those who have preceded others in the faith, shall precede them to paradise. These are they who shall approach near unto God: they shall dwell in gardens of
(There shall be many of the former religions; and few of the last.) Reposing on couches adorned with gold and precious stones sitting opposite to one another thereon. Youths which shall continue in their bloom forever, shall go round about to attend them, with goblets, and beakers, and a cup of flowing wine their heads shall not ache by
delight.
; :
drinking
the same, neither shall their reason be disturbed: and with fruits of the sorts which they shall choose, and the flesh of birds of the kind which they shall desire. And there shall
fair damsels having large black eyes ; resembling pearls hidden in their shells as a reward for that which they shall have wrought. They shall not hear therein any
:
accompany them
but only the salutation, Peace Peace And the companions of the right hand (how shall the happy companions of the right hand be!) shall have their abode among the lote-trees free from thorns, and trees of mauz loaded regularly with their produce from top to bottom
;
! !
vain discourse, or any charge of sin
under an extended shade, near a flowing water, and amidst fruits in abundance, which shall not fail, nor shall be forbidden to be gathered and they shall repose themselves on lofty beds. Verily we have created the damsels of paradise by a peculiar creation: and we have made them virgins, beloved by their husbands, of equal age with them for the delight of the companions of the right hand. There shall be many of the former religions, and many of the latter. And the companions of the left hand (how miserable shall
:
hand be !) shall dwell amidst burning winds, and scalding water, under the shade of a black smoke, neither cool nor agreeable. For they enjoyed the
the companions of the left
pleasures of life before this, while on earth ; and obstinately persisted in a heinous wickedness: and they said, After we
shall have died, and become dust and bones, shall we surely be raised to life ? Shall our forefathers also be raised with us ? Say, Verily both the first and the last shall be surely
VOL. V.
26.
402
THE SACRED BOOKS
gathered together to judgment, at the prefixed time of a known day. Then ye, O men, who have erred, and denied the resurrection as a falsehood, shall surely eat of the fruit of the tree of al Zakkum, and shall fill your bellies therewith: and ye shall drink thereon boiling water and ye shall drink
;
This shall be their entertainas a thirsty camel drinketh. ment on the day of judgment. have created you will ye not therefore believe that we
We
? What think ye ? The seed can raise which ye emit, do ye create the same, or are we the creators We have decreed death unto you all and we shall thereof ? We are able to substitute others like unto not be prevented.
you from the dead
you in your stead, and to produce you again in the condition or form which ye know not. Ye know the original production by creation will ye not therefore consider that we are able to reproduce you by resuscitation? What think ye? The grain which ye sow, do ye cause the same to spring forth,
;
If we pleased, verily we or do we cause it to spring forth ? could render the same dry and fruitless, so that ye would not cease to wonder, saying, Verily we have contracted debts for
seed and labor; but we are not permitted to reap the fruit thereof. What think ye ? The water which ye drink, do ye
send down the same from the clouds, or are we the senders If we pleased, we could render the same brackish. thereof ? Will ye not therefore give thanks ? What think ye ? The
do ye produce the tree whence ye obtain We have orthe same, or are we the producers thereof? dained the same for an admonition, and an advantage unto
fire
which ye
strike,
who travel through the deserts. Wherefore praise the name of thy Lord, the great God. Moreover I swear by the setting of the stars (and it is surely a great oath, if ye know it) that this is the excellent Koran, the original whereof is written in the preserved book: none
those
;
shall touch the same, except those
who
are clean.
It is a
revelation
fore,
from the Lord of
all creatures.
And despise this new revelation? return for your food which ye receive from God, that ye deny When the soul yourselves to be obliged to him for the same ?
Will ye, theredo ye make this
103
a dying person cometh up to his throat, and ye at the same time are looking on (and we are nigher unto him than ye, but ye see not his true condition) would ye not, if ye are not to be rewarded for your actions thereafter, cause the same
:
ye speak truth ? be he of And whether those who shall approach near unto shall his reward be God, rest, and mercy, and a garden of delights: or whether he be of the companions of the right hand, he shall be saluted with the salutation, Peace be unto
to return into the body, if
by the companions of the right hand his brethren: or whether he be of those who have rejected the true faith and gone astray, his entertainment shall consist of boiling water, and the burning of hell fire. Verily this is a certain truth. Wherefore praise the name of thy Lord, the great God.
thee!
CHAPTER
ENTITLED, IRON;
IN THE
1
LVII
REVEALED AT MECCA, OR AT MEDINA

;
Whatever is in heaven and earth singeth praise unto God and he is mighty and wie. His is the kingdom of heaven and earth he giveth life, and he putteth to death and he is He is the first and the last the manifest and the almighty. hidden and he knoweth all things. It is he who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then ascended his throne. He knoweth that which entereth into the earth, and that which issueth out of the same and that which descendeth from heaven, and that which ascendeth thereto and he is with you wheresoever ye be for God seeth that which ye do. His and unto God shall all is the kingdom of heaven and earth succeed the day, and to the causeth return. He night things he causeth the day to succeed the night and he knoweth the
;
; ;
innermost part of men's

Believe in
breasts.
and lay out in alms a part of the wealth whereof God hath made you inheritors: for
God and
his apostle,
The word occurs toward the end
of the chapter.
404
THE SACRED BOOKS
unto such of you as believe, and bestow alms, shall be given a And what aileth you, that ye believe not in great reward.
God, when the apostles inviteth you to believe in your Lord and he hath received your covenant concerning this matter, if ye believe any proposition? It is he who hath sent down unto his servant evident signs, that he may lead you out of darkness into light; for God is compassionate and merciful unto you. And what aileth you, that ye contribute not of your substance for the defense of God's true religion ? Since unto God appertaineth the inheritance of heaven and earth. Those among you who' shall have contributed and fought in defense of the faith, before the taking of Mecca, shall not be held equal with those who shall contribute and fight for the same afterward. These shall be superior in degree unto
;
those
who
shall contribute
and
fight for the propagation of

:
the faith after the above-mentioned success
but unto
all
hath
God promised
a most excellent reward
and God well knoweth
that which ye do. Who is he that will lend unto
acceptable loan ? for he will double the same unto him, and he shall receive moreover an honorable reward. On a certain day, thou shalt see
God an
the true believers of both sexes: their light shall run before them, and on their right hands; and it shall be said unto
them, Good tidings unto you this day gardens through which rivers flow; ye shall remain therein forever. This will be
:
day the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women shall say unto those who believe, Stay for It shall be anus, that we may borrow some of your light. And a swered, Return back into the world, and seek light. wall shall be set shall betwixt them, wherein be a gate, high within which shall be mercy and without it, over against the
great felicity.
that
;
On
The hypocrites shall call out unto same, the torment of hell. the true believers, saying, Were we not with you? They shall answer, Yea; but ye seduced your own souls by your
and ye waited our ruin and ye doubted concerning the faith and your wishes deceived you, until the decree of God came, and ye died; and the deceiver deceived you This day, therefore, a ransom shall not be concerning God.
hypocrisy
: ;

:
lor,
accepted of you, nor of those who have been unbelievers. Your abode shall be hell fire this is what have deserved
ye
and an unhappy journey shall it be thither. Is not the time yet come unto those who believe, that
hearts should
to that truth
their
humbly submit
to the
admonition of God, and

;
which hath been revealed and that they be not as those unto whom the scripture was given heretofore, and to whom the time of forbearance was prolonged, but their hearts were hardened, and many of them were wicked doers?
Know that God quickeneth the earth, Now have we distinctly declared our
may
understand.
after it hath been dead.
signs unto you, that ye
Verily as to the almsgivers, both men and women, and those who lend unto God an acceptable loan, he will double the same
unto them; and they shall moreover receive an honorable reward. And they who believe in God and his apostles, these
are the
men
of veracity, and the witnesses in the presence of
their Lord: they shall have their reward and their light. But as to those who believe not, and accuse our signs of
falsehood, they shall be the companions of hell. Know that this present life is only a toy and a vain amusement : and worldly pomp, and the affectation of glory among
you, and the multiplying of riches and children, are as the plants nourished by the rain, the springing up whereof dethou lighteth the husbandmen ; afterward they wither, so that
same turn yellow, and at length they become dry And in the life to come will be a severe punishstubble. ment for those who covet worldly grandeur and pardon from God, and favor for those who renounce it: for this present Hasten with emulife is no other than a deceitful provision. lation to obtain pardon from your Lord, and paradise, to the extent whereof equaleth the extent of heaven and earth, preThis is pared for those who believe in God and his apostles. he whom the bounty of God; he will give the same unto No accipleaseth; and God is endued with great bounty.
seest the
;
dent happeneth in the earth, nor in your persons, but the same was entered in the book of our decrees, before we created and this is written lest ye it verily this is easy with God
: :
406
THE SACRED BOOKS
immoderately grieve for the good which escapeth you, or which happeneth unto you; for God loveth rejoice for that or no proud vainglorious person, or those who are covetous. And whoso turneth aside from giving alms ; verily God is self-
worthy to be praised. We formerly sent our apostles with evident miracles and arguments; and we sent down with them the scriptures and 2 the balance, that men might observe justice: and we sent them down iron, 3 wherein is mighty strength for war, and various advantages unto mankind: that God may know who assisteth him and his apostles in secret for God is strong and mighty. We formerly sent Noah and Abraham, and we established in their posterity the gift of prophecy, and the scripture and of them some were directed, but many of them were evil-doers. Afterward we caused our apostles to succeed in their footsteps and we caused Jesus the son of Mary to succeed them, and we gave him the gospel and we put in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy but as to the monastic state, they instituted the same (we did not prescribe it to them ) only out of a desire to please God yet they observed not the same as it ought truly to be observed. And we gave unto such of them as believed, their reward but many of them were wicked doers. O ye who believe in the former prophets, fear God, and believe in his apostle Mohammed: he will give you two portions of his mercy, and he will ordain you a light wherein ye may walk, and he will forgive you; for God is ready to forgive and merciful that those who have received the scriptures may know that they have not power over any of the favors of God, and that good is in the hand of God; he bestoweth the same on whom he pleaseth, for God is endued
sufficient,
; :
with great beneficence.
A rule of justice." Some think that a balance wa actually brought down from heaven by the angel Gabriel to Noah, the use of which he was ordered to introduce among his people. 8 That Al Zais, we taught them how to dig the same from mines. makhshari adds that Adam is said to have brought down with him from paradise five things made of iron, viz., an anvil, a pair of tongs, two hammers, a greater and a lesser, and a needle.
2
I.e.,
"
407
CHAPTER
ENTITLED, SHE
LVIII
WHO
DISPUTED; REVEALED AT MEDINA
who disputed with made her complaint unto God; and God hath heard your mutual discourse; for God both heareth and seeth. As to those among you who divorce
hath
the speech of her
Now
God heard
thee concerning her husband, and
by declaring that they will thereafter regard them them know that they are not their mothers. They only are their mothers who brought them forth and they certainly utter an unjustifiable saying, and a falsehood but God is gracious and ready to forgive. Those
as their mothers; let
;
their wives
divorce their wives by declaring that they will for tho future regard them as their mothers, and afterward would
repair what they have said, shall be obliged to free a captive, before they touch one another. This is what ye are warned to perform: and God is well apprised of that which ye do.
findeth not a captive to redeem shall observe a fast of two consecutive months, before they touch one another.
who
And whoso
And whoso
shall not be able to fast that time shall feed three-
score poor men. This is ordained you, that ye may believe in God and his apostle. These are the statutes of God : and for
prepared a grievous torment. Verily they who oppose God and his apostle shall be brought low, as the unbelievers who preceded them were brought low. And now have we sent down manifest signs:
is
the unbelievers
and an ignominious punishment awaiteth the unbelievers. On a certain day God shall raise them all to life, and shall God hath declare unto them that which they have wrought. taken an exact account thereof; but they have forgotten the same: and God is witness over all things. Dost thou not perceive that God knoweth whatever is in heaven and in earth ? There is no private discourse among three persons,
but he
the fourth of them; nor among five, but he is the sixth of them neither among a smaller number than this, nor a larger, but he is with them, wheresoever they be: and he
is
;
408
will declare unto
THE SACRED BOOKS

;
of resurrection
them that which they have done, on the day for God kuoweth all things. Hast thou not
ohserved those who have been forhidden to use clandestine discourse, but afterward return to what they have been forbidden, and discourse privily among themselves of wickedAnd ness, and enmity, and disobedience toward the apostle ?
thee, they salute thee with that form of doth not salute thee and they say wherewith God salutation among themselves, by way of derision, would not God punish us for what we say, if this man were a prophet ? Hell shall be their sufficient punishment: they shall go down into the same to be burned and an unhappy journey shall it be
:
when they come unto
true believers, when ye discourse privily together, discourse not of wickedness, and enmity, and disobedience tothe apostle ; but discourse of justice and piety : and fear God, before whom ye shall be assembled. Verily the clandestine discourse of the infidels proceedeth from Satan, that he
ward
may
grieve the true believers but there shall be none to hurt them in the least, unless by the permission of God; where:
when it is said unto you, Make room in the assembly; make room: God will grant you ample room in paradise. And when it is said unto you, Rise up rise up God will raise those of you who believe, and those to whom knowledge is given, to superior degrees of honor and God is fully apprised of that
fore in
let
God
the faithful trust.
true believers,
which ye
do.
with the apostle, give alms previously to your discoursing with him this will be better for you and more pure. But if ye find not what to give, verily God will be gracious and merciful unto you. Do ye fear to give alms previously to your discoursing with the prophet, lest ye should impoverish yourselves? Therefore if ye do it not, and God is gracious unto you, by dispensing with the said precept for the future, be constant at prayer, and pay the legal alms and obey God and his apostle in all other matters for God well knoweth that which ye do. Hast thou not observed those who have taken for their friends a
true believers,
to speak
:
when ye go
people against
whom God
is
incensed
They
are neither of
4<)<J
you nor of them: and they swear to a lie knowingly. God hath prepared for them a grievous punishment; for it is vil which they do. They have taken their oaths for a cloak, ;m.l they have turned men aside from the way of God: wherefore a shameful punishment awaiteth them neither their wealth nor their children shall avail them at all against God. These
<
they shall abide therein them all then will swear unto as swear now unto you, imagining him, they they that it will be of service to them. Are they not liars ? Satan hath prevailed against them, and hath caused them to forget the remembrance of God. These are the party of the devil
;
shall be the inhabitants of hell fire
forever.
On
a certain day
God
shall raise
and
shall not the party of the devil be doomed to perdition ? who God and his shall be placed Verily they oppose apostle
God hath written, Verily I will preGod is strong and mighty. Thou vail, my apostles shalt not find people who believe in God and the last day, to love him who opposeth God and his apostle although they be
among
the most vile.
and
for
their fathers, or their sons, or their brethren, or their nearest In the hearts of these hath God written faith relations.
;
and he hath strengthened them with his spirit: and he will lead them into gardens, beneath which rivers flow, to remain therein forever. God is well pleased in them, and they are well pleased in him. These are the party of God and shall
:
not the party of
God
prosper
CHAPTER LIX
ENTITLED, THE EMIGRATION; REVEALED AT MEDINA
IN THE
Whatever is in heaven and earth celebrateth the praise of God and he is the mighty, the wise. It was he who caused
:
those
ture, to depart
Ye
believed not, of the people who receive the scripfrom their habitations at the first emigration. did not think that they would go forth and they thought
who
that their fortresses
would protect them against God.
But
410
THE SACRED BOOKS
God came upon them, from whence they did not expect; and he cast terror into their hearts. They pulled down their houses with their own hands, and the hands
the chastisement of
Wherefore take example from them, O ye who have eyes. And if God had not doomed them to banishment, he had surely punished them in this world and in the world to come they shall suffer the torment of hell fire. This because they opposed God and his apostle: and whoso
of the true believers.
;
opposeth God, verily God will be severe in punishing him. What palm-trees ye cut down, or left standing on their roots,
were so cut down or left by the will of God and that he might disgrace the wicked doers. And as to the spoils of these people which God hath granted wholly to his apostle, ye did not push forward any horses or camels against the same; but God giveth unto his apostles dominion over whom he pleaseth for God is almighty. The spoils of the inhabitants of the towns which God hath granted to his apostle are due unto God and to the apostle, and him who is of kin to the apostle, and the orphans, and the poor,
; :
that they may not be forever divided in a circle among such of you as are rich. What the apostle shall and forbid you, that that what he shall give you, accept;
;
and the traveler
abstain
from and fear God for God

:
is
severe in chastising.
A part also belongeth to the poor Mohajerin, who have been

dispossessed of their houses and their substance, seeking favor
from God, and

tle.
his good-will,
and
assisting
These are the
men
of veracity.
And
God and his aposthey who quietly
possessed the town of Medina, and professed the faith without molestation, before them, love him who hath fled unto
them, and find in their breasts no want of that which is given the Mohajerin, but prefer them before themselves, although there be indigence among them. And whoso is preserved
his own soul, those shall surely proswho have come after them say, O Lord, forper. they give us and our brethren who have preceded us in the faith, and put not into our hearts ill-will against those who
from the covetousness of
And
have believed:
merciful.
Lord, verily thou art compassionate and
411
Hast thou not observed them who play the hypocrite*? They say unto their brethren who believe not, of those who
have received the scriptures, Verily if ye expelled your habiwill we forth with and we will not pay go surely tations, you ; in obedience, your respect, unto any one forever: and if ye be attacked, we will certainly assist you. But God is witness that they are liars. Verily if they be expelled, they will not go forth with them ; and if they be attacked, they will not
them; and if they do not assist them, they will surely turn their backs and they shall not be protected. Verily ye are stronger than they, by reason of the terror cast into their breasts from God. This, because they are not people of pruassist
:
will not fight against you in a body, except iii fenced towns, or from behind walls. Their strength in war themselves is thou thinkest them to be united great among
dence.
They
but their hearts are divided.
who do not understand.
This, because they are people Like those who lately preceded them,
they have tasted the evil consequence of their deed; and a Thus have painful torment is prepared for them hereafter. the hypocrites deceived the Jews: like the devil, when he
saith unto a
man, Be thou an
all creatures.
infidel
and when he
of thee
is
become
an
infidel,
he saith, Verily I
the Lord of
for I fear God, ; Wherefore the end of them both
am clear
shall be that they shall dwell in hell fire, abiding therein forever : and this shall be the recompense of the unjust.
O true believers,
eth before for the
fear
God and
;
let
a soul look what
it
send-
morrow: and fear God, for God is well acquainted with that which ye do. And be not as those who have forgotten God, and whom he hath caused to forget their own souls: these are the wicked doers. The inhabitants of hell fire and the inhabitants of paradise shall not be held
equal.
felicity.
The
If
inhabitants of paradise are they who shall enjoy we had sent down this Koran on a mountain,
thou wouldst certainly have seen the same humble itself, and These similitudes do we cleave in sunder for fear of God.
bepropose unto men, that they may consider. He is God, is which that knoweth sides whom there is no God; who future and that which is present: he is the most Merciful;
412
he
is
THE SACRED BOOKS

:
God, besides whom there is no God the King, the Holy, the Giver of peace, the Faithful, the Guardian, the Powerful, Far be God exalted above the the Strong, the most High. He is God, the Creaidols, which they associate with him Former. most excellent names. He hath tor, the Maker, the Whatever is in heaven and earth praiseth him and he is the Mighty, the Wise.
!
:
CHAPTER LX
ENTITLED, SHE
WHO
IS
TRIED;
REVEALED AT MEDINA
IN THE
true believers, take not

2
my enemy
and your enemy for
your friends, showing kindness toward them; since they believe not in the truth which hath come unto you, having
expelled the apostle and yourselves from your native city, because ye believe in God, your Lord. If ye go forth to fight
and out of a desire to please me, and privately show friendship unto them verily I well know that which ye conceal, and that which ye discover and whoever of you doth this hath already erred from the strait path.
in defense of
my
religion,
If they get the better of you, they will be enemies unto you, and they will stretch forth their hands and their tongues
1
This chapter bears this
title
because
it
directs the
women who
desert
and come over from the infidels to the Moslems to be examined, and tried whether they be sincere in their profession of the faith. 2 This passage was revealed on account of Hateb Ebn Abi Balpaa, who understanding that Mohammed had a design to surprise Mecca, wrote a letter to the Koreish, giving them notice of the intended expedition, and advised them to be on their guard: which letter he sent by Sarah, a maid-servant belonging to the family of Hashem. The messenger had
not been gone long, before Gabriel discovered the affair to the prophet, who immediately sent after her; and having intercepted the letter, asked Hateb how he came to be guilty of such an action? To which he replied that it was not out of infidelity, or a desire to return to idolatry, but merely to induce the Koreish to treat his family, which was still at Mecca, with some kindness; adding that he was well assured his intelligence would be of no service at all to the Meccans, because he was satisfied God would take vengeance on them. Whereupon Mohammed received his excuse and pardoned him; but it was thought proper to forbid any such practises for the future.

:
413
ainst you with evil and they earnestly desire that ye should become unbelievers. Neither your kindred nor your children will avail you at all on the day of resurrection, which will separate you from one another and God seeth that which ye do. Ye have an excellent pattern in Abraham, and those who were
:
with him, when they said unto their people, Verily we are and of the idols which ye worship, besides God we have renounced you; and enmity and hatred is begun between us and you forever, until ye believe in God alone: except Abraham's saying unto his father, Verily I will beg pardon for thee; but I can not obtain aught of God in thy
clear of you,
:
behalf.
Lord, in thee do
shall
and before thee
we trust, and unto thee are we turned we be assembled hereafter. Lord,

;
suffer us not to be put to trial by the unbelievers : and forgive Lord ; for thou art mighty and wise. Verily ye have us,
them an excellent example, unto him who hopeth in God and the last day and whoso turneth back verily God is selfPeradventure God will estabsufficient, and praiseworthy. lish friendship between yourselves and such of them as ye now hold for enemies: for God is powerful; and God is inclined to forgive, and merciful. As to those who have not borne arms against you on account of religion, nor turned you
in
:
out of your dwellings, God forbiddeth you not to deal kindly with them, and to behave justly toward them for God loveth those who act justly. But as to those who have borne arms on of religion, and have dispossessed you account against you of your habitations, and have assisted in dispossessing you, God forbiddeth you to enter into friendship with them: and
;
whosoever of you entereth into friendship with them, those are unjust doers. O true believers, when believing women come unto you as And if refugees, try them: God well knoweth their faith. ye know them to be true believers, send them not back to the in infidels; they are not lawful for the unbelievers to have
marriage
neither are the unbelievers lawful for them.
But
exgive their unbelieving husbands what they shall have in crime be it you if any pended for their dowers. Nor shall
414
THE SACRED BOOKS
ye marry them, provided ye give them their dowries. And retain riot the patronage of the unbelieving women: but demand back that which ye have expended for the dowry of such of your wives as go over to the unbelievers and let them demand back that which they have expended for the dowry of This is the judgment of God, those who come over to you. which he establisheth among you: and God is knowing and If any of your wives escape from you to the unbewise. lievers, and ye have your turn by the coming over of any of the unbelievers' wives to you give unto those believers whose wives shall have gone away, out of the dowries of the latter, so much as they shall have expended for the dowers of the former and fear God, in whom ye believe. O prophet, when believing women come unto thee, and plight their faith unto thee, that they will not associate anything with God, nor steal, nor commit fornication, nor kill their children, nor come with a calumny which they have forged between their hands and their feet, nor be disobedient to thee in that which shall be reasonable then do thou plight thy faith unto them, and ask pardon for them of God; for God is inclined to forgive, and
; ;
: :
merciful.
true believers, enter not into friendship with a people against whom God is incensed: they despair of the life to
come, as the infidels despair of the resurrection of those dwell in the graves.
who
CHAPTER LXI
ENTITLED, BATTLE ARRAY; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
NAME
Whatever
of
is
God
for he
is
in heaven and in earth celebrateth the praise true believers, why do mighty and wise.
ye say that which ye do not ? It is most odious in the sight of God, that ye say that which ye do not. Verily God loveth those who fight for his religion in battle array, as though Remember when they were a well compacted building.
415
Moses said unto his people, O my people, why do ye injure me; since ye know that I am the apostle of God sent unto you? And when they had deviated from the truth, God made their hearts to deviate from the right way; for God directeth not wicked people. And when Jesus the son of Mary said, O children of Israel, verily I am the apostle of God sent unto you, confirming the law which was delivered before me, and bringing good tidings of an apostle who shall come after me, and whose name shall be Ahmed. 1 And when he produced unto them evident miracles, they said, This is manifest sorcery. But who is more unjust than he who
forgeth a lie against God, when he is invited unto Islam? And God directeth not the unjust people. They seek to ex-
tinguish God's light with their mouths: but God will perfect his light, though the infidels be averse thereto. It is he who
hath sent his apostle with the direction, and the religion of truth, that he may exalt the same above every religion, al-
though the idolaters be averse thereto. O true believers, shall I show you a merchandise which will deliver you from a painful torment hereafter? Believe in God and his apostle; and defend God's true religion with your substance, and in your own persons. This will be
better for you, if ye and will introduce
knew
it.
He
will forgive
you your
sins,
you into gardens through which rivers in gardens of perpetual abode. and habitations flow, agreeable This will be great felicity. And ye shall obtain other things
namely, assistance from God, and a speedy And do thou bear good tidings to the true believers. victory. O true believers, be ye the assistants of God as Jesus the
which ye
desire,
son of
with respect to God ? The apostles answered, We will be the assistants of God. So a part of the children of Israel bei For Mohammed also bore the name of Ahmed ; both names being derived from the same root, and nearly of the same signification. The Persian paraphrast, to support what is here alleged, quotes the follow" I come "; ing words of Christ, go to my father, and the Paraclete shall the Mohammedan doctors unanimously teaching that by the Paraclete " their (or, as they choose to read it, the Periclyte," or "Illustrious ")
Mary
said to the apostles,
Who
will be
my
assistants
prophet
is
intended, and no other.
416
lieved,
THE SACRED BOOKS
and a part believed not: but we strengthened those who believed, above their enemy; wherefore they became
victorious over them.
CHAPTER LXII
ENTITLED, THE ASSEMBLY; REVEALED AT MEDINA
IN THE
Whatever is in heaven and earth praiseth God ; the King, the Holy, the Mighty, the Wise. It is he who hath raised up amidst the illiterate Arabians an apostle from among themselves, to rehease his signs unto them, and to purify them,
them the scriptures and wisdom whereas before they were certainly in a manifest error: and others of them have not yet attained unto them, by embracing the faith;
and
to teach
;
though they also shall be converted in God's good time for he is mighty and wise. This is the free grace of God: he bestoweth the same on whom he pleaseth and God is endued with great beneficence. The likeness of those who were charged with the observance of the law, and then observed it not, is as the likeness of an ass laden with books. How wretched is the likeness of the people who charge the signs of God with falsehood and God directeth not the unjust people. Say, O ye who follow the Jewish religion, if ye say that ye are the friends of God above other men, wish for death, if ye speak truth. But they will never wish for it, because of that which their hands have sent before them: and God well knoweth the unjust. Say, meet then which will from surely you: ye fly, Verily death, shall ye be brought before him who knoweth as well what is concealed as what is discovered; and he will declare unto you that which ye have done. O true believers, when ye are called to prayer on the day of the assembly, 1 hasten to the commemoration of God, and
; :
!
That
is,
Friday, which being more peculiarly set apart by
Moham-
med
i.e.,
for the public worship of God, is therefore called al jomd, the day of the assembly or congregation; whereas before it was
Yawm

leave merchandizing.
417
knew
God 2 and remember God frequently, that ye may But when they see any merchandizing or sport, prosper.
ity of
:
This will be better for you, if ye is prayer ended, then disperse yourselves through the land as ye list, and seek gain of the liberalit.
And when
they flock thereto, and leave thee standing up in thy pulpit. 8 Say, The reward which is with God is better than any sport or merchandise; and God is the best provider.
CHAPTER
IN THE
LXIII
ENTITLED, THE HYPOCRITES; REVEALED AT MEDINA
NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL
GOD
the hypocrites come unto thee, they say, witness that thou art indeed the apostle of God.
When
We
bear
knoweth that thou art indeed
his apostle: but
And God God beareth
witness that the hypocrites are certainly liars. They have taken their oaths for a protection, and they turn others aside from the way of God: it is surely evil which they do.
This
is testified
ward became unbelievers: wherefore

hearts,
of them, because they believed, and aftera seal is set on their

shall not understand.
and they
When
est them, their persons please thee: and if hearest their discourse with delight. They resemble pieces of timber set up against a wall. They imagine every shout
this day was particularly observed, as at Medina, into which city he arrival say, made his first entry on a Friday. One reason given for the observation of Friday, preferably to any other day of the week, is because on that
thou beholdthey speak, thou
called al Aruba.
some
The first time was on the prophet's
think
if ye not hold themselves obliged to observe the day of their public assembly with the same strictness aa the Christians and Jews do their respective Sabbaths; or particularly to abstain from work, after they have performed their devotions. a * It is related that one Friday, while Mohammed was preaching, acdrums their with beating, caravan of merchants happened to arrive all ran out of cording to custom; which the congregation hearing, they the mosque to see them, except twelve only.
fit:
day God finished the creation. 2 By returning to your commerce and worldly occupations,
for
the
Mohammedans do
VOL. v.
27.
418
THE SACRED BOOKS

They
:
to be against them.
of them.
the truth!
God
curse them
are enemies; wherefore beware how are they turned aside from
apostle of their heads,
And when it is said unto them, Come, that the God may ask pardon for you; they turn away
and thou
seest
them
retire big
with disdain.
It
unto them, whether thou ask pardon for them, or do not ask pardon for them ; God will by no means forgive them for God directeth not the prevaricating people. These are the men who say to the inhabitants of Medina, Do not bestow anything on the refugees who are with the apostle of God, that they may be obliged to separate from him. Wherebut as unto God belong the stores of heaven and earth the hypocrites do not understand. They say, Verily, if we return to Medina, the worthier shall expel thence the meaner. Whereas superior worth belongeth unto God, and his apostle, and- the true believers but the hypocrites know it not. O true believers, let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of God for whosoever doth this, they will surely be losers. And give alms out of that which we have bestowed on you before death come unto one of you, and he say, O Lord, wilt thou not grant me respite for a short term; that I may give alms, and become one of the
shall be equal
:
:
righteous
to a soul,
will by no means grant further respite determined time is come and God is fully apprised of that which ye do.
?
For God
its
when
CHAPTER LXIV
ENTITLED,
MUTUAL DECEIT; REVEALED AT MECCA

IN THE
heaven and earth celebrateth the praises of God his is the kingdom, and unto him is the praise due for he is almighty. It is he who hath created you and one of you is predestined to be an unbeliever, and another of you is predestined to be a believer and God beholdeth that which ye do. He hath created the heavens and the earth with truth
is in
: ; ;
Whatever
419
and he hath fashioned you, and given you beautiful forms: and unto him must ye all go. He knoweth whatever is in heaven and earth and he knoweth that which ye conceal, and that which ye discover for God knoweth the innermost part Have ye not been acquainted with the of men's breasts. who disbelieved heretofore, and tasted the evil story of those of their behavior? And for them is prepared, consequence
:
in the life to come, a tormenting punishment. This shall because their came unto them with eviapostles they suffer,
us
dent proofs of their mission, and they said, Shall men direct Wherefore they believed not, and turned their backs. ? But God standeth in need of no person: for God is self-
and worthy to be praised. The unbelievers imagine that they shall not be raised again. Say, Yea, by my Lord, ye shall surely be raised again then shall ye be told that which ye have wrought and this is easy with God. Wherefore believe in God and his apostle, and the light which we have sent down for God is well acquainted with that which ye do. On a certain day he shall assemble
sufficient,
:
you, at the day of the general assembly that will be the day And whoso shall believe in God, and of mutual deceit.
:
do that which is right, from him will he expiate his evil deeds, and he will lead him into gardens beneath which rivers This will be great felicity. flow, to remain therein forever. But they who shall not believe, and shall accuse our signs of falsehood, those shall be the inhabitants of hell fire, wherein
shall
they shall remain forever and a wretched journey shall it be No misfortune happeneth but by the permission of thither! God; and whoso believeth in God, he will direct his heart: and God knoweth all things. Wherefore obey God, and obey the apostle but if ye turn back, verily the duty incumbent on our apostle is only public preaching. God! there is no
;
:
God but he: wherefore

trust.
in
God
let
the faithful put their
O
ye
them ; God pass over their offenses, and pardon and forgive Your wealth is likewise inclined to forgive, and merciful.
true believers, verily of your wives and your children have an enemy: wherefore beware of them. But if ye
420
THE SACRED BOOKS
and your children are only a temptation; but with God is a Wherefore fear God, as much as ye are able great reward. and hear, and obey: and give alms, for the good of your souls ; for whoso is preserved from the covetousness of his own If ye lend unto God an acceptable soul, they shall prosper. loan, he will double the same unto you, and will forgive you for God is grateful and long-suffering, knowing both what is hidden and what is divulged; the Mighty, the Wise.
;
:
CHAPTER LXV
ENTITLED, DIVORCE; REVEALED AT MEDINA
IN THE
divorce women, put them away at their and compute the term exactly: and fear appointed term; God, your Lord. Oblige them not to go out of their apartments, neither let them go out, until the term be expired, unless they be guilty of manifest uncleanness. These are the statutes of God: and whoever transgresseth the statutes
prophet,
when ye
of
God
assuredly injureth his
own
soul.
Thou knowest
to pass,
not
whether God will bring something new
which
may
And when they shall have fulreconcile them, after this. filled their term, either retain them with kindness, or part
from them honorably; and take witnesses from among you, men of integrity and give your testimony as in the presence
;
of God.
This admonition
is
given unto
him who
believeth in
God
grant a happy issue out of

:
day: and whoso feareth God, unto him will he all his afflictions, and he will bestow on him an ample provision from whence he expecteth it not and whoso trusteth in God, he will be his sufficient supNow hath God port ; for God will surely attain his purpose. appointed unto everything a determined period. As to such of your wives as shall despair having their courses, by reason of their age if ye be in doubt thereof, let their term be three months and let the same be the term of those who have not
and the
last

yet
421
are pregnant, their term shall be until they be delivered of their burden. And whoso feareth God, unto him will he make his command
had
their courses.
But
as to those
who
This is the command of God, which he hath sent down unto you. And whoso feareth God, he will expiate his evil deeds from him, and will increase his reward. Suffer the women whom ye divorce to dwell in some part of the houses wherein ye dwell; according to the room and conveniences of the habitations which ye possess: and make them not uneasy, that ye may reduce them to straits. And if they be with child, expend on them what shall be needful, until they be delivered of their burden. And if they suckle
easy.
their children for you, give them their hire; and consult among yourselves, according to what shall be just and reasonAnd if ye be put to a difficulty herein, and another able.
woman
shall suckle the child for him, let
him who hath
plenty expend proportionately, in the maintenance of the mother and the nurse, out of his plenty: and let him whose
scanty expend in proportion out of that which God God obligeth no man to more than he hath hath given him.
income
is
given
him
ability to
cities
perform God will cause ease

:
to succeed
hardship.
have turned aside from the command of Wherefore we brought them to their Lord and his apostles ? a severe account; and we chastised them with a grievous
chastisement
business
;
How many
and they tasted the evil consequence of their and the end of their business was perdition. God hath prepared for them a severe punishment wherefore fear God, O ye who are endued with understanding. True believers, now hath God sent down unto you an admonition, an apostle who may rehearse unto you the perwho spicuous signs of God; that he may bring forth those And into believe and do good works, from darkness light. whoso believeth in God, and doth that which is right, him will he lead into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to remain
:
therein forever:
for him.
It
is
many
different
now hath God made an excellent provision God who hath created seven heavens, and as stories of the earth: the divine command
422
THE SACRED BOOKS

may know
all
descendeth between them; that ye
that
God
is
omnipotent, and that
God comprehendeth
things by his
knowledge.
CHAPTER LXVI
ENTITLED, PROHIBITION; REVEALED AT MEDINA
IN THE
NAME OF
TI1E
MOST MERCIFUL GOD
O prophet, why boldest thou that to be prohibited which God hath allowed thee, seeking to please thy wives; since God is inclined to forgive and merciful ? God hath allowed you the dissolution of your oaths and God is your master
:
and he
the prophet entrusted of his wives a certain accident ; and when as a secret unto one
is
knowing and wise.
When
she disclosed the same, and God made it known unto him; he acquainted her with part of what she had done, and forAnd when bore to upbraid her with the other part thereof.
he had acquainted her therewith, she said, Who hath discovered this unto thee? He answered, The knowing, the 1 If ye both be sagacious God hath discovered it unto me. turned unto God (for your hearts have swerved) it is well: but if ye join against him, verily God is his patron and Gabriel, and the good man among the faithful, and the angels If he divorce you, his Lord can also are his assistants. easily give him in exchange other wives better than you,
;
* When Mohammed found that his wife Hafsa knew of his having injured her, or Ayesha, by lying with his concubine Mary on the day due to one of them, he desired her to keep the affair secret, promising, at the same time, that he would not meddle with Mary any more; and foretold her, as a piece of news which might soothe her vanity, that Abu Beer and Omar should succeed him in the government of his peoHafsa, however, could not conceal this from Ayesha, with whom ple. she lived in strict friendship, but acquainted her with the whole matter: whereupon the prophet, perceiving that his secret had been discovered, upbraided Hafsa with her betraying him, telling her that God had revealed it to him; and not only divorced her, but separated him from all his other wives for a whole month, which time he spent in the apartment of Mary. In a short time, notwithstanding, he took Hafsa again, by the direction, as he gave out, of the angel Gabriel, who commended her for her frequent fasting and other exercises of devotion, assuring him likewise that she should be one of his wives in paradise.

women
resigned unto God, true believers, devout, penitent, obedient, given to fasting, both such as have been known by other men, and virgins.
O
ilies,
true believers, save your souls, and those of your famfrom the fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which
are set angels fierce and terrible; who disobey not God in what he hath commanded them, but perform what they are
commanded.
ye
shall surely be
unbelievers, excuse not yourselves this day ; rewarded for what ye have done. true
believers, turn unto God with a sincere repentance: peradventure your Lord will do away from you your evil deeds, and will admit you into gardens, through which rivers flow ;
on the day whereon God will not put to shame the prophet, or those who believe with him: their light shall run before them and on their right hands, and they shall say, Lord, make our light perfect, and forgive us for thou art almighty. O prophet, attack the infidels with arms, and the hypocrites with arguments; and treat them with severity: their abode God proshall be hell, and an ill journey shall it be thither. wife of the unto the similitude unbelievers, poundeth as a Noah, and the wife of Lot they were under two of our righteous servants, and they deceived them both wherefore their husbands were of no advantage unto them at all, in the sight of God and it shall be said unto them at the last day, Enter ye into hell fire, with those who enter therein. God also
;
: ;
:
propoundeth as a similitude unto those who

of Pharaoh
2
;
believe, the wife
when
she said, Lord, build
me
a house with
thee in paradise; and deliver me from Pharaoh and his do: and Mary the ings, and deliver me from the unjust people
and into daughter of Imran; who preserved her chastity,

relate that, 2 Viz., Asia, the daughter of Mozahem. The commentators because she believed in Moses, her husband cruelly tormented her, fastenand laying a large mill-stone on ing her hands and feet to four stakes, her breast, her face at the same time being exposed to the scorching beams of the sun. These pains, however, were alleviated by the angel view of the mansion prepared for shading her with their wings, and the t her in paradise, which was exhibited to her on her pronouncing some as soul her or, say, received prayer in the text. At length God drinks. she was taken up alive into paradise, where she eats and
;
THE SACRED BOOKS

whose womb we breathed of our spirit, and who believed in the words of her Lord and his scriptures, and was a devout 3 and obedient person.
CHAPTER LXVII
ENTITLED, THE KINGDOM; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
Blessed be he in whose hand is the kingdom; for he is Who hath created death and life, that he might almighty of you is most righteous in his actions and which prove you,
! :
mighty, and ready to forgive. Who hath created seven heavens, one above another: thou canst not see in a creature he
is
Lift of the most Merciful any unfitness or disproportion. up thine eyes again to heaven, and look whether thou seest
any flaw: then take two other views; and thy sight shall return unto thee dull and fatigued. Moreover we have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and have appointed them to be darted at the devils, for whom we have prepared the torment of burning fire and for those who believe not in their Lord is also prepared the torment of hell an ill journey shall it be thither When they shall be thrown thereinto, they shall hear it bray like an ass; and it shall boil, and almost burst for fury. So often as a comof them shall be thrown therein, the keepers thereof pany shall ask them, saying, Did not a warner come unto you? They shall answer, Yea, a warner came unto us but we accused him of imposture, and said, God hath not revealed anything; ye are in no other than a great error: and they shall say, If ye had barkened, or had rightly considered, we
:
should not have been
among
the inhabitants of burning fire
* On occasion of the honorable mention here made of these two extraordinary women, the commentators introduce a saying of their prophet, " That among men there had been many perfect, but no more than four of the other sex had attained perfection; to wit, Asia, the wife of Pharaoh; Mary, the mother of Christ; Khadtjah, the prophet's first wife;
and Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed."

and they
shall confess their sins
;
425
but far be the inhabitants

!
from obtaining mercy Verily they who fear their Lord in secret shall receive pardon and a great reward. Either conceal your discourse, or make it public he knoweth the innermost parts of your
of burning fire
;
things who hath created them ; since he is the sagacious, the knowing? It is he who hath for earth leveled the you therefore walk through the regions of eat his and thereof, provision unto him shall be the reAre ye secure that he who dwelleth in heaven urrection.
breasts
:
shall not
he know
all
will not cause the earth to swallow

shall shake.
you up? and behold,
it
Or
are ye secure that he
who
dwelleth in heaven
will not send against you an impetuous whirlwind, driving the sands to overwhelm you ? then shall ye know how impor-
warning was. Those also who were before you disDo they believed; and how grievous was my displeasure! not behold the birds above them, extending and drawing back
tant
my
their wings? None sustaineth them, except the Merciful Or who is he that will be as for he regardeth all things. an army unto you, to defend you against the Merciful ?
Or who
Verily the unbelievers are in no other than a mistake. is he that will give you food, if he withholdeth his
provision? yet they persist in perverseness, and flying from Is he, therefore, who goeth groveling upon his the truth. face, better directed than he who walketh upright in a
he who hath given you being, and endued you with hearing and sight, and understanding; yet how little gratitude have ye! Say, It is he who hath sown you in the earth, and unto him shall ye be gathered together. They
straight
way ?
Say, It
is
menace be put to execution, if ye speak truth ? Answer, The knowledge of this matter is with God But when they shall alone for I am only a public warner. see the same nigh at hand, the countenance of the infidels shall grow sad and it shall be said unto them, This is what ye have been demanding. Say, What think ye? Whether
say,
shall this
:
:
When
are with me, or have mercy from a painful pununbelievers on us; who will protect the ishment? Say, He is the Merciful; in him do we believe,
God
destroy
me and
those
who
426
THE SACRED BOOKS

is
and in him do we put our
who
in a manifest error.
water be in the
Ye shall hereafter know What think ye? If your Say, morning swallowed up by the earth, who will
trust.
?
give you clear and running water
CHAPTER LXVIII
ENTITLED, THE PEN REVEALED AT MECCA
;
IN THE
N".

1
they write, thou, O Mohammed, through the grace of thy Lord, art not distracted. Verily there is prepared for thee an everlasting reward; for thou
By the pen, and what
Thou shalt see, and the infidels which of you are b'ereaved of your senses. Verily thy Lord well knoweth him who wandereth from his path and he well knoweth those who are rightly directed: whereart of a noble disposition.
shall see,
;
fore obey not those who charge thee with imposture. They desire that thou shouldst be easy with them, and they will be
But obey not any who is a common swearer, easy with thee. a despicable fellow, a defamer, going about with slander, who forbiddeth that which is good, who is also a transgressor,
a wicked person, cruel, and besides this, of spurious birth: although he be possessed of wealth and many children when
:
our signs are rehearsed unto him, he saith, They are fables of the ancients. We will stigmatize him on the nose.
Verily we have tried the Meccans, as we formerly tried the owners of the garden 2 when they swore that they would
;
* Some understand these words generally, and others of the pen with which God's decrees are written on the preserved table, and of the angels
register the same. This garden was a plantation of palm-trees, about two parasanga from Sanaa, belonging to a certain charitable man, who, when he gathered his dates, used to give public notice to the poor, and to leave them such of the fruit as the knife missed, or was blown down by the wind, or fell beside the cloth spread under the tree to receive it: after his death, his sons, who were then become masters of the garden, apprehending they should come to want if they followed their father's example, agreed to gather the fruit early in the morning, when the poor could have no notice of the matter but when they came to execute their pur2
:
who
4*7
ther the fruit thereof in the morning, and added not the exception, if it please God: wherefore a surrounding destruction
from thy Lord encompassed it, while they slept and in the morning it became like a garden whose fruits had ben
;
And they called the one to the other as they row gathered. in the morning, saying, Go out early to your plantation, if ye intend to gather the fruit thereof: so they went on, whispering to one another,
upon you mined purpose.
this day.
No poor man shall enter the garden And they went forth early, with a deterAnd when they saw the garden blasted and
destroyed, they said,
We
but when they found it Verily we are not permitted to reap the fruit thereof. The worthier of them said, Did I not say unto you, Will ye not
give praise unto
!
have certainly mistaken our way: to be their own garden, they cried,
Lord to blame one another, and they
God ? They answered, Praise be unto our Verily we have been unjust doers. And they began
said,
Woe
be unto us
verily
transgressors: peradventure our Lord will give us in exchange a better garden than this: and we earnestly Thus is the chastisement of beseech our Lord to pardon us. this life: but the chastisement of the next shall be more have taken grievous; if they had known it, they would
we have been
heed.
Verily for the pious are prepared, with their Lord, gardens Shall we deal with the Moslems as with the of delight.
wicked ? What aileth you that ye judge thus ? book from heaven, wherein ye read that ye promised that which ye shall choose ? Or have oaths which shall be binding upon us to the day
tion, that
Have ye
are therein
ye received
of resurrec-
which ye shall enjoy what ye imagine ? Ask them, Or have they comof them will be the voucher of this. their panions who will vouch for them ? Let them produce On a certain day companions, therefore, if they speak truth. the leg shall be made bare; and they shall be called upon to Their looks shall be worship, but they shall not be able. shall attend them: for that they were cast down:
ignominy
pose, they found, to their great grief tion had been destroyed in the night.
and surprise, that
their planta-
428
THE SACRED BOOKS
invited to the worship of God, while they were in safety, but would not hear.
alone, therefore, with him who accuseth this new will lead them gradually to revelation of imposture.
Let
me
We
destruction, by ways which they know not: and I will bear with them for a long time; for my stratagem is effectual. Dost thou ask them any reward for thy preaching? But Are the secrets of futurity with they are laden with debts. them and do they transcribe the same from the table of God's decree? Wherefore patiently wait the judgment of thy Lord: and be not like him who was swallowed by the fish; when he cried unto God, being inwardly vexed. Had not grace from his Lord reached him, he had surely been cast forth on the naked shore, covered with shame: but his Lord chose him, and made him one of the righteous. It wanteth
;
little
malicious looks,
but that the unbelievers strike thee down with their when they hear the admonition of the Koran and they say, He is certainly distracted but it is no other than an admonition unto all creatures.
;
:
CHAPTEK LXIX
ENTITLED, THE INFALLIBLE; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
The
infallible
What
is
the infallible
And what
shall
The tribes cause thee to understand what the infallible is ? of Thamud and Ad denied as a falsehood the day which shall But Thamud were destrike men's hearts with terror. were destroyed by a and Ad noise: a terrible stroyed by roaring and furious wind; which God caused to assail them for seven nights and eight days successively: thou mightest have seen people, during the same, lying prostrate, as though they had been the roots of hollow palm-trees; and couldst thou have seen any of them remaining? Pharaoh also, and those who were before him, and the cities which were overthrown, were guilty of sin; and they severally were disobe-

lient to the apostle of their
Lord; wherefore he chastised
them with an abundant chastisement.
When the water of the deluge arose, we carried you in the ark which swam thereon ; that we might make the same a memorial unto you, and the retaining ear might retain it
one blast shall sound the trumpet, and the earth shall be moved from its place, and the mountains also, and shall be dashed in pieces at one stroke on that day the inevitable hour of judgment shall suddenly come; and the heavens shall cleave in sunder, and shall fall in pieces, on that day: and the angels shall be on the sides thereof; and eight shall bear the throne of thy Lord above them, on that
:
And when
On that day ye shall be presented before the judgday. ment-seat of God; and none of your secret actions shall bo And he who shall have his book delivered into his hidden.
right
hand
shall say,
Take
ye, read this
my
book; verily
thought that I should be brought to this my account : he shall lead a pleasing life, in a lofty garden, the fruits whereof
near to gather. Eat and drink with easy digestion ; because of the good works which ye sent before you, in the days which are past. But he who shall have his book deshall be
livered into his left hand, shall say, Oh that I had not received this book ; and that I had not known what this my
my
!
account was
Oh
that death had
made an end
of
me
My
riches have not profited me,; and power is passed from me. And God shall say to the keepers of hell, Take him, and bind him, and cast him into hell to be burned ; then put him
my
into a chain of the length of seventy cubits: because he believed not in the great God; and was not solicitous to feed
the poor: wherefore this day he shall have no friend here; nor any food, but the filthy corruption flowing from the bodies of the damned, which none shall eat but the sinners.
I swear by that which ye see, and that which ye see not, that this is the discourse of an honorable apostle, and not the Neither is it discourse of a poet: how little do ye believe!
the discourse of a soothsayer how little are ye admonished If It is a revelation from the Lord of all creatures.
: !
hammed had
forged any part of these discourses concerning
430
us, verily
THE SACRED BOOKS

we had taken him by
;
in sunder the vein of his heart
the right hand, and had cut neither would we have with-
And verily this book held any of you from chastising him. unto the pious; and we well know that is an admonition
you who charge the same with imposture but it shall surely be an occasion of grievous sighing unto the infidels; for it is the truth of a certainty. Wherefore
there are some of
:
praise the
name
of thy Lord, the great God.
CHAPTER LXX
ENTITLED, THE STEPS; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
NAME
called for vengeance to fall on the unbelievers: there shall be none to avert the same from being
One demanded and
by God, the possessor of the steps; by which the angels ascend unto him, and the spirit Gabriel also, in a day whose space is fifty thousand years: wherefore bear the insults of the Meccans with becoming patience for they see
inflicted
;
punishment afar off, but we see it nigh at hand. On a certain day the heaven shall become like molten brass, and the mountains like wool of various colors, scattered abroad by the wind: and a friend shall not ask a friend concerning The wicked his condition, although they see one another. himself from the punishment of that shall wish to redeem day, by giving up his children, and his wife, and his brother, and his kindred who showed kindness unto him, and all who are in the earth and that this might deliver him by no means for hell fire, dragging them by their scalps, shall call him who shall have turned his back, and fled from the faith, and shall have amassed riches, and covetously hoarded them.
their
;
: :
Verily man is created extremely impatient when evil toucheth him, he is full of complaint but when good bef alleth him, he becometh niggardly: except those who are devoutly
: ;
given,
and who persevere in their prayers and those of whose substance a due and certain portion is ready to be given unto him who asketh, and him who is forbidden by shame to ask:
;
481
d those who sincerely believe the day of judgment, and who dread the punishment of their Lord (for there ia none secure from the punishment of their Lord) and who abstain from the carnal knowledge of women other than their wives, or the slaves which their right hands possess (for as to them they shall be blameless; but whoever coveteth any woman besides these, they are transgressors) and those who faithfully keep what they are entrusted with, and their covenant; and who are upright in their testimonies, and who carefully
: :
observe the requisite rites in their prayers amidst gardens, highly honored.
these shall dwell
run before thee in hand on the and on the left? Doth every right companies, wish enter to into a garden of delight ? man of them By no means verily we have created them of that which they know. I swear by the Lord of the east and of the west, that we are able to destroy them, and to substitute better than them in
:
What
aileth the unbelievers, that they
their
so to do. to
room neither are we to be prevented, if we shall please Wherefore suffer them to wade in vain disputes, and amuse themselves with sport: until they meet their day
;
with which they have been threatened

shall
the day whereon they
their graves, as though they were troops hastening to their standard : their looks shall be downcast ; ignominy shall attend them. This is the day
come forth
hastily
from
with which they have been threatened.
CHAPTEE LXXI
ENTITLED, NOAH; REVEALED AT MECCA
Warn thy Noah them. overtake people, before a grievous punishment said, my people, verily I am a public warner unto you; me: he will wherefore, serve God and fear him, and obey
Verily
we
sent
Noah unto
his people, saying,
until forgive you part of your sins, and will grant you respite comit when a determined time for God's determined time, shall not be deferred ; if ye were men of understanding
:
eth,
432 ye would know
THE SACRED BOOKS

this.
He
said, Lord, verily I
have called
my
their aversion
people night and day; but my calling only increaseth and whensoever I call them to the true faith,
:
that thou mayest forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, and cover themselves with their garments, and persist
in their infidelity, and proudly disdain my counsel. Moreover I invited them openly, and I spake to them again in
public ; and I also secretly admonished them in private and I said, Beg pardon of your Lord for he is inclined to forgive ; and he will cause the heaven to pour down rain plenti: :
upon you, and will give you increase of wealth and of children; and he will provide you gardens, and furnish you
fully
with rivers.
ye hope not for benevolence in God you variously? Do ye not see how God hath created the seven heavens, one above another, and hath placed the moon therein for a light, and hath appointed the sun for a taper? God hath also produced and caused to forth from the earth: hereafter he will cause you spring you to return into the same; and he will again take you
aileth you, that
;
What
since he hath created
thence,
by bringing you
forth
from your graves.
hath spread the earth as a carpet for you, that ye therein through spacious paths. Noah said, Lord, verily are disobedient unto and they me, they follow him whose riches and children do no other than increase his perdition. And they devised a dangerous plot against Noah: and the
said to the others, Ye shall by no means leave your gods; neither shall ye forsake Wadd, nor Sowa, nor chief
And God may walk
men
Yaghuth, and Yauk, and Nesr. And they seduced many (for thou shalt only increase error in the wicked) because of their sins they were drowned, and cast into the fire of hell and they found none to protect them against God. And Noah said, Lord, leave not any families of the unbelievers on the earth for if thou leave them, they will seduce thy servants, and will
; ; :
beget none but a wicked and unbelieving offspring. Lord, forgive me and my parents, and every one who shall enter my house, being a true believer, and the true believers of both
sexes; and add unto the unjust doers nothing but destruction.
CHAPTER LXXn
ENTITLED, THE GENII; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
NAME
Say, It hath been revealed unto me that a company of genii attentively heard me reading the Koran, and Versaid,
discourse; which directeth unto the right institution wherefore we believe therein, and we will by no means associate any other with our Lord. He
ily
:
we have heard an admirable
the majesty of our Lord be exalted!) hath taken no nor hath he begotten any issue. Yet the foolish wife, among us hath spoken that which is extremely false of God but we verily thought that neither man nor genius would by any means have uttered a lie concerning God. And there are certain men who fly for refuge unto certain of the genii: l but they increase their folly and transgression and they also thought, as ye thought, that God would not raise any one
(may
to life.
formerly attempted to pry into what was transbut we found the same filled with a strong ; and with flaming darts and we sat on some of the seats thereof to hear the discourse of its inhabitants; but whoever listeneth now findeth a flame laid in ambush
acting in heaven guard of angels,
:
And we
for him, to guard the celestial confines. And we know not whether evil be hereby intended against those who are in the
whether their Lord intendeth to direct them aright. There are some among us who are upright; and there are some among us who are otherwise we are of different ways. And we verily thought that we could by no means frustrate
earth, or
:
in the earth, neither could we escape him by flight: wherefore, when we had heard the direction contained in the
God
Koran, we believed therein. And whoever believeth in his Lord need not fear any diminution of his reward, nor any
For the Arabs, when they found themselves in a desert in the evethat time), ning (the genii being supposed to haunt such places about used to say, " I fly for refuge unto the Lord of this valley, that he may defend me from the foolish among his people." VOL. V. 28.
i
434
injustice.
THE SACRED BOOKS
There are some Moslems among us; and there And whoso are others of us who swerve from righteousness. embraceth Islam, they earnestly seek true direction; but those who swerve from righteousness shall be fuel for hell. If they tread in the way of truth, we will surely water them with abundant rain: that we may prove them thereby; but whoso turneth aside from the admonition of his Lord, him
will he send into a severe torment.
Verily the places of worship are set apart unto God wherefore invoke not any other therein together with God. When the servant of God stood up to invoke him, it wanted little
:
but that the genii had pressed on him in crowds to hear him rehearse the Koran. Say, Verily I call upon my Lord only, and I associate no other god with him. Say, Verily I am
not able, of myself, to procure you either hurt or a right in-
Say, Verily none can protect me against God; neither shall I find any refuge besides him. I can do no
stitution.
more than publish what hath been revealed unto me from God, and his messages. And whosoever shall be disobedient unto God and his apostle, for him is the fire of hell prepared they shall remain therein forever. Until they see the vengeance with which they are threatened, they will not cease
;
their opposition: but then shall they know who were the weaker in a protector, and the fewer in number. Say, I know
not whether the punishment with which ye are threatened be nigh, or whether my Lord will appoint for it a distant term.
He
knoweth the secrets of futurity; and he doth not communicate his secrets unto any, except an apostle in whom he is well pleased: and he causeth a guard of angels to march before him and behind him, that he may know that they have executed the commissions of their Lord: he comprehendeth whatever is with them, and counteth all things by number.
43.",
CHAPTER LXYIII
ENTITLED, THE WRAPPED UP; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
NAME
1
OF TUB MOST MEBCIFUL OOD
thou wrapped up, arise in prayer, and continue therein during the night, except a small part ; that is to say, during one-half thereof: or do thou lessen the same a little, or add And repeat the Koran with a distinct and sonorous thereto.
voice
:
for
we
will lay
is
on thee a weighty word.
Verily the
ris-
more efficacious for steadfast continuance in ing by night devotion, and more conducive to decent pronunciation: for in the daytime thou hast long employment. And commemorate the name of thy Lord and separate thyself unto him,
:
the Lord of the east and of the west; there is no God but he. Wherefore take him for thy patron: and patiently suffer the contumelies which the infidels utter against thee and depart from them
renouncing
worldly vanities.
He
is
with a decent departure. And let me alone with those who charge the Koran with falsehood, and who enjoy the blessings of this life; and bear with them for awhile: verily with us are heavy fetters, and a burning fire, and food ready to
On a it, and painful torment. certain day the earth shall be shaken, and the mountains also, and the mountains shall become a heap of sand poured forth.
choke him who swalloweth
Verily we have sent unto you an apostle, to bear witness against you; as we sent an apostle unto Pharaoh: but Pharaoh was disobedient unto the apostle; wherefore we chasa heavy chastisement. How, therefore, will ye escape, if ye believe not, the day which shall make children become gray-headed through terror? The heaven shall
tised
him with
be rent in sunder thereby: the promise thereof shall surely be performed. Verily this is an admonition and whoever is
;
this revelation was brought to Mohammed, he was wrapped in his garments, being affrighted at the appearance of Gabriel; or, as some say, he lay sleeping unconcernedly, or, according to others, or rug, with the praying, wrapped up in one part of a large mantle to herself other part of which Ayesha had covered sleep.
i
When
up
436
THE SACRED BOOKS
willing to be admonished will take the way unto his Lord. Thy Lord knoweth that thou continuest in prayer and meditation sometimes near a two-third part of the night, and sometimes one-half thereof, and at other times one-third part
and a part of thy companions, who are with thee, do the same. But God measureth the night and the day he knoweth that ye can not exactly compute the same wherefore
thereof:
;
:
he turneth favorably unto you. Read, therefore, so much of the Koran as may be easy unto you. He knoweth that there will be some infirm among you; and others travel through the earth, that they may obtain a competency of the bounty of God ; and others fight in the defense of God's faith. Read, therefore, so much of the same as may be easy. And observe the stated times of prayer, and pay the legal alms; and lend unto God an acceptable loan ; for whatever good ye send before for your souls ye shall find the same with God. This will be better, and will merit a greater reward. And
ask
God
forgiveness;
for
God
is
ready to forgive, and
merciful.
CHAPTER LXXIV
ENTITLED, THE COVERED; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
arise and preach, and magnify thy Lord. cleanse thy garments: and fly every abomination: and be not liberal in hopes to receive more in return: and pa-
thou covered,
And
When the trumpet shall sound, tiently wait for thy Lord. verily that day shall be a day of distress and uneasiness unto
the unbelievers.
i
Let
me
alone with
him whom
I have cre-
It is related, from Mohammed's own mouth, that being on Mount Hara, and hearing himself called, he looked on each hand, and saw nobody; but looking upward, he saw the angel Gabriel on a throne, between heaven and earth; at which sight being much terrified, he returned to his wife Khadijah, and bade her cover him up; and that then the angel descended, and addressed him in the words of the text. From hence some think this chapter to have been the first which was revealed: but the more received opinion is that it was the 96th.

2
ated,
on
whom
I have bestowed abundant riches, and chil-
dren dwelling in his presence, and for whom I have disposed affairs in a smooth and easy manner, and who desireth that I will yet add other blessings unto him. By no means: because he
our signs. 8 I will afflict him with grievous calamities: for he hath devised and prepared contumelious expressions to ridicule the Koran. May he be cursed: how maliciously hath he prepared the same! And he be cursed: how again, may maliciously hath he prepared Then he looked, and f rowned, and put on an austhe same tere countenance: then he turned back, and was elated with pride; and he said, This is no other than a piece of magic, borrowed from others: these are only the words of a man. I will cast him to be burned in hell. And what shall make thee to understand what hell is? It leaveth not anything doth it neither suffer unconsumed, anything to escape: it
is
an adversary
to
scorcheth men's flesh

pointed.
We have
over the same are nineteen angels apappointed none but angels to preside over
:
hell fire: and we have expressed the number of them only for an occasion of discord to the unbelievers; that they to
whom
faith
;
the scriptures have been given may be certain of the veracity of this book, and the true believers may increase in
and that those
to
and the true
believers,
whom the scriptures have been given, may not doubt hereafter; and that
is
an infirmity, and the unbethis lievers, may say, What mystery doth God intend by number ? Thus doth God cause to err whom he pleaseth and
those in whose hearts there
;
he directeth
whom
he pleaseth.
the armies of thy Lord, besides him: and this is no other than a memento unto mankind. Assuredly. the mornand it By the moon, and the night when retreateth,
None knoweth
one of the most terrible calamities, giving warning unto men, as well unto him among you who desireth to go forward, as unto him who
ing
when
it
reddeneth, I swear that this
is
been al Walid 2 The person here meant is generally supposed to have Ebn al Mogheira, a principal man among the Koreish. 3 On the revelation of this passage it is said that Walid'a prosperity
of his death. began to decay, and continued daily so to do to the time
438
THE SACRED BOOKS

Every
it
chooseth to remain behind.

for that which
of the right
shall have wrought

;
soul is given in pledge except the companions
and shall ask one another questions concerning the wicked, and shall also ask the wicked themselves, saying, What hath brought you into hell ? They shall answer, We were not of those who were constant at prayer, neither did we feed the poor; and we waded in vain disputes, with the fallacious reasoners and we denied the day of judgment, until death overtook us: and
shall dwell in gardens,
;
hand
who
the intercession of the interceders shall not avail them.
What
aileth them, therefore, that they turn aside from the admonition of the Koran, as though they were timorous asses flying from a lion? But every man among them desireth that he
have expanded scrolls delivered to him from God. By no means. They fear not the life to come. By no means Whoso is willing to be verily this is a sufficient warning. warned, him shall it warn but they shall not be warned, unless God shall please. He is worthy to be feared and he
may
is
inclined to forgiveness.
CHAPTER LXXV
ENTITLED, THE RESURRECTION; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
the soul which accuseth itself: doth
Verily I swear by the day of resurrection ; and I swear by man think that we will
:
not gather his bones together ? Yea we are able to put toBut man chooseth gether the smallest bones of his fingers. He asketh, to be wicked, for the time which is before him.
When
day of resurrection be? But when the sight shall be dazzled, and the moon shall be eclipsed, and the sun and the moon shall be in conjunction on that day man shall say, Where is a place of refuge ? By no means there shall be no place to fly unto. With thy Lord shall be the sure mansion of rest on that day on that day shall a man be told that which he hath done first and last. Yea, a man shall be
will the
; : :

an evidence against himself: and though he
they shall not be received.
offer his excuse*, not thy tongue, Mohammed, in repeating the revelations brought thee by Gtbriel, before he shall have finished the same, that thou mayert quickly commit them to memory : for the collecting the Koran
Move
in thy mind, and the teaching thee the true reading thereof, But when we shall have read the are incumbent on us. same unto thee by the tongue of the angel, do thou follow
the reading thereof: and afterward
explain it unto thee. By But ye love that which hasteneth away, and for the future. Some countenances, on that day, neglect the life to come. shall be bright, looking toward their Lord and some counte;
be our part to no means shalt thou be thus hasty

it
shall
nances, on that day, shall be dismal
they shall think that a
crushing calamity shall be brought upon them. Assuredly. When a man's soul shall come up to his throat, in his last agony ; and the standers-by shall say, bringeth a charm
Who
to recover
him? and
this world; and one on that day unto thy Lord shall he be driven. For he believed not, neither did he pray but he accused God's apostle of imposture, and turned back from obeying him: then he departed unto his family, walking with a haughty mien. And again, Woe be unto Wherefore, woe be unto thee woe Doth man think that he shall be left at full thee; woe! Was he not a drop of seed, which liberty, without control ? was emitted? Afterwards he became a little coagulated blood and God formed him, and fashioned him with just prothe female. portion and made of him two sexes, the male and
;
; !
;
shall think it to be his departure out of leg shall be joined with the other leg;
Is not he
who hath done
this able to quicken the dead
4,40
THE SACRED BOOKS
CHAPTER LXXVI
ENTITLED, MAN; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
NAME
and to We have surely directed him in the way; whether he see. be grateful or ungrateful. Verily we have prepared for the But the unbelievers chains, and collars, and burning fire. just shall drink of a cup of wine, mixed with the water of 2 Cafur, a fountain whereof the servants of God shall drink; they shall convey the same by channels whithersoever they These fulfil their vow, and dread the day, the evil please. whereof will disperse itself far abroad; and give food unto the poor, and the orphan, and the bondman, for his sake, saying, We feed you for God's sake only: we desire no recompense from you, nor any thanks: verily we dread, from our Lord, a dismal and calamitous day. 3 Wherefore God
to hear
Did there not pass which he was a thing we have created man we might prove him:
over man a long space of time ; during not worthy of remembrance ? l Verily of the mingled seed of both sexes, that
and we have made him
Some take these words to be spoken of Adam, whose body, according to the Mohammedan tradition, was at first a figure of clay, and was left forty years to dry before God breathed life into it; others understand them of man in general. 2 Is the name of a fountain in paradise, so called from its resembling camphor (which the word signifies) in odor and whiteness. Some take the word for an appellative, and think the wine of paradise will be mixed with camphor, because of its agreeable coolness and smell. 3 It is related that Hassan and Hosein, Mohammed's grandchildren, on a certain time being both sick, the prophet, among others, visited them, and they wished AH to make some vow to God for the recovery of his sons: whereupon Ali, and Fatima, and Fidda, their maid-servant, vowed a fast of three days in case they did well; as it happened they did. This vow was performed with so great strictness that the first day, having no provisions in the house, Ali was obliged to borrow three measures of barley of one Simeon, a Jew, of Khaibar, one measure of which Fatima ground the same day, and baked five cakes of the meal, and they were set before them to break their fast with after sunset: but a poor man coming to them, they gave all their bread to him, end passed the night without tasting anything except water. The next day Fatima made another measure into bread, for the same purpose; but
1

shall deliver
441
and shall cast on them brightness of countenance, and joy; and shall reward them, for their patient persevering, with a garden, and silk garments: therein shall they repose themselves on couches; they shall see therein neither sun nor moon and the shades thereof shall be near spreading above them, and the fruita
:
them from the
evil of that day,
thereof shall hang low, so as to be easily gathered. Ayfl their attendants shall go round about unto them, with vessels
of silver, and goblets: the bottles shall be bottles of silver shining like glass ; they shall determine the measure thereof
by their wish. And therein shall they be given to drink of a cup of wine, mixed with the water of Zenjebil, a fountain in paradise named Salsabil: and youths, which shall continue forever in their bloom, shall go round to attend them when thou seest them, thou shalt think them to be scattered pearls: and when thou lookest, there shalt thou behold delights, and a great kingdom. Upon them shall be garments of fine green silk, and of brocades, and they shall be adorned with bracelets of silver: and their Lord shall give them to drink of a most pure liquor and shall say unto them, Verily this is your reward and your endeavor is gratefully accepted.
;
; :
Verily we have sent down unto thee the Koran, by a gradWherefore patiently wait the judgment of ual revelation.
the Lord; and obey not any wicked person or unbeliever among them. And commemorate the name of thy Lord, in the morning and in the evening and during some part of tho
:
night worship him, and praise him a long part of the night. Verily these men love the transitory life, and leave behind
them the heavy day of judgment. and have strengthened their joints
We have created them, and when we please, we

God
willeth
will substitute others like unto them, in their stead. Verily the taketh whoso this is an admonition: and way willeth,
unto his Lord
but ye shall not
will, unless
for
an orphan begging some food, they chose to let him have it, and pnescd that night as the first and the third day they likewise gave their wholo
;
; dopcond-i provis on to a famished captive. Upon this occasion Gabriel with the chapter before us, and told Mohammed that God congratulated him on the virtues of his family.
442
THE SACRED BOOKS

knowing and wise. He leadeth whom he pleaseth into mercy: but for the unjust hath he prepared a grievous
is
God
his
punishment.
CHAPTER LXXVII
ENTITLED, THOSE WHICH ARE SENT; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
angels which are sent by God, following one another in a continual series; and those which move swiftly, with a
By the
and by those which disperse his commands, by divulging them through the earth and by those which separate truth from falsehood, by distinguishing the same; and by those which communicate the divine admonitions, to excuse, or to threaten: verily that which ye are promised is When the stars, therefore, shall be out, and when inevitable. the heaven shall be cloven in sunder, and when the mountains shall be winnowed, and when the apostles shall have a time assigned them to appear and bear testimony against their respective people to what a day shall that appointment be deferred to the day of separation and what shall cause thee to understand what the day of separation is? On that woe them be unto who the accused day, prophets of
rapid motion
;
; ;
!
imposture
Have we not
destroyed the obstinate unbelievers of old
We
will also cause those of the latter times to follow them.
Thus do we deal with the wicked. Woe be, on that day, unto them who accused the prophets of imposture Have we not created you of a contemptible drop of seed, which we placed in a sure repository, until the fixed term of delivery? And we were able to do this for we are most powerful. On that day, woe be unto those who accused the prophets of imposture Have we not made the earth to contain the living and the dead, and placed therein stable and lofty mountains, and
!
given you fresh water to drink ? Woe be, on that day, unto those who accused the prophets of imposture! It shall be
said unto them,
Go ye
to the
punishment which ye denied

as a falsehood
:
:J
go ye into the shadow of the smoke of hell, which shall ascend in three columns, and shall not shade you from the heat, neither shall it be of service against the flame; but it shall cast forth sparks as big as towers, resembling yellow camels in color. Woe be, on that day, unto those who
accused the prophets of imposture! This shall be a day shall not speak to any purpose; neither shall to be excuse themselves. Woe be, on that day, permitted they unto those who accused the prophets of imposture! This
whereon they
you and your predecessors. Wherefore, if ye. have any cunning stratagem, employ stratagems against me. Woe be, on that But day, unto those who accused the prophets of imposture the pious shall dwell amidst shades and fountains, and fruits of the kinds which they shall desire and it shall be said unto them, Eat and drink with easy digestion, in recompense for that which ye have wrought; for thus do we reward the Woe be, on that day, unto those who acrighteous doers. cused the prophets of imposture! Eat, O unbelievers, and
! :
shall be the
day of separation: we
will assemble both
enjoy the pleasures of this life, for a little while: verily ye are wicked men. Woe be, on that day, unto those who acAnd when it is said unto cused the prophets of imposture do bow down. Woe be, on that Bow down not ; them, they
!
day, unto those who accused the prophets of imposture! In what new revelation will they believe, after this ?
CHAPTER LXXVIII
ENTITLED, THE NEWS; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
of one Concerning what do the unbelievers ask questions another? Concerning the great news of the resurrection, about which they disagree. Assuredly they shall hereafter know the truth thereof. Again, Assuredly they shall bere-
not made the earth to fix the same? stakes for for a bed, and the mountains
aftjr
know
the truth thereof.
Have we
444
THE SACRED BOOKS
have we not created you of two sexes; and appointed your sleep for rest; and made the night a garment to cover you ; and destined the day to the gaming of your livelihood and built over you seven solid heavens; and placed therein And do we not send down from the clouds a burning lamp ? forth rain, water pouring down in abundance, that pressing we may thereby produce corn, and herbs, and gardens planted thick with trees?
;
And
Verily the day of separation is a fixed period: the day whereon the trumpet shall sound, and ye shall come in troops to judgment; and the heaven shall be opened, and shall be
full of gates for the angels to pass through ; and the mountains shall pass away, and become as a vapor; verily hell
who
shall be a place of ambush, a receptacle for the transgressors, shall remain therein for ages: they shall not taste any
refreshment therein, or any drink, except boiling water, and For filthy corruption: a fit recompense for their deeds! not to an that should be account, they hoped they brought and they disbelieved our signs, accusing them of falsehood. But everything have we computed, and written down. Taste,
therefore:
we
will not
add unto you any other than torment. 1

is
But
for the pious
prepared a place of
bliss:
gardens
trees, and vineyards, and damsels with swelling breasts, of equal age with themselves, and a full cup. They shall hear no vain discourse there, nor any falsehood. This shall be their recompense from thy Lord; a gift fully sufficient from the Lord of heaven and earth, and of whatever is between them the Merciful. The inhabitants of heaven or of earth shall not dare to demand audience of him: the day whereon the spirit Gabriel and the other angels shall stand
planted with
in order, they shall not speak in behalf of themselves or others, except he only to whom the Merciful shall grant per-
mission, and
infallible
who
shall say that
which
is right.
This
is
the
day.
Whoso, therefore,
willeth,
let
him
return
i This, say the commentators, is the most severe and terrible sentence in the whole Koran, pronounced against the inhabitants of hell; they being hereby assured that every change in their torments will be for the
worse.

unto his Lord.
:
nigh at hand the day whereon a man shall behold the good or evil deeds which his hands have sent before him; and the unbeliever shall say, Would to God I were dust!
Verily we threaten you with a punishim-nt
CHAPTER LXXIX
ENTITLED, THOSE
IN THE
WHO TEAR
FORTH; REVEALED AT MECCA
NAME OP THE MOST MERCIFUL OOD
the angels who tear forth the souls of some with violence ; and by those who draw forth the souls of others with
By
by those who glide swimmingly through the gentleness air with the commands of God; and those who precede and usher the righteous to paradise ; and those who subordinately
:
govern the affairs of this world: on a certain day, the disturbing blast of the trumpet shall disturb the universe; and the subsequent blast shall follow it. On that day men's hearts shall tremble: their looks shall be cast down. The infidels say, Shall we surely be made to return whence we came? After we shall have become rotten bones, shall wo be again raised to life? They say, This then will be a return to loss. Verily it will be but one sounding of tho trumpet, and behold, they shall appear alive on the face of
the earth.
the story of Moses reached thee? When his Lord called unto him in the holy valley Towa, saying, Go unto Pharaoh; for he is insolently wicked: and say, ITast
Hath not
thou a desire to become just and holy? and I will direct theo unto thy Lord, that thou mayest fear to transgress. And he showed him the very great sign of the rod turned into a serpent and he charged Moses with imposture, and rebelled Then he turned back hastily and he assembled against God.
:
will take the i These are the angel of death and his assistants, who souls of the wicked in a rough and cruel manner from the inmost part of their jodies, as a man drags up a thing from the hottom of the sea;
but will take the souls of the good in a gentle and easy manner from their lips, as when a man draws a bucket of water at one pull.
446
THE SACRED BOOKS
the magicians, and cried aloud, saying, I am your supreme Wherefore God chastised him with the punishment Lord. of the life to come, and also of this present life. Verily
an example unto him who feareth to rebel. Are ye more difficult to create, or the heaven which God hath He hath raised the height thereof, and hath perbuilt? fectly formed the same: and he hath made the night thereof After this he dark, and hath produced the light thereof. stretched out the earth, whence he caused to spring forth the water thereof, and the pasture thereof and he established the mountains, for the use of yourselves and of your cattle. When the prevailing, the great day shall come, on that day shall a man call to remembrance what he hath purposely done and hell shall be exposed to the view of the spectator. And whoso shall have transgressed, and shall have chosen this present life; verily hell shall be his abode: but whoso shall have dreaded the appearing before his Lord, and shall have refrained his soul from lust; verily paradise shall be
herein
is
; :
his abode.
They
will ask thee concerning the last hour,
when
By what means canst thou Unto thy Lord belonggive any information of the same ? eth the knowledge of the period whereof and thou art only a The day whereon they shall warner, who fearest the same. see the same, it shall seem to them as though they had not tarried in the world longer than an evening or a morning
will be the fixed time thereof.
:
thereof.
CHAPTER LXXX
ENTITLED,
HE FROWNED; REVEALED AT MECCA

IN THE
The prophet frowned, and turned aside, because the blind man came unto him 1 and how dost thou know whether he shall peradventure be cleansed from his sins; or whether i This passage was revealed on the following occasion. A certain blind
:
man, named Abdallah Ebn
Omm
Mactum, came and interrupted Mo-
447
he shall be admonished, and the admonition shall profit him? The man who is wealthy thou receivest respectfully ; whereas it is not to be charged on thee, that he is not cleansed: but him who conieth unto thee earnestly seeking his salvation, and who feareth God, dost thou neglect. By no means shouldst thou act thus. Verily the Koran is an admonition is retaiueth he who the same) written in volwilling (and umes honorable, exalted, and pure; by the hands of scribes honored and just. May man be cursed! What hath seduced him to infidelity? Of what thing doth God create him ? Of a drop of seed doth he create him and he formeth him with proportion; and then facilitateth his passage out of the womb: afterward he causeth him to die, and layeth him in the grave hereafter, when it shall please him, he shall
;
; ;
raise
Assuredly. He hath not hitherto fully performed what God hath commanded him. Let man consider his food in what manner it is pro-
him
to life.
vided.
We
cleanse the
therein,
pour down water by showers; afterward we earth in clefts, and we cause corn to spring forth
clover,
and the olive, and the palm, and gardens planted thick with trees, and fruits, and grass, When the for the use of yourselves and of your cattle. stunning sound of the trumpet shall be heard; on that day shall a man fly from his brother, and his mother, and his
and grapes, and
and his wife, and his children. Every man of them, on that day, shall have business of his own sufficient to emOn that day the faces of some shall be ploy his thoughts. the faces of others, bright, laughing, and joyful: and upon on that day, shall there be dust darkness shall cover them. These are the unbelievers, the wicked.
father,
;
hammed
while he was engaged in earnest discourse with some of the had hopes of; but the prophet principal Koreish, whose conversion he blind the man, not knowing he was otherwise taking no notice of him, "0 apostle of God, teach me some said: and raised his voice, busied, vexed at this part of what God hath taught thee"; but Mohammed, from him; for which he is here frowned and turned
interruption,
Mactum, saw Ebn repiehended. After this, whenever the "prophet wh< on is man welcome, The he showed him great respect, saying, twice govhim made he and hath me"; Lord account my reprimanded ernor of Medina.
away
Omm
448
THE SACRED BOOKS
CHAPTER LXXXT
ENTITLED, THE FOLDING UP; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
When
fall
;
the sun shall be folded
and when the
up and when the stars shall mountains shall be made to pass away and
;
the camels ten months gone with young shall be neg lected ; and when the wild beasts shall be gathered together ;
when
1-
and when the souls shall be joined again to their bodies; and when the girl who hath been buried alive shall be asked for what crime she was put l to death and when the books shall be laid open and when the heaven shall be removed; and when hell shall burn fiercely and when paradise shall be brought near every soul shall know what it hath wrought. Verily I swear by the stars which are retrograde, which move swiftly, and which hide themselves; and by the night, when it cometh on and by the morning, when it appeareth that these are the words of an honorable messenger, endued
and when the seas
shall boil
;
with strength, of established dignity in the sight of the possessor of the throne, obeyed by the angels under his authority, and faithful and your companion Mohammed is not distracted. He had already seen him in the clear horizon: and he suspected not the secrets revealed unto him. Neither are these the words of an accursed devil. Whither, thereThis is no other than an admonition fore, are ye going? unto all creatures; unto him among you who shall be willing to walk uprightly : but ye shall not will, unless God willeth,
:
the Lord of
i
all creatures.
ters alive as
their daughfor fear they should be imsoon as they were born poverished by providing for them, or should suffer disgraee on their
it
;
For
was customary among the ancient Arabs to bury
account.
4 HI
CHAPTER
IN THE
T.YYYTT
ENTITLED, THE CLEAVING IN SUNDER; REVEALED AT MECCA

;
and when the and when the seas shall be suffered stars shall be scattered to join their waters; and when the graves shall be turned upside down every soul shall know what it hath committed, and what it hath omitted. O man, what hath seduced thee against thy gracious Lord, who hath created thee, and put thee together, and rightly disposed thee? In what form he Assuredly. But ye deny pleased hath he fashioned thee.
;
:
When
the heaven shall be cloven in sunder
the last judgment as a falsehood. Verily there are appointed over you guardian angels, honorable in the sight of God, writ-
ing down your actions; who know that which ye do. The shall just shall surely be in a place of delight but the wicked on surely be in hell ; they shall be cast therein to be burned, the day of judgment, and they shall not be absent therefrom
:
forever.
What
is ?
shall cause thee to understand
what the day
of judgment what the day of judgment is ? It is a day whereon one soul shall not be able to obtain anything in behalf of another soul and the command on that day shall be God's.
:
Again, What
shall cause thee to understand
CHAPTER LXXXm
ENTITLED, THOSE
IN THE
WHO
GIVE SHORT MEASURE OR WEIGHT; REVEALED AT MECCA
Woe
be unto those
who
when they receive by but when they measure unto them,

fraud
!
or weight ; who, give short measure other measure from men, take the full ;
Do
great day; the day Lord of all creatures? VOL. V. 29.
or weigh unto them, denot these think they shall be raised again at whereon mankind shall stand before t
By
no means.
Verily the register
450
THE SACRED BOOKS

what
is
1 And of the actions of the wicked is surely in Sejjin. It shall make thee to understand what Sejjin is?
book distinctly written. Woe be, on that day, unto those who accused the prophets of imposture; who denied the day And none denieth the same as of judgment as a falsehood
!
a falsehood, except every unjust and flagitious person who, when our signs are rehearsed unto him, saith, They are fables
:
of the ancients.
cast a veil over
shall be shut out
By no means: but rather their lusts their hearts. By no means. Verily

from
their
have
they
shall
Lord on that day and they

;
be sent into hell to be burned: then shall
it
be said unto
as a
them, by the infernal guards, This

falsehood.
is
what ye denied
Assuredly.
is
But the
2
:
the righteous
in Illiyyun
register of the actions of and what shall cause thee to
understand what Illiyyun is? It is a book distinctly written those who approach near unto God are witnesses thereto. Verily the righteous shall dwell among delights: seated on couches they shall behold objects of pleasure thou shalt see in their faces the brightness of joy. They shall be given to drink of pure wine, sealed ; the seal whereof shall be musk and to this let those aspire, who aspire to happiness: and the water mixed therewith shall be of Tasnim, 3 a fountain whereof those shall drink who approach near unto the divine
: ;
presence.
They who
*
act wickedly laugh the true believers to scorn
name of the general register, wherein the actions of all the both men and genii, are distinctly entered. Sejjin signifies " a wicked, prison"; and this book, as some think, derives its name from thence,
IB the
because
imoccasion those whose deeds are there recorded to be of the in hell. name is also the or prisoned dungeon beSejjin, Sajin, neath the seventh earth, the residence of Eblis and his host, where, it is supposed by some, that this book is kept, and where the souls of the
it will
"
"
wicked will be detained till the resurrection. 2 The word is a plural, and signifies high places. Some say it is the general register wherein the actions of the righteous, whether angels, men, or genii, are distinctly recorded. Others will have it to be a place in the seventh heaven, under the throne of God, where this book is kept, and where the souls of the just, as many think, will remain till the last
day.
Is the name of a fountain in paradise, so called from veyed to the highest apartments.
a
its
being con-

and when they pass by them, they wink
451
at one another: and turn aside when they to their people, they turn aside making scurrilous jests: and when they see them, they say, Verily these are mistaken men. But they are not sent to be keepers over them. Wherefore one day the true in
believers,
their turn, shall laugh the infidels to scorn lying on couches, shall look down them in hell. Shall not the they upon infidels be rewarded for that which have ? done they
:
CHAPTER LXXXIV
ENTITLED, THE RENDING IN SUNDER; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
the heaven shall be rent in sunder, and shall obey Lord, and shall be capable thereof; and when the earth shall be stretched out, and shall cast forth that which is
its
When
therein, and shall remain empty, and shall obey its Lord, and shall be capable thereof man, verily laboring thou laborest to meet thy Lord, and thou shalt meet him. And he who
:
have his book given into his right hand shall be called to an easy account, and shall turn unto his family with joy: but he who shall have his book given him behind his back shall invoke destruction to fall upon him, and he shall be sent into hell to be burned because he rejoiceth insolently amidst his family on earth. Verily he thought that he should never return unto God: yea verily; but his Lord beheld him. Wherefore I swear by the redness of the sky after sunset, and by the night, and the animals which it driveth together,
shall
;
and by the moon when she is at the transferred successively from state
full
ye shall surely be
to
state.
What
aileth
them, therefore, that they believe not the resurrection; and not! that, when the Koran is read unto them, they worship Yea the unbelievers accuse the same of imposture but God we 1 ! knoweth the malice which they keep hidden in their
: :
Wherefore denounce unto them a grievous punishment, except those who believe and do good works: for them
breasts.
is
prepared a never-failing reward.
452
THE SACRED BOOKS
CHAPTER LXXXV
ENTITLED, THE CELESTIAL SIGNS; REVEALED AT MECCA
the heaven adorned with signs ; by the promised day of judgment; by the witness, and the witnessed; cursed were the contrivers of the pit, of fire supplied with fuel; when
By
they sat round the same, and were witnesses of what they did against the true believers: and they afflicted them for no
other reason, but because they believed in the mighty, the glorious God, unto whom belongeth the kingdom of heaven
and earth: and God

those
is witness of all things. Verily for the true believers of either sex, and prosecute afterward repent not, is prepared the torment of hell; and
who
they shall suffer the pain of burning. But for those who believe, and do that which is right, are destined gardens beneath which rivers flow this shall be great felicity.
:
Verily the vengeance of thy Lord is severe. He createth, and he restoreth to life: he is inclined to forgive, and gracious : the possessor of the glorious throne ; who effecteth that
which he pleaseth. Hath not the story of the hosts of PhaYet the unbelievers raoh, and of Thamud, reached thee ?
cease not to accuse the divine revelations of falsehood: but
God encompasseth them
Verily that which they reject is a glorious Koran nal whereof is written in a table kept in heaven.
behind, that they can not escape. the origi;
CHAPTER LXXXVI
ENTITLED, THE STAR WHICH APPEARETH BY NIGHT;
REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
what
the heaven, and that which appeareth by night: but understand what that which appeareth by night is? it is the star of piercing brightness:
By
shall cause thee to
every soul hath a guardian set over
it.
Let a
man
consider,

therefore,
4.-,:j
of what he
is
created.
He
is
created of teed
poured forth, issuing from the loins, and the breastbone*. Verily God is able to restore him to life, the day whereon all secret thoughts and actions shall be examined into; and he shall have no power to defend himself, nor any protector. By the heaven which returneth the rain, and by the earth which openeth to let forth vegetables and springs:
this is a discourse distinguishing
verily
good from evil; and it is not composed with lightness. Verily the infidels are laying a plot to frustrate my designs but I will lay a plot for their ruin. Wherefore, O prophet, bear with the unbelievers:
:
let
them alone awhile.
CHAPTER LXXXVTI
ENTITLED, THE MOST HIGH; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
name of thy Lord, the most high; who hath and created, completely formed his creatures: and who determineth them to various ends, and directeth them to attain the same; and who produceth the pasture for cattle, and afterwards rendereth the same dry stubble of a dusky hue.
Praise the
We
is
will enable thee to rehearse our revelations; and thou shalt not forget any part thereof, except what God shall
please
for he knoweth that which
hidden.
And we
manifest, and that which will facilitate unto thee the most easy
is
thy admonition shall be profitable unto them. Whoso feareth God, he will be admonished but the most wretched unbeliever will turn away
way.
Wherefore admonish thy people,

:
if
therefrom
of
hell,
who
wherein
shall be cast to be broiled in the greater fire he shall not die, neither shall he live.
Now
hath he attained felicity who is purified by faith, and who renembereth the name of his Lord, and prayeth. But ye prefer this present life: yet the life to come is better, and more
durable.
Verily this
is
written in the ancient books, the
books of
Abraham and Moses.
454
THE SACRED BOOKS
CHAPTER LXXXVHI
ENTITLED, THE OVERWHELMING; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
the news of the overwhelming day of judgment reached thee ? The countenances of some, on that day, shall
Hath
be cast down; laboring and toiling: they shall be cast into scorching fire to be broiled they shall be given to drink of a boiling fountain: they shall have no food, but of dry thorns
:
and
thistles
which
hunger. But be joyful; well pleased with their past endeavor: they shall be placed in a lofty garden, wherein thou shalt hear no vain
therein shall be a running fountain therein shall be raised beds, and goblets placed before them, and cushions
discourse
:
:
shall not fatten, neither shall they satisfy the countenances of others, on that day, shall
laid in order, and carpets ready spread. Do they not consider the camels, how they are created ; and the heaven, how
and the mountains, how they are fixed and the extended ? Wherefore warn thy people for earth, thou art a warner only thou art not empowered to act with But whoever shall turn back, and disauthority over them.
it is
raised
how
it is
believe,
of the life to come.

shall
it
punish him with the greater punishment Verily unto us shall they return then be our part to bring them to account.
shall
:
God
CHAPTER LXXXIX
ENTITLED, THE DAYBREAK; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE

l
;
By the
daybreak, and ten nights

is 2
by that which
is
it
double,
and that which
single
and by the night when
cometh
1 That is, the ten nights of Dhu'lhajja, or the 10th of that month, or the nights of the 10th of Moharram; which are days peculiarly sacred
among the Mohammedans.

all
These words are variously interpreted. Some understand thereby things in general; some, all created beings (which are said to have been created by pairs, or of two kinds), and the Creator, who is single;
*

on:
is
455
there not in this an oath formed with understanding? Hast thou not considered how thy Lord dealt with Ad, the
people of Irem, adorned with lofty buildings, the like whereof hath not been erected in the land; and with wko
Thamud,
valley into houses ; and with Pharaoh, the contriver of the stakes : who had behaved insolently in the Wherefore thy earth, and multiplied corruption therein? Lord poured on them various kinds of chastisement: for
hewed the rocks in the
Lord
is
thy surely in a watch-tower, whence he observeth the ac-
men. Moreover man, when his Lord trieth him by prosperity, and honoreth him, and is bounteous unto him, saith, My Lord honoreth me but when he proveth him by afflictions, and withholdeth his provisions from him, he saith, My Lord despiseth me. By no means but ye honor not the orphan, neither do ye excite one another to feed the poor and ye devour the inheritance of the weak, with undistinguishing greediness; and ye love riches, and much affection. By no means should ye do thus. When the earth shall be minutely ground to dust and thy Lord shall come, and the angels rank by rank and hell, on that day, shall be brought nigh on that day shall man call to remembrance his evil deeds; but how He shall say, Would to God shall remembrance avail him ? On that I had heretofore done good works in my lifetime! that day none shall punish with his punishment; nor shall any bind with his bonds. O thou soul which art at rest, return unto thy Lord, well pleased with thy reward, and well pleasing unto God enter my paradise.
tions of
: :
CHAPTER XC
ENTITLED, THE TERRITORY; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL OOD

in
prophet, residest this territory), and by the begetter, and that which he hath Doth lie in misery. begotten; verily we have created man and some, of the day of slaying the victims (the 10th of Dhu'lhajjm), and of the day of Arafat, which is the day before, etc.
I swear by this territory (and thou,
456
THE SACRED BOOKS
think that none shall prevail over him? He saith, I have wasted plenty of riches. Doth he think that none seeth him ? Have we not made him two eyes, and a tongue, and two lips ; and shown him the two highways of good and evil ? Yet he
atternpteth not the
cliff.
What
shall
make thee
to
understand
It is to free the captive ; or to feed, in the day of famine, the orphan who is of kin, or the poor man who Whoso doth this, and is one of those lieth on the ground.
cliff is ?
what the
believe, and recommend perseverence unto each other, and recommend mercy unto each other; these shall be the companions of the right hand. But they who shall disbelieve our signs shall be the companions of the left hand above them shall be arched fire.
:
who
CHAPTER XCI
ENTITLED, THE SUN; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
the sun, and its rising brightness ; by the moon, when f him ; by the day, when it showeth his splendor ; olloweth she
By
by the night, when it covereth him with darkness; by the heaven, and him who built it; by the earth, and him who spread it forth by the soul, and him who completely formed it, and inspired into the same its faculty of distinguishing, and power of choosing, wickedness and piety now is he who hath purified the same happy but he who hath corrupted the same is miserable. Thamud accused their prophet Saleh of
;
:
imposture, through the excess of their wickedness when the wretch among them was sent to slay the camel; and the apostle of God said unto them, Let alone the camel of God and hinder not her drinking. But they charged him with imposture; and they slew her. Wherefore their Lord destroyed them, for their crime, and made their punishment equal unto them all a*nd he f eareth not the issue thereof.
:
457
CHAPTER XCII
ENTITLED, THE NIGHT; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE

it
things with darkness ; by ; by him who hath created the male and the female : verily your endeavor is different Now whoso is obedient, and feareth God, and professeth the truth
all
By
the night,
when
covereth
the day,
when
it
shineth forth
most excellent; unto him will we facilitate the way to happiness but whoso shall be covetous, and shall be wholly taken up with this world, and shall deny the truth of that which is most excellent; unto him will we facilitate the way to misery and his riches shall not profit him, when he shall fall headlong into hell. Verily unto us appertaineth the direction of mankind: and ours is the life to come and the present life. Wherefore I threaten you with fire which burneth fiercely, which none shall enter to be burned except the most wretched who shall have disbelieved, and turned back. But he who strictly bewareth idolatry and rebellion shall be removed far from the same; who giveth his substance in alms, and by whom no benefit is bestowed on any, that it may be recompensed, but who bestoweth the same for the sake of his Lord, the most High: and hereafter he shall be well satisfied with his reward.
is
: ; ;
of that faith which
CHAPTER
IN THE
XCIII
ENTITLED, THE BRIGHTNESS; REVEALED AT MECCA

the brightness of the morning ; and by the night, when it groweth dark : thy Lord hath not forsaken thee, neither doth the life to come shall be better for he hate thee. 1
By
Verily
no revelation having been vouchsafed to Mohammed for several days, in answer to some questions put to him by the Koreish, because he had confidently promised to resolve them the next day, with" if it please God," or because he had repubed out adding the exception,
i
It is related that
458
THE SACRED BOOKS
thee than this present life: and thy Lord shall give thee a reward wherewith thou shalt he well pleased. Did he not
find thee an orphan, and hath he not taken care of thee? did he not find thee wandering in error, and hath he not guided thee into the truth ? And did he not find thee needy,
And
and hath he not enriched thee?

orphan
;
Wherefore oppress not the

:
neither repulse the beggar
but declare the goodness
of thy Lord.
CHAPTER XCIV
ENTITLED, HAVE
IN THE
WE NOT
OPENED; REVEALED AT MECCA
Have we
thee
?
not opened thy breast; and eased thee of thy
burden, which galled thy back
and raised thy reputation for ; shall be attended with ease. Vera difficulty Verily
When thou shalt ily a difficulty shall be attended with ease. have ended thy preaching, labor to serve God in return for his favors ; and make thy supplication unto thy Lord.
CHAPTER XCV
ENTITLED, THE FIG;
IN THE
WHERE
IT
WAS REVEALED
IS
DISPUTED
NAME
and by Mount Sinai, and this territory of security: verily we created man of a most ex-
By
the
fig,
and the
olive;
cellent fabric; afterward we rendered him the vilest of the vile: except those who believe and work righteousness; for
they shall receive an endless reward. What therefore shall cause thee to deny the day of judgment after this? Is not
God
the most wise judge?
an importunate beggar, or else because a dead puppy lay under his seat; his enemies said that God had left him; whereupon this chapter was sent down for his consolation.
459
CHAPTER XCVI
ENTITLED, CONGEALED BLOOD; REVEALED AT MECCA!
IN THE
NAME OF TUB MOST MEBCIFUL GOD
Read, in the name of thy Lord, who hath created all things ; who hath created man of congealed blood. Read, by thy most beneficent Lord 2 who taught the use of the pen ; who teacheth man that which he knoweth not. Assuredly. Verily man becometh insolent, because he seeth himself abound in riches. 3 Verily unto thy Lord shall be the return of all. What thinkest thou as to him who forbiddeth our servant, when he prayeth ? 4 What thinkest thou if he follow the
; ;
What thinkest thou ; if right direction ; or command piety ? he accuse the divine revelations of falsehood, and turn his back ? Doth he not know that God seeth ? Assuredly. Verily, if
he forbear not,
his lying, sinful forelock. him assistance: we also will call the infernal guards to cast into hell. Assuredly. Obey him not : but continue to adore
we will drag him by the forelock, And let him call his council to
the
God; and draw nigh unto him.

" Who verses of this chapter, ending with the words, teacheth man that which he knoweth not," are generally allowed to be the first passage of the Koran which was revealed, though some give this honor to the seventy-fourth chapter, and others to the first, the next,
1
The
first five
they say, being the sixty-eighth. 2 These words, containing a repetition of the command, are supposed to be a reply to Mohammed, who, in answer to the former words spok.-n by the angel, had declared that he could not read, being perfectly illiterate; and intimate a promise that God, who had inspired man with the art of writing, would graciously remedy this defect in him. have s The commentators agree the remaining part of the chapter to been revealed against Abu Jahl, Mohammed's great adversary. * For Abu Jahl threatened that if he caught Mohammed in the act of saw adoration, he would set his foot on his neck; but when he came and a in as back and, being him in that posture, he suddenly turned fright, asked what was the matter, said there was a ditch of fire between himself and Mohammed, and a terrible appearance of troops, to defend
him.
460
THE SACRED BOOKS
CHAPTER XCVII
ENTITLED, AL KADR;
IN THE
WHERE
IT
WAS REVEALED
IS
DISPUTED
Verily
we
is
sent
And what
or al
shall
?
Kadr
down the Koran in the night of al Kadr. 1 make thee understand how excellent the night The night of al Kadr is better than a thou-
sand months.
Gabriel
also,
Therein do the angels descend, and the spirit by the permission of their Lord, with his decrees
It
is
concerning every matter. morn.
peace, until the rising of the
CHAPTER XCVIII
ENTITLED, THE EVIDENCE;
WHERE
IT
WAS REVEALED
IS
DISPUTED
The unbelievers among those to whom the scriptures were given, and among the idolaters, did not stagger, until the clear evidence had come unto them: an apostle from God, rehearsing unto them pure books of revelations; wherein
are contained right discourses. Neither were they unto the scriptures were given divided among themselves, until after the clear evidence had come unto them. And they
whom
were commanded no other in the scriptures than

"
to
worship
i The word al Kadr signifies power," and also the "divine decree"; and the night is so named either from its excellence above all other nights in the year, or because, as the Mohammedans believe, the " divine decrees " for the ensuing year are annually on this night fixed and settled, or taken from the "preserved table" by
"
honor " or " dignity," and
God's throne, and given to the angels to be executed. On this night received his first revelations; when the Koran, say the commentators, was sent down, entire and in one volume, to the lowest heaven, from whence Gabriel revealed it to Mohammed by parcels, as occasion required. The Moslem doctors are not agreed where to fix the night of al Kadr; the greater part are of opinion that it is one of the ten last nights of Ramadan, and, as is commonly believed, the seventh of those nights, reckoning backward; by which means it will fall 1>etween the 23d and 24th days of that month.
Mohammed

;
Mil
God, exhibiting unto him the pure religion, and being orthodox and to be constant at prayer, and to give alma: and this
the right religion. Verily those who believe not, among those who have received the scriptures, and among the idolaters, shall be cast into the fire of hell, to remain therein foris
These are the worst of creatures. But they who believe, and do good works; these are the beet of creatures: their reward with their Lord shall be gardens of perpetual abode, through which rivers flow; they shall remain therein forever. God will be well pleased in them and they shall be well pleased in him. This is prepared for him who shall
ever.
;
fear his Lord.
CHAPTER XCIX
ENTITLED, THE EARTHQUAKE; WHERE IT IS DISPUTED
IN THE
WAS REVEALED
When the earth shall be shaken by an earthquake ; and the earth shall cast forth her burdens; and a man shall say, What aileth her? On that day the earth shall declare her
On that day tidings, for that thy Lord will inspire her. men shall go forward in distinct classes, that they may behold
their works.
And whoever
shall
have wrought good of the
weight of an ant, shall behold the same. And whoever shall have wrought evil of the weight of an ant, shall behold the
same.
CHAPTER C
ENTITLED, THE WAR-HORSES WHICH RUN SWIFTLY; IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED
IN THE
WHERE
the war-horses which run swiftly to the battle, with a their panting noise ; and by those which strike fire, by dashing
By
hoofs against the stones and by those which make a sudden incursion on the enemy early in the morning, and therein
;
462
raise the dust,
:
THE SACRED BOOKS

;
and therein pass through the midst of the adverse troops verily man is ungrateful unto his Lord and he is witness thereof: and he is immoderate in the love of worldly good. Doth he not know, therefore, when that which is in the graves shall be taken forth and that which is in men's breasts shall be brought to light, that their Lord will, on that day, be fully informed concerning them ?
CHAPTER
IN THE
CI
ENTITLED, THE STRIKING; REVEALED AT MECCA

The striking! What is the striking? And what shall make thee to understand how terrible the striking will be ?
day men shall be like moths scattered abroad, and the mountains shall become like carded wool of various colors driven by the wind. Moreover he whose balance shall be heavy with good works shall lead a pleasing life: but as to him whose balance shall be light, his dwelling shall be the
that
On
What shall make thee to understand pit of hell. ful the pit of hell is ? It is a burning fire.
how
fright-
CHAPTER
IT
CII
ENTITLED, THE EMULOUS DESIRE OF MULTIPLYING;
WHERE
WAS REVEALED
IS
DISPUTED
IN THE
desire of multiplying riches and children employeth you, until ye visit the graves. By no means should ye thus employ your time: hereafter shall ye know
The emulous
your your
By no means: hereafter shall ye know if ye knew the consequence hereof means no folly. By with certainty of knowledge, ye would not act thus. Verily
folly.
Again,
ye shall see hell: again, ye shall surely see it with the eye of certainty. Then shall ye be examined, on that day, concerning the pleasures with which ye have amused yourselves
in this
life.
CHAPTER
IN THE
Cm
employeth himself in that
ENTITLED, THE AFTERNOON; REVEALED AT MECCA

NAME OF THE MOST MEBCIFUL OOD
By
the afternoon; verily

:
man
which will prove of loss except those who believe, and do that which is right ; and who mutually recommend the truth, aud mutually recommend perseverance unto each other.
CHAPTER CIV
ENTITLED, THE SLANDERER; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
NAME
OF THE MOST MEBCIFUL OOD
unto every slanderer and backbiter: who heapeth up and riches, prepareth the same for the time to come! He thinketh that his riches will render him immortal. By no means. He shall surely be cast into al Hotama. And what It is the shall cause thee to understand what al Hotama is ? kindled fire of God; which shall mount above the hearts of those who shall be cast therein. Verily it shall be as an arched vault above them, on columns of vast extent
Woe
CHAPTER CV
ENTITLED, THE ELEPHANT; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
NAME OF THE MOST MEBCIFUL OOD

dealt with the masters of
Hast thou not seen how thy Lord

1
the elephant ? Did he not make their treacherous design an occasion of drawing them into error ; and send against them
iThis chapter relates to the following tale, which is famous among the Arabs. Abraha Ebn al Sabah, King or Viceroy of Yaman, who WM an Ethiopian, and of the Christian religion, having built a magnificat church at Sanaa, with a design to draw the Arabs to go in pilgriHMft vowed the destruction thither, instead of visiting the temple of Mecca,
464
flocks of birds,
;
THE SACRED BOOKS

cast
which render them and clay
down upon them
stones of baked
like the leaves of corn eaten
by
cattle
CHAPTER CVI
ENTITLED, KOREISH; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
tribe of Koreish; their uniting in l in sending forth the caravan of merchants and purveyors winter and summer: let them serve the Lord of this house;
For the uniting of the
who
supplieth them with food against hunger, and hath rendered them secure from fear.
of the Kaaba, and accordingly set out against Mecca at the head of a considerable army, wherein were several elephants, which he had obtained of the King of Ethiopia, their numbers being, as some say, thirThe Meccans, at the approach of teen, though others mention but one. so considerable a host, retired to the neighboring mountains, being unable to defend their city or temple: but God himself undertook the protection of both. For when Abraha drew near to Mecca, and would have entered it, the elephant on which he rode, which was a very large one, and named Mahmud, refused to advance any nigher to the town, but knelt down whenever they endeavored to force him that way, though
rise and march briskly enough if they turned him toward any other quarter: and while matters were in this posture, on a sudden a large flock of birds, like swallows, came flying from the sea coast, every one of which carried three stones, one in each foot, and one in its bill; and these stones they threw down upon the heads of Abraha's men, certainly killing every one they struck. Then God sent a flood, which swept the dead bodies, and some of those who had not been struck by the stones, into the sea the rest fled toward Yaman, but perished by the way none of them reaching Sanaa, except only Abraha himself, who died soon after his arrival there, being struck with a sort of plague or putrefaction, so that his body opened, and his limbs rotted oif by piecemeal. It is said that one of Abraha's army, named Abu Yacsum, escaped over the Red Sea into Ethiopia, and going directly to the King, told him the
he would
tragical story; and upon that prince's asking him what sort of birds they were that had occasioned such a destruction, the man pointed to one of them, which had followed him all the way, and was at that time hovering directly over his head, when immediately the bird let fall the This remarkable defeat stone, and struck him dead at the King's feet.
Abraha happened the year Mohammed was born. It was Hashem, the great-grandfather of Mohammed, who first appointed the two yearly caravans here mentioned; one of which set out in the winter for Yaman, and the other in summer for Syria.
of
i
465
CHAPTER CVH
ENTITLED, NECESSARIES;
IS
IN THE
WHERE
IT
DISPUTED
WAS REVEALED
him who denieth the future judgment as a falsehood ? It is he who pusheth away the orphan; and stirreth not up others to feed the Woe be unto poor. those who pray, and who are negligent at their prayer; who play the hypocrites, and deny necessaries to the
thinkest thou of
What
needy.
CHAPTER
IN THE
CVIII
ENTITLED, AL CAWTHAR; REVEALED AT MECCA

NAME OP THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD
1 Verily we have given thee al Cawthar. Wherefore pray unto thy Lord ; and slay the victims. Verily he who hateth thee shall be childless.
CHAPTER CIX
ENTITLED, THE UNBELIEVERS; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MEBCIFUL GOD
Say:
"
O unbelievers, la I will not worship that which ye worOr

it
" " i This word abundance," especially of signifies good," and thence the gift of wisdom and prophecy," the Koran, the " office of inter-
cessor," etc.
may imply "abundance
of children, followers," and
the like. It is generally, however, expounded of a river in paradise of that name, whence the water is derived into Mohammed's pond, of which the blessed are to drink before their admission into that place. According to a tradition of the prophet's, this river, wherein his Lord promised him abundant good, is sweeter than honey, whiter than milk, cooler than snow, and smoother than cream; its banks are of chrysolites, and the vessels to drink thereout of silver; and those who drink of it shall never thirst. *a It is said that certain of the Koreish once proposed to Mohammed that if he would worship their gods for a year, they would worship hl God for the same space of time; upon which this chapter was revealed.
VOL. V.
30.
466
THE SACRED BOOKS
Neither do ship ; nor will ye worship that which I worship. I worship that which ye worship ; neither do ye worship that which I worship. Ye have your religion, and I my religion.
CHAPTER CX
ENTITLED, ASSISTANCE; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE
When
and
shall come, and the victory; thou shalt see the people enter into the religion of God
the assistance of
God
by troops: celebrate the praise of thy Lord, and ask pardon of him; 1 for he is inclined to forgive.
CHAPTER CXI
ENTITLED, ABU LAHEB; REVEALED AT MECCA
IN THE

la
and he shall perish. His riches shall not profit him, neither that which he hath He shall go down to be burned into flaming fire; gained. and his wife also, bearing wood, having on her neck a cord
of
The hands
Abu Laheb shall perish,
of twisted fibers of a palm-tree.

i Most of the commentators agree this chapter to have been revealed before the taking of Mecca, and suppose it gave Mohammed warning of his death; for they say that when he read it al Abbas wept, and
being asked by the prophet what was the reason of his weeping, answered, "Because it biddeth thee to prepare for death"; to which Mohammed " It is as thou sayest." And hence, adds Jallalo'ddin, after the replied, revelation of this chapter the prophet was more frequent in praising and asking pardon of God, because he thereby knew that his end approached; for Mecca was taken in the eighth year of the Hegira, and he died in the beginning of the tenth. ia Abu Laheb was the surname of Abd'al Uzza, one of the sons of Abd'almotalleb, and uncle to Mohammed. He was a most bitter enemy to his nephew, and opposed the establishment of his new religion to the utmost of his power. When that prophet, in obedience to the command he had received to " admonish his near relations," had called them " was a warner sent unto them before a together, and told them he
grievous chastisement," Abu Laheb cried out, Mayest thou perish Hast thou called us together for this?" and took up a stone to cast at him. Whereupon this passage was revealed.
!
"
K;T
CHAPTER
WAS REVEALED
IS
CXII
1
ENTITLED, THE DECLARATION OF GOD'S UNITY;
WHERE
IT
DISPUTED
IN THE

:
Say, neither
God
is
is
one God ; the eternal God

:
he begetteth not,
he begotten and there
is
not any one like unto him.
CHAPTER
ENTITLED, THE DAYBREAK;
IN THE
CXIII
IT
WHERE
WAS REVEALED
IS
DISPUTED
refuge unto the Lord of the daybreak, that he may deliver me from the mischief of those things which he hath created; and from the mischief of the night, when it
fly for
Say, I
knots
cometh on; and from the mischief of women blowing on la and from the mischief of the envious, when he
;
envieth.
held in particular veneration by the Mohammedans, of their prophet, to be equal in value to a third part of the whole Koran. It is said to have been revealed in answer to the Koreish, who asked Mohammed concerning the distinguishing attributes of the God he invited them to worship. ia That is, of witches, who used to tie knots in a cord, and to blow on them, uttering at the same time certain magical words over them, in order to work on or debilitate the person they had a mind to injure. The commentators relate that Lobeid, a Jew, with the assistant of his daughters, bewitched Mohammed, by tying eleven knots on a cord, which they hid in a well; whereupon Mohammed falling ill, God revealed this chapter and the following, and Gabriel acquainted him with the use he was to make of them, and of the place where 'the cord was hidden: according to whose directions the prophet sent AH to fetch the cord, and the same being brought, he repeated the two chapters over it, and at finishevery verse (for they consist of eleven) a knot was loosed, till on the charm. from freed he the last was words, entirely ing
is i
This chapter
and declared, by a tradition
468
THE SACRED BOOKS
CHAPTER CXIV
ENTITLED, MEN;
IN THE
WHERE
IT
WAS REVEALED
IS
DISPUTED
Say, I men, the
fly for
God
refuge unto the Lord of men, the king of of men, that he may deliver me from the mis-
1 chief of the whisperer who slyly withdraweth, who whispereth evil suggestions into the breasts of men ; from genii and
men.
i I.e.,
" The devil " who withdraweth when a ;
man
mentioncth God,
or hath recourse to his protection.
END OF THE KOEAN
BIBLIOGRAPHY
For the general subject
is
of early Arabic literature the
recommended
to the following books:
R. A. NICHOLSON,
F. F.
"A
Literary History of the Arabs" (Scribnen,

1890).
ARBUTHNOT, "Arabic Authors" (London,

texts
For Pre-Mohammedan poetry, both the

of them, read
and a discussion
LADY ANNE BLUNT and W.
S. BLUNT, "The Seven Golden Ode* of Pagan Arabia" (London, 1903). SIR WILLIAM JONES, "The Mo'allakat or Seven Arabian Poems"
(new
ed., Calcutta, 1877).
F. E. JOHNSON,
"The Seven Poems Suspended Mecca" (Bombay, 1893). CHARLES J. LYALL, "Ancient Arabian Poetry."
CHARLES
J.
in the
Temple at
W.
" LYALL, The Diwans of 'Abid ibn al-Abraa and 'Amir ibn at-Tufail" (London, 1913). A. CLOUSTON, "Arabian Poetry for English Readers" (Edin-
burgh).
For the Koran
itself
there are three standard works:
E. H. PALMER, "The Quran" (in the Sacred Books edited by Miiller, Oxford, 1880). J. M. RODWELL, "The Koran."
Max
GEORGE SALE, "The Koran."
For
briefer reviews of the
Koran, read
E. W. LANE, "Selections from the Kuran" (London, 1843). S. LANE-POOLE, "Speeches and Table-Talk of the Prophet Mohammed" (London, 1882),
For
Mohammed
himself, the best English authorities are
the following: WILLIAM MUIR, "Life

Edinburgh, 1912.)
of
Mohammed"
(Tour volumes, latot edition,
D.
S.
MARGOLIOUTH, "Mohammed and
the Rise of Islam" (London
1905).
409
PLEASE
DO NOT REMOVE
FROM
THIS POCKET
CARDS OR
SLIPS
UNIVERSITY OF
TORONTO
LIBRARY
La Semi t H3l5s
Home, Charles Francis

Sacred books and ea literature of the East v.5- Ancient Arabia

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THE SACRED BOOKS AND EARLY LITERATURE OF THE EAST

WITH HISTORICAL SURVEYS OF THE CHIEF WRITINGS OF EACH NATION

LL.D., Professor oi Egyptology, University College, London;

PARKE, AUSTIN, AND LIPSCOMB, NEW YORK LONDON

one of a complete set of the Sacred Books

and Early Literature volumes. In Volume

the limitation of the edition and the registered

THE SACRED BOOKS AND EARLY LITERATURE OF THE EAST

With a Brief Bibliography by

CHARLES C. TORREY, D.D.,

With an Historical Survey and Descriptions by

PARKE, AUSTIN, AND LIPSCOMB, NEW YORK LONDON

There never was a false god, nor was there ever

The Last Semitic Conquerors, the

The Sudden Blossoming

THE GENIUS OF ARABIC LITERATURE, by

THE HANGED POEMS

THE POEM OP IMRU-UL-QUAIS (530 THE POEM OF ANTAR (580 A.D.?).

THE POEM OF ZUHAIR

The Latest Successor

The Mohammedans' Central Spot Abraham

SACKED BOOKS AND EARLY LITERATURE

THE LAST SEMITIC CONQUERORS: THE SUDDEN BLOSSOMING

among them any written

That the Arabs were thus slow in creating written

words was highly honored among the most ancient Arab

was and Arab prided himself upon three virtues:

THE SACRED BOOKS

was held and the other

this period there

tribal poets so valued, that the idea

were several of the was formed of honoring

them by hanging copies of

poems in the chief

THE SEVEN HANGED POETS

LITERATURE OF THE EAST

his passionate devotion to affairs of

his people in a bitter tribal

said to have been the

regular-measured rhythm the wild individual chanting of the

afterward clung to him through

career of glory and mis-

the national hero of his race.

was then an aged and revered

THE SACRED BOOKS

and wealth, the poetic skill and religious

THE EABLY RELIGION OF THE ARABS

Since Arabic written literature begins only "

and since none of these

religious type, writers for our

LITERATURE OF THE EAST

world in the year 598

It was misleading. literature; each chant, or

Sura consisted of only a single stanza, brought forth by the

THE SACRED BOOKS

LITERATURE OF THE EAST

was the work of the Koran.

Within a single century

were speaking Arabic.