The Qur'an

He said, "Forth with it then, if thou speakest truth." Then threw he down his staff, and lo! an undoubted serpent: And he drew out his hand, and lo! it was white to the beholders. He said to his nobles around him. "This truly is a right cunning sorcerer: Fain would he drive you out of your land by his Sorcery. But what do ye suggest?" They said, "Put him and his brother off awhile, and send summoners to all the cities, Who shall bring to thee every cunning magician." So the magicians were mustered at a set time, on a solemn day: And it was said to the people, "Are ye all assembled?"

-"Yes! and we will follow the magicians if they gain the day." And when the magicians were arrived they said to Pharaoh, "Shall we have a reward if we gain the day?" He said, "Yes. And verily in that case ye shall be of those who are near my person." Moses said to them, "Throw down what ye have to throw." So they cast down their ropes and rods, and said, "By Pharaoh's might we shall surely win." Then Moses threw down his rod, and lo! it swallowed up their cheating wonders. Then the magicians threw themselves down in worship: They said, "We believe on the Lord of the Worlds,

The Lord of Moses and of Aaron." Said Pharaoh, "Have ye then believed on him ere I gave you leave? He truly is your master who hath taught you magic. But bye and bye ye shall surely know my power. I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will have you all crucified." They said, "It cannot harm us, for to our Lord shall we return: Assuredly we trust that our Lord will forgive us our sins, since we are of the first who believe." Then revealed we this order to Moses: "Go forth by night with my servants, for ye will be pursued." And Pharaoh sent summoners through the cities:-

"These Israelites," said they, "are a scanty band; Yet are they enraged against us- But we truly are numerous, wary." Thus we caused them to quit gardens and fountains, And treasures and splendid dwellings; So was it; and we gave them to the children of Israel for an heritage. Then at sunrise the Egyptians followed them: And when the hosts came in view of one another, the comrades of Moses said, "We are surely overtaken." He said, "By no means:-for my Lord is with me-He will guide me." And we revealed this order to Moses, "Strike the sea with thy rod." And it clave asunder, and each part became like a huge mountain.

Then made we the others to draw on; And we saved Moses, and those who were with him, all; But we drowned the others. Truly in this was a sign; but most of them did not believe. But verily thy Lord,-He is the Mighty, the Merciful! And recite to them the story of Abraham When he said to his Father and to his people, "What worship ye?" They said, "We worship idols, and constant is our devotion to them." He said, "Can they hear you when ye cry to them? Or help you or do you harm?" They said, "But we found our Fathers do the like." He said, "How think ye? They whom ye worship,

Ye and your fathers of early days, Are my foes: but not so the Lord of the Worlds, Who hath created me, and guideth me, Who giveth me food and drink; And when I am sick, he healeth me, And who will cause me to die and again quicken me, And who, I hope, will forgive me my sins in the day of reckoning. My Lord! bestow on me wisdom and join me to the just, And give me a good name among posterity, And make me one of the heirs of the garden of delight, And forgive my father, for he was one of the erring, And put me not to shame on the day when mankind shall be raised up,

The day when neither wealth nor children shall avail, Save to him who shall come to God with a sound heart: When Paradise shall be brought near the pious, And Hell shall lay open for those who have gone astray. And it shall be said to them, 'Where are they whom ye worshipped Beside God? Can they harm you or help themselves?' And they shall be cast into it-the seducers and the seduced, And all the host of Eblis. They shall say, as they wrangle therein together, 'By God, we were in a plain error, When we equalled you with the Lord of the Worlds: And none misled us but the wicked,

And we have none to plead for us, Nor friend who careth for us. Could we but return, we would be of the believers."' Verily, in this was a sign: but most of them believed not. And truly thy Lord!-He is the Mighty, the Merciful! The people of Noah gainsaid the Apostles, When their brother Noah said to them, "Will ye not fear God? Of a truth am I your faithful Apostle; Fear God then and obey me. I ask of you no reward for this, for my reward is of the Lord of the Worlds alone: Fear God then and obey me." They said, "Shall we believe on thee when the meanest only are thy followers?"

He said, "But I have no knowledge of that they did: To my Lord only must their account be given: would that ye understood this! And I will not thrust away those who believe, For I am only one charged with plain warnings." They said, "Now unless thou desist, O Noah, one of the stoned shalt thou surely be." He said, "Lord! my people treat me as a liar: Decide thou therefore a decision between me and them, and rescue me and the faithful who are with me." So we saved him and those who were with him in the fully-laden ark, And afterwards we drowned the rest. Herein truly was a sign, but most of them believed not.

But thy Lord!-He is the Mighty, the Merciful. The Adites treated their Apostles as liars, When their brother Houd said to them, "Will ye not fear God? I am your Apostle, worthy of all credit; Fear God then and obey me: I ask for no reward for this; for my reward is of the Lord of the Worlds alone. What! build ye landmarks on all heights in mere pastime? And raise ye structures to be your lasting abodes? And when ye put forth your power do ye put it forth with harshness? Fear ye God then and obey me; And fear ye Him who hath plenteously betowed on you ye well know what:

Plenteously bestowed on you flocks and children, And gardens and fountains; Indeed I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous day." They said, "It is the same to us whether thou warn or warn us not. This is but a tale of the ancients, And we are not they who shall be punished." And they charged him with imposture; and we destroyed them. In this was a sign: but most of them believed not. But thy Lord!-He is the Mighty, the Merciful! The Themoudites also treated their Apostles as liars, When their brother Saleh said to them, "Will ye not fear God? I am your Apostle worthy of all credit:

Fear God, then, and obey me. I ask of you no reward for this: my reward is of the Lord of the Worlds alone. Shall ye be left secure amid these things here? Amid gardens and fountains, And corn-fields and palm-trees, with flower-sheathing branches? And, insolent that ye are, will ye hew out your dwellings in the mountains? But fear God and obey me, And obey not the bidding of those who commit excess, Who act disorderly on the earth and reform it not." They said, "Certainly thou art a person bewitched; Thou art only a man like us: produce now a sign if thou art a man of truth."

He said, "This she-camel, then-drink shall there be for her, and drink shall there be for you, on a several day for each. But harm her not, lest the punishment of a tremendous day overtake you." But they ham-strung her, and repented of it on the morrow; For the punishment overtook them. In this truly was a sign, but most of them believed not. But thy Lord!-He is the Powerful, the Merciful! The people of Lot treated their apostles as liars, When their brother Lot said to them, "Will ye not fear God? I am your Apostle worthy of all credit: Fear God, then, and obey me. For this I ask you no reward: my reward is of the Lord of the worlds alone.

What! with men, of all creatures, will ye have commerce? And leave ye your wives whom your Lord hath created for you? Ah! ye are an erring people!" They said, "O Lot, if thou desist not, one of the banished shalt thou surely be." He said, "I utterly abhor your doings: My Lord! deliver me and my family from what they do." So we delivered him and his whole family- Save an aged one among those who tarried- Then we destroyed the rest- And we rained a rain upon them, and fatal was the rain to those whom we had warned. In this truly was a sign; but most of them did not believe.

But thy Lord! He is the Powerful, the Merciful! The dwellers in the forest of Madian treated the Apostles as liars. When Shoaib their brother said to them, "Will ye not fear God? I truly am your trustworthy Apostle. Fear God, then, and obey me: No reward ask I of you for this: my reward is of the Lord of the Worlds alone. Fill the measure, and be not of those who minish: Weigh with exact balance: And defraud not men in their substance, and do no wrong on the earth by deeds of licence; And fear Him who made you and the races of old." They said, "Certainly thou art a person bewitched.

Thou art but a man like us, and we deem thee liar- Make now a part of the heaven to fall down upon us, if thou art a man of truth." He said, "My Lord best knoweth your doings." And when they treated him as a liar, the chastisement of the day of cloud overtook them. This truly was the chastisement of a dreadful day! In this was a sign, but most of them believed not. But thy Lord!-He is the Mighty, the Merciful! Verily from the Lord of the Worlds hath this Book come down; The faithful spirit hath come down with it Upon thy heart, that thou mightest become a warner-

In the clear Arabic tongue: And truly it is foretold in the Scriptures of them of yore. Was it not a sign to them that the learned among the children of Israel recognised it? If we had sent it down unto any foreigner, And he had recited it to them, they had not believed. In such sort have we influenced the heart of the wicked ones, That they will not believe it till they see the grievous chastisement? And it shall come upon them on a sudden when they look not for it: And they will say, "Can we be respited?" What! will they seek to hasten on our chastisement?

How thinkest thou? If after we have given them their fill for years, That with which they are menaced come upon them at last, Of what avail will their enjoyments be to them? We never destroyed a city which had not first its warners With admonition; nor did we deal unjustly. The Satans were not sent down with this Koran: It beseemed them not, and they had not the power, For they are far removed from hearing it. Call not thou on any other god but God, lest thou be of those consigned to torment: But warn thy relatives of nearer kin, And kindly lower thy wing over the faithful who follow thee.

And if they disobey thee, then say: "I will not be answerable for your doings;"- And put thy trust in Him that is the Mighty, the Merciful, Who seeth thee when thou standest in prayer, And thy demeanour amongst those who worship; For He heareth, knoweth all. Shall I tell you on whom Satan descend? They descend on every lying, wicked person: They impart what they have heard;-but most of them are liars. It is the POETS whom the erring follow: Seest thou not how they rove distraught in every valley? And that they say that which they do not? Save those who believe and do good works, and oft remember God;

And who defend themselves when unjustly treated. But they who treat them unjustly shall find out what a lot awaiteth them.

ELIF. LAM. RA. These are the signs of the Book, and of a lucid recital [Koran]. Many a time will the infidels wish that they had been Muslims. Let them feast and enjoy themselves, and let hope beguile them: but they shall know the truth at last. We never destroyed a city whose term was not perfixed: No people can forestall or retard its destiny. They say: "O thou to whom the warning hath been sent down, thou art surely possessed by a djinn: Wouldst thou not have come to us with the angels, if thou wert of those who assert the truth?" -We will not send down the angels without due cause. The Infidels would not in that case have been respited.

Verily, We have sent down the warning, and verily, We will be its guardian; And already have We sent Apostles, before thee, among the sects of the ancients; But never came Apostles to them whom they did not deride. In like manner will We put it into the hearts of the sinners of Mecca to do the same: They will not believe on him though the example of those of old hath gone before. Even were We to open above them a gate in Heaven, yet all the while they were mounting up to it, They would surely say: It is only that our eyes are drunken: nay, we are a people enchanted.

We have set the signs of the zodiac in the Heavens, and adorned and decked them forth for the beholders, And We guard them from every stoned Satan, Save such as steal a hearing: and him doth a visible flame pursue. And the Earth have We spread forth, and thrown thereon the mountains, and caused everything to spring forth in it in balanced measure: And We have provided therein sustenance for you, and for the creatures which not ye sustain: And no one thing is there, but with Us are its storehouses; and We send it not down but in settled measure: And We send forth the fertilising winds, and cause the rain to come down from the heaven, and give you to drink of it; and it is not ye who are its storers:

And We cause to live and We cause to die, and We are the heir of all things: We know those of you who flourish first and We know those who come later: And truly thy Lord will gather them together again, for He is Wise, Knowing. We created man of dried clay, of dark loam moulded; And the djinn had We before created of subtle fire. Remember when thy Lord said to the Angels, "I create man of dried clay, of dark loam moulded: And when I shall have fashioned him and breathed of my spirit into him, then fall ye down and worship him." And the Angels bowed down in worship, all of them, all together,

Save Eblis: he refused to be with those who bowed in worship. "O Eblis," said God, "wherefore art thou not with those who bow down in worship?" He said, "It beseemeth not me to bow in worship to man whom thou hast created of clay, of moulded loam." He said, "Begone then hence; thou art a stoned one, And the curse shall be on thee till the day of reckoning." He said, "O my Lord! respite me till the day when man shall be raised from the dead." He said, "One then of the respited shalt thou be Till the day of the predestined time." He said, "O my Lord! because thou hast beguiled me, I will surely make all fair seeming to them on the earth; I will surely beguile them all;

Except such of them as shall be thy sincere servants." He said, "This is the right way with me; For over none of my servants shalt thou have power, save those beguiled ones who shall follow thee." And verily, Hell is the promise for them one and all. It hath seven Portals; at each Portal is a separate band of them; But 'mid gardens and fountains shall the pious dwell: "Enter ye therein in peace, secure-" And all rancour will We remove from their bosoms: they shall sit as brethren, face to face, on couches: Therein no weariness shall reach them, nor forth from it shall they be cast for ever.

Announce to my servants that I am the Gracious, the Merciful, And that my chastisement is the grievous chastisement. And tell them of Abraham's guests. When they entered in unto him, and said, "Peace." "Verily," said he, "We fear you." They said, "Fear not, for of a sage son we bring thee tidings." He said, "Bring ye me such tidings now that old age hath come upon me? What, therefore, are your tidings really?" They said, "We announce them to thee in very truth. Be not then one of the despairing." "And who," said he, "despaireth of the mercy of his Lord, but they who err?" He said, "What is your business then, O ye Sent Ones?"

They said, "We are sent unto a people who are sinners, Except the family of Lot, whom verily we will rescue all, Except his wife. We have decreed that she shall be of those who linger." And when the Sent Ones came to the family of Lot He said, "Yes; are persons unknown to me." They said, "Yes; but we have come to thee for a purpose about which thy people doubt: We have come to thee with very truth, and we are truthful envoys. Lead forth therefore thy family in the dead of the night; follow thou on their rear: and let no one of you turn round, but pass ye on whither ye are bidden."

And this command we gave him because to the last man should these people be cut off at morning. Then came the people of the city rejoicing at the news- He said, "These are my guests: therefore disgrace me not. And fear God and put me not to shame." They said, "Have we not forbidden thee to entertain any one whatever?" He said, "Here are my daughters, if ye will thus act." As thou livest, O Muhammad, they were bewildered in the drunkenness of their lust. So a tempest overtook them at their sunrise, And we turned the city upside down, and we rained stones of baked clay upon them.

Verily, in this are signs for those who scan heedfully; And these cities lay on the high road. Verily, in this are signs for the faithful. The inhabitants also of El Aika were sinners: So we took vengeance on them, and they both became a plain example. And the people of HEDJR treated God's messengers as liars. And we brought forth our signs to them, but they drew back from them: And they hewed them out abodes in the mountains to secure them: But a tempest surprised them at early morn, And their labours availed them nothing. We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that between them is, but for a worthy end. And verily, "the hour" shall surely come. Wherefore do thou, Muhammad, forgive with kindly forgiveness,

For thy Lord! He is the Creator, the Wise. We have already given thee the seven verses of repetition and the glorious Koran. Strain not thine eyes after the good things we have bestowed on some of the unbelievers: afflict not thyself on their account, and lower thy wing to the faithful. And SAY: I am the only plain-spoken warner. We will punish those who foster divisions, Who break up the Koran into parts: By thy Lord! we will surely take account from them one and all, Concerning that which they have done. Profess publicly then what thou hast been bidden, and withdraw from those who join gods to God.

Verily, We will maintain thy cause against those who deride thee, Who set up gods with God: and at last shall they know their folly. Now know We that thy heart is distressed at what they say: But do thou celebrate the praise of thy Lord, and be of those who bow down in worship; And serve thy Lord till the certainty o'ertake thee.

KAF. HA. YA. AIN. SAD. A recital of thy Lord's mercy to his servant Zachariah; When he called upon his Lord with secret calling, And said: "O Lord, verily my bones are weakened, and the hoar hairs glisten on my head, And never, Lord, have I prayed to thee with ill success. But now I have fears for my kindred after me; and my wife is barren: Give me, then, a successor as thy special gift, who shall be my heir and an heir of the family of Jacob: and make him, Lord, well pleasing to thee." -"O Zachariah! verily we announce to thee a son,-his name John: That name We have given to none before him."

He said: "O my Lord! how when my wife is barren shall I have a son, and when I have now reached old age, failing in my powers?" He said: So shall it be. Thy Lord hath said, Easy is this to me, for I created thee aforetime when thou wast nothing." He said: "Vouchsafe me, O my Lord! a sign." He said: "Thy sign shall be that for three nights, though sound in health, thou speakest not to man." And he came forth from the sanctuary to his people, and made signs to them to sing praises morn and even. We said: "O John! receive the Book with purpose of heart:"-and We bestowed on him wisdom while yet a child;

And mercifulness from Ourself, and purity; and pious was he, and duteous to his parents; and not proud, rebellious. And peace was on him on the day he was born, and the day of his death, and shall be on the day when he shall be raised to life! And make mention in the Book, of Mary, when she went apart from her family, eastward, And took a veil to shroud herself from them: and we sent our spirit to her, and he took before her the form of a perfect man. She said: "I fly for refuge from thee to the God of Mercy! If thou fearest Him, begone from me."

He said: "I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may bestow on thee a holy son." She said: "How shall I have a son, when man hath never touched me? and I am not unchaste." He said: "So shall it be. Thy Lord hath said: 'Easy is this with me;' and we will make him a sign to mankind, and a mercy from us. For it is a thing decreed." And she conceived him, and retired with him to a far-off place. And the throes came upon her by the trunk of a palm. She said: "Oh, would that I had died ere this, and been a thing forgotten, forgotten quite!"

And one cried to her from below her: "Grieve not thou, thy Lord hath provided a streamlet at thy feet:- And shake the trunk of the palm-tree toward thee: it will drop fresh ripe dates upon thee. Eat then and drink, and be of cheerful eye: and shouldst thou see a man, Say,-Verily, I have vowed abstinence to the God of mercy.-To no one will I speak this day." Then came she with the babe to her people, bearing him. They said, "O Mary! now hast thou done a strange thing! O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of wickedness, nor unchaste thy mother." And she made a sign to them, pointing towards the babe. They said, "How shall we speak with him who is in the cradle, an infant?"

It said, "Verily, I am the servant of God; He hath given me the Book, and He hath made me a prophet; And He hath made me blessed wherever I may be, and hath enjoined me prayer and almsgiving so long as I shall live; And to be duteous to her that bare me: and he hath not made me proud, depraved. And the peace of God was on me the day I was born, and will be the day I shall die, and the day I shall be raised to life." This is Jesus, the son of Mary; this is a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt.

It beseemeth not God to beget a son. Glory be to Him! when he decreeth a thing, He only saith to it, Be, and it Is. And verily, God is my Lord and your Lord; adore Him then. This is the right way. But the Sects have fallen to variance among themselves about Jesus: but woe, because of the assembly of a great day, to those who believe not! Make them hear, make them behold the day when they shall come before us! But the offenders this day are in a manifest error. Warn them of the day of sighing when the decree shall be accomplished, while they are sunk in heedlessness and while they believe not.

Verily, we will inherit the earth and all who are upon it. To us shall they be brought back. Make mention also in the Book of Abraham; for he was a man of truth, a Prophet. When he said to his Father, "O my Father! why dost thou worship that which neither seeth nor heareth, nor profiteth thee aught? O my Father! verily now hath knowledge come to me which hath not come to thee. Follow me therefore-I will guide thee into an even path. O my Father! worship not Satan, for Satan is a rebel against the God of Mercy. O my Father! indeed I fear lest a chastisement from the God of Mercy light upon thee, and thou become Satan's vassal."

He said, "Castest thou off my Gods, O Abraham? If thou forbear not, I will surely stone thee. Begone from me for a length of time." He said, "Peace be on thee! I will pray my Lord for thy forgiveness, for he is gracious to me: But I will separate myself from you, and the gods ye call on beside God, and on my Lord will I call. Haply, my prayers to my Lord will not be with ill success." And when he had separated himself from them and that which they worshipped beside God, we bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and each of them we made a prophet:

And we bestowed gifts on them in our mercy, and gave them the lofty tongue of truth." And commemorate Moses in "the Book;" for he was a man of purity: moreover he was an Apostle, a Prophet: From the right side of the mountain we called to him, and caused him to draw nigh to us for secret converse: And we bestowed on him in our mercy his brother Aaron, a Prophet. And commemorate Ismael in "the Book;" for he was true to his promise, and was an Apostle, a Prophet; And he enjoined prayer and almsgiving on his people, and was well pleasing to his Lord. And commemorate Edris in "the Book;" for he was a man of truth, a Prophet:

And we uplifted him to a place on high. These are they among the prophets of the posterity of Adam, and among those whom we bare with Noah, and among the posterity of Abraham and Israel, and among those whom we have guided and chosen, to whom God hath shewed favour. When the signs of the God of Mercy were rehearsed to them, they bowed them down worshipping and weeping. But others have come in their place after them: they have made an end of prayer, and have gone after their own lusts; and in the end they shall meet with evil:- Save those who turn and believe and do that which is right, these shall enter the Garden, and in nought shall they be wronged:

The Garden of Eden, which the God of Mercy hath promised to his servants, though yet unseen: for his promise shall come to pass: No vain discourse shall they hear therein, but only "Peace;" and their food shall be given them at morn and even: This is the Paradise which we will make the heritage of those our servants who fear us. We come not down from Heaven but by thy Lord's command. His, whatever is before us and whatever is behind us, and whatever is between the two! And thy Lord is not forgetful,- Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth, and of all that is between them! Worship Him, then, and abide thou steadfast in his worship. Knowest thou any other of the same name?

Man saith: "What! after I am dead, shall I in the end be brought forth alive?" Doth not man bear in mind that we made him at first, when he was nought? And I swear by thy Lord, we will surely gather together them and the Satans: then will we set them on their knees round Hell: Then will we take forth from each band those of them who have been stoutest in rebellion against the God of Mercy: Then shall we know right well to whom its burning is most due: No one is there of you who shall not go down unto it-This is a settled decree with thy Lord-

Then will we deliver those who had the fear of God, and the wicked will we leave in it on their knees. And when our clear signs are rehearsed to them, the infidels say to those who believe: "Which of the two parties is in the best plight? and which is the most goodly company?" But how many generations have we brought to ruin before them, who surpassed them in riches and in splendour! SAY: As to those who are in error, the God of Mercy will lengthen out to them a length of days Until they see that with which they are threatened, whether it be some present chastisement, or whether it be "the Hour," and they shall then know which is in the worse state, and which the more weak in forces:

But God will increase the guidance of the already guided. And good works which abide, are in thy Lord's sight better in respect of guerdon, and better in the issue than all worldly good. Hast thou marked him who believeth not in our signs, and saith, "I shall surely have riches and children bestowed upon me?" Hath he mounted up into the secrets of God? Hath he made a compact with the God of Mercy? No! we will certainly write down what he saith, and will lengthen the length of his chastisement: And we will inherit what he spake of, and he shall come before us all alone. They have taken other gods beside God to be their help.

But it shall not be. Those gods will disavow their worship and will become their enemies. Seest thou not that we send the Satans against the Infidels to urge them into sin? Wherefore be not thou in haste with them; for a small number of days do we number to them. One day we will gather the God-fearing before the God of Mercy with honours due: But the sinners will we drive unto Hell, like flocks driven to the watering. None shall have power to intercede, save he who hath received permission at the hands of the God of Mercy. They say: "The God of Mercy hath gotten offspring." Now have ye done a monstrous thing!

Almost might the very Heavens be rent thereat, and the Earth cleave asunder, and the mountains fall down in fragments, That they ascribe a son to the God of Mercy, when it beseemeth not the God of Mercy to beget a son! Verily there is none in the Heavens and in the Earth but shall approach the God of Mercy as a servant. He hath taken note of them, and numbered them with exact numbering: And each of them shall come to Him, on the day of Resurrection, singly: But love will the God of Mercy vouchsafe to those who believe and do the things that be right. Verily we have made this Koran easy and in thine own tongue, that thou mayest announce glad tidings by it to the God-fearing, and that thou mayest warn the contentious by it.

How many generations have we destroyed before them! Canst thou search out one of them? or canst thou hear a whisper from them?

SAD. By the Koran full of warning! In sooth the Infidels are absorbed in pride, in contention with thee. How many generations have we destroyed before them! And they cried for mercy but no time was it of escape! And they marvel that a warner from among themselves hath come to them; and the Infidels say, "This is a sorcerer, a liar: Maketh he the gods to be but one god? A strange thing forsooth is this!" And their chiefs took themselves off. "Go, said they, and cleave steadfastly to your gods. Ye see the thing aimed at. We heard not of this in the previous creed. It is but an imposture:

To him alone of us all hath a book of warning been sent down?" Yes! they are in doubt as to my warnings, for they have not yet tasted my vengeance. Are the treasures of the mercy of thy Lord, the Mighty, the bounteous, in their hands? Is the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth and of all that is between them theirs? Then let them mount up by cords! Any army of the confederates shall here be routed. Before them the people of Noah and Ad and Pharaoh the impaler treated their prophets as impostors; And Themoud, and the people of Lot, and the dwellers in the forest: these were the confederates.

Nought did they all but charge the apostles with falsehood: Just, therefore, the retribution. And these (Meccans) await but one single trumpet blast-There shall be no delaying it- Yet they dare to say, "O our Lord! hasten our lot to us, before the day of reckoning." Put thou up with what they say: and remember our servant David, a man strong of hand, one who turned him to Us in penitence: We constrained the mountains to join with him in lauds at even and at sunrise; And the birds which flocked to him, and would all return to him oft; And we stablished his kingdom: and wisdom, and skill to pronounce clear decisions, did we bestow on him.

Hath the story of the two pleaders reached thee, O Muhammad, when they mounted the walls of his closet? When they entered in upon David, and he was frightened at them, they said, "Be not afraid; we are two opposing parties: one of us hath wronged the other. Judge therefore with truth between us, and be not unjust, but guide us to the right way. Now this my brother had ninety and nine ewes, and I had but a single ewe; and he said, make me her keeper. And he over-persuaded me in the dispute." He said, "Certainly he hath wronged thee in asking for thine ewe to add her to his own ewes: and truly many associates do one another wrong-except those who believe and do the things that are right; and few indeed are they!" And David perceived that we had tried him; so he asked pardon of his Lord, and fell down and bowed himself and repented.

So we forgave him that his sin; and truly he shall have a high rank with Us, and an excellent retreat in Paradise. O David! verily we have made thee our vicegerent upon earth. Judge therefore between men with truth, and follow not thy passions, lest they cause thee to err from the way of God. For they who err from the way of God shall meet with a grievous chastisement, for that they have forgotten the day of reckoning. We have not created the heaven and the earth and what is between them for nought. That is the thought of infidels; but woe to the infidels because of the fire!

Shall we treat those who believe and do the things that are right like those who propagate evil on earth? Shall we treat the God-fearing like the impious? A blessed Book have we sent down to thee, that men may meditate its verses, and that those endued with understanding may bear it in mind. And Solomon gave we unto David. An excellent servant, for he loved to turn him Godward. Remember when at eventide the prancing chargers were displayed before him, And he said, "Truly I have loved the love of earthly goods above the remembrance of my Lord, till the sun hath been hidden by the veil of darkness.

Bring them back to me." And he began to sever the legs and necks. We also made trial of Solomon, and placed a phantom on his throne: whereupon he returned to Us (in penitence). He said, O my Lord! pardon me, and give me a dominion that may not be to any one beside me, for thou art the liberal giver. So we subjected the wind to him; it ran softly at his bidding, whithersoever he directed it: And the Satans-every builder and diver- And others bound in chains: "This," said we, "is our gift: be bounteous then, or withhold thy favours; no account shalt thou render." And his rank also is high with Us, and an excellent retreat.

And remember our servant Job when he cried to his Lord, "Verily, Satan hath laid on me disease and pain." "Stamp," said we, "with thy foot. This is to wash with; cool, and to drink." And we gave him back his family, and as many more with them in our mercy; and for a monition to men of judgment. And we said, "Take in thine hand a rod, and strike with it, nor break thine oath." Verily, we found him patient! How excellent a servant, one who turned to Us was he! And remember our servants Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, men of might and vision. With this cleansing did we cleanse them the remembrance of the abode of Paradise.

And verily, they were, in our sight, of the elect and of the good. And remember Ishmael and Elisha and Dhoulkefl, for all these were of the just. This is a monition: and verily, the pious shall have a goodly retreat: Gardens of Eden, whose portals shall stand open to them: Therein reclining, they shall there call for many a fruit and drink: And with them shall be virgins of their own age, with modest retiring glances: "This is what ye were promised at the day of reckoning." "Yes! this is our provision: it shall never fail." Even so. But for the evil doers is a wretched home- Hell-wherein they shall be burned: how wretched a bed!

Even so. Let them then taste it-boiling water and gore, And other things of kindred sort! To their leaders it shall be said, "This company shall be thrown in headlong with you. No greetings shall await them, for they shall be burned in the fire." They shall say: "But ye, too! there shall be no welcome for you. It was ye who prepared this for us, and wretched is the abode!" They will say: "O our Lord! increase twofold in the fire, the punishment of him who hath brought this upon us." And they will say: "Why see we not the men whom we numbered among the wicked- Whom we used to treat with scorn? Have they escaped our eyes?"

Verily this is truth-the wrangling together of the people of the fire. SAY: I am but a warner; and there is no God but God the One, the Almighty! Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth, and of all that is between them, the Potent, the Forgiving! SAY: this is a weighty message, From which ye turn aside! Yet had I no knowledge of what passed among the celestial chiefs when they disputed, -Verily, it hath been revealed to me only because I am a public preacher- When thy Lord said to the angels, "I am about to make man of clay, And when I have formed him and breathed my spirit into him, then worshipping fall down before him."

And the angels prostrated themselves, all of them with one accord, Save Eblis. He swelled with pride, and became an unbeliever. "O Eblis," said God, "what hindereth thee from prostrating thyself before him whom my hands have made? Is it that thou are puffed up with pride? or art thou a being of lofty merit?" He said: "I am more excellent than he; me hast thou created of fire: of clay hast thou created him." He said: "Begone then hence: thou art accursed, And lo! my ban shall be on thee till the day of the reckoning." He said: "O my Lord! respite me till the day of Resurrection." He said, "One then of the respited shalt thou be,

Till the day of the time appointed." He said: "I swear by thy might then that all of them will I seduce, Save thy sincere servants among them." He said: "It is truth, and the truth I speak. From thee will I surely fill Hell, and with such of them as shall follow thee, one and all. Say: I ask no wage of you for this, nor am I one who intermeddleth. Of a truth the Koran is no other than a warning to all creatures. And after a time shall ye surely know its message. addenda: This is the usual interpretation. Lit. Lord of, or, possessor of stakes (comp. li. 39 in Ar.), i.e., Forces. Dr. Sprenger ingenuously suggests that Muhammad’s Jewish informant may have described Pharaoh as rich in neçyb, i.e., fortresses; whereas, in Ar., naçyb, means an erection, pillar, etc., for which Muhammad substituted the word for tent stakes. Vol. i. (470).

YA. SIN. By the wise Koran! Surely of the Sent Ones, Thou, Upon a right path! A revelation of the Mighty, the Merciful, That thou shouldest warn a people whose fathers were not warned and therefore lived in heedlessness! Just, now, is our sentence against most of them; therefore they shall not believe. On their necks have we placed chains which reach the chin, and forced up are their heads: Before them have we set a barrier and behind them a barrier, and we have shrouded them in a veil, so that they shall not see. Alike is it to them if thou warn them or warn them not: they will not believe.

Him only shalt thou really warn, who followeth the monition and feareth the God of mercy in secret: him cheer with tidings of pardon, and of a noble recompense. Verily, it is We who will quicken the dead, and write down the works which they have sent on before them, and the traces which they shall have left behind them: and everything have we set down in the clear Book of our decrees. Set forth to them the instance of the people of the city when the Sent Ones came to it. When we sent two unto them and they charged them both with imposture- therefore with a third we strengthened them: and they said, "Verily we are the Sent unto you of God."

They said, "Ye are only men like us: Nought hath the God of Mercy sent down. Ye do nothing but lie." They said, "Our Lord knoweth that we are surely sent unto you; To proclaim a clear message is our only duty." They said, "Of a truth we augur ill from you: if ye desist not we will surely stone you, and a grievous punishment will surely befall you from us." They said, "Your augury of ill is with yourselves. Will ye be warned? Nay, ye are an erring people." Then from the end of the city a man came running: He said, "O my people! follow the Sent Ones;

Follow those who ask not of you a recompense, and who are rightly guided. And why should I not worship Him who made me, and to whom ye shall be brought back? Shall I take gods beside Him? If the God of Mercy be pleased to afflict me, their intercession will not avert from me aught, nor will they deliver: Truly then should I be in a manifest error. Verily, in your Lord have I believed; therefore hear me." -It was said to him, "Enter thou into Paradise:" And he said, "Oh that my people knew How gracious God hath been to me, and that He hath made me one of His honoured ones."

But no army sent we down out of heaven after his death, nor were we then sending down our angels- There was but one shout from Gabriel, and lo! they were extinct. Oh! the misery that rests upon my servants! No apostle cometh to them but they laugh him to scorn. See they not how many generations we have destroyed before them? Not to false gods is it that they shall be brought back, But all, gathered together, shall be set before Us. Moreover, the dead earth is a sign to them: we quicken it and bring forth the grain from it, and they eat thereof: And we make in it gardens of the date and vine; and we cause springs to gush forth in it;

That they may eat of its fruits and of the labour of their hands. Will they not therefore be thankful? Glory be to Him, who hath created all the sexual pairs of such things as Earth produceth, and of mankind themselves; and of things beyond their ken! A sign to them also is the Night. We withdraw the day from it, and lo! they are plunged in darkness; And the Sun hasteneth to her place of rest. This, the ordinance of the Mighty, the Knowing! And as for the Moon, We have decreed stations for it, till it change like an old and crooked palm branch. To the Sun it is not given to overtake the Moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day; but each in its own sphere doth journey on.

It is also a sign to them that we bare their posterity in the full-laden Ark; And that we have made for them vessels like it on which they embark; And if we please, we drown them, and there is none to help them, and they are not rescued, Unless through our mercy, and that they may enjoy themselves for yet awhile. And when it is said to them, Fear what is before you and what is behind you, that ye may obtain mercy. . . . Aye, not one sign from among the signs of their Lord dost thou bring them, but they turn away from it! And when it is said to them, Give alms of what God hath bestowed on you, they who believe not say to the believers, "Shall we feed him whom God can feed if He will? Truly ye are in no other than a plain error."

And they say, "When will this promise be fulfilled, if what ye say be true?" They await but a single blast: as they are wrangling shall it assail them: And not a bequest shall they be able to make, nor to their families shall they return. And the trumpet shall be blown, and, lo! they shall speed out of their sepulchres to their Lord: They shall say, "Oh! woe to us! who hath roused us from our sleeping place? 'Tis what the God of Mercy promised; and the Apostles spake the truth." But one blast shall there be, and, lo! they shall be assembled before us, all together. And on that day shall no soul be wronged in the least: neither shall ye be rewarded but as ye shall have wrought.

But joyous on that day shall be the inmates of Paradise, in their employ; In shades, on bridal couches reclining, they and their spouses: Therein shall they have fruits, and shall have whatever they require- "Peace!" shall be the word on the part of a merciful Lord. "But be ye separated this day, O ye sinners! Did I not enjoin on you, O sons of Adam, 'Worship not Satan, for that he is your declared foe,' But 'Worship Me: this is a right path'? But now hath he led a vast host of you astray. Did ye not then comprehend? This is Hell with which ye were threatened: Endure its heat this day, for that ye believed not."

On that day will we set a seal upon their mouths; yet shall their hands speak unto us, and their feet shall bear witness of that which they shall have done. And, if we pleased, we would surely put out their eyes: yet even then would they speed on with rivalry in their path: but how should they see? And, if we pleased, we would surely transform them as they stand, and they would not be able to move onward, or to return. Him cause we to stoop through age whose days we lengthen. Will they not understand? We have not taught him (Muhammad) poetry, nor would it beseem him. This Book is no other than a warning and a clear Koran,

To warn whoever liveth; and, that against the Infidels sentence may be justly given. See they not that we have created for them among the things which our hands have wrought, the animals of which they are masters? And that we have subjected them unto them? And on some they ride, and of others they eat; And they find in them profitable uses and beverages: Yet have they taken other gods beside God that they might be helpful to them. No power have they to succour them: yet are their votaries an army at their service. Let not their speech grieve thee: We know what they hide and what they bring to light.

Doth not man perceive that we have created him of the moist germs of life? Yet lo! is he an open caviller. And he meeteth us with arguments, and forgetteth his creation: "Who," saith he, "shall give life to bones when they are rotten?" SAY: He shall give life to them who gave them being at first, for in all creation is he skilled: Who even out of the green tree hath given you fire, and lo! ye kindle flame from it. What! must not He who hath created the Heavens and the Earth be mighty enough to create your likes? Yes! and He is the skilful creator. His command when He willeth aught, is but to say to it, BE, and IT IS.

So glory be to Him in whose hand is sway over all things! And to Him shall ye be brought back.

Ha. Mim. By the Luminous Book! We have made it an Arabic Koran that ye may understand: And it is a transcript of the archetypal Book, kept by us; it is lofty, filled with wisdom, Shall we then turn aside this warning from you because ye are a people who transgress? Yet how many prophets sent we among those of old! But no prophet came to them whom they made not the object of their scorn: Wherefore we destroyed nations mightier than these Meccans in strength; and the example of those of old hath gone before! And if thou ask them who created the Heavens and the Earth, they will say: "The Mighty, the Sage, created them both,"

Who hath made the Earth as a couch for you, and hath traced out routes therein for your guidance; And who sendeth down out of Heaven the rain in due degree, by which we quicken a dead land; thus shall ye be brought forth from the grave: And who hath created the sexual couples, all of them, and hath made for you the ships and beasts whereon ye ride: That ye may sit balanced on their backs and remember the goodness of your Lord as ye sit so evenly thereon, and say: "Glory to Him who hath subjected these to us! We could not have attained to it of ourselves:

And truly unto our Lord shall we return." Yet do they assign to him some of his own servants for offspring! Verily man is an open ingrate! Hath God adopted daughters from among those whom he hath created, and chosen sons for you? But when that is announced to any one of them, which he affirmeth to be the case with the God of Mercy, his face settleth into darkness and he is silent-sad. What! make they a being to be the offspring of God who is brought up among trinkets, and is ever contentious without reason? And they make the angels who are the servants of God of Mercy, females. What! did they witness their creation? Their witness shall be taken down, and they shall hereafter be enquired at.

And they say: "Had the God of Mercy so willed it we should never have worshipped them." No knowledge have they in this: they only lie. Have we ere this given them a Book? and do they possess it still? But say they: "Verily we found our fathers of that persuasion, and verily, by their footsteps do we guide ourselves." And thus never before thy time did we send a warner to any city but its wealthy ones said: "Verily we found our fathers with a religion, and in their tracks we tread." SAY,-such was our command to that apostle-"What! even if I bring you a religion more right than that ye found your fathers following?" And they said, "Verily we believe not in your message."

Wherefore we took vengeance on them, and behold what hath been the end of those who treated our messengers as liars! And bear in mind when Abraham said to his father and to his people, "Verily I am clear of what ye worship, Save Him who hath created me; for he will vouchsafe me guidance." And this he established as a doctrine that should abide among his posterity, that to God might they be turned. In sooth to these idolatrous Arabians and to their fathers did I allow their full enjoyments, till the truth should come to them, and an undoubted apostle: But now that the truth hath come to them, they say, "'Tis sorcery, and we believe it not."

And they say, "Had but this Koran been sent down to some great one of the two cities . . .!" Are they then the distributors of thy Lord's Mercy? It is we who distribute their subsistence among them in this world's life; and we raise some of them by grades above others, that the one may take the other to serve him: but better is the mercy of thy Lord than all their hoards. But for fear that all mankind would have become a single people of unbelievers, verily we would certainly have given to those who believe not in the God of Mercy roofs of silver to their houses, and silver stairs to ascend by;

And doors of silver to their houses, and couches of silver to recline on; And ORNAMENTS OF GOLD: for all these are merely the good things of the present life; but the next life doth thy Lord reserve for those who fear Him. And whoso shall withdraw from the Warning of the God of Mercy, we will chain a Satan to him, and he shall be his fast companion: For the Satans will turn men aside from the Way, who yet shall deem themselves rightly guided; Until when man shall come before us, he shall say, "O Satan, would that between me and thee were the distance of the East and West." And a wretched companion is a Satan.

But it shall not avail you on that day, because ye were unjust: partners shall ye be in the torment. What! Canst thou then make the deaf to hear, or guide the blind and him who is in palpable error? Whether therefore we take thee off by death, surely will we avenge ourselves on them; Or whether we make thee a witness of the accomplishment of that with which we threatened them, we will surely gain the mastery over them. Hold thou fast therefore what hath been revealed to thee, for thou art on a right path: For truly to thee and to thy people it is an admonition; and ye shall have an account to render for it at last.

And ask our Sent Ones whom we have sent before thee, "Appointed we gods beside the God of Mercy whom they should worship?" Of old sent we Moses with our signs to Pharaoh and his nobles: and he said, "I truly am the Apostle of the Lord of the worlds." And when he presented himself before them with our signs, lo! they laughed at them, Though we shewed them no sign that was not greater than its fellow: and therefore did we lay hold on them with chastisement, to the intent that they might be turned to God. Then they said, "O Magician! call on thy Lord on our behalf to do as he hath engaged with thee, for truly we would fain be guided."

But when we relieved them from the chastisement, lo! they broke their pledge. And Pharaoh made proclamation among his people. Said he, "O my people! is not the kingdom of Egypt mine, and these rivers which flow at my feet? Do ye not behold? Am I not mightier than this despicable fellow, And who scarce can speak distinctly? Have bracelets of gold then been put upon him, or come there with him a train of Angels?" And he inspired his people with levity, and they obeyed him; for they were a perverse people: And when they had angered us, we took vengeance on them, and we drowned them all. And we made them a precedent and instance of divine judgments to those who came after them.

And when the Son of Mary was set forth as an instance of divine power, lo! thy people cried out for joy thereat: And they said, "Are our gods or is he the better?" They put this forth to thee only in the spirit of dispute. Yea, they are a contentious people. Jesus is no more than a servant whom we favoured, and proposed as an instance of divine power to the children of Israel. (And if we pleased, we could from yourselves bring forth Angels to succeed you on earth:)16 And he shall be a sign of the last hour; doubt not then of it, and follow ye me: this is the right way;

And let not Satan turn you aside from it, for he is your manifest foe. And when Jesus came with manifest proofs, he said, "Now am I come to you with wisdom; and a part of those things about which ye are at variance I will clear up to you; fear ye God therefore and obey me. Verily, God is my Lord and your Lord; wherefore worship ye him: this is a right way." But the different parties fell into disputes among themselves; but woe to those who thus transgressed, because of the punishment of an afflictive day! For what wait they but for the hour "to come suddenly on them, while they expect it not?"

Friends on that day shall become foes to one another, except the God- fearing:- "O my servants! on this day shall no fear come upon you, neither shall ye be put to grief, Who have believed in our signs and become Muslims: Enter ye and your wives into Paradise, delighted." Dishes and bowls of gold shall go round unto them: there shall they enjoy whatever their souls desire, and whatever their eyes delight in; and therein shall ye abide for ever. This is Paradise, which ye have received as your heritage in recompense for your works; Therein shall ye have fruits in abundance, of which ye shall eat. But in the torment of Hell shall the wicked remain for ever:

It shall not be mitigated to them, and they shall be mute for despair therein, For it is not we who have treated them unjustly, but it was they who were unjust to themselves. And they shall cry: "O Malec! would that thy Lord would make an end of us!" He saith: "Here must ye remain." We have come to you with the truth (O Meccans), but most of you abhor the truth. Have they drawn tight their toils for thee? We too will tighten ours. Think they that we hear not their secrets and their private talk? Yes, and our angels who are at their sides write them down.

SAY: If the God of Mercy had a son, the first would I be to worship him: But far be the Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth, the Lord of the Throne, from that which they impute to Him! Wherefore let them alone, to plunge on, and sport, until they meet the day with which they are menaced. He who is God in the Heavens is God in earth also: and He is the Wise, the Knowing. And Blessed be He whose is the kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth and of all that is between them; for with Him is the knowledge of the Hour, and to Him shall ye be brought back.

The gods whom they call upon beside Him shall not be able to intercede for others: they only shall be able who bore witness to the truth and knew it." If thou ask them who hath created them, they will be sure to say, "God." How then hold they false opinions? And one saith, "O Lord! verily these are people who believe not." Turn thou then from them, and say, "Peace:" In the end they shall know their folly.

SAY: It hath been revealed to me that a company of DJINN listened, and said,-"Verily, we have heard a marvellous discourse (Koran); It guideth to the truth; wherefore we believed in it, and we will not henceforth join any being with our Lord; And He,-may the majesty of our Lord be exalted!-hath taken no spouse neither hath he any offspring. But the foolish among us hath spoken of God that which is unjust: And we verily thought that no one amongst men or Djinn would have uttered a lie against God. There are indeed people among men, who have sought for refuge unto people among Djinn: but they only increased their folly:

And they thought, as ye think, that God would not raise any from the dead. And the Heavens did we essay, but found them filled with a mighty garrison, and with flaming darts; And we sat on some of the seats to listen, but whoever listeneth findeth an ambush ready for him of flaming darts. And truly we know not whether evil be meant for them that are on earth, or whether their Lord meaneth guidance for them. And there are among us good, and others among us of another kind;-we are of various sorts: And verily we thought that no one could weaken God on earth, neither could we escape from him by flight:

Wherefore as soon as we had heard 'the guidance' we believed in it; and whoever believeth in his Lord, need not fear either loss or wrong. There are some among us who have resigned themselves to God (the Muslims); and there are others of us who have gone astray. And whoso resigneth himself to God pursueth the way of truth; But they who go astray from it shall be fuel for Hell." Moreover, if they (the Meccans) keep straight on in that way, we will surely give them to drink of abundant waters, That we may prove them thereby: but whoso withdraweth from the remembrance of his Lord, him will He send into a severe torment.

It is unto God that the temples are set apart: call not then on any other therein with God. When the servant of God stood up to call upon Him, the djinn almost jostled him by their crowds. SAY: I call only upon my Lord, and I join no other being with Him. SAY: No control have I over what may hurt or benefit you. SAY: Verily none can protect me against God; Neither shall I find any refuge beside Him. My sole work is preaching from God, and His message: and for such as shall rebel against God and his apostle is the fire of Hell! they shall remain therein alway,-for ever!

Until they see their threatened vengeance they will be perverse! but then shall they know which side was the weakest in a protector and the fewest in number. SAY: I know not whether that with which ye are threatened be nigh, or whether my Lord hath assigned it to a distant day: He knoweth the secret, nor doth He divulge his secret to any, Except to that Apostle who pleaseth Him; and before him and behind him He maketh a guard to march: That He may know if his Apostles have verily delivered the messages of their Lord: and He embraceth in his knowledge all their ways, and taketh count of all that concerneth them.

BLESSED be He is whose hand is the KINGDOM! and over all things is He potent: Who hath created death and life to prove which of you will be most righteous in deed; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving! Who hath created seven Heavens one above another: No defect canst thou see in the creation of the God of Mercy: Repeat the gaze: seest thou a single flaw? Then twice more repeat the gaze: thy gaze shall return to thee dulled and weary. Moreover we have decked the lowest heaven with lights, and have placed them there to be hurled at the Satans, for whom we have prepared the torment of the flaming fire.

And for those who believe not in their Lord is the torment of Hell; and horrid the journey thither! When they shall be thrown into it, they shall hear it braying: and it shall boil- Almost shall it burst for fury. So oft as a crowd shall be thrown into it, its keepers shall ask them, "Came not the warner to you?" They shall say, Yes! there came to us one charged with warnings; but we treated him as a liar, and said, "Nothing hath God sent down: ye are in nothing but a vast delusion." And they shall say, "Had we but hearkened or understood, we had not been among the dwellers in the flames;"

And their sin shall they acknowledge: but, "Avaunt, ye dwellers in the flame." But pardon and a great reward for those who fear their Lord in secret! Be your converse hidden or open, He truly knoweth the inmost recess of your breasts! What! shall He not know who hath created? for He is the Subtil, the Cognizant. It is He who hath made the earth level for you: traverse then its broad sides, and eat of what He hath provided.-Unto Him shall be the resurrection. What! are ye sure that He who is in Heaven will not cleave the Earth beneath you? And lo, it shall quake. Or are ye sure that He who is in Heaven will not send against you a stone- charged whirlwind? Then shall ye know what my warning meant!