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.
Are not, verily, the friends of God those on whom there is no fear, neither shall they be grieved ?— They who believed and who did fear—{65] for them are good tidings in the life of this world, and in the future too; there is no changing the words of God! That is the mighty happiness !
Let not their speech grieve thee; verily, power is wholly Ged’s! He both hears and knows.
Is not, verily, whoever is in the heavens and whoever is in the earth God’s? What then do they follow who call on associates other than God ?
Verily, they follow nothing but suspicion, and verily, they are telling naught but lies. .
He it is who made for you the night, that ye might rest therein, and the day to see therein; verily, in that are signs unto a people who can hear.
They say, ‘God has taken to Himself a son.’ Celebrated be His praises! He is the rich one! His is whatever is in the heavens, and whatever is in the earth. Ye have no authority for this! will ye say against God, that which ye do not know ?
[70] Say, ‘ Verily, those who forge against God a lie shall not prosper !’
A provision in this world—then unto us is their return! then we will make them taste keen torment for that they misbelieved.
Recite to them the story of Noah, when he said to his people, ‘O my people! if my stay with you be grievous to you, and my reminding you of the signs of God, yet upon God do I rely! Collectp. 201 then your affairs and your associates’; nor let your affair (be ordered) for you in the dark; then decide respecting me, and do not wait; and if ye turn your backs, I ask you not for hire; my hire is only due from God, and I am bidden to be of those resigned.’ But they called him a liar; and we saved him, and those with him, in the ark; and we made these? successors, and drowned those who had said our signs were lies; see then how was the end of those who had been warned!
[75] Then we raised up after him apostles unto their people, and they came to them with manifest signs; but they would not believe in what they had called a lie before. Thus do we set a stamp upon the hearts of the transgressors.
Then we raised up after them Moses and Aaron, unto Pharaoh and his chiefs with our signs; but they were too big with pride, and were a sinful people ; and when the truth came to them from us they said, verily, ‘ This is obvious sorcery.’
Moses said, ‘ Will ye say of the truth when it comes to you, Is this sorcery? But sorcerers shall not prosper.’
They said, ‘Hast thou come to turn us away from what we found our fathers at, that there may be for you twain grandeur in the earth? but we will not believe you.’
But sorcerers shall not prosper.’
They said, ‘Hast thou come to turn us away from what we found our fathers at, that there may be for you twain grandeur in the earth? but we will not believe you.’
[80] And Pharaoh said, ‘ Bring me every knowing sorcerer ;’ and when the sorcerers came, Moses said to them, ‘Throw down what ye have to throw!’ and when they threw down, Moses said, ‘ What ye have brought is sorcery! verily, God will make
? Your idols. 2 Noah’s people.
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it vain; verily, God rights not the work of evildoers !’
But God verifies the truth by His words, although the sinners are averse therefrom.
But none believed in Moses, save a race of his own people, through fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs ; lest he should afflict them, for verily, Pharaoh was lofty in the earth, and verily, he was extravagant.
And Moses said, ‘O my people! if ye did believe in God, then on Him rely, if ye be resigned.’ [85] They said, ‘Upon God do we rely. O our Lord! make us not a cause of trial for a people who do wrong, but save us by Thy mercy from the people who misbelieve!’
And we inspired Moses and his brother thus, ‘Establish, ye twain, houses for your people in Egypt; and make ye your houses a qiblah!; and be ye steadfast in prayer, and give glad tidings to those who believe.’
Moses said, “O our Lord! verily, Thou hast brought to Pharaoh and his chiefs ornaments and wealth in the life of this world; O our Lord! that they may err from Thy way! O our Lord! confound their wealth and harden their hearts that they may not believe until they see grievous woe!’ He said, ‘ Your prayer is answered ; be upright then, ye two, and follow not the path of those who do not know!’
[90] And we brought the children of Israel across the sea; and Pharaoh and his hosts followed them eager and hostile, until when drowning overtook him, he said, ‘I believe that there is no god but
1 T.e. adapt them by their position and.construction to become places in which prayer may be performed.
.
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adapt them by their position and.construction to become places in which prayer may be performed.
.
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He in whom the children of Israel believe, and I am of those who are resigned !’—‘ Now?! but thou didst rebel aforetime, and wert of those who do evil; but to-day we will save thee in thy body, that thou mayest be to those who come after thee a sign, for verily, many men are careless of our signs?!’ And we established the people of Israel with a sure establishment, and we provided them with good things ; nor did they disagree until there came to them the knowledge. Verily, thy Lord shall decide between them on the resurrection day concerning that whereon they did dispute. , And if thou art in doubt of that which we have sent down unto thee, ask those who read the Book before thee; verily, the truth is come to thee from thy Lord, be not then of those who are in doubt. And be not of those who say the signs of God are lies, or thou wilt be of those who lose! [95] Verily, those against whom God’s word is pronounced will not believe, even though there come to them every sign, until they see the grievous woe. Were it not so, a city would have believed and its faith would have profited it. But (none did) except the people of Jonas; when they believed we removed from them the torment of disgrace in this world, and we gave them provision for a while. But had thy Lord pleased, all who are in the earth would have believed altogether ; as for thee, wilt thou force men to become believers ?
1 This is supposed to be the taunting reply of the angel Gabriel.
* Compare Exodus xiv. 30. The Mohammedan legend is that as some of the children of Israel doubted whether Pharaoh was really drowned, the angel Gabriel caused the naked corpse to swim that they might see it.
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[100] It is not for any person to believe save by the permission of God; He puts horror on those who have no sense.
Say, ‘Behold what is in the heavens and in the earth! but signs and warners avail not a people who do not believe. Do they await aught but the like of the days of those who passed away before them?’ Say, ‘Wait ye then! verily, I am with you one of those who wait.’ Then we will save our apostles and those who believe; thus is it due from us to save believers.
Say, ‘O ye folk! if ye are in doubt concerning my religion, I will not worship those ye worship other than God; but I worship God, who takes you to Himself, and I am bidden to be of the believers!’ [105] And, ‘ Make steadfast thy face to the religion as a‘Hanif!; and be not of the idolaters; and call not besides God on what can neither profit thee nor harm thee; for if thou dost, verily, thou art then of the unjust!’
And should God touch thee with harm, there is none to remove it save He; and if He wish thee well, there is none to repel His grace; He makes it fall on whom He will of His servants; for He is pardoning and merciful!
Say, ‘O ye people! there has come to you the truth from your Lord, and he who is guided, his guidance is only for his soul; and he who errs, errs only against it; and I am not a guardian over you.’
Follow what is revealed to thee, and be patient until God judges, for He is the best of judges.
} See p. rg, note 1.
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Tue CwapTer or Hop.
(XI. Mecca.)
A. L.R. A book whose signs are confirmed and then detailed, from the wise one, the aware : that ye worship not other than God,—verily, I am to you from Him a warner and a herald of glad tidings ; and that ye seek pardon from your Lord, then turn again to Him! He will cause you to enjoy a good provision to a named and appointed time, and will give His grace to every one deserving grace ; but if ye turn your backs, I fear for you the torment of a great day.
Unto God is your return, and He is mighty over all.
[5] Do they not, verily, fold up their breasts, that they may hide from Him? But when they cover themselves with their garments, does He not know what they conceal and what they display? verily, He knows the nature of men’s breasts !
There is no beast that walks upon the earth but its provision is from God. He knows its settlement and its resting-place ; all is in the perspicuous Book.
He it is who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His throne was upon the water? that He might try you, which of you did best.
[10] But shouldst thou say, ‘ Ye will be raised up after death,’ those who misbelieve will surely say, ‘ This is naught but obvious sorcery;’ and if we keep back from them the torment to a stated generation,
1 That is, before the creation ; see Genesis i. 2.
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they will surely say, ‘What hinders it ?’—Aye! on the day it comes to them there is no turning it away from them, but that shall close in on them at which they mocked.
And if we make man taste of mercy from us and then strip it off from him, verily, he is despairing, ungrateful ; and if we make him taste of comfort after distress has touched him, he will surely say, ‘The evils have gone away from me;’ verily, then he is joyful and boasting. Save those who are patient and do right ; these—for them is pardon and a mighty hire!
[15] Haply thou art leaving part of what is revealed to thee and thy breast is straitened thereby, lest they should say, ‘Why is not a treasure sent down to him? or why did not an angel come with him ?—thou art only a warner, and God is guardian over all.’
Or they will say, ‘He hath devised it;’ say, ‘Bring ten sQrahs like it devised; and call upon whom ye can beside God, if ye do tell the truth!’ And if they do not answer, then know that it is revealed by the knowledge of God, and that there is no god but He—are ye then resigned ?
Whosoever shall wish for the life of this world and its ornaments, we will pay them their works therein, and they shall not be cheated. These are those for whom there is nothing in the hereafter save the Fire; and void is what they made therein, and vain what they were doing!
[20] Is he (like them) who stands upon a manifest sign from his Lord, which is a witness from Him, and recites it, with the book of Moses before him for a model and a mercy? These believe in it; andp. 207 whosoever of the crews! disbelieves in him, the Fire is his promise.
Be not thou in doubt about it; verily, it is truth from thy Lord, though most men do not believe.
Who is more unjust than he who forges against God a lie? they shall be set before their Lord, and the witnesses shall say, ‘ These it is who lied against their Lord.’ Aye! God’s curse is on the unjust who turn men away from the path, and crave to make it crooked, and in the hereafter disbelieve! They cannot make Him helpless in the earth, nor have they other than God for patrons. Doubled for them is the torment. They could not hear, nor did they see! Those it is who lose themselves; and that which they did devise has strayed away from them. No doubt but that in the hereafter these are those who lose !
[25] Verily, those who believe and do what is right, and humble themselves to their Lord, they are the fellows of Paradise ; they shall dwell therein for aye. The two parties’ likeness is as the blind and the deaf, and the seeing and the hearing; shall they two be equal in likeness? will ye not mind ?
We did send Noah unto his people, ‘ Verily, I am to you an obvious warner; that ye should not worship any save God. Verily, I fear for you the torment of the grievous day. But the chiefs of those who misbelieved amongst his people said, ‘We only see in thee a mortal like ourselves ; nor do we see that any follow thee except the reprobates amongst us by a rash judgment; nor do we see that you have any preference over us; nay more,
1 That is, of the idolater,p. 38 we think you liars!’ [30] He said, ‘O my people! let us see! if I stand upon a manifest sign from my Lord, and there come to me mercy from him, and ye are blinded to it; shall we force you to it while ye are averse therefrom ? ,
‘O my people! I do not ask you for wealth in return for it ; my hire is only from God; nor do I repulse those who believe; verily, they shall meet their Lord. But I see you, a people who are ignorant. O my people! who will help me against God, were I to repulse you? do ye not then mind? I do not say that I have the treasures of God; nor do I know the unseen; nor do I say, “ Verily, I am an angel;” nor do I say of those whom your eyes despise, “ God will never give them any good !”—God knows best what is in their souls—verily, then should I be of the unjust.’
do ye not then mind? I do not say that I have the treasures of God; nor do I know the unseen; nor do I say, “ Verily, I am an angel;” nor do I say of those whom your eyes despise, “ God will never give them any good !”—God knows best what is in their souls—verily, then should I be of the unjust.’
They said, ‘O Noah! thou hast wrangled with us, and hast multiplied wranglings with us; bring us then what thou hast threatened us with, if thou art of those who tell the truth.’ [35] Said he, ‘God will only bring it on you if He pleases, nor can ye make Him helpless; nor will my advice profit you, should I wish to advise you, if God wish to lead you into error. He is your Lord, and unto Him shall ye be returned.’
Do they say, ‘He has devised it!?’ Say, ‘If I have devised it, then on me be my sin. But I am clear of that wherein ye sin.’
And Noah was inspired, ‘None shall surely believe amongst thy people but those who have believed already; take not then ill that which they
1 The Qur'an, np. 209 do. . And make the ark under our eyes, and at our inspiration; and plead not with me for those who have done wrong ; verily, they shall be drowned.’
[40] So he made the ark, and every time the chiefs of his people passed by him they jested at him. Said he, ‘ If ye jest at us, verily, we shall jest at you even as ye are jesting, and ye shall surely know.
‘He to whom a torment comes, it shall shame him, and there shall light upon him lasting torment.’
Until at length when our order came, and the oven boiled!, we said, ‘ Load therein of every kind two, and likewise thy family,—save those on whom the sentence has already been passed—likewise those who believe;’ but there believed not with him save a few. And he said, ‘ Ride ye therein ; in the name of God is its course, and its mooring. Verily, my Lord is forgiving and merciful.’ ”
And it floated on with them mid waves like mountains; and Noah cried to his son who had gone aside, ‘O my boy! ride with us and be not with the misbelievers.’ [45] Said he, ‘I will betake me to a mountain that shall save me from the water.’ Said he, ‘There is none to save to-day from the command of God, except for him on whom He may have mercy.’ And the wave came between them, and he was amongst the drowned 2. .
And it was said, ‘O earth! swallow down thy
1 Tannfr (oven) signifies also a reservoir of water. Its use in this passage has, however, given rise to some ridiculous superstitions amongst the Mohammedans as to the origin of the deluge.
* This story and the further allusion to Noah’s son in the next page were probably suggested by Genesis ix. 20-25.
[6] Pp. 53 water!’ and, ‘O heaven! hold!’ and the water abated ; and the affair was decided, and it? settled on Gidi?, and it was said, ‘ Away with the people who are evildoers!’
20-25.
[6] Pp. 53 water!’ and, ‘O heaven! hold!’ and the water abated ; and the affair was decided, and it? settled on Gidi?, and it was said, ‘ Away with the people who are evildoers!’
And Noah went unto his Lord and said, ‘My Lord, verily, my son is. of my people, and, verily, — Thy promise is true, and Thou art the justest of judges. He said, ‘O Noah! he is not of thy people ; verily, it is a work that is not right. Then, ask me not for that of which thou knowest naught. Verily, I admonish thee that thou shouldst not be of the ignorant.’ He said, ‘ My Lord, verily, I seek refuge in Thee from asking Thee for aught of which I know nothing; and, unless Thou dost forgive me and have mercy on: me, I shall be of thase who lose.’
[50] It was said, ‘O Noah:! descend in safety from us, and blessings upon thee and upon (some) nations of those who are with thee’; but (some) nations we will allow to enjoy prosperity and then there shall touch them from us grievous woe.’ These are stories of the unseen which we reveal to thee; thou didst not know them, thou nor thy people before this. Be patient, then; verily, the issue is for those who fear.
And unto. ‘Ad (we sent) their brother Had; he said, ‘O my people! serve God; ye have no god but Him. Ye do but devise a lie. O my people! I do not ask you for hire in return; my hire is
? The ark.
* GAdi is a corruption apparently for Mount Giordi, the Gordyzi of the Greeks, situated between Armenia and Mesopotamia.
5 I.e. upon some of the nations who are to form the posterity of thyself and the members of thy family saved with thee.
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only from Him who created me: have ye then no sense ?
‘O my people! ask pardon of your Lord; then turn to Him; He will send the skies down on you in torrents; [55] and He will add strength to your . strength: do not then turn back sinners.’
They said, ‘O Hfd! thou hast not come to us with a manifest sign; nor will we leave our gods at thy word; nor will we believe in thee. We can only say that some of our gods have attacked thee with evil.’ Said he, ‘Verily, I call God to witness, and do ye bear witness too, that I am free from that which ye associate beside Him.
‘ Plot then against me altogether, and give me no delay. Verily, I rely upon God, my Lord and your Lord. There is no beast that walks, but He taketh it by its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the right way |
[60] ‘But if ye turn your backs,—then I have conveyed to you what I was sent to you with; and my Lord will make another people your successors. Ye cannot harm Him at all; verily, my Lord is guardian over all!’
Verily, my Lord is on the right way |
[60] ‘But if ye turn your backs,—then I have conveyed to you what I was sent to you with; and my Lord will make another people your successors. Ye cannot harm Him at all; verily, my Lord is guardian over all!’
And when our order came we saved Hid, and those who believed with him, by mercy from us; and we saved them from harsh torment. That (tribe of) ‘Ad denied the signs of their Lord, and rebelled against His apostles, and followed the bidding of every headstrong tyrant. They were followed in this world by a curse, and on the resurrection day—‘ Did not ‘Ad disbelieve their Lord? Aye! away with ‘Ad the people of Hfid!’
And unto Thamid (we sent) their brother Z4li‘h ; said he, ‘O my people! worship God; ye have no
. P 2p. 72 god but Him. He it is that produced you from the earth, and made you live therein! Then ask pardon of Him; then turn again to Him: verily, my Lord is nigh and answers !’
[65] They said, ‘O Z4lith! thou wert amongst us one we hoped in before this: dost thou forbid | us to worship what our fathers worshipped ? verily, we are in hesitating doubt as to that to which thou callest us.’
He said, ‘O my people! let us see; if I stand upon a manifest sign from my Lord, and there come from Him mercy, who will help me against God if I rebel against Him? Ye will add only to my loss.
‘O my people! this she-camel! of God is a sign for you; leave her, then, to feed in God's earth, and touch her not with evil, or there will catch you torment that is nigh.’ But they did hamstring her, and he said, ‘Enjoy yourselves in your houses for three days ;—that is the promise that shall not be belied.’
And when our order came we saved ZAli‘h, and those who believed with him, by our mercy, from disgrace upon that day. Verily, thy Lord He is powerful and mighty.
[70] And the noise caught those who had done wrong; and on the morrow they were lying corpses in their houses, as though they had never dwelt therein. Did not Thamfd indeed disbelieve in their Lord? Aye! away with Thamdd!
Our messengers did come to Abraham with glad tidings; they said, ‘Peace!’ He said, ‘ Peace be
1 See note, p. 107.
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it!’ nor did he delay to bring the roasted calf. But ° when he saw that their hands reached not thereto, he could not understand them, and harboured fear of them. They said, ‘Fear not. Verily, we are sent unto the people of Lot.’ And his wife was standing by, laughing ; and we gave her the glad tidings of Isaac, and of Jacob after Isaac. [75] Said she, ‘ Alas for me! shall I bear a son when I am an old woman, and this husband of mine an old man? Verily, this is a wonderful thing!’ They said,‘ Dost thou wonder at the bidding of God? God’s mercy and blessings upon you, ye people of the house! Verily, He is to be praised and glorified.’
shall I bear a son when I am an old woman, and this husband of mine an old man? Verily, this is a wonderful thing!’ They said,‘ Dost thou wonder at the bidding of God? God’s mercy and blessings upon you, ye people of the house! Verily, He is to be praised and glorified.’
And when his terror left Abraham, and the glad tidings came to him, he wrangled with us about the people of Lot; verily, Abraham was clement, pitiful, relenting.
‘O Abraham! avoid this; verily, the bidding of thy Lord has come; verily, there is coming to them torment that cannot be put off.’
(80] And when our messengers came to Lot, he’ was grieved for them ; but his arm was straitened for them?, and he said, ‘This is a troublesome day!’ And his people came to him, rushing at him, for before that they used to work evil. He said, ‘O my people! here are my daughters, they are purer for you; then, fear God, and do not disgrace me through my guests ;—is there not among you one right-thinking man ?’
They said, ‘Thou knowest that we have no claim on thy daughters; verily, thou knowest what we want!’ He said, ‘Had I but power over you; or
2 Ie. he was powerless to help them.
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* could I but resort to some strong column!....!’ (The angels) said, ‘O Lot! verily, we are the messengers of thy Lord, they shall certainly not reach thee; then travel with thy people in the darkness of the night, and let none of you look round except thy wife: verily, there shall befall her what befalls them. Verily, their appointment is for the morning! and is not the morning nigh ?’
‘And when our bidding came, we made their high parts their low parts*. And we rained down upon them stones and baked clay® one after another, marked‘, from thy -Lord, and these are not so far from the unjust®!
[85] -And unto Midian (we sent) their brother Sho’haib*®. He said, ‘O my people! serve God; ye have no god but Him, and give not short measure and weight. Verily, I see you well off; but, verily, I fear for you the torments of an encompassing day. O my people! give measure and weight fairly, and defraud not men of their things; and wreak not wrong in the earth, corrupting it. God’s residue’
1 I. e. some support, such as a powerful clan or chieftain.
2 That is, overturned the cities of the plain.
8 The Abyssinians, who had invaded Mecca some years before, are mentioned in the Chapter of the Elephant (CV) as being destroyed in a similar manner by flocks of birds, who threw down such missiles upon them.
* The legend is that they each contained the name of the person for whom they were destined ; so the old saying, ‘every bullet has its billet.’
5 I.e. the same punishment is likely to overtake other wrongdoers, the threat being especially directed against the unbelieving inhabitants of Mecca.
6 See Chapter VII.
" A little which God leaves you after paying every one his due.
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is better for you if ye be believers. But I am not a guardian over you.’
6 See Chapter VII.
" A little which God leaves you after paying every one his due.
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is better for you if ye be believers. But I am not a guardian over you.’
They said,‘O Sho’haib! Do thy prayers bid thee that we should forsake what our fathers served, -or that we should not do as we please with our wealth? Thou art, forsooth, the clement and straightforward one!’
[90] He said, ‘O my people! Do ye see? If I stand upon a manifest sign from my Lord; and He provides me from Himself with a goodly provision, and I consent not with you to that which I forbid you, I only wish to better you so far as I can,—nor comes my grace through any one but God; on Him do I rely, and unto ‘Him I turn. O my people! let not a breach with me make you so sin that there befall you the like of that which befel the people of Noah, or the people of Hfd, or the people of Zali‘h—nor are the people of Lot so far from you! Ask pardon, then, from your Lord, then turn to Him; verily, my Lord is merciful, loving!’
They said, ‘O Shohaib! we-do not understand much of what thou sayest, and we see that thou art weak amongst us; and were it not for thy family we would stone thee, nor couldst thou be powerful over us,’
He said, ‘O my people! are my family more esteemed by you than God ? ‘or have you taken Him as something to cast behind your backs? Verily, my Lord, whate’er ye do, doth comprehend. [95] O my people! act according to your power; verily, I too will act, and ye at length shall know! To whomsoever torment comes it shall disgrace him, and him who is a liar. Watch then; verily, I with you am watching too!’
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And when our bidding came we saved Sho’haib, and those who believed with him, by our mercy; and the noise caught those who had done wrong, and on the morrow they were in their houses prone, as though they had not dwelt therein. Aye! ‘Away with Midian!’ as it was, ‘Away with Thamfd!’
And we sent Moses with our signs and with obvious power unto Pharaoh and his chiefs; but they followed Pharaoh’s bidding, and Pharaoh’s bidding was not straightforward.
[100] He shall approach his people on the resurrection day, and take them down to water! at the Fire,—an evil watering-place to water at!
In this (world) were they followed by a curse ; and on the resurrection day evil shall be the aid they are aided with!
That is one of the stories of the cities which we recite to thee—some of them are standing now and some mown down!
We did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves. Their gods availed them naught, on which they called instead of God, when once the bidding of thy Lord had come; nor did they add save to their downfall!
Thus is thy Lord’s overtaking when He overtakes the cities that have done wrong; verily, His overtaking is grievous, keen.
[105] Verily, in that is a sign to him who fears the torment of the last day ;—that is a day unto which men shall be gathered ;—that is a witnessed day!
Thus is thy Lord’s overtaking when He overtakes the cities that have done wrong; verily, His overtaking is grievous, keen.
[105] Verily, in that is a sign to him who fears the torment of the last day ;—that is a day unto which men shall be gathered ;—that is a witnessed day!
1 The word used is that always applied by desert Arabs to going to a spring for water.
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We will not delay it, save unto a numbered and appointed time. The day when it shall come no soul shall speak save by His permission, and amongst them (shall be) the wretched and the glad.
And as for those who are wretched—why, in the Fire! there shall they groan and sob! to dwell therein for aye, so long as the heavens and the earth endure; save what thy Lord will. Verily, thy Lord is one who works His will.
{rz0] And as for those who are glad—why, in Paradise! to dwell therein for aye, so long as the heavens and the earth endure; save what thy Lord will1,—a ceaseless boon !
Be not then in doubt concerning what these men do serve ;—they only serve as their fathers served before; and we will give them their portion undiminished. .
We gave Moses the Book before, and then they disagreed concerning it, and, had it not been for a word that had been passed by thy Lord, it would have been decided between them ; but, verily, they are (still) in hesitating doubt concerning it.
But, verily, every one thy Lord will surely repay for their works; verily, He of what they do is well aware !
Do thou then be upright, as thou art bidden, and whosoever turns repentantly with thee ; and transgress ye not:—verily, He on what ye do doth look.
[115] Lean not unto those who do wrong, lest the Fire touch you, for ye have no patrons but God; and, moreover, ye shall not be helped !
1 T.e. unless He please to increase their happiness.
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And be thou steadfast in prayer at the two ends of the day, and the (former and latter) parts of the night. Verily, good works remove evil works ;— that is a reminder to the mindful! And be thou patient, for God wastes not the hire of those who do good.
And were there among the generations before you any endowed with a remnant (of piety) forbidding evildoing in the earth, save a few of those whom we saved; but the evildoers followed what they enjoyed, and were sinners.
Thy Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while the people of them were welldoers.
[120] Had thy Lord pleased, He would have made men one nation; but they will not cease to differ, save those thy Lord has had mercy on. For this has He created them, and the word of thy Lord is fulfilled, ‘I will surely fill hell with ginns and mankind altogether.’
And all that we relate to thee of the stories of the apostles is what will stablish thy heart: and herein has the truth come to thee, and an admonition and a reminder to the believers.
Say to those who believe not, ‘Act according to your power, verily, we are acting too! And wait ye, verily, we are waiting too!’
God’s are the unseen things of the heavens and of the earth; and unto Him the affair doth all return. Then serve Him and rely on Him; for thy Lord is not heedless of that which ye do.
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THE CHAPTER OF JOSEPH, (PEACE BE ON HIM!)
(XII. Mecca.)
In the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
A. L. R. Those are the signs of the perspicuous Book. Verily, we have revealed it, an Arabic Qur’4n; haply ye may understand.
We tell thee the best of stories, in inspiring thee with this Qur’4n, though thou wert before it among the heedless.
When Joseph said to his father, ‘O my sire! verily, I saw eleven stars, and the sun, and the moon,—I saw them adoring me!’
[5] He said, ‘O my boy! tell not thy vision to thy brethren, for they will plot a plot against thee ; verily, the devil is to man an open foe.’
Thus does thy Lord choose thee, and teach thee the interpretation of sayings, and fulfil His favour upon thee, and upon Jacob’s people, as He fulfilled it upon thy two forefathers before thee, Abraham and Isaac,—verily, thy Lord is knowing, wise!
In Joseph and his brethren were signs to those who enquire!
When they said, ‘Surely, Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we, a band? although we be; verily, our father is in obvious error.
‘Slay Joseph, or cast him in some land; that your father’s face may be free for you, and ye may be, after he is gone, a people who do right.’
[10] A speaker from amongst them spake, ‘Slay
1 The word means a band of between twenty and forty persons.
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not Joseph, but throw him into the bottom of the pit; some of the travellers may pick him up, if so ye do.’
Said they, ‘O our father! what ails thee that thou wilt not trust us with Joseph while we are unto him sincere? Send him with us to-morrow to revel and to play, and, verily, we over him will keep good guard.’
Said he, ‘Verily, it grieves me that ye should go off with him, for I fear lest the wolf devour him while ye of him do take no heed.’
Said they, ‘Why, if the wolf should devour him while we are (such) a band, verily, we then should deserve to lose!’
[15] And when they had gone off with him and agreed to put him in the depths of the pit, and we inspired him, ‘ Thou shalt surely inform them of this affair of theirs and they shall not perceive ¥’
And they came to their father at eve and weeping said, ‘O our father! verily, we went forth to race and left Joseph by our goods, and the wolf devoured him,—but thou wilt not believe us, truth tellers though we be.’
And they brought his shirt with lying blood upon it. Said he, ‘ Nay, but your souls have induced you to do this; but patience is fair! and God is He whom I ask for aid against that which ye describe.’
Said he, ‘ Nay, but your souls have induced you to do this; but patience is fair! and God is He whom I ask for aid against that which ye describe.’
And travellers came and sent their water-drawer ; and he let down his bucket. Said he, ‘O glad tidings! this is a youth. And they kept him secret, as a chattel; but God knew what they were doing.
1 This is a prophetic intimation to Joseph of his future interview with his brethren in Egypt.
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[20] And they sold him for a mean price,— drachmz counted out,—and they parted with him cheaply.
And the man from Egypt who had bought him said to his wife, ‘Honour his abiding here ; it may be he will be of use to us, or we may adopt him as a son.’
Thus did we stablish Joseph in the land; and we did surely teach him the interpretation of sayings; for God can overcome His affairs, though most men do not know.
And when he had reached his strength! we brought him judgment and knowledge, for thus do we reward those who do good.
And she in whose house he was desired him for his person; and she locked the doors and said, ‘Come along with thee!’ Said he, ‘Refuge in God! verily, my Lord has made good my abiding here ; verily, the wrong-doers shall not prosper.’
And she was anxious for him, and he would have been anxious for her, had it not been that he saw the demonstration? of his Lord; thus did we turn evil and fornication from him ; verily, he was of our sincere servants.
[25] And they raced to the door and she rent his . shirt from behind; and they met her master at the door. Said she, ‘What is the recompense of him who wishes evil for thy family, but that imprisonment or a grievous torment ?’
Said he, ‘She desired me for my person.’ And
' The age of puberty. * The angel Gabriel in the form of his father appeared with a warning gesture, according to the Muslim commentators.
222 THE Qur’AN, XI, 26-35.
a witness from among her family bore witness: ‘If his shirt be rent from in front, then she speaks the truth and he is of the liars; but if his shirt be rent from behind, then she lies and he is of the truth tellers.’
And when he saw his shirt rent from behind he said, ‘ This is one of your tricks ; verily, your tricks are mighty! Joseph! turn aside from this. And do thou, woman, ask pardon for thy fault; verily, thou wert of the sinners.’
Joseph! turn aside from this. And do thou, woman, ask pardon for thy fault; verily, thou wert of the sinners.’
[30] And women in the city said, ‘The wife of the prince desires her young man for his person; he has infatuated her with love: verily, we see her in obvious error.’ And when she heard of their craftiness, she sent to them and prepared for them a banquet, and gave each of them a knife; and she said, ‘Come forth to them!’ And when they saw him they said, ‘Great God!’ and cut their hands! and said, ‘God forbid! This is no mortal, this is nothing but an honourable angel.’ Said she, ‘This is he concerning whom ye blamed me. _I did desire him for his person, but he was too continent. But if he do not what I bid him he shall surely be imprisoned and shall surely be among the small!’ Said he, ‘My Lord! Prison is dearer to me than what they call on me to do; and unless Thou turn from me their craftiness I shall feel a passion for them and shall be among the ignorant!’ And his Lord answered him and turned from him their craftiness; verily, He both hears and knows!
[35] Then it appeared good to them, even after they had seen the signs*, to imprison him until a time.
1 In their sudden emotion at his beauty. | * Of his innocence.
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And there entered the prison with him two young men. Said one of them, ‘Verily, I see myself} pressing wine.’ And the other said, ‘Verily, I see myself bearing on my head loaves from which the birds do eat; inform us of the interpretation thereof; verily, we see that thou art of those who do good.’
He said, ‘There shall not come to you any food with which ye are provided, but I will inform you both of its interpretation before it comes to you. - That is (some) of what my Lord has taught me; verily, I have left the faith of a people who do not believe in Gad, while in the future too they disbelieve. And I have followed the faith of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob; we could not associate aught with God; that is from God’s grace upon us and upon: men: but most men give not thanks. O. ye twain: fellow-prisoners! Are manifold lords better, or God, the one, the dominant? [40] What ye worship beside Him are naught but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which God has sent down no authority. Judgment is only God’s; He bids you worship only Him. That is the standard of religion,—but. most men do not know. O.- ye twain fellow-prisoners! as for one of you, he shall pour out wine for his lord: and as for the other, he shall be crucified, and the birds shall eat of his head. The matter is. decreed whereon ye asked me for’a decision !’
And he said to him whom he thought would escape of those two, ‘Remember me with thy lord!’ But Satan made him? forget the remembrance of his lord, so he tarried in prison a few years.
? In a dream. * The application of the pronoun is vague in the text of this
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forget the remembrance of his lord, so he tarried in prison a few years.
? In a dream. * The application of the pronoun is vague in the text of this
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Then said the king, ‘Verily, I see seven fat kine which seven lean kine devoured ; and seven green ears of corn and others dry. O ye chiefs! Explain to me my vision, if a vision ye can expound!’
Said they, ‘Confused dreams, and naught of the exposition of such dreams know we!’
[45] Then he who had escaped of those twain said,—remembering after a while,—‘ Verily, I will inform you of the interpretation thereof, so send me.’
‘Joseph! O thou truth teller! explain to us the seven fat kine which seven lean devoured ; and the seven green ears of corn and others dry. Haply I may go back to the men, haply they then may know !’
He said, ‘ Ye shall sow for seven years, as is your wont ; but what ye reap, let it remain in the ear, except a little whereof ye shall eat. Then there shall come after that seven severe (years) which shall devour what ye have put by before for them, save a little of what ye shall preserve. Then there will come after that a year in which men shall have rain and in which they shall press 4.’
[50] Then said the king, ‘ Bring him to me.’
And when the messenger came to him, he said, ‘Go back to thy lord, and ask him, “ What meant the women who cut their hands? Verily, my lord knows their craftiness!”’ —_.
He said, ‘What was your design when ye desired Joseph for his person?’ They said, ‘God passage, which is variously interpreted, either that Satan made the butler forget to mention Joseph to his lord Pharaoh, or that Satan made Joseph forget for the moment his Lord God, and place his trust on the man rather than on Him,
} Te. press wine and oil.
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forbid! we know no bad of him.’ Said the wife of the prince, ‘ Now does the truth appear! I desired him for his person and, verily, he is of those who tell the truth.’
*That’ (said Joseph) ‘was that he might know that I did not betray him in his absence, and that God guides not the craft of those who do betray! Yet I do not clear myself, for the soul is very urgent to evil, save what my Lord has had mercy on; verily, my Lord is forgiving and merciful !’
And the king said, ‘ Bring him to me. I will take him specially for myself.’ And when he had spoken with him he said, ‘ Verily, to-day thou art with us in a permanent place of trust.’
[55] He said, ‘ Place me over the treasures of the land ; verily, I will be a knowing keeper.’
Thus did we stablish Joseph in the land that he might settle in what part thereof he pleased—we overtake with our mercy whom we will, nor do we waste the hire of those who do good; and surely the hire of the future life is better for those who believe and who have feared.
And his brethren came to Joseph, and they entered in unto him and he knew them, but they recognised not him.
And his brethren came to Joseph, and they entered in unto him and he knew them, but they recognised not him.
And when he had equipped them with their equipment he said, ‘ Bring me a brother that ye have from your father; do ye not see that I give good measure, and that I am the best of entertainers ? [60] But if ye bring him not to me, no measure shall ye have with me, nor shall ye come nigh me.’ .
They said, ‘We will desire him of our father, and we will surely do it.’
[6] Q
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Then he said to his young men, ‘Put their chattels! in their packs, haply they may know it when they are come back to their family; haply they may return.’
And when they returned to their father, they said, ‘O our father! Measure is withheld from us; so send with us our brother that we may get measure, and, verily, him we will keep!’
He said, ‘Shall I entrust you with him, save as I entrusted you with his brother before ? but God is the best of keepers, and He is the most merciful of the merciful.’
[65] And when they opened their goods they found their chattels restored to them. Said they, ‘O our father! What more can we crave? Here are our chattels restored to us, and we shall guard our brother, and shall have an additional measure beside that—a small measure 2%’
He said, ‘I will by no means send him with you until you give. me a compact from God that ye will surely bring him to me, unless ye be encompassed 3.’
So when they had given him their compact he said, ‘God over what ye say has charge.’
And he said, ‘O my sons! enter not by one gate, but enter by several gates ; but I cannot avail you aught against God. Judgment is only God’s; upon Him do I rely, and on Him do the reliant rely.’
1 The goods which they had brought to barter, or the money they had paid for the corn.
2? Commentators differ as to whether this means that what they had brought was insufficient, or whether the additional measure was a small quantity for Pharaoh to bestow, or whether Jacob utters the words meaning that it is not enough to induce him to part with his son. '
5 By some unavoidable hindrance.
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And when they had entered as their father bade them, it availed them nothing against God, save for a want in Jacob’s soul which it fulfilled ; for, verily, he was possessed of knowledge, for that we -had taught him ;—but most men do not know.
And when they entered in unto Joseph, he took his brother to stay with him, and said, ‘ Verily, I am thy brother—then take not ill that which they have been doing.’
[70] And when he had equipped them with their equipment he placed the drinking cup in his brother’s pack; then a crier cried out, ‘O ye caravan ! verily, ye are thieves!’
They said, approaching them, ‘ What is it that ye miss ?’
Said they, ‘We miss the goblet of the king, and whoso brings it shall have a camel-load, and I am guarantee thereof.’
verily, ye are thieves!’
They said, approaching them, ‘ What is it that ye miss ?’
Said they, ‘We miss the goblet of the king, and whoso brings it shall have a camel-load, and I am guarantee thereof.’
They said, ‘By God! Ye knew we came not to do evil in the land, and that we were not thieves.’
They said, ‘And what shall be the recompense thereof if ye be liars ?’
[75] They said, ‘The recompense thereof is he in whose pack it is found—he shall be the recompense thereof; thus do we recompense the unjust.’
And he began with their sacks before the sacks of his brother ; then he drew it forth from his brother's sack. Thus did we devise a stratagem for Joseph. He could not take his brother by the king’s religion! except God pleased ;—we raise the degrees of
1 Le. by the law of Egypt it was not lawful for Joseph to take his brother for a bondsman as a punishment for theft.
Q2
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whomsoever we please, and over every possessor of knowledge is one who knows.
They said, ‘If he has stolen, a brother of his has stolen before him.’
But Joseph kept it secret in his soul and disclosed it not to them. Said he, ‘Ye are in a bad case, and God knows best about what ye describe.’
They said, ‘O prince! Verily, he has a father, a very old man; take then one of us instead of him; verily, we can see that thou art of those who do good.’
Said he, ‘(I seek) refuge in God from taking any save him with whom we found our property; verily, we should then be certainly unjust.’
[80] And when they despaired of him they retired to consult privately. Said the eldest of them, ‘Do ye not know that your father has taken a compact from God against you? Aforetime ye exceeded in the matter of Joseph—I will surely not quit the land until my father give me leave, or God judge for me, for He is the best of judges.
‘Return ye to your father and say, “O our father ! verily, thy son has committed theft, and we bore testimony to naught but what we knew; for of the unforeseen we were not keepers !”
‘Ask then in the city where we were, and of the caravan in which we approached it, for, verily, we tell the truth,’
Said he, ‘ Nay, your souls have induced you to do this thing. But patience is fair. It may be that God will give me them all together ;—verily, He is knowing, wise.’
And he turned away from them and said, ‘O myp. 229 lament for Joseph!’ and his eyes grew white with grief, for he repressed (his woe).
[85] They said, ‘By God! thou wilt not cease to remember Joseph till thou art at the point of death, or art of those who perish!’
Said he, ‘I only complain of my emotion and my grief to God, for I know that from God which ye know nothing of.
‘O my sons! go and enquire concerning Joseph and his brother, and despair not of God’s comfort ; for, verily, none need despair of God’s comfort save a misbelieving people!’
‘O my sons! go and enquire concerning Joseph and his brother, and despair not of God’s comfort ; for, verily, none need despair of God’s comfort save a misbelieving people!’
And when they entered in unto him they said, ‘O prince! distress has touched both us and our families, and we have brought trifling chattels. So give us full measure and bestow upon us in charity; verily, God rewards the charitable.’
He said, ‘Do ye know what ye did with Joseph and his brother, while ye were ignorant ?’
[90] They said, ‘Art thou then indeed Joseph ?’ He said, ‘I am Joseph, and this is my brother; God has been gracious towards us. Verily, whoso fears God and is patient,—verily, God wastes not the hire of those who do good!’
They said, ‘By God! God has chosen thee over us; and we indeed were sinners.’
He said, ‘ No reproach against you to-day! God will pardon you, for He is the most merciful of the merciful. Take this my shirt, and throw it over the face of my father, he will become able to see; and bring me your families all together.’
And when the caravan departed, their father said, ‘Verily, I find the smell of Joseph, unless ye think I dote!’
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[95] They said, ‘By God! thou art in thy old error.’ And when the herald of glad tidings came he threw it on his face, and he was restored to sight. -
Said he, ‘Did I not tell you that I know from God that of which ye know not ?’
They said, ‘O our father! ask pardon for us of our sins ;—verily, we were sinners!’
He said, ‘I will ask pardon for you from my Lord ; verily, He is the pardoning and merciful.’
[100] And when they entered in unto Joseph, he took his father to stay with him, and said, ‘Enter ye into Egypt, if it please God, safe.’ And he raised his father upon the throne, and they fell down before him adoring.
And he said, ‘O my sire! This is the interpretation of my vision aforetime; my Lord has made it come true, and He has been good to me, in bringing me forth out of prison, afid bringing you from the desert, after Satan had made a breach between me and my brethren ;—verily, my Lord is kind to whomsoever He will ;—verily, He is the knowing, the wise !
‘O my Lord! thou hast given me dominion, and hast taught me the interpretation of sayings; O originator of the heavens and the earth! Thou art my patron in this world and the next; take me to Thyself resigned, and let me reach the righteous!’
That is one of the stories of the unseen which we inspire thee with, though thou wert not with them when they agreed in their affair, when they were so crafty.—And yet most men, though thou shouldst be urgent, will not believe.
Thou dost not ask them for it a hire ; it is naught but a reminder to the world.
XII, rog-rrr. +=THE CHAPTER OF JOSEPH. 231
[105] How many a sign in the heavens and the earth do they pass by and turn away therefrom !
Nor do most of them believe in God without associating (other gods) with Him.
Thou dost not ask them for it a hire ; it is naught but a reminder to the world.
XII, rog-rrr. +=THE CHAPTER OF JOSEPH. 231
[105] How many a sign in the heavens and the earth do they pass by and turn away therefrom !
Nor do most of them believe in God without associating (other gods) with Him.
Are they safe, then, from overwhelming vengeance coming on them from the torment of God? or from the Hour coming upon them suddenly while they do not perceive ?
Say, ‘This is my way; I call now unto God on clear proof, I and those who follow me; and celebrated be God’s praises, for I am not of the idolaters.’
Nor did we ever send before thee any save men whom we inspired, of the people of the cities. Have they not journeyed on in the earth, and beheld how was the end of those before them? But the abode of the future is surely better for those who believe ;— what! have they then no sense?
[110] Until when the apostles despaired and they thought that they were proved liars, our help came to them, and whosoever we pleased was saved ; but our violence is not averted from the sinful people.
Their stories were a lesson to those endowed with minds. It was not a tale forged, but a verification of what was before it, and a detailing of everything, and a guide and a mercy to a people who believe.
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THe CHAPTER OF THUNDER.
(XIII. Mecca.) In the name of the merciful and compassionate
God.
A.L.M.R. Those are the signs of the Book, and that which is sent down to thee from thy Lord is the truth; but most people will not believe. God it is who has raised the heavens without columns that ye can see; then He made for the throne, and subjected the sun and the moon; each one runs on to a stated and appointed time; He governs the affair, details the signs ;—haply of the meeting with your Lord ye will be sure.
And He it is who has stretched out the earth and placed therein firm mountains and rivers, and of every fruit has He placed therein two kinds. He makes the night cover the day;—verily, in that are signs unto a people who reflect.
And on the earth are neighbouring portions, and gardens of grapes and corn and palms growing together (from one root) and not growing together ; they are watered with one water, yet we distinguish one over the other as food;—verily, in that are signs unto a people who have sense.
[5] And if thou shouldst wonder, wondrous is their speech: ‘What! when we have become dust, shall we really then be created anew ?’
These are they who disbelieve in their Lord, and these are they with fetters round their necks, and these are the fellows of the Fire; they shall dwell therein for aye!
They will wish thee to hasten on the evil ratherp. 233 than the good; examples have passed away before them: but thy Lord is possessor of forgiveness unto men, notwithstanding their injustice ; but, verily, thy Lord is keen to punish.
They will wish thee to hasten on the evil ratherp. 233 than the good; examples have passed away before them: but thy Lord is possessor of forgiveness unto men, notwithstanding their injustice ; but, verily, thy Lord is keen to punish.
Those who misbelieve say, ‘Unless a sign be sent down upon him from his Lord... ’—Thou art only a warner, and every people has its guide.
God knows what each female bears, and what the wombs fall short of or add ; for dimensions of everything are with Him.
[10] He who knows the unseen and the visible,— the great, the lofty one.
Alike among you is he who keeps secret his speech and he who displays it; and he who hides by night and he who stalks abroad by day. Each of them has pursuers! before him and behind him, to keep guard over him at the command of God; verily, God changes not what a people has until they change it for themselves. And when God wishes evil to a people there is no averting it, nor have they a protector beside Him.
He it is who shows you the lightning for fear and hope?; and He brings up the heavy clouds.
- And the thunder celebrates His praise, and the angels too for fear of Him; and He sends the thunder-clap and overtakes therewith whom He will;—yet they wrangle about God! But He is strong in might.
[15] On Him is the call of truth, and those who call on others than Him shall not be answered at all,
1 Guardian angels. - 3 Te. hope of rain; lightning is always hailed with joy by the Arabs as a precursor of rain.
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save as one who stretches out his hand to the water that it may reach his mouth, but it reaches it not! The call of the misbelievers is only in error.
And God do those who are in the heavens and the earth adore, whether they will or no! as do their shadows also morn and eve.
Say, ‘Who is Lord of the heavens and the earth ?’ say, ‘God;’ say, ‘Do ye take beside God patrons who cannot control profit or harm for themselves ?’ say, ‘Shall the blind and the seeing be held equal ? or shall the darkness and the light be held equal ? or have they made associates with God who can create as He creates, so that the creation seem familiar to them ?’ say, ‘God is the creator of everything, and He is the one, the dominant.’
He sends down from the sky water, and the water-courses flow according to their bulk, and the torrent bears along the floating scum: and from what they set fire to, craving ornaments or utensils, comes a scum like that ;—thus does God hit the truth and the falsehood ;—and as for the scum it is thrown off, and as for what profits man it stays on the earth. Thus does God strike out parables !
For those who respond to their Lord is good; but those who respond not to Him, had they all that is in the earth and the like thereof as well, they would give it for a ransom; these shall have an evil reckoning up! and their resort is hell,—an evil couch shall it be!
For those who respond to their Lord is good; but those who respond not to Him, had they all that is in the earth and the like thereof as well, they would give it for a ransom; these shall have an evil reckoning up! and their resort is hell,—an evil couch shall it be!
Is he who knows that naught but the truth is sent down upon thee from thy Lord like him who is blind? Only those possessed of minds will remember !
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[20] Those who fulfil God’s covenant and break not the compact, and those who attain what God has bidden to be attained, and dread their Lord and fear the evil reckoning up; and those who are patient, craving their Lord’s face, and are steadfast in prayer, and expend in alms of what we have bestowed upon them secretly and openly, and ward off evil with good,—these shall have the recompense of the abode, gardens of Eden, into which they shall enter with the righteous amongst their fathers and their wives and their seed; and the angels shall enter in unto them from every gate :—‘ Peace be upon you! for that ye were patient; and goodly is the recompense of the abode.’
[25] And those who break God’s covenant after compacting for it, and who cut asunder what God hath bidden to be joined, and who do evil in the earth, these—upon them is the curse of God, and for them is an evil abode.
God extends his bounty freely to whomsoever He will, or He metes it out; and they rejoice in the life of this world, but the life of this world is naught but a (temporary) provision compared with the next.
Those who misbelieve say, ‘Unless a sign is sent down upon him from his Lord.... Say, ‘God leads whom He will astray, but guides unto Him those who turn again.
‘Those who believe and whose hearts are comforted by the mention of God,—aye! by the mention of God shall their hearts be comforted, who believe and do what is right. Good cheer for them and an excellent resort.’
Thus have we sent thee to a nation beforep. 33 which other nations have passed away, to recite to them that which we have inspired thee with; yet they misbelieve in the merciful! Say, ‘He is my Lord; there is no god but He; upon Him do I rely, and unto Him is my repentance.’
[30] And though it were a Qur’4n by which the mountains were moved, or by which the earth were cut up, or the dead made to speak 1—nay, God’s is the command altogether! Did not those who believed know? that if God had pleased He would have guided men altogether ?
And a striking calamity shall not cease to overtake those who misbelieve for what they have wrought, or to alight close by their dwellings; until God’s promise comes—verily, God fails not in His promise.
Before thee have apostles been mocked at; and those who misbelieved have I allowed to range at large; and then it caught them up! How then was my punishment ?