The Qur'an

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. : ‘H.M. The revelation of the Book from God the mighty, the wise. We have only created the heavens and the earth and what is between the two in truth and for an appointed time; but those who misbelieve from being warned do turn aside. Say, ‘ Have ye considered what ye call on beside God?’ Show me what they have created of the earth ? or have they share in the heavens ? Bring me a book before this or a vestige of knowledge, if ye do tell the truth ! But who is more in error than he who calls beside God on what will never answer him until the resurrection day and who are heedless of their calling, 1 Name of a tract of land in Si‘hr in Yemen. XLVI, g-14. THE CHAPTER OF EL A‘HQAF. 208 [5] and when men are gathered together are enemies of theirs and do deny their service ? And when our evident signs are recited to them, those who misbelieve say of the truth when it comes to them, ‘ This is obvious magic.’ Or-do they say, ‘He has forged it?’ Say, ‘Ifl have forged ye cannot obtain for me aught from God; He knows best what ye utter concerning it; He is witness enough between me and you, and He is the forgiving, the merciful.’

Say, ‘I am not an innovator among the apostles ; nor do I know what will be done with me or with you if I follow aught but what I am inspired with ; nor am I aught but a plain warner.’ Say, ‘Have ye considered, if it is from God and ye have disbelieved therein, and a witness from the children of Israel testifies to the conformity of it, and he believes while ye are too big with pride? Verily, God guides not the unjust people.’ [10] And those who misbelieve say of those who believe, ‘If it had been good, they would not have been beforehand with us therein;’ and when they are not guided thereby, then will they say, ‘This is an old-fashioned lie.’ But before it was the Book of Moses, a model and a mercy; and this is a book confirming it in Arabic language, to warn those who do wrong and as glad tidings to those who do well. Verily, those who say, ‘Our Lord is God,’ and then keep straight, there is no fear for them, and they shall not be grieved. These are the fellows of Paradise to dwell therein for aye, a recompence for that which they have done.

We have prescribed for man kindness towards his parents. His mother bore him with trouble and brought him forth with trouble; and the bearing of him and the weaning of him is thirty months; until, when he reaches puberty, and reaches forty years, he says, ‘Lord! stir me up that I may be thankful for thy favours wherewith thou hast favoured me and my parents ; and that I may do right to please Thee; and make it right for me in my offspring; verily, I turn repentant unto Thee, and, verily, I am of those resigned,’ [15] There are those from whom we accept the best of what they have done, and we pass over their offences—amongst the fellows of Paradise; the promise of truth which they have been promised. But he who says to his parents, ‘Fie upon you! Do ye promise me that I shall be brought forth? when generations have passed away before me ?’—then shall they both cry to God for help. Woe to thee! Believe! Verily, the promise of God is true. Then says he, ‘This is but old folks’ tales | There are those against whom the sentence was due amongst the nations who have passed away before them of ginns and men; verily, they have been the losers; and for all are degrees of what they have done, so that He may repay them their works, and they shall not be wronged.

And the day when those who misbelieve shall be exposed to the fire: ‘Ye made away with your good things in your worldly life, and ye enjoyed them; wherefore to-day shall ye be rewarded with the torment of disgrace, for that ye were big with ' T.e. from the grave. pride in the earth without the right, and for that ye did abomination. ’ [20] Remember too the brother of ‘Ad?! when he warned his people at El A‘hqaf,—though warners have passed away before him and after him,—‘ Serve not other than God; verily, I fear for you the torment of a mighty day!’ They said, ‘Hast thou come to us to turn us from our gods? then bring us what thou dost threaten us with, if thou art of those who speak the truth!’ Said he, ‘ Knowledge is only with God: but I will preach to you that which I am sent with, though I see you are a people who are ignorant.’ And when they saw a traversing cloud approaching their valleys they said, ‘This is a cloud to give us rain. ‘Nay, but it is what ye sought to hasten on —a wind in which is grievous torment; it will destroy everything at the order of its Lord!’ And in the morning naught was seen save their dwellings. Thus do we reward the sinful people!

[25] We had established them in what we have established you?, and we made for them hearing and eyesight and hearts; but neither their hearing nor their eyesight nor their hearts availed them aught, since they did gainsay the signs of God, and that encompassed them whereat they had mocked. And we destroyed the cities that are around you :—and we turned about the signs that haply they might return. Why did not those help them, whom beside God they took for gods that could draw nigh to Him? Nay! they strayed away from them; for that was their lie and what they had forged. * The prophet Had. 2 T.e. the Meccans. Q2 And when we turned towards thee some of the ginn listening to the Qur’an!, and when they were present at (the reading of) it, they said, ‘ Be silent!’ and when it was over they turned back to their — people, warning them. Said they, ‘O our people! verily, we have heard a book sent down after Moses, verifying what came before it, guiding to the truth, and unto the right way. [30] O our people! respond to God’s crier and believe in Him, and He will pardon you your sins and will deliver you from grievous woe.’

And whoso responds not to God’s crier shall not frustrate Him in the earth, and shall not have any patrons beside Him :—these are in obvious error! Did they not see that God who created the heavens and the earth, and was not wearied with creating them, is able to quicken the dead ?—nay, verily, He is mighty over all ! And the day when those who misbelieve shall be exposed to the fire,—‘Is not this the truth?’ they shall say, ‘Yea, by our Lord!’ He shall say, ‘Then taste the torment for that ye did misbelieve !’ Then do thou? be patient, as the apostles endowed with a purpose were patient, and hasten not on (their punishment), It shall be to them, on the day they see what they are threatened with, as though they [35] had tarried but an hour of the day. A preaching this! Shall any perish but the people who work abomination ? ' * See Introduction, p. xxx. * Addressed to Mohammed.

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. Those who misbelieve and turn folk from God’s way, He will make their works go wrong. But those who believe and do right and believe in what is revealed to Mohammed,—and it is the truth from their Lord,—He will cover for them their offences and set right their mind. That is because those who misbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the truth from their Lord. Thus does God set forth for men their parables. And when ye meet those who misbelieve—then striking off heads until ye have massacred them, and bind fast the bonds! [5] Then either a free grant (of liberty) or a ransom until the war shall have laid down its burdens. That!—but if God please He would conquer them—but (it is) that He may try some of you by the others. And those who are slain in God's cause, their works shall not go wrong ; He will guide them and set right their mind; and will make them enter into Paradise which He has told them of. O ye who believe! if ye help God, He will help you, and will make firm your footsteps.

But as for those who misbelieve—confound them! and He will make their works go wrong. [10] That is because they were averse from what God has revealed ; but their works shall be void! Have they not journeyed through the land and seen how was the end of those before them? God destroyed them ; and for the misbelievers is the like thereof. That is because God is the patron of those who believe, and because the misbelievers have no patron. | Verily, God causes those who believe and do right to enter into gardens beneath which rivers flow; but those who misbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as the cattle eat; but the fire is the resort for them! How many a city, stronger than thy city which has driven thee out, have we destroyed, and there was none to help them! [15] Is he who rests upon a manifest sign from his Lord like him, the evil of whose works is made seemly to him, and who follow their lusts ? The similitude of Paradise which is promised to the pious,—in it are rivers of water without corruption, and rivers of milk, the taste whereof changes not, and rivers of wine delicious to those who drink; and rivers of honey clarified; and there shall they have all kinds of fruit and forgiveness from their Lord! (Is that) like him who dwells in the fire for aye? and who are given to drink boiling water that shall rend their bowels asunder ?

Some of them there are who listen to thee, until when they go forth from thee they say to those who have been given the knowledge’, ‘What is this which he says now?’ These are those on whose hearts God has set a stamp and who follow their lusts. * To the more learned amongst the prophet’s companions, such as Ibn ‘Abbdas. But those who are guided, He guides them the more, and gives them the due of their piety. [20] Do they wait for aught but the Hour, that it should come to them suddenly? The conditions thereof have come already; how, when it has come on them, can they have their reminder ? Know thou that there is no god but ‘God; and ask pardon for thy sin and for the believers, men and women; for God knows your return and your resort ! Those who misbelieve say, ‘Why has not a sirah been revealed ?’ but when a decisive strah is revealed and fighting is mentioned therein, thou mayest see those in whose heart is sickness! looking towards thee with the look of one fainting in death. Preferable for them were obedience and a reasonable speech! But when the matter is determined on, then if they believed God it were better for them.

Would ye perhaps, if ye had turned back, have done evil in the land and severed the bonds of kinship ? [25] It is these whom God has cursed, and has made them deaf, and has blinded their eyesight! Do they not peruse the Qur'an? or are there locks upon their hearts? Verily, those who turn their backs after the guidance that has been manifested to them—Satan induces them, but (God) lets them go on for a time ! That is for that they say to those who are averse from what God has revealed, ‘We will obey you in 1 See Introduction, p. Ixiii. part of the affair!’ but God knows their secrets! How will it be when the angels! take their souls, smiting their faces and their backs ? [30] This is because they follow what angers God and are averse from His goodwill; and their works are void. | Do those in whose hearts is sickness reckon that God will not bring their malice forth ? But did we please we would show thee them, and thou shouldst know them by their cognisances, But thou shalt known them by their distorting their speech, and God knows their works !

But we will try you until we know those among you who fight strenuously and the patient; and we will try the reports concerning you. Verily, those who misbelieve and turn folks off God's path, and break with the Apostle after the guidance that has been manifested to them, cannot harm God at all, and their works shall be void ! [35] O ye who believe! obey God, and obey the Apostle; and make not your works vain. Verily, those who misbelieve and turn folks off God's path, and then die misbelievers, God will not pardon them. Then faint not, nor cry for peace while ye have the upper hand; for God is with you and will not cheat you of your works! The life of this world is but a play and a sport; but if ye believe and fear God, He will give you your hire. He does not ask you for (all) your property; if * Munkir and Nakir; see Introduction, p. lxix, He were to ask you for it and to press you, ye would be niggardly, and he would bring your malice out. [40] Here are ye called upon to expend in God’s cause, and among you are some who are niggardly; and he who is niggardly is but niggardly against his own soul: but God is rich and ye are poor, and if ye turn your backs He will substitute another people in your stead, then they will not be like you.

THe CHAPTER OF VICTORY.

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. Verily, we have given thee an obvious victory! that God may pardon thee thy former and later sin’, and may fulfil His favour upon thee, and guide thee in a right way, and that God may help thee with a mighty help. : It is He who sent down his shechina? into the hearts of the believers that they might have faith added to their faith ;—and God’s are the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and God is knowing, wise—[5]to make the believers, men and women, enter into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye; and to cover for them their offences ; for that with God is a grand bliss: and * Some of the commentators take this to mean sins committed by Mohammed before his call and after; others refer the word to the liaison with the Coptic handmaiden Mary, and to his marriage with Zainab the wife of his adopted son Zaid. See Introduction, pp. xxix and xl, * Or tranquillity; see Part I, p. 38, note a. to torment the hypocrites, men and women, and the > idolaters, men and women, who think evil thoughts © of God ;—over them is a turn of evil fortune, and | God will be wrath with them and curse them, and has prepared for them hell, and an evil journey shall it be!

God's are the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and God is mighty, wise! Verily, we have sent thee as a witness, and a herald of glad tidings, and a warner ;—that ye may believe in God and His Apostle, and may aid Him and revere Him and celebrate His praises morning and evening ! [10] Verily, those who swear allegiance to thee do but swear allegiance to God ;—God’s hand is above their hands! and whoso perjures himself does but perjure himself against himself; but he who fulfils what he has covenanted with God, God shall bring him mighty hire. The desert Arabs who were left behind?! shall say, ‘Our wealth and our people occupied us ; ask pardon then for us!’—they speak with their tongues what is not in their hearts! Say, ‘Who can control for you aught from God, if He wish you harm or wish you advantage ?’ Nay, God of what ye do is well aware! Nay, ye thought that the Apostle and the believers would not ever return again to their families; that was made seemly in your hearts! and ye thought evil thoughts, and ye were a corrupt people. * Alluding to certain tribes who held aloof from the expeditio of “Hudaibtyeh. | a

Whoso believes not in God and His Apostle— we have prepared for the unbelievers a blaze! God’s is the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth. He pardons whom He pleases, and torments whom He pleases; and God is forgiving, merciful. [15] Those who were left behind? shall say when ye have gone forth to spoils that ye may take, ‘ Let us follow you;’ they wish to change God's words. Say, ‘Ye shall by no means follow us; thus did God say before!’ They will say,‘ Nay! but ye envy us!’ Nay! they did not understand save a little. Say to those desert Arabs who were left behind, ‘Ye shall be called out against a people endowed with vehement valour’, and shall fight them or they shall become Muslims. And if ye obey, God will give you a good hire; but if ye turn your backs, as ye turned your backs before, He will torment you with grievous woe!’ There is no compulsion on the blind, and no compulsion on the lame, and no compulsion on the sick, but whoso obeys God and His Apostle, He will make him enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; but whoso turns his back He will torment with grievous woe.

God was well pleased with the believers when ‘In an expedition against the Jews of Khaibar, which Mohammed undertook shortly after his return from ‘Hudaibtyeh, and obtained considerable booty, which he shared only with those who had accompanied him on the previous occasion. 2 The followers of Musailimah, Mohammed’s rival, and the tribes that had apostatized from Islam. Some think it refers to the Greeks and Persians. they did swear allegiance to thee beneath the tree!; and He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down His shechina? upon them and rewarded them with a victory nigh at hand %, and many spoils for them to take; for God is mighty, wise! [20] God promised you many spoils and hastened this on for you, and restrained men’s hands from you; and it may be a sign for the believers and guide you in a right way;—and other (spoils) which ye could not gain; but God has encompassed them ; for God is mighty over all. And had those who misbelieved fought you, they would have turned their backs; then they would have found neither patron nor helper !—God’s course which has been followed before, and thou shalt find no change in the course of God!

He it was who restrained their hands from you, and your hands from them in the mid-valley of Mecca‘ after He had given you the victory over them ; for God on what ye do doth look! [25] Those who misbelieved and turned (you) away from the Sacred Mosque, and (turned away) the offering, kept from arriving at its destined place*®; and had it not been for believing men and believing women whom ye knew not, whom ye might have trampled on, and so a crime might have m pee Part 1s p, 38; note; * Either the success at Khaibar or the taking of Mecca. * Alluding to the truce concluded at ‘Hudaibtyeh. * Mohammed having only set out with the intention of peaceably performing the pilgrimage, carried cattle with him to sacrifice in the valley of Mina, but was obliged by the Qur@is to turn back. See Introduction, pp. xxxix, xl. occurred to you on their account without your knowledge—that God may make whomsoever He pleases enter into His mercy. Had they been distinct from one another, we would have tormented those of them who misbelieved with grievous woe. When those who misbelieved put in their hearts pique—the pique of ignorance'—and God _ sent down His shechina upon His Apostle and upon the believers, and obliged them to keep to the word of piety?, and they were most worthy of it and most suited for it; for God all things doth know.

God truly verified for His Apostle the vision ® that ye shall verily enter the Sacred Mosque, if God please, in safety with shaven heads or cut hair, ye shall not fear; for He knows what ye know not, and He has set for you, beside that, a victory nigh at hand‘. He it is who sent His Apostle with guidance 1 Suhail ibn ‘Amr, who concluded the truce with Mohammed at ‘Hudaibiyeh, objected to the formula ‘In the name of the merciful and compassionate God,’ with which the prophet ordered ‘Alf to commence the document, and insisted on the heathen formula ‘In Thy name, O God!’ He also refused to admit the words ‘Mohammed, the Apostle of God,’ saying, that if they had granted so much they would not have opposed him; the words ‘Mohammed the son of Abdallah’ were therefore substituted. These objections were so annoying to the Muslims, that it was with difficulty that Mohammed could restrain them from an immediate breach of the peace. 2 The Mohammedan profession of faith, ‘There is no god but God, and Mohammed His servant is the Apostle.’ Or it may be the initial formula which the unbelieving Meccans rejected. * Mohammed dreamed that he would accomplish the pilgrimage to Mecca with all its rites; the affair at ‘Hudaibiyeh disappointed his followers, but in the following year it was fulfilled.

* Te. that of Khaibar. and the religion of truth to set it above all religion ; for God is witness enough ! Mohammed is the Apostle of God, and those who are with Him are vehement against the misbelievers, —compassionate amongst themselves; thou mayest © see them bowing down, adoring, craving grace from God and His goodwill,—their marks. are in their faces from the effects of adoration ;—that is their similitude in the law! and their similitude in the gospel; as a seedling puts forth its sprouts and strengthens it, and grows stout, and _ straightens — itself upon its stem, delighting the sower!—that the misbelievers may be angry at them;—God has promised those of them who believe and do right—forgiveness and a mighty hire. THe CHAPTER OF THE INNER CHAMBERS,

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. O ye who believe! do not anticipate God and His Apostle, but fear God; verily, God both hears and knows. O ye who believe! raise not your voices above the voice of the prophet, and do not speak loud to him as ye speak loud to one another?, lest your works become vain, while ye do not perceive. * Or the Pentateuch. * Said to refer to a dispute between Abu. Bekr and ‘Omar, in the course of which they came to high words in the presence of the prophet. Verily, those who lower their voice before the Apostle of God, they are those whose hearts God has proved for piety, for them is forgiveness and a mighty hire. Verily, those who cry out to thee from behind the inner chambers!, most of them have no sense: [5] but did they wait until thou come out to them, it were better for them ;—but God is forgiving, merciful. O ye who. believe! if there come to you a sinner with an information, then discriminate, lest ye fall upon a people in ignorance and on the morrow repent of what ye have done?

And know that among you is the Apostle of God; if he should obey you in many a matter ye would commit a sin*; God has made faith beloved by you, and has made it seemly in your hearts, and has. made misbelief and iniquity and rebellion hateful to youu—T hese are the rightly directed—grace from God and favour! and God is knowing, wise. And if the two parties of the believers quarrel}, * Two of the Arabs wishing to speak with Mohammed when he was sleeping at noon in his harim, cried out rudely to him, ‘Mohammed, come out to us!’ See p. 82. ? Al Walid ibn “Hugba was sent by Mohammed to collect the zakat (see Introduction, p. Ixxiii) from the tribe of Mustaleg, with whom he had had a feud in the time preceding Islam. Seeing them coming out to meet him in large numbers, he grew apprehensive, and returned hastily with the information that the tribe had refused the tribute. Mohammed thereupon sent ‘Halfd ibn Walid to reduce them by force, when it was found that the former messenger’s fears had been quite groundless, ° J.e. ye would mislead him. | * Alluding to one of the frequent disputes between the tribes of Aus and ‘Hazrag at Medinah. See Introduction, p. xxxiv.

then make peace between them; and if one of the twain outrages the other, then fight the party that has committed the outrage until it return to God’s bidding; and if it do return then make peace between them with equity, and be just; verily, God loves the just. [10] The believers are but brothers, so make peace between your two brethren and fear God, haply ye may obtain mercy! O ye who believe! let not one class ridicule another who are perchance better than they; nor let women ridicule other women who are perchance better than they; and do not defame each other, nor call each other bad names—an ill name is iniquity after faith?! O ye who believe! carefully avoid suspicion ; verily, some suspicion is a sin. And do not play the spy, nor backbite each other; would one of you like to eat his dead brother’s flesh ?—why! ye would abhor it! then fear God; verily, God is relentant, compassionate. O ye folk! verily, we have created you of male and female, and made you races and tribes that ye may know each other. Verily, the most honourable of you in the sight of God is the most pious of you; verily, God is knowing, aware!

J.e. it is defamation to charge a person who has embraced the faith with iniquity. The passage is said to have been revealed on account of Zafiyah bint ‘Huyai, one of the prophet’s wives, who complained to him that she had been taunted by the other women with her Jewish origin. Mohammed answered her, ‘Canst thou not say, “Aaron is my father, Moses my uncle, and Mohammed my husband?’’’ The desert Arabs say, ‘ We believe.’ Say, ‘Ye do not believe; but say, “ We have become Muslims ;” for the faith has not entered into your hearts : but if ye obey God and His Apostle He will not defraud you of your works at all: verily, God is forgiving, compassionate !' [15] The believers are only those who believe in God and His Apostle, and then doubt not, but fight strenuously with their wealth and persons in God’s cause—these are the truth-tellers! Say, ‘Will ye teach God your religion?’ when God knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and God all things doth know! They deem that they oblige thee by becoming Muslims. Say, ‘Nay! deem not that ye oblige me by your becoming Muslims! God obliges you, by directing you to the faith, if ye do speak the truth!’

Verily, God knows the unseen things of the heavens and the earth, and God on what ye do Tue CHAPTER OF Q. In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. Q. By the glorious Qur’4n! nay, they wonder that there has come to them a warner from amongst themselves ; and the misbelievers say, ‘This is a wondrous thing! What, when we are dead and have become dust ?—that is a remote return!’ We well know what the earth consumes of them, for with us is a book that keeps (account). [5] Nay, they call the truth a lie when it comes to them, and they are in a confused affair 1, Do not they behold the heaven above them, how we have built it and adorned it, and how it has no flaws? And the earth, we have stretched it out and thrown thereon firm mountains, and caused to grow thereon every beautiful kind. An insight and a reminder to every servant who repents ! And we sent down from the heaven water as a blessing, and caused to grow therewith gardens and the harvest grain ! [10] And the tall palm trees having piled up spathes, for a provision to (our) servants; and we quickened thereby a dead land; thus shall the resurrection be!

Before them the people of Noah and the fellows of ar Rass? and Thamtid and ‘Ad and Pharaoh called the apostles liars; and the brethren of Lot and the fellows of the Grove* and the people of Tubbah* all called the prophets liars, and the threat was duly executed. Were we then fatigued with the first creation ? nay! but they are in obscurity concerning the new creation. [15] But we created man, and we know what his * Alluding to the various opinions expressed by the unbelievers with reference to the Qur’4n; some calling it sorcery or divination, others poetry, and some asserting it to be ‘old folks’ tales’ or mere invention. * See Part II, p. 86, note 3. * See Part I, p. 249, note 3. * See Chapter XLIV, verse 35, p. 219, note 3.

soul whispers; for we are nigher to him than his jugular vein! When the two meeters meet}, sitting the one on the right and the other on the left, not a word does he utter, but a watcher is by him ready! And the agony of death shall come in truth !— ‘that is what thou didst shun !’ And the trumpet shall be blown!—that is the threatened day! [20] And every soul shall come—with it a driver and a witness! ‘Thou wert heedless of this, and we withdrew thy veil from thee, and to-day is thine eyesight keen?!’ And his mate shall say, ‘This is what is ready for me (to attest). | ‘Throw into hell every stubborn misbeliever®!— who forbids good, a transgressor, a doubter! [25] who sets other gods with God—and throw him, ye twain, into fierce torment!’ His mate shall say, ‘Our Lord! I seduced him not, but he was in a remote error.’ He shall say, ‘Wrangle not before me; for I sent the threat to you before. The sentence is not changed with me, nor am I unjust to my servants.’ On the day we will say to hell, ‘Art thou full ?’ and it will say, ‘Are there any more ?’

[30] And Paradise shall be brought near to the pious,—not far off. * The two recording angels, who accompany every man and note down his every word and action. * These words are supposed to be addressed, by the ‘driver’ to the unbelieving soul. * These words are spoken by God. R 2 244 THE QUR'AN. Ls 31-436 This is what ye are promised, to every one who turns frequently (to God) and keeps His commandments : who fears the Merciful in secret and brings a repentant heart. ‘Enter into it in peace : this is the day of eternity !’ They shall have what they wish therein, and increase from us! [35] How many a generation have we destroyed before them, mightier than they in prowess ! Pass through the land, is there any refuge! ? Verily, in that is a reminder to whomsoever has a heart, or gives ear, and is a witness thereto. We did create the heavens and the earth and what is between the two in six days, and no weariness touched us ”. Be thou patient then of what they say, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord before the rising of the sun and before the setting. And through (some) of the night celebrate His praise and the additional adorations *.

[40] And listen for the day when the crier shall cry from a near place*;—the day when they shall hear the shout? in truth—that is the day of coming forth! Verily, we quicken and we kill, and unto us the journey is! On the day when the earth shall be cleft asunder * Te. from the vengeance of God. ” A protest against the assertion that God rested on the seventh day. _ * Two sigdahs used at the evening prayers, but not incumbent on the worshipper. * Ie. a place from which all men may hear; generally supposed by Muslims to be the temple at Jerusalem, ° The sound of the last trumpet, from them swiftly;—that is a gathering together which is easy to us! We know what they say; nor art thou over them one to compel. [45] Wherefore remind, by the Qur’an, him who fears the threat. THE CHAPTER OF THE SCATTERERS. (isl. Nlecca,) In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. By the scatterers! who scatter! and by those pregnant’ with their burden! and by those running on? easily! and by the distributors * of affairs! —[5] verily, what ye are threatened with is surely true !

And, verily, the judgment will surely take place ! By the heaven possessed of paths! verily, ye are at variance in what ye say! He is turned from it who is turned. [10] Slain be the liars, who are heedless in a flood (of ignorance). They will ask, ‘When is the day of judgment ?’ The day when at the fire they shall be tried. —‘ Taste your trial! this is what ye wished to hasten on!’ | [15] Verily, the pious are in gardens and springs, taking what their Lord brings them. Verily, they before that did well. But little of the night they slept; and at the dawn they asked forgiveness. * The winds. . * The clouds. ° The ships. * Angels or winds. And in their wealth was what was due to him who asked, and him who was kept back from asking. [20] And in the earth are signs to those who are sure, and in yourselves,—what ! do ye not then see ? And in the heaven is your provision and that which ye are promised’. But by the Lord of the heaven and the earth! verily, it is the truth,—like that which ye do utter?!

Has the tale of Abraham’s honoured guests reached thee?? [25] When they entered in unto him and said, ‘ Peace!’ he said, ‘ Peace !—a people unrecognised.’ And he went aside unto his people and fetched a fat calf, and brought it nigh unto them; said he, ‘Will ye then not eat ?’ And he felt a secret fear of them: said they, ‘Fear not. And they gave him glad tidings of a knowing boy. And his wife approached with a noise, and smote her face, and said, ‘An old woman, barren!’ [30] Said they, ‘Thus says thy Lord, He is knowing, wise.’ Said he, ‘And about what is your errand, O ye messengers ?’ They said, ‘ Verily, we are sent unto a sinful people, to send upon them stones of clay, marked from thy Lord for the extravagant ‘.’ [35] And we sent out therefrom such as were in it of the believers ; but we only found therein one house of Muslims. * T.e. rain, which produces material sustenance, and ne too is the promise of the future life. * I.e. unreserved and plain as ye yourselves affirm truths to each other. ° See Part I, pp. 212-214. * See Part I, p. 214, note 1.

And we left therein a sign to those who fear the grievous woe. And in Moses; when we sent him to Pharaoh But he turned his back towards his column !, and said, ‘A sorcerer or mad!’ [40] And we seized him and his hosts and hurled them into the sea ; for he was to be blamed. And in ‘Ad, when we sent against them a desolating wind, that left naught on which it came without making it ashes! And in Thamfid, when it was said to them, ‘Enjoy yourselves for a season.’ But they revolted against the bidding of their Lord; and the noise caught them as they looked on. [45] And they could not stand upright, and they were not helped! And the people of Noah of yore; verily, they were an abominable people. And the heaven—we have built it with might, and, verily, we do surely give it ample space! And the earth—we have spread it out; and how well we lay it out! And of everything have we created pairs, haply ye may be mindful. [50] Flee then to God; verily, I am a plain warner from Him to you! And do not set with God another god; verily, I am a plain warner from Him to you!

Thus there came no apostle to those before them, but they said, ‘A sorcerer, mad!’ 1 Kither Pharaoh’s forces, or one of his nobles, or something else on which he relied. See Part I, p. 214, first line, and note 1. Do they bequeath it? to each other ? Yea, they are an outrageous people! So turn thy back upon them, so thou wilt not be to blame. [55] And remind ; for, verily, the reminder shall profit the believers. And I have not created the ginn and mankind save that they may worship me. I do not desire any provision from them, and I do not wish them to feed me. Verily, God, He is the provider, endowed with steady might. Verily, for those who injure (the Apostle) shall be a portion like the portion of their fellows 2, but let them not hurry Me! [60] Then woe to those who misbelieve from their day which they are threatened. THe CuHapTer oF THE Mount.

In the name of the merciful and compassionate By the mount! by the Book inscribed upon an outstretched vellum! by the frequented house ?! [5] by the elevated roof*! by the swelling sea! verily, the torment of thy Lord will come to pass ;—there is none to avert it ! The day when the heavens shall reel about, * Te. this taunt. * Ie. like the fate of those who wronged the apostles of old. * I.e. either the Kaabah itself or the model of it, said to exist in the heavens and to be frequented by the angels, * Te. of heaven, [10] and the mountains shall move about,—then woe upon that day to those who call (the apostles) liars, who plunge into discussion for a sport ! On the day when they shall be thrust away into the fire of hell,—‘ This is the fire, the which ye used to call a lie!—[15] Is it magic, this? or can ye not see ?—broil ye therein, and be patient thereof or be not patient, it is the same to you: ye are but rewarded for that which ye did do!’ Verily, the pious (shall be) in gardens and pleasure, enjoying what their Lord has given them; for their Lord will save them from the torment of hell.

‘Eat and drink with good digestion, for that which ye have done!’ [20] Reclining on couches in rows; and we will wed them to large-eyed maids. And those who believe and whose seed follows them in the faith, we will unite their seed with them; and we will not cheat them of their work at all ;— every man is pledged for what he earns}. And we will extend to them fruit and flesh such as they like. They shall pass to and fro therein a cup in which is neither folly nor sin. And round them shall go boys of theirs, as though they were hidden pearls. [25] And they shall accost each other and ask questions, and shall say, ‘Verily, we were before amidst our families shrinking with terror’, but God has been gracious to us and saved us from the torment of the hot blast. 1 Every man is pledged to God for his conduct, and, if he does well, redeems himself. * At the thought of the next life. ‘Verily, we used to call on Him before; verily, He is the righteous, the compassionate !’ Wherefore do thou! remind them: for thou art, by the favour of thy Lord, neither a soothsayer nor mad!

Will they say,‘ A poet ; we wait for him the sad accidents of fate ?’ [30] Say, ‘Wait ye then; for I too am of those who wait!’ Do their dreams bid them this? or are they an outrageous people ? Or will they say, ‘He has invented it ?’—nay, but they do not believe ! But let them bring a discourse like it, if they tell the truth ! [35] Or were they created of nothing, or were they the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth ?—nay, but they are not sure! Or have they the treasures of thy Lord? or are they the governors supreme ? Or have they a ladder whereon they can listen 2 ?— then let their listener bring obvious authority. Has He daughters, while ye have sons ? [40] Or dost thou ask them a hire, while they are borne down by debt ? Or have they the unseen, so that they write it down? Or do they desire a plot ?—but those who misbelieve it is who are plotted against! * Addressed to Mohammed. * Ie. a ladder reaching to the gates of heaven, upon which they may stand and listen to the angels discoursing, as the devils do. See Part I, pp. 50, 51, note 2.

Or have they a god beside God? celebrated be God’s praises above what they join with Him! But if they should see a fragment of the sky falling down, they would say, ‘ Clouds in masses!’ [45] But leave them till they meet that day of theirs whereon they shall swoon’; the day when their plotting shall avail them naught, and they shall not be helped! And, verily, there is a torment beside that? for those who do wrong; but most of them do not know! But wait thou patiently for the judgment of thy Lord, for thou art in our eyes. And celebrate the praises of thy Lord what time thou risest, and in the night, and at the fading of the stars! Tue CHAPTER OF THE STAR. GEL Wlecca,) In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. By the star when it falls, your comrade errs not, nor is he deluded! nor speaks he out of lust! It is but an inspiration inspired! [5] One mighty in power® taught him, endowed with sound understanding, and appeared, he being in the loftiest tract. 1 At the sound of the last trumpet. 2 Te. beside the torment of the judgment day they shall be punished with defeat and loss here.

’ The angel Gabriel, who appeared twice to Mohammed in his natural form, namely, on the occasion of the ‘ Night Journey,’ to which this passage refers, and on the first revelation of the Qur'an. (See Introduction, pp. xx and xxxii.) Then drew he near and hovered o'er! until he was two bows’ length off or nigher still! [10] Then he inspired his servant what he inspired him; the heart belies not what he saw! What, will ye dispute with him on what he saw ? And he saw him another time, by the lote tree none may pass ; [15] near which is the garden of the Abode! When there covered the lote tree what did cover it! The sight swerved not nor wandered. He saw then the greatest of the signs of his Lord. Have ye considered Allat and Al ’Huzza, [20] and Manat the other third!? Shall there be male offspring for Him and female for you? ‘That were an unfair division! They are but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers! God has sent down no authority for them! They do but follow suspicion and what their souls lust after !—And yet there has come to them guidance from their Lord.

Shall man have what he desires ? [25] But God’s is the hereafter and the present! How many an angel in the heaven !—their intercession avails not at all, save after God has given permission to whomsoever He will and is pleased with | Verily, those who believe not in the hereafter do surely name the angels with female names? !—but they have no knowledge thereof; they do but follow suspicion, and, verily, suspicion shall not avail against the truth at all! [30] But turn aside from him who turns his back upon our remembrance and desires naught but this * See Introduction, p. xxvii, and Part II, p. 62, note 1. * See Introduction, pp. xii and xiii, world’s life! This is their sum of knowledge; verily, thy Lord knows best who has erred from His way, and He knows best who is guided ! God’s is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, that He may reward those who do evil for what they have done; and may reward those who do good with good! those who shun great sins and iniquities,—all but venial faults,—verily, thy Lord is of ample forgiveness ; He knows best about you, when He produced you from the earth, and when ye were embryos in the wombs of your mothers.

Make not yourselves out, then, to be pure; He knows best who it is that fears. Hast thou considered him who turns his back ? who gives but little [35] and then stops!? Has he then the knowledge of the unseen, so that he can see ? Has he not been informed of what is in the pages of Moses and Abraham who fulfilled his word ?>— that no burdened soul shall bear the burden of another ? [40] and that man shall have only that for which he strives; and that his striving shall at length be seen? Then shall he be rewarded for it with the most full reward; and that unto thy Lord is the limit; [45] and that it is He who makes men laugh and weep; and that it is He who kills and makes alive; and that He created pairs, male 1 This passage refers to one El Walid ibn MugA/dirah, who being abused for following Mohammed and forsaking the religion of the Qurdis, answered that he had done so to escape divine vengeance. Thereupon an idolater offered to take on himself El Walid’s sin for a certain sum of money. The offer was accepted, and Walid apostatized from El Islam, paying down a portion of the amount agreed upon at the time. Later on he refused to pay the balance on the ground that he had already paid enough.

and female, from a clot when it is emitted; and that for Him is the next production!; and that he enriches and gives possession; [50] and that He is the Lord of the Dog-star?, and that He it was who destroyed ‘Ad of yore, and Thamdd, and left none of them ; and the people of Noah before them,— verily, they were most unjust and outrageous | And the overthrown (cities)* He threw down; [55] and there covered them what did cover them! Which then of your Lord’s benefits do ye dispute ? This is a warner, one of the warners of yore! The approaching day approaches; there is none _ to discover it but God. At this new discourse then do ye wonder? [60] and do ye laugh and not weep? and ye divert yourselves the while! But adore God and serve (Him)*. THe CHAPTER OF THE Moon.

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. The Hour draws nigh, and the moon is split 1 T.e. the resurrection. * Sirius, or the Dog-star, was an object of worship amongst the ancient Arabs. § Sodom, Gomorrah, &c. * At this verse the Qurdis, who were present at the first reading of this chapter when their gods were spoken well of, fell down adoring with Mohammed. See Introduction, p. xxxii. asunder’. But if they see a sign they turn aside and say, ‘ Magic, continuous?!’ And they call it a lie and follow their lusts; but every matter is settled! There has come to them some information® with restraint in it—[5] wisdom far-reaching—but warners avail not! But turn thy back on them ! The day when the caller* shall call to an awkward thing’, Humbly casting down their looks shall they come forth from their graves, as though they were locusts scattered abroad ! Hurrying forwards to the caller! the misbelievers shall say, ‘This is a difficult day!’ Noah’s people before them called (the apostles) liars; they called our servant a liar; and they said, ‘Mad!’ and he was rejected. [10] And he called upon his Lord, Bie I am overcome, come then to my help!’

And we opened the gates of heaven with water pouring down! * According to a tradition this refers to a miracle: the unbelievers having asked for a sign, the moon appeared to be cloven in twain. The tradition is, however, supported by very doubtful authority, and is directly opposed to the teaching of the Qur’4n elsewhere, for the power to comply with the demand for a sign is always distinctly disclaimed. ‘The more usual explanation is the natural one, that the expression merely refers to one of the signs of the day of judgment. * This word is interpreted by some to mean ‘transient,’ by others ‘ powerful.’ * The angel Israfil. ° The last judgment. And we made the earth burst forth in springs, and the waters met at a bidding already decreed. But we bore him on the thing of planks and nails; sailing on beneath our eyes, a reward for him who had been disbelieved ! [15] And we left it a sign ;—but is there any one who will mind ? | ‘Ad called the apostles liars, and how was my punishment and my warning? Verily, we sent on them a cold storm wind on a day of continuous ill-luck!

[20] It reft men away as though they had been palm stumps torn up! We have made the Qur'an easy as a reminder— but is there any one who will mind ? Thamid called the warnings lies, and said, ‘A mortal, one of us, alone, shall we follow him? then indeed were we in error and excitement?! [25]‘ Is the warning cast on him alone among us? nay, he is an insolent liar! “They shall know to-morrow about the insolent liar ! ‘Verily, we are about to send the she-camel as a trial for them, then watch them and have patience! and inform them that the water is shared between them (and her); each draught shall be sought by turns.’ Then they called their companion, and he plied (a knife) and hamstrung her. [30] Then how was my punishment and my warning? Verily, we sent against them one noise, and they were like the dry sticks of him who builds a fold. We have made the Qur’An easy as a reminder— but is there any one who will mind? Lot’s people called the apostles liars; verily, we sent against them a heavy sand storm; all, save Lot’s family, we saved them at the dawn. [35] Asa favour from us ; so do we reward him who gives thanks!

He indeed had warned them of our assault, but they doubted of the warning. And they desired his guest, and we put out their eyes.— ‘So taste ye my torment and warning!’ And there overtook them on the morning a settled punishment !— ‘So taste ye my torment and warning !’ [40] We have made the Qur’4n easy as a reminder—but is there any one who will mind ? The warning came to Pharaoh’s people; they called our signs all lies, and we seized on them with the seizing of a mighty powerful one. Are your misbelievers better than they? or have ye ail Exeniption inthe Scriptures © (Orde they say we are a victorious company ? [45] The whole shall be routed and shall turn their backs in flight* Nay, the Hour is their promised time! and the Hour is most severe and bitter ! Verily, the sinners are in error and excitement. On the day when they shall be dragged to the fire upon their faces !—‘ Taste ye the touch of hell.’ Verily, everything have we created by decree, [50] and our bidding is but one (word), like the twinkling of an eye! ' This is appealed to by Muslims as a prophecy fulfilled at the battle of Bedr.

258 THE QUR'AN. LIV, s1—LV, 17. We have destroyed the like of you—but is there any who will mind? And everything they do is in the books!, and everything small and great is written down. Verily, the pious shall be amid gardens and rivers, [55] in the seat of truth, with the powerful king. THe CHAPTER OF THE MERCIFUL.

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. The Merciful taught the Qur'an; He created man, taught him plain speech. The sun and the moon have their appointed time ; [5] The herbs and the trees adore; And the heavens, He raised them and set the balance, that ye should not be outrageous in the balance; But weigh ye aright, and stint not the balance. And the earth He has set it for living creatures; [10] therein are fruits and palms, with sheaths; and grain with chaff and frequent shoots ; Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny? He created men of crackling clay like the potters. And He created the ginn from smokeless fire. [15] Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? The Lord of the two easts? and the Lord of the two wests ! * The books kept by the recording angels. 2 See p. 214, note 1. Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? He has let loose the two seas that meet together ; [20] between them is a barrier they cannot pass! Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain He brings forth from each pearls both large and small !

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny? His are the ships which rear aloft in the sea like mountains. [25] Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? Every one upon it! is transient, but the face of thy Lord endowed with majesty and honour shall endure. Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? Of Him whosoever is in the heaven and the earth does beg; every day He is in (some fresh) business ! [30] Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny? We shall be at leisure for you, O ye two weighty ones’ ! Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? O assembly of ginns and mankind! if ye are able to pass through the confines of heaven and earth 1 The earth. * I.e. mankind and the ginn; the meaning is, that God will have leisure to judge them both. then pass through them !—ye cannot pass through save by authority ! Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny? [35} There shall be sent against you a flash of fire, and molten copper, and ye shall not be helped! Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

And when the heaven is rent asunder and become rosy red '—(melting) like grease ! Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? On that day neither man nor ginn shall be asked about his crime! [40] Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? The sinners shall be known by their marks, and shall be seized by the forelock and the feet! Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny? ‘This is hell, which the sinners did call a lie! they shall circulate between it and water boiling quite !’ [45] Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny? But for him who fears the station of his Lord are gardens twain ! Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? Both furnished with branching trees. Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? [50] In each are flowing springs. 1 The word is also said to mean red leather. Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny? In each are, of every fruit, two kinds. Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny? Reclining on beds the linings of which are of brocade, and the fruit of the two gardens within reach to cull.

[55] Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny? Therein are maids of modest glances whom no man nor ginn has deflowered before. Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? As though they were rubies and pearls. Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? [60] Is the reward of goodness aught but goodness ? Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? And besides these, are gardens twain}, Then which of your Lord’s bounties will be twain deny ? With dark green foliage. [65] Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? In each two gushing springs. Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny? In each fruit and palms and pomegranates. Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? * For the inferior inhabitants of Paradise. [70] In them maidens best and fairest ! Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny? Bright and large-eyed maids kept in their tents. Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain Whom no man nor ginn has deflowered before them. [75] Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny?

Reclining on green cushions and beautiful carpets. Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ? Blessed be the name of thy Lord possessed of majesty and honour! Tue CHAPTER OF THE INEVITABLE.

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. When the inevitable! happens; none shall call its happening a lie !—abasing—exalting ! When the earth shall quake, quaking! [5] and the mountains shall crumble, crumbling, and become like motes dispersed! And ye shall be three sorts ; And the fellows of the right hand—what right lucky fellows ! And the fellows of the left hand—what unlucky fellows ! * T.e. the day of judgment. [10] And the foremost foremost?! These are they who are brought nigh, In gardens of pleasure ! A crowd of those of yore, And a few of those of the latter day! [15] And gold-weft couches, reclining on them face to face. Around them shall go eternal youths, with goblets and ewers and a cup of flowing wine; no headache shall they feel therefrom, nor shall their wits be dimmed ! | [20] And fruits such as they deem the best ; And flesh of fowl as they desire ; And bright and large-eyed maids like hidden pearls ; A reward for that which they have done! They shall hear no folly there and no sin ; [25] Only the speech, ‘ Peace, Peace !’ And the fellows of the right—what right lucky fellows !

Amid thornless lote trees. And tal‘h? trees with piles of fruit ; [30] And water out-poured ; And fruit in abundance, neither failing nor forbidden ; And beds upraised ! Verily, we have produced them’ a production. [35] And made them virgins, darlings of equal age (with their spouses) for the fellows of the right! 1 I.e. the foremost in professing the faith on earth shall be the foremost then. > The mimosa gummifera is generally so called in Arabia; but the banana is said to be meant in this passage. * The celestial damsels. A crowd of those of yore, and a crowd of those of [40] And the fellows of the left—what unlucky fellows ! In hot blasts and boiling water ; And a shade of pitchy smoke, Neither cool nor generous ! Verily, they were affluent ere this, [45] and did persist in mighty crime ; and used to say, ‘What, when we die and have become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be raised ? or our fathers of yore ?’ Say, ‘Verily, those of yore and those of the latter day [50] shall surely be gathered together unto the tryst of the well-known day.’

Then ye, O ye who err! who say it is a lie! shall eat of the Zaqqtim tree! and fill your bellies with it! and drink thereon of boiling water! [55] and drink as drinks the thirsty camel. This is their entertainment on the judgment day! We created you, then why do ye not credit ? Have ye considered what ye emit ? Do we create it, or are we the creators ? [60] We have decreed amongst you death; but we are not forestalled from making the likes of you in exchange, or producing you as ye know not of. Ye do know the first production—why then do ye not mind ? Have ye considered what ye till ? Do ye make it bear seed, or do we make it bear seed ? [65] If we pleased we could make it mere grit, so that ye would pause to marvel : ‘Verily,we have got into debt! and we are excluded2,’ * Te, for seed and labour. ? From reaping the fruits of it. Have ye considered the water which ye drink ? Do ye make it come down from the clouds, or do we make it come down? If we pleased we could make it pungent—why then do ye not give thanks?

[70] Have ye considered the fire which ye strike ? Do ye produce the tree that gives it’, or do we produce it? We have made it a memorial and a chattel for the traveller of the waste ? Then celebrate the grand name of thy Lord! So I will not swear by the positions of the stars ; [75] and, verily, it is a grand oath if ye did but know-—that, verily, this is the honourable Qur'an —in the laid-up Book ! Let none touch it but the purified ! A revelation from the Lord of the worlds. [80] What! this new discourse will ye despise ? And make for your provision, that you call it a lie? Why then—when it? comes up to the throat, and ye at that time look on, though we are nearer to him than you are, but ye cannot see,_{85] why, if ye are not to be judged, do ye not send it back, if ye do tell the truth ? But either, if he be of those brought nigh to God,—then rest and fragrance and the garden of pleasure! Or, if he be of the fellows of the right! [go] then ‘Peace to thee!’ from the fellows of the right !

1 The ancient Arabs produced fire by the friction of a stick in a hollow piece of wood. Cf. p. 167, line 25. 2 The soul of a dying man. 266 THE QUR’AN, LVI, 91~-LVIl, 6. Or, if he be of those who say it ‘is a lie—who err! then an entertainment of boiling water! and broiling in hell! [95] Verily, this is surely certain truth! So celebrate the grand name of thy Lord! THe CHAPTER oF IRON.

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth celebrates the praises of God, for He is the mighty, the wise! His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth: He quickens and He kills, and He is mighty — over all! He is the first and the last; and the outer and the inner; and He all things doth know! He it is who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then He made for the throne; and He knows what goes into the earth and what goes forth therefrom, and what comes down from the sky and what goes up therein, and He is with you wheresoe’er ye be: for God on what ye do doth look! [5] His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and unto God affairs return. He makes the night succeed the day, and makes the day succeed the night; and He knows the nature of men’s breasts. Believe in God and His Apostle, and give alms of what He has made you successors of. For those amongst you who believe and give alms—for them is mighty hire. What ails you that ye do not believe in God and His Apostle ? He calls on you to believe in your Lord; and He has taken a compact from you, if ye be believers.

He it is who sends down upon His servants manifest signs, to bring you forth from the darkness into the light; for, verily, God to you is kind, compassionate ! [10] What ails you that ye give not alms in God's cause? for God’s is the inheritance of the heavens and the earth. Not alike amongst you is he who gives alms before the victory and fights,—they are grander in rank than those who give alms afterwards and fight. But to all does God promise good; and God of what ye do is well aware! Who is there who will lend a good loan to God ? for He will double it for him, and for him is a generous reward. On the day when thou shall see believers, men and women, with their light running on before them and on their right hand!,—‘ Glad tidings for you today.—Gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye; that is the grand bliss!’ On the day when the hypocrites, men and women, shall say to those who believe, ‘ Wait for us that we may kindle at your light.’ It will be said, ‘Get ye back, and beg a light’ And there shall be struck out between them a wall with a door; within it shall be mercy, and outside before it torment. They shall cry out to them, ‘We were not with you!’ they shall say, ‘ Yea, but ye did tempt yourselves, and did wait, and did doubt; and your vain hopes beguiled you ; and the beguiler beguiled you about God.

1 I.e. guiding them to Paradise. ‘Wherefore to-day there shall not be taken from you a ransom, nor from those who misbelieved, Your resort is the fire; it is your sovereign, and an ill journey will it be!’ [15] Is the time come to those who believe, for their hearts to be humbled at the remembrance of God, and of what He has sent down in truth? and for them not to be like. those who were given the Scriptures before, and over whom time was prolonged, but their hearts grew hard, and many of them were workers of abomination ? Know that God quickens the earth after its death !—we have manifested to you the signs ; haply ye may have some sense! Verily, those who give in charity, men and women, who have lent to God a goodly loan,— it shall be doubled for them, and for them is a generous hire. And those who believe in God and His Apostle, they are the confessors and the martyrs with their Lord ; for them is their hire and their light! But those who misbelieve and call our signs lies, they are the fellows of hell! Know that the life of this world is but a sport, and a play, and an adornment, and something to boast of amongst yourselves ; and the multiplying of children is like a rain-growth, its vegetation pleases the misbelievers; then they wither away, and thou mayest see them become yellow; then they become but grit.

But in the hereafter is a severe woe, [20] and forgiveness from God and His goodwill; but the life of this world is but a chattel of guile. Race towards forgiveness from your Lord and Paradise, whose breadth is as the breadth of the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who believe in God and His apostles! and God’s grace, He gives it to whom He pleases, for God is Lord of mighty grace | No accident befalls in the earth, or in yourselves, but it was in the Book, before we created them; verily, that is easy unto God. That ye may not vex yourselves for what ye miss, nor be overjoyed at what He gives you; for God loves no arrogant boaster, who are niggardly and bid men be niggardly: but whoso turns his back}, verily, God is rich, praiseworthy. [25] We did send our apostles with manifest signs; and we did send down among you the Book and the balance, that men might stand by justice ; and we sent down iron in which is both keen violence and advantages to men; and that God might know who helps Him and His apostles in secret ; verily, God is strong and mighty!

And we sent Noah and Abraham; and placed in their seed prophecy and the Book; and some of them are guided, though many of them are workers of abomination! Then we followed up their footsteps with our apostles; and we followed them up with Jesus the son of Mary; and we gave him the gospel; and we placed in the hearts of those who followed him kindness and compassion.— But monkery, they invented it ; we only prescribed to them the craving after the goodwill of God, and they observed it not with due observance. But we gave to those who 1 T.e. from almsgiving. believe amongst them their hire; though many amongst them were workers of abomination! O ye who believe! fear God, and believe in His Apostle: He will give you two portions of His mercy, and will make for you a light for you to walk in, and will forgive you ; for God is forgiving, compassionate. That the people of the Book may know that they cannot control aught of God’s grace; and that grace is in God’s hands, He gives it to whom He will; for God is Lord of mighty grace ! THe CHAPTER OF THE WRANGLER. (LVIIT. Medinah.)

Gop has heard the speech of her who wrangled with you about her husband!, and complained to God ; and God hears your gossip; verily, God both hears and sees. Those among you who back out of their wives? they are not their mothers: their mothers are only those who gave them birth ; and, verily, they speak a wrong speech and a false. Verily, God both pardons and forgives. But those who back out of their wives and then would recall their speech,—then the manumission of a captive before they touch each other; that is what ye are admonished, and God of what ye do is well aware! * Khaulah bint Tua‘labah being divorced from her husband by the formula mentioned below, and which was always considered to be a final separation, appealed to Mohammed, who said he could not alter the custom. Afterwards, on the woman praying to God, this passage was revealed, abolishing the objectionable form of divorce. * I.e. divorce them by the formula ‘Thou art to me as my mother’s back!’ See Part I, p. 43, note 4.

[5] But he who finds not (the means) :— then a fast for two months consecutively, before they touch each other; and he who cannot endure that :—then the feeding of sixty poor folk. That is that ye may believe in God and His Apostle; and these are the bounds of God; and for the misbelievers is grievous woe! Verily, those who oppose God and His Apostle shall be upset, as those before them were upset. We have sent down manifest signs: for the misbelievers is shameful woe on the day when God shall raise them all together, and shall inform them of what they have done. God has taken account of it, but they forget it; for God is witness over all! Dost thou not see that God knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth? and that there cannot be a privy discourse of three but He makes the fourth ? nor of five but He makes the sixth ? nor less than that nor more, but that He is with them wheresoe’er they be? then He will inform them of what they have done upon the resurrection day ; verily, God all things doth know!

Dost thou not look at those who were prohibited from privy talk, and then returned to that they were forbidden ? and they too discourse together with sin and enmity and rebellion against the Apostle; and when they come to thee they greet thee with what God greets thee not!; and they say in themselves, Why does not God torment us for what we say? Hell is enough for them! they shall broil therein, and an ill journey shall it be! * Instead of saying, Es salam ’halaika, ‘peace be upon thee!’ they used to say, Es sam ’halaika, ‘ mischief be upon thee!’ [10] O ye who believe! when ye discourse together, then discourse not in sin and enmity and rebellion against the Apostle ; but discourse together in righteousness and piety; and fear God, for unto Him ye shall be gathered! Privy talk is only from the devil, that those who do believe may grieve: it cannot hurt them at all, except by the permission of God: and upon God let the believers rely. O ye who believe! when it is said to you, ‘ Make room in your assemblies, then make room; God will make room for you ; and when it is said to you, ‘Rise up, then rise up; God will raise all you who believe, as well as those who are given knowledge, in rank; for God of what ye do is well aware!

O ye who believe! when ye address the Apostle, then give in charity before addressing him; that is better for you, and more pure. But if ye find not the means,—then God is forgiving, compassionate. What! do ye shrink from giving in charity before addressing him? then if ye do it not, and God relents towards you, then be steadfast in prayer, and give alms, and fear God and His Apostle ; for God is well aware of what ye do! [15] Dost thou not look at those who take for patrons a people! God is wrath with? they are neither of you nor of them, and they swear to you a lie the while they know; for them God has prepared severe torment; verily, evil is it they have done! They take their faith for a cloak; and they turn men aside from the path of God; and for them is shameful woe ! Their wealth shall not avail them, nor their children at all, against God; they are the fellows of the Fire, and they shall dwell therein for aye! On the day when God raises them all together, then will they swear to Him as they swore to you; and they will think that they rest on somewhat.— Ay, verily, they are liars!

[20] Satan hath overridden them, and made them forget the remembrance of God: they are the crew We Satan; ay, the crew of Satan, they are the losers! Verily, those who oppose God and His Apostle are amongst the most vile. God has written, ‘I will surely prevail, I and my apostles ;’ verily, God is strong and mighty! Thou shalt not find a people who believe in God and the last day loving him who opposes God and His Apostle, even though it be their fathers, or their sons, or their brethren, or their clansmen. He has written faith in their hearts, and He aids them with a spirit from Him; and will make them enter into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye! God is well pleased with them, and they well pleased with Him: they are God’s crew; ay, God’s crew, they shall prosper! THe CHAPTER OF THE EMIGRATION.

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. What is in the heavens and in the earth celebrates God’s praises; He is the mighty, the wise! [9] ge He it was who drove those of the people of the Book who misbelieved forth from their houses, at the first emigration!; ye did not think that they would go forth, and they thought that their fortresses would defend them against God; but God came upon them from whence they did not reckon, and cast dread into their hearts! They ruined their houses with their own hands and the hands of the believers; wherefore take example, O ye who are endowed with sight ! Had it not been that God had prescribed for them banishment, He would have tormented them in this world?; but for them in the next shall be the torment of the Fire! that is because they opposed God and His Apostle: and whoso opposes God, verily, God is keen to punish ! [5] What palm trees ye did cut down or what ye left standing upon their roots was by God’s permission, and to disgrace the workers of abomination; and as for the ee ail that God gave to His Apostle from these (people) ye did not press forward after them with horse or riding camel; but God gives His Apostle authority over whom He pleases, for God is mighty over all®!

1 The Jews of en Nadhir, near Medinah, who at first promised to stand neuter between him and the idolaters. After his success at Bedr they came over to his side, but turned again after the defeat — of Ohod. For this offence they were forced to leave the country. 2 Like those of Quraidkah, who were slaughtered. See Introduction, p. XxXxix. $ The Muslims did not use cavalry on the occasion, Mohammed himself being the only mounted member of the expedition. For this reason the spoils were assigned to the prophet alone, and not divided in the usual manner as prescribed in Chapter VIII, verse 42, Part 1, pp. 167, 168. What God gave as spoils to His Apostle of the people of the cities is God's, and the Apostle’s, and for kinsfolk, orphans, and the poor, and the wayfarer, so that it should not be circulated amongst the rich men of you. And what the Apostle gives you, take; and what he forbids you, desist from; and fear God, verily, God is keen to punish | And (it is) for the poor who fled?, who were driven forth from their houses and their wealth, who crave grace from God and His goodwill, and help God and the Apostle ; they are the truthful.

And those who were settled in the abode? and the faith before them, love those who fled to them?; and they do not find in their breasts a need of what has been given to them; preferring them to themselves, even though there be poverty amongst them; and whoso is preserved from his own coveteousness, these are the prosperous ! [10] And those who came after them say, ‘Our Lord, forgive us and our brethren who were beforehand with us in the faith, and place not in our hearts ill-will towards those who believe—our Lord! verily, thou art kind, compassionate !’ Dost thou not look on those who were hypocritical, saying to their brethren who misbelieved amongst the people of the Book?*, ‘If ye be driven forth we will go forth with you; and we will never obey any one concerning you; and if ye be fought * The poorer Muhagerin were allowed to participate in the spoil, but not the Ansars. * The Ansars at Medinah. * The Muhagerin. * The Jews. 2 against we will help you.’ But God bears witness that they are surely liars! If they be driven forth, these will not go forth with them; and if they be fought against, these will —

not help them; or if they do help them, they will turn their backs in flight ;—then shall they not be helped! ! Ye indeed are a keener source of fear in their hearts than God; that is because they are a people who do not understand! They will not fight against you in a body save in fortified cities, or from behind walls; their valour is great amongst themselves ;— thou dost reckon them as one body, but their hearts are separated. That is because they are a people who have no sense! [15] Like unto those before them, recently1; they tasted the evil result of their affair, and for them is grievous woe. Like unto the devil when he said to man, ‘ Disbelieve.’ But when he disbelieved, he said, ‘Verily, I am clear of thee! Verily, I fear God the Lord of the worlds!’ And the end of them both shall be that they shall both be in the Fire, to dwell therein for aye! for that is the reward of the unjust ! O ye who believe! fear God; and let each soul look to what it sends on for the morrow; and fear God; verily, God is well aware of what ye do!

And be ye not like those who forget God, and He makes them forget themselves; they are the workers of abomination ! [20] Not deemed alike shall be the fellows of the * Either the idolaters slain at Bedr, or the Jews of Qéinugah, or those of Nadir. Fire and the fellows of Paradise: the fellows of Paradise they are the blissful ! Had we sent down this Qur’4n upon a mountain, thou wouldst have seen it humbling itself, splitting asunder from the fear of God! These parables do we strike out for men; haply they may reflect ! . : He is God than whom there is no god; who knows the unseen and the visible; He is the merciful, the compassionate! He is God than whom there is no god; the King, the Holy, the Peace-Giver, the Faithful, the Protector, the Mighty, the Repairer, the Great !—celebrated be the praises of God above what they join with Him. He is God, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner ; His are the excellent names’! His praises, whatever are in the heavens and the earth do celebrate; for God is the mighty, the wise ! THe CoAPIER OF HE 1 RIED:

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. O ye who believe! take not my enemy and your enemy for patrons, encountering them with love; for they misbelieve in the truth that is to come to you; they drive out the Apostle and you for that ye believe in God your Lord?! * See Introduction, p. Ixvii. ‘Havib ibn abi Balta’hah had given the Meccans warning of an If ye go forth fighting strenuously in my cause and craving my good pleasure, and secretly show love for them, yet do I know best what ye conceal and what ye display! and he of you who does | so has erred from the level path. If they find you they will be enemies to you, and they will stretch forth against you their hands and © their tongues for evil, and would fain that ye should disbelieve ; neither your kindred nor your children — shall profit you upon the resurrection day; it will separate you! but God on what ye do doth look! Ye had a good example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, ‘Verily, we © are clear of you and of what ye serve beside God.

We disbelieve in you: and between us and you is enmity and hatred begun for ever, until ye believe in God alone!’ But not! the speech of Abraham to his father, ‘Verily, I will ask forgiveness for thee, though I cannot control aught from God!’ O our Lord! on thee do we rely! and unto thee we turn! and unto thee the journey is! [5] Our Lord! make us not a trial for those who misbelieve ; but forgive us! Our Lord! verily, thou art mighty, wise ! Ye had in them a good example for him who intended surprise by Mohammed, and on his letter being intercepted, excused himself by saying that he had only done so in order to make terms for his family, who were at Mecca, and that he knew that the information would be of no avail. Mohammed | pardoned him, but the verse in the text prohibits such conduct for * Ie. they are not to imitate Abraham’s speech to his father, and ask forgiveness for their infidel friends. Cp. Part I, p. 189, would hope in God and the last day. But whoso turns his back, verily, God, He is rich and to be praised.

Mayhap that God will place love between you and between those of them ye are hostile towards’: for God is powerful, and God is forgiving, compassionate. God forbids you not respecting those who have not fought against you for religion’s sake, and who. have not driven you forth from your homes, that ye should act righteously and justly towards them ; verily, God loves the just! He only forbids you to make patrons of those who have fought against you for religion's sake, and driven you forth from your homes, or have aided in your expulsion; and whoever makes patrons of them, they are the unjust ! [10] O ye who believe! when there come believing women who have fled, then try them: God knows their faith. If ye know them to be believers do not send them back to the misbelievers ;—they are not lawful for them, nor are the men lawful for these ;—but give them’ what they have expended*, and it shall be no crime against you that ye marry them, when ye have given them their hire. And do not ye retain a right over misbelieving women; but ask for what ye have spent, and let them ask for what they have spent. That is God's judgment: He judges between you, for God is knowing, wise!

And if any of your wives escape from you to the 1 T.e. by their becoming converted to Islam. 2 T.e. to their infidel husbands. * The dowries. misbelievers, and your turn comes, then give to those whose wives have gone away the like of what they have spent; and fear God, in whom it is that ye believe. O thou prophet! when believing women come to thee and engage with thee that they will not associate aught with God, and will not steal, and will not fornicate, and will not kill their children, and will not bring a calumny which they have forged between their hands and feet}, and that they will — not rebel against thee in what is reasonable, then engage with them and ask forgiveness for them of God ;—verily, God is forgiving, compassionate. O ye who believe! take not for patrons a people whom God is wrath against; they despair of the hereafter, as the misbelievers despair of the fellows of the tombs?!

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. What is in the heavens and what is in the earth celebrates the praises of God, for He is the mighty, — the wise! O ye who believe! say not what ye do not. It is most hateful to God that ye say what ye do not. This is said by some commentators to mean foisting spurious children on to their husbands. 2 T.e. of the resurrection of the dead. Verily, God loves those who fight in His cause in ranks as though they were a compact building *. [5] When Moses said to his people, ‘O my people! why do ye hurt me, when ye. know that I am the apostle of God to you?’ and when they swerved, God made their hearts to swerve; for God guides not the people who work abomination! _ And when Jesus the son of Mary said, ‘ O children of Israel! verily, I am the apostle of God to you, verifying the law that was before me and giving you glad tidings of an apostle who shall come after me, whose name shall be A‘hmed*!’—but when he did come to them with manifest signs, they said, ‘ This is manifest sorcery !’

And who is more unjust than he who forges against God a lie when called unto Islam? but God guides not the unjust people. They desire to put out the light of God with their mouths ; but God will perfect His light, averse although the misbeliever be! He it is who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of truth to set it above all religion ; averse although the idolaters may be. [10} O ye who believe! shall I lead you to a merchandise which will save you from grievous woe? To believe in God and His Apostle, and to fight strenuously in God's cause with your property and * Who fight in close and unbroken lines. * A‘hmed is equivalent in meaning to Mohammed, and means ‘Praised,’ ‘Laudable.’ The allusion is to the promise of the Paraclete in John xvi. 7, the Muslims declaring that the word wapdkAnros has been substituted in the Greek for mepukdurds, which would mean the same as A’‘hmed. See Introduction, p. xlix. your persons; that is better for you if ye did but know! He will pardon you your sins, and bring you into gardens beneath which rivers flow, and goodly dwellings in gardens of Eden ; — that is the mighty bliss ! |

And other things which ye love,—help from God and victory nigh!— so do thou give the glad tidings unto the believers ! O ye who believe! be ye the helpers! of God! as Jesus son of Mary said to the apostles, ‘Who are my helpers for God?’ Said the apostles, ‘We are God's helpers *!’ And a party of the children of Israel believed, and a party misbelieved. And we aided those who believed against their enemies, and they were on the morrow superior !

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. What is in the heavens and what is in the earth celebrates the praises of God the King, the holy, the mighty, the wise! He it is who sent unto the Gentiles? a prophet amongst themselves to recite to them His signs and to purify them, and to teach them the Book and 1 Ansar. * See Part I, p. 53 (Chapter III, verse 45). * See Introduction, p. xlvii, and Part I, p. 156, note. the wisdom, although they were before in obvious error. And others of them have not. yet overtaken them!; but He is the mighty, the wise! That is God’s grace, He gives it to whomsoever He will; for God is Lord of mighty grace. [5] The likeness of those who were charged with the law and then bore it not is as the likeness of an ass bearing books: sorry is the likeness of the people who say God’s signs are lies! but God guides not an unjust people. Say, ‘O ye who are Jews! if ye pretend that ye are the clients of God, beyond other people; then wish for death if ye do speak the truth!’

But they never wish for it, through what their hands have sent before! but God knows the unjust. Say, ‘ Verily, the death from which ye flee will surely meet you; then shall ye be sent back to Him who knows the unseen and the visible, and He will inform you of that which ye have done!’ O ye who believe! when the call to prayer is made upon the Congregation Day, then hasten to the remembrance of God, and leave off traffic; that is better for you, if ye did but know! [10] And when prayer is performed, then disperse abroad in the land, and crave of God’s grace; and remember God much; haply ye may prosper! But when they see merchandise or sport they flock to it and leave thee standing*! Say, ‘What is * J.e. by embracing Islam. ? Friday, called before this’Harfibah. It was the day on which Mohammed entered Medinah for the first time. ® It is said that one Friday a caravan entered the town while Mohammed was conducting the public prayers, and the congrega- 284 THE QURAN. LXII, r1-LXIII, 4. with God is better than sport and than merchandise, for God is the best of providers!’

Tue CHAPTER OF THE Hypocritss!. In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. When the hypocrites come to thee, they say, ‘We bear witness that thou art surely the Apostle of God ;’ but God knows that thou art His Apostle: and God bears witness that the hypocrites are liars! They take their faith? for a cloak, and then they turn folks from God's way :—evil is that which they have done! That is because they believed and then disbelieved, wherefore is a stamp set on their hearts so that they do not understand! And when thou seest them, their persons please thee*; but if they speak, thou listenest to their speech: they are like timber propped up‘: they reckon every noise against them! They are the foe, so beware of them!—God fight against them, how they lie! tion hearing the drums beat rushed out to see the sight, with the exception of about twelve of them. * The disaffected portion of the inhabitants of Medinah. See Introduction, p. xxxiv. * Or, by a various reading, ‘their oaths.’ _ ° Abdallah ibn Ubai, the leader of the ‘ Hypocrites’ (see Introduction, p. xxxv), was a man of fine presence and eloquent address.

* I.e. though of tall and imposing presence, they are really like mere logs.

[5] And when it is said to them, ‘ Come, and the Apostle of God will ask forgiveness for you!’ they turn away their heads, and thou mayest see them turning away since they are so big with pride! It is the same to them whether thou dost ask forgiveness for them, or whether thou dost not ask forgiveness for them,—God will not forgive them; verily, God guides not a people who work abomination ! They it is who say, ‘Expend not in alms upon those who are with the Apostle of God, in order that they may desert him !’—- but God’s are the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but the hypocrites have no sense! Ehey say, “If we return to el Medinah, the mightier will surely drive out the meaner therefrom;’ but to God belongs the might, and to His Apostle and to the believers; but the hypocrites do not know! O ye who believe! let not your property nor your children divert you from the remembrance of God,—for whosoever does that, they are those who lose! [to] But expend in alms of what we have bestowed upon you before death come on any one of you, and he says, ‘My Lord! wouldst thou but have respited me till an appointed time nigh at hand, then would I surely give in charity and be among the righteous!’ But God will never respite a soul when its appointed time has come : and God of what ye do is well aware!

(LXIV. Place of origin doubtful.) In the name of the merciful and compassionate What is in the heavens and what is in the earth celebrates God’s praises; His is the kingdom, and His is the praise, and He is mighty over all! He it is who created you, and of you is (one) a misbeliever and (one) a believer ; and God on what ye do does look. He created the heavens and the earth in truth; and has formed you and made excellent your forms; and unto Him the journey is! He knows what is in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye conceal and what ye display; for God knows the nature of men’s breasts! [5] Has there not come to you the story of those who misbelieved before, and tasted the evil result of their affair, and for them was grievous woe ? That is because their apostles came to them with manifest signs, and they said, ‘Shall mortals guide us ?) and they misbelieved and turned their backs. But God was independent of them; for God is rich and to be praised! Those who misbelieve pretend that they shall surely not be raised: say,‘ Yea! by my Lord! ye shall surely be raised: then ye shall be informed of that which ye have done;’ for that is easy unto God.

So believe in God and His Apostle and the light which we have sent down; for God of what ye do is well aware! On the day when he shall gather you to the day

of gathering, that is the day of cheating'! but whoso believes in God and acts aright, He will cover for him his offences, and will bring him into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye! that is the mighty bliss! [10] But those who misbelieve and say our signs are lies, they are the fellows of the Fire, to dwell therein for aye! and evil shall the journey be! No calamity befalls but by the permission of God: and whoso believes in God. He will guide his heart ; for God all things doth know! So obey God and obey the Apostle?: but if ye turn your backs—our Apostle has only his plain message to preach ! God, there is no god but He; and upon Him let the believers rely ! O ye who believe! verily, among your wives and children are foes of yours: so beware of them! But if ye pardon, and overlook it, and forgive,—verily, God is forgiving, compassionate ! [15] Your property and your children are but a trial; and God, with Him is mighty hire! Then fear God as much as ye can! and hear, and obey, and expend in alms: it is better for yourselves. But whosoever is saved from his own covetousness— these are the prosperous !

If ye lend to God a goodly loan, He will double it for you, and will forgive you; for God is grateful, clement ! ‘ T.e. both the righteous and the wicked will disappoint each other by reversing their positions, the wicked being punished while the righteous are in bliss. 2 This expression seems to indicate that this verse at least was revealed at Medinah. He knows the unseen and the visible ; the mighty, the wise ! Tue CHAPTER OF DIVORCE.

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. O thou prophet! when ye divorce women, then divorce them at their term?, and calculate the term and fear God your Lord. Do not drive them out of their houses unless they have committed manifest adultery. These are God’s bounds, and whoso transgresses God's bounds has wronged himself. Thou knowest not whether haply God may cause something fresh to happen after that ”. And when they have reached their appointed time, then retain them with kindness, or separate from them with kindness; and bring as witnesses men of equity from among you; and give upright testimony to God. That is what He admonishes him who believes in God and the last day; and whosoever fears God, He will make for him a (happy) issue, and will provide for him from whence he reckoned not. And whosoever relies on God, He is sufficient for him: verily, God will attain His purpose :—God has set for everything a period. And such of your women as despair of menstrua- 1 When they have had three periods of menstruation ; or, if they prove with child, after their delivery. See Part I, p. 34. 2 T.e. whether God may not reconcile them again.

tion,—if ye doubt, then their term is three months; and such as have not menstruated too. And those who are heavy with child their appointed time is when they have laid down their burden; and whosoever fears God, He will make for him an easy affair. [5] That is God’s command, He has sent it down to you; and whosoever fears God He will cover for him his offences and will make grand for him his hire. Let them! dwell where ye dwell, according to your means, and do not harm them, to reduce them to straits; and if they be heavy with child, then pay for them until they lay down their burdens ; and if they suckle (the child) for you, then give them their hire, and consult among yourselves in reason; but if ye be in difficulties, and another woman shall suckle the child for him, let him who has plenty expend of his plenty; but he whose provision is doled out, let him expend of what God has given him; God will not compel any soul beyond what He has given it ;—God will make after difhculty ease ! How many a city has turned away from the bidding of its Lord and His apostles; and we called them to a severe account, and we tormented them with an unheard-of torment !

And they tasted the evil results of their conduct ; and the end of their conduct was loss | [10] God prepared for them severe torment ;— then fear God, ye who are endowed with minds! Ye who believe! God has sent down to you a 1 The divorced women. [9] U reminder ;—an apostle to recite to you God’s manifest signs ;—to bring forth those who believe and act aright from darkness into light! and whoso believes in God and acts right He will bring him into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever and for aye! God has made goodly for him his provision! God it is who created seven heavens, and of the earth the like thereof. The bidding descends between them, that ye may know that God is mighty over all, and that God has encompassed all things with His knowledge! THrt CHAPTER OF PROHIBITION ?,

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. O thou prophet! wherefore dost thou prohibit what God has made lawful to thee, craving to please thy wives? but God is forgiving, compassionate ! God has allowed you to expiate your oaths ; for 1 This chapter was occasioned by Mohammed’s liaison with the Coptic girl Mary (see Introduction, p. xl), with whom he lay on the day due to‘Ayeshah or ‘Hafsah. The latter was greatly enraged, and Mohammed to pacify her swore never to touch the girl again, and enjoined ‘Hafsah to keep the matter secret from the rest of his wives. She, however, revealed it in confidence to ‘Ayeshah ; when Mohammed, annoyed at finding his confidence betrayed, not only divorced her, but separated himself from his other wives for the space of a month, which time he passed in Mary’s apartment. The chapter is intended to free him from his oath respecting Mary, and to reprove his wives for their conduct. | God is your sovereign, and He is the knowing, the wise ! And when the prophet told as a secret to one of his wives a recent event, and when she gave information thereof and exposed it, he acquainted her with some of it and avoided part of it. But when he informed her of it, she said,‘Who told thee this 2’ he said, ‘ The wise one, the well-aware informed me.

‘If ye both turn repentant unto God,—for your hearts have swerved !—but if ye back each other up against him,—verily, God, He is the sovereign ; and Gabriel and the righteous of the believers, and the angels after that, will back him up. | ‘[5] It may be that his Lord if he divorce you will give him in exchange wives better than you, Muslims, believers, devout, repentant, worshipping, giving to fasting—such as have known men and virgins too.’ O ye who believe! save yourselves and your families from the fire, whose fuel is men and stones ; —over it are angels stout and stern; they disobey not God in what He bids them, but they do what they are bidden! O ye who disbelieve! excuse not yourselves today;—ye shall only be rewarded for that which ye have done. O ye who believe! turn repentant to God with sincere repentance; it may be that thy Lord will cover for you your offences and will bring you into gardens beneath which rivers flow !—the day God will not disgrace the Prophet nor those who believe with him ; their light shall run on before them, and at their right hands! they shall say, ‘Our Lord! perfect for us our light and forgive us; verily, Thou art mighty over all!’

O thou prophet! fight strenuously against the misbelievers and hypocrites and be stern towards them; for their resort is hell, and an evil journey shall it be! [10] God strikes out a parable to those who misbelieve: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot; they were under two of our righteous servants, but they betrayed them : and they availed them nothing against God; and it was said, ‘ Enter the fire with those who enter.’ | And God strikes out a parable for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, ‘My Lord, build for me a house with Thee in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his works, and save me from the unjust people!’ And Mary, daughter of Imran, who guarded her private parts, and we breathed therein of our spirit and she verified the words of her Lord and His books, and was of the devout. 7 THe CHAPTER OF THE KINGDOM. In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. Blessed be He in whose hand is the kingdom, for He is mighty over all! Who created death and life, to try you, which of you does best; for He is the mighty, the forgiving!

Who created seven heavens in stories; thou canst not see any discordance in the creation of the Merciful ! 7 | Why, look again! canst thou see a flaw? Then

look again twice !—thy look shall return to thee driven back and dulled ! [5] And we have adorned the lower heaven with lamps; and set them to pelt the devils with’; and we have prepared for them the torment of the blaze ! And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of hell, and an evil journey shall it be! _ When they shall be cast therein they shall hear its braying? as it boils—it will well-nigh burst for rage | Whenever a troop of them is thrown in, its treasurers shall ask them, ‘ Did not a warner come to you ?’ They shall say, ‘Yea! a warner came to us, and we called him liar, and said, “ God has not sent down aught; ye are but in great error!””’ [10] And they shall say, ‘ Had we but listened or had sense we had not been amongst the fellows of the blaze!’ And they will confess their sins; but ‘Avaunt to the fellows of the blaze!’ Verily, those who fear their Lord in secret, for them is forgiveness and a great hire! Speak ye secretly or openly, verily, He knows the nature of men’s breasts!

Ay! He knows who created! for He is the subtle, the well-aware ! [15] He it is who made the earth flat for you; so walk in the spacious sides thereof and eat of His provision; for unto Him the resurrection 1s! 1 See Part I, pp. 50, 51, note 2. 2 Cf. Chapters XXV, verse 12, and XXXI, verse 18. Are ye sure that He who is in the heaven will not cleave the earth with you, and that it then shall quake? Or are ye sure that He who is in the heaven will not send against you a heavy sand storm, and that ye then shall know how the warning was ? But those before them did call the apostles liars, and what a change it was! Or have they not looked at the birds above them expanding their wings or closing them ?—none holds them in except the Merciful One; for He on everything doth look. [20] Or who is this who will be a host for you, to help you against the Merciful ?—the misbelievers are only in delusion! Or who is this who will provide you if He hold back .His provision ?— Nay, but they persist in perverseness and aversion!

Is he who walks prone upon his face more guided than he who walks upright upon a straight path ? Say, ‘It is He who produced you and made for you hearing and sight and hearts’—little is it that ye give thanks. Say, ‘It is He who sowed you in the earth, and unto Him shall ye be gathered!’ [25] They say, ‘When shall this threat be, if ye do speak the truth ?’ Say, ‘The knowledge is only with God; and I am but a plain warner!’ And when they see it nigh, sorry shall be the — faces of those who misbelieve ; and it shall be said, ‘This is that for which ye used to call!’ Say, ‘ Have ye considered, whether God destroy me and those with me, or whether we obtain mercy, yet who will protect the misbelievers from grievous torment ?’ Say, ‘ He is the Merciful; we believe in Him, and upon Him do we rely; and ye shall shortly know who it is that is in obvious error !’ [30] Say, ‘Have ye considered if your waters on the morrow should have sunk, who is to bring you flowing water ?’ Tue CHAPTER OF THE PEN.

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. , N,! By the pen, and what they write, thou art not, | by God’s grace, mad! and, verily, thine is a hire that is not grudged! [5] and, verily, thou art of a grand nature? | But thou shalt see and they shall see which of you is the infatuated. Verily, thy Lord He knows best who errs from His way; and He knows best those who are guided. Then obey not those who call thee liar; they would fain that thou shouldst be smooth with them, then would they be smooth with thee! [10] And obey not any mean swearer*, a back- 1 The Arabic name of the letter nfin signifies both ‘a fish’ and ‘an inkstand ;’ the symbol is by some supposed to refer to Jonah, mentioned in verse 48, and by others to writing on the eternal tablets (see Part I, p. 2, note 2), to which the first words of the chapter apply. * For bearing so meekly the insults of the misbelievers. * The person meant is, probably, Walid ibn Mug/airah, the inveterate enemy of the prophet. biter, a walker about with slander; a forbidder of good, a transgressor, a sinner; rude, and base-born too; though he have wealth and sons !

[15] When our signs are recited to him he says, ‘Old folks’ tales!’ We will brand him on the snout ! Verily, we have tried them as we tried the fellows of the garden when they swore, ‘We will cut its fruit at morn!’ But they made not the exception’; and there came round about it an encompassing calamity from thy Lord the while they slept; [20] and on the morrow it was as one the fruit of which is cut. And they cried to each other in the morning, ‘Go early to your tilth if ye would cut it!’ So they set off, saying privily to each other, ‘There shall surely enter it to-day unto you no poor person!’ [25] And they went early deciding to be stingy” And when they saw it they said, ‘ Verily, we have erred! Nay, we are forbidden (its fruit)!’ Said the most moderate of them, ‘Said I not to you, “unless ye celebrate God’s praises !”’ Said they, ‘Celebrated be the praises of our Lord! verily, we were unjust!’ [30] And they approached each other with mutual blame. Said they, ‘O woe to us! verily, we have been outrageous! Haply our Lord may give us instead a better than it; verily, we unto our Lord do yearn.’

' I.e. they did not add, ‘If God please!’ * Or, according to another interpretation, ‘with a determined purpose.’ Thus is the torment, but, verily, the torment of the hereafter is greater, if ye did but know! Verily, for the pious with their Lord are gardens of pleasure | [35] Shall we then make the Muslims like the sinners ? What ails you? how ye judge! Or have ye a book in which ye can study, that ye are surely to have what ye may choose ? Or have ye oaths binding on us until the judgment day that ye are surely to have what ye may judge? [40] Ask them, which of them will vouch for this ? Or have they partners, then let them bring their partners if they do speak the truth ? On the day when the leg shall be bared’; and they shall be called to adore and shall not be able! Lowering their looks, abasement shall attack them, for they were called to adore while yet they were safe! But let me alone with him who calls this new discourse a lie. We will surely bring them down by degrees from whence they do not know.

[45] And I will let them have their way! for my device is sure. Or dost thou ask them a hire for it while they are burdened with debts? Or have they the knowledge of the unseen, so that they write ? But wait patiently for the judgment of thy Lord, and be not like the fellow of the fish ?, when he cried out as he was choking with rage. * An expression signifying any great calamity or battle, because the non-combatants gird up their loins to be ready for flight. ? Jonah, Had it not been that grace from his Lord reached him, he would have been cast out on the naked (shore) and blamed the while! [50] But his Lord elected him, and made him of the pious. The misbelievers well-nigh upset thee with their looks when they hear the reminder, and they say, ‘Surely he is mad!’ And yet it is but a reminder to the worlds! Tue CHAPTER OF THE INFALLIBLE.