Chapter V: Part 5

†SAY, O God, to whom belongeth dominion, Thou givest dominion to whom Thou wilt, and from whom Thou wilt Thou takest it away; Thou exaltest whom Thou wilt, and whom Thou wilt Thou humblest. In Thy hand is good. Verily Thou art all-powerful.

Thou causest the night to pass into the day, and Thou causest the day to pass into the night; and Thou bringest forth the living from the dead, and Thou bringest forth the dead from the living; and thou givest sustenance to whom Thou wilt without measure.

(iii. 25, 26.)

VI.

Blessed be He in whose hand is the dominion and who is all-powerful;[37]

Who hath created death and life, that He may prove you, which of you [will be] best in works: and He is the Mighty, the Very-Forgiving:

Who hath created seven heavens, one above another. Thou seest not any fault in the creation of the Compassionate. But lift up the eyes again _to heaven_. Dost thou see any fissures?

Then lift up the eyes again twice; the sight shall return unto thee dull and dim.

(lxvii. 1-4.)

VII.

Verily your Lord is God, who created the heavens and the earth in six days: then He ascended the throne. He causeth the night to cover the day; it followeth it swiftly: and _He created_ the sun and the moon and the stars, made subject utterly to His command. Do not the _whole_ creation and command belong to Him? Blessed be God, the Lord of the Worlds.

(vii. 52.)

VIII.

We have placed in heaven _the twelve_ signs _of the Zodiac_, and adorned them for the beholders _with the constellations_;

And We have guarded them (_by means of shooting stars_) from every accursed devil,[38]

Excepting him who listeneth by stealth, whom a manifest shooting star pursueth.

We have also spread forth the earth, and thrown thereon firm _mountains_,[39] and We have caused to spring forth in it every kind [of green thing] weighed.[40]

And We have provided for you therein necessaries of life, and _for_ him whom ye do not sustain;[41]

And there is not a thing but the storehouses thereof are with Us, and We send it not down save in determined quantities.

We also send the fertilizing winds,[42] and We send down water from heaven, and give you to drink thereof; and ye are not the storers of it.

And verily We give life and death, and We are the heirs _of all the creation_.

We also know those who have gone before you, and We know those who follow after [you].

And verily thy Lord will assemble them together: for He is Wise, Knowing.

(xv. 16-25.)

IX.

And your God is One God: there is no god but He, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Verily in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the varying of night and day, and the ships that course upon the sea _laden_ with what is profitable to mankind, and the water that God hath sent down from heaven, quickening the earth thereby after its death, and scattering about it all kinds of beasts; and in the changing of the winds, and the clouds that are compelled to do service between heaven and earth, are signs unto a people who understand.

Yet among men are those who take to themselves, beside God, idols, which they love as _with_ the love for God: but those who have believed are more loving towards God _than these towards their idols_.

(ii. 158-160.)

X.

Verily God causeth the grain to come forth, and the date-stone: He bringeth forth the living from the dead,[43] and He bringeth forth the dead from the living:[44] This is God; then wherefore are ye turned away?

He causeth the dawn to appear, and hath ordained the night for rest, and the sun and the moon for reckoning _time_: this is the appointment of the Mighty, the Wise.

And it is He who hath ordained for you the stars, that ye may be guided by them in the darknesses of the land and of the sea: We have clearly shown the signs _of Our power_ unto the people who know.[45]

And it is He who hath produced you from one soul, and _there is_ a place of rest and of storing:[46] We have clearly shown the signs to the people who understand.

And it is He who hath sent down water from heaven, and We have produced thereby the germs of everything, and We have caused the green thing to come forth therefrom, from which We draw forth grains massed; and from the palm-tree, from its fruit-branch, clusters of dates heaped together:[47] and gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, like one another[48] and not like.[49] Look ye at their fruits when they bear fruit, and their ripening. Verily therein are signs unto the people who believe.

Yet they have set up the Jinn[50] as partners of God, though He hath created them, and without knowledge have they falsely attributed to Him sons and daughters. Extolled be His purity, and high be He exalted above that which they attribute [to Him]!

_He is_ the Author of the heavens and the earth. How then should He have offspring, when He hath no consort, and hath created everything and knoweth everything?

This is God your Lord. There is no God but He, the Creator of everything: therefore worship ye Him;[51] and He is guardian over everything.

The eyes see Him not, but He seeth the eyes: and He is the Gracious, the Knowing.

(vi. 95-103.)

XI.

It is He who maketh the lightning to appear unto you, [causing] fear and hope _of rain_, and formeth the pregnant clouds.

And the thunder proclaimeth His perfection with His praise; and [likewise] the angels, in fear of Him. And He sendeth the thunderbolts, and striketh with them whom He pleaseth, whilst they dispute concerning God; for He is mighty in power.[52]

(xiii. 13, 14.)

XII.

With Him are the keys of the hidden things: none knoweth them but He: and He knoweth whatsoever is on the land and in the sea, and there falleth not a leaf but He knoweth it, nor a grain in the dark parts of the earth, nor a moist thing nor a dry thing, but [it is noted] in a distinct writing.[53]

And it is He who taketh your souls at night, and knoweth what ye have gained in the day; then He reviveth you therein,[54] that an appointed time[55] may be fulfilled. Then unto Him shall ye return: then will He declare unto you what ye have done.

And He is the Supreme[56] over His servants, and He sendeth watchers over you,[57] until when death cometh unto any one of you, Our messengers take his soul, and they fail not.

Then are they[58] returned unto God their Lord, the True.[59] Doth not judgment belong to Him? And He is the most quick of reckoners.

SAY,[60] Who delivereth you from the darknesses of the land and of the sea, _when_ ye supplicate Him humbly and in secret, _saying_, ‘If Thou deliver us from these _dangers_, we will assuredly be of [the number of] the thankful’?

SAY, God delivereth you from them and from every affliction.

(vi. 59-64.)

XIII.

Verily God will not forgive the associating with Him [any other being as a god], but will forgive other _sins_ unto whom He pleaseth; and whoso associateth [another] with God hath wrought a great wickedness.

(iv. 51.)

XIV.

They[61] say, ‘The Compassionate hath gotten offspring:’ Ye have done an impious thing.

It wanteth little but that the heavens be rent thereat, and that the earth cleave asunder, and that the mountains fall down in pieces.[62]

_For_ that they have attributed offspring to the Compassionate, when it beseemeth not the Compassionate to get offspring.

There is none of all that are in the heavens and the earth but he shall come unto the Compassionate as a servant.[63] He hath known them and numbered them with an _exact_ numbering.

And each of them shall come unto Him on the day of resurrection, alone.[64]

†Verily those who have believed and have done the things that are right, on them the Compassionate will bestow [His] love.

(xix. 91-96.)

XV.

O men _of Mekkeh_, a parable is propounded, wherefore hearken unto it. Verily, those _idols_ which ye invoke beside God can never create a fly, although they assembled for it: and if the fly carry off from them aught,[65] they cannot recover the same from it. Weak are the seeker and the sought!

(xxii. 72.)

XVI.

The likeness of those who take to themselves Tutelars[66] instead of God is as the likeness of the spider, which maketh for herself a dwelling; and the frailest of dwellings surely is the dwelling of the spider! If they knew[67]——!

Verily God knoweth whatever thing they invoke in His stead; and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

And these parables[68] we propound unto men; but none understand them except the wise.

God hath created the heavens and the earth in truth: verily therein is a sign unto the believers.

(xxix. 40-43.)

_MOḤAMMAD AND THE ḲUR-ÁN._

XVII.

†O thou enwrapped _in thy mantle_,[69]
Arise and warn!
And thy Lord—magnify Him!
And thy raiment—purify it!
And the abomination[70]—flee it!
And bestow not favours that thou mayest receive again with increase.
And for thy Lord wait thou patiently.[71]

(lxxiv. 1-7.)

XVIII.

†By the morning-brightness,
And by the still of night,[72]
Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee, neither hath He hated thee.
And surely the Future will be better for thee than the Present,
And thy Lord will give to thee, and thou wilt be well-pleased.
Did He not find thee an orphan, and sheltered thee?
And He found thee erring, and guided thee,
And found thee needy, and enriched thee.
Then, as to the orphan, oppress him not;
And as to him that asketh of thee, chide him not away;
And as for the bounty of thy Lord, tell it then [abroad].

(xciii.)

XIX.

SAY, I do not say unto you, ‘With me[73] are the treasures of God,’ nor, ‘I know what is unseen,’ nor do I say unto you, ‘Verily I am an angel.’ I follow not [aught] but what is revealed unto me.

(vi. 50.)

XX.

†SAY, I am only a man like unto you. It is only revealed unto me that your God is One God. He then that hopeth to meet his Lord, let him work a righteous work, and in the worship of his Lord let him not associate any [other god].

(xviii. 110.)

XXI.

†SAY, If I err, only against myself shall I err, but if I am rightly-guided, it [is] of what my Lord hath revealed to me. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Near-at-hand!

(xxxiv. 49.)

XXII.

Moḥammad is nought but a Messenger.[74] The Messengers have passed away before him. If then he die or be slain, will ye turn round upon your heels?[75] But he who turneth round upon his heels will not injure God a whit;[76] and God will reward the thankful.

(iii. 138.)

XXIII.

Verily We have revealed unto thee as we revealed unto Noah and the prophets after him, and _as_ We revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon; and We gave unto David the Psalms.

(iv. 161.)

XXIV.

[77] SAY _unto them_, Do ye argue with us concerning God, when He is our Lord and your Lord,[78] and when we have our works and ye have your works, and when we are sincere towards Him?

Nay, do ye say that Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes were Jews or Christians? SAY _unto them_, Are ye the more knowing, or is God?[79] And who is more unrighteous than they who conceal a testimony that they have from God?[80] But God is not heedless of that which ye do.

(ii. 133, 134.)

XXV.

_Remember_, when Jesus the son of Mary said, ‘O children of Israel, Verily I am the Messenger of God unto you, confirming the Law which [was] before me, and giving good tidings of a Messenger who shall come after me, whose name [shall be] Aḥmad.’[81] But when he (_Aḥmad_) came unto them with evident proofs, they said, ‘This is manifest magic!’

And who is more unrighteous than he who forgeth falsehood against God, when he is invited unto El-Islám? And God directeth not the unrighteous people.

They desire to put out the light of God with their mouths: but God will perfect His light, though the unbelievers be loth _thereto_.

It is He who hath sent His messenger with the direction and the religion of truth, that He may exalt above every religion, though the polytheists be loth _thereto_.

(lxi. 6-9.)

XXVI.

Those to whom We have given the Scripture know him (_Moḥammad_) as they know their children.[82] But a party of them do conceal the truth[83] while they know.

(ii. 141.)

XXVII.

_The Jews said unto Moḥammad_, ‘Verily God hath enjoined us[84] that we should not believe an apostle until he bring us a sacrifice which fire shall devour.’

SAY, Apostles have come unto you before me with manifest proofs,[85] and with that ye have mentioned:[86] then wherefore did ye slay them, if ye be speakers of truth?

(iii. 179, 180.)

XXVIII.

_The unbelievers of Mekkeh_ have sworn by God, with the mightiest of their oaths, that if a sign come unto them they will assuredly believe therein. SAY, Signs are only with God. And what will make you to know?[87] Verily if they come they will not believe.

And We will turn away their hearts and their eyes,[88] as they believed not therein the first time; and We will leave them in their transgression, wandering about in perplexity.

And though We had sent down unto them the angels, and the dead had spoken unto them, and We had gathered together about them everything in tribes, they had not believed unless God had pleased; but the greater number of them know not.

(vi. 109-111.)

XXIX.

And they have said, ‘O thou unto whom the Admonition[89] hath been sent down, thou art certainly possessed by a Jinnee.[90]

Why dost thou not come unto us with the angels, if thou be of those that speak truth?’

We send not down the angels save with justice,[91] nor would they then be respited.

Verily, We have sent down the Admonition, and We will surely preserve it.

And We have sent _Messengers_ before thee among the sects of the former generations;

And there came not unto them any Messenger but they had him in derision:

In like manner will We put it into the hearts of the sinners _of Mekkeh to do so_;

They shall not believe in him, and the punishment of the former generations hath passed.

And if We should open above them a gate in heaven, and they should pass the day mounting up to it,

They would say, ‘Our eyes are only intoxicated, or rather we are a people enchanted.’

(xv. 6-15.)

XXX.

†Verily, it is the excellent Ḳur-án,
Written in the Preserved Book.[92]
None shall touch it but they who are purified.[93]
It is a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.

(lvi. 76-79.)

XXXI.

SAY, Verily if mankind and the Jinn assembled together for the purpose of producing the like of this Ḳur-án,[94] they could not produce the like thereof, although they helped one another.[95]

And We have explained unto men in this Ḳur-án every _kind of_ parable,[96] but the greater number of men have refused [all else] save unbelief,

And have said, ‘We will by no means believe in thee until thou cause a fountain to gush forth for us from the earth,

_Or_ thou have a garden of palm-trees and grapes, and thou cause rivers to spring forth in the midst thereof in abundance,

_Or_ thou cause heaven to fall down upon us, as thou hast pretended, in pieces, or thou bring God and the angels before _us_,

_Or_ thou have a house of gold, or thou ascend into heaven, and we will not believe thy ascending until thou cause a book to descend unto us which we may read.’ SAY, Extolled be the perfection of my Lord! Am I [aught] save a man, [sent] as a Messenger?

And nothing hath hindered men from believing when the direction hath come unto them, but their saying, ‘Hath God sent a man as a Messenger?’[97]

SAY, If there were upon the earth angels walking at ease,[98] We had sent down unto them from heaven an angel as a Messenger.[99]

SAY, God is a sufficient witness between me and you: for He knoweth and seeth His servants.

(xvii. 90-98.)

XXXII.

And this Ḳur-án is not an invention[100] of one who is not God, but _it hath been sent down_ as a confirmation of those _books which have been_ before it, and an explanation of the Scripture—there is no doubt thereof—from the Lord of the Worlds.

Do they say, ‘He[101] hath forged it?’ SAY, Then bring ye a Soorah[102] like unto it and call whom ye can,[103] other than God, if ye speak truth.

Nay they have charged with falsehood that which they comprehend not, and the explanation thereof[104] hath not yet come unto them. In like manner did those who were before them charge _their Messengers_ with falsehood; but see how was the end of the offenders!

(x. 38-40.)

XXXIII.

If ye be in doubt concerning that which We have sent down unto Our servant _Moḥammad_,[105] bring ye a Soorah like unto it,[106] and invoke your witnesses,[107] other than God, if ye be speakers of truth.

But if ye do _it_ not (and do _it_ ye shall not), fear the fire whose fuel is men and stones: it is prepared for the unbelievers.

(ii. 21, 22.)

XXXIV.

Whatsoever[108] verse We abrogate or cause _thee_ to forget, We will produce one better than it or like unto it. Dost thou not know that God is all-powerful?

Dost thou not know that to God _belongeth_ the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and that beside God ye have no protector or defender?

(ii. 100, 101.)

XXXV.

When We substitute a verse in the stead of a verse (and God best knoweth what He revealeth), they say, ‘Thou art but a forger!’—but the greater number of them know not!

SAY, The Holy Spirit _Gabriel_ hath brought it down from thy Lord with truth, to stablish those who have believed, and as a direction and good tidings unto the Muslims.

And We well know that they say, ‘Only a man[109] teacheth him.’ The tongue of him to whom they incline is foreign, and this _is the_ perspicuous Arabic tongue.

(xvi. 103-105).

XXXVI.

SAY, If the sea were ink, for _writing_ the words of my Lord, the sea would be dried up or ever the words of my Lord were exhausted; and [so] if we brought its like in aid.[110]

(xviii. 109).

_THE RESURRECTION, PARADISE, AND HELL._

XXXVII.

†The Striking! what is the Striking?
And what shall teach thee what the Striking is?
_It is_ a day when men shall be like scattered moths,
And the mountains like carded wool!
Then as for him whose balances are heavy, his shall be a life
well-pleasing.
As for him whose balances are light, his abode shall be the Pit.
And what shall teach thee what that is?
A raging fire!

(ci.)

XXXVIII.

†When the earth is shaken with her shaking,
And the earth hath cast forth her dead,[111]
And man shall say, ‘What aileth her?’
On that day shall she tell out her tidings,
Because thy Lord hath inspired her.
On that day shall men come one by one to behold their works,
And whosoever shall have wrought an ant’s weight of good shall
behold it,
And whosoever shall have wrought an ant’s weight of ill shall
behold it.

(xcix.)

XXXIX.

†When the heaven shall be cloven asunder,
And when the stars shall be scattered,
And when the seas shall be let loose,
And when the graves shall be turned upside-down,
_Every_ soul shall know what it hath done and left undone.
O man! what hath seduced thee from thy generous Lord,
Who created thee and fashioned thee and disposed thee aright?
In the form which pleased Him hath He fashioned thee.
Nay, but ye treat the Judgment as a lie.
Verily there are watchers over you,
Worthy recorders,
Knowing what ye do.
Verily in delight shall the righteous dwell;
And verily the wicked in Hell[-Fire];
They shall be burnt at it on the day of doom,
And they shall not be hidden from it.
And what shall teach thee what the Day of Judgment is?
Again: What shall teach thee what is the Day of Judgment?
_It is_ a day when one soul shall be powerless for another soul;
and all on that day shall be in the hands of God.

(lxxxii.)

XL.

When the sun shall be wrapped up,
And when the stars shall fall down,
And when the mountains shall be made to pass away,
And when the camels ten months gone with young[112] shall be neglected,
And when the wild beasts shall be gathered together,
And when the seas shall overflow,[113]
And when the souls shall be joined _to their bodies_,
And when the child[114] that hath been buried alive shall be asked
For what crime she was put to death,
And when the books[115] shall be laid open,
And when the heaven shall be removed,[116]
And when Hell shall be made to burn,
And when Paradise shall be brought near,—
_Then every_ soul shall know what it hath done.

(lxxxi. 1-14.)

XLI.

Hath the news of the Overwhelming reached thee?
Countenances on that day [shall be] abased,
Labouring, toiling:
They shall feel the heat of scorching fire,
They shall be given to drink from a fountain fiercely boiling,
There shall be no food for them but of daree’,[117]—
It shall not fatten nor satisfy hunger.

(lxxxviii. 1-7.)

XLII.

When one blast shall be blown on the trumpet,
And the earth shall be raised and the mountains, and be broken to
dust with one breaking,
On that day the Calamity shall come to pass:
And the heaven shall cleave asunder, being frail on that day,
And the angels on the sides thereof; and over them on that day
eight _of the angels_[118] shall bear the throne of thy Lord.
On that day ye shall be presented _for the reckoning_; none of
your secrets shall be hidden.
And as to him who shall have his book given to him in his right
hand, he shall say,[119] ‘Take ye, read my book;
Verily I was sure I should come to my reckoning.
And his [shall be] a pleasant life
In a lofty garden,
Whose clusters [shall be] near at hand.
[120]‘Eat ye and drink with benefit on account of that which ye paid
beforehand in the past days.’

But as to him who shall have his book given to him in his left
hand, he shall say, ‘O would that I had not had my book given
to me,
Nor known what [was] my reckoning!
O would that _my death_ had been the ending _of me_!
My wealth hath not profited me!
My power is passed away from me!’
‘[121]Take him and chain him,
Then cast him into hell to be burnt,
Then in a chain of seventy cubits bind him:
For he believed not in God, the Great,
Nor urged to feed the poor;
Therefore he shall not have here this day a friend,
Nor any food save filth
Which none but the sinners shall eat.’

(lxix. 13-37.)

XLIII.

When the Calamity shall come to pass
There shall not be _a soul_ that will deny its happening,[122]
[It will be] an abaser _of some_, an exalter _of others_;
When the earth shall be shaken with a _violent_ shaking,
And the mountains shall be crumbled with a [violent] crumbling,
And shall become fine dust scattered abroad;
And ye shall be three classes.
And the people of the right hand,[123] what [shall be] the people
of the right hand![124]
And the people of the left hand, what the people of the left
hand![125]
And the Preceders,[126] the Preceders!
These [shall be] the brought-nigh [unto God]
In the gardens of delight,—
A crowd of the former generations,
And a few of the latter generations,
Upon inwrought couches
Reclining thereon, face to face.
Youths ever-young[127] shall go unto them round about
With goblets and ewers and a cup of flowing wine,
Their [heads] shall ache not with it neither shall they be drunken;
And with fruits of the [sorts] which they shall choose,
And the flesh of birds of the [kinds] which they shall desire.
And damsels[128] with eyes[129] like pearls laid up
_We will give them_ as a reward for that which they have done.
Therein shall they hear no vain discourse nor accusation of sin,
But [only] the saying, ‘Peace! Peace!’

And the people of the right hand—what [shall be] the people of
the right hand!
[They shall dwell] among lote-trees without thorns
And bananas loaded with fruit,[130]
And a shade _ever_-spread,
And water _ever_-flowing,
And fruits abundant
Unstayed and unforbidden,
And couches raised.
Verily we have created them[131] by a [peculiar] creation,
And have made them virgins,
Beloved of their husbands, of equal age [with them],
For the people of the right hand,
A crowd of the former generations
And a crowd of the latter generations.

And the people of the left hand—what [shall be] the people of
the left hand!
[They shall dwell] amidst burning wind and scalding water,
And a shade of blackest smoke,
Not cool and not grateful.
For before this they were blest with worldly goods,
And they persisted in heinous sin,[132]
And said, ‘When we shall have died and become dust and bones,
shall we indeed be raised to life,
And our fathers the former generations?’
SAY, Verily the former and the latter generations
Shall be gathered together for the appointed time of a known day.
Then ye, O ye erring, belying [people],
Shall surely eat of the tree of Ez-Zaḳḳoom,
And fill therewith [your] bellies,
And drink thereon boiling water,
And ye shall drink as thirsty camels drink.—
This [shall be] their entertainment on the day of retribution.

(lvi. 1-56.)

XLIV.

Verily We have prepared for the offenders fire, the smoke of which shall encompass them; and if they ask relief, they shall be relieved with water like the dregs of oil, which shall scald _their_ faces. Miserable shall be the drink, and evil shall be the couch.

As for those who have believed and done the things that are right, verily We will not suffer the reward of him that hath done well to perish:

For these are gardens of perpetual abode, beneath them[133] shall rivers run; they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and shall wear green garments of fine brocade and of thick brocade, reclining therein on the thrones. Excellent shall be the reward, and pleasant shall be the couch.

(xviii. 28-30.)

XLV.

_Call to mind_ the day when We will cause the mountains to pass away and thou shalt see the earth plain; and We will assemble them[134] and not leave of them any one.

And they shall be set before thy Lord in ranks: ‘Now are ye come unto Us as We created you the first time.[135] Nay, ye thought that We would not perform [Our] promise to you.’[136]

And the book shall be put [in every man’s hand], and thou shalt see the sinners fearful because of that which is [written] therein, and they shall say, ‘O woe is us! what meaneth this book? It leaveth neither a small _sin_ nor a great _sin_, but it enumerateth it!’ And they shall find that which they shall have wrought present;[137] and thy Lord will not deal unjustly with any one.

(xviii. 45-47.)

XLVI.

They have not esteemed God with the estimation due unto Him, since the whole earth [shall be] His handful on the day of resurrection, and the heavens [shall be] folded together by His right hand. Extolled be His perfection and high be He exalted above the [things] they associate _with Him_!

And the trumpet shall be blown, and they that are in the heavens and they that are in the earth shall die, except those whom God shall please. Then it shall be blown another time; and lo, they shall arise, waiting.

And the earth shall shine with the light of its Lord. And the book shall be placed, and the prophets shall be brought and the witnesses, and judgment shall be given between them with truth, and they shall not be treated unjustly.

And every soul shall be fully paid _the reward_ of what it hath done, and He well knoweth what they do.

And those who have disbelieved shall be driven in troops unto hell, until when they come to it, its gates shall be opened, and its guardians shall say unto them, ‘Did not Messengers from among you come unto you rehearsing the signs of your Lord, and warning you of the meeting of this your day?’ They shall answer, ‘Yea:’ (But the sentence of punishment[138] hath been justly pronounced against the unbelievers:)

It shall be said, ‘Enter ye the gates of hell to remain therein for ever:’ and evil shall be the abode of the proud.

And those who have feared their Lord shall be urged on in troops unto paradise, until when they come unto it, its gates are already opened, and its guardians say unto them: ‘Peace be on you! Ye have been good: therefore enter it to abide _therein_ for ever.’

And they shall say, ‘Praise be to God, who hath performed unto us His promise, and hath made us to inherit the land, that we may dwell in Paradise wheresoever we please; and how excellent is the reward of the workers!’[139]

And thou shalt see the angels encompassing the throne, extolling the perfection with the praise of their Lord. And judgment shall be given between them[140] with truth: and it shall be said,‘Praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds!’

(xxxix. 67-75.)

XLVII.

Paradise shall be brought near unto the pious, _to a place_ not distant _from them, so that they shall see it_.

_And it shall be said unto them_, ‘This is what ye have been promised, unto every one who hath earnestly turned himself unto God and kept _His laws_,

Who hath feared the Compassionate in secret, and come with a penitent heart:

Enter it in peace: this is the Day of Eternity.’

(l. 30-33.)

XLVIII.

†Fairseeming to men is the love of pleasures from women and children, and hoarded riches of gold and silver, and pastured[141] horses, and flocks, and corn-fields. Such is the enjoyment of this world’s life! But God, goodly is the home with Him!

SAY, Shall I tell you of better things than these prepared in the presence of their Lord for those that fear [God]? Theirs shall be gardens beneath which rivers run, and in which they shall abide for ever, and stainless wives, and acceptance with God: for God regardeth His servants,

—Who say, ‘O our Lord, verily we have believed; forgive us then our sins, and keep us from the torment of the fire,’—

The patient, and the truthful, and the lowly, and the charitable, and they who seek pardon at each daybreak.

(iii. 12-15.)

XLIX.

†And repute not those slain in God’s cause[142] to be dead: nay, alive with their Lord, they are provided for;

Joyful in what God of His bounty hath vouchsafed them, and rejoicing for those that follow after them, but have not yet overtaken them, that on them no fear shall come, neither shall they grieve;

Rejoicing at the favour of God and His bounty, and that God suffereth not the reward of the faithful to perish.

(iii. 163-165.)

L.

Whosoever doeth the things that are right, whether male or female, being a believer,—these shall enter paradise, and shall not be wronged in the least degree.

(iv. 123.)

LI.

For those who have disbelieved in their Lord [is prepared] the punishment of hell; and evil [shall be] the journey.[143]

When they shall be cast into it they shall hear it braying,[144] while it boileth, well-nigh bursting with fury.

(lxvii. 6-8.)

LII.

If thou shouldst see[145] those who have offended[146] when they see the punishment![147]—for power belongeth altogether unto God, and God is severe in punishing:

When those who have been followed will declare themselves clear of those who have followed [them],[148] when they have seen the punishment, and the ties [that bound them together] shall be severed from them:

And those who have followed shall say, ‘O that there were for us a return _to the world_! then would we declare ourselves clear of them, like as they have _now_ declared themselves clear of us!’ After this manner will God show them their _evil_ works, for which [they shall pour forth] lamentations; and they shall not come forth from the fire.

(ii. 160-162.)

LIII.

And the Devil[149] shall say, when the matter shall have been determined,[150] ‘Verily God promised you the promise of truth;[151] and I promised you,[152] but I deceived you: yet had I no power over you;

But I only called you and ye answered me. Therefore blame not me, but blame your own selves. I am not a helper of you, neither are ye helpers of me. Verily I renounce your having associated me _with God_ heretofore.’

(xiv. 26, 27).

LIV.

Verily the hypocrites shall be in the lowest abyss of the fire, and thou shalt not find for them any defender.

(iv. 144.)

LV.

They[153] will ask thee respecting the Hour,[154] at what time is its coming fixed. SAY, The knowledge of it is only with my Lord: none shall manifest it in its time but He. It is grievous in the heavens and in the earth. It shall not come upon you otherwise than suddenly.

They will ask thee as though thou wert well acquainted therewith. SAY, The knowledge of it is only with God: but the greater number of men know not!

SAY, I possess not for myself _power to procure_ advantage nor _to avert_ mischief, save as God pleaseth: and if I knew things unseen, I should obtain abundance of good, and evil should not happen unto me. I am only a denouncer of threats _unto the unbelievers_, and an announcer of good tidings unto the people who believe.

(vii. 186-188.)

_PREDESTINATION._

LVI.

A soul cannot die unless by permission of God, according to a writing _of God_, definite _as to time_.

(iii. 139.)

LVII.

They say [whose companions were slain at the battle of Oḥod], ‘If aught of the affair had been _submitted_ to us we had not been slain here.’[155] SAY, Had ye been in your houses, those _of you_ who were decreed to be slain had gone forth to the places where they lie.

(iii. 148.)

LVIII.

Wheresoever ye be, death will overtake you, although you be in lofty towers. If good fortune betide them,[156] they say, ‘This is from God!’ But if evil betide them, they say, ‘This is from thee, _O Moḥammad_!’ SAY, All is from God. And what aileth this people that they are not near to understanding what is said _unto them_?

Whatsoever good betideth thee, _O man, it is_ from God; and whatsoever evil betideth thee, from thyself _is it_.

(iv. 80, 81.)

LIX.

†No soul can believe but by the permission of God.

(x. 100.)

LX.

†And whoso willeth taketh the way to his Lord: But ye shall not will it, unless God will it.

(lxxvi. 29, 30.)

LXI.

†Expend in the way of God, and throw not yourselves into destruction.[157]

(ii. 191.)

_ANGELS AND JINN._[158]

LXII.

They say, ‘The Compassionate hath gotten offspring.’[159] Extolled be His purity! Nay, _they are_ honoured servants.

They prevent Him not in speech,[160] and according to His command they act.

He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them, and they shall not intercede

Save for whom He shall please, and they fear in dread of Him.

And him[161] among them who saith, ‘I am a god beside Him,’ that [angel] We will recompense with Hell.

(xxi. 26-30.)

LXIII.

†SAY, It hath been revealed to me that a company of the Jinn listened [to me] and said, ‘Verily we have heard a wonderful discourse[162]

Which guideth unto right: wherefore we believed in it, and we will by no means associate any one with our Lord....

We tried the heaven, but we found it filled with a mighty garrison and darting flames;

We sat on some of its seats to listen, but whosoever listeneth now findeth a darting flame in ambush for him.

We know not whether evil be meant for them that are on the earth, or whether their Lord intendeth for them a right guidance.

There are among us the good, and among us _those who are_ not so,—we are of various ways.

(lxxii. 1, 2, 8-11.)

_TRUE RELIGION AND FALSE._

LXIV.

Verily God commandeth justice and the doing of good and the giving unto the relation: and He forbiddeth wickedness and iniquity and oppression. He admonisheth you that ye may reflect.

(xvi. 92.)[163]

LXV.

†By the Night when she spreadeth her veil,
By the Day when it appeareth in glory,
By Him who made male and female;
Verily your aims are indeed different!
As then for him who giveth [alms] and feareth [God],
And yieldeth assent to the Good,
To him will We therefore make easy the path to happiness.
But as to him who is covetous and bent on riches,
And calleth the Good a lie,
To him will We make easy the path to distress;
And what shall his wealth avail him when he goeth down headlong?
Truly man’s guidance is with Us,
And Ours the next Life and this life Present.
I warn you therefore of the flaming fire;
None shall be burned at it but the most wretched,—
Who hath called the truth a lie and turned his back.
But the greatly God-fearing shall escape it,—
Who giveth away his substance that he may become pure,
And who [offereth] not favours to any one for the sake
of recompense,
But only as seeking the face of his Lord the Most High.
And assuredly in the end he shall be well content.[1]

(xcii.)

LXVI.

†What thinkest thou of him who treateth the day of judgment as a lie?
It is he who thrusteth away the orphan,
And stirreth not [others] up to feed the poor.
Woe, then, to those who pray,
Who in their prayer are careless,
Who make a show [of devotion],
But refuse help [to the needy].[164]

(cvii.)

LXVII.

Your turning your faces _in prayer_ towards the east and the west is not piety: but the pious is he who believeth in God and the Last Day, and in the angels, and the Scripture, and the prophets, and who giveth money, notwithstanding his love _of it_, to relations and orphans, and to the needy and the son of the road,[165] and to the askers and for _the freeing_ of slaves, and who performeth prayer and giveth the [appointed] alms, and those who perform their covenant when they covenant, and the patient in adversity and affliction and in the time of violence. These are they who have been true: and these are they who fear God.

(ii. 172.)

LXVIII.

†He only shall visit the temples of God who believeth in God and the Last Day, and observeth prayer, and payeth the [appointed] alms, and dreadeth none but God: for these are among the rightly-guided.

(ix. 18.)

LXIX.

O ye who have believed, make not your alms of no effect by reproach and harm, like him who expendeth his wealth to make a vain show unto men, and believeth not in God and the Last Day. For his likeness is as the likeness of a smooth stone upon which was earth, and a violent rain hath fallen upon it, and left it smooth and hard. [Such] cannot have aught that they have gained, and God directeth not the unbelieving people.

And the likeness of those who expend their wealth from a desire of God’s being pleased, and from assurance on their part,[166] is as the likeness of a garden upon a hill, on which a violent rain hath fallen, and it hath produced its fruit twofold: and if a violent rain fall not upon it, a gentle rain _falleth_.

(ii. 266, 267.)

LXX.

If ye manifest alms, good will it be: but if ye conceal them and give them to the poor, it will be better for you; and it will expiate _some_ of your sins.

(ii. 273.)

LXXI.

A kind speech and forgiveness are better than alms which hurt[167] followeth.

(ii. 265.)

LXXII.

Revile not what they invoke in preference to God,[168] lest they revile God evilly without knowledge.

(vi. 108.)

LXXIII.

Turn away _evil_ by that which is better: and lo, he between whom and thyself [was] enmity [shall become] as though he were a warm friend:

But none is endowed with this[169] except those who have been patient, and none is endowed with it except he who is greatly favoured.[170]

(xli. 34, 35.)

LXXIV.

†If ye are greeted with a greeting, then greet ye with a better greeting, or at least return it: verily God taketh count of all things.

(iv. 88.)

LXXV.

†If there be any [debtor] under a difficulty [of paying his debt], let [his creditor] wait until it be easy: but if ye remit it as alms, it will be better for you.

(ii. 280.)[171]

_BELIEVERS AND UNBELIEVERS._

LXXVI.

†Dispute not with the people of the Scripture[172] unless in the kindliest[173] manner, except against such of them as deal evilly [with you]; and say [unto them], We believe in that which hath been sent down unto us and [that which] hath been sent down unto you, and our God and your God is one, and to Him are we self-surrendered.[174]

(xxix. 45.)

LXXVII.

Verily those who have believed,[175] and those who have become Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whosoever hath believed in God and the Last Day, and hath done that which is right,—they shall have their reward with their Lord, and _there shall come_ no fear upon them, neither shall they grieve.

(ii. 59.)[176]

LXVIII.

Whoso desireth any other religion than El-Islám, it shall not be accepted of him, and in the world to come he [shall be] of those that perish.

(iii. 79.)

LXXIX.

The likeness of those who have disbelieved[177] is as the likeness of him who crieth out to that which heareth not [aught] save a calling and a voice. _They are_ deaf, dumb, blind: therefore they do not understand.

(ii. 166.)

LXXX.

[As to] the unbelievers, their works are like a vapour[178] in a plain, which the thirsty imagineth to be water, until when he cometh to it he findeth it not aught:[179] (but he findeth God there, and He fully payeth him his account: and God is swift in reckoning:)

Or, like darknesses in a deep sea, covered by waves over waves,—over them clouds,—darknesses one over another: when [one] putteth forth his hand he is not nearly able to see it. And unto whomsoever God giveth not light, he hath no light.

(xxiv. 39, 40.)

LXXXI.

Propound unto them as a parable two men, on one of whom[180] We bestowed two gardens of grape-vines, and We surrounded them with palm-trees, and put corn between them; each of the gardens brought forth its fruit, and failed not thereof at all;

And We caused a river to flow between them; and he had abundance. And he said unto his companion, disputing with him, ‘I am greater than thou in wealth and more mighty in family.’

And he entered his garden, being unjust to his own soul.[181] He said, ‘I do not think that this will ever perish,

And I do not think that the [Last] Hour will come; and if I should be taken back unto my Lord, I shall assuredly find a better [garden] than it in return.’

His companion said unto him, disputing with him, ‘Dost thou disbelieve in Him who created thee of dust, then completely fashioned thee into a man?

God is my Lord, and I will not associate any one with my Lord.

And why when thou enteredst thy garden didst thou not say, ‘What God willeth[182] [cometh to pass]: there is no power but in God?’ If thou seest me to be inferior to thee in amount of wealth and in number of children,

Perhaps my Lord may give me [what will be] better than thy garden; and may send upon [thine] thunderbolts from heaven, so that it shall become a smooth and slippery ground;

Or its water may become deep-sunk [in the earth], so that thou shalt not be able to draw it.’—

And his possessions were encompassed _with destruction_, and he began to turn down the palms of his hands for that which he had expended thereon; for it[s vines were] falling down upon its trellises; and he said, ‘O would that I had not associated any one with my Lord!’

And there was no party for him to assist him instead of God, nor was he able to defend himself.

In that case[183] protection [belongeth] unto God, the True; He is the best rewarder and the best giver of success.

(xviii. 31-42.)

LXXXII.

Thou shalt certainly find[184] the Jews and those who have attributed partners to God[185] the most violent of men in hatred of those who have believed; and thou shalt certainly find the nearest of them to friendship to those who have believed those who say, ‘We are Christians.’ This is because there are among them priests and monks, and because they are not proud.[186]

And when they hear that which hath been sent down unto the Apostle, thou seest their eyes overflow with tears because of the truth that they know: they say, ‘O our Lord, we believe, therefore write us down among those who bear witness.’

(v. 85, 86.)

LXXXIII.

The likeness of those who were charged to bear in mind the Law [of Moses], then bore it not in mind,[187] is as the likeness of the ass that beareth books. Evil is the likeness of the people who have charged the signs of God with falsehood: and God directeth not the unjust people.

(lxii. 5.)

LXXXIV.

[188] Among men are those who say, We believe in God and in the Last Day: but they are not believers.

They try to deceive God and those who have believed; but they deceive not any except themselves, and they know [it] not.

In their hearts is a disease, and God hath increased their disease, and for them [is ordained] a painful punishment, because they have charged with falsehood _the prophet of God_.

And when it is said unto them, Corrupt not in the earth, they reply, ‘We are only rectifiers.’

Assuredly they are the corrupters; but they know [it] not.

And when it is said unto them, Believe ye as _other_ men have believed, they say, ‘Shall we believe as the fools have believed?’ Assuredly they are the fools; but they know it not.

And when they meet those who have believed, they say, ‘We believe:’ but when they retire privately to their devils,[189] they say, ‘We _hold_ with you: we only mock _at them_.’

God will mock at them, and keep them in their exceeding wickedness, wandering about in perplexity.

These are they who have purchased error in exchange for right guidance: but their traffic hath not been profitable; and they have not been rightly guided.

Their likeness is as the likeness of those who have kindled a fire _in the dark_, and when it hath enlightened what is around them, God taketh away their light and leaveth them in darkness, seeing not.

_They are_ deaf, dumb, blind: therefore they will not turn back.

Or _they are_ like _people in_ a storm of rain from heaven, wherein are darkness and thunder and lightning: they put their fingers in their ears because of the vehement sounds of the thunder, for fear of death. And God encompasseth the unbelievers.

The lightning almost snatcheth away their eyes: whenever it shineth on them they walk in _the light of_ it, but when darkness cometh on them they stand still. And if God pleased He would certainly take away their ears and eyes: for God is all-powerful.

(ii. 7-19.)

LXXXV.

O ye who have believed, take not the Jews and Christians as friends. They are friends one to another; and whosoever of you taketh them as his friends, verily he is _of the number_ of them.

O ye who have believed, take not as friends those who have made your religion a laughing-stock and a jest, of those who have received the Scripture before you, and the unbelievers: (But fear God if ye be believers:)

And _those who_ when ye call to prayer make it a laughing-stock and a jest. This _they do_ because they are a people who do not understand.

(v. 56, 62, 63.)

LXXXVI.

†The servants of the Merciful are they that walk upon the earth softly; and when the ignorant speak unto them, they reply ‘Peace!’—

And they that pass the night worshipping their Lord, prostrate and standing;—

And that say, ‘O our Lord, turn away from us the torment of Hell: verily its torment is endless; verily it is an ill abode and resting-place!’—

And those who when they spend are neither lavish nor niggard, but keep the mean;—

And those who call on no other gods with God, nor slay whom God hath forbidden to be slain, except for a just cause; nor are unchaste;—

And they who bear not witness to a lie, and when they pass by vain discourse pass it by with dignity;—

These shall be rewarded with the highest Heaven, for that they persevered, and they shall be accosted therein with ‘Welcome and Peace,’ to live therein for ever—a fair abode and resting-place!

(xxv. 64-75.)

_PART THE SECOND._

_PROPHETS, APOSTLES, AND DIVINE BOOKS._[190]

SAY YE, We believe in God, and in that which hath been sent down unto us (_namely, the Ḳur-án_), and what hath been sent down unto Abraham (_the ten books_), and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, _his children_, and what Moses received (_namely, the Pentateuch_), and Jesus (_namely, the Gospel_), and what the prophets received from their Lord (_namely, books and signs_): we make no separation of any of them, _believing in some, and disbelieving in some, like the Jews and the Christians_; and we resign ourselves unto Him.

(ii. 130.)

_ADAM AND EVE._

_Remember, O Moḥammad_, when thy Lord said unto the angels, I am about to place in the earth a vicegerent _to act for me in the execution of my ordinances therein, namely, Adam_,—they said, Wilt Thou place in it one who will corrupt in it _by disobediences_, and will shed blood (_as did the sons of El-Jánn,[191] who were in it; wherefore, when they acted corruptly, God sent to them the angels, who drove them away to the islands and the mountains_), when we [on the contrary] celebrate the divine perfection, _occupying ourselves_ with Thy praise, and extol Thy holiness? _Therefore we are more worthy of the vicegerency._—_God_ replied, Verily, I know that which ye know not, _as to the affair of appointing Adam vicegerent, and that among his posterity will be the obedient and the rebellious, and the just will be manifest among them. And He created Adam from the surface of the earth, taking a handful of every colour that it comprised, which was kneaded with various waters; and He completely formed it, and breathed into it the soul: so it became an animated sentient being._[192] And He taught Adam the names of all things, _infusing the knowledge of them into his heart_. Then He showed them (_namely, the things_) to the angels, and said, Declare unto me the names of these _things_, if ye say truth _in your assertion that I will not create any more knowing than ye, and that ye are more worthy of the vicegerency_. They replied, [_We extol_] Thy perfection! We have no knowledge excepting what Thou hast taught us; for Thou art the Knowing, the Wise.—_God_ said, O Adam, tell them their names. And when he had told them their names, _God_ said, Did I not say unto you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and know what ye reveal _of your words, saying, Wilt thou place in it_, etc., and what ye did conceal _of your words, saying, He will not create any more generous towards Him than we, nor any more knowing_?

(ii. 28-31.)