Have we sent down unto them any authority, which speaketh of the false G.o.ds which they a.s.sociate with him?

When we cause men to taste mercy, they rejoice therein; but if evil befalleth them, for that which their hands have before committed, behold, they despair.

Do they not see that G.o.d bestoweth provision abundantly on whom he pleaseth, and is sparing unto whom he pleaseth? Verily herein are signs unto people who believe.

Give unto him who is of kin to thee his reasonable due; and also to the poor, and the stranger: this is better for those who seek the face of G.o.d; and they shall prosper.

Whatever ye shall give in usury, to be an increase of men's substance, shall not be increased by the blessing of G.o.d: but whatever ye shall give in alms, for G.o.d'S sake, they shall receive a twofold reward.

40 It is G.o.d who hath created you, and hath provided food for you: hereafter will he cause you to die; and after that will he raise you again to life. Is there any of your false G.o.ds, who is able to do the least of these things?

Praise be unto him; and far be he removed from what they a.s.sociate with him!

Corruption hath appeared by land and by sea, for the crimes which men's hands have committed; that it might make them to taste a part of the fruits of that which they have wrought, that peradventure they might turn from their evil ways.

Say, Go through the earth, and see what hath been the end of those who have been before you: the greater part of them were idolaters.

Set thy face therefore towards the right religion, before the day cometh, which none can put back from G.o.d. On that day shall they be separated into two companies: whoever shall have been an unbeliever, on him shall his unbelief be charged; and whoever shall have done that which is right, shall spread themselves couches of repose in paradise; that he may reward those who shall believe, and work righteousness, of his abundant liberality; for he loveth not the unbelievers.

Of his signs one is, that he sendeth the winds, bearing welcome tidings of rain, that he may cause you to taste of his mercy; and that ships may sail at his command, that ye may seek to enrich yourselves of his abundance by commerce; and that ye may give thanks.

We sent apostles, before thee, unto their respective people, and they came unto them with evident proofs: and we took vengeance on those who did wickedly; and it was inc.u.mbent on us to a.s.sist the true believers.

It is G.o.d who sendeth the winds, and raiseth the clouds, and spreadeth the same in the heaven, as he pleaseth; and afterwards disperseth the same: and thou mayest see the rain issuing from the midst thereof; and when he poureth the same down on such of his servants as he pleaseth, behold, they are filled with joy; although before it was sent down unto them, before such relief, they were despairing.

50 Consider therefore the traces of G.o.d'S mercy; how he quickeneth the earth, after its state of death: verily the same will raise the dead; for he is almighty.

Yet if we should send a blasting wind, and they should see their corn yellow and burnt up, they would surely become ungrateful, after our former favors.

Thou canst not make the dead to hear, neither canst thou make the deaf to neither canst thou direct the blind out of their error: thou shalt make none to hear, except him who shall believe in our signs; for they are resigned unto us.

It is G.o.d who created you in weakness, and after weakness hath given you strength; and after strength, he will again reduce you to weakness, and gray hairs: he createth that which he pleaseth; and he is the wise, the powerful.

On the day whereon the last hour shall come, the wicked will swear that they have not tarried above an hour: in like manner did they utter lies in their lifetime.

But those on whom knowledge hath been bestowed, and faith, will say, Ye have tarried, according to the book of G.o.d, until the day of resurrection; for this is the day of resurrection; but ye knew it not.

On that day their excuse shall not avail those who have acted unjustly; neither shall they be invited any more to make themselves acceptable unto G.o.d.

And now have we propounded unto men, in this Koran, parables of every kind: yet if thou bring them a verse thereof, the unbelievers will surely say, Ye are no other than publishers of vain falsehoods.

Thus hath G.o.d sealed up the hearts of those who believe not: 60 But do thou, O Mohammed, persevere with constancy, for G.o.d is true; and let not those induce thee to waver, who have no certain knowledge.

CHAPTER x.x.xI.

ENt.i.tLED, LOKMAN; REVEALED AT MECCA.

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

A.L.M.

THESE are the signs of the wise book, a direction, and a mercy unto the righteous; who observe the appointed times of prayer, and give alms, and have firm a.s.surance in the life to come: these are directed by their LORD, and they shall prosper.

There is a man who purchaseth a ludicrous story, that he may seduce men from the way of G.o.d, without knowledge, and may laugh the same to scorn: these shall suffer a shameful punishment.

And when our signs are rehea.r.s.ed unto him, he disdainfully turneth his back as though he heard them not, as though there were a deafness in his ears: wherefore denounce unto him a grievous punishment.

But they who shall believe and work righteousness, shall enjoy gardens of pleasure: they shall continue therein forever: this is the certain promise of G.o.d; and he is the mighty, the wise.

10 He hath created the heavens without visible pillars to sustain them, and thrown on the earth mountains firmly rooted, lest it should move with you; and he hath replenished the same with all kinds of beasts; and we send down rain from heaven, and cause every kind of n.o.ble vegetable to spring forth therein.

This is the creation of G.o.d: show me now what they have created, who are worshipped besides him? verily the unG.o.dly are in a manifest error.

We heretofore bestowed wisdom on Lokman, and commanded him, saying, Be thou thankful unto G.o.d: for whoever is thankful, shall be thankful to the advantage of his own soul; and if any shall be unthankful, verily G.o.d is self- sufficient, and worthy to be praised.

And remember when Lokman said unto his son, as he admonished him, Oh my son, give not a partner unto G.o.d; for polytheism is a great impiety.

We have commanded man concerning his parents, (his mother carrieth him in her womb with weakness and faintness, and he is weaned in two years), saying, Be grateful unto me, and to thy parents. Unto me shall all come to be judged.

But if thy parents endeavour to prevail on thee to a.s.sociate with me that concerning which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not: bear them company in this world in what shall be reasonable; but follow the way of him who sincerely turneth unto me. Hereafter unto me shall ye return, and then will I declare unto you that which ye have done.

Oh my son, verily every matter, whether good or bad, though it be of the weight of a grain of mustard-seed, and be hidden in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, G.o.d will bring the same to light; for G.o.d is clear-sighted and knowing.

Oh my son, be constant at prayer, and command that which is just, and forbid that which is evil: and be patient under the afflictions which shall befall thee; for this is a duty absolutely inc.u.mbent on all men.

Distort not thy face out of contempt to men, neither walk in the earth with insolence; for G.o.d loveth no arrogant, vain-glorious person.

And be moderate in thy pace; and lower thy voice; for the most ungrateful of all voices surely is the voice of a.s.ses.

20 Do ye not see that G.o.d hath subjected whatever is in heaven and on earth to your service, and hath abundantly poured on you his favors, both outwardly and inwardly? There are some who dispute concerning G.o.d without knowledge, and without a direction, and without an enlightening book.

And when it is said unto them, Follow that which G.o.d hath revealed, they answer, Nay, we will follow that which we found our fathers to practise.

What, though the devil invite them to the torment of h.e.l.l?

Whosoever resigneth himself unto G.o.d, being a worker of righteousness, taketh hold on a strong handle; and unto G.o.d belongeth the issue of all things.

But whoever shall be an unbeliever, let not his unbelief grieve thee: unto us shall they return; then will we declare unto them that which they have done, for G.o.d knoweth the innermost parts of the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of men.

We will suffer them to enjoy this world for a little while: afterwards we will drive them to a severe punishment.

If thou ask them who hath created the heavens and the earth, they will surely answer, G.o.d. Say, G.o.d be praised! but the greater part of them do not understand.

Unto G.o.d belongeth whatever is in heaven and earth: for G.o.d is the self- sufficient, the praiseworthy.

If whatever trees are in the earth were pens, and he should after that swell the sea into seven seas of ink, the words of G.o.d would not be exhausted; for G.o.d is mighty and wise.

Your creation and your resuscitation are but as the creation and resuscitation of one soul: verily G.o.d both heareth and seeth.

Dost thou not see that G.o.d causeth the night to succeed the day, and causeth the day to succeed the night, and compelleth the sun and the moon to serve you? Each of those luminaries hasteneth in its course to a determined period: and G.o.d is well acquainted with that which ye do.

30 This is declared concerning the divine knowledge and power, for that G.o.d is the true Being, and for that whatever ye invoke, besides him is vanity; and for that G.o.d is the high, the great G.o.d.

Dost thou not see that the ships run in the sea, through the favor of G.o.d, that he may show you of his signs? Verily herein are signs unto every patient, grateful person.

When waves cover them, like overshadowing clouds, they call upon G.o.d, exhibiting the pure religion unto him; but when he bringeth them safe to land, there is of them who halteth between the true faith and idolatry. Howbeit, none rejecteth our signs, except every perfidious, ungrateful person.

O men, fear your LORD, and dread the day whereon a father shall not make satisfaction for his father at all: the promise of G.o.d is a.s.suredly true. Let not this present life, therefore, deceive you; neither let the deceiver deceive you concerning G.o.d.

Verily the knowledge of the hour of judgment is with G.o.d; and he causeth the rain to descend at his own appointed time; and he knoweth what is in the wombs of females. No soul knoweth what it shall gain on the morrow; neither doth any soul know in what land it shall die; but G.o.d is knowing and fully acquainted with all things.

CHAPTER x.x.xII.

ENt.i.tLED, ADORATION; REVEALED AT MECCA.

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

A.L.M.

THE revelation of this book, there is no doubt thereof, is from the LORD of all creatures.

Will they say, Mohammed hath forged it? Nay it is the truth from thy LORD, that thou mayest preach to a people, unto whom no preacher hath come before thee; peradventure they will be directed.

It is G.o.d who hath created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between them, in six days; and then ascended his throne. Ye have no patron or intercessor besides him. Will ye not therefore consider?

He governeth all things from heaven even to the earth: hereafter shall they return unto him, on the day whose length shall be a thousand years, of those which ye compute.

This is he who knoweth the future, and the present; the mighty, the merciful.

It is he who hath made everything which he hath created exceeding good; and first created man of clay, and afterwards made his posterity of an extract of despicable water; and then formed him into proper shape, and breathed of his spirit into him; and hath given you the senses of hearing and seeing, and hearts to understand. How small thanks do ye return!

10 And they say, When we shall lie hidden in the earth, shall we be raised thence a new creature? Yea, they deny the meeting of their LORD at the resurrection.

Say, The angel of death, who is set over you, shall cause you to die: then shall ye be brought back unto your LORD.

If thou couldest see, when the wicked shall bow down their heads before their LORD, saying, O LORD, we have seen, and have heard: suffer us therefore to return into the world, and we will work that which is right; since we are now certain of the truth of what hath been preached to us: thou wouldest see an amazing sight.

If we had pleased we had certainly given unto every soul its direction: but the word which hath proceeded from me must necessarily be fulfilled, when I said, Verily I will fill h.e.l.l with genii and men, altogether.

Taste therefore the torment prepared for you, because ye have forgotten the coming of this your day: we also have forgotten you; taste therefore the punishment of eternal duration, for that which ye have wrought.

Verily they only believe in our signs, who, when they are warned thereby, fall down adoring, and celebrate the praise of their LORD, and are not elated with pride; their sides are raised from their beds, calling on their LORD with fear and with hope; and they distribute alms out of what we have bestowed on them.

No soul knoweth the complete satisfaction which is secretly prepared for them, as a reward for that which they have wrought.

Shall he, therefore, who is a true believer, be as he who is an impious transgressor? They shall not be held equal.

As to those who believe and do that which is right, they shall have gardens of perpetual abode, an ample recompense for that which they shall have wrought: 20 but as for those who impiously transgress, their abode shall be h.e.l.l fire; so often as they shall endeavour to get thereout, they shall be dragged back into the same, and it shall be said unto them, Taste ye the torment of h.e.l.l fire, which ye rejected as a falsehood.

And we will cause them to taste the nearer punishment of this world, besides the more grievous punishment of the next; peradventure they will repent.

Who is more unjust than he who is warned by the signs of his LORD, and then turneth aside from the same? We will surely take vengeance on the wicked.

We heretofore delivered the book of the law unto Moses; wherefore be not thou in doubt as to the revelation thereof: and we ordained the same to be a direction unto the children of Israel; and we appointed teachers from among them, who should direct the people at our command, when they had persevered with patience, and had firmly believed in our signs.

Verily thy LORD will judge between them, on the day of resurrection, concerning that wherein they have disagreed.

Is it not known unto them how many generations we have destroyed before them, through whose dwellings they walk? Verily herein are signs: will they not therefore hearken?

Do they not see that we drive rain unto a land bare of gra.s.s and parched up, and thereby produce corn, of which their cattle eat, and themselves also?

Will they not therefore regard?