The Qur'an

[115] Lean not unto those who do wrong, lest the Fire touch you, for ye have no patrons but God ; and, moreover, ye shall not be helped ! 1 I. e. unless He please to increase their happiness. And be thou steadfast in prayer at the two ends of the day, and the (former and latter) parts of the night. Verily, good works remove evil works ; — that is a reminder to the mindful ! And be thou patient, for God wastes not the hire of those who do good. And were there among the generations before you any endowed with a remnant (of piety) for bidding evildoing in the earth, save a few of those whom we saved ; but the evildoers followed what they enjoyed, and were sinners. Thy Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while the people of them were welldoers. [120] Had thy Lord pleased, He would have made men one nation ; but they will not cease to differ, save those thy Lord has had mercy on. For this has He created them, and the word of thy Lord is fulfilled, ' I will surely fill hell with glnns and mankind altogether/

And all that we relate to thee of the stories of the apostles is what will stablish thy heart : and herein has the truth come to thee, and an admonition and a reminder to the believers. Say to those who believe not, ' Act according to your power, verily, we are acting too ! And wait ye, verily, we are waiting too ! ' God's are the unseen things of the heavens and of the earth ; and unto Him the affair doth all return. Then serve Him and rely on Him; for thy Lord is not heedless of that which ye do.

IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God. A. L. R. Those are the signs of the perspicuous Book. Verily, we have revealed it, an Arabic Qur'an ; haply ye may understand. We tell thee the best of stories, in inspiring thee with this Qur'an, though thou wert before it among the heedless. When Joseph said to his father, ' O my sire! verily, I saw eleven stars, and the sun, and the moon, — I saw them adoring me ! ' [5] He said, 'O my boy! tell not thy vision to thy brethren, for they will plot a plot against thee ; verily, the devil is to man an open foe.' Thus does thy Lord choose thee, and teach thee the interpretation of sayings, and fulfil His favour upon thee, and upon Jacob's people, as He fulfilled it upon thy two forefathers before thee, Abraham and Isaac, — verily, thy Lord is knowing, wise ! In Joseph and his brethren were signs to those who enquire ! When they said, ' Surely, Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we, a band l although we be ; verily, our father is in obvious error.

' Slay Joseph, or cast him in some land ; that your father's face may be free for you, and ye may be, after he is gone, a people who do right.' [10] A speaker from amongst them spake, 'Slay 1 The word means a band of between twenty and forty persons. 220 THE QUR'AN. xil, 10-19. not Joseph, but throw him into the bottom of the pit; some of the travellers may pick him up, if so ye do/ Said they, ' O our father ! what ails thee that thou wilt not trust us with Joseph while we are unto him sincere ? Send him with us to-morrow to revel and to play, and, verily, we over him will keep good guard/ Said he, 'Verily, it grieves me that ye should go off with him, for I fear lest the wolf devour him while ye of him do take no heed/ Said they, ' Why, if the wolf should devour him while we are (such) a band, verily, we then should deserve to lose ! ' [15] And when they had gone off with him and agreed to put him in the depths of the pit, and we inspired him, * Thou shalt surely inform them of this affair of theirs and they shall not perceive V

And they came to their father at eve and weeping said, ' O our father ! verily, we went forth to race and left Joseph by our goods, and the wolf devoured him, — but thou wilt not believe us, truth tellers though we be/ And they brought his shirt with lying blood upon it. Said he, ' Nay, but your souls have induced you to do this ; but patience is fair ! and God is He whom I ask for aid against that which ye describe/ And travellers came and sent their water-drawer ; and he let down his bucket. Said he, * O glad tidings ! this is a youth/ And they kept him secret, as a chattel ; but God knew what they were doing. 1 This is a prophetic intimation to Joseph of his future inter view with his brethren in Egypt. [20] And they sold him for a mean price,—- drachmae counted out, — and they parted with him cheaply. And the man from Egypt who had bought him said to his wife, ' Honour his abiding here ; it may be he will be of use to us, or we may adopt him as a son.'

Thus did we stablish Joseph in the land; and we did surely teach him the interpretation of sayings ; for God can overcome His affairs, though most men do not know. And when he had reached his strength l we brought him judgment and knowledge, for thus do we reward those who do good. And she in whose house he was desired him for his person ; and she locked the doors and said, 'Come along with thee !' Said he, ' Refuge in God ! verily, my Lord has made good my abiding here ; verily, the wrong-doers shall not prosper/ And she was anxious for him, and he would have been anxious for her, had it not been that he saw the demonstration 2 of his Lord ; thus did we turn evil and fornication from him ; verily, he was of our sincere servants. [25] And they raced to the door and she rent his shirt from behind ; and they met her master at the door. Said she, ' What is the recompense of him who wishes evil for thy family, but that imprison ment or a grievous torment?' Said he, ' She desired me for my person.' And

1 The age of puberty. 3 The angel Gabriel in the form of his father appeared with a warning gesture, according to the Muslim commentators. a witness from among her family bore witness : ' If his shirt be rent from in front, then she speaks the truth and he is of the liars ; but if his shirt be rent from behind, then she lies and he is of the truth tellers.' And when he saw his shirt rent from behind he said, ' This is one of your tricks ; verily, your tricks are mighty! Joseph! turn aside from this. And do thou, woman, ask pardon for thy fault ; verily, thou wert of the sinners.' [30]^ And women in the city said, 'The wife of the prince desires her young man for his person; he has infatuated her with love : verily, we see her in obvious error.' And when she heard of their craftiness, she sent to them and prepared for them a banquet, and gave each of them a knife ; and she said, 'Come forth to. them!' And when they saw him they said, 'Great God!' and cut their hands1 and said, ' God forbid ! This is no mortal, this is nothing but an honourable angel.' Said she, 'This is he concerning whom ye blamed me. I did desire him for his person, but he was too continent. But if he do not what I bid him he shall surely be imprisoned and shall surely be among the small!' Said he, < My Lord ! Prison is dearer to me than what they call on me to do ; and unless Thou turn from me their craftiness I shall feel a passion for them, and shall be among the ignorant!' And his Lord answered him and turned from him their craftiness; verily, He both hears and knows!

[35] Then it appeared good to them, even after they had seen the signs 2, to imprison him until a time. 1 In their sudden emotion at his beauty. 2 Of his innocence. And there entered the prison with him two young men. Said one of them, 'Verily, I see myself1 pressing wine.' And the other said, ' Verily, I see myself bearing on my head loaves from which the birds do eat; inform us of the interpretation thereof; verily, we see that thou art of those who do good/ He said, 'There shall not come to you any food with which ye are provided, but I will inform you both of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is (some) of what my Lord has taught me ; verily, I have left the faith of a people who do not believe in God, while in the future too they dis believe. And I have followed the faith of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob ; we could not asso ciate aught with God ; that is from God's grace upon us and upon men : but most men give not thanks. O ye twain fellow-prisoners! Are manifold lords better, or God, the one, the dominant ? [40] What ye worship beside Him are naught but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which God has sent down no authority. Judgment is only God's; He bids you worship only Him. That is the standard of religion, — but most men do not know. O ye twain fellow-prisoners ! as for one of you, he shall pour out wine for his lord : and as for the other, he shall be crucified, and the birds shall eat of his head. The matter is decreed whereon ye asked me for a decision !'

And he said to him whom he thought would escape of those two, ' Remember me with thy lord !' But Satan made him 2 forget the remembrance of his lord, so he tarried in prison a few years. 1 In a dream. 2 The application of the pronoun is vague in the text of this Then said the king, ' Verily, I see seven fat kine which seven lean kine devoured ; and seven green ears of corn and others dry. O ye chiefs! Explain to me my vision, if a vision ye can expound ! ' Said they, ' Confused dreams, and naught of the exposition of such dreams know we !' [45] Then he who had escaped of those twain said, — remembering after awhile, — 'Verily, I will in form you of the interpretation thereof, so send me.' 'Joseph! O thou truth teller! explain to us the seven fat kine which seven lean devoured ; and the seven green ears of corn and others dry. Haply I may go back to the men, haply they then may know I' He said, 'Ye shall sow for seven years, as is your wont ; but what ye reap, let it remain in the ear, ex cept a little whereof ye shall eat. Then there shall come after that seven severe (years) which shall de vour what ye have put by before for them, save a little of what ye shall preserve. Then there will come after that a year in which men shall have rain and in which they shall press V

[50] Then said the king, ' Bring him to me.' And when the messenger came to him, he said, ' Go back to thy lord, and ask him, " What meant the women who cut their hands ? Verily, my lord knows their craftiness !" He said, * What was your design when ye de sired Joseph for his person ?' They said, ' God passage, which is variously interpreted, either that Satan made the butler forget to mention Joseph to his lord Pharaoh, or that Satan made Joseph forget for the moment his Lord God, and place his trust on the man rather than on Him. 1 I. e. press wine and oil. forbid ! we know no bad of him/ Said the wife of the prince, ' Now does the truth appear ! I desired him for his person and, verily, he is of those who tell the truth/ 'That' (said Joseph) 'was that he might know that I did not betray him in his absence, and that God guides not the craft of those who do betray! Yet I do not clear myself, for the soul is very urgent to evil, save what my Lord has had mercy on ; verily, my Lord is forgiving and merciful !'

And the king said, ' Bring him to me. I will take him specially for myself/ And when he had spoken with him he said, ' Verily, to-day thou art with us in a permanent place of trust/ [55] He said, * Place me over the treasures of the land ; verily, I will be a knowing keeper/ Thus did we stablish Joseph in the land that he might settle in what part thereof he pleased — we overtake with our mercy whom we will, nor do we waste the hire of those who do good ; and surely the hire of the future life is better for those who believe and who have feared. And his brethren came to Joseph, and they en tered in unto him and he knew them, but they recognised not him. And when he had equipped them with their equipment he said, * Bring me a brother that ye have from your father ; do ye not see that I give good measure, and that I am the best of enter tainers ? [60] But if ye bring him not to me, no measure shall ye have with me, nor shall ye come nigh me/

They said, ' We will desire him of our father, and we will surely do it/ [6] Q 226 THE QUR'AN. xii, 62-67. Then he said to his young men, ' Put their chattels1 in their packs, haply they may know it when they are come back to their family; haply they may return/ And when they returned to their father, they said, ' O our father ! Measure is withheld from us ; so send with us our brother that we may get mea sure, and, verily, him we will keep ! ' He said, 'Shall I entrust you with him, save as I entrusted you with his brother before ? but God is the best of keepers, and He is the most merciful of the merciful/ [65] And when they opened their goods they found their chattels restored to them. Said they, 'O our father! What more can we crave? Here are our chattels restored to us, and we shall guard our brother, and shall have an additional measure beside that — a small measure V He said, ' I will by no means send him with you until you give me a compact from God that ye will

surely bring him to me, unless ye be encompassed 3/ So when they had given him their compact he said, * God over what ye say has charge/ And he said, (O my sons ! enter not by one gate, but enter by several gates ; but I cannot avail you aught against God. Judgment is only God's; upon Him do I rely, and on Him do the reliant rely/ 1 The goods which they had brought to barter, or the money they had paid for the corn. 2 Commentators differ as to whether this means that what they had brought was insufficient, or whether the additional measure was a small quantity for Pharaoh to bestow, or whether Jacob utters the words meaning that it is not enough to induce him to. part with his son. 3 By some unavoidable hindrance. And when they had entered as their father bade them, it ayailed them nothing against God, save for a want in Jacob's soul which it fulfilled; for, verily, he was possessed of knowledge, for that we had taught him ; — but most men do not know. And when they entered in unto Joseph, he took his brother to stay with him, and said, ' Verily, I am thy brother — then take not ill that which they have been doing/

[70] And when he had equipped them with their equipment he placed the drinking cup in his bro ther's pack ; then a crier cried out, * O ye caravan ! verily, ye are thieves ! ' They said, approaching them, ' What is it that ye miss ?' Said they, ' We miss the goblet of the king, and whoso brings it shall have a camel-load, and I am guarantee thereof/ They said, * By God ! Ye knew we came not to do evil in the land, and that we were not thieves/ They said, ' And what shall be the recompense thereof if ye be liars ?' [75] They said, ' The recompense thereof is he in whose pack it is found — he shall be the recompense thereof; thus do we recompense the unjust/ And he began with their sacks before the sacks of his brother ; then he drew it forth from his brother's sack. Thus did we devise a stratagem for Joseph. He could not take his brother by the king's reli gion1 except God pleased ; — we raise the degrees of 1 I. e. by the law of Egypt it was not lawful for Joseph to take his brother for a bondsman as a punishment for theft.

228 THE QUR'AN. xn, 76-84. whomsoever we please, and over every possessor of knowledge is one who knows. They said, * If he has stolen, a brother of his has stolen before him/ But Joseph kept it secret in his soul and dis closed it not to them. Said he, 'Ye are in a bad case, and God knows best about what ye describe.' They said, ' O prince ! Verily, he has a father, a very old man ; take then one of us instead of him ; verily, we can see that thou art of those who do good/ Said he, '(I seek) refuge in God from taking any save him with whom we found our property; verily, we should then be certainly unjust/ [So] And when they despaired of him they retired to consult privately. Said the eldest of them, ' Do ye not know that your father has taken a compact from God against you ? Aforetime ye exceeded in the matter of Joseph — I will surely not quit the land until my father give me leave, or God judge for me, for He is the best of judges. 1 Return ye to your father and say, "O our father ! verily, thy son has committed theft, and we bore testimony to naught but what we knew ; for of the unforeseen .we were not keepers !"

' Ask then in the city where we were, and of the caravan in which we approached it, for, verily, we tell the truth/ Said he, ' Nay, your souls have induced you to do this thing. But patience is fair. It may be that God will give me them all together; — verily, He is knowing, wise/ And he turned away from them and said, * O my lament for Joseph!' and his eyes grew white with grief, for he repressed (his woe). [85] They said, * By God! thou wilt not cease to remember Joseph till thou art at the point of death, or art of those who perish !' Said he, ' I only complain of my emotion and my grief to God, for I know that from God which ye know nothing of. 1 O my sons ! go and enquire concerning Joseph and his brother, and despair not of God's comfort ; for, verily, none need despair of God's comfort save a misbelieving people ! ' And when they entered in unto him they said, ' O prince ! distress has touched both us and our families, and we have brought trifling chattels. So give us full measure and bestow upon us in charity; verily, God rewards the charitable.'

He said, ' Do ye know what ye did with Joseph and his brother, while ye were ignorant ?' [90] They said, 'Art thou then indeed Joseph ?' He said, ' I am Joseph, and this is my brother; God has been gracious towards us. Verily, whoso fears God and is patient, — verily, God wastes not the hire of those who do good!' They said, ' By God ! God has chosen thee over us ; and we indeed were sinners/ He said, * No reproach against you to-day ! God will pardon you, for He is the most merciful of the merciful. Take this my shirt, and throw it over the face of my father, he will become able to see ; and bring me your families all together.' And when the caravan departed, their father said, 'Verily, I find the smell of Joseph, unless ye think I dote!' THE QUR'AN. xii, 95-104. [95] They said, ' By God! thou art in thy old error/ And when the herald of glad tidings came he threw it on his face, and he was restored to sight. Said he, * Did I not tell you that I know from God that of which ye know not ?'

They said, ' O our father ! ask pardon for us of our sins ; — verily, we were sinners !' He said, ' I will ask pardon for you from my Lord ; verily, He is the pardoning and merciful/ [100] And when they entered in unto Joseph, he took his father to stay with him, and said, 'Enter ye into Egypt, if it please God, safe/ And he raised his father upon the throne, and they fell down before him adoring. And he said, ' O my sire ! This is the inter pretation of my vision aforetime ; my Lord has made it come true, and He has been good to me, in bringing me forth out of prison, and bringing you from the desert, after Satan had made a breach between me and my brethren ; — verily, my Lord is kind to whomsoever He will ; — verily, He is the knowing, the wise ! 6 O my Lord ! thou hast given me dominion, and hast taught me the interpretation of sayings ; O originator of the heavens and the earth ! Thou art my patron in this world and the next ; take me to Thyself resigned, and let me reach the righteous !'

That is one of the stones of the unseen which we inspire thee with, though thou wert not with them when they agreed in their affair, when they were so crafty. — And yet most men, though thou shouldst be urgent, will not believe. Thou dost not ask them for it a hire ; it is naught but a reminder to the world. XII, log-in. THE CHAPTER OF JOSEPH. 23! [105] How many a sign in the heavens and the earth do they pass by and turn away therefrom ! Nor do most of them believe in God without asso ciating (other gods) with Him. Are they safe, then, from overwhelming vengeance coming on them from the torment of God ? or from the Hour coming upon them suddenly while they do not perceive ? Say, ' This is my way; I call now unto God on clear proof, I and those who follow me ; and celebrated be God's praises, for I am not of the idolaters/ Nor did we ever send before thee any save men whom we inspired, of the people of the cities. Have they not journeyed on in the earth, and beheld how was the end of those before them ? But the abode of the future is surely better for those who believe ;— what ! have they then no sense ?

[no] Until when the apostles despaired and they thought that they were proved liars, our help came to them, and whosoever we pleased was saved ; but our violence is not averted from the sinful people. Their stories were a lesson to those endowed with minds. It was not a tale forged, but a verification of what was before it, and a detailing of every thing, and a guide and a mercy to a people who believe.

IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God. A. L. M. R. Those are the signs of the Book, and that which is sent down to thee from thy Lord is the truth ; but most people will not believe. God it is who has raised the heavens without columns that ye can see ; then He made for the throne, and subjected the sun and the moon ; each one runs on to a stated and appointed time ; He governs the affair, details the signs ; — haply of the meeting with your Lord ye will be sure. And He it is who has stretched out the earth and placed therein firm mountains and rivers, and of every fruit has He placed therein two kinds. He makes the night cover the day; — verily, in that are signs unto a people who reflect. And on the earth are neighbouring portions, and gardens of grapes and corn and palms growing to gether (from one root) and not growing together; they are watered with one water, yet we distinguish one over the other as food; — verily, in that are signs unto a people who have sense. [5] And if thou shouldst wonder, wondrous is their speech : ' What ! when we have become dust, shall we really then be created anew ? '

These are they who disbelieve in their Lord, and these are they with fetters round their necks, and these are the fellows of the Fire ; they shall dwell therein for aye ! They will wish thee to hasten on the evil rather than the good ; examples have passed away before them : but thy Lord is possessor of forgiveness unto men, notwithstanding their injustice ; but, verily, thy Lord is keen to punish. Those who misbelieve say, ' Unless a sign be sent down upon him from his Lord . . . / — Thou art only a warner, and every people has its guide. God knows what each female bears, and what the wombs fall short of or add ; for dimensions of every thing are with Him. [10] He who knows the unseen and the visible,— the great, the lofty one. Alike among you is he who keeps secret his speech and he who displays it ; and he who hides by night and he who stalks abroad by day. Each of them has pursuers1 before him and behind him, to keep guard over him at the command of God ; verily, God changes not what a people has until they change it for themselves. And when God wishes evil to a people there is no averting it, nor have they a protector beside Him.

He it is who shows you the lightning for fear and hope2 ; and He brings up the heavy clouds. And the thunder celebrates His praise, and the angels too for fear of Him; and He sends the thunder-clap and overtakes therewith whom He will; — yet they wrangle about God! But He is strong in might. [15] On Him is the call of truth, and those who call on others than Him shall not be answered at all, 2 I. e. hope of rain ; lightning is always hailed with joy by the Arabs as a precursor of rain. save as one who stretches out his hand to the water that it may reach his mouth, but it reaches it not! The call of the misbelievers is only in error. And God do those who are in the heavens and the earth adore, whether they will or no! as do their shadows also morn and eve. Say, 'Who is Lord of the heavens and the earth ?' say, 'God;' say, * Do ye take beside God patrons who cannot control profit or harm for themselves ? ' say, ' Shall the blind and the seeing be held equal ? or shall the darkness and the light be held equal ? or have they made associates with God who can create as He creates, so that the creation seem familiar to them ?' say, 'God is the creator of every thing, and He is the one, the dominant/

He sends down from the sky water, and the water-courses flow according to their bulk, and the torrent bears along the floating scum : and from what they set fire to, craving ornaments or utensils, comes a scum like that ;— thus does God hit the truth and the falsehood ; — and as for the scum it is thrown off, and as for what profits man it stays on the earth. Thus does God strike out parables ! For those who respond to their Lord is good; but those who respond not to Him, had they all that is in the earth and the like thereof as well, they would give it for a ransom ; these shall have an evil reckoning up! and their resort is hell,— an evil couch shall it be ! Is he who knows that naught but the truth is sent down upon thee from thy Lord like him who is blind ? Only those possessed of minds will re member ! [20] Those who fulfil God's covenant and break not the compact, and those who attain what God has bidden to be attained, and dread their Lord and fear the evil reckoning up ; and those who are patient, craving their Lord's face, and are steadfast in prayer, and expend in alms of what we have be stowed upon them secretly and openly, and ward off evil with good, — these shall have the recompense of the abode, gardens of Eden, into which they shall enter with the righteous amongst their fathers and their wives and their seed ; and the angels shall enter in unto them from every gate : — ' Peace be upon you ! for that ye were patient ; and goodly is the recompense of the abode.'

[25] And those who break God's covenant after compacting for it, and who cut asunder what God hath bidden to be joined, and who do evil in the earth, these — upon them is the curse of God, and for them is an evil abode. God extends his bounty freely to whomsoever He will, or He metes it out ; and they rejoice in the life of this world, but the life of this world is naught but a (temporary) provision compared with the next. Those who misbelieve say, 'Unless a sign is sent down upon him from his Lord . . . .' Say, ' God leads whom He will astray, but guides unto Him those who turn again. ' Those who believe and whose hearts are com forted by the mention of God, — aye ! by the men tion of God shall their hearts be comforted, who believe and do what is right. Good cheer for them and an excellent resort.' Thus have we sent thee to a nation before 236 THE QUR'AN. xin, 29-33. which other nations have passed away, to recite to them that which we have inspired thee with ; yet they misbelieve in the merciful ! Say, 'He is my Lord; there is no god but He; upon Him do I rely, and unto Him is my repentance.'

[30] And though it were a Qur'an by which the mountains were moved, or by which the earth were cut up, or the dead made to speak l — nay, God's is the command altogether ! . Did not those who be lieved know2 that if God had pleased He would have guided men altogether ? And a striking calamity shall not cease to over take those who misbelieve for what they have wrought, or to alight close by their dwellings ; until God's promise comes — verily, God fails not in His promise. Before thee have apostles been mocked at ; and those who misbelieved have I allowed to range at large ; and then it caught them up ! How then was my punishment ? Shall He who is standing over every soul (to note) what it has earned ? And they join partners with God ! Say, * Name them ; can ye inform Him of what He does not know in the earth ? or is it for name's sake only (that ye call upon them) ? ' Nay, then, stratagem is made seemly to those who misbelieve, and they turn folks from the path of God! But whomsoever God doth lead astray, no guide has he.'

1 They would not believe. 2 The word used in the original, yai'as, means 'despair/ but in the patois of the Na'^a'h tribe signifies ' know/ and is so inter preted by the native commentators on this passage. For them is torment in this world's life ; but surely the torment of the next is more wretched still — nor have they against God a keeper. [35] The likeness of the Paradise which those who fear God are promised, beneath it rivers flow, its food is enduring, and likewise its shade ! That is the recompense of those who fear ; but the re compense of misbelievers is the Fire ! And those to whom we brought the Book rejoice in that which we have sent down to thee ; but of the confederates are some who deny a part thereof. Say, ' I am only bidden to serve God and not to associate any with Him ; on Him I call and to Him is my recourse.' Thus have we sent it down, an Arabic judgment, but hadst thou followed their lusts, after the know ledge that has come to thee, thou hadst not had against God a patron or a keeper.

And we sent apostles before thee, and we made for them wives and seed ; and no apostle could bring a sign save by God's permission ; — for every period there is a book. God blots out what He will, or He confirms ; and with Him is the Mother of the Book \ [40] Either we will let thee see a part of what we threaten them with, or we will take thee to Ourself ; but thy duty is only to deliver thy mes sage, and ours to reckon up. Did they not see that we come to the land and diminish the borders thereof2? God judges, and there is none to reverse His judgment, and He is swift at reckoning up ! 1 See p. 2, note 2. 2 Alluding to the conquests of Islam. 238 THE QUR'AN. xm, 42-xiv, 5. And those who were before them were crafty too; but God's is the craft altogether! He knows what every soul earns ; and the misbelievers shall know whose is the recompense of the abode. And those who misbelieve say, * Thou art not sent ! ' Say, ' God is witness enough between me and you; and so is he who has the knowledge of the Book!'

IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God. A. L. M. A book which we have sent down to thee, to bring men forth from darkness into light, by permission of their Lord, unto the way of the mighty and praiseworthy one. God is He whose is whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Alas for the mis believers, for their torment is keen ! Who love this world's life better than the next, and turn folks from the path of God, and crave to make it crooked ; these are in remote error. We have not sent any apostle save with the language of his people, that he might explain to them. But God leads whom He will astray, and guides whom He will; and He is the mighty, the wise. [5] We did send Moses with our signs, 'Bring forth thy people from the darkness into the light, and remind them of the days1 of God!' verily, in that are signs to every patient, grateful one. When Moses said to his people, ' Remember the favours of God towards you, when He saved you from Pharaoh's people, who sought to wreak you evil woe, slaughtering your sons and letting your women live ; ' in that was a great trial for you from your Lord. When your Lord proclaimed, * If ye give thanks I will surely give you increase ; but if ye misbelieve, verily, my torment is severe!9 And Moses said, * If ye misbelieve, ye and those who are on the earth altogether — then, verily, God is rich, and to be praised ! '

Has not the story come to you of those who were before you, of the people of Noah, and 'Ad, and Thamud, [10] and those who came after them ? none knows them save God. Apostles came unto them with manifest signs ; but they thrust their hands into their mouths2 and said, ' Verily, we disbelieve in that which ye are sent with, and we are in hesitating doubt concerning that to which ye call us ! ' Their apostles said, * Is there doubt about God, the originator of the heavens and the earth ? He calls you to pardon you for your sins, and to respite you until an appointed time.' They said, ' Ye are but mortals like ourselves ; ye wish to turn us from what our fathers used to serve. Bring us, then, obvious authority !' Their apostles said unto them, 'We are only 1 This may, according to the Arab idiom, mean either ' battles ' in which God had given victory to the believers; or simply 'days' on which God has shown them favour. 2 Easterns, when annoyed, always bite their hands ; see Chapter III, verse 115. THE QUR'AN. xiv, 13-22.

mortals like yourselves ; but God is gracious unto whomsoever He will of His servants, and it is not for us to bring you an authority, save by His per mission ; but upon God do the believers rely ! ' [15] What ails us that we should not rely on God when He has guided us in our paths ? we will be surely patient in your hurting us ; for upon God rely those who do rely. And those who misbelieved said to their apostles, ' We will drive you forth from our land ; or else ye shall return to our faith !' And their Lord inspired them, ' We will surely destroy the unjust ; and we will make you to dwell in the land after them. That is for him who fears my place and fears my threat !' Then they asked for an issue ; and disappointed was every rebel tyrant! Behind such a one is hell, and he shall be given to drink liquid pus1! [20] He shall try to swallow it, but cannot gulp it down ; and death shall come upon him from every place, and yet he shall not die ; and behind him shall be rigorous woe I

The likeness of those who disbelieve on their Lord,— their works are as ashes whereon the wind blows fiercely on a stormy day. They have no power at all over that which they have earned. _ That is the remote error ! Dost not thou see that God created the heavens and the earth in truth ? If He please He can take 1 Sale and Rodwell have softened down this filthy expression, one rendering it ' filthy water' and the other 'tainted water;' the Arabic, however, will not bear this rendering. The first word meaning < water' or 'liquid/ and the second, in apposition with it, ' pus/ or purulent matter oozing from a corpse or a sore. you off and bring a new creation ; nor is that hard for God ! They all come out to God ; and the weak say to those who were big with pride, * We were followers of yours, can ye now avail us aught against God's torment ?' [25] They say, 'If God had guided us we would have guided you. It is the same to us if we are agonized or if we are penitent, we have no escape.'

And Satan says, when the affair is decided, 1 Verily, God promised you a promise of truth ; but I promised you and failed you ; for I had no authority over you. I only called you, and ye did answer me ; then blame me not, but blame yourselves ; I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I disbelieved in your associating me (with God) before ; verily, the wrong-doers, for them is grievous woe !' But I will cause those who believe and do aright to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye by the permission of their Lord ; their salutation therein is 'Peace!' Dost thou not see how God strikes out a parable ? A good word is like a good tree whose root is firm, and whose branches are in the sky ; [30] it gives its fruit at every season by the permission of its Lord — but God strikes out parables for men that haply they may be mindful. And the likeness of a bad word is as a bad tree, which is felled from above the earth, and has no staying place. God answers those who believe with the sure word in this world's life and in the next ; but [6] R

God leads the wrong-doers astray; for God does what He will. Dost not thou see those who have changed God's favours for misbelief, and have made their people to alight at the abode of perdition ? — in hell they shall broil, and an ill resting-place shall it be ! [35] And they made peers for God, to lead men astray from His path. Say, ' Enjoy yourselves, for, verily, your journey is to the Fire/ Say to my servants who believe, that they be steadfast in prayer and expend in alms of what we have bestowed upon them in secret and in public, before there comes the day when there shall be no buying and no friendship. God it is who created the heavens and the earth ; and sent down from the sky water, and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you ; and subjected to you the ships, to float therein upon the sea at His bidding; and subjected for you the rivers ; and subjected for you the sun and the moon, constant both ; and subjected for you the night and the day; and brought you of everything ye asked Him : but if ye try to number God's favours, ye cannot count them ; — verily, man is very unjust and ungrateful.

And when Abraham said, 'My Lord, make this land1 safe, and turn me and my sons away from serving idols ! ' My Lord, verily, they have led many men astray; but he who follows me, verily, he is of me ; but he who rebels against me, — verily, thou art pardoning, merciful ! 1 Mecca and its neighbourhood. [40] ' O our Lord ! verily, I have made some of my seed dwell in a valley without corn, by thy Sacred House l. O our Lord ! let them be steadfast in prayer and make the hearts of men yearn towards them, and provide them with fruits, haply they may give thanks. ' O our Lord 1 verily, Thou knowest what we hide and what we publish ; for naught is hid from God in the earth or in the sky. Praise to God who hath bestowed on me, notwithstanding my old age, Ishmael and Isaac !— verily, my Lord surely hears prayer. ' O my Lord ! make me steadfast in prayer, and of my seed likewise ! O our Lord ! and accept my prayer ! O our Lord ! pardon me and my parents and the believers on the reckoning day!'

So think not God careless of what the unjust do ; He only respites them until the day on which all eyes shall stare! Hurrying on, raising up their heads, with their looks not turned back to them 2, and their hearts void ; and warn men of the day when the torment shall come ! [45] And those who have done wrong shall say, ' O our Lord ! respite us until an appointed time nigh at hand, and we will respond to Thy call, and follow the apostles!' — 'What! did ye not swear before, ye should have no decline ?' And ye dwelt in the dwellings of those who had wronged themselves ; and it was made plain to you how we did with them ; and we struck out parables 1 The Kaabah at Mecca. 2 1. e. with their looks fixed straight in front of them through terror. 244 THE QUR'AN. xiv, 47-xv, 2. for you : but they plotted their stratagems, but with God is a stratagem for them, although at their stratagem the mountains should give way. Think then not indeed that God fails in his promise to his apostles; — verily, God is mighty, the Lord of vengeance ; on the day when the earth shall be changed for another earth, and the heavens too ; and (all) shall go forth unto God, the one, the dominant.

[50] Thou shalt see the sinners on that daybound together in fetters ; with shirts of pitch, and fire covering their faces ; — that God may reward each soul according to what it has earned ; verily, God is swift at reckoning up ! This is a message to be delivered to men that they may be warned thereby, and know that only He is God, — one, — and that those who have minds may remember.

IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God! A. L. R. Those are the signs 2 of the Book and of a perspicuous Qur'an. Many 'a time will those who disbelieve fain they had been resigned 8. 1 El '#a£T, literally, ' the rock : ' the Petra of Strabo, and the traditional habitation of ' the people of Thamud ' 3 See note r, p. 15. Leave them to eat and enjoy themselves and let hope beguile them, but they at length shall know ! We never destroyed a city without it had its noted doom. [5] No nation can hasten on its appointed time, nor put it off. But they say, ' O thou to whom the Reminder has been sent down! verily, thou art possessed. Why dost thou not bring us the angels if thou dost tell the truth?' We sent not down the angels save by right ; nor even then would these be respited. Verily, we have sent down the Reminder, and, verily, we will guard it. [10] And we sent before thee among the sects of those of yore. But there never came an apostle to them but they mocked at him. Such conduct also will we put into the hearts of the sinners. They will not believe therein, but the course of those of yore is run. But had we opened to them a door of the sky and they had mounted up into it all the while; [15] then also had they said, ' Our eye-sight is only intoxicated ; nay, we are an en chanted people ! '

And we have placed in the sky the signs of the zodiac, and have made them seemly to the be holders ; and we have guarded them from every pelted devil l ; save from such as steal a hearing, and there follows him an obvious shooting-star. And the earth we have stretched out and have thrown on it firm mountains, and have caused to 1 See note 2, pp. 50, 51. 2 46 THE QUR'AN. xv, 19-32. grow upon it of everything a measured quantity. [20] And we have made for you means of livelihood therein, and for those for whom ye have not to provide. Nor is there aught but the treasuries of it are with us, and we do not send it down save in a noted quantity. And we send forth the impregnating winds 1J and we send down water from the sky, and we give it to you to drink, nor is it ye who store it up. And we, verily, we quicken and kill ; and we are of (all things) heirs. And we already know the foremost of you, and we know the laggards too ! [25] And, verily, it is your Lord who will gather you ; verily, He is wise and knowing.

And we did create man from crackling clay of black mud wrought in form. And the ^inns had we created before of smoke less fire. And when thy Lord said to the angels, * Verily, I am creating a mortal from crackling clay of black mud wrought into shape ; [30] ' And when I have fashioned it, and breathed into it of my spirit, then fall ye down before it adoring.' And the angels adored all of them together, save Iblis, who refused to be among those who adored. He said, ' O Iblis ! what ails thee that thou art not among those who adore ? ' 1 I.e. the winds that bring the rain-clouds and fertilise the earth. Said he, ' I would not adore a mortal whom Thou" hast created from crackling clay of black mud wrought into form/ He said, ' Then get thee forth therefrom, and, verily, thou art to be pelted! [35] And, verily, the curse is upon thee until the day of judgment/ Said he, * O my Lord ! respite me until the day when they shall be raised/ He said, 'Then, verily, thou art of the respited until the day of the noted time/

He said, 'O my Lord! for that Thou hast seduced me I will surely make it seem seemly for them on earth, and I will surely seduce them all together; [40] save such of Thy servants amongst them as are sincere/ Said He, ' This is a right way against me. Verily, my servants thou hast no authority over, save over those who follow thee of such as are seduced : and, verily, hell is promised to them all together. It has seven doors ; at every door is there a separate party of them/ [45] Verily, those who fear God shall dwell amidst gardens and springs : * Enter ye therein with peace in safety!' And we will strip off what ever ill-feeling is in their breasts ; as brethren on couches face to face l. No toil shall touch them therein, nor shall they be brought forth therefrom. Inform my servants that I am the pardoning, the merciful ; [50] and that my woe is the grievous woe. And inform them concerning Abraham's guests 1 Because to turn their backs on each other would appear con temptuous. when they entered in unto him and said, ' Peace ! ' he said, ' Verily, we are afraid of you/ They said, ' Be not afraid ! verily, we give thee glad tidings of a knowing boy.' He said, ' Do ye give me this glad tidings although old age has touched me ?

give me the glad tidings then!' [55] They said, 'We give the glad tidings of the truth, then be not of those who despair!' He said, 'Who would despair of the mercy of his Lord save those who err ? ' He said, ' What is your business, O ye mes sengers ?' They said, ' Verily, we are sent unto a sinful people ; save only Lot's family, them will we save all together, [60] except his wife ; we have decreed, verily, she shall be of those who linger/

And when the messengers came unto Lot's family, he said, ' Verily, ye are a people whom I recognise not/ They said, ' Nay, but we have come to thee with that whereof they J did doubt. And we have brought thee the truth, and, verily, we speak the truth! [65] Travel then with thy family in the deep darkness of the night, and follow thou their rear; and let not any one of you turn round to look ; but go on to where ye are bidden/ And we decided for him this affair because the uttermost one of these people should be cut off on the morrow. Then the people of the city came, glad at the tidings. Said he, ' Verily, these are my guests, therefore disgrace me not; but fear God, and put me not to shame/ [70] They said, ' Have we not forbidden thee 2 everybody in the world?' He said, 'Here are 1 I. e. thy people. 2 L e to protect my daughters, if do it ye must/ — By thy life 1 1 verily, they were surely in their intoxication blindly wandering on ! — And the noise caught them at the dawn. And we made the higher parts (of the cities) their lower parts, and rained down on them stones of baked clay. [75] Verily, in that is a sign to those who mark. And, verily, the (cities) are on a path that still remains2. Verily, in that is a sign to the believers.

And the fellows of the Grove 3 too were unjust ; and we took vengeance on them, and, verily, they both 4 are for an obvious example. [80] And the fellows of El 'T/a^r5 called the messengers liars, and we brought them our signs, but they therefrom did turn away. And they did hew them in the mountain houses to dwell in in safety. But the noise caught them in the morn ; and that which they had earned availed them naught. [85] We did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is between them both, save in truth. And, verily, the Hour is surely coming; then do thou pardon with a fair pardon, Verily, thy Lord He is the creator, the knowing! We have already brought thee Seven of the Repe tition 6, and the mighty Qur'an. 1 Addressed to Mohammed. 2 On the road from the territory of the Qurai.? to Syria. 3 The Midianites, who are spoken of as dwelling in a grove, and to whom Jethro, or, as he is called in the Qur'^n, Sho'haib, was sent as an apostle; see p. 148. 4 I. e. both Sodom and Midian. 5 The tribe of Thamud, see p. 146.

6 The Opening Chapter, which contains seven verses, and is 2 5° THE QUR AN. XV, 78-XVI, i. Let not thine eyes strain after what we have allowed a few pairs of them l to enjoy, nor grieve for them; but lower thy wing2 to the believers, and say, ' Verily, I am an obvious warner.' [90] As we sent down (punishment) on the sepa ratists 3 who dismember the Qur an. But, by thy Lord ! we will question them, one and all, about what they have done. Therefore, publish what thou art bidden, and turn aside from the idolaters. [95] Verily, we are enough for thee against the scoffers. Who place with God other gods; but they at length shall know ! And we knew that thy breast was straitened at what they say. Then celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and be thou of those who adore. And serve thy Lord until the certainty shall come to thee.

IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God. God's bidding will come ; seek not then to hasten it on. Celebrated be His praises from what they join with Him ! named the Seven of Repetition (sab'h al MatMni), from sage, and because it is to be repeated on so many occasions [ The unbelievers. 2 Behave with humility and gentleness. 3 Probably referring to the Jews and Christians who are here elsewhere accused of mutilating and altering the Scriptures. He sends down the angels with the Spirit at His bidding upon whom He will of His servants (to say), ' Give warning that there is no god but Me ; Me therefore do ye fear/ He created the heavens and the earth in truth ! Exalted be He above that which they join with Him ! He created man from a clot; and yet, behold, he is an open opponent ! [5] The cattle too have we created for you ; in them is warmth and profit, and from them do ye eat. In them is there beauty for you when ye drive them home to rest, and when ye drive them forth to graze. And they bear your heavy burdens to towns which ye could not otherwise reach, except with great wretchedness of soul ; — verily, your Lord is kind and merciful.

And horses too, and mules, and asses, for you to ride upon and for an ornament. — He creates also what ye know not of. God's it is to show the path ; from it some turn aside : but had He pleased He would have guided you one and all. [10] He it is who sends down water from the sky, whence ye have drink, and whence the trees grow whereby ye feed your flocks. He makes the corn to grow, and the olives, and the palms, and the grapes, and some of every fruit ; — verily, in that is a sign unto a people who reflect. And He subjected to you the night and the day, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars are sub jected to His bidding. Verily, in that are signs to a people who have sense. And what He has produced for you in the earth varying in hue, verily, in that is a sign for a people who are mindful. 252 THE QUR'AN. xvi, 14-27. He it is who has subjected the sea, that ye may eat fresh flesh therefrom ; and ye bring forth from it ornaments which ye wear, — and thou mayest see the ships cleaving through it, — and that ye may search after His grace, — and haply ye may give thanks.

[15] And He has cast firm mountains on the earth lest it move with you ; and rivers and roads ; haply ye may be guided. And landmarks ; and by the stars too are they guided. Is He who creates like him who creates not?— are they then unmindful ? But if ye would number the favours of God, ye cannot count them. Verily, God is forgiving, merciful. God knows what ye keep secret, and what ye disclose. [20] And those on whom ye call beside God cannot create anything, for they are themselves created. Dead, not living, nor can they perceive ! When shall they be raised ? Your God is one God, and those who believe not in the hereafter their hearts are given to denial, and they are big with pride ! Without a doubt God knows what ye keep secret and what ye disclose ! [25] Verily, He does not love those big with pride ! And when it is said to them, 'What is it that your Lord has sent down ?' they say, ' Old folks' tales !' Let them bear the burden of their sins entirely on the resurrection day, and some of the burdens of those whom they led astray without knowledge. — Aye ! an ill burden shall they bear.

Those who were before them devised a stratagem, but God brought their building off its foundations, and the roof fell over them, and the torment came to them, from whence they could not perceive 1. Then on the resurrection day He will put them to shame, and say, 'Where are your associates whom ye divided into parties about ?' Those to whom knowledge is brought will say, * Verily, disgrace to-day, and evil are upon the misbelievers !' [30] Those whom the angels took away were wronging themselves; then they offered peace : 'We have done no evil/ — * Yea ! verily, God knows what ye did. Wherefore enter ye the doors of hell, to dwell therein for aye ; for ill is the resort of the proud.' And it will be said to those who fear God, ' What is it that your Lord has sent down ?' They will say, * The best,' for those who do good, good in this world ; but certainly the abode of the next is best, and surely pleasant is the abode of those who fear. Gardens of Eden which they shall enter, beneath them rivers flow ; therein shall they have what they please ; — thus does God reward those who fear Him.

To those whom the angels take off in a goodly state they shall say, ' Peace be upon you ! enter ye into Paradise for that which ye have done.' [35] Do they expect other than that the angels should come to take them off, or that thy Lord's bidding should come ? — thus did those before them; God did not wrong them ; but it was themselves they wronged. 1 Said to refer to the building and overthrow of the tower of Babel. 254 THE QUR'AN. xvi, 36-46. And the evil which they had done befel them, and that environed them at which they used to mock ! And those who associated (others with God) said, Had God pleased we had not served aught be side Him, neither we nor our fathers ; nor had we prohibited aught without Him ;' — thus did those before them : but have messengers aught to do but to deliver their message plainly ? We have sent in every nation an apostle (to say), 'Serve ye God, and avoid Ta^ut!' and amongst them are some whom God has guided, and amongst them are some for whom error is due ; — go ye about then on the earth, and behold how was the end of those who called (the apostles) liars !

If thou art ever so eager for their guidance, verily, God guides not those who go astray, nor have they any helpers. [40] They swear by their most strenuous oath, ' God will not raise up him who dies.' — Yea ! a promise binding on him true! — but most men do not know. To explain to them that which they disputed about, and that those who misbelieved may know that they are liars. We only say unto a thing we wish, 'BE/ and it is. But those who fled for God's sake, after they were wronged, we will surely establish them in this world with good things ; but the hire of the future life is greater, if ye did but know. Those who are patient, and upon their Lord rely! [45] And we have not sent before thee any but men whom we inspire, — ask ye those who have the Reminder \ if ye know not yourselves, — with mani- 1 The Pentateuch and Gospels. fest signs and with scriptures ; and we have sent down the Reminder to thee too, that thou mayest explain to men what has been sent down to them, and haply they may reflect.

Are those who were so crafty in evil sure that God will not cleave open the earth with them, or bring them torment from whence they cannot per ceive, or seize them in their going to and fro ? for they cannot make Him helpless. Or that He should seize them with a gradual destruction ? for, verily, your Lord is kind, mer ciful. [50] Do they not regard whatever thing God has created ; its shadow falls on the right or the left, adoring God and shrinking up ? Whatever is in the heavens and in the earth, beast or angel, adores God ; nor are they big with pride ! They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are bidden. And God says, * Take not to two gods ; God is only one ; me then do ye fear F His is what is in the heavens and in the earth ; to Him is obedience due unceasingly ; other than God then will ye fear ? [55] And whatever favours ye have, they are from God ; then, whenever distress touches you, unto Him ye turn for succour. Yet, when He removes the distress from you, lo ! a party of you join part ners with their Lord.

That they may disbelieve in what we have brought them and may enjoy, — but at length they shall know! And they set aside for what they know not a 256 THE QUR'AN. xvi, 58-65. portion of what we have bestowed upon them 1.— By God ! ye shall be questioned concerning that which ye have devised. They make for God daughters ; — celebrated be His praise! — and for themselves they like them not2. [60] When any one of them has tidings of a female child, his face is overclouded and black, and he has to keep back his wrath. He skulks away from the people, for the evil tidings he has heard; — is he to keep it with its disgrace, or to bury it in the dust ? — aye ! evil is it that they judge ! For those who disbelieve in the future life is a similitude of evil : but for God is the loftiest similitude ; for He is the mighty, the wise ! If God were to punish men for their wrong-doing He would not leave upon the earth a single beast; but He respites them until a stated time ; and when their time comes they cannot put it off an hour, nor can they bring it on.

They set down to God what they abhor them selves ; and their tongues describe the lie that 'good is to be theirs/ Without a doubt theirs is the Fire, for, verily, they shall be sent on there ! [65] By God ! we sent (messengers) to nations before thee, but Satan made their works seemly to them, for he is their patron to-day, and for them is grievous woe ! 1 See note 2, p. 132. 2 The Arabs used to call the angels * daughters of God/ They, however, objected strongly (as do the modern Bedawm) to female offspring, and used to bury their infant daughters alive. This practice Mohammed elsewhere reprobates. See p. 132, note 3. We have only sent down to thee the Book, that thou mayest explain to them that which they did dispute about, and as a guidance and a mercy to a people who believe. And God sends down water from the sky, and quickens therewith the earth after its death ; verily, in that is a sign to a people who can hear. Verily, ye have in cattle a lesson ; we give you to drink from that which is in their bellies, betwixt chyme and blood, — pure milk, — easy to swallow for those who drink.

And of the fruit of the palms and the grapes ye take therefrom an intoxicant and a goodly pro vision ; verily, in that is a sign to a people who have sense ! [70] And thy Lord inspired the bee, ' Take to houses in the mountains, and in the trees, and in the hives they build. ' Then eat from every fruit, and walk in the beaten paths of thy Lord ;' there cometh forth from her body a draught varying in hue *, in which is a cure for men ; verily, in that are signs unto a people who reflect. God created you ; then He will take you to Him self; but amongst you are some whom He will thrust into the most decrepit age ; so that he may not know aught that once he knew. Verily, God is knowing, powerful. And God has preferred some of you over others in providing for you ; but those who have been preferred will not restore their provision to those 1 The Arab writers mention several varieties of honey differing in colour, and some of which are used as medicine. [6] S 258 THE QUR'AN. xvi, 73-80.

whom their right hands possess l that they may share equally therein : — is it God's favours they gainsay ? And God has made for you from amongst your selves wives, and has made for you from your wives sons and grandchildren ; and has provided you with good things ; — is it in vanity that they believe, while for God's favour they are ungrateful ? [75] And they serve beside God what cannot control for them any provision from the heavens or the earth, and have no power at all. Do not then strike out parables for God ! Verily, God knows, but ye do not know. God has struck out a parable ; an owned slave, able to do nothing ; and one whom we have provided with a good provision, and who expends therefrom in alms secretly and openly : — shall they be held equal ? — Praise be to God, most of them do not know ! And God has struck out a parable : two men, one of them dumb, able to do nothing, a burden to his lord ; wherever he directs him he comes not with success ; is he to be held equal with him who bids what is just and who is on the right way ?

God's are the unseen things of the heavens and the earth ; nor is the matter of the Hour aught but as the twinkling of an eye, or nigher still ! Verily, God is mighty over all ! [80] God brings you forth out of the wombs of your mothers knowing naught ; and He makes for you hearing, and sight, and hearts, — haply ye may give thanks ! Do they not see the birds subjected in the vault of the sky ? — none holds them in but God : verily, in that is a sign unto a people who believe. God made for you in your houses a repose ; and made for you, of the skins of cattle, houses l, that ye may find them light, on the day ye move your quarters and the day when ye abide ; and from their wool, and from their fur, and from their hair come furniture and chattels for a season. And God has made for you, of what He has created, shades ; and has made for you shelters in the mountains ; and He has made for you shirts to keep you from the heat, and shirts 2 to keep you from each other's violence: — thus does He fulfil His favours towards you, — haply ye yet may be resigned.

But if they turn their backs, — thine is only to preach thy plain message. [85] They recognise the favours of God, and yet they deny them, for most men are ungrateful. And on the day when we shall send from every nation a witness ; then shall those who misbelieve not be allowed (to excuse themselves), and they shall not be taken back into favour. And when those who join their partners with God say, ' Our Lord ! these be our partners on whom we used to call beside Thee.' And they shall proffer them the speech, 'Verily, ye are liars I' And they shall proffer on that day peace unto God ; and that which they had devised shall stray away from them. 1 ' Tents ' are called ' houses of hair ' or ' of hide ' by the desert Arabs. 260 THE QUR'AN. xvi, 90-96. [90] Those who misbelieve and turn folks off God's path, we will add torment to their torment, for that they were evildoers. And on the day when we will raise up in every nation a witness against them from among them selves, and we will bring thee as a witness against these 1 ; for we have sent down to thee a book explaining clearly everything, and a guidance, and a mercy, and glad tidings to the believers.

Verily, God bids you do justice and good, and give to kindred (their due), and He forbids you to sin, and do wrong, and oppress ; He admonishes you, haply ye may be mindful ! Fulfil God's covenant when ye have covenanted, and break not your oaths after asseverating them, for ye thereby make God your surety; verily, God knows what ye do. And be not like her who unravels her yarn, fraying it out after she hath spun it close, by taking your oaths for mutual intrigue, because one nation is more numerous than another ; God only tries you therewith, but He will make manifest to you on the resurrection day that whereon ye did dispute 2. [95] But had God pleased He would have made you one nation; but He leads astray whom He will, and guides whom He will; — but ye shall be questioned as to that which ye have done. Take not therefore your oaths for mutual intrigue, lest a foot slip after being planted firmly, and ye 2 The Arabs, like most half-savage tribes, used to consider superior numerical strength as entitling them to disregard a treaty. taste of evil for that ye turned folks off the path of God, and for you there be mighty woe !

And sell not God's covenant for a little price ; with God only is what is better for you, if ye did but know. What ye have is spent, but what God has endures ; and we will recompense the patient with their hire for the best deeds they have done. Whoso acts aright, male or female, and is a believer, we will quicken with a goodly life; and we will recompense them with their hire for the best deeds they have done. [100] When thou dost read the Quran, ask refuge with God from Satan the pelted one l. Verily, he has no power over those who believe and who upon their Lord rely. His power is only over those who take him for a patron, and over the idolaters. And whenever we change one verse for another, — God knows best what He sends down. They say, 'Thou art but a forger ! '—Nay, most of them do not know. Say, 'The Holy Spirit2 brought it down from thy Lord in truth, to stablish those who believe, and for a guidance and glad tidings to those who are resigned 3.' [105] We knew that they said, ' It is only some mortal who teaches him.' - The tongue of him they lean towards is barbarous, and this is plain Arabic 4.

Verily, those who believe not in God's signs, God will not guide them, and for them is grievous woe. 1 See p. 50, note 2. 2 Gabriel. 3 See p. 15, note i. 4 For an account of the persons supposed to have helped Moham med in the compilation of the Qur'an, see Introduction. 262 THE QUR'AN. xvi, 107-115. Only they are the forgers of a lie who believe not in God's signs ; and these, they are the liars. Whoso disbelieves in God after having believed, unless it be one who is forced and whose heart is quiet in the faith, — but whoso expands his breast to misbelieve, — on them is wrath from God, and for them is mighty woe ! That is because they preferred the love of this world's life to the next ; — but, verily, God guides not the unbelieving people, [no] These are they on whose hearts, and hearing, and eyesight, God has set a stamp, and these, they are the careless. With out a doubt that in the next life they will be the losers. Then, verily, thy Lord, .to those who fled l after they had been tried, and then fought strenuously and were patient, — verily, thy Lord after that will be forgiving and merciful.

On the day every soul will come to wrangle for itself, and every soul shall be paid what it has earned, and they shall not be wronged. God has struck out a parable : a city 2 which was safe and quiet, its provision came to it in plenty from every place, and then it denied God's favours, and God made it feel 3 the clothing of hunger and fear, for that which they had wrought. And there came to them an apostle from amongst themselves, but they called him a liar, and the torment seized them, while yet they were unjust. [115] Eat, then, from what God has provided 1 The Ansars. 2 Any town, but Mecca in particular. 8 Literally, ' taste.' you with, things lawful and good, and give thanks for the favours of God, if it be Him ye serve. He has only forbidden you that which dies of itself, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is devoted to other than God ; but he who is forced, neither revolting nor transgressing, it is no sin for him : verily, God is forgiving and merciful. And say not of the lie your tongues pronounce, ' This is lawful, and this is unlawful,' forging against God a lie ; verily, those who forge against God a lie shall not prosper. A little enjoyment — then for them is grievous woe !

For those who are Jews we have forbidden what we have narrated to thee before1; we did not wrong them, but it was themselves they wronged. [120] Then, verily, thy Lord to those who have done evil in ignorance and then repented after that and done aright, — verily, thy Lord afterwards is forgiving and merciful. Verily, Abraham was a high priest2, a 'Hanif, and was not of the idolaters : thankful for His favours ; He chose him and He guided him unto the right way. And we gave him in this world good things ; and, verily, in the next he will be among the righteous. Then we inspired thee, ' Follow the faith of Abra ham, a CH an If, for he was not of the idolaters.' [125] The Sabbath was only made for those who dispute thereon; but, verily, thy Lord will judge 1 See p. 134. 2 Some commentators take this word ummatan as equivalent to im^man, 'antistes,' and this interpretation I have followed. Others take it in its ordinary sense of ' nation ;' but the use of the other epithets seems to favour the former interpretation. 264 THE QUR'AN. xvi, 125-128. between them on the resurrection day concerning that whereon they do dispute.

Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly warning; and wrangle with them in the kindest way; verily, thy Lord He knows best who has erred from His way, for He knows best the guided ones. But if ye punish, punish (only) as ye were punished ; but if ye are patient, it is best for those who are patient l. Be thou patient then ; but thy patience is only in God's hands. Do not grieve about them ; and be not in a strait at their craftiness ; — verily, God is with those who fear Him, and with those who do well. 1 This passage refers to the killing of 'Hamzah, Mohammed's uncle, at the battle of O'hod, and the subsequent mutilation of his corpse by the Meccans, and is a protest against taking too severe a revenge.