This, because G.o.d is truth, and because what they invoke besides him is vanity; and for that G.o.d is the high, the mighty.

Dost thou not see that G.o.d sendeth down water from heaven, and the earth becometh green? for G.o.d is gracious and wise.

Unto him belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth: and G.o.d is self- sufficient, worthy to be praised.

Dost thou not see that G.o.d hath subjected whatever is in the earth to your service, and also the ships which sail in the sea, by his command? And he withholdeth the heaven that it fall not on the earth, unless by his permission: for G.o.d is gracious unto mankind, and merciful.

It is he who hath given you life, and will hereafter cause you to die; afterwards he will again raise you to life, at the resurrection: but man is surely ungrateful.

Unto the professors of every religion have we appointed certain rites, which they observe. Let them not therefore dispute with thee concerning this matter: but invite them unto thy LORD: for thou followest the right direction.

But if they enter into debate with thee, answer, G.o.d well knoweth that which ye do: G.o.d will judge between you on the day of resurrection, concerning that wherein ye now disagree.

70 Dost thou not know that G.o.d knoweth whatever is in heaven and on earth?

Verily this is written in the book of his decrees: this is easy with G.o.d.

They worship, besides G.o.d, that concerning which he hath sent down no convincing proof, and concerning which they have no knowledge: but the unjust doers shall have none to a.s.sist them.

And when our evident signs are rehea.r.s.ed unto them, thou mayest perceive, in the countenances of the unbelievers, a disdain thereof: it wanteth little but that they rush with violence on those who rehea.r.s.e our signs unto them.

Say, Shall I declare unto you a worse thing than this? The fire of h.e.l.l, which G.o.d hath threatened unto those who believe not, is worse; and an unhappy journey shall it be thither.

O men, a parable is propounded unto you; wherefore hearken unto it.

Verily the idols which ye invoke, besides G.o.d, can never create a single fly, although they were all a.s.sembled for that purpose: and if the fly s.n.a.t.c.h anything from them, they cannot recover the same from it. Weak is the pet.i.tioner, and the pet.i.tioned.

They judge not of G.o.d according to his due estimation: for G.o.d is powerful and mighty.

G.o.d chooseth messengers from among the angels, and from among men: for G.o.d is he who heareth and seeth.

He knoweth that which is before them, and that which is behind them: and unto G.o.d shall all things return.

O true believers, bow down, and prostrate yourselves, and worship your LORD; and work righteousness, that ye may be happy: and fight in defence of G.o.d'S true religion, as it behooveth you to fight for the same. He hath chosen you, and hath not imposed on you any difficulty in the religion which he hath given you, the religion of your father Abraham: he hath named you Moslems heretofore, and in this book; that our apostle may be a witness against you at the day of judgment, and that ye may be witnesses against the rest of mankind. Wherefore be ye constant at prayer; and give alms: and adhere firmly unto G.o.d. He is your master; and he is the best master, and the best protector.

CHAPTER XXIII.

ENt.i.tLED, THE TRUE BELIEVERS; REVEALED AT MECCA.

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

NOW are the true believers happy: who humble themselves in their prayer, and who eschew all vain discourse, and who are doers of alms-deeds; and who keep themselves from carnal knowledge of any women except their wives, or the captives which their right hands possess (for as to them they shall be blameless: but whosoever coveteth any woman beyond these, they are transgressors): and who acquit themselves faithfully of their trust, and justly perform their covenant; and who observe their appointed times of prayer: 10 these shall be the heirs, who shall inherit paradise; they shall continue therein forever.

We formerly created man in a finer sort of clay; afterwards we placed him in the form of seed in a sure receptacle: afterwards we made the seed coagulated blood; and we formed the coagulated blood into a piece of flesh: then we formed the piece of flesh into bones: and we clothed those bones with flesh: then we produced the same by another creation. Wherefore blessed be G.o.d, the most excellent Creator!

After this shall ye die: and afterwards shall ye be restored to life, on the day of resurrection.

And we have created over you seven heavens: and we are not negligent of what we have created.

And we send down rain from heaven, by measure; and we cause it to remain on the earth: we are also certainly able to deprive you of the same.

And we cause gardens of palm-trees, and vineyards, to spring forth for you by means thereof; wherein ye have many fruits, and whereof ye eat.

20 And we also raise for you a tree springing from Mount Sinai; which produceth oil, and a sauce for those who eat.

Ye have likewise an instruction in the cattle; we give you to drink of the milk which is in their bellies, and ye receive many advantages from them; and of them do ye eat: and on them, and on ships, are ye carried.

We sent Noah heretofore unto his people, and he said, O my people, serve G.o.d: ye have no G.o.d besides him; will ye therefore not fear the consequence of your worshipping other G.o.ds?

And the chiefs of his people, who believed not, said, This is no other than a man, as ye are: he seeketh to raise himself to a superiority over you.

If G.o.d had pleased to have sent a messenger unto you, he would surely have sent angels: we have not heard this of our fore-fathers.

Verily he is no other than a man disturbed with frenzy: wherefore wait concerning him for a time.

Noah said, O LORD, do thou protect me; for that they accuse me of falsehood.

And we revealed our orders unto him, saying, Make the ark in our sight; and according to our revelation. And when our decree cometh to be executed, and the oven shall boil and pour forth water, carry into it of every species of animals one pair; and also thy family, except such of them on whom a previous sentence of destruction hath pa.s.sed: and speak not unto me in behalf of those who have been unjust; for they shall be drowned.

And when thou and they who shall be with thee shall go up into the ark, say Praise be unto G.o.d, who hath delivered us from the unG.o.dly people!

And say, O LORD, cause me to come down from this ark with a blessed descent; for thou art the best able to bring me down from the same with safety.

30 Verily herein were signs of our omnipotence; and we proved mankind thereby.

Afterwards we raised up another generation after them; and we sent unto them an apostle from among them, who said, Worship G.o.d: ye have no G.o.d besides him; will ye therefore not fear his vengeance?

And the chiefs of his people, who believed not, and who denied the meeting of the life to come, and on whom we had bestowed affluence in this present life, said, This is no other than a man, as ye are; he eateth of that whereof ye eat, and he drinketh of that whereof ye drink: and if ye obey a man like unto yourselves, ye will surely be sufferers.

Doth he threaten you that after ye shall be dead, and shall become dust and bones, ye shall be brought forth alive from your graves?

Away, away with that ye are threatened with!

There is no other life besides our present life: we die, and we live; and we shall not be raised again.

This is no other than a man, who deviseth a lie concerning G.o.d: but we will not believe him.

Their apostle said, O LORD, defend me; for that they have accused me of imposture.

40 G.o.d answered, After a little while they shall surely repent their obstinacy.

Wherefore a severe punishment was justly inflicted on them, and we rendered them like the refuse which is carried down by a stream. Away therefore with the unG.o.dly people!

Afterwards we raised up other generations after them.

No nation shall be punished before their determined time; neither shall they be respited after.

Afterwards we sent our apostles, one after another. So often as their apostle came unto any nation, they charged him with imposture: and we caused them successively to follow one another to destruction; and we made them only subjects of traditional stories. Away therefore with the unbelieving nations!

Afterwards we sent Moses, and Aaron his brother, with our signs and manifest power, unto Pharaoh and his princes: but they proudly refused to believe on him; for they were a haughty people.

And they said, Shall we believe on two men like unto ourselves; whose people are our servants?

And they accused them of imposture: wherefore they became of the number of those who were destroyed.

And we heretofore gave the book of the law unto Moses, that the children of Israel might be directed thereby.

50 And we appointed the son of Mary, and his mother, for a sign: and we prepared an abode for them in an elevated part of the earth, being a place of quiet and security, and watered with running springs.

O apostles, eat of those things which are good; and work righteousness: for I well know that which ye do.

This your religion is one religion; and I am your LORD: wherefore fear me.

But men have rent the affair of their religion into various sects: every party rejoiceth in that which they follow.

Wherefore leave them in their confusion, until a certain time.

Do they think that we hasten unto them the wealth and children which we have abundantly bestowed on them, for their good? But they do not understand.

Verily they who stand in awe, for fear of their LORD, and who believe in the signs of their LORD, and who attribute not companions unto their LORD; 60 and who give that which they give in alms, their hearts being struck with dread, for that they must return unto their LORD: these hasten unto good, and are foremost to obtain the same.

We will not impose any difficulty on a soul, except according to its ability; with us is a book, which speaketh the truth; and they shall not be injured.

But their hearts are drowned in negligence, as to this matter: and they have works different from those we have mentioned; which they will continue to do, until when we chastise such of them as enjoy an affluence of fortune, by a severe punishment, behold, they cry aloud for help: but it shall be answered them, Cry not for help to-day: for ye shall not be a.s.sisted by us.

My signs were read unto you, but ye turned back on your heels: proudly elating yourselves because of your possessing the holy temple; discoursing together by night, and talking foolishly.

Do they not therefore attentively consider that which is spoken unto them; whether a revelation is come unto them which came not unto their fore-- fathers?

Or do they not know their apostle; and therefore reject him?

70 Or do they say, He is a madman? Nay, he hath come unto them with the truth; but the greater part of them detest the truth.

If the truth had followed their desires, verily the heavens and the earth, and whoever therein is, had been corrupted. But we have brought them their admonition; and they turn aside from their admonition.

Dost thou ask of them any maintenance for thy preaching? since the maintenance of thy LORD is better; for he is the most bounteous provider.

Thou certainly invitest them to the right way: and they who believe not in the life to come, do surely deviate from that way.

If we had had compa.s.sion on them, and taken off from them the calamity which had befallen them, they would surely have more obstinately persisted in their error, wandering in confusion.

We formerly chastised them with a punishment: yet they did not humble themselves before their LORD, neither did they make supplications unto him; until, when we have opened upon them a door, from which a severe punishment hath issued, behold they are driven to despair thereat.

It is G.o.d who hath created in you the senses of hearing and of sight, that ye may perceive our judgments, and hearts, that ye may seriously consider them: yet how few of you give thanks!

It is he who hath produced you in the earth; and before him shall ye be a.s.sembled.

80 It is he who giveth life, and putteth to death; and to him is to be attributed the vicissitude of night and day: do ye not therefore understand?

But the unbelieving Meccans say as their predecessors said: they say, When we shall be dead, and shall have become dust and bones, shall we really be raised to life?

We have already been threatened with this, and our fathers also heretofore: this is nothing but fables of the ancients.

Say, Whose is the earth, and whoever therein is, if ye know?

They will answer, G.o.d'S. Say, Will ye not therefore consider?

Say, Who is the LORD of the seven heavens, and the LORD of the magnificent throne?

They will answer, They are G.o.d'S. Say, Will ye not therefore fear him?

Say, In whose hand is the kingdom of all things; who protecteth whom he pleaseth, but is himself protected of none; if ye know?

They will answer, In G.o.d'S. Say, How therefore are ye bewitched?

90 Yea, we have brought them the truth; and they are certainly liars in denying the same.

G.o.d hath not begotten issue; neither is there any other G.o.d with him: otherwise every G.o.d had surely taken away that which he had created; and some of them had exalted themselves above the others. Far be that from G.o.d, which they affirm of him!

He knoweth that which is concealed, and that which is made public: wherefore far be it from him to have those sharers in his honour which they attribute to him!

Say, O LORD, If thou wilt surely cause me to see the vengeance with which they have been threatened; O LORD, set me not among the unG.o.dly people: for we are surely able to make thee see that with which we have threatened them.

Turn aside evil with that which is better: we well know the calumnies which they utter against thee.

And say, O LORD I fly unto thee for refuge, against the suggestions of the devils and I have recourse unto thee, O LORD, to drive them away, that they be not present with me.

The gainsaying of the unbelievers ceaseth not until, when death overtaketh any of them, he saith, O LORD, suffer me to return to life, 100 that I may do that which is right; in professing the true faith which I have neglected. By no means. Verily these are the words which ye shall speak: but behind them there shall be a bar, until the day of resurrection.

When therefore the trumpet shall be sounded, there shall be no relation between them which shall be regarded on that day; neither shall they ask a.s.sistance of each other.