And when Abraham was cast into the burning pile, we said, O fire, be thou cold, and a preservation unto Abraham.

70 And they sought to lay a plot against him: but we caused them to be the sufferers.

And we delivered him, and Lot, by bringing them into the land wherein we have blessed all creatures.

And we bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, as an additional gift: and we made all of them righteous persons.

We also made them models of religion, that they might direct others by our command: and we inspired into them the doing of good works, and the observance of prayer, and the giving of alms; and they served us.

And unto Lot we gave wisdom and knowledge, and we delivered him out of the city which committed filthy crimes; for they were a wicked and insolent people; and we led him into our mercy; for he was an upright person.

And remember Noah, when he called for destruction on his people, before the prophets above mentioned: and we heard him, and delivered him and his family from a great strait: and we protected him from the people who accused our signs of falsehood; for they were a wicked people, wherefore we drowned them all.

And remember David and Solomon, when they p.r.o.nounced judgment concerning a field, when the sheep of certain people had fed therein by night, having no shepherd; and we were witnesses of their judgment: and we gave the understanding thereof unto Solomon. And on all of them we bestowed wisdom, and knowledge. And we compelled the mountains to praise us, with David; and the birds also: and we did this.

80 And we taught him the art of making coats of mail for you, that they may defend you in your wars: will ye therefore be thankful?

And unto Solomon we subjected a strong wind: it ran at his command to the land whereon we had bestowed our blessing: and we knew all things.

And we also subjected unto his command divers of the devils, who might dive to get pearls for him, and perform other work besides this; and we watched over them.

And remember Job; when he cried unto his LORD, saying, Verily evil hath afflicted me: but thou art the most merciful of those who show mercy.

Wherefore we heard him, and relieved him from the evil which was upon him: and we restored unto him his family, and as many more with them, through our mercy, and for an admonition unto those who serve G.o.d.

And remember Ismael, and Edris, and Dhu'lkefl. All these were patient persons; wherefore we led them into our mercy; for they were righteous doers.

And remember Dhu'lnun, when he departed in wrath, and thought that we could not exercise our power over him. And he cried out in the darkness, saying, There is no G.o.d, besides thee: praise be unto thee! Verily I have been one of the unjust.

Wherefore we heard him, and delivered him from affliction; for so do we deliver the true believers.

And remember Zacharias, when he called upon his LORD, saying, O LORD, leave me not childless: yet thou art the best heir.

90 Wherefore we heard him, and we gave him John; and we rendered his wife fit for bearing a child unto him. These strove to excel in good works, and called upon us with love, and with fear; and humbled themselves before us.

And remember her who preserved her virginity, and into whom we breathed of our spirit; ordaining her and her son for a sign unto all creatures.

Verily this your religion is one religion, and I am your LORD; wherefore serve me.

But the Jews and Christians have made schisms in the affair of their religion among themselves; but all of them shall appear before us.

Whosoever shall do good works, being a true believer, there shall be no denial of the reward due to his endeavours; and we will surely write it down unto him.

An inviolable prohibition is laid on every city which we shall have destroyed; for that they shall not return any more into the world, until Gog and Magog shall have a pa.s.sage opened for them, and they shall hasten from every high hill, and the certain promise shall draw near to be fulfilled: and behold, the eyes of the infidels shall be fixed with astonishment, and they shall say, Alas for us! we were formerly regardless of this day; yea, we were wicked doers.

Verily both ye, O men of Mecca, and the idols which ye worship besides G.o.d, shall be cast as fuel into h.e.l.l fire: ye shall go down into the same.

If these were really G.o.ds, they would not go down into the same: and all of them shall remain therein forever.

100 In that place shall they groan for anguish; and they shall not hear ought therein.

As for those unto whom the most excellent reward of paradise hath been predestinated by us, they shall be transported far off from the same; they shall not hear the least sound thereof: and they shall continue forever in the felicity which their souls desire.

The greatest terror shall not trouble them; and the angels shall meet them to congratulate them, saying, This is your day which ye were promised.

On that day we will roll up the heavens, as the angel al Sijil rolleth up the book wherein every man's actions are recorded. As we made the first creature out of nothing, so we will also reproduce it at the resurrection.

This is a promise which it lieth on us to fulfil: we will surely perform it.

And now have we written in the psalms, after the promulgation of the law, that my servants the righteous shall inherit the earth.

Verily in this book are contained sufficient means of salvation, unto people who serve G.o.d.

We have not sent thee, O Mohammed, but as a mercy unto all creatures.

Say, No other hath been revealed unto me, than that your G.o.d is one G.o.d: will ye therefore be resigned unto him?

But if they turn their backs to the confession of G.o.d's unity, say, I proclaim war against you all equally: but I know not whether that which ye are threatened with be nigh, or whether it be far distant.

110 Verily G.o.d knoweth the discourse which is spoken in public; and he also knoweth that which ye hold in private.

I know not but peradventure the respite granted you is for a trial of you; and that he may enjoy the prosperity of this world for a time.

Say, LORD, judge between me and my adversaries with truth. Our LORD is the Merciful; whose a.s.sistance is to be implored against the blasphemies and calumnies which ye utter.

CHAPTER XXII.

ENt.i.tLED, THE PILGRIMAGE; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL G.o.d.

O MEN of Mecca, fear your LORD. Verily the shock of the last hour will be a terrible thing.

On the day whereon ye shall see it, every woman who giveth suck shall forget the infant which she suckleth, and every female that is with young shall cast her burden; and thou shalt see men seemingly drunk, yet they shall not be really drunk: but the punishment of G.o.d will be severe.

There is a man who disputeth concerning G.o.d without knowledge, and followeth every rebellious devil: against whom it is written, that whoever shall take him for his patron, he shall surely seduce him, and shall lead him into the torment of h.e.l.l.

O men, if ye be in doubt concerning the resurrection, consider that we first created you of the dust of the ground; afterwards, of seed; afterwards, of a little coagulated blood; afterwards, of a piece of flesh, perfectly formed in part, and in part imperfectly formed; that we might make our power manifest unto you: and we caused that which we please to rest in the wombs, until the appointed time of delivery. Then we bring you forth infants; and afterwards we permit you to attain your age of full strength: and one of you dieth in his youth, and another of you is postponed to a decrepit age, so that he forgetteth whatever he knew. Thou seest the earth sometimes dried up and barren: but when we send down rain thereon, it is put in motion and swelleth, and produceth every kind of luxuriant vegetables.

This showeth that G.o.d is the truth, and that he raiseth the dead to life, and that he is almighty; and that the hour of judgment will surely come (there is no doubt thereof), and that G.o.d will raise again those who are in the graves.

There is a man who disputeth concerning G.o.d without either knowledge, or a direction, or an enlightening book; proudly turning his side, that he may seduce men from the way of G.o.d.

Ignominy shall attend him in this world; and on the day of resurrection we will make him taste the torment of burning, 10 when it shall be said unto him. This thou sufferest because of that which thy hands have formerly committed; for G.o.d is not unjust towards mankind.

There are some men who serve G.o.d in a wavering manner, standing, as it were, on the verge of the true religion. If good befall one of them, he resteth satisfied therein; but if any tribulation befall him, he turneth himself round, with the loss both of this world, and of the life to come.

This is manifest perdition.

He will call upon that, besides G.o.d, which can neither hurt him, nor profit him. This is an error remote from truth.

He will invoke him who will sooner be of hurt to his worshipper than of advantage. Such is surely a miserable patron, and a miserable companion.

But G.o.d will introduce those who shall believe, and do righteous works, into gardens through which rivers flow; for G.o.d doth that which he pleaseth.

Whoso thinketh that G.o.d will not a.s.sist his apostle in this world, and in the world to come, let him strain a rope towards heaven, then let him put an end to his life, and see whether his devices can render that ineffectual, for which he was angry.

Thus do we send down the Koran, being evident signs: for G.o.d directeth whom he pleaseth.

As to the true believers, and those who Judaize, and the Sabians, and the Christians, and the Magians, and the idolaters; verily G.o.d shall judge between them on the day of resurrection; for G.o.d is witness of all things.

Dost thou not perceive that all creatures both in heaven and on earth adore G.o.d; and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and the beasts, and many men? but many are worthy of chastis.e.m.e.nt: and whomsoever G.o.d shall render despicable, there shall be none to honour; for G.o.d doth that which he pleaseth.

These are two opposite parties, who dispute concerning their LORD. And they who believe not shall have garments of fire fitted unto them: boiling water shall be poured on their heads; 20 their bowels shall be dissolved thereby, and also their skins; and they shall be beaten with maces of iron.

So often as they shall endeavour to get out of h.e.l.l, because of the anguish of their torments, they shall be dragged back into the same; and their tormentors shall say unto them, Taste ye the pain of burning.

G.o.d will introduce those who shall believe, and act righteously, into gardens through which rivers flow: they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and pearls; and their vestures therein shall be silk.

They are directed unto a good saying; and are directed into the honourable way.

But they who shall disbelieve, and obstruct the way of G.o.d, and hinder men from visiting the holy temple of Mecca, which we have appointed for a place of worship unto all men: the inhabitant thereof, and the stranger have an equal right to visit it: and whosoever shall seek impiously to profane it, we will cause him to taste a grievous torment.

Call to mind when we gave the site of the house of the Caaba for an abode unto Abraham, saying, Do not a.s.sociate anything with me; and cleanse my house for those who compa.s.s it, and who stand up, and who bow down to worship.

And proclaim unto the people a solemn pilgrimage; let them come unto thee on foot, and on every lean camel, arriving from every distant road; that they may be witnesses of the advantages which accrue to them from the visiting this holy place, and may commemorate the name of G.o.d on the appointed days, in grat.i.tude for the brute cattle which he hath bestowed on them. Wherefore eat thereof, and feed the needy, and the poor.

Afterwards let them put an end to the neglect of their persons; and let them pay their vows, and compa.s.s the ancient house.

30 This let them do. And whoever shall regard the sacred ordinances of G.o.d; this will be better for him in the sight of his LORD. All sorts of cattle are allowed you to eat, except what hath been read unto you, in former pa.s.sages of the Koran, to be forbidden. But depart from the abomination of idols, and avoid speaking that which is false: being orthodox in respect to G.o.d, a.s.sociating no other G.o.d with him; for whoever a.s.sociateth, any other with G.o.d is like that which falleth from heaven, and which the birds s.n.a.t.c.h away, or the wind bloweth to a far distant place.

This is so. And whoso maketh valuable offerings unto G.o.d; verily they proceed from the piety of men's hearts.

Ye receive various advantages from the cattle designed for sacrifices, until a determined time for slaying them: then the place of sacrificing them is at the ancient house.

Unto the professors of every religion have we appointed certain rites, that they may commemorate the name of G.o.d on slaying the brute cattle which he hath provided for them. Your G.o.d is one G.o.d: wherefore resign yourselves wholly unto him. And do thou bear good tidings unto those who humble themselves; whose hearts, when mention is made of G.o.d, are struck with fear; and unto those who patiently endure that which befalleth them; and who duly perform their prayers, and give alms out of what we have bestowed on them.

The camels slain for sacrifice have we appointed for you as symbols of your obedience unto G.o.d: ye also receive other advantages from them.

Wherefore commemorate the name of G.o.d over them, when ye slay them, standing on their feet disposed in right order: and when they are fallen down dead, eat of them; and give to eat thereof both unto him who is content with what is given him, without asking, and unto him who asketh. Thus have we given you dominion over them, that ye might return us thanks.

Their flesh is not accepted of G.o.d, neither their blood; but your piety is accepted of him. Thus have we given you dominion over them, that ye might magnify G.o.d, for the revelations whereby he hath directed you. And bear good tidings unto the righteous, that G.o.d will repel the ill designs of the infidels from the true believers; for G.o.d loveth not every perfidious unbeliever.

Permission is granted unto those who take arms against the unbelievers, for that they have been unjustly persecuted by them (and G.o.d is certainly able to a.s.sist them): 40 who have been turned out of their habitations injuriously, and for no other reason than because they say, Our LORD is G.o.d. And if G.o.d did not repel the violence of some men by others, verily monasteries, and churches, and synagogues, and the temples of the Moslems, wherein the name of G.o.d is frequently commemorated, would be utterly demolished. And G.o.d will certainly a.s.sist him who shall be on his side: for G.o.d is strong and mighty.

And he will a.s.sist those who, if we establish them in the earth, will observe prayer, and give alms, and command that which is just, and forbid that which is unjust. And unto G.o.d shall be the end of all things.

If they accuse thee, O Mohammed, of imposture; consider that, before them, O Mohammed, of imposture; consider that, before them, the people of Noah, and the tribes of Ad and Thamud, and the people of Abraham, and the people of Lot, and the inhabitants of Madian, accused their prophets of imposture: and Moses was also charged with falsehood. And I granted a long respite unto the unbelievers: but afterwards I chastised them; and how different was the change I made in their condition!

How many cities have we destroyed, which were unG.o.dly, and which are now fallen to ruin on their roofs? And how many wells have been abandoned, and lofty castles?

Do they not therefore journey through the land? And have they not hearts to understand with, or ears to hear with? Surely as to these things their eyes are not blind, but the hearts are blind which are in their b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

They will urge thee to hasten the threatened punishment; but G.o.d will not fail to perform what he hath threatened: and verily one day with thy LORD is as a thousand years, of those which ye compute.

Unto how many cities have I granted respite, though they were wicked?

Yet afterwards I chastised them: and unto me shall they come to be judged at the last day.

Say, O men, verily I am only a public preacher unto you.

50 And they who believe, and do good works, shall obtain forgiveness and an honourable provision.

But those who endeavour to make our signs of none effect shall be the inhabitants of h.e.l.l.

We have sent no apostle, or prophet, before thee, but, when he read, Satan suggested some error in his reading. But G.o.d shall make void that which Satan hath suggested: then shall G.o.d confirm his signs; for G.o.d is knowing and wise.

But this he permitteth, that he may make that which Satan hath suggested, a temptation unto those in whose hearts there is an infirmity, and whose hearts are hardened (for the unG.o.dly are certainly in a wide disagreement from the truth): and that they on whom knowledge hath been bestowed may know that this book is the truth from thy LORD, and may believe therein; and that their hearts may acquiesce in the same: for G.o.d is surely the director of those who believe, into the right way.

But the infidels will not cease to doubt concerning it, until the hour of judgment cometh suddenly upon them; or until the punishment of a grievous day overtake them.

On that day the kingdom shall be G.o.d'S: he shall judge between them. And they who shall have believed, and shall have wrought righteousness, shall be in gardens of pleasure; but they who shall have disbelieved, and shall have charged our signs with falsehood, those shall suffer a shameful punishment.

And as to those who shall have fled their country for the sake of G.o.d'S true religion, and afterwards shall have been slain, or shall have died; on them will G.o.d bestow an excellent provision; and G.o.d is the best provider.

He will surely introduce them with an introduction with which they shall be well pleased; for G.o.d is knowing and gracious.

60 This is so. Whoever shall take a vengeance equal to the injury which hath been done him, and shall afterwards be unjustly treated; verily G.o.d will a.s.sist him: for G.o.d is merciful, and ready to forgive.

This shall be done, for that G.o.d causeth the night to succeed the day, and he causeth the day to succeed the night; and for that G.o.d both heareth and seeth.