When your Lord inspired the angels—‘ Verily, I am with you; make ye firm then those who believe; I will cast dread into the hearts of those who misbelieve,—strike off their necks then, and strike off from them every finger tip.’
1 The occasion alluded to was one when Mohammed had made preparations for attacking an unarmed caravan on its way from Syria to Mecca, when Abu Sufian, who was in charge of it, sent to Mecca and obtained an escort of nearly a thousand men; many of Mohammed’s followers wished to attack the caravan only, but the prophet and his immediate followers were for throwing themselves on the escort.
* The Muslims were fewer in number than the enemy, and the latter had command of the water, at both of which circumstances their hearts sank. In the night, however, rain fell, refreshed them and supplied their wants.
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That is, because they went into opposition against God and His Apostle; for he who ‘goes into opposition against God and His Apostle—verily, God is keen to punish.
There, taste it! since for the misbelievers is the torment of the Fire.
[15] O ye who believe! when ye meet those who misbelieve in swarms, turn not to them your hinder parts; for he who turns to them that day his hinder parts, save turning to fight or rallying to a troop, brings down upon himself wrath from God, and his resort is hell, and an ill journey shall it be!
Ye did not slay them, but it was God who slew them; nor didst thou shoot when thou didst shoot, but God did shoot !, to try the believers from Himself with a goodly trial; verily, God both hears and knows. There! verily, God weakens the stratagem of the misbelievers..
If ye wish? the matter to be decided, a decision has now come to you ; but if ye desist, it.is better for you; and if ye turn back we will turn too, and your troop shall avail nothing, great in number though it be, since God is with the believers !
[20] O ye who believe! obey God and His Apostle, and turn not from Him while ye hear, and be not like those who say, ‘ We hear,’ and yet they hear not.
Verily, the worst of beasts in God's sight are the deaf, the dumb who do not understand. Had God
1 Alluding to the alleged miracle of the gravel thrown into the eyes of the Qurdis at the battle of Bedr, to which the Muslim victory was due.
2 An address to the Meccans who, when threatened with an attack from Mohammed, took sanctuary in the Kaabah, and prayed to God that if they were right He would help them, but that if Mohammed was in the right He would help him.
166 THE QuR’AN. VIII, 23-31.
known any good in them, He would have made them hear; but had He made them hear, they would have turned back and have swerved aside.
166 THE QuR’AN. VIII, 23-31.
known any good in them, He would have made them hear; but had He made them hear, they would have turned back and have swerved aside.
O ye who believe! answer God and His Apostle when He calls you to that which quickens you; and know that God steps in between man and his heart ; and that to Him ye shall be gathered. [25] And fear temptation, which will not light especially on those of you who have done wrong ; but know that God is keen to punish.
Remember when ye were few in number and weak in the land, fearing lest peaple should snatch you away; then He sheltered you and aided you with victory, and provided you with good things; haply ye may give thanks,
O ye who believe! -be not treacherous to God and His Apostle; nor be treacherous to your engagement while ye know!
Know that your wealth and your children are but a temptation, and that God—with Him is mighty hire!
O ye who believe! if ye fear God He will make for you a discrimination!, and will cover for you your offences, and will forgive you; for God is Lord of mighty grace.
[30] And when:those who misbelieve were crafty with thee to detain thee a prisoner, or kill thee, or drive thee forth; they were crafty, but God was crafty too, for God is best of crafty ones!
But when our verses were rehearsed to them they said, ‘We have already heard.—If we pleased we could speak like this; verily, this is nothing but tales of those of yore.’
* Here used in the sense of victory.
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When they said, ‘O God! if this be truth, and from Thee, then rain upon us stones from heaven or bring us grievous woe!’
But God would not torment them while thou art amongst them; nor was God going to torment them while they asked Him to forgive. But what ails them that God should not torment them while they turn folk away frem the Holy Mosque, though they are not the guardians thereof—its guardians are only the pious ?—but most of them know not.
[35] Their prayer at the House was naught but whistling and clapping hands !—taste then the torment for that ye misbelieved!
Verily, those who misbelieve expend their wealth to turn folk from the path of God; but they shall spend it, and then it shall be for them sighing, and then they shall be overcome! Those who misbelieve, into hell shall they be gathered!—that God may distinguish the vile from the good, and may put the vile, some on the top of the other, and heap all up together, and put it into hell!—These are those who lose !
Say to those who misbelieve, if they desist they will be forgiven what is past; but if they return,— the course of those of former days has passed away’.
[40] Fight them then that there should be no sedition, and that the religion may be wholly God’s ; but if they desist, then God on what they do doth look. But if they turn their backs, then know that God is your Lord; a good Lord is He, and a good help; and know that whenever ye seize anything as
[40] Fight them then that there should be no sedition, and that the religion may be wholly God’s ; but if they desist, then God on what they do doth look. But if they turn their backs, then know that God is your Lord; a good Lord is He, and a good help; and know that whenever ye seize anything as
1 That is, they have the doom of former people as a warning and an example.
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a spoil, to God belongs a fifth thereof, and to His Apostle, and to kindred and orphans, and the poor and the wayfarer ; if ye believe in God and what we have revealed unto our servants on the day of the discrimination,—the day when the two parties met; and God is mighty over all. When ye were on the near side of the valley, and they were on the far side, and the camels were below you; had ye made an appointment then ye would have failed to keep your appointment—but it was that God might accomplish a thing that was as good as done! that he who was to perish might perish with a manifest sign ; and that he who was to live might live with a manifest sign ; for, verily, God hears and knows!
[45] When God showed thee them in thy dream as though they were but few; but had He shown thee them as though they were many, ye would have been timid, and ye would have quarrelled about the matter ; —but God preserved you; verily, He knows the nature of men’s breasts!
And when He showed them to you, as ye encountered them, as few in your eyes; and made you seem few in their eyes; that God might accomplish a thing that was as good as done; for unto God do things return!
O ye who believe! when ye encounter a troop, then stand firm and remember God; and haply ye may prosper! and fear God and His Apostle, and do not quarrel or be timid, so that your turn of luck go from you; but be ye patient, verily, God is with the patient. And be not like those who went forth from their homes with insolence, and for appearance sake
1 That is, had ye agreed to attack them.
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before men, and to turn folks off God’s way; for all they do God comprehends.
[50] And when Satan made their works appear seemly to them, and said, ‘ There is none amongst mankind to conquer you to-day, for, verily, I am your neighbour!’ and when the two troops came in sight of each other, he turned upon his heels and said, ‘Verily, I am clear of you! verily, I see what you see not?! verily, I fear God, for God is keen to punish !’
And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was sickness said, ‘Their religion hath beguiled these men?, but he who relies upon God, verily, God is mighty and wise.’
Couldst thou see when the angels take away the souls of those who misbelieve ; they smite them on their faces and hinder parts.—‘ Taste ye the torment of burning! that is for what your hands have sent ‘on before; and for that God is no unjust one towards his servants.’
that is for what your hands have sent ‘on before; and for that God is no unjust one towards his servants.’
As was the wont of Pharaoh’s people and those before them! they disbelieved in the signs of God, and God overtook them in their sins ; verily, God is strong and keen to punish.
[55] That is because God is not one to change a favour He has favoured a people with, until they change what they have in themselves, and for that God both hears and knows.-
As was the wont of Pharaoh’s people and those before them! they said our signs were lies, and we destroyed them in their sins, and drowned
1 The angels who were fighting on the Muslim side. ® Le. beguiled them into attacking a force superior in numbers.
170 THE QuR’AN. VIII, 56-66.
Pharaoh’s people; and all of them were evildoers.
Verily, the worst of -beasts in God’s eyes are those who misbelieve and will not believe; with whom if thou dost make a league, they break their league each time, for they fear not God; but shouldst thou ever catch them in war, then make those who come after them run by their example !, haply they may remember then.
[60] And shouldst thou ever fear from any people treachery, then throw it back to them in like manner; verily, God loves not the treacherous. Deem not that those who-misbelieve can win ; verily, they cannot make (God) powerless !
Prepare ye against them what foree and companies of horse ye can, to make the enemies of God, and your enemies, and others beside them, in dread thereof. Ye do not know them, but God knows them! and whatever ye expend in God's way He will repay you; and ye shall not be wronged. But if they incline to peace, incline thou to it too, and rely upon God; verily, He both hears and knows.
But if they wish to betray thee, then God is enough for thee! He it is who supports thee with His help and with the believers; and reconciles their hearts! Didst thou expend all that is in the earth thou couldst not reconcile their hearts, but God reconciled them, verily, He is mighty and wise!
[65] O thou prophet! God is sufficient for thee, with those of the believers who follow thee! O thou
? That is, make them an example to all future opponents by the severity of thy dealing with them.
VIII, 66-73. THE CHAPTER OF THE SPOILS. I7I
prophet! urge on the believers to fight. If there be of you twenty patient men, they shall conquer two hundred ; if there be of you a hundred, they shall conquer a thousand of those who misbelieve, because they are a people who did not discern. Now has God made it light for you; He knows that there is a weakness amongst you: but if there be amongst you but a patient hundred, they will conquer two hundred ; and if there be of you a thousand, they will conquer two thousand, by the permission of God,—for God is with the patient!
Now has God made it light for you; He knows that there is a weakness amongst you: but if there be amongst you but a patient hundred, they will conquer two hundred ; and if there be of you a thousand, they will conquer two thousand, by the permission of God,—for God is with the patient!
It has not been for any prophet to take captives until he hath slaughtered in the land! Ye wish to have the goods of this world, but God wishes for the next, for God is mighty, wise! Were it not for a book from God that had gone before, there would have touched you, for that which ye took, a mighty punishment’.
Eat of what spoils ye have taken, what is lawful and good; and fear God, verily, (God is forgiving and merciful.
[70] O thou prophet! say to such of the captives as are in your hands, ‘If God knows of any good in your hearts, he will give you better than that which is taken from you, and will forgive you; for God is forgiving and merciful.’
But if they desire to betray thee,—they have betrayed God before! but He hath given you power over them; for God is knowing, wise !
Verily, those who believe and have fled and
1 Mohammed here blames them for having accepted ransom from the captives which they took at the battle of Bedr; but acknowledges that previously revealed passages of the. Qur’an did in the strict letter allow of such ransom being taken.
172 THE QuR’AN. VIII, 73-IX, 1.
fought strenuously with their wealth and persons in God's way, and those who have given refuge? and help, these shall be next of kin to each other %. But those who believe, but have not fled, ye have naught to do with their claims of kindred, until they flee as well. But if they ask you for aid for religion’s sake, then help is due from you, except against a people between whom and you there is an alliance ; for God on what ye do doth look.
And those who misbelieve, some of them are next of kin to others—unless ye act the same there will be sedition in the land, and great corruption.
[75] Those who believe and have fled and fought strenuously in God’s cause, and those who have given a refuge and a help, those it is who believe ; to them is forgiveness and generous provision due. And those who have believed afterwards and have fled and fought strenuously with you; these too are of you, but blood relations are nearer in kin. by the Book of God. Verily, God all things doth know.
Tue CuHaPrteR OF REPENTANCE OR IMMUNITY. (1X. Medinah.)
An immunity from God and His Apostle to those idolaters with whom ye have made a league *.
' To the prophet.
? The Ans&rs and Muhagerin, that is, those who lent aid to, and those who fled with Mohammed were at first regarded as next of kin and heirs to each other’s property to the exclusion of blood relationship, until the above passage was abrogated by the last words of this chapter.
8 This chapter is without the initial formula ‘In the name of God,’ &c. The Caliph Othman said that the omission arose from
8 This chapter is without the initial formula ‘In the name of God,’ &c. The Caliph Othman said that the omission arose from
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Roam ye at large in the land for four months, but know that ye cannot make God helpless, and that God disgraces the misbelievers.
A proclamation from God and His Apostle to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage, that God is clear of the idolaters as is His Apostle! If then ye repent it is better for you; but if ye turn your backs, then know that ye cannot make God helpless. Give to those who misbelieve glad tidings of grievous woe!— Except to those of the idolaters with whom ye have made a league, and who then have not failed you at all, and have not backed up any one against you. Fulfil for them then your covenant until the time agreed upon with them; verily, God loves those who fear.
[5] But when the sacred months are passed away, kill the idolaters wherever ye may find them; and take them, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in every place of observation; but if they repent, and are steadfast in prayer, and give alms, then let them go their way; verily, God is forgiving and merciful.
And if any one of the idolaters ask thee for aid, then aid him, in order that he may hear the word of God; then let him reach his place of safety,— that is, because they are a folk who do not know.
How can there be for the idolaters a treaty with God and with His Appstle, save those with whom ye have made a league at the Sacred Mosque!
its having been revealed shortly before Mohammed’s death, who left no instructions on the subject. But some commentators assert that it arises from its having originally formed part of the previous chapter.
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Then while they stand by you, stand ye by them ; verily, God loves those who fear.
How !—if they prevail against you, they will not observe either ties of blood or ties of clientship; they please you with their mouths, but their hearts refuse; and most of them do work abomination. They barter God’s signs for a little price, and they turn folk from His way; verily, they—evil is that which they have done.
[10] They will not observe in a believer ties of kindred nor ties of clientship; but they it is are the transgressors.
But if they repent and are steadfast in prayer and give alms, then they are your brethren in religion—we detail the signs unto a people that do know.
But if they break faith with you after their treaty, and taunt your religion, then fight the leaders of misbelief ; verily, they have no faith, haply they may desist.
But if they break faith with you after their treaty, and taunt your religion, then fight the leaders of misbelief ; verily, they have no faith, haply they may desist.
Will ye not fight a people who broke their oaths, and intended to expel the Apostle ? They began with you at first, are ye afraid of them? God is more deserving that ye should fear Him! If ye be believers, kill them! God will torment them by your hands, and disgrace them, and aid you against them, and heal the breasts of a people who believe ; [15] and will remove rage from their hearts; for God turns unto Him whomsoever He pleases, and God is knowing, wise!
Did ye reckon that ye would be left, when God knows not as yet those of you who fought strenuously, and who did not take other than God and His Apostle, and the believers for an intimate friend ?
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for God is well aware of what ye do. It is not for idolaters to repair to the mosques of God, bearing witness against themselves to unbelief ; they it is whose works are vain, and in the Fire shall they dwell for aye!
He only shall repair to. the mosques of God who believes in God and the last day, and is steadfast in prayer, and gives the alms, and fears only God; —it may be that these will be of those who are guided.
Have ye made out the giving drink to the pilgrims and the repairing to the Sacred Mosque? to be like being one who believes in God and in the last day, and is strenuous in the way of God? —they are not equal in God's sight, and God guides not an unjust people.
[20] Those who believe and who have fled and been strenuous in-the way of God, with their wealth and with their persons, are highest in rank with God, and these it is who are happy. Their Lord gives them glad tidings of mercy from Himself, and goodwill; and gardens shall they have therein and lasting pleasure, to dwell therein for aye! Verily, God, with Him is mighty here.
O ye who believe! take not your fathers and your brothers for patrons if they love misbelief rather than faith; for whosoever amongst you takes them for patrons these are the unjust.
Say, ‘If your fathers, and your sons, and your brethren, and your wives, and your clansmen, and
2 Abu ’1‘Abb4s, Mohammed’s uncle, when taken prisoner and reproached with his unbelief, appealed to his having performed these duties as entitling him to as much consideration as if he had professed Islém.
176 THE QuR’AN. IX, 24-29.
the wealth which ye have gained, and the merchandise which ye fear may be slack, and the dwellings which ye love are dearer to you than God and His Apostle, and than fighting strenuously in His way,—then wait awhile, until God brings His bidding, for God guides not a people who work abomination |’
[25] God has helped you in many a place, and on the day of ‘Honein? when ye were so pleased with your numbers; but it did not serve you at all, and the road grew too strait for you, where it had been broad; and then ye turned your backs retreating; then God sent down His shechina? upon His Apostle and upon the believers; and sent down armies which ye could not see, and punished those who misbelieved; for that is the reward of the misbelievers, then God turns after that to whom He will, for God is forgiving and merciful !
O ye who believe! it is only the idolaters who are unclean; they shall not then approach the Sacred Mosque after this year. But if ye fear want® then God will enrich you from His grace if He will; verily, God is knowing, wise!
Fight those who believe not in God and in the last day, and who forbid not what God and His Apostle have forbidden, and who do not practice
1 ‘Honein is the name of a valley about three miles to the north-east of Mecca, where, in the eighth year of the Flight, a battle took place between Mohammed and his followers with an army of twelve thousand men, and two tribes of idolatrous Arabs. Too confident in their numbers the Moslems at first received a check, but were rallied by Mohammed and his immediate followers and kindred.
2 See p. 38, note 2.
5 That is, from the stoppage of traffic and merchandise.
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the religion of truth from amongst those to whom the Book has been brought, until they pay the tribute by their hands and be as little ones.
[30] The Jews say Ezra is the son of God; and the Christians say that the Messiah is the son of God; that is what they say with their mouths, imitating the sayings of those who misbelieved before—God fight them! how they lie?!
They take their doctors and their monks for lords? rather than God, and the Messiah the son of Mary; but they are bidden to worship but one God, there is no god but He; celebrated be His praise, from what they join with Him!
They desire to put out the light of God with their mouths, but God will not have it but that we should perfect His light, averse although the misbelievers be!
He it is who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it prevail over every other religion, averse although idolaters may be!
O ye who believe! verily, many of the doctors and the monks devour the wealth of men openly, and turn folk from God’s way; but those who store -up gold and silver and expend it not in God’s way,
O ye who believe! verily, many of the doctors and the monks devour the wealth of men openly, and turn folk from God’s way; but those who store -up gold and silver and expend it not in God’s way,
1 The Moslem tradition is that Ezra, after being dead 100 years, was raised to life, and dictated from memory the whole of the Jewish Scriptures which had been lost during the captivity, and that the Jews said he could not have done this unless he had been the son of God. There is no Jewish tradition whatever in support of this accusation of Mohammed’s, which probably was entirely due to his own invention or to misinformation. Bdéidavi, the wellknown commentator, says that it must have been true because the Jews themselves, to whom the passage was read, did not deny it.
3 Alluding to the word rabbi, which in Arabic is applied to God alone.
[6] N
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—give them glad tidings of grievous woe! [35] On the day when it shall be heated in the fire of hell, and their brows shall be branded therewith, and their sides and their backs !—‘ This is what ye stored up for yourselves, taste then what ye stored up!’
Verily, the number of months with God is twelve months in God’s Book, on the day when He created the heavens and the earth; of these are four that are sacred; that is the subsisting religion. Then do not wrong yourselves therein, but fight the idolaters one and all, as they fight you one and all, and know that God is with those who fear.
Verily, putting off is but an increase in misbelief 1 to lead astray therewith those who misbelieve. They make it lawful one year, but they make it unlawful another year, that they may come to an understanding as to the number which God has made sacred, and make lawful what God has prohibited. Seemly to them are their evil works, but God guides not a misbelieving people.
O ye who believe! what ailed you when ye were told to march forth in God’s way, that ye sank down heavily upon the earth? were ye content with the life of this world instead of the next? but the provision. of this world’s life is but a little to the next. Unless ye march forth He will punish you with grievous woe, and will put in your stead a people other than. you! ye cannot hurt Him at all, for God is mighty over all !
1 The pagan Arabs used to put off the observance of a sacred month when it was inconvenient to them and observe another instead ; this Mohammed deprecates.
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you! ye cannot hurt Him at all, for God is mighty over all !
1 The pagan Arabs used to put off the observance of a sacred month when it was inconvenient to them and observe another instead ; this Mohammed deprecates.
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[40] Unless ye . help him !— and God did d help him, when those who misbelieved drove him forth the second of two*, When they twain were in the cave; when he said to his comrade, ‘ Grieve not, verily, God is with us;’ and God sent down His shechina upon him, and aided him with hosts ye could not see, and made the word of those who misbelieved inferior, and the word of God superior ; for God is mighty and wise. March ye then, light and heavy, and fight strenuously with your wealth and persons in God’s way; that is better for you if ye did but know!
Were there goods nigh at hand, and a moderate journey, they would have followed you; but the distance was too far for them; they will swear by God, ‘If we could, we would have gone forth with you. They destroy themselves, but God knows that they lie!
God forgive thee; why didst thou give them leave (to stay) until it was made manifest to thee who spake the truth—until thou mightest know the liars ?
Those who believe in God and in the last day will not beg off from fighting strenuously with their wealth and their persons; but God knows those who fear.
[45] It is only those who believe not in God and in the last day who beg off from thee, and those whose hearts are in doubt, and in their doubt do hesitate.
Had they wished to go forth, they would have prepared for it a preparation; but God was averse
1 The prophet. ? That is, with only one companion, namely Abubekr.
N 2
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from their starting off, and made them halt, and they were told to sit with those who sit. Had they gone forth with you they would but have made you more trouble, and they would have hurried about amongst you craving a sedition; amongst you are some who would have listened to them; but God knows those who are unjust! They used to crave sedition before and upset thy affairs; until the truth came, and God’s bidding was made manifest, averse although they were.
Of them are some who say, ‘ Permit me!, and do not try me!’ Have they not fallen into the trial already, but hell shall encompass the misbelievers.
[50] If good befall thee it seems ill to them; but if a calamity befall thee they say, ‘We had taken care for our affair before;’ and they turn their backs and they are glad.
Say, ‘ Nought shall befall us save what God has written down for us; He is our Lord, and upon God believers do rely!’
Say, ‘Do ye await for us aught but one of the two best things??’ we too await for you that God will inflict on you torment from Himself, or by our hands, Wait then; and we with you are waiting too!
Say, ‘Expend ye in alms, whether ye will or no, it shall not be accepted from you; verily, ye are a people who do work abomination.’
Say, ‘Expend ye in alms, whether ye will or no, it shall not be accepted from you; verily, ye are a people who do work abomination.’
But nought hinders their alms-giving from being accepted save that they misbelieve in God and His Apostle, and perform not prayer save lazily, and expend not in alms save reluctantly,
1 That is, excuse me from the fighting in the cause of religion. 7 Te victory or martyrdom.
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[55] Let not their wealth please you nor their children, God only wishes to torment them therewith in the life of this world, and that their souls may pass away while still they misbelieve.
They swear by God that, verily, they are of you; but they are not of you, and they are a people who do stand aside in fear. Could they but have found a refuge, or some caves, or a place in which to creep, they would have turned round in haste thereto.
Of them are some who defame thee, with respect to alms; though if they are given a part thereof, they are content; and if they are not given a part thereof, then are they in a rage. Would that they were content with what God and His Apostle had brought them, and would say, ‘God is enough for us! God will bring us of His. grace, and so will His Apostle; verily, unto God is our desire!’
[60] Alms are only for the poor and needy, and those who work for them’, and those whose hearts are reconciled, and those in captivity, and those in debt, and those who are on God’s path, and for the wayfarer ;—an ordinance this from God, for God is knowing, wise.
And of them are some who.are by the ears® with the prophet, and say, ‘ He is alkear.’ Say, ‘An ear of good for you!’ he believes in God, and believes in those who do believe, and is a mercy unto such of you as believe; but those who are by the ears with the Apostle of God, for them is grievous woe!
1 Le. in collecting or distributing them.
2 Reconciled, that is, to Islam.
* That is, reproach or quarrel with the prophet; I have used the old fashion English expression in order to preserve the pun upon the word ear which exists in the original.
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They swear by God to please you; but God and His Apostle are more worthy for them to please if they be believers. Do they not know that whoso setteth himself against God and His Apostle, for him is the fire of hell, to dwell therein for aye? and that is mighty shame!
[65] The hypocrites are cautious lest there be revealed against them a sfrah? to inform them of what is in their hearts; say, ‘Mock ye! verily, God will bring forth that of which ye are so cautious!’ But if thou shouldst ask them, they will say, ‘We did but discuss and jest;’ say, ‘Was it at God and His signs, and His Apostle, that ye mocked ?’
Make no excuse! Ye have misbelieved after your faith ; if we forgive one sect of you, we will torment another sect, for that they sinned!
Ye have misbelieved after your faith ; if we forgive one sect of you, we will torment another sect, for that they sinned!
The hypocrites, men and women, some of them follow others, bidding what is wrong and forbidding what is right, and they clench their hands» They forget God and He forgets them! Verily, the hypocrites, they are the doers of abomination!
God has promised unto the hypocrites, men and women, and unto the misbelievers, hell-fire, to dwell therein for aye; it is enough for them! God shall curse them, and theirs shall be. enduring woe.
[7o] Ye are like those who were before you. They were stronger than you and more abundant in wealth and children; they enjoyed their portion then, and ye enjoy your portion, as they enjoyed their portion before you; and ye discuss as they
1 Chapter of the Qur’4n. 2 T.e. are niggardly and refuse to give alms.
IX, 70-7g. THE CHAPTER OF REPENTANCE. 183 discussed. Their works are vain in this world and the next, and they it is who lose.
Did there not come to them the declaration of those who were before them ? of the people of Noah and ‘Ad and Tham(d, and of the people of Abraham, and the people of Midian ? and of the overturned (cities)? Their apostles came to them with manifest signs ; for God would not wrong them, but it was themselves they wronged.
And the believers, men and women, are some the patrons of others; they bid what is reasonable, and forbid what is wrong, and are steadfast in prayer, and give alms, and obey God and His Apostle. On these will God have mercy; verily, God is mighty, wise!
God has promised to believers, men and women, gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye; and goodly places in the garden of Eden, But good-will from God is the greatest of all! that is the mighty happiness!
O thou prophet! strive strenuously against the misbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern against them; for their resort is hell, and an ill journey shall it be.
[75] They swear by God they did not speak it, but they did speak the word of misbelief; and they _disbelieved after they had embraced Islam, and they designed what they could not attain; and they only disapproved it because God and His Apostle had enriched them of His grace *. If they turn again tis
1 Sodom and Gomorrah.
* A plot had been set afoot at Medinah to kill Mohammed, and was only abandoned because of the increased trade and prosperity which Mohammed’s residence then brought.
184 THE QuR’AN. IX, 75-82.
better for them; but if they turn their backs, God will torment them with mighty woe in this world and in the next, nor shall they have upon the earth. a patron or protector.
184 THE QuR’AN. IX, 75-82.
better for them; but if they turn their backs, God will torment them with mighty woe in this world and in the next, nor shall they have upon the earth. a patron or protector.
And of them are some who make a treaty with God, that ‘If He bring us of His grace, we will give alms and we will surely be among the righteous.’ But when He gave them of His grace they were niggardly thereof, and turned their backs and swerved aside. So He caused hypocrisy to pursue them in their hearts unto the day when they shall meet Him,—for that they did fail God in what they promised Him, and for that they were liars !
Do they not know that God knows their secrets and their whisperings, and that God knows the unseen things ?
[80] Those who defame such of the believers as willingly give their alms, and such. as can find nothing to give but their exertions, and who mock at them,—God will mock at them, and for them is grievous woe!
Ask forgiveness for them or ask not forgiveness for them! if they shouldst ask forgiveness for them seventy times, yet would not God forgive them ; that is because they disbelieved in God and His Apostle, for God guides not a people who work abomination.
‘Those who were left behind? rejoiced in staying behind the Apostle of God, and were averse from fighting strenuously with their wealth and _ their persons in God’s way, and said, ‘March not forth in the heat. Say, ‘The fire of hell is hotter still, .
* At the battle of Tabdk.
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if ye could but discern!’ Let them then laugh little, and let them weep much, as a recompense for that which they have earned!
But if God bring thee back to a sect of them, and they ask thee then for leave to sally forth; say, ‘Ye shall by no means ever sally forth with me, nor shall ye ever fight a foe with me! verily, ye were content to sit at home the first time, sit ye then now with those who stay behind.’
[85] Pray not for any one of them who dies, and stand not by his tomb; verily, they disbelieved in God and His Apostle and died workers of abomination!
Let not their wealth and their children please you, God only wishes to torment them therewith in this world, and that their souls may pass away the while they misbelieve.
_ Whenever a sfirah is sent down to them, ‘ Believe ye in God, and fight strenuously together with His Apostle, those of them who have the means will ask thee for leave to stay at home and say, ‘Let us be amongst those who stay behind.’ They are content to be with those who are left behind. A stamp is set upon their hearts that they should not discern.
But the Apostle and those who believe with him are strenuous with their wealth and with their persons; these shall have good things, and these it is shall prosper.
[90] God has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye; that is the mighty happiness!
But the Apostle and those who believe with him are strenuous with their wealth and with their persons; these shall have good things, and these it is shall prosper.
[90] God has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye; that is the mighty happiness!
There came certain desert Arabs that they might be excused ; and those stayed behind who had called
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God and His Apostle liars. There shall befall those of them who misbelieved, a mighty woe. For the weak, and the sick, and those who cannot find wherewith to expend in alms there is no hindrance, so they be only sincere towards God and His Apostle. There is no way against those who do well; for God is forgiving and merciful. Nor against those to whom, when they came to thee that thou shouldst mount them, thou didst say, ‘I cannot find wherewith to mount you,’ turned their backs while their eyes poured forth with tears, for grief that they could not find wherewith to expend. Only is there a way against those who ask thee for leave to stay at home while they are rich ; content to be with those who are left behind ; on whose hearts God has set a stamp, so that they should not know.
[95] They make excuses to you when ye return to them: say, ‘Make no excuse, we believe you not; God has informed us concerning you. God sees your works and His Apostle too!’ Then shall ye be brought back unto Him who knows the unseen and the seen; and He shall inform you of that which ye have done.
They will adjure you by God when ye have come back to them, to turn aside from them; turn ye aside then from them; verily, they are a plague, and their resort is hell! a recompense for that which they have earned!
They will adjure you to be pleased with them ; but if ye are pleased with them, God will not be pleased with a people who work abomination.
The Arabs of the desert are keener in misbelief and hypocrisy, and are more ‘likely not to knowp. 187 the bounds which God has sent down to His Apostle; but God is knowing and wise.
And of the Arabs of the desert are some who take what they expend to be a forced loan, and they wait a turn of fortune against you; against them shall a turn of evil fortune be; for God both hears and knows.
[100] And of the Arabs of the desert are some who believe in God and the last day, and who take what they expend in alms to be a means of approach to God and to the Apostle’s prayers,— is it not a means of’approach for them? God will make them enter into His mercy; verily, God is forgiving and merciful.
As for the foremost in the race, the first of those who fled!, and the helpers 2, and those who followed them in their kindness, God is well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him; He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye; that is the mighty happiness.
And of those who are round about you of the Arabs of the desert, some are hypocrites, and of the people of Medinah, some are stubborn in hypocrisy; thou dost not know them—we know them ; we will torment them twice over; then shall they be sent off into mighty woe.
And others have confessed. their sins,—that they have mixed with a righteous action another evil action ;—haply it may be God will turn again to them ; verily, God is forgiving and merciful.
* The Muh4gerin, or those who fled with Mohammed from Mecca.
* The Ans&rs who helped him while at Medinah.
188 THE Qur’AN. IX, 104-110.
Take from their wealth alms to cleanse and purify them thereby; and pray for them; verily, thy prayer is a repose for them; for God both hears and knows.
[105] Do they not know that God accepts repentance from His servants, and takes alms; and that God is He who is easily turned and merciful.
And say, ‘Act ye;’ and God and His Apostle and the believers shall see your acts, and ye shall be brought back to Him who knows the seen and the unseen, and He shall inform you of that which ye have done. ‘
And others are in hopes of God’s bidding ; whether He will torment them, or whether He turn again towards them; for God is knowing, wise.
And there are those who have taken to a mosque for mischief, and for misbelief, and to make a breach amongst the believers, and for an ambush for him who made war against God and His Apostle before ; they surely swear, ‘We only wished for what was good ;’ but God bears witness that they are liars.
Never stand up therein!—there is. a mosque founded on piety from the first day?: it is more right that thou shouldst stand therein ;— therein are men who love to be clean; for God doth love the clean.
[110] Is he who has laid his foundation upon the
1 The Mosque of Quba’, about two miles from Medinah, the foundation stone of which was laid by Mohammed four days before he entered Medinah on his flight from Mecca, was the first place of public prayer in Islam, The Beni Ghanm had built another mosque to rival this, at the instigation of Abu "H4mir, a monk who was opposed to Mohammed, and wished the prophet to consecrate it.
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fear of God and of His good-will better, or he who has laid his foundation upon a crumbling wall of sand, which crumbles away with him into the fire of hell ?—but God guides not a people who do wrong.
The building which they! have built will not cease to be a source of doubt in their hearts until their hearts are cut asunder”; but God is knowing, wise.
Verily, God hath bought of the believers their persons and their wealth, for the paradise they are to have; they shall fight in the way of God, and they shall slay and be slain: promised in truth, in the law and the gospel and the Qur’4n ;—and who is more faithful to His covenant than God ?
Verily, God hath bought of the believers their persons and their wealth, for the paradise they are to have; they shall fight in the way of God, and they shall slay and be slain: promised in truth, in the law and the gospel and the Qur’4n ;—and who is more faithful to His covenant than God ?
Be ye glad then in the covenant which ye have made with Him, for that is the mighty happiness ! Those who repent, those who worship, those who praise, those who fast, those who bow down, those who adore, those who bid what is right and forbid what is wrong, and those who keep the bounds of God,—glad tidings to those who believe!
[115] It is not for the prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness for the idolaters, even though they be their kindred, after it has been made manifest to them that they are the fellows of hell.
Nor was Abraham’s asking pardon for his father aught else but through a promise he had promised him; but when it was made manifest to him that he was an enemy to God, he cleansed himself of him ; verily, Abraham was pitiful and clement.
1 The Beni Gianm.
3 T.e. they will feel compunctions about it till the day of their death.
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Nor will God lead astray a people after He has guided them until that is made manifest to them which they have to fear; verily, God all things doth know.
Verily, God’s is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth! He quickens and He kills! Nor have ye beside God a patron or protector.
God has now turned towards the prophet and those who fled with him, and towards the helpers who followed him in the hour of difficulty, after that the hearts of a part of them had well-nigh gone amiss.
Then He turned unto them; verily, to them He is kind and merciful:—unto the three? who were left behind, so that the earth with all its ample space was too strait for them, and their souls were straitened for them, and they thought that there was no refuge for them from God save unto Him.
Then He turned again towards them that they might also turn; verily, God, He is easily turned and merciful!
[120] O ye who believe! fear God and be with those who speak the truth.
It was not for the people of Medinah, and those around about them of the Arabs of the desert, to stay behind the Apostle of God and not to prefer their souls to his: that is because neither thirst, nor toil, nor heat, nor hunger befel them on God’s way. Nor do they stop to anger the misbelievers, nor do they get any (harm) from the enemy without
1 Three of the Ansars who refused to accompany Mohammed to Tabfik. ,
IX, 121-129. THE CHAPTER OF REPENTANCE. 19!
a good work being written down to them; verily, God wastes not the hire of those who do well.
Nor do they expend in alms a small or great expense, nor do they cross a wady' without it being written down to them; that God may reward them with better than that which they have done.
19!
a good work being written down to them; verily, God wastes not the hire of those who do well.
Nor do they expend in alms a small or great expense, nor do they cross a wady' without it being written down to them; that God may reward them with better than that which they have done.
The believers should not march forth altogether ; and if a troop of every division of them march not forth, it is only that they may study their religion and warn their people when they return to them, that haply they may beware.
O ye who believe! fight those who are near to you of the misbelievers, and let them find in you sternness; and know that God is with those who fear.
[125] And whenever a sfrah is sent down, there are some of them who say, ‘ Which of you has this increased in faith?’ But as for those who believe, it does increase them in faith, and they shall rejoice: but as for those in whose hearts is sickness, it only adds a plague to their plague, and they die misbelievers.
Do they not see that they are tried in every year once or twice? Yet they do not turn again, nor do they mind!
And whenever a sfirah is sent down, some of them look at the others—‘ Does any one see you ?’— Then they turn away! God has turned their hearts, for that they are a people who do not discern.
There has come to you an apostle from amongst
1 A wady is the bed of a torrent, which in Arabia is generally dry, but occasionally after a storm is filled with the torrent.
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yourselves; hard for him to bear is it that ye commit iniquity; he is anxious over you after the believers, pitiful, compassionate.
[130] But if they turn their backs, then say, ‘God is enough for me! there is no god but He! upon Him do I rely, for He is Lord of the mighty throne!’
THE CuHaAPTER OF JONAH, (PEACE BE ON HIM!) (X. Mecca.)
In the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
A. L. R. Those are the signs of the wise Book ! was it a wonder to the folk! that we inspired a man from amongst themselves, ‘Warn thou the folk; and give glad tidings to those who believe, that for them there is an advance of sincerity? gone before them with their Lord?’ The misbelievers say, ‘ Verily, this is an obvious sorcerer !’
Verily, your Lord is God, who created the heavens and the earth in six days; then He made for the throne, to govern the affair; there is no intercessor, except after His permission. That is God for you —your Lord! Then worship Him—do ye not mind ?
To Him is your return all of you—God’s promise in truth ; verily, He produces the creature, then He makes it return again, that He may recompense
1 Of Mecca. * Ie. a reward awaiting them for their sincerity,p. 193 those who believe and do what is right with justice ; but those who misbelieve, for them is a drink of boiling water, and grievous woe, for that they did misbelieve.
* Ie. a reward awaiting them for their sincerity,p. 193 those who believe and do what is right with justice ; but those who misbelieve, for them is a drink of boiling water, and grievous woe, for that they did misbelieve.
[5] He it is who made the sun for a brightness, and the moon for a light, and decreed for it mansions, that ye may know the number of the years and the reckoning.—God only created that in truth. He details the signs unto a people who do know.
Verily, in the alternation of night and day, and in what God has created of the heavens and the earth, are signs unto a people who do fear.
Verily, those who hope not for our meeting, and are content with the life of this world, and are comforted thereby, and those who are neglectful of our signs,—these, their resort is fire for that which they have earned !
Verily, those who believe and do what is right, their Lord guides them by their faith ; beneath them shall rivers flow in the gardens of pleasure.
[10] Their cry therein shall be, ‘Celebrated be Thy praises, O God!’ and their salutation therein shall be, ‘Peace!’ and the end of their cry shall be, ‘Praise (belongs) to God, the Lord of the worlds !’
And if God should hasten on the bad to men as they would hasten on the good, their appointed time would surely be fulfilled. But we will let those who hope not for our meeting go on in their rebellion, blindly wandering on.
When distress touches man, he calls us to his side, whether sitting or standing; but when we have removed from him his distress, he passes on
[6] to)
194 THE Qur’AN. X, 13-20.
as though he had not called on us in a distress that touched him. Thus unto the extravagant is made seemly that which they have done.
We have already destroyed generations before you when they did wrong, and there came to them their apostles with manifest signs, but they would not believe. Thus do we reward the sinful people.
[15] Then we made you their successors in the earth after them, that we may see how ye will act.
But when our evident signs are recited to them, those who hope not for our meeting say, ‘ Bring a Qur’an other than this; or change it.’ Say, ‘It is not for me to. change it of my own accord; I do not follow aught but what I am inspired with ; verily, I fear, if I rebel against my Lord, the torment of a mighty day!’
Say, ‘Had God pleased, I should not have recited it to you, nor taught you therewith. I have tarried a lifetime amongst you before it ;—have ye not then any sense?’
Who is more unjust than he who forges against God a lie, or says His signs are lies? verily, the sinners shall not prosper.
They worship beside God what can neither harm them nor profit them, and they say, ‘ These are our intercessors with God!’ Say, ‘ Will ye inform God of aught in the heavens or the earth, that He knows not of ?’ Celebrated be His praise! and exalted be He, above what they associate with Him!
They worship beside God what can neither harm them nor profit them, and they say, ‘ These are our intercessors with God!’ Say, ‘ Will ye inform God of aught in the heavens or the earth, that He knows not of ?’ Celebrated be His praise! and exalted be He, above what they associate with Him!
[20] People were but one nation once, then they disagreed; and had it not been for thy Lord’s word already passed, there would have been decided between them that concerning which they disagreed.
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They say, ‘Why is not a sign sent down upon him from his Lord ?’ Say, ‘The unseen is only God’s ; but wait ye for a while, verily, I with you am one of those who wait!’
When we have let men taste of mercy after distress which has touched them, lo! they use a stratagem against our signs! Say, ‘God is quicker at stratagem.’ Verily, our messengers! write down what stratagem ye use.
He it is who makes you travel in the land and sea, until when ye are in the ships—and these carry them? afloat with a favouring wind, and they rejoice therein, there comes to them a violent wind, and there comes to them the wave from every place, and they think that they are encompassed about ; then they call on God, sincere in religion towards Him, ‘If thou dost save from this we will surely be of those who thank.’ But when He has saved them, lo! they are wilful in the earth unjustly;— O ye folk! your wilfulness against yourselves is but a provision of this world’s life; then unto us is your return, and we will inform you of that which ye have done!
[25] Verily, the likeness of this world’s life is like water which we send down from the sky, and the plants of the earth, from which men and cattle eat, are mingled therewith; until when the earth puts on its gilding and is adorned, the people thereof think that they have power over it. Our order comes to it by night or day, and we make it as it
1 The recording angels. * An instance of the frequent abrupt changes of persons with which the Qur’4n abounds.
O02
196 THE QuR’AN, X, 25-33.
were mown down—as though it had not yesterday been rich!—Thus do we detail the signs unto a people who reflect.
God calls unto the abode of peace, and guides whom He will into the right path.
To those who do what is good, goodness and increase! nor shall blackness or abasement cover their faces! these are the fellows of Paradise, they shall dwell therein for aye.
But, as for those who have earned ill, the reward ‘of evil is the like thereof; abasement shall cover them! they shall have none to defend them against God ;—as though their faces were veiled with the deep darkness of the night ; these are the fellows of the Fire, and they shall dwell therein for aye.
they shall have none to defend them against God ;—as though their faces were veiled with the deep darkness of the night ; these are the fellows of the Fire, and they shall dwell therein for aye.
And on the day we gather them all together then we will say to those who associated other gods (with us), ‘To your places, ye and your associates !’ and we will part them; and their associates will say, ‘It was not us ye worshipped.—[30] But God is witness enough between us and you, that we were heedless of your worshipping us.’ There shall every soul prove what it has sent on before; and they shall be returned unto God, their God, their true sovereign, and that which they devised shall stray away from them.
Say, ‘Who provides you from the heaven and the earth ? who has dominion over hearing and sight ? and who brings forth the living from the dead, and brings forth the dead from the living ? and who governs the affair?’ And they will say, ‘God.’ Say, ‘Do ye not then fear ?’
That is God, your true Lord! and what is therep. 197 after the truth but error? how then can ye turn away ?
Thus is the word of thy Lord verified against those who commit abomination; verily, they will not believe. Say, ‘Is there any of your associates who can produce a creature and then turn it back again?’ Say, ‘God produces a creature, then turns it back again ; how then can ye lie?’ [35] Say, ‘Is there any of your associates who guides unto the truth ?? Say, ‘God guides unto the truth.’ Is then He who guides unto the truth more worthy to be followed, or he that guides not except he be himself guided? What ails you then, how ye judge ?
But most of them follow only suspicion; verily, suspicion does not avail against the truth at. all; verily, God knows what they do.
This Qur’4n could not have been devised by any beside God; but it verifies that which was before it, and details the Book—there is no doubt therein—from the Lord of the worlds.
Do they say, ‘He? hath devised it ?’ say then, ‘Bring a sdrah like it,—and call, if ye can, on other than God, if ye do tell the truth!’
[40] Yet they call that a lie, the knowledge of which they cannot compass, while its interpretation has not yet come to them; so did those before them charge with lying, and see what was the end of the unjust!
Of them are some who believe therein; and of them are some who do not believe therein ; but thy Lord knows best who are corrupters.
1 J. e. Mohammed.
198 THE QuR’AN, X, 42-53.
But if they call thee liar, say, ‘I have my work, and ye have your work; ye are clear of what I work, and I am clear of what ye work.’
There are some of them who listen to thee—canst thou make the deaf to hear, although they have no sense? And of them are some who look at thee—canst thou guide the blind, although they cannot see?
[45] Verily, God wrongs not man at all, but men do wrong themselves.
And of them are some who look at thee—canst thou guide the blind, although they cannot see?
[45] Verily, God wrongs not man at all, but men do wrong themselves.
And on the day when we will gather them together it will be as though they had not tarried save an hour of the day, they shall know each other. Lost are those who called the meeting with God a lie, and were not guided!
Either we will show thee something of that with which we threatened them, or we will take thee to ourself, for unto us is their return; then is God a witness to what they do.
Every nation has its apostle; and when their apostle comes to them, it is decided between them with justice, and they are not wronged,
But they say, ‘When is this threat (to come), if ye tell the truth ?’
[50] Say, ‘I have no power over myself for harm or for profit, save what God will. Every nation has its appointed time; when their appointed time comes to them they cannot delay it for an hour or bring it on.’
Say, ‘Let us see now when the torment comes to you, by night or day, what will the sinners fain bring on thereof ? And when it has fallen—will ye believe in it now!—And yet ye wish to bring iton! Then shall it be said to those who have donep. 199 wrong, Taste ye the torment of eternity! shall ye be recompensed except for that which ye have earned ?’ They will ask thee to inform them whether it be true. Say, ‘Aye, by my Lord! verily, it is the truth, nor can ye weaken him.’
[55] And if every soul that hath done wrong had whatever is in the earth, it would give it as a ransom. They will utter their repentance when they see the torment; and it shall be decided between them with justice, nor shall they be wronged.
Is not indeed what is in the heavens and what is in the earth God’s? is not indeed the promise of God true? Though most of them know not. He quickens and He kills, and unto Him are ye returned !
O ye folk! there has come to you a warning from your Lord, and a balm for what is in your breasts, and a guidance and a mercy to believers.
Say, ‘ By the grace of God and by His mercy,— and in that let them rejoice! It is better than that which they collect !’
[60] Let us see now what Ged has sent down to you of provision! and yet ye have made of it unlawful and lawful. Say, ‘Does God permit you, or against God do ye forge lies ?’
What will those who forge lies against God think on the resurrection day ? Verily, God is Lord of grace towards men, but most of them do not give thanks!
Nor shalt thou be in any affair, nor shalt thou recite concerning it a Qur’4n4—nor shall ye do a work, without our being witness against you, when
1 A portion of the Qur'an. The word means reading.
200 THE QuR’AN. X, 62-72.
ye are engaged therein: nor does the weight of an atom escape thy Lord in earth or in heaven ; nor is there less than that or greater, but it is in the perspicuous Book.